George Will: Brownback's Plans for 2008

Newsweek ^ | June 2, 2004 | George F. Will

[RWR8189]

He hopes to build on the 'tens of millions of dollars' the Bush campaign spent to mobilize evangelical Christians.

In 1988, the arrival of the religious right and social conservatism as formidable and entwined forces in the Republican Party was signaled when Pat Robertson received 25 percent of the vote in the Iowa presidential nominating caucuses, second to Bob Dole's 37 percent. Seventeen years later, when Robertson wasasked on ABC's "This Week'' who he thought might make a fine Republican nominee in 2008, he began his answer: "There's an outstanding senator from Kansas ...''

Sam Brownback, 48, won the Senate seat Dole vacated when he became the Republican presidential nominee in 1996. In 2008, all Republican aspirants will seek the support of the religious right and other social conservatives. Those factions are a large portion of the party and a larger portion of the party's primary voters.

Two candidates could have special strength with that group. One is Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, if in 2006 he survives what seems certain to be a difficult campaign for a third Senate term. The other will be Brownback, whose recent travels have taken him to, among other places, Iowa, which is close to Kansas, and to New Hampshire.

Brownback, who is not coy about his interest in the 2008 nomination, doubts that Santorum—a friend and former Capitol Hill roommate who participated in Brownback's recent conversion to Roman Catholicism—will seek that nomination. Brownback notes that the first mini-event of the next presidential cycle—the Ames, Iowa, straw poll in August 2007—will come just nine months after Santorum's re-election campaign ends. Other candidates will have had more time to organize in Iowa. And, Brownback says, Santorum is young, so he can wait. Santorum is 20 months younger than Brownback.

 

[zerosix]

Having worked full time in the first Primary and later General Elections, for the then Senate want-to-be, Brownback, I can state completely, that this man is not a RINO (he beat back a very popular RINO Mayor in the Primary, then fought hard against the well-funded Democrat for the seat. Then Gov. Bill Graves, had saved the seat for himself, by appointing another RINO temporarily to hold his place for the remaining 2 years left on Sen. Bob Dole's 6 year term. He planned to run himself when he left office as Gov. of KS.

Brownback, serving a State post, informed Graves that he planned to run for Dole's seat in the next election. A furious Super RINO, Bill Graves (heir to the Graves Truck Line fortune) saw to it that every "Moderate" Republican in the State of KS, as well as nationally, donated their money and influence on Brownback's opposition in first the Primary with endorsements in favor of his opponent, then after he won the Primary, refused to endorse or support him in the General Election.

In the State of KS, the RINOs are more vicious than the DemocRAT Party. They hate Conservative Republicans with a vengeance and will support Democrats against any and all Conservative Republicans running for any office, period.

When W was running and held a fund raiser in KS (of course RINOs were very prominent), he quitely told Gov. Graves that he would never be a part of his administration, should he be elected, ever! I was at that event and privileged to see the look on Graves' face after W delivered the bad news. Bush remembered that Graves and his fellow RINOs had handed the 3rd District House seat to a DemocRAT, for the first time in 43 years, rather than support the conservative candidate. Dennis Moore still represents the 3rd Republican dominated District, because Johnson County is loaded with "Republicans for Moore" in every election since.

Brownback and his wife had 3 children when he first ran for the Senate and in the following years, have adopted bi-racial, special need children. The down side to his politics is, he feels for every downtrodden people and seem to overlook the fact that not every community wants to support them. He has become even more of that opinion, since converting to Catholicism.

[ntnychik]

One is Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, if in 2006 he survives what seems certain to be a difficult campaign for a third Senate term.

I saw Rick Santorum at the Bush rally in Erie, PA (dem town) in September. The crowd treated Rick like a rock star, jumping to their feet and cheering from the moment he began to rise from his chair. When Arlen Specter was introduced, there was a general grumbling. If only honest votes are counted, Santorum shouldn't have a problem.

[rmmcdaniell]

If Brownback is nominated, I stay home again.

I'm tired of these self-righteous law and order social conservatives like Bush. They allow the government to forever grow and push for more rules and regulations on citizens, while ignoring the illegal invasion.

