Democrat Paul Morrison is taking the fight to Attorney General Phill Kline on his own turf, announcing last week his own proposals for getting tough on sexual predators, including expanded powers to lock up violators and make it more difficult for them to lure children into relationships.
In fact, he charges Kline with not doing enough on the issue.
Kline calls it an "election year conversion," but give Morrison credit for a smart campaign strategy. The longtime prosecutor hopes to show voters that he’s just as tough as Kline on bad guys — and has more courtroom experience to boot.
If it works, he could neutralize some of Kline’s perceived strengths.
That said, some of Morrison’s other recent comments on the campaign trail — implying Kline is a "doofus" and saying people who get to know Kline don’t like him — go overboard and could backfire with voters.
Morrison doesn’t need to attack Kline personally to make his case about who would be the better attorney general.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
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39 Comments
Hell, we were saying this the last election Kline was in… How did he get elected anyway? the guy let his Bar license laps… How do you do that?
I dont care what party, Kline needs to go…
Where’s the Eagle’s story about this complaint against Morrison:”I would appreciate it if he would stop using our heartache and sorrow for his mudslinging politics.”http://www.hutchnews.com/opinion/westernfront/stories/stop072806.shtml
More details are here:http://www.freestatemedia.org/index.php?option=com_magazine&Itemid=42or
http://www.freestatemedia.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=191&Itemid=42
Morrison was AWOL in helping to get Jessica’s Law passed in Kansas, but was glad to take credit when Sebelius signed the bill? http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/14658161.htm Morrison was there to take credit, but what did he do to help in Jessica’s Law?
As a member of the sentencing commission, what part did Morrison have in getting SB 323 passed in 2000, which released felons from prison early to save money? Or what about Morrison’s support for SB 149 in 1999, which reduced sentences on crimes such as 2nd degree murder, or rape of a child?
Where’s Morrison’s criticism of Sebelius reducing the budget of the KBI?http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2004/sep/17/homicide_investigations_stretch/ “Kline criticized Sebelius’ veto of funding to create a white-collar crime division in his office, while the Governor’s Office budget skyrocketed.”
Kline has been quite resourceful with doing more with less money, yet Morrison doesn’t appreciate that fact?
How can Kline add new resources when Sebelius is cutting his funding?
Morrison’s opposition to Kline almost seems more like it is personal than logical.
KSmeadowlark, are you still with that terrorist organization Operation Rescue? Kline is a career politician. Morrison is a veteran crime fighter with years and years of experience. Kline went into office with the sole goal of making abortion illegal. Morrison went into his career with the sole goal of stopping crime. Kline openly disregards laws like the anti-nepotism law and laws that protect our privacy. Morrison thinks politicians shouldn’t be above the law. Kline hired a repeat law offender to protect consumers against law offenders. Morrison puts repeat offenders behind bars. Kline didn’t have his bar license when he ran for office. Morrison is a district attorney.
It’s clear Morrison is the right person for the job and is dedicated to doing the job. Kline is more interested in his one issue campaigns and appearing in GQ articles. The voters have a choice, to elect the most qualified person for the job of Attorney General, or they can elect Phill Kline.
I have nothing to do with Operation Rescue. Your comment was reckless and unfair to imply anything about terroism.
You’re distorting Kline’s “sole goal.” While Kline may be promoting a Culture of Life in Kansas, and Kline is protecting the innocent, from the unborn, to elderly in retirement centers, to victim of sexual predators, Kline will enforce all laws in the State of Kansas. For example, why did Kline sue Colorado over water rights for Kansas (http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2006/jul/01/kline_colorado_pays_11_million_cover_water_lawsuit/) if abortion was his “sole” issue?
Where’s your criticsim about “anti-nepotism” when the Kansas press ignored in 2003 the son (Scott Allegrucci) of Sebelius’ chief of staff (Joyce Allegrucci) and Supreme Court justice (Don Allegrucci) getting a $60,000 state tourism job without any qualifications other than being on Sebelius campaign staff (http://www.cjonline.com/stories/041703/leg_allegrucci.shtml)? He left that position in 2005 (http://cjonline.com/stories/040605/kan_tourism.shtml) but only after spending $1.7 million on our new motto, “Kansas: As big as your think”? Where’s the analysis about this rookie’s job performance and how much it cost Kansas?
