Category: Opinion

An idea whose time has come?

There’s a new idea that might be the solution to runaway populism. Well, it’s not that new, really – it has been kicking around in left-wing circles for a least a quarter-century – but it has suddenly gone mainstream.

River watcher: Search for still water

Before the break in the dam spillway, levels were already reaching “road closure” status along the river through Oroville, and effectively scattering the winter waterfowl bunch and leaving few still pools for leisurely lingering. There is no relaxing on turbulent waters that race downstream as if eager to wipe out everything in order to reach the ocean.

Donald Trump changing nature of nation’s highest office

It’s a Presidents Day like no other as Donald Trump – having redefined campaigning as a brash, tweeting populist – redefines the Oval Office and its relationship to the media, trade partners and foreign governments. But politicos say it’s an open question whether this approach will end when Trump’s term does, or if he is fundamentally transforming the White House, and the march to it, for future candidates and presidents.

What today’s leaders could learn from those we honor on Presidents’ Day

Interpretation of the news based on evidence, including data, as well as anticipating how events might unfold based on past events PRESIDENTS’ DAY may seem somewhat contrived, an attempt to work a three-day weekend into the month when our two greatest national leaders were born, with the goal of making February a little more tolerable. But somewhere under the annual glut of ads for improbable bargains, there’s real meaning to the day, especially in this year of rancor, division and shameless deceit.

What today’s leaders could learn from those we honor on Presidents’ Day

Interpretation of the news based on evidence, including data, as well as anticipating how events might unfold based on past events PRESIDENTS’ DAY may seem somewhat contrived, an attempt to work a three-day weekend into the month when our two greatest national leaders were born, with the goal of making February a little more tolerable. But somewhere under the annual glut of ads for improbable bargains, there’s real meaning to the day, especially in this year of rancor, division and shameless deceit.

February 20, 2017: Seeking a solution

Seeking a solution With regard to “Did Trump nix the 2-state solution?” , the assertion that then-president Bill Clinton “wed the Israelis and Palestinians to the notion that the only resolution to the conflict is a two-state solution” flies in the face of historical factuality. The 1993 Oslo Accords did not require a sovereign Palestinian-Arab entity.

Roundup: Trump’s tax returns, immigration, Dakota pipeline

In a blatant display of partisanship that disregards the wishes of a majority of Americans, House Republicans have rejected an attempt to use their legal power to obtain tax returns for President Trump, who has consistently refused to release them on his own. Under a rarely invoked federal law, House and Senate tax committees can order the Treasury Department to release individual tax returns.

Our Views: Declaring a La. disaster once again

Harold Baldwin, a disabled veteran, holds his grandson Blake Baldwin, 5 months, while waiting to apply for FEMA, Federal Emergency Management Agency, disaster recovery assistance at the East New Orleans Public Library, 5641 Read Blvd. in New Orleans, La. Monday, Feb. 13, 2017 near the path of Tuesday’s tornado.

An adult voice amid pandemic childness

In his 72 years, Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, who was raised in segregated Richmond, Virginia, acknowledges that he has seen much change, often for the better, including advances in the 1960s. But in his elegant new memoir, “All Falling Faiths: Reflections on the Promise and Failure of the 1960s,” he explains why today’s distemper was incubated in that “burnt and ravaged forest of a decade.”

Sedgwick County Jail, ICE resolve dispute on detentions

It’s good that the Sedgwick County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement appear to have resolved their dispute about detaining people suspected of being illegal immigrants. When ICE wants a jail inmate held for an additional 48 hours, it will now provide the sheriff’s office with a federal warrant.

Editorial: Cheers and more cheers

Cheer: Two Florida lawmakers, for introducing legislation to exonerate four black men accused of raping a white woman in 1949.  Charles Greenlee, Walter Irvin, Samuel Shepherd and Ernest Thomas were accused of raping Norma Padgett.

Sound Off for Saturday, Feb. 18: Get to work

The Capitol is seen at sunup, Friday, Feb. 17, 2017, as Senate Republicans are poised to use their majority to confirm President Donald Trump’s controversial nominee to lead the Environmental Protection Agency, despite calls from Democrats for a delay as both houses of Congress prepare to leave Washington for the Presidents Day weekend and return to their home districts. The Senate remains tied up with delays in confirming Trump’s cabinet picks, while the House is spending most of its time reversing regulations from the close of President Obama’s term, including the GOP’s promised swift repeal of Obamacare.

