Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas

08/27/2008

Editorial: Southern Dallas task force is thinking big
A who's who of civic and business leaders and engaged citizens assembled for the first meeting of the mayor's southern Dallas task force, great for building excitement but problematic for moving forward efficiently and decisively.

Editorial: A lesson from Bill Clinton
The last Democratic president's tone tonight will matter, no doubt. But his presence counts for another reason, and that is to remind Barack Obama and Democrats at large that they must own the political center if they hope to return to the White House.

Editorial: Brandon Jackson's individual failure
We'll resist the temptation to deride as a dupe the judge who gave a former football star probation for violent armed robbery. The larger point is that it would be unfortunate if Brandon Jackson's subsequent failures cause other well-meaning people to turn their backs on second chances.

08/26/2008

Editorial: Democrats' top women earn historic spotlight
This was not, in the end, Hillary Clinton's year. Yet to focus on her failure to reach her political goal is to ignore the phenomenal progress American women have made. Some of her supporters are still hurting, but tonight she can bring them back into the fold.

Editorial: Texas leaders' transportation pledge is welcome
It's good to see the state's top three leaders now on the same page – literally – on at least a few ways to attack the problem of under-funded roadway needs.

08/25/2008

Editorial: Challenges ahead for Obama, Dems
Having a personally exciting leader doesn't mean Democrats have this election won. With polls showing a neck-and-neck race, Democrats will need more than the traditional convention bounce to prevail. The Obama campaign must start answering these challenges this week

08/24/2008

Editorial: Differences shouldn't doom Dallas zoning plan
Both sides appear willing to give ground, and the ultimate compromise could be as simple as City Council member Ron Natinsky locking all parties in a room and not opening it until they agree to sharpen the language and make form-based zoning work for everyone.

Editorial: Senate should reform financial reporting
U.S. House members file quarterly campaign financial reports directly to the Federal Election Commission; the information becomes public well before voters go to the polls. Conversely, the Senate's tortured process resembles a high-dollar game of hide and seek.

Editorial: Parents, please step up for your students
As a new school year begins, parents can help themselves and their children by responding to the many requests from teachers to participate, even beyond reading to them at night. It also means volunteering at school, riding herd over assignments and showing up for parent-teacher conferences.

08/23/2008

Hits and Misses
Thoughtful commentary disguised as snap judgments: Dallas City Hall, an Olympian with grace and putting the bite on a bad cop.

Editorial: Looks like Bigfoot's a bust
And so, to almost no one's surprise, the Bigfoot body turned out to be a monkey suit. "It's heart-wrenching," boo-hooed Bob Schmalzbach, a Bigfoot tracker taken in by the hoax. Well, at least we still have el chupacabra, the legendary goat-sucker.

08/22/2008

Editorial: Let Six Flags sell alcohol
Opponents of an application to allow alcohol sales at Six Flags Over Texas and Hurricane Harbor offer sincere objections and legitimate cautions. These concerns should not be dismissed out of hand, but ultimately they should not trump Six Flags Inc.'s ability to serve its customers' requests.

Editorial: U.S. must fix antiquated green card policy
America's antiquated green card policy is driving one of our most precious assets – scientific and technological expertise – into the welcoming hands of our competitors. That's insanity.

08/21/2008

Editorial: No guns in the classroom
Don't mess with teachers in the tiny Texas town of Harrold. They may be packing heat.

Editorial: In Texas, don't mess with pickups
There's always that HOA that can't leave meddlesome alone and has to micromanage how classy a vehicle a guy can park on his driveway overnight. Were we less charitable, we'd note that the problem with Nazis is that they're never satisfied with Czechoslovakia and Poland, they just have to invade Russia, too.

Editorial: I.O.U.S.A. film depicts debt addiction
First, there was Al Gore warning us about environmental calamities coming our way. Now, there's Warren Buffett and Pete Peterson waving us away from an avalanching national debt.

08/20/2008

Editorial: Abundant land, developers' dream
Rare are the opportunities for developers to make lots of money while actually doing something good for the city. Such an opportunity is next to downtown and within walking distance of two future DART stations.

Editorial: DISD grading policy needs improvement
Failure is not an option for some Dallas Independent School District students. A new grading policy makes sure of it.