‘Shameful’ Vote on Gun Control: Do You Agree?

The U.S. Senate voted down a measure that would require tougher background checks for those who purchase guns. We’d like to get your take on the issue!

What's Tampa Bay Saying?

‘Shameful’ Vote on Gun Control: Do You Agree?

The U.S. Senate voted down a measure that would require tougher background checks for those who purchase guns. We’d like to get your take on the issue!

President Barack Obama called the U.S. Senate’s April 17 vote denying stricter background checks for gun purchases “shameful.” The proposed law was shot down 54 to 46 with some Democrats joining Republicans in rejecting the measure, which was hoped to curb gun violence like that witnessed in the Newtown, Conn., massacre last year, according to the Huffington Post. The number of votes was less than the 60 needed to break a filibuster. If approved, the measure would have extended the country’s background check system to include gun shows and Internet purchases of weapons. The failure of the measure likely signals defeat for any other major legislation meant to clamp down on gun violence, the Post says. Other measures that “appear headed for …

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Executive Orders: Is Obama Going Too Far?

President Barack Obama has the authority to set policy, but some say he’s abusing it to skirt Congress. We’d like to hear your thoughts on the issue, Tampa Bay.

One of the perks of sitting in the Oval Office is having the authority to set national policy on topics as far ranging as civil liberties and gun control. The executive order is a tool afforded to the president that has long been used to direct government agencies to do certain things. While the Constitution doesn’t specifically grant this authority, according to a 1999 report prepared for Congress, presidents from George Washington forward have used orders to conduct business. President Barack Obama’s use of the executive order, however, has drawn fire from critics. In some cases, false claims have been made about the number of orders he’s issued since taking office. One rumor, which has been squelched, claimed Obama had signed 900 …

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Immigration Reform: Should America Open a Pathway?

As President Barack Obama kicks off his second term in office, the often prickly issue of immigration reform has come to the forefront. We’d like to get your thoughts on America’s immigration policy and the need for reform, Tampa Bay!

After tackling health care in his first term, it looks like President Barack Obama has set his sights on waging another big battle in his second term in office – immigration reform. The president is expected to discuss his plans for reform on Tuesday during a trip to Nevada, but a bi-partisan group of Senators intends to beat him to the punch.  The group of eight Senators includes Florida’s own Republican Marco Rubio, according to the Huffington Post. Their plan, which will be more fully announced today, Jan. 28, calls for a multifaceted approach to reform with such prongs as: The Senate group, however, wants to make sure the first two points are adequately addressed by the country before the pathway opens. "Once the enforcement measures …

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Torrey Craig

12:30 pm on Monday, February 11, 2013

Your forefathers may have been one of the 12 million people processed through the first federal immigrant inspection station - aka Ellis Island in New York harbor. This was point that many immigrants from where processed and admitted into the United States. A register was kept of the individual who where processed, those who lacked the necessary papers where marked as WOP. WithOut Papers. The …   more ›

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Inauguration 2013: Necessary Tradition or Costly Excess?

As inaugural festivities continue in Washington, D.C., we want to get Tampa Bay’s take on the three-day production and its value to the country as a whole.

As President Barack Obama gave his second inaugural address today, Jan. 21, thousands of Americans turned out to watch the festivities in Washington, D.C. Even more tuned in to watch the pageantry live on television or the Internet. A tradition that dates back to George Washington’s first swearing-in on April 30, 1789, the Presidential Inauguration has become bigger, better and much, much more costly through the years. The first few inaugurations were rather short affairs that didn’t include gala balls. Washington, in fact, only spoke 135 words in his second inaugural address, according to the U.S. Senate’s website. Balls weren’t added to the mix until James Madison’s 1809 swearing-in. Those festivities only cost attendees $4 each for …

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Patriot

12:39 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013

When they do it we call it Genocide, When we do it we call it manifest destiny. When they do it we call it fascism, When we do it we call it social Democracy. When they do it we call it communism, When we do it we call it social security. When they do it we call it terrorism, When we do it we call it collateral damage. When they do it we call it death camps, When we do it we call it "re-education…   more ›

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Gun Appreciation Day: Do You Support It?

Conservative groups are asking people across the nation – and right here in Tampa Bay – to show their support for the 2nd Amendment on Jan. 19. Will you support the movement?

