Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Martin DyckmanApril 23, 2014

“Tell Mike it was only business. I always liked him.” That’s the gangster Tessio in “The Godfather,” as he’s being led to his doom for conniving to betray Michael Corleone. Politics can be like that too. According to a report in the New York Times this week, Jeb Bush has earned more than $2-million for […]

Guest AuthorApril 22, 2014

A recent story about politics and elections caught my eye and it was, frankly, depressing. Not depressing from the “I am glad people from Obama’s campaign are not seeking public office because I am way more conservative” point of view. Although that pleases someone like me who wants a reduction in the size of the […]

Bob SparksMarch 17, 2014

Now that the dust has settled from the David Jolly vs. Alex Sink race for Congressional District 13, the message machines are in full spin cycle. We have heard most of the analysis from both sides. Was this simply, as Democrats say, a race won by a Republican in a district held by Republicans for […]

Julie DelegalFebruary 24, 2014

Second of three parts. We bristle at the idea that marriage is closely associated with economics, but, as the studies tell us, it is: Men wait to marry until they’re financially ready, and women see it “as a sign of having arrived rather than a way to get there,” as “The New York Times” reported […]

Guest AuthorDecember 22, 2013

“Times Publisher Sets Out Plan for ‘Native’ Ads” So read the headline that appeared over a 20-inch story telling Times readers its website would soon be carrying advertising content having the appearance of news content. The story took pains to say that the so called “native ads” would be clearly marked as paid content so the […]

Guest AuthorDecember 11, 2013

I made the mistake of telling Emeline, the 3-year-old, what we were getting her mother for Christmas. “Earrings. But don’t tell her. It’s a surprise,” I said, naively. “Okay, Dad. But I’m not such a good secret-keeper.” This, unfortunately, turned out to be true. An hour after dinner, she couldn’t contain herself. The beans were […]

Guest AuthorOctober 21, 2013

You certainly don’t need me to tell you how much damage the right-wing zealots in Washington who call themselves legislators have done to our country. This nation elected a president who, in his first term, signed into law a sweeping health-care plan that, among other things, provides medical insurance for millions of people who previously […]

Guest AuthorOctober 1, 2013

Florida needs to take the problem of public corruption more seriously. Florida led the nation in federal public corruption convictions between 2000 and 2010 and recently three of our mayors were arrested in one month. Even the New York Times is calling Florida a “hothouse for corruption.” A reputation for corruption hurts all Floridians and undermines […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 30, 2013

Until the wheels fell off the newspaper business, the Fourth Estate did a pretty good job of meeting its societal obligation: casting a skeptical, disinterested eye on the workings of government. The formula was simple. Attract readers with a well-edited, well-written package of news, entertainment and features at a reasonable price and let advertisers pitch […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 10, 2013

During the Cold War there was a rumor that when you went to the library and checked out “Mein Kampf” or the “Communist Manifesto,” you would be placed on the FBI’s watch list. In 1987, a Columbia University librarian revealed that the rumor was fact. She shocked the nation when she exposed the FBI’s “Library […]

Tag: New York Times

Martin Dyckman: If Jeb Bush runs, he’ll have to tell voters ‘it was only business’

Ed Moore: Are you concerned about Millenials’ dreams?

Bob Sparks: Republican brand tries to catch the wave

Julie Delegal: The end of marriage? The economics of being married

Doug Clifton: Website readers risk being deceived by ‘native ads’

Ben Kirby: For more and more Americans, it’s homeless for the holidays

Steve Robinson: We are in a dangerous new era of Know-Nothings

Dan Krassner: Florida must rid itself of corruption reputation

Doug Clifton: Philanthropy is the last best hope for quality local journalism

Patrick Slevin: ‘Library-gate’ and keeping quiet in a surveillance state