Opinion
By Dave Scott, 7-7-23
Bogus local “news” outlet Fernandina Observer whose “observers” are in desperate need of strong corrective lenses, stumbled all over itself July 1 in a hysterical myopic piece by April Bogle.
Headlined “Florida’s Worst Legislative Session Ever Attacks Personal Freedom, Some Laws Go Into Effect Today” this gal’s fawning biased piece could just as easily been labeled “April in Paradise.”
Bogle, a Georgia transplant, is baffled that others moving here find anything positive to approve of in Florida. Her prejudices were on full display as she attempted to cover a local forum organized by the Democrat Club of Amelia Island (DCAI), but only wallowed in the flow of angry socialist rhetoric.
Union organizers, ACLU members, out-of-county liberal radicals, leftist preachers, out-of-area Florida Democrat legislators, etc. gathered to spew pearl-clutching, hand-wringing tirades of Marxist venom at the Monday, June 26 session. They screeched that we’re all doomed by Republicans, conservative values, and Florida’s wicked Governor Ron DeSantis.
Speakers at the forum were psychotic in the causes they embraced with their attacks on the family, Christianity, and traditional educational and western values. Their messages indicate that they will stop at nothing to transcend the values that made America great.
Once Ms. Bogle heard the left’s irrational bashing of their hated “Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act” (HB 1557) that was the siren call that triggered her to proclaim that she stood for everything these folks said and blew what little objectivity she may have possessed out of her, uhmmmm….ears.
The bill, mislabeled by both Ms. Bogle and News Leader Editor Tracy Dishman as the “Don’t Say Gay” law, is a Florida state law passed in 2022. It regulates public schools in Florida. Sections of the act prohibit public schools from having “classroom discussion” or giving “classroom instruction” about sexual orientation or gender identity from kindergarten through third grade or in any manner deemed to be against state standards in all grades. In other words the bill protects young children from the Democrat’s perverse sexual teachings and strengthens parental rights.
Ms. Dishman, penned her piece in the Friday, June 30 issue of the paper under the headline: “Democrat club tries to transcend party affiliation.”
Nowhere in the bill is the word “gay” mentioned yet Ms. Bogle and Ms. Dishman mimic other leftist scribblers, including News Leader reporter Julia Roberts, by inaccurately labeling it the “Don’t say gay” bill. Ms. Bogle, a self-employed PR consultant, is by far the most egregious scribbler.
Have they even read the legislation they’re writing about? I doubt it. Why bother. It’s easier to adopt and circulate someone else’s opinions and ideas than research the topic themselves and investigate opposing views.
April’s Paradise was more April in Wonderland as this whacky forum was jam packed with characters Lewis Carroll hadn’t imagined could be so off-the-wall outrageous.
Much of the rhetoric was aimed at Governor Ron DeSantis for legislation and policies he has sponsored to protect Florida’s school children, property owners, tax payers, voters, and parents from Democrat party overreach, its socialist philosophy, and practices.
For example, State Representative Angie Nixon (D-District 13, Jacksonville) led the Marxist parade at this session, telling those there: “I have folks telling me they’re leaving the state because they fear for their lives. And they fear for their lives because the party in power is playing games.” Those terrified Democrat transients headed North will have to dodge all the cars and U-Hauls with California and New York license plates pouring into Florida in record numbers.
Ms. Nixon prattled on saying: “It’s really important that we let everyone know there’s an attack on our freedoms here in the State of Florida. They’re saying that this is the free State of Florida, but free for who?”
Good ‘ole April, she swallowed it all, hook line and sinker. Not hearing anything she disagreed with she echoed it all back and then some. In her article she displayed her bona fides as a member of the “cultural elite,” wagging her virtue signaling finger at the unashamed DeSantis crowd, the GOP, and any others who refuse to deny their white supremist sinfulness.
