State Sen. Donald Betts (in photo), D-Wichita, is taking some fire for calling on the Kansas Legislature to approve a resolution opposing President Bush’s troop surge in Iraq. Some state GOP stalwarts see it as an attack on the president. Others argue that the war is a national issue and beyond the jurisdiction of state lawmakers.
But Betts says he’s just listening to his constituents. “We have many Kansans who are leaving the state to fight in Iraq — and citizens are concerned,” he told The Eagle editorial board Tuesday.
He said he’s heard from families of soldiers who are facing financial burdens because of long deployments. Why shouldn’t state leaders “bring this to the attention of the president”?
The resolution isn’t likely to get out of hearings. Still, it’s hard to fault Betts’ contention that the Iraq war affects the lives of many Kansans and thus is a legitimate concern for lawmakers.
Posted by Randy Scholfield
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39 Comments
I think it’s ridiculous. Just political pandering. Try to get some real work done in the legislature.
Although I personally like Mr. Betts and have talked to him on several occasions, I disagree with him on a lot of issues.
And plus he was the one that personally killed the expanded Gaming issue several years ago when it had a slim chance of passing and Betts killed it by slipping in an amendment to allow slots in bowling alleys, bingo parlors and other similar venues.
Just went a little to far.
A non-binding resolution, to me, is a complete waste of time.
I’ve never heard Mr. Betts speak, so I don’t know if he is articulate, but he looks very clean.
The war on Iraq doesn’t impact MANY Kansans — it impacts all Kansans. The deficits generated by the war and tax breaks for the wealthy will be paid for by every Kansan now and in teh future.
If the Beagle were responsible, competent journalists, they would provide the news of the war (casualties, costs, fraud and abuse) on the front page more Kansans would agree with Betts ..
There is one sure way to insure we lose the war in Iraq – pull out prematurely.
Recently Obama Winfrey (yes, pun intended) proposed a plan that would leave our current soldiers stranded without replacements and subsequently sign death warrants for many of them. That is barbaric!
This Bett’s, whoever he is, is a bandwagon rider. If he thinks it will further his career to emulate the ‘popular’ viewpoint – he will grab it in a heartbeat.
I don’t trust him. But he does seem to be articulate and a clean individual.
Go Betts Go! Who really truly approves of the war in Iraq other than Bush and CHeney???
What is barbaric is the “head in the sand philosophy” of most Americans about this war. Blame the media (like the Beagle) for underreporting the wat in Kansas.
The only people making sacrifices for this war effort are the soldiers and their families. The average American could care less — they have not been asked to make any sacrifices in support of the war.
Sheridan continues to show her narrow minded view of everything — surprised she would make her racism and bigotry so public ….
Ken – I was making the point that it is NOT racist.
Anyone who claims that is racist is a racial profiler of the worst kind.
I feel we don’t want to pull out until the country can stand on its own. At the same time, I feel we do not need or want to send more over. Sen. Betts does care for us the people and Ks. and his country. I say stick in there. Many people say things early when an idea comes up and can later re-think how things can change. I don’t like gambling either, but it sure could help Kansans out with a lot of things & not raise our taxes.
We can’t pull out ever. After the unintented death of 600000 people we now have 25 million people that want revenge. Plus we haven’t even begun to get any kind of return on investment. Dah were capitalists remember. Victory gives us rights to natural resources. We need to increase troop levels to at least 12 million to ensure continued victory. We should also devote at least 30% gdp to the war effort and abolish corporate income taxs
“The average American could care less — they have not been asked to make any sacrifices in support of the war.”
More focus group crap from the DLC.
DLC = Seditionists
Gee, he looks like a “clean” African-American to me……………
Thanks right Mr. Fleetwood I have personally worn out 2 yellow support the troops magnets, not too mention the faded paint underneath the magnet on the old H2 affects the resale value. Same can be said for the other guys at the VFW. We have all had to endure
Fleetwood — Please tell me what the American people have been asked to sacrifice to support the war? Tax Breaks? If this administration had any concept of leadership they should have done more to engage the American public in sacrificing for the war? What ddid you do? Shame on you — I am neither a democrat or a seditionist, if you want to resort to name calling — you could easily be a capitalistic facist?
More power to him I say, he sees a legitimate cause for concern and he does what he thinks is right to try and resolve it.
I see no problems here.
You people (ones such as fleets enema) are simply retarded. And I do mean that.
Betts, I love him, is proposing the right thing.
And no, GS, he hasn’t always taken the most popular route. So it’s not a hop on the bandwagon thing with him.
mr Patriot
Tell me exactly how 2 yellow magnets shows any real sacrifice or viable support for the war or the troops — it is the continuation of the lip service most Americans give to support of the war …. Do something meaningful and make some sacrifice that helps the troops — not just magnets
madame we are not retarded we simply choose not to dilute the purity of the message. Please aspire to the higher calling which is put forth by our Representatives on this earthly plane.A good dose of Rush Hannity or Sean Limbaugh would set you walking on the path of enlightenment.
