Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorMay 18, 2014

Ralph Waldo Emerson was contemptuous of “foolish consistency,” calling it “the hobgoblin of little minds.” Oh Waldo, if you could see us now! By his eloquent standard, worse than consistent fools, Americans have devolved into intellectual Lilliputians. It wasn’t ever thus. Some of our greatest presidents have been “wisely inconsistent,” sanely changing their minds in […]

Daniel TilsonMay 17, 2014

The adage that “You get what you pay for” sure does hold true in Florida’s political and public policy circles. Progress Florida Executive Director Mark Ferullo wrote a great piece for Context Florida this week, laying out how we pay…for what we are unwilling to pay for. Let me explain. Ferullo detailed some of this […]

Julie DelegalMay 5, 2014

It looks like my columns questioning the efficacy of school privatization in Florida have hit a nerve. Again. Voters might remember that I’ve long opposed voucher schools because, among other reasons, they don’t administer the same high-stakes tests to their students that public schools do. Without equal accountability, parents of mostly low-income children who now […]

Peter SchorschMay 4, 2014

Winner: Will Weatherford With the passage of the immigration tuition bill, Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford is the single biggest winner of the 2014 legislative session. He has completely silenced his detractors by accomplishing something few of the old silverbacks could have pulled off, and it is the capstone on the first phase of a political […]

Guest AuthorMay 4, 2014

Here are two simple questions. The right answers will save the state of Florida; the wrong answers — I don’t want to think of them or their disastrous consequences. As things stand, which way things will go is a toss-up, which should give people who see beyond their noses heartburn. First, are Floridians, especially voters, […]

Guest AuthorApril 29, 2014

A monkey should easily be able to drum Gov. Rick Scott out of office in November — unless it’s a Democrat. The donkey party is in danger of seizing defeat from the jaws of victory. They have a clear, fusion candidate in frontrunner Charlie Crist. And yet, instead of unifying behind him, some Democrats, even […]

Daniel TilsonApril 23, 2014

What if two intrepid reporters cornered Gov. Rick Scott and… Reporter A: Governor, why are you suddenly and so publicly supporting in-state tuition legislation that would let undocumented immigrants pay the same college tuition as legal residents? Scott: Anybody who grew up in Florida should get to go to a state university without paying 15 […]

Julie DelegalApril 22, 2014

Often, I find myself explaining to my public-school advocacy friends that no one can afford to take on Bush-brand education reform and live to get elected. Barack Obama didn’t even try, and sang Jeb’s praises instead. And, if I’m reading the political landscape correctly, neither will Hillary Clinton, even if she’s called to square off […]

Peter SchorschApril 14, 2014

Time was, all politicians up for election, whether it be to the Mosquito Control Board or U.S. Congress, had to submit a campaign treasurer’s report no later than 10 days after the quarterly period ended. This made the 10th of January, April, July, and October as eagerly anticipated by political aficionados as Christmas morning is […]

Peter SchorschApril 9, 2014

With lawmakers dressed in sweaters to stave off the cold and holiday displays set in the Capitol Rotunda, Senate President Andy Gardiner and House Speaker Steve Crisafulli gaveled in a rare December special session of the Florida Legislature. Almost immediately after Democrat Charlie Crist unseated Republican Rick Scott last month in the most expensive gubernatorial […]

Tag: Charlie Crist
Aerial photo courtesy Jesse Biter.

Stephen Goldstein: Charlie Crist on Cuba: Facing facts, not flip-flopping

Daniel Tilson: Florida’s “Good Old Boy” government has to go

Julie Delegal: Let’s determine if Bush-brand education reforms are working

Peter Schorsch: The winners and losers in the 2014 legislative session

Stephen Goldstein: Who’s dumber–Floridians or Rick Scott and the Legislature?

Stephen Goldstein: Nan Rich should drop out of the governor’s race

Daniel Tilson: Rick Scott’s Hispanic transparency

Julie Delegal: Charlie Crist, this education article is for you

Peter Schorsch: Too much money data makes it tough to determine who’s winning

Peter Schorsch: Here’s what a December special session might look like