The Kansas Republican

Does Anyone Know The Results of the Boyda Jenkins Race?

noreply@blogger.com (Wyatt) — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 18:35:00 +0000

My internet connection is a bit off and I haven´t been able to get out of the house all day.

Svaty´s Collecting Campaign Cash While on the Job?

noreply@blogger.com (Wild Bill) — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 22:49:00 +0000

Apart from his open hatred for rural Kansas (preferring instead to wine, dine and whine in Johnson County), it looks like the lovable Josh Svaty dosn´t appear too concerned with Kansas ethics laws. On 2 separate occasions during this session, Mr. Svaty accepted campaign contributions from donors.

In a last minute amendment filing on October 22, Svaty clarified that the check from Nancy Jackson was in excess of the limits, but he merely refunded the difference. However, we still don´t seem to know why he was collecting these checks in the first place.

To be fair, booting Svaty from office could set off a firestorm amongst 12, 13, and 14 year-old girls in the greater Topeka area who habitualy air their grievances as to the homogeneousness of male hairstyles in the statehouse, but that´s a problem we can deal with down the road.

The fact is, that apart from the Governor (who is hell-bent on joining Barack in Washington) there is no one in Kansas politics who has done more to cripple Kansas´energy future than Rep Svaty. Time and time again, he fought against legislation that would bring jobs, tax-revenue, development, and affordable, clean energy to Kansas. In a campaign season littered with talk of change, Dave Smith is that change.

Don´t be fooled Kansas. While enveloped in a banner of progressive thought, Josh Svaty is really just the same iconoclastic trash that muzzles all forms of political progress. Please join thekansasrepublican in helping Josh Svaty join his wife as an energy lobbyist and get Dave Smith elected state representative.

The Kansas Republican Endorses Cecil Washington

noreply@blogger.com (Wild Bill) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 04:08:00 +0000

Regardless of your political persuasion, if you spend enough time in Topeka you’ll realize the following is certain. There are civilized sensible lobbyists, there are civilized sensible Republicans and there are civilized sensible Democrats. There are also abrasive irrational lobbyists, abrasive irrational Republicans and abrasive irrational Democrats. Statehouse representative Ann Mah is an abrasive, erratic, irrational Democrat.

Ann Mah is really an unfortunate soul. As someone who spent significant time in Topeka and is surrounded by the adolescent behavior that is our state legislature, I would think the people of Topeka would wisen up and elect someone with class and competence. Unfortunately, they haven't. In fact, they’ve been duped. Mah has done NOTHING to address the energy problems and rural development difficulties that challenge our state, and despite her 4 year presence in the legislature and her tenure on the education committee, she’s brought nothing but factionalism and nonsensical policy responses to the serious challenges that face our state.

Luckily Kansas have a choice this November. Cecil Washington, the former House Chaplin and current pastor of a small congregation in the area is looking to bring back dignity and results to a constituency that has long thirsted for both. With political rockstars like Senator Pat Roberts’ campaign manager David Kensinger lining up to support Mr. Washington, the prospect for change is quite good. He is a man of integrity that is respected by both Republicans and Democrats alike, and is one of our best hopes for a seat flip this election cycle.

It is time for citizens of the 53rd district to drink something mercury-free. They don't need those over-priced Brita filters, they just need Cecil Washington. Please join TKR in getting it done.

Interview with Pat Leopold- Campaign Manager, Lynn Jenkins for Congress

noreply@blogger.com (Doc Holiday) — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 16:26:00 +0000

Most recently, thekansasrepublican decided to interview Pat Leopold, the Mike Ditka of Kansas campaign circles. Here's what we got.

Many folks predicted that Jim Ryun would win the primary. What do you think it was that pushed Lynn Jenkins to victory? As simple as it sounds, primarily what pushed us to victory was Lynn Jenkins. She's personable, smart, driven, and one of the hardest workers I've ever seen. That's a pretty compelling package and it's hard to ignore. When people meet her, they tend to like her.

How do you think Sarah Palin, running as McCain's VP, will affect your race, if at all? Picking Sarah Palin has energized the Republican Party across the nation, including Republicans here in the 2nd district. I'd put the appeal of Lynn Jenkins and Sarah Palin above and beyond the appeal of Nancy Boyda and Nancy Pelosi. And there's no way Lynn Jenkins will stand with Nancy Pelosi 93% of the time and that's what Kansans are getting from Nancy Boyda right now.

In two sentences, what message do you want voters to know about Nancy Boyda?
Two sentences isn't enough. Nancy Boyda says she's for drilling, but has been a consistent no vote in Congress. (She even voted AGAINST the bipartisan energy bill that she COSPONSORED and then voted for Nancy Pelosi's bill.) Nancy Boyda says she is for lower taxes but has been a consistent yes vote for the largest tax increase in American history. Nancy Boyda says she is against wasteful spending, but has voted for things like the "perfect Christmas tree" project, the National Mule and Packers Museum, and of course $2,000,000 for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service. Saying one thing to Kansas voters then doing something else behind their back just won't cut it.

