Daily Archives: May 19, 2009

GOP lost edge on national security

May 19, 200912:38 p.m.

iraqsoldiers4The public historically has preferred Republicans on national security issues. No longer. Democrats and Republicans now rate the same, according to a new Democracy Corps poll. And Democrats have moved far ahead of the GOP on specific security issues such as Afghanistan and Iraq, the poll found. The Democratic Party probably is getting a boost from President Obama, who has a 64 percent approval rating on national security among likely voters.

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Iraq, President Obama | Comments (31)

Pelosi should have registered objections to torture

May 19, 20095:04 a.m.

Pelosi TortureInclude columnist Leonard Pitts among those not impressed with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s tortured explanations about her briefings on U.S. torture policy. Though Pelosi couldn’t have done much to stop the torturing, she still should have registered her objections, Pitts argued. “She didn’t say what she should’ve when saying it would have mattered,” he wrote. “Until and unless Pelosi admits that, her ‘truth commission’ amounts to little more than partisanship and politics. And she can evolve no explanation that changes the obvious: It’s easy to speak up now. It would have been courageous to speak up then.”

By Phillip Brownlee | Filed under Congress, Terrorism | Comments (107)

Open thread 5/19

May 19, 20095:02 a.m.

thread400

By The Editors | Filed under Open thread | Comments (174)

Battle for conservative votes

May 19, 20095:01 a.m.

moranmug10Rep. Jerry Moran, R-Hays, was only 2 percentage points behind Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, on “party unity” last year. Moran was with most House Republicans and against most Democrats on 90 percent of votes, compared with 92 percent for Tiahrt. Yet their GOP primary contest for the U.S. Senate spot next year promises to be a battle to show which is more conservative. “Moran is making a concerted effort not to get painted as more moderate than Tiahrt,” University of Kansas political scientist Burdett Loomis told CQ Politics. “It is fascinating to see him get as far to the right as he possibly can.”

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under Kansas delegation | Comments (17)

Gates for governor?

May 19, 20095:00 a.m.

gateslarry“Increasingly, it appears that state Democratic Party chair Larry Gates will run for governor. And Democrats say they have a businessman in mind for the Senate.” — Kansas City Star columnist Steve Kraske

By Rhonda Holman | Filed under Kansas government | Comments (9)