Archive By Section - Columnists
Even comic books are caught in inflation trap -- Tyree
Publicity for upcoming movies starring Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and The Mighty Thor got me started thinking about the cover prices of the comic books from which such heroes sprang.
Ever bad dog will have his day -- Susan Brown
Dogs are interesting creatures. This morning while on a walk, one of my dogs broke away from our pack and into the yard of a dog obviously defending her boundaries. After a momentary altercation, tuck-tailed, my dog willingly rejoined our pack - ego broken but a bit wiser - because he not only learned his place, he discovered that sometimes a dog's bark is just as big as his bite. With the world's attention turned ...
Don't play around with a mad dog -- Reagan
Ronald Reagan called him the "Mad Dog of the Middle East" and treated him as such, launching a bombing raid against his compound that purportedly killed a member of his family and scared Moammar Gadhafi silly, reining him in for 20 long years.
No fuel like an old fuel -- Carr
The question of fuel has life or death implications for more and more people on a rapidly quickening time frame. Both sides of the old argument, which seemed to either stake claims on no nukes, no oil or drilling everywhere there's a hint of oil and planting a lot of nuclear plants, are no longer feasible.
Hope Hillary can get a word in --- Hamilton
HOLLYWOOD - God bless America, and how's everybody? Hillary Clinton returned Friday after a long week in Egypt and Tunisia, shoring up North Africa's new democracies. Next she briefs President Obama. She hopes she can be penciled into his schedule sometime between the Final Four and Masters Week at Augusta. Obama addressed the nation on Japan's nuclear disaster from the Rose Garden Thursday. He assured Japan we stand by them. He ordered a comprehensive review ...
We don't really want to cut spending -- Friedeman
During the 2008 presidential campaign, Phil Gramm, one of John McCain's chief economic advisers, made the statement that "we are a nation of whiners." He, of course, took a lot of flak for that and eventually backed down from his statement.
President? What president? -- Argus Hamilton
LA JOLLA - God bless America, and how's everybody? President Obama went on ESPN Wednesday and announced his NCAA tournament's Sweet Sixteen picks. He loves sports. The closest he came to mentioning Japan was when he predicted that the Albuquerque Isotopes will win the Pacific Coast League this summer. Japan's earthquake shut down Toyota's Prius plant in northeastern Japan last week until further notice. It hit Al Gore pretty hard. The Prius is so environmentally ...
Boehner -- Don't fall for this trap
House Speaker John Boehner is falling for a trap, hook, line and sinker - and the Republican presidential nominee will reap the results of Boehner's folly.
Lemonade, and smiles, like grandma made -- Funt
PHOENIX – This is not about politics or the economy, at least not directly. This is about Lemonade. "Lemonade, lemonade, like grandma made!" For 26 years, Derrick Moore has been selling drinks at sports venues across the West, but quenching thirst is only part of his mission. Moore is arguably the nation's top ballpark vendor of smiles. Fans attending games in Arizona, Southern California and Nevada – over 250 events each year – often can't ...
Obama gas promise came true -- Susan Stamper Brown
Poor Peggy Joseph. Overwhelmed by the promise of hope after hearing an Obama campaign speech, Joseph said, "I never thought this day would ever happen. I won't have worry about putting gas in my car. I won't have to worry about paying my mortgage. You know, if I help Obama, he's gonna help me." Peggy kept her part of the bargain, but looking at food and gas prices lately, the day Peggy never thought would ...
Money get tighter all over --- Hamilton
HOLLYWOOD - God bless America, and how's everybody? Long Island in New York joined Los Angeles and Hawaii as the first places with $4-a-gallon gas Tuesday. The subway saves you no money. The $300 a month you save on gasoline is replaced by the $300 a month you spend on pepper spray. California's San Onofre nuclear power plant was cited by anti-nuclear protesters for earthquake and radiation risks. The scare-mongering is over the top. People ...
Daylight Savings inconvenient nuisance -- Hamilton
HOLLYWOOD - God bless America, and how's everybody? Daylight Savings Time took effect Sunday, robbing people of one hour's sleep in exchange for an extra hour of sunlight. Chaos ensued. Millions of Californians forgot to set their clocks ahead and were late to the drugstore Sunday in the scramble for iodine tablets. President Obama prompted anger Saturday for playing a round of golf while Japan exploded and Libya imploded. What happens to these guys in ...
Irish are 'out' again -- Purcell
Well, this takes the Irish cake. The Irish "need not apply" in America all over again. Ireland, you see, is not doing so well. Prior to the global economic meltdown, its service industry soared as global companies took advantage of its well-educated, English-speaking citizens. Emboldened by its good fortune, the Irish government, and many of its citizens, carried on like Americans. They overborrowed and overspent. A housing bubble formed and burst spectacularly. Now Ireland's unemployment ...
NPR triggers terrorist alarm with 'fertilizer'
BEVERLY HILLS - God bless America, and how's everybody? NPR asked its audience to call Congress and fight GOP efforts to end federal funding Friday, saying NPR gets criticized as often for being too conservative as they get criticized for being too liberal. The phones rang off the hook. The FBI had just issued a warning asking Americans to watch out for anybody using fertilizer for anything besides lawn care. President Obama held a press ...
America is too much like Sheen -- Browns
Watching Charlie Sheen's outbursts is a great entertainment for Americans. Here is a guy who has it all, fame, fortune, a great career and it is all crashing in on him because of addiction. We all know that Charlie Sheen is one 911 call from the morgue. He has made the ambulance trip before, and he doesn't see it coming. Denial is a classic symptom of drug addiction. Here is Charlie in his own words ...
Articles by Section - Columnists
How Banning Three Useful Words Undermines Immigration Reform
On April 2, 2013, the Associated Press announced amendments to its style book, effectively banning the use of the word "illegal" to describe a person as in "an illegal immigrant." This announcement was followed by similar pronouncements from other news sources, including the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and the Denver Post.
More ‘flap’ over IRS audits
HOLLYWOOD - God bless America, and how's everybody?
Mister, Mister
Here's a little game I invented the other day after phoning the water company to complain about my bill and hearing an overly-chipper woman say, "Hi, Peter. How may I help you?"
Father’s Day: Can It Survive?
My son Gideon (age nine) assures me that he will be a good father someday, but will that be an empty accomplishment? In another 20 years or so will there even be a Father's Day?
How Darrell Issa Undermines the GOP’s IRS Issue
Quick: someone call a chiropractor for California Republican Rep. Darrell Issa. He's overreached so far his arm may separate from his shoulder. Even some key figures in his party are suggesting he needs an adjustment. F-a-s-t.
You’re being audited, no joke
HOLLYWOOD--God bless America, and how's everybody?
The Games Behind the Olympics Games
Washington, D.C., is in the grip of scandals, the economy is stumbling and a host of other challenges are weighing me down - which is why I prefer to dwell on more obscure subjects, such as a battle raging behind the scenes over the 2020 Olympics.