In two sentences, what message do you want voters to know about Lynn Jenkins?
She is a certified public accountant with the experience and training to keep taxes low and cut spending – a definite plus with the state of the economy and the fiscal mess in Washington. And, Lynn is a Holton, Kansas dairy farm kid who knows Kansans, grew up with Kansans, served with Kansans, and vows to use every last bit of her tremendous energy to stick up for Kansans in Congress.

A year ago, your campaign infrastructure consisted of you and a cell phone, now you are spearheading the congressional campaign for one of the most competitive races in the House. How does that feel? Actually, we had two cell phones, plus my dining room table/desk … Right now, it feels busy and like a job that has not yet been finished. I'll tell you how it feels after November 4th, but with a candidate like Lynn Jenkins I'm pretty hopeful it's going to feel great.

The Looming October Fundraising Numbers

noreply@blogger.com (Custer) — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 02:09:00 +0000

Hawver's may be reporting that Bremby's back on the saddle, but that's not where Kansas Republicans are looking these days. To be fair, there's no individual in Kansas politics who's taken more heat to fortify Sebelius' green credentials and advance her political future than Rod Bremby. But with subpoenas flying this week, it's hard to imagine Bremby winning ANY future election in Kansas (apart from maybe Sierra Club Chair.) He's either off to Washington on the Sebelius/Obama train or just off. So what really matters????

This October is the first real round of the 2010 Republican primary races. With Moran's camp making it quite clear that he's going for Brownback's seat- and with the fundraising numbers to prove it- the real question is how will Todd Tiahrt perform. Moran has a refined public image as a free-thinking Kansas across the state and can literally spend 0$ on November's campaign and win in a landslide.

For Tiahrt, the temporal rebound on the Boeing decision has been helpful, but he's taken a back seat in various media pieces discussing the race. Many talking heads have already anointed Moran as the candidate in-waiting and that sort of discourse can inhibit effective fundraising solicitations. Moreover, most political trends indicate that in a contested primary, top political talent tends to favor the more likely victor. So with a handful of other races in the state (governor, two congressional, etc.) one must ask who Tiahrt will tap to lead him to victory. Will the arch-conservative wing of the party, the crew that ran Ryun and Kline's unsuccessful primaries, be able to reconfigure themselves and lead Tiahrt over the finish line? Or will Tiahrt favor some other line of attack?

These questions will surely settle themselves as time goes on, but till then, I'm waiting for those October fundraising numbers.

Not a Good Time to be Kathy Sebelius

noreply@blogger.com (Doc Holiday) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 14:35:00 +0000

Why was Sebelius not selected VP? Time magazine credits Sebelius' scuffle with the Archbishop over abortion. "Already this year they had seen pro-choice Catholic Kathleen Sebelius knocked out of vice presidential contention after her archbishop imposed a "pastoral action" on her, demanding she no longer receive the Eucharist."

For a politician that always keeps her cool, it looks like Mt. Kathy has begun to erupt. She's now calling Republicans racists. From AP: "Have any of you noticed that Barack Obama is part African-American?" Sebelius asked with sarcasm. "(Republicans) are not going to go lightly into the darkness." Also getting play, here, here and here.

But do not fret Sebelius, while you may be losing support from the independents and moderate Kansas Republicans who elected you governor in the first place, you still have friends in 'interesting' places. According to a liberal environmental blog, of all of America's governors, Sebelius is the nation's strongest global warming advocate. Way to keep Kansas proud!

Unfortunately, Kathy's nasty rhetoric isn't being taken too lightly back in the state. One former supporter is not too fond of Sebelius' remarks criticizing Sarah Palin. "I've always liked Kathleen Sebelius, but I was really disappointed in her snippy little criticism of Sarah Palin. Palin is a fabulous speaker, and Sebelius is dull. That's why she didn't get picked for vice president."

Who's bitter now??

Obama, Do You REALLY Want Sebelius Attacking Palin?

noreply@blogger.com (Wild Bill) — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 01:54:00 +0000

Most folks know that Hillary Clinton has refused to be made into Obama's personal attack dog against Sarah Palin. Many wondered who Obama would tap to fill that role. Well…

Yesterday Kathy Sebelius criticized McCain's choice as desperate and the vetting process as not extensive. She's described Palin as a "novelty" that will wear off, as propagating "partisan attacks and no real solutions," and as an "inside-Washington" politician. She's said Palin is "from the radical fringe of the Republican Party." And while Anderson Cooper was saying that "a star was born" Sebelius claimed that Palin was deceiving voters. (for the record, editorialists at the CapJournal have picked up on Sebelius' new mean-streak as well.)

So here's what I can't seem to understand. Using state dollars, Sebelius has contracted Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld and Hyjek and Fix to lobby for her Kansas pork at the federal level. According to FEC reports, she's also contracted Chambers, Conlon and Hartwell.

While Sebelius told Hawvers she "doesn't specifically ask members of the Kansas Congressional delegation to snag earmarks for projects in Kansas," Nancy Boyda's website clearly shows $26.8 million of earmarks from this alone that Sebelius has requested for the 2nd district. The trunkline says it best.

