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Author: Fran Dance
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Elections

Why would anyone vote for Donald Trump?

The following Letter to the Editor was published in The Daily Sun on Nov 28, 2023.  Submit your own letter by clicking HERE. I have written on this subject before and will continue until the cult begins to open their eyes. I am completely void of reasons why anyone would still vote for Donald Trump

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Analysis

Florida’s voter suppression efforts are crucial to GOP edge in 2024

By  BARRINGTON SALMON,  Florida Phoenix, Nov 27, 2023. Photo by Hill Street Studios/Getty Images. In November 2018, 64.5 percent of Florida voters approved a constitutional amendment that would automatically restore voting rights to 1.4 million Floridians weighed down by felony convictions but who had completed the terms of their sentences. However, that hard-earned victory by social justice activist

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Environment

Change in weather patterns need attention

The following editorial was published in The Daily Sun on Nov 27, 2023. OUR POSITION: No matter your politics, it’s difficult to deny our weather patterns are changing and it’s not a temporary problem. Floridians don’t really need scientists and research reports to tell us our weather is changing — and getting warmer. Seemingly endless summer

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Health Care

Unsheltered and mental health issues are often related

The following editorial was published in The Daily Sun on Nov 21, 2023. OUR POSITION: Our unsheltered population deals with a much-larger than normal amount of mental health issues and the problem needs to be addressed. The mental and behavioral health crises confronting our communities throughout Florida, as well as nationally, is no more pronounced than

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Candidate Profile

Dem state lawmakers support Debbie Mucarsel-Powell for US Senate

By MITCH PERRY , Florida Phoenix,  Nov. 20, 2023. A dozen sitting state lawmakers and one former state legislator announced Monday that they are the latest group of Florida Democrats to publicly declare their support for Debbie Mucarsel-Powell for U.S. Senate in 2024. State Sens. Tracie Davis and Victor Torres are endorsing the former South Florida member

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Opinion

Books are not the enemy; book bans are

The following editorial was published in The Daily Sun on Nov 14, 2023.  On the same date, the Sarasota County Commission voted 4 to 1 to discontinue membership in the American Library Association and the Florida Library Association. Why are some people so scared of books? People are agitating to have books they object to

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Opinion

Cooper Street Rec: Charting a new course for Punta Gorda

The following opinion was written by Jaha Cummings and published in The Daily Sun on Nov 15, 2023.  As a deeply invested fifth-generation resident of Punta Gorda, I am privileged to witness the transformative role of the Cooper Street Recreation Center in our community. This center is not just a physical space but a symbol

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News

Nothing good comes from bullying

The following editorial was published in The Daily Sun on November 15, 2023. OUR POSITION: The horrible incident at L.A. Ainger Middle School that resulted in the serious injury of a student is a reminder that people must stand up to bullying and for those less able to stand up for themselves. There should be no

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Events

Attend our next Englewood Democratic Club meeting on Nov 29th

When: Wednesday, November 29th at 5:30 PM Location: The Elsie Quirk Library, 100 N. Dearborn Avenue, Englewood After a brief business meeting, Ron Cutsinger, the chair of the Sarasota County Commission, 5th District, will speak. After Ron’s presentation he will answer any questions you may have. Light refreshments will be served after the meeting. Sign up for the meeting

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News

Cooper Street Rec Center supporters want information

By ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH, Staff Writer, The Daily Sun, Nov 1, 2023. The Cooper Street Recreation Center,  Image by ELAINE ALLEN-EMRICH PUNTA GORDA — Charlotte County NAACP President Connie Payne asked the Punta Gorda City Council for communication, connection, engagement and partnership with them for future operations of the Cooper Street Rec Center. At the Wednesday City Council meeting,

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Elections

Democrats’ all-purpose message for 2024: Defeat MAGA chaos

By Jennifer Rubin,Washington Post Columnist, October 30, 2023. Trump supporters at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. (Jose Luis Magana/AP) President Biden has diligently and accurately identified four-times-indicted former president Donald Trump as a threat to democracy. Trump, Biden has noted, headed a plot to overturn the results of an election, repeatedly stoked violence, targeted individuals and companies for retribution and bolstered Russian President Vladimir

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Analysis

Why does the media bash Biden?

By Jennifer Rubin,  The Washington Post, Oct 27, 2023. The gulf between President Biden’s performance in office and the coverage of his presidency is as vast as it has been in any modern presidency. Biden has steered the country out of a recession and pandemic, gotten through a slew of critical legislation (some bipartisan), avoided

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Events

Join Englewood Dems at their monthly Membership Meeting on Oct 25th

The Englewood Democratic Club cordially invites you to join us at our next monthly Membership Meeting on Wednesday, October 25th at 5:30. Location: Englewood Chamber of Commerce, 601 S. Indiana Ave., Englewood No Zoom meeting; in person only  After a brief business meeting, the newly appointed Charlotte County Supervisor of Elections, Leah Valenti, will speak about

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Environment

Floridians paying price for growth in high insurance bills

The following editorial was published in the Miami Herald. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis brags about how many people are pouring into Florida. But all that growth isn’t necessarily a good thing. That’s the conclusion of a report by a major global re-insurance company that draws links between the state’s soaring home insurance costs and the

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Analysis

Biden leads the global response to the Middle East crisis

By Heather Cox Richardson from Letters from an American ,Oct 18, 2023.  Biden will address America tonight at 8 pm eastern from the Oval Office. President Joe Biden spoke today in Tel Aviv, Israel, reiterating support for the Israelis but also hammering on the need to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Biden called the actions

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Biden's Vision

President Biden doing his best to lift us up

The following Letter to the Editor was published in The Daily Sun on Oct 18,2023. President Biden has recently delivered powerful addresses following the Hamas terrorist attacks in Israel. If you have not heard his remarks, you can see the first of his speeches on YouTube or read a transcript available at www.whitehouse.gov. As the

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Economy

Citizens Insurance clients may face decision soon

The following editorial was published in The Daily Sun on Oct 17, 2023. OUR POSITION: Trying to cull customers from Citizens Insurance is needed, but not at the expense of homeowners still struggling to recover from hurricanes. It’s well documented and certainly no secret that Citizens Property Insurance Corp., Florida’s state-backed insurer of last resort, has

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Analysis

FL Attorney General Ashley Moody is attempting to block abortion amendment

FDP Chair Nikki Fried calls Moody’s argument “purposefully dishonest” and “an unserious attempt to seek attention”.  Attorney General Ashley Moody asked the Florida Supreme Court to block a proposed constitutional amendment that would limit government interference with abortion access. In response, the Florida Democratic Party has issued the following statement: “The Florida GOP continues to undermine

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Florida Democratic Party

Joint statement of solidarity from Florida Democratic leaders

Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried, House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell and Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book have released the following joint statement: “As leaders within the Florida Democratic Party, we feel a responsibility to make our voices heard and position clear. In the wake of Hamas’s horrific attacks on Israeli civilians, we unequivocally stand

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News

Crowd packs School Board meeting in furor over LGBTQ books

By GARRY OVERBEY, The Daily Sun, Oct 10, 2023. Judy Minier, Brendan Burke and Joanne Kropf wave their rainbow flags at Tuesday’s Charlotte County School Board meeting – PHOTO BY GARRY OVERBEY PORT CHARLOTTE — When the pledge of allegiance faded with the words “and justice for all,” one voice added, “Someday.” That moment set the

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