Kansas GOP isn’t looking like the sum of its registered voters

As speaker of the Kansas House, Tim Shallenburger proved deft at keeping Republican lawmakers of opposing ideological stripes in line. So it’s been surprising to see him have less success as chairman of the Kansas Republican Party. He’s even been warning the faithful this week that he’ll quit if they don’t come together soon. And there was a telling exchange at last week’s Wichita Pachyderm Club gathering, with local anti-abortion activist Mark Gietzen assailing Shallenburger for “welcoming pro-aborts” into the party. Fears of mass defections to the Democratic Party and significant losses of legislative seats next year seem overblown. But especially with Democrat Kathleen Sebelius newly singled out by Time magazine as one of the nation’s five best governors — and no GOP heavyweight opposing her next year — the Kansas GOP doesn’t look as powerful these days as its voter registration numbers would indicate.
Posted by Rhonda Holman

8 Comments

  1. JUSTA GUY
    Posted November 17, 2005 at 6:15 am | Permalink

    Some of the thick planks the GOP has installed in their platform in the last decade are starting to splinter. Believe it or not, there are moderate and (god forbid)even liberal Republicans out there and they don’t have to switch parties, just vote against the hardcore conservatives in the primaries. If that doesn’t work, then vote democratic in the elections.

  2. writerdog
    Posted November 17, 2005 at 7:25 am | Permalink

    As one of those moderate Republicans. I do wait to see whom will be put up. And yes, if the party does not put up someone I can support. Then I will look to see how the Democrats look.

    Something needs to be done to root out the extremists in the party and the Government.

  3. Joe Williams
    Posted November 17, 2005 at 8:55 am | Permalink

    Here! Here! writerdog. I completely agree.

    But Moderates have been voted out in the last election in practically every State Rep, Senate, even down to the precient committee person.

    It is difficult to face up to the influence that the evangelicals have on the Republican constituency. Joe Wright and Terry Fox are pushing their candidates and agenda, and its working.

  4. TRACY
    Posted November 17, 2005 at 8:59 am | Permalink

    I HEAR YA’ GUYS.I’m sick of the ongoing polarization and culture wars.I really long for the UNITED states to return.Is there a moderate party?

  5. ID
    Posted November 17, 2005 at 10:29 pm | Permalink

    There is Tracy. It’s called the Libertarians. A party w/o traction, though, so they filter into moderate Dem/Rep based on the candidate. We need more moderates to take active roles at the local precinct level first, then move up the food chain to leadership positions in clubs, city, county, and state government.

    The fringe kooks on both sides are just ‘noise’ and can easily be dismissed with facts. For example, did Rhonda give us the GOP registration numbers for the last one, two, five years? Of course not. Perfect example of a MSM puke that thinks we are suppose to believe her just because she wrote it. Sorry Rhonda. Maybe an 8th grader will cluelessly accept your posts as gospel, but I need factual data from reliable sources.

  6. J M Walker
    Posted November 18, 2005 at 8:21 pm | Permalink

    Gotta agree with writerdog: Get the extremists out . . . of both parties: Federal, State and local

    This two party system is made for whats happening in the county. Which evil do you want to belong to? We could definetly use a couple more solid parties to spread things around.

    What checks and balances do we have in Government now? The Senate? The House Of Representatives? The Supreme court? The President? Yeah, right.

    There’s a bipolar disorder alright, and its cure is a change in the perspective people have for what government stands for: Of the people, by the people, and for the people.

    Two parties can hardly represent the two hundred and fifty million people living here. Get real.

    I personally am a member of the Libertarians. I like their ideas and philosphy, for the most part. I also like some Republican ideas as well as some Democrat ideas.

    But assume the beliefs and philophies of either party? That doesn’t suit me at all.

  7. Ed Friedemann
    Posted November 18, 2005 at 8:40 pm | Permalink

    Well said.

  8. J M Walker
    Posted November 18, 2005 at 10:09 pm | Permalink

    Rd,Okay, bro, I gotta say it: Thanks, man.