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Like many other young couples, Aimee and Jeff Harris spent the first years of their marriage eagerly accumulating stuff: cars, furniture, clothes, appliances and, after a son and a daughter came along, toys, toys, toys. Now they are trying to get rid of it all, down to their fancy wedding bands. Chasing a utopian vision of a self-sustaining life on the land as partisans of a movement some call voluntary simplicity, they are donating virtually all their possessions to charity and hitting the road at the end of May. “It’s amazing the amount of things a family can acquire,” said...

In a flood of bestsellers by skeptics and atheists charging a nonexistent God with crimes against humanity, Timothy Keller stands out as an effective counterpoint and as a defender of the faith. His new book, "The Reason for God," makes a tight, accessible case for reasoned religious belief. And his national tour of college campuses has drawn overflowing crowds. "This isn't because I'm well-known," Keller told me, "but because of the topic." < snip > The final part of Keller's book will be the most difficult for many readers to accept. He contends that the God of space and time...

As first-time voters and teenage members of the Web-savvy Generation Y, we've been right in the middle of one of the clearest themes in the 2008 presidential primaries: More than Howard Dean in 2004, the Internet really does change everything. From Ron Paul's impressive online fundraising and Barack Obama's slick social networks to Hillary Clinton's online "conversations" and the quirky CNN/YouTube debates, the Internet has played a bigger role in selecting our next president than ever before. But none of these provide the best example of how the Internet is changing the political landscape. No, the true trail blazers of...

(With all the upheaval around here lately- I put this in breaking to give everyone a shot of good news...and it is breaking btw) CHESTERTOWN, Md. (AP) - A nine-term Republican congressman critical of the Iraq war has been defeated by a well-funded state senator in Maryland's primary. Rep. Wayne Gilchrest was narrowly defeated Tuesday by state Sen. Andy Harris. Gilchrest voted to go to war in Iraq but later said he regretted the decision. A year ago, he was one of two Republicans in Congress to vote for a withdrawal timeline.

For those not familiar with Maryland, we are like that that red/blue map of America. Most of the state is conservative but is overwhelmed by the liberals concentrated in Baltimore City and the DC suburbs. Until recently Maryland was divided 4/4 in its congressional representation until the dems redistricted (gerrymandered) Republicans into two main congressional districts. This pretty much guarantees republican wins for these two congressional seats but the problem is that one of these seats is held by a "RINO"-Wayne Gilchrest. Gilcrest voted with Nancy Pelosi more than any other (r)epublican in congress. He is the poster boy for...

Pete Stark, a California Democrat, appears to be the first congressman in U.S. history to acknowledge that he doesn't believe in God. In a country in which 83% of the population thinks that the Bible is the literal or "inspired" word of the creator of the universe, this took political courage.... Of course, no religion is monolithic. Within every faith one can see people arranged along a spectrum of belief. Picture concentric circles of diminishing reasonableness: At the center, one finds the truest of true believers — the Muslim jihadis, for instance, who not only support suicidal terrorism but who...

Apparently, YouTube isn't that good for TV networks after all. A recent Harris Interactive study found that about 42 percent of online adults in the United States said they have watched a YouTube video and 32 percent of frequent YouTube users said they watch less TV as a result. Harris also reported that about 66 percent of YouTube users are blowing off other activities too. They say they spend more time on the video-sharing site to the detriment of visiting other Web sites, e-mailing, social networking, playing video games, watching DVDs and spending time with friends and family, as well....

In their coverage of the election returns, MSNBC posted a story this morning at the bottom of which was a brief run down of who won and who lost in Congressional races across the country. Most of these listings were presented without comment of any kind. Like the race in Arizona: Arizona: Incumbent Republican John Kyl over Democrat Jim Pederson. That was pretty straightforward. No bias, no nonsense. Just a who-won/who-lost listing. Of the 23 races they list, only a few have any thing by way of extra commentary. Additionally, out of that few they offered further comment on, all...

Even critics are impressed with her debate performances, but experts say it's just too late ORLANDO -- Virtually out of money, abandoned by state Republican leaders and ridiculed by her detractors, Rep. Katherine Harris is refusing to fade into the background in the final days of her U.S. Senate bid. Instead, she is becoming more visible, scheduling one of her busiest series of public appearances in weeks and advertising on television for the first time in months. Even Harris' critics say she has surprised them in her two debates against Sen. Bill Nelson, avoiding the gaffes that have dogged her...

