With so much else going wrong in the Iraq war, it’s some comfort that justice will be served on former tyrant Saddam Hussein, whom an Iraqi court this week sentenced to death by hanging.
Saddam richly deserves this ignominious death. He was found guilty of murdering 148 people after a 1982 attempt on his life. It’s just one example of the long reign of torture and terror he inflicted on his people.
That said, it’s clear that Saddam’s death won’t be a moment of national reconciliation for Iraq or a turning point in the war. To the contrary, the verdict so far has only reinforced the deep sectarian divisions among Iraqis, with Shiites celebrating and Sunnis vowing revenge.
But exacting justice on Saddam helps bring to a fitting close this evil chapter in Iraq’s history.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
What’s perhaps most striking about President Bush’s visit to Topeka on behalf of 2nd Congressional District Rep. Jim Ryun is that he even had to make the trip — this has been a safe seat for the GOP.
Democrat Nancy Boyda was handily defeated just two years ago by Ryun. But this time around, according to polls, it’s a close race — in large part because of dissatisfaction with the Iraq war and Congress. She accuses Ryun of being a “lapdog” for the president and has used a simple, effective campaign slogan: “Had enough?”
Bush’s rally will undoubtedly motivate Republican stalwarts. But as noted by Bob Beatty, a political science professor at Washburn University, it could also backfire by helping turn out independents and others unhappy with Bush and the Iraq war.
We’ll soon find out how deep the dissatisfaction runs.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
Even in the context of many political signs, they prompt a double take: More than one sign has been spotted around town recently touting “Mayans” for “Kansas governor.” Wichita Mayor Carlos Mayans told The Eagle editorial board that somebody apparently crafted the signs from a design he used during his legislative campaigns and one that GOP candidate Tim Shallenburger used in 2002. “They did a very good job. They spent some time doing that,” Mayans said, adding, “I’m very flattered that people believe that I can do so many things.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman
History has been kinder recently to Kansas’ own President Eisenhower than it once was, offering new appreciation for how he ended the Korean War, balanced budgets, launched the space race, built an interstate highway system and managed Cold War threats. But Los Angeles Times columnist Max Boot pushed back at the Ike backers, calling him a “status-quo” president and arguing that “he was no profile in courage when he refused to stand up to the demagogic Joseph McCarthy or to do much to enforce the Supreme Court’s Brown vs. Board of Education school integration decision.” Boot concluded: “Maybe that’s what the nation needed in the 1950s, but it’s no reason to celebrate him as a ‘near great’ president (his ranking in a 2005 survey of scholars). And don’t get me started on his checkered record as a general.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman
There have been few surprises among Kansas newspapers’ endorsements this season. Here are two:
The Lawrence Journal-World endorsed Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Rep Jim Ryun, R-Topeka, but chose not to endorse either candidate for attorney general, saying, “It’s hard to scrape through all the mud being slung to get to basics. Wipe off the candidate you prefer and mark your ballot for him.”
The Garden City Telegram endorsed Democrat and local businessman John Doll (in photo) over popular incumbent Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Hays, saying, “The problem is that Moran joins other Republicans in Congress who must shoulder blame for deteriorating conditions in Iraq.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Labor unions are protesting the definition of “supervisors” as held by the National Labor Relations Board. The subject has come to a head in the recent decision by the board in what is labeled as the Kentucky River cases. The cases prevent charge nurses in nursing facilities and lead men and load supervisors in manufacturing facilities from joining unions.
The decision could be significant for union membership. The Economic Policy Institute published a report predicting that more than 30 percent of those employed in 24 occupations would be excluded from union participation because they meet the definition of a supervisor.
Union advocates claim these employees have historically been excluded from the category because they can’t hire, fire or promote employees. But in the board’s definition, these employees are classified as supervisors. The definition doesn’t indicate they have to perform all supervisory functions.
Posted by Angie Holladay
