In his inaugural address, President Barack Obama signaled conciliation to America's foes by using the metaphor of an outstretched hand to an unclenched fist. ...more

January 25, 2009

As a new administration settles into its offices in Washington, America awaits the actions of the White House and federal agencies on a host of challenges facing our nation at home and abroad. Whatever these actions turn out to be, and whether they meet with success or failure, it's vitally important that the American people have access to how governmental decisions are made, and by whom. On this front, at least, there's already good news. ...more

January 25, 2009

When Barack Obama flubbed a line while being sworn in as 44th president of the United States, a crowd of more than 100 at the New Port Richey Library good-naturedly laughed with him. When the nation's first black president spoke of establishing "unity of purpose over conflict and discord" and said that all Americans "deserve the opportunity to pursue the full measure of their happiness," the enthusiastic crowd applauded loudly. ...more

January 21, 2009

A recent Op-Ed column was written by Leonard Pitts of The Miami Herald, and reprinted in Highlands Today and other papers. The title of Pitt's opinion column was "Eagerly Awaiting History's Verdict." In his column he hoped that President Bush would live a long life to see all of the mistakes that he had made. The idea is that the future, then history, would surely show him what, in Pitts' own words "an awful president you were." ...more

January 21, 2009

Stepping into history, Barack Hussein Obama grasped the reins of power as America's first black president on Tuesday, saying the nation must choose "hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord" to overcome the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. ...more

January 20, 2009

President Bush granted prison releases to two former U.S. Border Patrol agents whose convictions for shooting a Mexican drug dealer fueled the national debate over illegal immigration. ...more

January 19, 2009

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi appears to differ from Barack Obama on at least two issues - tax increases and investigating the Bush administration. ...more

January 19, 2009

President George W. Bush, making his last public address Thursday, was grayer, with wrinkles cut deeper into his forehead. But what do you expect after eight years, two wars, two recessions and Sept. 11? ...more

January 16, 2009

Unpopular but unbowed, President George W. Bush defended his tumultuous two terms in a farewell address to the nation Thursday night, claiming a hard-won record of achievement. Reaching back to the Sept. 11 attacks, when the public rallied behind him, Bush declared the United States will "never tire, never falter and never fail." ...more

January 16, 2009

On Sept. 24, 2008, President George W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Amendment Act, which became effective Jan. 1. ...more

January 16, 2009