Dan K. Thomasson

The high price of money lending

The nation's banks are facing tough new regulations already adopted by the U.S. House of Representatives, and most Americans believe that is exactly what they deserve. In fact, it is highly probable that many Republican lawmakers who formed a solid wall in opposition privately would agree, probably not with the exact language but with what my mother used to call the doctrine of comeuppance.

December 19, 2009

Privatizing wasteful spending

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has given new meaning to the great American tradition of buying elections. The billionaire two-term mayor has become history's all-time champion for spending his own money as he runs for an unprecedented third term.

October 31, 2009

Zero tolerance for zero tolerance

Every few weeks comes a tale from one school or another so unbelievably stupid that it makes one shudder with disbelief at the lack of judgment in the administration of the American education system.

October 24, 2009

Obama retreats on shield law

So much for another one of those Obama promises. You know, the ones that start out one way and suddenly become something else, mostly less.

October 10, 2009

No privacy in public

Members of the Supreme Court of the United States are a necessarily private, cloistered lot who with rare exception relax only with the closest of relatives or friends. As a result, these nine powerful men and women, while insulated from the influences that elected politicians must contend with, are often denied the normal relationships afforded the rest of us.

October 3, 2009

Enough already, Mr. President!

President Obama's incessant pleas in behalf of health care reform have reached a decibel level seldom before achieved by anyone in his job. The appeals became a crescendo over the weekend with taped appearances on the three leading nationally televised Sunday morning public-affairs programs and another with comedy host David Letterman on his late-night show.

September 26, 2009

Obama should take what he can get

There are times in any legislative endeavor when you should take what you can get and hope to win the rest later. That's the point President Obama is fast approaching in regard to health care reform. His constant, full-campaign-mode jawboning has probably run its course in effectiveness.

September 19, 2009

Season for sports escapism

With the end of summer in the wings, it is time once again for Americans to fork over hard-earned dollars, probably billions of them, to satisfy an insatiable hunger for sports escapism even in these difficult economic times.

September 12, 2009

Woes are increasing

Sitting around in a commercial jet on the runway for an extended period while airline officials dither over whether to take off, cancel the flight or wind their watches isn't all that usual, but it isn't all that rare, either. When it does occur, it can be maddening, dangerous and almost criminally negligent.

August 22, 2009

A comedian’s Senate send-up

Al Franken, the comedian-turned-politician, should be right at home in Congress, which humorist Will Rogers once described as the greatest collection of his type in the world. "Every time they tell a joke, Rogers said, "it becomes a law, and every time they pass a law it becomes a joke."

July 4, 2009

THOMASSON: Little drama despite drumbeat

The nation's capital loves nothing so much as the prospect of a good battle over a Supreme Court nominee. Endless hours are devoted to speculation about the chances of Senate confirmation, and every stone on the candidate's path through life will be turned over by the press, opposing forces and just plain acquaintances who want a moment in the spotlight.

May 30, 2009

THOMASSON: A vote closer to one-party rule

Everyone likes to win, and Pennsylvania's Sen. Arlen Specter is no exception. The difference is that Mr. Specter's desire may do some real damage to the Republican Party and have broad implications for Americans generally.

May 2, 2009

THOMASSON: School funds play hooky

A funny thing has been happening to some of that widely heralded federal education money. It has fallen off the bus on the way to school. At least a few cash-strapped local governments, upon notification of the federal input, have eliminated an equal amount from their own budgets, hardly what the Obama administration had in mind for the $100 billion aimed at vastly improving the nation's schools.

April 25, 2009

THOMASSON: In high court’s hot seat

The U.S. Supreme Court is about to get involved in one of the most difficult of American subjects - middle schools and the care of their inmates, who, as they emerge half-baked from babyhood, more resemble zoo animals.

April 18, 2009

THOMASSON: Prosecutorial misconduct

Few cases of ethical laxity reach the magnitude or threaten to undercut the fairness of the criminal justice system as much as did the conviction of Alaska's Ted Stevens.

April 11, 2009

THOMASSON: Staggering challenges

The words were upbeat and inspiring and the follow-up budgetary details so startling one can only wonder how in the world most of it can be accomplished with a Treasury that is as much under water as half the stocks in everyone's 401(k) or the value of their houses as compared to their mortgages.

March 1, 2009

THOMASSON: Honeymoon ended before it started

It is obvious that tens of millions of Americans thought naively that Barack Obama's election would usher in a new era of civility and bipartisanship, a chance for a divided nation to come together in a spirit of political cooperation to deal with the nation's pressing needs. They now know better.

February 11, 2009

THOMASSON: The buck stops on Obama’s desk

Harry Truman is credited with saying it first and of putting it on his desk in the Oval Office. But it hasn't been heard around here for some time. In fact, "the buck stops here," has all but disappeared from presidential usage, replaced by "I can't think of any [mistakes] at the moment."

February 8, 2009