Posted on 09/26/2009 3:21:25 PM PDT by Clintonfatigued
In case you'd been losing sleep wondering just who would get Sen. John McCain's support in the race for Sen. Sam Brownback's seat in Kansas when he steps down in 2010, the answer is in:
U.S. Rep. Jerry Moran.
He, of course, just nipped Rep. Todd Tiahrt to it, and just in time, too. In case you'd forgotten, the presidential election cycle ended a full, well, not quite full, 11 months ago.
It's back to politics time, baby.
Now, exactly why Sen. McCain, the GOP presidential candidate in 2008 (in case you'd forgotten, it was so long ago) would get his props in this early is up for debate.
Does a McCain endorsement seal the race for Moran? Is McCain's old running partner, Sarah Palin, getting ready with a Facebook blast to prop up Tiahrt?
Or am I missing something, and is it de rigueur for the losing presidential candidate to toss out the first endorsement of the next election cycle?
(Excerpt) Read more at voices.kansascity.com ...
Both Tiahrt and Moran are conservative, but Tiahrt is more so.
And I don't know jack about either one of them.
Agreed. McCain’s endorsement in a primary does not enhance tha candidate’s credibility, IMHO.
Just going on the immigration thing, I would go for Moran. Tiahrt supported the Dream Act.
If McCain is for Moran, I’m inclined to support Tihart. Just saying.
I wouldn’t say that Tiahrt is more conservative than Moran—he’s a bit more stridently conservative on some social issues, but Moran is better on immigration. And while Moran has just as solidly conservative voting record as Tiahrt, his more low-key style makes him less polarizingamong Kansas Republicans, and his nomination would substantially reduce the possibility of a rift in which the RINOs vote for the Democrat (which is how Sebelius and Dennis Moore have managed to win).
I would prefer for Tiahrt to run for reelection to the House, where he can be a major player when the GOP regains its majority (if not in 2010, then in 2012).
The Dream Act was actually included in McCain-Kennedy. McCain supports amnesty. If McCain supports Moran, I wonder if Moran supports amnesty?
Here are their NumbersUSA Report Cards:
Tiart Career C+, Recent (2006-9) B+
Brownback had a D rating.
There is another aspect to the priamry, one that is rooted in Kansas history. The state has two U.S. Senators, and it had long been tradition to have one Senator from eastern Kansas, which is more urban, and one from the praries of western Kansas. This is not unusual, and in fact was very commonplace in the U.S. for most of the Senate’s history. Of course, with the rise of mass media and the weakening of community ties, this has far less impact now. Still, that continues today in Kansas, with the agrarian Pat Roberts and the Topeka-based Sam Brownback.
Frankly, I don’t feel passionately towards one or the other. Either one would probably be roughly the same, although Tiahrt might be marginally better (although Moran scored as the most Conservative from KS last year). According to Kabar, Tiahrt has improved his record on immigration, but Brownback’s is terrible. I’d prefer NOT to see Brownback as Governor, because I suspect he may try to use that as a springboard for the Presidency (just in time as his voting record has worsened into mushy “moderate” territory, and he clearly suffers from Potomac Fever). Since the Dems have no viable candidates, I wouldn’t mind seeing Tiahrt switch to the Gov’s race and knock out Brownback. KS has a real problem with illegals, and I have a sneaking suspicion that Brownback won’t do squat about it.
We have a liberal rag in our town. I use their endorsements as an ‘anti-endorsement’ contrary indicator.
I’ll have to use McCain the same way.
Looks like a case can be made for either over the other.
How do you feel about Moran versus Tiahrt?
I can live with either one. Both are conservative, however I think Moran would probably do better in the eastern part of the state than Tiahrt would. But that doesn't matter, the Democrats have nobody serious running for Senate so which ever one gets the nod will be going to Washington in 2010.
I have met Moran and like him a lot. He is a good man even if not 100 percent hard-ribbed conservative on everything.
That said, Tiahrt would just be a bit tougher and more strong on every issue.
Brownback a D. Wow?
Oh, it only covers immigration. Yeah, he is bad on that issue. Overall he’s pretty good, but nice to see the other two are better at least on that important matter.
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