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Open thread
- By Phillip Brownlee
- Posted Feb. 17, 2007 at 1:05 a.m.
- Filed under Open thread
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50 Comments
Kansas ex-attorney general sets record straight, by Matt C. Abbott, Friday, Feb 16, 2007
Former Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline has e-mailed the following message to his supporters. It is an explanation of recent developments in the case involving notorious abortionist George Tiller:
http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?idCategory=34&idsub=170&id=7992&t=Kansas+ex-attorney+general+sets+record+straight
or
http://www.renewamerica.us/columns/abbott/070215
Meadowlark – Kline made his bed, and he made it out of deception. Maybe the media isn’t reporting the entire story now – but, heck, they have about 15 minutes (TV Channels) to report local, State, national, and International news. Every story gets a condensed version – or no version at all.
The biggest problem (as I see it) is that Kline ORIGINALLY defended his seizure of medical records in the facade of looking for child rapists. That was the turning point in this entire story.
He never went after any child rapists – and surely, were he telling the truth – he would also have seized medical records from doctors who had delivered the full term babies of underage mums.
His agenda was strictly an anti-choice agenda, and he got busted.
Both he and Morrison are acting childish, but Kline is finished in larger politics. He had his sights set MUCH higher. Sorry, but Kansans don’t want him anymore. Let’s just put this nonsense behind us and move forward.
Dems & White Flag Republicans disgrace themselves
Since you can’t filibuster disrespectful, idiocies that give aid and comfort to our enemies in the House, the Democrats and some White Flag Republicans have disgraced themselves by voting for “The piss on the troop’s heads and tell them it’s raining” resolution.
http://www.blackfive.net/main/2007/02/dems_white_flag.html
Good article on front page of the Wichita EAGLE this morning about possibility of extending railroad passenger service from Ft. Worth to Newton, Kansas to tie in with existing AMTRAK connections.
Good idea. This would provide lots of connections I would use … to travel to Lawrence for example … and Phoenix.
Hope this discussion continues.
It’s all political to me Heckler. Democrats are easily swayed and pander to the emotions of the illiterate public, who are their supporters.
It doesn’t surprise me. And it’s really nothing. Just politicans trying to shove political power. Nothing new.
But to make a comment that’s a little off topic about Nancy Pelosi. I’m not trying to be a perv or anything, but I can tell that Nancy Pelosi was probably a very pretty lady in her young adult years. And she ages really well now. She’s got a beauty about her.
Just saying, no political meaning or anything.
JWink. I used to have that study of the passenger rail service that KDOT did. It was in my old computer, but I’ll see if I might still have it.
Thanks to google. It was an easy find.
In PDF about 2-megs
http://www.ksdot.org/burRail/rail/publications/krpt6_1.pdf
Joe
It’s not meaningless to our troops and it’s not meaningless to our enemies.
And I’m guessing Pelosi did look like quite a prize in her college days.
Shifting gears, did you notice how she had to choke back a laugh as she dropped the gavel on the vote? How she was all smiles at her “victory”? Not the actions of a serious leader. As meaningless as it was legislatively it is serious business and she was smiling as though she won a game of some kind. It’s not a game.
JWink, that would be great news! I would like to see AMTRAK extend its service line in many directions. To ride AMTRAK West to the Grand Junction Station – one must travel up to York NB and get on there.
Have you heard if the company’s financial woes are being worked out?
You’re right Heckler.
But lets just say that the vast majority of the men and women in uniform will not be voting for a Democrat in 08.
This non-binding resolution isn’t for or about the troops. It’s pandering to left-wing constituents. They could care less about the troops, because soldiers don’t vote for them, so it’s all lip service. Disallowing reinforment of troops in my mind is a dangerous game Democrats are playing in politics.
But they hold the gavel. But they should be fair to recieve the blame and critisim of anything that goes wrong in Iraq, instead of projecting it all on Bush.
I would love the idea of a train, but doubt it is economically feasible. I used to ride a commuter train in Los Angeles, and even with thousands of riders every day, it still required huge subsidies.
Could we afford that? I am talking much, much higher subsidies than ValueJet (aka AirTran) gets.
