This is one circuit judge who won't be promoted by "Jeb!" to the District Court of Appeals anytime soon:
A Florida judge Monday accused Gov. Jeb Bush's administration and state welfare officials of exploiting the case of a mentally disabled rape victim to build a national debate on fetal rights and abortion.
Circuit Judge Lawrence Kirkwood said in a judicial order that actions by the Department of Children & Families have been ''adverse'' to the 23-year-old retarded woman, known in court papers only as J.D.S. The woman was a ward of the state agency.
The judge accused DCF of participating with Bush ''to exploit J.D.S. into a national debate on fetal rights and abortion.'' The judge didn't name Bush, but referred to ''the executive branch,'' which is headed by Bush, who opposes abortion rights.
A National Embarassment - The Florida Legislature, in its finite wisdom, decided earlier this year that Florida's high school students don't necessarily need four years of education. So they passed a law that forces school districts to let students lop off their senior year and still graduate.
The move was so unusual that it made national news. While other states are working to find ways to give their students a better education even in tough economic times, here in sunny Florida we'll reward students with a high school diploma if they'll just leave sooner, after only three years and with only 18 credit hours rather than the standard 24.
And what did lawmakers chop from the list of courses required for graduation? U.S. history. Physical education. American government. World history. Life Management Skills, which teaches students about marriage, parenting and how to maintain good health.
Legislators claim that their intent was to give especially smart, mature students the opportunity to leave school a year early and get a jump on starting college, joining the military or going to work. But their explanation is disingenuous. The new three-year graduation option grew out of legislative debate about how to satisfy the voters' demand for reduced class sizes in public schools. Legislators weren't motivated by desire to provide students a better education; they needed a way to get them out of school faster so the state would not have to foot the bill for more teachers and more classrooms. "Fast track to nowhere".
Not requiring graduates to take classes in U.S. History, American Government and World History sure seems to be a good way to create good little republicans out if the kids who will be quitting early. It also helps foster mindlessness like this:
"The Associated Press, Sept. 6, 2003: Nearly seven in 10 Americans believe it is likely that ousted Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein was personally involved in the Sept. 11 attacks, says a poll out almost two years after the terrorists' strike against this country.... The belief in the connection persists even though there has been no proof of a link between the two."
[According to Palm Beach Post Editorial Writer Jac Wilder VerSteeg,] [t]he war on terror is so important that Americans will give up civil liberties, commit tens of billions of dollars and suffer the deaths of hundreds of soldiers and the wounding of thousands more. Requiring Americans to take a few minutes to nail down who really attacked us on 9/11 and the reasons we went to war in Iraq is, apparently, one sacrifice too many.
Perhaps I'm asking too much. After all, throughout its history, America -- and the Colonies that became America -- have fought in many wars. Since details of even the current war are fuzzy for so many Americans . . . . read on in "Who did America defeat in 1781?".
"Happy holidays From The Governor And The Florida Legislature" - It hardly comes as a surprise. Late last month, the state's largest local telecommunications companies - Verizon, BellSouth and Sprint - asked the Florida Public Service Commission for permission to raise residential and business telephone rates by as much as 60 percent a month.
Let's remember how we got here. The Florida Legislature and Gov. Jeb Bush made it all possible.
Oh, and another small point: The telephone companies were supposed to draw out the increases over a four-year period. Their applications say they want to speed that up to two years. . . . Happy holidays from the governor and the Florida Legislature. "No big surprise".
The Ortega Assasination Plot Probably Sealed The Deal -Daryl McLaughlin, interim director at FDLE, notified Gov. Jeb Bush late Monday that the agency will enter into a $1.6 million contract with Seisint, a Boca Raton company founded by Hank Asher, implicated two decades ago in a Bahamian drug smuggling ring. . . . The report also raised questions about Asher's alleged involvement in a plot to assassinate former Nicaraguan president Daniel Ortega. "FDLE inks deal with South Florida company for terrorism network".
Election Paper Trail - Like their colleagues in Miami-Dade County, Broward County commissioners have entered the national debate over the security of electronic voting. Broward leaders will vote today on exploring ways to print a paper record of each electronic vote by adding printers to the 5,200 touch-screen machines purchased two years ago for $17.2 million. They're also considering asking state lawmakers to change the law to allow printouts to be part of Florida's election recount process, which they hope would increase voter confidence in the results. "An election paper trail?". 6:37 AM
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