Martinez supports ANWR Drilling

Senator Mel Martinez cast a yes vote on cloture for the Defense bill which includes authorization of Artic National Wildlife Reserve oil drilling. Bill Nelson cast a "no" vote. Cloture was being involked to break a Democratic led Filibuster against the bill due to the drilling provisions.

Pruitt designated as Senate President

Senate Republicans designated Port St Lucie based Senator Ken Pruitt to be President of the Senate beginning in November 2006, yesterday. Pruitt will be the latest in a line of somewhat moderate leaders of the upper chamber who have been less cooperative with the current administration than their house colleagues. The GOP holds a 26-14 edge in the Senate heading into the 2006 Elections.

Republicans designate Ken Pruitt as Senate President

The Senate GOP caucus has designated Ken Pruitt of Port St Lucie to be the next Senate President. Pruitt is the latest is a line of independent minded Republican leaders who have been less cooperative with Governor Bush than their House colleagues. Pruitt will become President of the Senate in November 2006.

St Pete Times blacklisted by Bill O'Reilly

Former scandal mongering Inside Edition host Bill O'Reilly who has reinvented himself as a conservative political hack for Fox News has blacklisted the St Pete Times and placed them on his "enemies list" ala J. Edgar Hoover, for "regularly helping to distribute misinformation supplied by the far left." O'Reilly ever the watchdog of the liberal media also placed MSNBC thanks to Keith Olbermann, one of the few truth tellers about Bill O'Reilly around today (along with Al Franken, and Ariana Huffington who keeps a running tab of O'Reilly's mistatements on her website Huffingtonpost.com) on the blacklist as well.

Martinez stumping hard for Crist

This morning's St Petersburg Times has an article desrcibing the campaign activities Senator Mel Martinez has embarked on to help Charlie Crist win the GOP nomination for Governor. Crist actively backed Martinez in the GOP Primary for Senate last year and now Martinez is returning the favor.