Martin Dyckman, Author at Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Martin DyckmanMarch 14, 2016

The rap against Bernie Sanders, as propagated by Hillary Clinton’s media claque, is that he’s too progressive to be an effective president. They say he’s an idealist rather than a doer who never accomplished much in the Congress. His program would hit gridlocked Washington like a crash dummy test car slamming into a concrete wall. […]

Martin DyckmanMarch 14, 2016

Florida has a new death-sentencing law to replace what the U.S. Supreme Court threw out two months ago. On balance, it’s an improvement. Jurors must now identify, unanimously, any of the reasons — what the law calls aggravating circumstances — why a person they have convicted of a capital crime should die rather than serve […]

Martin DyckmanMarch 7, 2016

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Donald Trump doubled down on war crimes in that gutter-level brawl the other night, insisting that military personnel who have been trained to refuse illegal commands would not dare to disobey his orders to torture terrorism suspects and murder their families. “They’re not going to refuse me,” said the would-be egotist-in-chief. “If I say do […]

Martin DyckmanMarch 4, 2016

Donald Trump doubled down on war crimes in that gutter-level brawl the other night, insisting that military personnel who have been trained to refuse illegal commands would not dare to disobey his orders to torture terrorism suspects and murder their families. “They’re not going to refuse me,” said the would-be egotist-in-chief. “If I say do […]

Martin DyckmanFebruary 29, 2016

Hoping for a moderate presidential nominee in 1972, the Democrats who controlled the Florida Legislature set up a primary intended to award Sen. Edmund Muskie most of the state’s delegates. George Wallace won them instead — 75 of the 81– with pluralities in all but one congressional district and 41.6 percent of the overall vote. […]

Martin DyckmanFebruary 23, 2016

Legislation that the Florida House of Representatives approved last week cures what the U.S. Supreme Court specifically found wrong with Florida’s death penalty, but Rick Scott shouldn’t plan on signing any more death warrants soon, if ever. Six large questions linger. Will the Supreme Court uphold it? The court did not say, in “Hurst v. […]

Martin DyckmanFebruary 22, 2016

Legislation that the Florida House of Representatives approved last week cures what the U.S. Supreme Court specifically found wrong with Florida’s death penalty, but Rick Scott shouldn’t plan on signing any more death warrants soon, if ever. Six large questions linger. Will the Supreme Court uphold it? The court did not say, in “Hurst v. […]

Martin DyckmanFebruary 17, 2016

Mitch McConnell couldn’t even wait until Justice Antonin Scalia‘s corpse was cold before exploiting his death for partisan politics. The oleaginous majority leader means to keep the seat empty, no matter the likelihood of that paralyzing the sharply divided Supreme Court for a year, on the chance that voters might elect a Republican president to […]

Martin DyckmanFebruary 16, 2016

Mitch McConnell couldn’t even wait until Justice Antonin Scalia’s corpse was cold before exploiting his death for partisan politics. The oleaginous majority leader means to keep the seat empty, no matter the likelihood of that paralyzing the sharply divided Supreme Court for a year, on the chance that voters might elect a Republican president to […]

Martin DyckmanFebruary 15, 2016

John McCain took the Senate floor last week to speak from his heart. It is a heart that beats in a body still bearing the effects of the tortures he endured as a prisoner of war in Vietnam. What he said deserves every Floridian’s thoughtful attention before the March 15 primary. Here is where you […]

Martin Dyckman

Martin Dyckman: Hillary Clinton should start playing it straight

Martin Dyckman: Despite new law, Florida’s death penalty process flawed

Martin Dyckman: To stop Donald Trump, vote for Marco Rubio

Martin Dyckman: To stop Donald Trump, vote for Marco Rubio on March 15

Martin Dyckman: Donald Trump likely to benefit from Florida GOP’s winner-take-all primary system

Martin Dyckman: Lingering questions should end death penalty in Florida

Martin Dyckman: Lingering questions should end death penalty in Florida

Martin Dyckman: Refusing to approve Obama nominee could hurt the Party of No in November

Martin Dyckman: Refusing to approve Obama nominee could hurt the Party of No in November

Martin Dyckman: If you vote for Trump, you’re endorsing torture by your government