Chris Ingram’s letter to the editor of the St. Pete Times (as submitted)

Dear Editor:

I am generally a defender of the St. Pete Times to my fellow conservatives as I believe the paper’s news reporting to be the best in the state. However, my conservative friends can’t get past the fact that your paper is a liberal propaganda rag and your editorial on Thursday (Final option: Send health bill to House) proves it.

While I saw flaws in the paper’s entire argument for passage of Obamacare, the most disconcerting was (more…)

State Executive Committee shows it has what Charlie lacks: spine, integrity, leadership skills, etc.

By Chris Ingram

In case you missed it, I have it from multiple sources that Charlie Crist (who is already looking at his political death but who has the chance to avoid said death from becoming a suicide by dumping Jim Greer as RPOF Chairman), will soon announce Greer’s resignation in the coming days or weeks.

But just in case Greer’s spendthrift ways, dictatorial style, bloated ego, bad advice, and general buffoonery aren’t enough to convince Chuckles to force him out, Florida Republicans can breathe easy in knowing (more…)

Throw the rascals out versus the status quo

By Chris Ingram

The St. Petersburg Times just reported that “Republican prosecutor Pam Bondi of Tampa jumped into the Republican race for attorney general today, saying she has the legal experience needed to be Florida’s top attorney.”

This is bad news for trial lawyer Jeff Kottkamp, who happens to be Florida’s Lieutenant Governor and a man who is best known for (more…)

Big Labor looks for big returns
By Chuck Muth

Big Labor came through for the Democrats last November big time. They put their man in the White House, helped expand the Democrats’ majorities in Congress. Now it’s payback time.

The biggest problem facing organized labor in this country today is that so many people have wised up to their scam and no longer are joining unions voluntarily. Indeed, the only membership growth area for organized labor is among government workers, not in the private sector. Go figure. (more…)

With help from Governor Blagojevich
By Chuck Muth

Ho, ho, ho-ly cow! Boy, did Christmas come early for Illinois’ dying horse track industry this year or what?

Here’s the issue in a nutshell. People in Illinois aren’t going to horse tracks the way they used to. It’s a dying industry. On the other hand, people are going to Illinois casinos. It’s a thriving industry. So two years ago the Illinois Legislature passed a new “temporary” 3 percent tax on the four most successful casinos in the state and redirected the money to the unsuccessful horse racing industry in an effort to “save” it. (more…)

Where does the GOP go from here?

By Jamie Miller

After much hand-wringing about the election results, Republicans turn toward the task of rebuilding the GOP as a brand voters will trust. Many pundits ask, “Where does the GOP go from here?” I think the better question is, “Who will lead the GOP and in which direction?”

Pundits have already started looking toward the 2012 election while apparently ignoring the importance of the off-year 2010 elections and the redistricting which follows. If we ignore the redistricting process that will be in place for 2012, the GOP will certainly find itself in the minority throughout the next decade. (more…)

Pinch me, this has to be a nightmare

By Chris Ingram

The Water Cooler is an occasional feature of talking points about politics.

• Politics makes strange bedfellows. Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton exchanged a lot of heated words during the Democratic Primary this year. Now it appears Obama is “considering” Ms. Clinton for Secretary of State. News reports say Clinton and Obama met in Chicago this week and that the Obama camp is doing nothing to deny speculation that she is being considered. CNN reports that (more…)

Are you kidding?

By Chris Ingram

I’ve taken a lot of heat for my column earlier this week titled “Get Ready for Obamalism.” The criticism has come from the left and right and the media in e-mails, postings, phone calls, and interviews.

I taped a local politics show here in Tampa yesterday (“Flashpoint” airing on Sundays on ABC following “This Week”). The host took me to task for questioning the intelligence of Obama supporters (which I did in a reply to a post after the above mentioned article). Hey, the site is called “Irreverent View.” I’m not writing for a scholarly journal, the church bulletin, or even some mullet wrapper of a newspaper. This is an opinion site folks! I write what I think (that’s my opinion) with a touch of sarcasm and snarkyness to keep it interesting. Anyhow, I looked it up online, and if someone had an 80 IQ, they would be considered (more…)

“As New Hampshire goes, So Goes the Nation”

By Mark Smith

Exit polls in New Hampshire in two small towns have begun the trend today that will elect Barack Obama the 44th President of the United States. In double digit votes beginning at midnight today, Obama came ahead of John McCain and Ron Paul.

What we are likely to see with “Double-Digit” Barack are Double-D inflation, unemployment, and interest rates all at, or about the third year (more…)

McCain campaigns in Tampa and hardly anyone shows up

By Chris Ingram

• More out of sense of obligation than excitement, I went to the John McCain rally in the parking lot of the stadium where the Tampa Bay Bucs play. I also took my three daughters because my oldest — who is only four — loves John McCain (because I’ve brainwashed her), and she wanted to go see him again.

Apparently most other Republicans didn’t feel so obligated. That or they don’t have nagging four year olds asking them to go see some old guy running for president. I actually think she likes McCain and she says “he’s a nice man” but I think the draw to the rally is she figured there would be balloons. (more…)