Posted by Joel Mathis April 4, 2005 at 9:17 a.m.

Brownback for president?

Well, that wasn't a surprise.Sen. Sam Brownback made it official last week, telling the Associated Press he is exploring the possibility of a White House bid in 2008."The Kansas Republican, little known outside his home state, is using a network of social conservatives and Christian activists to raise his profile in Iowa and New Hampshire, two states critical to White House hopefuls," [The Associated Press][1] reported."In an interview Thursday, Brownback said he has not made a formal decision on whether to run and would not give a timetable on when he would decide. "'I'm exploring the options,' Brownback said. 'There's a lot of interest in the topics that I've been pushing for some time.'" Other links:Sam Brownback links [Brownback hopes case shapes law:][2] U.S. Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas says he hopes the case of Terri Schiavo continues to reverberate after her death. "I would hope her life would not be in vain," he said. Brownback, a Republican with close ties to the party's social conservative base, said he hoped that in the aftermath of the Schiavo case, states would pass laws making it illegal to withhold food and hydration unless the person authorized otherwise in a living will. [(USNWR commentary) A Time for Uncertainty:][3] Some conservatives are now questioning their own unequivocal support for the death penalty. "If we're trying to establish a culture of life, it's difficult to have the state sponsoring executions," Kansas conservative Sen. Sam Brownback told me. So where does this lead? To a debate, he says, perhaps over the elimination of taxpayer funding for abortions and capital punishment. "My hope is that we form a left-right coalition on life."[Lawrence Catholics celebrate pope's life:][4] In Washington, Republican Sen. Sam Brownback, a convert to Catholicism, referred to the pope by his birth name, Karol Wojtyla, in a statement issued Saturday afternoon. "The Holy Father has a very deep and personal effect on my faith, and I mourn his loss," Brownback said. "But this is also a joyous moment, as Karol is now with God, and God has now welcomed home one of his greatest modern saints."Jim Ryun links [(Atchison Daily Globe) Jim Ryun pays visit:][5] U.S. Representative Jim Ryun, R-Kan., came to Atchison and offered his constituents time to sit down face to face and voice their concerns. As part of an experimental mobile office concept, Rep. Ryun met with grocery shoppers and concerned citizens during an hour long meet and greet session Tuesday at Country Mart. Country Mart owner, Dennis Garrett said a crowd of customers and constituents stood in a long line to meet Rep. Ryun. Rep. Ryun told constituents that he supported President Bush's proposal to reform Social Security. Todd Tiahrt links [Kansas Catholics react to John Paul II's death with mingled sorrow and joy:][6] Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Kan., called the pope's death "bittersweet." "We mourn the loss of a great leader and a man respected by people of faith throughout the world," Tiahrt said. "Yet we also celebrate his life and that he is now enjoying his eternal reward."How to contact As always, you can find information to contact members of the Kansas congressional delegation [here.][7] [1]: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory?id=632923 [2]: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/11291758.htm [3]: http://www.usnews.com/usnews/opinion/articles/050411/11glo.htm [4]: http://www.ljworld.com/section/citynews/story/200895 [5]: http://www.atchisondailyglobe.com/main.asp?FromHome=1&TypeID=1&ArticleID=3985&SectionID=16&SubSectionID=33 [6]: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/11297385.htm [7]: http://ljworld.com/extra/where_to_write.html#fed