Crunch Bee Ridge

Come join us TODAY at Crunch Bee Ridge. Games, food, fun, and all for charity... Open to the public 

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Jordan Letschert

JordanLetschert.com

Florida has worst voter turn out in 16 Years

Florida voter turnout was worst in 16 years

By Lloyd Dunkelberger , Herald-Tribune 

/ Friday, August 29, 2014

TALLAHASSEE

Florida recorded its worst voter turnout in the last 16 years in Tuesday’s primary election.

Only 17.5 percent of the state’s 11.8 million voters made it to the polls. It was the lowest turnout since 16.6 percent of the voters participated in the 1998 primary election.

Gov. Rick Scott, left, and Charlie Crist. (AP photos)

One of the main reasons for the lack of voter excitement is that there were no exciting statewide races on the ballot. The primary victories of Gov. Rick Scott and former Gov. Charlie Crist were foregone conclusions. George Sheldon bested state Rep. Perry Thurston for the Democratic nomination for attorney general – but the race drew little attention because neither candidate could afford a television advertising campaign.

The turnout winner was Liberty County, Florida’s smallest county, where nearly 50 percent of the voters made it to the polls. But voter turnout was dismal in Florida’s largest counties, where the major campaigns will be won or lost in the November general election.

Broward County finished next to last in the state with a 10.77 percent turnout. Not too far behind were Palm Beach County at 12 percent and Miami-Dade, Florida’s largest county, at 14.4 percent.

Those three counties happen to be a bastion of Democratic voters, holding 32 percent of the 4.6 million Democrats in the state. Broward and Miami-Dade together have 1.1 million Democrats.

Turnout will be higher in the Nov. 4 general election. But if the trend continues it will favor Scott’s re-election and a defeat for Crist. As a parallel, in 2010, 22 percent of the voters turned out for the primary, with 48.7 percent in the general election.

But Broward finished last in the state in turnout in 2010 at 41 percent in the general election, followed closely by Miami-Dade at 41.5 percent, giving Scott a narrow victory over Alex Sink, his Democratic challenger.

The same scenario may be playing out this year. But there is a wildcard and another reason that explains Florida’s low turnout rates, particularly in the primary elections.

Florida is a closed primary state. That means only Democrats can vote in Democratic primary elections and Republicans in Republican primaries. Yet nearly a quarter of the electorate is now registering as independent – or “no party affiliation” – voters.

NPA voters often have little reason to participate in primaries, having a chance to cast their votes in a handful of school board races, municipal contests or judgeships. But they can fully participate in the general election and with 2.7 million voters can make a difference in a statewide race.

The NPA voters skew to the younger side. An analysis earlier this year by Susan MacManus, a University of South Florida political scientist, showed a quarter of those voters were under the age of 30 and 61 percent of the NPA voters were under the age of 49.

A potential draw for those voters in November will be a constitutional amendment allowing the use of medical marijuana in Florida. The initiative may or may not increase turnout.

Complicating the turnout scenarios is the presence of Adrian Wyllie, a Libertarian candidate for governor who will be on the November ballot. The heavily negative tone of the Scott-Crist contest could drive some voters to Wyllie, particularly if he can raise his profile.

As with the major parties, the battle over the NPA voters will also be waged in Florida’s biggest counties. Some 30 percent the NPA voters are in Southeast Florida, with Miami-Dade holding the largest group with 354,000 NPA voters.

And like the Republicans and Democrats, the biggest question remains: how many of those voters will be coming to the polls?

Mote Marine

Join a great cause as Mote Marine in Sarasota Fl develops a new way to grow coral 3x faster than in nature. What does this mean for you? Restoration of our coral reefs , re establish natural underwater habitats, and preserve our tourism industry!

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Jordan Letschert

Ebola

How much do we really know about Ebola? A Virus half way across the world until now, how much research have we really done? One thing is certain, now that its in America, we will learn much more...

But an immediate concern is the public is told its hard to catch... Yet Aid workers who have the proper protective gear are still contracting this deadly virus.

Perhaps we don't know exactly how Ebola is spread... After all it hasn't been an American problem until now with 2 confirmed cases to date in Dallas Texas,

With flu season upon us, thousands will flock to Emergency Rooms across our nation this season. The problem is so many Ebola symptoms initially mimic many illnesses which induce fever.

The next few months will be interesting

#Ebola

Regards

Jordan Letschert

Marriage Equality

Today SCOTUS made yet another landmark decision.... By choosing NOT to hear appeals by lower courts on the issue of same sex marriage. In other words... Appeal denied and the lower courts rulings striking down same sex marriage bans have no more appeals or recourse... NC may begin same sex marriages by the end of the week..

Keep in mind despite fear speach, religious groups, churches ect are exempt and are not forced to hold such events. But let's be real. Would ANYONE want someone to officiate their wedding who doesn't want to? No of course not...

Next Presbyterian and other denominations now ALLOW and preform same sex marriages... So isn't NOT allowing someone of faith to marry in fact infringing on their rights....

This all goes back to the equal protection clause under the Constitution...

Remember a judge, boat captain ect can marry you.. It DOES NOT have to be religious based. Hence Athiests can marry... Fact is, the Pope himself can marry you and perhaps in the eyes of the Church you are married BUT WITHOUT a marriage license WHICH IS A GOVT DOCUMENT you are NOT married in the eyes of our govt who gives over 1100 benefits to married couples..

No gay tax breaks folks... Gays pay the same taxes into public schools as straight ppl but in many states can't marry or adopt and use said schools so how is paying that tax even justified??? Some would say " for the betterment of society" well we use to "allow" African Americans" to ride the same bus but sit in the back and have public restrooms and water fountains separate than those for whites and that didn't go over so well...

Keep in mind if your Republican you SHOULD believe in smaller govt meaning they should NOT involve themselves in marriage licenses and who gets them... If so NYC could ban straight marriages or not give drivers licenses to ppl whose last name starts with an "R" 

Its a slippery slope when equality is not recognized.... Now this doesn't mean you as a person must like and embrace same sex marriage, but our govt does if we indeed are all created equal..

Again marriage is a govt document that needs no religion for validity.. Ask any married Athiest...

If your gonna take someone's tax dollars then they get the same rights.... Otherwise ppl start dumping Tea into the Harbor... Ask our founders how they felt when they didn't receive equality for their tax dollars 

Regards

Jordan Letschert

ARTIST DINO ROSIN

We got this piece in Murano Italy from artist Dino Rosin

Jordan letschert 

WHAT DOES PUTIN WANT...

http://www.blueforcetracker.com/article/What-does-Putin-want

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Jordan Letschert