KC Buzz Blog

Edwards, in KC, on Iraq

   Former Sen. John Edwards, speaking to The Star's Steve Kraske on Iraq:
   E: I would draw down 40-50,000 troops immediately and continue that process over the next 12-plus months, get our combat troops out of Iraq.
   K: But the administration says setting just tells the insurgents they have to persevere only that long 
    E: I think the flip side is true. What Bush has been doing is enabling the bad behavior of the Shiite-Malaki-led government and the Sunni leadership. The result is there’s been no serious effort for political reconciliation. There can’t be peace and stability in Iraq without a political reconciliation. That’s the problem in Iraq. Congress should not be funding an escalation in this war. Congress has the power to stop it. And we should do more than just pass non-binding resolutions.
   K: Critics say if you pull out, you’re inviting Iran in.
   E: We need to be engaged with the Iranians directly. The Iranians, hostile as they are in many ways to us, they have an interest in stability in Iraq. They won’t want a million-plus refugees coming across their western border. They are a Shiite country. It’s a Sunni-dominated Muslim world. They are very much in the minority. That means if the conflict were to go completely south and spread out outside the borders of Iraq, they’re in the minority, they’re in a very dangerous place.

Posted by Steve Kraske

Edwards: Raising taxes for health care won't kill me

   Raising taxes to fund a universal health care plan isn't political suicide, John Edwards said today.

   "No, I think it's called telling the truth," the Democratic presidential contender said in Kansas City.

  Edwards, who stopped here for just a few hours to raise campaign money at the Mission Hills home of a lawyer, Tom Jones, unveiled a national health-care plan this week.

  One component of that plan: repealing the Bush tax cuts on the wealthiest Americans who earn more than $200,000 a year.

  "What I believe is that we have a dysfunctional health care system," he told Buzz Blog in an interview. "We have to repair our health care system, make health care more efficient, more affordable to cover the 47 million people who don't have coverage.

  "All those things aren't free."

  More in Thursday's Star.

Posted by Steve Kraske

Gulp! Is this the kind of endorsement Sam wants?

   When it comes to the Republican race for the White House, Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback is a personal favorite of a well-known Republican.

   The problem is Brownback is a personal favorite, along with former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, of former Majority Leader Tom Delay. Delay offers his thoughts on the two and the Republican nomination contest in an interview with The Hill.

   Delay resigned his seat in the House last year after he was indicted in a campaign finance case. The Democrats picked up Delay's seat in the November election as they re-took control of the House.

Posted by DeAnn Smith

Hail to Barack Hussein, whoops, the Messiah

   Having the the dreaded middle name of Hussein (thankfully Adolf wasn't considered) seems to have been the only stumble facing Illinois Sen. Barack Obama. The press (except for those at the Fox News channel, of course) are falling all over themselves to christen Obama the candidate to beat in the Democratic primaries. He's getting rock-star receptions on the campaign trail (including here in Kansas City last fall).

   So it should come as no surprise that Slate.com has done the only respectful thing for an investigative online outlet. They've created a Messiah watch page, seeking proof that Obama can literally walk on water.  And already it's done an incredible service to its readers. Who knew Obama's nickname was Barry? Move over Barry Williams. You're no longer the cutest, cleanest Barry of the bunch.

Posted by DeAnn Smith and Jason Noble

An under card death match between Sam and the Huck

   The Washington correspondent for the Christian Broadcast Network (you know, the network with a guy who knows a thing or two about Iowa caucuses and the religious right) offers his thoughts on Sen. Sam Brownback's presidential prospects. And he also offers a tidbit from a prominent evangelical leader.

   And they see Brownback's biggest competition coming from former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

   Of course, Brownback also has going for him that he doesn't have to face back home what Gov. Pet. Tee has to endure (and Slick Willie before him).  And that would be scathing columnists airing their dirty linen in public.

Posted by DeAnn Smith

A story to make Bill Clinton break out in cold sweats

  By Italian standards, former President Bill Clinton should consider himself lucky his wife, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton, only joked about her experiences with "evil and bad men."

   Talk about needing a spew alert over your morning latte. A former Italian prime minister got to read in his least-favorite newspaper an open letter from his wife berating him for his flirting and public marriage proposals to other women. She then laid down the gauntlet. She demanded a public apology, since he didn't see fit to give her a private one. 

   Mamma Mia! What is a philandering politician to do?

   It's almost Cupid's Day so apparently the best recourse was to write his own public Valentine, which included begging for her forgiveness and in closing offering a huge kiss. The New York Times writes up all the juicy details.

Posted by DeAnn Smith  

Biden's mouth strikes again

    It was supposed to be Sen. Joe Biden's big day announcing his presidential run. Instead, he had to explain calling Sen. Barack Obama “the first mainstream African-American who is articulate and bright and clean and a nice-looking guy.” Here's The Caucus' take.

Posted by Keith Chrostowski

N.C. reporter trashes journalism to El Rushbo

    A nervous North Carolina reporter called into Rush Limbaugh's show this morning to correct the location of presidential candidate John Edwards' palatial boondocks retreat (Chatham County, not another county as Limbaugh said) and offer his thoughts on Edwards' presidential candidacy.

   "I am really frightened," the reporter said about the notion that the former North Carolina senator might get elected president. The reporter and Limbaugh also talked about how Edwards is a "hypocrite" for talking about "two Americas" while living it up as a multimillionaire.

  Limbaugh teased the reporter that he had never heard a caller sounding so scared on the air before.

  The reporter said he is too nervous to admit in his newsroom that he's a Republican, but then said he shouldn't have to worry about anyone hearing his call and getting into trouble with his bosses because those liberal "drive by media" don't listen to Limbaugh.

  The reporter and Limbaugh joked about their conversation winding up public on Poytner or some "think tank." Limbaugh joked the headline would be "reporter trashes journalism" on Limbaugh's show.

  No, that wouldn't be Poynter. That would be the KC Buzz Blog. That's KC as in Kansas City, Mr. Limbaugh. We're sure you remember fondly your old stomping grounds, which are very snowy today. 

Posted by DeAnn Smith

Reality sets in for Kerry

    John Kerry, the senator from Massachusetts, was one of the first to bolt last night (seemingly as President Bush was saying "God Bless.") And now he's bolting from the 2008 presidential contenders.

   Media sources are reporting that the unsuccessful 2004 Democratic nominee won't try for a second time. And that's no joke.

   Posted by DeAnn Smith

The style of presidential candidacy announcements

   The Washington Post offers a look at the substance and style of presidential candidates' announcements. Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback is noted for kicking his campaign off old-school style while New York Sen. Hillary Clinton wins the cutting-edge style contest.

Posted by DeAnn Smith