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Right Angles and Other Obstinate Truths by Michael Bates Category: Non-fiction / Politics 165 pages; ISBN: 0-595-32048-1 Rating: 6/10 Right Angles and Other Obstinate Truths is a collection of short essays taken from the author's regular column in the Chicago Reporters Newspapers. These outspoken, opinionated commentaries are divided into seven sections containing the topics Boomers; Government; Pets and other critters; Heroes and villains; Political correctness and other nonsense; Society; and Personal. The majority of essays in this book are extremely politically charged. The stories within these topics range from personal experience that the author shares through general comments on past...

Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) is worrying more these days. Understandably. Even in a field of remarkably lackluster candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination, he finds himself falling behind. Wesley "I have more waffles than IHOP" Clark is ahead of him in recent polls. Even Dr. Dean, he of the grim intensity that borders on creepy, is running even with the party’s 2000 vice presidential nominee. The contenders, like contenders of all parties for all races, claim they have new visions, new ideas, and new paradigms. They’ve got fresh, innovative answers for today’s problems. But desperate times call for desperate measures....

Steve Chapman asserts that conservatives applied a different standard to the loutish behavior of Arnold Schwarzenegger than they did to Bill Clinton. They should. The situations are different: - Schwarzenegger isn't the president of the U.S. - Schwarzenegger didn't lie under oath. - Schwarzenegger hasn't been fined $90,000 for obstructing justice. - Schwarzenegger has not paid $850,000 to settle a sexual harassment lawsuit.

Senator Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) is worrying more these days. Understandably. Even in a field of remarkably lackluster candidates for the Democratic presidential nomination, he finds himself falling behind. Wesley "I have more waffles than IHOP" Clark is ahead of him in recent polls. Even Dr. Dean, he of the grim intensity that borders on creepy, is running even with the party’s 2000 vice presidential nominee. The contenders, like contenders of all parties for all races, claim they have new visions, new ideas, and new paradigms. They’ve got fresh, innovative answers for today’s problems. But desperate times call for desperate measures....

It was bound to happen. The only surprise was the ferocity with which Arnold Schwarzenegger was attacked, particularly by the Los Angeles Times, in the closing days of his bid to become California’s governor. The Hitler smear was fun, but didn’t stick. The other stuff did, mainly because there was a solid basis to it. Perhaps it would have been less confusing to just start publishing the names of women who didn’t claim to have been groped. It appears Arnold carried that infamous rowdy movie set atmosphere around with him everywhere he’s been for decades. I feel sorry for his...

Regular readers may have noticed that, perhaps on an occasion or two, I’ve mentioned my lack of esteem for the Family Clinton. The popular appellation "trailer park trash" would appear to be too charitable. Having said that, I must admit that there’s at least one area, other than unashamed deception and perjury, in which the Clintons excel. That is self-promotion. New York’s junior senator has issued (written may not be the accurate word) a book about her trials and tribulations at the hands of the vast right wing conspiracy. Make that network. You may have heard about her tome. Not...