Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Global Warming: Sunspot Cycle Means The Iceman Cometh







It was a curious exercise, watching environmentalists and weathermen turn Global Warming into a universal evil: the average temperature of the world is rather chilly.

Virtually all animals and plants do better in a warmer climate than a cooler one.

And not just because of the temperature: a warmer climate means more rain showers because water vapor increases. This also means less cyclonic storms, contrary to public perception.

But not to be deterred from turning a very active sunspot cycle into good news--in spite of record harvests throughout the world between 1995 and 2005--nut jobs, hysterics, Luddites, and opportunists have caused a world wide panic, blaming mankind for essentially warming the Eath by the release of Carbon Dioxide.

Albeit, the panic, so far, seems to be primarily among those of similar inclination--which unfortunately includes all 3 Presidential candidates, as well as every socialist government on the planet. As well as the scientific illiterates that make up the Mainstream Media...

Mob logic: "The issue is settled", "the argument is over"
and "scientific consensus".



But there was one group of scientists that was not panicking about global warming: The astrophysicists. However they were concerned--but for a different reason: they were aware that the convergence of sunspot cycles would be followed by a dearth.

Sunspot Cycle 24 had begun in 2007, and it began with the expected whimper they had predicted. A wimpy sun means cold. The nearly spotless sun of the last few months, coincident with La Nina, has accelerated the very mild cooling trend that commenced in the year 2000. So much so that all of the ice lost in the last 10 years in and about the arctic has been replaced.

Russia's largest icebreaker caught in ice attempting to take
Global Warming enthusiasts through the Northwest Passage.




The astrophysicists concern has now become concentrated.

"You probably haven’t heard much of Solar Cycle 24, the current cycle that our sun has entered, and I hope you don’t. If Solar Cycle 24 becomes a household term, your lifestyle could be taking a dramatic turn for the worse. "

As put by geophysicist Philip Chapman, a former NASA astronaut-scientist and former president of the National Space Society, “It is time to put aside the global warming dogma, at least to begin contingency planning about what to do if we are moving into another little ice age.”


Yikes!



"The consequences of the Little Ice Age, because they occurred in relatively recent times, have come down to us through literature and the arts as well as from historians and scientists, government and business records. When Shakespeare wrote of “lawn as white as driven snow,” he had first-hand experience – Europe was bitterly cold in his day, a sharp contrast to the very warm weather that preceded his birth. During the Little Ice Age, the River Thames froze over, the Dutch developed the ice skate and the great artists of the day learned to love a new genre: the winter landscape.


In what had been a warm Europe , adaptations were not all happy: Growing seasons in England and Continental Europe generally became short and unreliable, which led to shortages and famine. These hardships were nothing compared to the more northerly countries: Glaciers advanced rapidly in Greenland, Iceland, Scandinavia and North America, making vast tracts of land uninhabitable. The Arctic pack ice extended so far south that several reports describe Eskimos landing their kayaks in Scotland. Finland’s population fell by one-third, Iceland’s by half, the Viking colonies in Greenland were abandoned altogether, as were many Inuit communities."

So, as the leopard lost it's spots, so has sol. And that can be a very serious manner. But well in line with "Generals who prepare for the last war", our intrepid U.S. Senate--a body that exudes more hot gas than any herd of cows in a feed lot--has begun to debate the merits of taxing carbon emissions.

At the very time we may need them!

Yes. We may have to increase emissions to warm ourselves up.



by pat



images:
* http://www.enquirer.com/editions/1999/09/04/mob_500x326.jpg">enquirer
* greatstories
* aad
* b12
Sources:
http://www.publicaffairs.noaa.gov/releases2007/apr07/noaa07-019.html
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fpcomment/archive/2008/05/30/the-deniers-our-spotless-sun.aspx
http://www.junkscience.com/
http://www.icecap.us/
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Illegal Immigration: Fisking Media Matters



The borders remain open and many people (there is really no way of knowing how many) slip across each day. Some of these people are looking for economic opportunity.

A few (there is, again, really no way of knowing how many) are looking for an opportunity of another type: inflicting damage, death and destruction on the United States.

Blogs4Borders performs a public service (and efficiently--almost surgically--dismembers a recent propaganda foray by Media (about Clinton) Matters on illegal immigration.

