U.S. Congress

The Onion, on Stage: The Brilliant News Satirists Skewer TED Talks in a Live Show

E-Cigarettes: Danger or Healthy Alternative?

Marco Rubio, Dissing All His Tea Party Pals, Pushes a "Pathway to Citizenship"

With Republicans foundering amid fiscal-cliff apoplexy and John Boehner looking more bewildered by the day, Marco Rubio, in a sharp departure from earlier hard-line immigration positions, said yesterday he's in favor of a pathway to citizenship. Wait, wait, wait. Actually, what he said was: "The b ... More >>

Charlie Crist Goes Full Democrat Finally, Officially, For Real This Time

After pretty much doing it unofficially over the last few years, former Florida governor Charlie Crist finally made his defection over to the Democrats over the weekend. The signs have been there for some time. -- In 2010, he left the Republican party in a failed attempt at U.S. Senate bid. -- Th ... More >>

Palm Beach Voting: Strong Black Turn-Out, Screwed-Up Ballots Scrutinized

Tropical Storm Sandy had passed and left a clear, crisp morning as early voting started Saturday in Palm Beach County. An estimated 12,250 votes were cast countywide over the weekend, and if the 7 A.M. crowd at the Supervisor of Elections office on Military Trail was any indication, voters were pati ... More >>

Adam Hasner Runs for Congress, Speaks at Luncheon, Serves Waffles

A soggy speech on a soggy day. It's an overcast waterfront Thursday afternoon at Lantana's Old Key Lime House and Adam Hasner, GOP candidate for US House District 22, is looking for all the world like a nicely baby-faced blow-up doll, big brown eyes and a mop of hair, slightly pudgy and mild as toas ... More >>

Bill Nelson and Connie Mack Television Debate Is Set

The Bill Nelson-Connie Mack race is pretty much America's most closely watched Senate race. And now incumbent Nelson -- the Democrat -- and Mack -- the Republican -- have agreed to the only confirmed statewide televised debate on October 17. The showdown will take place at Nova Southeastern Univers ... More >>

Charlie Crist Formally Endorses Obama, Blasts GOP

With the RNC kicking off tomorrow -- instead of today (thanks to that freedom hating storm, Isaac!) -- rumors began to swirl that Charlie Crist was going to formally announce his change to the Democratic party in an op-ed piece for the Tampa Bay Times. Crist didn't technically announce his party c ... More >>

How Allen West Uses the Military and Ignores Its Biggest Problems

The political entity that is Congressman Allen West would not exist without the military. It is his sole qualification for office, and he touts it at every opportunity. You would be hard-pressed to find any public statement from "the Colonel" that doesn't mention his military service, and he's justi ... More >>

Connie Mack Says He's Got Senate Primary Sewn Up, Won't Debate Anyone but Bill Nelson

You're out of luck if you were hoping a debate or two would help better understand Connie Mack's "freedom pilgrims freedom America" policy positions on his campaign website. The Tampa Bay Times invited Mack to debate his Republican primary opponents, and his campaign responded by challenging Bill Ne ... More >>

Allen West Argues Against Amendment to Ban Indefinite Detention of People Arrested on American Soil (Updated)

Original post, 2:37 a.m.:Legislation was considered late Thursday night to specifically ban the indefinite detention of persons detained on American soil on suspicion of terrorism.It was an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013, and would settle the most controvers ... More >>

Connie Mack's Penny Plan: Where's the "Update"?

Birthday wishes are in order! Best start baking the cakes now -- it's cool, you can just get the money out of the federal treasury.Last week, we wrote about Rep. Connie Mack's illegal mailers that he sent to 90,000 Floridians. The postcards said they were a "legislative update" to the "Mack Penny Pl ... More >>

House Approves Commemorative Coin for Religious Skeptic Mark Twain With "In God We Trust" on It (UPDATED)

UPDATE, 3 p.m.: Added comment from Bob Hirsh, curator of the Mark Twain Project.The plan for a new Mark Twain commemorative coin includes the phrase "In God We Trust," a phrase Twain made fun of 150 years ago.Twain had a complicated relationship with religion. In the quote-collection snippets attrib ... More >>

Debbie Wasserman Schultz Donates to Allen West Opponent Patrick Murphy (UPDATED)

Update, 4/19: Got comment from Wasserman Schultz's camp. Added to the story.Original post, 4/17:Between January and the end of March, South Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz donated $73,000 to Democratic campaigns across the country. It's not surprising -- she's chair of the Democratic ... More >>

Patrick Murphy Following Allen West to New District 18 Congressional Race

​Democratic congressional candidate Patrick Murphy's campaign just announced that he will be moving from his original plans to run in District 22 up to the newly drawn District 18 to challenge Congressman Allen West for a seat in the House of Representatives.West announced last week that he was gi ... More >>

Allen West Campaign Outraises Almost Every Other House Member; Money Coming From Everywhere

