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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Rogue Valley musicians shine in OLLI’s spring class schedule Work your body to save your braaaaains Ashland robotics team fares well at Oregon City Ashland Independent Film Festival announces this year's lineup ASHLAND: High school principal receives national award Education Rogue Valley musicians shine in OLLI’s spring class schedule Work your body to save your braaaaains Ashland robotics team fares well at Oregon City ASHLAND: High school principal receives national award Willow Wind students raise money for water Environment Mt. Ashland Ski Area: Low snow closes 'bunny hill' chairlift for beginning skiers With pre-season conditions worst in 25 years, catastrophic wildfires expected in region this summer Legislature might be divided on clean fuels bill, but these Ashlanders weren't Ashland Rowing Club members put their backs into Emigrant Lake clean-up The birdman of Bellview Business Ride & Drive: 2015 Honda Civic sedan Silvio Calabi: Mercedes-Benz ML250 raises the diesel 4×4 stakes Ride & Drive: 2015 Chrysler 300 Silvio Calabi: Volvo XC60 is sexy safety in an SUV Ride & Drive: 2015 Audi R8 Politics and elections Mark L. Hopkins: Looking for a political straight shooter Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Ballots on Jackson County marijuana tax go out today Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins State News Oregon's governor appoints new secretary of state Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Federal investigation of Kitzhaber to focus on potential financial crimes Gov. Kitzhaber announces resignation Read Gov. John Kitzhaber's statement on his resignation Nation - World Leonard Nimoy, famous as Mr. Spock on 'Star Trek,' dies Obituaries William F. Christofferson Death Notices Death Notices Death Notices Ramona G. (Austin) Fletcher Shareable Bank of America is predicting a massive Tesla collapse Mars One attracts science fiction geeks and people who hate society This $1 million Mercedes is like an armored private jet for the road Sports Latest Stories Dynamic offenses square off in SOU-Midland first-round matchup SOU women end first-round slump, crush Robert Morris by 25 Grizz snowboard team heads to state with repeat potential No. 10 SOU women brace for national tourney breakfast bracket ASHLAND: Oak Knoll to host free FootGolf event High school Grizz snowboard team heads to state with repeat potential Grizzlies let second-half lead slip away in season-ending loss to CV Williams named first-team all-star Owls stun No. 8 Raiders Norvell goes from newbie to state favorite Southern Oregon University Dynamic offenses square off in SOU-Midland first-round matchup SOU women end first-round slump, crush Robert Morris by 25 No. 10 SOU women brace for national tourney breakfast bracket Raiders tied for third, Gutches two wins from four-peat at NAIA nationals SOU's Maguin advances to 400 final Voices Latest Stories Kent Bush: The Internet is governed by people who have never sent an email Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Letters to the Editor, March 11 Landgren cartoon: Farewell to circus elephants Landgren cartoon: Potholes Editorial Our View: No need for blame in Hannah Thomas-Garner case Our view: Ashland tackles school attendance areas the right way Our View: Spelling out safety Our View: Our View: A growing concern Letters Letters to the Editor, March 11 Letters to the Editor, March 9 Letters to the Editor, March 7 Letters to the Editor, March 5 Letters to the Editor, March 4 Guest opinions Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Guest Opinion: Ashland schools failed to protect my son from bullying Guest Opinion: There is nothing uniform about the Uniform Crime Report Guest Opinion: Growth carries risks Guest Opinion: Legal poisons in our waters Columns Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well Kent Bush: Things will never change unless we change them Guest Opinion: Ashland schools failed to protect my son from bullying Council Corner: Solar power in Ashland's future Mark L. Hopkins: Looking for a political straight shooter Chris Honore Council Corner Editor's Notes Jeffrey Gillespie Herb Rothschild Revels Latest Stories Community blog: Take a peek at poet Scott Wozniak Community blog: Memorize poems with your whole body Alice DiMicele plays Unitarian Fellowship Listings for Varsity Theatre and Ashland Street Cinemas Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Theater Ticket Availability Ticket Availability Ticket Availability 'She Stoops' rises on SOU stage Review: OSF keeps the comedy afloat in 'Much Ado' Music Alice DiMicele plays Unitarian Fellowship The Farr Side: Another career highlight for Kelly Clarkson Music on the Mountain: Ski area launching concert series Victor D. Infante: Just in time for Valentine’s Day, some favorite breakup songs The Farr Side: