Darryl Paulson, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Darryl PaulsonNovember 29, 2016

(First of two parts) Over a half-century ago, CBS News and journalist Edward R. Murrow aired a documentary about Florida’s migrant farmworkers called “Harvest of Shame.” Murrow documented the long hours and low wages of the migrant farmers, along with the poor health care, housing and education for the migrant families. A similar documentary could […]

Darryl PaulsonNovember 22, 2016

Going into the 2016 presidential election, virtually all political pundits and pollsters projected an easy victory for Hillary Clinton. Several of the most respected pollsters gave Clinton an 85 percent chance of defeating Donald Trump. Highly respected presidential scholar Larry Sabato projected that Clinton would win 347 electoral votes to Trump’s 191. As we now […]

Darryl PaulsonMay 23, 2016

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The opposition to Donald Trump has been constant from the start of the 2016 presidential campaign. However, it has been unfocused and essentially leaderless. Many Trump opponents believed he would not enter the race. When he entered, they believed he had no chance of winning. Now that Trump has all but won the nomination, they […]

Darryl PaulsonMay 23, 2016

When the 2016 presidential campaign began, everyone believed Hillary Clinton would quickly wrap up the Democratic nomination since she faced what many saw as token opposition. It was the Republicans, who had enough candidates to field a football team, who were expected to have a bitter, protracted primary. As so often has been the case in […]

Darryl PaulsonMay 21, 2016

On May 18, 2016, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump releases a list of 11 judges that he would “most likely” use to select his appointees to the Supreme Court. The list of 11 names included 11 whites and eight males. Six of the 11 were appointees of George W. Bush, and the other five are […]

Darryl PaulsonMay 17, 2016

Candidates and political parties consistently pledge to the electorate they will either support or oppose a particular issue. For some candidates, the pledge is a signal of their support for a particular issue. For others, a pledge is a vehicle to win the support of the voters and political groups. Various political groups have drafted pledges […]

Darryl PaulsonMay 9, 2016

(Last of three parts) Now that Donald Trump has secured the Republican presidential nomination, what options are available to Republicans who are unsatisfied with their party’s nominee? One option is not to vote for Trump, but to support Hillary Clinton. Some Republicans will choose this option. Women who are disgusted with Trump’s insults and Republicans […]

Darryl PaulsonMay 8, 2016

(Second of three parts) The drafters of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution did not trust unfettered democracy. The Founders wanted self-government, but they wanted a government where minorities would be heard and protected from the excesses of the majority. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, described simple democracy as “one […]

Darryl PaulsonMay 6, 2016

(First of three parts) With Donald Trump‘s victory in Indiana and the withdrawal of his last two opponents, he is assured a first-ballot victory at the July convention in Cleveland. The good news is there will be no riots, as Trump threatened with a deadlocked convention. The bad news is Donald Trump is the Republican […]

Darryl PaulsonMay 5, 2016

(First of three parts) With Donald Trump’s victory in Indiana and the withdrawal of his last two opponents, he Is assured a first ballot victory at the July convention in Cleveland. The good news is that there will be no riots as Trump threatened with a deadlocked convention. The bad news is that Donald Trump […]

Darryl Paulson
Image via Palatka Main Street.

The Shame of Florida: How Florida’s felon vote is ruining lives and costing taxpayers

Darryl Paulson: Getting schooled on the Electoral College

Darryl Paulson: It’s now or never for #NeverTrump

Darryl Paulson: The trials and tribulations of Reince Priebus and Debbie Wasserman Schultz

Darryl Paulson: Donald Trump goes a-courting

Darryl Paulson: Pitfalls of the political pledge

Darryl Paulson: What’s a good Republican to do?

Darryl Paulson: Why do democracies create demagogues?

Darryl Paulson: Donald Trump the demagogue: Have you no sense of decency?

Darryl Paulson: Donald the demagogue: Have you no sense of decency?