America should count itself fortunate that four of our first five presidents -- George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison and James Monroe -- did not have sons that survived to adulthood. Otherwise the early days of our republic would have featured presidential elections which would have seemed like wars of dynastic ambitions. There were certainly some political dynasties -- the Adams family, the Harrisons, the Pierces, the Tylers, the Van Burens, the Lincolns and even a populist like Andrew Jackson whose nephew Andrew Jackson Donelson ran for vice president.

Former U.S. Rep. Allen West weighed in on Monday on the capture of Abu Anas al Libi, the al-Qaida leader captured by American military forces in recent days for his role in planning terrorist attacks in Africa. West expressed strong disapproval of plans to try al Libi as a criminal and insisted he should be held as a prisoner of war at Guantanamo Bay.

Retired Marine Col. Tom Bowman, who served as the chief of staff and an acting assistant secretary for the federal Department of Veterans Affairs, announced on Monday that he was backing Blaise Ingoglias bid to represent parts of Hernando County in the Florida House.

With California deciding last week to issue drivers licenses to illegal aliens, a new poll finds the overwhelming majority of Americans oppose this policy.

Rasmussen Reports released the findings of a national survey on Monday which finds 68 percent of likely voters oppose their state allowing illegal aliens to apply for drivers licenses. Only 22 percent of those surveyed favor the policy.

The poll of 1,000 likely voters was taken from Oct. 4-5 and had a margin of error of +/- 3 percent.

Former U.S. Rep. Allen West weighed in on the death of Army Specialist Tevin Geike, a white soldier who was killed by African-Americans who taunted him as a cracker. Posting on Facebook on Monday, West wondered why President Barack Obama has remained silent on the issue after the president talked about the death of Trayvon Martin, even saying if he had a son he would look like Martin.

The Washington Post released its latest whip count on Friday and found 20 Republicans in the U.S. House who are willing to break with the GOP leadership and pass a clean continuing resolution measure that would not defund President Barack Obamas federal health care law. The Washington Post has identified four Republicans who are leaning toward backing a clean continuing resolution.

A day after businessman Jay Fant announced he was running in the Republican primary for the Florida House seat held by retiring Rep. Daniel Davis, R-Jacksonville, one of the leading conservatives on the First Coast endorsed primary rival Paul Renner, an attorney and Navy veteran.

Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, offered Renner warm words of praise on Friday as he backed his candidacy.

Former state Rep. Carl Domino went on the attack Friday as he runs for the Republican nomination to challenge U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla.

In an email to supporters, Domino hit Murphy for the government shutdown and looked to connect him with Democratic leaders like President Barack Obama and U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

This week, the Florida Department of Education (DOE) sent a report to the leadership of the Florida Legislature showing that requiring high school students to take a course on personal finances could be a good bet for the state.

On Thursday, the LeRoy Collins Institute at Florida State University celebrated its 25th anniversary with a symposium in Tallahassee.