Archive By Section - Columns
Obama bounces back
At this midpoint of his first term, it is too early to say what President Barack Obama's legacy will be. We don't even know whether he will get a second term. But we're beginning to see more clearly the outlines of what that legacy might be: In a contentious age of left-versus-right, he's a center-left pragmatist -- and he's beginning to make it pay off.
Parenting: to push or not to push
WASHINGTON -- I come from a family where the "joke," if you came home with a 97 on a math test, was to ask what happened to the other three points. The punch line, if you scored 100, was to ask whether there was any extra credit.
The outrage industry
NEW YORK -- As a longtime champion of greater civility in public discourse and one who has led the charge for dialed-back rhetoric, may I respectfully take most of it back?
Speaking of inspiration
What inspires you? It's an important question -- one that can tell you a lot about yourself.
Reliving old college jazz radio days
I recently posted a blog entry in the C-I website's Community section about the music I was listening to during the winter season. I followed that up with a "Note" connected to my personal Facebook page about music from the 1980s I've downloaded to or copied from my collection in recent years.
TRAC report sidelined
With the passage of Act 81 of 2009, the General Assembly took an important step to confront the antiquated and faulty tax structure that has been cobbled together over the decades, and that is now breaking down in the modern economy. The legislature created the South Carolina Taxation Realignment Commission to conduct a "thorough assessment of the State's current tax structure to determine its 'adequacy, fairness, and efficiency' and to ensure that our State ...
Muslim 'Cosby Show'? Couldn't hurt
CBS anchor Katie Couric startled some listeners when she suggested a Muslim "Cosby Show," but the idea has merit. It's hard for us to be afraid of the people we see on TV sitcoms every week.
Successful 2010 sets Camden on track to bright future
As we move into a new year, I'm proud to reflect back on 2010 as a successful year for the City of Camden despite great and obvious challenges.
Let's carry the dream and make it real
I've never been forced to sit in the back of the bus. I've never been drafted into the military to serve in a war on behalf of my country, only to return home and be denied basic human rights and opportunities in my own hometown. I've never been ridiculed and humiliated on a daily basis, for no reason other than the fact that my skin color is brown. But not too ...
To fight future Glock shock
We tend to respond in one of two ways to the news that a deranged gunman has fatally shot a group of people with an extraordinarily lethal weapon. Some people are simply horrified. Others wonder where they can buy one, too.
From Russia with envy
NEW YORK -- It is bracing, not to mention annoying, laughable and obnoxious, to hear a White House press secretary lectured by a Russian journalist about the parameters of free expression American-style.
Words that don't heal
WASHINGTON -- Sarah Palin feels victimized by critics who accuse her of helping create an angry political climate that led to the Tucson shootings, and she has a point. She chose a truly unfortunate way to make it, using the phrase "blood libel."
Taking a look back
I became somewhat nostalgic two weekends back. No, I wasn't flipping through photos of past loves or my travels in Europe. Or hitting up the Five Points bars stockpiled with sorority gals.
Tucson rampage wasn't about politics
The shooting in Tucson, Ariz., that killed six people, including a federal judge, and put many in the hospital, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, is a tragedy.
What's so bad about civility?
Just as it sometimes takes a scandal to engage Americans in a national conversation about sex, race or some other touchy topic, it sadly has taken a deranged gunman to launch us into a national argument about civility.
Articles by Section - Columns
Noted and passed
** A new Gallup poll indicates that Americans rank the performance of Congress at the lowest level since polling on the subject began. Only 10 percent of citizens say they have confidence in Congress, with no discernible difference among those who call themselves Democrats and those who say they're Republicans. Congress rates last on a list of 16 institutions, with the American military ranking first. The Gallup organization has been asking opinions of Congress ...
Crisis of faith in government
WASHINGTON -- It is reassuring that in the midst of so much government dysfunction, the IRS has resolved the question of when and whether to tax tanning beds under the Affordable Care Act. Do not be concerned about that giddiness you feel. You are not having a nervous breakdown but are suffering a symptom commonly associated with recognition that the absurd has become the accepted norm -- and that you are, in fact, alone. ...
KCSD has had a one terrific school year
The end of the school is a veritable kaleidoscope of activities and excitement, with happiness and even a little relief thrown in for good measure. For me, it's also a time to reflect on the school district's many accomplishments over the past year. To say the least, it's been one terrific year! This month, I wanted to review just a few of the many highlights of 2012-13:
Game of Thrones is good, but tough TV
Back in March 2012, I wrote about my newfound love of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series. I mentioned -- almost as a side note -- the brilliant HBO television series based on the books (and named after the first novel) Game of Thrones.
Game of Thrones is good, but tough TV
Back in March 2012, I wrote about my newfound love of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series. I mentioned -- almost as a side note -- the brilliant HBO television series based on the books (and named after the first novel) Game of Thrones.
Welcome to the good life
Were talking coffee and burgers today, folks.
Secrecy scandal? Not so much
When is a scandal not really a scandal? Many are shocked to hear that the government, in its pursuit of terrorists as relentlessly as Wile E. Coyote chases the Road Runner, is massively snooping into our phone records and popular social networks without search warrants.
Addressing the marriage question
I think it's safe to say that I've definitely reached the age where people often feel the need to ask the "marriage question." And by that, I mean frequent inquiries about to whom and when I'm getting married, why I'm not attached at the moment, etc., etc., etc. Which is fine. I don't mind answering that I'm not seeing anyone serious at the moment or that I'm not ready ...
Ideas always welcome here
For the past couple of years, Kimbrell's has been considering closing its Camden furniture store due to the declining downtown foot traffic. Recently, the CEO of Kimbrell's met with Camden officials and, upon hearing of our plans to revitalize Camden, committed to renovate the interior and exterior of their store at the corner of Broad and Rutledge. For those who want to see the eventual results of the ongoing renovation, check out Kimbrell's in ...
Tweaking real life
NEW YORK -- It was never quite clear what feminizing the workplace would mean when women en masse invaded corporate America a generation ago.
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