And what did Bryan Brown (the Consumer Protection chief) do? He was a man of conviction, who tried to be a voice for the voiceless as a prolife activist. Your opposition to Brown is really likely because of his political and Christian views. What bothers you about what what Brown has done, or not done, as consumer protection chief? Can you crtique his job performance? Or, you don’t like him because he’s Catholic?
The issue about Kline’s lapse of bar license is true, but wasn’t that discussed ad nauseam in 2002? What’s new on that issue? You do know Kline did argue before the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this year?
In 2002 Morrison was part of the controversy over light sentences, releasing felons from prison, and shortening probation.This link had almost disappeard from the Internet:http://web.archive.org/web/20020904204255/http://cjonline.com/decision2002/stories/dec_overview_ag.shtml
“Johnson County District Attorney Paul Morrison, an Adkins supporter, acknowledges feeling frustrated.”
“But the reality is in this day and age, with budget constraints, we can’t send everybody to prison,” he said. “We have to make responsible choices.”
“As for criticism from his fellow prosecutors, he said: “They know better, but it’s just politics.”"
…
“The debate centers on two key changes.”
“First, for criminals who were sentenced to probation, the length they remained on probation became shorter.”
“Second, many criminals released from prison remained under state supervision for shorter periods.”
“The theory behind those changes was simple: The number of people getting in trouble while under state supervision would decrease because people wouldn’t be supervised as much. Fewer people in trouble meant fewer people going to prison.”
“Particularly with these low-grade nogoodnicks, they’re very irresponsible, and the longer you watch them, the greater chance you have of catching them,” Morrison said.
“Kline has noted repeatedly that the 2-year-old law changed many criminals’ status even as they sat in prison for violating the terms of a probation or release from prison. The Department of Corrections reported that in the first six months after the changes took effect, more than 500 such offenders were released directly from state prisons.”
As the “veteran crime fighter” what did Morrison mean by his “nogoodnicks” remarks above?
Please. Painting Paul Morrison with a “weak on crime,” or “weak on sentencing” rap is just not going to work. This guy is a professional — repeat, profressional — law enforcement careerist and prosecutor. Phill and his spokespersons simply will have to do better than attack Morrison along these lines, in that Morrison is the real deal, while Phill is a career politician, running for whatever office is open.
The thing is Phill Kline is a doofus.
Stating the obvious isn’t going to hurt Morrison.
The office of Attorney General is a political job, it requires political skill.Morrison can walk into a courtroom and worry only about the 12 people sitting in a jury box.Morrison can call people names and pretty much not worry what anyone thinks.At least, Morrison can do that as an attorney, even a District Attorney.In a Court House environment, the DA is really more of a State official, serving a “judicial district” even if the Judicial Discrtict boundaries are the same as the County Boundaries. The average County Commission, Johnson County included, pretty much has no control over a DA, Counties pretty much give DA’s what they want for fear of being called “soft on crime”.Morrison answered to nobody but a majority of the electorate every 4 years.The Attorney General of Kanasasmust deal with all the officials that a DA deals with, plus Federal and State elected officials from all walks of life.Morrison lacks the political skill to be an Attorney General.Morrison seems to think EVERYONE who doesn’t live in Johnson County is a “DUFUS.”Morrison will NOT be able to advance any cause with that attitude.
KSMed -
The suit against Colorado for water is old. Kline didn’t file it, he inherited it and then took credit for it.
Earl, Operation Rescue is a terrorist organization, you should look it up some time. Anyway, Sebelius is not running for Attorney General so you should try sticking to the subject. Clearly you don’t have much of a leg to stand on if you have to try to change campaigns.
How does Kline’s looking into the private medical records of adult women have anything to do with your catchphrase “culture of life”? There isn’t anything illegal about getting abortions so Kline is merely satisfying a personal, religious agenda by trying to stop something that is perfectly legal. In the real world it’s an invasion of privacy and Kline is violating the ethics of his position, not to mention the Constitution.
Bryan Brown has been arrested 12 times for his participation in terroristic activities. He still owes over $60,000 in fines related to these crimes and he refuses to pay. Kline finds this a worthy credential for the job of Consumer Protection apparently. How can Kline be tough on crime when he has no problem with crime?
You know your hypocrisy is quite amusing. You don’t think something Kline failed to do back in 2002 is relevant for discussion but then you bring up something from 2002 for Morrison. Clearly another example of you simply wanting to dodge the issue. Nice doublestandard, clearly you are in a state of desperation in trying to stand up for Kline. I know supporting such a candidate with poor qualifications is hard to do so it should be easier simply supporting the candidate that has better qualifications.
