Sunflower State’s politics getting noticed

The latest national columnist to take note of the shifting political winds in Kansas was the New York Times’ Paul Krugman, who wishfully pointed to the state last week as further evidence that the “right-wing coalition is showing signs of coming apart.” He went on: “It seems that we’re not in Kansas anymore. In fact, Kansas itself doesn’t seem to be in Kansas anymore. Kathleen Sebelius, the state’s Democratic governor, has achieved a sky-high favorability rating by focusing on good governance rather than culture wars, and her party believes it will win big this year.
“And nine former Kansas Republicans, including Mark Parkinson, the former state GOP chairman, are now running for state office as Democrats. Why did Parkinson change parties? Because he ‘got tired of the theological debate over whether Charles Darwin was right.’”
Posted by Rhonda Holman

46 Comments

  1. lucee
    Posted October 8, 2006 at 12:12 am | Permalink

    I always knew the Religious Right would hang themselves one day. Too many people are fed up with this “cram it down your throat” mentality and their pious attitude that they are the only ones with the true God.

    Just because the Religious Rightie can quote Scripture and yell the loudest – does not make them right.

  2. Posted October 8, 2006 at 12:26 am | Permalink

    Why does the press just accept everything Sebelius says? Where’s the list of the top five items that saved the billion bucks Sebelius keeps bragging about? Sebelius claimed having saved a billion over two years ago and hasn’t saved anything since?

    She saved so much money but let the nepotisim go in hiring the State Tourism director (son of her campaign chair and chief of staff, and son of Supreme Court justice). This guy had NO EXPERIENCE and then wasted what $300,000 or $400,000 on our great new tourism motto? Then he leaves the state since he lived with mom and dad at their home when his wife had stayed in California instead of moving to Kansas?

    And just what has Sebelius done on school finance except appoint more Democrats to the Kansas Supreme Court?

    Is Sebelius’ “independent style” of government to try to appoint her own contributors to as many state government positions as possible?

    Why does the Kansas press look the other way instead of holding Sebelius accountable for having done very little?

  3. GMC70
    Posted October 8, 2006 at 12:36 am | Permalink

    Sebelius mostly keeps her head down, following, rather than leading. If you don’t make waves, you don’t piss people off. Let others take the hits. Let the Supreme Court do the heavy lifting on education (however constitutionally suspect), for example , and then take credit for doing little.

    That’s leadership? Sebelius has good political instincts, and the good fortune to have her administration in place as the economy recovered from the 9/11 hit. That’s primarily luck, not leadership.

  4. J R
    Posted October 8, 2006 at 12:37 am | Permalink

    Crawl back to Salina blog Lark.

    What is it that you want? Sebelius is already GOP lite in a GOP controlled state.

    Lark? Howsabout your side fronts a candidate that actually WANTS the job? What is Barnett gonna weigh in between Dr office calls?

  5. lucee
    Posted October 8, 2006 at 12:38 am | Permalink

    I have a sneaking suspicion that Republicans don’t like Kathleen Sebelius because she is a smart woman that is beating them at their own game.

  6. GMC70
    Posted October 8, 2006 at 12:45 am | Permalink

    JR:

    What happened to expression for all? I’ve seen this reaction before – Why is KS Meadowlark so threatening to you?

  7. Rev Freddy P. Phelps
    Posted October 8, 2006 at 12:58 am | Permalink

    The honorable reverend Fred Phelps and the red state of kansas will remain strong supporters of the greatest American political party – The Republican Party – even if jesus returns as a democrat welfare pesant.

  8. J R
    Posted October 8, 2006 at 1:06 am | Permalink

    GMC

    I’ll answer that more fully tomorrow. Long day.

    For starters? Lark uses this forum to shill his own barren and not visited one.

  9. Posted October 8, 2006 at 1:48 am | Permalink

    Rev Fred Phelps in Topeka is a registered Democrat.

