This really happened at a McDonald’s in St. Petersburg, Florida on Monday, 12/31/18. 

The customer who recorded the incident indicated it was over a straw. However, if you watch the video, there is clearly a straw on the customer’s tray as it is knocked over during the skirmish.

Amazingly, the customer assumes the victim role. He demands a refund and that employee be fired. The manager and other employees treat him as if he is the victim. They ignore the fact that the customer initiated the physical contact. He reached over the counter and violently snatched the employee toward him. That was a huge mistake on his part because she unleashed a McAssWhoopin’ on him. Hold the fries. 

The customer then blatantly lies and says he was just asking her a question. Really? Just asking the employee a question entitles you to physically assault her in the process? That would be a NO! The employee handled him and called him a few choice names after they were separated. The manager checked the customer’s receipt rather than call the police. What a way to show support for a female employee who has been assaulted on the job. Allegedly, the customer left the restaurant and returned to fight the manager. 

The customer, Daniel Willis Taylor, has been arrested. He was also charged for kicking another female McDonald's employee in the stomach. He's identified as transient and he couldn't make bail. 

Inarguably Taylor is guilty of assault. Prayerfully, the employee has not been fired or punished in any manner. Her manager and fellow employees, especially the males, should be ashamed for not helping her. Anyhoo, this case needs to be monitored. 

This is the location and telephone number of the McDonald’s where this assault occurred. 

4595 34th St S
St. Petersburg, FL 33711
(727) 866-2370

 

 

At least three Democratic voters were told there were only ballots available for the Republican race at Precinct 321 in Winter Haven, Florida. The voters, including Teresa Wibert, showed up to participate in Florida’s Presidential Preference Primary Election on March 15, 2016. Wibert was initially given a Republican ballot. When she questioned that, she was told there were only Republican ballots. Wibert persisted and knew her rights as a voter. A call was made to the Polk County Elections Department. The clerk at Precinct 321 was told the ballots for the Democratic race were located in a closet. Wibert, her husband, and the other Democrat voted using the correct ballot.

The Polk County elections supervisor, Lori Edwards, and other elections officials in Polk County are trying to minimize this serious incident but it should be reported to the Department of Justice. How many other voters were given the wrong ballot? How many other voters were turned away? Has this happened during previous elections at this precinct? Did this happen at other precincts in Florida?

This incident highlights why it is important to know your voting rights in this country and that you exercise those rights. When you hear citizens say voting is not important, or their vote doesn't matter, they need to understand that voting is so critical that some folks will try to stop you from doing it.

 

 

 

 

 A former aide to Florida Lt. Governor Jennifer Carroll claims to have caught the Lt. Gov. in a sexually compromising position with another female staffer. The messy situation, which also has elements of illegal recording of conversations and possible arson charges, just got worse as Carroll made some of the most airheaded or most asinine comments about black women, married women and lesbianism.

What did Carroll say? Well, she actually giggled and said “Black women that look like me, don’t engage in relationships like that.” Her prior statement was that she has been married for 29 years and her accuser is the one that has been single for a long time. Whoa...So, let me get this straight, black lesbian and bisexual women are single and unattractive. Wow, Jennifer. Really?

The Lt. Gov. is right to defend herself if the allegation is untrue. If the allegation is true, that's her personal business, let her deal with it with her husband. One thing is certain, she has done herself a tremendous disservice by revealing how narcissistic, prejudice and out of touch she is. If she ever thought she would become Florida’s first black governor and first female governor, she can kiss those possible historic firsts good-bye.

 

Related Links:

Florida Lieutenant Governor Jennifer Carroll Accused of Misconduct

Attention no Lt. Gov. wants

 

Mitt Romney cleaned the clock of Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum in certain areas of Florida when the votes were counted on Tuesday. In the parts of Florida that represent the old, traditional South, Gingrich carried those areas. Suffice it to say, the Republican conservative base is still not excited and accepting of a Romney presidency.

The campaigning in Florida was brutal and very nasty. It will be worse during the General Election phase of this campaign. Romney has enough money to continue to buy victory in this campaign. Gingrich maintains he in until the Republican Convention in Tampa. He also thumbed his nose at the Republican establishment.

