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Open thread
- By Phillip Brownlee
- Posted Feb. 21, 2007 at 1:05 a.m.
- Filed under Open thread
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59 Comments
This evening, Wednesday, January 21, I think from 6 PM to 8 PM, TV channel 5 (not on cable, rabbit ears only) will be interviewing some city council and school board candidates.
Interviewors will be former mayor, Bob Knight, James Barfield, Wichita’s premier talk show host, and WE Blogger, “Mr. Controversy”, R.J.D., tanned and fit from his recent vacation to the Phillipines.
I’m not sure which candidates will be interviewed this evening but it should be interesting. These races are critical to the future political health of Wichita.
This evening, Wednesday, January 21, I think from 6 PM to 8 PM, TV channel 5 (not on cable, rabbit ears only) will be interviewing some city council and school board candidates.
Interviewors will be former mayor, Bob Knight, James Barfield, Wichita’s premier talk show host, and WE Blogger, “Mr. Controversy”, R.J.D., tanned and fit from his recent vacation to the Phillipines.
I’m not sure which candidates will be interviewed this evening but it should be interesting. These races are critical to the future political health of Wichita.
Double entry courtesy of WE Blog’s automated robot finder.
You mean Feb. 21st?
Is this the beginning of the end for V.P. Agnew? er, I mean Cheney?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/20/AR2007022000122_2.html?nav=hcmodule
We can only hope steven…
Well, it looks like the little end run power play the Kansas Livestock Association made to stop the state from regulating people who over pump their water rights failed yesterday.
Thankfully. But it was only by a couple of votes. Just goes to show how far a little political muscle and sneaky surprise moves can go in the Kansas legislature.
If we as water drinking citizens dont keep an eye on the water issues in this state, the irrigators, the coal plant, all the new ethanol plants, etc. will drain our water supply so fast it will be gone before you can fill your next glass.
I’m tellin’ ya, this will be the issue of the next few decades. No point sticking our heads in the sand and hoping it will go away. The water pigs are already waaaaay ahead of you.
And governor leadership and the leaders of the house and senate are doing WHAT to protect our water supply?
Oh, that’s right. Nothing. Well, maybe they arent doing nothing. They damn sure fill their pockets with donations from the likes of KLA, KFB, Sunflower Electric, the CORN growers association, the ethanol folks….
and the list goes on.
Kansas water…as for sale to the highest bidder as you think!
What is it with the WE Blog today, its taking me like 5 min to post anything… plus i have to do that dumb verification deal…
Come on guys, lets make this a bit easier…
Anyone Check out the Top Donors for Mayans and Brewer?
http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/16746051.htm
Check out some of the names… ALOT of big names here in town… Alot of the GOB network on Brewers, Supprise? Not to me…
OK this is odd, I have said it before that many things in the book “The secret history of the Iraq war” are alarming and/or I had not hear about a third of them. I read this morning that the capture of Saddam was not as it was told. That he had been “captured” some days before, by some of he trusted friends. That he was not hiding in that spider hole, he was being held prisoner in it. That he could not have gotten out if he wanted to and had not been drugged! He was being held captive to force him to agree to announce that several members of the bath party were in control and not him. His discover and capture was more a fluke, it seems that the Americans had capture someone they thought would know where Saddam was. The captive told them he was at one of two farm houses. But he actually did not know in fact Saddam was in a hidden spider hole close by. It was only after the Americans had searched both farm houses and did not find anything. That the informant insisted that he was there and they searched again. A soldier happen to notice a crack in the ground in the yard of a small house and with some digging the hatch was found.
The author also states that what was reported about Saddam poking his head out just as a soldier was about to drop a grenade in the hole. And announcing in English, “ I am Saddam Hussein, President of Iraq and I am willing to negotiate!”. To which the soldier said, “ regards from President Bush” … Did not happened according to those the author interview that were there. That Saddam was too drugged to say anything and had to be helped out of the hole. It was not till the following day did Saddam say anything and then it was in Arabic.
Take it with a grain of salt as I am not sure how the above can even be verified, it just caught me off guard and I had not heard anything even close to the account. If not for the credentials of the author I would accuse him of making most of this book up! Or as I said several times, we really do not have a clue to half of the stuff that has happen.
writerdog,
I heard not long after the “capture” that it wasn’t U.S. troops that found him. It was Kurds, and they held Saddam so we could get the credit, when we never deserved it.
