Columns

WASHINGTON -- In the spirit of charity prompted by Pope Francis' visit to the U.S., let's not call them bigots.

In recognition of the 75th anniversary of Naval Air Station Jacksonville (NAS Jax), U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla., who sits on the U.S.

Tom Lee loved it, Don Gaetz loved it, now here comes Richard Corcoran peddling more lobbyist reform. It's such a crock, this business of "special interests." As the main legislative goal for this year, next year or any year, it does not one thing to move the needle for the Florida economy, for education, for child welfare, for expanding economic opportunity, anything that might improve Floridians' lives.

As the 2016 presidential selection process proceeds, there is increasing evidence that the political patterns we have grown used to, that we have come to consider permanent, might be suddenly changing.

Ranking as one of the biggest flops in recent presidential elections, Scott Walker ended his presidential bid on Monday. Walker should have soared in this political climate after becoming something of a folk hero to Republicans for his battles with government employee unions. When he entered the race, Walker was in the top tier. With his time in the national limelight in Wisconsin and his appeal as a conservative who won in a generally blue state, Walker looked like someone who could go the distance. As a leading Midwest Republican, Walker also looked set to play well in Iowa, home of the first presidential caucus. 

Civility and calls for civil discourse have long been talking points for the Democrats. Their hypocrisy, however, has been pronounced.  For evidence, Floridians need to look no further than Alan Grayson, the “king of outrageous statements” and the Democrats’ front-runner in the 2016 U.S. Senate race.

Welcome to The Dean's List -- an Ed Dean-style look at who Florida's political achievers were (and weren't) in the last seven days.

Sometimes what seems the least consequential detail tells the most about a person's character -- or at least his or her intentions.

What Vladimir Putin is up to in Syria makes far more sense than what Barack Obama and John Kerry appear to be up to in Syria.

Once again, President Obama and his foreign policy team are stumped. Why is Vladimir Putin pouring troops and weaponry into Syria? After all, as Secretary of State John Kerry has thrice told his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, it is only making things worse.

Donald Trump apparently isn't big enough to admit Jeb Bush got the better of him in 1998.

Republicans clashed in the second round of presidential debates on Wednesday night. Held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California, the 11 leading candidates debated for more than three hours on CNN. Earlier in the night, four dark horse candidates battled in the preliminary debate. 

In this presidential cycle, voters in both parties, to the surprise of the punditocracy, are rejecting experienced political leaders. They're willfully suspending disbelief in challengers who would have been considered laughable in earlier years. 

If ever Florida had a speaker prepared to take the gavel, it has to be Richard Corcoran, whose designation today formalizes a kind of 20-year, one-of-its-kind apprenticeship for the job.

Once upon a time in a twinkling city on a hill, little boys and girls were taught that anyone could grow up to become president.