Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Associated PressSeptember 13, 2015

To some Republican presidential candidates, it’s better to be with the popular pope than against him. Marco Rubio, Rand Paul and Ted Cruz have deep policy differences with Pope Francis, but the senators will break off campaign travel to attend his address to Congress later this month, a centerpiece of his eagerly anticipated visit to […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 10, 2015

Yesterday in Brussels, Jean-Claude Juncker, the European Union’s top executive, proposed a plan to move approximately 160,000 refugees coming from war-torn and poverty-stricken nations in the Middle East and Africa in response to other countries to deal with the crisis gripping Europe. Although often called “Europe’s problem,” there is increasing discussion about what the U.S. could, and […]

Phil AmmannSeptember 3, 2015

Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera is challenging the leading Democratic U.S. Senate candidate to justify his support of the controversial Iran nuclear deal. In a statement Thursday, Lopez-Cantera asks U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy to join him for a series of unspecified monthly town hall meetings with Florida voters. The debates, he said, would be so the Jupiter Democrat could […]

Mitch PerrySeptember 2, 2015

In a major victory for President Barack Obama on Wednesday, Democratic Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland announced her support for the Iran nuclear deal, providing the White House the votes it needs to prevent Republicans from scuttling the agreement. That hardly means the move is popular with the public, at least here in Florida. According […]

Ryan RayAugust 19, 2015

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio issued a joint announcement Wednesday along with Illinois U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk addressed to the Secretary of State John Kerry, asking the nation’s top diplomat to release letters he sent to foreign officials regarding Iran sanctions as part of the recently proposed nuclear weapons deal. The statement imploring Kerry to release the correspondence seemed to […]

Mitch PerryAugust 17, 2015

Reports continued to surface over the weekend that Joe Biden is calling old friends and potential allies about the possibility that he could enter into the Democratic presidential race. In some quarters of the Democratic Party, there are increasing concerns about the viability of front-runner Hillary Clinton‘s candidacy, as reports of the current “emailgate” scandal continue […]

Mitch PerryAugust 14, 2015

Although public opinion polls show that solid majorities of Americans support the United States’ renewed diplomatic relations with Cuba, that sentiment isn’t shared by most Florida Republicans, especially those aspiring for higher office. A Pew poll released this past month, More than 7 in 10 Americans — 73 percent — said they favor re-establishing relations with Cuba, an […]

Mitch PerryAugust 14, 2015

In New York City Friday morning, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio offered a three-point plan to deal with Iran and Cuba, and said if elected president, he will invite dissidents from those two nations and other countries with repressive governments to his inaugural address. Criticizing Secretary of State John Kerry because no Cuban dissidents were invited to Friday’s official flag-raising […]

Mitch PerryAugust 14, 2015

One legacy of Jimmy Carter‘s administration was his attempt to base a foreign policy on human rights. While in the end it resulted in mixed results, it was a central tenet of his outlook on the world. Human rights overseas is at the forefront today — or should be — as John Kerry becomes the […]

Mitch PerryAugust 12, 2015

Last month marked the 30th anniversary of the legendary Live-Aid concerts that took place in Philadelphia and London. One of the breakout stars of that historic occasion, Boy George, apparently will be in the Tampa Bay area this weekend. That’s right: Culture Club is headlining a group of ’80s and ’90s bands that will be […]

Tag: John Kerry

For GOP candidates, better to be with pope than against him

Mitch Perry Report for 9.10.15 – Few presidential candidates offering specifics on refugee crisis

Carlos Lopez-Cantera challenges Patrick Murphy to justify support of Iran deal

David Jolly chides Patrick Murphy for supporting Iran nuclear deal

Marco Rubio to John Kerry: Release secret Iran deal letters

Steve Schale is one Florida Democrat who wants Joe Biden to enter presidential campaign

Florida Republicans take turns blasting John Kerry’s visit to Havana

Marco Rubio says he’ll invite dissidents around the world as guests to his inauguration

Mitch Perry Report for 8.14.15 — Cuba, China and human rights

Mitch Perry Report for 8.12.15 — Hot fun in the summertime?