Just for argument’s sake, let’s say a year from now, the Deep State culprits who sought to undermine the will of the people have been fully exposed. And the illegal attempt to engineer a Deep State coup has led to the doorsteps of some very high-ranking government officials—current and former...

These are not the best of times. These are the worst of times. Political partisanship has turned into political insanity unlike any in our nation’s history. We live in the most polarized and hyper-partisan times and nothing short of the future of this country is at stake...

I rarely, if ever, write about sports in this column. Today is an exception. Sung Kang, a little-known South Korean golfer, won the Byron Nelson golf tournament this past weekend. In doing so, he outlasted some of the most prominent names in professional golfing circles...

The Missouri Legislature wrapped up the 2019 session on Friday and though this column is being written before the closing bell, one piece of legislation caught our attention. Until Thursday evening, the Missouri Legislature was poised to offer in-state college tuition for illegal immigrants living in Missouri...

For as long as I can remember, the prevailing political axiom was that voters vote their pocketbooks. Were that still the case, our incumbent President would walk to an easy reelection in numbers unseen for many years. But this is not your Daddy’s political climate. Or had you noticed?...

Elections are grueling times when the eyes of a nation are on the outcome of a vote. But in some countries, the outcome can be deadly. I can’t verify the following story, but it comes from a usually reliable news outlet. In the United States, there is always an ongoing debate on voting methods. Most of us of a certain age recall the infamous “hanging chads” from the 2000 presidential elections...

4,000 days. Depending on your age and perspective, that’s either a drop in the bucket or an eternity. Sometimes, we of a certain age try to gauge where we stand in the march of time. We’ve long passed that point where we have more days in our future than we’ve had in our past...

It’s coming to Britain but, rest assured, it could be coming here soon. What’s coming is a total ban on workplace contact including handshakes. In the current #MeToo era, sexual harassment in any form is being scrutinized and redefined virtually daily...

I can only imagine how future historians will treat this time in American history. The truth is we are in uncharted waters. Comparisons to Watergate fall far short of reality. We have entered the Twilight Zone of governance and for that, there will be a price to pay...

The political correctness that has clearly infected our society is by no means isolated to our elected politicians, television pundits and Hollywood elites. A clear example of this push toward a PC culture can be found on the campus of the University of Missouri-Kansas City...

You don’t have to be a golfer to appreciate what Tiger Woods accomplished on Sunday. Heck, you don’t even have to like the game of golf to put in perspective what his winning means to the sport. But there he was, the most recognizable name in all of sports doing what fans had seen in the past...

By no means was this column ever designed to be a sermon. Truth is, I’m just not the preachy kind. I hold a great respect for anyone’s religious beliefs and I would hope others share the same approach. But I admit I was startled this week reading a new exhaustive survey that shows Americans who say they have no religious belief is on the rise. And on the rise in a big way...

A social engineered election championed by the American Civil Liberties Union failed miserably in the St. Louis area this week. In Missouri’s hot spot of Ferguson, a hotly-contested race for the school board there was reengineered last year to give minority voters a greater voice in local election...

The Joe Biden sexual sensitivity roller coaster is gaining steam just about the time his poll numbers are starting to spike. Don’t, for a moment, think this is a coincidence. Creepy Uncle Joe is working overtime defending his interaction with women in the past. And what we are learning should serve as a lesson in the over-sensitizing of an innocent act...

Politicians could learn a lot from 20-year-old Damien K. Clark Jr. of Ohio. Or then again, perhaps it was politicians who gave poor Damien the perfect excuse for his wayward deeds. Damien was pulled over by police this week for a traffic violation. But Damien’s trouble had only begun...

As a pundit once wisely said, “It’s not over till it’s over.” Or, “It’s not over till the fat lady sings.” Or as the Democratic party says, “It’s not over till we say it’s over.” And thus, we conclude the two-year, multi-million dollar investigation into Presidential wrongdoing and launch yet another lengthy probe designed to reap discontent until November 2020...

You’ve probably heard of the Southern Poverty Law Center, a left-wing nonprofit founded in 1971 to address civil rights violations. Funded by progressive activists and organizations, the liberal watchdog is coming under legal scrutiny for some dirty laundry within its ranks...

There is a perception — though it may be inaccurate — that many relying on welfare benefits are part of generational poverty where taxpayer-funded assistance has become a “family tradition.” When generation after generation after generation rely solely on government assistance, it’s worth asking how the program can be improved to end generational dependency...

What makes something controversial? Sounds like a fair question, right? Increasingly in the world of today’s journalism, controversial means something with which you disagree. The always-liberal Post-Dispatch this week reported on a bill initially approved by the Missouri Legislature that would allow public high schools to offer bible study classes...

When Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez first debuted on the national stage, she was an oddity winning an upset victory over a longtime Democratic incumbent in one of the smallest turnout elections in House history. She quickly became the face of a new breed of Democrats with an array of radical ideas that, not too long ago, would have made her a laughingstock...

As you would expect, I read a lot. And I mean, a lot. Granted, it’s easy to spend countless hours pouring over the latest political shenanigans paraded as legislation by our elected officials. But in between the latest political news, I often come across those minor tidbits that are so absurd and so unusual, that — like a train wreck — you simply can’t avert your eyes...

In the chaotic and dysfunctional state of the American political system, perhaps it’s appropriate to ask how we arrived at this sad state and when did the collapse begin. You could travel back in time 60 years or so or you could pinpoint the beginning of this divide as recently as a couple of years ago...

Today’s political arena has turned into a blood sport. Any attempt at compromise has been abandoned and partisan attacks are increasingly turning personal. Two examples of this latest ugly polarization surfaced this week to illustrate the dire state of the current American political culture...

If you really want to completely waste three hours (or more) of your life, tune in tonight’s Academy Awards. The Hollywood ego-fest has turned into a liberal sideshow promoting the progressive agenda and strong anti-conservative bias. I well remember many, many years ago watching the Oscars with my parents. It was an opportunity to see some of your favorite movie stars garner top honors. My mother always marveled at the fashion show that was part of the parade of stars...

For all the liberal progressive Democrats flirting with socialism, look no further than Panera Bread’s failed experiment for a glimpse into the future. Panera Bread’s liberal think tank thought it would be a nice social experiment to open restaurants where customers could pay what they wanted for their food...

The Green New Deal apparently is the Democrat’s far-reaching plan to frame the 2020 Presidential election by promising something for every imaginable victim’s group in America. Unveiled last week to much hoopla, the progressive agenda is a virtual wish list of liberal ideas that would make today’s American unrecognizable...

The annual list of the 100 Worst Cities in America is out this week and we can proudly acknowledge that no Missouri city made the list. I read in great detail the similarities among the various cities and the common factor was always poverty. Crime followed poverty and a lack of job opportunities and a lack of education also combined to determine the list...

