With questions still remaining about the use of the role of torture and aggressive interrogation techniques used on captured terrorists to obtain the location of Osama bin Laden, Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan demanded that President Barack Obama call off a U.S. Department of Justice investigation of CIA agents accused of torture.

Buchanan sent a letter to the White House which was released on Tuesday.

One of the sad and dangerous signs of our times is how many people are enthralled by words, without bothering to look at the realities behind those words.

It's all over but the shouting and the honking. Three days after the 2011 Legislature adjourned, union members and liberal groups plan to rally Tuesday outside selected legislators' district offices and on streets across Florida.

The "Awake the State" campaign, which drew some 10,000 protesters in 30 cities on the session's opening day, expects to stage follow-up demonstrations in 24 communities this time around.

All the Legislature had to do Friday was pass the budget, drop the hanky, and smile for the camera. Instead we got an embarrassing episode of The Little Rascals, with Senate President Mike Haridopolos and House Speaker Dean Cannon starring as Spanky and Alfalfa.

Because of the required 72-hour cooling-off period, the budget vote could not occur before 10:16 p.m. That didnt stop Haridopolos from counting his chickens and taking public victory laps on Friday afternoon.

We're going to bring this in for a landing," Haridopolos crowed.