Instead of acting as a watchdog for the public, this alleged Observer “reporter” attacks anyone who breaks from the leftist orthodoxy writing: “Experts on some of Florida’s most contentious public policy issues – abortion rights, LGBTQ equality, voter suppression and quality public education – explained how a slate of bills passed in the 2023 session of the Florida Legislature, many of which go into effect today, continue stripping away basic personal freedoms and rights under the leadership of Gov. Ron DeSantis.” She continued adding: ‘The laws run counter to DeSantis’ 2022 gubernatorial race slogan ‘Keep Florida Free’ and his presidential campaign slogan ‘Freedom Lives Here.”’ Whew!
Her blather was more over-the-top than the piece of mental indigestion vomited up by Observer restaurant critic, Dylan Bailey, about Café Karibo recently.
Her commentary (It certainly wasn’t objective reporting) concentrated on what she perceives through her socialist lens as a variety of sins committed by Florida’s conservatives ranging from climate change, abortion, voting rights, LGBTQ+ issues, and more.
Ms. Bogle ended her slavering claptrap with a list of suggestions from those attending the socialist fete on how others can spread their litany of drivel.
Her mindless Leninist twaddle makes readers pine for the good ‘ole days when vision-impaired Observer founder Susan Steger and her Brenda Star wannabe sidekick, Suanne Thamm, (pictured here) ran that online mess.
With the exception of a couple of the usual local liberal suspects, Observer reader comments were overwhelmingly negative toward Ms. Bogle’s mind-boggling (See what I did there?) hit job. Based on the twaddle she spewed Ms. Boggle should pitch her PR skills to Bud Light, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream, and Target, linking her Observer word jumble as an example of her work.
Unlike Ms. Bogle’s nonsense, The News Leader’s Ms. Dishman’s piece was a more balanced recital of the Democrat whining and bellyaching and incomprehensible verbal temper tantrums expressed by local and out-of-area Mad Hatters spewing their radicalized fury, hysteria, and abuse. Her major gaffe was misidentifying Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act.
Based on his record so far, and with “reporters” like Ms. Bogle and Black Lives Matter advocate, Mike Lednovich, editor Mike Phillips doesn’t do his readers a service by only publishing material that fits his ideological narrative and positioning it as “news.” This is NOT a new outlet, far from it.
(Another thanks goes out to talented local illustrator Steve Hall for the introductory cartoon that introduced this column, and whom I now owe even more cold beers.)
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Speaking Of Tasteless Journalism: Despite the above messes generated by the pathetic Observer, the following are the hands down winners of the most tasteless article and headline of the year that ran in the leftist New Republic: “Ocean Gate CEO Missing in Titanic Sub Had History of Donating to GOP Candidates.”
That is not a satirical Onion or Babylon Bee headline, but an actual headline and story that far left ghoulish writer, Daniel Strauss, wrote to capitalize on the tragic deaths of five people. This so-called journalist give all of us a reason to despise them all and never believe another word they write when they pump this kind of sewage into their cesspool publications.
These are the faux journalists, who claim they are champions of the poor, protectors of the climate, saviors of the planet, and preach equality, inclusion, and diversity. In reality they have no ethics, class, humanity, or morals. They are disgusting and their publications are equally pitiful and lack even an infinitesimal degree of credibility, fairness, morality, or truthfulness.
If you don’t believe there are totally depraved people out there pumping out this type of filth, read the article. Think I made this up? I didn’t. Read it yourself: https://newrepublic.com/post/173829/oceangate-ceo-missing-titanic-sub-history-donating-gop-candidates
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Speaking Of Aberrant Behavior: Rachel Levine, the sexually unhinged guy who is Assistant Secretary of Health under President Biden who wears women’s clothing, claims that changing children’s genders will soon be commonplace, saying that the practice has the highest support of the Biden administration.
According to Fox News Levine said: “I think that it’s not going to be politically advantageous. It wasn’t particularly in 2022. And so, I think that as we look to all the different elections in 2024, I think the next two years are going to be challenging. But I am positive and optimistic and hopeful that the wheel will turn after that and that this issue won’t be as politically and socially such a minefield.”
What this whacko guy in a dress is talking about is mental and physical child abuse. Why isn’t there a massive national protest directed at the perverts that are promoting and allowing these despicable and horrible acts?