“What really led to increased interest in vouchers was the deterioration of schooling, dating in particular from 1965 when the National Education Association converted itself from a professional association to a trade union. Concern about the quality of education led to the establishment of the National Commission of Excellence in Education, whose final report, “A Nation at Risk,” was published in 1983. It used the following quote from Paul Copperman to dramatize its own conclusion:
“Each generation of Americans has outstripped its parents in education, in literacy, and in economic attainment. For the first time in the history of our country, the educational skills of one generation will not surpass, will not equal, will not even approach, those of their parents.”
“A Nation at Risk” stimulated much soul-searching and a whole series of major attempts to reform the government educational system. These reforms, however extensive or bold, have, it is widely agreed, had negligible effect on the quality of the public school system. Though spending per pupil has more than doubled since 1970 after allowing for inflation, students continue to rank low in international comparisons; dropout rates are high; scores on SATs and the like have fallen and remain flat. Simple literacy, let alone functional literacy, in the United States is almost surely lower at the beginning of the 21st century than it was a century earlier. And all this is despite a major increase in real spending per student since “A Nation at Risk” was published.”
anon……………care to explain this comment?
“What really led to increased interest in vouchers was the deterioration of schooling, dating in particular from 1965 when the National Education Association converted itself from a professional association to a trade union.”
Do you actually have proof of this or did you just copy/paste that tripe from a RW-nutjob website?
“But lets just say that the vast majority of the men and women in uniform will not be voting for a Democrat in 08.”- Joe W
Yeah, Joe, that is simply not true. I am currently in Iraq working with a company of Minnesota Guard soldiers. Out of the entire company, the majority are DEM. We have discussions all the time (like normal Americans), and we just want something to be done to help end this one way or the other. The Prez (in my opinion) has not listened to anyone he didn’t want to for too long.
Note to Apophis: This Anon guy has been reposting this on every open-thread for awhile now.
Truth be told, from the state which brought us Hubert A. Humphrey and Walter Mondale, of course the majority are Dems.
Well Drew! The company you are working with is an exception.
But it still holds true that the majority of soliders do not vote or side with Democrats. Ask any pollster.
“Truth”I was under the impression that Joe was implying only Republicans join the military.
“Well Drew! The company you are working with is an exception.
But it still holds true that the majority of soliders do not vote or side with Democrats. Ask any pollster.”- Joe W
Joe, two years ago I would have totally agreed with you. But trust me, the atmosphere has changed. You will see how much it has changed in ‘08.
Oh where to begin? OK, G this is the second time I have been in total agreement with you on a subject. Kline’s intentions where as hidden as the creationists and I.D. and just as deceptive in his ways.
Heckler, this vote is not a direct support to our enemies it is a roll call of those that support Bush&Co.Bush has a failed policy and it is time to get it on the record as to who is still with him. I was not in favor of a “pissing in the wind” action as this is, until I realized just what it was. The sad day is coming when a hard line must be drawn. If it is not then the point will be reached when they may not be a stopping point. He has already decided that Iran should be attacked and for good or bad no one nor thing will change his mind.He and Clinton have a mirror image when it comes to council, when Clinton wanted to do something about Bin Laden he listen to the C.I.A. and the Pentagon that it was not possible short of an all out war. When Bush wants to do something about Iraq and Iran, he will not listen to the C.I.A. and the Pentagon and feel the only option is all out war. Even then he would not listen to the advise of either on the number of troops and the aftermath. If Bush decided that calling the fire department is not a good idea, the White house could be burning to the ground and he would not pick up the phone. He had made his decision!
Jwink, I think mass transit is the wave of the future and one of the solutions toward global warming. It only make sense and I think we will see many new services open up in that direction. There is no doubt in my mind that some real changes are coming. Starting with how we move about, cars will be use for local trips and mass transit will be the way to get from here to other states.
I’ve always liked the idea of mass transport as well, although my experiences in Chicago and DC were…well, weren’t exactly satisfactory.
Although the cost would likely be prohibitive, just think how great a state Kansas could become if we as a state invested in high-speed rail between collection points in W. Kansas, NE Kansas, and SC Kansas. High-speed connections between, say, Hays and KC, Hays to Wichita, Wichita to KC, what a great deal that would be for Kansas. If the commute time between Hays and Wichita were cut to something less than an hour, I believe we’d see Wichita and KC workers choosing to live in W. Kansas (one of the very best things about living rurally is the grand summer night sky, and all those stars…).
