OPINION
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Coming Wednesday, September 12...
Gentry: Mother Therea's crisis of faith can be a spiritual lesson to everyone.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
De Oliveira: Atrocities in South America reveal the dark side of American foreign policy.
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TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2007
BITSO'WISDOM
PAGE 5A
Early look: 2008 Republican presidential candidates
You've seen these men perform in the wake of tragedy and in "Law & Order," now a look closer at their qualifications.
The next presidential election is not for a little more than a year.
This is common knowledge. It will become a bit less common once the election is a little more than a month away, and most people have not registered to vote or even figured out which of the candidates they prefer. But why delve into that kind of cynicism just yet? The 2008 election promises to be either the best race in our country's history, or, at the very least, the most entertaining. Even now, with so much time before the polls open, the sideshow that is the world of presidential politics has already opened and started taking tickets. Before you go find out which scalper has the best seats for under 50 bucks, let us take a look at the acts that
have already been announced. This week, we will focus on the Republican Party.
The Grand Old Party is in an interesting position. George W. Bush, the man who proved that even presidents who can keep it in their pants can be prime fodder for Jay Leno, is unable to run again, what with those pesky term limits and all. That means the party must, for the first time in eight years, come up with somebody new, and the contenders who have emerged so far have been a fun little bunch.
The prime contender from the GOP so far appears to be Rudy Guiliani, the former mayor of New York City. This was the last public office he held.
and it was almost six years ago. A mayor probably seems like a poor choice to fill a position which is concerned with an entire nation, but it was New York
issue of him being knighted by the Queen of England following his handling of the aftermath of Sept. 11. Do we really want a British knight as our president? Is that even allowed?
Aside from Sir Rudy, Knight of Milking Tragedies for All They Are Worth and Then Some, the GOP has brought forth a few others. There is Mitt Romney,
a fairly cleansmelling former governor of Massachusetts, who has never appointed anybody questionable to his campaign team. Ever. Do you hear me? Never! Another hopeful
is Kansas Senator Sam Brownback, whose campaign has been bogged down by all the time spent wondering why the other members of the Republican Party keep patting him on the
head and saying, "Aww, you're so adorable, of course you can play Elections with us." Seemingly for fun, the GOP has also put forth Fred Thompson, who quit the Senate earlier this decade to act on "Law and Order," and Ron Paul, who last ran for President in 1988 as a member of the Libertarian Party. While considered an outsider, Paul does have the advantage of having cornered the pivotal college-students-who-spend-too-much-time-on-Facebook bloc.
Lastly, there is John McCain. Once the maverick of the Republican Party, the one most willing to step across party lines to accomplish his goals, and the one who criticized President Bush before it was cool, McCain has been reduced to the sad role of
Elder Statesman. The longtime Senator from Arizona was once a perennial contender, scrappy and talented, like the Phoenix Suns, but has lately become a sad picture of perpetually unfulfilled potential, more like the Arizona Cardinals.
There are a few others vying for the chance to run for President with an elephant as their mascot, but none are interesting enough to be made fun of in this small space. Stay tuned, as I will be running down the prominent Democrats in two weeks.
Cohen is a Topeka junior in journalism and English.
GUEST COLUMN
Still Remembering America's war on terror six years to the date.
STEVE JOHNSON
Six years ago today we witnessed the worst terrorist attack in American history as al Qaeda murdered more than 3,000 Americans. Following the courageous example of the 37 men and women of Flight 93 who stormed the cockpit of their hijacked airplane to save the White House and U.S. Capitol, President Bush ordered our fine military to strike Al-Qaeda with a vengeance. Osama bin Laden's war against America and freedom began in 1993 with the first World Trade Center bombing. Just as America and her allies faced down the evil of Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany and won, so America and her allies now face the evil of Osama bin Laden and his Al-Qaeda terrorists, but we too will win. The battle is long, but we are winning the war. We liberated Afghanistan from the tyranny of the Taliban and Iraq from Saddam the dictator. America has liberated over 59 million people from the chains of tyranny, as we relentlessly eradicate terrorism. We cannot fail and we will not fail. Our brave men and women in uniform are fighting heroically: To them, we say god-speed—America stands behind you, the torch of freedom ever bright atop the Statue of Liberty. We thank you for your sacrifices and pray for your safe return. We stand united as Americans to prevail in this war. As we remember our fellow Americans who died on Sept. 11, we will honor their memory by defeating terrorism with freedom.
Johnson is an Overland Park law student.
DRAWING BOARD
TEA AND CAKE, OR DEATH
"High School the Musical," seriously. A quick recounting of guilty pleasures, from listening to Shakira to shopping
I like to think of myself as a very serious and pragmatic person. But once in a great while I will say, think or do something that reminds me of how immature and infantile I can be. These reminders are my guilty pleasures. As a
nice diversion, I've decided to enumerate them.
For me, the first of my favorite pleasures that pops to mind is excessive shopping. Just envisioning
Being a rabid Democrat, one would think that my favorite political pundit would be, say, Bill Maher or James Carville. Incorrect. Rather, the one pundit that gets me all-a-ditty is Ann Coulter. Whenever I hear Sean Hannity announce that Ms.
