Tag Archives: Florida
Florida political winners and losers for 2014
NOTE: Our Tuesday poll feature will return next week. It’s that time of the year for reflections. 2014 was an election year and with it came the usual array of winners and losers. A difficult year for Democrats across the country as well as here in Florida saw clear winners and losers.
Pan Am, political influence and the growth of Florida’s international tourism economy
Following last week’s feature on Eastern Airlines return it made sense to look back at the history of Pan Am and its impact on the state of Florida. Before we begin let me recommend the book, Skygods: The Fall of Pan Am which is one of the finest narratives I have ever read about the aviation industry. […]
Thursday Bookshelf: A Land Remembered
In the event you are scrambling for a late Florida-themed Christmas gift, I have a suggestion. A Land Remembered is perhaps the most fascinating historical fiction book about the state of Florida. No book describes old Florida and the transformation to modern state quite like A Land Remembered by Patrick D. Smith. The author who was […]
Florida becomes 3rd most populated state – some thoughts
When Florida became the nation’s 4th largest state in 1987, I was ecstatic. As a young kid I will admit I had an inferiority complex with many areas from the rest of the nation who got more attention on TV, had more pro sports teams and where all my relatives lived. Boasting about Florida’s size, […]
Record number of Florida Panthers killed in 2014
Florida’s endangered Panther population suffered a record number of deaths this year. 30 panthers have been killed this year in Collier and Hendry Counties, and an alarmingly high 21 have been killed in road accidents. The decline in habitat for the Panther thanks largely to recent development further east in Collier County is at least partially […]
Florida Democrats at a crossroads: The moderate voter myth
Much has been made recently of the need for Democrats in Florida to “engage moderate voters,” in the wake of poor electoral performances in 2014. No question exists that moderates have a role to play, particularly in rural areas where the party has seen a complete collapse in support since the mid/late 1990’s. But it […]
The return of Eastern Airlines
Eastern Airlines, which was instrumental in the growth of Florida’s tourism industry and the links the state enjoyed with the northeastern United States has returned to its Miami home almost 24 years after shutting down.
Flashback Friday – Law Enforcement excesses towards African-Americans in Florida since 1980
Below I will chronicle several incidents of law enforcement excess towards African-Americans in the state of Florida since 1980. This is not meant to provoke a “race war” in the comments section but is intended to raise awareness about what has transpired in this state through the years for those who may not know the […]
President Obama and Cuba – Long needed change
Unencumbered by any further elections, President Obama took a big step forward on Cuba policy today. This policy change may hurt Democrats in Florida but will help the nation economically. Regardless of your views of the Castro regime and economic sanctions in general it takes either a brave person or someone blinded by ideology to […]
Florida Democrats at a crossroads: Republican economic failures
Florida Republicans have long sold economic growth and tax cuts as the fundamental core of the party’s messaging. While other issues such as school vouchers, restricting women’s reproductive freedom, undermining marriage equality and undermining restrictions on gun ownership have been the sexy headlines in Florida’s papers. But the Republican brand has been based on tax […]
The Florida Squeeze 