Small-town values imported to KC and Wichita, and KC and Wichita dollars exported out to W. Kansas.
A great way to get Kansas values (humor, practicality, work ethic) valued higher in the labor market. From a macroeconomic standpoint, such infrastructure investments almost always pay their own way when new businesses see ways to profit by them.
Anybody else see Douglas Feith (Undersecretary of Defense) laughing and smirking his way through the interview with Charlie Rose last night?
There’s nothing funnier than sending 3,000 American soldiers to their deaths for a pack of lies, eh, Doug?
Oh, and guess what else? He’s writing a book. Who’d have ever imagined that? A book.
Well, giggle boy, you ought to walk over to Walter Reed and say hello to the people with their legs and arms blown off.
Even half a man is more than Douglas Feith will ever be . . .
Pendant. Rail train transportation cannot be viable in small towns because nobody or hardly anybody will use it.
Granted that Amtrak does that now, but nobody gets on. Even on the Heartland Flyer. I have a friend that lives in OKC and he and his friends ride the Heartland down to Ft. Worth to go party, because it takes it right to the downtown sector. He told me that nobody gets on in the small towns on the way to Ft. Worth.
Actually they were going to shut it down a couple of years ago, but the State came in to subsidize it. Around $2 million a year.
They sell 58,000 tickets annually, which equates to about 150 people a day. And this is OKC and Ft. Worth which are heavily populated.
Although the concept is nice and I wouldn’t mind it coming into Wichita, but it isn’t feasible and is a complete waste of energy and money. The carbon footprint for that low of people riding on heavy diseal engine locomotives isn’t a great idea to enact as a climate change alternative to cars.
Compare ridership from 150 people a day to lets say 4200 people a day flying in and out of Mid-Continent or the 150,000 people a day flying in and out of DFW or the 19,000 that fly in and out of OKC every day.
People aren’t going to convert back over to rail service. We should focus on better fuel efficent and less polluting aircraft (a wonder for our economy) than rail lines.
Cargo is it feasible. Passenger service? Not so much.
Reducing carbon footprint should be on rail service in local area. Public Transportation around the city and not for long distance passenger service. I understand long distance passenger rail service is romantic and nostalgic, but it isn’t the best thing to do.
Even our bus system in Wichita boost 2 million passengers a year and if you look at any city bus, they are basically empty.
I actually been researching a great rail transportation service for the downtown area of Wichita. It can work, especially for a unique concept in public transportation that is radically different from what we traditional think of rail transportation like subways.
Attention Phillip Brownlee and WE Blog editors: Could you enter a blog devoted to the idea of a railroad line serving Wichita? This would provide an information source for railroad comments on one blog thread. I suspect many WE Bloggers could contribute good suggestions and information.
For example, comments on recent experiences riding AMTRAK from Newton either eastward or westward.
Also how many years since passenger service operated through Wichita either northward or southward?
I suspect railroad passengers can currently travel westward from Oklahoma City or Ft. Worth on Amtrak towards Phoenix and California.
An AMTRAK/Wichita blog could be very interesting and serve as a collection point for related information.
I second Jwinks call for a thread about expanding rail service to Wichita.
J R: I just sent an e-mail to Phillip Brownlee requesting a railroad blog thread. Hope we get it … would be interesting.
According to city manager Kolb those pesky little criminals calling themselves Girl Scouts are committing criminal trespass when they come knocking on your door to sell you cookies. Should they leave a flyer at your door Kolb will have them arrested for illegal dumping.
Thank goodness Kolb is taking a brave stand against the crime spree of the Girl Scouts. I’ll have to also make a call to the police about those people leaving Penny Power on my doorstop.
Anyone who thinks that money doesn’t talk in our Nation’s Capitol might be right. Cash doesn’t really talk – it screams!
