BY JIM HIGHTOWER Citigroup, once the world’s largest financial conglomerate, has fallen so far down that you can buy a share of its stock today for less than it costs to use one of its ATM machines. A few days ago, however, Citi caused investors’ hearts to go pitter-patter with joy when it loudly trumpeted […]

BY FROMA HARROP In his essay “Why the GOP Can’t Win With Minorities,” conservative scholar Shelby Steele almost nails the half-question in the title. An African-American, Steele contrasts the “moral activism” of liberals with conservative calls for personal discipline. He notes that blacks and Hispanics often poll conservative on social issues and that many Great […]

BY SUSAN ESTRICH Bernard Madoff pleaded guilty in federal district court in New York to all 11 counts against him, waiving his right to an indictment, avoiding the humiliation of a trial, and depriving his victims and the public of what might have been a public course in how Ponzi schemes work, and how even […]

BY JOE CONASON If President Barack Obama’s response to the economic crisis is imperfect, as he acknowledges, and if the Congressional Democrats leave much to be desired as well, then Americans can at least be thankful that the nation’s fate has not been consigned to the frozen minds on the other side of the aisle. […]

BY FROMA HARROP President Obama has vowed to curb the number of earmarks, also known as pork, in future spending bills. A commendable promise, had his number been zero. Unfortunately, the president wants to deal with an unsavory dish by cutting the portion size. Earmarks are pet projects that lawmakers stuff into spending bills. There […]