Saying "we will be in danger for the rest of our lives," Newt Gingrich on Tuesday supported an extension of Patriot Act provisions to fight terrorism. Speaking at a CNN debate on national security at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., the former House speaker said, "Government should have many more tools." Ron Paul countered Gingrich, saying, "We never have to give up liberty for security." The Texas congressman likened the Patriot Act to "having a camera in every home to stop child beating and wife beating."

For some reason I no longer remember, and I'm sure it wasn't a good one anyway, I signed up some time ago to have the Nation emailed to me. It wasn't for amusement value, but it occasionally pays off that way, particularly in their idiotic coverage of the Occupy monstrosity. This is particularly good, from an article about the necessity of creativity in staging protest marches.

U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Miramar, expressed disappointment Tuesday that the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction -- the supercommittee -- failed toreach a debt deal Mondayand, as with most federal and state politicians, put the failure of the supercommittee on the shoulders of the opposing party. "Unfortunately, it has become clear that Republicans were not interested in compromise," Hastings stated in a release.

Richard Biter, a former federal deputy director of transportation, has been named the new FDOT assistant secretary for intermodal systems development by Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Ananth Prasad. Biter in his new role will oversee the planning, environmental management, freight and logistics, and public transportation offices.

On Tuesday, former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts released his first television commercial as he continues his second bid for the Republican presidential nomination. In the new ad, which is being run in New Hampshire, Romney attacks President Barack Obamas handling of the economy. While New Hampshire is important as the first state to hold a presidential primary, it is also a battleground in the general election -- one of the reasons Obama is visiting it this week.

A new website -- nosurprises2012.com -- illustrates the ever-shifting positions of the Republican presidential field, and it's not flattering. The site, posted by Michele Bachmann's campaign, is a rich, multimedia compendium of philosophical flip-flops by Newt Gingrich, Rick Perry and, of course, Mitt Romney. Ironically, the biggest flippers -- Romney and Gingrich -- are currently leading the pack in the primary race.

A national poll from Quinnipiac University, unveiled on Tuesday, found that former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich has rocketed to the top of the pack of candidates for the Republican presidential nomination -- while businessman Herman Cain has plummeted. Gingrich, who took 10 percent in a Q-poll released Nov. 2, leads the field with 26 percent followed by former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts with 22 percent. Cain, who led the Nov. 2 poll with 30 percent, has fallen to third with 14 percent.

A poll of likely voters in the New Hampshire Republican primary released by Suffolk University/7NEWS (WHDH TV) late Monday found that former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts has a commanding lead in the nations first presidential primary.

Expectations are high for Newt Gingrich Tuesday night as GOP presidential candidates square off for a televised debate on national security. Sunshine State News will live-blog the event, which runs 8-10 p.m. from DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. Gingrich, who has surged past Mitt Romney in some polls, has extensive national-security experience, with his seat on the Council on Foreign Relations and his two decades in Congress in the 1980s and 1990s.

Gov. Rick Scott released the following statement on the failed congressional deficit reduction talks: It is unfortunate that after months of debate the congressional super committee charged with finding $1.2 trillion in budget savings failed to make the difficult choices needed to begin fixing our nations out-of-control debt. This news, coupled with the recent failure of the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a federal balanced budget amendment, should cause all Americans to be concerned about the direction our country is heading.

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Miami, has opened regional offices in Naples and Tallahassee. One of my priorities this year has been to ensure constituents have a convenient place they can turn to when they need our help with federal services and any other concerns they have about the federal government, Rubio stated in a release. These new offices will serve all constituents in the region, and I encourage people in these areas to reach out to us there as well as our Washington office. The new office locations:

A CNN/ORC International Poll released on Monday found that former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich is leading the pack of Republican presidential candidates. Gingrich takes 24 percent in the national poll while former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts is within the margin of error at 20 percent. Last week, a CNN/ORI poll had Romney ahead 24 percent with Gingrich in second with 22 percent.

Florida Education CommissionerGerard Robinson responded Monday to Sunshine State News' story about the delay in awarding more than $100 million in recognition to "A" schools. His statement: The School Recognition Program rewards high-performing schools for their efforts in raising or maintaining high student achievement.While it is true that the Florida Department of Education has delayed providing recognition funds to schools that received an A or improved a letter grade last year, I want to emphasize that the primary reason is a matter of fairness.

A Rasmussen Reports poll released on Monday found that Gov. Rick Scott was upside down with Florida voters as his first year in office draws to a close. The poll found that 51 percent of likely voters disapproved of Scotts performance in Tallahassee while 42 percent approved of it.

Saturdays Florida-Florida State gridiron match in Gainesville has been dubbed the Fresh From Florida Showdown by Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. From Saturday through the end of the 2011-2012 season, every Seminole-Gator match-up -- in 18 different sports -- will be used to promote Florida's grown and harvested products, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services has announced.