President without a plan
Rick Martinez: Now that North Carolina has had its say on who will be the next president, it's time for my take on the one currently occupying the Oval Office.
Insurance not No. 1 health issue
Rick Martinez: One of the casualties of Hillary Clinton's sniper fire fib and the refusal of Barack Obama's former pastor to shut up has been a serious presidential-level debate about health-care reform. Of course, that assumes a serious debate is possible.
Here's the drill: Dakota oil
Rick Martinez: You might have missed the news, but last week the U.S. Geological Service said it has discovered the largest supply of oil in the lower 48 states. With gasoline flirting with $3.50 a gallon, there should be dancing in the streets.
Catholic schools slide off course
Rick Martinez: 'Is the Pope Catholic?" is a popular comeback used to denote an obvious fact. Of course he is. The answer to "Is Notre Dame Catholic?" used to be equally indisputable.
Run, Hillary, run
Rick Martinez: I'm not quite ready to slap a "Hillary" bumper sticker on my carbon-belching SUV (I'd put it next to the Dale Earnhardt license plate), but I do admire Sen. Clinton for digging in her heels and refusing to be pushed out of the Democratic presidential race.
Obama's two speeches
Rick Martinez: Barack Obama's race speech was highly anticipated, in part, because it offered a peek inside the intellect of a man who has been accused of being heavy on rhetorical flourish and light on intellectual substance.
The veep as the key to victory
Rick Martinez: Bob Schieffer has earned the right to have that "been there, done that" know-it-all arrogance so many veteran news people acquire. Instead, the 50-year newsman still looks like he's dying to tell the next person he meets the latest.
Hailing N.C.'s Mr. Clean
Rick Martinez: I know it's early, but I hereby nominate former Democratic strategist Joe Sinsheimer as our state's 2008 Man of the Year. Every North Carolinian who doesn't hold a General Assembly seat owes the man a big debt of gratitude.
'Renewables'are pie in the sky
Rick Martinez: Environmentalists are winning the debate over North Carolina's energy future, but not because the facts come down on their side.
Choosing to value life in all forms
Rick Martinez: I've followed with great interest the flap over UNC-Chapel Hill biology professor Albert Harris' remark that, in his opinion, abortion is the moral option for parents whose fetus has Down syndrome.
Cary school district? Absolutely
Rick Martinez: Time will tell if Cary citizens and town leaders have the patience and persistence to improve North Carolina's mediocre education system by seceding from the Wake County Public School System.
