Firmly pro choice, I am.

Take that outlook and couple it with an admission that I've done and said a few hypocritical things in my life. Those facts, combined with the revelation that the Republican National Committee's insurance policy covered abortions, made me laugh -- again and heartily --...

The only time I'm forced to suffer the myopic, unceremonious on-air "talent" at Fox News is every other week when I visit my plain-spoken barber, Larry, who has cut my ever-graying hair and shared his unvarnished and liberal-to-centrist opinions for nearly 35 years.

Although Larry doesn't...

I have to hand it to Rush Limbaugh. It's just that I don't know if I should backhand him or extend a handshake of congratulations in recognition of him pulling off another publicity ploy in the name of shameless self promotion.

On second thought, I'm not so sure that I...

Back in 1977, I was Derrion Albert.

That year I was a high school junior at a Chicago public high school. At that school and at that time, fortunately, excellence still was lauded and rewarded.

I once was a 16-year-old black kid who was born in Chicago's Englewood neighborhood...

Dear Michael Vick:

As a lifelong dog lover and a pro football fanatic, I gave you a few weeks of freedom before chiming in with my opinions about your predicament, although just about anyone who can spell dog and spell football already has had something to say.

The banner held proudly by some obviously inspired African-American gentleman attending President Barack Obama's victory rally in Chicago's Grant Park bothered me. Actually, after a few days, I was more unnerved by the fact that I was bothered in the first place, if that makes any sense.

While I should...

South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford really should just stop talking in public. Hush. Shut up. Callate!

He needs to try his absolute best to refrain from opening his mouth these days whenever a microphone is positioned in front of his contorted face. He needs to act like a mime...

I still can't believe that Michael Jackson is dead.

When I watch news reports, enjoy his over-the-top videos that now are in heavy TV rotation or talk to people about the circus that was his life and the knock-you-off-your-feet tragedy that is his death, it absolutely still feels like a...

At some point in the nice-nasty exchanges between certain Democrats and Republicans about that Hispanic lady who President Barack Obama has nominated for the U.S. Supreme Court, some sane outsider needs to call a Come To Jesus Meeting to clear the air and recalibrate the nation's political scale.

More than a few Republicans who believed they were supporting a stroke of genius in standing behind Michael Steele to become chairman of their party are now staving off an actual stroke.

Who could argue with the cold, cunning and calculated political strategy that was the GOP's decision to put...

With the obvious exception of history-making President Barack Obama -- my fellow Leo with the camouflaged, ginormous ego -- the list of elected officials who receive my unconditional gratitude and moderated deference for their commitment to public service is as long as a bolt of lightning is short.

To say...

The difference between O.J. Simpson and President-Elect Barack Obama would be more stark and irrefutable if the color of their skin was not so similar. In America, sadly, there still are far too many people who see our next president when they see Simpson. Consider it a twisted take on...

Somewhere in the United States is a village that's missing its idiot.

That vacancy exists because the lightning rod figure of a pariah that is O.J. Simpson is locked up in Las Vegas, awaiting sentencing on Dec. 5 after being convicted of kidnapping and robbing two sports memorabilia dealers...

As a general interest opinion columnist, I've complimented, criticized, questioned and satirized a long list of people, places and things, not to mention current events, trends and the news for 16 years. Whether it's been sports heroes gone bad, class divisions in the black community, sex and dating or the...

Now that former Detroit Mayor Kwame M. Kilpatrick is just that--the hardscrabble city's former chief executive--the line to take pot shots at him is much longer, as the "I told you so" folks race to find their place in line.

Depending on your politics and perspective, if there ever was...