You're invited!

Bush is in town tomorrow for Nick Jordan! Be sure to read the invite! Then, head on over to Dennis Moore's site and help keep Nick Jordan away from D.C.!

KS GOP on The Internets

If you head over to The Google on The Internets and type in Kansas Republican Party, what you'll find may just be a microcosm of why the Kansas Republican Party just can't seem to catch any breaks lately.

You see, the KS GOP web site, in addition to not being the most attractive site around, hasn't been updated since January 10 of this year. Oh, sorry, they do have an national news section that is probably automatically generated.

If you'll recall the email sent by Kris Kobach at the end of last year -- you know, the one where he bragged about illegal voter suppression.

Well, there was something else in that email too. Kobach said the KSGOP was on the verge of starting....a blog.

We have instituted a wholesale technological change at Party headquarters. We have updated everything, from our website to our email system. Additionally, we are getting ready to launch the official Republican Party blog—to further help spread the positive actions of all of Republican elected officials.

Apparently, there are no positive actions of Republican elected officials for to spread, because to the best of this bloggers knowledge, no such blog was ever launched.

The KS GOP did have a brilliant idea to use The Internets to get their supporters involved with the shaping of the party's new platform. This initiative, called 50 Ideas, was kicked off with an "Idearaiser" (get it, it's like a fundraiser only instead of giving money, you give ideas. BRILLIANT!)

A committee was formed, chaired by Rep. Peggy Mast of Emporia. There was even a 50 Ideas blog.

All of this was to culminate in the release of a new, totally revamped, grassroots inspired party platform. Only such a release never occurred. Perhaps Rep. Mast was too busy trying to root out gangsta rap from our communities.

The web site and blog have been dormant since October of 2007.

But all that might just change, you see the KS GOP sent out an email today proclaiming anew their commitment to the 50 Ideas...idea. Although, they apparently forgot to put any new content on the web site to which they direct people in the email.

No matter, things around here are about to change...

It’s no secret that the State of Kansas is facing some substantial problems as
we look towards the future. The government needs answers.

The 2008
Kansas Republican Party Platform seeks to find answers and provide solutions to cure Kansas’ stagnant and downward spiraling economy, curb violent crime, make
government more open and accountable, prepare Kansans to compete in a global
economy by making our schools not just good, but great, and maintain the values
and beliefs of America’s heartland.

Our vision of a better Kansas does not start in the halls of the Capitol or with the input of special interest lobbyists. It starts with people like you.

Republicans believe that the best and most effective government is the government closest to the people. We want to listen to people’s thoughts, discover their dreams, and renew a sense of hope and optimism.

Join with us today and submit your ideas to pioneer change in Kansas.

Welcome back to The Internets, Christian and Kris! I'll look forward to hearing more on these "50 ideas."

Lynn Jenkins: Treasurer or candidate for Congress?

In a story that has been slowly simmering for the past few months, Lynn Jenkins is beginning to take some more heat over the American Century ads bearing her smiling mug. After the first bit of controversy started when Ric Anderson of the Topeka Capital-Journal and Steve Kraske of the Kansas City Star both wrote pieces criticizing, for different reasons, Jenkins' role in the advertising campaign. (The Star has taken the above-mentioned stories off their web site)

In typical amateur fashion. the Jenkins camp flew off the handle, ultimately culminating in this defensive guest column in the Kansas City Star in which she claimed that her presence in these advertisements was at the request of American Century and based on "extensive research" which showed that her face makes the ads all the more effective.

However, when pressed to provide such research, all the Treasurer's office could come up with was a power point slide with this ambiguous, unattributed quote.

"They see it's from Lynn Jenkins and it's professionally done and that impresses people and carries a lot of weight."

Really, it doesn't matter, at least according to the Federal Election Commission.

Sure, when the ads ran at the end of 2006, right before her 2nd election for State Treasurer, we kind of rolled our eyes and said "How convenient."

Now, as a candidate for Congress, Jenkins is subject to FEC regulations. and since these ads are paid for by American Century, it doesn't matter if she makes them more effective or if she had no idea they might benefit her politically. The fact is they do benefit her politically, which constitutes an in-kind contribution from a corporation, which is illegal in elections for Federal office.

Is it her responsibility as State Treasurer to promote this 529 program personally? Ya, probably. But it's also her responsibility as a candidate for Congress to adhere to all laws and regulations set forth by the relevant governing bodies.

Something has to give. This isn't just a matter of her election being a distraction from her duties or causing a time crunch, we are to the point where her responsibilities as State Treasurer are leading to violations of FEC regs. Lynn needs to decide if she's the Kansas State Treasurer or if she's a candidate for Congress. She just can't do both anymore.

More Coal Plants = Higher Energy Bills?!?!?

Sunflower Electric has been arguing that they desperately need two giant, CO2 belching coal plants in Holcomb, KS in order to bring cheaper energy to western Kansans. And the "Melvin Neufelds" of the state have been all too eager to take up that corporate drum beat.

