Whats wrong with this picture
 

In the United States of America you are not allowed to attend the singing of a budget that is paid for with your tax money because it is being held on "private property"that is being paid for with your amenity funds which you have no choice but to pay because your politics differ with the head of your state government?This is very scary.I never thought I would ever see this happen in a place I thought was so wonderful.I don't think I will ever again proudly say I live in the Villages

I don't understand what you are saying. Is someone signing a budget in TV? Who and where and why reference the state government and it sounds a little political...but I don't truly understand what you are telling us. Please clarify.

Kind regards,
Gracie

Sorry!
 

I do not comprehend your post. Can you help me understand better what this is about?

Clarifying my post
 

Read todays edition of the Orlando Sentinel

I don't know why or how the state government ties into it, but there is a budget that's processed by each district in TV. You can find them at the VCDD website. As for being political, it is political just as much as it would be if someone posted a comment about our representatives in Washington having to sign legislation in order to find out what's in it! Maybe that's were what the alleged situation the OP's claiming was leaned from! Then again maybe not. Who knows?

No one was kept out of Lake Sumter Landing for Gov. Scott's State budget signing. No one was screened. Some Democrat protesters were moved across the street from the Pavilion, but that's about it. The Pavilion was leased for this event, and security was evident.

You gave a lot of invented misinformation in your post. I don't know why.

I don't believe the place where the signing took place is part of our amenities. I believe it is private property. I realize it is used by the public for entertainment events but can be closed to the public at the will of the owner.

Bargee,

Your posting was mighty incoherent but I did know Gov. Rick Scott was signing the state budget here in The Villages today. It was in the Daily Sun and other newspapers.

Like Richie said, no one was kept out. Some protesters were moved elsewhere like in any political event. Sure, security was present. Rick Scott is the governor of the state. No problem.

Even if you do not agree with the politics of Rick Scott, he is the governor and you have to respect that.

Like I have said to Richie and others on the political forum - and this goes for you, Bargee. Get over it. Nothing you can do about it now.

Of course, not that I would ever suggest to anyone, if you do not think you can live in a place like this run by the Morse family - no one is holding you here. You might even make a tidy profit on your house on your move to Stonecrest or Lake Wier.

I was there and watched as the protesters were moved away from the Square area. I understand that the event was paid for with private funds, but what about their right to political dissent. You can tell me they were provided with an opportunity to protest, as long as they did it out of earshot or sight.

The Supreme Court has recently rule that you cannot stifle political dissent. There is nothing sicker, or more reprehensible, as the church that protests at Fallen Hero's funerals. But the Court ruled you can't stop it. I know someone will argue the private property defense, but really, is this what TV has descended to?

Please reread Franklin's quotation, used in your email signature. I'm sure you could imagine the word dissent in there somewhere.

Thanks Richie for this post. At least those of us who don't have access to the Orlando Sentinel now have a clue what the OP was talking about and the motivation behind it. The lack of clearity caused me to misunderstand and make a post that, in a manner of speaking, was out in left field.

You can protest all you want as long as you're on public property and behaving in a lawful manner. The pavilion area is private property and was leased for this event. This has to be respected for it's own value as well as for the security of the governor, which is paramount is situations like these.
The protesters were moved across the street, not to Siberia. If you've been to the square you know this is no big move.

Dang it, Richie -

I hate it when you give a good clear and coherent answer that is direct, to the point, and also correct. It leaves me nothing at all to argue about.

Since I am way up here in Ohio, neither the Orlando Sentinel or the Daily Sun are options to read.

Glad someone clarified it....a little.:loco:

I agree with everything you have said. My question was where do you draw the line on honest political dissent? I said I was there, I witnessed the move. I do not believe there was any reason to suspect unruly conduct. After the assault on the congresswoman in Arizona, security has to be tight.

"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania (1759)

Moving some group across the street is not a violation of free speech. Now, if the "protestors" were rounded up and taken to Golden Corral and forced to eat a meal, that would be cruel and unusual punishment.

Signing
 

My wife and I were there for the signing. Sat in the 5th row in front of the governor. There were no problems. Some protestors were there as was stated they were escorted across the street. One sign I believe said Pink Slip Scott no big deal. He drove past the protestors on the way in. He shook several hands after the signing which was done on the stands where all the students were.It was very peaceful,just wish he'd have been there on time.

One small clarification: there are situations in which public property can be off-limits for "protestors". The situation is limited public access.

An actual example: the city for which I work cordoned off 2 blocks of public streets and sidewalks to conduct a city-sponsored festival. A small but organized group showed up for the purpose of obtaining signatures on a petition for some sort of special interest they held.

Because we had designated the cordoned-off area to be a limited public access site for the purpose of the festival, and because the group's activities were not previously approved as an activity, we did not permit the group to conduct the petition drive within the festival area.

We did, however, inform them that they could assemble across the street from the festival, where they were welcome to go about their business, provided that they did not obstruct/impede pedestrian or vehicular traffic.

BTW: Ritchie, I am a fan of the quote you selected as your signature sign-off.

I'm sure we'll be jabbing each other soon. I'm bound to say something that will make you roll your eyes. I can't help myself.

