...We will see if he intends to do that once he steps onto the floor of the House of Representatives on Tuesday. ? William McKenzie is an editorial columnist for The Dallas Morning News.

We're going to have a national debate about government, right? Both parties told us during their conventions that we must make a choice, didn't they?Yes, they did, but my fear is this debate may miss the mark about the proper role and size of government.We have one side pressing for a more activist government and another whose most vocal supporters demonize government. Those of us caught between them are getting served a false choice between bigger or minimalist - yet what we really want is right-size government.

...a series of personality cults," you soon have people worshipping personalities. Where's God in all that? William McKenzie is an editorial columnist for The Dallas Morning News. Readers may e-mail him at wmckenziedallasnews.com.

...determine whether he or she is progressing. I'm pulling hard for a business-civil rights coalition, but this is going to be one debate worth watching for the element of surprise. Contact William McKenzie at wmckenziedallasnews.com .

...himself with a bunch of hacks who've yes-manned him. Gonzales and Brown aren't the only ones around his table. William McKenzie is an editorial columnist for The Dallas Morning News. Contact him at wmckenziedallasnews.com

Here's an issue I would love to see become part of the discussion during the coming presidential race: How can we secure enough water supplies to sustain the nation's growth, particularly in the West? The West is where most Americans increasingly choose to live. About one out of every three of us lives in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, Idaho, Oregon, Washington or Alaska. And many of those still-fast-growing states face serious water challenges.

When Pat Buchanan kicked off the 1992 GOP convention with his "angry-man speech" about the decline of American culture, I was in the press section, thinking, "that's just Buchanan being Buchanan.

...it's Obama. If you worry about both, you have seven weeks to decide which change matters most. Good luck. William McKenzie is an editorial columnist for The Dallas Morning News.

...people will look to today as the start of this new reality. Take it in. Days like this don't come around often. William McKenzie is an editorial columnist for The Dallas Morning News.

...know who hit a home run with the most voters and doused themselves with champagne in the championship locker room. William McKenzie is an editorial columnist for The Dallas Morning News.