As most Americans are focusing on the year ahead, some presidential hopefuls (Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., included) undoubtedly have 2008 on their minds. Blogger Chris Cillizza of The Washington Post looked at how the potential presidential candidates fared in 2005.
According to him, Sen. Bill Frist, R-Tenn., had the worst year while Democratic Virginia Gov. Mark Warner had the best. (Check out the post to see his reasoning.) But voters’ short memories could very well make 2005 irrelevant by the time they choose the next president.
Posted by Melissa Cooley
President Bush is no doubt glad to see 2005 end and is hoping for better results in 2006. Bush went from the high of a second inauguration to poll ratings that dropped below 40 percent, driven in large part by frustrations with Iraq and the bungled federal response to Katrina. His high-profile Social Security reform effort also went nowhere, he had to back down on anti-torture legislation, and he is now under fire for authorizing wiretaps of U.S. citizens. But as Bill Clinton proved, you shouldn’t rush to write off a president. Bush still has great power and influence, even when wounded, and he can regain his political footing and momentum. But one bit of advice for 2006: Think twice about going on vacation for five weeks.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
Many Christians regularly attend different churches during the course of a week or month, picking and choosing among programs and services, The New York Times reported. This particularly happens with young people, who may go to one church with their parents but a different one for youth groups and praise services. This can be a good thing, particularly with teens who are seeking their own spiritual connection. But it also can result in a consumer approach to faith, in which people focus too much on satisfying their own needs and are quick to “church hop” if they don’t like something. This consumer approach also can tempt pastors to water down messages or focus on being entertaining, and it may be why several megachurches decided this year not to hold services on Christmas Day. There likely is also a generational difference. My mother has been extremely loyal to her denomination and local church. If there were problems, her attitude was that you stay and help fix them, not jump ship.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
If you haven’t seen it yet, you should check out Eagle editorial cartoonist Richard Crowson’s review of 2005 in the Sunday Eagle and online (there are more cartoons on our Web site). Richard has his memorable takes on some of the big news events, such as the capture of BTK and the State Board of Education’s embarrassments, and he has touching tributes to some fallen heroes.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
“It’s not very realistic in rural Kansas to talk about closing schools and putting a second-grader on a bus for an hour to and from school,” Gov. Kathleen Sebelius told the Harris News Service last week. Such consolidations also aren’t politically realistic. That why Sebelius and state lawmakers need to focus on consolidating school administrations. More school districts — both in rural and urban areas — should share superintendents, clerks and accounting systems.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee