E. Thomas McClanahan

By E. Thomas McClanahan, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

And so, when the price of gasoline broke the barrier of $4 a gallon, the cry went out across the land: Drill, drill, drill!

By E. Thomas McClanahan, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

During his long career, Sen. John McCain has found all sorts of ways to drive Republicans nuts. He did it again the other day with a couple of pratfalls on NBC’s “Today Show.”

By E. Thomas McClanahan, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

It’s odd how things turn out. Barack Obama’s long opposition to the Iraq war has been a big part of his success in clinching the Democratic presidential nomination.

By E. Thomas McClanahan, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

High oil prices have finally caused the government to take action.

In the capital last week, top officials said they plan to exempt about 30 oil-and-gas fields from certain taxes in a bid to encourage more output. They also moved quickly to open up two new offshore fields for more drilling. Both fields could be producing oil and gas by next year.

By E. Thomas McClahanan, Kansas City Star editorial page columnist
Interesting piece from Strategypage on the withdrawal of the surge units. The criteria used to determine the pace of the withdrawal are secret, and are based on the effectiveness of Iraqi army and police units.

By E. Thomas McClanahan, Kansas City Star Editorial Board
We don't hear enough of this sort of thing.
The alleged mass murderer had already killed two victims & had injured two others with gunshot wounds, but while he was reloading he was shot & killed by an armed CCW permit holder who was also at the bar.

By E. Thomas McClanahan, Kansas City Star editorial page columnist

Barack Obama’s run for the White House has already made history, and not merely because of his race. He came out of nowhere to upset the supposedly unbeatable Hillary Clinton. Now the nomination seems within his grasp.

By E. Thomas McClanahan, Kansas City Star Editorial Board
Judging by the quote, you could read it that way. (

By E. Thomas McClanahan, Kansas City Star Editorial Board
Nancy Pelosi gets an indifferent welcome in Iraq.

By E. Thomas McClanahan, Kansas City Star Editorial Page Columnist

A warm afternoon. The sound of laughter wafts from the open portals of a nearby bar. On the street outside, workmen occasionally outnumber visitors on the wide sidewalks.

By E. Thomas McClanahan, Kansas City Star Editorial Board
In a recent poll in Britain, some two-thirds of respondents believe the green agenda is mainly a tax-raising ploy. And 70 percent said they are not willing to pay higher taxes for strategies to deal with feared climate change. The lesson for politicians would seem to be: Any energy tax proposed should be revenue-neutral.

By E. Thomas McClanahan, Star Editorial Board

At Contentions, Abe Greenwald shows how Barack Obama's inept handling of Rev. Wright provides telling hints to how Obama would behave as president.

By E. Thomas McClanahan, Kansas City Star Editorial Board

... noted by Australian geophysicist. Something to do with too-few sunspots.

By E. Thomas McClanahan, Kansas City Star Editorial Board

Strategypage provides a brief update: The coalition is decimating al-Qaida's top leadership, and uncovering more weapons and ammo supply dumps. The posting notes: "All this is good news, meaning it's not reported." Sad but true.

By E. Thomas McClanahan, Kansas City Star Editorial Board
The Iraqi Army continues to press the Sadrist militia in Basra, and for average residents the situation is improving. Markets are opening and life is returning to normal -- hardly the picture suggested by initial media reports, which portrayed the operation as a near-fiasco.

E. Thomas McClanahan, Kansas City Star Editorial Board

... looks a bit like a herd of cats.
As police and troops captured more and more Mahdi Army members, and facilities ... it became rather obvious that this "army" consists of many independent minded factions, and many of these are basically criminal gangs, trying to pass as secular militiamen. This, and the heavy damage to the Mahdi Army (several thousand members killed, wounded or captured in the last month) caused army leader al Sadr to consider disbanding the organization.

By E. Thomas McClanahan, Kansas City Star Editorial Board

He wants to trade with Cuba, but not Colombia. Is there a pattern here?

By E. Thomas McClanahan, Kansas City Star Editorial Board

Barack Obama's remarks about "bitter" people in small towns clinging to guns & religion may turn out to be one of those pratfalls that permanently undermines a campaign.

By E. Thomas McClanahan, Kansas City Star Editorial Board

As often happens when violence flares in Iraq, the recent fighting in Basra prompted media accounts that were almost diametrically opposed.

By E. Thomas McClanahan, Kansas City Star Editorial Board

Most media portrayals played the fighting as a loss for Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Certainly, the clash didn't settle anything for the long-term.