In a recent letter to your newspaper, Republicans were accused of hoping that President Obama fails. Of course I can't speak for all of us, but I don't think it's a personal issue at all. I would hope that any person, whether Democrat or Republican, conservative or liberal or moderate (whatever that is) who supports the views that President Obama is currently espousing would fail. ...more

February 20, 2009

Jon Kueny of New Port Richey says Democrat's Community Redevelopment Act, not George W. Bush, the big reason for "the mess we're in." ...more

February 18, 2009

Former Hillsborough County Republican Party official Carol Carter apologized to the party in a brief speech Tuesday night for sending out an email some considered racist. ...more

February 17, 2009

I've been reading the newspapers and watching the news reports on TV about President Obama and his stimulus package. Everyone who is against the plan seems to have forgotten why we're in the position we're in now, but no one wants to put the blame where it really is. ...more

February 17, 2009

As the $789 billion economic stimulus package headed to President Barack Obama's desk, the question on everyone's mind was, "Will it work?" ...more

February 15, 2009

As the $789 billion economic stimulus package headed to President Barack Obama's desk, the question on everyone's mind was, "Will it work?" ...more

February 14, 2009

A generally accepted premise is expecting different results from the same behavior is completely irrational. During the Reagan administration, David Stockman, Reagan's budget director, persuaded the Republicans to embrace the concepts of supply side economics and the theory that if the top earners earn more it will "trickle down" to the rest of the economy. To achieve this result, major tax cuts for those in the highest tax brackets were implemented, with the result that the national debt was doubled during the Reagan years. ...more

February 14, 2009

Republicans are up in arms about Gov. Crist's support of the stimulus package. Many are also surprised that the governor is contemplating a Senate run rather than standing for re-election. A possible reason for both relates to something I have pondered for some time: Florida should raise the sales tax by one cent, at least temporarily. The stimulus package, manna for our charmed governor, will likely enable Florida to balance its budget this year. But unless the economy improves significantly, next year we will be back to where we are now, cutting into the marrow of our already bare bones state programs. Perhaps the governor sees raising taxes in the near future as the only logical way to maintain the modest quality of life the state provides to its citizens, while understanding that, as a Republican, raising taxes would likely end his political career. The smart thing is to let someone else do it. ...more

February 14, 2009

Gov. Charlie Crist appeared today in St. Petersburg with Mayor Rick Baker and Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio to continue his public relations push for the federal stimulus package, despite taking increasing criticism from members of his own party who oppose the bill. ...more

February 13, 2009

Some Democratic lawmakers hope that Florida's share of the federal stimulus package will give them a powerful advantage during state budget negotiations this spring. ...more

February 13, 2009