A Florida family values group is blasting this week's circuit court decision allowing adoptions by homosexuals. "This is a terrible, senselessblow againsthuman rights, social justice and the children in Florida's troubled foster-care system," said Anthony Verdugo, founder and executive director of the Christian Family Coalition. CFC assailed the "warped prejudices" and "personal whims" of the three-judge panel that has, for now, overturned state law. The decision is certain to be appealed to the Florida Supreme Court.

Somebody forgot to tell Florida Sen. Mike Fasano the Republicans don't like Gov. Charlie Crist anymore. The New Port Richey Repub is about to term-limit out of the Senate, which is just as well, because he likes Charlie plenty and doesn't care who knows.

In the midst of the prolonged economic slump, politicians are falling on hard times, too. The latest case in Florida involves Port St. Lucie Mayor Pat Christensen, who resigned Wednesday after she was arrested and charged with falsifying records. According to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Christensen deposited about $3,800 from campaign funds into her personal account and, on at least two occasions, wrote checks to herself from campaign funds.

The University of Miami Hurricanes try to get back on track tonight when they play at Pitt in a nationally televised game. The Canes (1-1) dropped to No. 19 in the AP poll this week, after falling to Ohio State 36-24. Pitt (also 1-1 after losing to Utah) was a pre-season pick to win the Big East. The game kicks off at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN. In Florida college action this Saturday, UCF travels to Kansas State (12:30 p.m., Fox Sports), Florida State hosts Wake Forest (3:30 p.m., ABC) and Kentucky visits the Gators (7 p.m., ESPNU).

Incoming state Senate President Mike Haridopolos has a meter running on U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., as the clock ticks toward Nelson's 2012 re-election date. The Merritt Island Republican lawmaker addressed another letter to Forida's senior senator today, reiterating questions he posed to Nelson 77 days ago. "While I know things move slowly in Washington, to date, I have yet to receive your response," Haridopolos writes. Among the queries:

On Wednesday it was announced thatDemocratic gubernatorial candidate state CFO Alex Sink and her Republican opponent Rick Scott will participate in a third debate moderated by John King of CNN on Oct. 25. The Sink camp claimed that Scott was trying to refrain from debates.

Gov. Charlie Crist, running without party affiliation in the U.S. Senate election, spoke in South Florida on Wednesday on Social Security -- and was pounded from the left and right. Conservatives argued that Crist offered a path for illegal aliens to obtain Social Security benefits.

Barney Bishop, president and CEO of the Associated Industries of Florida, came out swinging on Wednesday against Sen. Dan Gelber, the Democratic candidate for attorney general. Florida doesnt need Dan Gelber as attorney general, insisted Bishop. If elected, he will follow in the footsteps of New Yorks Eliot Spitzer and Connecticuts Dick Blumenthal -- harassing Floridians and businesses with costly and unnecessary investigations that lead to no prosecution, no convictions and no recovery to the state -- all to inflate their own political ambitions.

James Carville, well-known Democratic political guru, sent out an e-mail to supporters Wednesday offering his take on the tea party phenomenon shaping the nations political landscape.

On Wednesday, an appeals court in Miami shook up the Sunshine States political landscape by ruling that the states law banning gay couples from adopting children is unconstitutional. The Third District Court of Appeals issued a 3-0 ruling in favor of Frank Gill who has served as the foster parent for two boys. The ruling likely will not settle the matter. Gills attorneys initially intended to take their case to the Florida Supreme Court -- where it will probably end up on appeal.

More proof that the Democratic establishment is not putting its money on Gov. Charlie Crist who is running for the U.S. Senate without party affiliation: U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, the Democratic nominee in the U.S. Senate race, announced on Wednesday that former Vice President Al Gore, the Democratic presidential candidate back in 2000, will campaign with him in Tampa on Sept. 30.

A day after controversy erupted over a mailer sent by his party, Democratic Rep. Ron Klein released a poll showing him ahead of GOP challenger Allen West by 8 points. The poll, conducted before the dustup over a campaign flier bearing West's Social Security number, has the Democrat up 48-40, and shows West's negatives on the rise. It is not surprising that voters are rejecting Allen West considering he has extreme, right-wing positions and follows the Sarah Palin model of divisive politics, Klein campaign spokeswoman Sarah Rothschild said.

Big labor is being unleashed in the gubernatorial race.

U.S House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is headed to Florida on Wednesday night to help raise funds for Democratic U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas -- and Kosmas Republican opponent, Rep. Sandy Adams of Oviedo, is firing away. On the campaign trail, Suzanne Kosmas tells voters that she is independent from the national Democrats that are spending our grandchildren into poverty and standing in the way of our economic recovery, wrote Adams to supporters. But tonight she is in Washington side by side with Nancy Pelosi raising money to further their liberal agenda.

John Stemberger, president and general counsel of the Florida Family Policy Council, sent an e-mail to supporters on Wednesday morning, informing them of the latest information he had about his groups website being attacked.