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We’ve reached a strange moment of unity in our nation’s political life: Democrats and Republicans alike admit they’re frightened by the front-running Republican presidential candidates. Many Republicans fear they don’t have a winning candidate. Democrats fear that Republicans do. So who likely has the most to fear here, besides the citizenry? Probably the Republicans who […]

Let’s face it. As entertainers, the Democratic presidential candidates are a disappointment. They not only lack the Republicans’ comedic gifts, but also the Republican entrepreneurial enthusiasm for burnishing resumes with failed presidential bids. Fifteen Republicans entered the race. But only six Democrats showed up, and already they’re down to three. Martin O’Malley, a credible candidate, […]

Okay, then, the presidential election. It’s only a year away, after all. Let’s start with the Republicans, who are ever so much more fun than the dour Democrats. (They’re next.) Remember when Republicans were dour? This was back when there was an actual Republican Party, everyone wanted to be Speaker of the House, and Republicans […]

That lady holding up the beckoning torch at the entrance of New York harbor symbolizes America’s pride in being the most welcoming of people who seek freedom. But a funny thing’s been happening on the way to that freedom. Newcomers are rushing not to the United States, but to Germany. Germany? Seriously? Well, not that […]

“Be your own Jesus.” — Tsunami hazards specialist Patrick Corcoran, Full-Rip 9.0 Sick of worrying about wildfire? Then worry about this: At 10:54 a.m. on Feb. 28, 2001, as I toiled at my Seattle Post-Intelligencer computer, the floor began punching the soles of my feet. As our waterfront building heaved, cartoonist David Horsey and I […]

“The European Union has a flag no one salutes, an anthem no one sings, a president no one can name, a parliament whose powers subtract from those of national legislatures, a bureaucracy no one admires or controls, and rules of fiscal rectitude that no one is penalized for ignoring.” — Washington Post columnist George Will […]

It’s not often that news out of Spokane becomes a worldwide sensation. The tale of the identity-challenged Rachel Dolezal, a white woman who insists she’s black, created a media firestorm this month. A woman with a history of grievance, Dolezal was president of Spokane’s chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People […]

Here we are in the fire-scarred Methow, warming up for what experts predict will be another highly dangerous wildfire season, perhaps starting as early as June. What will be done differently this time? Next to nothing. There is one exception. But first, a reality check: Where are we with fire protection? Recently, Washington Department of […]

As a Norwegian it pains me, on high-minded historic principle, to give Swedes any credit. But it seems churlish not to applaud those uppity Swedes when they do get something right. Besides, the whole sorry business forces the rest of us to think about stuff we prefer to ignore. So: Sweden’s new foreign minister, Social […]