The progressive Mecca of San Francisco is hailed by the liberal elite as the model community of the future — inclusive and diverse. San Fran is a beacon for progressives as not only the first city to sanction sanctuary for illegal immigrants but as a window into the future of the true America. It has long been known for its sexual progressive agenda as well as being one of the most expensive cities in America...

The national Democratic Party — and that does not include the Democrats who read this column — has gone stark-raving mad. In just this week alone, the Democrats have voted to remove the word God from the oath taken for committee assignments. And then in a move that boggles the mind, there is a Democratic movement to allow abortions up until the time of birth...

Perhaps it’s simplistic to say, but the political struggle currently embroiling our nation is less about policy than it is about differing visions on America’s future. It’s easy to create a heated debate over a border wall or a plan for universal Medicare or radical climate change regulations...

Gun control advocates pounce on each and every study that monitors gun deaths. But those very same advocates who want stricter gun control never look beyond the surface to honestly address gun violence in America. Like clockwork, a new study is out this week listing gun deaths across the country. And Missouri is among the states cited for the fifth-highest gun deaths in America...

You would need a scorecard to keep track of the avalanche of Democratic candidates throwing their hats into the Presidential ring. Announced or soon-to-be announced candidates on the Democratic side now approach the 40-mark with more in the wings. Many of the announced hopefuls believe that putting their name in the running early might thin the field and improve their chances...

Despite my New Year’s self-imposed ban on all things political, the truth is you can’t escape the chaos that masquerades as politics these days. I honestly believe most Americans agree our concerns and problems don’t involve Russia or China or another other hotspot across the globe...

If the liberal-leaning Post Dispatch newspaper is anything, it’s predictable. In an article last week critical of a Republican bill to impose work requirements for some Medicaid recipients, the predictable Post call the idea a “controversial plan that could strip tens of thousands of low-income people of their health care benefits.”...

Many years ago, our nation declared a War on Drugs which was more of a publicity campaign than an all-out war. Politicians revised penalties for drug possession and sales while creating numerous new authorities to battle the rise in drug usage. As we hold a national dialogue on the potential for a wall on our southern border, it’s important to see just how Mexico is also addressing the problem of drugs in that country...

Like many others, I have doubts that a wall on our southern border will once and for all resolve the sticky issue of illegal immigration. There is ample factual and statistical evidence that a wall — or a fence or a barricade — will reduce the influx of illegal immigrants. And in some cases, the reduction is striking...

I was approaching my 10th birthday in the Fall of 1957 when the Russians launched the Sputnik satellite and the space race was underway. It was an amazing and somewhat frightening time as the race began for space supremacy and our nation was clearly behind...

Believe it or not, there once was a time when politics did not dominate the daily discourse in this nation. For sure, the political arena has always and will always be a part of our national discussion and well it should be. But that all changed in 2008 with the election of Barack Obama as President...

The Christmas lights still shine brightly and the New Year’s resolutions are in the formulating stage. But lo and behold, I arrived at the office this morning and there on my computer screen in bright bold letters was an advertisement for a major retail chain that said - and I quote - “Just in Time for Summer”...

Somewhere deep in the recesses of my desk are a heap of rubber-bound calendars dating back to the 1970s. It’s a company ritual that each year around this time, neat, new cellophane-wrapped calendars mysterious arrive at our desks. Being an obsessive scribbler, I favor the flip calendars instead of the desk models. Opting for a desk calendar would result in a mishmash of unreadable notes and pseudo-artsy designs only a mother could love...

Peace on earth, goodwill to men. This single phrase has its origins in the Gospel of Luke as part of the message delivered by the angels to the shepherds announcing the birth of Jesus. Known as the Annunciation to the Shepherds, the angelic message is central to the nativity, giving hope to mankind with the arrival of the son of God...

I understand and try to practice the Christian concept of forgiveness. I realize the biblical admonish of forgiveness, and though sometimes difficult, we should all follow the path to forgive those who have brought harm or taken actions that are patently wrong...

Several years ago, I sat down with former House Speaker Ron Richards to discuss right-to-work legislation for Missouri. Richards knew I had been a longtime supporter of right-to-work, having seen surrounding states attract industry away from our region based solely on right-to-work...

I guess I should start off with an apology. Following the midterm elections, I had decided to avoid political discussions in this Sunday column. Well, that didn’t last too long. Democrats have at long last — according to party chairman Tom Perez — determined why their political message is not resonating with American voters...

In the spirit of Christmas, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is the gift that keeps on giving for the Republican party. The never-shy, soon-to-be youngest female Congresswoman, is the new darling of the Socialist left. The 29-year-old New Yorker caught national headlines with her primary election victory over a 10-term Democratic incumbent, and, in a flash, became the new face of the Democratic party’s emerging left wing...

How would you describe the current political environment? How would you describe a personal relationship gone bad? How about a deterioration in the earth’s environment? The answer to all is “toxic.” And by no coincidence, toxic is the Oxford Dictionary word of the year...

Climate change is real. Most of the negative impact on our climate is manmade. And mankind can and should make changes to reduce the potential harm that climate change brings. We can all agree on these points. The Fourth National Climate Assessment was released last week and indeed painted a dismal forecast for the doomsday prediction if something is not done to address this critical issue...

I have the very best Christmas gift suggestions for our readers. And though this humble column will not reach from sea to shining sea, the suggestion applies to all of us. Let’s all go Fox free this holiday season. Or CNN free. Or MSNBC free. You get my drift...

I have the very best Christmas gift suggestions for our readers. And though this humble column will not reach from sea to shining sea, the suggestion applies to all of us. Let’s all go Fox free this holiday season. Or CNN free. Or MSNBC free. You get my drift...

If someone calls you clumsy, you can illustrate your agility to prove them wrong. If someone calls you dumb, you can illustrate your intellect to prove them wrong. But what if someone calls you a racist? Recently, more than one pundit and politician has opined that all Trump voters are by definition racist...

I was watching a sitcom this week where one of the main characters was weighing an important decision. To help him navigate the decision, he took pencil and paper and started a pros and cons list. I thought it might be helpful to put together a similar list for Thanksgiving by listing those many things for which I am thankful...

Something is terribly wrong when the fate of our national political direction boils down to recounts. Ballot recounts underway in Florida clearly don’t pass the smell test. The American public is tiring of “mystery” ballots surfacing long after the polls have closed. And when the outcome of those missing ballots is in the hands of a partisan politician, it taints the electoral process now and forever. All we ask as Americans is a fair and honest election. Our democracy is based on this singular principle. Yet if you think this fiasco is bad, can you imagine the potential fraud and abuse that would occur with expanded voting, mail-in ballots, early voting and even the potential for internet voting? In the case of Florida specifically, what logical argument can be made for allowing non-citizens to vote?

