Stan Latreille's blog

As John Edwards fades into a footnote in the long history of those who aspired to lead the nation, citizens good and true shake their heads and wonder what has become of American virtue.
How dare a man like that put himself forward not only as the one to lead the nation but the whole free world?

A new reality show?

Like a window broken and falling to pieces in slow motion, the Obama dream (some would say fantasy) is shattered. The pieces haven’t hit the floor yet, but the collapse raises serious questions about whether Obama will be a one-term president.

The Massachusetts senatorial election was the blow that did the job, but the arm that wielded the hammer was the electorate—American voters angry and alarmed by Obama’s attempt to transform American society into something they would not recognize and do not want.

As the dark wings of disaster hover over the Democrats following the astounding loss of the Kennedy Senate seat in Massachusetts, the question arises as to whether President Obama will attempt to pass his health care plans before Senator-elect Scott Brown can be sworn in.

If the President attempts that end round, he will finally reveal himself as the radical ideologue his foaming-at-the mouth critics have pictured him as all along.

A long time ago in another world and in another life, I touched history. It was March 14, 1968, and the occasion was the last appearance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Michigan, three weeks before he was assassinated.

Dr. King spoke in the Grosse Pointe High School auditorium. I was in that audience as a Detroit News reporter. It was the first time I had seen Dr. King up close, and I could not help but be affected by his calm demeanor.

If you want an explanation for why people have such a low opinion of politicians, just take a look at what is happening to Harry Reid, the embattled majority leader of the U.S. Senate.

Republicans are calling for Reid’s head on a pike because he noted that Barack Obama could get white votes because he was light skinned and didn’t speak in a “Negro dialect, unless he wanted to.” Reid spoke in the context of a discussion about Obama’s chances of winning the presidency. He essentially was talking about the reaction of white voters to a black candidate.

President Obama has just announced that travelers from certain countries—Lebanon, Pakistan, and Nigeria among them—will be subject to heightened scrutiny when they seek to come to America.

On a night filled with mystery and wonder, a virgin gives birth, a king is born in a stable, and the sky is afire with hosts of angels announcing good news to the lowest of the low, poor shepherds tending their flocks.

A Child is born 2,000 years ago, and the world has never been the same since.

Hark! Could those be the herald angels singing? 

If so, there must be something unconstitutional about it. After all, I am standing in a shopping mall, and this year there is something decidedly different about the music that floods the senses with the subliminal message to buy, buy, buy.

Amazingly, after years of serenading us with songs about Rudolph, Santa Baby (Eartha Kitt), or White Christmas, we are now treated to sacred music like “Silent Night,” “Once Upon a Midnight Clear,” and “O Come All Ye Faithful.” I even heard “Ave Maria” in one store.

It is amazing how the prospect of the gallows will focus the mind.

Dr. Samuel Johnson wasn’t thinking of Barack Obama when he expressed that idea, but its timeless truth may very well explain Obama’s Nobel speech earlier this month.

Is it possible that President Obama took a good look at the real world as he agonized over sending more troops to Afghanistan? Did he see the evil people out there scheming to commit mass murder on American shores? Did he realize that our good will alone will not soften the hearts of Al Qaeda or Iran or North Korea?