Scattershooting 'round after my first day back at work from vacation...

--- There is no question that following one of the dirtiest campaigns in recent memory, Senator-elect Mel Martinez has a lot of fence-mending to do, both within his own party and with the Loyal Opposition. While Martinez is promising to "represent all Floridians" and to reach out to Democrats and others who did not support his candidacy, Polk County Democratic Party Chairman L. Mark Kaylor put it well in a quote which appeared in this morning's Lakeland Ledger:

"There are plenty of Democrats who are moral, God-fearing Christians but are in fear of the right-wing fundamentalist segment of the Republican Party. Senator-elect Martinez is a prime example of someone from that wing of the Republican party who evokes fear for many, gay or not."

If the newest United States Senator from Florida expects to earn any respect from many people throughout our state, he'll need to show quickly after taking office that he can be independent and not simply a puppet of George W. Bush and the right wing of the Republican Party...as is the case with lapdog Congressman Adam Putnam.

--- It had to happen; things were just going too good. In some of the tallies for absentee ballots in Broward County, the numbers began going DOWN instead of UP. The computer glitch had to do with the software by Elections Systems and Software of Omaha, Nebraska, according to this story from the Palm Beach Post.

--- Who would want about 100 tons of railroad ties, and what do you do with such a large take? That is the question inquiring minds are asking as Haines City Police are investigating the theft of 495 cross ties, each weighing around 400 pounds each and reaching between eight and 16 feet across.

--- And while we're cruising around northeast Polk County, I've mentioned here about Heart of Florida Regional Medican Centre and it's being the most expensive medical facility in Polk. But if you go there pray you're not involved in an accident getting in/out of the parking lot onto U.S. 27...according to this story from Bay News 9, there have been 62 accidents near the hospital in the past year.