As Romney was taking his victory lap, a portion of his interview with CNN’s Soledad O’Brien, went viral and not in a good way for him. Romney said he wasn't concerned about the very poor. I’m showing an extended version of the faux pas where he tries to clean it up but it’s too late. 

Pay attention and remain engaged in this presidential campaign, it will become more and more interesting as the cycle progresses. Peace.

 

Today is Election Day in Florida. Voters throughout the State, who have not already voted early or via absentee ballot, will go to the polls today. It is the Presidential Preference Primary for registered Republicans but there are other items on the ballot in counties throughout the State.

The Republican race in Florida, is really down to Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich. They have beat up on each other in interviews and via advertisements. The momentum appears to be in Romney's favor with many established Republicans supporting his candidacy. Gingrich says he's in for the long haul even if Romney takes Florida. Romney has spent five times more than Gingrich and has the backing of high-profile Republicans, so one would expect him to be ahead by a larger margin than the polls indicate.

Regardless of who the winner is in this race in Florida, the negative campaigning has been despicable. With so many lies and partial truths being told, once again, I suggest you do your own research or consult with someone you trust is objective. Up next, Nevada!

 

Here is a video of Bill Press guest hosting the Countdown with Keith Olbermann Show. So, a CNN producer warmed up the crowd at the presidential debate in Charleston, SC. encouraging the audience to make as much noise as possible as if the debate was The Jerry Springer Show? Shame on CNN. 

You know it really doesn’t matter who the Republican presidential nominee is, President Obama will clean their clock. 

 

 

 

Newt Gingrich has won the South Carolina Republican Primary and Mitt Romney came in second place. Gingrich has effectively thrown enough red meat at Republican South Carolina voters to overcome Romney’s hefty campaign war chest and Gingrich's ex-wife’s disclosures about their marriage.

The outcome of this race is not entirely surprising. Gingrich’s ability to play to the public and Romney’s income tax issue and inability to connect with voters have set the stage and made the upcoming Florida Primary all the more important.

Romney has now only won New Hampshire after narrowly losing to Rick Santorum in Iowa. It appears Romney can’t rally the conservative base of the Republican Party so how long can he hold on before suspending his campaign?

 

The reality of the suppressive nature of Florida's voting laws became painfully clear recently to Palm Beach County high school civics teacher Jill Cicciarelli.

What did she do? Well, for starters, she registered 50 of her students to vote without first registering with the state as a "third-party voter registration organization," and the completed registration forms were not turned in within 48 hours.

Such are the obstacles the Republican-dominated Florida Legislature put in place to suppress new voter registration --- and prevent the re-election of President Barack Obama but let me not go there just yet.

Ms. Cicciarelli's name was forwarded to the Florida Secretary of State's Office for engaging in unlawful voter registration. She's also subject to a $50 fine for each late registration, up to $1,000.

Hmmm...What an incredible teaching and learning moment for Jill Cicciarelli and her students. I wonder what they think about our government in action. What say you?

The 2010 General Election is over and the beat down taken by the Democratic Party is well documented. Since that debacle, the chair of the Florida Democratic Party (FDP), Karen Thurman, resigned – as many Party leaders wanted. Her replacement, if left to traditional Party leadership, will be Rod Smith. You know Smith from other political bids, his latest as running mate for Alex Sink who was beat out by political newcomer Rick Scott in the race for Governor.

Enter one Andrew Gillum, 31 year-old Commissioner in Tallahassee. Tall, handsome, intelligent, articulate and charismatic. Oh and don’t let his youth fool you, he has been involved in politics for much of his life. Gillum, who I met when he was student government president at Florida A&M, has stepped up to challenge Smith to lead the Florida Dems. He may be just the new blood the Democratic Party needs, if not, the 2012 elections may be tantamount to Slaughter Round Two.

Here is Gillum’s  announcement of his candidacy:

Fellow Democrats,

In order to win, the Florida Democratic Party needs a fresh start.

Our previous losses were not due to a lack of work ethic. I know because I was on the ground with you, fighting, raising money and knocking on doors. We lost because we failed to communicate a clear, concise reason to vote with us locally and statewide.

Somewhere along the way we forgot why we were fighting.

When I was growing up, my mother Frances held down two jobs. She was a school bus driver and in-between her morning and afternoon shift she worked at a local dry cleaners, pressing and washing other people’s clothes. It was her battle with unfair labor treatment, and the support of her local union, that taught me the value of organized labor, and the power of everyday Floridians working together to take care of one another.

