Yes, I realize these laws are meant to prevent repeat offenses, but either up the penalties for those offenses or just leave them be. Once somebody gets out of prison, that should be it. End of story. If they commit another crime it would be tragic, but we have gone WAY too far with these laws and who can honestly defend forcing people to live under a bridge?

Also, let’s not forget that there are plenty of really stupid sex offender laws out there too. People get locked up for doing some fairly innocent things.

The Economist takes a closer look…

In all, 674,000 Americans are on sex-offender registries—more than the population of Vermont, North Dakota or Wyoming. The number keeps growing partly because in several states registration is for life and partly because registries are not confined to the sort of murderer who ensnared Megan Kanka. According to Human Rights Watch, at least five states require registration for people who visit prostitutes, 29 require it for consensual sex between young teenagers and 32 require it for indecent exposure. Some prosecutors are now stretching the definition of “distributing child pornography” to include teens who text half-naked photos of themselves to their friends.

How dangerous are the people on the registries? A state review of one sample in Georgia found that two-thirds of them posed little risk. For example, Janet Allison was found guilty of being “party to the crime of child molestation” because she let her 15-year-old daughter have sex with a boyfriend. The young couple later married. But Ms Allison will spend the rest of her life publicly branded as a sex offender.

The problem is…these laws will only get harsher because what politician in their right mind will try and soften them? This guy in Florida who’s suing the state is certainly a brave guy, but let’s remember that this has been going on for 2 YEARS. That’s how long it took for this to become enough of an eyesore for somebody to make a case that it’s hurting the economy.

What do you think?

City workers are required to use deodorant before coming to work. It does not appear there will be any spot checks, though.

You should also make sure that you wear underwear. Not wearing undies will get you into trouble with the boss. Of course, he or she should not be looking there anyway.

Skip the foul language and sexually provocative clothes too. Plus, that piercing you’ve been thinking about on your tongue? Well, that is out too. Piercings are only for the ears.

The city council approved the new dress code by a 4-1 vote with the warning that repeat offenders can be fired. The lone vote against the dress code came from Mayor Joe Bernadini. He thought that the ban on going without underwear infringed on personal choice.

“They said you had to wear undergarments, but who’s going to be the judge of that? Sometimes when it comes to certain people going bra-less, it’s obvious. But who’s staring to see if that person doesn’t have underwear on?” Bernadini said.

It looks like Brooksville needs some underwear police to enforce the ban. They should have good noses too, so that they can sniff out the BO.

City Manager Jennene Norman-Vacha said no one has been sent home because of the dress code violation, and she doesn’t expect it to happen. Of course, that brings up the real question. Why pass an unenforceable law if no one is expected to violate it anyway?

(from Foolocracy.com)

Popular Republican governor Charlie Crist is set to announce whether or not he’ll try to join the federal government, but sources are already saying it’s a done deal.

From Politico:

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) will be announcing Tuesday that he will be running for the Senate, according to a source close to the governor, giving Republicans their most high-profile recruit of the 2010 election cycle.

Crist’s decision puts Republicans in strong position to hold onto the seat held by retiring Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) Crist holds high approval ratings among both Republicans and Democrats, according to statewide polling, and has forged a moderate governing style that has won him widespread support. [...]

Florida Republican Party chairman Jim Greer confirmed to the Pensacola News-Journal that Crist will be making his formal announcement in Tallahassee on Tuesday at “a low-key event” and said he will draw immediate endorsements by a statewide and national Republican leaders.

For those of you who followed the 2008 campaign, you already know that Crist was on McCain’s VP short list…and I think it’s clear by now that he should have gone with the governor from Florida instead of the one from Alaska.

But that begs the question: what are Crist’s presidential aspirations?

Something tells me that, like Jindal, he understands that 2012 is not a good time to run and the field will be WAY too crowded. But 2016 will present an opportunity because there’s no way that Biden would run for POTUS. Obviously that means Obama would win in 2012, but there’s a better than even chance that’ll happen right now.

So a move to Washington for the next 6 years wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world. It would put him on the national stage, would allow him to build bridges on moderate issues and oppose the ones he feels aren’t in the best interests of Republicans.

And hey, perhaps there is no angle, but I can’t help but think Crist feels he’s well positioned as the next Reagan since there’s no way Republicans can with the White House without Florida.

Because we’re talking about unemployment that’s approaching the double digits in bigger states like California and Florida and unemployment numbers (which is the better gauge of how folks are doing) already in the double digits in most states.

Here’s Florida governor Charlie Crist putting his neck out there and taking the middle road.

Note Crist said, “This is about jobs, jobs, jobs.”

