Daily Archives: Aug. 26, 2006

Open thread

Aug. 26, 200612:05 a.m.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Open thread | Comments (39)

Last-ditch argument for Iraq war

Aug. 26, 200612:02 a.m.

The Washington Post reported a shift in President Bush’s rhetoric about the war in Iraq during his press conference this week. Rather than talk about the progress being made in Iraq, Bush used terms such as “havoc” and made no suggestion that the situation is improving. His main argument: “If you think it’s bad now, imagine what Iraq would look like if the United States leaves before this government can defend itself.”
Christopher F. Gelpi, a Duke University scholar who does research on public opinion in wartime, told the Post that Bush had little choice. “He looks foolish and not credible if he says, ‘We’re making progress in Iraq,’” Gelpi said. “I think he probably would like to make that argument, but because that’s not credible given the facts on the ground, this is the fallback. . . . If the only thing you can say is ‘Yes, it’s bad, but it could be worse,’ that really is a last-ditch argument.”
Posted by Phillip Brownlee

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Iraq, President Bush | Comments (79)

Conspiracy theory on evolution theory

Aug. 26, 200612:01 a.m.

The U.S. Department of Education says that removing evolutionary biology from the list of acceptable fields of study for federal education grants was a “clerical mistake.” But it’s understandable why some people are suspicious, given all the effort in recent years by some religious conservatives to undermine the evolution theory. Said Steven Rissing, an evolutionary biologist as Ohio State University: “It’s just awfully coincidental.”
Posted by Phillip Brownlee

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Uncategorized | Comments (45)

Happy birthday to zoo

Aug. 26, 200612:00 a.m.

Even with so many local attractions facing financial and attendance problems, the Sedgwick County Zoo keeps going strong — and getting better every year. And this weekend it’s celebrating its 35th birthday with reduced admission prices and special activities.
The zoo does get more taxpayer funding than other attractions, which helps stabilize its operations. But it also offers a quality product that the public values, and it attracts private funding for new exhibits. It’s a model public-private partnership.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Wichita events | Comments (4)