EDITORIALS : For Robin Green

As Benton County has grown and changed, so has its criminal element — and there are few people more familiar with the evolution of crime and justice in the county than Benton County Attorney Robin Green. - Tuesday, May 13, 2008

For Doug Schrantz

Rogers District Judge Doug Schrantz used the word “proud” several times while interviewing with us. It’s understandable. - Tuesday, May 13, 2008

For Jim Wozniak

Mike Horton and Joel Jones, the challengers to longtime District 7 Justice of the Peace Jim Wozniak, are the kind of people we like to see get involved in politics. They’re young and seem interested in their communities. - Tuesday, May 13, 2008

For Tom Allen

Two years ago, then-incumbent JP Tom Allen was our choice for justice of the peace, District 4. We were very impressed with his opponent, Debra Hobbs, but felt that losing Allen’s experience would be too great a blow to a Quorum Court set to welcome several new JPs. - Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Is she a Trojan rabbit?

MAUREEN DOWD

WASHINGTON — Now Barack Obama faces a true dilemma: how best to punish Hillary Clinton. - Tuesday, May 13, 2008

National Perspectives : Avoiding the cause

CHARLEY REESE

When you know that the high cost of oil is due directly to the weak dollar and Wall Street speculators, I don’t know how anybody expects to solve the energy problem without dealing with the weak dollar and Wall Street speculators. - Monday, May 12, 2008

EDITORIALS : Peterson for Collector

Much has been made this election season of whether the county tax collector should have an accounting background. - Monday, May 12, 2008

Oxford for Coroner

Looking back on our interview with county coroner candidate Daniel Oxford, the thing that stands out for us is his headboard. Or, at least, Oxford’s description of his headboard. - Monday, May 12, 2008

Horses Can’t Choose

As we explore the limits of physical performance, sports trend toward the extreme — whatever it takes to win, until there’s a public pushback that threatens the sport. - Monday, May 12, 2008

What’s Next? : With time and the odds against her, Hillary Clinton vows to press on with presidential campaign

By Wes Allison St. Petersburg Times

SHEPHERDSTOWN, W.Va. — If you’re looking for a reason why Sen. - Sunday, May 11, 2008

McCain-Jindal ?

WILLIAM KRISTOL

Barack Obama said recently, “We’ve had a rough couple of weeks.” Actually, he’s had a rough couple of months. He’s lost three big primaries to Hillary Clinton. And, should he hold on to win the nomination, he can no longer be considered a clear favorite over John Mc-Cain in the general election In a New York Times/CBS News poll in late February, Obama was defeating John Mc-Cain 50 to 38. Two months later, the Times/CBS poll had McCain and Obama tied. The poll that came out last Sunday showed Obama reopening a lead over McCain — but clearly over this period a vulnerability for Obama was exposed. - Sunday, May 11, 2008

National ID solves many problems

ROWLAND NETHAWAY

WACO, Texas — In a 6-3 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a state can demand photo ID for voting. - Sunday, May 11, 2008

LETTERS

Points made clearly, but misunderstood - Sunday, May 11, 2008

The conservative revival

DAVID BROOKS

For years, American and British politics were in sync. Reagan came in roughly the same time as Thatcher, and Clinton’sThird Way approach mirrored Blair’s. But the British conservatives never had a Gingrich revolution in the 1990s or the Bush victories thereafter. They got their losing in early, and, in the wilderness, they rethought modern conservatism while their American counterparts were clinging to power. - Sunday, May 11, 2008

What we’re buying at college

MONA CHAREN

This week millions of high school seniors across the nation will mail forms and checks to colleges announcing their intention to matriculate. It’s the culmination of what some say was the toughest year ever to pry open the golden doors of academe. - Sunday, May 11, 2008

Right Turn : Who’s influential?

