US Opinion and Commentary

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Accepting Trump’s Acceptance Speech

Posted July 23rd, 2016 at 11:11 am (UTC-5)
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Donald Trump used his acceptance speech to reinforce the themes that catapulted him to the Republican presidential nomination. Anyone who hoped to see a softer, more introspective side of Trump were disappointed.

Speaking for more than an hour, Trump seized on the themes that dominate the much of the news cycle: law and order, safety and terrorism. He reinforced his vision of securing America’s borders with a wall between the U.S. and Mexico. And he tried to tie these problems to policies pursued by his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton.

Trump had an enthusiastic audience inside the arena at the Republican National Convention. But with divisions still apparent within the Republican Party over the nomination battle, Trump’s message was aimed at the large number of undecided voters who disapprove of both major candidates.

RNC Notebook: The GOP Unifies…But Around Who?

Posted July 21st, 2016 at 1:54 pm (UTC-5)
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Are Republicans more unified around Donald Trump or against Hillary Clinton?

How to Prevent Violence in Cleveland

Posted July 15th, 2016 at 10:32 am (UTC-5)
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It’s encouraging that the police chief, Calvin Williams, has rejected, at least in theory, a militarylike appearance for his officers. Police officers in a free and democratic society don’t look, or act, like soldiers.

Tamir Rice Protests Must Be Peaceful

Posted December 29th, 2015 at 10:30 am (UTC-5)
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We are not Baltimore. We are not Ferguson. We are Cleveland, and so far, we have shown the world how to protest without injury or harm to property. When those other cities burned, the violence achieved nothing. Innocent people were hurt and the schism widened between the police and the communities they serve.  

We Need Cops With People Skills

Posted October 5th, 2015 at 10:57 am (UTC-5)
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One of the most important weapons in a cop’s arsenal is his authority. But authority presupposes legitimacy and trust. How much of either can a police officer — or a police force or the institution of policing itself — command when they operate under such a blatantly different set of rules?