But, wait! (insert record scratch here)

A report released yesterday by Innovest, an independent leading global financial firm , announced that coal can no longer be considered the cheapest source of power - if you account for coming federal regulation of carbon emissions. From the Wichita Eagle:

The report found a political and regulatory environment nationally that is tilting away from new coal plants and imposing significant new costs on them. Among the trends: The U.S. Supreme Court last year signaled its approval of federal carbon regulation. This session, Congress has introduced a flurry of carbon cap and trade bills, and the question "is not whether legislation will be enacted, but when." Moreover, the study noted the soaring costs of plant construction.

All of this has changed the underlying economics of new coal-fired plants.

The report finds that while the Sunflower expansion would provide additional baseload capacity, "the carbon risks associated with an increased reliance on coal present significant financial risks for the company's owners and ratepayers."

So, this pretty much takes the wind out of Neufeld's sails. Not that he had much wind in them anyway. (What happened to overriding that veto, Melvin?)

Now that they can no longer claim "cheaper energy" as their number one reason for holding up the entire legislative session - what excuse will they have? Do you think they'll fall back on the ol' "but joggers emit more CO2 than gigantic coal plants do" line?

'Cause that one was really stupid.

I love this article...

...because it so clearly exposes John McCain for who he really is - a two-faced son of a gun who will gladly watch American jobs depart if it means getting even with old foes. (Boeing to be exact.)

And it also shows Tiahrt bumbling around, trying to sound like he cares about Kansans while simultaneously insisting that, as a Republican, it is his duty to love John McCain.

From the Wichita Eagle:

John McCain might be taking this maverick thing a bit far. I mean, sending good aviation jobs to France?

At least that's the charge from Boeing backers, who accuse the Arizona senator of helping Airbus get a $35 billion Air Force tanker contract at the expense of American jobs, including hundreds of them right here in the Air Capital.

Boeing supporters, looking for a villain in this economic defeat, have put McCain in their crosshairs.

"I hope the voters of this state remember what John McCain has done to them and their jobs," said Rep. Norm Dicks, a Washington Democrat.

Many Republicans, too, are unhappy with McCain's role.

Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, told The Eagle editorial board last week that he thought McCain was dead wrong on this issue.

"I'm going to learn to love him," Tiahrt said of his party's nominee, with as much conviction as he could muster.

But Tiahrt clearly wasn't feeling the love on this issue.

Take McCain's comment that creating jobs shouldn't be a factor in military procurement contracts.

Tiahrt begged to differ. "McCain needs to make a decision," he said. "I want him to come down on the side of American jobs."

For many Americans, it's that simple.

You can read the rest here.

But before you do, buzz on over to Betts for Congress and contribute to his effort to unseat that lovey dovey Todd Tiahrt.

Dear BounceBoyda...

Normally we don't like to link to you right-wing blogs. Kansas has some real questionable conservative blogs, and we hate to say it, but Bounce Boyda is right up there with the worst of them. However, we're going to make an exception just this once.

You see, our friends at Boyda Bloc point out a recent National Review story in which the very same Nancy Boyda your friend Christian Morgan would have Kansans believe is a latte-drinking, volvo-driving, Al Gore-worshiping Liberal is portrayed as a strikingly moderate voice in the United States House of Representatives.

In fact, the story called Boyda the 203rd most liberal member of the House and the 227th most conservative. Basically, she's right square in the middle, just where you'll find the average Kansan.

So surely you right-wingers over at Bounce Boyda will be hollering that this is just another example of the liberal media singing the praises of a liberal politician.

Wrong.

Everyone remembers when Nancy Boyda was rejected for membership in the moderate Blue Dog Coalition.

...

Well, Nancy says, pay no attention to that well-established truth in yesterday's National Journal.

...

She got rejected for the Blue Dogs because she votes with San Fran Nan Pelosi 93% of the time. That's not independent, that's LIBERAL!

One problem. As a commenter on the above-referenced post pointed out, the story inaccurately portrayed the situation between Rep. Boyda and the Blue Dogs. Surely this would put this issue to rest.

Not so.

Moreover, I tend to believe that the National Journal had the impression Boyda was trying to say she didn't apply to the Blue Dogs. It is a reputable publication with good reporters. (emphasis added)

Let me get this straight. Your blog's sole purpose is to extol the belief that Nancy Boyda is a left-wing zombie being controlled by the voodoo magic of Nancy Pelosi, and when a piece comes out calling her a member of the "Great American Center" the best you can do is quibble about why she didn't join the Blue Dog Coalition?

Then, after being called out by an anonymous commenter, you proceed to declare the source of such praise to be legit and even "reputable"?

So, if it's such a "reputable source" with "good reporters," are you conceding that Rep. Boyda is indeed a moderate? Did you just forget to mention that you think every thing they said about her is wrong? Inquiring minds want to know!