Daily Archives: July 23, 2009

Is U.S. now a ‘can’t-do’ country?

July 23, 200912:34 p.m.

doctorout4Watching Congress, and especially moderate Democrats, find reasons to leave health care unfixed has Washington Post columnist Harold Meyerson wondering whether the Hurricane Katrina response was no fluke and the country has lost its “can-do” spirit. “Every other nation with an advanced economy long ago secured universal health care for its citizens — an achievement that the United States alone finds beyond the capacities of mortal man,” Meyerson wrote. And there’s more incoherence: “How to explain, for instance, the widespread congressional support for a bill that would require General Motors and Chrysler to keep all their dealerships open? This legislation is co-sponsored by numerous Republican conservatives who actually opposed the administration’s efforts to keep General Motors and Chrysler in business. ‘Distribution, si; production, no!’ is by any standard a loony battle cry.”

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under Congress, Health and safety | Comments (123)

Lawmakers backed national rule on guns

July 23, 20096:04 a.m.

concealedgunKansas GOP Sens. Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts both supported a measure narrowly defeated in the Senate Wednesday that would have allowed a gun owner to carry concealed weapons across state lines if he have a valid permit from his home state, even if he didn’t meet the permit requirements in the other state. Brownback’s spokesman said the law change was “common sense” and would have made it “easier for the 48 states with similar conceal carry laws to offer reciprocity.” But former GOP Rep. Tom Davis of Virginia argued that forcing states to comply with weak permitting laws in other states “flies in the face of federalist principles” regularly espoused by Republicans.“As conservatives, we usually oppose nationalizing what is best left to the states,” he said. But not when it comes to guns.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Guns | Comments (107)

Open thread 7/23

July 23, 20096:03 a.m.

thread420

By The Editors | Filed under Open thread | Comments (345)

Firing Buchanan would have been irresponsible

July 23, 20096:02 a.m.

buchananbill1It’s a relief that, at least for now, the majority of Sedgwick County commissioners are smart enough not to fire County Manager William Buchanan. The commission was expected to go into executive session Wednesday but didn’t do so — apparently because there wasn’t enough support for the move by Commission Chairman Kelly Parks and Vice Chairwoman Gwen Welshimer to oust Buchanan. It would have been irresponsible to fire Buchanan, who has capably managed the county for nearly two decades and has strong support from business leaders, the public and county staff. Yet it’s troubling that Parks appears not to have completely abandoned his terrible idea, telling The Eagle that “I think it’s really not over but appears to be for now.”

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Sedgwick County | Comments (23)

Late-night laughs

July 23, 20096:01 a.m.

“According to a new poll, 42 percent of Americans say they would vote for Sarah Palin for president in 2012. They also said they’d support her decision to step down in 2013.” — Conan O’Brien
“Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced that the United States will build two nuclear plants in India. And here’s the weird part about those power plants. They’re going to outsource all the jobs to Americans.” — Jimmy Fallon

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under Late-night laughs | Comments (1)