Opinion
By Dave Scott, 11-8-24
(Editor’s note: There will not be another commentary for several weeks following this one as we will be working on the annual Amelia Island News Wrecker, scheduled to come out before the end of the year. Those wishing to contribute hilarious, clever parody or purchase an ad can contact me at [email protected]).
Fernandina Beach got rid of a constant throbbing headache election day, Tuesday, November 5, only to wake up Wednesday morning with two massive pains in the butt.
Chip Ross, who had a reputation for being an obstinate, long-winded Fernandina Beach City Commission curmudgeon, was term-limited and is no longer in office. However, two of the city’s staunchest conservative members, Bradley Bean and David Sturges, lost their reelection bids to far-left candidates Joyce Tuten and Genece Minshew respectively.
The closet race was between Sturges and Minshew. When the polls closed Minshew was ahead 4,626 votes to 4,608 for Sturges, just 19 votes separating them.
Because of how close the vote was I’ve been told that there will be a mandatory recount per state law. I’m told it may probably be next week before folks hereabouts know the winner as there could also potentially be a hand count of the under votes and over votes. I really don’t know so we’ll wait.
Minshew, former president of the local Pride group switched her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican the day before filing to run for office. Tuten, a lifelong extreme environmentalist and climate change alarmist from Maryland, did the same, switching from Democrat to No Party Affiliation.
Despite the race being nonpartisan voters can easily look up the candidates voter registration information. Their ruse worked as Tuten beat incumbent Mayor Bean 5,111 votes to Bean’s 4,399 with Minshew and Sturges are still undecided.
In the other Commission race to fill Commissioner Ross’s seat, former Commissioner and local restaurateur, Tim Poynter, beat newcomer candidate Christy Kelly, 4,710 votes to 4,296, a good showing for unknown first-time candidate Kelly against the well-known Poynter.
In the mayoral race, affable fireman Darron Ayscue lost decisively to chiropractor James Antun by 5,960 votes to 2,866. Fortunately the position of mayor is mostly ceremonial involving conducting the sessions and setting the agenda. Ayscue maintains his Commission seat.
While residents across the state were celebrating the defeat of the abortion and marijuana amendments and the victories of other GOP candidates, Fernandina appears stuck with a situation that will at least be entertaining if not chaotic. If Ayscue; a reasonable Poynter; hopefully Sturges, and the “potted plant” Antun can keep Tuten and Minshew in a two-vote corner the city can sleep soundly at night.
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Florida Voters Are Heard: In other significant races Florida voters rejected ballot measures that would have legalized recreational marijuana for adults over 21 and another that would have enshrined abortion rights in the state constitution.
Republican Rick Scott easily won his Florida Senate race against Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell on Tuesday, securing his second term in the U.S. Senate.
Fernandina Beach resident Republican Aaron Bean was elected for a second term in the state’s 4th Congressional District as he defeated Democrat LaShonda Holloway for his second straight election win. Bean won with 57.39% of the vote while Holloway garnered 42.71%.
Nassau County’s had an astounding 85 percent voter turnout of voters, who top Democrats by almost 4-1. Nassau voters overwhelmingly cast their ballots for Donald Trump.
Nationwide Donald Trump knocked off the mainstream news media, pollsters, antisemitic demonstrators, Hollywood and all those silly folks in the faculty lounge.
University students are screaming like banshees not because Harris lost in a landslide, but because they just realized that you and I won’t be paying their student loans…they will! Instead of screaming vile antisemitic slurs and destroying property maybe they should consider attending classes now that it’s on their dime.
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Speaking Of The Media: Following is a letter I sent yesterday to News Leader Publisher Foy Maloy and his Editor Tracy Dishman:
The Wednesday, November 6 edition the Fernandina Beach News Leader ran a story at the top of Page 4A headlined: “Nassau County teen faces felony charges after school threats.”
Will the News Leader publish letters to the editor and opinion editorials from the person who publicly made these death threats against a fellow student ? If not, why not?
On November 2016 Robert M. Weintraub, my then next-door neighbor, threatened publicly on Facebook to shoot me and my wife, Linda, because we posted a “Trump” campaign sign in our yard. Since then The News Leader has posted numerous letters and opinion pieces from him. At the same time the paper has rejected and edited ones I’ve sent. Why? I’ve never once threatened to kill or maim Weintraub or anyone else, publicly or privately. You’ve never mentioned that Weintraub threatened me despite the police report provided to you confirming it and his public threat on Facebook. Why not?
Your newspaper has become so inept in its dishonesty that it has become your critics most valuable asset.
The News Leader is nothing more than an echo chamber where its own prejudices are fed back to it. Sad.
Dave Scott
I do not expect the letter to be printed. A Gallup survey this month showed trust in the media has hit a record low of 31%. The News Leader is an indication of why that trust is sinking. Nassau County residents are fortunate to have Matt Davis’s print and online www.yuleenews.com, and George Miller’s digital news outlet www.citizensjournal.net. For an excellent analysis of the national election read Miller’s https://www.citizensjournal.net/too-big-to-rig-who-voted-for-trump-and-why/.
