Archive for Friday, August 10, 2012

Brownback says Republican voters made ‘clear statement’ in support of conservatives during primary

August 10, 2012

Topeka — Gov. Sam Brownback said Friday that Republican voters made a "clear statement" in support of conservative candidates during the GOP primary.

In a brief comment to reporters, Brownback said when Republicans where given the choice between a conservative and a moderate-to-liberal candidate, they picked the conservative.

"I think that is what you had, is the market functioned on Tuesday," he said.

Eight incumbent moderate Republican senators were defeated by conservative challengers backed by Brownback, the Kansas Chamber of Commerce, the billionaire Koch brothers and Kansans for Life.

Delicious
Digg
Tumblr
Wordpress
Reddit
Copy and paste the link:

Keith 9 months, 2 weeks ago

"I think that is what you had, is the market functioned on Tuesday," he said.

Did he buy the legislature he wanted?

just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Will he acknowledge their buyers' remorse after state government grinds to a halt in a couple of years, causing large increases in property and sales taxes to support desperate local governments trying to pick up the slack?

KS 9 months, 2 weeks ago

bozo: You still have not learned. Where do you think all of this money is supposed to come from? Before you just pop off and blast me personally, think about it and tell me just where do you think the money for all of the social programs is supposed to come from? .

just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 9 months, 2 weeks ago

WTF are you talking about? It comes from taxes. But the wealthy in Kansas have just been relieved of much of that obligation, meaning that burden will now be shifted to the middle and working classes.

IOW-- class warfare.

tomatogrower 9 months, 1 week ago

KS, do you consider highways a social program?

JayhawkFan1985 9 months, 2 weeks ago

The only clear statement that 14% can make is, "yes, we are as dumb as you think."

cowboy 9 months, 2 weeks ago

the most astute analysis of the election season...."heblowsalot"

beatnik 9 months, 2 weeks ago

how does he explain the los of tlg? she was one of his chosen ones

Katara 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Don't forget Rep. Otto. He was voted out too.

Liberty275 9 months, 2 weeks ago

This promises to be entertaining.

vertigo 9 months, 2 weeks ago

"Gov. Sam Brownback said Friday that Republican voters made a "clear statement" in support of conservative candidates during the GOP primary."

That statement being:

I have no idea what I'm doing by Jesse Crittenden

elkwc36 9 months, 1 week ago

Nice you posted a picture that describes Obama and his administration. Although I feel the dog has more common sense and could do a better job than Obama and his crew. Oh their intent was to destroy the USA as we knew it. Guess they are being successful.

Orwell 9 months, 1 week ago

This witticism ranks right up there with Pee-Wee Herman: "I know you are, but what am I?"

blindrabbit 9 months, 2 weeks ago

"God Bless Us All, Everyone" as Tiny Tim Said in the Chrismas Carol by C. Dickens. A bit on tongue in cheek on my part!

The_Big_B 9 months, 2 weeks ago

My old hometown paper reported a county-wide Republican turnout of over 55% on Tuesday, and Sam's folks won big.

You don't have to agree with, or like, what he's up to; but, don't delude yourself about whether it is really happening. It is.

just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Kinda like a cancer diagnosis-- you may not like it, but there it is.

KS 9 months, 2 weeks ago

bozo: That is probably one of the most intelligent remarks that I have seen you write. Good job! Maybe there is some hope?

just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 9 months, 2 weeks ago

So you're a fan of cancer. That's probably one of most honest remarks you've ever made.

chootspa 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Well good for your hometown. I'm sure they're all real proud. Turnout was low in this end of the state, and Kobach claims it was 23% for the state overall. Hardly a mandate, but I guess Kansas deserves to wonder why they have a bullet hole in their foot for a while.

Paul R. Getto 9 months, 2 weeks ago

You are right, but it's still a minority mandate.

KS 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Primary's always have a light turnout.

jafs 9 months, 2 weeks ago

That's why you can't claim the results of them indicate very much about most voters in KS.

Except of course that they don't care enough to vote in them, or feel it doesn't matter, etc.

jhawkinsf 9 months, 1 week ago

Yet you want things put on the ballot here when, from past experience, very low turnout should be expected.

How much would such an election cost?

jafs 9 months, 1 week ago

Probably a lot less than $37.5 million.

headdoctor 9 months, 2 weeks ago

I wouldn't think a state wide approval rating of 35 or 36 % would really be a feather in his cap. Of course if the voters don't vote in the general election his blowing may be valid by default.

question4u 9 months, 2 weeks ago

What is it that these "conservatives" are supposed to be conserving?

Slashing revenues and expenses is not conservative; it's reductive. Creating a faction within the Republican party isn't conservative; it's divisive. Pushing an "experiment" that is projected to create a multi-billion-dollar defict in five years isn't conservative; it's rash, or if you prefer Brownback's spin, it's "bold".