Has anybody seen Man of the Year with Robin Williams? I bought the DVD yesterday and watched it last night. Besides Williams’ incredible comedic talent, the movie will make you stop and think, no matter what ’side’ you’re on.
Ahhhh ahhhh Kansas!
Things are back to normal: Farmie is hell-on-wheels about water and democrats are talking conspiracy theories about Iraq.
I’ll have another cup of java and enjoy the show. =)
“… because the government has a near monopoly on education, and taxpayer support and student attendance are mandatory, the public school system is insulated from market forces and competition that might produce improvements.
Even the head of one of the largest teachers’ unions, Albert Shanker, came to grips with the problems facing public education before his death in 1997.
Mr. Shanker, former president of the American Federation of Teachers, once noted: “It’s time to admit that public education operates like a planned economy, a bureaucratic system in which everybody’s role is spelled out in advance and there are few incentives for innovation and productivity. It’s no surprise that our school system doesn’t improve; it more resembles the communist economy than our own market economy.”
Interesting analysis someone sent me in an e-mail. I thought I would post it and see if it generates any discussion from the economics crowd!
A professor from UGA explains taxation…
Sometimes politicians, journalists and the liberal left exclaim;”It’s just a tax cut for the rich!” and it is just accepted to be fact. But what does that really mean? Just in case you are not completely clear on this issue, perhaps the following will help.
Let’s put tax cuts in terms everyone can understand.Suppose that every day, ten men go out for dinner and the bill for all ten comes to $100. If they paid their bill the way we pay our taxes, it would go something like this:
The first four men (the poorest) would pay nothing.The fifth would pay $1The sixth would pay $3The seventh would pay $7The eighth would pay $12The ninth would pay $18The tenth man (the richest) would pay $59So, that’s what they decided to do.
The ten men ate dinner in the restaurant every day and seemed quite happy with the arrangement, until one day, the owner threw them a curve.
“Since you are all such good customers,” he said, “I’m going to reduce the cost of your daily meal by $20.” Dinner for the ten now cost just $80.
The group still wanted to pay their bill the way we pay our taxes so the first four men were unaffected. They would still eat for free. But whatabout the other six men – the paying customers? How could they divide the $20 windfall so that everyone would get his “fair share?”
They realized that $20 divided by six is $3.33. But if they subtracted that from everybody’s share, then the fifth man and the sixth man would each end up being paid to eat their meal.
So, the restaurant owner suggested:
The fifth man, like the first four, now paid nothing (100% savings). The sixth now paid $2 instead of $3 (33% savings). The seventh now paid $5 instead of $7 (28% savings). The eighth now paid $9 instead of $12 (25%savings). The ninth now paid $14 instead of $18 (22% savings). The tenth now paid $49 instead of $59 (16% savings… the least proportionate savings).
Each of the six was better off than before. And the first four continued to eat for free. But once outside the restaurant, the men began to compare their savings:”I only got a dollar out of the $20,” declared the sixth man. He pointed to the tenth man,” but he got $10!”
“Yeah, that’s right,” exclaimed the fifth man. “I only saved a dollar, too. It’s unfair that he got ten times more than me!”"That’s true!!” shouted the seventh man. “Why should he get $10 back when I got only two? The wealthy get all the breaks!”
“Wait a minute,” yelled the first four men in unison.
“We didn’t get anything at all.
The system exploits the poor!”
The first nine men surrounded the tenth and beat him up.
The next night the tenth man didn’t show up for dinner, so the nine sat down and ate without him. But when it came time to pay the bill, they discovered something important.
They didn’t have enough money between all of them for even half of the bill!And that, boys and girls, journalists and college professors, is how our tax system works.
The people who pay the highest taxes get the most benefit from a tax reduction.
Tax them too much, attack them for being wealthy, and they just may not show up anymore.
In fact, they might start eating overseas where the atmosphere is somewhat friendlier.
Credit goes to:David R. Kamerschen, Ph.DProfessor of EconomicsUniversity of Georgia
Well, this oughta piss off the fossil fuels shills….
