Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Julie DelegalAugust 3, 2014

Dear Arne Duncan, You’ve taken some flak recently for saying that children’s disabilities can be improved by “high expectations.” As President Barack Obama’s Secretary of Education, you’ve surely developed a thick skin. But as the parent of a child with unique brain wiring, and as someone who once thought autism was “curable,” I understand. I’ve […]

Marc YachtJuly 16, 2014

There is controversy as to who said, “There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics.” Perhaps Mark Twain, perhaps British Prime Minister Disraeli, but few would argue the meaning. Politicians twist data all the time and with Obamacare, the misinformation reaches new levels. While conservatives try to destroy the Affordable Care Act […]

Julie DelegalJuly 14, 2014

Sanity is beginning to trickle into the debate on immigration reform, writes columnist Rick Outzen. The Florida Chamber of Commerce says that developing clearer paths to citizenship is good business and will help fill critical worker gaps in the state’s economy. The chamber, a conservative bastion of entrepreneurs, stood shoulder to shoulder with Catholic bishops […]

Julie DelegalJuly 13, 2014

The Redistricting Case The League of Women voters won their court challenge to Florida’s congressional map last week. Leon County Circuit Court Judge Terry Lewis agreed with the League that Florida’s latest congressional map was drawn to favor one political party (Republicans) over the other (Democrats.) Lewis invalidated the map as unconstitutional, and called for […]

Guest AuthorApril 6, 2014

The big question in the 2016 presidential sweepstakes is: Will Jeb run? The answer remains unknown, perhaps even to Jeb Bush and his wife Columba. It is not an easy decision. One night over dinner in Houston some dozen years ago, President George H. W. Bush told me about the soul- searching process his older […]

Guest AuthorMarch 2, 2014

At first, I thought it was a joke — political satire. But no, it was for real. Some people actually think that way. It seems that a Maryland middle school was holding a dance and pizza party complete with a DJ for students who earned straight A’s. Students who got B’s and C’s were invited […]

Guest AuthorDecember 10, 2013

America is a nation that loves heroes. The recent death of South African leader Nelson Mandela spawned an outpouring of tributes from President Obama to the average American on the street. Mandela first led a decades-long fight to end apartheid in South Africa and then headed that nation in its democratic infancy with wisdom and […]

Guest AuthorOctober 31, 2013

Let’s turn our attention to a moment in our history: The president of the United States is under siege from extreme right-wing groups, their anger fueled by domestic divisions as well as fear of a foreign enemy that seems determined to gain a foothold on American soil. The young president is the first of his […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 19, 2013

It seems that Russia is calling us out as a nation on one of our most cherished and unwritten beliefs: the one that says America is exceptional. There is a long history to this notion, beginning with the Puritan John Winthrop’s comparison of his pilgrim band to the biblical city on a hill, and Americans […]

Julie DelegalSeptember 2, 2013

In July, the Gainesville Chapter of the Tea Party circulated a petition from the conservative Americans for Prosperity asking lawmakers to reject the Common Core-related “PARCC” assessment for Florida. PARCC stands for the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, a coalition of 19 states and the District of Columbia. PARCC’s test development […]

Tag: President Barack Obama

Julie Delegal: ‘High expectations’ don’t always solve disabled students’ problems

Marc Yacht: Eventually, voters will punish politicians who fought Obamacare

Julie Delegal: Why is Jeb Bush silent during this immigration crisis?

Julie Delegal: Congresswoman Brown shouldn’t fight redistricting ruling

John Grant: Why Jeb Bush is the best bet for Republicans in 2016

John Grant: Pizza for all?

Steve Kurlander: America needs some homegrown heroes like Mandela

Steve Robinson: Do events of 50 years ago remind us of today’s front page?

Cary McMullen: Is America the exception to the rule?

Julie Delegal: Tea Party criticism of ‘Obama-Math’ is flawed