Going where Congress was too dysfunctional to tread, states are passing immigration measures that are all over the map from welcoming to punishing. A Washington Post article noted that in response to tough new Oklahoma laws on transportation and employment of illegal immigrants and more, as many as 25,000 undocumented workers have fled the state. And not for south of the border: “They’re going to Texas, New Mexico, Kansas, Arkansas, anywhere where the laws aren’t against them,” said a leader of the Oklahoma State Home Builders Association. Such a report will only strengthen Kansas lawmakers’ resolve to mimic Oklahoma next session, when it should be seen as a cry for help to Congress and the federal government — the true authorities on immigration.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
In their haste to report retired Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez’s newsworthy public blasting of the war in Iraq to a group of military reporters, most media outlets omitted one thing: the first half of the speech, which accused the press of misinforming the American public with sensationalistic, presumptuous journalism regarding the war.
Sanchez compared the press’ race for front page headlines to intelligence analysts who rushed to provide President Bush with inaccurate reports that plunged the country in war. “For some of you, just like some of our politicians, the truth is of little to no value if it does not fit your own preconceived notions, biases and agendas,” Sanchez said.
In then detailing the botched war efforts, Sanchez made it sound as if they were everyone’s fault but his own.
Posted by Kristin Mehler
Presidential candidates and pop culture references go together like, well, Al Gore and the macarena, Walter Mondale and “Where’s the beef?” and Fred Thompson and “Law & Order.” Still, it was surprising to see that Hillary Clinton, in a New Hampshire speech in which she invoked half a dozen past presidents, said this about the Bush administration’s way with science: “To paraphrase Stephen Colbert, that great philosopher, this administration doesn’t make decisions based on facts, it makes facts based on decisions.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Congress passed sentencing guidelines in the 1980s for federal crimes in hopes of lending uniformity to prison terms. But the guidelines also caused federal prison population to increase from 24,000 in 1980 to 181,000 last year, as judges became forced to impose tougher sentences than the specific circumstances of a case might have justified.
The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard a case that could ease the guidelines and allow judges to pass lower sentences with discretion.
“The guidelines are only guidelines. They are advisory,” said Justice Antonin Scalia.
That’s good to hear. But unless those guidelines are loosened, our prisons will unnecessarily keep bursting at the seams.
Posted by Kristin Mehler
Some Wichita parents had to scramble to find child care to cover USD 259’s days off Friday and today — two of a whopping 17 no-school days the district has designated this school year for training, grading, conferences and the like. It’s more than an annoyance for many working parents with inflexible work schedules (and unsympathetic bosses). Still, the community has many programs and day care centers to help parents who plan ahead. And parents shouldn’t expect the school district to stick to a five-day schedule all year –though the district and teachers union have seemed in recent years to add more no-school days without giving enough consideration to the impact on the students’ families.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Hillary Clinton revolutionized the role of candidate’s wife 15 years ago. Now, as columnist Kathleen Parker noted, she’s up against those who follow in her footsteps. Oh, and their husbands’.
Elizabeth Edwards is more aggressive than her husband in challenging the other candidates. And Michelle Obama has been rallying the troops in Iowa and elsewhere.
But it’s not just the Democrats’ wives on the campaign trail. Ann Romney has launched a Web site that paints a warm, close-knit picture of her husband and family.
Meanwhile, Clinton’s own spouse has tried to take a quiet role so far — as much as that’s possible for Bill.
Posted the Kristin Mehler
