Posts tagged with Kansas Politics
Barack Obama: Promises Made, Promises Kept
http://media.lawrence.com/img/blogs/e... My Man Crush, President Barack Obama, has not only had one of the fullest agendas since President Lyndon Johnson, he's also kept or on the path to keeping an extraordinary number of his 500+ campaign promises in his first year in office.
My national political reporter buddy Lou Jacobson at PolitiFact alerted me to a project he and other journalists have been working on to document Obama's first year in office and to measure what Obama promised and what he's delivered.
An excerpt from the Polifact story:
"Of 502 campaign promises, a PolitiFact analysis finds Obama has fulfilled 91 and achieved at least partial success with another 33. More than half of his promises have had enough progress to be rated In the Works.
He's put much of his foreign policy agenda into action, taken steps to reduce the American presence in Iraq and send more troops to Afghanistan, and his sweeping health care reform plan is on the brink of passage. The giant economic stimulus bill that passed in February made good on a host of promises on green energy, education and transportation."
Some things have been put on a back burner and the move toward transparency has been a disappointment.
But all in all, we have a President who is doing what he said he would do.
Scott Roeder Complains Like A Big Baby
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Convicted would-be mad bomber and accused murderer Scott Roeder bitches that he's being treated like a criminal.
Boo. Hoo.
I guess he forgot about that conviction for "criminal use of explosives" in 1996. Then there's that whole accusation that he killed Dr. George Tiller in front of a whole church full of witnesses, er, parishioners, last Sunday in Wichita.
Scott, instead of calling the AP when you feel down, maybe give Leslee Unruh a call and she can cheer you up with one of her "more babies more babies" talks.
(Hat tip Plog.)
To read other Kansas related news and views (and other stuff), go to the Middle Border Sun at http://www.middlebordersun.com.
Palin: Not Quite a Hail Mary But a Flea Flicker
http://media.lawrence.com/img/blogs/e..., my fellow young progressive fellow babies. We've had our fun with Gov. Sarah Palin.Yes, she's awful. She might even be a kook. But she's catching on. Must be those sweet spectacles she sports.But we also need to give some props to Grumpy Old John McCain. He swiped Barack Obama's message of "change" and "now for something completely different" and turned it on its head.While Barack played it safe with Joe Biden, McCain called an audible at the line (Called play: Gov. Tim Pawlenty off tackle) and instead called up Palin from the Arena Football League and put her in for a flea flicker razzle dazzle play.(Yes, I love football metaphors, even as a godless liberal.)So, while not only the Hillaryites but much of the country was thinking that Barack should pick Sen. Clinton or at least another woman like my Older Woman Crush Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (or heck, even my favorite Rancher/Dog Lover, Gov. Brian Schweitzer), Grumpy Old John did what the Man Crush should have done-picked a woman.Grumpy Old John might be a lot of things but stupid ain't one of them.So, what do we do to get the Man Crush back on top where he should be?Hammer the issues.The economy. The war. Energy. The mortgage mess. Eight years of dismantling the Bill of Rights and the middle class.Bush, Bush, Bush.We're right on the issues. We win on the issues. Easily. Are we better off than we were four or eight years ago? Most of us? No.We can't be too smug about Pitbull Palin. It's time to blitz Team McCain/Bush and keep knocking down Grumpy Old John and the Republican's failed policies and running of the government on each and every play, er day.Otherwise, Barack Obama will be the New England Patriots of the 2008 election. A brilliant regular season but a loss where it counts-the Super Bowl, er, Election Day.Coach Todd EppKansas Watch http://kswatch.squarespace.com
Who Wants A Pit Bull for a Neighbor—or Vice President?
http://media.lawrence.com/img/blogs/e...'ve all heard Gov. Sarah Palin's joke at the RNC about the only difference between a hockey mom and a pit bull being lip stick.Do we really want a woman who claims to be a pit bull as President?The statistics about pit bulls say no. * The dog most responsible for killing humans in the United States is the pit bull. Sources: Dog Bite Law and CDC * Pit bulls attack adults nearly as often as they attack children, a characteristic not found in any other breed. Source: Dogsbite.org * The American Kennel Association, the largest purebred dog registry in the world, does not recognize the pit bull as a breed though it does recognize the American Staffardshire Terrier. There is a dispute whether a "Staffy" is also a pit bull as some say the breeds diverged. Source: Pit Bull Rescue Center and Bulldogbreeds.com * Because of their dangerous propensities, in England, one of the first nations to breed the dogs, pit bulls are regulated under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991. They can only be owned if the owner gets a specific exemption and must be muzzled. Source: Wikipedia * A number of American communities ban or restrict pit bull ownership, including in such red states as Utah, Missouri, Kansas, Florida, Tennessee, and Kentucky. Source: Wikipedia * Pit Bulls are one of several breed of dogs that if a homeowner owns one, it will deny homeowner's insurance. Source: Insurance JournalIf Sarah Palin were truly trying to persuade moderate to conservative men and women who, as Gov. Palin, enjoy the outdoors, she would have been better served to compare herself to a hunting dog.Most hunters I know who have hunting dogs are crazy about their dogs. And, their dogs-often labradors, golden retrievers, spaniels, and the like-are typically well trained, intelligent, loyal, hard working, friendly, and useful.I think I'd rather be like a chocolate lab than a pit bull any day. And so would most of the people I know who care for and train their dogs, hunting and otherwise.Palin's joke makes for a good laughline but a brutish society. Todd EppKansas Watchhttp://kswatch.squarespace.com
