Archive By Section - Columnists
Kevin Bayona: Obama’s test will be in diplomacy
The election is finally over, and Barack Obama has been re-elected to another term in the White House. The president will face many challenges, but none will be more important than how America's foreign policy unfolds over the next four years.
Dick Ramirez: The chains are coming off
It's being reported that Grover Norquist's anti-taxing and anti-spending contract of coercion directed toward our political system is crumbling.
Saad Karamat: Focus on Muslim humanity
Four California Muslims ages 21-35 have been arrested on account of their plans to join the Taliban and kill Americans. These arrests come as a big hit to me as a 23-year-old California Muslim.
Jim Mullen: Some years, you just want to stay home
Almost everyone we know has packed up and gone south for the winter. The ones who haven't left yet will be gone soon. Our friends who live south of us are leaving to go even farther south. I have never been to Belize or Costa Rica or the Cayman Islands, but I constantly hear people say they are going back for the fourth or fifth time because they liked it so much. They also have much more money and time.
Brian Springer: Community makes a life wonderful
"It's a Wonderful Life" has always been one of my favorite movies, and the older I get, the more I can relate to its life lessons and subtextual meanings.
Jan Ting: Fear not the fiscal cliff
The so-called "fiscal cliff" is the confluence of three separate legal events on Jan. 1, 2013: expiration of a temporary payroll tax cut, expiration of the so-called "Bush" income and estate tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003, and mandatory spending cuts also known as "sequestration." Many commentators are expressing concern that unless Congress intervenes by Jan. 1, the economy will suffer a serious setback. But I don't think that's the worst thing that could ...
Danny Tyree: Philanthropy adapts, is entering the 21st century
Just as Black Friday kicks off the holiday shopping season for brick-and-mortar retailers and Cyber Monday launches the online shopping season, we now have #GivingTuesday (the day after Cyber Monday) as a starting point for charitable acts by individuals, groups and companies.
Nat Hentoff: US needs second Declaration of Independence
My spirits were temporarily lifted when, last week, the Washington, D.C.-based Daily Caller website reported "more than 675,000 digital signatures appeared on 69 separate secession petitions covering all 50 states, according to ... requests lodged with the White House's 'We the People' online petition system" ("White House 'secede' petitions reach 675,000 signatures, 50-state participation," David Martosko, dailycaller.com, Nov. 14). Moreover, in various parts of the country, citizens infuriated for various reasons by the re-election of ...
Kathryn Lopez: This holiday season, avoid being materialistic
For as long as I can remember, I've always thought about waking up obscenely early the morning after Thanksgiving, to check out the goings-on at the toy or department store. Not because I wanted to shop, but to visit the safari - it's always struck me as quite the exotic mystery, why anyone would want to walk away from a calm morning with family or friends to fight for a parking spot. Of course, now ...
Michael Reagan: It’s time for the GOP to reach out to others
Forget Republican comebacks in 2014 or 2016. Unless it gets its head and its heart straight, the party might never win the popular vote or the White House again. The GOP today is not my father's party. And until the hierarchy of the GOP stops talking about how great Ronald Reagan was and starts embracing what he really stood for, the party of conservatism is destined for the ash heap of history. Ronald Reagan was ...
Steve Lunetta: Renovation reveals new tax rip-offs
Our money pit known as the Meadview house is coming along nicely. For those of you who are unaware, Trish and I bought a fixer-upper disaster in Placerita Canyon last year. Every spare dime has been going into renovations. And aspirin to relieve my headaches. Living in a fixer-upper is certainly a challenge. There is always a project going on with the accompanying dust, mess and commotion. Everything is higgledy-piggledy. And for a neat freak ...
David Hegg: We all win when we partner to solve a problem
There seems to be too much "either-or" thinking today. It happens in marriages, in friendships and in politics. "Either-or thinking" is what I call it when two people or groups have opposing ideas and are on the road to an all out fight over which idea will prevail. The byproduct of such sentiment is competition that usually devolves into hyperbole, cynicism, personal attacks and fractured relationships.
