People have been piling on a silly Santa coach in Australia who advised new Clauses to replace “ho, ho, ho†with “ha, ha, ha†to avoid demeaning women, a la Don Imus. In another holiday skirmish, a task force in Ft. Collins, Colo., recommended the city’s holiday light display stay away from red and green as too religious (the City Council rightly rejected the idea last week).
What gives rise to such madness? As a Chicago Tribune editorial asked: “Who are these people who believe the world would be a better place if Christmas lights were white and Santa Claus said ‘ha, ha, ha’ to small children? If you’re one of them, ask Santa to bring you a life.â€
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Evangelicals have spent the past several months anxiously searching for a candidate to back. Is Mike Huckabee their man?
When asked at the GOP presidential debate Wednesday if the candidates believe every word of the Bible, Huckabee gave the answer evangelicals look for: “Sure. I believe the Bible is exactly what it is. It’s the word of revelation to us from God Himself.â€
Huckabee also showed a deft touch in defusing a question about whether Jesus would support the death penalty. “Jesus was too smart to ever run for public office,†he joked.
But Huckabee also didn’t bash illegal immigrants or gays. Asked whether he would accept money from gay Republican groups, Huckabee said: “I need the support of anybody and everybody I can get.â€
Posted by Kristin Mehler
A new SurveyUSA poll, co-sponsored by KWCH-TV, Channel 12 in Wichita, casts a shadow of a doubt on the idea that Kansas is forever red in presidential elections. In head-to-head possible general election matchups, Republicans Rudy Giuliani and John McCain variously beat Democrats Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama. But those surveyed preferred Clinton or Obama to GOP choices Mitt Romney and Mike Huckabee. The breakdown: McCain vs. Clinton, 55 to 38 percent; Giuliani vs. Clinton, 49 to 43 percent; Romney vs. Clinton, 44 to 48 percent; Huckabee vs. Clinton, 43 to 49 percent; McCain vs. Obama, 53 to 37 percent; Giuliani vs. Obama, 47 to 42 percent; Romney vs. Obama, 43 to 46 percent; Huckabee vs. Obama, 41 to 47 percent.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
So much for no one being willing to build a destination casino in Sumner County, as some gaming opponents claimed during the Sedgwick County debate. Four companies have filed proposals, including industry giants Harrah’s Entertainment and MGM Mirage.
Harrah’s wants to build a $500 million resort at the Mulvane exit of the Kansas Turnpike. It would include 275 hotel rooms, a championship golf course, and 30,000 square feet of convention space. And that’s just for the first phase of its development plan.
Harrah’s estimates that its project would annually provide Sumner County $5.5 million in revenue sharing and $12 million in property taxes, plus increased sales tax revenue.
Other proposals project similar revenues. So unless the Kansas Supreme Court rules that the state’s gaming law is unconstitutional, Sumner County will be hitting the jackpot.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
The Wichita City Council showed good sense Tuesday in opting not to spend $225,000 to buy a $60,000 piece of property, at least not yet. South Wichita needs a new fire station — no question. And maybe the site at Denker and Hydraulic, owned by the Indian Southern Baptist Church, will best serve public safety. But leaders are right to take their time and make sure this deal is as good as it gets. Still, the last thing City Hall needs is a big legal fight over Indian-owned land.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
