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2011 Florida Netroots Awards Voting Now Open

October 5, 2011 by Kenneth

Voting is available here!

Visit the link above to cast your vote. The original rules for the overall awards are here. The first round of voting begins now and goes through October 21. A run-off round will take place the week after that, if necessary. The winners will be announced Sunday, October 30, at the Florida Democratic Convention in Orlando and posted online shortly after that.

And now, the nominees…

1. Best National Blog: Blogs written by Floridians that covers primarily national politics. (Last Year’s Winner: The Reid Report)

Beach Peanuts, http://www.beachpeanuts.com
Empire of Dirt, http://empireofdirt77.blogspot.com/
Florida Progressive Coalition, http://flaprogressives.org
Pensito Review http://www.pensitoreview.com/
Ranger Against War, http://www.rangeragainstwar.blogspot.com/
Saint Petersblog, http://saintpetersblog.com/
SOG City Oracle, http://sogcityoracle.blogspot.com/
The Spencerian, http://warnerkirby.blogs.com/

Want to help build Awake The State?

October 5, 2011 by Kenneth

We’ve done some extraordinary things together, but now it’s time to take the next step and build a lasting movement to fight back against budget cuts and stand up for Florida’s forgotten middle class.

Register for the first ever Awake The State Summit today and make history with us.

From October 22-23, Awake The State organizers and supporters from around the state will come together at the University of Central Florida in Orlando to organize and build a strong movement in every corner of Florida. Since our first successful protest on March 8th, which drew 15,000 Floridians in more than 40 locations from Pensacola to Key West, Awake The State organizers and supporters have started building local networks of allies to make our movement a permanent part of their own communities. We want to nurture and grow these remarkable efforts.

FPC Blogger and Activist Mike Cantone Running for Orlando Mayor

October 5, 2011 by Kenneth

Visit his official web site.

His remarks as prepared:

Today we start a journey to City Hall to transform a politics in this City that is stuck in the past.

My name is Mike Cantone and I am running for Mayor of Orlando!

I love Orlando. Orlando is my home and my community. Like all of you, it is where I feel I belong and where I want to be. But Orlando is no longer a small town of citrus farms run by the ‘good ole boys’ – we are an international destination hot spot and it’s time we become the world-class city we are meant to be. We need bold progressive leadership – leadership that may not always get what it wants and understands that – but leadership that nonetheless pushes a platform to inspire our community, to celebrate our diversity and to propel Orlando forward while welcoming the world to our City Beautiful. I run for Mayor of Orlando to empower my community and those around me. I run to propose new policies at a time where it is unmistakably clear that we are headed in the wrong direction.

Winner and Loser of the Day

October 5, 2011 by Kenneth

Winner: Everyone — Sarah Palin isn’t running for president.

Loser: Mac users — Apple founder Steve Jobs died.

Post of the Day

October 5, 2011 by Kenneth

From Saint Petersblog:

Senate mapmakers will draw legislative districts that run east to west as they carve new political boundaries for the Panhandle, members of the Senate Reapportionment Committee agreed Wednesday, reports Brandon Larrabee of the News Service of Florida.

The bipartisan consensus answers the tricky question of how to divide Northwest Florida, where rural residents from the northern part of the region feared having their votes diluted by more urbanized coastal areas. Some residents at public meetings had pushed for districts that run north to south, only to encounter pushback from rural interests.

The current districts are already horizontal, an arrangement the Senate panel decided to continue with.

“I think it’s our responsibility to do everything we can to respond to the wishes of these people, and draw the district lines horizontally,” said Sen. Alan Hays, R-Umatilla.

There’s more…