Purity of the message? What rock have you been under?
Yeah- see, retarded.
See here now young Ken,I sense that you do not share my optimism perhaps I can grace you with some wisdom to the inner workings of the capitalist system.By driving an H2 hummer I burn allot of fuel which profits large oil concerns whose CEO buy corporate jets which keeps the factories running. By buying magnets I support the oil companies that employ the troops to protect our interests. See how it’s all tied together. Takes a village you know.
I fail to see how this “being asked to sacrifice” makes any sense. Please explain.p-whoreslutbitch-c:It’s not nice to make fun of the retarted.
Meaningless – all image, no substance. Don’t waste our time on non-binding resolutions which do nothing but serve your political image, Betts. Get real work done.
sometimes it makes me wonder of the Founders really wanted free speech?? if they could read some of this drivel, they might take it all back… just kidding…
Great (and soooooo predictable) to see all the Right-Wing racists on this blog (fleeeeeeeetwooooooood, GSheridan) taking cover behind the racist comments of Senator MBNA (Joseph Biden). Wingnut see, Wingnut do.
As for Senator Betts’ resolution, hell yes. Bush’s War has imposed a burden on the states, and the states are right to push back.
The war has imposed heavy burdens on families. I’ve seen that first hand.
No president has the right to ask of our millitary and National Guard what has been asked of them because of bogus and manipulated pre-war data.
And though in today,s paper, Castillio claims mine is an extremist position, there can be no better grounds for impeachment than this.
So there are a lot of ” he’s articulate and clean” jokes going around after the Biden comments that were also a smokescreen for his rascist and backwards views. His was an unintended attempt to compliment a man that deep down he has contempt. Yours is just as rascist and you didn’t attempt even to use your smokescreen. I wager that there are many more of your friends and constituents who found that quite amusing.
What?
Joe Biden said something stupid–hey, no surprise there.
And let me guess, it immediately got picked up, distorted, and amplified through the right-wing media echo chamber.
I met Donald Betts at a party a month or two ago. Good man. He may be the guy that takes down Todd “Worst. Congressman. Ever.” Tiahrt next time.
Would the Republicans supporting Kansans losing their limbs and their lives in Iraq be the same Republicans who gave an award to Katherine Harris for stealing the 2000 election? Would these be the same Republicans who don’t have children serving in Iraq?
I’m glad Senator Betts is representing my district, unlike those goons in D.C. who claim to represent Wichita.
Good post, Doug. Damn right.
Betts should run for Congress against Tiahrt! He has a solid record of accomplishments to run on, and this resolution just builds on that record!
What a sorry display of political grandstanding. Everyone knows Betts has ambition, but Kansans would be better served if he would quit playing like he is actually in the United States Senate.
Instead of squaking about the war in Iraq and how it is funded, perhaps he could offer a plan to fund repairs at Colleges without hiking Turnpike fees.
If Sen Betts is SO terribly concerned about the Iraq war, perhaps he should contact U.S. Rep Boyda who still can’t decide what position she should take.
“…same Republicans who gave an award to Katherine Harris for stealing the 2000 election?…”It doesn’t serve you people well to keep the stolen election thing going. It makes you look weak. But, what would you expect from the Democrat party of Sedition?
America invades Iraq to destroy weapons of mass destruction that don’t exsist(and never did), and we want a nation that does not belive in democracy to be democratic so we kill all of the leaders of Iraq, we start a civil war between two religious factions, and Betts wants to end the war. So….why is he wrong?
Because then Bush and the republican party will have to admit they were wrong.
…Betts owes me a few, I let him put a campaign sign in my yard and helped him distribute a few others…or not…:-)…
Sedition?
WOW that’s a big word for you BDP fleetie!
Learn that one in dittohead 101 did ya?
If memory serves, resolutions like this (sending notice to the pResident are quite common in many cties and states across the country. This is hardly unique.
Ah see I thought so.
A quick search turned up this excerpt from just such a similar resolution.
“WHEREAS: over 80 cities in the United States have passed anti-war resolutions, including Chicago and Washington D.C. Recently, the University of Michigan Student Assembly, Grinnell, and University of Madison, Wisconsin have passed anti-war resolutions as well”
Seems Betts is just jumping on a bandwagon. Probably the worst you could accuse him of is political opportunism.
How many here have actually read Betts’ resolution? I just did…it talks about the National Guard and the impact of the war on Kansas families. If a Kansas Senator can’t bring up issues about Kansas men and women serving in the Kansas National Guard, what can he talk about?
Agree or disagree with Betts’ views on the Iraq War, it’s pretty obvious that the state of Kansas is spending a pile of money on taking care of these Guardsmen/women, their families, and their worn out and destroyed equipment.
I’m betting those ranchers in western Kansas could have used the Guard last month, instead of having thousands of cattle die because our kids are off fighting someone else’s civil war.