dagopman (Anonymous) says…

There is no skirmish over the ad. Ryun had nothing to do with the ad. It was funded and produced by an independent organization. Jenkins understandably is upset by it. Ryun may be the victim of the next ad.

KS (Anonymous) says…

It's just too early for this stuff. The only reason it caught my attention was because the volume on the ad was about ten times louder than necessary. Had to reach for the mute button. I really sort of thought that Ryun was behind it.

Jamesaust (Anonymous) says…

Ryun had nothing to do with the ad. But then, of course, there wouldn't be an ad if he'd just say he wasn't running against Jenkins. Ryun cannot be re-elected over the dead body of Jenkins (although Jenkins could be over Ryun).

jasonc_22 (Anonymous) says…

Ryun actually cannont get re-elected over the dead body of Jenkins…because Lynn isn't an incumbent, Nancy Boyda is. Ryun will absolutely win the Republican primary and, again, lose the general.

Agnostick (Anonymous) says…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Club_for_gr…

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Moo…

Best way to fight partisan hackery and political warmongering like this is to cut off funds from these crackpots. Support your candidates of choice *only* by individual contributions, directly to the person.

Moveon.org, NRA, Club for Growth… starve 'em all to bankruptcy.

Jim Ryun has now evolved into a whiny cry-baby.

Agnostick
agnostick@excite.com
http://www.uscentrist.org

drewdun (Anonymous) says…

Ahh, I just love to see Republicans arguing over who has the best 'fiscally conservative' record. As if those words mean anything to a former Congressman like Ryun. What a crock.

yourworstnightmare (Anonymous) says…

Run Jim Run. A Ryun nomination will virtually ensure another Boyda victory.

karensisson (Anonymous) says…

Does nobody have the heart to tell this man he is finished politically? I can't believe he lasted as long as he did. That doesn't speak so well for Kansas.

dagopman (Anonymous) says…

Like I've said all along, we need a fresh start in the 2nd district. Ryun and Boyda aren't in the best interest of the district. Maybe we should give Jenkins a try.

karensisson (Anonymous) says…

Boyda has done alright so far. She isn't trying hard enough to end this war, but none of the Democrats in Congress are. They need a bigger majority to have any actual power. Still, I wish they would all dig in their heels harder and stand up against the spoiled brat in the oval office.

stuckinthemiddle (Anonymous) says…

At least Jenkins raises taxes when spending increases, unlike the congressional Republicans in Washington who spent more and more for years and kept wanting to cut taxes… causing the huge budget deficits we have now.

Boyda is actually more conservative than Jenkins. It will be interesting if they end up running against each other.

BigDog (Anonymous) says…

Interesting how this “Club for Growth” is so supportive of Jim Ryun. Wasn't Jim Ryun in Congress when all of this spending and debt was being run up??????

As far as the gas tax increase …… that is what funds the state highways. And that funding is protected heavily by members of the Kansas legislature regardless of their political stripes. That is one tax that rarely gets criticized much even by conservatives because of the “economic development” it provides.

stuckinthemiddle (Anonymous) says…

And despite what Jenkins’ spokesman said, the ad is not misleading. If Jenkins wants people to know why she voted for higher taxes she just needs to run her own ad and explain.

dagopman (Anonymous) says…

I will say one thing in Ryun's defense: he voted against most every appropriations bill that exceeded the budget. He was the most fiscally conservative Member of Congress for several years running. He didn't just talk a good game, he voted that way.

And, Boyda has done relatively little so far. She campaigned on high quality constituent services…those are a sham. She campaigned on a “path to citizenship”…she is now favoring Ryun's position of securing the borders first.

She is poll driven. She flip flops to meet the demands of the polls. We don't need that type of representative. We need someone with convictions who will vote their conscience, not the whim of the current polls.

Centrist (Anonymous) says…

On the contrary, we DON'T need someone who will vote “their” conscience.
We need people who vote according to the will of their electorate, someone who stays in touch with the current voter 'mood'.

Give Boyda a chance. She has been attacked from day one.

When election time comes around, if you think she doesn't deserve her post, vote her out.

But make sure you find a worthy replacement first ..

Centrist (Anonymous) says…

**lol**

I love the way the photo says “Jim Ryun, left …”

It's actually Ms Jenkins on the left side of the photo.

