“It’s ridiculous that this needs saying, but: Fake Americans are Americans,” columnist Leonard Pitts wrote about comments by Sarah Palin and other Republicans about certain “pro-American” or “real” parts of the country. “And if we disagree with so-called Real Americans politically, our passion is nevertheless rooted in the same place theirs is. Love of country.
“Many Real Americans won’t believe that. For them, love of country and social conservatism are inextricably linked, one and the same. Me, I don’t care for the straitjacket of ideology, preferring the freedom to accept or reject ideas on their merits. So when social conservatives championed, say, individual accountability and responsible fatherhood, I was happy to join them. But that was back when I knew what ‘conservative’ meant.”
“Just like that, Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden has given voters the single reason why they should not elect Barack Obama president of the United States,” wrote columnist Cal Thomas. “In rambling remarks in Seattle, Biden guaranteed that if Obama is elected president there will be an international incident to ‘test him’ less than six months after his inauguration.”
Thomas cited as historical examples the two Russian tests of John F. Kennedy and, on the flip side, the reaction by the Iranians when Ronald Reagan was elected.
Thomas’ conclusion: “Why shouldn’t a President Obama be tested by the world’s tyrants? And wouldn’t it be better if they feared a President McCain and decided not to put him to the test? Not having a president tested in this way would benefit America, the fragile economy and world order.”
In statements on today’s Opinion pages, two candidates accuse Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, of breaking a promise to serve only 12 years in Congress. Tiahrt told The Eagle editorial board that he doesn’t think he ever made that pledge. Though he supported the GOP “Contract With America” when he was first elected in 1994, Tiahrt said that it only called for holding a vote on amending the Constitution to impose term limits, which occurred in 1995 but didn’t get the required two-thirds majority support. A Nov. 8, 1994, Eagle news article reported: “Describing himself, Tiahrt said he stood for ‘common sense’ and such Republican ideas as a line-item veto, term limits, a balanced budget amendment and requiring welfare recipients to work.”
Political observers are unsure of the prospects of the Nov. 4 ballot initiative on whether Johnson County District Court judges should be elected rather than appointed. To demonstrate the dangers of partisan election of judges, defenders of the status quo in Johnson County have erected a billboard saying, “Keep Phill Kline Off Our Court.” But such a future for the controversial Kline seems unlikely, given that he was clobbered by Johnson County voters in the 2006 attorney general’s race and then in August’s GOP primary for district attorney. Voters have long picked judges in Sedgwick County and about half of the state.
Congratulations to Wichita Habitat for Humanity for beginning work on its 100th home. What an achievement, and what a blessing to families in our community. It has been a big group effort. In the past 22 years, 500,000 people have helped build these homes. The Rev. Linda Stewart, executive director, summed up the organization’s mission as “building lives, building families, building homes and building a community.” Well done, good and faithful servants.
The following satirical headlines come from borowitzreport.com:
MCCAIN SENDS BIDEN TO KEY SWING STATES; ‘Just Keep Talking,’ Says McCain
MCCAIN SAYS OBAMA’S ACTUAL FIRST NAME IS ‘THAT’; Raises Fresh Questions About Senator One
PALIN BLASTS OBAMA’S TIES TO WEATHER CHANNEL; ‘Palling Around With Meteorologists,’ Governor Claims
O.J. SEEKS BAILOUT; Juice: Incarceration Would Hurt Cable Networks’ Bottom Line
“It’s ridiculous that this needs saying, but: Fake Americans are Americans,” columnist Leonard Pitts wrote about comments by Sarah Palin and other Republicans about certain “pro-American” or “real” parts of the country. “And if we disagree with so-called Real Americans politically, our passion is nevertheless rooted in the same place theirs is. Love of country.
