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Opinion

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Entries for July 2007

A Journalism Giant Turns 80

July 30, 2007 10:00 AM ET | John Mashek | Permanent Link

NASHVILLE—One of the nation's crusading newspaper editors at 32, and a devoted champion of the First Amendment throughout his career, turned 80 last weekend.

To celebrate the event, John Seigenthaler invited 400 of his closest friends to a festive party at the First Amendment Center at Vanderbilt University. Fittingly, the building bears his name: the John Seigenthaler Center.

...continue reading.

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Democrats' Best Move Is to Let Gonzales Stay

July 27, 2007 09:50 AM ET | John Mashek | Permanent Link

While watching Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in his bewildering and even maddening appearances before congressional committees, I am of two minds about his future.

First, Democrats should continue to call for his resignation because of his utter incompetence, even though we know President Bush will not budge on removing him. Justice is not well served by this man.

Second, Democrats should allow him to remain in office for the rest of Bush's term and watch him drag down already dim hopes for the GOP in the 2008 election. He will make a fine target.

...continue reading.

Tags: Alberto Gonzales

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Tom DeLay Should Blame Only Himself

July 25, 2007 10:43 AM ET | John Mashek | Permanent Link

To no one's surprise, former House GOP leader Tom DeLay is out with a book titled No Retreat, No Surrender.

The title is wrong; it should be My Problems Were and Are Everyone Else's Fault.

...continue reading.

Tags: Congress | Tom DeLay

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Vitter Has Only Himself to Blame

July 19, 2007 10:35 AM ET | John Mashek | Permanent Link

Voters should beware of politicians who trumpet family values and position themselves as holier than the rest of us mere mortals. They are probably hiding something.

The latest sanctimonious one to fall is GOP Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana. The less said of him the better, but his conduct is so outrageous that you can't ignore him.

...continue reading.

Tags: David Vitter

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George McGovern's Loser Legacy Serves Him Ill

July 16, 2007 01:52 PM ET | John Mashek | Permanent Link

A sizable group of primarily old political junkies gathered in Washington last weekend to celebrate the 85th birthday of George McGovern.

You remember him? He's the Democratic senator from South Dakota who lost a presidential race to Richard Nixon by landslide proportions. McGovern carried only Massachusetts and the District of Columbia. He even lost his home state.

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Tags: Richard M. Nixon | George McGovern

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Bush Iraq Game Plans: Rope-a-Dope and Stall

July 13, 2007 01:31 PM ET | John Mashek | Permanent Link

President Bush's strategy in Iraq can be defined in sports terms of boxing (rope-a-dope) or in basketball before a shot clock (stall). He is playing for time, more time, and still more time.

His latest press conference was a case study in a leader who can't understand why most Americans are no longer with him on the war.

...continue reading.

Tags: Iraq war (2003-) | George W. Bush

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'The Decider' Decides to Punt

July 11, 2007 12:59 PM ET | John Mashek | Permanent Link

President Bush is not the decider even though he told us so in plain English.

Speaking to a business group in Cleveland, Bush said any decision on troop withdrawal in Iraq would be decided by commanders in the field—not in Washington. He is taking a hike.

...continue reading.

Tags: Iraq war (2003-) | Joseph R. Biden, Jr. | George W. Bush

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