Gov. Kathleen Sebelius signaled a mild interest last week in stepping into the Kansas State Board of Education races of four of the six conservative Republicans responsible for the embarrassing new science standards. Unfortunately, her statement to The Topeka Capital-Journal — “That could happen. I think it’s a critical position” — was hardly a war cry, and in keeping with her tepid postvote declaration that the board had taken a “step in the wrong direction.” But the state board has damaged the state’s reputation and risked the integrity of the schools’ science education. As the state’s CEO, Sebelius should fight back.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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22 Comments
Rhonda,It’s called poll data. I bet she knows something we don’t.
Yeah, it’s poll data but I don’t understand how that is relevant to leadership, and by extension to Rhonda’s point.
Leaders find a way to do the right thing even if it flies in the face of popular opinion. Especially if what’s behind that popular opinion is being driven directly by your political enemies (the Terry Fox branch of the Kansas GOP).
As this issue clearly shows, Democrats just don’t understand that hiding behind polling data is transparent to voters, who are correct in the connotations they make (Democrats won’t even take the bat off their shoulder to swing at a hung curveball in the heart of the plate).
The absence of the governor and her bully pulpit in killing off a real bad idea — which is also clearly the right thing to do — is surely evidence that Democrats are still not ready for primetime governance.
And the Republicans ARE?
That would be funny, if it weren’t so sad . . .
Flike,It is also real possible that she does not see the political benefit of stepping into this mess.
Lee Atwater, Karl Rove’s mentor, always said: “Never interrupt your opponent when they are busy committing suicide.”
The Guv’s staying out of the fray makes good sense from the above perspective. Sebelis’ mother did not raise any stupid children.
Or her father, John Gilligan, who was once governor of a real state, Ohio.
Sure, point taken.
But that’s just politics, not real leadership. ;)
I don’t know that there is much Gov Sebelius can do with the State School Board. They have made it clear that their position is “My mind is made up don’t confuse me with facts!” So, why should she get embroiled in a fight with them at this time.
However, come election time she might try to use her influence to get rid of a couple of those bozos.
Right, Flike: They’ve tried electing George Docking, Robert Docking (two terms), John Carlin (two terms), Joan Finney, Kathleen Sebelius and, dadgummit, they still haven’t got it right!
Flike, the Republicans in the Legislature handed Sebelius a budgetary nightmare, and she dealt with it with aplomb. I think that’s why a national magazine chose her as one of the nation’s 5 top governors.
I find her reticence a little mystifying (although it IS beating a dead horse at this point), but I suspect she’ll speak up during the re-election campaign (something Graves didn’t have to think about).
Letting your opposition commit political suicide is not leadership. It is pure selfish opportunism. Who suffers when the R’s go crazy in Topeka? Sebelius? Hardly. It is the people of Kansas who suffer because she does not have the will or the skill to turn things around. Arent we proud to elect a governor who does nothing but say “see how bad the other side is”? And how is that working for us in Kansas?
She may get herself re-elected because the R’s cant get themselves together, but does she have coattails? Insider dems in Kansas say she sucks up all the money and talent in the state when she runs. There will be nothing left over to elect dems to the Ks legislature. But then, that kinda suits her political strategy, doesnt it? If the legislature is so bad, all you have to do to get higher office is nothing. Just point fingers.
What would happen if we elected a bunch of dems for her to work with? Would that flush her out of hiding to actually do some good? I doubt it, when doing nothing is so safe, and so appealing to both the Kansas voters and the MSM.
If you think “less than chatty Kathy” is going to make progress in her second term, with no re-election to pander for, wait until you see the sequel. It will give new meaning to “do-nothing” as she sets her sights on Washington and her next elective office. One of the five best gov’s? They probably would have said the same thing about Bush in Texas before he was appointed president. He was a master at doing nothing.
It seems that the way to get good grades, in Kansas schools and in politics, is to do nothing. For further evidence, I present Jerry Moran. :) He wasnt even influential enough to get some of Jack’s jack. If he was offered money and turned it down, that would be good, but I bet he is such a non-player in Washington that he wasnt even invited to the party. You have to actually take a stand for something to be a valuable player.