Apart from the hypocrisy of Sebelius' claims, she should be the last person to criticize a fellow governor for their reform credentials. She takes the governor's plan to countless vacation/ sporting events. She uses her clout to get State Universities to pay for her party elders' and friends vacations (Larry Gates at K-State bowl game.) She hosts lavish parties for donors at the governor's mansion, but waits till the story leaks before the state of Kansas gets compensated for the costs (tillergate). And for six years, Sebelius has sat as governor and done NOTHING to reform Kansas' campaign finance system. In Kansas, state-level politicians can accept corporate treasury funds! This is something that was outlawed at the federal level back in 1907!

Yet somehow, Seblius has the nerve to make baseless attacks alleging that Palin is a novelty/ partisan hack/ extremist/ non-reformer/ inside-Washington/ old-school Republican?

If that's the best Obama and Co. can send to attack Palin, they must really be in a tailspin.

Is Jim Slattery Really Making Old Testament References?

noreply@blogger.com (Custer) — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:06:00 +0000

Apart from the ridiculousness of having James Bordonaro come on the same stage as you, I'm really left scratching my head as to why Jim Slattery feels the need to make biblical references. At Saturday's Democratic kickoff in Wichita, Slattery reminded supporters "I'm the David in this showdown, you're the Goliah, Remember, David only needed one stone."

I don't know if being used to as a political battle cry to get a pro-abortion, pro-gay marriage politician get elected to the U.S. Senate was what David had in mind when he was slaying a heathen, but it's not like we can get a definitive answer on this pickle. Either way, it's beyond absurd and is sure to get the "keep religion out of politics" base of the Democratic party relied up.

Convention Synopsis

noreply@blogger.com (Wild Bill) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 03:49:00 +0000

It appears that Tim Shallenberger and Cathy Nugent, the principal organizers for the Kansas delegation's adventure to the Twin Cities, put together a successful string of events. The Cerner-sponsored event honoring Bob Dole was said to be the climax of the week. Standing alongside Kenny Hulshof, Sam Brownback, Todd Tiahrt, Fred Thompson (Cerner board member) and others, Dole delivered a series of self-deprecating jokes, an ode to Kansas and a call to support McCain's presidential bid.

Congressman Tiahrt was the only elected official to spend campaign funds for a reception to entertain the delegation. His wife Vicki even got up on the stump to share a few words in what one activist described as "a clear effort to remind Kansas Republican grasstops that while Jerry Moran has displayed some impressive fundraising numbers and is already making inroads on his Senate bid, he shouldn't be counted out."

Senator Brownback sent waves through the gang on Thursday morning with a clear indication that he was looking at a run for Cedar Crest in 2010. Moreover, folks were said to be somewhat frustrated but generally understanding of Senator Roberts' absence at the convention, particularly in light of necessary preparations for Saturday's debate with Jim Slattery at the Kansas state fair.

However, the bulk of conversation and gossip revolved around the next Kansas GOP Chairman and talk of Moran's Senate ambitions. There were discussions of Moran's fundraising solicitation, his solid fundraising numbers and mixed feelings as to why he didn't spend much time in Minneapolis. Some wondered why he didn't spend more time mingling with party leaders, while others acknowledged that it made more sense for him to save money and increase his popularity back at home- (tough to do when your approvals are as high as his.) The consensus was that Kobach's days are numbered, and there was also talk of Pompeo, Phill Kline, Amanda Adkins, Jim Ryun taking the reigns of the party.

As always, we encourage our friends and allies to keep us in the loop on any other gossip that emerged over the last week. We love keeping our readers wired into our party's endless drama.

Convention Day 1

noreply@blogger.com (Wild Bill) — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 15:19:00 +0000

After 8-10 hours in a bus, the fluffy pillows, pristine toilet bowels and new TV's are certainly refreshing for the Kansas gang that recently arrived in Edina. Talk on the bus shifted from a number of things, including Dale Swenson's recent decision to go on record with a Wall Street Journal columnist and bash John McCain some 70 days before the November election: "[Swenson] dislikes our current president, he tells me, for building the infamous prison at Guantanamo Bay, for the Iraq war, and for 'wanting to obliterate Social Security.' John McCain, for his part, 'has values that are being driven by corporate America.'" As well as Morris' decision to sing songs of Sebelius to the NY Times. “But that’s the only major disagreement we’ve had since she took office,” Mr. Morris said. “She knew she would have to work with Republicans when she came in, and she’s done pretty well doing that.” Many opined that Morris was that he was either duped or misquoted. (For once, I really don't know...)

Hurricane Gustav dominated most of the conversation on the bus, particularly after folks got news of event cancellations. Moreover, it seemed like everyone had a Rovian explanation for Palin and her advantages/ disadvantages, but the general consensus was that she's a great pick.

Kansas delegates were blessed with the opportunity to listen to Kris Kobach this morning. While he resisted the urge to dive into the idiosyncrasies immigration law, he gave a breif preview of what to expect for the week and explained how Gustav was going to affect convention plans. (Note: there was no mention of his efficacy as a fundraiser for the party).

