Kline just personifies the abortion debate," ABC News contended in October of 2007. "This is a guy who has never tried any cases and has a very marginal record as an attorney, and so it is very much seen, I think, even by the pro-life people, that Kline's personal beliefs are his No. 1 priority." This preposterous claim comes straight out of Planned Parenthoods talking points. Apparently ABC's zeal for abortion is more important than its commitment to truth.

Nancy Keenan, president of NARAL, predictably called Kline "one of the most extreme anti-choice politicians. But then she went on to make the totally false claim that he was invading people's most private medical information." The records, as I mentioned above, had been carefully purged of any identifying information.

The New York Times also parroted Planned Parenthood's official line, calling him "an anti-abortion zealot who gained national notoriety by misusing his office to further his ideology," while gliding over the charges themselves, which they wrongly characterized as a "gross assault on privacy and legal rights."

Planned Parenthood was engaging in what might be called the PR of personal destruction, and it appears to be winning, at least up to now, especially in the media.

Home Depot glum on future

Lowe's said it would open 120 new stores in 2008, while Home Depot plans to open 55, about half as many as it did last year. Tome said Home Depot has no plans to close any of its core retail stores, but added, "We always look at our store portfolio."

Home Depot shares gained 1 cent to close at $28.83 yesterday.

"With the more significant reduction in the 2008 outlook for Home Depot, we think the 2009 numbers are also likely to fall," wrote Deutsche Bank-North America analyst Michael Baker in a research note.

Home Depot executives made clear they are moving away from strategies that they believe aren't working; chief among them is robust new store growth.

Blake said Home Depot continues to lose market share, though it is seeing signs of the trend reversing itself.

US elections 2004

For supporters of John Kerry, who have seen allegations about the Democratic candidate's military record sap his campaign, it must have seemed like a case of just deserts.

The president, George Bush, was last week looking vulnerable on the same grounds after CBS's flagship current affairs show, 60 Minutes, broadcast a report claiming he had been suspended from pilot duties for failing to meet the required standards. It was also claimed that a commanding officer had been put under pressure to "sugar coat" Mr Bush's performance reviews.

But while CBS stands by its story, allegations have now surfaced that 60 Minutes based a large part of the report on forged documents.

Although what one man - even a presidential candidate - did more than 30 years ago can seem rather trivial, the US election is being fought between a self-declared "war president" and a man who, in stump speeches, claims he would defend his country as president in the way he had defended it as a young man.

American Opportunity

Most people pursue a master's degree to gain access to a profession, such as psychology or teaching. Others hope to add to their resume in an effort to reach senior level positions. In many cases, our students are already doing both.

Through a combination of expertise, courage, skill, and being in the right place at the right time, they have found themselves in positions typically reserved for those who already have a master's degree. They come to Antioch to gain a credential that has long eluded them.

Traditional programs do not speak to or incorporate their level of expertise. Our program honors their expertise by allowing them to begin where they are in their own learning; allowing for some degree credit for their life experience through a rigorous portfolio review process.

Letters to the Editor (Feb. 22)

It was the sense of contradiction in several statements that had me rereading parts of the headline Feb. 16 article "Councilors to revisit tax ideas."Councilor Bill York wants a City Council committee to look at proposals geared to bring more money into the city's coffers.In one paragraph Councilor York states that "the city is heavily reliant on property tax revenues" and "the cost of providing services is growing faster than property tax revenues are increasing. This is likely to be exacerbated by the recent downturn in the real estate market."But then, in the very next paragraph, is the statement, "The inquiry comes on the heels of a Feb. 7 decision by the city budget commission to spend $1.2 million of a budget surplus on new programs."Huh?Which is it? Do we not have enough money to fund current programs or do we have a surplus which is going to be thrown at new programs?When public officials make statements like this it's little wonder that the people view attempts to levy new fees or increase taxes with extreme suspicion.Kudos to members of the Corvallis-Benton Chamber Coalition in urging the city budget commission to put aside the surplus for possibly difficult times ahead.I think a majority of the city's business owners would also welcome seeing the surplus put aside instead of getting hit with a business license fee at a time when things may be just as difficult for them as it may be for the city.Dan Watkins, CorvallisCourtesy will keep roads safer for allSnorting bulls in human form are never attractive.