Daily Archives: Aug. 22, 2008

How will Iraq deal affect race?

Aug. 22, 200812:22 p.m.

Iraq and the United States reportedly have finalized an agreement that would withdraw most U.S. troops by the end of 2011. President Bush is expected to approve the agreement.
This is a very encouraging sign that the Iraq war debacle and its mounting costs might finally be coming to an end — at least there’s some light at the end of the tunnel.
“We have to let go, and we’re not reluctant to do that,” said Gen. David Petraeus. “And the Iraqis are not reluctant to take control.”
How will this development affect the presidential race? Both John McCain and Barack Obama are claiming vindication from the remarkable turn of events in Iraq, which seem to buttress both Obama’s call for a withdrawal timetable and McCain’s claims about the success of the surge.

By Randy Scholfield | Filed under Iraq, Presidential race | Comments (46)

Investigate China on cheating

Aug. 22, 200812:19 p.m.

A computer hacker has uncovered online what he says are official Chinese documents that prove that Chinese gymnast He Kixen, the gold medalist in the uneven bars, is indeed underage, as many people suspect. Chinese birth records seem to show that she is 14 — not the minimum age of 16 required to compete.
The International Olympic Committee said Friday that it has ordered an investigation of He to clear up “discrepancies” and put an end to the controversy.
Meanwhile, IOC president Jacques Rogge went out of his way Thursday to criticize Jamaican sprint superstar Usain Bolt for his showboating after winning the 100 meter dash.
Nonsense. Bolt played by the rules and earned the right to celebrate his historic achievement. The question is, do He and other Chinese gymnasts deserve their medals?

By Randy Scholfield | Filed under Sports | Comments (14)

If Clinton were the nominee

Aug. 22, 20086:05 a.m.

Just what the Hillary Clinton dead-enders needed going into the Democratic National Convention: a new poll suggesting that if she were the nominee right now, she’d be polling ahead of John McCain 49 to 43 percent. In the same NBC News/Wall Street Journal survey, Barack Obama was only 3 percentage points ahead of McCain. All the more reason to expect an Obama-Clinton ticket? Or to discount polls based on fiction?

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under Presidential race | Comments (199)

Open thread 8/22

Aug. 22, 20086:03 a.m.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Open thread | Comments (308)

Betts isn’t threatening Tiahrt

Aug. 22, 20086:01 a.m.

If state Sen. Donald Betts, D-Wichita, is going to make a serious run at Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, he’d better get running: The 550 likely voters polled early this week by SurveyUSA for KWCH, Channel 12, overwhelmingly favored Tiahrt over Betts, 61 to 30 percent. Even 25 percent of Democrats said they’d vote for Tiahrt. The only bright spot for Betts: 53 percent of those supporting Tiahrt said they could change their mind.

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under Kansas delegation | Comments (36)

Dubious, bogus and utterly phony headlines

Aug. 22, 20086:00 a.m.

The following satirical headlines come from borowitzreport.com:
CHINA’S GOLD MEDALS FOUND TO HAVE HIGH LEAD CONTENT
POLL: OBAMA FARING POORLY AMONG RACISTS; Bigots Oppose Barack by 1000-1 Margin
ENQUIRER PUBLISHES PHOTO OF BABY WITH $400 HAIRCUT
BIDEN PREPARES 50,000-WORD ACCEPTANCE SPEECH; Senator to Address Convention on Wednesday, Thursday

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Spoof headlines | Comments (19)