Tomorow the big event is said to be the Koch Industires/ BNSF event honoring Kansas and Oklahoma delegates, as well as a handful of big speeches. Keep the tips coming, thanks for the help.

Convention Talk of New KS GOP Chair

noreply@blogger.com (Custer) — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 14:53:00 +0000

As Kansas Republicans and delegates from across the state prepare for Minnesota, talk of some horsetrading has already begun. Tomorrow morning, at the bone crack of dawn, two Kansas GOP buses will depart for Edina, Minnesota- one from Wichita and one from Kansas City.

Talk of the future of the Kansas GOP is already stirring, and many are curious to see who will be elected chairman in a few months.

Will Kansas Republicans stick with Kobach, despite his poor performance on the the only quanitfyable measurement of a Chairman: total money raised, or will Kansans hand Phill Kline an olive branch in the wake of his primary defeat against Steve Howe? Other sources are allegeding that Tiahrt is pushing Jim Ryun to run for the position and there has also been some buzz around Pompeo. But the race is still wide open and we're all looking forward to the campaign pitches at morning breakfasts at the Westin. We'll try to keep you posted, and you should certainly do the same.

Republican Convention Petition/ Preview

noreply@blogger.com (Wild Bill) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 12:46:00 +0000

Hey folks. While TheKansasRepublican was offered blogger credentials for the Republican National Convention, unfortunately, none of us can attend. However, we will still offer plenty of coverage and gossip as our crazy gang of Kansas Republicans descends on the Twin Cities. I would like to make a specific petition to all Kansans and convention goers, that our tip line IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS. Ergo, if you have any salacious gossip, pictures or details on what's going on, please let TKR know. (this goes for the convention as well as general Kansas political nonsense.)

Rumor has it that some folks who had initially been selected to serve as Kansas delegates have since then dropped out because of the price. (Hawvers reported this a few weeks ago.) This is due in party because Kris Kobach is using the delegate positions to fundraise for the party and asking for a sizable contribution. On top of that, it appears that the Kansas delegation is not staying in an RNC-sanctioned hotel because of the state party's financial situation. (I'm told that this may also have to do with the location of the original RNC-selected hotel). Usually the RNC books arrangements for the convention and gets a cut from the hotel proceeds, etc., but in this year's case, the Kansas Republican party is looking to make a pretty penny off the trip up to Minneapolis. Given how little money our state party has relative to the Democrats ($1:6 ratio?), this could be an unfortunate, yet necessary way for the party to build its bank account. But the perception of a shakedown by Kobach and the state party may leave a bitter taste in the mouths' of the delegation as they work to try to build unity.

According to the schedule, Sam Brownback, Jerry Moran, Todd Tiahrt and Bob Dole are all scheduled to be featured speakers at Kansas delegation events, and it looks like Todd and his wife are the only ones actually paying/hosting a reception for the the delegation. Who knows how much that reception going to cost.

We'll have much more convention drama as things get moving forward. Stay tuned.

Boyda, we get it; you're a Democrat. It's okay to be honest.

noreply@blogger.com (Doc Holiday) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 03:26:00 +0000

If the women of America walked away with anything from the mid-90's it was certainly that now timeless Salt 'n Pepper adage: American woman can be anything they wish to be. It's with that wisdom in mind that we would hope Nancy Boyda embrace who she is. And by that I mean Democrat.

You see, we've reported that "miss independent" has accepted huge campaign contributions from establishment Democratic leaders (somehow she still manages with getting media play for telling Jenkins to keep DC money outside the race, but that's another story). Then she tried to stay out of endorsing Obama or Hillary entirely thinking that she could avoid getting caught in a intra-party battle. (that didn't work so she endorsed Obama on a Friday and received little to no media attention.) She's voted 90% of the time in lock-step with Speaker Pelosi, but says she's different. Then she crowned her independence by saying she was going to focus on her race and dismiss this historical convention entirely.

Interestingly, she's now hosting a nominating convention party to cheer on Nancy Pelosi (a personal campaign contributor/ friend), Al Gore, Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, etc., but she's still somehow pretending to be an independent.

So now, I'm encouraging all Kansans to let Nancy Boyda know that it's okay to be a Democrat. Just come out and embrace it.

Tens of thousands of people will gather in Denver next week for Democratic National Convention. To those of you who are going, I wish you the very best – and for those of you staying at home, I hope you'll join me for a "Kansas Convention" of our own!

Please join our campaign at The Vinewood, 2848 SE 29th St. at 6pm on Thursday, August 28, to watch the concluding night of the Democratic National Convention. We'll have good food, good company, and terrific conversation about our democracy.

Hope to see you there,

Nancy Boyda

Member of Congress

Tim Huelskamp's Interesting Personal Campaign Loans

noreply@blogger.com (Custer) — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:40:00 +0000

Whether we're exposing the uselessness of Sebelius' "Ohio Connection," bringing light to Boyda's hypocrisy of accepting DC money, providing interviews with successful campaign managers or exposing shadiness on Holcomb, thekansasrepublican likes to break news. While we'd love to comb every campaign finance report, a good tip goes a long way. And that's certainly what we received today.