“Texas judge stops fast track hearings on coal fired power plants.
Travis County District Judge Stephen Yelenosky issued a temporary injunction today against Gov. Rick Perry’s executive order that directed administrative law judges to conduct an expedited hearing schedule on a number of new coal plants.
Thrown into question is a scheduled hearing for tomorrow. The injunction also raises new questions about the Governor’s use of the executive order as a policymaking tool.
While the hearings on new coal plants fast tracked by gubernatorial fiat were set to begin tomorrow, those against the new plants want to delay the start of the hearings.
The main argument raised by the plaintiffs is that the issues related to the case are so complex that they cannot be addressed in the six-month timeframe set out in Gov. Rick Perry’s executive order.
If a single permit usually merits a yearlong process, it would be unfair to address six permits at once in half that time, they said”
Thank god for Austin!!! Now, if our democrat governor would stop acting like a texas republican, maybe kansas could benefit?
Naaaaaw. Governor leadership, the chief shill for sunflower electric, is STILL the best republican governor we’ve ever had…
“it just caught me off guard and I had not heard anything even close to the account.”
Maybe there is a reason you never heard of it. Maybe, because it didn’t happen as your “source” says.
Sam..
Thanks for posting that. Very, very true and an exact analysis of the continual “tax cut for the rich” whining.
Hey, I have an Army friend who was there when Saddam was captured. She and her interpreter were the tactical HUMINT team attached to the special forces unit that raided the farm (I think it was a farm). Interesting to note that they were the only females directly involved in the raid.She said that they raided the house and grounds and initially found nothing. She was going through stuff in the house to see if she could find any intel when they found him. One of the Rangers had noticed a rug out in the middle of the dirt. He walked over to it and tested his weight on it, and then he opened it up.She said after they figured out who it was, everything went crazy. She and her interpreter went back inside and started stealing shit for souvenirs. She has a head-scarf from his bedroom (and a picture of herself holding it up in that room). She said some CIA people showed up and tried to search everybody for other plunder, but she got away with the scarf.True Story.
Oh Ksam!
I am so disappointed for YOU to post that old old chestnut of the monied greedy.
I THOUGHT you were better than that.
Sam that was floating around some 4 years ago.
And it’s not even close to the same thing.
I think its pretty sad when this blog site or the people behind it take it upon thier selfs to block people with comments they dont agree with. If this is to be a public blog, then all comments should be welcome. If you dont want opions get this blog site off the internet and dont invite comments. If this is for just the few that hold the same opions as you than use email to pat each others back.
The only people getting blocked are the trolls. Are you a troll?
Trust me, none of us hold the same opinions.
We attended The Wichita Public Schools All City Honor Choirs Concert last evening (Tues., 2/20) in Concert Hall at Century II.
First, the talent was inspired, the music very much enjoyed and appreciated. Thank you from this grandmother to our school’s teachers, parents and those most-talented students!
Concert Hall wasn’t entirely full and as far as I could tell there was NOTHING else going on downtown. We parked a few blocks away even though we arrived well in advance of the start of the concert. The parking lot was full. We had arrived early enough to drive through the parking lot and determine there were no spots, find another place a few blocks away, walk that few blocks and find a seat with five minutes to spare. Many parents and grandparents weren’t that lucky and missed the first numbers.
We were glad for the warm weather and lack of snow and ice. Had the concert been a few days ago we wouldn’t have made it.
Now, how many downtown parking places are available for that soon-to-be-built arena? And when an event is happening at both the arena and Century II did someone say there will be ample parking?
Linda -I’m glad you’re posting more!!
Farmie – I don’t think the judge actually stopped the hearings, but he made it possible for other judges to do so.
Andrew,
Although I don’t doubt your story, it isn’t proof that Saddam was initially found by U.S. troops and special forces.
One question: Is it right to steal? Oh, wait! Didn’t Dubya get Saddam’s pistol? I guess that makes it okay.
How many ancient treasures were stolen during the fall of Baghdad? How many destroyed for no reason except downright meanness? The ancient ruins of Babylonia, called the Cradle of Civilization, were destroyed by U.S. bulldozers making way for a base. Is everybody happy about that?
Thanks Andrew. I tend to give more credence to your comments than to many others from further away.
