A financial panic, and four who resisted it
Congress failed to take the time to craft a smart response to the economic turbulence of recent weeks. For the most part, members of the House and Senate allowed themselves to be cajoled into doing "something" when they did not begin to understand what that something was, how it would work, or if it would do anything but redistribute hundreds of billions of American tax dollars upward to CEOs who are either incompetent or crooked -- or both. read story
Connie Schultz: 'Folksy' Palin's tactics are just ugly
Any person who runs for president risks his or her life to lead this country. There is a reason for the armored cars and the police dogs, the security sweeps and the armed sentries. Such caution is forged from some of the darkest moments in American history. No candidate is more aware of the dangers than Barack Obama, who was assigned Secret Service protection earlier than any presidential candidate in history. Racist threats of violence prompted his early security. read story
Amy Schalet: Dutch know how to deal with teen sex
Sarah Palin faced a variety of questions at last week's debate, but not the one I would have asked: "Should public school students be taught that contraception and condoms can prevent unintended pregnancy and disease?" read story
David Iglesias: Now it's a fact: Justice compromised
As one of the nine U.S. attorneys fired by the Bush administration in 2006, I have been carefully monitoring the train wreck that followed. I am not happy to see the enormous damage that has been done to the Department of Justice, a once-venerated institution. But I am pleased that the internal investigations, including the report released recently by the department, have fully vindicated what my colleagues and I have been saying for the last two years: Improper politicization has crippled the department, and the Bush administration's culture of partisanship-loyalty above all has done a terrible disservice to this country. read story
Amy Goodman: Third parties in debate would make for better TV and better democracy
The reviews are in, and the latest U.S. presidential debate, the "town hall" from Nashville, Tenn., was a snore. One problem is that in a debate, it is important for the debaters to actually disagree. Yet Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain substantively agree on many issues. That is one major reason that the debates should be open, and that major third-party or independent candidates should be included. read story
Andrew J. Bacevich: U.S. taking wrong road in Pakistan
President Bush will leave office without concluding either of the two wars he initiated after Sept. 11, 2001. Now he seems intent on expanding his "global war on terror" still farther. To the existing fronts in Afghanistan and Iraq, he is adding a third: Pakistan. read story
- Michael M. Miller: Bailout plan included historic moment for mental health parity
- Michael and Robert Meeropol: The essential lessons of the Rosenberg case
- David Mollenhoff: 12 reasons why we don't fix our lakes
- Sam Oliker-Friedland: Make absentee voting easier for all
- Sebastian Mallaby: Real root of crisis is flawed response to China
- Ed Garvey: Obey will shine light on bailout, economic injustice
- Roland S. Martin: Don't settle for mediocrity from candidates
- David McGrath: Don't be beguiled by Palin's image
- Bruce Ackerman: Abolish the vice presidency
- Lawrence J. Korb & Laura Conley: Bush's preventive war sets dangerous global precedent
- Sue Ellingson: Lakes need a comprehensive, well-publicized plan
- David Lutes: Baldwin deserves kudos for financial vote
- Arthur Carmen: McCain's health is critical issue
- James Evans: 'Drill now' chants won't solve energy crunch
- Michael Thomas: McCain, Palin sorry picks as candidates
- Sharon Sippy: Lawmakers get paid too much
- Norman Sannes: Part-time Legislature is way to go
- Nancy Langston: Palin has crossed line into demagoguery
- Louis Solomon: Many turned out against Alliant plant
- John Morgan: Perhaps next economic system will work for all
