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Kramer: Christie was heavyweight in debate ring

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:51 GMT

He may not win the Republican presidential nomination as polls still have him lagging behind former President Donald Trump and former Governor of South Carolina Nikki Haley. And his gruff, direct approach may not be attractive to those who prefer political rhetoric from candidates who promise to be all things to all people.Regardless, in the last Republican debate, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie took a refreshing Knute Rockne stance compared to his competitors.  He lambasted Vivek Ramaswamy who provided more in the way of insults than arguments. More importantly, Christie insisted upon a “tell the truth” position rarely exhibited by traditional  politicians.Christie’s prosecutorial style with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis insisted he give a direct answer to a simple question.Is Trump fit to be president or not?DeSantis danced around the question without answering and Christie would not let him get away with it. Regarding Trump, he had the guts to define him for what he is, an ind...

Editorial: John Kerry’s climate goals all about numbers, not people

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:51 GMT

John Kerry doesn’t get it.Joe Biden’s climate czar held court yesterday at the COP28 climate change conference in Dubai. True to form, he slammed fossil fuels.The United States must end “crazy” oil and gas subsidies to achieve its climate goals, he told Politico.Subsidies to the electric vehicle industry to produce cars few people want are just fine, apparently.But Kerry’s agenda, which matches that of other climate change social justice warriors, is all about looking good on paper and not so much about the ordinary people who must do the heavy lifting.Kerry is wealthy. He isn’t driving a beater because it’s the only thing he can afford. He isn’t a single parent of small children who must be fed. Higher gas prices will inevitably affect shipping and freight costs – and those get passed on to the struggling consumers who are able to buy less and less.He doesn’t have a job dependent on tourism, which would take a hit if people cut back o...

‘Welcome to The O.C.’ revisits Fox series

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:51 GMT

“California, here we come.”The refrain from the Phantom Planet tune “California” that served as the theme song for “The O.C.” welcomed viewers to Fox’s short-lived but much-loved prime-time soap that focused on a group of teenagers and parents navigating the emotional ups and downs of life in affluent Newport Beach.Now, 20 years after the show’s debut, Rolling Stone TV critic Alan Sepinwall is taking readers “right back where we started from” in a splendid retrospective that relies on the memories of those who brought the show’s 96 episodes to life.“Welcome to The O.C.” — the title references a memorable line from the pilot (minus a not-so-friendly word that punctuates the sentiment) — features recollections from creator Josh Schwartz, executive producer Stephanie Savage, the show’s stars, Fox executives and many more.The oral history serves as a definitive look-back at the four-season series that introduced “Chrismukkah” (a celebration of both Christmas and Hanukkah in the blended ...

‘Fast Charlie’ hits target as winning thriller

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:51 GMT

From screenwriter Richard Wenk of “The Equalizer” fame based on the novel “Gun Monkeys” by Victor Gischler, “Fast Charlie” features former James Bond Pierce Brosnan as an amateur chef/gun-toting mob fixer in Biloxi, MS named Charlie Swift. Charlie’s oldest friend and boss Stan Mullen (James Caan in his final role) has become frail and needs Charlie’s protection, especially after a rival gang leader named Beggar (a menacing Gbenga Akinnagbe) decides it’s time for Sam and his crew to go. Beggar and his boys use the local alligators as a sort of organic disposal for their victims. Charlie is an ex-Marine who lives in a nice home and likes to cook Italian food (he was once stationed in Italy and is thinking about relocating there).The Italian connection may be a shout out to the entire history of gangster-related movies, including “The Godfather” (1972), which made Caan a star. Beside veterans Brosnan and Caan stands stalwart Australian director Phillip Noyce (“Patriot...

Gaskin: Why you’ll always see me wearing a suit

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:51 GMT

I try to never leave home without wearing a suit, regardless of whether my destination or job requires it. When people ask why, I’m often inclined to say, “If Trayvon Martin had been wearing a suit, he would still be alive.”If you were me, would you rather be wearing a suit or a hoodie when an officer approaches your car door? Three times I have had an officer get to my window, take one look at me in my suit, and say, “Never mind.” Police must make a split-second decision as to how they’re going to react when they approach a car. Depending upon the officer’s decision, I might get a verbal warning, or a ticket, while others face the risk of gunshots. I feel safest when I’m dressed like an attorney.Wearing a suit makes my life easier. If I need to use the restroom, I can walk into a restaurant without being told the restroom is just for customers. When in a department store, no one will assume I’m there to shoplift. In a restaurant, I’ll get better service because the server won’t thi...