    JR: Why not check my facts and point out errors in them? If links are allowed, and I’m only “pushing” political information, which is mostly ignored by the Kansas press, why are you so afraid of anyone seeing it?

    You’re trying to control the flow of information — and free speech — but you never have pointed out flaws in my facts or logic. You attack the messenger, because you’re afraid of the message?

    Challenge: Take one article I’ve written and point out factual erors in it. Cite the sources of your information that contradict mine. I usually cite political money information form IRS documents (like IRS 990s or IRS 8872s) and information from the Kansas Governmental Ethics Office. Why are you so afraid of such information?

    Or don’t facts matter to you?

    You really should be nicer to the good people of Salina.

  10. sotheysaid
    Posted October 8, 2006 at 8:01 am | Permalink

    Sebelius only get’s a high rating of herself outside of Kansas. She has not been able to go above the 48% approval mark here in Kansas.

    She has done nothing to actually save money.

    She bonded a lot of the states debt so that future taxpayers will have to pay for it.

    The only charge she led on education was to raise taxes over a billion dollars.

    She wants driver licenses for illegal’s immigrants.

    She gave in state tuition to illegal immigrants.

    She increased the number of government employees while private sector jobs have been lost.

    She has grown the governor’s budget bigger than any governor in Kansas history.

    She talks about supporting our military but she waited for a photo op to show any support.

    She has spent a great deal of time flying around the country in the state plane at taxpayer’s expense to attend democrat fundraisers and to visit her vacation home in Michigan.

    Just where is her leadership? Perhaps it is behind the illegal’s she protects, the Alexa’s that have been murdered, the military that pay out of state tuition and the list goes on.

    To her credit she is a smart politician. She is a tax and spend liberal but for campaign purposes she moves to the right trying to convince everyone that she is a fiscal conservative and pro-life. When in reality she is neither! If she is really proud of what she has done why does she run from what she has done?

  11. HadOurPhill
    Posted October 8, 2006 at 8:30 am | Permalink

    With this guy as our AG, who can blame Kansans AND national pundits for pointing out the failures of the GOP? I mean, such ridiculous TV ads!

    http://hadourphill.blogspot.com

    This is the recognized leader of the Kansas GOP?

  12. Steven Davis
    Posted October 8, 2006 at 10:09 am | Permalink

    “Or don’t facts matter to you?

    “You really should be nicer to the good people of Salina.”

    KSM,You do write with a lot of numerical support to your positions. I do appreciate your research and thoroughness.

    My complaint, and I don’t know if JR would agree, is that you seem to imply that because you use a lot of data that you are fair and balanced. “Just facts ma’am” – kind of an approach that is thus unassailable. This latter is not at all true, unfortunately.

    For example in the current thread, we read you railing about a case of Sebelius nepotism (the appointee was not from her family, however). How often have you written about Kline’s nepotism? The case where he hired his nephew for a job that required driving — the only problem, the nephew did not have a valid driver’s license — you know that story?

    You seem to uncritically endorse far right ideologues and this practice is contrary to what most moderate voters (of both major parties) are interested in. Unquestioned following of out-of-the-mainstrea ideology as evidenced by your lock step adherence to politicians like Kline is what moderate Kansas voters are rebelling against.

    I would like to end by saying that you are serving a useful purpose, but probably the opposite of what you would hope to achieve. I for one, would like to see you keep posting; and posting more often in fact.

    One last thing I can’t resist, to your:”Rev Fred Phelps in Topeka is a registered Democrat.”

    I would say this:Mr. Dennis Rader of Park City, and more recently the El Dorado correctional facility, is a registered Republican.

    Would you say we are even on that “pissing contest”? — you’re right, I think my side is a tiny bit ahead.

