Free Republic

By now, most everyone knows President George W. Bush began that fateful day, Sept 11 on Longboat Key, but the FBI is now investigating whether terrorists also began that fateful day here on the island. At about 6 a.m. Sept. 11, Longboat Key Fire Marshall Carroll Mooneyhan was at the front desk of the Colony Beach & Tennis Resort as Bush prepared for his morning jog. From that vantage point, Mooneyhan overheard a strange exchange between a Colony receptionist and security guard. A van occupied by men of Mid-Eastern descent had pulled up to the Colony stating they had a ...

MANATEE COUNTY -- Before they begin every meeting, the five members of the School Board stand -- asking those in the audience to join them -- bow their heads and recite the Lord's Prayer. While factions may form during their meetings, the board is unanimous in its belief that prayer -- the one from the New Testament in particular -- is the way to begin their meetings. Others don't agree. Steven Rosenauer of Bradenton said he came to a School Board meeting this month full of pride for his son who was to be recognized as part of Haile Middle...

We had a great time today at the Sarasota Rally for the Troops. Several hundred were in attendance. All waving flags, and signs supporting our troops. Such a great sight, and I don't think I've ever heard so many car horns in my life.Me and "Blue Highway" met several Freepers in the crowd, and we all enjoyed a great lunch at Marina Jacks.It was so great to meet other Freepers.Thank you to all who were there. JulieRNR21 and Nautinurse(sp? sorry) have names and pictures from the event. This was my first Freep, and the same goes for Blue Highway. I'll...

how do I post pictures from my digital camera to this website?

I have a second home in the Sarasota, FL area. A truely great radio station in Englewood, FL (WENG) has pulled a show for "snowbirds" called "Canada Calling" because of a lack of support from the current Canadian government for ours and the British efforts in the Middle East. I have and ask all VFW and other veterans and supporters of our military to email WTMY AM 1280 in Sarasota, FL to do the same. Canada deserves no respect, no special favors, no voice in America (especially after booing our national anthem last night during a time of war) and...

******* SUPPORT OUR TROOPS *** RALLY FOR AMERICA ******* When: Saturday, March 22 at Noon Location: Rte. 41 entrance to Island Park (near Marina Jack Restaurant) Rte. 41 & Ringling Blvd. at the Sarasota Bay waterfront. Bring American Flags, 'Support Our Troops' signs, 'Honk for Our Troops' signs, etc. Please plan to attend & spread the word among your friends, clubs, churches, communities, and veterans groups. Let's have a huge turnout to show that WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!!!

Sarasota Young Republicans have secured permits for a ******* SUPPORT OUR TROOPS *** RALLY FOR AMERICA ******* Saturday, March 22 at Noon Location: Rte. 41 entrance to Island Park (next to Marina Jacks Restaurant) Rte. 41 at the Sarasota Bay waterfront area. Bring American Flags, 'Support Our Troops' signs, 'Honk for Our Troops' signs, etc. Please plan to attend & spread the word among your friends, clubs, churches, veteran groups. Let's have a huge turnout to show that WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!!!

Hi guys! In case you didn't already know, Katherine won on Tuesday in a landslide. It was 68 to 32%! Now, it's down to Jan Schneider, one of Bill and Hill's law school buddies. In other news, Mark Flanagan lost his bid for McKay's Senate seat to Mike Bennett, whom McKay supported. The SH-T had a story on it this morning. He supposedly had a few tifs with McKay. Which frankly, makes me think better of him for it. He also appears to have gotten on better with Katherine (see picture) than Bennett, given Katherine's relationship with McKay- him saying...

Four years ago, we endorsed Katherine Harris for Secretary of State because we saw her as being "among the top Republican leaders in the state . . . bright, energetic, with tremendous potential and a distinguished career in state office." We said Harris was "in the right place at the right time to forge an exciting partnership between the arts, education and economic development." She was then a little-known Sarasota legislator with impressive credentials, including a Harvard master's degree in public administration, international trade and negotiations. Now the whole nation knows her as the secretary of state who presided over...

Should Katherine Harris be allowed to run for Congress? please freep this guys!

There is a poll on today's main page of the online SHT website (remember, that's "Sarasota Herald-Tribune"!). It's in the middle column about halfway down the page. The question asked is, "Should Katherine Harris be allowed to run for Congress?". So far it's about 50/50 between "Yes. She didn't break the law" and "No.". Vote early. Vote often! Click HERE to take the poll.

TALLAHASSEE - Florida Secretary of State Katherine Harris revealed Thursday she didn't resign her office before qualifying to run for Congress, an apparent violation of state election law. Harris sent her resignation letter to Gov. Jeb Bush Thursday, but said it was effective July 15, the day she qualified to fun for the 13th Congressional District seat. Harris said she has been the ``de facto''' secretary of state since then. Bush was out of town on a campaign trip. His office said he accepted Harris' resignation but had no further reaction. The oversight is embarrassing because the secretary of state...

The Sarasota Cobras were out of gas after playing four games on one day at the Florida Amateur Athletic Union state baseball championship in Clearwater. This was their fifth game, on a Sunday in May. Five games starting at 7:45 in the morning and ending at 9 at night. The Cobras, an amalgam of the finest 13-year-olds Sarasota has to offer, whipped eight other teams over three days to get to the deciding game. Cobras players had beaten two teams that had pounded them earlier in the year. Now they faced a team called the Elite, a group of All-Star...

SARASOTA -- Republican congressional candidate Chester Flake dropped out of the 13th District race Wednesday because of a paperwork error that he says was engineered by his opponent, Katherine Harris. Flake, 27, a computer consultant who has never held elected office, was on his way to the Sarasota County Supervisor of Elections office Wednesday morning to deliver a stack of 2,400 petition signatures when he ran into a friend. Seeing the pile of petitions, Flake's friend asked him if he'd also remembered to turn in his "alternative method affidavit," required for candidates who seek to get on the ballot by...