How about that election? Okay, that’s the last political word today because this column comes from the politic-free zone. Let’s talk Christmas. Granted, I’m coming late to this conversation since most retail stores started their Christmas decorations in October. And that’s my problem. I’m as much a Christmas guy as the next fella. But I’m not ready for Christmas carols before Halloween. Or even Thanksgiving. I fully recognize that many stores depend heavily on Christmas sales. But somehow I am slightly troubled by Christmas displays and the accompanying holiday music two full months before that special day. It doesn’t jump start my holiday spirit. It just brings another layer of stress that we all know is part of the Christmas season. Christmas — the commercial side — is for children. It is truly a magical time in the minds of youngsters. As well it should be. But as much as I was looking forward to an end to the nonstop political commercials on television, they’ve been replaced with nonstop Christmas commercials.

There was a time when newspaper political endorsements carried enormous weight. Long before radio and television, not to mention today’s social media, readers often relied on the opinion of newspapers to help them navigate political election decisions. And even though those endorsements lack the influence of the past, politicians still seek positive input from newspapers to advance their candidacy. This newspaper has a long tradition of endorsing political candidates going back nearly a hundred years. For the most part, we have shunned endorsing candidates for school boards or city councils because those positions are unpaid and we have long said we give credit to anyone willing to sacrifice their time and talents for the betterment of their community. But paid officeholders, especially on the county level, are a different matter. We feel an obligation to share our thoughts and opinions of those seeking public office on the county level whose decisions will impact the lives and often the pocketbooks of our readers.

In just a week, the critical midterm election will be over and, unfortunately, the campaign will begin anew. If you naively thought that somehow we would get a reprieve from the non-stop political campaigning, think again. Regardless of the election outcome, political turmoil will remain in full swing as hopefuls officially launch their bid for the Presidency. The political theater ahead will make this midterm look like child’s play. That much is certain. I spent time this weekend watching the latest debate between incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill and Attorney General Josh Hawley. Both candidates held their own but I have to give credit to Sen. McCaskill. She’s a polished speaker and well versed on just about every issue under the sun. She shuns the label of “liberal Democrat” while pointing to her record as a bipartisan who is more than willing to cross the political aisle. But Hawley points out with some accuracy that on critical votes like Obamacare and Brett Kavanaugh, she clearly walks the progressive line.

Never before in my election memory — and I’ve been voting for 50 years — have Missourians had the rare opportunity to directly impact federal policy. With the balance of power so razor thin in both the House and Senate, our vote in this year’s Senate race may well determine which political party controls the United States Senate. And because of this critical decision, Missourians’ votes come Nov. 6 are as important as any vote in America. Should the Democratic party win control of the House — which is not nearly assured as it was two weeks ago — control of the Senate will determine much of the federal policy over the next two years. This is indeed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for voters in our state.

It’s hard to get an exact number, but Josh Hawley and Claire McCaskill — along with ample “dark money” — will spend upwards of $90 million to entice your vote come Nov. 6. Out of that massive war chest, the 232 newspapers in Missouri will get zip. Politicians — actually their handlers — have decided that newspapers are media relics. These senatorial wannabes invest millions upon millions in social media that ignores newspaper readers. But here’s the irony. In many of their media buys, they proudly tout newspaper endorsements. When hypocritical politicians come campaigning, their first call is often to the local newspaper to assure a photographer captures their smiling mug. Then they willingly sit down with newspaper editorial boards in hopes of favorable coverage. Yet they spend not one cent to support the men and women who produce that local news coverage they so crave. Newspapers remain an invaluable source of local news on which the public relies.

In just over two weeks, polls will open in Missouri and the very long 2018 campaign season will finally end. The spotlight will fall on the hotly-contested senatorial contest between Attorney General Josh Hawley and incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill. As of this writing, that contest is simply too close to call. But in addition to the Senate race, a number of issues will also be on the Nov. 6 ballot. Most of these election issues have gained limited attention and, to be honest, they are often confusing. Here’s my take on the ballot issues. I hope it helps.

I suspect we’re all guilty of clinging to things long past their expiration date. A shirt in the closet that no longer fits and is woefully out of style. Well worn shoes that may well conjure past memories but should have been relegated to the trash heap long ago. There’s a comparison in the political world as well. Many local and lifelong Democrats are clinging to a political party that no longer mirrors their values, principles or ideology. For many value-based Democrats, their party has simply abandoned them. Yet their silence is deafening. I would argue that many southeast Missouri Democrats hold nothing in common with the protesters who seek recognition through violence.

A couple of weeks ago when Hurricane Florence threatened the east coast, my wife called me one morning on her way to work in awe of the hundreds of utility trucks heading east in a mile-long caravan. This week, as Hurricane Michael hurled toward Florida, I saw dozens if not hundreds of utility trucks parked overnight in Sikeston on their way toward the Gulf coast. And that sight made me wonder if other nations have a similar level of response and concern and mobilization in the wake of natural disasters.

Why do Democrats resort to mob rule? In the wake of the national disgrace following the confirmation of a new Supreme Court Justice, that seems a legitimate question to ask. Those gathering in protest, be it Ferguson, Planned Parenthood, immigration or a Supreme Court nominee, are not just exercising their First Amendment rights. They are a mob using bully tactics and bordering on the verge of violence. And on occasion, they cross that line.

As the eyes of the nation focus on the upcoming midterm elections, much of that intense focus falls on Missouri and the heated race between incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill and Attorney General Josh Hawley. I quit believing polls following the debacle in 2016 for good reason. Two polls currently making the rounds show Hawley in the lead in one poll while another has the race a dead heat. As I said two weeks ago, McCaskill’s vote against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh may well be the deciding factor. One poll at least claims her vote will cost her the reelection.

An alarm is sounding in this country like never before in our history. The alarm is an alert to a sea of change of social, political and economic upheaval that is just over the horizon. All is not lost. But all is in danger. We remain a nation of laws and of rules. But increasingly, we are seeing that both the laws and the rules don’t apply equally. As of the writing of this column, we stand on the edge of the massive unraveling of a social structure and a rule of law that has guided our nation since inception. But the news cycle is erupting at such break-neck speed, that words uttered today may be overturned tomorrow.

We suffer from a national madness that threatens the very foundation of this once-great nation. No example is more illustrative than the current insanity concerning the confirmation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court. I once loved the political arena. Civil debate on differing views was a healthy process that long shaped our nation...

All too often, really important news stories get lost in the headlines of even more important stories. While the focus understandably is on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh this week, little notice is being given to the unseemly actions of former Secretary of State John Kerry...

If Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill votes against the confirmation of Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh, she’ll lose her Senate seat to Attorney General Josh Hawley. That’s my prediction. McCaskill and Hawley are in a heated race for the Senate with massive amounts of money being poured into their respective campaigns. Nothing would please Republicans more than flipping the Missouri Senate seat. But McCaskill will surely spend more money and she has a far greater name recognition than Hawley. And word is, Democrats are highly motivated in this midterm election given the high stakes.

