After 10 Glorious Years, Sunshine State News and I Are Passing the Baton

With President Barack Obama addressing the nation at 8 p.m. about the end of combat operations in Iraq, Sunshine State News will be live-blogging the speech. Former President George W. Bush announced the start of combat operations on March 19, 2003, and declared major combat operations over on May 1 of that year. Having lasted more than seven years, the Iraqi operations rank as one of the longest military activities in American history -- not quite as long as Vietnam or the Revolutionary War, but longer than the Second Seminole War and both of the World Wars put together.

Quite a few Republicans have taken their names out of contention for being considered Rick Scotts running mate. Recent media reports have indicated that Rep. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, and former Jacksonville Mayor John Delaney said they were not interested.And who can blame them? As Jeff Kottkamps bid for the Republican attorney general nomination shows, the position is not exactly a launching pad for future political ambitions. Nor is it that well-established in Florida politics.

U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings is being questioned by congressional ethics investigators over his handling of travel stipends. Hastings, D-Miramar, reportedly paid for drinks and gifts for people who traveled with him, according to the Wall Street Journal. A half-dozen congressmen are under scrutiny for their use of travel stipends, which range from $50 to $250 a day. Lawmakers usually request and receive an additional $50 per day, the Journal reported.

Though still two months away, midterm elections are shaping up quite favorably for Republicans nationally. A Gallup poll of registered voters out this week marks the fifth week in a row where Republicans have held an advantage over Democrats on a generic ballot. But this week, the GOP took a 10 point lead, the highest since Gallup started tracking the generic ballot in 1942. From Gallup: