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Posted by Todd Epp on January 18, 2010 at 2:37 p.m.

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Our Incredibly Shrinking Earth!

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Posted by Todd Epp on June 6, 2009 at 5:32 p.m.

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Scott Roeder Complains Like A Big Baby

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Convicted would-be mad bomber and accused murderer Scott Roeder bitches that he's being treated like a criminal.

Boo. Hoo.

I guess he forgot about that conviction for "criminal use of explosives" in 1996. Then there's that whole accusation that he killed Dr. George Tiller in front of a whole church full of witnesses, er, parishioners, last Sunday in Wichita.

Scott, instead of calling the AP when you feel down, maybe give Leslee Unruh a call and she can cheer you up with one of her "more babies more babies" talks.

(Hat tip Plog.)

To read other Kansas related news and views (and other stuff), go to the Middle Border Sun at http://www.middlebordersun.com.

Posted by Todd Epp on August 12, 2008 at 11:01 p.m.

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How About a Kansas Blogger Meet Up August 29th in Topeka?

I am planning to be in Topeka on August 29th (the Friday before Labor Day) for a meeting. If any of my fellow Kansas bloggers would like to meet up (or really dedicated readers or fellow political junkies), let me know at epplaw(at)gmail(dot)com and let's see if we can set up something.Perhaps we could meet for coffee or at Washburn or at some cool new Topeka hangout and talk blogging and politics (or Chiefs, KU, or KSU football, for that matter). Let me know! I look forward to meeting you.

Posted by Todd Epp on August 1, 2008 at 7:57 p.m.

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Roberts/Slattery Poll Numbers Make You Go “Hmmm”

http://media.lawrence.com/img/blogs/e...'m no polling expert. I've used polling results for candidates but I'm not a geek on how they are conducted and so forth.But there's just something not quite right about the recent polling on the Pat Roberts/Jim Slattery U.S. Senate race. (Assuming Slattery wins his primary on Tuesday, of course.)Look at the above graphic from Pollster.com.Now with no major news peg, no scandal, really, not much, does Sen. Roberts take such a commanding lead? Were his negative TV ads that effective? Frankly, I doubt anyone is paying much attention to the Senate race yet.Perhaps it was the earlier polling that overstated Slattery's support. But if you look at Rasmussen Poll to Rasumssen Poll and throw out the others, those polls showed Roberts with a healthy lead, then Slattery closing the gap, then Roberts turning and burning.I'm not saying the polling is wrong. Chances are it is probably correct. But as we learned in the Democratic Presidential Primaries this winter and spring, you can't always count on what you think the polls are telling you.Read more Kansas political analysis at Kansas Watch, http://kswatch.squarespace.com

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Posted by Todd Epp on July 31, 2008 at 10 p.m.

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Brownback: Only American Spying Is OK

http://media.lawrence.com/img/blogs/e..., Kansas Watch posted the video of Kansas U.S. Senator Sam Brownback blasting China for alleged plans to spy on Americans and others who visit China for the Olympics.But American blogger The Only Redhead in Taiwan basically calls Brownback a hypocrite in a post called "Mr. Brownback, the kettle called:"Just a gentle reminder. Kansas junior Senator voted last year to enacat the Protect America Act, which allows for the federal government to engage in what one commentator says is a ":massive, untargeted collection of international communications without court order or meaningful oversight:" Oh, and Sam also voted for FISA as well.So, Sam doesn't mind it if Americans spy on Americans and others, just not if the Chinese do it too. Sam's more of a "Buy American" kind of guy.An excerpt from the Redhead dude: I want to say that there is something intrinsically different in how US surveillance on suspected threats works, but I have no reason to do so other than the fact that I have faith that the US is freer than the PRC (when, after all, is a Chinese director going to put a biopic out on a sitting PRC chairman?). I'd be interested in hearing from someone as to why it's different when the US does this sort of thing and when the Chinese do it. If, as I presume, there is no difference or very little then the idea that Sen. Brownback of all people is the one to lead the crusade for justice in the PRC is indeed "laughable." Let's not forget that some of the suspected "terrorists" spied on in the US were peace activists and poverty relief advocates. Some of those jailed at Guantanamo Bay were picked based on hearsay from vengeful relatives, later found to have no merit.That's a hell of a track record.Let me reiterate, I think what China is doing is horrible, but I find little difference in what we see our own government doing. This sort of conduct leaves a bitter taste in my mouth wherever it takes place.------Just something to make you go "hmmm."Photo: The Only Redhead in China says Brownback is like kettle calling Red Chinese pot black.(Geez, so many colors to keep track of!) Read more about Kansas politics at Kansas Watch, http://kswatch.squarespace.com

Posted by Todd Epp on July 28, 2008 at 9:16 p.m.

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Kansans Can’t Drive 55 or Probably Either 65

http://media.lawrence.com/img/blogs/e... redder colleagues over at Kansas Liberty cite a Rasmussen poll that says 64% of Kansas oppose dropping the highway speed limit to 55 miles per hour.Finally, something Democrats and Republicans, conservatives and liberals in Kansas can agree upon!As a progressive, I want more energy efficiency. But when you live in Kansas where once you get out of Topeka, Wichita, or Kansas City the spaces are wide open-as are the highways-55 mph is a snail's pace.People's time is also important. Having lived through the 55 mph imposed speed limit as both a Kansan and South Dakotan, I can tell you that turning a 5 1/2 hour trip to Topeka from Sioux Falls into a 7 hour trip is boring and for the birds. Actually, the birds probably fly faster.Progressive that I am, I think there should be no speed limit on rural Interstates-they were designed like the German Autobahn-for speed. Couple that with flat ground, good visibility, and little traffic, why not?Call me a Libertarian on this issue. Plus, I like to go fast. Safely, but fast. If you want to put on your pork pie hat and drive like grandpa, that's your business.Meaningful gasoline savings will come when consumers demand-with some help from the Federal Government-cars and trucks that get better gas mileage.So, $4/gallon or gas or not, as the rock and roll song says, Kansans can't drive 55-or 65--and shouldn't be made to.And Kansas Watch can't blog 65. For more on Kansas politics, go to http://kswatch.squarespace.com

Posted by Todd Epp on July 18, 2008 at 10:05 p.m.

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Boyda Bloc Twitters the Second District

http://media.lawrence.com/img/blogs/e... pro-Rep. Nancy Boyda blog Boyda Bloc has an interesting post on the Kansas Second District's use of social media and the number of "friends" she, former Rep. Jim Ryun and State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins have. Boyda is winning the Facebook and Myspace "elections" quite handily.Two years ago this would have been big news. Campaigns were just starting to play with social media sites like Facebook. Now, even local candidates have social media weaponry in their arsenal. And why not? It is free, you can control the message, and you can engage voters.What Boydaites didn't profile, however, was there own use of another social media tool, Twitter. BoydaBloc is a very active user of Twitter (think of instant messaging on steroids), letting followers (all 22 right now) know what Rep. Boyda is up to as well as news and responses.My search of Republicans challengers Ryun and Jenkins didn't turn up the use of Twitter by them or their campaigns.So, chalk up another "victory" for Rep. Boyda-if not in Kansas, in cyberspace. Though I would imagine the winner of the Ryan v. Jenkins faceoff will likely join Boyda on Twitter. If not, it would be a mistake.For more on Kansas politics, read Kansas Watch at http://www.kswatch.squarespace.com