Somebody had to be the Democrats’ postelection pinata, and it turned out to be John Bolton.
After President Bush nominated Bolton on Thursday to be U.N. ambassador, Democrats essentially told him not to bother. Sen. Joe Biden, top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, said Bolton’s confirmation won’t be allowed to come to a vote. Rightly or wrongly, Democrats consider Bolton an undiplomatic bully who is prone to disparaging the United Nations.
Another Bush nomination, that of Robert Gates to replace Donald Rumsfeld as secretary of defense, may face some tough sledding over his role in the Iran-contra affair. But don’t expect it to drag out too long: After all, Rumsfeld has promised to stick around until his replacement is confirmed.
Posted by Dave Knadler
Just days after her re-election as governor, and Johnson County Sun chairman Steve Rose is already pondering what might come next for Kathleen Sebelius, who has yet to lose an election. He writes:
“Kansas has not elected a Democratic U.S. senator since the Great Depression, the longest streak in the nation. But a match-up between Kathleen Sebelius and Sam Brownback in 2010, when she completes her term as governor and Brownback is up for re-election, would offer an opportunity Gov. Sebelius could not refuse, despite the apparent long odds. And if the mood in the state and the country in four years is anything like today, look out, Sam.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kan., is trying to use support from evangelical Christians as a base for a presidential run. That might not be a very good plan, given last week’s election results. Also, that base, according to a Newsweek poll, is pretty tiny. Of evangelicals surveyed, only 1 percent said there was a good chance they would vote for Brownback for president, and only 11 percent said there was some chance. Meanwhile, 37 percent said there was no chance, and 43 percent said they had never heard of Brownback.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
As 113,676 voters in Kansas’ 4th Congressional District told Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, to return to Capitol Hill for a seventh term, another 4,516 voters chose somebody for the job who doesn’t even live in the district, Reform Party candidate Joy Holt of Kansas City, Kan. That oddity was brought to Kansans by the U.S. Constitution, Article I, Section 2, which requires only that a U.S. House member be at least 25 years old, a U.S. citizen for at least seven years, and “an inhabitant of that state in which he shall be chosen.”
Think there ought to be a law requiring that congressional candidates live in the district? That would require the cumbersome act of amending the Constitution, the office of Kansas Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh confirmed. If the founders foresaw this, they must have figured that voters would take care of the loophole — as they did Tuesday.
Still, it makes you wonder whether Holt’s gambit might catch on. Do any Wichitans stand ready to challenge Rep. Dennis Moore, D-Lenexa?
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Congratulations to campaign chairman Steve Martens and the United Way of the Plains for exceeding the $15 million fundraising goal this year by about $300,000. The goal was the same as in 2000, the last time the organization hit its desired mark. Thanks to the generosity of so many businesses and individuals this year, this vital life force for the region will be able to help 90 organizations help their clients and causes.
Even better, United Way’s success is the latest welcome indicator of revived vigor in the local economy. As Pat Hanrahan, president of United Way of the Plains, said: “When the economy is strong, the United Way is strong, and the community benefits.”
Posted by Rhonda Holman
