Having succeeded to the final decades of tenure in this marvelous adventure of life, I am no longer surprised by the magnificence of the human species or the shallowness of human character. Many eloquent words have been spoken of the myriad examples of the magnificence of our species. ...more

February 5, 2009

If we didn't know better, the extravagant (and alarmingly routine) mea culpa episodes conducted by various nominees to top White House jobs would make us think all those bright bananas mistook Steve Martin for H&R Block. ...more

February 4, 2009

TAMPA Gov. Charlie Crist said Tuesday he's waiting until after Florida's legislative session ends in May to announce whether he will enter the U.S. Senate race, a statement that suggested to several political insiders that he's inclined to run. ...more

February 4, 2009

TAMPA Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio faces a tough political task if she decides to run for the U.S. Senate: build a local political base into a statewide campaign in one of the nation's largest states. ...more

February 1, 2009

There's little doubt that the economic stimulus plan that made it through the U.S. House Wednesday will barely be recognizable after the U.S. Senate gets through with it. That's great news, because there's plenty to dislike in what the House passed. We hope before the bill goes to President Obama, it's a much better plan. ...more

January 30, 2009

Letters to the Editor ...more

January 29, 2009

Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio will face some obstacles if she decides to run for the U.S. Senate. She's never run a statewide campaign, doesn't have a money-raising network at the ready and is little known outside Hillsborough. Her centrist views could hurt her in a Democratic primary that attracts left-leaning voters. ...more

January 29, 2009

Late-night TV comics won't run out of fresh material for the next few weeks. ...more

January 29, 2009

With Gov. Rod Blagojevich entering what could be his final hours in office, some politicians are watching closely to see whether he attempts some last-minute mischief by spending state money, issuing executive orders or granting pardons. ...more

January 28, 2009

Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, who says she's considering a U.S. Senate race, is contemplating a tough political transition: Building from a local political base to a statewide campaign, in one of the nation's largest states. Iorio can count on some advantages in that task, including a reputation for non-partisan competence. But some of her advantages will also be disadvantages. ...more

January 28, 2009