“” Jim Ryun, left, and State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins are battling for the GOP nomination in the 2nd Congressional District. ”“

dagopman (Anonymous) says…

I have a long history with Boyda. She is not what this district needs.

stuckinthemiddle (Anonymous) says…

I'll say this for Boyda… she has had a target on her from the day she won the election but that hasn't kept her from being involved and trying to get things done… compared to my congressman, Moore, who doesn't do much of anything that I can tell…

dagopman (Anonymous) says…

Moore is heads and shoulders above Boyda. What has Boyda really done?

squishypoet (Anonymous) says…

Centrist, I noticed that, too. It's sad when people can't tell their right from their left anymore.

crazyks (Anonymous) says…

I think the solution to the problem would be for TV stations to not runs ads, unless they get express permission from the candidate it supposedly favors.

Since Ryun didn't pay for the ad, and had nothing to do with it, the station should have contacted him before agreeing to run it.

But remember, folks, unless you see that stuff at the end that says, “I'm so-and-so, and I approved this ad”, chances are that the cadidate has nothing to do with it.

yourworstnightmare (Anonymous) says…

“I love the way the photo says “Jim Ryun, left …”

It's actually Ms Jenkins on the left side of the photo.”

I thought they were both of Jim. Best looking transvestite in Kansas.

Machiavelli_mania (Anonymous) says…

Do you give a job back to someone who was justifiably FIRED??

I wouldn't think so.

Ryun is set on an agenda. AND that agenda doesn't include the wishes of his voters.

staff04 (Anonymous) says…

Ryun absolutely had something to do with this ad. If he didn't then he would be denouncing it as an outside group trying to influence an in-state election. He doesn't hold any values sacred other than his own self-interest. Go away Jim Ryun. Anyone who can bring the focus back to the moderate policies that most of the state can agree on and put a stop to the bickering over BS social issues in place of actual governing will be better than Ryun.

I've seen him around DC several times recently. I wanted to ask him one day if he was lost, but figured he wouldn't get the joke…

dagopman (Anonymous) says…

Ryun, while you are leaving Washington, DC, please, please, please take Nancy Boy-duh with you. But, just please, don't return her to Kansas.

packrat (Anonymous) says…

For her first 99 roll call votes in the House of Representatives, Nancy Boyda did not vote against Nancy Pelosi a single time. Mt source is the Library of Congress WebSite. There have been 526 roll call votes as of 20 June 2007.

jayhawk1977 (Anonymous) says…

It is true that Jim Ryun did not personally create, fund, or know what was going to be in the ad. However, he did actively solicit the support of Club For Growth, knowing full well that they are known for their negative tactics.

So, by knowingly engaging a group that is well-known for creating negative ads and other media, it can be argued that, in a sense, he is behind the ad.

All in all, I am already tired of the ads and am disappointed that negative campaigning is beginning so early.

Centrist (Anonymous) says…

packrat … but what were they about? Plus, there's another 427 that you haven't mentioned.
If you're going to dog someone, tell the whole story. Or do you have political aspirations?

Centrist (Anonymous) says…

I think it should be illegal at state and federal levels to discuss possible candidates, or anything to do with the next election earlier than 12 months out.

I'm certain a lot of people would agree!

Defender (Anonymous) says…

“For her first 99 roll call votes in the House of Representatives, Nancy Boyda did not vote against Nancy Pelosi a single time.”

So? Isn't it ok to agree with someone?

Centrist (Anonymous) says…

Defender … it's the subtext here; the implication that “Pelosi” automatically means “negative”

EXks (Anonymous) says…

Let's see, 14 of our brave soldiers KILLED in Iraq in less than 48 hours and this CRAP is front page friggin news!!!!!

nugget (Anonymous) says…

What's Ryun's next trick? He brought in the Decider and the Shotgun Shooter for big rallies and fund-raisers. Still, Kansas' overwhelming majority Republican party voted against him in blocks large enough to easily elect Boyda. Apparently everyone got the message but him. My money goes that Ryun can't beat Jenkins.

kubacker (Anonymous) says…

I thought at first glance it was Ted Haggard next to Jenkins.

packrat (Anonymous) says…

For the first 199 roll call votes, Nancy Boyda voted against Nancy Pelosi 1 time.

It takes a while to read all the votes.