  13. Steven Davis
    Posted October 8, 2006 at 10:10 am | Permalink

    should have been: “out-of-the-mainstream”

  14. UncleJoe
    Posted October 8, 2006 at 10:15 am | Permalink

    OK — one by one — let’s address the misstatements:

    (In caps, but I’ not screaming — just differentiating)

    Sebelius only get’s a high rating of herself outside of Kansas. She has not been able to go above the 48% approval mark here in Kansas.HER APPROVAL RATING HAS CONSISTENTLY BEEN IN THE 60+ PERCENT RANGE

    She has done nothing to actually save money. JUST NOT TRUE — MOTOR POOL REDUCTIONS, ANY NUMBER OF NON-SEXY REDUCTIONS IN BUREUACRACY

    She bonded a lot of the states debt so that future taxpayers will have to pay for it. TRUE ENOUGH, BUT THE STATE WAS IN DESPARATE CIRCUMSTANCES IN 2003 AFTER GRAVES; THE BOND RATING REMAINS QUITE HIGH

    The only charge she led on education was to raise taxes over a billion dollars. NO TAXES WERE EVER RAISED, AND SHE KEPT THE LEGISLATORS AT WORK IN 2005 AND PLAYED A SUBSATANTIAL ROLE IN 2006. IN THE END, A GOVERNOR “LEADS” BY BEING SMART ABOUT GETTING THINGS DONE.

    She wants driver licenses for illegal’s immigrants. SHOULD WE HAVE THEM DRIVING UNINSURED AND UNLICENSED? IT’S A CALL, BUT A REASONABLE ONE.

    She gave in state tuition to illegal immigrants. WHO GRADUATED FROM STATE HIGH SCHOOLS AND ARE LIVING HERE. THIS IS A PRODUCTIVE, INCLUSIVE POLICY THAT DOES NOT PENALIZE CHILDREN. WE’RE ALL IMMIGRANTS, BY THE WAY…

    She increased the number of government employees while private sector jobs have been lost. CLOSE CALL HERE — THE OVERALL ECONOMY IS DOING PRETTY WELL, AND A LOT OF THOSE JOBS ARE MILITARY-RELATED, WHERE SHE HAS DONE TREMENDOUS WORK IN INCREASING THE MILITARY PRESENCE AND INVESTMENT IN KANSAS.

    She has grown the governor’s budget bigger than any governor in Kansas history. THE GOVERNOR’S BUDGET? WHAT IS THAT? HER OFFICE? RELATIVE TO MOST GOVERNORS HER STAFF IS VERY SMALL.

    She talks about supporting our military but she waited for a photo op to show any support. NOWHERE IS SHE MORE SINCERE THAN ON MILITARY MATTERS. NOWHERE.

    She has spent a great deal of time flying around the country in the state plane at taxpayer’s expense to attend democrat fundraisers and to visit her vacation home in Michigan. IF SHE TRAVELS ON THE STATE PLANE FOR PARTY MATTERS, THE STATE IS REIMBURSED.

    Just where is her leadership? Perhaps it is behind the illegal’s she protects, the Alexa’s that have been murdered, the military that pay out of state tuition and the list goes on.

    2003: $12 MILLION IN GENERAL FUND; 2006 – OVER $700 MILLION, PLUS A REAL SCHOOL FINANCE PROGRAM. ALL KINDS OF GOVERNMENTAL EFFICIENCIES (FOR WHICH SHE’S BEEN NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED). MORE KIDS COVERED WITH HEALTH INSURANCE. GREAT LEADERSHIP OF THE STATE’S NATIONAL GUARD — ALL IN THE FACE OF A GOP LEGISLATURE THAT OPPOSED VIRTUALLY ALL HER INITIATIVES FOR LARGELY PARTISAN REASONS. THAT’S REAL LEADERSHIP THAT KANSANS WILL ACKNOWLEDGE NOVEMBER 7TH

    To her credit she is a smart politician. She is a tax and spend liberal but for campaign purposes she moves to the right trying to convince everyone that she is a fiscal conservative and pro-life. When in reality she is neither! If she is really proud of what she has done why does she run from what she has done?

