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Everywhere I turn, people are saying they will vote for the presidential candidate that "understands my needs" or "will do the most for me". Many national media pundits evaluate the candidates daily, if not hourly, by assessing who is promising the most to the most. One of those populist "show them someone who's hurting" reports (sigh) yesterday interviewed an over the road trucker who said his vote would go to the one who would lower his gasoline costs the most. Just think about that one a minute.

By Barbara Shelly, Kansas City Star editorial board

While all eyes were riveted to the spectacle of the Democratic candidates cutting each other down to size, George W. Bush quietly achieved a milestone.

The Bush White House has a hard time owning up to mistakes.

So it isn’t surprising that the administration says the infamous “Mission Accomplished” banner was problematic not because of its hubris, but because it lacked details.

Kansas City’s new fiscal year started Thursday. But it’s not too early to see whether city officials are carrying through with promises made to taxpayers in late March.

So far, so good.

The city staff recently prepared a “budget implementation work plan” that has promise. The worksheet includes budget-cutting goals.

Denise Tiller, Midwest Voices 2008

The new Missouri anti-abortion law is a travesty. It forces doctors to declare pregnant women who want abortion incompetent or face felony charges. Declaring anyone mentally incompetent is a gigantic legal step. It means they are unable to care for themselves or their families. A mentally incompetent person is unable to work or handle their finances. Are we going to institutionalize pregnant women and take away their children? That's what mentally incompetent means. If pregnancy is the cause of this incompetence, then pregnant women won't be able to work or raise their children.

Denise Tiller, Midwest Voices 2008

I was disturbed to read a report in the Star that half of kindergarten children in Kansas are not prepared for school. Readiness includes being able to follow instructions, recognize some letters, colors, and understand counting. They also need to know what a book is.