The beginning of the end of Joe Biden's presidency arrived in August 2001. That's when the president began a catastrophic pullout from Afghanistan that shredded our national credibility and his own reputation. He never really recovered. The House Foreign Affairs Committee has just released an exhaustive 353-page report putting on record the sorry episode from beginning to end. The report's overarching conclusion is that this was a Joe Biden operation from beginning to end.

A newspaper story several years ago reported about an elementary school teacher who held elections in his class. The students picked their candidates — one little boy competing against one little girl. The little boy stood up before the class and shared his ideas for changes that would improve their lives. The little girl stood up and promised that everyone who voted for her would get ice cream.

Of all the living Republicans who have run on a presidential ticket, only two are publicly backing Donald Trump: Sarah Palin, the 2008 vice presidential candidate, and JD Vance, Trump’s current running mate. Everyone else is going a different way. ...

Hunger can affect any one of us with a change of circumstances. A sudden job loss, a health emergency, or rising costs can lead to dire financial straits for anyone. But the latest food insecurity data paints an increasingly alarming picture. ...

Famously, a message from President Theodore Roosevelt's Secretary of State, John Hay, electrified the 1904 Republican convention: "This Government wants Perdicaris alive or Raisuli dead." Ion Perdicaris, a wealthy Greek-American, had been kidnapped in Morocco by a bandit named Ahmed al-Raisuli. Hay's line served as a U.S. ultimatum to bring the affair, after the United deployment of the U.S. Navy to Morocco and drawn-out negotiations, to a conclusion.

We live in an age of anxiety, full of anger and depression. The presidential candidates are clearly playing on both emotional states. There's need for healing. But there is also an invitation for courage. That's what's maddening about politics these days — the lack of courage. The Republicans drive me the craziest because they supposedly believe abortion is a human-rights issue, but then they just dropped it in the hopes it would help them in November.

The word suicide is often a tough word for many to understand. In 2014, I lost my sister to suicide. Actually, I lost my sister to a mental health struggle she could not find her way out of. She tried very hard to get the help she needed, to find her way out of a very scary darkness she found herself in. She had family and friends who loved her so much, yet the darkness prevailed. ...

As a survivor of domestic and firearms violence I am truly disappointed and sad that another shooting has happened in Cape Girardeau. This has got to stop. Too many people have lost their lives to senseless gun violence. More than 120 Americans are shot and killed every day. We must hold people accountable for their actions. We must come together in the community of Cape Girardeau and work together to end this pandemic of senseless gun violence that continues to happen every single day and tears apart families friends and communities we live.

Twenty-three years ago, on the beautiful early fall morning of Sept. 11, 2001, we saw the aftermath of what we thought was a tragic accident — a plane had flown into one of the World Trade Center towers. Minutes later, though, our shock turned to horror and then fear as a second plane flew into the other tower. Moments later, both towers fell, leaving a gaping hole in the NYC skyline and a void in our collective psyche.

First, they oppose you and condescend to you. Then, they reluctantly conclude that you had more on the ball than they thought. After that, they concede your achievements. And finally, they make a glowing feature-length movie about you. This has been the trajectory of Ronald Reagan and his reputation, although the new film, "Reagan," wasn’t made by his erstwhile detractors. ...

Vice President Kamala Harris thinks U.S. Steel should not have the right to sell its business to Japan’s Nippon Steel. Previously, some Republican senators thought they too should have the ability to kill the deal between private companies. And it doesn’t stop there. During the pandemic, airlines had to get the government’s permission to hand out hand sanitizer to passengers. Energy projects are subjected to years of permitting processes. And, of course, in most places, Americans aren’t allowed to build what they want on their own property without subjecting themselves to government authorization. ...

Southeast Missouri State University has forged new partnerships with the Cape Girardeau and Jackson school districts, expanding access to its educational programs for district employees. In addition to tuition benefits, the agreements offer faculty and staff exclusive discounts on the university’s cultural arts events, athletic games, and recreational activities, enhancing both professional development and community engagement. ...

In June 2022, The Supreme Court, in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, overturned Roe v. Wade, the decision that defined the law of the land regarding abortion since 1973. Now we are in active national discourse about which abortion regime will fill this vacuum. ...

“He was on our radar.” How many times have we heard that after a mass shooting at a high school or a shopping mall? We heard it for the umpteenth time again this week after a disturbed 14-year-old kid in Georgia took a rifle to school and killed two students, two teachers, and injured nine others.

What do you get when you combine artworks, a snapshot of the area's agricultural products, concerts, children's entertainment, a carnival and food favorites? SEMO District Fair. This year's extravaganza is upon us, running Saturday, Sept. 7, through Saturday, Sept. 14, at the fairgrounds in Cape Girardeau.