I did a random sample of 100 votes in which they both voted, Nancy Boyda voted against Nancy Pelosi only 1 time. I plan to count the rest.

packrat (Anonymous) says…

I'm actually just checking out the comment that someone made stating that Boyda is more conservative than Jenkins. I think that everyone will agree that Pelosi is a liberal.

stuckinthemiddle (Anonymous) says…

packrat
On which votes shouldn't Boyda have voted with Pelosi?

Jamesaust (Anonymous) says…

“Ryun actually cannont get re-elected over the dead body of Jenkins…because Lynn isn't an incumbent,”

You're missing the point here - Ryun's odds aren't great to begin with. A fractious primary battle with Jenkins makes 'Ryun's Quest' near fantasy as it only will drive Republican voters to Boyda.

The Kansas GOP now has a long history of the more radical types - Ryun, Kline, Shallenberger, etc. - not grasping that whatever horror they may regard Democrats (Boyda voted with Pelosi 99% of the time!!!!), typical Republican voters do not necessary see these radicals as the lesser of two evils.

In other words, moderate voters (where the vast majority of votes lie) can go either way. Extremist voters (in either Party) can only stay at home - and in a Republican state like Kansas that just means the margin of victory for the moderate Republican is less (not that they're defeated).

tolawdjk (Anonymous) says…

packrat (Anonymous) says…

I'm actually just checking out the comment that someone made stating that Boyda is more conservative than Jenkins. I think that everyone will agree that Pelosi is a liberal.

So what you are saying is A > B and C = D….then what? Where does this logic train run? Does it have any tracks?

Jamesaust (Anonymous) says…

“For the first 199 roll call votes, Nancy Boyda voted against Nancy Pelosi 1 time.”

And?

Pelosi's votes mirror Boyda's - that is, they are both in tune with the majority of Americans as well as voters in the Second District. I don't personally care for Pelosi but she's not a hobgoblin and her recent performance has been fair (for her). It still doesn't change the fact that Ryun's voting record was wrong nearly 100% of the important issues - wrong for Kansas, wrong for America. You can't be a Republican incumbent in the Second District and lose unless you tick-off a considerable number of Republicans.

Centrist (Anonymous) says…

packrat … a 'random' sample is a whole lot different to one taken in chronological order.
You misled us with that “first 99” votes comment.

Jamesaust (Anonymous) says…

tolawdjk -

The logic is obvious: Pelosi liberal. Liberal bad. Pelosi bad. So, if Boyda agrees with Pelosi then Boyda is bad.

Perfectly logical and perfectly simplistic.

(But then what draws gasps from Rush Limbaugh doesn't faze the average voter.)

janeyb (Anonymous) says…

Club for Growth is a strongly anti-tax organization that says it also supports school vouchers and opposes all agricultural subsidies and earmark appropriations.

Republican Western Kansas should beware of this group as they apparently don't support agriculture!! They are in DC, and don't need agriculture—they have grocery stores. Anyone Club for Growth supports should automatically be suspect in a state where agriculture and public schools are important. At least creationism and abortion aren't mentioned—at least this time around.

crazyks (Anonymous) says…

I am so tired of all the political ads, from all candidates, especially the negative ones. They play them ad nauseum.

In fact, sometimes I decide now that I won't vote for the candidate that runs the most negative ads, and the most often.

It's definitely overkill, and it's time for them to stop it.

dagopman (Anonymous) says…

crazyks-

I totally agree. I remember during the last Ryun-Boyda race an organization called Military Officers Association of America ran an ad suggesting that Ryun had voted against a $1500 bonus for the combat troops. Well, the ad was factually correct but very misleading in that Ryun voted against the bill because it simply shifted troop funding. He actually voted for a LARGER combat bonus.

News outlets and the parties themselves are masters of misleading but convincing statements.

packrat (Anonymous) says…

I did not mislead you with the first 100 votes comment. I did the following, I read through the first 199 votes and reported the results.

I realized that I wouldn't have time to read the remaining 326, so I decided to use stats and approximate. I used a random number generator and for 125 cases. I randomly picked from this pool until I had 100 votes in which both parties voted. Then I read the results and reported them.