The Orlando Sentinel has a pretty good site Gracie. It's not a truncated version like the Daily Sun. If you pine for Central Florida news, it's the place to go when your at your summer retreat away from your Villages home.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...,2857189.story (link to the Gov. Scott in TV story)

I believe the writer is referring to Gov. Scott's visit to TV to sign the State Budget. As a retired Law Enforcement Official one of my responsibilities when planning the security for a VIP political visit was providing a designated protest zone for anyone wishing to express their opinion at a public event.

It is proper and customary to designate an area for protestors. It allows anyone wishing to express their political opinion to do so without disrupting the ceremony. It also provides a safety buffer for everyone in attendance. This is done at all political conventions, campaign speeches, etc.

TV residents should be honored to have been chosen as the location for the budget signing. The Governor recognized TV residents as seriously engaged in Florida politics. I am proud to be a Village resident and endorse how the protestors were handled yesterday during the signing ceremony.

Thank You!

Personally I think the Governor recognized TV residents as serious Republicans and wanted to hold a press conference in a politically friendly environment, since his approval numbers are among the lowest in the nation. The last poll showed only 29% of Floridians approve of his job performance.

All of you posters who are non-residents but still are interested in what is happening in and around The Villages should really sign up for the online version of The Daily Sun and Orlando Sentinel. I continue reading The Washington Post even though I moved from that area over 18 months ago.

Not sure this article, concerning the signing, is very flattering for The Villages or Villagers...

You be the judge...

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/...2567351.column

I have always had the feeling (Sweetie HATES when I start a sentence that way) that the folks who write the Orlando Sentinel are not big fans of The Villages.

Yikes !!! Real people?

The Wednesday Daily Sun clearly stated the signing was "open to the public". At no time was it stated it was a private event.

People who wore tee shirts merely stating "vote Democratic" were considered "protestors" and escorted off the square.

The sheriffs were moving people off the square not for security reasons but merely due to the allegation it was a private event and whoever "leased" the square decided who stays and who goes.

The Daily Sun's crowd estimate of around 1,000 is laughable. Real media outlets estimated it closer to 500. Apparently they round off numbers to the nearest 1,000.

I was at the Square also. (Not for the event--was shopping) I also thought it curious that some of the people with card board posts were removed to the outside of the square while others were let into the square.

One of the statements in that article referred to the veto of funding for The Wounded Warrior Project.
For what it's worth,
It is my understanding that WWP does not /never has accepted government funding.

Someone should write a column pointing out was a condescending piece of trash Scott Maxwell is. His column demeans practically the entire Villages community as self-centered greedy so and so's who don't care about children, the environment, our fellow seniors and veterans.

Oh, he does say he hears from the good people who don't like anything about the governor and are still able to enjoy Villages life.

Up yours, Mr. Maxwell.

Good idea! In his article Mr. Maxwell referring to Scott stated "With a 29 percent approval rating, you're going to have a tough time finding universal support anywhere outside your own bedroom." I wonder if he would make the same statement about any politician that has an approval rating in that same neighborhood! Excuse me now while I :1rotfl: at that thought!

Yeah, real people who worked for a living
 

Yeah, "real people" who have worked all their lives to be able to live here.....and who pay their bills, save for their own retirement, wait till their present home sells before going into debt for the one in TV.....the ones who maintain their home, yard, streets, golf courses and town squares in perfectly clean, pristine condition instead of letting it turn into a dirty, polluted, littered city like most of the others around the country.

Well. I love your answer. You are right. We are a great group if I do say so myself.

I like your definition of real people much more than the author's implication that "real people" were found in places other than The Villages.

IloveTV and Richie are both right on the money with their posts. Scott Maxwell's column was insulting to Villagers and I believe Villagers should write to the Orlando Sentinel demanding an apology as to what Maxwell has us portrayed.

Page 2 of today's Daily Sun shows photos of Villagers at the event carrying signs in support of the governor. Were they allowed in the area from which others were removed?

If attendees carrying signs in support of the governor were allowed into an area, and those carrying signs or wearing tee-shirts in opposition to the governor were not allowed into the same area, then I would see something wrong with the picture.

Wouldn't you have to be privy to the security protocols to know?

You must be kidding,"security protocols"! The removal of "protestors" had nothing to do with security.

I was there, people who had on tee shirts that said "vote Democratic" were removed from their seats and out of view of cameras and Rick Scott.

After the rally Scott mingled among the crowds and you could get right next to him with minimal effort. So there was no real security concerns apparent after the photo ops created by the signing.

There were quite a few empty seats and Scott personnel were constantly trying to get the seats filled by those of us who were standing around the perimeter of the seating area by making us aware of the empty seats.

The Daily Sun had front page information the event was "open to the public". Then the sheriffs said it was a private event the the square was "leased". They removed those who the Republican sponsors didn't want to be seen.

I guess for our next Villages block party we'll declare it a private event and have the sheriffs department out to remove non block residents from the party since they now apparently do this as a general service to the public at large.

Be sure to watch the Daily Sun for the correction stating they misinformed readers the event was "open to the public"!

Another vote for The Daily Sun online?
JJ

Florida law does not allow for recall of the governor.