As for the 2002 Morrison issue he clearly stated that there isn’t an unlimited budget to keep every criminal in prison forever. If we could do that then Bryan Brown would still be in prison. So what’s the problem? Conservatives often want to lower taxes therefore restricting funding of programs. It just so happens that means your prison budget will have to be cut. It’s a simple matter, too bad you weren’t educated enough to figure that out. Try criticizing Morrison with something a little more substantial than his inability to create the Kansas state budget.
Clearly by your inability to defend Kline and your inability to find anything wrong with Morrison that makes Morrison the better candidate. You only support Kline for emotional reasons, or perhaps you don’t like Morrison because he’s Catholic.
I am a Catholic.However, I will not vote for a rude, condescending, brash know it all like Morrison.
By the way, Bryan Brown does have a license to practice law.I don’t think we give those licenses out to “terrorists” Doug.
Martin Luther King was arrested, every major labor union has officials that have been arrested.To me, “civil disobedience” is not the preferred method of social change, but you NEVER hear liberals criticize CD in support of their causes.Hasn’t Cindy Sheehan been arrested at least once?
Try reading comprehension Paul I never said Brown didn’t have a license.
Martin Luther King and Cindy Sheehan aren’t running for Attorney General Paul, try again.
Is this the best the Kline supporters can do? So far the conservatives think Kathleen Sebelius, MJK Jr. and Cindy Sheehan are all running for Attorney General of Kansas and that’s why we should vote for Kline.
pitch.com/Issues/2003-05-15/news/feature.html
Operation Rescue is a terrorist organization and the first thing Morrison should do when he is elected KS Attorney General is to hunt down EVERY terrorist of this organization that resides in the state. Phil Kline has been an OR supporter from its inception in the early 90’s.
Apophis,So you liberals dont want us to violate the civil rights of suspected Jihadist terrorists, but anyone with a prolife view, who has practiced Civil Disobedience, should be “hunted down”??On what charge, Apophis?Apophis, frankly, your last post sounds fascist as hell to me.Kline has the duty to enforce the laws of Kansas.Abortion providers clearly have evidence of child abuse, sexual and otherwise, that they should share with law enforcement voluntarily.Abortion is also regulated in Kansas, though we still have the most liberal abortion laws in the country.Again apophis, you sound like the real kook, stating that everyone involved with Operation Rescue is a terrorist that should be hunted down.I wish you would get as worked up over REAL terrorism.By the way, a great many “fines” against Operation Rescue have been thrown out by higher courts.You are NOT in a legal position to understand the status of any fine at this point.
DougPhil Kline does NOT, himself, have any type of an arrest record concerning Operation Rescue.You are CORRECT, Martin Luther King and Cindy Sheehan (who have also been arrested) are not running for AG!Guess WHAT? Bryan Brown is ALSO not running for AG!!!You wont get many voters to think ill of Kline for hiring Brown.Voters in Kansas have frequently sent Operation Rescue supporters, who HAD arrest records, to the state legislature.So it seems like “guilt by association,” to me, to try and trash Kline over hiring Brown. (Only YOU lefties see any “guilt” in the first place.)Brown is a competent attorney and administrator.Brown’s personal life has not prevented Brown from holding a license to practice law.Liberals never criticise Civil Disobedience when used in anti-war, civil-rights, labor union, environmental or other causes.Conservatives should, likewise, be able to bring those who practice CD into the “mainstream” of political lifeCase closed!
Nobody mentioned your “jihadist” terrorists Paul, why don’t you try taking some courses to improve your reading comphrension because your strawman attacks are quite childish.
Let’s see, Cheryl Sullenger, spent 2.5 years in federal prison for her role in trying to bomb an abortion clinic. Troy Newman, head of ORW, spends time with plenty of Army of God members who have spent time in prison for their numerous criminal deeds involving arson and bombing. Troy even advocates violence to stop abortion (heck, that sounds like a terroristic threat to me). Currently Operation Rescue is under investiagtion by the IRS for money laundering and tax evasion.
Now if you know of any Islamic terrorists in Kansas I’m sure Kline can ignore them and Morrison can prosecute them. Until then you don’t have any leg to stand on.
