HONOLULU – Washington’s strategy of applying international pressure to further isolate North Korea appears to be working, thanks to one country in particular.Although Beijing is finally willing to get tough with Pyongyang, and was most helpful as host for the trilateral talks in April that put senior U.S. and North Korean at the same table […]

“I’m good enough. I’m smart enough, and doggonit, people like me.” That was Al Gore, in mock (or maybe not so mock) therapy on “Saturday Night Live” with a 12-step guru played by comedian Al Franken.Who knew then that his recaptured confidence would one day make him a network television chief wannabe. He’s trying to […]

The Supreme Court has published one of those decisions we’re glad about, but that ultimately drives another nail into the Constitution’s coffin.The nine nawabs decided Congress can force public libraries to install anti-porn software on library computers to protect our little ones from smut.Nothing wrong with stamping out porn, but those of us concerned about […]

Had the Bush tax cut plan been in place in 2000, the 400 wealthiest taxpayers – on average – would have each saved $8.3 million.Americans in the lowest 50 percent earning bracket would have saved an average of $19 apiece.The plan is in place now and the numbers may be a little different, but the […]

JERUSALEM – No sooner did President Bush launch a new “road map” for Mideast peace than there ensued one of the bloodiest weeks of Palestinian-Israeli violence in the past three years.So has the road map already reached a dead end? Should the administration exit this risky highway ASAP?No way. The president has staked his credibility […]

Breath offresh airin MaineWe can truly wish each other a healthy and happy new year in 2004 because, starting next year, public gathering places will be smoke-free.On Tuesday, Gov. John Baldacci signed into law a measure to make all bars, lounges, pool halls and some off-track betting facilities smoke-free. The law, which acknowledges that smoking […]

AUSTIN, Texas – To favor or not to favor the Medicare Prescription Drug Bill?Theoretically, everybody’s in favor of a plan to help senior citizens with prescription drug costs. Everyone agrees it’s awful – the question is whether the bills currently in the House and Senate are actually an improvement.Those of you who make up your […]

Extra marksfor diversityMonday’s middle-of-the-road decision by the U.S. Supreme Court approving affirmative action but not point systems used to achieve racial diversity probably won’t change college admissions procedures one whit. “Point” systems will just be called something else.Colleges – public and private -must employ some measure to implement affirmative action. Some, like the University of […]

While you’ve been worrying about Iraq, Jayson (and Tony) Blair, Sammy Sosa, Martha Stewart and such, scientists – well, a few of them, anyway – have been studying “dark matter.”When astronomers gaze out into the cosmos, they don’t see a lot of stuff they’re sure is out there. In fact, they have estimated that only […]

A 13-year-old girl was jumped in Cleveland last month. This week, charges were filed against her alleged assailants – all 18 of them.According to authorities quoted in the Cleveland Plain-Dealer, the girl’s heritage was the catalyst for the beating. She’s white and, apparently, some kids in Cleveland have a bizarre tradition that May 1st is […]