​Say what you will about Allen West as a legislator; as a fundraiser, there's no doubting that he's very, very good. Finance documents submitted to the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday complete a picture of 2011 fundraising that reveals he's raised about $5.8 million so far in the elect ... More >>

Michelle Bernstein to Leave the Omphoy

​The end of January marks the closing of chef Michelle Bernstein's tenure at her namesake restaurant, Michelle Bernstein's at the Omphoy Ocean Resort in Palm Beach. Bernstein and husband partner David Martinez will continue to own and operate Sra. Martinez, Michy's, and Crumb on Parchment in Miami ... More >>

Herman Cain Makes a Comeback! (In Ad for Steak Salesman/Senate Candidate Craig Miller)

Herman Cain is trying to work his magic again, this time by being featured in the new advertisement for U.S. Senate Republican hopeful and former Ruth's Chris steak house CEO Craig Miller.

Allen West: "Look I'm Not Into Name-Calling, All That Kind of Stuff"

​LOL.That acronym could be a common reaction to Rep. Allen West's comment to the Sun-Sentinel editorial board on Wednesday in response to a question about whether Mitt Romney's a flip-flopper."No," West replied. "Look I'm not into name-calling, all that kind of stuff."

Florida Has Old People, Old People Love Newt Gingrich, Poll Says He Leads by 30 Points

​Former House Speaker Newton Leroy "Newt" Gingrich is apparently a thing in the GOP presidential race now, with the most recent poll released this afternoon showing nearly half of Florida Republicans opting for him to be the party's nominee.Gingrich somehow managed to raise his poll numbers with a ... More >>

Connie Mack Makes His U.S. Senate Run Official

​Although one of Republican Rep. Connie Mack's advisers announced that the congressman was running for U.S. senator in 2012 more than a month ago, it's not official until there's a Fox News appearance involved.Mack appeared on Sean Hannity's show to make his formal announcement, spending most of h ... More >>

Herman Cain Makes a Stop in Broward; Believe it or Not, the Number Nine Was Used

Photo by Adele Hampton​GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain made an appearance with a jazz band outside the Wings Plus in Coral Springs this afternoon, and sure enough, he happened to mention his "9-9-9 plan."Many of the north Broward Republican figures were in attendance, as well as some more w ... More >>

Ave Maria: A Catholic University Experiment in the Everglades Gone Wrong

Allen West Raises More Cash Than His Opponents -- About $1.5 Million More

Rep. Allen West​The Democratic opponents to Rep. Allen West have ranked among the top fundraisers of all the congressional challengers during this election cycle -- and they're still getting drowned by the cash coming into the campaign of the Tea Party titan.West's campaign announced today that he ... More >>

Rick Perry Leads Florida Poll Going Into Debate, Followed by Mitt Romney and Still... Sarah Palin

Texas Gov. Rick Perry​Without much difference from the national poll released the day of the CNN/Tea Party express GOP presidential debate two weeks ago, most Florida Republicans would pick Texas Gov. Rick Perry as their presidential nominee, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released ... More >>

Dream Act Bill Filed in Florida Legislature

The Dream Act would help immigrant students.​A bill that would make college more affordable for undocumented immigrants has recently been filed in the Florida Legislature.If passed, the Dream Act would allow undocumented immigrants who attended three or more years of high school in Florida to qual ... More >>

Former Overpriced-Steak Salesman Craig Miller Enters Senate Race

Craig Miller​Craig Miller, the former Ruth's Chris Steak House CEO, announced he's running for the U.S. Senate seat currently occupied by Sen. Bill Nelson.Miller, running as a Republican, has decided to enter quite a busy field of candidates wishing to overtake Nelson, including Adam Hasner, Georg ... More >>

Rick Scott's Staff Running Thin -- Top Adviser Resigns, Chief of Staff Demoted

Wanna be my friend?​Only six months into office, Gov. Rick Scott is running a little low on friends for his executive team.Mary Ann Carter -- the governor's policy adviser -- handed in her resignation letter today, saying she needed to spend more time with her family.Carter's announcement comes on ... More >>

Adam Hasner Thinks Being a Fringe Candidate Can Win Him a Senate Spot

Adam Hasner​Touting yourself as a lunatic has just become a political campaign strategy.Adam Hasner -- the former Florida House majority leader who represented parts of southern Palm Beach County and northern Broward County -- thinks acting like a right-wing extremist will get him elected to the U ... More >>

Allen West, Uncut

From his war on Islam to his thoughts about being Donald Trump's running mate, a candid conversation with South Florida's rising Tea Party star.

