A teachable moment for the NAACP
Rick Martinez: One never knows when a pearl of wisdom will appear. The Rev. William Barber II, head of the North Carolina NAACP, provided me with the most instructive pearl I've come across in a long time.
Big Three breakdown
Rick Martinez: I might as well go out and buy Circuit City stock. The buy would fit right in with recent moves by Uncle Sam, my not-so-silent partner who's forcing me into investing in banking, insurance and loans to the failing U.S. auto industry.
Catholics, abortion and Obama
Rick Martinez: Can Catholics, in good conscience, vote for pro-choice candidates such as Barack Obama, and scores of others, on the Nov. 4 ballot?
All hail Obama's big money
Rick Martinez: One of the ironies emerging from Barack Obama's presidential bid is that it could be the death knell for one the progressive movement's most favored causes -- public financing of political campaigns.
The man with a plan for Afghanistan
Rick Martinez: At the end of this month, Gen. David Petraeus, architect of the low-grade victory in Iraq, takes over CENTCOM, the military command responsible for Afghanistan. A Petraeus-constructed surge can win in Afghanistan, too.
Gold-plated position
Rick Martinez: If John McCain is in search of another game changer, I have a suggestion. He can name his Treasury secretary now. That could force Barack Obama to do the same or be left out of the most significant conversation remaining in the campaign.
Plenty of places to put bailout blame
Rick Martinez: Every economist and professional smart guy I spoke to during the past week -- whether liberal or libertarian -- had the same conclusion regarding the need for a Wall Street bailout.
When elites are the servants
Rick Martinez: One of the advantages that moose-hunting, supper-cooking, church-attending Sarah Palin brings to the Republican ticket is her ability to connect with everyday people.
The greediest generation
Rick Martinez: Finally, the feds grew a backbone and said no to taxpayer bailouts of financial giant Lehman Brothers.
Let Bizzell's words open a dialogue
Rick Martinez: Johnston County Sheriff Steve Bizzell and El Pueblo Executive Director Tony Asion belong to the same brotherhood of law enforcement.
Scrutiny smacks of sexism
Rick Martinez: Back in the 1970s, I flirted with becoming a feminist after the birth of my daughter. But after witnessing the strong ideological differences among women over feminism that marked that decade, I decided to help the kid out in other ways.
