President Barack Obama really likes to say, "Let me be clear," before he speaks pontifically about nothing specific nor in any way particularly informative. But now it's my turn to speak clearly — perhaps even with enough logic and fact to engage inquiring minds. ...more

February 20, 2009

Connecticut's Supreme Court ruled Friday that gay couples have the right to marry, making the state the third behind Massachusetts and California to legalize such unions through the courts. ...more

October 10, 2008

If John McCain becomes president, he will be confronted by a Congress with significantly larger Democratic majorities than today's - majorities furious about high hopes dashed by an eighth Republican victory in 11 presidential elections. And if the normal pattern of off-year elections obtains in 2010, those majorities will expand. So McCain would have to deal with a hostile legislature for four years, as Arnold Schwarzenegger has done for almost five years. For that reason, and because these two self-styled post-partisan, reach-across-the-aisle mavericks admire one another - McCain has given Schwarzenegger a starring role Monday at the Republican convention - it is pertinent to survey Schwarzenegger's governorship of one-eighth of America's population. ...more

August 31, 2008

Six snowmobilers missing in the mountains for 2 1/2 days while a howling blizzard swirled around them were rescued on Monday. They were hungry and cold but unhurt after taking shelter in a cozy cabin and calling 911 on a cell phone when the storm eased. ...more

January 8, 2008

The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday slapped down California's bid for first-in-the-nation greenhouse gas limits on cars, trucks and SUVs, refusing the state a waiver that would have allowed those restrictions to take effect. ...more

December 20, 2007

As Californians sift through the cinders of last week's wildfires, there is a growing consensus that the state's fight against such disasters - as it is currently being fought - cannot be won. ...more

October 28, 2007

Steve Levstik and his wife got 15 minutes of warning before flames swept through their neighborhood. That was 15 minutes more than last time. ...more

October 25, 2007