Democrats haven’t controlled the Kansas House since 1992 — one of only three brief periods they did in the past century — but they are expected to gain a few seats on Tuesday and cut into the GOP’s powerful 83-seat majority. The Eagle editorial board certainly observed a sharp increase in the quality of area Democratic legislative candidates this year. “In the past, it’s been hard to recruit candidates. This year they were calling us wanting to run,” House Minority Leader Dennis McKinney, D-Greenburg, told Associated Press of the races across the state. “There is a lot of frustration with legislators in general and a lot of frustration over the special session we had to have.”
Maybe so, but the editorial board noticed one thing that hasn’t changed: Democrats rarely identify themselves as such on their palm cards and other campaign materials. And how about depicting a donkey to counter all the GOP candidates’ elephants? No way.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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21 Comments
Let’s see . . . two local Republican statehouse candidates have been arrested (Beemer and Swenson) and at least one of them has obtained a trial date that won’t occur until a week after the election (Swenson). Another incumbent Republican takes credit for passing legislation that he didn’t vote for (Watkins). Another incumbent Republican claimed endorsement by the AFL-CIO which wasn’t true (DeCastro), and another claimed support by the Kansas AARP (Grange) which wasn’t true. I haven’t even started to discuss the idiotic voting records of the rest of the bunch.
Now, what gross, unsettling, untoward offense have you accused the Democratic statehouse candidates of? Oh yea, failing to ID their political party affiliation. Of course, many of those statehouse candidates DO list their party, and there are Republicans also who do not list their party – like Jan Beemer.
If Republican leaders are switching parties, one can assume Republican voters are doing the same.
Kelly if the democrats are so proud of being a democrat why not show who they are?
I think you forgot to mention the double dipper democrats like former Rep. George Dean and Gwen Wilshimer.
You also forgot to mention former Rep. Delbert Gross a Democrat that had to be located on a regular basis to vote because he was sitting in the bars in Topeka.
Then you can’t forget about former Rep. Tom Bishop who got his secretary pregnant and left his wife and two children for his secretary.
What about former Senator Paul Feliciano (who know serves on the State Parole Board) who was involved in a business scam in Park City.
Then you have former Rep. Henry Helgerson who said he lived in a district (which you have to do to run for office) but it was discovered that he actually lived in Eastbourgh.
Then don’t forget about the money funneling scheme the democrats did a few years back that made headlines.
So if you really want to start to look at records Kelly you might want to clean up you own backyard before you start pointing fingers. By the way all of the above were Sedgwick County Democrats except for Delbert Gross.
I suspect that this reflects the old Will Rogers quip: I don’t belong to an organized political party, I’m a Democrat. Democrats are much more diverse; they are not of one mold. Thus, they run as individuals, not simply as clones of their party apparatus.
There have been plenty of scumbags on both sides throughout history. This year, it’s the Republican’s turn to hold a near-monopoloy on bad behavior, and they don’t deserve to be elected/reelected to office.
The Beagle recognizes Tiahrts’ ties to indicted / corrupt Tom Delay and Jack Abramhoff, yet endorses him. Totally ignoring the criminal behavior of those he associates with and has been lucky to escape investigation so far — when the other shoe drops — will the Beagle admit their mistake ? Probably not — they are not the liberal media most people here accuse them of being. Also, they nor Tiahrts camp can give specific examples of what he has done in any leadership role — he hasn’t sponsored / cosponsored a bill benefiting the military in over 6 years — his leadership on the economic development caucus consists of a 9 point letter — nothing else.
Watkins (R, Incumbent Representative District 105) is full of dirty tricks, lies and deceptions. Like “Letters to the Editor” in support of him from people who aren’t registered to vote in Sedgwick County. Who wrote them? Of course, few in his district have any idea who he is since he prefers to NOT be accountable to the people in this district. His vote has been bought and paid for by big-money interests and he prefers no one know that. Take a look at his donors – their money wasn’t given without expectations! His vote is bought and paid for before the bill even comes up for a vote!
The ONLY report he made to his constituents during his two years in office praised the Grandparents as Caregivers bill as, “a win-win for taxpayers and children that will result in long-term cost savings.” Then, you guessed it, he voted AGAINST the bill.I contacted him by email last March when it looked like an expensive special session might be on tap to decide school funding. His reply to me was both arrogant, rude and a big lie. He told me he supported the legislative audit committee’s report “as a bill.” Of course he voted against the school funding bill that passed the house. Then immediately wrote a long lying letter published by The Eagle stating taxes would need to be raised to fund the bill that passed. Now, how in the world could he support what the legislative audit recommended WHICH WAS MORE MONEY? Oh, and no one need wonder who kept the emails. I still have the emails and will gladly show them to anyone who wants to see exactly who Jason Watkins really is vs. what he tells you he is.
He took campaign money from the gambling industry AND was one the legislators who signed the letter to our county commissioners encouraging voters not be allowed input on this question.
