Commentary: Hot Springs, Buffalo River face challenges
Last week we marked Earth Day and National Parks Week. .
Stories by Hoyt Purvis
-
-
Commentary: Conservatives meet resistance even as power grows in states
For months, attention has been focused on the gridlock that grips our national legislative body in Washington.
-
Commentary: Cotton, others tamper with U.S. diplomacy
Congress, particularly the United States Senate, has a role to play in American foreign policy.
-
Commentary: TV news vs. entertainment
Entertainment and exaggeration are defining characteristics of much of American news media coverage, especially television.
-
Commentary: Troubling Times Need Informed, Civic-Minded Americans
As we begin another year, we are living in troubling times.
-
![]()
Commentary: Believing What We Want to Believe
I don't know exactly what happened in Ferguson, Mo.
-
Commentary: Congress Can Complain or Take Action
In our governmental and political system, presidents have vast authority.
-
-
![]()
Commentary:
Television has long been established as the playing field, the forum, the arena for our major political campaigns.
-
![]()
Commentary:
Everyone wants to go to war against the Islamic State (ISIS or ISIL) or militant groups such as Khorasan. Except they don't.
-
![]()
Commentary: It's Politics, Not Baseball That Needs Fixing
There is serious discussion about finding ways to shorten the length of time consumed by major league baseball games.
-
![]()
Commentary: Policital Theater Dominates The Scene
The battle for dominance within the Republican Party goes on, as does the battle for control of the U.S. Senate.
-
![]()
Commentary: Most Politics Today Are National, Partisan
All politics is local. That adage, associated with the former speaker of the U.S. House Tip O'Neill, has long represented conventional wisdom.
-
![]()
Commentary: Nationalism Good, But Can Be Bad
I like the national anthem.
-
![]()
Commentary: Power Has Its Perks, Perils
Gaining, maintaining, extending or expanding power are fundamental goals in politics and public affairs, business, sports, international relations and beyond.
-
Commentary: Will Arkansas Senate Race Defy Trends?
Recent opinion polls have caused a considerable stir among political junkies and pundits.
-
![]()
Commentary: It's Time for Setting Foreign Policy Priorities
Driving down the highway, I listen to a radio commentator in his best belligerent tone berating the Obama administration over Crimea and Ukraine.
-
![]()
Commentary: Television Network 'Discovers' Arkansas' Hardy
Although I have lived much of my life in Northwest Arkansas, I have lived or spent considerable time in a number of other places in the state and elsewhere.
-
![]()
Techno-Media Giants Gaining Clout
You may have seen or heard it mentioned on the news: Comcast is taking over Time Warner Cable for $45 billion. Facebook acquired WhatsApp for $16 billion to $1…
-
Politicians Say (And Do) The Darndest Things
Some may remember the old radio program with Art Linkletter called “Kids Say the Darndest Things,” then the TV show by the same name featuring Linkletter and B…
-
Foreign Policy Faces Fork In The Road
This will be a year of congressional and state elections and, undoubtedly, continuing focus on the health care law and its implementation and ramifi cations.
-
Reading Suggestions On A Range Of Topics
For many years, I have off ered end-ofyear, holiday-season commentary on books that I find interesting or important or which have found their way on to my read…
-
Reflecting On An Era Of Extremism And The Media Role
The 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy is a time for recollection and refl ection. As for recollection, my memories of those da…
-
Can Shutdown Showdown Be Avoided?
It looks as if we are headed toward more budgetary brinkmanship at summer’s end.
-
COMMENTARY The Buffalo: A River Worth Fighting For
Establishment of a large-scale industrial hog farm in the Buffalo National River watershed has focused renewed attention on the river and its surroundings — an…
-
Chinese Students Express Interest In US Politics, System
Students in China are curious about trends and issues in American politics. That was certainly true when I lectured and met with students recently at universit…
-
Fear Becomes A Pervasive Infl uence
We are dealing with a fear factor in today’s politics. Fear is being used to stimulate political responses and actions. Policymakers and politicians are threat…
-
COMMENTARY: Looking Ahead And Learning Lessons From Iraq
With the arrival of spring, it’s a time for looking ahead — to blooming flowers and baseball and outdoor activities.
-
‘Attack’ Politics Persist In Nation’s Capital
What is wrong in Washington? That’s a question asked often these days.
-
COMMENTARY: Defense Spending On The Defensive?
Despite efforts by the Arkansas congressional delegation and the Fort Smith community, the 188th Fighter Wing will lose its A-10 aircraft mission.
-
Can American Congress Regain Respect?
When I was growing up, I had great interest in and respect for the U.S. Congress.
-
Can The Political Gridlock Be Unlocked?
Like other non battleground states, Arkansas is receiving minimal attention as a factor in the presidential campaign.
-
Campaigns Can Be Unpredictable
There is wide agreement the economy and the nation’s financial condition top the list of public concerns.
-
Ads: Who Are You Going To Believe?
Once upon a time, Labor Day was looked upon as the starting point for presidential election campaigns. However, the current campaign was well under way by last…
-
Good Books To Get Through The Heat
Scattershooting while wondering what ever happened to …” That’s the way legendary sports writer Blackie Sherrod would regularly begin his Sunday columns. So I’…
-
Presidential Campaign Rich In Irony
Political campaigns are often marked by irony and paradox.
-
Information Used As Weapon In Politics
Information is an essential commodity in a democratic society.
-
Europe’s Woes Could Impact U.S. Politics
Is it all Greek to you?
-
Outdoor Grill Has Stood Test Of Time
Warm weather brings more outdoor activities, including, of course, the popular American custom of cooking out, grilling, barbecuing or whatever term you prefer.
-
Radio Still Maintains A Political Role
Even in this era of digital domination and hashtag activism, radio remains a significant factor in our political life.
-
War-Weary Nation Ponders Iran, Syria
The war drums are beating again.
-
A Very Different Chamber Of Congress
There was a mixture of nostalgia and dismay at a recent reunion of former senators and staff members in Washington. The occasion was the release of a book, “Th…
-
Drive-By Shooting Reported
Police are investigating a drive-by shooting reported on Braxton Drive on Friday night.
-
Super Bowls Draw Large TV Audiences
More than 100 million Americans will be part of the television audience for today’s Super Bowl game and related festivities. Not all of them will be closely fo…
-
There Are Critical Decisions To Be Made
It is easy to get caught up in and even be entertained by the personality clashes, purity posturing and “gotcha” moments as presidential aspirants endeavor to …
-
Looking For Something Good To Read?
Most of the presidential aspirants, some of whom have already faded, have published books recently, and some of them have been combining campaigning with book-…
-
We’ll See If Gingrich Sustains The Surge
Much has been made of the endorsement this week by the Union Leader, New Hampshire’s largest newspaper, of Newt Gingrich’s candidacy for the Republican preside…
-
Political Balance Elusive In Washington
With the deadline for action by the Congressional “Super Committee” on Deficit Reduction fast approaching, will we see forward movement? Or will Congress and t…
-
Baseball, Politics Have A Lot In Common
Think of it this way: We will have another entire baseball season ahead of us before the November 2012 presidential election.
-
Polarization Keeps Congress Paralyzed
Congress today is certainly very different than it was in the nottoo-distant past.