  15. Posted October 8, 2006 at 11:22 am | Permalink

    Hey Meadowlark, contrary to your lie, the State Tourism director did have experience for the job. Allegrucci had a background in media and worked for the department which houses the tourism department.

  16. Posted October 8, 2006 at 11:48 am | Permalink

    Stephen Davis: Why can the press only present one side of a story, or not print some stories at all, yet you attack me for writing about what the press ignores? I’m not “balanced” when I’m trying to be some balance for the bias in the Kansas press?

    I have written about Kline’s nepotism in a letter to the Hutchinson News. I compared and contrasted how his case was treated versus how the Allegrucci’s were treated by the press. In Kansas City, KCTV 5 was so out to “get” Kline, they led with the nepotism story instead of reporting about how the people of Kansas City, Kansas were dealing with the tornado in May 2003. KCTV had ads promoting their hit piece research for days, and they didn’t want that local tornado story to get in their way. The press beat up on Kline for a near entry-level job for his nephew, but almost ignored the Allegrucci story of a non-entry level position by a guy who had experience only as an actor and serving on Sebelius’ inaugural committee? KCTV never did a story about Allegrucci. I’m not being “fair and balanced” when I point out the bias in the press? Only “moderate” and liberal ideas are welcome? It’s a conservative stand to let all sides be presented in the press?

    I broke part of the money story about Schools for Fair Funding months before the Capital Journal went to court to get the info. The press had ignored the IRS 990s filed by SFF and how they were not complying with IRS laws on how the forms were filled out. Total numbers were in the IRS 990s, but much detail was missing. It’s biased when I try to inform Kansans about this? There are far too many politicians (both parties) that are not watching the public purse on school spending. Former State Senator Bill Bunten from Topeka couldn’t get the schools to summarize their spending by building. Why don’t schools want ANY accountability?

    I’m trying to get more information available to the public so they can make informed decisions. You want only “moderate” and liberal viewpoints so the voters need to make decisions without all information? There is considerable bias in the Kansas press, which is my main motivation for doing what I do. The KC Star regularly refuses to print letters to the editor and allow “equal time”.

    Back in 1996 the Kansas City Star paid money to find dirt on Bob Dole’s political money and found some. The did not spend a dime to find any dirt on Clinton — and there was plenty. Appeals directly to the Star were ignored for them to be more “fair and balanced”. Where is the story about the bias in the Kansas press?

    Recently I criticized both Congressmen Dennis Moore and Jim Ryun for their abuse of their franking privilege. The Kansas press beat up on Ryun a bit in the Lawrence area, but the KC Star never mentioned it since they bury most criticism of Dennis Moore. The Kansas press is being fair criticizing Ryun and not criticizing Moore?

  17. Posted October 8, 2006 at 11:54 am | Permalink

    You are as full of crap here as you are on the Salina blogs, Meadowlark.

  18. Steven Davis
    Posted October 8, 2006 at 12:34 pm | Permalink

    No, Door King, I don’t think your comment is fair to KSM.

    He sees standard news reports as being biased against the positions he supports. Which is definitely true to an extent, I believe.

    Just as I gut reaction to what Michael Moore says, I have the same gut response to what KSM writes.

    As I said before, I do not wish to silence KSM, though I think he wishes I did, so that he could continue with his world view that moderate and liberal positions are against the TRUTH (according to him).

    I will continue to read what he writes and welcome the opportunity. Despite his protestations to the contrary, KSM is a fine example of why moderation is needed in Kansas politics. A position that I am hoping a majority of Kansans are getting. I trust KSM will “get it” in time.

  19. Posted October 8, 2006 at 12:59 pm | Permalink

    Meadowlurk, is it surprising to you that a Kansas paper would look for information on a candidate from Kansas and not one from Arkansas? The Kansas City Star also didn’t spend money looking for “dirt” on Jesse Ventura therefore we can say the KCS has a pro-Reform party bias. They didn’t spend money looking for info on Ralph Nader therefore they have a pro-Green party bias. They also didn’t spend money investigating Jan Beemer therefore they have a pro-insane bias.

