Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania continues to prepare for another shot at the Republican presidential nomination -- even though the polls show he is being eclipsed by other conservative candidates.

There are many who complain that big government is the root of all our problems.

Republicans want to win back the U.S. Senate in 2014 and they can help themselves out by winning two special elections being held for open seats in the Northeast later this year. Polls released Monday show the Republicans are in striking distance of winning a contest in Massachusetts later this month but picking up the seat in New Jersey come October might be tough -- especially if Newark Mayor Cory Booker is the Democratic nominee.

It would be nice to write a column in praise of President Obama for his vigorous conduct of the war on terror -- to praise his willingness to look for "dots" to connect amid all the electronic noise of the communications web.

Floridas next crop of Republican leaders could be falling into the same trap that ensnared a prominent Sunshine State politician who pulled defeat out of the jaws of victory.?