I guess when Ks looses another congressional seat, he will just expand his territory, not his influence. I hope the last person leaving Kansas will turn out the lights. Oh, wait, Westar needs the money…
Farm girl–take a pill.
Sebelius doesn’t want fellow Dems elected so she can continue in power and not have to do anything?
Wow, have you ever heard of the “labored hypothesis?” Because that sure is one . . .
PL, “doesnt want” dems elected is not the same as “doesnt care”. I never said she would work to defeat them, but in every political situation, she puts herself first. She is playing political triage, with her campaign getting all the aid and nourishment.
Not everyone in the party is as thrilled with her as she wants you to believe. If you think the GOP operates with an iron fist, she and her people certainly tolerate no dissent, and continually project the “happy family” image. Kinda like rotting wood that looks good on the outside.
In her rush to be “republican lite” or “politically smart” (choose your weapon) she has sold out labor, sold out the LGBT community, sold out education, and sold out rural Kansas, her political “rural life task force” included. She remains loyal only to the trial lawyers.
She only cares about getting re-elected, not the future of the state or the party, and certainly not who gets elected with her. She is looking up stream for her next move, not looking dowstream for races where she could lend a hand and really make a difference.
She did campaign in other races in the off year election, but watch what she does this year, and as always, follow the money and see what she raises or directs to local races. That will show her priorities.
Interesting, Farmgirl . . . you make some good points.
I do know of some situations that would back up what you’re saying and had never really thought about the overall pattern that emerges . . . hmmm.
ksfarmgirl,
You are correct, Kathleen is a money vacuum. And as you suggest, I will watch for her redistribution efforts.
My question to you is – what if Sebelius were to die on every hill you point to? – Would she be effective then? I am guessing not.
“she has sold out labor, sold out the LGBT community, sold out education, and sold out rural Kansas, her political ‘rural life task force’ included. She remains loyal only to the trial lawyers.”
Is Sebelius perfect? No. Is she a voice of sanity when contrasted with the likes of Susan Wagle? Yes. And sometimes, this is the best one can hope for.
How has Sebelius “sold out” labor? Her failure to act effectively on the other issues you mention – I can see your point. The labor accusation I am failing to get, however.
We have had the same governor now for nearly three terms. Kathleen Sebelius and Bill Graves are indistinguishable. They look like brother and sister. Their policies are the same. You never hear from either of them. He is a RINO, she is a DINO.
Say, you don’t suppose Bill put on wig and… Nah
StevenE–Thank you for your thoughtful response. I am still searching for an article that appeared sometime before the begining of her term when the labor caucus of the Ks Democratic Party had a huge fight with both her and Anthony Hensley. I could be wrong, but if I remember correctly, Tom Sawyer was called in to mediate, and he walked out because he couldnt tolerate the anti-labor sentiments expressed in that meeting. Sorry I cant find it right now, but I will keep trying. It may not be on line anymore. I will publicly apologize if that is wrong.
You should ask some of your local labor people to respond. They probably all kissed and made up by now, but I bet if you ask some locals, they will recall. I actually lived out of state when I read it, and I will never forget the end of the article, when a local leader from Wichita said effectively, that those two had alientated labor from the party.
I dont think Sebelius has to “die on the hill” as you said for every issue. But perhaps she could speak out once in a while and bring some needed sanity to this state instead of letting the inmates run the asylum and then making political hay out of it. Big gap between being a good leader and dying on a hill for no reason. Could she just pick even one issue and act like a Dem instead of republican lite?
Respectfully, you are also making the same mistake as most Kansas Dems by saying, in effect, “she couldnt possibly do the right thing or act like a Democrat and still get elected”. LOL, I too have a low level of expectation regarding Ks voters, but you are letting the GOP wingnuts control the message when you say things like that. Could she come in here and act like dreaded “northeastern liberals” and be effective? Probably not, but she doesnt have to parrot the GOP and stoop to their level.
Also, as much as it pains me, arent you doing what the wingnuts do by playing the fear card? If we dont elect Kathleen, we will get Susan? Geez, is Susan the best the R’s can come up with? Is that the only choice that can be presented to Kansas? Hell, even George Bush looks good compared to Tom Delay. Does that mean Bush should be re-appointed by SCOTUS?
