Smith: Debate madness is over

The debates are over! The winner?

All of us!

Here’s hoping this way-too-long campaign madness is not the “new” (sub) standard for presidential elections.

This is a mold that needs to be broken.

And here’s hoping the institutional media from this day forward will be held to a higher standard of reporting the news in a fair and balanced way, with their editorial stance actually being limited to their editorial page.

■“The Wizard of Oz” is an all-time favorite for many of us, no matter how many times we have seen it over the years. It truly is a classic.

The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History — generally known as “The Smithsonian” in Washington, D.C. — is also a classic in my book.

When I heard the Smithsonian announce that it wanted to restore the luster to the almost 80-year-old, less-than-ruby red slippers that dutifully whisked Dorothy back to Kansas with three clicks, I thought, “Good for them!”

After all, they have been a very popular and beloved display at the museum for more than 30 years. No small — wait for it — “feet” for a place that also houses full-size airplanes hanging from the ceiling.

When I found out they are looking to raise $300,000 to return the ruby red slippers to their original glory, I was shocked, to say the least.

My second reaction was, heck, Frank’s Shoe Service on Old Woodward in Birmingham could do it for a lot less.

■I’m sure our great Detroit Zoo director Ron Kagan would not approve of Azalea, the pack-a-day cigarette smoking chimp, now featured at the Pyongyang, North Korea Zoo.

They say she doesn’t inhale.

“The Paul W. Smith Show” is on WJR-AM (760) from 5:30-9 a.m. Monday-Friday.