The fact that we've known since the beginning of time that politicians negotiate sweetheart deals to get legislation passed doesn't do anything to lessen the anger we feel over the Senate health care bill. This isn't about disagreeing with needed improvements. It is about "buying" votes by offering special gifts for states. ...more

December 23, 2009

Senate Democrats won a crucial test vote on President Barack Obama's health care overhaul, putting them on track for passage before Christmas of the historic legislation to remake the nation's medical system and cover 30 million uninsured. ...more

December 21, 2009

Are we seniors so complacent about our government-run health care plan (Medicare) that we can be seduced into believing that we have the best health care in the world? Health insurance companies and the pharmaceutical companies are spending millions in advertising and lobbying our legislators as to how wonderful our present health care system is: Really? A Harvard study released in September reports that 45,000 Americans die each year because of lack of insurance. Let's put that in perspective. On Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists killed 3,000 Americans. That was truly a horrific act and we have spent billions since in wars and prevention. ...more

December 21, 2009

The liberals' longtime dream of a government-run health care system for all died Wednesday in the Senate, but Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont vowed it will return when the realization dawns that private insurance companies "are no longer needed." ...more

December 16, 2009

Blaise Ingoglia's guest column last week in Hernando Today, which was critical of third parties for undermining the two major parties' future existence, was laughable. ...more

December 16, 2009

Some people seem to be obsessed with the idea that this president is going to fix everything if we just give him a chance, even though it has long been evident that he has a low opinion of this country. It is very evident whenever he gives a speech before the leaders of other countries. Is it not absurd for a sitting president to besmirch his own country before the world? We have seen the "change" but where is the "hope?" I find it hard to believe that according to some polls, Obama is still given a 40-50 percent approval rating. Much too high! ...more

December 16, 2009

President Barack Obama is calling Senate Democrats to the White House to say it's time to come together and pass legislation embracing a wholesale remodeling of America's health care system. ...more

December 15, 2009

The end game at hand, Senate Democrats appeared ready to jettison a proposed Medicare expansion from sweeping health care legislation today in a bid to remove the largest remaining obstacle in the way of Christmas-week passage of the measure. ...more

December 14, 2009

You have to wonder what John Allen would think. Allen, the first president of the University of South Florida, was determined to create a different state university; one that focused on academics. To that end he argued against big-time sports programs, especially football. Of course that was so long ago the Bulls weren't even the Golden Brahmans yet. Now they are a big-time program with a football team that went 7-5 this season and still is going to play in a post-season bowl game. ...more

December 14, 2009

With a fierce ambition and savvy political skills, Pat Bean survived the rise and fall of seven Hillsborough County administrators before she got the job in December 2003. ...more

December 13, 2009