Summing up the legacy of a presidential administration with 19 months to go is like reviewing a play without seeing the last act, but columnist George Will may have come close Sunday during the roundtable on ABC’s "This Week." Recalling how the White House pressed for the Palestinian elections that ended up empowering the Hamas terrorist group, and how Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice responded by saying that "nobody saw it coming," Will concluded: "Those four words are the epitaph of this administration." Think also of Sept. 11, post-invasion Iraq and Katrina, and Will has a point.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
When Wichita and other cities passed their own restrictions on where concealed-carry permit holders can carry handguns, lawmakers came back this year with more legislation negating such local limits, then overrode Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ veto. Accordingly, the Wichita City Council is scheduled to repeal its limits Tuesday. Arguably, the process worked, with pro-carry arguments carrying the day. But let it be said — again — that the outcome also stands as a defeat for the principle of local control.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Here is another example of the influence religious conservatives have had in the Bush administration: The U.S. Department of Justice has changed its civil rights focus by "aggressively pursuing religion-oriented cases while significantly diminishing its involvement in the traditional area of race," the New York Times reported.
The Times also reported that the department "has transferred or demoted some experienced civil rights litigators while bringing in lawyers, including graduates of religious-affiliated law schools and some people vocal about their faith, who favor the new priorities. That has created some unease, with some career lawyers disdainfully referring to the newcomers as ‘holy hires.’"
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
The question before Sedgwick County voters Aug. 7 seems simple enough, until you actually see the question, or rather questions. (The first is about whether to allow a casino. The second is about whether to allow slot machines at the Wichita Greyhound Park.)
Proposition No. 1:
Shall the following be adopted?
"Shall the Kansas lottery be authorized to operate a lottery gaming facility in Sedgwick County?"
Proposition No. 2:
Shall the following be adopted?
"Shall the Kansas lottery be authorized to place electronic gaming machines in Sedgwick County?"
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Kellogg’s is trying to come up with a healthier Pop-Tart and healthier cereals to help battle childhood obesity. The company, which already has a policy of not marketing to anyone under 6, also will stop marketing unhealthy foods to the under-12 audience. The standards for unhealthy food would include anything that has more than 200 calories, 2 grams of saturated fat, 230 milligrams of sodium, 12 grams of sugar or any trans fat per single serving. Applause goes to Kellogg’s for making an effort to keep our kids healthy. But a stern shaking finger goes to the parents who aren’t responsible enough to make sure their kids are eating healthy.
Posted by Andie Clum
Summertime temperatures and all, don’t be surprised to see nicely dressed, well-spoken teenagers traveling in packs around the area this week. Several thousand of them from around the nation and South Korea will be in town through Friday to compete in the National Forensic League’s National Tournament at Wichita East High School, Derby High School and Middle School, and Century II. Counting coaches, parents and other supporters, more than 4,000 people could be visiting for the tournament, a coup for Wichita tourism. The event’s national sponsor, Lincoln Financial Group, awards $88,000 in college scholarships and prizes to NFL winners and qualifiers. Treat the competitors well; they could run the world one day. NFL alumni have ended up at the White House, the Senate, the U.S. Supreme Court and the Oscars.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
