Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Guest AuthorSeptember 30, 2014

“Daniel” wouldn’t hesitate to tell you his real name. Protecting him is my call. Until and unless Florida voters approve Constitutional Amendment 2 on Nov. 4, marijuana is still illegal in the state. Who knows who might come after him for something he alleges here? In addition to the chronic physical pain he suffers, he […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 24, 2014

Sadly, this year, Columbus Day is still a national holiday. It is no longer a state holiday in Florida and 15 other states, though it may still be celebrated in some Florida localities. It should no longer be celebrated anywhere by anyone. Every child knows “in fourteen hundred and ninety-two, Columbus sailed the ocean blue.” […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 16, 2014

As a country, we can’t yet agree on whether we’re fighting ISIS or ISIL (as the White House would have it) and whether we should hunt them down in Syria, or not. But we’re abundantly clear that “boots on the ground” is jargon du jour for the people we’re sending to risk their lives. At […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 15, 2014

On Sept. 10, I flew from Boston to Fort Lauderdale on JetBlue just before 8 p.m. That meant we would be airborne during President Barack Obama’s speech at 9 p.m., outlining his plan to destroy ISIS (or ISIL as he calls it). Well before the president began to speak, on the TV monitor at my […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 9, 2014

De facto, the United States has devolved into a theocracy. Religion — or, more exactly what a relative handful of schemers has perpetrated in the name of religion — has trashed the Constitution. The Founders would be appalled. But, either because they are afraid of burning in hell or, more importantly, not getting or staying […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 7, 2014

In this election year, Florida Gov. Rick Scott is masquerading as the friend of the middle class. Who does he think he’s fooling? For going on 16 years, the Florida Republican Party has fiddled and belittled the middle class. It isn’t an act of God that’s destroying the American Dream; it’s petty, self-serving, greedy acts […]

Guest AuthorSeptember 2, 2014

Post-primary punditry about low voter turnout in Florida (especially in Democrat-rich Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties) is as predictable and prolific as it is paltry. Adding up the numbers, analysts–I use the term loosely–have come to the unremarkable conclusion that Charlie Crist’s chances of defeating Rick Scott are in doubt. Henny Penny’s sky is […]

Guest AuthorAugust 26, 2014

Floridians voted yesterday. But it hardly mattered. Worse than gerrymandered, Florida’s voting districts have now been “terrymandered,” thanks to Circuit Court Judge Terry Lewis. The whole sordid affair is enough to make a manic-depressive out of all Floridians who care about clean government. For a euphoric nanosecond, it looked like Florida was about to enjoy […]

Guest AuthorAugust 19, 2014

Ferguson is Florida redux. In Miami, in 1980, after four white police officers were acquitted by an all-male, all-white jury of killing Arthur McDuffie, an African-American, some of the worst race riots in America occurred. The violence that erupted went beyond the perceived injustice of the verdict and the particulars of the incident. (At trial, […]

Guest AuthorAugust 14, 2014

When you vote in Florida’s 2014 primary election on August 26 (or vote early or by absentee ballot), ask why more than 2.9 million Florida voters who are registered “no party affiliation” (NPA) or are affiliated with a minor political party can’t vote. They can’t vote because Florida’s primary election is closed, meaning it is […]

Tag: Stephen Goldstein

Stephen Goldstein: Medical marijuana patient describes pain, benefits, struggles

Stephen Goldstein: On Oct. 13 don’t celebrate Columbus Day — anywhere

Stephen Goldstein: “Boots on the ground” is euphemism for “soldiers being killed”

Stephen Goldstein: Everything that’s wrong with America I saw at 30,000 feet

Stephen Goldstein: Don’t oppose same-sex marriage in God’s name, or she’ll get even

Stephen Goldstein: Wage gap between Florida men and women unchanged for 30 years

Stephen Goldstein: Voters aren’t apathetic; They’re sick of political lies

Stephen Goldstein: Florida Republicans celebrate death of democracy

Stephen Goldstein: Will Florida be another Ferguson?

Ray Hudkins: Ask me why I can’t vote in Florida’s 2014 primary election