Your Evening Sift

There are some days that you could do without and for me this was one of them. Still got a decent evening Sift for you. Enjoy.

A- Both Eye on Miami and Discourse continue the conversation that was started yesterday by EoM on absentee ballot fraud and the state of our democracy. From the former...

As Eyeonmiami reports, absentee ballot fraud is alive and well in Miami-Dade. In light turn-out and closely contested elections, the results of fraud can be determinant. This is especially harmful in state legislative races. You can't wash the toxicity out of absentee ballot fraud.

How is it tolerated? The same question can be asked of gerrymandered districts and of a campaign finance system whose limits were blown apart by the US Supreme Court.

The damage to our democracy and way of life didn't start yesterday. Stealing elections has a long, hallowed history wrapping up Democrats and Republicans. But all our faults-- and immorality disguised with lapel pins and Bibles-- were one thing when the rest of the world seemed incapable of catching up to us and another thing when the ease of technology transfer assures that we will be passed by and are being passed by on a 24/7 basis.

B- Radio or Not coins a new term for the Republicans who cheer death.

Ahh yes, the GOP has a new name in my book. Just call them The Deathers. They applaud Rick Perry for executing 234 prisoners, while he doesn’t worry that any of them might have been innocent.

C- Coconut Grove Grapevine understands how celebrities feel when people talk about them but turns that frown upside down and considers himself a hero of sorts.

People say things and write things about me and they don't even know me. I can just imagine what celebs go though. But I noticed something lately -- when another publication says something nasty about me, people respond in a positive way. What I mean is that I get more Facebook fans, lots more. I get advertisers -- people actually email me and tell me they want to advertise and I get more readers for the Grapevine and also Tomversation. The person writing the nasty article or leaving the nasty comment comes off as a jerk, the target of the nastiness comes off as the hero.

D- Southern District of Florida's description of the latest gathering of the Federalist Society in South Florida sounds like it was a real howl.

The night included everything one might expect a Federalist Society event to have: a well-stocked bar and plenty of time to mingle; a book co-authored by John Yoo, gifted to the panel members; a regional CIA recruiter mingling with the guests (no joke); Marshals to protect the dignitaries; and, the obligatory "Osama"...oops..."I sometimes say "Obama"" joke by a panelist.

E- The Palm Beach Opera is being forced to cut back their performances, so says the South Florida Classical Review.

Palm Beach Opera is dropping the once-popular Monday matinee performances from its 2011-12 season, a drastic reduction of its schedule that company officials hope will head off a more serious financial crisis.

F- Go Hydrology! explains the lack of Big Rain Days during this year's wet season.

G- Eater Miami shows us what $22 gets you at The Forge for Sunday brunch.


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