Newt Gingrich is finally facing reality and is expected to formally end his campaign for president next week. Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post wrote that Gingrich’s campaign was a microcosm of his three-plus decades as a national political figure: “unpredictable, brilliant (at times), undisciplined, fun, funny and, ultimately, mystifying. The big lesson from Gingrich’s campaign? Tigers don’t change their stripes.”
Compared with all the serious problems facing this state and nation, illegally placed yard signs seem trivial. Yet the signs make Wichita look trashy, so it’s good that the city is looking at new ways to deal with the problem. A city ordinance already bars placing signs in public rights of way, but many people – including past candidates for district judge and Wichita City Council – either don’t know the law or don’t care. At a minimum, the city needs to do an information campaign to better educate people. It also should consider doing what Kansas City, Mo., did and allowing citizens to remove illegally posted signs.
