"Faute de mieux." That means "for want of something better" in Secretary of State John Kerry's second language. It's also the best case made by its journalistic defenders for approval of the nuclear weapons deal Kerry negotiated with Iran. Or to be more exact, for rallying 34 votes in the Senate or 146 votes in the House to uphold a presidential veto of a congressional vote to disapprove. 

Two voting-rights organizations that led the legal battle against congressional districts later found to be unconstitutional called Monday for a new map to be drawn in public -- a demand swiftly rejected by legislative leaders.

The League of Women Voters of Florida and Common Cause Florida released a letter to Senate President Andy Gardiner and House Speaker Steve Crisafulli, taking issue with the top lawmakers' announcement that legislative staff and lawyers would be secluded as they draw a map intended to comply with a Florida Supreme Court decision rejecting current districts.

The nation’s oldest third party -- which had its greatest success in Florida -- nominated a presidential candidate at the end of last week, continuing a tradition which started in 1872.

The Prohibition Party nominated Jim Hedges, who served two terms as the tax assessor of Thompson, Pa., for president on Friday. Hedges will hope to improve on the showing of  Lowell "Jack" Fellure who was the party’s presidential candidate in 2012. Fellure took less than 600 votes.