I remember a time when the Black community, although considered second class and living in squalor, took pride in themselves. Black Parents taught their kids honesty and decency. They stayed together and worked hard to improve conditions for their children. They marched, withstood many assaults, fire hoses, dogs sicced on them, rocks hurled at them, all to give their children a better life and equal opportunity to make a success out of themselves in life. They sacrificed heavily, sometimes with their very lives, all so their children could make a better life than they had. Maybe it's more the media, but it seems many are squandering that, still crying victim as the same old racist party keeps them in the ghettos, accepting paltry handouts

Obama stated that raising the debt ceiling was a sign of leadership failure in 2006. Now he says he is leading by raising it. So, who is really the ignoramus?

And, if as many combat Troops get out as they indicated they would, will this bring on the reinstatement of the draft? The irony of that possibility is just too much not to notice. Democrats forced an end to the draft, they forced and end to Don't Ask Don't Tell and now there exists the very real possibility that their action might mean the draft must be reinstated in a few years. The law of unintended consequences just might come into play once again. http://lewwaters.wordpress.com/2010/12/19/will-repeal-of-d-a-d-t-lead-to-the-reinstatement-of-the-draft/

Not only make them part-time, but at much lower salary and without all the taxpayer paid benefits. Elected Representatives would have to show a source of income besides a government paycheck and their office would be in their district, not in D.C. Once a year, they would be supplied a round trip coach fare ticket to travel to D.C. to meet and conduct congressional business. No more "fact finding trips" to exotic vacation locations. Healthcare exactly the same as the average worker in their district. Such a change might just reveal who is really interested in "serving the people" versus filling their own pockets.

One thing not addressed, perhaps the subject of a future article, is that the Emancipation Proclamation on addressed Slavery in Southern States not under Union Control. Union States that had slaves retained their slaves until after the war ended and Lincoln was assassinated. The Union had Black Troops as well. Were they fighting to preserve slavery in the Northern States?

Apparently, Mr. Walsh does not live in Washington's 3rd Congressional District. I say that because he does not address the huge rift caused here by the dirty tactics used by the GOP to gain Herrera the nomination nor does he address her support of and votes for pro-SEIU legislation, joining with Democrats frequently to vote their agenda, like when she joined in with gutting our rainy day fund, or her dishonesty with voters. Sadly, the dirty tactics worked and we are now stuck with her. She is establishment machine groomed and indicative of what is wrong in America. We voters here in Wa. 03 are now stuck with choosing Tweedle Dem or Tweedle Dumb.

I have often said that poverty must not be an excuse for the conduct of today.

I grew up in the segregated south, 2 blocks on the "right side of the tracks." We too rarely closed the front door and only latched the screen door to keep it from banging in any wind at night.

Blacks that lived in deep poverty, walked around town and through "white" neighborhhods without problems. They did not seem to want to bring confrontation and whites did not either.

As wrong as segregation was, all accepted each other and even after segregation ended, worked alongside each other, except for a fringe few.

We do not need to resegregate, but should learn to be proud of who we are while accepting the other person should be just...

reinforcing the Troops as announced and only wish he would listen to the generals he assigned and give them what they seek.

The North Vietnamese tell us one of Johnson's blunder was not sending in Troops in the numbers Westmoreland requested.

Obama's blunder is giving Al Qaeda and the Taliban the date we will stop fighting and begin withdrawing. You never give such information to your enemy, if you fight that way.

As for Tora Bora, sorry, but General Tommy Franks is more qualified to speak on that than any columnist and speak on it he did, http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/19/opinion/19franks.html?_r =1

If this surge...

in Afghanistan, I can only hope and pray that 30 years from now, today's Brave Troops aren't siting around wondering, "what happened? We were winning with I left," as so many of my fellow Viet Nam Vets do today.

This is what we get when a person is elected that needs training wheels on the position.

that anyone professing Christianity, either right or left, wouldn't realize that family values includes broader moral issues of poverty, injustice and would do much to improve individuals healthcare by them leading a moral and clean lifestyle.

I guess that is what the broad road leading off into destruction is about.