    When you come around with an actual news story I’d love to hear it. Until then your conspiracy theories are about as exciting as shopping for socks.

  20. Posted October 8, 2006 at 1:29 pm | Permalink

    Doug: Where’s the experience in the following story about Allegrucci? Notice the “netural tone” in the story below versus the hostile tone taken by the press against Kline. Why is Kline’s story repeated by the press, but the press sees no contradiction about Sebelius bragging about saving money but allowing the Allegrucci hiring?

    Kline was not directly involved in the hiring of his nephew, yet he is criticized, but Sebelius’ (former) chief of staff is not criticzed about the hiring of her son?

    SEBELIUS ADVISER’S SON LANDS TOURISM POSTWichita EagleApril 18, 2003

    TOPEKA – Scott Allegrucci, son of a Kansas Supreme Court justice and a top aide to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, has been named state tourism director.

    Lt. Gov. John Moore announced Allegrucci’s appointment to the $60,000- a-year job this week. The Division of Travel and Tourism Development is part of the Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing, which Moore leads.Allegrucci coordinated Sebelius’ inaugural festivities in January.

    He is the son of Kansas Supreme Court Justice Donald Allegrucci and former Sebelius campaign manager Joyce Allegrucci, who is now the governor’s appointm ents secretary.

    His high-profile parents were not a factor in his appointment to the tourism post, said Sally Lunsford, spokeswoman for the Commerce Department.

    “Certainly there is concern that some might see it that way,” Lunsford said. “Obviously we can’t pretend that he’s not related to Joyce Allegrucci and a Kansas Supreme Court justice. But he was selected because of his own virtues and talents.”

    Sebelius spokeswoman Nicole Corcoran-Basso said Joyce Allegrucci was not involved in the decision to hire her son.

    Allegrucci has worked in California and New York as a performer, writer, director and producer for television, feature films and the stage.

    Moore said Allegrucci would take a “fresh look” at Kansas’ tourism programs .

    “We believe his media expertise and knowledge, his creative approach to challenges, and his leadership skills uniquely qualify him to successfully tell the Kansas story and increase tourism,” Moore said.

  21. Wiseman
    Posted October 8, 2006 at 1:48 pm | Permalink

    Let’s kill off the party affiliation crap, it doesn’t mean damm thing anymore.I am voting for the most sensible.The republicans and the democrats parties are such a mess, you would have to be mentally incompetent retard to supporting those two parties.

  22. Paul F. Rosell
    Posted October 8, 2006 at 2:49 pm | Permalink

    Sebelius has VP potential if she wins.Parkinson is over, politically, after this race.If Sebelius wins, she will treat the office of Gov just the same way as she treated the Insurance Commissioner post, just another stepping stone.The funny thing is, the national press never mentions the fact that Kathleen Sebelius looks like Joe Lieberman, running pro military commercials and anti government waste commercials.If and when Sebelius goes national, Sebelius will either go hard left, or the DNC, Lamont, Michael Moore crowd will cut her into pieces.I actually think Barnett has a good shot at winning, since Sebelius is comming up empty when pressed for specifics.Again, all of those life sized cut outs of Kathleen, at all the state fair booths, probably cost more than all the paperclips she “saved” in her commercial.

  23. Steven Davis
    Posted October 8, 2006 at 3:14 pm | Permalink

    Another update from the fantasy world of Paul F. Rosell. Brought to you by … who was it now?

  24. Tony
    Posted October 8, 2006 at 4:24 pm | Permalink

    I think the biggest mistake Sebelius could make is to give specifics… Cause guess what happens, if it doesn’t get done, the press and other party will come back with a vengeance using that as ammunition in the next race…

    History shows us this… Paul, the only thing Barnet is doing is mud slinging and naysaying.

