Predictably, the key issue at Sunday’s Democratic presidential debate in New Hampshire was the Iraq war. Regrettably, candidates spent too much time jockeying over who most opposed to the war four years ago and too little seriously discussing how to responsibly end the debacle now. And the "me, too" talk of health care plans wasn’t very helpful. In the end, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama seemed to strengthen their standing, while John Edwards began to look panicky. Bill Richardson did nothing to erase his embarrassing recent performance on "Meet the Press." It was also striking how persuasive and presidential back-of-the-pack Joe Biden and Chris Dodd sounded — when they managed to get the mike.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Congratulations to law enforcement officials for arresting three suspects who were allegedly plotting to blow up fuel storage tanks and pipelines at Kennedy International Airport in New York City. Well done. But there is grumbling that the authorities overstated the scope and abilities of the alleged terrorists to make the arrests seems more significant. In announcing the charges, U.S. Attorney Roslynn Mauskopf described a plot that "could have resulted in unfathomable damage, deaths and destruction." But court filings portray the arrested men as not having much operational capability to actually carry out their scheme, the New York Times reported. Other experts also have dismissed the claim that the planned attack could have resulted in the catastrophic chain reaction, the Times reported. That said, one lesson of Sept. 11 is that law enforcement has to treat terrorism plots with deadly seriousness. Even small-time terrorist wannabes can do great harm.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
A New York Times article today about how New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg is being cast as the No. 1 enemy of gun rights noted that "on the Web site of The Wichita Eagle, one writer wonders why a New York mayor is ‘telling the people of Kansas what to do.’" Well, more accurately, the quote is from a comment that "Max" posted on this blog. But it goes to show the wide reach of WE Blog. Who knows who may be reading your post?
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
The Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in New York is doing a great thing — it’s recognizing designers who created inexpensive and useful items for poor people of the world, the New York Times reported. The ingenious inventions include a water drum that holds 20 gallons of water and rolls easily along the ground, a Lifestraw that kills bacteria as water is sucked through it, and a pot-in-pot cooler that relies on the evaporation of water from wet sand to cool the inner pot.
These new gadgets have the opportunity to make life easier for the poverty stricken. More designers who cater to the richest 10 percent of the world need to put their talents to helping the other 90 percent.
Posted by Andie Clum
According to some estimates, buildings use almost as much energy as industry and transportation combined, the New York Times reported. Yet they receive little attention — at least in the United States.
The average U.S. building uses about a third more than its German counterpart. Why? In Germany and the rest of the European Union, basic energy consumption requirements have been regulated since the mid-1990s. As a result, European architects made sustainability a theme in their work.
A new Kansas law should help. It requires new commercial and industrial buildings to meet an international energy-efficiency code of standards.
Posted by Andie Clum
Not sure how Sam Brownback’s penchant for bipartisan partnerships helps him in the GOP presidential primaries, but it’s getting him mentioned. This time, he’s co-sponsoring the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act, meant to put economic pressure on Iran’s government, with Illinois Democrat Barack Obama. This odd couple also have worked well together on issues concerning Africa, including the genocide in Darfur.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
