Go Gators

^^Everything is still looking good... ^ This isnt a party line issue. There are as many R's against it as there are D's for it. D's always confuse me!

An update... http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2008/04/bid...p-csx.html#more It was an interesting day, to say the least...

Thanks Seaty! I'm quite certain your info has sent some into a frenzy trying to verify this information. Great work!

Poonther and other UP-Tallahassee regulars...I have an idea I want to run by you. I was thinking we could start a "letters" thread, and we can write notes about ourselves, under a false name, telling ourselves how great and insightful our original (As in UP was the FIRST to report on Roly Poly opening...we know other dont venture over to the Eastside regularly) info here at UP is? What do you guys think?

^ I think Dockery has been told to calm down or her bills would be dead. She stands to lose more by not having her other bills passed than losing this. Everything still looks good, although I wouldn't be against having the liability issue taken out...

The latest... http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2008/04/sen...a.html#comments

Its really hilarious that Dockery is telling the press that there is a deal to kill this. This is how you know she is getting pretty desperate. She is creating an alternate reality. As of 6:45 today...things are looking very good.

I have heard rumors that Marriott may be leaving the Marriott Village at 535/I-4 at the end of '08/early '09. I checked Marriott's website, and sure enough, they dont show any hotels in the village as being listed. Anyone else heard anything on this?

"The good news, according to Dockery, is that as of Friday, this deal is dead in the Senate. The bad news is that there are two weeks left in the session."

Indeed it is. Congrats Atlanta. http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/industr...r_559987_8.html

An important someone on the Downtown Lakeland Partnership has a spouse who happens to be a reporter for the Trib. http://blogs.tampabay.com/buzz/2008/04/csx...r.html#comments

The House just passed the CSX/Commuter Rail bill out of the Economic Expansion and Infrastructure Council, chaired by Rep. Dean Cannon from WP.

Im sorry, Poonther, I couldnt hear you...what'd you say?

Yes, it is a schedule showing all bills that will be discussed that day. If you want to know what the bills are, they provide you with all information necessary to look it up. Its not their job to spoon feed it to the people. They make the information available. Then, its up to the individual to decide whether or not they want to put in a little bit of effort and find out what their government is doing. Im not implying its a silly turf war at all...Im TELLING you that it is. Im not saying its right, or admiral, but thats the way it is in this case.

This will be my last post in regards to TJ. But it's semi-amusing that he requires membership to his site? Why would he do that? So he can control who is able to see its content, and who cannot. He ultimately fed his ego, and became moderator of a website. Congrats TJ-Ego! Anyone else been blocked by "the decider?" hahahahaha

^ Yes, but the point is, there is no easy way to know whats going on without having to read those pages. That IS the easy way.

The Senators/Representatives have to read those same pages...

As another FYI...if any of you want to watch the House Representatives online, you can. You may also watch the senate at www.flsenate.gov On the House website, the bill they are currently discussing will show in a panel on the right side. http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Ses...ve/preview.aspx

Thanks. I certainly dont want to start anything. I really dont think she can derail (no pun intended) the bill. Last I heard, the votes are there to pass it. But that can certainly change at any moment.

Ok, let me first preface all this by saying that I am an "insider" in Tallahassee who has been working on this since this past summer, and proponent of the rail project. I was a polk county native for a small portion of my life (hence why I took offense to your Polk County claim), and raised the most part in WP. I'll try and address you in a somewhat point-by-point basis, your quotes will be in italics. Here goes... Are you kidding me? Is it my responsibility to check out the Senates web site "every evening" to see what they are up to? Good government entails transparency. I shouldn't have to dig around government websites "every evening" to find out about a vote that is this important Yes. It is your responsibility to be an informed, responsible citizen. The fact that you looked up Senator Dockery's contact information puzzles me as to why you cant look up the calendar. You go to www.flsenate.gov, and under the "Publications" section, click on "Calendars/Weekly Schedules," and then click on the appropriate date. Its VERY easy. Here's the link: http://www.flsenate.gov/Session/index.cfm?...amp;Tab=session "Go Gators here are some opinions, other than yours...Bottom line Senator Dockery is against more freight trains running through her voters neighborhoods." That's a nice article from Mike Thomas. Fun to read and entertaining. But it is a TINY part of a much larger story. Here's the story as short as I can make it. Sen. Dockery has the biggest ego in the Senate. She and the other Senator from Polk County, Sen. Alexander, do not get along...at all. At one point, it was looking as if Sen. Dockery would become President of the Senate down the line. Long story short, that was derailed...by Sen. Alexander and Co. Bad blood became much worse. Fast forward to this year. The CSX project comes up. There are three senators who would have the best chance of pushing this through, Sen's. Dockery, Alexander, and Storms (from Tampa, but has a slice of Polk in her district). Sen. Alexander gets it because he helped over throw the Villalobos and possible Dockery presidency. This means that if the deal happens, J.D. gets credit...and that infuriates Dockery more than anything. Her line of thinking is "If I cant have it and pass it, then I will do everything I can to make sure NOBODY does!" Sad but true. That is basically the whole story. The REAL bottom line is that Senator Dockery is against it because she didnt get her way. Go Gators here is a defination of Pork Barrel for you. A political metaphor for the appropriation of government spending for projects that are intended primarily to benefit particular constituents or campaign contributors. Yes, but thats not what Dockery is doing here. And for you KKK comment again...Im just saying that dont think that anything like that is exclusive only to Polk County. The sad reality is it may be the guy who works in the highrise office building cubicle right next to you too (used cubicle only for illustrative purposes).

I will write out a long response later...you'll like what you hear...

I edited my post to include more info. I dont care if you like what I think, because I know its accurate. Go Knights indeed

GregoryMSCE, way to make generalizations about everyone in Polk County...very mature. We get it, you're angry. There are tons of back stories as to why Dockery is against this bill. None of them being that she is actually opposed to it. However, Sen. J.D. Alexander is the big wig behind getting the CSX deal done. He represents those same "redneck constituents," and is from Polk County (Lake Wales). Are you having your cake and eating it too? Every evening before the next days session, the calendars are posted on the Senate and House of Represenatives websites. There, you can read everything that will be taken up on the floor. Newspapers are not the place to find that kind of stuff. Or, you may call the Senate President or House Speakers Office to get the info. Its not that its not there, you're just not looking in the right place. Know all the facts before slinging mud. * A guy in a KKK outfit is indeed sad to hear. But it doesnt hold a candle to some of the freakish things you see in metro Orlando.