4A the university daily kansan
opinion
tuesday, february 17, 2004
DEMOCRATS IN DETAIL
Democratic presidential candidates uncovered
Today, Wisconsin will hold its Democratic primary. John Kerry remains the odds-on favorite with a majority of democratic voters favoring the Massachusetts senator, in Wisconsin and the nation.
COMMENTARY
Greg Holmquist opinion@kansan.com
Gallup polls last Monday gave Kerry a slight lead over Bush. The last incumbent
Yet Kerry remains far from certain. Bush's
to trail his opponent seven months prior to election was the never-elected Gerald Ford.
approval ratings are in perpetual decline, but they rose slightly after a less-than-impressive interview on Meet the Press, driving the Gallup poll to indicate a dead-heat between Bush and Kerry.
With Wesley Clark's departure and endorsement of Kerry, the frontrunner's nomination is virtually guaranteed.
And of course what's an election without sex? Matt Drudge of *Drudge Report* has begun throwing the i-word around, suggesting Kerry's involvement in "frantic behind-the-scenes drama surrounding a woman who recently fled the country." More sensationally, Clark, who endorsed Kerry this Friday, is rumored to have offhandedly mentioned Kerry's "intern problem" to a dozen reporters.
Still, Bush himself has hardly escaped criticism. Internal investigations have been amazingly unproductive in developing criticism, and the case of a leak that jeopardized a CIA operative has remained suspiciously cold. The mainstream media have picked up the story that liberal blogs have been shouting for four years about Bush's questionable whereabouts during his National Guard tour.
All of this, along with David Kay's testimony casting doubt upon the Bush administration's warnings of imminent danger, explicit or implied, has made the approaching election interesting.
Beneath all of these issues is a failing economy and a ballooning deficit. Rarely have men elected by such narrow and questionable margins ruled so boldly. Therein lies the strength and weakness of the Bush administration. The implications of this race will remain far beyond the next president. Despite the wellspring of support garnished on the Democrats in recent months, there remains a
Realizing the dangers of running on an unpopular war against a decorated vet.
eran, the Bush administration has been playing catch-up in an effort to divert attention, yet has recently only fanned the flames by releasing inconclusive evidence of Bush's whereabouts.
large contingent of those who have benefited under the Bush administration.
Bush has been the political answer to the Republicans' prayers. Even absent politics, the legacy of the Bush administration will live well beyond itself.
For many KU undergraduates this will be the first presidential election they are eligible to vote in.
Politics aren't just a hobby. This election
will affect you whether you voted or not.
Use the opportunity to affect it yourself.
Holmquist is a Topeka senior in business and psychology.
TOMORROW
The Kansan will publish a series about each of the Democratic candidates.
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I just saw Mo Rocca on VH1 wearing a Rock Chalk Jayhawk shirt, and that is the coolest thing ever.
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I am driving behind this car that has a bumper sticker that says "Smile your mom chose life." OK, so I will smile but if my mom hadn't chosen life I wouldn't know.
I wish City Council will do something about all of these pot holes out here. I am wrecking myself.
Is there a requirement for all law students to have a rolling backpack?
Why isn't patriotism cool anymore?
What happened? I say let's bring it back.
Tomorrow I am wearing a flag on my head and on my shirt, and I want everyone to follow me.
We got stood up by dorks on Valentine's Day and we enjoyed it.
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There is a clown walking around campus with pink hair. She is kind of silly looking but she has a cutture but.
Are you ever available? I never ever
get the Free For All available.
Sometimes making fun of people is just necessary.
EDITORIAL BOARD
Cornhuskers take name calling too far
During Kansas's loss to Nebraska Sunday, the most embarrassing image was not that of the Jayhawks' poor play.
For about five seconds of the game broadcast on ABC, the most resounding image was that of a fan-made sign that read "Rock Chalk Gayhawk."
For five seconds on national television, a friendly conference rivalry was tainted. This sign was undoubtedly in poor taste, but the fact that it was seen on national television only made it worse, sending a bigoted and offensive message to viewers.
Who was at fault? Nebraska is the first party that comes to mind.
KU event staff often confiscates signs it deems offensive or inappropriate. Why would Neb-
OURVIEW
Nebraska fans took their taunting too far when they criticized a group's lifestyle instead of the team's performance.
raska's Athletics Department allow a gay-bashing sign to remain in the stands?
ABC is also at fault. While cameramen are trained to find a sign and point the camera, the producer in the truck decides what
to air. To air a message so childish for the amount of time it was on television was downright unprofessional.
This is the sort of harassment that teams expect when they travel to the Hearnes Center to play Missouri, the blatant hatred and lack of taste that has become known thanks to the Antlers fan club. But Nebraska?
