What is going on in Florida these days?

[SammyBlue]

First cops kill a 15 year old depressed suicidal boy, then this. People arrested for beating homeless people?

What the fuck in going on down there? I'm not generalizing Florida, but you're not getting good press these days.

Is this what Jeb Bush has started?

[RagingInMiami]

1. I'm not a fan of jeb

But Florida has always been crazy.

[rzemanfl]

4. Did you see the thing about the $275,000 in cash and uncashed

checks at USF? As soon as I saw the headline, something like "State University finds $275,000 in undeposited checks and cash" I knew it had to be Florida notwithstanding the other 49 options.

[rzemanfl]

2. Carl Hiassen's books explain it best. I won't even try. n/t

[wakeme2008]

3. LOL just flew in from cold Tampa...

the shot first and then ask questions has a person died, killed by the man that towed his car.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

5. That's True. Both Stories There Are High School Kids Breaking The Law

The first, the good cops had to perform an act that they will regret the rest of their lives but knew was the right thing to do at the time, and the second story is just abhorable what those kids did.

Keith Olbermann has called out florida before too, as being the primary source for his oddball stories.

[Warpy]

6. Dunno, but people here on the east coast of Florida

near the cape seem to be awfully self absorbed and very snotty in a "go away, I don't want to be bothered with you" kind of way.

I'll be very glad to leave in mid February and get home to NM. I just hope my dad is sorted out by then.

[northofdenali]

7. Except my mom, who lives on Merritt Island!

She's only 89 (90 on the 21st of this month) and hits 10th Street South on Cocoa Beach every day. If you spot her, tell her you're a Democrat and a member of DU, and you'll get a HUGE smile, and probably a hug. If you tell her you "talk" to her daughter (me) on DU, you may even get a home-cooked meal!!!

Seriously, I was born there (Cape Canaveral Hospital) and raised there until 1968. Dad was a "rocket genius" and I remember when KSC first opened. The diversity of population was terrific - so many "new" people from so many places.

Like a lot of Florida, however, Brevard County is growing older, and many of the older residents are just plain scared. I don't blame them. They not only have the Shrub to deal with, they've got his brother, too!

BTW, Mom is a yellow-dog Democrat who volunteered on both the Gore and Kerry campaigns. She's been doing that since 1960...... and started in being a poll-watcher in 2000. :P

I'm partial to 10th Street South, too, especially this time of year. It's 25 below zero here.