When voters go to the polls come November, the spotlight will clearly fall on the race for the United States Senate between incumbent Claire McCaskill and Attorney General Josh Hawley. Getting limited fanfare is a ballot issue —or perhaps three ballot issues — to legalize medical marijuana in Missouri. Although it’s somewhat confusing, as of today there are three separate ballot initiatives that would make medical marijuana available to some patients with specific ailments. All three measures have the same basic premise but each would allocate the tax funds from the measure for different purposes.

I’ve tried to avoid writing this column for quite some time. But I have to be honest. I cringed while watching President Trump’s political rally in West Virginia last week. And this is far from the first time I have found myself bewildered by the ramblings of this President. As a self-confessed supporter of this administration, my cringe-worthy moment was surely shared by others. In so many ways, Donald Trump remains a tone deaf businessman with zero speaking skills. He clearly lacks the speaking polish of Barack Obama or the gifted sense of humor of Ronald Reagan. His ego often runs on steroids and his nonstop battle with the media — though accurate — is wearing thin. Like in West Virginia last week, his off-script recitation of his historic 2016 Presidential election makes him look arrogant as he continues to thumb his nose at the Democrats. All too often, especially on the heels of Obama’s fiery rhetoric, Trump sounds like a loud-mouthed half-sotted uncle.

I came into the office this morning, like so many others, and started my daily reading of newspapers and web sites to catch up on the overnight happenings. Thus is my morning routine. One of the first headlines that captured my attention was the “revelation” that the President’s disapproval rating was at an all-time high. Given the daily drumbeat of opposition to this administration from the national media, I was not surprised. But lo and behold, another headline in another publication trumpeted the President’s highest approval rating since taking office.

Back in 2002, a memorial service for the late Sen. Paul Wellstone, a Wisconsin Democrat, turned into a political rally. Wellstone, his wife and daughter, were killed in a plane crash just prior to his reelection bid. The Democratic Senator was a popular progressive who was gaining national attention and was contemplating a run for President...

As hard as you may try, it’s impossible to escape the political rhetoric that so divides this nation. It’s easy and understandable to blame the national media for this obsessive push against the Trump administration. Facts are facts, and the overwhelming majority of the major media are clearly less than objective in their reporting of this administration...

A couple hundred newspapers across the country joined in an organized assault on the President this week for labeling the media as “enemies of the people.” President Trump is prone to call the left-leaning media “enemies of the people” for their biased, one-sided coverage of the Trump administration...

Way back in the 1970s, a brainy group of MIT professors and researchers developed a computer model that predicted the “end of civilized life as we know it” by 2040. And as part of that computer prediction, the first major change that will usher in this decayed social structure will occur in 2020. Now please understand, predictions on the apocalypse are a dime a dozen. In fact, two “end-of-civilization” predictions based on scripture came and went within the past two months. Remember the “blood moon” soothsayer forecast two weeks ago? Given that the 1970s prediction came from the highly-respected minds at MIT, it’s worth exploring their thought process.

Election day, the annual Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo and back-to-school. Put simply, it’s a busy time in our neck of the woods. Let me briefly comment on all three. First the election. To me, at least, no surprises. I had long predicted that, for the most part, incumbents would overwhelmingly reclaim their seats in county elections as well as most other higher offices...

Tuesday is primary election day in Missouri. There was once a time not too long ago when primary election day— at least for local candidates — was more important than the November general election because all local office holders were Democrats. But times have changed somewhat, though the Democratic primary ballot is still where most of the action is come Tuesday...

Manhattan was purchased from native Americans by the Dutch in 1626 for 60 guilders or about $1,000. Calling itself the cultural, financial, media and entertainment capital, Manhattan is perhaps the most expensive piece of property in the world. But there’s a little chunk of California that is shaking up the real estate world and is trying to rival Manhattan’s high-priced digs...

I wonder if liberals pray? Okay, that’s a ridiculous question because, of course, liberals pray. But here’s what prompts the question. With the current chaos — and frightening chaos at that — we have begun praying for our country. I can honestly say that past prayers for countless years have rarely, if ever, included a prayer for this country...

With an incendiary President capable of mass alienation and mid-term election history on their side, the Democrats should be poised for the upcoming November election showdown. Instead, the Democrats find themselves in search of a message. Still stinging from their massive defeat in 2016, a vocal and energized wing of the Democratic party believes the road to success lies in socialism...

Get a notepad and pencil. You’ll need it. Today we’re taking a test. In an average week or even month, how many places do you regularly visit? The key is “regularly” visit. Let’s say you start your day at an office, you run to the post office, you grab a cup of coffee and you dash into Wal-Mart for something or another...

Of all of the places I would like to visit, San Francisco is not on that list. Given the current political and cultural climate in Kalifornia, there’s not a whole lot there that interests me. But San Francisco takes the cake. The Golden Gate mecca has a new mayor but an old problem...

Were I a betting man, I would wager that Prop A, the Right to Work proposal on the August ballot, will fail. That’s not necessarily the outcome I would favor. But facts are facts. Two years ago the Missouri Legislature overwhelmingly approved a Right to Work measure that proponents said would make Missouri competitive with surrounding states who have Right to Work legislation...

Did you hear that the Department of Agriculture spent $4 billion in improper food stamp payments last year? Now granted, it’s just a measly $4 billion overpayment in a $63 billion budget for food stamps. That’s just a little over six percent of the total food stamp budget in incorrect payments of your tax dollars...

The retirement of a Supreme Court Justice and the expected Senate battle over his replacement has put Missouri incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill on the hot seat. McCaskill will face Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley in November in a race that will be watched closely. With the Senate narrowly in Republican hands, both parties are looking for Senate seats that might be in jeopardy...

History will not likely portray this time in our nation as our finest hour. We are indeed in the midst of an ideological civil war that threatens to undermine confidence in our federal government. Having spent the last half of the 1960s on a college campus, I am familiar with protests. Changing attitudes and policies on civil rights and the strong and growing opposition to the war in Vietnam combined to incite countless protests across this country from coast to coast...

The Fourth of July is obviously a uniquely American holiday to celebrate the hard-fought freedoms that make our nation somewhat different than others. Granted, other nations also enjoy freedoms, but none can compare to those we take for granted virtually every day...

I admit I yearn for a simpler time when the headlines did not include immigrant cages and Russian collusion and pee pee dossiers. A time when the First Lady’s jacket was unimportant and the term Nazi was relegated to the history books. I say bring back the debate on climate change...

As summer’s growing season gets into full bloom, several abandoned and empty lots in Sikeston become eyesores with tall weeds and trees. But the city is addressing these properties more aggressively this year. There is a full-scale approach to mowing and trimming problem properties than in the past...

I am starting to seriously worry about my friends on the progressive left. It’s abundantly clear, the Dems have adopted one unified message as their party policy and that message is anti-Trump today and forever. Nothing more, nothing less. With an arrogance that borders on insanity, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi actually mocked record employment figures released last week...

