Barack Obama has just taken his first baby steps into a war in Syria that may define and destroy his presidency.

The lieutenant governor's office has been locked and dark since March. Has anyone actually noticed?

Are Americans becoming more libertarian on cultural issues? I see evidence that they are, in poll findings and election results on three unrelated issues -- marijuana legalization, same-sex marriage and gun rights.

Education policy must now, and always, be state-driven and implemented at the local level.

Egotistical musicians often exaggerate their political influence, none more than the nattering, narcissistic rapper Kanye West. He has compared himself in global stature to Apple founder Steve Jobs and has titled his latest album "Yeesus."

Three days and hardly a peep from the capital press on a proposed Florida Democratic caucus gag rule.

Our former presidents haunt our popular culture. We plaster their portraits on dollars and cents. We carve their faces on a giant rock in South Dakota.

WASHINGTON -- As soon as the Constitution permitted him to run for Congress, Al Salvi did. In 1986, just 26 and fresh from the University of Illinois law school, he sank $1,000 of his own money, which was most of his money, into his campaign to unseat an incumbent Democratic congressman. Salvi studied for the bar exam during meals at campaign dinners.

WASHINGTON -- It is reassuring that in the midst of so much government dysfunction, the IRS has resolved the question of when and whether to tax tanning beds under the Affordable Care Act.

I live in Florida but have a house in Mississippi. So I know a lot about the quality of life in both places. Trust me, Florida's is better. 

There are many who complain that big government is the root of all our problems.

It would be nice to write a column in praise of President Obama for his vigorous conduct of the war on terror -- to praise his willingness to look for "dots" to connect amid all the electronic noise of the communications web.