Stealing a knick-knack from that house is a far cry from the wholesale looting that has taken place – antiquities and armaments in particular.
RD – in WWII and all prior wars, the soldiers were allowed to take items called the “spoils of war.”
Many a WWII Vet brought back Nazi momentos.
What was wrong with that?
Haha RD. Right after Baghdad fell, there was a lot of looting. Bathists’ homes were raided (the former politicians had already left for Syria) and looted. Then these Iraqis start selling this stuff to American GIs. I know more than one person with a genuine Rolex. Other people stole weapons, gold bars, and stacks of cash. It was absurd.
As for my story, I have seen the scarf and the picture. I don’t know where the intel on his location came form, but it was the US that caught him. She was there, hell she even got a bronze star for just being there.
Many a WWII Vet brought back Nazi momentos.
What was wrong with that?
Hey spoils of war, cool. What we should do is copy the Roman Empire. Let the troops have a “taste” it’s only fair. They do the fighting right! A little rape a little pillage just like that show on HBO “Rome”
Local citizen–
What are you talking about?
People are blocked for a lot of good reasons–virulent racism, homophobia, anti-semitism, trolling, linking to hate sites or porn sites, etc.
The newspaper doesn’t print everything sent to it, and neither should this blog be wide open to whatever, whenever.
If you don’t like it, start your own blog.
Quit acting out, morg.
Rape and pillage have little to do with soldiers taking souvenirs. You’re more interested in protecting the enemy’s interests than your own soldiers.
But it burns you that the Court just agreed with GWB on terrorists prisoners.
I see that KSSAM is engaging in the reich-wing’s favorite mode of argumentation–the HYPOTHETICAL situation.
How about you just look at what has happened when Reagan cut taxes–out of control national debt. And when Bush I did it–even more out of control national debt. And when Bush II did it–still higher out of control national debt.
How about you deal with what is rather than what coulda, woulda, shoulda?
How about that?
“…virulent racism, homophobia, anti-semitism, trolling, linking to hate sites or porn sites, etc.”
I am sure you all will join me in being glad that capn is the judge of what is racist, homo-hating and anti-semitism. Does this mean freidman will be banned? The same freidman you people defended?
who’s acting out gs to the victor goes the spoils is that not what happen throughout history? Do you not expect a return on your investment? What kind of freaking capitalist are you?Hey gs I’m not enjoying the good times down at club gitmo why should I care what happens? You want to win this war or what?
Obama Mines Hollywood Gold, but Takes Heat From Clinton
Tinseltown Rolls Out Red Carpet for Obama as Clinton Camp Decries ‘Vicious’ Attack by Former Supporter
http://www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=2892321&page=1
I Love this comment in the article:
“Geffen also alluded to possible campaign distractions caused by Bill Clinton’s personal life should his wife secure the Democratic nomination, saying, “Everybody in politics lies, but [the Clintons] do it with such ease, it’s troubling.” “
Andrew,
As I said, I don’t doubt her story. I have a photo of a U.S. soldier standing in the middle of a room filled with gold bars/bricks. Not that I’m saying he took one as a souvenir…
Yes, there was widespread looting, both by Iraqis and U.S. troops. Just because it was done in WWII doesn’t make it right. Ears and heads were cut off in Vietnam for souvenirs, too, so I guess that makes anything okay.
Good news for TX, OK, and the Earth!
‘Texas delays TXU coal-plant program’http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N21310634.htm“The Texas State Office of Administrative Hearings postponed the start of TXU’s air-pemit hearing by four months, until June 27, citing a state judge’s ruling late Tuesday that blocked the Texas governor’s effort to expedite permits for coal plants.”
Hopefully when enough people learn about the air pollution problems, and better alternatives (efficiency, renewables, etc) the permits will be denied.
This IS good news cosmos.
Maybe a similar Kansas office will have to help chatty Kathy make the correct decision about the coal fired Holcomb plant.
Ahhh..and another day, another lambast by Capn. Call anyone a liar today, Capn? Especially about events you didn’t see, didn’t witness, and have no first hand knowledge?
Quite the tactic there, Capn. If someone disagress with you, call ‘em a liar and ignore the facts. Yep..effective discussion technique.
for a 4th grader.