SARASOTA, Fla. - Katherine Harris said Friday she's writing a book about her tumultuous campaign for the U.S. Senate this year, and win or lose she should have plenty to dish. The congresswoman from Longboat Key near Sarasota, who grabbed the national spotlight during Florida's disputed vote count in the 2000 election, is far behind incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson in the polls and has weathered a rocky and controversial campaign season. Top Republicans, including Gov. Jeb Bush, tried to draft someone - anyone - to run in her place. Staffers quit in droves, telling reporters she throws temper tantrums over...

Taxpayers Beware: "Big Spending Bill" Tuesday, October 31, 2006 TAMPA – Congresswoman Katherine Harris, the Republican candidate for United States Senate, criticizes her opponent’s reckless spending habits in Congress and reminds voters that more taxes are on the way if Bill Nelson is sent back to Washington.  The facts speak for themselves, and Bill Nelson’s refusal to support tax cuts for hard-working families while initiating billions of dollars worth of new spending clearly demonstrates why Floridians should vote with their pocketbooks this November.The Facts (provided by the National Taxpayers Union):-In the first session of the 109th Congress, Bill Nelson...

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Fears among Florida Republicans that U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris' campaign bid for the U.S. Senate could hurt the party in other races may have been well founded, a poll released Wednesday indicates. Incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson has widened his already comfortable lead over Harris in results announced by the Quinnipiac (Conn.) University Polling Institute. Nelson was favored by 64 percent of likely voters to 29 percent who opted for Harris. She gained national attention as Florida's secretary of state when she oversaw the 2000 recount that gave George W. Bush the White House. And while Nelson goes...

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL— Tonight Congresswoman Katherine Harris, the Republican candidate for United States Senate, addressed the people of Florida and laid out a compelling pro-growth, pro-family agenda to secure the borders, protect traditional values and fight for the economic well-being of Florida families and small businesses. Harris illuminated fundamental differences that demonstrate how out of touch Bill Nelson is with mainstream Florida on critical issues involving our security and the welfare of our seniors. WRONG ON MEDICAL MALPRACTICE: While doctors flee Florida to escape oppressive medical malpractice insurance rates, Nelson votes in opposition to desperately needed medical malpractice reform. WRONG...

WINTER HAVEN - With less than three weeks remaining before the general election, Katherine Harris said Friday that she will be elected Florida's next U.S. senator despite a new poll showing she is trailing incumbent Bill Nelson by a wide margin. She also used her platform, a State Farm Insurance candidate forum, to promise the insurance workers in attendance that she would help get the state's rising insurance costs under control. "Everywhere we go we hear about the homeowners insurance crisis," Harris said. But the Longboat Key congresswoman said her opponent has ignored the issue until this campaign season. "Clearly...

Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson has widened his lead over challenger Katherine Harris to 26 points -- a gap that says as much about voters' dislike of Harris as it does about their enthusiasm for Nelson. Nelson is ahead with 57 percent, to Harris' 31 percent, according to the Mason-Dixon poll released Thursday. Yet less than half of the voters -- 48 percent -- had a favorable opinion of Nelson. Such a mediocre approval rating normally would be a handicap for incumbent senators -- who usually rank in the mid-50s -- except the poll showed that 46 percent had unfavorable opinions...

RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman on WIOD 610AM RNC Chairman Ken Mehlman spoke on WIOD 610AM about Florida's Republican candidates including Katherine Harris. Click Here to Listen to Audio File

Early in the year, we became the first newspaper in the state to endorse the candidacy of Katherine Harris for the United States Senate. We were one of the few newspapers in the state to do so. The press, with few exceptions, does not like Katherine Harris, and campaign problems that would earn no more than a few lines in any other race become front page headlines in hers. The problems and yes, errors, in her campaign, have overshadowed what she offers to the voters of Florida. Like many Polk Countians, we have known her since childhood, and have watched...

SENATORIAL DEBATE Monday, October 23, 2006   MEDIA ADVISORY  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                       Contact: Jennifer Marks October 20, 2006                                                                                    (813) 288-8400     SENATORIAL DEBATE     WHO:       Congresswoman Katherine Harris, Republican candidate for U.S. Senate,   WHAT:     Live Televised Debate   WHEN:     October 23, 2006  8:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.   WHERE:    Nova Southeastern University                    (Live Televised Broadcast on Florida’s PBS television stations.)    

October 11, 2006 - Nelson Leads Harris 61 - 33 In Florida Senate Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Say U.S. Is Losing The War In Iraq In the Florida Senate race, Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson has a commanding 61 - 33 percent lead over U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris among likely voters, including leaners, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released today. Six percent are undecided and 18 percent of likely voters who name a candidate say they could change their mind in the next four weeks. Sen. Nelson leads Rep. Harris 56 - 31 percent among registered...

