Daniel Tilson, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Daniel TilsonMarch 23, 2014

“All politics is local” is a saying most are familiar with. “Think globally, act locally” is another. Both underline a point that people of any ideological persuasion or political affiliation (except for fascists) ought to be able to agree on. The only way middle-class, working poor and retired folks can have some say over how […]

Daniel TilsonMarch 17, 2014

The balls are moving faster from shell to shell up in Tallahassee now, as political hucksters and con artists enter double-digit territory in Florida’s 2014 legislative session. At this stage of the game, working families and retired folks should look away from the moving balls, check their wallets and valuables, and refocus all attention on […]

Daniel TilsonMarch 12, 2014

So Alex Sink lost another big one. Not exactly a surprise. After all, this is the same Sink who snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in 2010, enabling an ultra-conservative, ethically tainted multimillionaire businessman to get elected Florida governor. Like Rick Scott then, Republican David Jolly beat Sink in Tuesday’s CD 13 special election […]

Daniel TilsonMarch 10, 2014

There were some fascinating takeaways from the just-completed 2014 Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). Rand Paul won the presidential straw poll for the second year in a row, up six points from last year to win going away with 31 percent. His win is no surprise, since the CPAC crowd is thick with younger libertarian-leaning […]

Daniel TilsonMarch 8, 2014

The good news about the David Jolly-Alex Sink Florida CD 13 special election campaign is…it’s almost over. The vote is Tuesday. The bad news is, it has been an exasperating exercise in the kind of outside interest-funded “gotcha!” politics that confounds and alienates more voters than it informs and engages. The 13th U.S. congressional district […]

Daniel TilsonMarch 5, 2014

“He’s a walking contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction…” When Kris Kristofferson wrote that line in his classic 1971 song, “He’s a Pilgrim,” he might have been having a premonition about this week’s paradoxical 2014 State of the State speech delivered by Gov. Rick Scott. In the 2013 version, Scott said, “Accountability is working” with […]

Daniel TilsonMarch 3, 2014

Florida’s 2014 legislative session runs from March 4 until May 2. Then comes Election Day on Nov. 4. It’s that last date you want to keep uppermost in mind when you hear about winners and losers in Tallahassee these next couple of months. When it comes to predicting win/loss percentages, let’s just say the casino […]

Daniel TilsonFebruary 27, 2014

Let’s face it. Most working families and retirees in Florida take a pass on paying much if any attention to the 60-day lawmaking scrimmage that takes place in Tallahassee around this time each year. Maybe if legislators actually scrimmaged in pads and helmets while debating what they’re going to do to our lives, we’d pay […]

Daniel TilsonFebruary 25, 2014

Tuesday Feb. 25 marked the 50th anniversary of one of the most notable nights in boxing, sports and Miami Beach history: the incredible upset victory of Cassius Clay over World Heavyweight Champion Sonny Liston. The fact that the fight took place in Florida makes the memory all the more special, and given where the state […]

Daniel TilsonFebruary 22, 2014

Unless your annual income ranks near the top 1 percent in Florida, the economic news coming out of two major new reports released last week is not good. On Wednesday the nonpartisan Economic Policy Institute released “The Increasingly Unequal States of America,” with a dedicated section called “Lopsided income Growth in Florida“. Key takeaways include: […]

Daniel Tilson
Crowds gather to see Atlantis at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. (Gabrielle Russon)

Daniel Tilson: ‘Orange Rising’ redefining “Home Rule” in Florida

Daniel Tilson: Busting up 2014 legislative con games

Daniel Tilson: Lessons for losers from Florida congressional district 13

Daniel Tilson: Takeaways from CPAC 2014

Daniel Tilson: Silver lining in clouded Florida CD 13 special election

Daniel Tilson: Rick Scott’s State Of State devoid of accountability

Daniel Tilson: Winners and losers in Florida 2014 legislative session

Daniel Tilson: Middle-class Floridians, pay attention to the 2014 legislative session

Daniel Tilson: Ali anniversary as “stand your ground” lesson

Daniel Tilson: Bad news last week for Florida middle class…and GOP?