Raptor- Does this count?
“You CONs are like Lewis Carroll’s Humpty Dumpty, you make the words mean whatever you want them to mean.
It does make it easier to understand why you can delude yourself about W.’s splendid little war.”
Posted by: CapnAmerica | February 21, 2007 at 04:45 PM
I don’t even read CapnA’s posts. I don’t read several other regular people’s postings either. It’s just a waste of time reading and responding.
Just skip ‘em!
Makes perfect sense, Joe. Thanks..Will try to read the mature postings after this..
Yeah, I, personally, scroll past most of CapnCrunch’s posts, too.
I’m not big into reading the Hate-America-Firster vomit that he usually spews all over the board.
I picture him without his daily Ritalin dosage, bouncing on his bed, hitting his head on the ceiling until it bleeds.
That’s a damn scary thought.
Can anyone from the Meet-up confirm the rumor that he has fang-like teeth?
Or is it just nasty, but believable, gossip?
Capn..
I don’t agree with much you post, and I definately don’t agree with this. Someone sent it, it was interesting, I posted it.. I have NO political agenda! You all need to get real… life is more than politics.. geeeze!
This is the very reason I don’t post much anymore.. I have better things to worry about!
True dat! Kansassam
Well
Why post something like that if you are not sincere in the sentiment?
I mean I’m glad you’re not.
I always saw you as an advocate for social justice Ksam.
That little story has none.
One guy has $59 and 5 have nothing? That is not a society that can survive.
Nor is it a society that deserves to.
Social Justice? Like Robin Hood?
JR,
What is social justice to you. I have seen times on here when you have stated that the american dream doesn’t exist. Is this the land of opportunity?
What is your plan? Do we all just divide it up evenly? Would we always have the poor? Waht do we do.
The story isn’t perfect for sure but it does illustrate the point of what the rich provide in a very basic sense of course. Can they pay more, probably but how much more?
What could they do for you?
I don’t have long enough to address this right now. Yes I would say that for the majority that the “American Dream’ is dead. And the way things are going, it is about to get a whole lot worse. KIA is finding that out. A LITTLE carefully placed socialism may just save capitalism for you. Maybe. But probably not. I’ll expand on it sometime. Tonight is LOST night.
Well,
I’m sorry to hear that you feel that way. I believe taht what Americans want is an easy American dream and I don’t believe its ever been easy.
Soem well placed help may indeed be needed for the poor, but they also need to help themseleves by making good choices or making their kids make good choices to break the cycle, ie education.
Go get Lost:)
Excellent post Hawkeye! You’re exactly right. It may be easy for some people who know the right people to be connected with, born wealthy, family connections and etc.
But you make a great point, that most of the envyous people that scream about the rich and blame the “system” for their own problems or as an excuse in why they cannot achieve like other people who seem to have it all. The GOBN; They stoled it, Bush Economy and etc. It’s all lame. It’s really themselves. They are just looking for an easy way to live. To be lucky to win life’s lottery and waiting for that to happen.
You have to go out there and work hard and be proud and feel bless you live in America no matter who you are. It’s not easy. Some do have to much harder than others. If you came from a very poor situation as a child, you’re chances are harder. If you’re a minority, if you’re handicapped, if you’re ugly, if you’re not well educated and etc.
But you have the opportunity to achieve and to pursue what you want. Many people fail, but you at least have the chance to try. The opporuntity is at least there.
I work very hard in what I do. I don’t make a great salary, and most people wouldn’t and couldn’t do what I do based on the labor and work load I do. 40 hour work weeks are for chumps. And I still make time to enchance my skills, work on public projects, workout, stay informed on current events, vote (already voted in the city primaries) and blog on here every once in awhile.
And I still have a life. I love life and feel blessed (and I’m not a religous person at all), because it’s America and I’m an optimist. The American Dream is alive and well and I believe many people believe that too. That is why we are so great.
hawkeye
A very long time ago on this blog, I defended you.
I don’t remember the circumstance now. I took hits from like minded posters for doing so.
You asked a thoughtful question.
I promised you a thoughtful answer.
Well you could not wait and stooped to personal attack.
You’ll not be getting your answer. In fact? I’ll be treating you as was suggested to me before.