My father was a construction worker, his face and hands weathered by long and rough days working on construction sites in Florida. His decades of hard work meant nothing when he fell ill, because his blue-collar employers refused to provide him healthcare. That’s what inspired me to fix our broken healthcare system, insisting on real reform.

These are the types of Floridians that lose their voice when we lose elections.

When you cast your vote for the next Chair of the Florida Democratic Party, you face a tough choice. And it should be tough. Millions of Floridians like my mother and my father depend on having an aggressive, viable opposition party in Tallahassee and a party that will protect Democratic wins and gain members in the US Congress and US Senate.

The choice you make in January is not about who wants to elect Democrats the most, it’s about the entire future of our party in 2012 and beyond.

My entire adult life has been dedicated to building the bench of our party and raising money for candidates who fight for everyday Floridians. When I won my first election nearly eight years ago, I became the youngest City Commissioner in Tallahassee history. Since then, I have organized statewide, and I’ve raised more than $6 million in support of progressive officials and college leaders around the country.

I’ll bring this same energy to our party, which faces numerous challenges.

First, we cannot afford another disastrous redistricting by the right-wing Tallahassee Legislature. If it weren’t for gerrymandering after the 2000 elections, our outgoing Chair Karen Thurman would still be in Congress fighting for economic recovery, healthcare reform, and jobs.
If given a chance to lead, I have the confidence and competence to execute a winning plan for our party that will once again make us a competitive force in Florida politics.

Fundraising – Restructure our fundraising operation to support both local and statewide candidates. We can’t win statewide unless we win locally. I will strengthen our fundraising base by launching a small donor initiative to recruit every registered Democrat in Florida to make a small donor gift to the Florida Democratic Party, with proceeds split between the state party local DECs.

Staffing Structure – Conduct a complete assessment of the party staffing and strategically restructure our organization to incorporate a robust Communications, Research, and Policy Department and a Constituency & Outreach Department, to include college & youth, caucus and elected official outreach.

Building the Bench – Launch an initiative with local DECs, beginning immediately, to recruit and train local candidates and campaign managers, field organizers, finance directors, communications staff, and volunteer coordinators.

Redistricting Plan – Assemble a talented panel of attorneys and redistricting experts to create a counter redistricting proposal that will ensure an equitable plan that fully incorporates the intentions of Amendments 5 and 6.

Fighting the Radical Right – Create an opposition research team to closely monitor the actions of the Republican Party and its leaders to expose corruption, double standards or efforts to force its ultra-conservative agenda on Floridians.

I want to be your voice.

One of the most important considerations for the Florida Democratic Party right now, unfortunately, is perception. That’s why we need an entirely new voice. As a young, energetic elected Democrat, I will help deliver our fresh message to Floridians.

In order to bring about the fresh start we need to win, I’m asking for your vote.

It goes without saying that the FDP has some damage control to do to maintain the loyalty of many black voters who felt slighted and taken for granted during the 2010 mid-term elections, especially in South Florida. There is rising dissatisfaction with the Republicans and the Democrats but the Dems have the most to lose and if the FDP leaders continue to be out-of-step with Florida voters, the Democratic bloodletting will continue.

Related Links:

Rising Star Andrew Gillum, 31, Enters Race for Florida Democratic Chair

Andrew Gillum in challenge for Florida Democratic Party chairman post

Tony Hill: State Democrats need "fresh blood"

 

 

Political newcomer Rick Scott has upset the Florida Republican Party with his victory over veteran politician Bill McCollum. Scott spent $30 million of his own money in this race and it’s likely the pattern will continue as he meets Democrat Alex Sink in November.

Scott flooded the media with negative campaign ads against McCollum and made no secret of his anti-Obama sentiments.   There is still something very wrong with spending obscene amounts of money on political campaigns but that is what our election system has become with the roll back of campaign finance restrictions.

In another hotly contested race, Kendrick Meek easily won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate over billionaire Jeff Greene who like Rick Scott spent millions in personal funds for his campaign. Meek will face Republican Marco Rubio and Independent Charlie Crist.

The weeks leading up to the General Election will be more than interesting. Keep an eye on Florida.