Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorJanuary 4, 2015

You see them haunting television commercials, old-time stars now hawking all sorts of stuff to make themselves some money and seem relevant. Here’s Shaquille O’Neal peddling medical products, as if we’d ever ask Shaq for advice about anything except how to dunk a basketball. There’s country crooner Kenny Rogers with yet another tired rendition of […]

Guest AuthorDecember 16, 2014

In the 1800s Americans could legally smoke opium. Then Chinese people came to California and started taking jobs from native-born Americans. California couldn’t kick out the Chinese, but they could take away their their opium, and that’s when the state banned opium. Until the 1900s, Americans could legally smoke marijuana. But when Mexicans started moving […]

Guest AuthorDecember 1, 2014

I see these groups everywhere I go in Florida. They take over tables in restaurants for breakfast or lunch, muttering here, laughing there, flirting with waitresses a third their age. I’m talking about those gangs known as ROMEOs — Retired Old Men Eating Out. Their membership varies widely — ex-business tycoons sit with former ditch-diggers, […]

Guest AuthorNovember 19, 2014

Here’s an interesting debate that I would love to see played out in Florida. In their desire to save lives and improve health, some communities elsewhere have raised to 21 the minimum age for anyone to buy tobacco. It’s led to a reduction in teenage smoking, although some folks worry that it’s another case of […]

Guest AuthorNovember 16, 2014

On a chilly Florida day, there’s nothing like catching up on the last few issues of “Government Executive,” which bills itself as “the premier website for federal managers and executives.” It’s not as dry as you think, especially in its “State and Local” section. And it’s a morale-booster for those of us worn down by […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 7, 2014

Eventually Floridians will look back at today’s politicians and say, “What were they thinking? What were they smoking?” I’m talking about Florida’s refusal to accept millions of dollars in federal Medicaid money that would have improved life for thousands of people. Forget about the way the Rabid Republicans spurned the money because Uncle Sam would […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 2, 2014

A little controversy in my town shows how government is tugged in different directions. Transpose it to your community and you can see the forces at odds in so many Florida cities as people disagree about what should be government priorities. It was a fairly routine prostitution sting in Pensacola. An undercover police officer approaches […]

Guest AuthorAugust 26, 2014

Opponents of raising the minimum wage should try living on that paltry $7.25 an hour. The experience might change their minds, or at least make them a little less willing to consign people to living on $290 a week. Do the math; you can’t live on $290 a week (before taxes). I had a close […]

Guest AuthorAugust 12, 2014

It’s political season and candidates are telling us about their valuable education and experience in the military, business and government, all reasons we should make them our leaders. But I want someone who was part of a homeowners association. Not one of those suburban homeowner associations where they gather once a year to sip wine […]

Guest AuthorJuly 16, 2014

In sports, the numbers tell us each day how an athlete is doing. The hitter’s batting average, the quarterback’s passing percentage, these numbers tell us in black and white whether a player is up or down. It’s similar in show business and its cousin, politics; there are Nielsen rating services and political polls. But we […]

Tag: Mark O’Brien

Mark O'Brien: Jeb and Hillary, please stay home

Mark O’Brien: War on Drugs needn’t be a bust

Mark O’Brien: O ROMEO, ROMEO, quit whining

Mark O’Brien: Raise smoking age to 21, save lives and money

Mark O’Brien: Good news, Florida, other states are worse

Mark O’Brien: Conservatives wrong to oppose Medicaid expansion in Florida

Mark O’Brien: Hookers show that governing is tricky

Mark O’Brien: Do the math: You couldn’t live on minimum wage

Mark O’Brien: If you think Congress is tough, try serving on a condo board

Mark O’Brien: Old games by the same names