Philip Gailey: Iraq war eerily familiar, dangerously new
It was the ultimate in reality television. Just after lunch on Friday, as members of Congress were digesting their "freedom fries" and the commander in chief headed to Camp David for the weekend, television viewers finally saw the "shock and awe" bombing of Baghdad that U.S. military leaders had delayed for two days. The terrifying explosions of our best and brightest bombs lived up to their billing. It was a scene of shock and awe and fury, and it came to us live from television cameras positioned at a safe distance.

Bill Maxwell: Don't be afraid of democracy
One of my favorite thinkers, environmentalist Edward Abbey, observed: "I love America because it is a confused, chaotic mess -- and I hope we can keep it this way for at least another thousand years. The permissive society is the free society. Who gave us permission to live this way? Nobody did. We did. And that's the way it should be -- only more so. The best cure for the ills of democracy is more democracy."

Robyn E. Blumner: Bush sends taxpayer dollars to restrictive religious groups
To get a job as a residential counselor/houseparent at the United Methodist Children's Home in Decatur, Ga., you have to be at least 21 years old, a high school graduate and "a professing Christian." The job announcement goes on to explain that while non-Christians "have done much good in our world," (Gee, thanks) the Children's Home is "an agency of a Christian Church" and in order to preserve that identity, only Christians will be hired.

Martin Dyckman: Time for a Robin Hood tax remedy
TALLAHASSEE -- Combine the Senate's proposed budget with what House leaders are saying they'll do and there might be the makings of a decent one. Among scores of major differences, for example, the Senate's will probably be kinder to universities, which Gov. Jeb Bush marked for a big hit. But the Senate plan doesn't restore the medically needy program. On that account, concedes Senate President Jim King, "There might be some people who die."

Editorial: Iraq: Security snubbed
With Washington seemingly more concerned with tax cuts than homeland security, state and local governments have been left without adequate resources to thwart terror attacks.

Iraq: Heading to the unknown in Samarra
In 1934, John O'Hara published his first novel, Appointment in Samarra. He took the title from the play Sheppey by W. Somerset Maugham, in which Maugham retells an ancient fable about an encounter between Death and a servant in Baghdad.

Editorial: An insulting power grab
Rep. Randy Johnson doesn't think the voters of Florida know what they are doing. The Republican from Celebration has proposed a constitutional amendment to give legislators the ability to ignore citizen initiatives and set their own funding priorities. Johnson's insulting proposal (HJR 437) should die a quick, ignominious death. He seems to have forgotten that the citizenry is only driven to change the state Constitution when its elected representatives refuse to adopt the proper priorities.

Editorial: The trust stops here
In the corporate hall of shame, a new name has been added to the likes of Enron and WorldCom. It's HealthSouth, the largest chain of rehabilitative hospitals and clinics.

Letters: Wrong approach to Medicare appeals
Re: Bush advances plan to curb Medicare appeals, March 16.