Bull Durham is one of my favorite sports movies. In a wonderful scene, Kevin Costner teaches Tim Robbins how to handle an interview by practicing his "cliches," things that you can say that will never offend anyone. "I'm just glad to be here and to help the team in any way that I can." "We're just taking it one game at a time." Bland, almost meaningless comments, that will never cause a sensation. I wonder why politicians can't just learn their cliches. Vice President Dick Cheney said of D...

Ariel Sharon has put on the table the unilateral withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and portions of the West Bank. The move is widely seen as an attempt by Sharon to bolster his own sinking political ship (Sharon is under investigation in Israel for financial improprieties and is under fire from both right-wing and left-wing Israelis) and has been condemned by much of the world. President Bush is one of the few world leaders to praise the move. The transcript of President Bu...

Ariel Sharon has put on the table the unilateral withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and portions of the West Bank. The move is widely seen as an attempt by Sharon to bolster his own sinking political ship (Sharon is under investigation in Israel for financial improprieties and is under fire from both right-wing and left-wing Israelis) and has been condemned by much of the world. President Bush is one of the few world leaders to praise the move. The transcript of President Bu...

Ariel Sharon has put on the table the unilateral withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and portions of the West Bank. The move is widely seen as an attempt by Sharon to bolster his own sinking political ship (Sharon is under investigation in Israel for financial improprieties and is under fire from both right-wing and left-wing Israelis) and has been condemned by much of the world. President Bush is one of the few world leaders to praise the move. The transcript of President Bu...

Ariel Sharon has put on the table the unilateral withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and portions of the West Bank. The move is widely seen as an attempt by Sharon to bolster his own sinking political ship (Sharon is under investigation in Israel for financial improprieties and is under fire from both right-wing and left-wing Israelis) and has been condemned by much of the world. President Bush is one of the few world leaders to praise the move. The transcript of President Bu...

Once again, an Israeli airstrike has eliminated the leader of the terrorist group Hamas. A month after the assasination of Yassin, the new leader of the group Hamas, recognized by the US State Dept. as a terrorist organization, has been killed by an Israeli airstrike. Israel took this action after a Palestinian suicide bomber attacked the industrial area in Erez, killing a border patrol officer and wounding three others. Israeli Foreign Ministry official Gideon Meir said this was not th...

I admit that I do not not know what to think of Sharon's withdrawal plan. Is it a political maneuver, offered knowing that the Palestinians will reject it? Surprisingly (to me) Arafat has offered conditional support. Is it the first step on the road to peace? I have linked to CNN's coverage of the plan, so you can read it for yourself. What do you think of it?

According to CNN, a source close to the candidate says that Wesley Clark will endorse John Kerry in his quest for the Democratic nomination. Retired Army Gen. stopped short of confirming the rumor, saying only that "I'm looking forward to seeing John tomorrow." If accurate, Gen. Clark's endorsement would certainly boost the chances for John Kerry, who has won 12 of the first 14 primaries. The next Democratic primary is in Wisconsin. In my opinion, in order for any Democratic candidate...