As New Hampshire goes, etc.(Commentary)(Editorials)

The Manchester Union Leader thinks that Sen. Bob Smith has what it takes to be president: "The man is a principled conservative, a patriot and a man of uncompromising integrity." Wow! But wait a minute. For all these warm, cuddly kudos, the newspaper doesn't want Mr. Smith to be president. At least the Union Leader doesn't want him to run.

The paper is worried, you see, that Mr. Smith, being New Hampshire's favorite son, will make the first-in-the-nation primary a moot point. "A Smith candidacy would pretty much drive a stake through the heart of the GOP primary in the Granite State." Other candidates would write New Hampshire off, letting the air out of the state's quadrennial balloon economy. The state would lose influence - not to mention the Union Leader losing influence. "A Smith candidacy would damage, perhaps fatally, the New Hampshire primary," according to the paper's editorial. "And so, in view of all this, we would urge Sen. Smith to think long and hard about the potential consequences of his candidacy and do what is best for New Hampshire."

And no doubt what's best for the Union Leader. But really, isn't the logical conclusion of the Union Leader's editorial that the paper doesn't think anyone from New Hampshire should ever be president?

* SYMPATHY IN LEESBURG: Courtney Mulherin, who is three years old, has a potentially life-threatening problem: She is severely allergic to dairy products. Should she ingest even a trace amount, she is at risk of death.

Her parents have clearly agonized over the problem, especially the matter of Courtney's interaction with other kids. As anyone who has ever seen two or more 3-year-olds in action knows, one kid's snack is apt to become another kid's snack before an adult can say "boo."

The folks at the Ida Lee Recreational Center, which is run by the city of Leesburg, Va., came up with a pretty good solution to cope with Courtney's problems and allow her to attend pre-school there. They distributed detailed instructions to all the parents of kids in Courtney's class on what kinds of snacks the kids could bring from home. Rule No. 1: No dairy products. Rule No. 2: Take care to wipe off surfaces that may have come into contact with dairy products before preparing your child's lunch.

For some reason, though, these precautions all seem like too darn much bother to some of the parents at the center. A couple parents have withheld part of their payment in protest. Here, as reported by the Associated Press, are the charming views of Kate Davine, whose son goes to the center: "I'm trying to find it in my heart to feel sorry for the little girl. But I don't think Ida Lee has been up front with us. And I do think some of it is unreasonable."

Here's hoping Ms. Davine's life is and remains perfect, since her hard-hearted views don't exactly invite sympathy, either.

As New Hampshire goes, etc.(Commentary)(Editorials)

The Manchester Union Leader thinks that Sen. Bob Smith has what it takes to be president: "The man is a principled conservative, a patriot and a man of uncompromising integrity." Wow! But wait a minute. For all these warm, cuddly kudos, the newspaper doesn't want Mr. Smith to be president. At least the Union Leader doesn't want him to run.

The paper is worried, you see, that Mr. Smith, being New Hampshire's favorite son, will make the first-in-the-nation primary a moot point. "A Smith candidacy would pretty much drive a stake through the heart of the GOP primary in the Granite State." Other candidates would write New Hampshire off, letting the air out of the state's quadrennial balloon economy. The state would lose influence - not to mention the Union Leader losing influence. "A Smith candidacy would damage, perhaps fatally, the New Hampshire primary," according to the paper's editorial. "And so, in view of all this, we would urge Sen. Smith to think long and hard about the potential consequences of his candidacy and do what is best for New Hampshire."

And no doubt what's best for the Union Leader. But really, isn't the logical conclusion of the Union Leader's editorial that the paper doesn't think anyone from New Hampshire should ever be president?

* SYMPATHY IN LEESBURG: Courtney Mulherin, who is three years old, has a potentially life-threatening problem: She is severely allergic to dairy products. Should she ingest even a trace amount, she is at risk of death.

Her parents have clearly agonized over the problem, especially the matter of Courtney's interaction with other kids. As anyone who has ever seen two or more 3-year-olds in action knows, one kid's snack is apt to become another kid's snack before an adult can say "boo."

The folks at the Ida Lee Recreational Center, which is run by the city of Leesburg, Va., came up with a pretty good solution to cope with Courtney's problems and allow her to attend pre-school there. They distributed detailed instructions to all the parents of kids in Courtney's class on what kinds of snacks the kids could bring from home. Rule No. 1: No dairy products. Rule No. 2: Take care to wipe off surfaces that may have come into contact with dairy products before preparing your child's lunch.

For some reason, though, these precautions all seem like too darn much bother to some of the parents at the center. A couple parents have withheld part of their payment in protest. Here, as reported by the Associated Press, are the charming views of Kate Davine, whose son goes to the center: "I'm trying to find it in my heart to feel sorry for the little girl. But I don't think Ida Lee has been up front with us. And I do think some of it is unreasonable."

Here's hoping Ms. Davine's life is and remains perfect, since her hard-hearted views don't exactly invite sympathy, either.