I'm sure he stands a good shot, but given the wacky dynamics of this district, I wouldn't make a guarantee. The problem remains that Kobach failed to even win a Senate seat nomination when he last ran (he lost to a RINO woman in an open seat), so that's at least one strike against him.
"Frankly, I don't see how nominating Lightner, who may not inspire the base but who would still be pegged a "conservative" by the RINOs, would be better for us."
Because I'm looking at it from the perspective that we've run 2 conservative white males and lost, 1 RINO white male and lost, and I think that perhaps this district would be better suited to electing a female (as it did prior to Vince Snowbarger). But what you and Johnny have pointed out to me is that Lightner may have the credibility to run for the office (and a proven vote-getter), she's barely seen in the contest (which seems amazing to me). If we lose this race again, I think Lightner should absolutely be given a clear shot in '06.
"And DJ, former Congresswoman Jan Meyers was (and still is, I'm sure) pro-abortion and pro-gun control, and is certainly a member of the RINO wing of the Kansas GOP."
Quite true. And the Meyers RINOs are a large part of those who support Moore. I wasn't saying that Rep. Lightner should emulate Meyers, but that her gender would help her.
"A better role model for the kind of candidate to run in the district is Congressman Jim Ryun, who did not have to hide his conservatism to get elected and reelected in a district with almost identical Republican performance as Moore's district."
Given the fractious nature of this district, I'm not sure Jim Ryun or a similar-type candidate could carry this seat (nothing against the Congressman, I think he is a truly honorable gentleman - I do believe he is the only person who ever signed an autograph to me with a biblical quote !). Ah, well... at least we're all in agreement that we don't want Adam Taff carrying the banner for us in November, and if Kobach gets the nod, I do hope he wins.
I think the "leadership" of the party has become hostage to gender thinking, racial thinking, etc.
Kobach sounds like the most qualified candidate. It is essential to have more Republicans in Congress with really strong educational backgrounds. While a liberal who went to Harvard, Yale, etc., isn't necessarily well-educated, they are likely to be very smart and articulate. A conservative with those credentials will be both of those things, and well educated, because he/she has had to digest the left's theories. Only such people are likely to effectively refute them.