What exactly is conservative about anything in the Brownback agenda? Reductive, divisive and rash/"bold" are not equivalent to conservative. Most dictionaries define conservative as "marked by moderation or caution". How can your actions be marked by moderation when they consist of purging the party of moderates? Historically, that's been the job of radicals. Radicals who want to turn back the clock are reactionaries.

So, congratulations to the radical, reactionary masses of Kansas. You can now take credit for what's coming. Sam will tell you that you'll like it, so, of course, you will.

verity 9 months, 2 weeks ago

I've been trying to say the same thing. These people are not conservatives, they are reactionary, but having packaged themselves as conservatives, many people have voted for them.

It's all in their success in redefining a word.

The_Big_B 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Alrighty, then ... here I am cutting and pasting my own prior comment (btw - who thought it would be a good idea to let them sell wine by-the-box?) ... anyway, my point:

It will be interesting to see what Brownback does with (what appears to be) a huge majority in both houses and a mandate. I recall hearing him speak of the "core functions" of State Government when he first started his run for the Governor's office. I haven't heard much of that lately. That line of argument is (ironically?) somewhat in line with Obama's "you didn't build that" speech ... what the POTUS was speaking up for was, in fact, Government performing its "core functions" (okay, his take was that the really, really rich people ought to pay more for those functions, though he hardly limits his take to "core" functions).

Looking for a point to come together? How about the idea that there are some things that we cannot do for ourselves, and which we need Government to do ... (Sam and Barack and almost all of us agree on this, I think) ... like building roads and bridges, and maybe protecting ourselves. Beyond that, Sam and Barack agree on little, except that both want to go WAY, WAY, WAY beyond those "core functions". Sam mostly seems to want your soul, and to get up in your Lady Business, while Barack mostly wants your wallet and to just get up in your Business in general.

Before you pick a line to step into -- be it Sam's or Barack's -- you might want to ask yourself whether either "side" has your best interests at heart ... ... or even in mind.

(hint: "nope")

situveux1 9 months, 2 weeks ago

AP said moderates outspent conservatives 3 to 1.

JayhawkFan1985 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Do you make this stuff up? That wasn't reported. The Koch brothers and their ilk paid much more than the teachers unions did. You must watch fox news/entertainment tv.

situveux1 9 months, 2 weeks ago

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_KANSAS_LEGISLATURE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

"The targeted moderate incumbents outspent their conservative challengers, often by margins of 3-to-1 or more and received financial support from the state's largest teachers' union and labor groups normally aligned with Democrats."

chootspa 9 months, 2 weeks ago

That's the money spent by campaigns directly. The Chamber of Commerce PAC spent gobs of money on conservatives, which was, in fact, the rest of the paragraph you were copying and pasting from. Corporations are people, my friend.

Yet the chamber's activities stood out in Senate races because its PAC's spending far exceeded the spending of other groups in the final days before the primary.

JayhawkFan1985 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Even this article talks about how much additional money was spent by the KS chamber and the Koch brothers. I suppose what you said is true but only to the extent of what precisely you said. The truth is the GOP machine is outspending democrats even in KS.

elkwc36 9 months, 1 week ago

I know for a fact I received 3 to 1 mailers and robo calls supporting Morris that I did Mr Powell. I received 3-4 mailers total supporting Mr Powell and two phone calls from a live person. I was throwing more of the mailers supporting Mr Morris away last eve. I would say I received 12-15 not to mention 5-6 robo calls but not one live human to answer questions and talk about issues and his goals. Mr Morris lost not because he was a moderate but because he was unresponsive and if you didn't have the correct last name, a large supporter who had bought him off or a large union he wouldn't answer emails or phone calls from you. As one Democrat told me several years ago he made an agreement with the Dem party that in return for his votes on major bills they wouldn't back a candidate to run against him. It had to be a Republican that finally kicked him out. Now I'm hearing he is talking about a write in. I'm not sure if that is rumor or has feet yet. Then when he formed a PAC in conjunction with the unions that showed many voters his true leanings. In my opinion he should register as a Democrat. I have many close friends who are. But they register that way. They don't register as a Repub just for political gain. Be proud of what you are.

KS 9 months, 2 weeks ago

If you want to learn something, FOX News is a good place to start. They are about to turn off the lights at CNN. Their ratings are at the lowest point in over twenty years. They only folks that watch CNN is the captive audience in an airport.

jafs 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Popularity and quality are often not synonymous.

Jersey Shore, anybody?

kylechandler 9 months, 1 week ago

^^^ Hilarity at its finest there!

