Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorSeptember 25, 2014

In September predicting the outcome of a major election like the governor’s race in Florida is premature, to say the least. With the election more than six weeks away, there is still plenty of time for events, both planned and unplanned, to significantly affect the outcome. Every campaign fears the dreaded October Surprise. Often it […]

Julie DelegalJuly 14, 2014

Sanity is beginning to trickle into the debate on immigration reform, writes columnist Rick Outzen. The Florida Chamber of Commerce says that developing clearer paths to citizenship is good business and will help fill critical worker gaps in the state’s economy. The chamber, a conservative bastion of entrepreneurs, stood shoulder to shoulder with Catholic bishops […]

Adam WeinsteinJuly 9, 2014

Perhaps we’re so jaded today that we just assume all politicians are brazen opportunists. But Gov. Rick Scott’s campaign turned the opportunism up to 11 this week, all for a cheap “tough on crime” photo shoot. At a re-election campaign appearance in Tampa Monday, Scott burnished his law enforcement record, complete with a cadre of […]

Daniel TilsonMay 5, 2014

Call me a defiant “I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take this anymore!” parent of a Florida public school student. And I’m looking for a few — a few million — good men and women to join me in battle. We’re decades into a war waged by shadowy business interests and religious […]

Guest AuthorApril 7, 2014

I know it seems early, but talk about the 2016 presidential election has already begun. Prognosticators and pundits are opining about who should run, why they should run or why they shouldn’t run. The speculation is inevitable in this age of social media and blogging. The conversation on the Republican side has turned to urging […]

Guest AuthorNovember 27, 2013

What happened to the GOP philosophy of recruiting better candidates, running better campaigns and working harder to win elections? In a name, Karl Rove. Following the 2000 election, Rove took a strategic position for the 2004 election to have President Bush govern from the right and register “right-minded” voters instead of reaching out toward the […]

Darryl PaulsonNovember 21, 2013

Last of a four-part series on political humor In the first article in this series, I mentioned that most political humor focuses on a dominant trait of a candidate. Dan Qualye and George W. Bush were accused of not being the sharpest knives in the drawer; Clinton jokes focused on womanizing; McCain jokes were about […]

Guest AuthorNovember 17, 2013

Some years from now, perhaps sooner, perhaps later, the Affordable Care Act will be a universally accepted part of our health-care system, and decent, affordable medical insurance for all citizens living in the richest country in the world will be woven into the American fabric. Most certainly, the law will not be the same as […]

Guest AuthorOctober 21, 2013

Like you, I have been both entertained and disgusted by the inability of elected officials in Washington, D.C., to address critical issues. It seems they not only can’t deal with issues of substance and complexity, but they can’t even do a modicum of effort without resorting to name-calling and snide remarks. I guess Robert Fulghum […]

Darryl PaulsonSeptember 30, 2013

Second of two parts. Republicans won control of the Florida Senate in 1994, the House in 1996 and the governor’s office in 1998, making Florida the first southern state to have complete Republican control over the legislative and executive branch. Republicans have maintained their control for two decades even though Democrats have an advantage in […]

Tag: George W. Bush
Sen. Ashley Moody (right) fields questiosn about the space program during a town hall in Melbourne. Image via Ashley Moody.

Jeff Kottkamp: In a close governor’s race, watch out for an ‘October Surprise’

Julie Delegal: Why is Jeb Bush silent during this immigration crisis?

Adam Weinstein: Scott owes an apology to the cops his campaign duped

Daniel Tilson: Floridians need to fight the privatization of public schools

Ed Moore: America is setting the performance bar far too low

Jamie Miller: Rick Scott misses yet another chance to be inclusive

Darryl Paulson: Presidential humor

Steve Robinson: Obamacare will survive, but bungled rollout will take toll

Ed Moore: Some folks missed the lessons of kindergarten

Darryl Paulson: The Changing Partisan Coalition in Florida: The Republicans