Its time for the South Park wing of the party to get its nominee!!

[Reaganwuzthebest]

On a lot of issues Brownback is very conservative. The most important one for me and probably for quite a few others in the country though is immigration and when it comes to that Brownback takes the open borders position. We cannot go on forever taking in everyone who wants to come here but Brownback seems to believe we can or should, even if they're illegals.

He's not the only politician in Washington who thinks that way, quite a few do. But by 2008 I believe you're going to find strong support for Tom Tancredo and others who feel it's time to clamp down, not give more amnesties.

[Gracey]

You say it's only one issue but take a look at some of the immigration threads and see how much support there is for the McCain, Ted Kennedy, Sam Brownback amnesty. That is the most destructive bill to have been written let alone supported by so-called conservatives.

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I agree. Immigration is a HUGE issue - I know Mexicans here who are ready to give Texas back to Mexico. They don't recognize that we fought a war and won. Fox wants 1/2 of Mexico to come here so it can become Mexamerica.

[Gracey]

Its time for the South Park wing of the party to get its nominee!!

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Yeah for the South Park wing. Include me.

[Gracey]

Alan Keyes in 08.

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Are you serious. Alan Keyes for what? He got 20 percent against a socialist Obama. He'd be lucky to get 5% in a presidential race.

[Antoninus]

If he runs, he's my man in the primary. Until then, give me George Allen!

[Antoninus]

Its time for the South Park wing of the party to get its nominee!!

There is a Southpark shed, not a full wing. Sorry.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

5 to 10 more years of unchecked illegal immigration coupled with another massive amnesty and this country's in big trouble.

[zerosix]

You are absolutely correct. Illegal Immigration will be the natural driving force in any Republican Primary for 2008. I suspect, however, that the "insiders" will attempt to squelch anyone for being i that camp and, if necessary, ostracize him/her and/or brand them as "racists" and "nativists", so that a legitimate candidate will get no money and some "moderate" in sheep's clothing will be at the top of the ticket (ala George Bush, Sr.)and lose to a fast talking DemocRAT purely because the top money dogs refuse to admit the rampant disgust of those of us out here in "fly over" America, who are sick and tired of losing Emergency Centers, over crowding of illegal children in our schools, and the U.S. Supremes, who declare we must be taxed to pay for them, like it or not.

KS Supreme Court, ruling Friday, 6/3/05, just stated that the State Legislature "must" give millions more to the State's School Districts - where they are to get these millions.

The liberals appointed to the KS Supreme Court by Dem. Sebelius and RINO Graves, don't tell us (even though we know as tax payers, there will be massive new taxes forced on us, unless someone steps forward in the KS Legislature and strips it from the massive funds currently being fraudulently being spent on other socialist giveaways or someone with another voice steps up to the plate, declaring "BASTA." If the case went to the U.S. Supreme Court, I have no doubt that those "internationalists" would refuse to take the case or agree with the KS Libs.

[Reaganwuzthebest]

KS Supreme Court, ruling Friday, 6/3/05, just stated that the State Legislature "must" give millions more to the State's School Districts - where they are to get these millions.

Thanks for that information, it's the first I've heard of that decision. The courts basically have no choice but to rule as they do when it comes to illegal aliens thanks to Plyler v Doe, which was a disastrous ruling by the USSC and needs to be overturned. I wouldn't be suprised if this latest from the KS Supreme Court is related somehow to our open border policies.

[Freedom of Speech Wins]

Would rather lose with a guy who stands up for moral principles like Keyes than have to vote for a Republican like Bush who continues to have the U.S. fund countries that are not our friends like Pakistan.

[Freedom of Speech Wins]

Santorum too would be an acceptable candidate.

Don't know about Brownback. Would prefer someone I have seen prominently standing up against terror like Santorum.

[Freedom of Speech Wins]

Noone is calling 9/11 what it was, an act by immigrants against us.

If 9/11 didn't give our politicians reason to clean up the immigration mess I don't know what will.

Bush didn't even fire the dude who approved Atta and Hanjour's visas a year after they were dead .

Business as usual for the immigrant only employment economy.