It was Tom Sawyer who said to me in March of 04 (when Jan Pauls, a loyal Dem, led the floor fight in favor of the hate amendment) that “given the choice between a real republican and a fake one, the voters will choose the real republican every time”. He was not speaking about Sebelius or even DINO Pauls. However, it was clear to us that he meant in general, voters need a real choice, not R and R lite.
Wonder what would happen in the party if a real Democrat ran? Dont be too quick to say they would be defeated. Good government doesnt belong exclusively to one party, but bad government seems to be the only choice Kansans are being presented. Susan or Kathleen…I’ll take a pass this year, thank you very much.
Arent you afraid real Dems and their constituents might do the same thing? Someone in Topeka said that it doesnt matter which party we vote for if they both hate us equally. Maybe you think those constituent groups are too small to matter in KS, but I bet D’s cant win without at least a majority of them. Especially if the R’s manage to field a reasonable candidate.
I sure hope someone rises to the top in this state who cares about Kansas, not higher office. This ship is sinking fast, and electing Sebelius again will be like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. It will make us feel good for awhile, but the ship will still be going down.
Life jackets anyone? Or should we just keep singing?
StevenE–I found it! Here is the article that explains how Kathleen supported a lawyer from a union busting law firm to chair the Kansas party. He musta been a helluva fundraiser. Granted, she wasnt gov then, but the fact that she thought the problem could be solved by just removing any reference to it only shows how little she knows about the international labor movement. And how much superficial appearances matter to her. Damn the substance, lets just look good boys.
Go to http://www.ksworkbeat.org/Issues/Election/
to read the newsletter. Thanks for asking.
You make some good points, ksfarmgrrl. I was quite depressed when Sawyer couldn’t even manage a serious opposition candidacy (I voted for him anyway).
Long ago, Kathleen had a reasonably progressive record in the Legislature. Lately she seems to be trying to be invisible. I know some local labor leaders, but we haven’t had an occasion to discuss her record. . . that’s going to change.
Unfortunately, I don’t see a better option waiting in the wings.
It would be nice to see Democrats with the nerve to actually stand for something again. Sure, I’m a admitted liberal (gasp!), but it was liberals–not conservatives or moderates– who gave us radical ideas like child labor laws, the minimum wage, the 40-hour workweek, unemployment insurance, OSHA. . . just to name a few (actually, to be a liberal these days means to be a REAL conservative, conserving a proud heritage. . .)
LOL Rage, I often say I am so far on the left that I am actually on the right.
Maybe that is a coalition that should be considered. Moderates are in the middle of the road with the yellow stripes and dead armadillos.
There is no opposition in the wings on the Dem side because, well, one just does not speak to the queen that way. I think when Kathleen won they were like dogs who chased cars, surprised they caught one and didnt know what to do with it. They blew a great opportunity in this state to show what real Democratic leadership could accomplish.
I supported Kathleen in the last election. I love Kansas way too much to make that mistake again. I wish I had a choice at the polls.
ksfarmgirl,
Thanks for the link and the sharing of thoughts.
The far-right Repubs in this state have a voice and they are backed by serious cash. I take them seriously and live in fear of them.
I will re-read your posts. Thanks again.
What he said.
Looks like there’s a new kid in town.Ksfarmgrrl, thanks for the well thought out information. Some of it comes as news to me. I’ll try to pay a little closer attention from now on.
Thanks for welcoming me here. I have been reading this for a long time and this post about Kathleen was just too much for me not to jump in and speak a little truth to power.
Steven and Rage, I respect what you are saying. I am an openly lesbian, former public official, and past Chair of the County Dems in far western kansas. You dont need to tell me about fear of the repubs, the right and the christian taliban. I live with the literal fear of my life and property everyday. (No stickers on my truck!) But I try to remember what a real Democrat said about having nothing to fear but fear itself. There are days when I whistle past the graveyard, but I will be damned if I will give up Kansas to hate, fear and despair…despite what I read here!! Thanks again