The Republican presidential candidates sing from the same book, but if you listen to each of them on individual issues, they flip-flop depending on their audience. On the war in Iraq, with one exception, they agree on continuing the war until we have victory. Their timetable is several years to eternity. The Middle East is in shambles. All agree on making the tax cuts for the wealthy permanent. As for the corporate tax cuts, they also agree we should let them have more money to create jobs (lower wage jobs.) The number of people in our country who live in poverty has grown during this administration. Corporate America has moved jobs to India and they buy products they sell to us from China that have also caused many problems in recalls. ...more

February 7, 2008

On Jan. 29 Florida voters passed Amendment 1, which substantially changes the Florida property tax system. ...more

February 6, 2008

Breaking into a grin every now and then, 11-year-old Johnathon Ferland seemed to wonder what all the fuss was about Monday as he was celebrated as a model for bicycle safety. ...more

February 5, 2008

LARGO - Breaking into a grin every now and then, 11-year-old Johnathon Ferland seemed to wonder what all the fuss was about this morning as he was celebrated as a model for bicycle safety. The local police chief and a representative from All Children's Hospital, among others, congratulated him for wearing his bicycle helmet Jan. 29 as he was waiting to walk his bicycle across a crosswalk. ...more

February 4, 2008

Regarding "Planning Board: No, No And No" (Metro, Jan. 29): Thank you, Hillsborough Planning Commission, for voting for what "the people" want, for what the environment wants, for what the water commission wants, for what the water in Tampa Bay wants and, last but not least, what the county comprehensive plan wants. ...more

February 2, 2008

Regarding "100-Year-Old B-Day Girl Is Reborn Through Fitness" (Metro, Jan. 29): ...more

February 1, 2008

Don't Let DNC Stop You Regarding "Black Voter Turnout Lags" (Metro, Jan. 27): ...more

January 29, 2008

When you walk towards your polling place on Jan. 29, you may see someone with a clipboard or card table. This person will be a volunteer, a fellow Hillsborough County citizen, who wants your signature on a petition to change the structure of our county commission. ...more

January 27, 2008

On Jan. 29 the voters of Highlands County will be deciding on an amendment to the Florida Constitution which, if passed, will result in some property tax relief. Is it everything we need in tax reform? No! However it does provide much needed relief to Florida residents who are "stranded" in their homesteads, unable to move to either a larger or smaller home because they would lose the protection they have accrued over the years through the Save Our Homes exemption. Amendment 1 will, if approved, make Save Our Homes portable. If the amendment passes, a young family will be able to take their lower tax rate with them when they outgrow their residence and purchase a larger home. A retired couple will be able to "downsize" without running the risk of doubling or tripling (or worse!) their current property tax bills. ...more

January 27, 2008

A last-ditch plea by Florida Democrats to allow their presidential candidates to campaign in Florida this weekend - including a televised debate Sunday - seems unlikely to get a positive response. ...more

January 23, 2008