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State Debate: Lies about Obama a new low
An 8/28 roundup of editorials in state papers
Lies about Obama a new low, says the Appleton Post-Crescent.
The 2008 presidential election hinges on matters of great import for millions of Americans -- the economy, the Iraq war, health care and the growing energy crisis.
However, with the ubiquitous TV ads and Internet blogs supporting -- and attacking -- each candidate, it's easy for voters to get swept up in personality traits and "gotcha" campaign tactics.
Amazingly, the Internet is rife with sites promoting the possibility that Barack Obama is the Antichrist, according to certain passages from Revelation and other books of the Bible.
It is frightening that any Americans in the year 2008 could actually buy into such absurdity. Punch "Obama" and "Antichrist" into Google, and you'll find more than 1.1 million results. Some are bloggers making jokes of this bit of fiction but there also are some who obviously take the vicious accusation as fact.
Distortions of the truth are troubling. Outright lies of this magnitude invoke fear for both the immediate and long-term future of this nation.
Colleges are good places to teach sensible drinking, says the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram.
More than 100 college presidents seek a national discussion on the drinking age. Why not? The current law is routinely broken; maybe someone can come up with a better idea.
We should first define what we want to prevent: young people drinking too much too often, which ultimately leads to many bad outcomes (suicides, sexual assaults, unprotected sex, poor grades). And we want to prevent young people -- and all people -- from drinking to excess and driving.
Why not try tying a younger drinking age to responsible drinking? Maybe one of the college presidents could be allowed to run a pilot program where students could go to the student union on Friday or Saturday night to listen to music. A scanner could record each student's drink purchase, allowing him or her to buy no more than one drink every 45 minutes, up to a maximum of four. That's four drinks in three hours -- and no shots. The students get to drink and socialize without the risk of getting busted, and maybe they'll learn to drink responsibly.
New era begins for area Catholics, notes the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
For the many Catholics in northeastern Wisconsin, a new era begins today as David Ricken is installed as the bishop of Green Bay. For the past eight years, Ricken has served that role for the Diocese of Wyoming, in the Rocky Mountain territory where he has spent most of his life.
Installation as bishop in the relative flatlands is likely a culture shock to this gentle man with a knack for ventriloquism and celebrity impressions.
The past few years have seen consolidations of parishes and Catholic school closings and mergers throughout the diocese. There will be no lack of challenges for Ricken. We wish him well and add our welcome.
Now, then, about this devotion to the Denver Broncos ...
Len Bias drug law should be broadened, says the Oshkosh Northwestern.
If a substance is illegal to distribute and it kills the person who takes it, a door should open to homicide charges against the distributor.
It's time for a serious examination of expanding the Len Bias law, named after an NBA prospect who died 22 years ago from a cocaine overdose, to include a new generation of dangerous drugs and medications easily perverted into killers.
Cocaine, heroin, ecstasy and even marijuana fall within a category of drugs that trigger homicide charges when the substances result in the death of the recipient. But peddlers of any drug that doesn't fit into the "schedule I or II" category don't face the harshest music.
The mother of a 35-year-old Oshkosh man who died after taking the medication Suboxone figured the 23-year-old man who supplied her son the drug would face homicide charges. But Suboxone is a schedule III drug, not chargeable under Len Bias.
- It's 3 a.m., Hillary's on the phone
- Should the bus fare be increased from $1.50 to $2?
- Democrats put Main Streeters in charge of Assembly
- State Debate: Tie auto bailout to recovery plan
- Reversing bias against gays
- State debate: Medical marijuana should be considered in Wisconsin, the Green Bay Press Gazette says
