LJWorld Reader blogs

Sam Brownback[(The Atlantic) How Hillary Clinton turned herself into the consummate Washington player:][1] Of the many realms of power on Capitol Hill, the least understood may be the lawmakers' prayer group. ... The roster of regular participants has included such notable conservative names as Brownback, Santorum, Nickles, Enzi, and Inhofe. Then, in 2001, just after the new class of senators was sworn in, another name was added to the list: Hillary Rodham Clinton. One spring Wednesday, a few months into the term, Senator Sam Brownback's turn came to lead the group, and he rose intending to talk about a recent cancer scare. But as he stood before his colleagues Brownback spotted Clinton, and was overcome with the impulse to change the subject of his testimony. "I came here today prepared to share about this experience in my life that has caused great suffering, the result of which has deepened my faith," Brownback said, according to someone who watched the scene unfold. "But I'm overcome now with only one thought." He confessed to having hated Clinton and having said derogatory things about her. Through God, he now recognized his sin. Then he turned to her and asked, "Mrs. Clinton, will you forgive me?" Clinton replied that she would, and that she appreciated the apology. "It was an extraordinary moment," the member told me.[(Next Generation) ESRB 'Should Play Games Right Through':][2] A new law is being proposed that would require the ESRB to play games in their entirety before passing an age rating. Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS) has sponsored the Truth in Video Game Rating Act for Senate legislation. A House bill of the same name is being proposed by Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL). Brownback said, "The current videogame ratings system needs improvement because reviewers do not see the full content of games and don't even play the games they are supposed to rate. For videogame ratings to be meaningful and worthy of a parent's trust, the game ratings must be more objective and accurate."[(WDC Media commentary) Winning the Conservative Battles:][3] No doubt Sam Brownback is pleased with developments similar to that in Illinois. The U.S. senator from Kansas is strongly pro-life -- and in fact, he predicts abortion itself will one day be outlawed in America. Describing the United States as "a majority pro-life nation," the Republican lawmaker says he believes conservatives are winning the cultural battle surrounding "life issues" such as abortion, cloning, embryonic stem-cell research, and euthanasia. Brownback shares that part of the reason he is so adamantly pro-life is his eight-year-old daughter Jenna, whom he adopted from Shantou City, China. "I look at her often at night, and I wonder, 'You know, somebody who I've never met fought for her -- and she's alive and making straight A's and a brilliant, beautiful girl because somebody fought for her,'" says Brownback. "It would have been easier to abort her, but they fought for her. And I hope we never forget about that -- that that's what we fight for in life. We fight for them."[(Korea Herald) U.S. open to more talks on command issue:][4] During meetings with Grand National Party lawmakers last week, former and incumbent U.S. officials and politicians also confirmed Washington's hawkish stance on North Korea by outlining financial sanctions and possible military action in case the communist regime attempts nuclear tests, the GNP said. ... The array of experts the GNP met included Christopher Hill, assistant secretary of state, former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, former Secretary of Defense William Cohen and former U.S. Forces Korea Commander John Tilelli. From Congress, lawmakers met Republican senator Sam Brownback and from the Democratic Party, Charles Rangel, among others.Pat Roberts[(CBN News) Will Al-Qaeda Target U.S. Food Supply?:][5] The FBI says America needs to protect its food supply from terrorism just as much as airports and buildings, and says an agro-terror attack could be "devastating" to the U.S. ... "If you really stop and think about it, if you want to cause utter chaos over a long period of years, attack the nation's food supply," said Sen. Pat Roberts (R - KS).Todd Tiahrt[(Wichita Eagle) If won, most tanker work will not be here:][6] Wichita will likely see far fewer new jobs than once expected should Boeing win a new competition to provide tanker jets to the U.S. Air Force, a Boeing official said Tuesday. ... Despite Tuesday's announcement, Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, said if Boeing wins the contract it will mean some jobs for Wichita. "I believe Boeing will put tanker jobs in Wichita," said Tiahrt, who in 2002 campaigned in part on bringing tanker jobs to Wichita. "In addition, Spirit AeroSystems will create additional jobs."How to contact As always, you can find information to contact members of the Kansas congressional delegation [here.][7] [1]: http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/prem/200611/green-hillary [2]: http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3893&Itemid=2 [3]: http://www.wdcmedia.com/newsArticle.php?ID=1934 [4]: http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2006/09/27/200609270041.asp [5]: http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/31888.aspx [6]: http://www.yahoo.com/ [7]: http://ljworld.com/extra/where_to_write.html#fed