WASHINGTON -- In selecting Stephen Colbert to replace David Letterman as host of the "Late Show," CBS has waged war on America's heartland -- or so proclaims that Palm Beach font of heartland mirth, Rush Limbaugh.
Don't you believe it, Heartlanders.
After 10 Glorious Years, Sunshine State News and I Are Passing the Baton
You probably can't imagine how much fun I've had at Sunshine State News over the last 10 years. I don't think anybody could.
November 1, 2019 - 6:00am
Politics
Columns
WASHINGTON -- Two months ago, a petition bearing more than 110,000 signatures was delivered to The Washington Post demanding a ban on any article questioning global warming. The petition arrived the day before publication of my column, which consisted of precisely that heresy.
President Reagan was holding a meeting in the Cabinet Room on March 25, 1985, when Press Secretary Larry Speakes came over to me, as communications director, with a concern.The White House was about to issue a statement on the killing of Major Arthur Nicholson, a U.S. army officer serving in East Germany. Maj. Nicholson had been shot in cold blood by a Russian soldier.
PHOENIX -- From the Goldwater Institute, the fertile frontal lobe of the conservative movement's brain, comes an innovative idea that is gaining traction in Alaska, Arizona and Georgia, and its advocates may bring it to at least 35 other states' legislatures. It would use the Constitution's Article V to move the nation back toward the limited government the Constitution's framers thought their document guaranteed.
On April 1, Washington Mayor Vincent Gray was denied a second term, defeated in the primary by upstart city councilwoman Muriel Bowser. The beginning of the end came on March 10, when U.S. Attorney Ronald Machen struck a plea bargain with a wealthy businessman who confessed he'd spent $668,000 on an illegal "shadow campaign" to fund get-out-the-vote efforts that helped Gray win the mayoral office in 2010.
In the aftermath of the mass shootings in Aurora, Colo.; Newtown, Conn.; Tucson, Ariz.; Virginia Tech; the Washington Navy Yard; and sadly, other locales, conventional wisdom held that the epidemic of mass shootings was a problem of gun control. I wrote columns attempting to draw attention to the mental health system in America that so wrongheadedly fails to treat the dangerous mentally ill.
In his Kremlin defense of Russia's annexation of Crimea, Vladimir Putin, even before he began listing the battles where Russian blood had been shed on Crimean soil, spoke of an older deeper bond.
When Alexis de Tocqueville visited America in 1830, he was struck by how many Americans were participating in voluntary associations. It was quite a contrast with his native France, where power was centralized in Paris and people did not trust each other enough to join in voluntary groups.
WASHINGTON -- The human kindling that makes up the flammable Republican base may soon burst into flames, again. Portions of that excitable cohort are looking -- some with fawn-like eyes filled with hurt, others with sparks shooting from eyes narrowed like gun slits -- askance at other Republicans urging Jeb Bush to seek the 2016 presidential nomination.
WASHINGTON -- H.L. Mencken gets a workout in election years when voters are reminded by pundits of the curmudgeon's observation that no one ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American public.
Mean. But true?
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Democrats want to see Nan Rich and Charlie Crist face off in a debate, according to a new poll from Public Policy Polling.
PPP found nearly nine out of 10 Democratic voters -- 89 percent -- said they were either very interested or somewhat interested in seeing a debate between Rich and the former governor.
By Kevin Derby
The Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) took aim at former Gov. Charlie Crist on Tuesday in a new Web ad, accusing the newly minted Democrat of raising taxes five years ago. Crist is the Democratic favorite to challenge Gov. Rick Scott in November.
By Kevin Derby
In Miami on Tuesday, Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, going to bat for Gov. Rick Scott, will launch a two-week tour focusing on small businesses. Scott is looking to showcase his new $10 million proposal to have colleges and universities host $100,000 competitions to promote entrepreneurship and innovation. Later in the day, Scott and Lopez-Cantera will hit Fort Lauderdale.
By Kevin Derby
Five Republican congressmen from Florida -- Rich Nugent, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Dennis Ross, Steve Southerland and Ted Yoho -- sent a letter to U.S. Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki at the end of last week, urging him to resign. Shinseki is under fire as reports emerge about secret wait lists at VA medical centers across the nation.
By
Florida Cabinet members issued statements commemorating Memorial Day on Friday.
My wife Ann and I join Floridians this Memorial Day in honoring the men and women of the United States military who have given their lives to serve our country throughout our nations history," said Gov. Rick Scott. "It is because of their bravery and sacrifice that we are able to enjoy the freedoms of our great country and have the opportunity to achieve the American dream. We continue to pray for the members and families of the armed forces who are honorably serving today."
By Nancy Smith
David Dunn-Rankin, Florida Press Association chair, and Bob Gabordi, Florida Society of News Editors president, announced in a written statement Friday details for the first forums for Floridas 2014 gubernatorial candidates.
They will take place at the organization's annual meeting, more than a month ahead of the primaries, but -- as in previous gubernatorial election years -- presenting an opportunity for editors to hear all candidates address the issues and clarify their positions.
By Kevin Derby
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., continues to stay active in Iowa, home of the first presidential caucus.
Having endorsed Iowa state Sen. Joni Ernst earlier in the month, Rubio is now running a new TV ad for her with his Reclaim America PAC as she continues her bid for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by the retiring U.S. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa.
By Kevin Derby
Even as his bill empowering the secretary of the VA to fire and demote problem employees is stalled in the Senate, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., continues to push his legislation and now he is getting the backing of Gov. Rick Scott.
By Kevin Derby
U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., called out the United Nations for not imposing harsh sanctions in response to the Castro regime in Cuba sending military support to fellow communist state North Korea. The South Florida congresswoman called for President Barack Obama to get involved.
By Kevin Derby
U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla., the chairman of the House Financial Services and General Government Appropriations Subcommittee, met with Internal Revenue Service Commissioner John Koskinen on Thursday and urged him to continue to investigate the IRS targeting conservative and tea party groups.
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