And so NO Joe, it was not an excellent post hawkeye made.
Poor Joe.
I was you once.
I have known and worked with so many like you.
You don’t get it. And no arguement I could present would change that. Time may teach you, maybe not.
You’ll either join the fight to make things better. Or you’ll keep up the fight to make things worse.
My money is on the latter.
I WILL give hawkeye this:
“40 hour work weeks are for chumps.”
Sir?
Your proof of the death of the American dream.
Joe, I was once like you. Really.
Then life happened. And All that bullshit about ‘if you do xyz, abc will happen’.
No, life isn’t like that. I wish it worked that way, but for millions it does not.
Hawkeye, Williams, JR:In a lot of ways, all three of you are right.Hawkeye, you are right in that the American dream is something you have to work for. I found that out the hard way early in life, when I made and lost a million dollars (on paper, at least) in less than 60 days…back when a million dollars was actually worth something. A few years later, I started another company, which I built up to an $82 million book of business…only to crash and burn that, too. The only things I have to show for that are one trip to drug rehab, two nervous breakdowns and three suicide attempts.Now, I look at my younger friends and all their get rich quick schemes, and they look at me and what I’m doing now–I understand them all to well, but they can’t understand me.Williams, you are right, too. Just take a trip away from this country, and you will soon realize why people are literally dying to come here. It is a blessing to be an American.But JR, you have a point as well.I believe the greatest threat to our security today is not from Al-Quaida, but from equity firms like Private Capital Management, the company that brought down Knight-Ridder (go to their website, and if you have any ethics at all, I swear you’ll vomit), and the aptly-named Pirate Capital, whose owner wants to stop the sale of Aquila so that the evil Green family can continue to savage their customers.These evil-doers believe it is their devine right to rape and plunder companies, customers and employees be damned. They live under the stupid notion that we’d all make more money if none of us were working.Now, not all equity companies are bad. Quadrangle and Berkshire Hathaway do business in a manner that allows companies to maximize employment levels–and they perform better than the Pirates and Private Capital Managements.But some people want to do things the easy way–even if it’s not the right way.
On the same vein I would like to share a story I heard about a father welcoming his daughter home from the Ivy League school he was paying for:
The daughter came in calling her father a capitalistic fraud who flaunted his money and didn’t have compassion for all those people who didn’t have as much as he did. He should share his wealth she said.
Finally growing tired of arguing with her he asked her how she was doing in school. She told him she was working very hard and had a 4.0 GPA. She said she had no social life because you couldn’t party and study at the same time.
He then asked her how her friend Lisa was doing. She said the friend wasn’t doing well at all. She was a real party animal and got invited to every campus party. Several mornings she had been so hung over she didn’t make it to class. She was just barely carrying a 2.0 GPA.
Her father then said, “You should do to the dean and ask to have one of your gpa points given to Lisa. That way you would both be equal and have a 3.0. That seems to be the only fair thing to do”.
She angrily said, “I worked hard for my grades and she has done nothing but party. I’m not giving her a grade that I earned”.
Whereas the father said “Welcome to the Republican party.
JR,
I’m not sure what you took as a personal attack, in fact, I agreed that we need some sort of mechanism to help people to a degree.
If go get lost offended you it wasn’t meant that way. I was encouraging you to go enjoy it.
I would still like to hear your answer, and I hope you do.
P-mom! I never said if you do “xyz then abc will happen”. I actually said that most people fail to achieve what they really want to do.
We have to accept our role in life. The vast majority of us are peasents and we have to face to fact that most of us will have to survive living day to day and never will reach higher income status.
But although you feel like you are stuggling and oppressed by the rich and Bush, you actually aren’t.
If you’re a single mom raising four kids, yeah, that’s tough. If your handicapped, you can’t do really much about your situation.
But in America, nobody starves. Each one of us has a roof over our heads, we pratice regular hygine, we have access to food, most of us have automobiles, entertainment like television, communication like phones and mobile phones and etc.
If you think your life is tough it may be, but it isn’t nearly as tough as it is in leftist dictacted 3rd world nations. Where people walk in sewer ran streets, no running water, living off the refuge of a city dump site and have poor hygine problems leading to diseases and parasites.
And you think Bush is the problems of your status?