Tim Myers: Council hesitant on speech issues
Why do "The Jersey Shore" and "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" command (relatively) large audiences?
Frank Ferry: Celebrate holidays in Old Town Newhall
The holidays are here and a host of festive opportunities perfectly suited to the season are available in Old Town Newhall.
Betty Arenson: With job title comes responsibility
Democrats prevailed on Nov. 6 and you won't forget that. The media dishes daily doses from all sorts of pundits and yahoos spewing their claptraps on how Republicans were and are wrong. As is typical of Democrats getting the job, they reject the responsibility that goes with it. The media supports the duplicity on every level.
Articles by Section - Columnists
Scott Wilk: Teacher firing reform needed
As a father of two, I believe no one - particularly a child - should live in fear in his or her school or neighborhood. So one of my top priorities as your assemblyman is public safety.
Joe Gandelman: Sample some popular political whines
The phone rings in a big warehouse in Oriskiny Falls, N.Y.
Jason Stanford: Turning Texas into a battleground state
Those of us who worked for the late Ann Richards used to run our plans by her. The former Texas governor did not suffer fools, gladly or otherwise, and if your plan had flaws, she'd let you know in great detail.
Michael Stafford: The Cult of Self
According to the Bible, the ancient Israelites strayed from worship of God into idolatry. Today, America has done the same - except rather than placing a golden calf upon an altar, we have erected a mirror.
Will Durst: The GOP autopsy
Normally you don't expect to see the words "Republicans" and "introspection" right next to each other. Like "supermodel" and "barbecue." "Physicist" and "polka." "Gazelle" and "ophthalmology." You catch my drift.
Jim Mullen: The Museum of Modern Body Art
I was at a doctor's office in a small town recently and overheard one patient in the waiting room talking to another.
Gary Horton: Jesus isn't a Republican or Democrat
Recently, this esteemed journal has spilled much ink debating the withers and thithers as to whether Jesus, should he ever choose to reincarnate himself as an American, would malign himself with the mantle of "conservative Republican" or "liberal Democrat."
Charlie Vignola: Medicare works, no thanks to the GOP
This week I am headed to Florida to deal with a solemn duty that no one looks forward to, but which almost everyone will have to face sooner or later: I am going to deal with the imminent death of my father.
Peter Funt: Injustice in the juvenile justice system
Many of the nation's prosecutors and judges continue to put kids on trial as adults. This, despite declining crime rates among juveniles and growing scientific evidence about the inappropriateness of taking young offenders out of the court system designed specifically to protect them.
Danny Tyree:Why can't every day be like Easter?
Although it usually gets overshadowed by "Blue Christmas" in yuletide radio rotation, I still enjoy the Elvis Presley version of "Why Can't Every Day Be Like Christmas?"
Steve Lunetta: Jesus would be a conservative Christian
"Look at what this feller wrote about Jesus! Its a disgrace!"
Bob Kellar: Live from City Hall
The belief that "what is good for business is good for Santa Clarita" is a mantra that the city of Santa Clarita takes seriously. That's why City Council and staff are dedicated to providing local businesses with the tools and resources necessary to strengthen operations and improve sustainability, especially during difficult economic times.
Tim Myers: City Council candidates declare early
The race for Santa Clarita City Council in 2014 started to clarify over last weekend with two more fully announced candidates, Dante Acosta and Alan Ferdman, joining the four already-announced candidates - Gloria Mercado-Fortine, Maria Gutzeit, and the incumbents Laurene Weste and Marsha McLean - to bring the total fully announced candidates to six with more than one year left until the election.
Jonas Peterson: Environmental reform needed
At a time when California is striving to encourage both sustainable growth and job creation, reforming the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) is imperative.
Donna Brazile: Leaned on for leaning in
Cheryl Sandberg's book "Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead," has sparked a debate about the role of women in America - and everywhere else.
