One of GOP gubernatorial candidate and physician Jim Barnett’s most reported campaign lines — it’s been printed in The Eagle twice! — is: “We need more than a governor who will say, ‘Take two aspirin and call me when I’m president.’” But is that really an effective pitch — to remind voters that their current governor is so respected nationally that she gets mentioned as a possible vice presidential candidate? And as a letter to the editor in today’s Opinion page points out, Barnett has said that, if elected, he would continue his medical practice (as he has while he has been a state senator). So do we need more than a governor who still wants to be a doctor?
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
6 Comments
You got that…how is he supposed to focus on such a huge responsibiliy if he’s only willing to do it part time? Sounds like he’s just an ego maniac who thinks he can do anything, right up there with God…typical doctor!!
You guys endorsed him. ;)
But don’t worry! When he is doing working at his medical practice, he’ll just give the reins to Susan Wagle to run things while he’s gone.
Well, Brownee, we have a current Gov. who wants to be VP and spends political capital to that end regardless of whether or not it is good for Kansas. What’s the diff?
ID can read Seblius’s mind.
Amazing . . .
Regarding our Kansas state senators and representatives, virtually all continue to hold their non-political jobs during the seven or eight off-months from May to December. Thats normal for these part-time, part-salary jobs.
For example, State Senator Phil Journey is a lawyer and probably many others are also. Several elected state representatives are school teachers or in the insurance business.
But regarding the Kansas Governors position, I personally can’t remember any governor who considered it a part-time job. There might have been a few who continued to run their farming businesses with hired help to do the daily work.
I’m not sure all of our governors actually lived full-time in Cedar Crest, the Governor’s mansion that is located in west Topeka.
But I have reservations about a candidate for governor who wants to continue to be a doctor and the Kansas Governor at the same time.
Had a chance! Ken Canfield would have made a great Governor. And he doesn’t dispense aspirin.
Maybe Kansas will get that chance again …..