Republican Party chairman Ken Mehlman told an NAACP chapter this week that the “party of Lincoln and the African-American people have an incredible history together.” Maybe so, but it’s the present that’s the problem: The latest NBC/Wall Street Journal poll finds that 2 percent of African-Americans approve of the job President Bush is doing, compared with 39 percent of Americans overall. That barely perceptible support among blacks is down from 19 percent six months ago and 51 percent after the Sept. 11 attacks. More evidence, sadly, that Kanye West spoke for millions in saying on national TV that Bush doesn’t care about black people.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Kansas Republicans still haven’t found a candidate with a profile to rival that of Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, should she run for re-election next year. But what the GOP field lacks in name recognition it’s increasingly making up in quantity: State Sen. Jim Barnett of Emporia jumped in Thursday, joining House Speaker Doug Mays of Topeka and former House Speaker Robin Jennison of Healy, as well as even lesser-known contenders Dennis Hawver of Ozawkie and Richard Rodewald of Lawrence. What Barnett, a 51-year-old physician, brings to the race are strong views, a hard-to-label voting record and a practiced insight into health policy — one of Sebelius’ favorite issues. But getting to be well-known out from under the dome will be a challenge.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
I don’t know what to say about the ongoing Kaufman trial except: Ick.
If the charges are true, the thought of having to endure so-called “nude therapy” with these two is beyond scary.
From a paper found at a Kaufman group home in Newton: “The purpose of this group is to use social nudity as a part of honest sharing of life experiences with the group, as a means of getting at the fears, anxieties, cravings and frustrations caused by the distortions of our Midwestern culture, our early childhood experiences, and our value and morality assumptions.”
Midwestern culture is admittedly uptight about nudity. But I think it’s for good reason. The fact is, the vast majority of people, especially in the Midwest, just don’t look good naked. They should keep their clothes on at all times. That’s why nudist colonies are a frightening concept.
Nude therapy. Did they actually sell that to Medicare for reimbursements? Sounds like a lame pickup line from college: “Hey there. You look like you might need some nude therapy.” Or some touchy-feely ’60s California fad that finally made it to Kansas.
Kansas isn’t a good place for nude therapy. It’s too cold, hot and windy.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
Many of the Kansans involved in the 121 public schools newly designated as failing to meet benchmarks of the No Child Left Behind law might share State Board of Education chairman Steve Abrams’ interest in exploring whether Kansas should opt out of the federal law. So might those whose schools are winning the fight — so far — to comply with the law, which calls for all students to be proficient in math and reading by 2014. As much trouble as the law is causing, though, it’s clearly helping Kansas schools better focus their resources around students’ needs. And opting out would mean forgoing millions of federal dollars. So the state needs to proceed with extreme caution.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
BOB CORKINS BUYS ‘ADMINISTRATING FOR DUMMIES’ BOOK; New State Education Commissioner Admits to Steep Learning Curve
SEDGWICK COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO ALLOW CASINO VOTE IN 2043; ‘We Don’t Feel Any Real Sense of Urgency,’ Notes Chairman
WILDLIFE AND PARKS ANNOUNCES OPEN SEASON ON WHOOPING CRANES; ‘No Limit’ Hunting a Precautionary Measure to Counter Avian Flu Threat
BEL AIRE UNVEILS TERRORISM RAPID-RESPONSE FORCE; Elite Police Unit Busts Cell of Model-Airplane Hobbyists
Posted by Randy Scholfield
Kansans who are uneasy about women breastfeeding in public (remember the lactivist debate?) would surely cringe at the thought of the “diaper-free-by-three” movement described in this New York Times piece. (That’s three weeks, not years.)
The movement’s philosophy goes like this: Parents can watch for the signals their baby sends when he needs to go to the bathroom. By responding to the signals — moving the child quickly over the toilet — Americans can eliminate the need for diapers and join the countless other countries that don’t use them.
Maybe this works, but I think the police in Wichita have enough of a problem with public urination in Old Town.
Posted by Melissa Cooley
