Well, let us thank God for all little favors. The Barack Obama week long circus at Denver is finally over and what did it prove? It proved that Obama is still an empty suit and no more qualified to be president of the USA than my German shepherd. He still offers only a glib tongue and an air of complete arrogance. Nothing he has shown makes him a qualified candidate. ...more

August 31, 2008

Dozens of energy companies bid Tuesday to explore nearly two million acres of the western Gulf of Mexico for oil and natural gas, but no offers were made for 90 percent of the acreage on the auction block. ...more

August 20, 2008

This month marks Social Security's 73rd birthday - placing it eight years past standard retirement age. But, despite the program's $10-trillion-plus dollar shortfall, no politician dares to suggest that this disastrous program be phased out and retired; all agree on one absolute: Social Security must be saved. While the program may have financial problems, virtually everyone believes that some form of mandatory government-run retirement program is morally necessary. ...more

August 18, 2008

President Pervez Musharraf fought back Friday against politicians who asserted he would resign rather than face impeachment charges, saying through his chief political supporter that he would challenge the charges when they were brought to the parliament. ...more

August 16, 2008

Mary J. Shields of New Port Richey proud of young people who vote. ...more

August 16, 2008

I was thinking about the effect of bias in thinking and decision making. It came up in the context of some people indicating they could not vote for Obama for president because he was black, no matter what; a predictable and unfortunate attitude with some in the American South. But it started me thinking about bias in general, where and how much weight it is given in all kinds of thinking, in the process of decision making. Firstly, I was concerned with whether it becomes a factor in evaluation, whether it is included, inappropriately, in a list of concerns which lead to a decision. That would be bad enough but what if it serves as a filter, to block the receipt of otherwise relevant information never let into the process of weighing facts and making choices on a rational basis? I was watching a TV show, book reviewing, and I decided I didn't like the necktie worn by the lecturer. It was a skimpy, pale, stripy bow tie, an utterly silly looking thing and as I looked at it, the words of the lecturer seemed to fade. Was this merely an absurd fashion bias on my part or perhaps my questioning why anyone would wear such a tie and whether the choice of wearing such a tie reflected on the quality of the judgment-making ability of the wearer, and shouldn't I take that into consideration in weighing, or even accepting the quality of his opinion, downgrade his believability or even reject everything he has to say out of hand because of his flawed judgment in necktie selection? ...more

August 11, 2008

Regarding "At Least Gore Offers A Plan" by Marsha Mercer (Other Views, Aug. 4): ...more

August 11, 2008

Wayne Dofflemyer of Bayonet Point says "nuclear" is the word some people are afraid to use in addressing America's energy future. ...more

August 2, 2008

Presidential candidate Barack Obama's Plant City stop this afternoon turned out to be at the popular tourist destination, Parkesdale Farm Market. He was accompanied by John Dicks, a Democratic congressional candidate and former mayor of Plant City. ...more

August 1, 2008

A Realtor running for county commission said he was "floored" when he learned he was not endorsed by the organization created to promote the local real estate industry. ...more

August 1, 2008