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Daily Archives: Jan. 23, 2007
County ready for another consultant?
Jan. 23, 200712:30 p.m.
It’s true, as Sedgwick County Commissioner Gwen Welshimer said last week, that citizens are "sick of consultants." She and other dissenting commissioners were right to reject another study of downtown arena parking until they know more about the study’s scope and cost. That’s just good fiscal oversight.
But as our Tuesday editorial argues, hiring consultants likely makes sense in this case. Crafting a final downtown parking plan involves complicated issues that call for expertise and experience, such as how best to manage the parking system, meet the needs of new neighborhood redevelopment and office space, and incorporate mass transit.
Oh, yeah — and do we need a new parking garage or not?
Commissioners need to make sure they get this right. If that means hiring a consultant, then do it.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
Sam Brownback: pro-life rock star
Jan. 23, 200712:28 p.m.
On Monday’s "The Daily Show," Jon Stewart suggested that Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback announced his presidential candidacy the usual way, and then another way for his base: by burning bush. For its part, the Washington Post vividly portrayed Brownback’s rock star treatment at Monday’s March for Life in Washington, D.C. Clearly, no one else in the GOP field is as thoroughly at home as Brownback was at an event at which cards were distributed saying "Birth Control Is Harmful," one speaker referred to a story about an "abortionist accused of eating fetuses" and another argued against allowing abortion even to protect a mother’s life — to which Brownback responded, "That’s a good point. Well said."
Posted by Rhonda Holman
A simple swat is not child abuse
Jan. 23, 20071:02 a.m.
State Sen. Phil Journey, R-Haysville, seemed goofy in proposing a law to allow public schools to spank students. But a California assemblywoman has outdone him. Sally Lieber wants to outlaw spanking of children younger than 4 years old. Violators could get a maximum of one year in jail and a $1,000 fine.
Parents need to be careful how and when they spank, doing so judiciously and not when they are angry. There are also good discipline alternatives to spanking that more parents need to use. But a simple occasional swat is not child abuse and doesn’t teach children, as Lieber claims, that “it’s OK to beat or dominate children or animals that are smaller.”
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
Richardson has the resume
Jan. 23, 20071:01 a.m.
If Democrats picked their presidential nominees on resumes alone, Bill Richardson ought to be their guy: a popular two-term governor from the newly crucial West, a Hispanic at a time when that population is exploding in the country, a former eight-term congressman, former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, former secretary of energy, and on-and-off diplomat in some of the toughest foreign policy situations on Earth, including Sudan and North Korea. OK, so the Los Alamos security problems and Wen Ho Lee scandals were on his watch, and somebody somewhere will make hay out of his majoring in French (as well as political science) during his frat boy days at Tufts University. The question is whether Richardson can get any room in the spotlight. Will Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama elbow him out?
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Dubious, bogus and utterly phony headlines
Jan. 23, 20071:00 a.m.
The following satirical headlines come from borowitzreport.com:
POLL: 100% OF REPUBLICANS SUPPORT HILLARY’S DECISION TO RUN; GOP Reaction Ranges from Ecstatic to Euphoric
CHENEY INVITED LIBBY ON HUNTING TRIP; Nothing to Do With Perjury Trial, Veep Insists
CHAVEZ DEMANDS MEMBERSHIP IN AXIS OF EVIL; Craves Slot Vacated By Saddam
HOME DEPOT PAYS SALESCLERK $12 MILLION TO GO AWAY; Largest ‘Golden Parachute’ for Incompetent Low-level Employee Ever
BIN LADEN DENOUNCES INCLUSION ON WORST-DRESSED LIST; Declares Global Jihad Against Mr. Blackwell
GOD DENIES TALKING TO PAT ROBERTSON; Supreme Being Calls Televangelist ‘Delusional’
OBAMA POSING THREAT TO ROCK STARS, ROCK STARS FEAR; Millions Forsake Music Idols for Illinois Senator
SADDAM, PINOCHET RIP OVERCROWDED CONDITIONS IN HELL; Deceased Madmen Forced to Be Roommates
PRESIDENT BUSH ISSUES NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS; Vows to Invite Hugo Chavez to Lunch at Taco Bell
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
