OPINION
5A
TUESDAY, JANUARY 29, 2008
THE UNIVERSITY HARRY KANSAN
COMMENTARY
Maintaining politi-geek
Kansans need to gear up for upcoming presidential caucuses
Everybody has his or her own odd little fascinations.
Some people religiously watch a TV program just because they know that it is so terrible it just has to be fun. Similarly, some people live and breathe by how a particular sports team is performing.
Now with me, I'm a geek for politics.
I paid close attention to all of the crazy goings-on of the early part of the campaign season last fall, as more and more random politicians decided that they wanted to be the next president.
Now that the primaries and caucuses have begun, I'm pretty excited.
And for the record, it was Wisconsin.
I've been keeping track of whom has done decently in what state, who could make a bigger impact by dropping out than by staying in and even trying to figure out where Duncan Hunter got enough votes to earn a single delegate.
In fact, I don't recommend it at all.
I may very well have been the only Democrat in Kansas who noticed that.
Now, I am not saying that everyone should become a politics geek.
Life gets sad and lonely when there isn't an election going on.
Before students get out to vote, here are some things to know about how the system works.
Still, now that Super Tuesday, that grand festival of primaries that only comes once every four years, is nigh, it's a good time for people to start feeling some of that spirit.
States can hold either primaries, which are simple ballot-box votes, or caucuses, which include elements of open forums before supporters of certain candidates gather in groups to cast their votes.
After the election in a state happens, the amount of votes a candidate gets will net them a certain number of delegates.
The candidate who has a simple majority of delegates by the end of the primary season is that party's candidate.
The Kansas Democratic Party caucuses on the aforementioned Super Tuesday, Feb. 5.
The Democratic side has featured a dogfight between Senators Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-III.). Former
caucus dates
See the news story on Page 1A for the Democratic and Republican caucus dates, times and locations.
Sen. John Edwards has stuck around, generally coming in a respectable third place, and he will probably stay in the race unless it becomes painfully obvious that he doesn't stand a chance at winning.
Beyond the top three, Mike Gravel is the only other Democratic hopeful still in the race, though MSNBC pundit Keith Olbermann incorrectly stated that Gravel had dropped out of the race after the Democratic caucus in Iowa.
The Republicans will cause in Kansas on Feb. 9. The GOP presidential race features a three-way battle among former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, Sen. John McCain of Arizona and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.
Huckabee was the dark horse coming into the Iowa caucuses, which kicked off the election season.
FROM THE DRAWING BOARD
But after a win there, and maybe a little help from appearances on "The Colbert Report," he has cooled down only a little bit and appears poised to have a continued impact on the race for the Republican nomination.
Also still in the race are former Libertarian-now-Republican candidate Ron Paul, a Representative from Texas who seems to relish the opportunity to go on major talk shows and bemoan the fact that the mainstream media don't pay attention to him, and former New York City mayor, Rudy Giuliani.
Giuliani was believed by many to be a potential front-runner going into the primaries, but his campaign appears to have stumbled, as very few people see being mayor of a big city as the only qualification somebody needs to run the United States of America.
I am counting down the hours until Super Tuesday when I can be herded into a large room to say that I want someone to be president.
Maybe you won't be quite so giddy, which is understandable, and probably healthy, but don't forget to make it out to your polling location next week.
Ben Cohen is a Topeka junior in political science and English.
You won't get to do it again for four years.
COMMENTARY
Parents should shield children from celebrities' bad influence
It's easy to see the appeal of a celebrity from a young and impressionable mind's standpoint.
One day in the near future, parenting may become a task to undertake, if it has not already.
We will have the responsibility to raise our children to be wholesome, good human beings. It's a heavy responsibility and is unpredictable to how they will turn out when they reach adulthood.
People praise celebrities for looking beautiful and elegant on the red carpet.
Although I am no Dr. Phil or some child-raising expert, I know one of my decisions that I will carry out, and I urge each one of you future parents to do as well: Do not let your kids find a role model in a celebrity.
I remember it like yesterday when Brittney Spears was first gaining fame, and all the little girls adopted her to be their role model (with the approval from the parents.)
They are making loads of money on movies, CD sales, tours or any other way that is making them richer.
They live in huge mansions that a small starving nation could reside in with swimming pools, basketball courts or any other ridiculous thing they could add to their lavish lifestyle.
They are dating models and beautiful actors or actresses. They are driving $300,000 Hummers and Lamborghinis.
Recently, however, fame does not seem to be all it is cracked up to be.
The list could go on.
The media are overwhelmed with the meltdown of celebrities.
After the death of Anna Nicole Smith, the mental breakdown of Britney Spears, the still-trying-to-sober-up Lindsay Lohan, the suicide attempt of Owen Wilson and many other celebrity problems, why would we want or encourage our children to have these people as their role models?
Even though I'm not trying to defame the aforementioned names, I'm only proving my point: They are human beings.
They are not perfect. They make mistakes. They have their own problems and should not be held up as role models.
For that matter, nobody should
be held up as role models, because we are all fallible human beings.
We don't want our children to grow up to be young alcoholics, pill poppers, a little insane or depressed, do we?
Children should be allowed to dream and to aspire, but society should not instill a specific role model for young people to look up to, but instead encourage them to practice certain values.
Teaching values could be done in a variety of ways; through religion, literature, customs, culture or many other possibilities.
A child could learn ethics from Superman or could learn morality from Jesus Christ. These values are important to teach as parents instead of being lazy and have them follow a celebrity.
Of course young Americans want to pursue being rich and famous, but we should let them develop a sound mind that is not distracted by the glamor of Hollywood.
I'm urging you future parents or current parents not to let your children become shallow reflections of the rich and the famous that are displayed so extravagantly in the media.
Jesse Brown is a Lee's Summit, Mo. junior in journalism.
KANSAN.COM
BLOG EXCERPTS
HURN BORN
HAWK BRED
Taking a bite out of Missouri. A bar fight allegedly left Stefhon Hannah, Missouri's leading scorer, with a broken jaw.
Travis Robinett
Brian Lewis-Jones
Relax to (or be frightened by) the beginnings of a short story about a clown named Emmett.
Tell yourself it's based on a true story.
Matt Lindberg
Sean Puff Daddy/P-Diddy/Diddy was misquoted.
He's in Sean John mode right now.
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"27 Dresses" made me realize how lonely I am.
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Is anyone else planning on being single and alone for Valentine's? Call me up, and we can have a pity party.
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It's the time of the season for LOVING!
Me being alone made me realize how lonely I am.
Speaking of being alone, I'm getting married August 2.
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To the person who sprayed silly string in the elevator of Hash. You're an idiot.
To the guy I just saw running around the track at the Rec wearing jeans and a polo shirt: What were you thinking?
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I fuckin' love Milano cookies.
I love being a girl with an opinion and the urge to speak up. The rest of you are too afraid. It's sad really. True sad.
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If you are a sketchy frat boy who sat in front of me in POLS 150, you should probably expand your vocabulary beyond the word "dude."
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Valentine's Day for single people translates into Random Hookup Day.
Why is this world made for right-handed people? Desks, notebooks, everything! Left-handed people exist, too!
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Damn! I broke a sweat on my way to class today. Fuck you, Louisiana Street, for ruining good weather.
Whenever I hear Jay-Z, I believe in God. When I hear SouJA boy, I believe in Satan.
There's nothing wrong with an occasional Soulja Boy song. And also when I hear "Big Pimpin", God is usually the first thing that pops into my head as well. Give me a break.
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