    The economy has grown under Sebelius, spending is down and overall the state is in a good financial footing (Unlike our federal government).

    Paul, i challenge u to tell us here on this blog what exactly has Sebelius done (or not done) in her term that is worthy of her getting defeated this November?

  25. Paul F. Rosell
    Posted October 8, 2006 at 4:32 pm | Permalink

    TonySebelius is on auto pilot. She has done nothing.She did propose a tax increase that did not pass. She now brags about the state revenues going up “without a tax increase” but fails to mention that the Republicans stopped her tax increase plan.Sebelius did nothing on school finance. She is running a “negative ad” pretending that she did something about it, and attacking the legislature, when it was actually the Supreme Court that caused the problems.Sebelius is not a true leader, when she sees a political problem she ducks, lets the chips fall, then takes credit when she deserves no credit.The entire country, and every state, are seeing the results of a booming economy.Sebelius is taking credit for an economy which is growing due to Republican tax cuts on the national level, and Republicans stopping the Sebelius tax increases on the state level.

  26. Tony
    Posted October 8, 2006 at 4:44 pm | Permalink

    Kind of like Bush taking credit for the booming economy he got when he stole the election?

    So far Paul, im not seeing any point. This is all speculation that has no metrics in which to measure the truth.

    What could she have done about the School Finance deal other than giving those couple of speeches?? As you yourself just said, it was the Supreme Court.

    Oh, and your tax increase u were mentioning, that increase was to fund schools. That was before the courts got involved. When the increase was defeated by the Republicans, that’s when the Courts got involved. Remember?

    So far, u don’t have a single point. Give us something that can be measured. Something like Bush’s miserable failure on the Federal Budget, now over 8.5 Trillion with the authorization to take it to 9 Trillion…

  27. Ben Huie
    Posted October 8, 2006 at 4:45 pm | Permalink

    With a Legislature controlled 2-1 by the party of Rosell she is rather limited in what she can do.

  28. Ian Santiago
    Posted October 8, 2006 at 4:52 pm | Permalink

    Sebelius is an empty vessel. I am sure that at heart she is a typical anti-White radical leftist but she knows that nonsense would never get her elected. So, she shoses to cozy up to the water waster and crony capitalists to fill her campaign coffers while offering nothing of substance. She is typical of the dregs that our dying political system churns out.

    V.L.R.B!!

  29. Tony
    Posted October 8, 2006 at 5:01 pm | Permalink

    Look, another BS posting by Ian!

  30. Ian Santiago
    Posted October 8, 2006 at 5:07 pm | Permalink

    Tony,

    You ain’t seen nothing yet, boyo, I just b gettin’ warmed up!

    V.L.R.B!!

  31. Posted October 8, 2006 at 7:07 pm | Permalink

    “Why does the Kansas press look the other way instead of holding Sebelius accountable for having done very little?”

    Force of habit?

  32. Posted October 8, 2006 at 9:36 pm | Permalink

    Hey, Paul “I get paid by AIPAC” Roshill?

    Why don’t you let Sebelius tell us what she thinks instead of you “reading her mind” and telling us what she thinks?

    On the other hand, if you really can read people’s mind, see if you can figure out what I’m thinking–

    “you are an ___hole.”

  33. political_mom
    Posted October 8, 2006 at 10:19 pm | Permalink

    I think it’s funny that Sebelius has done such a fantastic job that nobody can really come up with anything to slam her over.

    Except the illegal alien thing, even that I disagree with her on, but not enough to vote for someone else who will do far worse.

    You just can’t stand a good person in office…you must really hate Kansas.

  34. Posted October 8, 2006 at 11:28 pm | Permalink

    See Meadowlurk, you refuted your own position. Unlike Kline this wasn’t a case of nepotism. Nor is he unqualified as you claimed. So where’s your argument? Looks like you don’t have one and this is just an example of how desperate the Grand Old Pedophiles are in trying to disgrace an honorable and effective Democrat.