Speaking of women, third on my dubious list of self indulgence is soaking up the fabulousness and beauty of sorority girls. I love it when they randomly come by my fraternity to say hi to whomever is present. They are just so darn clazy and fashionable, I can't help but gravitate towards them and discuss the latest episode of "Grey's Anatomy" or Nicole Richie's newest haircut.
myself walking around the Plaza in Kansas City sends my senses into euphoria. When I set foot in the Coach or Burberry store, I lose free rein over my hands, wallet and the contents therein. The mea culpa happens when I have to defend my bank statement to my accountant, also known as my mother. But enough of high-end accessories; I absolutely must move on to those joggers. My day instantly brightens when a perfectly sculpted (and shirtless) jogger enters my visage. Yes, I know this blatant ogling is gratuitous and objectifying, but it's high time that men face what women have been dealing with for centuries. Or at least that's what I keep telling myself.
Coulter will be making a guest appearance on that night's show, I swoohed. I love (almost) everything that she says and does, much to the
As most of my better friends know, I am unequivocally obsessed with news and politics.
chagrin of my liberal compatriots. In fact, buying Ann Coulter's book Slander was so much of a guilty pleasure, I practically had to hide the conservative tome from my mother. This may be a novel idea in today's liberal America, but I actually believe in the freedom of speech, even if it riles my feathers.
Moving on, who could make a list of all things silly and pleasurable without mentioning "High School Musical 27" I will admit that the choreography could have been instigated by a chimpanzee. Furthermore, Ashley Tisdale's acting won't ever be compared to Julia Roberts', but the songs are so catchy. In my defense, around 17.2 million people agreed with me as per recent TV Guide ratings. Finally, the guilty pleasure that rounds out my list is my adoration of foreign music. I'm not going to lie. I sometimes feel unpatriotic when I notice that most of my favorite singers either don't sing in English or hail from abroad. I am very adamant in my belief that British, Latin and Japanese music hasn't been tainted by talentless ex-models and actors masquerading as singers. They are genuine, bona fide musicians and singers. I will gladly take the superior lyrical and vocal prowess of Amy Winehouse
FREE FOR ALL: 864-0500 OR KANSAN.COM/FACEBOOK
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Thank you to the person who talked about the girl being possessed in the Pizza Street commercial, because every time I watch that commercial it's too much.
Free for All, I don't know what's more lame, the K-State power towel video or the fact that people want Dave Matthews Band on campus.
Free for All, we almost got kicked out of that- we almost got arrested.
Free for All, we almost got arrested at the hospital for cussing. Now you know, don't cuss or you'll get arrested.
Free for All, might I suggest, to whoever's in charge of the point incentives for the new Rock Chalk rewards, that KU Crocs not be an incentive for the twenty-five point value? Come on, that's just embarrassing. Nobody wants the KU Crocs. Just because the bookstore wants to get rid of them does not mean they should push them off
on us.
Doesn't it take two Big Jays to create a Baby Jay? This Just doesn't make sense to me.
I was just wondering if you are ever available, because every time I call you're never available.
I cannot accomplish what the University of Kansas football team has done on my Playstation 3. Can they stop scoring, please?
they stop scoring, please?
Dr. Free for All, I was just told that I contracted a STD from
swimming in Potter Lake. Is this a possible diagnosis?
There is no team on our schedule that deserves tearing down the goalpost if we win. No team.
Let me just say, straight up, that Watkins Health Center sucks. I'd rather go to the poor people clinic and hang out with crackheads.
GAVIN SNIDER
Today is Free Hug Day, and I just saw a couple making out. Hugs don't have tongues!
Nothing says "I'm unfriendly" like an iPod and sunglasses.
Hey Free for All, I don't have time for all your time wasting.
Don't forget to bring your power towel.
I kind of want to hook up with the Stephanie girl from the Wescoe beach commercial. Free for All, if you could hook that up for me, just let me know.
Not only does my Organic Chem Professor sound like Vince Vaugn, he's so badass he can relate chemistry rules to Fight Club rules.
I didn't think uggs were still cool, but maybe fashion magazines don't know what they are talking about, or maybe those who
still wear them aren't "in."
I was there at ground zero on September 11th, for a funeral ironically. I hate that day, and I hate myself. I don't even want to go to class tomorrow. None of you have any idea how bad it really was.
and Lily Allen over Beyonce and Christina Aguilera. I would be ecstatic if more rock bands sounded like The Bravery, Keane or The Stereophonics. Also, somehow the very Japanese Namie Amuro can sing R&B just as well as most American hip-hoppers. And how can you resist
I was in the Free-For-All!
that delectable Colombian Shakira as she whispers Spanish in your iPod earbuds?
TALK TO US
Williams is a Coffeyville junior in English and pre-law.
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Erick R. Schmidt, Eric Jorgensen,
Darla Silipe, Kelsey Hayes, Bryan
Dykman, Brandon T. Minister, Angellique
McNaughton and Benjamin R. Smith