I am so tired of mean and nasty that I would even consider voting for Jimmy Carter. Vocabulary class Since Trump’s mother was born in Scotland, it’s appropriate to define him with a uniquely Scottish word that fits him perfectly. That word is Cockwomble. The definition is — “a person prone to making outrageously stupid statements and/or inappropriate behavior while generally having a very high opinion of his own wisdom and importance”. You gotta love the Scots!

There appears to be lingering confusion about the funding mechanism for the West Park Mall project. As a longtime member of the TIF committee with 30 years of experience as a commercial real estate lender, I feel that I have a pretty good understanding of how this works and will attempt to provide some clarification ...

"Have mercy on us — and ISIS." Shortly after the mass killing of Christians by that terrorist group in Iraq 10 years ago, a young woman born in a refugee camp led an arena of young people in prayer. She believed in God’s mercy enough that she even prayed for the Islamist militant group who had killed members of her family. ...

Baseball has been known as America’s “pastime”. The world’s game is soccer. But as summer ends and fall begins, football — our football — takes center stage. It’s easy to understand why: Everyone gets a role. The players and coaches work hard and give their best for each precious game. The bands and cheerleaders hype the crowds.

he indications are that a historically oppressed minority group in America is finally going to get discriminated against less. Cue the rejoicing? No, because the group is Asian-Americans and the discrimination has happened in the realm of college admissions. MIT has released its first post-affirmative action admissions numbers for the incoming class of 2028, and the percentage of Asian-American students increased markedly from 40% percent to 47%. Black students dropped from 15 to 5%, and Hispanic students from 16 to 11%, while the percentage of white students stayed roughly the same, dropping one percentage point.

How do accomplished radicals elect a mediocre far-left presidential candidate? The task might at first seem impossible. Kamala Harris is currently a radical incumbent vice president. For more than three years, she was second in command to an unprecedentedly unliked Democrat president, his failed policies, and his unpopular record.

Democrats are embracing freedom and love of country as their campaign message. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz took the stage at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and announced that the difference between Republicans and Democrats is "freedom." Similarly, Vice President Kamala Harris insisted that Democrats "believe in freedom, opportunity, and the promise of America." She added that her greatest privilege is being an American. With the GOP's old mix of freedom and optimism no longer front and center, I am just glad that someone, anyone, in these elections is willing to loudly say that America is indeed the greatest country there is. Millions of immigrants like me have left everything behind precisely because they believe this to be so. And many millions more would love to come and experience the American dream.

In every community, there exists an army of individuals whose contributions often go unnoticed, yet their impact is profound. These unsung heroes operate across various sectors without seeking accolades. But their efforts make our communities better. Each year, B Magazine dedicates an edition to recognize these individuals in its Difference Makers edition. These folks identify pressing issues and spearhead solutions, demonstrating leadership and dedication both in their professional roles and through various initiatives.

My organization, CURE, Center for Urban Renewal and Education, organized a delegation of 20 prominent pastors to travel to Israel to host a press conference on Oct. 7 as a show of support for and solidarity with Israelis on the one-year anniversary of the horrendous, savage terrorist attack that took place. A few days ago, we were notified by Delta Airlines that our flight was canceled. Airlines are canceling flights in light of the ongoing hostilities and instability in security in the region.

The single most abused, misused and misunderstood word in American politics is "unity." All presidential candidates vow to unite Americans. Nearly every pundit and public intellectual laments the lack of unity. "When America is united, America is totally unstoppable," Donald Trump declared in his inaugural address. "With unity, we can do great things. Important things," insisted Joe Biden in his. Kamala Harris proclaimed in her acceptance speech at the Democratic convention that "in unity, there is strength."

Never mind. If you thought cracking down on price gouging was a key element of the Kamala Harris economic program — because she said as much in her economic speech a couple of weeks ago — it turns out you were mistaken. Harris merely wanted people to know how seriously she takes escalating prices at the grocery store.

Hollywood can’t always be trusted to accurately portray reality or history, to say the least. But I fully enjoyed watching the facts go by in the premier of “Reagan,” which I saw this week at the famous Chinese Theater on Hollywood Boulevard. “Reagan,” which stars Dennis Quaid as my father and opened around the country Friday, covers my father’s career from Illinois lifeguard to the American president who set out to bankrupt the Soviet Union — and did it.