I actually haven't been paying attention to Nancy Boyda's record. I wasn't planning to until next summer. I think that this is too early to be campaigning already. I agree with Jayhawk1977 about the negative ads.

jasonc_22 (Anonymous) says…

tell us all about your long history with Boyda, dagopman.. what is it she's done to upset you so?

also, her constituent services are amazing…ask the couple hundred people they've helped get passports.

buffalo_star (Anonymous) says…

how about a candidate that is neither dem or repub how about someone who will represent the people of the 2nd district hmmmm instead of the interest of the big parties. i have no interest in these two parties its time for a change

staff04 (Anonymous) says…

da GOP man: tries to appear a moderate by claiming he likes Dennis Moore; hates Nancy Boyda for reasons not related to politics, can never really say where she has gone wrong politically; uses Jim Ryun talking points and exposes himself as the conservative operative he is. Probably worked on Ryun's failed campaign…

Sigmund (Anonymous) says…

Ryan was stupid enough to let the advantages of incumbency's get away and Boyda beat him once. No indication he is any smarter today. He has no chance in the Republican Primary and Boyda is not about to go ultra radical leftist prior to her first reelection campaign. Boyda has the edge and she is running scared enough not to get complacent. Boyda beats Jenkins in the general election.

packrat (Anonymous) says…

Dennis Moore was being painted as a “Blue Nosed” Democrat in the last election. He is among the most conservative members of the Democratic Party.

grimpeur (Anonymous) says…

BigDog (Anonymous) says…

“Interesting how this “Club for Growth” is so supportive of Jim Ryun. Wasn't Jim Ryun in Congress when all of this spending and debt was being run up??????

As far as the gas tax increase …… that is what funds the state highways.”

Actually, it funds less than a quarter of the state highway budget. Most of the money comes from sales taxes on milk, shoes, and refrigerators. KDOT's $1B+ budget is an oft-overlooked subsidy for motorists. If anything, the gas tax should be higher.

dr_t (Anonymous) says…

It should be obvious that a) Jim Ryun got fired by the voters, b) he doesn't get the fact that the voters no longer want him as their representative in Washington, and c) although he may not have funded these ads himself, his fingerprints are all over it. Lynn Jenkins hasn't even formally announced that she is going to run, and already Ryun and the uber-Conservatives are attacking her. For a bunch of people who make great efforts to point out just how Christian they are, the uber-Conservatives sure don't act very Christian-like sometimes.

rodentgirl16 (Anonymous) says…

Does anyone else think that Lynn Jenkins looks like the Joker?

merrill (Anonymous) says…

Remember Jim Ryun the despiser of big government who wants back on the congress welfare roll to further increase his retirement benefits at our expense. Yes we need 99% new faces in D.C. but no more Ryun.

What did Ryun ever do to save american jobs?

outsourcing america
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Posted by Jim Hightower

Maybe you've noticed that America's call-center jobs are largely being outsourced to India. Well, you say, I'm more skilled than that, so I can't worry about it. Then you note that our accounting jobs, legal research, and architectural drafting work is being taken to India, too – but, hey, you do sophisticated stuff, so you can't sweat those losses. Lately though, you've also seen that our country's high-tech computer jobs are being shipped to India – and uh-oh, that's getting close to what you do. Still, you say, I'm a professional, by gollies, so I'm okay.

Well… good luck. The latest surge of jobs heading to India might well include yours. Such outfits as Citigroup, Boeing, and Eli Lilly are now moving out the work of white-collar elites – including investment banking, aircraft design, and the clinical testing of drugs. “High-end outsourcing” is the new wave, and it's pulling away the professional work of well-educated Americans who've been enjoying six-figure salaries, nice homes, and the good life.

Economist Alan Binder, a former top official at the Federal Reserve, says: “We have, so far, barely seen the tip of the offshoring iceberg, the eventual dimensions of which may be staggering.” How staggering? Binder says that up to 42 million American workers – about one-third of us – are looking at a rude awakening.

What's the middle-class future then? Binder says America needs to increase jobs that have to be done in person so they can't be outsourced – jobs like doctors and police officers. Yeah, well, I'm thinking we'll need lots of police officers to contain everyone who can't be a doctor! And… how exactly, are the rest of us to pay for seeing the doctor?

It used to be “them” who had to worry about outsourcing. Now it's “us.” Our politicians have got to quit pretending that this is not a problem – and start developing policies to revitalize American's middle-class.

“India's Edge Goes Beyond Outsourcing,” New York Times, April 4, 2007.

Sigmund (Anonymous) says…

Mike, you assume that increase in costs due to taxes will not decrease political ad purchases which it will. Next, you forget that if political ads don't run in those slots some other ad will run. The impact on revenues to media outlets will not be that severe, they will still “rake in the cash”.

