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Editorial: Civility? Yes, and no
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The reviews continue to come in from Thursday's vice presidential debate and, surprisingly, many found the faceoff entertaining. We found it nearly unwatchable. There was nothing solemn or dignified in the rolled eyes, smirks and derisive laughter that characterized this combative "conversation" between Barack Obama's Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, Mitt Romney's GOP runningmate. One of these guys is a heartbeat away from the presidency and the other one wants to be. We couldn't help but wonder what high school debate coaches are telling their teams in the wake of an exchange that seemed more like a verbal playground brawl -- "So's your old man!" -- than a dignified discussion of the issues. Civility? Ha! Fortunately for voters in the 17th Congressional District, that too-often-elusive commodity was on display Thursday when U.S. Rep. Bobby Schilling, R-Colona, and his Democrat opponent, Cheri Bustos, faced off in a substantive and civil debate on WQAD. The meeting, which we were proud to co-sponsor, highlighted the differences between the two candidates, both of whom conducted themselves with the dignity befitting a member of Congress. Big deal, you say? Apparently, as the veep debate showed, it is. Chances are this vice presidential debate will end up with other such faceoffs -- consigned to the ashcan of history. Though past VP debates have ocassionally produced memorial lines -- "Senator, I served with Jack Kennedy. I knew Jack Kennedy. Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy," Lloyd Bentsen to Dan Quayle -- they have had little impact on the outcome of presidential campaigns. For example, though that line lives on, the Dukakis-Bentsen ticket was destroyed in an electoral landslide. Fortunately, the flurry of exchanges between Mr. Ryan and Mr. Biden seem unlikely to stand the test of time But the real concern is the damage done to our ever-coarsening political debate. 
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Moline, IL Details |
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Today is Thursday, May 23, the 143rd day of 2013. There are 222 days left in the year.
1863 — 150 years ago: Messrs. J. and M. Rosenfield have moved their leather and hidestore to the building formerly occupied by Temple Bufords's store. They buy and sellhides, pelts, furs, wool, beeswax, lard, tallow, etc.
1888 -- 125 years ago: The Rock Island Lumber Company has recovered 5,000 of the8,000 logs that were carried away by the Mississippi River flood last week.
1913 -- 100 years ago: John J. Ullemeyer has been awarded the contract to furnish RockIsland fire and police department members with uniforms, at the city's expense.
1938 -- 75 years ago: Work on Aledo's new $38,000 swimming pool was started thismorning at South Park when ground for the pool was broken by Mayor John W. Murphy.
1963 -- 50 years ago: Students and teacher at Moline High School called today "MissLeona Day" day at the school in honor of the government teacher who retires at theend of the school term. Although she's been teaching for 43 years at the school, Miss Dayfound a new way of arriving at the school this morning. At 7:30 a.m., a police squad carpulled up in front of Miss Day's home and escorted her to school. A caravan of students' cars joined the procession along the way.
1988 -- 25 years ago: Barbecue cooking and riverfront antics are planned for Discover the
River Day Saturday in Leach Park, Bettendorf. A 5K run, wind surfing, a canoe race, hogcalling and more will round out the day under the Interstate 74 bridge.
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