News opinion 2008-07-20 Andanh.com

Urish Road — Going 'round Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:52:00 EST
Amid persistent complaints about the roundabout project at S.W. 21st Street and Urish Road, the situation at the intersection eight blocks south is a source of added concern.

Letter: Fire Hecht Sun, 20 Jul 2008 05:36:00 EST
I was enraged when I read the recent articles regarding the decision by Judge Matthew Dowd to, yet again, merely slap the wrist of a violent child rapist, Harold Spencer, and put him back on our streets to potentially offend again.

Speed limits — A Prudent change Sun, 20 Jul 2008 10:56:00 EST
The philosophy that led to increases in the speed limits on some of Topeka's busiest streets might strike some as allowing the inmates to run the asylum.

Letter: Better prosecutor Sun, 20 Jul 2008 05:36:00 EST
Through my experience of working with Robert Hecht, I strongly believe we need a new district attorney in office who will prosecute crimes, such as theft, vandalism and gang-related crimes and who will also strive to build a strong relationship with local law enforcement.

Letter: Experience is there Sun, 20 Jul 2008 05:35:00 EST
I feel compelled to write this letter in support of Republican Lynn Jenkins, who is a candidate for representative from our 2nd Congressional District.

Letter: Twisting the facts Sun, 20 Jul 2008 05:35:00 EST
The Ryun campaign must believe voters have short memories, or it wouldn't be airing the recent ad claiming that the former congressman was instrumental in securing BRAC money for Forts Riley and Leavenworth.

Letter: At odds with police Sun, 20 Jul 2008 05:34:00 EST
With the recent letters supporting District Attorney Robert Hecht, I must send a letter in dissent. From the first, Robert Hecht has had an adversarial relationship with the police.

Letter: A look at the facts Sun, 20 Jul 2008 05:34:00 EST
Was it intentional ignorance or just woeful ignorance of the facts when Jeremy Foster claimed in his letter published July 14 that we "plea bargained" the Harold Spencer case "to a much lower offense level on all counts"?

SO THEY SAID Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:40 CDT

"Proposing a tax rate reduction is a bad thing?"

-- Sedgwick County Manager Bill Buchanan, on skepticism about his proposal to scrap a jail expansion and cut the mill levy

"If they say 'jump' and you don't say 'How high?' I guess you're not with them."

-- Senate President Steve Morris, R-Hugoton, on how conservatives are targeting moderate GOP senators in the Aug. 5 primary

"Kathleen, do you want to answer that question?"

What would be budget priorities? Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:40 CDT

The Eagle editorial board will begin publishing its candidate recommendations for the 2008 primary elections later this week. But this year, instead of doing endorsements for state legislative races, we will be printing candidate responses to questions about key issues, such as their budget priorities.

Our purpose for doing endorsements is to provide readers with information that could help them make their own decisions about the candidates. We'll still be doing endorsements in other local, state and federal races. But we decided that for state legislative contests, it would be more helpful to voters to provide them with more information about the candidates' views.

--Phillip Brownlee, Opinion editor

The following are edited answers by area legislative candidates in contested primaries when asked about their top three state budget priorities. Read responses on other issues in today's Local & State section. To read responses by other candidates, go to The Eagle's online Election '08 Voter Guide at www.vote.kansas.com.

Kansas Senate District 16 GOP primary

THOMAS FRIEDMAN: U.S. ISN'T SPINELESS Sun, 20 Jul 2008 01:40 CDT

Much ink has been spilled lately decrying the decline in American popularity around the world under President Bush. Polls tell us how China is now more popular in Asia than America and how few Europeans say they identify with the United States.

I am sure there is truth to these polls. We should have done better in Iraq. An America that presides over Abu Ghraib, torture and Guantanamo Bay deserves a thumbs-down.

But America is not and never has been just about those things, which is why I also find some of these poll results self-indulgent, knee-jerk and borderline silly. A recent vote at the United Nations on Zimbabwe reminded me why.

Maybe Asians, Europeans, Latin Americans and Africans don't like a world of too much American power. But how would they like a world of too little American power? With America's overextended military and overextended banks, that is the world into which we may be heading.

Welcome to a world of too much Russian and Chinese power.

Chinese Dir