According to Kansas ethics reports, on 12/21/07 State Senator Tim Huelskamp gave himself a $25,000 contribution. This accounted for more than 55% of his total receipts for the reporting period. Three weeks later, on 1/13/08, he wrote his campaign a $25,000 reimbursement. Given that this was a non election-year and Huelskamp wasn't facing any sort of challenger, this behavior seemed a bit off. Interestingly, only six months later, on July 24th of this year, Huelskamp wrote himself an additional $30,000 contribution loan. Again, he didn't have a primary challenger and I don't think he faces a general election threat. I'm certainly no math major, but I believe this means that half of Huelskamp's cash on hand is a personal loan.

I don't really know how to assess the rationale behind giving yourself money, giving it back, and then giving yourself money 6 months later again (money that you're probably going to give yourself back again.)

This seemed interesting enough to post, so I did. Perhaps you all could offer some insight into this? Are there any other "safe" Senators that move their personal finances around to their campaign accounts like this? Dems? Repubs? What's the strategy here? Go at it folks.

Help Defeat Josh Svaty & Come Meet Dave Smith Tomorrow

noreply@blogger.com (Wild Bill) — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 12:31:00 +0000

You don't need to be Hawvers to recognize that Josh Svaty is a self-appointed Topekan gadfly. Yet with his arrogance, intellectual laziness and general dishonesty, he's exactly the sort of political figure that would make Socrates hurl. The fact is, Svaty does not want to provide Kansans with a choice in energy. Fortunately, he can't prevent the voters of HD108 from choosing to throw him out of office. And with a strong candidate in Dave Smith, that's exactly what we're looking to do.

I believe in Dave Smith and I think he's got what it takes. That's why tomorrow, Tuesday, August 19th, I'm headed to the Ellsworth Golf Course banquet room for a 6:00 P.M. Republican low-dollar fundraiser. Senator Roberts, elected officials and fellow Republicans will all be there, as will Dave Smith. If you have any questions, touch base with Mary Jo Huseman at 785-472-3591.

Hope to see you there. -Bill

TKR's Post-primary Interview with Greg Musil and Charlotte O'Hara, Co-Chairs of the Steve Howe for DA Campaign

noreply@blogger.com (Wild Bill) — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 11:13:00 +0000

The Kansas Republican had a sit down with Greg Musil and Charlotte O'Hara, co-chairs of the Steve Howe for District Attorney campaign. We wanted them to provide a recap for their successful, high-profile primary against Phill Kline. Fortunately, they were willing to answer a few of our questions. And here's what we got:

TKR: You guys beat your opponent by 40 percentage points. Did you anticipate to win by this kind of margin and what do think explains this performance?

GM & CO: When you are in a campaign where turnout is critical and you are being outspent 4 to 1, you hope for 50% plus 1, so we were particularly pleased with the mandate Steve received from Republican voters. We were always confident Steve was a very strong candidate, with the experience and the integrity to convince voters he was the better choice. The fact that he won so convincingly in a relatively small turnout primary proves that Steve is an outstanding leader.

TKR: While your candidate (Howe) was leading in some late polling, the rumor was that Kline was going to drive out his base and out-mobilize you on election day. What do you say to that in retrospect?

GM & CO: Voters turn out for a variety of reasons. Although we were outspent 4-1, especially in radio messages, Steve and his team worked the grass roots hard, going door-to-door virtually daily, making phone calls, and sending positive, strong mailings that added to his credibility. Most importantly, Steve developed such broad support from Republicans of all stripes, that his supporters simply could not be denied. Probably no candidate in the last 25 years has had such a wide level of support from community and civic leaders and elected officials at all levels of government. Voters are smart and they got it right in this race.

TKR: There are some Republicans that didn't initially support Howe because they thought he might ignore abortion-related cases as DA. What do you say to them?

GM & CO: Republicans must spend more time, money and effort on finding areas of common ground if we are to remain the dominant party in Kansas and, equally important, in Johnson County. Steve is a pro-life candidate whose campaign transcended any single issue. As District Attorney he will treat any allegation of crime with the same kind of serious, thoughtful but assertive attitude that he used to win the election. When he's sworn into office in January, he will review the Planned Parenthood case, and all cases, with the trained eye of a seasoned prosecutor -- looking at all of the facts and whether the law has been violated. Anyone who knows Steve knows he won't "ignore" any case that deserves the time and attention of the Johnson County District Attorney's office. But he will rely on the facts and the law, not on political or ideological passions or ambitions.

TKR: Looking forward to the general, what do think is Rick Guinn's biggest weakness?

