Memo to the immigrant-rights marchers: Whatever the merits of your case, it’s a big mistake to wave so many Mexican flags, which in the Los Angeles march appeared to outnumber U.S. flags. The message many Americans will receive is, “We’ve been invaded by people whose allegiance is to Mexico.” That’s not a winning strategy for gaining their support.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
It’s a relief that Abdul Rahman made it out of that gulaglike nightmare that is “liberated” Afghanistan. The man who was threatened with death, either from the courts or mobs, for converting to Christianity has received asylum in Italy, according to reports.
This could be a new mission for U.S. troops in Afghanistan — evacuating people who want religious liberty.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
How scary to learn this week that in December, congressional investigators smuggled radioactive material in the trunks of rental cars across borders with Canada and Mexico. It was no comfort that the radiation alarms went off, either, because phony documents were sufficient to persuade U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspectors that the cargo should get through anyway.
Glad it was only a test. Next time, though, it could be the makings of a dirty bomb.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
The new law requiring 4- through 7-year-olds to ride in booster seats will come as a bothersome surprise to some parents come July 1. But under the law, which Gov. Kathleen Sebelius signed Monday, only warnings will be issued for the first year, and after that, an errant parent can have his fine waived by getting a booster seat. Most important: More kids riding with proper restraints will mean fewer injuries and deaths in accidents. “It’s absolutely the right thing,” state Sen. Les Donovan, R-Wichita, said four years ago. And now, thanks in part to his tenacity, it’s also the law.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
The U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether states can make prison inmates’ access to newspapers and magazines conditional on their good behavior. Things being what they are in print journalism these days, we’re all for viewing newspapers as a reward, even if just for a captive readership. But who knew newspapers could also be so easily turned into lethal weapons? (Certain violent prisoners did, according to Pennsylvania’s executive deputy attorney general.)
The issue is serious. An inmate argued withholding his Christian Science Monitor violated his First Amendment rights; Pennsylvania argued that such rights-restricting “behavior modification” is OK as long as it’s for a legitimate reason and the alternatives are exhausted.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Does Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss., think ethics reform is funny? Post-Abramoff, it isn’t. But Lott, chairman of the Senate Rules Committee, recently joked of changes that would include barring lawmakers from accepting meals or gifts from lobbyists: “We would give up any pay, any outside food. We would live in the Russell compound. We would have no conjugal visits. And for 15 minutes a day we would go out into the courtyard, which we would use to confess our sins and flagellate ourselves.” This week, as the Senate prepared to work on the bill, Lott cautioned, “This is an intricate dance we’re in.” If Lott’s trying not to get ethics reformers’ hopes too high, he’s doing a fine job.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Democrats aren’t the only ones questioning the Bush administration’s foreign policy aim of spreading democracy. With violence and costs in Iraq increasing and a newly elected Hamas government in the region, more Republicans are voicing doubts as to whether this foreign policy is realistic.
“You cannot in my opinion just impose a democratic form of government on a country with no history and no culture and no tradition of democracy,” Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., recently told The New York Times.
But Bush hasn’t been one to let dissent get in the way of his goals. And Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told the Times that this administration would again stick to its goals.
Posted by Melissa Cooley
Joking and lawmaking don’t mix, but credit Rep. Dale Swenson, R-Wichita, for creativity in suggesting Rep. Becky Hutchins, R-Holton, had taken up enough time with her serial attempts to repeal the immigrant in-state tuition law. At one point last week, Swenson pursued a measure to rename a portion of U.S. 75 in Hutchins’ district after the late Mexican-American activist Cesar Chavez. Swenson’s amendment didn’t get a vote, but his point was made.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
