Kingsley Guy column, November 13, 2008

November 16, 2008

The ghost of Terri Schiavo still haunts the Republican Party.

Recent columns

• Kingsley Guy column, November 13, 2008

  November 16, 2008

  The ghost of Terri Schiavo still haunts the Republican Party.

• Don't read too much from election results into Florida politics, government

  November 7, 2008

  There's no doubt about it: 2008 has been a watershed year in American politics, but it would be a mistake to read too much into the presidential election results when it comes to Florida.

• . . . but don't expect political leaders to be mythic gods

  November 2, 2008

  My first vivid recollection of a presidential race is the one that pitted John F. Kennedy against Richard M. Nixon. The nation's media was far different back then, and black and white photographs still played a major role is shaping people's perceptions.

• Political heat on rise

  October 24, 2008

  The heat has been turned up on the political environment, but by historic standards, the nation and Florida aren't even close to catching fire.

• Palin Factor: McCain quickly running out of options

  October 19, 2008

  In golf, there's something called a "mulligan" that's not found in the rules book, but which players sometimes agree to employ before hitting their first shots. When competitors hit bad shots off the tee, they can use one of their mulligans to tee it up again and play the second ball without penalty.

• Decision 2008: Pragmatists always resonate with public

  September 21, 2008

  Florida Gov. Charlie Crist's approval rating defies gravity. Unemployment is rising, tax revenues are falling, and state budget cuts are damaging education and social services. Yet, polls indicate about 60 percent of Floridians think the governor is doing a good to excellent job.

• Secret ballots a must to protect rights of union workers

  September 12, 2008

  The right of workers to form a union is vital to American freedom, but the secret ballot is fundamental to it. Yet, Barack Obama and most Democrats in Congress are acting like marionettes as labor unions pull the strings to deny workers a secret vote when deciding whether to organize.

• Decision 2008: Palin might help reshape GOP image. . .

  September 7, 2008

  For a while, it looked like Florida Gov. Charlie Crist might grab the number two spot on the Republican ticket.

• Appointing new Supreme Court justices should be one reason to elect John McCain

  August 29, 2008

  Al Gore tried to steal the 2000 election by demanding hand recounts in only four Florida counties — Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Volusia. The one thing those counties had in common was that the majority of voters in them were Democrats.

• Race may not matter as much as inexperience

  April 9, 2008

  Racism is a fact of life in the United States. Anyone who denies it is living in a dream world. But, so is anyone who denies the enormous progress made in addressing racism.

• Gov. Charlie Crist Deserves an "A"

  January 6, 2008

  Leading a state during the best of times is a difficult task, but look at what Gov. Charlie Crist inherited when he took office 12 months ago: Windstorm insurance rates that were going through the roof; a property tax revolt; a housing boom turned bust; a slowing economy and dwindling tax revenues.Despite all these problems, most Floridians are surprisingly upbeat. That's due in no small measure to the leadership of perpetually optimistic Crist, who deserves credit for his efforts to forge consensuses on vital issues.

• Faith has a place in the public sector

  December 23, 2007

  In looking over the literature of those seeking the presidential nominations, I found this:"A sense of proportion should . . . guide those who police the boundaries between church and state. . . It is doubtful that children reciting the Pledge of Allegiance feel oppressed or brainwashed as a consequence of muttering the phrase 'under God'; I certainly didn't.

• Spending cuts needed

  November 11, 2007

  I've been thinking about buying a flat-screen TV for the bedroom. It's in the budget. But I've also been feeling pain in a couple of molars when I bite down hard. Unfortunately, it's probably time for root canal work, but that isn't in the budget.I have several options.

• It would be a disaster

  October 28, 2007

  Want to compound the economic problems Florida faces because of the troubles in the housing market? Then establish a state personal income tax, and turn an economic downturn into a financial disaster from which Florida might never recover.