This week's blogburst from Blogs4Borders contains:

* Fisking Media Matters!

* 100% Preventable! Americans continue to pay the bloody price for open borders, when will the madness end?

* And you've been deputized!




A continued point must be made: until it's known who is coming across the borders, all the "Homeland Security" in the world won't stop a determined terrorist.

by Mondoreb
images:
* mcclatchy

Sources
* Blogs4Borders Blogburst 060208

Good News from Iraq, Afganistan; Environmentally-Friendly Explosives and Mike Nifong







CULTURE WATCH, Volume 17
by Nancy Morgan
Right Bias



Last week saw lots of good news from Iraq and Afghanistan. The most amazing news of all, however, is that this news is being reported by the likes of the New York Times and the Washington Post. Now that they're reporting it, I guess its officially:

GOOD NEWS:

Less than a year after his agency warned of new threats from a resurgent al-Qaeda, CIA Director Michael Hayden now portrays that terrorist movement as essentially defeated in Iraq and Saudi Arabia. His sentiments are echoed by the commander of British forces in Iraq who stated, "Missions by special forces and air strikes by unmanned drones have 'decapitated' the Taliban and brought the war in Afghanistan to a 'tipping point.'"



Even the anti-American United Nations noted that Iraq is making "notable progress" in the security, political and economic fields. Whoa baby!

Despite this plethora of evidence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi just went on record saying the U.S. troop surge failed to accomplish its goal. She then credited the success of the troop surge to "the goodwill of the Iranians." I'm not making this up.



In other good news, justice looks like it may prevail in the malicious Duke lacrosse rape case. Former DA Mike Nifong will not be able to hide from a lawsuit from the ex-lacrosse players by claiming bankruptcy. Good deal.

The federal government is considering a proposal to allow visitors to carry concealed weapons in some national parks. Meanwhile, another mass shooting was stopped by an armed CCW permit holder after a Nevada man seemed intent on shooting as many people as he could. Guns stopping crime? You heard it here first.

A new order has lifted a ban on sexual relations between unmarried men and women in combat zones.

Westinghouse and the Shaw group have signed a contract to build two nuclear reactors in South Carolina and across the pond, French President Sarkozy moves to end France's 35-hour work week. Alors.

Poor Obama had a bad week. First, his campaign organizers set up porta-potties on a memorial honoring fallen soldiers. This, as Obama was apparently pointing out fallen soldiers in his audience.

Next, we hear that Obama's military records are 'not consistent' with his claims.' (That means he lied) Obama's not worried, though. He seems to have the solid backing of Muslims, the latest being several 'generous' donations from Pakistan President Musharraf's family members.

Offsetting this good news are the advances being made by the eco-idiots in the faux crisis of:

War On Global Warming

Looks the White House has jumped on board the eco-bandwagon, as they issued a 271-page report endorsing the theory that greenhouse gases are "very likely the single cause" of earth's warming. The Senate immediately set to work on landmark climate legislation that will increase the cost of gasoline and will throw thousands out of work.

The United Nations reports that the UN's main greenhouse 'offset' fund is being routinely abused (to the tune of billions of $$s) by chemical, wind, gas and hydro companies who are claiming emission reduction credits for projects that don't do diddly. Meanwhile, thousands of Algore fans are eagerly awaiting the operatic version of his film, 'An Inconvenient Truth.'

Some are starting to fight against the globaloney juggernaught. Exxon Mobil CEO came out swinging against the environmental movement and American Solutions for Winning the Future have over 100,000 signatures on a petition urging Congress to immediately start drilling for oil domestically.

Oh, and conservative group, Grassfire.org wants people to waste as much energy as possible on June 12, which they have designated as Carbon Belch Day. Their small protest against media-induced guilt.

CULTURE:

New York Gov. Paterson has advised all state agencies to prepare to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other jurisdictions.

The Boy Scouts Philadelphia Chapter is having to sue the city to block the deadline for the scouts to open their membership to gays and atheists or lose their headquarters.





A federal judge has voided another immigration law, declaring that a Dallas suburb's rule prohibiting apartment rentals to illegals was unconstitutional. Child welfare groups, meanwhile, are urging an overhaul of federal laws dealing with trans-racial adoptions, arguing that black children are 'ill-served' by a color blind approach. MLK turns over in his grave.