Listen, everybody knows that Crist could be a GOP prez candidate in 2012 and yet he’s arguing for the plan. It’s really easy for Mitt Romney to draft his own legislation since he’s out of the state house and doesn’t have anybody to answer to.

Make of this what you will, but I’m seeing people who know how bad things are in their states and they’re not afraid to argue for what they think is right.

It is.

But $2 trillion is.. ridiculous.

This is Danielle Ivory from ANP.

Congress and the new administration have been focusing their attention on strengthening oversight for the Treasury’s TARP program, but meanwhile few are paying any attention to the Federal Reserve.

Since September, the Fed has lent out about $2 trillion (Bloomberg reported 1.2 trillion in November), but it’s keeping the names of its recipients a big secret.

And while the Treasury’s bailout package has a $700 billion cap, there’s no limit to how much money the Fed can lend.

The American News Project sat down with Washington newcomer, Congressman Alan Grayson (D-FL), who actually used his five minutes of valuable Q & A time in a Financial Services hearing to do some serious Fed fact-finding.

You can see the story or get the embed code here.

Or follow Danielle’s reporting on twitter here.

And visit Acorn Project for more music like this.

In 2008, Republicans had a difficult time finding candidates who could compete for open seats. This time around, the party is better prepared. According to Politico, the names we should be paying attention to are former state House Speaker Marco Rubio in Florida, former U.S. House Minority Whip Roy Blunt in Missouri and former Rep. Rob Portman in Ohio. All three men have significant government experience, strong fund-raising bases and are generally well liked.

Adding to Republican prospects is the fact that, if either of these men fail to grab the nomination, each state has other potential candidates who could compete well on a state-wide level.

Democrats also have strong prospects in these three states and will undoubtedly do everything they can to capture the seats and move that much closer to a Senate super-majority. Of course, the problem for Democrats is swing states have a habit of swinging. If the state of the nation does not improve by 2010, voters may turn against the Democrats. If they do, Republicans look surprisingly well-positioned to retain their seats in Florida, Missouri and Ohio.

Proving once again that he’s the wiser son, Jeb puts to rest rumors that he’ll run for the Senate.

From AP:

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Former Gov. Jeb Bush says he won’t run for the U.S. Senate in 2010 to replace the retiring Mel Martinez.

Bush made the announcement Tuesday, saying “now is not the right time to return to elected office.” [...]

Bush won bipartisan praise for leading the state through eight hurricanes over a two-year period. He used standardized testing to overhaul the education system, was credited with making government more efficient and lowered taxes.

Personally, I think the Bush brand is completely trashed at this point, but if Jeb has any chance of making a serious run for the White House it’ll be as an outsider, not a Washington Senator.

Watch it for yoursef…

Ultimately he may want to get back into politics in whatever way he can. Still, something tells me that he’s radioactive at this point.

More as it develops…

Counties that went for Bush are going for Obama so he’ll get the Sunshine State and its 27 electoral votes.

James Joyner thinks so too.

And then it’s REALLY, REALLY, REALLY over.

Again, Ambinder has the numbers…

Bush won the huge swing county of Pinellas — Sarasota area — by a narrow margin in 2004. Obama won it by 8 pts in 2008 — 35,000 votes.

Bush won Seminole County in central Florida with ease; Obama’s leading McCain with half of the vote in.

In the very large Orange County, Obama is vastly outperforming Kerry –

My guess at this point is he’ll take it.

From Ambinder…

Hispanics (projected to be 13% of the electorate in 2008) are giving Obama a 10 point margin; Bush won Hispanics in Florida by 12 points in 2004. Seniors seem to be breaking more heavily in favor of John McCain. Obama has a narrow edge among women; the two are tied among men in the exits.

There doesn’t seem to be a path for victory in Florida for McCain if these numbers hold.

More as it develops…

First, the Obama leads…

Florida: Obama +2
Obama: 47%
McCain: 45%

Virginia: Obama +3
Obama: 47%
McCain: 44%

Pennsylvania: Obama +4
Obama: 47%
McCain: 43%

Nevada: Obama +4
Obama: 47%
McCain: 43%

Colorado Obama +5
Obama: 49%
McCain: 44%

And then, the McCain leads…

Missouri: McCain +1
McCain: 47%
Obama: 46%

Ohio: McCain +2
McCain: 47%
Obama: 45%

North Carolina: McCain +3
McCain: 49%
Obama: 46%

And that’s it. These are the last polls from NBC before the election.

The poll of polls reveals Obama holding steady.

Colorado…

CNN’s new Colorado Poll of Polls shows Obama leading McCain by 6 points 51% to 45%; The last Colorado Poll of Polls –- released Saturday –- showed Obama leading McCain by 7 points.

