Those who actually hate animals to the point of being cruel to them are outcasts to the rest of us, no matter where in the world they live.

For some reason, on that sparkling afternoon last week, I actually saw the coal that was passing by and it set me to thinking how important coal was to our everyday lives when I was a little boy.

It is impossible to exaggerate the wide, and widening, gulf between the American attitude on the Iraq war and the view from our friends across the Atlantic.

Social Security is at last on the nation's front burner.

America, the temple of invention and industry, doesn't make things anymore.

Our actions in the Middle East over the last 15 years have already guaranteed radical Muslims quite enough ammunition to kill Americans for the next century, even if Guantanamo did not exist.

It is statesmanlike for the administration and Congress to look to our nation's welfare beyond their terms in office.