If one foreign company buys another, it’s not usually a threat to national security. But the bipartisan worry is well-founded over the $6.8 billion deal that’s about to give Dubai Ports World, a company owned by the United Arab Emirates, control of U.S. seaports in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia. This might be fine in theory, with proper safeguards. That was the root of Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff’s assurances Sunday. But as Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y., chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, noted, the deal’s conditions don’t relate to the company’s hiring. Especially with our ports as underprotected as they are — only 5 percent of the 2 billion annual tons of freight is examined on arrival — most Americans would be wary of any port control by foreign companies, let alone one owned by the country that was the financial and operational base of the Sept. 11 terrorists. As Sen. Lindsay Graham, R-S.C., said Sunday: “It’s unbelievably tone deaf politically at this point in our history. Most Americans are scratching their heads, wondering why this company from this region now.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman
In Sunday’s Parade magazine in The Eagle, did you catch Gov. Kathleen Sebelius among the eight “candidates” to be the first woman president? She was keeping company with Sens. Hillary Clinton, Susan Collins, Kay Bailey Hutchinson and Olympia Snowe, and with Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin. You can “vote” until March 18 at the Web site for the White House Project, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization devoted to seeing more women in high places. Some Kansas Republicans surely saw red at the Parade article, which gave the Democratic governor credit for “significant savings” in government spending and for her role in solving the school-finance showdown “without tax increases.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman
It seemed a natural topic for a cartoon caption contest, the Muslim outrage over the Muhammad cartoons published in a Danish newspaper, so with a bit of trepidation, I tossed it out there. Click on the image to see Sam Knecht’s winning caption. Apparently many readers were anxious to enter that frey, as we had over a hundred entries this time. I am happy to report that as of this writing, no riots have ensued. Well, there was that one opinion line comment today which called for my head, but that was in reference to my cartoon last week depicting Vice-President Cheney as our "Gangsta Veep." And that’s a whole other issue which I may address later with a separate post. Let’s get to some of the other contest entries which were pretty dang good.
Local comedian extraordinaire Bucky Walters weighed in, I believe for the first time in the history of our little contest with a snappy reference to the aforementioned Cheney issue: "Should we make their V. P. look like Freddy Fudd, Barney Fife or Quickdraw McGraw?" Previous winner Roger Neugent got a little violent this time. His caption: "Infidel cartoonist! ‘From ear to ear" did not refer to ‘grinning!’" Retired printmaker Peter Johnson, now residing in Leon, sent in "Umm…expressive line, correct perspective, incisive wit…now try a headless self portrait!" That last part hits a little too close to home, Peter! Another former multiple winner, Bernie Lantz, sent in "You, ink mongrel, are a Weapon of Muslim Disruption." Tom Borrego of Wichita submitted "Color within the lines, if you know what I mean!" All-time champion multiple winner Bruce Cole said "Is your health insurance paid up?" Then he also sent "Do you seriously think Prophet Muhammad would be out hunting quail with Dick Cheney?" Yet another multiple winner, Karen Wallace’s husband, Ken, sent in "Leave it blank. We’ll riot over that tomorrow." Oh, and her own entry: "Lose the uni-brow." From out of left field came this one from Brian Eslick: "We are all anxious to see the design for the new arena! You are working on the design for the new arena, AREN’T YOU???" I sort of like this one from Neil Evans: "I’m worried about your Family Circus cartoon, Mr. Keane…that dashed line that little Billy leaves in his tracks appears to form the face of Muhammad." And going out into another topic, Bill Papineau said "Mocking Muhammad will get our special agent Phill Kline to monitor your sexual activity (and that’s no joking matter!) Well, actually, Bill, I have reason to suspect that most cartoonists’ sexual activity is indeed a joking matter, but let’s not go there. Lastly, but dear to my heart: "Crowson, I watch you and my brother watches your little dog-in-the-corner." That came from Bruce Cole. And that explains why Al, my dog-in-the-corner, refused to make an appearance in a cartoon or two last week.
As part of his “vision” for Wichita, Mayor Carlos Mayans has been telling media that he wants to bring back Wichita State University football.
So who made him athletic director? Last anyone checked, Jim Schaus was doing a pretty good job, and he and WSU president Don Beggs have made it clear that reviving football isn’t part of WSU’s vision — and for good reasons, starting with cost.
It would take $11 million just to start up the program, according to a 1997 study — more now, of course. That would include the cost of adding three new women’s sports programs just to meet federal Title IX rules. Add another $1.5 million for football’s annual budget.
Can you say, “money pit”?
Would WSU football be fun? Sure. But this is WSU’s decision, not the mayor’s. And university officials have decided against it. Mayans should quit playing armchair quarterback and find a more realistic goal to get behind.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
Once upon a time, we used to write editorials saying that the best way for individuals to respond to global competition was to increase their work skills. That was back when the jobs being outsourced were mostly low-skill manufacturing. But those days are long gone. Not only have many highly skilled jobs, such as computer programming, moved overseas, more and more research and development work is going to China, India and elsewhere, according to a new study released last week. In fact, a survey of more than 200 multinational corporations found that 38 percent of them planned to “change substantially” the worldwide distribution of their research and development work during the next three years.
As broadcaster Edward R. Murrow used to say: Good night, and good luck.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
President Bush has been branding critics of health savings accounts as elitists who don’t think poor people can make their own choices. Here’s Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne’s take on the matter:
“And, as Elisabeth Bumiller pointed out in the New York Times, a $5,000 contribution to an HSA would have saved a couple with two children and a combined income of $40,000 just $630 on their 2005 federal income taxes. (And that assumes the couple could have afforded to put away the whole five grand, which is unlikely.) But a comparable couple with an income of $120,000 would have saved $1,500.
“In other words, HSAs give the smallest benefits to those least able to afford health insurance. That is not exactly showing respect for those who are ‘not making a lot of money.’ The elitism here lies with those making the proposal, not with its critics.”
Posted by Melissa Cooley
President Bush was right to address math and science education in the United States during his State of the Union address, considering this nation is falling behind in these areas as others improve. The gap is closing, and Bush is right to address it.
But there appears to be a knowledge gap here at home, too. Bush’s message isn’t getting through to average Americans. Fifty-seven percent of them think “things are fine” when it comes to math and science education at their public schools, a recent poll found. And 70 percent of high school parents approve of their schools’ curriculum.
As Jean Johnson, executive president of Public Agenda, points out: “There’s energy and leadership at the top, but there is a task to be done in getting parents and kids to understand some of the ideas. You can do a lot from the top, but you can’t do everything. Schools are local. The leadership needs to reach out and help the public understand the challenge.”
Posted by Melissa Cooley
The Kansas Taxpayers Network’s Karl Peterjohn often gripes that local governments use tax dollars to lobby the state for more tax dollars. It can seem like a reasonable point — which is why it’s inspired Senate Bill 457, barring the use of public money for lobbying. But those who lobby for local governments do so by being available to answer lawmakers’ questions, serve up data and watchdog the process. In their absence, flush private interests would hold even more sway than they do now. And under the dome, out of sight can mean out of mind and out of the budget. Wichitans should be especially wary of this proposal, because of area lawmakers’ spotty record on ensuring that their priorities mirror those of area governments.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
