Author Archives: Kartik Krishnaiyer
National media rises to the occasion during Matthew
Through the years I have often noted that the reaction of the national press to Superstorm Sandy was different than many had to Hurricane Katrina or other storms that have hit Florida or the Gulf Coast. It seems in the past, for many in the media if storms don’t hit the northeast corridor stretching from […]
Governor Scott and the media play hype politics with Hurricane Matthew
Governor Scott’s decision to declare a State of Emergency days before Hurricane Matthew is projected to be in the vicinity of the state and at a time when only one of six major models used by forecasters has the center of the storm even brushing the state must be political. Or perhaps a desperate play […]
Florida’s October hurricane history
With Major Hurricane Matthew burrowing through the Caribbean this provides a perfect time look back at October hurricanes in the state of Florida. While the most dangerous part of Hurricane Season ends in September, historically Florida has been far more vulnerable to late season storms than other parts of the United States. In fact, according […]
Donald Trump, Cuba, conservatism and the American fifth column
Immoral laws are meant to be broken – at least that’s what those of us with morals believe. Donald Trump’s violation of the US embargo against Cuba wasn’t an act of civil disobedience but one of a man with a disregard for the rule of law. “There is only one course open to someone like […]
Conservative groups playing hard in Democratic primaries
The push by conservative groups to continue dominating the legislative process in the state of Florida has this year intensified with unprecedented spending and interest in Democratic primaries. Since most seats in the legislature and Florida’s congressional delegation are essentially decided in partisan primaries, groups aligned with Republican interests have wisely chosen to engage heavily […]
Insurance industry and corporate interestes looking to influence Democratic primaries
Nothing scares corporate Florida and the insurance industry more than the sight of a trial lawyer in office. That’s what Gary Farmer is facing in Senate District 34 where a barrage of mailers backed by GOP interests have hit the Parkland attorney seeking to throw the seat to former State Representative Jim Waldman. As a […]
School “choice” supporters playing hard in Democratic Primaries
Former State Representative Jim Waldman and current Rep. Gwen Clarke-Reed have gotten a power assists in State Senate District 34 race from a group associated with John Kirtley, the Tampa-area venture capitalist that is the chief funder of school “choice” efforts in the state of Florida. The Florida Federation for Children a group headed by Kirtley has […]
The Republican Zika narrative
A loyal TFS reader who is a constituent of Congressman Gus Bilirakis sent us the response he got when inquiring about Zika funding. This is the standard Republican line for not dealing with the issue head-on as a crisis begins to develop here in the state of Florida. Dear XXX: Thank you for contacting me […]
Is Brexit the end of the world as we know it? It very well could be…but perhaps not
I have to admit that despite editorializing in favor of Brexit from a progressive point of view last week that I felt sick all night Thursday and all day Friday because of the outcome. To conceptualize something is different than to actually see it happen – I found myself all the way until kickoff of […]
Virgin Atlantic doubling Orlando-Belfast nonstops
Coinciding with Northern Ireland’s remarkable progression to the knockout stages of the Euro 2016 soccer tournament in France and the Brexit vote, Virgin Atlantic will double nonstops next summer from Belfast (International) to Orlando. The route will now operate twice weekly. The Virgin route to Orlando is one of only two transatlantic routes from the […]
The Florida Squeeze 