In many areas of Miami, Spanish has become the predominant language.

Feminists are learning that equality isn't all its cracked up to be as a 32 year-old woman from Sweden has been indicted on a charge of aggravated rape after allegedly forcing another woman to perform oral sex, at knifepoint

Poor Rose Steinman has been ordered to pay her ex-husband $2,000 a month for the next 10 years, even though he earns $85k a year, so he can continue living the opulent lifestyle the couple shared while married. Meanwhile, Amsterdam plans to close down its red light district.

IDIOT OF THE WEEK:

This week's award goes to the bureaucrat responsible for the new 'environmentally friendly' explosives. Think about it.
Before I sign off, I want to share a great article I came across that gives much food for thought. It proposes the common sense solution that maybe we should let Wal-Mart fix U.S. health care.

In order to leave you with a smile on your face, I'm including the following video. This dog dances better than most people I know. I'm still laughing.

Till next Monday,


by Nancy Morgan

Nancy Morgan is a columnist and a news editor for RightBias.com
She lives in South Carolina, where she writes "Culture Watch" weekly.

Article may be reprinted with attribution. Bio available on request.


images:
* z
* arspace
Source: Culture Watch, Volume 17
DBKP.com - Bigger, Better!.
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Monday, June 2, 2008

Scientology, Anonymous: Cyber Wars and Censorship

"Anonymous" protest against Scientology

We are Anonymous.
We are Legion.
We do not forgive.
We do not forget.

Join us.



While we go about our daily lives, surfing the web, using it to pay bills or catch up on the latest news and chat with friends and family, little do we realize that just beneath the digital surface of the worldwide web a war is being waged, the first Cyber World War, of a modern day David versus Goliath.

Goliath is the Church of Scientology, a multi-billion dollar enterprise, who is being systematically unmasked by the group known as Anonymous, the modern day David.

Who is Anonymous and why did they declare war against the Church of Scientology?

Tom Cruise is perhaps the most famous Church of Scientology member on the planet. We mention planet because in the "Church" of Scientology, what we would consider science fiction, tales of intergalactic warfare and galaxies play a key role in the shrouded secret world of Scientology.

The origin of Scientology as a "religion" compared to other religions such as Christianity, Judaism, and Buddhism is quite recent, founded by L. Ron Hubbard, a prolific science fiction writer in the early 1950's. Hubbard's Dianetics, a self-improvement book based on a mind-body-spirit relationship, was regarded in some circles as a scam and a "lunatic vision of Freudian psychology" while others believed it offered a new way to religious bliss.

Hubbard set up the Hubbard Dianetic Research Foundation in 1950 in New Jersey and then moved to Arizona in 1952 where Hubbard "expanded Dianetics" into Scientology, referring to it as an "applied religious philosophy".

While some may be aware of Hubbard's involvement in Scientology's origins what they don't know is how Scientology "works" as the group shrouds its "church" in secrecy. The secrecy may or may not be related to any sort of "religious" overtones, instead the secrecy may have been devised to cloak Scientology's method of charging its flock quite a bit of money to learn its "secrets" in order to rise up in the rank and file of the "church".

Piece by piece, his (Hubbard's) teachings are revealed to church members through a progression of sometimes secret courses that take years to complete and cost tens of thousands of dollars. Out of a membership estimated by the church to be 6.5 million, only a tiny fraction have climbed to the upper reaches. In fact, according to a Scientology publication earlier this year, fewer than 900 members have completed the church's highest course, nicknamed "Truth Revealed."
Read more of Scientology Versus Anonymous: The First Cyber World War at DBKP.com


By LBG


Source - Wikipedia - L. Ron Hubbard

Source - Los Angeles Times - Defining the Theology
Image - Anonymous
Source - Anonymous Revolution
Source - CNET - Anonymous Steps up its war with Scientology

Death by 1000 Papercuts Front Page

Obama: Whitey Tape Means Michelle O is Going for a Trip--Under the Bus





The Countdown Begins

"If Obama can throw his pastor under the bus, what will he do to LGBTQ* voters on his way to the White House?"
-- Rev. Irene Monroe in a Windy City Times column about Illinois Sen. Barack Obama's race speech and Rev. Jeremiah Wright.


