Metro | Politics - The Independent Florida Alligator

METRO | POLITICS

We have work to do before 2016

Nov. 11, 2013

Last week, Virginia, New Jersey and New York City had high-profile elections that garnered national attention. For the first time in more than 20 years, New York City has a Democratic mayor. Virginia — one of the most purple of states in the country — ended its bitter gubernatorial election when Democrat Terry McAuliffe won the governorship. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie retained his office and swiftly defeated his opponent.

METRO | POLITICS

‘Ender’s Game’ author’s bigoted views are among the minority

Oct. 27, 2013

The highly anticipated film adaptation of Orson Scott Card’s “Ender’s Game” hits movie screens across the country Friday. I haven’t read the much-heralded novel — or its subsequent sequels — but by all accounts, it’s a great novel. If the film is successful, it will likely launch yet another franchise based on a wildly popular series of young adult novels, following in the footsteps of “Harry Potter,” “Twilight” and the “Hunger Games,” to name a few.

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Governor hopeful Adrian Wyllie visits North Florida cafe

By Thomas Lynn | Oct. 20, 2013

MELROSE, Fla. — Watching the Gators struggle against Missouri in the Blue Water Bay restaurant, a Florida Libertarian governor candidate ate fried fish and waited.

METRO | POLITICS

Rick Scott’s ‘Project Integrity’ is a sham

Oct. 16, 2013

Integrity is an important ideal in a democracy. Politicians should have integrity, and laws should be upheld and applied by the same standard. It’s no wonder, then, that Gov. Rick Scott is rolling out Project Integrity.

METRO | POLITICS

Ted Yoho’s comments are evidence of incompetence

Oct. 15, 2013

The dysfunction that plagues the political system in the United States is currently on full display. The federal government has been shut down for about two weeks with no apparent resolution in sight.

METRO | POLITICS

Big cat owners frustrated with proposed law preventing interaction

By Kristina Ramer | Oct. 8, 2013

Carl Bovard lets visitors play with tiger cub Summer at Single Vision, a wildlife sanctuary in Melrose. But new legislation may prevent the public from interacting with cubs like Summer.

METRO | POLITICS

First day of SG elections sees increased voter turnout

By Colleen Wright | Oct. 1, 2013

The first day of voting yielded a healthy turnout for the Fall 2013 Student Government elections.

North Central Florida Central Labor Council staff member Jeremiah Tattersall speaks to a group of protesters at the office of U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho (R-Fla.) on Tuesday. The group was discussing the government shutdown.

METRO | POLITICS

Labor protests shutdown at Rep. Ted Yoho's office

By Brooke Baitinger | Oct. 1, 2013

Labor organizations gathered outside the local office of U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho (R-Fla.) on Tuesday afternoon to protest the federal government shutdown.

METRO | POLITICS

How the federal government shutdown will impact UF, Gainesville

By Niko Pifferetti | Sep. 30, 2013

The federal government shut down at midnight because of a standstill in budget negotiations between the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives.

Warren Burgher, 19, a mechanical engineering junior, votes in the Reitz Union computer lab on Sept. 27 for the SG elections.

METRO | POLITICS

Your guide to voting in SG elections

By Colleen Wright | Sep. 30, 2013

After weeks of campaigning, voting for the Fall 2013 Student Government elections begins today.

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Alligator Editorial Board's Fall SG election endorsements

Sep. 30, 2013

Historically, the Alligator has chosen to endorse one party over another within Student Government.

METRO | POLITICS

Not just Ted Yoho anymore — Congress is hypocritical about food stamps

Sep. 24, 2013

Last month, I wrote a column about Rep. Ted Yoho (R-Fla.), the congressman who represents Gainesville, and his support for cutting the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, more commonly known as food stamps. Yoho, along with 216 of his fellow House Republicans, displayed that support on Thursday when he voted to cut the SNAP program by $40 billion over the next 10 years.

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Students Party, Swamp Party reveal election platforms

By Colleen Wright | Sep. 23, 2013

After two days of crowdsourcing ideas from students last week, Students Party and Swamp Party released platforms for the Fall 2013 elections.

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Defeat of disgraced politicians Anthony Weiner and Eliot Spitzer a good sign for Americans

Sep. 15, 2013

Everybody knows politics is a dirty business, and some elected officials are far dirtier than others. Anthony Weiner and Eliot Spitzer learned that fact the hard way, and last week, they watched their potential political comebacks fizzle like the Gators’ offense did in the red zone against Miami.

METRO | POLITICS