Vote for change in District 105 — VOTE for Jane Byrnes. She is a proud Democrat. She is our neighbor. She has intelligence and a desire to “represent” the people in District 105. Her campaign money comes from people who want to know someone they may contact at any time and be listened to will represent them in Topeka. Her professional experience in the medical field will help in working towards affordable, efficient health care for Kansans. She will work with everyone (from all parties) to achieve real solutions for the common good. Jane stands for all the things that make our state great and none of those that make Watkins just another shill for the Republican Party.
“Maybe so, but the editorial board noticed one thing that hasn’t changed: Democrats rarely identify themselves as such on their palm cards and other campaign materials.”
I don’t know about the rest of you, but the only campaign literature I’ve received this year was from a republican, and there was no mention at all of his political party.
I’ve noticed in the past that neither party is mentioning it. It’s also very hard to find political party information on the candidates’ websites, whether they’re running a first time or incumbants.
Kelly -
Jan Beemer’s court date is also after the elction (11/16/06). Wouldn’t want to appear in court before the people vote now would we.
Responding to sotheysaid, it is very interesting the ancient history you were forced to dig up. I didn’t see a single reference to a current candidate.
“Funneling scheme”? I see from Joe McCleland’s campaign finance report that he gave $4000 this last reporting cycle to the State Republican House committee. You don’t suppose that money was being “funneled” to other Republicans who are fighting desparately to distance themselves from Bush-Cheney-Rumsfeld-Kline do you? I also know that no illegalities or indictments resulted from that alleged funneling scheme . . . but what happened with the Tom Delay funneling scheme . . . indictments and resignations. And if you want to throw more mud about sex harassment charges, I could certainly reciprocate – but I won’t lower myself to your standard of conduct.
Didn’t GOP treasurer Paul F Rosell have to pay a hefty fine for election finance irregularities?
The Eagle editors are amazing truly.
They have managed to write about just about everything EXCEPT Todd Tiahrt.
Hey Rhonda? Instead of asking about the honesty of Democrats in identifying themselves, why don’t you TRY and explain why you and the Eagle are pretending to be journalists when it SEEMS you are no more than GOP hacks?
It is 3 days to the election and the Eagle has not asked Todd Tiahrt to debate his democrat challenger Garth McGinn. They also have not given us a thread to discuss the matter even though they have been repeatedly asked to do so.
While I agree that Tiahrt should be called upon by the Eagle to demand to know why he won’t debate McGinn, I think calling the Eagle “GOP hacks” is inaccurate. After all, they endorsed Walt Chappel over incumbent neo-con Brenda Landwehr, Terry McLachlan over incumbent neo-con Willa DeCastro, and endorsed every incumbent statehouse Democrat.
I said the SEEM to be GOP hacks kelly.
The races you mention are valid. But I would argue that the most important races by far are for our representatives in Congress. The Eagle seems to be going out of its way NOT to mention Tiahrt. When they mention Jim Ryun it is only to note that p(resident) bush is coming here to campaign for him. I want to know why.
I’m confused.
One day the Eagle shows it’s “liberal bias” for endorssing Morrison and “bashing” Kline.
Now they are GOP hacks because they don’t bemand a debate between Tiahrt and McGinn.
Can someone sort this out for me.
Maybe Democrats don’t make a big thing out of their party affiliation because
1. the fastest growing “party” these days is “undeclared”
2. the republicans have been so divisive in recent years, displaying a party symbol seems to feed that divisive-ness.
The average Kansan doesn’t want a Republican or a Democratic candidate–they want good leadership.
An elephant or a donkey next to a name does not help the potential voter decide that, unfortunately.
Kelly I suggest that you look at all of the campaign finance reports of the democrats and you will find that almost all of them sent their money to the democrat party to handle all of their mailings. So why would you get upset that one person sent money to the Republican Party?
Are the democrat candidates not capable of handling their own campaigns? Are the democrat candidates not capable of figuring out how to do their own literature? Do they always have to have someone else do things for them?
I would add something else capn – if an independent wants to run for office he can register D and run there. the Dem party thus becomes a coalition of ‘real’ Dems, independents, and disaffected Reps.
All it takes to run for office in a Primary is to register and pay a filing fee. To get on the general election ballot as an independent is virtually impossible,
Hey Kelly maybe you need to talk to your friend Walt Chappell who says that all politicians that take money from lobbyist are corrupt? He says that the money buys the vote of the candidate. So you may want to really look at the campaign finance reports of your friends and see who purchased them (according to Walt)?
Walt Chappell is an arrogant, evil man. I am a proud Democrat, but would never vote for him. He is rude, condecending, and lectures voters instead of listening to them. I’m tired of him and can’t wait for him to lose. Let’s get a REAL Democrat to run for this seat next time.
I was really amazed by the quality of Democrats recruited this year. Hats of to the Democratic Party leadership for doing such a supurb job of finding candidates like Terry McLachlan, Judy Armstrong, and Jane Byrnes.