A bad day for moderates - and for Kansas
Gov. Sam Brownback got what he wanted Tuesday from Kansas voters: the potential of a much more conservative state Senate.
In Johnson County, only one moderate prevailed out of five hotly contested Republican Senate primaries.
In the end, moderate forces couldn’t overcome the clout of a sitting Republican governor actively campaigning for conservatives, backed by well-financed supporters.
Only Kay Wolf of Prairie Village managed to best her conservative opponent in the primary. Among the talented moderates ousted by the primary results were House member Pat Colloton and Senate incumbent Tim Owens.
With significant conservative gains, the hope here is that Brownback will temper his most radical plans in a statesmanlike nod to fiscal realities and concern for how his policies may play out in the future.
With conservatives solidly in the driver’s seat leading up to the general elections, Kansans concerned about state funding for education, social services and basic services must study the November matchups closely.
Voters will need to compare platforms of candidates in contested races to determine if a more sizable Democratic contingent could act as a healthy counter to the Brownback initiatives.
The likelihood of a one-party Legislature does not bode well for true debate on important issues. The risk is the Legislature becomes an echo chamber for views backed by the Kansas Chamber of Commerce and the Koch brothers.
Mark Robertson
9 months, 2 weeks agoA bad day for moderates? I guess, with the Star, the story couldn’t possibly be that it was a great day for conservatives and conservatism, and thus a great day for Kansas. “Temper his most radical plans in a statesmanlike nod to fiscal realities…?” This from the buch who supports the economy and health care destroying Obamacare. The unfunded liability for Social Security and Medicare is over 100 trillion, and now Obamacare has been added, which will actually cost well over 2.5 trillion its first 10 years, instead of the Obama claimed 940 billion. And how is that 7 trillion “War on Poverty” working out with its 70 percent plus out of wedlock birthrate in the African American community? Those disasters are ok with the Star, but just can’t have those Brownback tax cuts that will cause the Kansas economy to boom, and thus actually increase tax revenues for Kansas. It’s really not that complicated to see for those not blinded by agenda. Thank you. Mark Robertson Independence
Mark Hastert
9 months, 2 weeks agoIt may, in the long ruin, have been a good day for moderates of both parties. Since Brownie & Co are pushing the right wing to new limits I wouldn’t be at all surprised top see more moderate dems win in the general election. Not everybody in Kansas is as conservative as the conservatives. There is such a thing as a tipping point and the righties may be close. It’s going to be very interesting to watch.
Phil Cardarella
9 months, 2 weeks agoEven though it is a development that — nation-wide — may help my Democratic Party, I cannot but worry.
We really do rely on our two-party system for stability. When one of our two parties totally collapses (Whigs, 1850’s) or goes clinically insane (GOP, 2012), it is bad news for the Republic. We now have a GOP that is dominated by Bircher ideas the William Buckley fought — and a GOP where Nixon, Goldwater, Ford and Reagan would be denied the nomination as dangerous socialists. A GOP where “critical thinking” and “science” are considered dangerous enemies.
George Blake
9 months, 2 weeks agoThere is one saying that I love, because it has turned out to be 99.999% true: “Those that scream the loudest are usually the worst offenders”. I am speaking of the ultra-conservatives. They go around prophesying about God and Country, “How Great Thou Art”, etc. They talk about the “Love of God” and John 3:16, but then they try scaring you and control you with Old Testament “Fire and Brimstone”. I am a Christian, but I consider myself middle-of-the-road. I weigh options and opinions before I act, not just follow what some half-crazed Minister tells me to do. I don’t like ultra-liberals any more or less. An extreme is fraught with problems. No one in a position of power to either extreme has ever solved a problem. In fact, history is full of those who have done more harm to society. Look at Jim Jones, Jimmy Baker, Jimmy Swaggert, etc. All Hippocrates. There are many who run their families and religious beliefs on the fault side of life just to keep people from seeing who and what they really are.
Steven Fetter
66223
9 months, 2 weeks agoGeorge, are you saying that Baker, Swaggert, and Jones were doctors that reneged on their Hippocratic oath?? If you were citing flawed men of the cloth, you certainly could have added the Reverends Wright, Sharpton, and Jackson as flimflam men that directly represent the Democratic party.
And to Phil’s point, are you saying that the last 3 GOP presidential candidates (Bush, McCain, Romney) are more conservative than Reagan, Nixon, Goldwater, and Ford. I don’t think so. If anything, the GOP party has moved to the left.
And if any party is ready to implode, may I suggest the Democratic party, currently led by the Nurse Rachett-like Obama, the Godfather Harry Reid, and the wicked witch of the west, Nancy Pelosi.
There is a real possibility that the GOP could sweep all 3 Federal offices as well as Missouri and Kansas in the upcoming elections.
George Hunsucker
Northland
9 months, 2 weeks ago“The likelihood of a one-party Legislature does not bode well for true debate on important issues.”
Was this referring to the donkeys and 0care or something else star? And then we have the mouthpiece bemoaning the lack of a two-party system. How two-faced can you get phil?
Mark Hastert
9 months, 2 weeks ago“Buckley would ardently support the tea party candidates”
Actually Chuck you could not be more wrong. Buckley would have thought that the Teas were every bit as loony. Buckley wrote of the Goldwater campaign and its support by the John Birch Society (a Precursor of the Teas of which daddy Koch was a founding member)
“it seemed inconceivable that an anti-establishment gadfly like Goldwater could be nominated as the spokesman-head of a political party. And it was embarrassing that the only political organization in town that dared suggest this radical proposal—the GOP’s nominating Goldwater for President—was the John Birch Society….Kirk said he could not imagine Bozell disagreeing on the need to excommunicate the John Birch Society from the conservative movement”
Pity they didn’t finish the job.
Mark Hastert
9 months, 2 weeks ago“While your quotation is likely accurate, it cannot be extracted from the early sixties and applied fairly in today’s incendiary climate of left wing spending extremism that has doubled the national debt in 6 short years.”
Sorry Chuck It was written in 2008 before Buckley died.I have no doubt that he would have wished to “excommunicate” the Teas from the Republican Party just as much as the Birchers. As the Teas drag the Republican Party farther and farther to the irrational right they will leave the rest of America behind…. where most Americans reside. As the Teas purge their ranks for more and greater purity of thought they too will become one of those “tangental small groups” too… melting into obscure nothingness like the Wicked Witch of the West. It may not happen this cycle but the numbers are against them. It’s only a matter of time.
George Blake
9 months, 2 weeks ago@Steven Fetter: I am saying it covers ALL sides, not just Conservatives and Liberals. For one thing, to say “I am doing God’s work” by going into politics, or trying to control it, is hypocrisy. To direct and control people through Religion is wrong and blasphemy, to use the Religious Right’s terminology. As they say, “The road to Hell is paved with good intentions”. The only thing the GOP “Moderates” and “Conservatives” have done is to drive a wedge further between themselves, and “A house divided cannot stand”. We need to work out our differences, not shred them to pieces.
George Hunsucker
Northland
9 months, 2 weeks agoDon’t confuse his mind with facts chazzy.