An analysis in the Hill newspaper of next year’s blockbuster Kansas GOP primary for U.S. Senate noted that “discerning any major differences between Kansas GOP Reps. Jerry Moran and Todd Tiahrt requires a microscope.” But it observed that Moran’s conservatism has an independent streak while Tiahrt is “a hard-right” party-liner. “There’s an opinion out there that Tiahrt is a Republican’s Republican, and Moran is more driven by himself,” an unnamed state GOP operative told the newspaper.
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32 Comments
Distinguish is the wrong word.
Correct that comment on Tiahrt to: An import from So. Dakota and southern Missouri colleges, Tiahrt is a right wing Republican’s Republican, an overpaid employee of Boeing until he bacame a typical pandering politician.
Jerry Moran is a hard driving individual from Hays, Kansas, working harder than necessary at every milestone of his journey to achieve his life long goal of helping his fellow man. People who know him say he knows the towns of Kansas and more Kansans personally than anybody else in the state.
You choose.
It is the difference between 6 and a half dozen. Nothing will ever change in Washington as long as we keep sending the same people back over and over.
Tiahrt ran for Congress promising he’d serve only three terms in the House of Representatives.
As a matter of “principle.”
He’s been hanging around the house (it’s a family tradition) long past his 1994 promise to 3rd District voters.
Moran, for better or for worse, has been a pretty good representative of the CONs who
polluteinhabit the Big One district of Kansas. Unlike Tiahrt, Moran is not a slave to Republic Party dictum; he generally believes in the stuff he votes for and, unlike Tiahrt, seems to have a shred of personal integrity.Poor guy doesn’t have a chance in a Republic Party primary election.
“Poor guy doesn’t have a chance in a Republic Party primary election.”
Wanna bet?
Or more to the point, have you NOT been paying attention to state wide Republican primaries lately?
The identity of a hard right Christian conservative is an albatross.
I do agree with Monkeyhawk that poor Moran does not have a chance in the primary. It is evident that Moran has been and is still very passive during his time in office. He has made no significant impact and will vote and run to his office and hide, which is in fact true. Todd on the other hand is vocal and stands firm on his convictions, thus the reason why democrats don’t want him in office as they are afraid of his tenacity and strong stances. Furthermore, Jerry is not a hard driving person. Just look at his term in office. If you look at the records and their work, Todd is in fact the harder worker and more vocal. He serves Kansas well and the NE part of Kansas truly appreciates his work. It will be a tough race anyway you look at it, but Todd has the upper hand.
I have to agree with realpolitics. Todd is by far the better candidate. He is a strong christian man who is unapologetic about his faith. This is what people want. People who stand firm in how they believe. By his voting record and his communications with the people of Kansas, there is no doubt about how much he cares about the people of Kansas and of this nation. Although Jerry is a nice fellow, he has no voice and quite frankly, if he has no voice in the House, there is no way he will have a voice in the Senate. His actions show he is a passive person and we need a strong and vocal person like Todd in the Senate. I know that NE Kansas supports Todd.
“an overpaid employee of Boeing”
Whose job was PORK procurement.
The conservatives will prefer Tiahrt because he brings a bunch of pork barrel earmarks to the state then rallies against such spending since he claims to be a fiscal conservative. The more two-faced you are the more you appeal to conservative Republicans.
This is a race I will cast a vote in! I’ll have to change my current registration, but that’s no problem. When one of these two can be eliminated at the primary level (I hope that one is Tiahrt!), and there’s still a possibility of eliminating the other at the general — WIN – WIN!
I really do try not to engage in such things, but NEpolitics why is it that I suspect that you have to agree with Realpolitics because it is the other voice you hear in your head? I understand it is not the fact that you talk to yourself that is a sign of insanity. It is only when you argue with yourself and lose!
The Kansas Republic Party had degenerated into a twice-born circle-jerk.