Orwell 9 months, 1 week ago

That depends on whether you want to know anything other than what Fox tells you. Agreed, CNN is a joke, but Fox long ago abandoned all journalistic principles in favor of outright propaganda.

situveux1 9 months, 1 week ago

Nothing? Really, if you're going to spout off, at least know your facts first.

acornwebworks 9 months, 1 week ago

Actually, AP did not say "moderates outspent conservatives 3 to 1".

Rather, they said ""The targeted moderate incumbents outspent their conservative challengers, often by margins of 3-to-1 or more".

Do you see the difference? Do I really need to spell it out for you?

cowboy 9 months, 2 weeks ago

"A conservative is a man with two perfectly good legs who, however, has never learned how to walk forward."

Liberty275 9 months, 2 weeks ago

That, and a liberal will insist he be taxed for sitting and breathing.

63BC 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Statewide turnout was 22.8 percent, as reported by the Wichita Eagle [below]. In districts with hotly contested Republican legislative primaries it typically was 40-60 percent. Where turnout was high, Brownback's folks won---because voters agreed with them on the issues. Customers [voters] got what they wanted. The market functioned.

Voter turnout for Tuesday’s primary across the state and in Sedgwick County was higher than projected by officials, according to figures announced Wednesday.

Sedgwick County saw a turnout of 20.4 percent of registered voters, or 53,887 voters, which was more than 15 percent that was projected rate.

Kansas Secretary of State’s office had said earlier that Sedgwick County’s turnout was 24.8 percent, but that was based upon incorrect numbers provided late Tuesday night by the county’s election office, Sedgwick County Election Commissioner Tabitha Lehman said.

Statewide, 22.8 percent of registered voters (392,142) cast ballots in the primary.

Greeley County had the highest turnout with 64.7 percent; the lowest was Wyandotte’s 11.3 percent. Johnson County had 17.1 percent and Shawnee County 27.8 percent.

Katara 9 months, 2 weeks ago

So a result that was from a voter turnout of 23% is now considered a clear statement?

JackMcKee 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Yessiree. All 23% of them.

Katara 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Well, it couldn't be a clear statement from all the 23% since that was the entire turnout. There would have been those who voted for moderate Republicans and the entire turnout includes the Democrat primary.

I wonder how many actually voted for the yes-men Brownback wants in office.

topekaj 9 months, 2 weeks ago

We'll see in November, tough guy. I can see you salivating now. One of the legs on your stool is going to break before the general election.

verity 9 months, 2 weeks ago

This article and Brownback's statement pretend that all "conservatives" (actual reactionaries) won in all races against moderates. That is not true.

Where is the rest of the story?

I would also like to know how many of these reactionaries have Democrats running against them in the general election. It ain't over yet.

merrill 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Kobach was right there is voter fraud in Kansas which was initiated from his office. Voter ID was a fraud perpetrated on the voters which created a lot of confusion which was the Kobach objective.

snap_pop_no_crackle 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Do you have to shout when plugging that website?

anticommunist 9 months, 2 weeks ago

I'm all for middle-of-the-road conservatism (hence my clinging on to the Huntsman icon). Yet, I support Governor Brownback. Why? He's a leader and not a collectivist whiner. Kansans won't suffer whiners (except in Lawrence). You either kick ass or whine and Kansans by and large know this as a truism.

just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 9 months, 2 weeks ago

My guess is that Huntsman would be embarrassed to be associated with you.

anticommunist 9 months, 2 weeks ago

Good trolling. He'd likely be embarrassed to be associated with you. Because you're a troll.

jafs 9 months, 1 week ago

I love the "middle of the road conservatism" comment.

Doesn't that illustrate well the attempted shifting of the center towards the right?

Middle of the road should more accurately be a term for moderates, I would think.

vertigo 9 months, 1 week ago

"He's a leader"

Uhh...yeah. That's why he's got the Republicans fighting amongst themselves. Sounds like the perfect leader to me... instead of bringing everyone together he tore them apart.

JJE007 9 months, 1 week ago

"I'm all for middle-of-the-road conservatism...Yet, I support...Brownback. Why? He's a leader..." Brilliant. We understand. You're a follower...among followers...and a whiner among whiners... Brilliant. Follow your leader. Pay no attention to the DEAD END signs.

tennesseerader 9 months, 1 week ago

Kansas is on the right track. We have to start spending less on social programs or our country is lost. Tax payers cannot afford it any more. Kansas will attract high income earners if they lower income taxes. Socialists and welfare recipients need to move to California.

Acey 9 months, 1 week ago

G R A D U A T E D i n c o m e t a x e s ! Kansans CAN afford that kind of taxation. Fair taxation! THESE TAXES are needed for programs that assist Kansans in the lower-income brackets, children, old folks. It is the duty of our citizens to levy fair taxes. It is fair that these taxes be collected. It is simply WRONG for the Mister and Misses Moneybags to buy the government of the State of Kansas.
It is wrong for the Koch Brothers to take our state.