Miami Pill Mill Doctor Busted By FBI

​In the second South Florida pill mill bust this week, federal prosecutors charged 57-year-old Dr. Selwyn Carrington, of Miami, with illegally distributing massive amounts of narcotic pills through two different pain clinics. The feds nabbed Carrington on Friday, just one day after local authoriti ... More >>

Florida's Loss: Rick Scott's High-Speed Rail Shoot-Down

Art Seitz Wild Art: Congressman Allen West joins a motley collection of local politicians (including fellow Republican Chip LaMarca, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler, Charlotte Rodstrom, and Romney Rogers) in Fort Lauderdale for yesterday's St. Patrick's Day festivities. (Photo by Art  ... More >>

Allen West "Brought Great Shame" to U.S., Says Muslim who Confronted the Congressman

Hamze asks West to point out a verse in the Qur'an calling on Muslims to attack America.​At a town-hall-style meeting February 21, Nezar Hamze stood to ask Allen West a pointed question. Hamze, executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations, asked West why he keeps claiming that t ... More >>

Allen West Hates His Co-Workers

​Congressman Allen West hasn't been at his job for a month, and already he's hating on his co-workers.In a letter to his supporters last Friday, West wrote that he was "appalled" at his co-Congressmen's "arrogance, belligerence, and dishonest rhetoric filled with empty emotional platitudes."  ... More >>

Sunday Politics: Q&A With Tea Partier on Health Care

The Tea Party has demonized health-care reform -- or Obamacare, as it calls it -- to the point that the group seems to believe that it alone is going to destroy America. Tea Party signs​They've disrupted Congressional town hall meetings, screamed about sociali ... More >>

Fox Meets Henhouse

MC Model Citizen's Latest: Rick Headroom​So Florida Governor-Elect Rick Scott named his transition team which was stocked with former Jeb Bush staffers, hardcore state Republicans, and even our own U.S. Sen. George "The Maestro" LeMieux.   Mainigi​The transition t ... More >>

Marco Rubio's "Reclaim America" Slogan Promises More Divisive Politics

Rubio wants to reclaim America from his moderate side.​In July, Marco Rubio announced a 23-point initiative that would become the slogan for his campaign for U.S. Senate. He called it "Ideas to Reclaim America," and it signaled that Rubio would remain on the far right of the GOP. He issued a state ... More >>

UPDATED: Why Does the South Florida Tea Party Agree With the New York Times?

The latest PR splash for the South Florida Tea Party pairs the conservative activists with a strange bedfellow, the New York Times.  Even weirder, the much-ridiculed protest group appears to have chosen a worthy cause.  Tomorrow, the activists plan to protest Charlie Crist's $536 million ... More >>

Beth Kigel's Political Career a Casualty of Crist?

​A young political operative named Beth Kigel rocketed into Palm Beach County Republican leadership in 2006 after she put all her chips on the long-shot candidacy of Charlie Crist for Florida governor. Four years later, her champion has gone rogue, and now the vice chair of the county's GOP is in ... More >>

Former GOP Chair Arrested

Greer​Jim Greer, former chairman of the Republican Party and a close friend of Gov. Charlie Crist's, was arrested this morning in connection with allegations that he formed a slush fund using contributions from party supporters. The Orlando Sentinel has the story.This won't help Crist's campaign f ... More >>

Allen West Is to Denmark What Hasselhoff Is to Deutschland

Flickr: AllenWestAccording to one authority, West would make a great Dane.​The Danes love them some Allen West. Or at least one influential Dane does. Listen to Morten U. Jensen, writing last week in the nation's largest daily paper:Skulle man være så heldig at være amerikansk statsborger og sa ... More >>

First Peek at What an Independent Charlie Crist Looks Like

Charlie Crist hasn't officially declared he'll run as an independent candidate for U.S. Senate. But in the video above, from Saturday, it's clear that he's laying the groundwork for exactly that. Crist's veto of Senate Bill 6 -- the teacher merit pay bill -- makes a perfect springboard for an indep ... More >>

Shutter Island by Martin Scorsese Is the Good Kind of Insane

Cardiologist and Republican Fundraiser Bounced From State College Board

Zachariah​Late last week, Gov. Charlie Crist removed Holy Cross cardiologist Zachariah P. Zachariah from the powerful Board of Governors overseeing Florida universities. It's another occasion for gossip in the state's Republican Party. Was Crist wary of insider trader allegations made by the Secur ... More >>

Pending Criminal Investigation? Your Money's Still Good at Crist Fundraiser!

​On the right, that's a portion of the fundraiser flier being circulated by West Broward land baron Ron Bergeron, who's hosting an event for his favorite U.S. Senate candidate, Charlie Crist. (Click to enlarge.) I've highlighted the name of one headlining contributor, Joseph Cobo, the Broward Heal ... More >>

Lady of the House

She's got three kids, 650,000 constituents, and millions of watching eyes. Debbie Wasserman Schultz can't keep them all happy.

The Talk of the Green Iguana

Will American voters elect the first gay vice president in November?

For All You Political Junkies ...

The Fish Walks

High School Kids Channel Darwin & Co.

Rainbow Colors

When you want to be mayor of Gayville, being straight is a political liability. But so is a crack habit.