FLORIDA FOCUS: Blogs, Obama, Christine Jennings, Joe Garcia, Groups and Events

BLOGGING FLORIDA: FLA Politics covers the Florida Netroots and Florida politics.

The Florida Progressive Coalition coverse progressive politics in Florida.

Here are some stories of interest:

Raul Martinez and Joe Garcia in the News

Governors Debate Biofuels (and a reminder of my own view on biofuels). Seems to me oil and coal producing states are pushing to stop biofuels, corn and soy producing states want biofuels based on corn and soy, and wood producing states want biofuels based on wood. No surprise there. But we really do need a smart policy here.


Here are some Obama events in Florida:

Brevard County Young Democrats (Meeting)
Monthly Brevard Young Democrats Meeting
Time: Wednesday, July 23 at 7:00 PM
Location:
House of Joe (Melbourne, FL)
1220 W New Haven Ave # 150
Melbourne, FL 32901

"Pizza & Politics" in Sarasota (Meeting)

Join the Suncoast Stonewall Democrats and the Sarasota-Manatee Young Democrats for Pizza and Politics! Bring your Obama signs, generate excitement about the campaign and meet other local Democratic candidates to discuss our issues.

Time: Friday, July 25 at 7:00 PM
Contact Phone: 941-320-8643
Location:
Primo Ristorante (Sarasota, FL)
8076 North Tamiami Trail
Sarasota, FL 34243

Brooksville Voter Registration Drive (Voter Registration Drive)

We will be meeting at the Save-A-Lot on Broad Street (get mapquest directions) at noon. We will break into groups and canvas surrounding neighborhoods to encourage registration. I will provide all of the documents needed. The stand at the Save-A-Lot will be presented in a non-partisan manner, but feel free to wear whatever gear you want.

Time: Saturday, July 26 at 12:00 PM
Contact Phone: 352-327-3728
Location:
Save-A-Lot (Brooksville, FL)
676 S Broad St.
Brooksville, FL 34601

Register (Voter Registration Drive)

South St. Petersburg Florida needs to get people registered and excited about the process. Florida will be a crucial state in the general.

Time: Friday, August 15 at 6:00 PM
Location:
Coquina Key Shopping Plaza (Saint Petersburg, FL)
6th St South and 43rd Ave South
Saint Petersburg, FL 33705


Next I want to continue to present information on some good candidates in Florida. Here is a video from Christine Jennings campaign for Congress (13th District) thanking her supporters:



Volunteer for Christine Jennings here. I met her back in 2006 and was GREATLY impressed. Both Joy and I compared her with Ann Richards of Texas.

And from Joe Garcia's campaign for Congress (25th District) comes this endorsement by the AFL-CIO:



Aqui es un video que Joe Garcia habla sobre la guerra en Iraq (Lo siento, mi Espanol es muy mal!):



Here is another video of Joe Garcia discussing our Troops:



If you can help out, please visit Joe Garcia's website.


Here are some Florida groups, events and chances to help out some good candidates:

Miami-Dade Democratic Black Caucus Regularly Scheduled Meeting
Second Saturday of every month at 10 AM
Event Location: El-Portal City Hall 500 NE 87 Street, The Village of El-Portal.

We welcome new membership, please join us, free continental breakfast served! Honorable Joyce A. Davis, President 305-754-0934

Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Miami-Dade
Fourth Wednesday of every month, 7:00PM
Hoja Nueva Restaurant at the Westin Colonade
Please attend the monthly meeting for the Miami Dade Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Florida. For more info: 305 632-0036

Miami Dade Cuban American Democratic Club
Miami Dade Cuban American Democratic Club Breakfast Meeting
Event Location: “Versailles” restaurant located at 3555 SW 8 ST Miami, FL 33135 Fourth Saturday of each month, 9:00 a.m. (If this is the same Versailles Cuban restaurant that I know in California, the food is fantastic! Particularly the roast chicken and rost pork).

The Miami Dade Cuban American Democratic Club invites you to its next breakfast meeting at “Versailles” restaurant located at 3555 SW 8 St
Cost: $15 per person.

