Wagle boosts Barnett’s conservative credentials

Gubernatorial candidate Sen. Jim Barnett, R-Emporia, likely made a shrewd move in picking Sen. Susan Wagle, R-Wichita, as his running mate. Winning the GOP primary often requires attracting conservative voters, and Wagle is a leading conservative in the Statehouse. If he wins the GOP nomination, however, Barnett will then have to convince moderate Republicans that he’s not too conservative; otherwise they may jump parties as they did in 2002, when they helped elect Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee

15 Comments

  1. Galahad
    Posted November 7, 2005 at 1:22 pm | Permalink

    That’s the Republicans for you. “We ran a uber-conservative last time and we lost. So let’s run an even wackier right winger this time.”

    Brilliant!

    Maybe Wagle can finally get that kindly old professor emeritus in sex ed fired at KU. I know that’s a burning issue for every Kansan.

  2. Tara
    Posted November 7, 2005 at 1:54 pm | Permalink

    I hope people didn’t forget about the fiasco with Dr. Dailey’s class. That scared me, reading things like “college students don’t know what’s good for them, so that’s why they support his nasty, dirty sex class”…Funny how all of the attention spiked enrollment in his lecture–my friend took it just to see “what got all the fundies’ panties in a wad?” Hee!

  3. Steven E.
    Posted November 7, 2005 at 2:25 pm | Permalink

    I just can’t even be remotely decent when talking about Susan Wagle, so I will do what my mother advised and not say anything at all.

    But, I might say about myself, she is the reason I am an unafilliated voter. This allows to vote for her opponent in Republican primaries (where the real democracy happens in Kansas).

  4. Nicki
    Posted November 7, 2005 at 3:30 pm | Permalink

    I guess her son must be doing better…or atleast I hope he is.

  5. XXX
    Posted November 7, 2005 at 4:04 pm | Permalink

    Steven, I’m an unafilliated voter and they wouldn’t let me vote in the last republican primary (I tried for the same reason you mention).

  6. Really sad
    Posted November 7, 2005 at 4:15 pm | Permalink

    Susan Wagle. Wow. Why didn’t he pick Connie Morris if he wanted a fundie wacko? I’m not quite as polite as Steven E.

  7. Steven E.
    Posted November 7, 2005 at 6:13 pm | Permalink

    XXX,What I have to do, is declare as a republican the day I vote. The day after, I go back to the courthouse and undo the republican status. (I usually have to take several showers there for a few hours) It is a pain, but worth it to me. Interestingly not long ago the moderate branch of the Repub. party here in KS wanted to let unaffiliateds vote in their primary, but the conservatives would not hear of it — they recognized such a thing as the threat that it was to them.

  8. XXX
    Posted November 7, 2005 at 6:42 pm | Permalink

    Yeah, they wanted me to declare as a republican. I considered it too. You’re a better man than I am…showers wouldn’t do it; I’d have to slit my wrists. Being a republican, even for a short time is so….icky!

  9. Steven E.
    Posted November 7, 2005 at 7:53 pm | Permalink

    Another advantage of the unafiliated status for me is that on election days I usually work the polls. When there is something that needs two people to witness, the preference is that a registered democrat and republican sign off on it. Being unaffiliated, I can sign with either a dem or repub – I’m sort of like a universal donor.

  10. JUSTA GUY
    Posted November 8, 2005 at 6:52 am | Permalink

    Hey, these two fit right in with the Kansas BOE. lol

  11. Joe Williams
    Posted November 8, 2005 at 8:42 am | Permalink

    I wouldn’t mind taking over Susan’s position. :)

    I live in her district.

  12. NoJoCo
    Posted November 8, 2005 at 11:17 am | Permalink

    Go for it Joe, I’d vote for you.

  13. XXX
    Posted November 8, 2005 at 12:07 pm | Permalink

    Joe, I’ll vote for you too if I can have one of those phony crony positions. I work cheap. $100,000 or so woudl buy a lot of loyalty just as long as I don’t really have to do anything.

  14. TRACY
    Posted November 8, 2005 at 12:33 pm | Permalink

    As long as we’re dreaming, put me in for 2,500 a pop for advice uhmm, I mean consultant.

    Wait a damn minute, we’re just bloggers and we’ve already sold out in our own minds and became the very people we love to hate!OUCH!

  15. Susan
    Posted November 11, 2005 at 3:59 pm | Permalink

    If they lose the election (which I’ll be rooting for) does Wagle have to come back as my state representative? Between her and the now gone, Todd Novascone, I have never met two people who really couldn’t give a crap about their constituents. Whenever I emailed them they would never acknowledge my letters, return phone calls or anything. They were incredibly rude and unbusiness-like.