Take George W’s recent state-of-the-union speech. After six years in office, the prez finally got around to admitting that there’s this little, festering problem called global warming. Top scientists, industrialists, evangelical leaders, and others are alarmed by this looming disaster, so Bush tried in the speech to make it sound as though he had a “bold” plan for dealing with climate change. But all he really gave us was a bold fib. Indeed, even before Bush spoke, presidential mouthpiece Tony Snow admitted that the one essential reform to stop greenhouse emissions would not be a part of the plan: “We knocked that down. That’s not something we’re talking about,” he said.
What made Bush so meek? Follow the money. The staunchest opponents to even the mildest steps for halting global warming are Exxon Mobil, Chevron, and other oil giants. In last year’s elections, oil corporations pumped $17.5 million into congressional campaigns – 83 percent of it going to Bush’s Republicans. In 2004, George himself got $2.6 million from Big Oil – eight-and-a-half times more than went to the Democrat.
Look also at the congressional vote this year to rescind a $14 billion tax giveaway to oil corporations. With Democrats now in charge, this take-back passed in the house, but money still spoke for many of the members. Those who voted to protect Big Oil’s subsidy had received nearly $22,000 in oil contributions – five times more than those who voted to stop the giveaway.
This is Jim Hightower saying… It’s time to quiet the shrill voice of big-money politics by providing a public financing option for all national elections, just as several states have done for their elections. To follow the flow of money in politics and learn about effective reforms, check out http://www.opensecrets.org.
Tracy you missed some good ID debates the last couple of days.
Has anyone noticed that when ever a politician from Washington goes to Iraq, they have to go unannounced and then they only go to the Green Zone?
Four years after the invasion, the country is not safe enough to visit without elaborate secruity precautions.
Does anyone really think that adding another 21,500 American troops is really going to change that?
Give Iraq back to the Iraqi’s – then get the Hell out.
Sorry Andrew.The mother-in-law died.I do hope you carried on in style!I had a chance to ask my present pastor about the “controversy” over creationism.The pastor says there is no controversy. The Genesis story is not meant to be history, or science, period!!There is zero evidence for creationism, and mainstream christians do not have a problem or controversy with evolution.I’m just fed up with fundies questioning my faith because of this non-issue, and the VAST majority of christians are tired of this type of divisive BS in the name of God.I’ll see ya’ monday.
WSC, I say we turn it over to the arrogant Aussie!
You’re right, Trace, give it to Fred Mertz and let him deal with it.
God… I have to WORK with those guys! But they are not nearly as bad as the red-coats. Those bastards drive around Iraq in brand-new, tricked-out L3 Landrovers.
The motion to debate the House resolution opposing bush’s “surge” plan has failed to get to debate in the Senate. Joe “sidewinder” Lieberman voted no. John McCain and Sam Brownback chose not to even show up! That’s the end of their run for President. And SO george bush will not get the rap on the nose he had coming.
Andrew: “…from the same wonderful folds that gave us Montgomery…” :)Stay safe, young man.
HAMPTON BAYS, N.Y. – The partially mummified body of a man dead for more than a year has been found in a chair in front of his television, which was still on, authorities said.
Jeez, that must have been one helluva television show.
How funny. Guess his wife was so happy he had finally quit bitching about politicians, she was content to just let him be!
He was watching FOX news and they forgot to remind him to breathe!
JWink,
I’m very interested in the rail subject. A couple years ago we rode Amtrak from Boston to Washington DC just for fun (and it saved money). We had a sleeper room – beds were not terribly comfortable, but it was one night. The trip was overnight — left Boston around 10 p.m. and were in DC about 7 a.m. There was a shower room that was adequate. When we boarded they said to settle in our sleeper room and then go to the car directly in front and enjoy cheese and wine, soft drinks, coffee. We were fed breakfast the next morning. This car in front of the one with sleeper rooms was available to everyone who had a sleeper room — read, sit and visit… We bought the tickets online before we ever left Wichita. Enjoyed the whole experience.
Last summer my daughter and her son took Amtrak to a college visit. I can’t remember which college (he visited many before making his choice), just that it was located the stop before Chicago. They traveled out of Newton and it was most of the night getting there. My daughter said the seats were spacious, LOTS of leg room, wide aisles so you could stretch your legs anytime, a dining car sold beverages, etc. OR you could carry on your own food and beverages (she saw a man with a cooler of beer). And here’s the BEST news — Amtrak offers FREE fare to an accompanying parent or guardian on a college visit made by a Jr. or Sr. in high school. So they bought my grandsons ticket and the daughter went along for free.