GM & CO: Rick Guinn's biggest weaknesses are, simply put, Steve Howe's strengths. We expect to be outspent by the Democratic machine several times over. But when you compare Steve's uninterrupted commitment to Johnson County, his loyalty to his principles and his party, his track record as a prosecutor, and his plan for regaining the trust and confidence of Johnson County citizens, he is clearly the better candidate. Rick Guinn is a good man, but after switching parties and accepting a political appointment in Topeka, he has had to rely on Democratic machine consultants and money. Steve stayed true to his principles and his community, fought a battle in the primary many thought he could never win, and prevailed with 60% of the vote. When voters compare all of the factors between the two candidates, Steve's strengths will prevail.

TKR: What do you think Steve Howe needs to accomplish between now and November to win?

GM & CO: Steve needs to continue to do what he's good at -- grass roots campaigning that focuses on the benefits of having a career prosecutor as District Attorney and one not beholden to any specific interest group. His message of making that office focus on public safety, professionalism and public trust is exactly what voters want to hear, and they will respond on November 4 as they did on August 5. A unified Republican Party is very important to Steve's success, and he's already made great, great strides in that area. And, finally, Steve and all of us need to raise money for his campaign. We cannot get his message to voters without the necessary resources. If 80% of Johnson County's registered voters turn out on November 4, that's over 270,000 voters we need to touch. If we have the money to inform them about Steve's record, independence and plans for our public safety future, he will win.

Lynn Jenkins Slams Nancy Boyda on Energy Booklet

noreply@blogger.com (Custer) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:56:00 +0000

Fresh off a primary victory, it looks like Jenkins isn't wasting any time. Her campaign is eager to remind voters that Nancy Boyda has done nothing to solve our energy crisis. However, I sympathize with Boyda's plight. I guess it's difficult for her to reject Pelosi's left wing energy agenda when Pelosi has been there for Boyda time and time again when it came to fundraising. (Keep in mind it isn't just Pelosi who's financing Boyda's campaign coffers, it's the entire D.C. Democratic establishment.) Anyway, here's the release.

"BOYDA'S BOOKLET ON ENERGY: AN EDITION OF BROKEN PROMISES"
Kansans wait two years for relief at the pump and instead get a 16-pagebooklet.

Hoping to distract voters from the past two years of the "do nothing" Congress, Democrat Nancy Boyda sends out a 16-page booklet, lecturing Kansans on an issue she has failed to address nearly two years into her job.

"Nancy Boyda is not a candidate anymore. She is in Congress and her party is in the driver's seat," Jenkins spokesman Josh Hersh said. "Instead of sending out booklets that talk at us and do zero to end our energy crisis, it's time she demand that the Democrat Congress ends their vacation and goes back to Washington to take immediate action to drill for additional domestic oil."

Democrat Boyda and her party ran in 2006 on having a plan to help the American people and today, the average American is dealing with record high gas prices. The Democrat majority is not working for Kansans and it's apparent every time they fill up their tank.

"Kansans can see when their government is letting them down," State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins said. "And it couldn't be more apparent than each and every time they fill up their gas tanks. The people of Kansas cannot afford another term of broken promises....

"This Democrat-led Congress continues to take options off the table and these past two years haven't brought us one step closer toward energy independence," Jenkins said. "This is another wasted opportunity by Washington and Kansans deserve better."

Primary Synopsis/Frustrations (cont.)

noreply@blogger.com (Wild Bill) — Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:03:00 +0000

There was an interesting op-ed suggesting that the Kansas Republican party has serious leadership issues and that mods made big gains in Tuesday's primary. I don't necessarily agree with the accuracy of some of these claims, but it was interesting. However, I do believe that Sebelius' 2 terms as governor as well as Moore and Boyda holding 1/2 of the Kansas congressional delegation is a testament to the fact that our party need to get its act together.

I'm also frustrated with leaders in the KTRM for their KKK connection press release that came out days before the primary- drawing an absurd line of culpability that, if applied to every elected official, would make everyone guilty of being associated with looney toons. This wasn't necessary for Kline's victory and it leaves a miserable taste in all our mouths moving forward into the general.

Lastly, I'm disappointed with how all this nonsense has affected our ability to raise money. With Republicans having a 2:1 advantage in the state, you would expect our party to at least maintain fundraising parity with our Democratic opponents. But that isn't the case. Over the past 6 reporting periods, the Kansas Democrats have raised $3 million to our $600,000. As much as I would like to blame this on the "environment," as a conservative I believe in accountability, and that falls on Kris Kobach. Please let me know if you thing I'm off base.

Is Sebelius Obama's Muppet on Townhalls?

noreply@blogger.com (Doc Holiday) — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 15:26:00 +0000

Unless you've been living under a rock these last few weeks, it's been difficult to ignore McCain constantly challenging Obama to townhalls. Townhalls provide a perfect, unscripted opportunity for Americans to compare both candidates. Unfortunately, Obama has rejected the townhall formats entirely, hoping America will continue to swallow whatever his imagemakers keep serving us. Unless of course, Obama can manufacture a townhall.

And that, 'my friends,' is exactly what Sebelius is trying to accomplish. Check this.

"Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D) on Monday announced the themes for this month’s convention, which the party is calling 'America’s Townhall'.... The town hall theme will include camera crews in swing states around the country, who will film voters voicing their concerns and views. Those clips will then be aired at the convention. Sebelius, a co-chairwoman of the Democratic convention and a possible running mate for Obama, said the goal is to involve as many Americans as possible."

Now, I'm a firm believer that campaigns should 'own' their weaknesses, but this seems pretty stupid. Thoughts...

The Kansas Political Run Down

noreply@blogger.com (Wild Bill) — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 14:50:00 +0000

Kansas saloons have been teeming these last two nights. And Kansas Republicans have been footing their share of the tab- with good reason. As many of you have picked up, we here at TKR believe in a comprehensive strategy to move the Republican ball forward. In an effort to avoid diminishing chances of Ryun or Jenkins in the general, we stayed out of negative analysis completely. However, with Jenkins having secured her victory yesterday after the Shawnee county confusion, it is very safe to say that Jenkins and her campaign did very, very, very well.

We ALL thought that Ryun was going to emerge with a superior mobilization effort and while he campaign very hard and mobilized his grassroots very effectively, Lynn Jenkins' GOTV effort surpassed any pundit's expectations. Lynn Jenkins, with her Washington outsider/ immigration reform/ fiscal discipline campaign message, now makes Nancy Boyda THE MOST VULERABLE DEMOCRAT IN CONGRESS. Well done folks.

FYI- RIP: Phill Kline

FYI- RIP: Ben Hodge

In other news... conservative secured some solid Republican seats in the house despite Rodger Hannaford not performing up to expectations. Dale Swenson is, unfortunately, going to remain a corruptive Topekan force to be reckoned with. It's also interesting to see that all seven of Tim Huelskamp primary challenger recruits, lost to sitting Republican state senators. Despite my well-expressed lack of confidence in his leadership, Steve Morris cleaned up shop with a 74 point margin of victory. Senator Brugardt's staff, on the other hand, was preemptively warming up the bus for what turned out to be a slim, slim victory. Here are the numbers:

Morris 87% - 13%
McGinn 86% - 14%
Taddiken 81% - 19%
Vratil 69% - 31%
Umabrger 63% - 38%
Teichman 57% - 43%
Brungardt 51% - 49%

I'm sure they'll be plenty more to follow, but till then, I encourage lively discussion.... By the way, does anyone know if Jim Slattery helped his son on the ticket?

Phill Kline (1986-2008): RIP

noreply@blogger.com (Wyatt) — Tue, 05 Aug 2008 04:53:00 +0000

Phill Kline got his first taste of politics in a failed congressional run against Jim Slattery in 1986. On August 5, 2008, the Kline political saga came to an end. It was Steve Howe who nailed the coffin shut.

Aren't I excellent with photoshop? Open thread folks.

The Kansas Republican Endorses Steve Howe and Tim Owens

noreply@blogger.com (Doc Holiday) — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:38:00 +0000

Some call him the Reverend Wright of the Kansas Republican party; others say his principle aim is to be made a “pro-life martyr” so he can increase his honorarium as a professional speaker; others say he’s a flip-flopper on immigration; and others say he’s just a narcissistic shitty attorney who- despite all the hoopla- cannot “seal the deal” on Planned Parenthood prosecutions. There are many reasons to not vote for Phill Kline, but for those of you sitting on the fence, I'll give you one more: pro-life Republican attorney, Steve Howe.

As was said earlier, the Democrats have a competent and compelling candidate in Rick Guinn. There is NO WAY that Republicans maintain the DA position in the general if Kline wins the primary. Fortunately, Howe is an accomplished attorney and an all-around smart choice for Johnson County Republicans. It is for that reason that The Kansas Republican strongly supports Steve Howe for Johnson County DA.

Voters in the the 8th Senate District have an equally important decision to make tomorrow. Thankfully the facts make this decision bewteen Tim Owens and Ben Hodge quite simple. Ben Hodge has no problem punishing the citizens of Johnson county to pay for the infrastructure, healthcare and welfare for citizens and communities in rural parts of the state. Ben Hodge has a notorious reputation as a confused, stubborn legislator with a"make-believe Thomas Jefferson complex" in Topeka. He's failed the party on numerous occasions, including Holcomb, and is more interested in self-promotion than the well-being of Kansas families. On the other hand, Tim Owens understands the realites of economic sustainablilty and job growth, and has earned a 100% rating from the local chamber of commerce. Owens is sound family man, a proud Kansan, a patriot (as a Colonel in the Army Reserves) and has the support of many opinion leaders in NE Kansas. The Kansas Republican knows that Tim Owens would make an excellent State Senator and proudly supports his candidacy.

The Kansas Republican Endorses Dave Smith for 108th District Rep

noreply@blogger.com (Doc Holiday) — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 11:04:00 +0000

The 108th Kansas House District- which encompasses Ellsworth, Saline and a sliver of Dickinson County- is quintessential Kansas. Yet with his refined arrogance, his penchant for kicking our energy problems down the road and his unbridled admiration for our aloof Governor, Representative Josh Svaty is anything but Kansas. In 2006, Svaty went unchallenged. Since then, left wing environmental groups and the natural gas industry, both of whom are disinterested in decreasing energy costs for Kansans, have helped him amass a sizable $29,000 campaign war chest.

