Daily Archives: March 12, 2009

No more penthouse life for Madoff

March 12, 200912:20 p.m.

Madoff ScandalBernard Madoff pleaded guilty today to 11 counts of fraud, money laundering, perjury and theft, and he was immediately sent to jail. Sentencing is scheduled for June 16, and Madoff could get a maximum of 150 years. “I cannot adequately express how sorry I am for what I have done,” Madoff said. “I am deeply sorry and ashamed.” That’s no comfort to the investors who lost billions of dollars in his Ponzi scheme.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Economy | Comments (34)

Shoe thrower gets three years

March 12, 200912:18 p.m.

bushshoe22The Iraqi journalist who threw his shoe at President Bush was sentenced to three years in jail. Muntadhar al-Zeidi was found guilty of aggression against a visiting head of state, a crime that under Iraqi law carries a maximum sentence of 15 years. Asked if he had anything else to say in his defense, al-Zeidi responded: “I am innocent. It was a natural reaction to the crime of occupation.”

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Iraq, President Bush | Comments (66)

GOP must do more than just say ‘no’

March 12, 20096:05 a.m.

nosign“The Democratic response to the economic crisis has its problems, but let’s face it, the current Republican response is totally misguided,” wrote columnist David Brooks. “The House minority leader, John Boehner, has called for a federal spending freeze for the rest of the year. In other words, after a decade of profligacy, the Republicans have decided to demand a rigid fiscal straitjacket at the one moment in the past 70 years when it is completely inappropriate.”

Instead of just saying “no” to Democratic proposals, Republican lawmakers should treat the economic crisis more seriously than Democrats, Brooks contended. They should argue against making trillions of dollars in long-term spending commitments until we know where the economy is likely to end up, Brooks said, and they should be “out front with ideas to support the wealth-creating parts of the economy.”

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Congress, Economy | Comments (227)

Open thread 3/12

March 12, 20096:04 a.m.

thread362

By The Editors | Filed under Open thread | Comments (374)

McCain didn’t sweep Kansas

March 12, 20096:03 a.m.

mccainthumbsupIt turns out that Kansas didn’t escape the 2008 blue tide after all: John McCain took the state’s electoral votes, of course. But according to a Swing State Project analysis, the 3rd Congressional District voted for Barack Obama over McCain 51 to 48 percent. That district, which consists of Johnson and Wyandotte counties and part of Douglas County, has long been represented by Democrat Dennis Moore in Congress, but went with George Bush in 2000 and 2004.

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under Presidential race | Comments (15)

1st District slate filling up

March 12, 20096:02 a.m.

boldra_sue1The GOP primary for Kansas’ 1st Congressional District has “land-rush” potential, noted Chapman Rackaway, a political scientist at Fort Hays State University. No Democrat has emerged. But Republican Sue Boldra (in photo), an instructor of education at Fort Hays State University and longtime government teacher in Hays public schools, has declared her plans to run; other Republicans vying to replace Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Hays, are state Sen. Tim Huelskamp of Fowler, Rob Wasinger of Cottonwood Falls and Tim Barker of Pratt.

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under Kansas delegation | Comments (3)

Don’t delay replacing tankers

March 12, 20096:01 a.m.

The Air Force needs new tankers, and the economy needs new jobs. So it doesn’t make sense to delay replacing the aging tanker fleet for five years, as Pentagon budget officials are suggesting. The government is going to spend the money either way – and possibly more by delaying the project. Replace the tankers now, when doing so could also give the economy a needed boost.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Congress, Economy | Comments (18)