The push to bring transgenderism into the mainstream is so irrational that children are being disfigured for life. How can a child make a life-altering decision that is not reversible? Transgender education is being touted for public schools. What does a young child need to know about a man wanting to wear a dress? That’s why we are fortunate to have Gov. Ron DeSantis looking after our kids much to the chagrin of these left-wing ghouls.
This vile, obscene nonsense needs to stop. Hopefully November 2024 will usher in sweeping changes.
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Meanwhile Back In The Real World: It’s ironic that April Bogle’s litany of leftist babble in the Observer appeared the same week as the online Citizens Journal Florida (Welcome to the Home of Citizens Journal Florida ), an actual fact-gathering news outlet, celebrated its one year anniversary hereabouts. Its Publisher and Editor George Miller says: “CJF’s mission is to deliver REAL news, politically incorrect commentary, useful information, valuable and sometimes entertaining copy to readers in Nassau County, FL, to expose misinformation and inform readers so they can make better life decisions.”
Miller says the outlet is actively seeking reporters and writers. Those interested can contact him at [email protected] or [email protected]. I doubt Ms. Bogle would make the cut.
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Overheard At PJD’s Beer & Wine Garden: “Put $100 cash in an envelope and then mail it to yourself. If you’re afraid it might get lost in the mail, then you should vote in person next November.”
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Loan Arranger: Attorney Jeff Childers, who authors the daily online “Coffee & Covid” commentary and splits his time between Gainesville, FL and Fernandina Beach has a simple solution to the student loan issue. To read his commentaries go to https://www.coffeeandcovid.com/p/lobotomized-inconsistency-thursday?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=463409&post_id=133436128&isFreemail=true&utm_medium=email
“I have litigated the student loan issue on behalf of folks crippled by un-repayable student loan debt,” wrote Childers. “There is a simple solution: allow student loans to be discharged in bankruptcy after making a reasonable effort to pay them back. That’s all it would take.”
“There is no legitimate justification for excepting student loans from bankruptcy apart from protecting the banks. If other bank loans are dischargeable, then student loans should be, too.”
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Out Of Order: After someone told him about recent decisions, Joe Biden mumbled to reporters that the Supreme Court wasn’t “a normal court.”
It’s not the Supreme Court that’s not normal. It’s Joe Biden. His brain is out of order. He can’t recall the year or where he is without using a teleprompter. Some men are national treasures; Biden is a national buffoon.
American society today resembles a rabbit hole overseen by a bewildered old man who doesn’t have a clue about core values or where he is most of the time. Biden is a neurologically challenged geriatric geezer who only occasionally has brief bouts of full cognizance. Brace yourself as this bumbling old fool has almost two years left in his term.
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Ron Sapp Signs Off: Long-time News-Leader columnist, school teacher, and local political activist, Ron Sapp, announced a farewell to his column in the News Leader in the Wednesday, July 5 issue of the bi-weekly paper.
As far as I can recall, I’ve never once agreed with the admitted socialist Sapp about anything he’s ever written. However, his final “Debate & Tackle” column is an exception.
In it Mr. Sapp revealed that he is suffering from metastatic prostate cancer and expressed his gratitude and thanks to those in his life – community, family, and friends – that have always been at his side, care for him and are currently assisting him during this difficult period.
The column wasn’t self-serving or a plea for sympathy, but a sincere thank you. After reading about all of Mr. Sapp’s local accomplishments in a front page tribute article by Editor Tracy Dishman, it is obvious he has assisted in a variety of projects that have contributed to the town of Fernandina ranging from Egans Creek and building height restrictions to the beach accesses and various city parks.
His final piece “Warm both hands before the fire” was well written, obviously heartfelt, and will generate more than one lump in the throat of readers.
I’ve had two biopsies for prostate cancer, both came up negative. If I ever have one that proves positive I hope I can face the challenge with the same courage Mr. Sapp displays. I wish him the best and many more years enjoying his family, friends and the community he serves and loves so much.
