Kline’s revenge?

width=”100″ height=”154″ border=”0″ title=”Klinesmiling_3″ alt=”Klinesmiling_3″ src=”http://blogs.kansas.com/weblog/files/images/klinesmiling_3.jpg” /> It’s a surreal aside to an amazing race: If Democratic challenger Paul Morrison succeeds in unseating Attorney General Phill Kline, they could end up switching jobs. The Kansas City Star reported that possibility over the weekend. It could happen because Morrison was a Republican before switching parties to challenge Kline, meaning the Johnson County Republican Committee would pick Morrison’s replacement as district attorney until the 2008 election. And Kline, a former Johnson County legislator, might be the GOP’s guy. "Absolutely. I would not rule him out," said Doug Patterson, the county GOP chairman.
Posted by Rhonda Holman

19 Comments

  1. Vaughn Tolle
    Posted October 23, 2006 at 1:34 pm | Permalink

    Why not? There have been stranger outcomes in politics; now, the issue becomes, will the JoCo Republican Committee be criticized by their membership, just in case the membership doesn’t think Phill Kline is an appropriate replacement. Oh, well, if it happens, the voters will eventually determine the outcome.

  2. Dennis
    Posted October 23, 2006 at 2:00 pm | Permalink

    JoCo can have him.

  3. Ben Huie
    Posted October 23, 2006 at 2:38 pm | Permalink

    It would be interesting.

  4. mrcontroversy
    Posted October 23, 2006 at 2:41 pm | Permalink

    Funny thing is, Phill would likely get a pay increase.

  5. Jed
    Posted October 23, 2006 at 2:45 pm | Permalink

    JoCo can have whomever they want for DA. If enough idiots vote for Kline……….

  6. Jim G.
    Posted October 23, 2006 at 3:44 pm | Permalink

    Anywhere for Kline… put the SOB in a boat, pull it out near the Bermuda triangle and toss him some raw meat…and wave goodbye.

  7. Will
    Posted October 23, 2006 at 4:07 pm | Permalink

    zphill zkline zis za zsexy zman

  8. political_mom
    Posted October 23, 2006 at 4:47 pm | Permalink

    It’s a real shame that the republican leadership may not learn a darn thing out of this whole mess.

    If that’s not enough to let moderate republicans know they’re not welcome in the party, I don’t know what is. Eventually they’ll leave the party too.

  9. Pam Dawson
    Posted October 23, 2006 at 5:26 pm | Permalink

    Is Rhonda on Kline’s payroll? Every column she has written has been glowing support for Kline.

    sheesh and you call yourself a journalist.

  10. raptor
    Posted October 23, 2006 at 5:39 pm | Permalink

    Does he have any experience as a DA? How about an assistant DA?

    If a county wants an inexperienced politician for a prosecutor, I guess that is their option…as long as he is retired from the state job, I don’t care where he goes…

  11. political_mom
    Posted October 23, 2006 at 6:29 pm | Permalink

    I have little doubt that it would take long for JoCo to get Phill out of office for that too.

  12. Jon
    Posted October 23, 2006 at 6:58 pm | Permalink

    I’m not sure JOCO is growing more conservative by the day.. It may be the perfect match

  13. outlander
    Posted October 23, 2006 at 7:51 pm | Permalink

    Is Rhonda on Kline’s payroll? Every column she has written has been glowing support for Kline.sheesh and you call yourself a journalist.

    Posted by: Pam Dawson | October 23, 2006 at 05:26 PM

    Patronizing chuckle

  14. JWink
    Posted October 23, 2006 at 7:53 pm | Permalink

    As a former long-time Johnson County Republican precinct committee person, I think the voting would be done by all 350 precinct committeemen and 350 precinct committeewomen. These people are very saavy and most would not be intimidated by Phil Kline. I think most would see through this charade and not buy into it.

    Also it’s my understanding that Phill Kline and his family now live in rural Shawnee County outside of Topeka and no longer in the city of Shawnee, Johnson County, Kansas. Residency requirements are sometimes nebulous so don’t know the legal ramifications.

    Also I suspect the Johnson County Prosecuting Attorney’s legal staff and Sheriff’s Department and some 30 Johnson County suburban police departments would take a hard-nosed look at this situation — not to Phill’s advantage.

  15. Steven Davis
    Posted October 23, 2006 at 7:59 pm | Permalink

    And maybe after 15-20 years as a county D.A., Kline might be able to run for State A.G. once more.

  16. JWink
    Posted October 23, 2006 at 8:05 pm | Permalink

    Actually I have talked with Phill Kline and Paul Morrison various times over the years. Both are outstanding and ambitious representatives of Kansas.

    However, in the case of Phill Kline, I suspect he can find many opportunities outside of the Kansas Attorney General’s office. Some examples, Phill could get a federal legal appointment, a powerful lobbyist position, or a large church to preach in, or a middle size church or a small church somewhere.

    But here, now, in 2006 … I believe it’s the right time, right place, to cut Phill Kline loose and elect Paul Morrison Kansas Attorney General.

  17. Erik
    Posted October 24, 2006 at 8:21 am | Permalink

    I think Crowson came pretty close to describing what Kline would do to this state if he was elected again.

    Albeit in a roundabout way… We wouldn’t be nuked literally, but practically.

    I especially liked Kline Jong-Il.. Very droll :)

  18. mrcontroversy
    Posted October 24, 2006 at 10:19 am | Permalink

    There are no residency requirements for DA or County Attorneys in Kansas. Frequently, Republicans in smaller counties will recruit attorneys from elsewhere to run for the position.

  19. Todd
    Posted October 24, 2006 at 11:35 am | Permalink

    Stick a fork in him, he’s done.