Columns – Page 210

Yes It Is, It’s True: I don’t often quote coaches or players

February 6, 2016

Long ago, but not far away, I first started to get an inkling that the most overrated aspect of sports writing and sports broadcasting was quotes from coaches or players. That notion has grown over the years into a full-blown philosophy that I will accept, but not seek quotes during...

Columns

Army Bob: Don’t bet the farm on prosecuting Mrs. Clinton

February 4, 2016

Let’s say for argument sake the FBI has come to the point where it finds sufficient evidence exists to refer its investigation on former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to the prosecutors in the Department of Justice (DOJ). A phrase used by the Justice Department is “the case lacks prosecutorial...

Basura: The awful offal on the highway near a slaughterhouse

February 4, 2016

In 1968, as a 21-year-old sophomore at Grand Valley State in West Michigan, my girlfriend (wife to be) and our friend JV went to the Embassy Bar, a bit further out in the country than our rural campus. We rode out in my car, and our friend rolled some marijuana...

Democracy Tree: Campaign finance reform leader emerges

February 3, 2016

Michigan, the state that earned an “F” for governmental transparency, and under Gov. Snyder’s reign vastly expanded the influence of dark money in politics, is very much in need of an ethics overhaul. Lansing was a national joke with the Courser-Gamrat affair dominating the 2015 news cycle, right up until...

Ranger Rick: Flint water tragedy has many unanswered questions

February 2, 2016

The big state story is the condition of the water in Flint and the leaching of lead into the water because of the corrosive effects. Again, we see the symptoms of the water, not the cause; if really known with no reservations. I’m not saying lead and other pollutants were...

Monday Moanin’: Don’t let Snyder PR firms’ push poll con you

January 31, 2016

A push poll is an interactive marketing technique, most commonly employed during political campaigning, in which an individual or organization attempts to influence or alter the view of voters under the guise of conducting a poll. When I was teaching high school journalism, I briefly discussed “push polls” with my...

The Muck Starts Here: Reagan, Palin, Snyder and so many myths

January 31, 2016

by Barry Hastings Yes, by God, Donald Trump has done it — brought off the political coup of the 21st century, which does everything but assure his election to the presidency in 2016. He's secured the endorsement of the great Alaskan stateswoman (now relocated, divorced, and dealing with dysfunctional family...

Yes It Is, It’s True: ‘Making a Murderer’ is a compelling story

January 30, 2016

I watched all 10 episodes of the Netflix hit film “Making a Murderer” and this weekend I caught up with the NBC-TV “Dateline" report on the crime story phenomenon. Anyone who knows me understands I despise television and avoid it like politicians in trouble evade pesky reporters. But this docudrama...

Columns

Army Bob: Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump scare the media

January 30, 2016

Donald Trump refused to attend the 28 January 2016 Republican debate — why? He cites the press release below as the reason, coupled with his dislike of Megan Kelly, who was one of the moderators. “We learned from a secret back channel that the Ayatollah and Putin both intend to...

Columns

Army Bob: The cause and effect of making deals with Iran

January 28, 2016

by Robert M. Traxler For every cause there is an effect, a simple statement but true. The cause our President pursued was slowing the development of Iran’s nuclear weapons program, winning the release of American hostages, and gaining the approval and undying love of the Shia Muslim world. The effect...

Category: Columns