Florida…

An average of polls conducted in battleground Florida, shows Obama leading McCain by 4 points, 49% to 45%. Saturday’s Florida Poll of Polls also showed Obama leading McCain by 4 points.

Iowa…

In Iowa, where it all started for Sen. Obama, the Illinois senator is leading McCain by 14 points, 53% to 39%.

Minnesota…

CNN’s new Minnesota Poll of Polls shows Obama leading McCain by 12 points, 52% to 40%; The last Minnesota Poll of Polls –- released October 30 –- showed Obama leading McCain by 13 points.

New Hampshire…

In New Hampshire, Obama is leading McCain by 11 points, 53% to 42% according to the latest CNN Poll of Polls. CNN’s last New Hampshire Poll of Polls –- released November 1 –- showed Obama leading McCain by 12 points.

Pennsylvania…

CNN’s new average of polls in Pennsylvania shows the Democratic nominee leading the Republican nominee by 7 points, 51% to 44%; CNN’s last Pennsylvania Poll of Polls –- released November 1 –- showed Obama leading McCain by 8 points.

Virginia…

Finaly, in Virginia, a state that has voted Republican in every presidential race since 1968, Obama is leading McCain by 7 points, 51% to 44%.

And there we are.

I think the only question mark here is Florida. All the rest are pretty much locked up. Sure, Pennsylvania and Virginia could be closer than previously thought, but any state where Obama is polling above 50% will turn blue.

Because while wins in Georgia and Missouri would be nice, Obama doesn’t need them. But he does need wins in Colorado, Virginia and Nevada if he doesn’t want to worry about Ohio, Florida and Pennsylvania. Although I’d bet my car that he wins Pennsylvania.

The numbers…

Georgia: McCain +5
McCain: 52%
Obama: 47%

Missouri: McCain +2
McCain: 50%
Obama: 48%

Virginia: Obama +9
Obama: 53%
McCain: 44%

Colorado: Obama +8
Obama: 53%
McCain: 45%

Florida: Obama +4
Obama: 51%
McCain: 47%

As I’ve stated before, I don’t think Obama will take Florida or Ohio, but I actually think he has a shot at Georgia given its extremely high African American population and their massive early voting turnout.

And Missouri? Well, who knows, but if Obama is elected history shows us that Missouri will probably turn blue. If not, it’ll probably be in McCain’s column.

Here’s a little more from CNN about their electoral map…

The new numbers in Colorado, along with similar findings from other new polls in the state, are factors in CNN’s move of Colorado from a toss up state to lean Obama in our new Electoral College Map. CNN is also changing Indiana from lean McCain to toss up. A new CNN Poll of Polls in Indiana suggests McCain holds a two point lead over Obama in a state that hasn’t voted for a Democrat in a presidential election since 1964. The poll of polls is an average of the latest state surveys.

With the switch of Colorado’s nine electoral votes and Indiana’s 11, CNN now estimates that if the election were held today Obama would win states with 286 electoral votes and McCain states with 163, with 89 electoral votes still up for grabs. Two-hundred and seventy electoral votes are needed to clinch the presidency. Obama’s estimate of 286 electoral votes is a jump from 274 in our most recent electoral college map.

Here’s their map…

More battleground polls soon…

Quinnipiac thinks it’s too little too late for McCain in Ohio and Pennsylvania, but thinks he could pull it off in Florida. I still don’t think Obama can pull Ohio off, but I’m willing to be wrong. :-)

The numbers and cross tabs…

Florida: Obama +2
Obama: 47%
McCain: 45%
(Obama was ahead by 5)

Among those who say they already have voted in Florida, Obama leads 58 – 34 percent.

Looking at all Florida likely voters, men go to McCain 49 – 44 percent. Women back Obama 50 – 42 percent. The Republican leads 53 – 40 percent among white voters, 72 – 21 percent among evangelical Christians and 53 – 42 percent among Catholics. The Democrat leads 75 – 20 percent among Jews and 56 – 39 percent among voters 18 – 34 years old. Voters 35 to 54 split 46 – 46 percent, and voters over 55 go 47 percent for McCain and 45 percent for Obama.

Ohio: Obama +9
Obama: 51%
McCain: 42%
(Obama was ahead by 14)

Obama leads 57 – 31 percent among those who already have voted in Ohio.

Among all Ohio likely voters, the Democrat leads 55 – 36 percent among women. McCain gets 48 percent of men to Obama’s 45 percent. White voters split with 47 percent for McCain and 46 percent for Obama. Black voters back Obama 89 – 1 percent. The Democrat leads 59 – 36 percent among voters 18 to 34 years old, while voters 35 to 54 split with 47 percent for McCain and 46 percent for Obama. Voters over 55 go Democratic 50 – 40 percent.

