fort worth star-telegram endorses obama

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram endorsed Barack Obama for president today in an editorial citing America's need for new leadership.

For many of the same reasons that the Star-Telegram recommended Democrat Bill Clinton in 1992, it is recommending Democrat Barack Obama in 2008.

Obama provides the prescription for America’s ills at this moment: a fine, inquisitive intellect, paired with an eloquence that allows him to articulate a message with clarity and substance; an ability to inspire people of all ages, races and ethnicities who never before were engaged in the political process; and an unflappable temperament that allows him to weather a barrage of withering personal attacks.

Under his leadership, the Obama campaign has been amazingly disciplined, efficient and effective. Those same talents will be essential for the difficult work ahead to rebuild the nation’s faltering economic institutions and restore citizen confidence.

Meanwhile, the Fort Worth newspaper's main competitor, the Dallas Morning News, has endorsed John McCain. We think that, like the two biggest newspapers, the voting population in North Texas is also split. That's why you need to get everyone you know out to the polls on Election Day, or better yet during early voting next week. We could turn this around and give Obama much-needed, valuable votes. And yes, Texas is a red state, but you never know what could happen! We may end up with a Democratic senator if we get out the vote!

the secret life of becky miller

The Secret Life of Becky Miller is the story of an ordinary soccer mom that fantasizes she's a pirate and a superhero.

Stay tuned for the upcoming sequel based on a true story: The Secret Life of Becky Miller 2: The College Years. The synopsis -- an ordinary Texas mayor fantasizes that she attended Western Kentucky University.

Update: The Miller-Branson showdown, a.k.a. Carrollton's municipal election, is this Saturday. The Dallas Morning News failed to make an endorsement in this race, but they did issue a stern editorial, saying "Carrollton needs a straight shooter" and encouraging Carrollton officials to push Miller out should she win Saturday's contest.

Why does the news media hate Pinky?

Dallas Morning News Names Illegal Immigrant Texan of the Year

The Dallas Morning News has acknowledged the complexity of the immigration issue by writing a balanced editorial naming illegal immigrants as its Texan of the Year.

Few issues have the intense rhetoric associated with them as the immigration debate. For many Republican voters, it is the single issue that defines their political view. How important this issue is in the current primary campaign is evidenced by how many in the GOP field have tacked to the right on this issue since declaring themselves as presidential candidates.

While governor, Huckabee gained favor with Hispanic leaders by denouncing a high-profile federal immigration raid and suggesting some anti-illegal immigration measures were driven by racism. He advocated making children of illegal immigrants eligible for college scholarships.

Huckabee's Republican presidential rivals have tried to make an issue of the scholarship plan, portraying him as soft on illegal immigration. Huckabee responded this month by unveiling a plan to seal the Mexican border, hire more agents to patrol it and make illegal immigrants go home before they could apply to return to this
country.

From the border fence to the ordinances in Farmers Branch, the immigration debate has held the spotlight all year. In its editorial, the DMN acknowledges that the controversy will be with us for some time to come. But although Texas is projected to be majority Hispanic by 2020, the editorial also makes the observation that Latin America's own demographics may ultimately impact this issue regardless of political strategy.

... though the current immigration flow shows no signs of abating, the Mexican GDP is growing and the national fertility rate has plummeted by almost two-thirds since 1970. That birth rate is nearing the level at which Mexico would need to retain workers for its own economy, thereby shutting off the spigot of immigration into the U.S.

So if the GOP can't put this genie back in the bottle, it will have spent a decade or more alienating what will then be Texas' largest bloc of voters on an issue that may resolve of its own accord. Brilliant strategy, pachyderms. Don't stop on our account.