Happy Father’s Day! It’s hard to overstate the importance of a male role model in the lives of our children. Though I dislike recounting statistics, the numbers are crystal clear. A child in a household with a male role model is much more likely to stay out of trouble, to do well in school and to become a productive member of society...

I would argue as I have so often in the past that America does not have a gun problem; we have a people problem. Even if you confiscate every single firearm, the evil within some will remain. That is simply the ugly aspect of the human spirit. England on the other hand has virtually no guns but has an increasing and alarming problem with knife stabbing and related fatalities. Just additional evidence of evil regardless of the weapon of choice...

I’m not sure how history will treat the resignation of Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens. As a supporter of the Republican governor, I fully expected the former Navy Seal to shine as Missouri’s top executive and, like many others, I also saw a bright political future for Greitens...

Memorial Day weekend provides an opportunity to pay special tribute to those who have sacrificed their lives in service to this country. No sacrifice is greater. There’s a great deal of history that surrounds the Memorial Day observance. The honoring of those lost in military service began — according to most accounts — as Decoration Day to mark the passing of Civil War soldiers who died. Some accounts however have the observance starting earlier than that date...

For years, I have argued that housing is the key challenge for communities. Above education, law enforcement, medical availability and jobs, housing often determines the future of a community, the make-up of its residents and the ability to attract and maintain its population...

Let me propose a new course of education for tomorrow’s leaders. The course would be labeled Common Sense 101. And it should be required of all students. Here’s what triggered my imagination. A Colorado town this week unanimously approved a new city ordinance that bans lying or sleeping on city sidewalks...

It’s far from a tidal wave, but Democrats are reluctantly arriving at the conclusion that Trump bashing is not working. Perhaps Democrats are poll testing their anti-Trump messaging and recognizing that the constant barrage of criticism is wearing thin with the American public...

Mother’s Day this year is bittersweet. For a number of years, I have used this special day to pay tribute and give recognition to the role of motherhood and the significant importance these women play in the development of future generations. Two things have changed this year...

I’ve never been a big fan of polling, specifically political polling. Today, polling has become big business. Experts offer all sorts of mathematical logic and reasoning to justify their polling techniques. And when their poll results are woefully off-base, they offer equally compelling logic to explain the outcome...

I’ve tried to give Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens the benefit of the doubt on the two legal issues he is facing. And I still profess that he is innocent until proven guilty. On that, I believe we can all agree. But courtrooms, judges and attorneys aside, the damage to our state’s reputation and the constant media turmoil have combined to doom Greitens’ political future in Missouri...

There’s an old story that goes like this. A college professor walks into his lecture class, takes out a tape recorder, pushes the button to start the recorded lesson for the day and walks out of the lecture hall. He returns an hour later to see an empty room with a hundred student tape recorders all recording his lecture...

It should come as no surprise that the Republican national leadership has decided to focus on Hillary Clinton as the face of the Democratic party in the run-up to the all-important midterm elections. It just makes sense. Hillary Clinton is a polarizing figure held in very low esteem by the GOP as well as some within her own party...

As silly as it sounds — given the current cool weather — summer is indeed right around the corner. School will soon end and youngsters of all ages will have a carefree time with no tests, homework, etc. But that raises the age-old question — What do we do this summer?...

We talk often about the polarization in this country, but increasingly, it’s not polarization, it’s downright hatred. It’s beyond dispute that we have reached a cultural and political crossroad where civil discourse and compromise have been abandoned. The left’s outright hatred for conservative views is an ever-present item on the liberal menu, so much so that our vision for America is divided almost evenly on virtually any issue up for discussion. We’ve passed the point of determining the blame for this divide. It honestly doesn’t matter. What truly matters is our growing lack of civility and the inflammatory rhetoric that turns disagreement into outright hostility.

Regardless of the legal outcome, Eric Greitens is political toast. His reputation is forever stained and even though he could weather the legal storm, his political future as Governor of Missouri is highly in doubt.

Let’s talk about the Department of Housing and Urban Development. With the national headlines focused elsewhere, new HUD administrator Dr. Ben Carson is quietly transforming the massive bureaucracy in a way that has liberals in a tizzy. HUD was one of a number of Johnson-era federal programs designed to provide taxpayer-funding housing for the poor. Every county in Missouri has a HUD-funded program...

I'm uncertain if "conventional wisdom" applies to the upcoming presidential election but, if so, then conventional wisdom gives an edge to Hillary Clinton. But for the super delegates, the former Secretary of State might not even be the Democratic nominee...

I'm part of the generation who clipped newspaper articles and proudly put them in a scrapbook. Now long faded photos of Little League or some high school activity still remain somewhere hidden in a drawer as far as I know. But like it or not, our world is changing. And high among those changes is the way most of us gather our news...

Colin Kaepernick did the near-impossible this weekend. In one fell swoop, the struggling NFL quarterback knocked Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton from the headlines and, at the same time, alienated a huge segment of the American public. Kaepernick took a page from the 1968 Olympic display of two American athletes and refused to stand for the national anthem during a preseason football game...

If nothing else, the left is predictable. A house party in Bridgeport, Conn. -- complete with DJ and alcohol sales -- turned ugly this past weekend when two thugs ambushed party goers and wounded 13 people. But before the gun smoke had cleared, the opportunistic Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal called for additional gun control measures...

It's that time of year when students return to school and parents -- some at least -- battle with the empty nest syndrome. The school year is always an exciting time despite what some students will admit. It's a combination of learning and structure that is essential to molding the future leaders of our city, our region and our nation...

The somewhat less-than-Honorable Hillary Rodham Clinton this week unveiled her latest campaign tactic which involves enlisting young illegal immigrants to mount a voter drive on her behalf. The Clinton campaign is seeking thousands of young volunteers -- the undocumented Dreamers courted by the current President -- to get out the vote even though they themselves are prohibited from voting...

As sad as it may sound, nothing will change following the Presidential election in November. Sure, we'll have new leadership and a major changing of the guard. But on the critical issues that divide this nation, nothing will change. At least not immediately...

Of the mountains of declining values that has become the United States, none in my mind compares to the massive fraud and partisanship that has become the mass media in this country. A cornerstone in a democracy is an impartial, fair media. We depend on those who daily monitor and watch the political process. We depend on them because we cannot be as close to the process as they are...

After months of endless television commercials, the long primary election process finally comes to an end on Tuesday. In a Presidential election year, lower candidates often get lost in the political discussion as we focus on the all-important race at the top of the ballot...

I'm not sure when polling became an "important" part of each political campaign but at this point in the cycle of politics, I have zero confidence in virtually any poll, especially national poll results. I have long been convinced that issues don't drive poll results - poll results drive issues...

Given the warp-speed of rapidly changing world events, there is always concern writing a newspaper column two full days in advance to meet a publication deadline. Over this past weekend, as would be expected, I had hoped to focus on the GOP nominating convention...