Column: Montez Sweat’s impact on the Chicago Bears defense — especially against the pass — is undeniable

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:51 GMT

Montez Sweat has made an impact on the Chicago Bears — and pretty quickly.If the Bears can surge defensively over the final five games, beginning with Sunday’s rematch against the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field, it might bolster a case for coach Matt Eberflus to keep his job.What’s undeniable is the Bears, who played well against the run at the start of the season but didn’t do much else well defensively, have improved since the arrival of Sweat, who was acquired in an Oct. 31 trade with the Washington Commanders for a second-round draft pick.The defense enters Week 14 tied for first in the league against the run (79 yards per game) and has been better in nearly every category in the four games since Sweat came on board. The sample size is small and the competition hasn’t been elite — the Bears (4-8) have faced quarterbacks Derek Carr, Bryce Young, Jared Goff and Josh Dobbs — but they didn’t make the schedule, and it has been more than...

Moore: Cleaner environment slips as green priority

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:51 GMT

The late, great humorist P.J. O’Rourke used to quip that everyone wants to save the world, but no one wants to wash the dishes.Well, now that can be said for traditional environmental groups that seem to have lost their way.Green groups are supposed to be about keeping our rivers, lakes and streams clean. They are supposed to be about fighting litter and keeping toxic chemicals out of the air. Their job is to maintain the beauty of our national parks and save elephants and tigers.Not anymore. The New York Times recently reported in a disturbing headline: “Environmental Groups Cut Programs as Funding Shifts to Climate Change.”In other words, the Left’s climate change hysteria and its campaign to end fossil fuels is interfering with a commonsense green agenda. Worse than that, the climate agenda is in some ways making the condition of the environment worse.According to the Times story: “A significant shift in donor contributions to nonprofits fighting cli...

Deck the halls with the Dark Knight

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:51 GMT

If Warner Bros, and DC have the ability to make an animated, Christmas-ready Batman movie for Amazon Prime that is as much fun as “Merry Little Batman,” why do their live-action superhero films stink so bad with a few exceptions? Directed by Mike Roth, a veteran of 169 episodes of Cartoon Network’s “Regular Show,” and scripted by Morgan Evans (“Teen Titans Go!”), Etan Cohen (“Men in Black 3”) and Jase Ricci (TV’s “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”) and featuring a first-rate voice cast, “Merry Little Batman” is the best superhero film of the season.Starting out with the Kinks’ immortal “Father Christmas,” a song in which some English hooligans threaten to mug St. Nick, “Merry Little Batman” pits a retired and notably bearded Bruce Wayne aka Batman (Luke Wilson) against his 8-year-old son Damian (a talented Yonas Kibreab, TV’s “Obi-Wan Kenobi”). Alongside some crazed-looking cartoon bats, they live in the Wayne manor with the hard-pressed and grotesquely bent-with...

Dear Abby: Should I spill beans about man’s real dad?

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:51 GMT

Dear Abby: Forty years ago, a neighborhood boy fathered a child with a neighborhood girl. “Billy” was 17 at the time, and “Becky” was 14 or 15. Both were friends of mine. They were not a steady couple. She liked him, but I feel he used her. I heard that she married an older gentleman who accepted the baby, “Matt,” as his own.Ten years ago, I found Matt on Facebook. I told him I knew his mother, and he shared her contact information with me. When I called Becky, we enjoyed talking about old times, and I let her know that Billy had passed away. She informed me that her husband had also passed away.I was surprised when she told me she never told Matt who his biological father was. He was raised believing his biological father was Becky’s husband. I have photographs of Billy, and Matt has an aunt he is unaware of. As tempted as I am to inform him who his father was, I know that is not the right thing to do.We don’t communicate regularly, b...

Police pursue carjacking suspect in Southern California

Published Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:42:51 GMT

Police pursued a carjacking suspect across multiple counties and freeways in Southern California on Thursday night.The male suspect was believed to be armed and driving a stolen red pickup truck, according to California Highway Patrol. The pursuit began around 8 p.m. with six patrol units from Fontana police chasing the suspect. The pursuit traveled on the westbound 10 freeway as they passed through downtown L.A. The driver merged onto the northbound 101 toward the San Fernando Valley, later to the northbound 405 Freeway and then to the 5 northbound.Fontana police K-9 tackling the suspect after he quickly turned his head toward officers while being arrested following a pursuit on Dec. 7, 2023. (KTLA)A carjacking suspect was arrested after a pursuit spanning multiple counties and freeways across Southern California on Dec. 7, 2023. (KTLA)Officers tackling the suspect after he quickly turned his head toward officers while being arrested following a pursuit on Dec. 7, 2023. (KTLA)A car...