EDITORIAL'Kicker' Needs a Face ChangeFew issues in government get under…

Every year the Sons of Confederate Veterans use the North Carolina statehouse to celebrate their annual confederate flag day ceremony. It has become more common in recent years for some White Southerners to openly wax nostalgic for the days when their ancestors fought and died to preserve slavery.

The door to higher education for African Americans and other students of color is closing, and so will America's long-term economic future. Despite the clear decision by the U.S Supreme Court in the University of Michigan case upholding the principle of affirmative action, some of America's leading colleges and universities are already opening their purse strings to White students using minority scholarship dollars.

Like the rest of President Bush's proposals in his most recent State of the Union address, his central mandate for education in the United States is to stay the course — with a couple of new biscuits thrown in.
Bush wants to "lead the world in human talent and creativity," a noble goal and a pioneering tradition we established and maintained — until recently. Though Americans deem improving education as the single greatest domestic issue we face, our leadership in science and technology innovation is in decline.

Toward the end of Claude Allen's abortive Senate judicial confirmation hearing in 2003, Utah Sen. Orin Hatch tossed a puffball question at him.
Hatch asked what Allen's grandfather — who was the first in his family born out of slavery — would say to him about his pending judgeship. Allen, visibly moved by the question, said his grandfather would tell him to give back to those who had helped him.

Americans in large numbers are calling for a new direction. They are looking for bold leadership — and bold new policies to deal with the challenges we face. Support for the president is near its lowest levels. Support for the Republican Congress is declining below even the Republican base level.
And yet there is no lift in this for Democrats — and that's no surprise.

The video of President George W. Bush lounging at his Texas ranch the day before Hurricane Katrina struck is disturbingly similar to the footage of the casual way he reacted to news of the Sept. 11 terror attacks.

On March 9, 1832, future President Abraham Lincoln, in his first public political address said, "Upon the subject of education … I can only say that I view it as the most important subject which we as a people may be engaged in. That everyone may receive at least a moderate education … appears to be an object of vital importance."

EditorialFew issues in government get under people's skin like taxes. And few things in…

On March 9, 1832, future President Abraham Lincoln, in his first public political address said, "Upon the subject of education … I can only say that I view it as the most important subject which we as a people may be engaged in. That everyone may receive at least a moderate education … appears to be an object of vital importance."