The Obama administration's constant overreach of the federal government continues unabated. The overreach is threatening our military with transgender mandates and the removal of all religious themes within the military. The overreach is threatening our education system with federal programs like Common Core. ...

By any definition, this past week has been both tragic and unsettling in countless ways. Yet by now we have come to reluctantly accept the growing polarization along racial lines that erupted once again this week. Pundits galore have opined with their views on the underlying cause of this division and yet, even in the arena of competing opinions, there remains a deep divide...

Like everyone else, I (hopefully) get up every morning and go about my daily routine. Our days are built around our own personal priorities - family, work, church, etc. All of us would like to think we are doing the right thing - we volunteer, we try to help others in need, we try to be honest and we know the difference between right and wrong...

Just four short years ago, when Barack Obama was running for re-election, the Democratic Party platform addressed the sticky question of illegal immigration this way: "Undocumented immigrants should 'get right' with the law, learn English, and pay taxes in order to get on a path to earn citizenship."...

Gov. Jay Nixon looked more like a small-government, conservative Republican than a big-government Democrat this week when he sliced $430 million from the recently approved state budget. And, I like what I saw. You can argue all day long about the specifics of the Nixon budget cuts but what you can't argue is that Nixon wants the state to tighten its financial belt...

Dan Rather was once important. Influential. Respected. Granted, there was that mysterious episode when Rather claimed to be mugged by some strange assailant. But it was Dan Rather and we gave him a pass. Then came along a juicy story about George W. Bush dodging the draft. Though the story had little factual basis, Rather jumped at the bait...

The pain of others should not provoke humor. In this case, I'm sorry, but it does. Here's the background. You've probably heard of motivational guru Tony Robbins, the highly-photogenic mogul who promises to unlock your hidden potential by attending his somewhat costly seminars...

There's a pivotal scene in the "Wizard of Oz" when the "wizard" - far from a "wizard" in reality - is caught hiding behind a curtain and his real identity is about to be discovered. The "wizard" warns Dorothy and her band of followers not to pay attention to what's going on behind the curtain. Of course, Dorothy ignores his warning and uncovers the truth...

Though the outcomes are virtually assured, there remains a final breath in the Presidential primary season. Small rumbles still can be heard concerning a potential push-back to Donald Trump on the GOP side and the ever-popular Sen. Bernie Sanders remains optimistic that his voice will be heard on the convention floor...

In our current atmosphere of hypersensitive discussions on racial issues in this country, the false narrative of racial profiling has to take the cake. This phony red herring is nothing more than an additional wedge to divide communities along racial lines...

What should we expect from our federal government? It seems a valid question given the upcoming presidential election and the stark differences in the choices facing Americans this November. At the top of the expectations' list should be the protection of the American people. The feds should also - we would hope - make decisions and tailor programs that benefit all Americans, not just a few selected special interests...

It seems to me there is a feeling of tension in the air fueled by the political decisions facing this nation later this year. A growing number of Americans are increasingly worried over the future of this great nation in ways I've never experienced...

Most Americans this week hopefully paused and pondered the significance and meaning of Memorial Day. Artist and activist John Sims has a different tradition. The Florida-based civil rights and reparation advocate uses the truly American holiday to push for the removal and destruction of all Confederate flags through his Burn and Bury project. (We'll get to that later.)...

Once again this past week, a member of the Congressional Black Caucus played the race card against opponents of the president's latest progressive scheme. The argument was - as it has been for the past eight years - that the president's opponents were racists and prone to oppose the president's policies only because of his skin color...

Did you know the attention span of a goldfish is approximately 8 seconds? For starters, if you truly knew this isolated and useless tidbit of information, you need to examine your life. But regardless, a new study by some unknown person who does useless studies shows that in today's hyper-tech society, humans and goldfish share the same attention span...

Let's face it, many Republicans held out hope that the FBI investigation into the unique email server policy established by Hillary Clinton would result in an indictment and end her run for the White House. Pundits and politicians alike have opined for months on the potential national security threat presented by the private email server put into place with little government knowledge and apparently, less security...

I noticed an internet story this week - which was also featured on a morning talk show - about a group of four young Marines posing 50 years ago for a picture on a sandy California beach just before being deployed to Vietnam. Posing with a surfboard and the earnest gazes of men heading into the unknown, the four young men were frozen in time during a much different era, during a much different war...

The odd twists and turns of the Republican presidential primary are almost enough to make Hillary Clinton look like a viable candidate. As a lifelong conservative - which translates into a lifelong Republican - I find myself frustrated and disgusted with the '16 primary season on the GOP side...

Like a number of communities, Sikeston has seen an uptick in violent crime recently despite a concentrated effort by the Department of Public Safety to monitor and control the criminal element within our community. I shudder to think where we would be today without the quality of Public Safety leadership and the dedication of the men and women who serve here in uniform...

The headlines in our area should be cause for concern or alarm. Higher than average crimes involving handguns in far too many towns within our region. Sadly, most of the crimes have far too much in common - young men with illegal guns, too many drugs, too many family disputes and too many gangs...

By most accounts, the Republican Convention in Cleveland this summer will play out on the national and international stage unlike any convention in political history. But the action may well take place outside of the convention site as protesters from far and wide have promised to converge on Cleveland in a mass protest of historic proportions...

The truly fascinating aspect of the 2016 Presidential primaries is not what we know but rather what we don't know. Though highly unlikely, what happens if Mrs. Clinton is indeed indicted for her email shenanigans? Or what happens if Mr. Trump falls just short of securing the nomination on the first ballot of the GOP convention?...

Two national headlines on the same day, Friday, April 8, 2016. "Obama vs. Texas Headed to Supreme Court" and "Five decapitated heads found in Mexican border town." The high court case is a lawsuit filed over the President's executive order to grant full government benefits to illegal aliens. The headless story concerns the ongoing drug cartel murders happening within shouting distance of the American border...

Like it or not, Western civilization and culture are at war with ISIS. At this point, it's an undeclared war and a highly non-traditional war. But it's a war nonetheless. Unfortunately, President Obama is clearly not at war with ISIS. It has been abundantly clear from the very beginning of his first term that our president has a somewhat different world view of America's role...

Like many of you, I'm getting sick and tired of whining college students bullying administrators when their sensitive feelings have been bruised. The latest absurdity falls on Emory University where a group of coddled babies felt threatened because someone wrote "Trump 2016" in chalk on a school sidewalk...

Donald Trump's campaign stump speeches are low on specifics and high on emotion. But for all he's getting wrong, there is one point on which he is correct. It was Trump who brought the issue of illegal immigration to the campaign debate and it is Trump who continues to beat that drum on a daily basis...

It's not often I agree with a lawmaker from St. Louis. But this time I might just change my mind. A Democratic lawmaker from the big city has introduced legislation to make St. Louis the 51st state. Yep, he wants to secede from the rest of we rural folk and form a new state...

