No bouquets or brickbats from Time for Brownback, Roberts

Kansas’ two popular senators do not rank among the nation’s 10 best, according to Time magazine. A native Wichitan did, though: Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Arlen Specter (in photo), R-Pa., is praised for his “principled contrarianism” while fighting Hodgkin’s disease. The other nine best: Thad Cochran, R-Miss.; Kent Conrad, D-N.D.; Dick Durbin, D-Ill.; Ted Kennedy, D-Mass.; Jon Kyl and John McCain, R-Ariz.; Carl Levin, D-Mich.; Richard Lugar, R-Ind.; and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine. It also should be noted that neither of Kansas’ senators is among Time’s worst: Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii; Wayne Allard, R-Colo.; Jim Bunning, R-Ky.; Conrad Burns, R-Mont.; and Mark Dayton, D-Minn. Time also dubs five the “Up-And-Comers”: Barack Obama, D-Ill.; Lindsay Graham, R-S.C.; Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y.; John E. Sununu, R-N.H.; and Mark Pryor, D-Ark.
Many would argue that such rankings mean little to voters. That’s a point soon to be tested in Kansas, where Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, one of Time’s five best governors last year, is up for re-election this year.
Posted by Rhonda Holman

11 Comments

  1. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted April 17, 2006 at 1:26 pm | Permalink

    I wonder if Sebelius’ second coronation will be because she has led kansas so well, or if it will be the result of the republicans’ inability to field a capable ticket without the wingnut taint?

    Is it too much to ask for no incumbents AND no wingnuts?

    And our senators are mediocre, neither good nor bad, just… middling. The best we can do.

    Kansas… as average as you think.

    Even in Lake Woebegon, the women are strong, the men are handsom, and the children are all above average.

  2. Ben Huie
    Posted April 17, 2006 at 1:46 pm | Permalink

    If Roberts continues his blind stone-walling to protect Bush look for him to make the ‘worst’ list next year.

  3. Ian Santiago
    Posted April 17, 2006 at 1:55 pm | Permalink

    Specter, Obooma, Yellowback, Kennedy, Levin, McClown, yuck! The are all a bunch of aholes, scumbags and coconuts!

    Viva La Revolucion Blanco!!

  4. JWink
    Posted April 17, 2006 at 2:55 pm | Permalink

    I’m not sure Senator Arlen Spector qualifies as a “native Wichitan.” I believe he was born in Russell, Kansas. I recall him mentioning in a speech once the coincidence that he and Robert Dole were both from Russell and later became U.S. Senators.

    I also recall reading that Arlen Spector as a boy did live here in Wichita with his parents. Seems like I checked on this and found they lived on St. Francis or Emporia streets several blocks south of Kellogg.

    I’m pretty hazy on this subject so hope someone will clarify this.

  5. TruMad
    Posted April 17, 2006 at 8:15 pm | Permalink

    What does the mainstream media keep leaving out when they report this story?

    CHICAGO (Reuters) – Former Illinois Gov. George Ryan, praised by death penalty foes for halting executions but accused of using public office to enrich friends and family, was found guilty on Monday of fraud, racketeering, tax evasion and other charges.

    The federal court jury verdict, which similarly found Ryan’s friend and co-defendant Larry Warner guilty of all counts against him, is a stern warning that no one in public office is above the law, officials said after the decision.

    The jury convicted Ryan, 72, of all 18 felony counts against him, including racketeering conspiracy, mail fraud, tax fraud and making false statements to the FBI.

    http://channels.isp.netscape.com/news/story.jsp?idq=/ff/story/0002%2F20060417%2F1622358559.htm&sc=roptz&floc=NI-ne3

    They keep leaving out that Ryan was a REPUBLICAN . . . of course.

  6. Rage
    Posted April 17, 2006 at 9:08 pm | Permalink

    Senator Sphincter is one of the BEST? BOY, we are in trouble! And I guess they ignored Sen. Pat’s drinking problem (it’s hard to drink when your lips are permanently attached to the Chief Executive’s backside!).

    But then, it was only subjective pundit-blathering from TIME. Yawn. . .

  7. RD
    Posted April 18, 2006 at 3:41 am | Permalink

    Tru, I know people in Illinois who HATED Ryan. Guess they had reason for that.

  8. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted April 18, 2006 at 8:36 am | Permalink

    Yeah TruMad, it is a bipartisan scandal, dontcha know? Cant be naming the republicans in proportion to the number of them in trouble!

    Must.. find… demos…

  9. SpiderLady
    Posted April 21, 2006 at 4:50 pm | Permalink

    I would just like to say that I have never voted for any of these people. And whenever I contact them about some cause I believe in, I get another politely-calling-me-stupid-because-they -disagree-and-they’re-rich letter…

  10. joewilsonder
    Posted April 21, 2006 at 10:38 pm | Permalink

    Since Senator Sam Brownback has proven his dedication and loyalty, I believe he should run for President – of Mexico!

  11. M Gomes
    Posted May 29, 2006 at 3:44 pm | Permalink

    ARLEN SPECTER (and others) ARE ON THEIR WAY OUT

    Arlen Specter (and others) are not to be trusted with Supreme Court nominations, government budgeting, war policies or any other matter since they go with whichever side is most beneficial to them. Specter, for example, is an unprincipled traitor who wants to hand over our immigration and border policies to Mexico. Such fat-cat elected politicians (Kennedy, McCain, H. Clinton, Feinstein, Radonovich, Reed, Boxer, Kerry, C McKinney, GW Bush, the list goes) who have failed to represent the American constituency are strongly turning U.S. citizens toward 3rd party candidates – and rightly so.