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CHICAGO -- The most portentous election of 2014, which gave the worst-governed state its first Republican governor in 12 years, has initiated this century's most intriguing political experiment. Illinois has favored Democratic presidential candidates by an average of 16 points in the last six elections. But by electing businessman Bruce Rauner, it initiated a process that might dismantle a form of governance that afflicts many states and municipalities.

Like it or not, the 2016 presidential race is now well under way. Republican candidates are flocking to Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina, while Hillary Clinton, in-between $200,000 speeches at universities, is reported to be in seclusion developing her economic policies.

The firestorm of denunciation of former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani, for having said that he did not think Barack Obama loved America, is in one sense out of all proportion to that remark -- especially at a time when there are much bigger issues, including wars raging, terrorist atrocities and a nuclear Iran on the horizon.

"Free trade results in giving our money, our manufactures, and our markets to other nations," warned the Republican senator from Ohio and future President William McKinley in 1892."Thank God I am not a free-trader," echoed the rising Empire State Republican and future President Theodore Roosevelt.

Welcome to "The Dean's List" -- first in a weekly look, Ed Dean-style, at who Florida's political achievers were (and weren't) in the last seven days. What you see here is strictly my opinion, not necessarily the editor's or the rest of the staff at Sunshine State News.

Even as he turns his eyes to early caucus and primary states like Iowa and Nevada, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., occupies an odd spot in the early stages of the 2016 Republican presidential contest.

Was Jacksonville's historic mayor a flash in the pan?

The president's request for the authorization to use military force against the Islamic State has landed in a Congress as divided as the country.That division was mirrored in the disparate receptions Obama's resolution received from The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times.

Brian Williams' six-month suspension has fallen flat. His critics aren't mollified. His supporters are clearly dispirited. Everyone knows this one is not over -- though his tenure at NBC may very well be done.

Republican presidential candidates usually avoid any criticism of Hollywood, ever since Vice President Dan Quayle attacked "Murphy Brown" in 1992 for choosing to be a single mother on TV. There are two reasons. The first is the "objective" media will hand you your head, as Quayle found out -- even if later, experts and even reporters themselves admitted Quayle was right about the social harm being caused by the glorification of single motherhood.

The press has barely noticed that President Obama has offered a new federal budget. Even in its paucity was a slant to be found. Like an obedient servant, NBC morning anchor Natalie Morales relayed: "President Obama, unveiling a record $4 trillion budget on Monday aimed at helping the poor and middle class. President Obama says the budget is practical, not partisan."

As one of the people responsible for casino gaming in New Jersey, I think I'm as acquainted with what's happened there as anybody around today.