As we contemplate the arrival of the wonderful springtime, after a long season of dormancy in nature, our thoughts are turned to the emergence of new life.
If you're like me, you often have trouble finding that one perfect winter-solstice-celebration gift for that kooky left-wing friend you might have. Books normally make a thoughtful gift, until your friend reminds you of all the brave trees that gave their lives. Leather won't do, either – no shoes, no belts. And, I just can't bring myself to order a gift from Tofu-of-the-Month Club. It's just not easy coming up with ideas.
One of the most dangerous trends in contemporary political life is the seeming rise of the independent voter.
One of the great talents of the far-left is the ability to concoct a message, regardless of it's validity, and advance that message through the systematic and widespread use of talking points. Another great talent is the ability to control those talking points to shape the debate, and tell only half the story.
Joe Stack, the man who steered a plane into the Austin offices of the IRS, is not a hero. He does not even come close to the definition of being a hero.
It is a continuing mystery to me that when it comes to dealing with Republicans, the president seems woefully naïve. Obama keeps working toward, hoping for, and reaching out to his opponents seeking some sort of bipartisan effort to remedy America’s many ills. Sadly, he continues to be thwarted, disappointed and empty handed. The only response from Republicans to his invitation is “NO!”
If there’s one thing about Democrats to really get slackjawed about, it’s their patented circular firing squad method of dealing with problems, both internally and externally.
Competitive Republican primaries for U.S. Senate don’t come along very often in Kansas, so the race between 1st District Congressman Jerry Moran and 4th District Congressman Todd Tiahrt to fill the spot of retiring U.S. Senator Sam Brownback is receiving the most state-wide attention of any tilt that will be on the August 5 ballot. And deservedly so, because whoever wins the GOP primary has an excellent chance of not only winning the seat but of holding it for a long, long time.
Last fall, the president's pay czar, Kenneth Feinberg, slashed executive pay for seven companies who had received government bailouts. Feinberg said, in an October interview with ABC News, "I've tried to balance both sides, listening carefully to what is said in the way of citizen anger and also the statute, which requires that these companies stay in business and thrive so we get repayment."
There is a legend in southern McPherson County, which needs to be told to each generation of the souls who dwell there, “and everywhere.”
It hurts when you have to watch something you love get placed on the chopping block. Granted, it’s difficult to actually love a federal agency, but I grew up idolizing the people who work in it. When I was young, I’d visit one of its facilities at least once a month, and it never once got old. So, when President Obama decided to axe NASA’s next manned spaceflight program, Project Constellation, the kid in me, the one that could find his way around NASA’s Johnson Space Center practically blindfolded, just wanted to sit down and sob for a while.
I will have to admit that as certain as I think we need universal health care reform, it doesn’t look likely it will get done this time. The election of Republican U.S. Senator Scott Brown from Massachusetts, who is opposed to universal health care reform, may be the “nail in the coffin.”
There is a big falderal over the closed-door sessions to work out a compromise over the health care reform bill. Republicans and other pundits, including U.S. Representative Jerry Moran, are all over this with criticism of the process.
Why do maps fascinate us so much? Perhaps because they give us a new way of looking at our world. Maybe because they allow us to experience the thrill of travels and new discoveries. If we study old maps, we see a world of the past, where the forces of history have changed borders,
It has been suggested that we begin holding Obama accountable (When is it Obama’s fault 1/13/10). On Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2010, President Barack Obama will have been in office one full year. As the leader of our country, he should be held accountable for the events, good and ill, of the past 12 months.
Unless you've been visiting another planet, you know that Massachusetts just held a special election to fill the Senate seat vacated by Ted Kennedy. And, unless you've been watching CNN or MSNBC, you know that the outcome of that election is a pretty big deal.
George Orwell, in his essay “Politics and the English Language” wrote, “Political language - and with variations this is true of all political parties, from conservatives to anarchists - is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind.”
It really was cold last week! Once again I realized that I was simply too old for the cold. I, too, longed for some of that “global warming thingie” (1/13/10) when the garage thermometer hovered around minus four degrees. Most of us humans aren’t built for such frigid air.
Every time an elected official says something astonishingly stupid, one of my favorite games begins. It’s called, “Not as bad as...”
Central Kansas, early January - as of this writing, Kansans are bracing for yet another Arctic blast - the third in as many weeks. It's been days since we've seen any significant melting, or seen the sun for that matter. The weatherman has said repeatedly this will be the coldest winter in 25 years. It seems we've entered perma-winter mode.
