GOP voters in South Carolina (including a majority of evangelicals) set aside concerns about Newt Gingrich’s three marriages, his past ethics charges and the millions of dollars he has made as a Washington, D.C., insider, propelling him to a dominating win in Saturday’s primary. But a Wall Street Journal editorial noted that Gingrich’s biggest challenge going forward, particular in a general election, is that most voters don’t like him. A Fox News poll conducted two weeks ago found that 56 percent of registered voters had an unfavorable view of him, while only 27 percent had a favorable view. That’s a net unfavorable rating of minus-29 percent, compared with a plus-5 percent net rating for President Obama and a plus-7 percent for Mitt Romney.
Celebrity economist Arthur Laffer (in photo), who was paid $75,000 to consult on Gov. Sam Brownback’s tax-reform plan, received fawning attention when he appeared at a legislative hearing in Topeka last week. “What an honor and privilege to have you here in Kansas,” said Sen. Julia Lynn, R-Olathe. And Sen. Les Donovan, R-Wichita, scolded committee Democrats for challenging some of Laffer’s claims. But Dave Serchuk of Forbes magazine is unimpressed by Laffer’s long career. “Unfortunately, one of the things that has distinguished it is that he has often been extremely wrong,” Serchuk wrote.
State Rep. Gail Finney, D-Wichita, is having trouble getting the House leadership to respect her bill to legalize and regulate medical marijuana. All she can get is an informational hearing, which will occur Tuesday. But this isn’t some hippie movement. It is a serious, compassionate effort to provide real relief to people who are suffering. It also has the backing of such law-and-order Republicans as former Kansas Attorney General Bob Stephan, and it should appeal to libertarian-leaning lawmakers who want to get government out of people’s lives. At the least, the Legislature should respect suffering Kansans enough to have a real committee hearing about the measure.
GOP voters in South Carolina (including a majority of evangelicals) set aside concerns about Newt Gingrich’s three marriages, his past ethics charges and the millions of dollars he has made as a Washington, D.C., insider, propelling him to a dominating win in Saturday’s primary. But a Wall Street Journal editorial noted that Gingrich’s biggest challenge going forward, particular in a general election, is that most voters don’t like him. A Fox News poll conducted two weeks ago found that 56 percent of registered voters had an unfavorable view of him, while only 27 percent had a favorable view. That’s a net unfavorable rating of minus-29 percent, compared with a plus-5 percent net rating for President Obama and a plus-7 percent for Mitt Romney.