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Speaking Of Biased Coverage: Friday, Nov. 8, between 5-6:30 pm at PJD’s Beer & Wine Garden (12 S 2nd Street), will host local well-known author and international columnist and pundit, Ken Timmerman, who will discuss his latest book, “The Iran House: Tales of Revolution, Persecution, War, and Intrigue.” This is a book that reveals Joe Biden’s treasonous liaison with the Islamic regime in Iran, and much, much more.
Ken will also have many of his other books available for purchase and signing.
If this is the first you have heard of this event it’s because the locally biased News Leader refused to publish the notice as a community update item. It’s not because Ken is an unknown first time author….just the opposite.
This is Ken’s 14th book of non-fiction. Earlier books, Shakedown: Exposing the Real Jesse Jackson, and The French Betrayal of America, were NY Times best-sellers. Learn more, or purchase books online through his website, kentimmerman.com.
I’ll see you there.
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How Stupid Are Liberals AKA Democrats? Longtime Tampa friend and American Spectator writer Larry Thornberry pointed out a notice posted at the Hillsborough County Florida Public Library requesting that voters DO NOT drop their ballots in the library’s drop box.
“How depressing is it to know that we have voters so dim-witted they think they should drop their ballots in the library’s return bucket? They walk among us. Be interesting to see which candidate gets the library vote,” observed Larry.
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Wait! What? Blue Earth County, Minnesota, where the Walz family had lived for 20 years before the governor was elected went for Trump with 49.6 percent. Harris received 48.3 percent of the vote.
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Just Asking: Until January 20 who is President? Elon Musk explained it perfectly: “It’s not any one mastermind. Kamala is a marionette with north of 100 puppet masters.” Biden too.
But who is pulling the strings?
The Biden executive branch has dissolved into nothing but a figurehead of the Deep State, with the leftist machine that took control of America from the shadows! Thankfully that is over. But what might happen between now and January 20 is scary.
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Burger Background: “You can find your way around Amelia Island using burger joints the way a navigator uses stars.” — French Huguenot explorer Jean Ribault, 1562.
The hamburger reviews are coming to an end. Following a couple of more places the Fat Men From Space will rank their top choices from one through 10 and then select the overall winner.
The last time the two humongous hamburger hungry Fat Men entered Earth’s atmosphere and plopped down in these parts for an extended period of time it resulted in a tie to determine which local joint served the tastiest ground beef in a bun, i.e. a hamburger.
Crossing the griddle line in a dead heat for Best Amelia Island Hamburger in 2018, six years ago, were Joe’s 2nd Street Bistro, 14 South 2nd St., and T-Ray’s Burger Station, 202 South 8th St.
Joe’s is gone, and an Irish eatery and bar called Scully’s now sits in its place. Following the smell of boiled cabbage, one of the Fat Men sniffed out a hamburger there and did a review.
T-Ray’s, located at 202 South 8th Street in an old, converted gas station is a local institution. It has received some broader notoriety, having been written-up in Southern Living, USA Today and the Washington Post. Many years ago USA Today declared T-Ray’s the best burger in the entire state. T. Ray’s was reviewed by the Fat Men this year on April 26 and can be read at https://www.davescottblog.com/fat-men-from-space-told-to-avoid-bosey-burger-menu-items/
According to a 2024 list compiled by Reader’s Digest, the “best burger” in all of Florida now can be found at M.E.A.T. Eatery And Taproom in the Florida Keys. I have no idea how Reader’s Digest qualifies as a burger connoisseur, other than the review being brief with almost no indication of why the reviewer ranked the burger so highly or even tasted it.
According to Readers Digest slim review M.E.A.T. received a Google rating of 4.5 stars and nearly 1,200 reviews.
Here’s what that site had to say about the burgers served at this joint: “It’s a Cutting-Edge Quick-Service restaurant is located at 88005 Overseas Highway, #15, Islamorada, FL 33036-3067 the Upper Florida Keys. It’s a Diners, Drive Ins and Dive spot featured for its Smoked Wings and Home Made Pork Rinds. It smokes its Pulled Pork, makes its own Sausage in-house, makes its own Ketchup and Mustard. MEAT also carries Craft Beers, Micro-brewed Sodas, Organic Wines, and Fresh Made Ice Cream.”
Interesting, but where’s the beef? If there was a burger review in there somewhere I didn’t see it.
If the Fat Men have missed a joint you think should be included here’s your chance to let them know. It has to be local, not a chain, and it must be open for lunch.
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A Random Thought: I don’t know why I thought of this but want to mention it before I forget. A few years ago I was sitting at the Fernandina 3rd Street Green Turtle bar chatting with Bob Tidball, the former owner of Addison B&B, and patting his dog, Maggie, who occupied the stool next to me. The attractive barkeep explained the new beers on tap and asked if we had any questions. Bob thought for a few seconds and said, “Yes. What’s the capital of Bolivia?”
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Thanksgiving Entertainment: Just before you say the blessing and begin carving tell everyone at the table what your kids named the turkey.
Republished with the author’s permission. Read The Dave Scott Blog– subscribe Free
The views expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of Citizens Journal Florida.