  35. Posted October 8, 2006 at 11:31 pm | Permalink

    Paul “paid shrill” Rosell is still thinking the Repubican plan of tax cuts for the rich and tax increases for the middle class stimulate the economy. It just happens to be a coincidence to Paul that the economy reversed under Clintion after 12 years of expanding government, record debts and deficits under Reagan and Bush. Then when Chucklenuts gets into office and reinstates the war on the middle class tax policy the economy tanks.

    It doesn’t take a genius to figure this one out. I certainly wouldn’t call Paul a genius, or anything remotely towards average.

  36. TRACY
    Posted October 9, 2006 at 7:37 am | Permalink

    Meadowfart–once again you flatter yourself by pretending that you speak for the good people of your fair city. YOU DO NOT.You speak for you.(and the repugnicans)

    What’s wrong meadowfart?Not enough people over at SJ lonelyblog for you to spout the repug sound bites to?

    Talking trash on Kansas’ MOST POPULAR GOVERNOR EVER is sure to have all the good people of Salina sayin’ ditto to whatever your latest dig is, I’m sure.

  37. sotheysaid
    Posted October 9, 2006 at 9:40 am | Permalink

    Tony ‚Äì I don’t know where you got your information that Sibelius has reduced the budget. She has not. You can go onto the State of Kansas website and see the figures. We now have the largest budget in Kansas history.

    If she is so proud of her tax increase proposal why doesn’t she talk about it?

    If she is so proud of her support for driver licenses for illegals why doesn’t she talk about it?

    If she is so proud of her support for in-state college tuition for illegals why doesn’t she talk about it?

    If she is so proud of the long term debt she has incurred then why doesn’t she talk about it?

    If she is so proud of the state being down graded on their bond rating then why doesn’t she talk about it?

    If she is so supportive of the military then why didn’t she know that we already had guardsmen at the boarder when the president was asking for more? Why did she delay in sending more? Why had she not visited the boarder before?

    If she is so proud of her party then why hasn’t she had a democrat for a running mate? Apparently she felt that none were worthy enough.

    Those are just a few of the questions for the empty suit governor of Kansas.

  38. TRACY
    Posted October 9, 2006 at 9:46 am | Permalink

    STS, that’s hilarious!!hahahahehehe

    A republican bitchen’ aboutLONG TERM DEBT?What about the repug ‘base’ with the tax cuts for the wealthy?You’re funny.

  39. TRACY
    Posted October 9, 2006 at 9:47 am | Permalink

    Talk sense to a fool and he calls you foolish…..Euripides

  40. sotheysaid
    Posted October 9, 2006 at 10:28 am | Permalink

    Tracy – what tax cuts are you referring to? On the state level or the federal level?

  41. sotheysaid
    Posted October 9, 2006 at 10:32 am | Permalink

    From the Lawrence Journal World:

    Sebelius says she was racing taxes to go above and beyond the needed budget. This is an easy thing to do when you don’t take it out of your pocket.