As politicians line up to support stricter gun control measures in the wake of the Sandy Hook Elementary massacre, conservative groups have joined forces to draw a line in the sand. The result: Gun Appreciation Day. Set for Jan. 19 – not coincidentally two days before President Barack Obama’s second inauguration – the observance is meant to be a national show of force in favor of gun owners’ rights. Support for the movement has come in from such sponsors as the Second Amendment Foundation, Special Operations Speaks, the Women Warriors PAC and others. The groups are asking people around the country, and right here in the Tampa Bay area, to “go to your local gun store, gun range or gun show with your Constitution, American flags and your ‘…

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erik

10:54 pm on Friday, February 1, 2013

You don't really say anything in this post, except attempt to toot your own horn, and make claims about Mark Twain that you are not competent to do.   more ›

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Does Congress Deserve a Raise?

President Barack Obama thinks it’s time to give Congress and federal employees a raise. What do you think, Tampa Bay?

Update, Jan. 3 1:24 p.m.: The U.S. House has voted to block the pay raise, according to the Washington Post. Earlier: Vice President Joe Biden will earn $231,900 a year. House Speaker John Boehner will get $224,500. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s pay will change to $194,400 annually. Those figures, according to the Huffington Post, represent the salaries of some of America’s top politicians after a half-percent pay increase goes into effect for all members of Congress, the vice president and federal employees in March 2013. There are 2.8 million federal workers. President Barack Obama signed an executive order removing the pay freeze on federal positions in the midst of the fiscal cliff negotiations. The act effectively raises the pay…

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Report: Fiscal Cliff Means Major Cutbacks for Military Families

Washington D.C.'s impasse could mean severe cuts to the defense budget and programs military families rely on, according to the National Military Family Association.

If President Barack Obama and Congress don't reach a compromise to avoid the so-called "fiscal cliff," the military could see even more severe cuts to its budget. In fact, the Department of Defense could face $600 billion in cuts in the next decade, according to the nonprofit National Military Family Association. The cuts could affect family programs, health care, housing and more. Military contractors are also bracing for cuts, Politico reported. However, some items—such as pay, military retirement pay, and TRICARE for Life—cannot be cut, the NMFA report added. For more details, read the association’s report, The View from the Ledge: The Fiscal Cliff and How it Affects Military Families. For more information on how the fiscal cliff might …

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Patch, Starbucks Team to Avert Fiscal Cliff

The two companies have joined forces to urge Congress to “Come Together” before tax hikes and spending cuts push America over the “fiscal cliff.”

On any given day, Temple Terrace and Washington, D.C., might seem like they’re a million miles apart. Today is not one of those days. As Congress and President Barack Obama attempt to hash out differences to stop America from falling over the “Fiscal Cliff,” Patch and Starbucks are teaming up to urge Republicans and Democrats to “come together.” The two companies are working together to make sure Congress gets the message America wants a viable solution to the country’s financial woes. The so-called Fiscal Cliff encompasses all of the budget cuts and tax hikes that will automatically kick in if Congress doesn’t take action before Jan. 1, 2013. Some economists say the automatic changes will push the country into another recession. The White…

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Fiscal Cliff: Do the Tax Hikes Worry You?

As Washington works to head off the so-called fiscal cliff, we’d like to hear from you on how the possible tax hikes would impact your family right here in Tampa Bay.

With New Year’s just around the corner, all eyes are turning to Washington, D.C., where lawmakers are working to prevent America from falling off the so-called fiscal cliff. That cliff, according to the Huffington Post, is the automatic activation of budget cuts and tax hikes that will kick in on Jan. 1, 2013, if something isn’t done to prevent them. As it stands right now, no agreement has been reached between the Democrats and Republicans to prevent the financial changes from occurring. Some economists say the budget cuts and tax hikes will catapult America back into another recession. President Barack Obama is cutting his holiday vacation short, according to the Post, and is returning to Washington to try and work out a deal. …

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michael mirra

7:22 am on Monday, December 31, 2012

The voting booth is the answer. The Republicans are bending over backwards to solidify their image with their base. The only reason that the negotiations are going nowhere is because they want to show the rich capitalists that they won't abandon them. The Democrats are weak & the Republicans are stubborn. Most people realize that if the common man suffers due to this stubborn attitude that they …   more ›