* - Lesbian-Gay-Bisexual-Transgendered-TransSexual-Queer



There's NO CHANCE that it will get any more crowded under the Barack Obama "Ch-Ch-Change" Bus.

Is there?

Larry Johnson, of the No Quarter blog, opened a cold, coy can of conversational whoop-ass this morning. Johnson, who served as a Deputy
Director in the U.S. State Department’s Office of Counter Terrorism, learned over the weekend that the rumored "Michelle Obama Whitey" tape is no rumor.

According to Johnson:

I learned over the weekend why the Republicans who have seen the tape of Michelle Obama ranting about “whitey” describe it as “STUNNING.” I have not seen it but I have heard from five separate sources who have spoken directly with people who have seen the tape. It features Michelle Obama and Louis Farrakhan. They are sitting on a panel at Jeremiah Wright’s Church when Michelle makes her intemperate remarks. Whoops!! When that image comes out it will enter the politcal ads hall of fame. It will be right up there with the little girl plucking daisy petals in the famous 1964 ad LBJ used against Barry Goldwater.

So, the tape really exists and it's in the hands of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy (feel free to substitute "Evil Republican Noise Machine", if you like).



"Farrakhan, Wright, and Pfleger are each on tape in various settings spewing the most vile racists garbage in the guise of preaching. Barack Obama, up to this point, has tried to pretend he had no idea that these men had these thoughts or said these things.

NONSENSE!"

--Larry Johnson, in Michelle Obama and Louis Farrakhan Take On Whitey





There will be an EXPLOSION of political pow-wows over what to do about the tape. In the Obama camp, spin-mongers will spend many a sleepless night over anything that will stop the bleeding. For a politician that started out as the "Great White (Liberal) Hope"--full of inspiring, airy platitudes and policies--further revelations that Barack Obama is surrounded by a racist cadre, will prove to be a political killer.

In the GOP ranks, the only question will be, "When?"; as in, "When's the best time to release the tape to the media".

Like a vampire reacting to dawn, white blue-collar voters have run away from Obama--as news of his cronies and the tapes of their putrid public pronouncements--have surfaced.

It seems that, when it comes to choosing candidates for the Oval Office, working-class voters are heeding an old adage: "If You Lay Down With Dogs. You’ll Get Up with Fleas".

The $64,000 Question

Which raises the inevitable question, given Obama's historical response to any exposure of his inner circle's behavior:
"
Will Barack throw Michelle under the bus?
"

"NEXT!"


"I can no more disown him (Jeremiah Wright) than I can disown my white grandmother

-- Barack Obama, Philadelphia, March 18


Madelyn Dunham, Obama's white grandmother, now resides under the ever-spinning wheels of the Obama 2008 campaign vehicle. Her crime? She was once nervous, while waiting for another kind of bus.

The Rev. Jeremiah "God Damn America" Wright, is under there, too. So is Father Michael Pflaeger and the Trinity Church.

It might be wise for Obama to check the tread on that bus's tires; he might need an all-terrain vehicle, at this rate.

As The Bench put it:
"How can you trust Obama now? He said he could no more "disown" Reverend Jeremiah Wright than he could "disown" his mother. Or his dog, or something like that.

Then he disowned him. The other day, he disowned Father Michael Pfleger. This weekend, he disowned his entire church."


Will Michelle Obama be the next to feel the wheel's ruthless, rubberized crunch of the "Change-for-Lunch Bunch"?

The prediction from this corner: YES!

Like a pilot of a rapidly-deflating hot-air balloon, Barack Obama will stick to form and jettison any dead weight on his bid for the White House--and that includes his wife, Michelle, and any of her hateful "Whitey" statements.

Obama is a politician; he will do what politician do in a crisis: CYA.

Cover Your Ass.

BH Obama will disown his wife.

However, it will be banishment with a nod and a wink. Michelle will willingly take a trip underneath the Obama 2008 bus--if it means she can add "first lady" to her resume.

So, Michelle Obama, get ready to come on down.

Under the bus.