All eyes will be on Florida and Ohio next Tuesday with their winner-take-all primary elections that will potentially decide the outcome for both the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates. Oh, and by the way, Missouri will hold its presidential primary on Tuesday as well...

Like millions of other Americans, I remain less than enthralled over the prospect of Donald Trump being the GOP standard bearer come November. Despite this reluctance and concern, I find no way to even consider a vote for more years of the Obama approach as promised by both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders...

It seems that government at all levels is prone to find a solution in search of a problem. The old axiom of "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" clearly does not apply to some within government. There is no better example than the bone-headed move in the Missouri Legislature to expand the number of members on the Missouri Conservation Commission...

As this muddled presidential campaign continues to unfold, the Democrats seem to always return to the recurring theme of income inequality and their obsession with wealth redistribution. All this great nation needs to do - according to the progressive line - is to tax the wealthy a little more and move those funds for services to the low and middle income...

It's never too late to right a wrong. And that is exactly what the University of Missouri Board of Curators belatedly did this week with the firing of Assistant Professor Melissa Click. Click, if you recall, is the red-headed radical professor who threatened student journalists covering a student protest on the Mizzou campus last fall. She had earlier been recorded cursing law enforcement officials during a similar protest at the university's Homecoming parade...

A German hotel being converted to a refugee center for a flood of migrants burned early this week. The blaze was ruled arson on the unoccupied building. As the structure burned, crowds of Germans gathered and cheered. There was even a half-hearted attempt to slow firefighters arriving at the scene...

Given the business I'm in, I probably read more newspaper headlines each day than most. If something catches my eye, I'll explore the article to see what hidden nuggets of information I can glean. That was most assuredly the case this week with the following headline...

Were it not for the massive failures and utter ruin of Barack Obama, Donald Trump would not exist. Trump took to the Republican debate stage Saturday night and by any normal measure, his remarks and demeanor should have been the final straw for his boorish campaign behavior and outlandish comments...

As the Presidential season continues to unfold, the discussion centers on all sorts of national worries from the Middle East to punishing Wall Street for not paying their fair share or some such baloney. There is ample discussion on just how to pay for the free college that some candidates dream of. And there is the constant drumbeat of income inequality and how to balance the playing field...

With the presidential campaign clock ticking at break-neck speed, I find myself like many others still undecided. Actually, undecided is inaccurate. I am clearly decided against either of the two Democratic wannabes because of the obvious - one is a liar and one a Socialist. Given a quick review of their policies, their views are interchangeable...

I just returned from the State Capitol in Jefferson City having spent a couple of days mingling with fellow newspaper folk and rubbing elbows with politicians. As always seems to be the case, you can't help but stand in awe as you gaze at the majestic Capitol and Governor's Mansion perched high above the Missouri River...

There's no shortage of serious topics for newspaper columnists these days. In far too many ways, the world we once knew is disappearing in front of our eyes. It's abundantly obvious that everything from ISIS to the dismal Obamacare are in the headlines and creating ample stress for weary Americans...

There was once a time when politicians courted newspapers in search of an editorial endorsement of their candidacy. Long before technology overwhelmed society with a minute-by-minute news cycle, the public would often rely on newspapers to give them an inside view of issues and candidates to help guide their votes...

Change is virtually the only thing assured in our world. The problem, of course, is that change can be for good or bad depending on your viewpoint. And here in our small neck of the woods, even the discussion of a shutdown of Noranda Aluminum is a most unwelcome and unwanted change...

A bill in the Missouri Legislature to require photo IDs to vote has passed the House Elections Committee on a straight-line party vote. The bill now moves to the Senate where it is expected to pass despite a major push back by the Democratic members...

Most of us were probably tied to our televisions this week watching the State of the Union address, the Powerball drawing or the Republican presidential debates. But while our attention was focused on these somewhat important events, a group of atheists on Monday filed suit to remove In God We Trust from our currency...

At long last, the coffee shop conversation has shifted away from politics. For now at least, Trump and Hillary's names are unspoken. And there are 1.3 billion reasons for this shifting dialogue. If you don't have lottery fever by now, you must be hibernating. There's no other excuse...

Last week, we published a story on the explosion in construction and commercial building permits in Sikeston. If you missed that, you missed an extremely important development that bodes well for our community. The numbers, quite frankly, are truly amazing...

It's 2016 - Let the games begin! What a perfect political storm we have brewing in this pivotal year. First, we have a lame duck president determined to seal whatever legacy remains and push through with executive orders the wish list of progressive causes he has championed since his community organizing days...

Happy New Year! By now, many of us have already abandoned our New Year's resolutions and returned to the wayward ways we promised we would end with the coming of the new year. Oh well, there's always next year. There is no longer anything certain in this world except for the reality that change is coming. And without a doubt this year will bring change...

Each year the Associated Press releases the top stories of the past year. As you would have guessed, the rise of ISIS once again topped the list this year. In fact, terrorism by one name or another has made its way into the AP list every year since the Twin Towers attack in 2001...

My original intent with today's column was to outline my Christmas wish list from our political class in Washington, D.C. But I quickly abandoned that idea because - just like wishing for a pony as a child - I realized few if any of my wishes were realistic...

We are clearly a nation at war. Absent a legal declaration, we still find ourselves facing an enemy hell-bent on our destruction and more than willing to sacrifice their lives in their quest for domination. Yet, though we have an undeclared war against ISIS, we have declared all-out war against the ravages of climate change...

You've probably read or heard this week about a series of mysterious and suspicious purchases of disposable cell phones in Missouri by a group of foreign-born men. The purchases at Wal-Marts in several locations in Missouri - including Cape Girardeau and Jackson - have drawn the attention of law enforcement officers and the FBI...

What happens if ISIS wins? I know that seems absurd on countless levels. But we learned Sunday night that our military policy to address this growing threat will apparently not change. So, taken to the extreme, what if this cancer continues to grow and we continue to use kid gloves when a iron fist is what's required?...

As the tragic events unfolded in California this week, most Americans were asking the same questions -- how in the world did we get here and how in the world do we change so that these tragedies will be avoided. Yet before the bodies were even counted, the finger-pointing began...

Like many others, I consider Hillary Clinton a textbook example of all that is wrong in our current political circus. Dishonest, arrogant and sadly absent any hint of trust. But God forbid, if Donald Trump should be the GOP nominee, our choices come next November will be the worst in history...

It's Thanksgiving week, a special time in this great country when we pause from our hectic lives and give thanks for the countless blessings that surround us. Your Thanksgiving list of blessings is surely the same as mine - family, health, freedoms and countless opportunities that all-too-often we fail to recognize...

Another week, another glaring example of a clueless world view of the actual impact of open-door immigration displayed by the administration of a failed American president. For the longest time, Americans have asked: "When will they learn." And the answer is clearly never...

The events that unfolded this week on Missouri's flagship university are an embarrassment for the state and a textbook example of just how to mishandle a situation of student unrest. But the events go far beyond a simple embarrassment. The eyes of the nation were on the Columbia campus this week as minority students protested a series of racially-tinged events that eventually led to the ouster of the University president...