Tiahrt is a shoe-in for the primary unless the country-club set from JoCo ponies up money for Moran and the campaign gets bloody.
Just think if we had tiahrt for gov. he declare he isn’t going to accept the money from the stimulus, and let the legislature accept it instead. The repub govs gottal love this they can stand on ‘principal’ on one hand, and take the money in the other hand.
Re: Realpolitics and NEpolitics.
I call proll (probably the same guy).
And the posts from the proll indicate just how nasty Tiahrt supporters plan on getting in this race.
Moran is “passive”.
Translation, he isn’t a red meat throwing right wing Christian activist.
I find it interesting how individuals state that it will be a win-win for democrats when you will have a republican Gov., a republican in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th districts and 2 republican senators after the 2010 elections. I would say it is a win-win.
Another Republican mind reader! There are so many of them. I still remember their predictions from 2006 and 2008. ;-)
“Tiahrt is a shoe-in for the primary unless the country-club set from JoCo ponies up money for Moran and the campaign gets bloody.”
Like I said, if you think Tiahrt is shoe-in, you haven’t been paying attention to what has happened here since the late 1990’s, including the last election. Ask Jim Ryun. Ask Phill Kline. Ask the candidates for the State School Board when there was even a hint that they would be right wing Christian activists.
Tiahrt has a reputation to run against. You think the “country club set” from JoCo and elsewhere is NOT going to weigh in on this? Do you have any idea how many people the Christian Right burned in Republican primaries in the early 1990’s? There are some long memories here, and there has been some payback going on since then, except in Christian Right strongholds like south central and south east central Kansas which is basically an extension of Oklahoma and Arkansas socially and politically anyway.
Let me put it this way…Republicans better hope that the Democrats do not have a decent candidate if Tiahrt were to somehow win the primary (which I doubt), because I will guarantee you that a fair number of Moran supporters would support a moderate Kansas Democrat over a Todd Tiahrt, potentially enough to elect the first Democratic Kansas Senator since 1939.
If Moran wins, however, I suspect game over.
lindainks55 – not a mind reader, just the facts. And yes I do remember 2006 and 2008 – many republicans did admit many seats would be lost to the democrats.
Nothing is a fact until it is achieved. No matter what you choose to call it — mind reading, predicting, fortune telling, it hasn’t happened and isn’t a fact.
There is one future happening that could become factual — if both Tiahrt and Moran stay in the race, ONE will be eliminated at the primary level. ;-)
I wonder if Siamese twins would be allowed to run for Political office and what would a swearing-in ceremony look like?
Actually if you look at both Moran’s and Tiahrt’s records and their activities, Moran actually is the one who has a reputation to run against. If you reviewed the Daily Kos’polls Todd won both the 1st and 4th districts over Moran (47-46 – 1st; 47-43 – 4th) with an overall win of a + 5% margin. Yes, I know, there is a margin of error and 57% were undecided, but it is still interesting.
lindainks55 – I agree that one will be eliminated.
Moran quietly has maintained a conservative voting record. I do not know where he stands on social issues. He seems like a wus but I think he is much smarter and more capable than Tphart. I will be so dissapointed when Moran starts hammering gays just to get elected.
The difference is simple: Congressman Jerry Moran has been an achiever all his life. Look at his massive pluralities in every election.
On the other hand, Tiahrt has been a loser most of his life until he grabbed the government job and now hides out among his cronies in Washington.
What distinguishes them? Well, Jerry Moran is a conservative Republican…and Todd Tiahrt is a corrupt conservative Republican.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAxwASzrmuE
Good job, kansasjackass!
And where would our local newspaper be on this? Anything? A mention, a question, a denouncement?
Moran is quiet because he is afraid of criticism. He is more worried about his image and is concerned that should he mention where he stands on socials issues, he may be put down for his views. In a political position such as his, it is important for the people to know where he stands. Furthermore, this is proof that Jerry does just enough to get by and does not want to work to make changes. Tiahrt is definitely more capable than Jerry.
