Unca Darrell

SEPTEMBER 30 / Style, usage, journalism

IT'S THE END of the month. Let's take our regular survey of misdemeanors and felonies in style, usage, and journalism at the Chronicle and elsewhere.

SEPTEMBER 30 / Which is saying something

TODAY's Houston Chronicle editorial on Obamacare is the single most dishonest editorial I have ever seen in our local newspaper.

SEPTEMBER 30 / The Chronicle says "barbaric," sort of

AN EXECUTION of any kind for adultery is barbaric. Iran's "special viewpoint" on women is barbaric.

So judgmental! So correct!

SEPTEMBER 29 / More on the ratchet

WHY ARE LIBERALS so unhappy to see "moderate Republicans" drummed out of the party? That's simple: [Because] liberals have . . .

SEPTEMBER 29 / UPDATED: Shocker: Local group finds voter fraud in Harris County

FOX NEWS and the Washington Examiner are covering voter fraud in Harris County better than the Houston Chronicle covers it.

SEPTEMBER 28 / Attaboy

KUDOS to the author of the Houston Chronicle's recent editorial on the death of David Thompson, longtime fixture at Murder by the Book. It was written in the cold, terse style of a cheap detective novel. Except for one unwise crack about "bookstores . . . going the way of the icecaps," it betrayed no hint of the usual elitism of the editorial board.

So who wrote it? Who gets the attaboy?

SEPTEMBER 28 / Barnett / The individual mandate is unconstitutional

CAN CONGRESS require citizens to purchase health insurance? Professor Randy E. Barnett says not. He makes his case, appropriately, in legalese, so his article may not be your cup of tea. But his arguments are compelling. Some snips:

SEPTEMBER 27 / Worst numbers ever for BHO

PRESIDENT OBAMA came out of the weekend with the worst job-approval/disapproval numbers of his administration.

SEPTEMBER 27 / You want a conversation about race?

Start with this:

SEPTEMBER 26 / Freedom of what?

MY SIDE on the God question is unhappy, for good cause I think, about the president's fondness for the phrase "freedom of . . .