CAL THOMAS

Time magazine has published another one of those silly and meaningless lists some in the media occasionally and irritatingly compile to validate their self-importance. It is the 100 “most influential people in the world.” I didn’t make it, but then I don’t make other lists like People magazine’s “Sexiest Man Alive,” which must be an oversight. - Sunday, May 11, 2008

EDITORIAL ROUNDUP

Cutting rates, but carefully As expected, the Federal Reserve cut interest rates again April 30, by another quarter of a percentage point. As The Wall Street Journal had predicted, Fed officials appear to want some “insurance against a deeper recession.” With that, however, the Fed also suggested that this might be the last such cut for the time being and that it will monitor inflation carefully. That is welcome news, for while recession is a concern, perhaps the greater need now is for increased protection against inflation. - Sunday, May 11, 2008

Reckonings : Thinking about November

PAUL KRUGMAN

The fight for the Democratic presidential nomination seems to be winding down. It’s not completely over, but the odds now overwhelmingly favor Barack Obama. - Sunday, May 11, 2008

The Rockwood Files : My mother, my history

GWEN ROCKWOOD

Two weeks ago, I had one of those moments of crisis when the only person I could really talk to, the only person I could fall apart with, was my mom. - Sunday, May 11, 2008

Aftermath : The too-long goodbye

NICHOLAS D. KRISTOF

After the Tuesday primaries, Hillary Rodham Clinton now has maybe a 2 percent chance of winning the Democratic nomination. But if she pursues her losing battle, she has perhaps a 20 percent chance of costing the Democrats the presidency in the fall. - Sunday, May 11, 2008

The Hillary Democrats

PATRICK J. BUCHANAN

“I have a much broader base to build a winning coalition on” than Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton has told USA TODAY. - Saturday, May 10, 2008

ALL THUMBS

Appearing each Saturday, “All Thumbs” is The Benton County Daily Record’s take on the people, events and issues deserving a “thumbs up” for a noteworthy accomplishment or good deed or a “thumbs down” for magnificent failure or just general stupidity. Thumbs up to the fact that no one was fired during flamboyant multi-billionaire Donald Trump’s speech in Rogers last week. Trump was the keynote speaker at a fundraising luncheon for Economics Arkansas, which promotes economic education throughout the natural state. Attendees got an education, all right, as “The Donald” dispensed bits of wisdom ranging from, “You have to love what you’re doing,” to “Always, when you get married, always have a prenuptial agreement.” Those in attendance were no doubt entertained — and relieved to emerge unscathed. - Saturday, May 10, 2008

LETTERS

Nation’s sins the real problem I heard about an activist group that is going around praying at different gas pumps for lower gas prices. I do believe in prayer, and I know that God answers prayers, and I sure would like to have lower gas prices. But the problem we are facing is not high gas prices. The problem is the sin of our nation. - Saturday, May 10, 2008

Reckonings : Success breeds failure

PAUL KRUGMAN

Cross your fingers, knock on wood: it’s possible, though by no means certain, that the worst of the financial crisis is over. That’s the good news. - Friday, May 9, 2008

Doubling Down

Although Barack Obama won by a landslide Tuesday in the North Carolina presidential primary, Hillary Clinton maintained that her victory in Indiana meant that the Democratic contest isn’t over — never mind that her margin was unexpectedly slim. Indeed, she doubled down; her campaign chairman said she was prepared to kick in even more of her own money. At some point, though, the battle is over, and Clinton’s grit starts to look like denial. - Friday, May 9, 2008

EDITORIALS : Better Care

Defense Secretary Robert Gates announced last week, during a visit to Fort Bliss, Texas, that military personnel, as well as civilians, will no longer have to reveal previous mental-health treatment when applying for security clearances for sensitive positions. - Friday, May 9, 2008

LETTERS

Steps to a better Bella Vista - Friday, May 9, 2008

EDITORIALS : Gas Pandering

There is no bigger, more far-reaching question facing Americans today than how we continue to fuel the vehicles that keep our society moving. - Thursday, May 8, 2008

LETTERS

Christians not obligated to let lawbreakers take over Jim Miranda does not support lawbreakers. Then we must agree that regardless of nationality, creed or color (including white), no matter what station or status, a person found here illegally by any lawenforcement officer should be respectfully taken into custody, photographed, fingerprinted and their correct name determined, along with any aliases. - Thursday, May 8, 2008

Foreign Affairs : The democratic recession

THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN

There are two important recessions going on in the world today. One has gotten enormous attention. It’s the economic recession in America. But it will eventually pass, and the world will not be much worse for the wear. The other has gotten no attention. It’s called “the democratic recession,” and if it isn’t reversed, it will change the world for a long time. - Thursday, May 8, 2008