In four years as president of Texas A&M University, former CIA director Robert M. Gates—who knows a thing or two about leading a strong, hidebound, misunderstood culture—has left few areas of campus life untouched. But putting sushi in the dining halls is nothing compared with overhauling the Aggie brand.

While politicians and bureaucrats endlessly debate the best ways to secure our borders, illegal immigrants are dying to get into America—literally.

You want to send your granny a grapefruit this Christmas? Your bro a brisket? Your pop a pie? We’ve taste-tested more than four hundred foodstuffs that Texas companies will happily ship to your door, and more than forty are first-class.

Yes, deer: It’s that time of year again.

She was our governor, but she was my friend.

At the Giddings State School, violent teenagers come to terms with their horrific crimes—and learn how to avoid committing them again—through role-playing exercises in a jailhouse version of group therapy. This is what your tax dollars are paying for? Well, it works. For a while, at least.

Nora Ephron’s wattle, and Ann
Richards’s, and mine.

Rick Perry’s inner monologue.

That old mad dog Carlton Carl takes Martindale. Literally.

Race and racism at the state soccer championship.

Just curious, Mr. Vice President: How did your old pals at Halliburton get that five-year, no-bid contract to clean up Iraq?

Does the ten-gallon hat hold ten gallons?

William Martin Reviews our places of worship.

A fix for political junkies.

What’s loony about the beach in winter?

Bush bashing on the big screen.

Growing Up.

Matthew Dowd on how to win an election.

One, two, three strikes they’re out.

Where elite feet meet.

“The newspaper business? I don’t mind being in a dying industry, but it really pisses me off to be in one that’s committing suicide.”