National Politics

By Barb Shelly, Kansas City Star editorial page columnist

"The Surge Has Worked."

As slogans go, it lacks the sizzle of "Shock and Awe" or "Mission Accomplished." But it's not bad.

By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

Stumbling around while looking for villains who caused $4-a-gallon gasoline, Congress has named its latest suspect: Speculators who allegedly have been driving up the cost of oil. Give me a break.

Dawn Meisenheimer Lewis, Midwest Voices Contributor 2007

Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback, a megachurch with much influence in many American evangelical churches, is moderating a debate between Barack Obama and John McCain.

By Ross Balano, Midwest Voices Columnist 2008

Further evidence of mainstream media bias in favor of Barack Obama surfaced today with news that The New York Times has rejected an editorial written by John McCain. This comes just one week after The Times printed one from Obama.

By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

It's fascinating to watch Barack Obama change his opinions on the U.S. troop surge in Iraq. Sure, politicians flip-flop all the time. But wasn't Obama supposed to be different? Especially on such a core issue as the War in Iraq?

By Barb Shelly, Kansas City Star editorial page columnist

Sorry to see Barack Obama's campaign deny a New Yorker writer up-close press credentials for the candidate's swing through the Middle East and Europe.

In March President Bush wrongly vetoed a law that would have banned any use of waterboarding. So while the C.I.A. says it has not used waterboarding since 2003, it remains an option.

By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

He's wrong. Again. John McCain repeated his call Thursday in Kansas City for a gas-tax holiday. It's a stupid idea that would disrupt road projects and give Big Oil another chance to sock it to consumers.

Next time you ask "the government" to do more for you, to provide more help to people who are hurting - people with "needs", ask yourself a few questions:

1. Would you still ask for that help if you had to ask your next door neighbor or your best friend to pay for it for you? Who really would pay for it? Where would the money come from if you couldn't use taxpayer dollars?

By Nick Mangiaracina, Kansas City Star Contributing Writer

With California becoming the second state to legalize gay marriage this May, and unlikely that it will outlaw it a few months later, this means that at the current rate gay marriage will be legal in the whole country by 2200. Though this seems like a long way off, it’s never too late to think about our great great great grandchildren. Well, provided none of them are gay.

By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

California residents can't seem to get enough of the gay marriage issue. Prediction: Coming soon to the nation's largest state -- a ban on such unions.

By Steven O'Hern, Reader Advisory Panel 2008

Jonathan Raban, a columnist for The Guardian argues that the presidential campaign has allowed Americans to turn away from Iraq, terrorism, and the fallout from 9/11. But, he asks, how long will the holiday last?

By Laura Scott, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

Many women were sorely disappointed when Hillary Clinton was forced to drop out of the presidential race.

But Barack Obama has a family member who can ease the pain.

By Roger Merryfield, Midwest Voices panelist 2008

Make no mistake, Sen. Barack Obama's substantive positions are what have the liberal nation in an uproar, not that he's "refining" his positions. After all, if he had changed his stance on Iraq to getting out even faster, we wouldn't be hearing any clamor about flip-flopping from the left.

By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

The New Yorker magazine has struck again. Its latest illustrated cover -- showing Barack Obama in Muslim garb and wife Michelle carrying a machine gun in the Oval Office -- is highly offensive. But it's right on target as a right-wing caricature of the couple.

By Linda Staten, Midwest Voices panelist 2008

Oooooh noooooh. I had a “Mr. Bill moment” recently when I opened the paper to yet another barb-fest sparked by the ongoing girl-fight between white feminists and feminists of color.

By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

Turns out Barack Obama can make mistakes, even in the eyes of his true believers on the Internet. Take his recent flip-flop on the federal surveillance law.

By Steven O'Hern, Reader Advisory Panel 2008

Congressional Quarterly is reporting that Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius is no longer denying that she is being vetted to be Barack Obama's running mate.

By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

Phil Gramm got it dead-on right when he said this week, "We have sort of become a nation of whiners." Turns out the top adviser to John McCain was speaking a truth the candidate didn't want to hear.

By Nick Mangiaracina, Kansas City Star Contributing Writer

From The Nation Magazine:

“This afternoon, President Bush signed the FISA Amendments Act of 2008, a piece of legislation that will needlessly expand the government's ability to spy on Americans and ensure that the country never learns the full extent of Bush's unlawful wiretapping . A few hours after Bush's signing, The Nation joined with the ACLU in a lawsuit filed in the US District Court (Southern District) of New York challenging the constitutionality of the Act.

Denise Tiller, Midwest Voices 2008

I'm sorry, I'm an actuary, and I'm prone to counting things. I just couldn't help but notice in the last 2 days Star writers have posted five negative Obama articles here. Two were pretty picky about his wife and kids and there an odd one about Jesse Jackson. Where are the real issues?

By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

Meeting with KC area women today, Michelle Obama said she told husband Obama "No way. Absolutely not," when he brought up running for president. But then what happened?

By Barb Shelly, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

Google “Kathleen Sebelius” these days and you’ll find a steady stream of analysis weighing the pros and cons of the Kansas governor as Barack Obama’s potential running mate.

Denise Tiller, Midwest Voices 2008

I could never be a Mormon for theological reasons but I truly admire them for practicing their convictions. They value their families by setting aside time for them, they help the needy and they send their kids on two year missions to help others.

By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

So Sen. Barack Obama quickly accepts Jesse Jackson's apology for the reverend's remarks that "Barack's been talking down to black people ... I want to cut his nuts off." What's wrong with this picture?

The presidential candidates are focusing on the economy this week, pushing plans that are designed to appeal to huge swaths of voters — from college students to Medicare recipients.
But what’s all this going to cost, and where will the money come from?

By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

How dumb is Barack Obama? Not in terms of actual intelligence, mind you, but in terms of media savvy? It appears "Access Hollywood," a tabloid-style TV show, has given us the answer.

By Yael T. Abouhalkah, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

Barack Obama is in trouble with his liberal base. How do we know? Because even the ultra-liberal New York Times editorial page and liberal black Times columnist Bob Herbert are outraged over Obama's recent swings away from liberal positions.

By Steve Winn, Kansas City Star Editorial Page columnist

Sen. John McCain has long battled the perception that he didn’t pay a lot of attention in economics class.

Unfortunately for the GOP, the economic plan he released this week isn’t “A” work either. Or “B” work.

By Roger Merryfield, Midwest Voices panelist 2008

Let's transform immigration into a plus rather than a drag on the economy.

First, return to a skills-based legal immigration system that welcomes into this country a sustainable number of the best and brightest from around the world.