WASHINGTON -- When Alexander Pope was on his deathbed, his doctor assured him that his breathing, pulse and other vital signs were improving. "Here I am," Pope said to a friend, "dying of a hundred good symptoms."
Those who've followed this column over the years know that when President Obama was first elected, I tried valiantly to give him the benefit of the doubt. I believed for the best that his promise of "change" would be an exercise in moderation and sound judgment. But that didn't happen, and this past week's elections were a comprehensive rebuke of the first two years of his presidency.
Now that most of the dust has settled from Tuesday's midterm elections, Congress is starting to deal with issues that face Congress' two-legged, lame-duck session. The Reid/Pelosi-led Congress has scheduled the first leg of the lame-duck session to convene Nov. 15; the second leg will convene Nov. 29. The lame-duck session has so much legislation to consider, its hard to know where to begin.
Forget Palm Beach County's problems in the Supervisor of Elections' office. Now there's election trouble brewing in the school district of this, Florida's second largest county.
Senate President-elect Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, will have his hands full in the coming legislative session, making good on Republican promises to cut spending, create jobs, and tackle controversial bills dealing with teacher compensation, immigration and abortion.
Three days after a stunning defeat for Democrats, National Public Radio's top political analyst told the politically minded in Palm Beach County not to think these changes will last forever.
With Republicans gaining control of the U.S. House of Representatives, the Obama administration knows it is a whole new ballgame.
Incoming Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, tapped Rep. John Legg, R-Port Richey, as speaker pro tempore on Friday, and named Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, R-Miami, as House majority leader.
Next up: Bill Nelson.
Discouraged, disgusted and restless, some Florida Democrats want Party Chairwoman Karen Thurman's head on a platter.
