The Thred from which this was lifted is "closed" " If a kid breaks the law his parents should be arrested and given the same penalties the kid gets. Read more: http://blogs.kansascity.com/unfettered_letters/2010/04/caving-in-to-youths.html#comments#ixzz0mGe1czSX Brilliant. There are plenty of parents that do the right thing, only to have the kid go bad. Keekee you have out done yourself.

Patti is correct in many ways, except in the real world, many parents don't parent as she and her husband. That's when the village must step in. I'm not saying that I have the solution, but we must be realistic.

Mark hasn't been this delusional since he pronounced Trey Hillman is the perfect manager for the Royals.

A few unemployment rate facts. When George W. Bush took office the UR was 4.2%. When he left office the rate was 7.7%. Under Obama, 15 months later, the rate is 9.7%. When the sainted Ronald Reagan took office the rate was 7.5% and fifteen months later it was 9.3%. The similarity of Obama's numbers compared to Reagan is quite remarkable. http://www.economagic.com/em-cgi/data.exe/feddal/ru "Once unemployment gets well below the promised 8% rate." Who made that promise? "The President did not take the opportunity to go to every foreign stage and apologize for our very existence eight years ago." Can you provide one specific example of Obama doing this?

No surprises. Not a single straight answer. BTW, I'm a Republican. Not sure if he is GOP, but certainly conservative...George Will on the subject..." Will, after shaking his head, replied, "I don't think there's a scintilla of racism in what Harry Reid said. At long last, Harry Reid has said something that no one can disagree with, and he gets in trouble for it." http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2010/01/10/george-will-liz-cheney-spar-over-harry-reid-racism

"It’s that when he defines who is “acceptable” to hold the highest office in the land, Reid implies who is “unacceptable” – dark-skinned African-Americans and those who speak with a “Negro dialect”. Kate, it's not that your missing the point, you're just not reading the quote. Here it is... "the US would be “ready to embrace a black presidential candidate, especially one such as Obama – a 'light-skinned' African American 'with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one.’ ” He's talking about the U.S., not Harry Reid.

Allow me to ask further questions. "It was far better than what she received and she got exactly what I expected from others." What was not straightforward in my response? When have I ever not responded in a direct manner when asked? Please reach into your files. Can I get some examples of the "double standard"? Maybe not in this forum, but much has been made of the Trent Lott/Strom Thurman quote. I'm not sure if he should have resigned as majority leader, but the man wished that a segregationist party would won a post WWII election. Just how does that compare with Reid implying that America is still racist?

"Once you ignore our political reality of a double standard you’d be amazed at the amount of logic jumping, mumbo jumbo used to “define” what Reid really said or meant." I don't have to "define" anything that Reid said or meant. It's perfectly clear if you take the time to read the statement. "as saying privately that the US would be “ready to embrace a black presidential candidate, especially one such as Obama – a 'light-skinned' African American 'with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one.’ ” "Boyce Watkins, a professor of finance and social commentator at Syracuse University, doesn’t see Reid’s statement as a matter of individual racism, but as a calculation of political fact. Reid “wasn't necessarily giving his own opinion. Rather, he was giving his assessment of the preferences of the American public,” writes Dr. Watkins on the website, theGrio. http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0110/Harry-Reid-racist-or-political-realist "That was four hours before tomw’s post" "That was nine hours before tomw’s post " Didn't read either one. I'll ask again. What did Reid say that was racist or bigoted? I won't hold my breath waiting for an answer. I'm sure you don't care what I think, but try making a real point once in awhile.

Reid did not express a preference for light skinned blacks, but rather what he believed to be the preference of the American electorate. "He was wowed by Obama’s oratorical gifts and believed that the country was ready to embrace a black presidential candidate, especially one such as Obama — a “light-skinned” African American “with no Negro dialect, unless he wanted to have one,” as he said privately." Studies back him up. "In 2006, the University of Georgia found that, all other things being equal, light-skinned people were more likely to get hired for jobs over dark-skinned people. It was worse for the men." http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_4_63/ai_n24246405/ http://www.black-collegian.com/news/bcwire/bcwire_colorism_0607.htm Most people, including myself, make judgements based on the speech of others. "One might also interpret the "unless he wants to" part as implying that Obama is a fraud" One might also recognize that many people change speech patterns depending on what group they are with. "I've disliked the man since he declared the war lost while our troops massed for battle." I'd say you were late to the game. There are many reasons to dislike Reid, but this is not one. Unless you just dislike the truth.

Kate-thanks for the straightforward response. Far better than received, or expected, from others. However, you have yet to explain what was bigoted. What, exactly,is the prejudice?

The letter writer was correct in stating that Reid made racial comments, but those that claim the comments were racist or bigoted are wrong. Frank and blunt commentary on the electorate and possibly "politically incorrect", but not racist. I'm anxious to hear what aspect(s) of the comments could be considerd racist.

Perhaps the KKK trifecta, keekee, Kate and Kevin could point out the section of the Constitution that excludes foreigners, especially Nigerians, from protection.