JWink, please explain your statement that Todd is a looser – what’s interesting is you have nothing to back up you statement – What exactly has Jerry achieved in the House?
Here are the distinctions:
Jerry Moran — Native Kansan, Graduate of the University of Kansas School of Law with a joint Juris Doctorate and Masters in Economics, represents the Agricultural interests of the Kansas 1st in all of Western Kansas where Big Cattle was born, opposes bankrupt programs like No Child Left Behind on the theory that they are neither cost-effective, nor Kansas-friendly, opposes increased American presence in Iraq until the Iraqis can clean up their own house, serves on the Board of Trustees of Fort Hays State University, serves on the Executive Committee of the Coronado Council of the Boy Scouts of America, in addition to being a family man and serving on the Committees on Agriculture (cattle, wheat, corn operations in Western Kansas anyone?), Transportation and Infrastructure (Subcommittee on Aviation. Boeing, Cessna, Hawker Beechcraft? All seem important to Wichita, even though he doesn’t represent Wichita), Veterans’ Affairs (McConnell AFB, Fort Riley, Dole VA Center. None of which are in his district), and the House Hunger Caucus. All of his work in committees has been for the betterment of ALL Kansans, not just those he represents in the 1st District. Biggest achievement? Federal subsidizing for agriculture in Kansas to the tune of 42.2% of the total government subsidies for western Kansas. Congressman Moran represents the best of the Kansas Republican party.
Todd Tiahrt — Carpet-bagger from South Dakota who’s family lives in Topeka while he lives in Washington (neither of which is in the Kansas 4th). MBA from SW Missouri St., Boeing middle-management. Committee assignments to Appropriations and Intelligence — neither of which contribute direct policy directives in favor of Kansans or his own 4th District. His job on Appropriations? Throw money at Wichita. Isn’t he criticizing Democrats for throwing money at problems? Worse than that? He is not only the chairman but the FOUNDER of the Economic Competitiveness Caucus. In these trying economic times, I would give him one big FAIL. Tiahrt’s biggest accomplishment? Re-bidding the Tanker Contract to save aircraft jobs. The aircraft industry is laying off by the THOUSANDS! Fail number two. Tiahrt believes in Party over Kansas, and Tiahrt over Party. Todd represents the worst of Kansas conservatism.
So, who do you want? The guy with the doctorate who is academically gifted at the law and economics, grew up here, raised a family here, and gets the job done? Or the guy who pretends to know how the market works, didn’t grow up here, and is more interested in re-naming post offices than saving jobs?
I think it’s an easy choice. I see a lot of fiscal conservatives coming to back Moran, a lot of small business owners and family farmers come to back Moran, a lot of moderate Republicans, and more than a few moderate and conservative Democrats. Tiahrt? I’m curious if Terry Fox is still at the top of Todd’s hit parade…
“NEpolitics” –
Okay, so you’re carrying water for Jerry.
Fine.
But I think you misunderestimate the power of the twice-born in Kansas Republic Party primaries.
Tiahrt’s got a lock
stepon them and they are Repubs who don’t go to the lake or the mountains in August.(The more times you’re born the less money you make, it seems.)
You may have a distorted view by your NE Kansas prejudice. But lemme tell ya, the wing-nuts own the Kansas Republic Party in August. The only reason Lynn Jenkins won last summer was she was running against Jim Ryun and folks figured out he’s dumber than a box of worms.
Representative Jenkins robo-called me this evening. She’s totally invested in the Republic Party caucus of obstructionism. Boyda was a pretty good representative but a bad politician. Jenkins is the opposite but she’s drunk the Boehner/Gingrich Kool-Aid by the gallon and is frantic to vote against a health care program similar to that which will subsidize her Detrol discussion.
I guess that last post should’ve been directed to “WaldenP,” instead of “NEpolitics.”
Whatever.