Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Peter SchorschMarch 21, 2018

A decade-old interview with CNN is showing Adam Putnam’s past may be a little harder to shake in his bid for Florida Governor. The recently unearthed video shows then-Congressman Putnam defending his “friend and mentor” Dennis Hastert, the longest-serving Republican House Speaker in history. At one time, Hastert was one of America’s most powerful politicians, […]

Jac VerSteegJune 1, 2016

Baylor-University-denies-Ken-Starr-has-been-fired-3500x5000.jpg

When Hamlet, Clint Eastwood and Jesus agree on something, it must be true. Said Hamlet: “Use every man after his desert, and who should ’scape whipping?” Said Clint in “Unforgiven:” “We all got it coming, kid.” Said Jesus: “He that is without sin among you, let him cast the first stone.” Those quotes should instill […]

Guest AuthorMay 17, 2016

By the time you read this, all the presidential candidates, presumptive or otherwise, may have chosen their vice presidential running mates. You will have read or heard the term “vetting” or “to vet” many times. It refers to the detailed investigation of a candidate’s background to ensure that he or she will not blow up […]

Jac VerSteegJune 8, 2015

One result of former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert’s indictment is that Wheaton College has removed Hastert’s name from its J. Dennis Hastert Center for Economics, Government, and Public Policy. In a news release the college, in Wheaton, Illinois, said: “In light of the charges and allegations that have emerged, the College has re-designated the […]

Jac VerSteegJune 1, 2015

Mark Foley slowly has been returning to respectability. The former congressman from Palm Beach County resigned in 2006 after the public learned he had sent sexually-charged messages to male former congressional pages. Now, the emerging Dennis Hastert scandal is reminding Floridians of Foley’s misdeeds. After quitting Congress, Foley stayed out of sight for a while. […]

Tag: Dennis Hastert

After Mark Foley tweet, unearthed video shows Adam Putnam’s Dennis Hastert ‘problem’ won’t go away

Jac VerSteeg: Hamlet, Clint Eastwood and Jesus on Kenneth Starr

Bob Driver: The vetting of prospective veeps

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: Dennis Hastert teaches a lot about economics, government and public policy

Jac Wilder VerSteeg: Dennis Hastert scandal an unwelcome reminder of Mark Foley’s disgrace