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Former VP Joe Biden bizarrely suggested that Donald Trump was holding-up relief efforts to “put his signature on a physical check.” “No American should have to wait a single minute so Donald Trump can put his signature on a physical check,” said Biden. Former VP Joe Biden bizarrely suggested that Donald Trump was holding-up relief efforts to “put his signature on a physical check.” “No American should have to wait a single minute so Donald Trump can put his signature on a physical check,” said Biden. Someone really needs to let Joe Biden give this whole thing up already. He’s...

Hate the Electoral College? Act now to amend the United States Constitution. Instructions are simple. Article V of the Constitution explains, in only 143 words, how to change the parts of the document that brings you to so much pain. Here it is, in full: Article V The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part...

At first, I couldn’t understand how anyone could be undecided. The distinction between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton was so clear to me, the gap so wide. Much to my surprise, it was easy to find the Undecideds: people who had significant enough reservations about both candidates that they were searching for a sign, looking for more information, or just waiting it out until November. ++SNIP++ There was one moment when I saw more undecided voters shift to Trump than any other, when it all changed, when voters began to speak differently about their choice. It wasn’t FBI Director James...

Using locker room language in the presence of a hot mic is not the only situation with dire consequences. True story, vanity, but a worthy departure from protocol. Men's adult soccer teams arrived at an Indianapolis city park, gathering gear and taking the long walk across a sea of grass toward the fields when a good looking blonde woman in tight shorts and clinging top ambled out of the parking lot toward the bleachers. One of my soccer mates mentioned in the most innocent way, "Boy, I'd like to (have a passionate moment with) her." And then . . .

As a graduate of KU, imagine my dread when Obama picked the Jayhawks of The University of Kansas in his (ill-famed) NCAA bracket. Sigh. The curse, once applied took its toll last night when KU went down 59-64 to Villanova, albeit a great team, but aided by the less-than-golden touch of Obama. As an author, I have this recurring nightmare that one day he'll walk down the steps of Air Force One carrying one of my books in his hand, sending it directly from the publisher to the remainder table.Is there anything this man can't wrench into disaster?

The novel is Prison of the Soul about a teacher who gets fired from the public school system for manhandling a rape suspect on the campus, a kid he caught in the act. (Sound contemporary?) The only job he can get is teaching in a one-room school behind bars in the state's supermax for violent juvenile delinquents. More than the obvious hook, it's an exploration of that aspect of the human condition wherein we build our own prisons by self-imposed limitations and fears.

So I read Fifty Shades of Grey. This is the book written by female British author “E. L. James” that became a huge bestseller, devoured by pretty much every woman on Earth except my wife (or so she claims). I think I might be the only man who read this book. I did it sneakily, hiding the cover, especially when I was on an airplane, which actually is a good place to read this book because you have access to a barf bag.

At a time when many potential 2016 presidential contenders appear to be starting the ignition of their campaigns, Hillary Clinton has pressed the brake pedal. Or so it seems. Clinton’s calendar, which was jam-packed throughout most of last year with paid speeches, award ceremonies, fundraisers, book tour stops, campaign appearances and official Clinton Foundation business, is now virtually empty. (SNIP) At a time when many potential 2016 presidential contenders appear to be starting the ignition of their campaigns, Hillary Clinton has pressed the brake pedal. Or so it seems. Clinton’s calendar, which was jam-packed throughout most of last year with...

Who else is watching endangered incumbents campaign against Obama? Tester, after voting the Harry Reid/Obama line 90% of the time the last five years is seeking distance. I'm researching for an op-Ed piece about sinking ships, deserting rodents. Names and links to ads, if you please.

Linked from Real Clear Politics piece that says Obama's numbers are worse than Bush's at the same point in his presidency, but, from the poll intro . . . "Interviews with 1,136 adult Americans, including an oversample of African-Americans, conducted by telephone by Opinion Research Corporation on July 31-August 3, 2009." Why oversampling in that group? How much? And how bad are the numbers if the sampling is the normal 11%?

