As America grew in the 1800s from a republic of a few millions, whose frontier stopped at the Mississippi, into a world power, there were constant collisions with the world's greatest empire.

Hopefully the Senate will sink Bill Nelson's beach house bailout bill.

With Rick Scott continuing to struggle in the polls, chatter keeps on coming that the governor could face a challenge for the Republican nomination in 2014. But if it's going to come, it likely won't be from Washington.

An old foe resurfaced last week to insist Scott could face a primary in 2014. Former Attorney General Bill McCollum closed the door on challenging Scott in the Republican primaries next year. During the 2010 election cycle, the governor defeated McCollum in a close and bitter contest.

Scandals have apparently caught up with Barack Obama. All of a sudden polls are showing the once-popular president's approval ratings as upside-down as a bad mortgage.