    Published Monday, October 9, 2006Tax banter omits part of storyAnalysis: Sebelius and Barnett both have supported past rate hikesBy John HannaThe Associated PressDemocratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and Republican challenger Jim Barnett are talking about taxes as they campaign, but neither is telling a complete story.Sebelius has said in her ads that she has improved the economy, put state government on a firm foundation and committed more money to schools. In her latest TV ad she looks into the camera and says, “And all without a tax increase.”Barnett vows to push for income and estate tax cuts to stimulate the economy, saying that would generate the job growth Kansas needs.But if Barnett now portrays himself as a tax cut champion, four years ago he voted in favor of tax increases worth $252 million a year, or $235 for every household in the state.And if Sebelius claims good things have happened without a tax increase, she has also proposed some herself, only to see them rejected by a GOP-controlled Legislature. Her proposals, when phased in, would have cost Kansans more than $350 million a year, or $326 a household.Both can make arguments for why they supported or proposed tax increases, but they face an electorate that may not tolerate a nuanced discussion.Bob Beatty, a Washburn University political scientist, said polls suggest that only one in 10 Kansans are willing to consider higher taxes to solve problems. Yet they also want candidates to talk about taxes.”Taxes are the bedrock issue,” Beatty said.Sebelius has confounded, irritated and even angered Republicans with her no-tax-increase talk.In January 2004, she proposed phasing in more than $300 million in sales, income and property taxes to provide dollars for public schools. Then, before the year was out, she unveiled a plan to increase tobacco taxes by $50 million to finance health care initiatives.Neither had much traction with the Legislature.”God, what a big lie — but the big lies are easier to believe than the little ones,” said Sen. Phil Journey, R-Haysville. “The big lie is that she did all this without a tax increase, when she proposed one and it was the Republicans who blocked it.”So how can Sebelius hope to get credit for righting the ship of state without a tax increase? Part of it is money and advertising, because she entered the campaign having raised more than $3 million toward re-election.But she and her staff have another explanation. The tax increases she proposed would finance improvements, not shore up the budget.”That was not for the day-to-day running of this state. It was about going above and beyond for schools and health care,” Sebelius spokeswoman Nicole Corcoran said. “I realize not everyone will separate the two, but to be accurate and fair, I believe they need to.”Meanwhile, a debate over the state’s economy continues.Sebelius and fellow Democrats point to job growth, better-than-anticipated tax revenues and favorable coverage in business publications to bolster her view that the economy has rebounded.Barnett and other Republicans note Kansas lags behind many states in job growth and worry that the three-year $541 million school finance plan approved this year will create a future budget shortfall.His cure is tax cuts designed to put money back in families’ and businesses pockets, to spur the economy. That activity in turn, he says, will generate tax revenues, making up for what the state loses.The last thing the state needs, he argues, is to have to consider raising taxes to keep its budget stable.Yet Barnett faced exactly that decision in 2002, and he voted for higher taxes at Gov. Bill Graves’ urging, along with most legislators.What happened?The decision to raise taxes came only eight months after the Sept. 11 attacks. The state’s economy had been slowing when those attacks — and their effects on the aircraft industry — caused it to tank.State revenues dropped 7 percent for fiscal year 2002, before the tax increases took effect. In state budget terms, the decline was disastrous.”We’re at a different time in our state,” Barnett says. “We’re at a time in Kansas where we have the opportunity to address one of the major issues facing our state, and that is an economy that lags behind the rest of the nation.”Both candidates face pressure to condense their messages for voters.Neither would do any good by making the arguments more complicated. And they are going to present themselves as positively as possible.Thus, when it comes to taxes, they’re skipping part of the story.

  42. ksfarmgrrl
    Posted October 9, 2006 at 11:44 am | Permalink

    hee hee hee hee

    racing taxes?

    hee hee hee hee

    I think that says it all about sts credibility.

    That’s more than just a typing error. It is an example of how sts sees the world through cracked lenses.

    lences?

    hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee hee

  43. Posted October 9, 2006 at 1:17 pm | Permalink

    What was the name of your nephew killed in Iraq, Sotheysaid?

  44. sotheysaid
    Posted October 9, 2006 at 6:07 pm | Permalink

    CapA – I don’t care to share that with you. Thanks for asking though.

    KSFG – Like you have never had a typo? The Governor did finally admit that she tried to raise taxes. But you will not see that in her commercials.

  45. Posted October 9, 2006 at 8:10 pm | Permalink

    Our governor is not liked by Republicans because she is Hillary Clinton in a Mary Poppins body.

    She is no more GOP lite than Barney Frank.

  46. Dan Warren
    Posted October 11, 2006 at 5:03 pm | Permalink

    What comes to people’s mind when they think of Kansas:(1) Dennis Rader(2) Creationism(3) Fred Phelps

    Not much to recommend our state.