Boris and Natasha Come to Aid of John and Sarah
http://media.lawrence.com/img/blogs/e... wonderfully wacky cartoon comes from Bonny Fleming and Matthew Scholz and is used with their permission. Bonny is from Rapid City, SD and Matthew is from Knoxville, TN.And, we can thank (or blame) the internets for their inspired humor. This note from Bonny: Occasionally we use yahoo to chat back and forth: somehow in the conversation yesterday talking about Palin, I mentioned being scared of her: he said "as long as your not a moose you have nothing to worry about" then we both went off on the tangent together and the idea was born.Great stuff and thanks!Todd Epp Kansas Watchhttp://kswatch.squarespace.com
Len Dawson, QB and Broadcasting Legend
http://media.lawrence.com/img/blogs/e... Line Communications (http://bottomlinecom.com/currentnews/mooredawsonmilestone.html) has a nice story today about Len Dawson and Larry Moore being together at KMBC-TV in Kansas City since 1968.Len Dawson is one of my childhood idols. He was cool under pressure at the helm of the Chiefs. The guy could play.But what is also remarkable about Len is that is he probably as good or better of a broadcaster as he was an NFL Hall of Fame QB. He is unflappable on TV with great presence. As a radio broadcaster doing Chiefs games, he is knowledgeable, direct, and honest.Congratulations Len Dawson! You're still my idol!Todd EppKansas Watch http://kswatch.squarespace.com
The GOP’s New Math
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As the Palin Turns: McCain Says “No Help For You!” Bristol
http://media.lawrence.com/img/blogs/e... the Seinfeldian Soup Nazi, Sen. John McCain has told Bristol Palin and young women like her, "No pregnancy prevention or post-natal aid for you! Come back in three years!"From CBS News: (AP) Republican John McCain, whose running mate disclosed that her unmarried 17-year-old daughter is pregnant, has opposed proposals to spend federal money on teen-pregnancy prevention programs and voted to require poor teen mothers to stay in school or lose their benefits. Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's announcement Monday about her daughter, Bristol, was aimed at rebutting Internet rumors that Palin's youngest son, born in April, was actually her daughter's. Palin said her daughter intends to raise her child and marry the baby's father, who was identified only by his first name, Levi. The baby is due in late December.John, Sarah, keep those family values a-comin'!Todd EppKansas Watch http://kswatch.squarespace.com
I Guess I Didn’t Catch Sarah Palin on Northern Exposure—Or Did I?
http://media.lawrence.com/img/blogs/e... used to watch the CBS Alaskan-set dramedy Northern Exposure all the time in the 1990s.I loved its depiction of small town life peopled with unique and quirky characters.However, I guess I missed the episodes with Sarah Palin as mayor of Cicely, AK.Or maybe Shelly, the former beauty queen, was actually based on Gov. Palin's character? Think about it.Nonetheless, it does appear Gov. Palin did end up marrying Chris Stevens.Who knew!
What’s the Over/Under on Palin Remaining on the GOP Ticket?
http://media.lawrence.com/img/blogs/e...'s see, it's only been since Friday and what have we learned about Gov. Sarah Palin? * She was for the Bridge to Nowhere but then said she wasn't. * She failed to defend a fellow GOP woman state leader on a radio show from being called a "cancer" (the leader was a cancer survivor" and being called the B word. * Did she fully disclose to Sen. John McCain that her unmarried 17 year old daughter was pregnant and was going to marry the father? Did she tell McCain that she had ties to the Alaska Independence Party, or at the least provided a "welcoming" video for their convention as governor?So, is she the GOP's Tom Eagleton? What else don't we know?I bet she's off the ticket by the end of September. Some don't think she'll make it past this week.What do you think?Below, discuss whether you think she will be:Not even put on the ticket this week.Off the ticket by September 15thOff the ticket by September 30thOff the ticket by October 15thRemains on the ticket through Election DayTalk amongst yourselves.Todd EppKansas Watch http://kswatch.squarespace.com
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- National group seeks repeal of 'Stand Your Ground' law in Kansas May 27, 2012 · 166 comments
- Kansas tax act most regressive in nation May 27, 2012 · 277 comments
- U.S. military sees new appreciation May 28, 2012 · 47 comments
- Tax gamble May 26, 2012 · 95 comments
- Sound Off: How much does the city’s transit system collect in fares compared with how much it costs May 27, 2012 · 137 comments
- Brownback tells federal judicial panel to toss legislative redistricting maps May 29, 2012 · 7 comments
- God, marriage May 25, 2012 · 200 comments
- On the street: How did you spend your Memorial Day? May 28, 2012 · 37 comments
- Blog: Iranian Nuclear Energy: Will It Destroy Lives Or Save Them? May 29, 2012 · 6 comments
- Remove politics, and redistricting map falls in line May 27, 2012 · 52 comments
- Kansas tax act most regressive in nation May 27, 2012
- Thread of pain ran through Jackson’s career June 28, 2009
- Hilltop executive director Pat Pisani stepping down May 28, 2012
- Friends mourn Lynn Bretz, former voice of KU May 28, 2012
- Town Talk: UPDATE: Frank Male files for county commission; keep an ear open for local sales tax talk; city hires new city engineer; wholesale water district buys land near Kaw; weekly land transfers May 29, 2012
- How to help: Guides needed for Lamplight Tour of Black Jack Battlefield and Nature Park May 27, 2012
- Library kicks off reading program May 27, 2012
- City, county mull upgrade to emergency radio system May 28, 2012
- Experts: Remedial college classes need fixing May 28, 2012
- Book helps family heal after tragedy May 28, 2012
