Leadership is about providing what we need, not just what we want

By Chris Ingram

On Friday of last week, Josh Burgin qualified to run against Hillsborough County Commissioner Mark Sharpe for the at-large seat Sharpe has held for the last six years.

Burgin, who is a nice guy whom I consider a friendly acquaintance made a calculated move based on the assumption that Sharpe is vulnerable for two reasons: 1) because Sharpe has been a strong advocate for the local option transportation improvement penny sales tax; and, 2) because Sharpe is an incumbent in a year when voters appear to be very anti-incumbent.

So now this nice fella’ Josh wants to represent us on the commission. Great! We need more young people with fresh ideas. But Burgin, who is 34 years old, isn’t ready for primetime. His life experiences include (more…)

Incumbents created the mess they now claim they will solve

By Shamus McConomy

From coffee shops to kitchen tables, Washington D.C. is unanimously seen as the epicenter for corruption and ineffectiveness.  A place that, if stupidity was a religion,  would be considered Mecca.  Yet, for as much as we all gripe about Washington and bestow our legislative branch with habitually low approval ratings, incumbents continue to get reelected to the point where they (more…)

What people are talking about in politics

By Chris Ingram

Jim Greer Arrested!

The Associated Press is reporting former Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer has been arrested. According to the A.P. the Florida Department of Law Enforcement announced six felony counts against Greer: one count of organized scheme to defraud; four counts of felony grand theft and one count of money laundering. Stay tuned…

Mugshot of Jim Greer

 Israeli Pirates

Objectively you’ve got to look at the Israeli attack on the Turkish cruise ship carrying relief supplies to Palestine and wonder “what the heck were they thinking?” I can’t say as though I initially felt sorry for the Israeli soldiers who were attacked after boarding this ship which was carrying civilians, transporting humanitarian aid, flying the flag of a sovereign nation (Turkey), and in international waters at the time of the unprovoked attack.

That said, the more you know about the situation the more you’ve got to reconsider (more…)

How getting reelected trumps real values

By Scott Factor

Although I am a registered Republican, I never really considered myself a party-line kind of guy.  Party-line people are concerned with the survival of the party, no matter the consequence. Although I realize that this isn’t the ideal situation or approach to political governance, party survival is critical if the party you are trying to preserve is representing your political values in the governing process.  However, I consider myself a conservative first, Republican voter second. (more…)

If the feds won’t do their duty, we’ll do it ourselves

By Todd Marks

For decades, politicians in Washington have promised results with respect to enforcing our borders and streamlining our immigration process. The American people have placed their trust and confidence in our leaders to keep these important commitments. Politicians in Washington have once again let America down by failing to enforce existing immigration laws.

It’s reprehensible that our federal government has no problem (more…)

Go after the businesses who hire illegal workers

By Scott Factor

The immigration law signed by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer a few days ago sent shock waves through a nation divided by the issue of immigration. Now, I must warn you that what you are about to read might shock your conservative sensibilities and cause you to throw things at your screen.  Before you label me as a liberal writer of tripe, I urge you to read this to the end and give it some serious consideration.

As most know, entering this country without proper authorization from the federal government via the Department of Immigration and Naturalization is a felony.  People that enter the United States illegally are felons, law breakers, criminals, scofflaws, bad guys, etc. We should throw them all in jail, (more…)

Charlie should re-think further debates with Rubio

By Chris Ingram

After watching Charlie Crist and Marco Rubio this morning on Fox News Sunday, it was clear voters have a choice. Unfortunately the choice is between two flawed candidates.  One who is a big-spending liberal when it comes to policy, the other is a big-spender with other people’s money who doesn’t seem to know right from wrong.

In a nutshell, the result of the first “debate” between Florida’s two main Republican U.S. Senate candidates was, (more…)

Is it any wonder the public doesn’t trust the media?

By Chris Ingram

Someone sent me this story from the Wall  Street Journal (about the Fla. U.S. Senate race and my role in it) this evening and I had to laugh.

The funniest thing about this story is: 1) The WSJ thinks what I have to say about Crist v. Rubio matters despite suggesting it doesn’t. 2) Despite thinking it matters (or doesn’t), they failed to uphold even the slightest sense of journalistic integrity by not calling me and asking me what happened. If they had, I would have informed them that Marco Rubio called me at 5:00 p.m. the day the story of my “un-endorsement” was reported on-line by most major papers in the sunshine state. In said conversation, Marco apologized for what he claimed was his “uninentional” terse reply. 3) The WSJ reporter also makes an assertion that Rubio’s one word reponse of “ok” to my concerns was intentional and that it “squashed any brouhaha about [my] dis-endorsement.” This is also a bunch of B.S. While I was surprised by all the coverage, if Marco’s reply “squashed any brouhaha,” why was it reported in the Tampa Tribune, St. Pete Times, Orlando Sentinal, other Fla. papers, and now the Wall Street Journal?

My point here folks is, (more…)

Now neutral and looking for a candidate to inspire me

By Chris Ingram

I sent the following e-mail to Marco Rubio today informing him I could no longer support his candidacy (more detail on why to come). Marco’s response back follows. Twenty-plus points up in the polls allows for arrogance. But this thing isn’t over yet… (more…)

Entitlement programs don’t grow on trees, just their shadows

By Leonard Curry

On the heels of the healthcare vote and the economic uncertainty facing our country, I am reminded of an insightful quote from Abraham Lincoln: 

“Character is like a tree and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it – the real thing is the tree.”

When considering the state of our nation’s economy and the uncertainty surrounding the new unfunded healthcare entitlement and where our country is headed, it is important that we focus on what is real. In this case, the tree that represents our government and the leaders we elect to guide us into the future so that our children and grandchildren will have a brighter and more prosperous future. (more…)