Emails & Opinions

Peter SchorschMay 20, 2017

A U.S. appeals court ruling that federal law doesn’t bar smokers from using a landmark Florida Supreme Court decision from proving damages gave a smile to one former Florida judge. The 11th Circuit on Thursday said plaintiffs and their survivors can use the “Engle tobacco class action’s jury findings to establish strict liability and negligence […]

Blake DowlingMay 20, 2017

Have you checked out the latest version of the digital personal assistant, Alexa, that is specially designed for Senior Citizens? It’s called Alexa Silver. It’s super loud and you can only order it by check. It also has an “uh huh” function that it says when you are telling rambling stories. Fake news alert, it’s […]

Peter SchorschMay 19, 2017

Adam Putnam has now spent a week on the road after his launching a 10-day, 22-city bus tour through Florida, kicking off his bid for governor. So far, the campaign says the response has been “overwhelmingly positive.” The state’s Agriculture Commissioner, in a series of “Up & Adam” events, has met with a wide variety of residents, grassroots supporters, […]

Darryl PaulsonMay 19, 2017

I expect the title of this op-ed will generate enough hate mail to keep me busy for a month. How can anyone oppose democracy? If the Founders hated democracy, who am I to disagree? The Founders recognized the inherent dangers of democratic government. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, called democracy “one […]

Peter SchorschMay 19, 2017

On Thursday, former U.S. Representative and lobbyist David Jolly emailed to express how “excited” he was to “announce the launch of Brighter Future Florida,” a non-profit organization designed to promote policies and issues he believes are important to Pinellas County. Never mind that Jolly soft opened BFF (what a perfect acronym for an organization connected to the unceasingly polite Jolly) […]

Martin DyckmanMay 19, 2017

There’s a $71-billion federal welfare program that costs more than aid to needy families, more than the earned income tax credit for working families, and almost as much as food stamps, but goes in great measure to people who don’t really need it. I’m on that dole. You may be, too. It’s the home mortgage […]

Peter SchorschMay 19, 2017

Sunburn – The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster, Mitch Perry and Jim Rosica. Good morning from Cove Cafe on Deck 9 of the Disney Magic. The WiFi is strong here and so is the coffee, which is much needed after a late Pirate Night. Current […]

Peter SchorschMay 18, 2017

Great Flood of 2017 rocks Washington Some political wordsmiths might call it the Great Flood of 2017 in Washington. No, the Potomac has not crested its banks. No water main has ruptured. This is all about what began as occasional damaging leaks to the media involving President Trump. Those leaks have turned into a tsunami of stories and […]

Peter SchorschMay 18, 2017

Sunburn – The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics. By Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Jenna Buzzacco-Foerster, Mitch Perry and Jim Rosica. Good morning from the deck of the Disney Magic. The weather is now much more north Atlantic than tropical. Current location is 35.17.14 N, 39.16.13 W. Course is 80 degrees. The nearest […]

Guest AuthorMay 17, 2017

One of my all-time heroes is Winston Churchill. He’s widely credited with having said, “A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth has a chance to get its pants on.” In the digital age, this phenomenon, which once took days or weeks, now takes mere hours or minutes. To know this is true […]

Emails & Opinions

Takeaways from Tallahassee — Tobacco decision cheers one former judge

Blake Dowling: Who knows what innovation will bring next?

By the numbers, Adam Putnam’s campaign off to a successful start

Darryl Paulson: The Founders were right — democracy is flawed

David Jolly takes a page from former President Selina Meyer

Martin Dyckman: Home mortgage interest deduction, the third rail of real tax reform

Sunburn for 5.19.17 – No slots for you! No money for you, elex supervisors! HD 44 spec. election heating up; Scott Plakon did what?

The Delegation for 05.18.17 — Insights from the Beltway to the Sunshine State

Sunburn for 5.18.17 – Pam Bondi raising $$$; No word yet on special Session; Richard Corcoran’s op-ed; The secret Disney land deal

Richard Corcoran: Don’t believe hyperbole, hysterics from budget critics

Florida politics had 11 questions before federal qualifying week. Here are the answers.