By JOSE DE LA ISLA, Scripps Howard News Service

Chris Simcox, co-founder of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, announced in late April that he will challenge incumbent John McCain for the 2010 Arizona U.S. Senate nomination.
Back in March 2005, Simcox and Jim Gilchrist -- founder of the civilian border patrol organization -- mobilized volunteers to converge on that state's Cochise County and patrol the border.

With forays to Mexico and the Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago, Barack Obama has succeeded in conveying a new U.S. attitude -- and policy direction -- for relations with Latin America.
The trips were preceded by policy actions.

Before the 2006 midterm elections, chances looked good that Republicans would be kept in office by a Republican leadership approach of benign neglect of banking and finance, admiration of a growing income gap between the rich and the middle class, low personal savings, high public deficits, unreported war costs and a promise of incorporating migrating populations into our nation's workforce

On Christmas Eve, political scientist Samuel P. Huntington, 81, passed away of natural causes. He was known for a 1993 article in Foreign Policy magazine that he turned into the book "Clash of Civilizations and the New World Order." He claimed conflict after the Cold War would center on cultural rather than ideological differences.

WASHINGTON -- This year the Hispanic Congressional Caucus presented its Medallion of Excellence to Lieutenant General (ret.) Ricardo Sanchez. He commanded coalition forces in Iraq in 2003 and 2004. During that time the Abu Ghraib interrogations that tarnished the nation took place.

Ever since Lyndon Johnson proclaimed Hispanic Heritage Week in 1978, I've had mixed feelings about such a happening.Don't get me wrong. Annual celebrations and commemorations are important. Subtly, they can provide the paste that binds us as a nation. In her book "A Brief History of Anxiety," Patricia Pearson suggests they give us social therapy.

HOUSTON -- Did you see that smack-down by MSNBC's Chris Matthews of Los Angeles conservative radio commentator Kevin James? Matthews' question to James was simple.

HOUSTON -- Hillary Rodham Clinton and Rudy Giuliani are disappointing as leaders among our presidential candidates.