The discussion of "white male privilege" is a popular topic these days, especially in light of the #Black Lives Matter movement. The presidential candidates of both parties were asked to define, defend, deny or distance themselves from the issue of "white male privilege." And unfolding on the University of Missouri campus was the demand by minority students that the university president apologize for his "white male privilege." Ultimately that demand cost him his job this week...

I'm not sure where to start today. I want to both thank and congratulate Sikeston voters for their overwhelming support for the half-cent tax proposal on Tuesday's ballot. Sikeston voters by a 2-to-1 margin approved the sales tax measure which will help additional funding in our Public Safety, parks and streets...

Long before it captured the national attention, I voiced strong reservation over the influx of millions of illegal immigrants into our country. Back when the focus was on the disaster of Obamacare and the growth of ISIS, the daily avalanche of illegals was garnering much less attention except in the border states where the impact was immediate...

Sikeston voters will go to the polls Tuesday to decide the fate of a half-cent sales tax proposal to increase funding for Public Safety, for the park system and for street improvements. The much-needed increase will help to bring Public Safety salaries in line with other area law enforcement agencies and stop the migration of highly-trained officers from our community...

Some day when I have ample time on my hands, I want to pinpoint the exact time that the national media fell fully in the tank with the Democratic party. I'm talking primarily about the alphabet television networks and their constant drumbeat promoting the Democrat's liberal agenda...

A new study out of a British think tank predicts that our lifespan may well increase to a 1,000 years in the not-too-distant future. The group provides a whole host of evidence that technology and medical advancements could expand the average lifespan of humankind to as much as 1,000 years and that perhaps - just perhaps - a child born today could live to that ripe old age...

When the FBI is investigating you and when you're poised to testify before a Congressional committee on failures during your tenure as secretary of state, the obvious political decision is to play the race card. So presidential candidate Hillary Clinton did just that this weekend as she returned to the tired political theme that Republicans and their draconian voter identification laws are designed to keep minorities from voting...

The weather is turning colder, the holidays are just around the corner and my thoughts this morning involve charitable giving to those less fortunate. All national surveys tell us that charitable giving increases substantially as the holiday season approaches...

While the national media was focused on President Obama's Oregon visit with families of school shooting victims, a more important story developed when the President later that day traveled to California for a fundraiser. In remarks that can only be described as delusional, the President told the wealthy gathering: "There's almost no measure by which we're not better off now than we were when I came into office."...

With just over a year before the all-important presidential election, who could have imagined that the top two contenders in many polls are Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders? Seriously. Think about that for just a moment. Donald Trump, a boisterous businessman sadly short on specifics, and Bernie Sanders, a card-carrying Socialist who believes our national problems stem from the lack of a larger federal government...

The headlines this weekend are obvious -- Russia is bullying our passive leadership out of Syria, the Chinese continue their quest for territory in the South China sea and another mass college murder is rekindling the usual discussion on gun control...

Pope Francis is back safe and sound in the Vatican after leaving his leftist message in America. And this week, the focus will fall on the United Nation and their leftist message. Housed in America and funded largely by American taxpayers, the United Nation in so many ways is the enemy within...

We just got poped! That's right - Pope Francis, on his historic visit to the United States, took the occasion to lecture Americans on a variety of social and political issues that came straight out of the Obama playbook. The Pontiff addressed Congress and warned of climate change, the need to provide more assistance for the poor and the responsibility of the United States to welcome any and all newcomers...

Politicians of both parties are providing ample lip service to the middle class during this campaign season. There's a reason for that. Middle class voters decide election outcomes. It's really no more complex than that. But there's far less debate on the question of poverty in America, even though a variety of poverty programs siphon almost a trillion dollars annually in taxpayer funds...

I'm always amused when people -- including myself -- rail against the government as if "the government" is some wooly monster that controls all aspects of our lives. We must always remember that we are "the government" and those decisions that impact our lives are a direct result of "us" putting the government officials into their positions through our decisions in the voting booth...

Had a chance over the weekend to mingle with some folk across the state and the discussion turned to the political circus known as the Presidential primary. Though the majority of those gathered were of the conservative bent, both major parties were represented with ample diehards on both sides of the aisle...

Missouri education officials and local school leaders are scrambling to dissect and explain recently released MAP test results. The test scores are serving as a wake-up call for many districts who report far too many students underperforming in virtually all areas...

President Obama's legacy health care program, Obamacare, has been a controversial and polarizing issue since the shocking Supreme Court decision that handed the plan into the laps of the American public. The promised $2,500 average annual health care premium savings has completely vanished and instead virtually all health coverage plans have increased in cost...

And we call this entertainment? Like most of you, I missed the VMA award show this weekend. It wasn't by accident. But it was hard to miss the highlight reel from the televised fiasco. The VMAs - more than most - is hype built on the expected inappropriate performance or comment that some "entertainer" uses to unleash their 15 minutes of fame...

With countless problems facing this nation, sometimes we need to look to others in similar situations and see how they respond. The fact is America is an exceptional nation with exceptional people. But, we don't hold a monopoly on all available ideas...

With Hillary Clinton in free fall and Joe Biden poised to gum up the works in the Democratic primary for president, you would think the GOP would be awash in glee over the prospects. Unfortunately for the Republicans - and I count myself in the conservative wing of the GOP - it's all Trump, all the time...

Like many of you, perhaps, I find myself increasingly frustrated, disappointed and downright confused by countless Obama administration policies that make no sense. This administration's attack on the coal industry - by way of example - threatens millions of jobs not to mention will bring a massive increase in utility costs for consumers...

By just about all accounts, Missouri's Sen. Claire McCaskill is a savvy politician who honed her political skills in the Missouri Legislature before being thrust into the national spotlight. McCaskill was one of the very early supporters of Barack Obama in 2008 and this year has become the go-to spokesperson for Hillary Clinton...

Sikeston residents in November will be asked to approve a one-half cent sales tax to upgrade Public Safety salaries, to address some long-neglected street improvements and to fund some critical infrastructure issues with our park system. The background for this all-important vote is important to fully understand why this funding measure is needed...

Hillary Clinton just had the best week of her rocky Presidential campaign. Now granted, the former First Lady and her two campaign sidekicks were ordered by a federal judge to pledge under oath of perjury they had turned over all emails related to her time as secretary of state...

L et me pose a problem for which I have yet to find a solution. And since the vast majority of you are smarter than me, maybe you have some thoughts. In the aftermath of the fiasco in Ferguson, one single legislative action was taken. Activists are calling for many additional legislative solutions as well as massive reformation within the law enforcement community...

It's been a year since Michael Brown was killed in Ferguson, Mo., following an attack on a police officer. Despite massive protests and riots over false reports that Brown was assassinated with his hands held in the air, not a whole lot has changed...