Trump’s strange coziness with the Kremlin

Donald Trump assured Americans Thursday that he is not acting in covert concert with Russian President Vladimir Putin . “I have nothing to do with Russia,” he said during his news conference, insisting, “The whole Russian thing, that’s a ruse.”

What Is President Trump most afraid of?

To continue reading up to 10 premium articles, you must register , or sign up and take advantage of this exclusive offer: Why does President Trump rush off weekend after weekend to his Mar-a-Lago palazzo in Florida? Because Mar-a-Lago is totally under his control. There he can play the prince, favoring a wedding party with a cameo or entertaining the Japanese prime minister in lavish Palm Beach style.

Today in History

On Feb. 16, 1862, the Civil War Battle of Fort Donelson in Tennessee ended as some 12,000 Confederate soldiers surrendered; Union Gen. Ulysses S. Grant’s victory earned him the moniker “Unconditional Surrender Grant.”

Western Mail letters: Tuesday, February 14, 2017

I WAS surprised that Carolyn Hitt, one of the nation’s liberal elite, allowed herself to be ambushed on social media by “a sad male keyboard warrior” . Given that the online world thrives on anonymity, is she sure he was actually male? As I understand it, women are often women’s greatest challenges.

Fearmongering fails to diminish free-market reforms

The political left’s preferred pattern is to consign conservatism to the wilderness with obituaries of its much-ballyhooed demise abounding, signaling: it’s time to bury all hope of returning to the constitutional republic our founders intended. When that doesn’t work – like when disruptors of the status quo took over the Kentucky House in November and began resurrecting ideas about returning this commonwealth to a free-market economy and the Constitution for which it stands – the preferred tactic of the left also resurrects: fearmongering.

The new civics course in schools: How to avoid fake news

This Feb. 6, 2017, screen shot shows a website that falsely implies that it is from ABC News. The site is actually an imposter pedaling stories that aren’t true and is an example North Carolina teacher Bill Ferriter gives to his students when teaching them to question whether a story could possibly be true and to look at web addresses and authors for hints that stories might be bogus.

Two Views: Grading Trump – Keeping promises, growing the economy

President Trump has hit the ground running since he was sworn in Jan. 20, and many have been shocked by the aggressive pace the new president has taken to deliver quickly on the promises he made during the campaign. And that’s primarily how our political leaders should be graded: whether they fulfill the promises they make to voters or not.

Enzi on being mayor, Part Two

When we embarked on our story on seven mayors who have served Gillette since 1975, we knew that trying to corner U.S. Sen. Mike Enzi would be difficult since he has much more important duties these days with a new president and confirmation hearings on top of an already packed schedule. But we lucked out.

Three weeks and counting down

My “good” prediction is based on the Law of the Pendulum. Enough Americans, including most independent voters, will be so ready to shed Donald Trump and his little shop of horrors that the 2018 midterm elections are all but certain to be a landslide – no make that a mudslide – sweep of the House and Senate.

Images of our community

Thursday Gov. Robert Bentley appointed Luther Strange, the Alabama attorney general, as Jeff Sessions’ replacement in the U.S. Senate. Sessions, a Republican senator from Mobile, was sworn in as U.S. attorney general on Thursday. Do you agree with Bentley’s selection of Strange?

Cheers and Jeers

Cheers to Gov. Tom Wolf for proposing an increase in Pennsylvania’s long-stagnant minimum wage from $7.25 to $12 per hour. It’s highly unlikely the Republican-controlled General Assembly will go that far, but perhaps the pressure of his proposal will impel legislators to grant a smaller increase in the ridiculously low wage standard, which has been in place for eight years.

Boise understands spirit of America; does Trump?

Memo to President Trump: You cannot fire federal judges or intimidate them with your tweets. They have lifetime appointments for a reason: so they can resist the pressures of politicians like you, bullies who think bluster and bravado will always get them what they want.