If the election for Governor were today, and you were standing in the voting booth right now, who would you vote for? Republican Charlie Crist? Democrat Jim Davis? Or some other candidate? 54% Crist (R) 41% Davis (D) 5% Other/Undecided Florida voters will also elect a United States Senator. In an election today, who would you vote for? Republican Katherine Harris? Democrat Bill Nelson? Or some other candidate? 37% Harris (R) 55% Nelson (D) 8% Other/Undecided 514 Likely voters, MOE +/- 4.4 percent

TAMPA, FL- Congresswoman Katherine Harris, the Republican candidate for the United States Senate, soundly defeated Bill Nelson this evening by a 54% to 45% margin in the straw poll conducted at the Lakeland Bi-Annual Politics in the Park. The Harris campaign continues to build momentum, engendering tremendous grassroots support throughout the state with a pro-growth, pro-family message that resonates across the political spectrum. Congresswoman Harris commented, “I appreciate the strong support of a majority of voters who are disillusioned with Bill Nelson’s lack of leadership and his record of voting against Florida’s best interests. I will fight for Florida in...

FYI. DeWine, Burns, Santorum look like toast. Talent, Chafee, Corker in trouble. When is that damned October Surprise coming, Rove dude? :-(

On Tuesday morning, it looked like U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris was going to miss Thursday's rally in Orlando with President Bush and Republican gubernatorial nominee Charlie Crist. Harris' schedule showed her participating in votes in Washington on Thursday for a series of House votes on immigration bills and then attending a River City Republican Club function in Atlantic Beach, near Jacksonville, around the same time as the evening rally.

U.S. Senate candidate Katherine Harris said Friday that Gov. Jeb Bush will campaign with her in the next two months, but the state GOP said no such commitment exists. Harris, appearing in downtown Orlando, said she will travel with Bush and others as she seeks to defeat incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson. Nelson, meanwhile, formally kicked off his campaign Friday in Tampa, saying he wanted to "take our nation in a new direction." Touring with Bush, the state's most powerful Republican, would bring Harris badly needed credibility and steady a campaign that, at times, appeared ready to collapse. But Friday,...

Nelson, Harris speak in SarasotaNelson warns of a nasty campaign; Harris says she will unite Floridians.By CAROL E. LEE [carol.lee@heraldtribune.com]and JEREMY "The Stalker" WALLACE [jeremy.wallace@heraldtribune.com] STAFF WRITERSSept. 9, 2006 SARASOTA -- Sen. Bill Nelson and Republican challenger Katherine Harris brought their campaigns to Sarasota on Friday, three days after the primary election. Just hours before officially kicking off his bid for re-election in Ybor City, Nelson warned 25 supporters at a beachfront home on Lido Key of a potentially negative campaign. "It could get very, very mean and nasty," Nelson said at the private fundraiser. Less than five miles away...

For most of the summer, Katherine Harris's Republican primary opponents complained bitterly that Harris would not agree to debate them. But that won’t be a complaint from Sen. Bill Nelson, the Democrat Harris faces in November. Harris and Nelson will have two debates over the next 60 days. The first will be on Oct. 23. That debate, arranged by Leadership Florida, the Florida Press Association and Florida Public Broadcasting will be at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale and will air from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. on the state’s 25 public television stations. A second one-hour debate will be...

MIAMI (AP) - U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris overcame a campaign ridiculed even by her own party to easily claim the GOP nomination for the Senate on Tuesday, and Rep. Jim Davis held a narrow lead in the race for the Democratic nomination to succeed popular Gov. Jeb Bush. Harris next faces an uphill battle against the Democratic incumbent, Sen. Bill Nelson, who had no primary challenger. With 62 percent of the precincts reporting, Davis led state Sen. Rod Smith 46 percent to 42 percent. The winner will face Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist, who claimed the Republican nomination to replace...

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Katherine Harris won the Republican primary for a U.S. Senate seat.

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ENDORSEMENTS ORGANIZATIONS: National Rifle Association National Right to Life Florida Right to Life Unified Sportsmen of Florida Second Amendment Club of America (Tampa Chapter) National Association of Black Republicans Latin Builders Association National Federation of Republican Assemblies, Florida Chapter ELECTED OFFICIALS: (partial listing) U.S. Senator Mel Martinez LT. Governor Toni Jennings U.S. Congressman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen U.S. Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart U.S. Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart U.S. Congressman John Mica Senate President-Designate Ken Pruitt House Speaker Designate Marco Rubio Over 70 State Legislators

WEST PALM BEACH — A few weeks ago, on the last day that candidates could get their names removed from the ballot, U.S. Senate candidate Will McBride called two opponents, urging them to get out of the race. McBride, 34, an Orlando lawyer, said he could beat front-runner Katherine Harris in Tuesday’s GOP primary in a two-way race. His rivals refused to quit, but McBride still thinks he has the best shot at defeating Harris, a congresswoman from the Sarasota area whose campaign has encountered a series of problems. “It’s been a response that I’ve just been like 'Wow’ and...