"It has been declared Joe,..." When? "Republicans spouted that “all the Taliban has to do now is to find the resolve to hold out two more years and they have victory!” " Good point. What happens when the Taliban lies low. Afghanistan is rebuilt and effective government finally takes place. The only reason the Taliban was able to grasp power was because of a void of any stability after the Soviets left Thanks 41.

Those of us with a great deal scientific background and considerable historical perspective understand that people like Michael Kerner refuse to look at the real evidence. Climate cycles do nothing to disprove evidence of warming. Just because one event caused weather changes does not mean a different set of conditions cannot bring change. Once again, I ask how does Mr. Kerner know we have experienced centuries of warming? How do others of like mind know we had an "ice age" followed by warming?

The letter writer should realize that Gov. Palin is a walking contradiction. She is the heroine of the right wing of the Republican party, but her actions are in stark contast of what they espouse. Personal responsibility? Palin blames the media and the McCain campaign for her own failings. The value of hard work and perseverence. Palin's a quitter. Family values? Who has taken care of the family and especially Trig? From the time he was born until July of this year, both parents worked at least one job. Sara Palin claimed that she would be a voice for parents of children with special needs. Is there any evidence that the Palins have anything to take the necessary steps to improve the life of their son with Down Syndrome?

Mr. Audsley has an odd interpretation of the calendar. Congress has been actively debating health care reform for six months, but Obama has been deliberating Afghan stategy for three. Contrast the previous administration's handling of strategy shift in Iraq. In the fall of 2004, anyone who was paying attention knew that staying the course was not a sound position on the Iraq war. President Bush made a course change a full two years later.

How come Mr. Burright didn't share his solution? The quagmires Obama inherited didn't leave many good options. "The U.S. military can send only about 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan in the next three months without putting excessive strains on the Army and Marine Corps. But the top Afghanistan commander has said he needs more than twice that number to have the best chance of success, military and administration officials told McClatchy. Army Gen. Stanley McChrystal has said that even if the U.S. sent 30,000 additional troops, it would risk failure in Afghanistan under the current strategy." http://www.kansascity.com/news/world/story/1514322.html

"Well how do you know it didn't?" Never said it didn't. I'm curios how the letter writer knows that it did. Feel free to answer for Mr. Batliner if you would like. "So if some deadbeat lawyer says it's so, it is?" Huh??

"I'm trying to figure out if Tommy has a point or if he's just typing for his own edification." Must have struck a nerve, considering you responded to every point I made and even those I didn't.

keekee, you might try an accurate quote. "And as a matter of fact, much of the funding is through private donations." "Programs offering Parents as Teachers services are supported by a wide range of funding sources including state, local and federal government agencies, private foundations and corporate supporters. Historically, programs offering Parents as Teachers services receive the majority of their support from public funds." http://www.parentsasteachers.org/atf/cf/%7B00812ECA-A71B-4C2C-8FF3-8F16A5742EEA%7D/Guide%20to%20Public%20Funding_sm.pdf

Gee Smarter, you could have just read the letter and figured out that Ms. Sherman is probably a Democrat. $250 can buy a lot of influence. "In twelve months you can regale us with stories of how you met with someone who USED to be a representative." Sorry, but 12 months from now Dennis Moore is still a U.S. Rep. Try a math class.

'We have six men in jail locally for alleged sex crimes on ONLY the word of two women who waited 15 years to talk.' Not quite... "The case broke when another woman, 26, came forward in August. Other alleged victims have since supported her stories of mock weddings and sexual assaults." http://www.kansascity.com/637/story/1568708.html Ken you sound a little bitter. there's another on this blog who might be a good partner for a support group.

"However, the program you speak of is not "free". We pay for it every April 15th." Next time, you might consider reading the letter. "It is nice to see tax dollars well spent toward both the parents and future generations of this great country."-Mike and Danielle Curley " Parenting is not the government's responsibility it is yours." The program has nothing to do with the government parenting. It's a tremendous program that utilizes other parents as mentors. And as a matter of fact, much of the funding is through private donations.

"Your efforts to "nanny state" this country to death will fail, Nurse Poindexter." I don't see where the letter writer said anything remotely similar to what Zesto claims. Gee, a health professional making suggestions on how to maintain good health. How sinister! "Those high profits have now disappeared thanks to people like Poindexter and their meddling.' And exactly where does the letter writer meddle? Afraid for your job Junglejack? "Really? I'd call a specialized tax taking away a choice from some people." Are you calling for a repeal of taxes on alcoholic beverages? "People drop dead everyday that eat the "perfect' diet, exercise and live the defined perfect lifestyle." Shall we refrain from insisting that our children not walk down the middle of a busy street?

"Thousands of years ago the Earth was warm. Then it got cold (the Ice Age)." The above is indeed a factual statement, but this... "Simple inconvenient proof is the following:" ...is ridiculous logic. It's comparable to saying that since soldiers died many years before Nidal Hasan was born, he could not have killed the soldiers at Ft. Hood. And how does Mr. Batliner know the Ice Age existed?