Smith dominates, Beck surprises at Grammys Visual Art Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Movies Ashland Independent Film Festival announces this year's lineup AGING HAPPENS: Ashland synagogue hosts screening of Chopra film Laid-back Liam Neeson and Ed Harris get vicious in ‘Run All Night’ Pop Culture Notebook: ‘Community,’ ‘Avengers’ and ‘The Man From U.N.C.L.E.’ on the horizon Antionette Kerr: Nimoy’s legacy lives on in ‘Star Trek’ Food and Drink Sammich does it Chicago-style Cruelest Month: Poetry Blog Lifestyle Latest Stories American Association of University Women Ashland American Association of University Women Ashland Derek Kelly: Putting the pieces back together Page H. Onorato: The 10 commandments for the Southern cook Page H. Onorato: Try out this hot stuff in your kitchen on a cold night Aging Happens Inner Peace Column Inner Peace Blog Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Photos Videos Blogs Business Business Services NEWS NOW American Association of University Women Ashland ... Our View: Scenic Bikeway is another way to put Ashland on the map ... Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well ... American Association of University Women Ashland ... Our View: Scenic Bikeway is another way to put Ashland on the map ... Guest Opinion: It's Groundwater Awareness Week; test your well ... Mark L. Hopkins: Looking for a political straight shooter By Mark L. Hopkins More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Mark L. Hopkins More Content Now Posted Mar. 9, 2015 @ 6:51 am By Mark L. Hopkins More Content Now Posted Mar. 9, 2015 @ 6:51 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2324,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Sports announcer Howard Cosell made famous the phrase “Tell it like it is.” He prided himself on laying out his words of description for the listener just the way he saw it and letting the listener decide for himself just what occurred and, perhaps, why. How we love a politician who will do just that for us. It is one of the reasons we liked President Ronald Reagan. The media tagged him with the name “The Great Communicator,” and he certainly was. He knew how to address the public and always seemed knowledgeable, ethical, and above all, honest. He could look us in the face right through our TV screens and tell us exactly what was going on and what he intended to do about it. And we believed it. At least the vast majority of us believed it. It seems that every political season for the past two decades we have been looking for another Ronald Reagan. It doesn’t seem to matter who the new candidate is or what he says, if he doesn’t remind us of President Reagan we seem to doubt his credibility. George H.W. Bush was probably the best qualified President in our modern history. Yet we turned him out of office and replaced him primarily because he, well, he wasn’t Ronald Reagan. Presidents Clinton and Bush each had their strong points, but national polls indicated both left office just ahead of the political grim reaper. And that brings us to President Barack Obama. President Obama is a visionary and a communicator. He is certainly the best at communicating we have had in that office since Reagan and when he speaks to the public he is both articulate and understandable. Still, he isn’t Reagan and at least partially because of that fact, he could walk on water and a portion of the voting public would accuse him of not being able to swim. So who can fill the bill as the political straight shooter that our electorate is searching for, that our country needs, the one who will “Tell it like it is?” Will it be former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush or perhaps current governors Chris Christie or Scott Walker? How about South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham? He became a national personality during the Bill Clinton hearings back in the ‘90s, but is he well-known enough to strike a chord with rank and file Republicans? The Democrats probably have their candidate in Hillary Clinton. But of this group, who is or will become the Reagan-style communicator we are looking for? We are going to have to wait another 22 months to find out. If you feel I am leaving you with a note of skepticism, I’m sure you understand why. Dr. Mark L. Hopkins writes for More Content Now and Scripps Newspapers. He is past president of colleges and universities in four states and currently serves as executive director of a higher-education consulting service. Hopkins’ latest book, “Journey to Gettysburg,” is now available at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble. Contact him at [email protected]. By Mark L. Hopkins More Content Now DailyTidings.com By Mark L. Hopkins More Content Now Posted Mar. 9, 2015 @ 6:51 am » Comment or view comments /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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