This Week in Politics

President Obama and Mitt Romney both visited the area last week and the stunning disparity between the two types of appearances both made said a lot about modern politics, as well as the state of our country. If you wanted to see either candidate in the flesh, you had two choices. Stand in hot, sweaty lines with the plebes hoping to get tickets, then show up hours before and wait in blistering heat, only to see and hear them from afar as you try to snap a salvageable photo with your phone in one hand while the other slathers sunblock on your neck. Or, you could break out your checkbook and spend tens of thousands of dollars for a quick meet 'n' greet and an I'm a big shot photo, complete with the handshake pose to hang on your office wall. Candidates often complain about one accusing the other of class warfare, but it seems as though it's they who are waging it against the voters.

The President, who's opened a 9-point lead in the Sunshine State, picked up a quick $1.7 million from 85 supporters willing to plunk down $20,000 each to hear Pearl Jam front-man Eddie Vedder do a couple of acoustic numbers at the palatial estate of one of late land developer Eddie DeBartolo's trust fund grandchildren in Tampa. Mr. Romney held a VIP get together before a speech at the Ritz Carlton. The backroom gathering was for supporters who'd given or raised at least $25,000. Reportedly, no one was sunburned at either event, though rumor had it a few guests got mild indigestion from mediocre lobster quiche.

****************************************************************

I wrote last week about some of the propaganda emails circulating, but they've now hit the mainstream press. Democrats in Sarasota will be rallying today to protest a tasteless attack ad printed by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune in which a group took out a full page ad to accuse the President of planning to force U.S. companies to fire U.S. citizens and give their jobs to illegal immigrants, force doctors to assist homosexuals in “buying surrogate babies,” and other charges involving the Muslim Brotherhood and Sharia law. I know as well as anyone that print media ad sales are hurting, but seriously?

Kindra Muntz, a spokesperson for the protest group, said the advertisement was “full of glaring falsehoods, and was clearly designed to stimulate religious, racist and cultural fears of Muslims, immigrants, and of Barack Obama. The nation needs debate of the real policy differences between the parties. This kind of inflammatory rhetoric prevents debate and is damaging to the nation and to our community. The Herald-Tribune should have had the good judgment not to print it.”

*****************************************************************

We learned this week that former Manatee School Superintendent Tim McGonegal will not have to answer questions during the forthcoming forensic audit to learn how $8 million disappeared from the books. Board attorney John Bowen said at a recent meeting that since McGonegal's no longer an employee, he can't be compelled to talk to anyone. Funny, but I don't remember Bowen advising on that matter at the September 10 meeting when the board was informed of the resignation.

Does that mean that if they had chosen not to accept his resignation, they would have been entitled to some answers? Does that mean that he might not have gotten such a sweet exit package? It's odd, but I only found out this week that Bowen was the “board's” attorney. After watching several year's of the board's meetings and learning some of what goes on behind the scenes, I would have sworn he worked for the superintendent ...