At least you won't be lonely.


by Mondoreb




images:
* thought merchant
* truthwinsout
* detroitnews
* Republican Operative
* criticallyoptimistic
* campaign window

Sources:
* Michelle Obama and Louis Farrakhan Take On Whitey
* POTD: Under the Bus
* LGBT(Q)
* When Will Obama Disown his White Grandmother?

Scott McClellan: P.T. Barnum Would Have Been Proud

"Mr. McClellan announced his resignation at the side of Mr. Bush on the White House lawn, but in sometimes emotional remarks he did not say what he would be doing or who would be succeeding him. It was unclear if Mr. McClellan had acted on his own or had been encouraged to leave after his two years and nine months as Mr. Bush's chief spokesman."
--New York Times, on Scott McClellan's resignation, April 19, 2006



Former White House Press Secretary, Scott McClellan, counts the number of former
colleagues' backs he's climbed on to promote his book.



Much as we tried to ignore the self-promotional stylings of Scott McClellan and his whirlwind Mainstream Media circus tour, the former White House Press Secretary's appearance on Meet the Press forced our hand.

McClellan's replies about meetings he never attended--events of which, many times, he had no first-hand knowledge--and his willing guesstimates of what happened when, where and why, can only be excused as someone eagerly trying to hitch a ride on a fast-moving gravy train.

What's else can an ex-White House Press Secretary do when he's got a bunch of books to peddle and not much of a story? McClellan's chose the PT Barnum route: rather than producing the Incredible Reptile Woman, he conjures up recollections of What Happened when he wasn't present. Old Phineas Taylor would have been proud--or jealous.

But that's more than enough for a Mainstream Media that's eager to buy what he's selling.

Soon, Scott McClellan will only be remembered as the answer to some question in Mad Liberal Trivia Pursuit.

"Which White House Press Secretary, wrote a book in which he was critical of the press corps for being too accepting of the administration's perspective on the Iraq War--in effect, that he did his job too well--but still got the boot?"

One thing to keep in mind, while reading the excerpt below: during the Libby trial, it was revealed that the identity of CIA employee, Valerie Plame, was leaked by the State Department's Richard Armitage--not the Bush-Rove Twins of Evil.

But that would have spoiled the fun, so MTP's Tim Russert plays along with Scott.





MR. RUSSERT: The president said at the time that “if someone committed a crime, they’d no longer work in my administration.” Do you believe the president should have fired Karl Rove?

MR. McCLELLAN: That’s a, that’s a question that the president had to make, and he chose not to.

MR. RUSSERT: But what do you think?

MR. McCLELLAN: Well, I, I think he should have stood by his word. I think the president should have stood by the word that we said, which is if you were involved in this any way, then you would no longer be in this administration. And Karl was involved in it. That would be a tough decision. I don’t know if, if there was any crime committed. I don’t–I say I just don’t know that in the book. But we had higher standards at the White House. The president said he was going to restore honor, integrity. He said we were going to set the highest of standards. We didn’t live up to that. When it became known that his top adviser had been involved, then the bar was moved. And the bar was moved to “if anyone is indicted, they would no longer be here.”
MR. RUSSERT: So you think they should’ve been dismissed.

MR. McCLELLAN: I think so. I mean, Scooter Libby was, and I, and I think that he should..

MR. RUSSERT: Well, he resigned. But you…

MR. McCLELLAN: Yes. But that was pushed out.

MR. RUSSERT: But you believe Rove–Rove should’ve, should’ve left?

MR. McCLELLAN: I think the president should’ve stood by his word, and that meant Karl should’ve left.



Some thought Helen Thomas might have been a reason for McClellan's
resignation, but it appears McClellan was capable enough of shooting his own foot.





"I don't know if, if any crime was committed."

Gee, you think, Scott?

Ivy League law schools are probably kicking themselves: how could the finely-tuned mind that churned up that sage observation have evaded their sharp-eyed recruiters?

McClellan will find a willing audience in the MSM and Left Blogosphere for any recollections--or miscollections--that he might be able to summon. But then, McClellan's publisher knew that a boatload of exposure beckoned for anyone from inside the Bush White House willing to criticize the Administration.

Enter Scott McClellan and his wee window of opportunity.

He certainly sucked a lot of commentators into that shrinking hole.

Even the ones who knew better than to make a few observations on his P.T. Barnum-like attempts to sell a few more books.

