Moderate, conservative Republicans to face off again in Kansas races

Kansas City Star ^ | 8/3/02 | Steve Kraske

[Non-Sequitur]

Kansas really has three political parties. And as long as the moderate factions and the conservative factions continue to battle each other then we will continue to see Democrats sneak through. An addtional factor for this primary is the fact that Johnson County is voting on a heavily advertised sales tax increase to provide additional funding for local public schools. That should drive up voter turnout to new records, and that will favor the moderate Republicans over the conservatives.

[Non-Sequitur]

Onthe other hand, moderate turnout might harm Dennis Moore, the incumbant Democrat. A moderate Republican has a better chance of beating him than does a conservative one, as Moore has shown in the past two elections.

[ken5050]

And it also has a dem Senator, who's so "conservative" that he couldn't get elected as a Republican in several states...go figure..

[Non-Sequitur]

We,ve got two Republican senators - Roberts and Brownback. Of course, one leads the moderates and one leads the conservatives.

[TroutStalker]

I think these moderates (soccer moms & dads) are responsible for Moore getting elected, that they voted for him rather than support a conservative. They're the same ones with the signs out saying "support candidates who will support our schools" and the supporters of bi-state taxes.

[TroutStalker]

Kansas primary bump. We cast our ballots yesterday.

[Bahbah]

You go, Troutstalker and femme. So good to see you. What is your opinion of Shallenberger?

[Free State Four]

I like early voting, too. But Free State One and Two wanted to go to the polling place on election day and actually cast the ballot. So we are going to vote Tuesday. fsf

[TroutStalker]

Shallenberger is endorsed by the NRA, good enough for me right there. (I'm not a single issue voter, but after the second amendment, everything else is a distant second. My contempt for Graves became overwealming after he vetoed concealed carry; I had a carry permit in my previous state of residence in the east for many years.)

[TroutStalker]

I decided to vote early just in case I wasn't having a good day on Tuesday. Also didn't have to wait at all, and it was on my way to pick up my AR-15 at the gunsmiths.

[MrB]

Re: The school tax. There is already a lawsuit in the works from a neighboring (high welfare) county to block its implementation. "It's not fair that Johnson County uses its affluence to have better schools"

On the Congressional race, my preference would be the conservative Colyer first, the military man Taff second, and the Democrat/Socialist (the Constitution cannot limit what Congress can do) Moore.
If Taff can beat Moore and Colyer can't, I'll take Taff, but not happily.

Just for everyone's information - I wrote a letter to Dennis Moore urging him to support the Enumerated Powers Act (fat chance), just to see what sort of reply I got.
I got a reply alright - Moore stated that the Supreme Court says that the Interstate Commerce (loophole) clause is not limited by the enumerated powers. In other words, this commie lives on the belief that the Constitution doesn't limit the FedGov's power at all, as long as said power has anything to do with "interstate commerce".

[Bahbah]

That's good enough for me too. I've been watching the John Dingel race. He is so awful in every way, but is supportive of gun rights. Why are we so often faced with these horrid choices? I do despair.

[ken5050]

My bad..I was thinking of Nebraska, obviously...I have trouble with all those "flat" states.....LOL....that's cause I'm still trying to get anyone to explain to me how the good people of Iowa can elect Grasseley AND Harkin. Talk about voter schizophrenia....

[kcpopps]

"These days, a conservative generally can be defined as someone who is anti-abortion, is pro-school vouchers, favors gun rights and opposes tax increases even for public schools"

That's a pretty straightforward statement, but coming from the Star and knowing the positions of the editorial staff, I can just feel a sneer on the face of that comment. I haven't read the Star lately, but I'd be surprised if they endorse anyone except the moderates.

"opposes tax increases even for the schools" implies to me that they think that is akin to child abuse or in some way just unthinkable (as many voters do). They can't just 'say opposes tax increases' and leave it at that - gotta try to pull their soccer mom votes away from the conservatives.

I have a kid in school. I am glad that Johnson County has good schools, but I don't want any tax increases for anything, including the schools. They can tighten their belts like everyone else and they'll be just fine.

I'll vote against all tax proposals.

[kcpopps]

KS election bump

[TroutStalker]

You better believe they're sneering. They describe everything conservative derisively and pat the moderates on the back for at least behaving civilly when it comes to abortion, gun control and taxes. But in the end they still shill for the democrats, because that is who they carry water for.

If it weren't for my democrat mother-in-law taking the Star here, they would have one more lost customer. I have found them useful from time to time: whoever they endorse immediately goes to the bottom of my list.

[Non-Sequitur]

Of course the moderates are responsible. Moore is a conservative Democrat, as Democrats go, and is preferable to a conservative Republican like Colyer or Kline. The redistricting didn't hurt Moore enough that he can't win again against a conservative. He, of all people, should be sweating Tuesday. If Taff wins the nomination then Moore is in for a tough fight.

[Non-Sequitur]

Wyandotte can bitch and moan all they want. If Johnson County wants to raise the funds locally to supplement their schools then there should be nothing that they or Tokpeka can say over it. Local schools, local issue, it's not like we're taking money away from them.

As for Taff vs. Colyer, my feeling is either one is preferable to Moore. Taff has the chance to beat him and Colyer doesn't. Moore starts with the advantage in Wyandotte and that part of Lawrence left to him. He picks up enough moderate Republicans in Johnson county to give him the edge. With Taff in the race those moderates are more likely to go to him. That's what it takes to win in the 3rd.

[Lancey Howard]

Presuming the parasite centers (cities) vote overwhelmingly Democrat, what is wrong with the rest of Kansas that they would vote "moderate", thereby telling government to go ahead and confiscate more of their money so that it may be dumped into the parasite centers? Are they stupid or something?

What is the parasite / taxpayer ratio in Kansas anyway?
When I think of the mid-west, I don't envision a lot of big parasite centers, but rather, I see large expanses of self-supporting, hard-working, pioneer-spirited, traditional Americans. Do I have it wrong?
Of course, South Dakota elects a scumbag like Daschle.... go figure. I guess South Dakota must be loaded with parasites.

[Non-Sequitur]

You don't have a lot of big cities in Kansas. The third largest city in the state is Overland Park, which is suburban Kansas City.