Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., contends that his voting for the immigration bill Thursday and then, about 10 minutes later, voting against it wasn’t a flip-flop. "I wanted to signal that I support comprehensive immigration reform, but now is not the time, this is not the bill," Brownback said. But conservative critics aren’t buying it. A new YouTube video titled "Sen. Switchback" ends with the slogan: "Sam Brownback. Leadership only John Kerry could love."
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
So much for what the old folks think. A new poll of 17- to 29-year-olds foreshadows an America with government-run health care, legalized gay relationships and legal possession of small amounts of marijuana, with 62 percent supporting the first, 68 percent the second (44 percent gay marriage, 24 percent gay civil unions) and 58 percent the third. More immediately, 54 percent in this younger generation said they plan to vote for the Democrat for president next year. But who knows — maybe these youngsters will mature into Republicans, as so many of their boomer parents did.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Even with the Wichita Wranglers’ days numbered, the gloom about the future of Lawrence-Dumont Stadium is lifting. Representatives of three independent baseball leagues have reacted positively to the facility and community, as city officials court a new team for the stadium and manager for the National Baseball Congress World Series in advance of a July 13 proposal deadline. It sounds like Wichita could fit easily into the 10-team American Association, the eight-team Northern League or the six-team United League. But Eagle columnist Bob Lutz may be right that the American Association is the best fit of all, given the involvement of Wichita Thunder hockey team owner Horn Chen and general manager Chris Presson. And the city is rightly looking out for the future of the NBC series. City Council member Paul Gray, who has met with the interested league officials in the past, is now on the sidelines as part of the proposal process. But Gray told The Eagle editorial board he’s optimistic about the prospects: “I think people are going to be very pleased with what happens.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman
GOP presidential hopeful Fred Thompson’s past connection with Margie Phelps (in photo) of the protesting Phelps clan isn’t a slight against Thompson. But it does show that it can be a small, strange world.
Phelps represented Marcia Tomson Stingley, who in the 1980s sued and reached a settlement with then-Attorney General Bob Stephan for sexual harassment, the Lawrence Journal-World reported. After Stingley claimed that Stephan violated the nondisclosure terms of the settlement, she sued Stephan for breach of contract.
Because Phelps was needed to be a witness in that case, Stingley needed a new attorney. Phelps chose Thompson, who accepted and won the case.
Thompson had no knowledge of Phelps’ beliefs, his spokesman said. Phelps said the case occurred before her family began its “public ministry.”
For her part, Phelps was impressed with Thompson’s trial attorney skills. Nonetheless, she won’t vote for him if he becomes the GOP nominee, she told the Journal-World. “I don’t see a single person on the landscape that I would remotely consider voting for,” she said.
That’s good to hear.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