Before they're rightly consigned to the remainder bins.

by Mondoreb




[hat tip: Crooks & Liars
images:
* bu.edu
* McClelland Resigns, Helen Thomas Reloads
Sources:
* Scott McClellan: Rove should have been fired over his role in the Plame leak
* Scott McClellan: PT Barnum Would Have Been Proud--or Jealous
* 'Meet the Press' transcript for June 1, 2008
* Top Bush Aide Loses a Post in Overhaul
* Scott McClellan

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Florida Democrats Outraged Over DNC's Decision




After Saturday's decision by the DNC to allow the Florida delegates to be seated at this summer's DNC convention but with only one-half a vote, the reaction of Democrats from the Sunshine State has been one of voters angry enough to contemplate staying away from the polls or possibly voting for John McCain, the Republican candidate.

Florida Senate Minority Leader Steve Geller, D- Cooper City, a super-delegate who hasn't endorsed either Clinton or Obama, felt that the decision by the DNC was "offensive". Geller sarcastically wondered whether Dem Floridians should "only raise 1/2 as much money as we normally raise" and whether Florida should "turn out half as many Democrats as usual".

Rep. Kelly Skidmore, D- Boca Raton, said that Democrats were "extraordinarily upset, beyond what words can describe".

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, a national co-chairwoman of the Clinton campaign said that emails from constituents contained "pretty deep dissatisfaction" and that the decision made it harder to "motivate voters".

Clinton delegate and Broward County leader Jack Shifrel, was more succinct:

"You'd be an ostrich with your head in the sand if you didn't accept the reality that there are going to be Democrats that we're going to have to work very hard to convince," he said. "There are good decent Democrats that are very upset and it's going to take a lot of work to get them to vote at all."

A Floridian demonstrating in D.C. at the DNC meeting on Saturday gave this reaction when learning of the decision to allow only 1/2 a vote at the Democrat's convention:

``It’s a slap in the face,’’ said Margaret Grostefon, 44, of Fort Lauderdale, who joined the demonstration. ``Fifty percent? It’s like saying we are half of a citizen.’’

``In the general election, I am debating whether to vote at all,’’ she said.

A majority of the anger stems from the 1/2 vote decision. One unhappy Florida voter felt their their "civil rights and constitutional obligations" had been infringed upon:
``I’m not going to make a decision on my vote today,’’ said Vanessa Alikhan, 31, of Fort Lauderdale. ``I’m going to fight for my civil rights and the constitutional obligations that the government has to the people of the United States and ask them to count 100 percent of our votes.’’
A May 21st a Rasmussen poll showed Republican candidate John McCain with a double digit lead over Obama, 50 to 40%. Rasmussen also reported that phone surveys concluded that an estimated 57% would vote for Obama while 27% of Democrats said they planned to vote for John McCain.

According to Rasmussen, even before Saturday's decision, McCain has a 75% chance of winning Florida, a key state in the Presidential election.

While the DNC's decision centered on Florida scheduling its Democratic primary earlier than was allowed the DNC made a crucial error in its decision to penalize the delegates and their votes. The DNC could have looked at other measures, such as "probation". Instead they decided to penalize the very heart and soul of the party, the very people who should count, the voters who showed up for the Democratic primaries. Those voters were dissed by the DNC by declaring the delegates would be "allowed" to be seated at the convention, but would be considered 1/2 vote "outcasts", a ludicrous solution at best.

The attitude of the DNC further underscores the fact that, in the end, the voters were merely a means to more money in donations, that their votes were a sham and a mockery, that, all along, the superdelegates held the key to who will be declared the candidate on the top spot of the Dem's ticket in the 2008 Presidential election.

No one likes to be used and it looks like quite a few Floridians were merely pawns in the Democrat game of Stratego. Close to 1.4 million Democrats voted in the Florida primary. The DNC decision on Saturday has been called a "compromise". The only persons truly compromised were the electorate who cast their ballots believing they would have a voice in choosing the candidate for the Dem's top ticket.


By LBG

Source - Real Clear Politics
Source - Rasmussen Reports
Source - Sun-Sentinel - Many South Florida Democrats still unhappy about delegates
Source - Sun-Sentinel - Florida Democrats protest their own party
Image - Florida Democrats