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Looks Like A Job For The Governor

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By Daniel Ruth

Published: December 11, 2007

What's vitally important to understand here is Gov. Charlie Crist, R-Happiness Is A Warm Constituent, loves the PEOPLE, and that includes you and you and you and yes, even - you.

That is why the governor is known far and wide, and especially on his Web site, as the "People's Governor," who works with the "People's Legislature," which is dedicated to the "People's Agenda."

Gosh, even when the people's Florida Legislature convened for weeks on end to give the people a two-bit property tax break, it was Gov. Crist, R-Don't You Feel The Love? who made sure to note this wasn't some lousy stinking two-bit property tax break; it was the People's lousy, stinking two-bit property tax break.

Go ahead, cue Barbra Streisand (but very quietly) warbling: "People who need people are the luckiest people in the world" - especially if you live in Lakeland.

For Gov. Mr. Bluebird On My Shoulder is one very fortunate People's Governor.
Public Accountability
Thanks to the shenanigans of former Gov. Jeb Bush, the Ernst Blofeld of the Apalachee Parkway, Jacksonville-based CSX Transportation stands to benefit from a $491 million gift from the state, which would allow the company to create a new hub in Lakeland, a move that for all practical purposes would turn the city into a nuclear winter of choo-choos.

The deal was hatched in secrecy by the former governor, who when it came to public accountability made Vladimir Putin look like the American Civil Liberties Union.

No public hearings were held on the $491 million CSX largesse. Not even legislative transportation committees were informed of the backroom dealing.

So you can imagine the reception Florida Transportation Secretary Stephanie Kopelousos endured last week when she appeared before a group of Lakeland residents furious over seeing their city turned into a taxpayer-funded dumping ground for CSX's private interests.

Corporate Welfare Check
Of course it probably didn't help the mood that Kopelousos formerly served as the senior legislative assistant to the late Jacksonville Republican U.S. Rep. Tillie Fowler, who was on the receiving end of generous CSX donations.

Kopelousos offered up precious little consolation to the residents of Lakeland as to why the charm of their city should be sacrificed so that CSX can benefit from a nearly half-billion taxpayer-funded corporate welfare check cooked up out of the sunshine.

But wait! There's good news.

What a golden opportunity for the PEOPLE'S GOVERNOR to come to the aid of the PEOPLE? Yes, it's true, there are actually people in Lakeland, the very same people the PEOPLE'S GOVERNOR so dearly loves.

If ever the PEOPLE needed a champion to defend their interests against a powerful corporate giant trying to run roughshod over the PEOPLE, would it not be Charlie Crist - the PEOPLE'S GOVERNOR?

To be sure, it's easy to be for the people when there is no political risk. Charlie Crist was all for the people when it was only a matter of two-bits. Now the number is $491 million - of the people's money.

And whose side is Gov. Happy-Happy-Joy-Joy on now?

Keyword: Book of Ruth, to read and comment on Daniel Ruth's blog.

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