---There's a great editorial in this morning's Lakeland Ledger. The Polk County Commission approved a record $999.9 million budget this past week by a 4-to-1 vote. The only member to vote against among the all-Republican board was Randy Wilkinson, who is generally considered the most eccentric of the group and often is the lone dissenter. His occasional actions and comments both in and out of the commission chamber have been a source of humour and embarrassment (see my post from August 22), and more than a few e-mails to Ledger Political Editor Bill Rufty have asked how long Polk Countians have to deal with Mr. Wilkinson (his seat is available in 2006).

---Sometimes a candidate or his/her spouse simply needs to have his/her mouth taped shut to keep his/her foot out of it. Often the words may be well meant, but are often taken out of contex and put into a different light. That is the case with Teresa Heinz Kerry, wife of the Democratic presidential nominee. This AP story was about a visit she made to a hurricane relief centre in New York City's Carribean community where items were being prepared to be sent to areas hard hit by Hurricane Ivan last week. Needless to say, her comment "Clothing is wonderful, but let them go naked for a while, at least the kids," was the hit of right wing conservative talkers. Of course, noone bothered to mention that the Kerry/Edwards campaign donated water, blankets, and first aid kits to the relief effort.

---Speaking of presidential politics, after being disrupted by those unwanted visitors Charley, Frances, and Ivan, the candidates are beginning to schedule campaign swings into the Sunshine State. Kerry/Edwards will do a joint appearance Tuesday at Orlando's TD Waterhouse Centre, their first since Bush accepted the Republican nomination. Earlier that day they will do town hall forums on health care, likely before invited audiences; Edwards in Tampa, Kerry in Jacksonville. They continue Wednesday with Kerry campaigning in West Palm Beach while Edwards is in Miami.

The President will be in the Panhandle and south Alabama today in his official capacity to see damage caused by Hurricane Ivan days ago.

---And here's an interesting situation for those who are concerned with touch screen machines. In Hillsborough County, 245 votes were originally not counted from one such machine according to a story in the Tampa Tribune, because of human error...the machine was left in TEST MODE! No results were altered, and the state has recertified the results...but what if...

---And no wonder Oscar de la Hoya is looking for "The Next Great Champ"; it sure as heck ain't him. He was KO'd by Bernard Hopkins Saturday night in the 9th round of their bout. Maybe a couple of those wannabes could mentor him...