Columns

Parker: Anonymity an antiquated notion in the Google age

At a party a few years ago, a young reporter bounded over to my cluster of social nodders and, with the breathlessness of a born tweeter, chirped: "What's the new hot thing?!" I replied: "Anonymity."

Callaghan: Lowdown on possible shutdown of state government

Gov. Jay Inslee's press secretary characterized the lack of information about a state government shutdown that might happen July 1 like this: "There are more Qs than As right now."

Sowell: Obama's contempt for truth wounds country as a whole

Amid all the heated crosscurrents of debate about the National Security Agency's massive surveillance program, there is a growing distrust of the Obama administration that makes weighing the costs and benefits of the NSA program itself hard to assess. The belated recognition of this administration's contempt for the truth, for the American people and for the Constitution of the United States has been long overdue. But what if the NSA program has in fact thwarted terrorists and saved many American lives in ways that cannot be revealed publicly?

Pitts: We're trading our freedom for false sense of security

It will not be with guns.

John Laird: First Citizens consistently support transportation projects

Ever since Meriwether Lewis plopped a paddle onto the banks of the Columbia River 208 years ago near today's Washougal, a segment of our community has dedicated itself to complaining. Fortunately, the naysayers have been more bark than bite. Meanwhile, countless other optimistic and honorable leaders have helped Clark County become the best place in America to live, work and play.

Carlson: Rubio has tough task on immigration

Florida senator tries to woo GOP fence-sitters without losing Dems

The attempted seduction of Sen. John Cornyn by immigration reformers is akin to my effort to get Neil Patrick Harris, the best emcee ever of any awards show, to sing at my next birthday. No matter how much I offer him, he'll turn me down.

Will: IRS scandal gives us reason to distrust NSA program

As soon as the Constitution permitted him to run for Congress, Al Salvi did. In 1986, just 26 and fresh from the University of Illinois law school, he sank $1,000 of his own money, which was most of his money, into his campaign to unseat an incumbent Democratic congressman. Salvi studied for the bar exam during meals at campaign dinners.

Everson: Senate's comprehensive path to immigration

The Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 has taken a beating in the current debate over immigration reform. Charles Krauthammer spoke for many this spring when he called the law a "fiasco where amnesty was granted and border enforcement never came." As deputy commissioner of the Immigration and Naturalization Service during the Reagan administration, I oversaw implementation of the 1986 law at the agency. I strongly support the current reform effort, including the amnesty provisions that are generating such controversy.

Milbank: For congressional GOP, abortion debate a man's world

Ladies and gentlemen, Republicans are again voting on new abortion restrictions. The House Judiciary Committee gathered Wednesday to pass another anti-abortion bill, and the nameplates on the majority side told the story:

Marcus: Women have come a long way, but hurdles still remain

The two photos serve as powerful visual bookends for any discussion of gender and the Obama White House. The first was worth its thousand words, and sparked even more: the president sitting in the Oval Office with 10 men arrayed in front of him, and Valerie Jarrett's leg barely visible.

Ambrose: Privacy goes poof as incompetence reigns in Washington

President Barack Obama is more right than wrong in his embrace of massive data collection to help prevent terrorist attacks, but watch out, fellow Americans. Privacy in our land is going poof, this particular program has potential for grave abuse, and here is an administration that too often wanders off the ranch as ideology urges it forward and incompetence says OK.