When it comes to the reasons for Monday's Labor Day holiday, the U.S. Department of Labor offers a good historical review. The first Labor Day celebration was in New York City in 1882 and organized by the Central Labor Union. Right off the bat, the holiday was associated with the first Monday in September. Other cities began to pass ordinances declaring a Labor Day holiday, and state legislatures began adopting the holiday. By 1894, 31 states were setting aside the first Monday in September for Labor Day. That year, Congress made Labor Day a holiday in the District of Columbia and U.S. territories.

To listen to the speeches from the podium at the Democratic National Convention, you'd think Democrats were handing out Friedrich Hayek's libertarian classic "The Road to Serfdom" on the floor. In recent weeks, Democrats have made a hard pivot to adopt the rhetoric of freedom, and the tack was particularly pronounced in Chicago. The anthem of the convention was the Beyoncé song "Freedom," and the Kamala Harris campaign unveiled a new ad, "We believe in freedom."

The top presidential candidates have a similar length of time working in the top positions of our nation. Let's start with a few verifiable accomplishments of the 2016 - 2020 Trump administration: Highest median household income; annual inflation rate of 1.9%; cut eight regulations and reduced taxes; better trade agreements; net gain of 7 million new jobs; created opportunity zones, helping lower-income neighborhoods; lowest unemployment rate in 50 years; lowest unemployment in history for minorities; lowest poverty rate in history; VA Choice for faster medical care; first president in 40 years to not start a war; Middle East peace deals; defeated ISIS; net drawdown of overseas troops; massive upgrade of military equipment; built/renovated more than 500 miles of border wall; remain in Mexico policy; deported foreign gang members; our country became a net exporter of energy; three Supreme Court Justices that brought constitutionally based decisions back; military peace through strength, instead of Bidens Afghanistan fiasco; increased the sale of Americans flags!

__RFK endorsement__ Now that RFK Jr. is out of the race (he was never really in it) his endorsement of Trump means nothing because he was attracting total loonies who would never have voted for Harris. His loony tune followers are probably even crazier than Trump’s anyway!

"Do something." That was one of the refrains of the recent Democratic convention. It was a brilliant emotional play for votes — many of the speakers clearly got a memo about the need to alleviate the anxiety of the age and our lives. It likely has a resonance that no policy proposal would. Earlier this summer, Catholics filled Lucas Stadium in Indianapolis to talk about hunger; hunger for something more than certainly politics can ever provide. Hunger for something eternal. Monsignor James Shea said: "God has made us so that we are incomplete unless we are feeding on Him. Human beings are famished for God ... We have to feed on God or something else — and whatever that something else is, it will leave us hungry."

Southeast Missouri is an arts-centric region. From the quality productions, exhibits and concerts at Southeast Missouri State University’s River Campus, Scout Hall, Bedell Performance Hall and other venues to Cape Girardeau’s downtown outdoor artworks and the Show Me Center’s regular attractions, the arts play an important role in uplifting the area’s culture. Another facet of the local arts scene is a vibrant and varied community of authors.

The 2023-2024 campaign season is not just the strangest on record, it's also arguably the most anti-democratic. Ostensibly, the Democratic Party has claimed over the last decade that former President Donald Trump posed a continued and existential threat to the republic. That allegation subsequently justified a variety of anti-democratic means to neuter his first two presidential candidacies, his presidency, and now his third and final run for the White House.

As a young kid, I always loved helping out on my grandparents’ farm. It was an opportunity to spend quality time with family and it helped me learn the value of hard work. It’s also what inspired me to join FFA, study agriculture in college, and do whatever it would take to one day purchase the farm, which I was able to do using the money I made from harvesting timber on the property while I was in law school. Running my farm, which has been in my family for four generations, isn’t easy. But there is nothing more rewarding.

I had the opportunity to meet Jeanette Finicum at a local organization’s meeting. She was their speaker, and what a story she told. Her husband, LaVoy Finicum, was shot in the back by law enforcement on a snow-covered Oregon road in 2016. Unlike Antifa or Black Lives Matter, he and his companions were peacefully protesting the Bureau of Land Management’s overreach of rules and regulations, causing many ranchers to go out of business. The story is tragic and there was no reason for him to be shot. He was a good and decent man standing against an all-powerful government. His wife, children and grandchildren will forever miss him and wonder why he had to be killed.

When a marginal person cannot control himself with women or money or laws or taxes or lies or rhetoric or hatred or revenge or relationships or allies or dictators or top secrets or the Constitution or the courts or lawyers or the military or government agencies or minorities or veterans or chaos or anger or impulsiveness and is a dictator-wanna-be, do you really want his hand on the nuclear button? Really?

With all the vehement talk around this election period, I still find it so hypocritical that no one has even mentioned cracking down on the so-called law-abiding American companies and individuals fattening their bank accounts by illegally hiring them. DAVID MAYBRY, Jackson