Luckily the Kansas GOP has a strong candidate in Kansas Farm Bureau Member and successful businessman Dave Smith. While Smith may not have those luscious chestnut locks and that Morrison-esque persona necessary to reach out to that critical sub-24-year-old female constituency, Smith's platform is much more aligned with the issues and interests of the citizens in the 108th.

On taxes, business growth, energy policy and job creation, Dave Smith knows what he's doing because he's done it all his life. Josh Svaty, on the other hand, is hardly old enough to rent a car, let alone craft policy. Energy prices are spiraling out of control, companies are leaving Kansas and families are struggling to make ends meet, but all Svaty has proposed are additional regulations. We're hopeful that the citizens of the 108th, with a 2:1 Republican voter registration advantage, will make the right decision and send Dave Smith to Topeka.

Sebelius, Abortion and her Ethical Dilemma

noreply@blogger.com (Custer) — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 11:08:00 +0000

I’ve criticized Sebelius on numerous occasions. I’ve questioned the alleged value of her “Ohio connection.” I’ve nailed her for her opposition to clean coal. And while she’s trying to reinvent herself with piecemeal efforts at building international credentials, most recently with her taxpayer-funded jaunt abroad, I don’t think it’s going to be enough to deflect her principle baggage. For the McCain campaign, I believe it will boil down to two issues that dovetail nicely into pigeonholing Kathy Sebelius: Abortion and Ethics.

You see, Sebelius’ vetoes against bills that regulate abortion are one thing. She can take political cover by pinning the Kansas legislature as “extreme zealots” with whom she effectively built compromises on a whole host of issues. However, throwing a party for George Tiller, America’s preeminent partial-birth abortion provider and his staff, at the Governor’s mansion, is an indictment of her character. With pictures to prove it, this fiesta reflects more than just a belief that abortions should be “safe, legal and rare” as Hillary Clinton often says. Offering a soirée to such a crowd, a party that less than 99.99 percent of state citizens would ever be allowed to enjoy, is beyond telling. For her, an abortion in the 9^th month of pregnancy is “practical, reasonable and for the performer- commendable behavior.” It doesn’t take a political operative to recognize that throwing a party to honor a 3^rd trimester abortionist is NOT politically acceptable for middle America.

But there is more to this story. The second chapter is about ethics. Until these photographs were released to the public, this party had been paid for by taxpayer dollars. After the story broke, Kansans were finally compensated for a "accounting error." Even if you believe Sebelius’ explanation that “she had no idea who won the raffle,” the Lawrence JWorld criticized her, as did the Wichita Eagle saying it was "too close to Lincoln bedroom behavior." Sebelius has exploited the state's limited oversight on her actions as Governor. She has a record of using state resources- the governor’s mansion, plane, sporting event tickets, and perks- to reward party operatives, family members and donors.

This is in stark contrast to McCain’s efforts to curb special interests and bring transparency to American politics. Kansas election laws are some of the loosest in the country. Sebelius has not only done nothing to change them, but she’s also worked hard to exploit them in her favor. Tillergate simply crystallizes who Kathy Sebelius truly is. Combined, I believe these two factors should drive negative messaging if Sebelius were to get the VP nod.

FEC Reports: Moran, Tiahrt & Boyda

noreply@blogger.com (Wild Bill) — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 23:29:00 +0000

Just thought I'd point out a few nuggets that folks might want to chew on.

Firstly, in what many consider the looming Moran v Tiahrt senatorial primary show-down, it looks like both candidates are looking to make a statement. Moran is leading with an impressive $2.2 million cash-on-hand compared to Tiahrt's $1.3 million. Tiahrt sits on appropriations so there is certainly room for him to make up ground; however, he also has a somewhat serious challenger this cycle whom he needs to beat with a comfortable margin. Moran faces a James Borna[something unmemorable] and will probably have the luxury to save on spending come the fall. Comments are certainly welcome on this one.

Secondly, I'm having serious trouble swallowing the double-talk from Boyda when it comes to telling the DCCC to "get out of my race." Boyda's recent FEC report indicates that she's accepted $2000 from Jim Clyburn (the 3rd highest ranking Democrat leader in the House with access to and influence with the DCCC) on July 8, 2008. This is 10 days prior to her public announcement to reject DCCC money.

Let's not forget that she's already received more than $11,500 from Rahm Emanuel's various PACs (who is the chair of the DCCC) over the last 2 years- not to mention contributions from Pelosi, Hoyer and Rangel.

If Boyda was seriously interested in having the DCCC "get out of her race" she would return the $11,500 that Emanuel has already provided her campaign. But she won't, and that's whole point. Boyda seeks to create "distance" from the establishment, telling folks on the campaign trail that she's independent, while at the same time collecting their PAC money and benefiting from their negative 3rd party attacks against her opponent. It's a win, win for Boyda and a lose, lose for Kansas.