Opinion Line Extra (Sept. 18)

Remember on Oct. 30, 2008, when candidate Barack Obama said, “We are five days away from fundamentally transforming the United States of America”? Wow, he wasn’t kidding, huh?

If President Obama is the “reluctant warrior,” then what do the media think is the opposite – warmonger?

Obama began a speech announcing America’s return to war in Iraq by celebrating his withdrawal of combat troops from that country. Would he have us believe that the two events are unrelated?

Greg Orman, an independent candidate for the U.S. Senate, refuses to say whether he will caucus with the Democrats or Republicans. He plans to see which party controls the Senate before making his decision. Another opportunist looking to feather his own nest, just like the rest of them.

Whenever I hear Sen. Pat Roberts make a speech, I start a tally of each lie and half truth. Next thing I know, the first page is full and he’s not even halfway through his allotted time.

When Kris Kobach was 10, did he like to get into fights on the playground and sit on the other kid, going, “I’m not letting you up until you declare yourself incapable”?

Gov. Sam Brownback claims a Midas touch with his tax plan for Kansas. What we really have is a Medusa, and the economy is falling like a stone.

Brownback is forcing teachers’ compensation to stagnate while salaries of other professionals increase. Low pay will eventually drive all the quality teachers to other professions and end any chance of our children receiving the education they both need and deserve.

I support drug tests and work-for-benefits ideas for welfare and unemployment. I’ve seen firsthand how people can fraudulently abuse the system with no intention of bettering their situation, and that really chaps me.

If GM or Boeing, like the NFL, had a highly visible employee involved in domestic violence or child abuse, would the company require him to take time off without pay? Would the CEO be fired if he neglected to discipline the offending employee? Perhaps these matters are better handled by law enforcement.

Without intent to demean the man’s effort or his success, I must say that there is something really wrong with this country when one man can win $13 million in a few weeks playing golf and thousands are struggling to make ends meet.

Finally Leonard Pitts said something I can agree with. The first thing in his column (Sept. 15 Opinion) was, “Can we please cut the crap?” I totally agree. Let’s start with his column.

Levi Strauss is making a stretch denim that mimics sweatpants. I sure hope they do not look like sweats in the seat section, as sweats appear to be supporting a lumpy load.

This story was originally published September 17, 2014 at 7:04 PM with the headline "Opinion Line Extra (Sept. 18)."