This past Thursday we were once again subjected to another painful column by Frances Earl, who has shown that she doesn't know what she is talking about. ...more

August 2, 2008

Two years ago, New Hampshire refused to accept heating oil from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, the pro-Castro U.S. critic who once called President Bush "the devil." But with fuel prices rising, well, free oil is free oil. ...more

July 19, 2008

Even in retirement, former Cuban President Fidel Castro apparently cannot stand for anyone else to hold the limelight. Thus, he has attempted to steal a bit of it from Colombian President Alvaro Uribe by barging into the discussion about the dramatic rescue of Ingrid Betancourt and 14 others last week from the clutches of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). Castro's input? ...more

July 11, 2008

There's an old saying about rumors: even one without a leg to stand on will still make its way all over town. That was when misinformation was spread by word of mouth and most times died out before causing much harm. That was before the Internet and e-mail. ...more

June 22, 2008

President Hugo Chavez's nationalization of three foreign-owned cement businesses took effect Thursday. ...more

June 20, 2008

One of the advantages of senior citizenship is that I've heard it all before..... ...more

June 14, 2008

One of the advantages of senior citizenship is that I've heard it all before - for at least the last 65 years. ...more

June 14, 2008

President Hugo Chavez has used his decree powers to carry out a major overhaul of this country's intelligence agencies, provoking a fierce backlash here from human rights groups and legal scholars who say the measures will force citizens to inform on one another to avoid prison terms. ...more

June 3, 2008

Leopoldo Lopez won his last election as mayor of an affluent Caracas district with 81 percent of the vote. Female supporters mobbed him at a recent Mother's Day appearance, posing for photos while he and his wife handed out roses. ...more

May 24, 2008

My recent Venezuela column in The Tampa Tribune prompted a prominent response from a local Venezuelan activist who took exception to some points I made. Fair enough. On this subject, I'm not an expert on anything but my own first-hand impressions based on what I saw -- from health clinics to brazen street crime -- and to whom I spoke -- from Chavez acolytes to scornful opposition. ...more

May 22, 2008