Nebraska and Kansas aren't even considered rivals, much less hated ones. There is a certain line that fans should not cross, and the Nebraska fans jumped over and rubbed their feet in the foul territory. Their event staff should take extra precautions to make
sure this doesn't happen again in the future.
Kansas fans, remember that one of the reasons Allen Fieldhouse is viewed as a Mecca for college basketball is because of the courtesy of its fans.
When Nebraska travels here for the basketball game on Saturday, Feb.28, show them the same respect and kindness that is shown for all other visiting basketball teams. Cheer like you know you are capable and take the higher road.
After all, it's one thing to yell about a team's weakness.
It's another to bash a group of people for their lifestyles.
ON POLITICS
'Exploring' Democrat's campaign exposes holes
All evidence now suggests that John Kerry will be the Democratic nominee for president this year. To begin, I would like to extend Kerry one piece of genuine credit: his record of military service to our country in Vietnam is commendable. He was undoubtedly brave and possessed of a sense of duty to volunteer for hazardous positions in that horrific war. That being said, some of his present rhetoric is downright offensive, and this Intend to explore.
As the Democratic candidate, expect to hear Kerry appeal to "ordinary Americans," apparently in contrast to the silver-spooned life of George W. Bush. Like most ordinary Americans, Kerry went to various boarding schools in New England and Europe before attending Yale University. Again, like most regular people, Kerry holds a legal degree. He married into the wealthy Heinz family. This made him rich to the tune of an estimated $600 million — again like most ordinary Americans, but you get the idea.
COMMENTARY
Now far be it from me to judge a man based on his privileged life. Many of us
Matt Pirotte
opinion@kansan.com
on this campus — including me — have benefited greatly from the circumstances into which we were born. But I reserve the right to take issue with a presidential candidate — including Bush who attempts to paint himself as having his finger on the pulse of the average American when, in fact, he does not. It is going to be a wonderful irony watching two Ivy-League millionaires duke it out for the hearts and minds of "middle America."
Some of Kerry's harshest rhetoric is against Bush's tax cut to the "wealthiest Americans." I would suggest that Kerry is skewing this issue. The fact is, Bush is
attempting to correct a wildly unfair tax system that, in effect, penalizes financial success. If you surf to the IRS Web site, www.irs.gov, you learn that in 2001 the top 1 percent of Americans were shouldering 34 percent of the total tax burden in America. If you extend it to the top 10 percent of taxpayers, they are carrying 65 percent of the total load. This top 10 percent does not represent only corporate fat cats in smoky board rooms across America. These are hardworking professionals and business owners and include a lot of our parents.
Of course, Kerry is also going after Bush for his approach to the war in Iraq. John, dude, you voted for the war. If Bush was so untrustworthy, you could have refused to vote to authorize the United States to go over there. If the war is suddenly wrong, the blood is on your hands as well as the president's.
You also might hear Kerry use the world "unilateral" and say that Bush failed to build an international coalition. Apparently the United Kingdom, Australia, Poland, Japan, Spain, Singapore, Jordan, Portugal, South Korea, Turkey
and others are meaningless allies. It would appear that a "coalition" means America plus German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, French President Jacques Chirac and United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
The Democratic platform for this election might look complex, but it isn't. Kerry is going to shriek about jobs as if Bush himself has been going around firing people. He will also complain about the war and the USA PATRIOT Act, both of which he voted for. He is going to attempt to initiate class warfare by decrying the tax cut and acting like all of the benefit went to the fabulously wealthy. Brace yourselves: it's going to be a nasty ride.
Pirotte is a Joplin, Mo., senior in history.
NEXTWEEK
Protte is a bi-weekly columnist. Check out this column next week for political commentary by Anna D. Gregory.
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Editorial Board Members
Kendall Dillen & Angela Farris & Unzera
Kendall Dix ▪ Amanda Flott Lynzee Ford
Laura Francoviglia ▪ Anna Gregory
Amy Hammontque ▪ Kelly Hollowell ▪ Teressa Lo
Stephanie Lovett ▪ Mindy Obarse
Greg Holmquist ▪ Ryan Scarrow ▪ Sara Behunsek
Kevin Flaherty ▪ Brandon Gay ▪ Zack Henwayn
Alex Hoffman ▪ Kevin Kampwilt « Amy Kelly »
Cameron Koelling « Courtney Kuhlen » Brandi
Matheasen ▪ Travis Metcalf « Mike Norris »
Jonathan Reeder ▪ Rinzie Riffey « Alex Smith »
Kevin Midderman