Taxing political advertising comes dangerously close to infringing upon the original intent of the Free Speech guarantees, political free speech. Although the two entrenched political parties would be impacted pretty equally, any chance for third or forth party would be devastated. The power to tax is the power to destroy and both parties enjoy destroying any new voices.

Finally, what makes you think the government would use the additional revenues any more wisely than they use current revenues? Answer, they won't. Voter wants will always outstrip resources and politicians will always have a never ending list of giveaways they will use in order to bribe their voters. The only difference under your plan is the private sector gets poorer, the public sector get richer, political debate stifled, and the losers are the voters with fewer choices.

Other than that, great idea.

Sigmund (Anonymous) says…

Merrill, politicians should NOT “save jobs” that others can do cheaper. If they do the end result is we are forced to pay more than we should for our goods and services. It would be like protecting Los Merc from Wal-Mart to save a bankrupt grocery clerks job by forcing the rest of us to pay higher grocery bills, and that would be absolute idiocy!

merrill (Anonymous) says…

“Sigmund (Anonymous) says…
Merrill, politicians should NOT “save jobs” that others can do cheaper. If they do the end result is we are forced to pay more than we should for our goods and services. It would be like protecting Los Merc from Wal-Mart to save a bankrupt grocery clerks job by forcing the rest of us to pay higher grocery bills, and that would be absolute idiocy”

Has your cost of living decreased through the busting of unions and having jobs outsourced?

Congress should not save job? Then neither should they be involved in outsourcing?

Sigmund (Anonymous) says…

Yes, my cost of living has decreased because Union's no longer control the vast majority of labor in this Country. In fact, the most unionized industries are the ones doing the worst, most notably US Auto's (high prices and low quality compared to non-union). As to your second point that congress should not be involved in encouraging or discouraging outsourcing, I completely agree.

I have often wanted to outsource congress itself, but so far have not been able gather enough support. While the Presidents approval numbers are at an all time low, so is congress. Just another example of the evils of an oligopoly, high prices and lousy customer service.

BABBOY (Anonymous) says…

I would like to go on rant about saving American jobs and protecting the middle class. But, I am not sure anyone gives a $hit.

So, the only lame imput to this BS discussion is that Jim Ryan is really funny looking. I think he is made of plastic. I do not think that is really him speaking and am postive that is a simply a recording (family values, blah blah blah).

Whatever.

crazyks (Anonymous) says…

While it's true that the auto industry is not in good shape right now, Sigmund, I think this probably has much more to do with recent gas prices than with the unions.

Due to the gas prices, more people are deciding that they can wait longer to get a new car than they did before. Or they want smaller, more fuel efficient cars at a time when the auto makers still seem determined to push the big gas guzzlers like SUVs and Hummers.

They keep on raising the prices of those new cars, too.

And hey, the cost of everything is going up. If you have more expenses, then chances are you won't be able to afford that new car.

pelliott (Anonymous) says…

I was sceptical that Ryun had been behind the ads because he seemed so inert the entire time he was in office. but then I remembered he had that fun raiser with his neighbor he didn't know.

Sigmund (Anonymous) says…

crazyks, as far as I know the price of gas for union made cars is the same as non-union made cars. The differences in quality and price come from labor and consumers have noticed and flocked to non-union made cars. Any monopoly, even a monopoly on labor, breeds abuses and inefficiencies.

packrat (Anonymous) says…

I believe that the reason behind the current problems for our automobile industry is that they projected that we would want the large SUVs, pickups, and minivans. They foresaw only a small demand for small cars and hybrids.

grimpeur (Anonymous) says…

packrat (Anonymous) says…

“I believe that the reason behind the current problems for our automobile industry is that they projected that we would want the large SUVs, pickups, and minivans. They foresaw only a small demand for small cars and hybrids.”

How US manufacturers were able to convince people they need 4-wheel-drive, obscenely low mpg, and seating for seven in a 6,000-lb. vehicle is a mystery. Why people were willing to pay a 20% premium markup for these vehicles is another. Still another: how can you succeed so successfully in marketing these SUVs to the gullible public, charge these premiums, and still have the losses we've seen in the last 5 years?

I can't tell who's stupider: SUV manufacturers or their customers.

lostcreek (Anonymous) says…

auto manufacturers try to put on the market what people will buy. I buy what I want. to bad I can't buy politicians we need the ones we have are unaware of the constitution as the voters seem to be. we deserve the government we have.