Pennsylvania: Obama +12
Obama: 53%
McCain: 41%
(Obama was ahead by 13)

Obama leads 59 – 35 percent with women, while men back McCain by a narrow 49 – 46 percent. White voters split with 48 percent for Obama and 47 percent for McCain. Black voters back Obama 95 – 2 percent. He also leads 61 – 36 percent among voters 18 to 34 years old, 51 – 43 percent among voters 35 to 54 years old and 51 – 42 percent among voters over 55.

More as it develops…

Good signs on the state level (.pdf), even if Obama’s numbers are slipping a bit nationally in the past couple days.

Colorado: Obama +9
Obama: 50%
McCain: 41%

Florida: Obama + 2
Obama: 45%
McCain: 43%

Nevada: Obama +12
Obama: 52%
McCain: 40%

New Hampshire: Obama +18
Obama: 55%
McCain: 37%

North Carolina: Obama +2
Obama: 48%
McCain: 46%

Ohio: Obama +7
Obama: 48%
McCain: 41%

Pennsylvania: Obama +12
Obama: 52%
McCain: 40%

Virginia: Obama + 7
Obama: 49%
McCain: 42%

My prediction? Any state where there’s a margin of 5 or less, he’ll lose. So that means Florida and North Carolina probably won’t turn out in Obama’s favor come election day. I really think undecideds will start to break 2 to 1 for McCain because they’re just nervous that Obama will tax the hell out of them.

And even though Obama leads by 7 in Ohio, I also have my doubts he’ll take it. I just don’t think there are enough early votes there to swing it.

But all the rest? Virginia, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Nevada and New Hampshire are Obama’s.

What do you think?

Some good news for McCain today, but considering he has pulled out of Colorado in favor of Pennsylvania, this poll also surfaces some cold, hard truths about his chances to win.

Ohio: McCain +3
McCain 48%
Obama 45%

Florida: McCain +2
McCain 48%
Obama 46%

Pennsylvania: Obama +7
Obama 50%
McCain 43%

While Obama has had a lot of great polling these past few days, Strategic Vision usually has decent numbers so these shouldn’t be discounted. However, my gut tells me that you should add 3 points to each of these polls. So Ohio would be tied, Obama would be ahead by 1 in Florida and he’d be up by 10 in Pennsylvania.

Is that the same sense you’d have?

12 days till it’s over, and the numbers keep looking more and more favorable for Obama.

Florida: Obama +5
Obama 49%
McCain 44%

Ohio: Obama + 14
Obama 52%
McCain 38%

Pennsylvania: Obama +13
Obama 53%
McCain 40%

The biggest surprise here is Ohio, which I think is much closer than this 14% spread. In fact, I’d be surprised if Obama takes it this time around.

But maybe this has something to do with the numbers in Ohio…

Bush’s Approval Ratings
Florida: 27% approve, 66% disapprove
Ohio: 22% approve, 72% disapprove
Pennsylvania: 21% approve, 73% disapprove

Like it or not, this campaign is as much about rebuking Bush’s policies as they are affirming Obama’s message. But that may be enough for a landslide.

TIME has the numbers.

In Nevada and North Carolina it favors Obama…

Cumulative early-vote totals in the Las Vegas area show ballots were cast by 31,875 Democrats and 13,371 Republicans through midday Monday. Republicans had the advantage in absentee balloting, 6,616 to 6,161 through noon Monday.

In the Reno area, a similar pattern occurred twice as many Democrats than Republicans voted early through noon Monday. [...]

Early voting opened Thursday and drew some 214,000 voters to the polls in the first two days, leading to hours-long lines in parts of the state and lengthy schedules for poll workers.

In the first few days, the balloting clearly favored Democrats, with those registered with the party making up 62 percent of those who had voted. Only 22 percent of the voters had been registered Republicans.

In Florida, McCain has a big jump…

Republicans have requested 295,000 absentee ballots statewide compared with 199,000 Democrats.

And in Georgia it’s anybody’s guess since they don’t keep track of party affiliation, although reports do have African American turnout at 39% of early voting. That’s up from 22% in 2004.

Florida
Obama 51, McCain 46
Week ago: Obama 52, McCain 45)

Missouri
Obama 50, McCain 47
Last week: Obama 50, McCain 47

North Carolina
Obama 48, McCain 48
Last week: Obama 49, McCain 48

Ohio
Obama 49, McCain 47
Last week: McCain 48, Obama 47

Virginia
Obama 50, McCain 47
Last week: Obama 50, McCain 48

By the way, 1000 likely voters were polled in each state, and the MOE is +/- 3.