Kline has the authority and the duty to enforce Kansas laws but he doesn’t have the authority to violate them. Peeking through the medical records of women just for the sake of discouraging people to get abortions is illegal. There is no probable cause and hence is a violation of our Constitution.
And another moment, if you please, about your poor reading comphrension. Apophis mentioned that every terrorist in Operation Rescue should be hunted down, you said every member would be hunted down. So is it your position that every member of Operation Rescue is a terrorist or are you just misrepresenting someone’s position again? It’s hard to take you seriously when you have a bit of a problem telling the truth.
Paul, your reading comphrension is failing again. I never said Kline had a criminal record, where did I say that? Nor did I say he was a member of Operation Rescue, I was clearly referring to Bryan Brown so try to get your lies straight.
Bryan Brown was hired by Kline therefore it is relevant to judge a person’s job performance by what that person does as Attorney General. Kline made the call to hire his nephew knowing it was a violation of the law, and he made the call to hire Brown who had a long arrest record and fines he still had to pay. If we aren’t going to judge Kline by his record then what are we going to judge him by?
Is this subject too complicated for you?
Try actually reading and understanding the posts you respond to because you continue to make yourself and all Kline supporters look foolish.
Doug,I was not the first to use the term “terrorist” in this thread.I do not believe that the use of violence is an approved tactic of the peaceful, Civil Disobedience practicing, Operation Rescue organization.It is not fair to label everyone who has belonged to “Operation Rescue” as a terrorist.—Doug,Didnt Kline win at least a partial victory from the courts on his attempts to look at Clinic records?It is a wild and false allegation to say that Kline violated the law, Kline NEVER looked at anything that the Courts did not allow Kline to look at.—-Reading comprehension??Come on Doug, Aphophis might think better of his statements and want to water them down, but anyone looking at what he said would clearly think that Apophis thinks Brown is a terrorist, that any member of OR is a terrorist, and they should all be “hunted down.”Nice try at spin, but it won’t work.Take a look:”Operation Rescue is a terrorist organization and the first thing Morrison should do when he is elected KS Attorney General is to hunt down EVERY terrorist of this organization that resides in the state. Phil Kline has been an OR supporter from its inception in the early 90’s.”
Posted by: Apophis | August 13, 2006 at 12:13 PM ”
The ONLY way Apophis can claim that he does not think every member of OR should be “hunted down” is to make a case that there are members of Operation Rescue, with current warrants out for their arrest, for violent charges, that Kline refuses to prosecute.Who, exactly, are these “O.R. Terrorists” that Apophis would have Morrison “track down”???The only people Apophis could possibly mean are the people whos’ only “crime” is association with Operation Rescue, since no one else, who has not already been charged, really exists!This is “guilt by association.”This is FASCISM!Doug, you are better than this. I am getting bored with you, this argument of yours is VERY weak!
It seems that the liberals on this thread will trample the Constitutional Rights of anyone who disagrees with their definition of Constitutional Rights!
I suppose it’s too much to ask for someone with poor reading comprehension to understand that they need to take reading courses. Perhaps someone who knows Paul can communicate this verbally to him.
Operation Rescue is defined as a terrorist organization based upon the FBI’s definition of a terrorist organization. Terrorism is the systematic use or threatened use of violence to intimidate a population or government and thereby effect political, religious, or ideological change. Operation Rescue advocates violence, threatens clinic employees with violence, and uses intimidation and harassment to for their religious goals.
Perhaps you don’t know about terrorism, perhaps you don’t know about Operation Rescue, I don’t know. However I’ve only claimed OR was a terrorist organization, you are the one who said everyone in the organziation is a terrorist, nobody else has made that claim on this forum. Although this has already been pointed out to you you continue with the strawman attack. Perhaps you ought to educate yourself a bit more.
When did the courts allow Kline to look at the abortion records of women? He violated their privacy then went to court to justify that these adult women were victims of child rape. How does a 40 year old woman suddenly become 17 overnight?
Now why do I need to explain Apophis’ post to you again? You clearly can’t read well and educating you a second time is pointless. Is the position of arresting terrorists wrong? Why are you so sympathetic with terrorists? You conservatives have always been weak on terrorism and your latest outburst just supports that.
Perhaps you should stop putting words in Apophis’ mouth, you are really bad at it. You should also pick up a dictionary because you don’t know what fascism is either. I really hate wasting my time educating ignorant people like you so why don’t you stop being so intellectually lazy or purposely ignorant and grow a couple dendrites.