I cannot sit idly by in Atlanta and not be concerned about what happens in Birmingham. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial "outside agitator" idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider anywhere within its bounds.

That's the Obama enigma: boldness wrapped in caution rooted in an ambivalent relationship to the status quo. This is why Obama will, by turns, challenge not only his entrenched adversaries but also his natural allies.

I've written several books using Dragon NaturallySpeaking software and have pitched to my agent a book on how to write a novel using the software. It'd be useful to hear how others have fared. Any experiences with the software that would contradict my very good experience?

Jan. 9, 2009 | If Al Franken were not a longtime public figure -- and thus severely handicapped by American jurisprudence -- he could file a powerful complaint for libel or slander against several of the most prominent wingnuts in the United States. From Rush Limbaugh to Bill O'Reilly to Richard Mellon Scaife, a chorus of familiar voices is loudly defaming the Democrat whose razor-thin win in the Minnesota Senate race will now be tested in that state's courts. Ever since Election Day, on radio and television, on the Internet and in print, they've screamed that Franken is stealing, rigging,...

Funny (in a pathetic way) how Ann's book is being reviewed by the hate-spammers on A.com, who haven't read it. Or haven't seen her lately, either, since a few of them think she still has her jaw wired shut. By the pattern of reviews, it's clear that reviewers either love or hate her, with most reviews falling on the extremes of the spectrum, either 1-star or 5-star. And the reviews and discussion threads read like FR. Except. Those who hate tend toward the highly intellectual insights such as . . . "I am no Liberal, but ann is an A...

"McCain is a classy man. He pulled it off with elegance and wit, without coming off as petulent or condescending. It is so refreshing to hear a politician admit "I screwed up." My heart skipped a beat at that moment. I have to admit that I was starting to have doubts about McCain and was leaning towards Obama. But when McCain grabbed that microphone from that anti-Obama woman and defended Obama while his own audience booed him, I began to understand why McCain is such a remarkable and very non-Washington kind of guy. And his appearance on Letterman, and remaining...

"The pattern of funneling money to political allies and their allies is evident throughout Obama’s tenure at the Woods Fund. Tens and tens of thousands of dollars were granted to organizations including the Brighton Park Neighborhood Council, Business and Professional People for the Public Interest (BPPPI), the Center for Neighborhood Technology, Centers for New Horizons, the Chicago Jobs Council, the Chicago Education Fund, the Chicago Institute on Urban Poverty, the Chicago Urban League, The Gamaliel Foundation. Dozens of the board members and officials from these organizations in turn would donate money, in many instances up to the legal limit, for...

Where's the paper trail on this guy Obama's writing? I've published a dozen novels and half a dozen nonfiction books and edited newspapers and magazines (I'm not a real journalist, honest. I used to be that way, but I'm just a fella now). Done some ghosting and teaching of writing, too. Nobody, but nobody publishes a polished memoir, let alone two (and forget that it's by the age 47 at that), until there's been a few signs of brilliance earlier. Where's the early signs of writing genius? The college literary magazine? Freelance pieces? Poetry? Fiction? Works that didn't sell so...

Map of the US after the 2004 presidential election shows where the winning votes have to come from. Victory comes from counties and small towns. McCain and Palin have to carry them all plus enough from the cities to reach the tipping point. THAT is why Palin's small-town roots are spot-on. Sorry, no USA Today link accepted but maybe below will help. Prepare to see red. http://www.usatoday.com/news/politicselections/vote2004/countymap.htm

Our call for "community organizer" jokes brought some amusing ones: • Nelles Hamilton: What's the difference between a "community organizer" and a pit bull? Teeth. • Dagny Billings: What's the difference between a "community organizer" and a seeing-eye dog? Even a blind man can see the dog is actually helping someone. • Michael Roberson: What's the difference between a "community organizer" and a Chihuahua? The Chuhuahua will eventually shut up. • Bob Vorick: What's the difference between a "community organizer" and a puppy? One will grow up to become a loyal servant of mankind. • O. Nara: What's the difference...