Let's give a SHOUT OUT to our favorite local Newspaper Columnists

[LynneSin]

I'm not talking about the ones that are massed published in hundreds of papers, but the local guy who is there 2-3 times a week with a great message in your local paper.

Me - I just love reading Norman Lockman's column out of the WIlmington DE News-Journal. A definate liberal his last column just rocked:

http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/opinion/lockman/08082004.html

Terror alerts also amplify scare tactics
That's why Homeland Security's practice of converting streams of terrorist chatter into a color-coded threat that is broadcast nationally makes so little sense. This gives terrorists a huge loudspeaker turned up to full volume, while shouting, "Watch out, they're coming!" That enhances terrorism's reach.

Ridge tries to treat terrorism alerts like weather forecasts. But unlike meteorologists who use science to make more accurate predictions, Ridge still seems to be putting a wet finger in the air.

In practical effect, Homeland Security's warnings fall into two categories: If something happens, it can say, "We warned you." And if nothing happens, it can say, "Maybe we scared them off."

I certainly want Homeland Security to keep its eyes and ears open. But then I want it to tell the people who can do something effective about stopping an attack -- and that isn't you and me.

Don't tell me that big chunks of the sky may fall any minute but don't know where or when, and then tell me to go stand in an open field to prove that I'm patriotic. That must have the terrorist chieftains rolling in their caves.


ANYHOW....

this thread is for everyone to give a shoutout to their favorite local op-ed columnist! The little guys getting the job done to help get the message out there. I'd think if dems were smart they'd pick up some of these local guys like Normal Lockman and get them syndicated throughout the United States so more folks can get his message

Here's links to the last 2 columns before this - all great columns:

Police are our front line on terrorism: http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/opinion/lockman/08042004.html


Kerry found right voice to sell himself
http://www.delawareonline.com/newsjournal/opinion/lockman/08012004.html

[Philostopher]

1. I wish I could post a link to some articles ...

but the Cox papers require a registration now, and I refuse to register to access information online I can read in my kitchen. I don't know if any of these people are syndicated to the Cox chain papers -- D.L. Stewart might be, his columns aren't as specific to the area as the other two I mention in Dayton.

The Dayton Daily News has two op-ed columnists, one of whom gets the 'Life' section sidebar and the other who gets the 'Local' section sidebar several times a week. D.L. Stewart has been around forever, he does a sort of 'life with father' column -- though he's actually pushing 60 and all his kids are in their thirties -- that's pretty good. I especially like when he writes about the Yorkie puppy he and his wife have bought to fill their empty nest ... or at least to fill their kitchen floor with urine. He's our local Dave Barry analogue, I guess.

Leigh Allan is a populist veteran who occasionally tweaks the ears of the uptight, no matter which side they're on. He writes about the local schools, barbershops and about walking around in the south suburbs of Dayton, where I live, too. If his writing is any indication, he's the kind of guy who could make a conversation over a beer last a whole afternoon.

The 'Columbus bureau' political columnist, a young woman named Mei Ling Hopgood, also writes quite well about Ohio politics. She doesn't 'get political' in the column -- it's more an observational column about being a minority female working the beat than it is about politics.

And my favorite all-time sidebar writer ever was Doug Robarchek, who did (perhaps still does, I don't know) the sidebar for the local/tempo section of the Charlotte Observer. I still have a manila envelope somewhere with a half dozen or so of his columns that I cut out back in the '80s, when I was living in South Carolina, that were real gems. I haven't seen anything that funny since.

[tg]

2. David Rossie

Press & Sun Bulletin, Binghamton, NY

This one's from Sunday: http://www.pressconnects.com/sunday/opinion/stories/op080804s109157.shtml

Rossie: This Purple Heart's not cheatin'

(Aug. 7) WASHINGTON, D. C. -- In a quiet ceremony at the White House today, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld awarded a Silver Star and Purple Heart to President George W. Bush for his role in foiling a terrorist plot at his ranch in Crawford, Texas, on July 26.

According to a Defense Department report, the incident occurred when the president was patrolling the ranch perimeter on his mountain bike and discovered two infiltrators on the property.

... more, much more

[terrya]

3. Eric Zorn of the Chicago Tribune rocks!

A good, liberal guy.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/ericzorn/chi-ericzorn,1,1315864.columnist?coll=chi-news-col

[UnityDem]

4. Cynthia Tucker

Atlanta Journal Constitution. She rocks!

[Redbear]

5. John Young Waco Tribune-Herald

He is the one who called Michael Moore to get F9/11 to Crawford.

http://www.wacotrib.com/news/newsfd/auto/feed/news/2004/08/12/1092289818.18121.8603.6094.html

[GOPisEvil]

6. Kelso in the Austin American-Statesman

www.statesman.com (registration req'd)

He writes a good humorous current events-related column 3 times a week.

[mark414]

7. eugene kane from milwaukee

http://www.jsonline.com/news/metro/aug04/250437.asp

[mac56]

8. Stephen Sacco in the Athens Banner-Herald is a good one.

http://www.onlineathens.com/staff/saccosteven.shtml

He hits a lot more often than he whiffs.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

9. Nick Coleman in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune

and in my old residence of Portland,Oregon, David Sarasohn.

[flamingyouth]

10. David Horsey of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Yes, he's more than an editorial cartoonist! He also writes the occasional op-ed piece, and he's damn good. :D

[tigereye]

11. Tony Norman

Pittsburgh Post Gazette