Now, THIS is “Must-See TV.”I mean, I had no intention of watching CBS’ Ronald Reagan miniseries. But given the furor raised by the Republican Party and assorted conservative pundits over what they perceive as a hatchet job on the former president, I don’t see how I can afford to miss it.Last week, CBS gave in […]

Maine has 124 schools that have been identified as sub-par according to standards created in 2001 by federal education reform.Commonly called the No Child Left Behind Act, the federal law tries to raise achievement levels in public schools and hold school districts accountable if they are unsuccessful.Parents whose children attend schools on the blacklist shouldn’t […]

Where’s Charlton Heston when you need him? All across America, 12-year-old boys should be grasping their toy chests and vowing, in the words of the former National Rifle Association president, “From my cold, dead hands.”The recent scare caused by a toy gun that closed down a congressional building has prompted Brooklyn Democratic Congressman Ed Towns […]

With the shadows of World War II and the Korean War still lingering on the national landscape, Congress in 1954 transformed what had been Armistice Day into a national holiday to honor all veterans.Intended to mark the end of World War I and honor the soldiers who had served during that conflict, Armistice Day was […]

Democrats are in a tizzy over news that the economy grew 7.2 percent in the last quarter, the fastest such growth since 1984. “Oh no!” was their secret, instant cry. “Does this mean we can’t blast Bush on the economy anymore – and if so, what does that do to our prospects in 2004?”Let’s stipulate […]

Long on ideas but short on specifics, President Bush’s speech Thursday about democracy marked an important shift in rhetoric, if not in actual policy.Speaking to the National Endowment for Democracy, the president called on Middle East allies and foes alike to embrace democratic rule, saying Islam and self-governance can successfully co-exist.With support for the invasion […]

The slot machine story line is already changing.When supporters of Question 2 visited the Sun Journal, they made it clear that one of the things voters liked about the initiative was that it could be altered, unlike the proposal for the casino. They also said they would be willing to go before the Legislature to […]

Everything I know about diversity, I learned from Captain Kirk. Well, that’s not quite true. There’s also Captain Picard.My point is that I’ve always taken what might be called the “Star Trek” approach to multiculturalism. It says in a nutshell that you should, whenever possible, avoid judging a foreign culture by the standards of your […]

Bangor Daily News, Oct. 31The need for a fresh look at the way sports are played in Maine high schools and middle schools should be raised delicately. Without a few specific examples of boorish behavior by athletes or parents pointing to a reason for such an examination, many people associated with sports … would feel […]

CBS called the decision to cancel its mini-series “The Reagans” a “moral call.”Whether it was an act of political expedience or cowardice, we can’t say. But it was certainly not “moral.”The decision to transfer the movie to pay cable channel Showtime was forced by enormous pressure brought to bear by Republicans and other conservative groups. […]