Her opponents in the Republican U.S. Senate primary cast front-runner Katherine Harris as a liability to the party.Harris casts herself as a true believer who doesn't kowtow to Washington elites and doesn't play politics as usual.Few would argue the last point. The Republican race to challenge Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in November has been anything but usual.It pits three political unknowns against one of the most recognized -- some might say infamous -- women in the Republican party in a race where name recognition has sometimes looked like a bad thing."I'm not a Beltway boy, and I'll never go along...

Not very long ago, the term conservatives most often used to describe Katherine Harris was "rock star." Writing in The Weekly Standard, John Podhoretz praised her as "a local official in Florida who looked to the letter of the law for guidance at a time when we needed the law the most." Among conservatives, this was one of the more measured assessments. In the eyes of her admirers, she was Mother Teresa, Marie Curie, and Joan of Arc all rolled into one--passionate, deeply moral, and honest as the day is long. Not only that, she was also smart as a...

SARASOTA- The only candidate Katherine Harris is talking about these days is the man who won't appear on the ballot with her next week. While Harris faces three Republican primary opponents on Tuesday, she is largely ignoring the trio to focus her television ads and stump speeches on Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson. "She's focusing on unseating Bill Nelson," said Jennifer Marks, a campaign spokeswoman for Harris. That has meant bypassing recent forums where her opponents appeared before groups in Tampa, Orlando and Lakewood Ranch. On Monday she refused to go on a nationally syndicated radio show with Will McBride. When...

Open thread for anyone who has been listening to Katherine Harris on the Michael Medved Show today.

U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris told a religious journal that separation of church and state is "a lie" and God and the nation's founding fathers did not intend the country be "a nation of secular laws." The Florida Republican candidate for U.S. Senate also said that if Christians are not elected, politicians will "legislate sin," including abortion and gay marriage. Harris made the comments - which she clarified Saturday - in the Florida Baptist Witness, the weekly journal of the Florida Baptist State Convention, which interviewed political candidates and asked them about religion and their positions on issues. Separation of church...

Snip... Of the three Republican candidates who belatedly jumped into the race to challenge Ms. Harris, Windermere lawyer Will McBride is the best choice to represent his party. Mr. McBride also takes conservative positions on most issues. But he has shown admirable independence in calling for a more balanced approach to immigration reform than the security-only plan that Ms. Harris voted for in the U.S. House. He is proudly touting his Hispanic heritage in his campaign. Mr. McBride's declared commitment to ethics and lobbying reform also is welcome, given the ethical questions swirling around Ms. Harris. And he recognizes the...

ORLANDO, Aug. 25 -- Rep. Katherine Harris (R-Fla.) said this week that God did not intend for the United States to be a "nation of secular laws" and that the separation of church and state is a "lie we have been told" to keep religious people out of politics. "If you're not electing Christians, then in essence you are going to legislate sin," Harris told interviewers from the Florida Baptist Witness, the weekly journal of the Florida Baptist State Convention. She cited abortion and same-sex marriage as examples of that sin. Harris, a candidate in the Sept. 5 Republican primary...

SAFETY HARBOR, Fla. - Peter Monroe knows Washington. The Safety Harbor developer and U.S. Senate hopeful built a solid reputation as a behind-the-scenes player on Capitol Hill, tackling some of the nation's stickier messes, including managing the taxpayer-backed $140 billion savings and loan bailout. He thinks that experience will resonate with Republican voters in the Sept. 5 primary. If only they knew him. "When you're head of an agency, nobody knows who you are unless it's maybe a high level position," Monroe said. "Who's the secretary of agriculture?" Monroe, 62, is betting on a recent mailing of a million pamphlets...

The National Right to Life Committee PAC announced today its endorsement of Will McBride for the U.S. Senate. In a letter from David O’ Steen, Executive Director, and Karen Cross, Political Director, National Right to Life wrote to McBride “The endorsement reflects your commitment to renewing a culture of life, not only in Florida, but throughout the nation. We look forward to working with you in the Senate to restore legal protection for innocent life”. Commenting on the news, Will McBride said, “It is extremely gratifying for me to have been endorsed by National Right to Life. I have been...

