Duval, Clay, Baker counties to end courthouse weddings to avoid marrying gays

[Coolyfett]

dude said he wasnt happy and suggested he should leave

I agree if he isnt happy he should leave

Stephandare comes in with his bullshit about race

typical.

[CG7]

I guess I need someone to explain to me why some people think it is okay to discriminate against another human being just because they are not like you. If there religion is the excuse, they should reflect on teachings that say a creature made by your god, but that is not like you then you may treat them as though they are less than you. I promise if you really think about it there is a serious flaw in that teaching.
If every person would really live the mantra do unto others as you would have done to you, we would not have these ignorant views on other people's life styles. Hops of soapbox.

[IrvAdams]

I guess I need someone to explain to me why some people think it is okay to discriminate against another human being just because they are not like you. If there religion is the excuse, they should reflect on teachings that say a creature made by your god, but that is not like you then you may treat them as though they are less than you. I promise if you really think about it there is a serious flaw in that teaching.
If every person would really live the mantra do unto others as you would have done to you, we would not have these ignorant views on other people's life styles. Hops of soapbox.

Damn that's a good question. Wish I knew the answer.

[Rob68]

This city voted this idiot conservative southern baptist fool and we must suffer with what we are...a southern biggoted religious town...welcome...now take your children and get the hell out of this city as soon as you can before its biggotry seeps into your child psyche.

[jerry cornwell]

 I'll jump in on this and in the defense of Mayor Brown. And Jax as a whole. One (of many questions) I'm "pondering" is the position of Mayor of Jax. It seems to me this position is one of a more ceremonial nature than what many may think of as the chief executive of the minicipality. The Mayor has no vote on the City Council and just about all the other positions of the executive branch are elected, not appointed by the Chief executive of the city. So, the mayor really has no direct impact on legislation and, for a huge part, even in execution of the legislation of the city. Im drawing the conclusion that the mayor is essentially a beaucrat. It seems his major duties is the presentation of the budget and formal relations in the name of the city. Mayor Brown's definitive experience is indeed that of beaucracy.
He really cant do anything concerning this travesty at the courthouse. And was powerless in the defeat of the HRO legislation. Does this stand true?

[Tacachale]

The mayor also has to approve or veto legislation, so he has every incentive to work with the council on those issue. On the HRO, he was far from powerless; if he had taken a strong public stand it certainly would have affected the outcome. However, he was so terrified of having to make a decision that he hid under his desk during the whole debate. It also appears that the whole time Brown was dodging questions on the HRO he was actually working behind closed doors to torpedo the bill. According to Warren Jones, the Mayor's Office got Reggie Brown and Johnny Gaffney to oppose the bill so it would never get to the mayor's desk (Gaffney had actually voted for a stronger version of the bill previously).

There's not much a mayor can do directly on the Clerk of the Courts issue, but taking an actual stand would certainly go a long way in convincing Fussell to reverse his discriminatory decision. So far we've seen nothing.

So while it's true that Brown is more or less an empty suit bureaucrat, it's not because of the office he occupies.

[jerry cornwell]

Hey George.

It doesn't.  Jacksonville elected to have a 'strong mayor' government, and he appoints all of the administrative positions.

Its generally hard for a Jacksonville Mayor not to get his way, if he puts his mind to it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayor–council_government#Strong-mayor_form

But he doesnt appoint one of the citys top administration positions, Sheriff of the City. And he has no say (Im not saying impact) on Clerk of the Courts.
W
Which also was an elected position.

[jerry cornwell]

Hey George.

It doesn't.  Jacksonville elected to have a 'strong mayor' government, and he appoints all of the administrative positions.

Its generally hard for a Jacksonville Mayor not to get his way, if he puts his mind to it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayor–council_government#Strong-mayor_form

But he doesnt appoint one of the citys top administration positions, Sheriff of the City. And he has no say (Im not saying impact) on Clerk of the Courts.
W
Which also was an elected position.

All the constitutional officers (meaning required by the Florida Constitution) are elected offices, but they still have to answer budget wise to the Mayor, as he submits and administers the City Budget (with the advice and consent of the Council).  For example, while the Sheriff is a Constitutional Officer, regard that the Mayor of Jacksonville is having to solve the Pension Issue.

Thanks for confirming that, Stephen. As the sheriff has wasted no time in condemning the mayor for just that.

[jerry cornwell]

I think he doesn't like the way Alvin has done it, not that Alvin has the responsibility to do so.

It involves taking money from another independent authority btw, the JEA.

I would think Rutherford has a political grudge also. He's blamed the mayor for an increase in crime, just this week. Republican vs Democrat?

[jerry cornwell]

I think he doesn't like the way Alvin has done it, not that Alvin has the responsibility to do so.

It involves taking money from another independent authority btw, the JEA.

I would think Rutherford has a political grudge also. He's blamed the mayor for an increase in crime, just this week. Republican vs Democrat?

Not expanding his budget to hire more cops, and reallocating a bunch of officers to Denise Lees district in order to prove to the neighborhood that she has the muscle.

A very good way to prove your conservatism is to balance the budget. And not raise taxes. Particularly to the constituants.

[jerry cornwell]

Uh-oh!!! 

[Gunnar]

I think he doesn't like the way Alvin has done it, not that Alvin has the responsibility to do so.

It involves taking money from another independent authority btw, the JEA.

I would think Rutherford has a political grudge also. He's blamed the mayor for an increase in crime, just this week. Republican vs Democrat?

Not expanding his budget to hire more cops, and reallocating a bunch of officers to Denise Lees district in order to prove to the neighborhood that she has the muscle.

A very good way to prove your conservatism is to balance the budget. And not raise taxes. Particularly to the constituants.

Conservatives balance the budget ? Since when ? Methinks they just overspend on different things...

[jerry cornwell]

I think he doesn't like the way Alvin has done it, not that Alvin has the responsibility to do so.

It involves taking money from another independent authority btw, the JEA.

I would think Rutherford has a political grudge also. He's blamed the mayor for an increase in crime, just this week. Republican vs Democrat?

Not expanding his budget to hire more cops, and reallocating a bunch of officers to Denise Lees district in order to prove to the neighborhood that she has the muscle.

A very good way to prove your conservatism is to balance the budget. And not raise taxes. Particularly to the constituants.

Conservatives balance the budget ? Since when ? Methinks they just overspend on different things...

Truth hurts. Must be more politics (Democrat vs Republican) than leadership.

[AaroniusLives]

As much as this is heinous regarding civil rights, it cements a perception. One, about Florida in general as being a back-assward state, and of metropolitan Jax being a backwards area within said state.

On the plus side, most people are generally apathetic, so it's not as if backwards and crazy will trump tropical paradise for most peeps. However, on the other side of the coin is that does one really want to attract an apathetic to ignorant population as a rule?

[finehoe]

...does one really want to attract an apathetic to ignorant population as a rule?

Well, they're certainly easier to manipulate by fear-mongering politicians.