Terrorism, Economy Dual Threats for Pakistanis; Majority believes government's terrorism efforts are lacking.
Byline: Rajesh Srinivasan and Julie Ray Synopsis: Gallup Polls in Pakistan indicate residents are increasingly worried about terrorism and the economy -- two daunting issues facing their new president, Asif Ali Zardari. WASHINGTON, D.C. -- After a nearly nine-year absence, civilian rule returned in Pakistan...

Filmmaker focuses on danger of huge national debt.
COLUMN: IN OUR OPINION; EDITORIAL FOOTNOTE The award for the most improbable film fare at the nation's cineplexes this summer most certainly should go to "I.O.U.S.A." in which documentarian Patrick Creadon focuses his camera on, of all things, the national debt. Improbable as it may...

I.O.U.S.A. how much?! The new documentary film I.O.U.S.A. sounds the alarm about our worsening debt crisis but is short on solutions.
"Wake up America! We're on the verge of a financial meltdown," screams the website promoting I.O.U.S.A., a documentary that examines the rapidly growing national debt and the resulting consequences for the U.S. government and its citizens. For example, as the Baby Boomer generation reaches retirement age, will there even...

Ron Paul, alternate candidates hold national press conference.
Ron Paul, along with alternate presidential candidates Chuck Baldwin (Constitution Party), Cynthia McKinney (Green Party), and Ralph Nader (Independent), held a press conference Wednesday, September 10 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Bob Barr (Libertarian Party) was not present, but his campaign staff assured Nader less than...

Here's your guide to judging the presidential debates.
Byline: GUEST VIEWPOINT By Sean Patrick O'Rourke and Ron Manuto For The Register-Guard After days of turmoil and confusion, the presidential debates are on. Whether GOP nominee John McCain appears at tonight's first debate, he and Democrat Barack Obama will face each other before Election Day. Many...

Deficit grows ever larger.
On July 28, White House Budget Director Jim Nussle announced that the expected deficit for Fiscal Year 2009 (it begins October 1, 2008) would be a whopping $482 billion. A record for red ink, the figure shatters the previous deficit of $413 billion set in 2004. [ILLUSTRATION...

D.C. pigout; Washington in the grip of spending addiction.
COLUMN: IN OUR OPINION In spite of all the campaign talk of cutting taxes and restraining spending, the reality facing taxpayers and voters this fall is that both major parties have proved incapable of exercising any fiscal discipline in recent years. According to the Office...

Senate races: in this year's Senate races, the Democrats are positioned to not only solidify their gains from two years ago, but to threaten some of the Republicans' former strongholds.
With an unpopular Republican president presiding over a slumping economy, soaring fuel prices, and two wars in the Middle East, Republicans face an uphill battle in many of this year's Senate races. Republicans must defend 23 of their 49 seats this year, while Democrats have only 12 of their...

Canada and Quebec in June 2008: on the cusp.
Summary: As Canadians stand down from parliamentary politics throughout the country and prepare for their all-too-short summer, in many respects it is "the best of times." Canadian economics on federal and provincial levels would be the envy of virtually any government; the generations-old socio-political tensions between "Canada" and "Quebec"...

Corporate crooks skate while we pay.
OLEAN -- Sometimes I think I'm dreaming, and keep trying to wake myself up to escape the subtle nightmare of what is happening to this once-beautiful country. Then my heart falls, because I realize I really am awake, and it's no dream. When I tell people this,...