Thursday, August 24, 2006 JUNO BEACH — LeRoy Collins Jr. — a retired two-star admiral and son of the man considered Florida's first modern governor — tells audiences he's best known now as "one of the guys running against Katherine Harris." Collins, 71, of Tampa, used that line Wednesday as he addressed about 60 people at the Waterford retirement community in Juno Beach. "Everybody knows who Katherine Harris is, and a lot of those reasons are the wrong reasons," said Collins, one of three candidates running against Harris in the Republican primary for the U.S. Senate nomination. Harris, a two-term...

Metzler, who had been the campaign’s political director, confirmed late Sunday that he quit the campaign, but declined further comment. “I left her campaign and I wished her well,” Metzler said. He said the tree incident was “not necessarily” the reason for his quitting. He hung up when asked for further reasons. The tree incident occurred Thursday when Harris blamed the paltry turnout at a campaign rally at Orlando Executive Airport on the need to move the event because a tree had damaged the hanger in which the rally was originally scheduled. Airport officials later said no tree fell on...

And Subjective Justice For All By Jenni Vinson Trejo August 19, 2006 William S. Mosher lived in Harris County in Houston, Texas. Mosher was a prominent Houston businessman and philanthropist who had been a long-time active and supporter of a local Christian charity, the Star of Hope Mission, that provided food and shelter to indigents. William Mosher died in 1948. In 1953 the president of the Star of Hope Mission approached the Harris County Commissioners Court and secured permission to erect a memorial to Mosher on the Courthouse property. Morris testified that Star of Hope selected a location in front...

Come to Free Republic and SEE!"Cannibal", featuring a bunch of angry FREEPers, eating each other alive over who gets to run against former goofball "Astro-NAUGHT" Bill Nelson! SEE!Bill Nelson and his sorry Michael-Moore-supporting ARSE laugh his way to re-election as conservatives ignore the issues and argue over whether someone is entitled to run for the Senate! Bill Nelson gives "Cannibal" a BIG THUMBS UP!"Cannibal" is almost as good as Fahren-Fraud 9-11!"--Bill Nelson

TAMPA, Fla. - Retired admiral and U.S. Senate candidate LeRoy Collins, Jr. called the recent planned terrorist attacks against U.S. bound airliners from Europe an ominous threat we must take seriously and not ignore. Collins' remarks followed exposure of the coordinated plot to take down several commercial aircraft departing the United Kingdom, and the arrest of 21 suspects in London. "Americans cannot deny there are people in the world who despise our freedoms and beliefs, and there are those among us who want to kill innocent civilians to advance their cause. The threat is real. These people are still living...

Fans continue to support Katherine Harris, despite the candidate's lack of party support and her low poll ratings.''Agua? Could we have some agua?'' the woman asked, in the banquet room of a restaurant in Hialeah, before Katherine Harris arrived to stump. Two years of high school Spanish will take you further than you think and soon the waitress brought some, along with milk in mugs and a pitcher of coffee. ''This is café con leche,'' the woman explained to her companions. ``It's Cuban coffee. Isn't it so good?'' They sipped. It was. They were three Anglos in a roomful of...

In the U.S. Senate primary, Rep. Katherine Harris has been touting key political endorsements from fellow Republican lawmakers. The problem is, some of them never endorsed her. Several members of the U.S. House called the Harris campaign to complain Wednesday after the St. Petersburg Times notified them of the endorsements listed on Harris' Web site. Minutes later, their names were removed. The list of politicians whose names came down includes Reps. Ginny Brown-Waite of Brooksville, Cliff Stearns of Ocala, Mark Foley of West Palm Beach and Jeff Miller of the Panhandle. "The congressman has not made an endorsement in the...

In keeping with her unusual Senate campaign, Rep. Katherine Harris has failed to meet with most of the state's major daily newspapers to seek their endorsements. Editors across Florida say it's unheard of for such a major candidate to decline to visit with an editorial board - an opportunity to make a good impression and explain the candidate's positions. "I can't ever recall a candidate saying, 'I'm not going to see anybody,' " said Randy Schultz, editorial page editor at the Palm Beach Post. "It just doesn't happen." Harris, who has been hurt by months of negative publicity, said her...

On the campaign trail, U.S. Senate candidate Katherine Harris says Democrat Bill Nelson is so liberal that even his own family is turning on him. Proof, she says, came at the Wausau Possum Festival two weeks ago in rural Washington County in the Florida Panhandle, where Nelson's family roots lie. That's the county where his mother, Nanny Myrle Nelson, grew up. "I even had Bill Nelson's relatives coming up saying: We love him but, hey, he's not voting and doesn't vote our conscience in Washington, D.C., and we are going to support you," Harris said during a speech to the...