Encounters on the trail

 Imagine my unease and downright trepidation when my daughter — the one who lives in the moose-infested wilds of Alaska, namely Anchorage — leaves the following voice message on my cellphone:

Death of a nation: Five stages of grief

It is painful for me to have to write this column, just as it is always painful to write about the loss of something or someone near and dear to us — but finally the truth must be told:

GOP elephant finally hears from little old Whoville!

Last week, the Republican primary season took as its inspiration the Dr. Seuss classic “Horton Hears a Who” — only in this new version it was the big fat GOP elephant that needed to get the wax out of its ears.

GOP voters being led around by the nose?

Hey, Republicans, how does it feel to be taking your marching orders from Big Media, Big Government, and Big Money?

Shouldn't president honor a subpoena?

There has been considerable evidence in recent months that President Obama, like President Nixon before him, sees himself as above the law.

'Natural-born' mess may soon be cleared up

“So far as the author knows, no fully satisfactory definition of the term ‘natural-born citizen’ has yet been given by the Supreme Court.”

Penetrating the illusion of tolerance and diversity

Cue the theme music.

One hundred years of solicitude: From Teddy to Barack

In the past year, I have sought answers to the question of American decline — how exactly did we come to the point of audacious despair that led us to jettison our cherished traditions and values and embrace medioc…

How did the Treasure State wind up begging for jobs in N.D.?

Christmas, community & an ongoing conversation

Christmas is a time to remember our blessings, and for me, having the opportunity to work at the Daily Inter Lake since 1984 counts as one of the best in a life full of them.

These port protesters 'occupy' sheep's clothing

As a great man once said, “By their fruits you shall know them.” Indeed, Jesus warned that sometimes “ravening wolves” come to you “in sheep’s clothing.”

Economic inequality and the enduring myth of 'easy money'

Thanks to winter weather and a handful of belatedly plucky mayors around the country, the Occupy Movement has gone into semi-hibernation, but don’t imagine you’ve seen the last of it.

Occupy Eden: How did that turn out?

One of the chief complaints of Occupy Wall Street is economic inequality. And because Americans have been conditioned to abhor inequality, thousands of us have been lured to support the movement out of an honest de…

Let's fix what ails us: A deficit of common sense

The words of Sen. Max Baucus in the Congressional Record are admirable: “Giant deficits are killing us. ... Clearly we cannot keep borrowing this way. We must act.”

A lady named Max made me into a singer

 After a long hiatus, I have rejoined the alto section of the choir at Christ Lutheran Church in Whitefish.