Rights and Democracy
Perry Hams It Up
Lawyers will tell you that any good prosecutor could convince a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich. Well, meet that ham sandwich: Governor Rick Perry. He's a real ham — only not as smart. A Texas grand jury indicted Perry, charging the Republican with official abuse...
As Mississippi Moves on, a New Struggle Arises
Fifty years ago, shortly after the Ku Klux Klan abducted and murdered civil rights workers Michael Schwerner, James Chaney, and Andrew Goodman, I was sitting in one of Starkville, Mississippi's few black-owned cafes when Police Chief Thomas Josey stormed in and...
Port Truck Drivers Draw a Line in the Sand
Imagine your boss suddenly told you that from now on you were going to be considered an independent contractor. You'd have to pay for your office space, supplies, and equipment. Your employer would deduct those expenses from your paycheck. And you'd have to pay all...
A Ticket to Sarah Palin’s Funhouse
I figured the Texas lineup of Sen. Ted Cruz, Gov. Rick Perry, and a carnival sideshow of far-right Congress critters assured my state the glory of being the hands-down winner of the 2014 blue-ribbon prize for "Goofiest Politicos in America." But now, a former winner...
John Boehner’s Kabuki Dance
If John Boehner is so worried about the president's executive orders, why didn't he sue George W. Bush? What a hoot to see House Speaker John Boehner up on his hind legs, braying like a goofy mule as he declares that by golly he's filing a lawsuit against President...
Donald Kaul Watergate Sampler Plate (Part 2)
Many of OtherWords columnist Donald Kaul's most memorable and insightful commentaries skewered the Watergate scandal and its architects. Kaul, a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, remains on medical leave after writing a weekly column for this editorial service for...
Donald Kaul Watergate Sampler Plate (Part 1)
Many of OtherWords columnist Donald Kaul's most memorable and insightful commentaries skewered the Watergate scandal and its architects. Kaul, a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, remains on medical leave after writing a weekly column for this editorial service for...
The Other Immigrant Youth Crisis
Senator Ted Cruz says that eradicating an executive decision he blames for creating the humanitarian crisis on the border is his top priority. And lots of conservative members of the GOP are on board with the Texas Republican's demand. They argue that President Barack...
Getting Real about Rape
Hallelujah. Lawmakers are finally doing something productive about rape on college campuses. A group of eight senators has just proposed the Campus Accountability and Safety Act, which would ensure harsher penalties for colleges that aren't reporting on-campus sexual...
Impeachment? Who Said Anything about Impeachment?
Surely you thought that partisan posturing by far-right Congress critters couldn't get any nuttier. But here comes the GOP's claim that all the talk about impeaching President Barack Obama is being led by…Barack Obama! Having discovered that the larger public is...
