Posted on 12/19/2008 8:05:44 AM PST by Non-Sequitur
Sam Brownback is only 52 and has a job he loves.
But on Thursday, the Kansas Republican began the process of walking away from his seat in the U.S. Senate, announcing that he would not seek re-election in 2010.
The reason? A term limits pledge he signed in 1996.
Within minutes of his announcement, six-term Republican congressman Jerry Moran of Hays declared that he was entering the Senate race to replace Brownback. One other potential contender: seven-term GOP congressman Todd Tiahrt of Wichita.
On the Democratic side, one question looms: Will Gov. Kathleen Sebelius seek to extend her political career by attempting to move to the Senate?
(Excerpt) Read more at kansascity.com ...
“This isn’t the best news”
Hmmm... lessee here..... a Republican politician makes a promise to “term-limit” himself, and actually LIVES UP TO that promise? Whoda thoughta that? A politician that actually keeps his word to his constituents?
And Non-Sequitur, let me now ask you a hard, hard, personal question:
Are you for term limits, or against them?
What say you?
- John
Won’t Sebelius be in DC with Obama? Hasn’t she been appointed someplace??
Could the Republicans lose this seat?
Anyway, good for Brownback to keep his promise. You will never get such a promise or have it kept by a Democrat.
Crossing my fingers Mclame doesn’t seek reelection either. We need a republican representing Arizona.
With an ACU lifetime of 94, I expect he’s relieved to go. Who wants to watch what will happen?
The other guys should have been limited out of the House long ago. Career politicians of any stripe are the PROBLEM, not a SOLUTION!
Two three year house terms, two five year senate terms; then back to work in the real world under the laws you passed. For every great and honorable long term officeholder there are dozens of self-serving “keep the seat whatever it takes” types ready to give away the farm for power and money.
Enough already- TERM LIMITS, NOW AND FOREVER!
OOPS! I forgot...
< /rant >
What say you?
I am against term limits as they would only serve to give more power to the unelected staff and lobbyists that swarm Washington now.
We the people have the option to "term limit" an elected official every 2, 4, or 6 years.
Sorry, the bad news I was referring to was not the fact that Brownback, as a politician, was acually keeping his word. I respect him for that. The bad news is that this will be a contested Senate seat in 2010. Depending on who she's running against Sebelius could pick it up.
Maybe Kansas’ favorite son, Arlen Specter, will move back and run from there.
No. She took her name out of the running. Said she wanted to stay and help the state through it's budget problem or some such crap. The truth is probably that she wasn't on the short list for any of the interesting cabinet positions so she decided to take her name out of the running.
Could the Republicans lose this seat?
Depends on who the nominee is. For the Democrats to pick up the seat would be an unhill climb, but Sebelius has won a statewide election four times so she has a track record of winning. If the GOP has a divisive primary battle then she could slip in.
No, Gov. Sebelius hasn’t been appointed to a cabinet position. No, Republicans won’t lose the seat. I lived in Kansas, 1977-’83, so I know that all of Kansas’ U.S. senators have been Republicans for at least the past 30 years. Republican presidential candidates won Kansas 14 of the last 15 elections. The exception was 1964. In Jan., three of the state’s four U.S. reps. will be Republicans. Republicans control both houses of their legislature.
We need more elected officials who promise to limit their terms and keep their promise. I live in Illinois, and Congressman Tim Johnson (R-IL) first ran for Congress in 2000. He promised that he wouldn’t serve more than three terms, in the U.S. House. Later, he changed his mind and broke his promise. Last month, he was elected to his fifth term.
He is an honorable Senator as far as I can tell. Maybe a bit short of diplomacy.
We can rally around him an encourage him to answer a higher call than simply fulfilling a previous statement/pledge. If it is warranted.
Brownback wants to be president. I'm sure he thinks his chances are better by going through Topeka. He'll be running for governor in 2010.
Kansas is a schizo state with respect to some offices. The Republicans hold the record there of going the longest without electing a Democrat to a Senate seat. It’s been 76 years since a Dem last won. The seat Brownback occupies was held by George McGill from 1930-39. In the seat Pat Roberts occupies, it has been even longer. The last Dem to win it was in 1912 (first popular election) with William Howard Thompson. Thompson won by only 49% and was obliterated when he lost to Republican Arthur Capper in 1918, when he got just 33%. With Capper’s election, there have only been 4 other Republicans in that line since (including Roberts).
The Governors are a different story, since 1956 (going up to 2011 with the next election), the GOP has only held the office for 22 years (the Dems 32 years). Most of them have been RINOs. The last Conservative Republican was elected Governor in 1964, William Avery (now almost 98 years old). Astonishingly, he won as Goldwater lost KS, but lost as the GOP made their anti-LBJ gains in ‘66 (back when they still had just 2 year terms).
There are really “3” parties in KS. The Democrats, the “Moderate” (liberal RINO) Republicans and the Conservative Republicans. When the first two combine forces, they get Democrats elected (accounting for Sebelius and Dennis Moore, and the sleazy ex-AG Paul Morrison).
Well, I hope so. Have to admit that I am rather surprised that KA has such a radically pro-abort Governor.
We need red states to be red without hand the libs a 6 year “gimme”.
The nation is headed for a big left turn! I’m hoping we can count on Jayhawks in 2010!
Unfortunately today ... qualifications alone are not enough to get elected.
It takes someone that can look , and sound, good on television. Etc.
I believe Brownback is a good Senator. He may be at his peak, perhaps a Cabinet post, or Department Head. ????
Do you know his strength in knowledge? If he has one?
I think Brownback would do fine in any position you cared to put him in. Does he have what it takes to be president? He thinks he does.
Although Kansas usually vote for Republicans, for president, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House, two of their last three governors have been Democrats.
I’m for term limits, and Roberts was pro-amnesty.
Good riddance.
Hard work is what it takes to win, so don’t whine about a “harder” election.
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