How moving and fitting — and how American — to see Rosa Parks’ coffin in a place of honor in the Capitol rotunda. The seamstress whose refusal to give up her seat on a bus sparked the civil rights movement received the same honored place as presidents Lincoln and Kennedy and other national icons.
It’s an inspiring reminder that ordinary citizens can be great leaders in this country.
“She was a citizen in the best sense of the word,” said Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa. “She caused things to happen in our society that made us a better, more caring, more just society.”
Posted by Randy Scholfield
“Doonesbury” is in reruns this week not because Garry Trudeau is on vacation but because Harriet Miers pulled out Thursday and ruined his narrative. But here are the strips that were supposed to run this week, courtesy of Slate.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Unlike with Harriet Miers, there won’t be a big debate about the qualifications of Samuel Alito, President Bush’s new nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court. Alito "has more prior judicial experience than any Supreme Court nominee in 70 years," Bush said Monday. But there will be a knock-down, drag-out fight about ideology. Alito’s views and rulings are so similar to those of conservative justice Antonin Scalia that his nickname among some attorneys is "Scalito." Thus, if he is confirmed, abortion rights would likely be overturned or significantly restricted. But I’m with Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., in believing that it is better to have a nominee whose views and records are clear — even if that means the confirmation process turns into a brawl — than to try to sneak through a stealth nominee.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
Tim Shallenburger’s tendency to shoot from the lip is usually to his credit as chairman of the Kansas Republican Party. But he went over the top last week in instantly condemning Democratic attorney general candidate Paul Morrison as having “pulled a Benedict Arnold” by switching parties. Ditto Shallenburger’s suggestion that the Johnson County district attorney was somehow culpable for the 2000 Wichita killing spree of Reginald and Jonathan Carr. And describing a 25-year criminal prosecutor with a 98 percent jury trial conviction rate as “soft on crime”? Puh-leese. Voters need to decide this contest on issues, not insults.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Any Kansas homeowners’ associations still carrying racial restrictions in their covenants shouldn’t need to be told by state law to get rid of them. So maybe just hearing about legislation proposed by Rep. Bill Feuerborn, D-Garnett, will be enough to take care of any vestiges of such racism around the state. If the bill passes, homeowners’ associations with such covenants could be sued by a city, county or individual, and attorney fees could be recovered. Between now and the session’s start in January, homeowners’ association directors should ensure that no such legislation is necessary.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
The good folks of western Kansas have learned to live with their association with the 1959 Clutter family murders, but the buzz is growing again, thanks to Hollywood. USA Today reported last week that Vintage has gone back to press three times with its edition of “In Cold Blood” tied to “Capote,” the new film starring Philip Seymour Hoffman as author Truman Capote. And a Barnes & Noble official said “In Cold Blood” has been its leading literature title of late, outselling “The Great Gatsby,” “1984,” “Of Mice and Men” and “Lord of the Flies.” Wish the movie would hurry up and get to Wichita.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Substitute “the State Board of Education” for “Japan.” Then replace the phrases “food safety” and “international trade policy” with “education standards,” and Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., could have been condemning his home state’s new science education standards last week rather than Japan’s ban of U.S. beef:
“Japan has chosen to ignore internationally recognized science and instead based their food safety on emotion and politics. . . . We’re not going to stand idly by while politics and posturing drive international trade policy rather than sound science.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman
