Modern conservatism began as a movement of dissident intellectuals. Richard Weaver wrote a book called, "Ideas Have Consequences." Russell Kirk placed Edmund Burke in an American context. William F. Buckley famously said he'd rather be governed by the first 2,000 names in the Boston phonebook than by the faculty of Harvard. But he didn't believe those were the only two options. His entire life was a celebration of urbane values, sophistication and the rigorous and constant application of intellect. ...more

October 11, 2008

Joe the Attorney, a partner of a law firm with offices in Tampa and St. Petersburg and a friend of This Space, has had about enough of the campaign season, but not for the reasons one might expect. ...more

October 8, 2008

Election Day is less than a month away, and it probably can't come soon enough for some folks. ...more

October 6, 2008

There are probably some who do not know about 'October Surprises.' ...more

October 3, 2008

Tampa International Airport is the second best U.S. airport, according to Conde Nast Traveler's 11th annual Business Travel Awards. ...more

September 29, 2008

During the 1980 presidential campaign, Ronald Reagan, in a debate with President Jimmy Carter, famously suggested that voters answer a simple, but potent, question. ...more

September 16, 2008

Some political pundits have said that if it were not for his last name, he might have been the Republican nominee for president this year. But former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush tells me he is happy to support the McCain-Palin ticket, which he predicts, perhaps predictably, will win. Of Gov. Sarah Palin, he says, "She has generated so much enthusiasm, which was the one element of the campaign that was completely missing." ...more

September 14, 2008

During the 1980 presidential campaign, Ronald Reagan, in a debate with President Jimmy Carter, famously suggested that voters answer a simple, but potent, question. ...more

September 14, 2008

Every so often, not just every four years, but in a seemingly endless succession of election years, we're deluged, bombarded, and swamped with political posturing and pontificating. Each side tries to convince us poor ignorant peasants that their candidate walks on water and will make the civilized world safe from all predators while their opponent, if elected, will bring us to the brink of extinction. ...more

September 13, 2008

Sen. John McCain is running a television ad attacking the spending record of prominent Democrats. This is certainly a remarkable offering from a man who treats Ronald Reagan as a saint. Reagan ran up the largest deficits in history, surpassed only by the Bushes, without a word of apology. ...more

September 12, 2008