Monthly Archives: October 2012
Money talks … loudly
The term “Citizens United” means one of two things, depending on your political persuasion or point of view. It either symbolizes the unfettered expression of free speech or it is the symbol of crass political corruption. The landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision, which has come to be known simply as Citizens United, has unleashed a tidal […]
Hear young people’s voices
Do you think young people are disengaged from the American political system or the nation’s form of government? Do you bemoan a lack of civic awareness among our young folks? Are you worried about the nation’s future as it hands the important issues of the day off to those who are coming of age? All those […]
‘Overheard’ talks about LBJ
Was there ever a political figure who fit the description of “larger than life” better than Lyndon Baines Johnson? The director of the Lyndon Johnson Library and Museum, Mark Updegrove, in Austin talks with Texas Tribune editor in chief Evan Smith about the man whose life story he administers. “Overheard With Evan Smith” can be heard on […]
Now it’s a sprint to the finish
The debate series between Democratic President Barack Obama and former Republican Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is in the books. The foreign policy discussion — laced with some talking points from both men about domestic economic policy — was spirited and at times a bit confrontational. Now it’s time to weigh in. I hereby extend this invitation […]
Next up: foreign policy
The Barack Obama-Mitt Romney trilogy comes to an end tonight as the two contenders for the presidency of the United States square off in their third debate. Foreign policy is tonight’s topic. The candidates — Obama, the Democratic incumbent and Romney, the Republican challenger — discussed domestic policy in their first debate and covered a wide […]
Recalling world’s most dangerous moment
Conjure up memories of the Cold War. Those of us who are old enough to remember that time remember a sort of simpler time, with clearly defined and identifiable adversaries. The United States and the Soviet Union stared each other down across an ideological divide. An upcoming PBS special, “The Cuban Missile Crisis: Three Men […]
“Why did they stay?”
Occasionally, a story occurs in the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles that becomes a national story. Such was the case about eight decades ago when the dust blew … and blew … and blew. It was the Dust Bowl. Livelihoods were lost. Indeed, so were lives. One man, a native of the Pacific Northwest — a region […]
Who won … and why?
Let’s talk among ourselves. President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney — the Democratic and Republican nominees, respectively, for the highest office in the land — went after each other Tuesday night in their second debate of this campaign season. They have one more joint appearance scheduled, in Boca Raton, Fla, next Tuesday. But […]
Get ready for Round Two
You’ve heard all the commentary about Round One of the Barack Obama-Mitt Romney presidential campaign. Well, the bell is about to ring for Round Two. The two men will square off once again, this time at Hofstra University in Hempstead, N.Y., for a 90-minute match. The format will be different than the first go-round. It’s […]
No. 2s take center stage
Tonight it’s the vice-presidential candidates’ turn to argue in front of millions of their best friends and foes. Democratic Vice President Joe Biden squares off against Republican VP nominee Paul Ryan in a televised debate staged in Danville, Ky. The stakes for this are considerably greater than your average vice-presidential debate. Why? Pundits say Biden […]
A Public View 