Democrats have been trying hard in recent years to squeeze God into their politics, perceiving that Republicans have an edge on invoking the Creator to bless their policies. Democrats worry they suffer from a “God gap.”Bill Clinton and Al Gore, with their Southern Baptist backgrounds, were fluent in the language of religion, though not always […]

Drivers need to understand the mistakes that can cause highway collisions. Our friends, families and neighbors are being slaughtered on the highways. In 2002 alone, 42,815 men, women and children died in traffic accidents. Of these horrific numbers, 4,897 persons died in car-truck crashes. Although this is the fifth consecutive year for decreases in both […]

The federal government plans to ban the dietary supplement ephedra. It’s a good move.Ephedra has been blamed for several high-profile deaths caused by strokes and heart failure. It is available over the counter and included as an ingredient in some weight loss drugs. Athletes sometimes use the substance to enhance their performance or training, a […]

AUSTIN, Texas – Vice President Cheney’s Christmas card this year not only offers best wishes for the holiday season but also bears the following quotation from Benjamin Franklin at the Constitutional Convention: “And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire can rise without His aid?” […]

Starting Thursday, Maine’s bars will be smoke-free.The ban actually begins after midnight tonight, but the state will give New Year’s revelers one last puff before it begins enforcing the new regulations.No doubt, for some smokers, it will be a difficult transition. One more haven for their habit will be eliminated. But for the population as […]

For Most Important Book of the Year, I nominate the “Arab Human Development Report 2003” issued by the U.N. Development Program.Written by a group of 26 Arab scholars, this volume takes a candid look at why Arab countries have fallen so far behind in key areas of human development. This question is crucial, at a […]

So much for once bitten, twice shy. The Bush White House floated an amnesty proposal for illegal immigrants in the summer of 2001, roiling its political base among conservatives and getting nowhere before the Sept. 11 attacks buried the idea. Now, the White House is back again, considering another amnesty proposal that is likely only […]

Maine businessman Jack Jensen has put together a deal that will protect 240 jobs in Lewiston. That’s great news during a time when, despite signs of economic recovery, unemployment and underemployment remain huge problems.Jensen will become the majority owner of Lewiston-based Philips Elmet, which will be renamed Elmet Technologies Inc. The company makes a variety […]

A report released last week makes several recommendations on how to keep Maine’s young adults from leaving the state.Compiled by a task force created by Senate President Beverly Daggett and House Speaker Patrick Colwell, the report argues for creating cooperation between education and economic development policies, a marketing campaign that highlights what’s good about the […]

A Christmas gift from the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office in the form of a report entitled, “The Long-Term Budget Outlook,” offers a depressing reminder of how deep our fiscal crisis will be when the baby boomers start to retire in a few years – and how both President Bush and his potential Democratic foes are […]