George_Braziller 9 months, 1 week ago

Who are these "high income earners" and where are the fantasy jobs you talk about? Lower income taxes won't bring people into the state if there aren't any jobs, it just means that the portion of dried beans they have to share with others will be smaller when they file for food stamps..

Orwell 9 months, 1 week ago

They've been sitting on their Bush tax cuts for over a decade. How much profit does the government have to promise them before they'll get around to hiring – and what kind of "free market" is that, anyway?

acornwebworks 9 months, 1 week ago

I can't believe it. You seriously think that "high income earners" are so desperate to save a few bucks in income taxes that they'll move to...Kansas!!!

Jeez Louise!! Look at the 9 states that don't have a state income tax...including Texas, Florida, Washington, and New Hampshire (which also has no sales tax)..and you think KANSAS is going to be "more attractive" to them????

Wow. Just...wow.

jafs 9 months, 1 week ago

What a bizarre world view - that people are either high income earners, or socialists/welfare recipients.

The middle class hasn't been completely destroyed yet - of course, if those on the right continue their policies, it may be soon.

verity 9 months, 1 week ago

Seems to be a lot of that bizarre opinion on here.

Your second sentence is right on also.

Armstrong 9 months, 1 week ago

jafs, I hate to point out the obvious but tennesseerader's views are mainstream. Predictably the bubble of Larryville shows how out of touch with the real world and basic economics the vast majority of Larryvillers are.

vertigo 9 months, 1 week ago

It's a mainstream view that there are only two classes of people? The rich is one group and welfare recipients are the other?

I highly doubt that.

acornwebworks 9 months, 1 week ago

It may be "mainstream" if you're referring to conservatives in Kansas. But, as I've already said, the idea that "high income earners" will move to Kansas so they can pay lower state income tax is utterly absurd.

After all, it's not like there aren't already 9 states that have no state income tax. So why the heck move to Kansas...particularly for merely "lower" state income taxes???

jafs 9 months, 1 week ago

So, you also believe that there are two "classes" - high income earners and welfare recipients/socialists?

Sounds strangely reminiscent of Marxism in a way.

And, as I said, the right hasn't destroyed the middle class yet, so it's an obviously incorrect idea.

chootspa 9 months, 1 week ago

Even Marxism allows for three classes.

jafs 9 months, 1 week ago

Really? I thought it was just capitalists and proletariats - what's the third class?

vertigo 9 months, 1 week ago

If this is going to be a Christian nation, that doesn't help the poor, either we've got to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that he commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit we just don't want to do it.

Armstrong 9 months, 1 week ago

Vertigo's daily view from the bubble.

vertigo 9 months, 1 week ago

Armstrong deflecting the premise because he has no answer to it.

Armstrong 9 months, 1 week ago

Your premise is bogus, why bother to answer

acornwebworks 9 months, 1 week ago

I would appreciate an explanation of why you think his premise is bogus. Sadly, that's what it seems more and more like to me.

Armstrong 9 months, 1 week ago

A) Our country was founded on Christian principles B) Christians do help the poor - but not according to the lefts warped ideas C) You chuckleheads could careless about religeon except to try and make a futile point D) It must be hard for you guys to go through life always on the loosing side. E) Enjoy life in your bubble

just_another_bozo_on_this_bus 9 months, 1 week ago

That was an explanation of why you have no ability for or interest in critical thinking, not an explanation of why the premise was bogus.

Armstrong 9 months, 1 week ago

Are you and Tusch one in the same ?

vertigo 9 months, 1 week ago

A) Christian principles = many other religions principles. B) You're doing such a terrible job at it that the government had to take over. Take for example the lines for Chick-Fil-A; I have yet to see the same enthusiastic response by Christians lining up to work a soup kitchen. C) Wrong. I've spent the last 19 years of my life defending your freedom to worship and will continue to do so for another few years D) It's spelled "losing" and the only people losing are those in need that you refuse to help E) My bubble is called Earth. I enjoy it plenty and want to ensure others do as well.

BrainCase 9 months, 1 week ago

Shut up, smile, grab your ankles and keep saying to yourself. "The Koch Brothers really do care about me! The Koch Brothers really do care about me! The Kock brothers really do care about me!"....

This message brought to you by the Bohica Party.

JackMcKee 9 months, 1 week ago

T minus 4 months to the magic economic stimulus aka Sammie's tax sham. So far, two major employers have ditched Kansas, taking over 3,000 good jobs with them. This despite the opportunity to pay zero income tax. One of them just moved to KCMO where in addition to state income tax, they are also subject to city income tax. Can we end this idiotic experiment before the state is staring down the barrel of fiscal insolvency?