Given their own well-documented run-ins with the IRS, one might assume that congressional rivals Vern Buchanan and Christine Jennings would avoid talking about each other's tax problems in their rematch campaign. ...more

July 1, 2008

Now that Obama has won the Democratic nomination for president, it's time for the Democrats and undecided Independents to either support him or whoever they choose to, but it's not time to attempt anything harmful to him or his family because of the color of his skin. He has proven, at least to me, that he has the knowledge and the capability to surround himself with the right people to win over not only the black voters' support but white and younger Americans, too. The time has come, and we must realize that a person's color and or heritage doesn't disqualify him from being intelligent and capable of running this country. ...more

June 20, 2008

Former Tampa Mayor Sandy Freedman will vote for Barack Obama, but won't work for the campaign as she would have for Hillary Rodham Clinton. ...more

June 14, 2008

A Bumpy Road Ahead Regarding "Historic Race Begins" (front page, June 4): I'm not sure what all the cheering is about. Barack Obama, whom I support, has the Democratic nomination. He looks like a solid candidate - bright, articulate and with a strong sense of right and wrong. And he's running against a doddering old warmonger who is in bed with every elite lobbyist in Washington, and who seems to barely know where he is. ...more

June 5, 2008

Brown-Waite Distortions In regards to Mr. Vahoviak, he has once again misrepresented U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite's record in Congress regarding veteran's issues and in general. For one thing, she is not a rubber-stamper for the Bush Administration. She has in recent years been highly critical of the administration's stand on illegal immigration as well some other issues. She also has one of the best voting records in Congress regarding veterans and seniors in Congress. ...more

May 28, 2008

I know editorials are opinion pieces, but opinions that make it to your editorial page should have at least some remote basis in fact. What facts do you have to back your assertion that the rising number of voters registering as independents reflects dissatisfaction with the major party candidates? Surely, you don't mean there is a tide of support for independent candidates, since for all practical purposes there aren't any. Do you have surveys, polls, interviews, etc. to support your statement? Worse, you then lapse into repeating the insipid populist pabulum that we have sent so many jobs overseas that wages have not kept pace with the economy. You really should check the facts. Trade has increased over 10-fold since 1960 to nearly $3.5 trillion –– more than one fourth of our total economy. If it caused unemployment and lower living standards, we would all be on welfare by now. Instead: Real GDP more than doubled, we added 81 million jobs, real per-capita and median incomes rose by a third, inflation and unemployment fell to historically low levels. We still manufacture twice as much as China and the combination of manufacturing, mining, and agriculture as a percent of our GDP remains at near record highs. Yes, the number of people working in manufacturing is declining. The same is happening in nearly every country, including China (where the number of workers in manufacturing has fallen 10-15 percent in recent years). We are witnessing the same miracle in manufacturing today that we saw in agriculture in the mid-20th century. Fewer people making more. It doesn't mean we have more unemployment; it means we have more stuff. ...more

January 15, 2008

Early voting for the Florida primary starts today. This election has important issues not just for registered Democrats and Republicans but also Independents. For partisan voters, from today until Jan. 29, is the opportunity to decide the party nominee for president. While registered Independents in Florida bypass that option, this year, they will have the chance –– like other voters –– to cast their ballot on whether the state should adopt property tax changes to address runaway ad valorem taxes. The property tax referendum seeks to double existing $25,000 homestead exemption for homes valued at more than $50,000 but only for non-school taxes. It also would let homeowners take their Save Our Homes benefits along with they move. Other provisions would give businesses a break on taxes they pay on equipment and other personal property, and put a 10 percent cap on annual assessment increases for non-homestead properties. The ballot provision is more far-reaching than just the doubling of the homestead exemption for some voters. If passed, homeowners will be able to use their existing 3 percent cap on the appraised value of their home, on a new house they might buy. There are also benefits for businesses along with a 10 percent cap on annual assessment increases for non-homestead properties, although average increases in taxable value of such homes have been less than 10 percent. ...more

January 14, 2008

Independents Shut Out Regarding "Drawing The Line On Redistricting" (Commentary, Jan 6): ...more

January 12, 2008

A local political spokesperson said the reason there are so many people listed as independent voters these days is due to motor vehicle registrations, when people don't know what to put down for party affiliation. That's partially true, but there's something much bigger going on that neither major party seems to grasp. People are tired of the candidates they elect being so out of touch with their needs. During campaigns, these politicians seem all ears on the issues of the day. They talk about the problems, offer multiple-point plans on how to address then. Then, once elected, nothing is improved and special interests always hold much more sway than constituents. It's no wonder so many people are dropping party affiliations and becoming independents. ...more

January 10, 2008

The closeness of the primaries makes the diverse electorate of Florida a huge factor in the unpredictable process of nominating presidential candidates. ...more

January 10, 2008