The monster that can't be killed is a common theme in horror stories. It's easy to see the Taliban of Afghanistan that way, but the analogy is misleading. ...more

November 3, 2009

taking 52 percent of the popular vote to John McCain's 46 percent. ...more

November 9, 2008

The issues of national security, the economy, taxes and the war in Iraq are complex but, for a few days, they were explored by Cracker Trail Elementary students. ...more

November 5, 2008

6:45 p.m.: The Balm Civic Center had about 15 cars in the lot before polls closed. Precinct clerk John Bailiff, a 10-year veteran of the election office, says it's been much busier than normal. ...more

November 4, 2008

Barack Obama and John McCain uncorked massive get-out-the-vote operations in more than a dozen battleground states Sunday, with millions of telephone calls, mailings and door-knockings in a frenzied, fitting climax to a record-shattering $1 billion campaign. ...more

November 3, 2008

Early voting is hectic in every state where the practice is allowed. Highlands County is no exception. It's impressive to see so many people taking time out of their day to cast a ballot for what might be the most important presidential vote in modern history. We hope that trend continues through Election Day on Tuesday. ...more

November 2, 2008

.Let us count the ways things could go wrong on Election Day in Florida. ...more

October 24, 2008

"The Big Sort" by Bill Bishop with Robert G. Cushing (Houghton Mifflin, $25) ...more

August 24, 2008

In his folksy, commonsensical way, Ronald Reagan provided pretty solid guidance on how to decide for whom to cast your presidential vote. ...more

June 12, 2008

It's not a horror movie, although it is Hollywood spin. But to many Floridians, HBO's homage to the 2000 presidential vote-counting debacle will be a cringe-inducing look back at democracy in action in their home state — and it might prompt questions on whether, in this presidential election year, it could happen again. ...more

May 12, 2008