Doug,
How about the JW’s knocking on your door to discuss the end of the world? Granted, the only thing they’re selling is religion, but if Girl Scouts are criminally trespassing, so should be the JW’s with their Watchtowers.
Linda, that’s neat!
JW, thanks for the heads-up on the rail service article.
The last time I rode a real train (not counting the one at Silver Dollar City ) was when I was in 6th grade, along with every other 6th grader in Wichita. We met downtown at the train depot (yes, there still was one then) and road to Topeka to visit the Capitol.
Hi railroad enthusiasts: I also have railroad stories to tell but think I will wait until we get a railroad blog thread.
One story was told to me by Coleman Company historian, Herb ??, now in his 90’s and still working. He described first class railroad trips to sales meetings in New York City from Coleman’s Wichita headquarters on St Francis Street in the 1950’s at the height of railroad travel.
I probably should talk to Herb again to refresh my memory of his interesting stories about first class railroad travel.
RD: By JW’s, I presume you are referring to Jehovah Witnesses and their Watch Tower magazine? I am familiar with the Unity Church and its Lee’s Summit headquarters. Unity had an attractive little monthly magazine but don’t recall its name right now. JWink
anyone missing me? I’m on a mini vacation, will be home tomorrow.
:P
the sucky thing …i’m too damn tired to really enjoy it
I’m missing you.
Be safe.
Joe Williams: In your comments above, you mentioned the “Heartland Flyer” that travels between Oklahoma City and Ft. Worth, Texas. Do you know if that is AMTRAK or is it operated by a regular railroad company? I am so rusty on railroads, I don’t know if any passenger trains continue to be operated by regular railroad companies like Santa Fe or Burlington Northern … other than short excursion train trips.
Possibly three years ago, I was in Newton and visited their old Santa Fe Railroad station and asked some questions of the AMTRAK window person. Seems he said that the AMTRAK trains, both eastbound and westbound, pass through Newton in the middle of the night, like 2 or 3 AM. Of course, neither train comes south to Wichita.
I now wonder about the fuel used by those large diesel engines … and how the mileage compares to large passenger jet planes on comparable distances.
Personally, I wouldn’t fly again under very many if any circumstances.
You said that few passengers get on/off of AMTRAK trains in small towns. Its my understanding that AMTRAK doesn’t normally stop in small towns but can’t give examples.
An ex-military friend of mine sends news of a new French anti-tank missile.
Supposedly as effective as the American Stinger. Ahem. ;)
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=9731d_4407
(just watch the whole thing, esp. the last 5-8 secs)
JWink, the Heartland Flyer route is listed on the Amtrak website.
And my apologies for the confusion with the JW (Jehovah’s Witnesses) and JW (you). I noticed that after I hit post. :( Too, it was meant as a bit of tongue in cheek, because of how ridiculous the whole thing is.
DING DING DING DING–A RINGING THE JOE WILLIAMS BELL!!!
Joe claims that no vets ever vote Democratic. Which orfice did you pull that one from, Joe?
“A bipartisan ‘Battleground’ poll of likely voters conducted in September found that Bush’s approval rating among relatives of military personnel was only 36 percent. Family members upset by Bush’s policy on Iraq are venting through Web sites and public protests.
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0311-04.htm March 11, 04 Knight-Ridder
According to this article, 18 percent of the voters (who voted in the election of 04) were vets. Of those, 41 percent voted for Kerry.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A8741-2005Mar4?language=printer March 5, 05
FORTY-ONE PERCENT VOTED FOR KERRY, JOE.
What a maroon . . .
“But lets just say that the vast majority of the men and women in uniform will not be voting for a Democrat in 08.”
I wouldn’t call 59 percent a “vast majority,” would you, Joe?
But wait a minute, “vast majority” is what Bush said about the tax cuts helping poor people: “the vast majority of my tax cuts go to those on the bottom of the economic ladder.”
So yeah, if by “vast majority” you mean hardly any like Bush did, then you’re right . . .
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