Posted on 11/23/2014 11:39:08 AM PST by centurion316
The Johnson County moderate, a fixture of Kansas politics for decades, is an increasingly endangered species.
Republicans and analysts on both sides of the moderate-conservative divide say the Nov. 4 election results confirm that conclusion. The centrist bankers, lawyers and businessmen who once defined the county’s politics are giving way to younger, more socially oriented conservatives who now play the major role in determining the county’s approach to government.
“The old guard just doesn’t have the weight they used to have,” said Secretary of State Kris Kobach, a Republican just elected to a second term. “The fact that the elites were against the people at the top of the ballot didn’t hurt any of us.”
Larry Winn III, a charter member of the county’s faction of GOP moderates, said the shift is clear.
“The far right of the party is much more easily excited … and they get their vote out,” he said. “I don’t think there’s any doubt about it.”
The change is most pronounced in state and federal elections, Winn and others said. Most local governments in Johnson County, from city halls to school boards, still include moderates more interested in practical problems than ideology.
But that dynamic may soon change as well. If so, it could replace the county’s long emphasis on high-quality public education and infrastructure in favor of a lower-tax, smaller-government approach.
(Excerpt) Read more at kansascity.com ...
Governor Sam Brownback has delivered them a death blow on their home turf: Johnson County, the Kansas City suburb that believes that they own the state. Many have called Kansas City a "deep red" state but that has only been true if red means Republican, because the Kansas Republicans have long had a liberal wing. Now, it seems, Red in Kansas means both Republican and conservative. Good for us.
Moderate DemocRATS went extinct a long, long time ago. I don’t see anything wrong with moderate Republicans going extinct also. America is at war with itself. It’s time to chose a side. That wishy-washy, middle of the road crap just don’t cut it anymore.
I went to the Johnson County Elephant Club lunch once and said I was looking for conservatives. Those old biddies snarkily said to me that they were republicans.
The old moderates were stupid.
There are Republicans and then there are conservatives.
They’re not always the same animal.
My theory is that Johnson County ‘moderates’ are really liberals who are under the chdish impression that rich people have to be Republican...and when they get a little money in the bank, they follow their own script and change party affiliation.
But they’re still liberals.
Strange thing is I live in a white bread district in Johnson County and we sent a black Republican to Topeka. Ain’t we racist?
How about this for a headline: “Conservatives Shining Light of Future over Johnson County.”
We did the same thing in Leavenworth. Double racist.
I wonder which nursing home the Elephant Club will choose for their future meetings.
lol
There are plenty of Democrats ready for the retirement home.
Yes, Johnson County “moderates” always sided with Democrats because they were Democrats. That is the thing to do in red states: run as Republicans.
“The Johnson County moderate, a fixture of Kansas politics for decades, is an increasingly endangered species.”
He says that like it’s a bad thing.
Finally, some good news out of KS, which did come through nicely on November 4, but for how long? Could KS be infatuated with HRC in 2016 since it twice rejected “bill”?
Believe me, Dave Helling thinks that it is a very bad thing. He was all in for the phony Independent Greg Orman, and all other Democrats running in Kansas.
Personally know several of these people. They are classic rhinos. I don’t like that term but that’s what they are. They would’ve been Democrats except it’s really hard to get ahead in Kansas if your Democrat.
I think that their little party is over. They had influence in state politics far beyond their numbers and they worked it very well. I don’t think they are very happy about the recent turn of events.
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