In Friday’s Eagle, the editorial board published its top 10 list of political/public policy issues of 2005 (see blog post below). The Lawrence Journal-World took a different approach to the same idea: Top 10 Kansans. Here is its list:
Kansas Education Commissioner Bob Corkins; the Rev. Terry Fox of Wichita (for leading charge on gay amendment); author Thomas Frank (who wrote the best-seller “What’s the Matter With Kansas?”); attorney Pedro Irigonegaray (who defended mainstream science during the State Board of Education evolution hearings); the Kansas Supreme Court; Attorney General Phill Kline; Wichita-based Koch Industries (for becoming the largest private company in the United States and for funding political activities); Marci Penner (who promotes rural life through the Kansas Sampler Foundation); Westar Energy (for the trial of its former executives and its tie to a Tom DeLay scandal); Kevin Willmott (a KU professor who is helping to lead the rise of filmmaking in Kansas).
What do you think? The criteria for the Journal-World list was people “who caught our attention,” which could qualify anybody, apparently including businesses. It’s interesting that Kline was the only elected official to make the list, and that the neither State Board of Education nor any of its members made the top 10. For that matter, how about BTK?
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
The South Korean stem cell scandal keeps getting worse. It now appears that star researcher Hwang Woo Suk (in photo) faked the findings on all 11 of the stem cell colonies that he claimed to create, rather than nine of them, as was first reported. What’s more, there are allegations that South Korean government officials attempted to bribe other scientists not to blow the whistle on the sham research, The Washington Post reported. As I noted on this blog a couple of weeks ago, when one researcher is that far ahead of all others, it should raise red flags — particularly when so much money and prestige are on the line.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
The Eagle editorial board took a stab at naming the 10 biggest local and state public policy/political issues of the year on today’s Opinion Pages. Note: These are political stories, not just news stories, so the capture and conviction of BTK doesn’t qualify. We also gave strong preference to issues that generated the most attention and public passion. As a result, the local war on porn made our list, even though it produced more heat than light, and Medicaid reform did not, though it is the biggest budget challenge facing the state. Here is our list:
1. Evolution. Scopes II hearings; State Board of Education vote; damage to state’s image; KU professor Paul Mirecki.
2. School funding. Showdown with Kansas Supreme Court; special legislative session; large funding increase; new cost study.
3. Iraq. Local deaths and deployments; Phelps protests at funerals.
4. Gay marriage. Constitutional amendment passes in landslide.
5. Economy. Local and state tax collections increased and aircraft orders are up, but demand for help from charities also increased; United Way fundraising and local attractions faltered.
6. Downtown redevelopment. Arena site chosen; new projects planned; WaterWalk off to rocky start; Boathouse controversy.
7. Expanded gambling. Talk of riverfront casino and a specific plan for a tribal casino in Park City. Sedgwick County decides not to hold nonbinding vote, but three area counties do.
8. GOP infighting. Rep. Jerry Moran flip-flops on governor’s race; state party chief Tim Shallenburger under fire; new moderate Republican group forms; Sens. Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts on national stage.
9. Abortion. Attorney General Phill Kline subpoenas clinic records, case before Kansas Supreme Court; legislative effort to regulate clinics; protesters at local high schools; death of patient at Wichita abortion clinic.
10. Pornography. Grand jury convened; Wichita City Council changes zoning; lawmakers considering skin tax.
Other top issues: Kansas mostly spared from military base closings; Wichita school district reviewing forced busing; Kline defends state’s death penalty law before U.S. Supreme Court.
What do you think of the list? Did we miss some big issues or get our ranking wrong?
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
Bill Koch is thinking about buying the Wichita Boathouse, said a Koch spokesman Thursday, but it remains an informal idea and he has no plans to make a proposal to the Wichita City Council.
It’s unclear how Koch’s nonproposal fits in with six other ideas already submitted to the Wichita City Council. Of course, if Koch does decide to make a proposal, his history with the Boathouse, to which he donated more than $1 million for renovation, carries some weight.
But Koch doesn’t own the Boathouse, and the City Council shouldn’t feel pressured to give his ideas favored status. Members should choose the Boathouse plan that makes the most sense for the community.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
The following satirical headlines come from borowitzreport.com:
SADDAM CALLS HIS TORTURERS ‘RANK AMATEURS’; Fears for the Future of Torture in Post-Saddam Iraq
ANGRY SANTA DECLARES WAR ON ARBOR DAY; Seeks Revenge for War on Christmas, Experts Believe
BUSH URGES AMERICANS TO SPY ON EACH OTHER THIS HOLIDAY SEASON; Calls Invasion of Privacy ‘the Gift That Keeps on Giving’
TERROR SUSPECTS TO RECEIVE FREQUENT FLIER MILES; New Program Makes Rendering Rewarding, Condi Says
WITH SADDAM A NO-SHOW, SADDAM LOOK-ALIKES GO ON TRIAL; Doppelgangers Will Return Credibility to Proceedings, Rumsfeld Says
WHITE HOUSE ACCIDENTALLY SCREENS ‘BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN’; Cheney, Rove Injured in Stampede for Exit
WAR COST TOPS ONE ZILLION; Pentagon Renames Iraq Conflict ‘Operation Infinite Expense’
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
