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News, Spin

Does Mel Hate Ducks, Too?

A duck test can be applied to the Mel Gibson story, and it is surprising that it hasn’t, so far as readily available online. (Use as search something like “Mel Gibson driving” in news.google.com or news.yahoo.com). The talented actor and director (and he is gifted) was pulled over for erratic driving in late July. He […]

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News, Spin

Tie One On

It should have been Bill Clinton who brought more informality to the White House during his eight years, but credit here has to go to George W. Bush. Clinton seems to have moved everywhere with a coffee mug indoors and a to-go cup away from home. President Bush is shown increasingly without a necktie. Also, […]

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News, Spin

Hard of Hearing All Sides

An acquaintance the other day had a complaint about local journalism. He noted that my newspaper’s competition covered a speech he saw at the local Political Animals Club (in Fayetteville it is open to the press). He disagreed with the speaker, a military official who defended U.S. Iraqi strategies, and wondered why the reporter did […]

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News, Spin

When rights are left

Part of the definition of a right — a human right, a civil right (aren’t those interchangeable?) — is that they’re unalienable [or inalienable], to borrow and twist an independent, declarable phrase. Yet Alberto Gonzales the attorney general of the United States said on ABC’s “This Week” today there is some flex to the First […]

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News, Spin

Where there’s smoke

The Demzette reported yesterday that Arkansas’ new ban on smoking in workplaces also threatens ashtrays, at least on paper. “Although the law and a draft of the accompanying regulations authorize fines of up to $500 for a misdemeanor conviction and civil penalties of up to $1,000 a day when an ashtray is discovered on the […]

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News, Spin

Double nickels

In a televised address to the nation, President George W. Bush tonight is expected to announce an executive order reducing the maximum highway speed to 55 mph. You heard the speech was to be about immigration? Well, we will see. Another two-term Republican, Richard M. Nixon, created the first 55 mph cap in January 1974. […]