Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Bob SparksOctober 20, 2014

With the election only two weeks away, we suffer degrees of numbness from the political ads. Depending on your region of Florida, you may already have fled to Netflix or DVDs to escape the bombardment. But complaining about negative ads is pointless because they’re so effective. For those seeking a respite, I recommend reading or […]

Adam WeinsteinSeptember 25, 2014

It’s all over now but the glad-handing. As the insider Board of Trustees planned all along, John Thrasher will be the next president of Florida State University. Even though he’s prevented by law from lobbying on FSU’s behalf for the next two years- — and lobbying expertise was supposed to be his strong selling point. […]

Adam WeinsteinSeptember 11, 2014

Two years ago, a Florida state senator introduced a bill “to halt the revolving door between the Legislature and state universities” and bar lawmakers from running to jobs at colleges they fund. He explained to the Florida Times-Union that “even in cases where lawmakers are doing everything ethically,” such a relationship could raise “red flags,” adding: “It […]

Peter SchorschAugust 21, 2014

Unless an Ebola-fueled zombie apocalypse devastates the world between now and next Tuesday, former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist is going to win the Democratic nomination in Florida’s governor’s race. Not one credible political prognosticator thinks otherwise. So one thing to look for on Tuesday night is not whether Crist wins or loses — duh — […]

Daniel TilsonJune 5, 2014

University presidents should be special, but for the right reasons. This came to mind as Florida State University clumsily lurched along the road to picking a new president. Eric Barron resigned somewhat suddenly in early April, to take the presidency at Penn State. With a long pre-FSU faculty/administration history there, this was a “dream” move […]

Guest AuthorMay 1, 2014

Heisman trophy winner Jameis Winston is in the news again — starring in the clichéd role of troubled star athlete. Winston was caught on camera this week walking out of a Tallahassee Publix supermarket with $32.72 worth of crab legs and crawfish he now admits he shoplifted. He must send a Thank You note to […]

Shannon NickinsonApril 2, 2014

It’s hard to think when you’re hungry. It’s an old adage. Ask any teacher at a school with lots of students who are eligible for free-and reduced-price lunch and they will tell about the limits of the attention span of a hungry youngster. Who knew you could apply the same adage to our college students? […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 9, 2014

There’s more and more talk about giving college football players more money for providing us all that excitement on Saturday afternoons. Just do a computer search for “pay college football players” and see what comes up. This season some players wore wristbands with “APU” on them during games. That stands for All Players United, “a […]

Peter SchorschDecember 16, 2013

Florida State may be ranked No. 1 heading into the bowl championship with Auburn, but there’s one ranking for which the Seminoles trail far behind: the percent of black football players who will graduate from college within six years. The University of Pennsylvania’s Center for the Study of Race and Equity analyzed each of the football teams […]

Tag: Florida State

Bob Sparks: The incredible non-political story of Lorenzo Cain

Adam Weinstein: FSU’s presidential ‘choice’ is a reminder of how Florida cronyism really works

Adam Weinstein: Don’t let FSU become another Penn State

Peter Schorsch: The key Tuesday night will be Charlie Crist’s margin of victory

Daniel Tilson: FSU president should be special for right reasons

Andrew Skerritt: It appears that Winston has not learned from recent events

Shannon Nickinson: Some college students can barely afford to eat

Tom O’Hara: End the hypocrisy, hire players for college teams

Peter Schorsch: FSU must do more to help black football players graduate