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2012 Bloomsday Events: Washington, DC & Tampa Bay
Washington DC
What: 43 readers in all, diverse levels of knowledge/skill – group includes some top people.
When: BloomsdayDC is the 5th Annual Program of its kind sponsored by the Harvard Club of Washington, DC
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM: Reading from Part I of Ulysses at Politics & Prose (5015 Connecticut Avenue NW), Free-of-charge
2:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Reading from Part II of Ulysses at James Hobin’s Irish Restaurant (1 Dupont Circle), Free-of-charge
8:00 PM – 10:00 PM: Reading from Part III of Ulysses at Cosmos Club (2727 Mass Ave. NW) Attendance by advance reservation only, cost $35 per person (includes light food and drink), reservations at http://www.harvard-dc.org, not limited to members of Harvard Club
Where:
10:00 – 11:30 AM at Politics & Prose Bookstore – 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW, Washington DC
2:00 – 6:00 PM at James Hobin’s Irish Restaurant – 1 Dupont Circle, Washington DC
8:00 – 10:00 PM at Cosmos Club – 2727 Mass Ave. NW, Washington, DC
Bethesda
What: Motley mix of seasoned Joyce readers, residents of the greater Washington DC metropolitan area. Organised by brother and sister Deborah Sherer and Dr. David Sherer.
Where:
The Irish Inn at Glen Echo
6119 Tulane Avenue
Bethesda, Maryland 20812
When:
Bloomsday Reading
June 16, 2012
11:00 a.m. until 3:00
Reservations only: 301-229-6600
Tampa Bay
What: Bloomsday Tampa Bay is sponsored by the Tampa Bay Arts and Education Network, a non-profit organization that provides educational and cultural programming and events to enrich the lives of Tampa Bay residents.
Where: O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Family Restaurant
701 West Lumsden Road
Brandon
When: June 16th: 6-10pm
Jeb Bush: This Year “Was Probably Mine” [To Run For President]
Well, number one, this acts as bit of public confirmation by Jebbie that, yeah, contrary to repeated denials, he clearly has thought about running for president (because we all totally believed him when he said this was the last thing on his mind).
He also reaffirmed that he will not by Mitt’s veep nominee.
Let’s read between the lines, shall we?
This year was probably mine…
In other words: I could have beaten every one of those tossers running, including Mitt, who you never really liked anyway and this is a reminder that he was never more than anyone’s third choice and the best of a bad lot.
Oh, and I won’t join the ticket to prop that tosser Mitt, because he’s probably going to lose, which wouldn’t have happened if I’d run.
And even though I said this year, as opposed to 2016, was my year, I’d just like to congratulate President Obama on his re-election and in four and a half years, y’all can find me in my new digs at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Peace out.
Thursday Staff Meeting – Rick Scott Doesn’t Want Your Vote, So He’s Not Going To Let You Vote
Not Even Strippers Can Make Mitt Romney Interesting
Yes. This is really happening.
Minor League Ballparks
I’m a big fan of minor league baseball.
Right now, I don’t go, because I live within walking distance of the stadium of a major league team, the Washington Nationals.
But in principle, I like minor league and when I have lived near minor league teams, I have gone to see games more frequently than I go now to see the Nats.
This article backed me up on my appreciation for minor league ball.
While working on campaigns in Iowa and Mississippi (legislative and a governor’s race, respectively), I went frequently to see the Des Moines’ triple A Iowa Cubs and Jackson’s single A Braves. The I-Cubs play in a great stadium, on the edge of downtown and right by Iowa’s state capitol. It’s a beautiful park with great views and some quality ball is player there. I have less positive things to say about the Jackson Braves, but paying a few bucks to see some ball means that going to see a game feels like less of an effort. No planning, no worries. Just head out there and see the game if you feel like.
And I grew up Florida, the land of spring training. My hometown of Dunedin has a stadium for the Blue Jays (for both major league spring training and minor league in the regular season). You could walk to it. That’s freaking awesome.
The neighboring town of Clearwater has a much nicer stadium, but it’s in a more suburban environment and feels less like an organic part of the city, but it’s still pretty darn gorgeous and pleasant.
Dave Aronberg’s St. Pete Fundraiser
Former State Senator Dave Aronberg is having a fundraiser in St. Pete and I’m pleased that a lot of popular and well known pols and activists are 
coming out to support him. Dave is a great guy and he’s running for State Attorney in Palm Beach County. In 2010, he lost the Democratic primary for Attorney General to Dan Gelber (also a good guy, though I enthusiastically voted for Aronberg in that race). Of course, that year was bloodbath for Dems, especially in Florida (ironically, Obama is even money or slightly odd to win Florida this year).
So if you can, stop by and say hello to Senator Aronberg and give his campaign a little love. Whatever bench Florida Dems have, you can bet that he’s one of the best prospects sitting on it. Let’s get him on the field.
Rick Kriseman For Mayor?
Did anyone else see Rick Kriseman’s statement about not running for re-election? About how the right wing control in Tallahassee and the partisanship made it so difficult to get anything done besides basic rearguard actions?
And then how he waxed rhapsodic about his time on the city council and all you can get done in the venue?
Anyone else notice how the mayoral election is in 2013, so that running for re-election to the state house in 2012 would be problematic for anyone who also wanted to run for St. Pete mayor?
Yeah, me too.
The First Democratic Candidate For Florida Governor
Democratic State Senator Nan Rich just announced that she would be running for governor in 2014.
This is a good thing.
I am not saying that I support her or that she’ll be a good candidate, but it could help galvanize the Democratic bench of candidates who believe they might be suited for running for statewide office.
Florida Democratic Party Chair Rod Smith has never ruled himself out as a candidate for governor in 2014. This should help force him to, once the 2012 elections are over, either admit he is interested in running (in which case, he would have to resign as chair) or firmly say that he will not be running for governor (though I always thought he’d be a better candidate for attorney general or ag commissioner).
Alex Sink has dropped clear hints that she might run again. While she certainly won’t announce this year, Rich’s announcement could push Sink to begin building a team and developing a clear message of what she stands for how and how that stand distinguishes her from Florida’s grifter-in-chief, Rick Scott.
Likewise, if Crist intends to make a go of it as a Democrat, this will push him to speed the pubic acknowledgement of his party affiliation – publicly saying that the more moderate Democratic party better represents where he stands than the far right machines of mindless ideology and shameless person profit that is the Florida GOP.
And folks like Dan Gelber, Loranne Ausley, Pam Iorio, and others (I left out Dave Aronberg because he is running for Palm Beach County State Attorney right now) will face similar pressure.
All in all, that’s a good thing. And if the nominee should finally be Nan Rich, she’ll have my blessing and a contribution.
the coffee philosopher 