Doug’s posts read like he’s the script writer for Morrison (i.e. unprofessional, offensive, venomous, condescending).
Who are you Roscoe? Pauls mom?
Roscoe is just more proof that there is no defense for Kline. Without anything positive to say about Kline and with nothing negative to say about Morrison the reich-wing will simply resort to posts that are nothing more than childish insults.
Perhaps they’ll resort to saying Morrison has a Black child.
Paul F. Rosell,”I am a Catholic.” (August 13,11:49 AM)
In a recent thread, (Aug 1 ?), you posted: “I am a lapsed Catholic”.
Lapsed = former, failed, has-been.
You seem unable to remember that you’re a former, failed, and has-been Catholic. So why should anyone here believe anything that you post?
Did I hit a nerve there Paulie? O.R. practiced more than civil disobedience, just ask the OR terrorist who actually shot Dr. Tiller.
I can see why you might think I am a “kook” there Paulie. I will NOT follow the religious right’s world view. Deal with it. There are a great many of us in the world who will never follow your pseudo-religion inspired ideology. You people need to actually believe in the establishment clause of the First Amendment of the Constitution that you so readily refer to in order to support your terroristic aims.
Paul Morrison with make an excellent AG, at least he knows how to prosecute a case. I also seriously doubt if he will be a political lackey, submissive to the religious right like Phil Kline.
Paul – is the bryan Brown you refer to the guy who used to be GodArchy? If so, I remember him as being just a tad “truth-challenged”
Forget a debate between Kline and Morrison (We’ve seen Morrsion wipe the floor with Kline in that venue already) let’s put them in a courtroom together and see who can actually do the job. Want to wager who the clear winner will be?
Paul is a little “truth challenged” himself. This is evidenced by his flip flopping. On his degree(?) his religion, his occupations, etc.
He just cant seem to keep his stories straght. And Paul, you know how “non straight” people get treated by the Religious Right and the Republicans. Not very well.
Is that why you keep flip flopping? To please your republican masters when you accidently “out” the truth about yourself? heheheheh
Klines water lawsuit is so old it has gray hair like me. It isnt like he INITIATED any action on water. He is just following through with contracted legal guns from wichita. HIS office does nothing.
Hee hee hee hee Kline is being hoisted on his own lunacy and who will the republicans like meadowpoop or paul blame?
Pick one: Bill Clinton, gay marriage, immigrants, Democrats.
’cause ya know, in the culture of personal responsibility touted from the pulpit and the rnc, it could NEVER be their own fault. Their own jackassery COULDNT be the reason they are laughing stocks to be turned out in november.
It has to be the liberal media.
ROFLMQAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
…and I see again the strategy they use when they are clearly wrong on a subject.
Change the subject and bring up someone else. Someone NOT germain to the subject at hand.
hee hee hee hee hee
The more you wingnuts use those same tired old tactics, the easier they are to spot.
We are on to you. MEME alerts arent even necessary.
We see you as you are.
KFG- I can see it now.Kline loses the election and starts his own law firm :
Jackassery Inc.
hehehehehehehe
And the kansas water office should be it’s first client….
Can Kline have a law firm if he nevere goes to court? How will he make money? He can’t live of a taxpayer salary that way. Guess he’ll have to run for the legislature again.
He’ll hire someone to teach him how to be a lawyer, isn’t that how he does it now?
No, I think that was bob corkins who hired his competition to then come in at a high dollar figure and TEACH him to do the job they didnt hire him to do…..
republican logic. Ya need a score card to keep up.
Well paul – is this the same Bryan Brown as the lying slanderer at GodArchy?
Ben, I’ll answer that. Yes, it’s Bryan Brown who started the moment of hate on the Godarchy Line. It was when he was with the Wichita Rescue Movement along with Michael Dodds, one of the signers of the statement that said slaughters doctors is perfectly acceptable.
Thanks Doug. He is one of those who thinks “Thou shalt not bear false witness” doesn’t apply when you are on a mission of God. That slanderer gives REAL Christians a bad name.
Knowing that Paul is a supporter of slanderer Brown says a lot about Paul. In fact, if I recall correctly, Paul was involved with GOP politics back in 1994 while Brown was doing his slanderous attacks on behalf of GOP candidates. Brown has never disavowed his lies.
…and Paul never met a republican lie he didnt love!!
Of course they would be bedfellows!
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