You’d think there’d have been more laughs. Hard-fought political campaigns drenched in sweat and tears usually produce moments of levity. But Americans seem to have lost their sense of humor, becoming late-night angry, frustrated and sick with anxiety. Mark Twain said: “The secret source of Humor itself is not joy but sorrow. There is no […]
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Iraqis discover more ISIS war crimes
At one time ISIS made videos extolling its grotesque executions. ISIS commanders used these YouTube horrors as recruiting advertisements. In their sick minds, the executions demonstrated that ISIS had God’s divine sanction. YouTube still runs clips from these videos. Each one documents premeditated crime, like the one where masked ISIS executioners march Christian men to […]
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A moment needed for deep reflection
Following Watergate, Gerald Ford took the oath of office and stated, “Our long national nightmare is over.” The intolerably lengthy election season has now ended, and we must reflect on another presidential campaign beset at all times by acrimony, hostility, pettiness and an elevation of made-for-television scandal over sober discussion of how officials can make […]
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Americans ready to go in a different direction
As a former “Never Trump-er,” I have been interested in others who have converted, however reluctantly, if not into Trump supporters, then pragmatic accepters of Donald Trump. Call us ever-Trump-ers. Another such convert is Joel C. Rosenberg, the mystery writer who once worked for the late Rep. Jack Kemp, R-N.Y., and former Secretary of Education […]
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The real national embarrassment
WASHINGTON — The race for president is over; however, the 2016 campaign for the White House will undoubtedly be remembered for its vulgarity, mean-spiritedness and mendacity. It has been a national embarrassment. But a parallel failing is less noticed: the unwillingness of both candidates — Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump — to come to grips […]
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Open season on James Comey
James Comey surely had no idea what he was in for. The FBI director knew that his decision to notify Congress of the reopening of the Clinton email investigation would cause a firestorm. But even he must be taken aback by the tsunami of obloquy that reaches all the way up to the president of […]
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Violence featured in previous elections
The 2016 American presidential campaign has renewed concerns about the specter of violence in American electoral politics. The campaign has been marked by tense — and occasionally violent — altercations between supporters and critics of Republican nominee Donald Trump. Trump encouraged his supporters to “knock the crap” out of protesters, and even suggested he would […]
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Column: Pain is a reality in real time
And, as journalists we see and hear awful things. Not every day, but enough that the sadness stays with us. Thursday was one of those days. Just after 7 a.m. a young teen was struck and killed while crossing Main Street in Lewiston. And, in what is a somber task here, Chief Photographer Russ Dillingham […]
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Trump’s views clearly show he is a danger to democracy
NEW YORK — Over the course of this campaign, I have heard from many people who have cheered my opposition to Donald Trump. But there are others who have objected, arguing that I was being biased, that Hillary Clinton had many flaws as well. So let me try to explain, one last time, why Donald […]
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The speech I wish Trump would make
If Donald Trump wants to win this election and thwart the attempt by the corrupt Clintons to acquire the White House again, he must close the deal with persuadable voters in a nationally televised address. Here is how it might go. My fellow Americans, running for president of this country I love and that has […]