For more info contact: Hector Caraballo (President, Miami Dade Cuban American Democratic Club) at hector_at_miamicubandems.org

MIAMI-DADE YOUNG DEMS MONTHLY MEETING
Fourth Tuesday of every month, 7pm
Location:
Gordon Biersch
1201 Biscayne Ave. Miami, FL 33131
For info: 786-425-1130

Peace Vigil West New Haven 5:00PM - 6:30PM
First Wednesday of the month at the "Peace Corner" 1700 West New Haven (just west of the Melbourne Square Mall). Signs provided or bring your own. Please bring nonperishable food items for "Food Not Bombs". Food is distributed to local families in need.

More info 321-720-3520 or vimpoco@cfl.rr.com
Organization: Patriots For Peace

Weekly Peace Vigil in Homosassa
Every Tuesday, 4:00 PM
Meet at Hardee's at Route 19 & Hall's River Road - Homosassa

Call Ed Murphy 382-0876 for more info

Weekly Peace Vigil in Inverness
Every Thursday, 5:00 PM
Old Citrus Courthouse

Call Beverly at 400-4174 for more info

Planned Parenthood Mixer
Join us at On Tapp Lounge for our monthly mixer with Planned Parenthood. On Tapp is located on New Haven Haven just before you go over the Melbourne Causeway on the left side.

We meet at 5:30 pm the 4th Tuesday of every month. Brevard NOW and Planned Parenthood will celebrate the 35th anniversary of Roe v Wade and discuss the 2008 plans for both our organization. For more info, please call Michele Paccione/President at 480-9295 or e-mail at shellymk1@aol.com
Organization: Brevard NOW
Event link: www.myspace.com/brevardnow

Sumter County Democratic Club
P.O. Box 1066 Wildwood, FL 34785
General Meeting at 7:00 p.m. on the 2nd Thursday of every month Sumterville Community Center

Tri-County Women's Democratic Club
General Meeting at 9:30 a.m. on the 1st Monday of every month at the Sumter County Sheriff's Annex on Highway 466 @ Morse Boulevard.

Charlotte County Democrats meeting
The Charlotte County Democratic Club meets on the second Saturday of every month. Please join us at 9:30 AM for coffee and snacks. The meeting starts at 10 AM. Location is the upstairs meeting room at the Public Library on Aaron Street in Port Charlotte. Call 743-5560 for directions or more info.


And for those interested in a more fun way to be liberal, here are Florida's Drinking Liberal groups:

Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
* Every Thursday, 7:00 pm onward
* Island Jack's Patio Bar and Grille, 5425 W Atlantic Blvd, Margate (just East of 441)
* Hosted by Jacqueline Hope Derby and Dave Pfeffer, ftlauderdale (at) drinkingliberally.org

Orlando, Florida
* Every Wednesday, 6:00 pm onward
* Johnny's Fillin' Station, 2706 S Ferncreek Ave (NE corner of Michigan and Fern Creek)
* Hosted by Dan Hill, orlando (at) drinkingliberally.or

Pensacola, Florida
* Every Thursday, 7:00 pm onward
* Intermission, 214 S Palafox St
* Hosted by Terry Welch, pensacola (at) drinkingliberally.org

Tallahassee, Florida
* Third Thursday of each month, 6:00 pm onward
* Gill's Tavern, 2545 North Monroe Street
* Hosted by Sharon Collins, tallahassee (at) drinkingliberally.org

South Tampa
* First Thursday of each month, 7:00 pm onward
* MacDintons Irish Pub, 405 S Howard Ave, Tampa (map)
* Hosted by Shadia Alame and Kirk Sander, southtampa (at) drinkingliberally.org

St. Petersburg
* Last Thursday of each month, 8:30 pm onward
* Limey's Pub, 1492 4th St N
* Hosted by Connor Davis and Dave Lee, stpetersburg (at) drinkingliberally.org

Brandon
* Every Thursday, 7:00 pm onward
* Old Chicago, 2042 Badlands Dr (Outside patio)
* Hosted by Joe Litton and Shirley Litton, brandon (at) drinkingliberally.org

Land O Lakes
* Second Tuesday of each month, 7:00-9:00 pm
* Rapscallions, 4422 Land O Lakes Blvd (US-41)
* Hosted by Brian Reach and Michael Greenman, landolakes (at) drinkingliberally.org