Last week’s election results have the approval of the New York Times – because, you know, we need it.In today’s editorial, The Times praises the defeat of Attorney General Phill Kline and the election of a new moderate majority to the Kansas Board of Education.The editorial title: “What’s Right With Kansas.””It would be remiss to finish the election post-mortems without noting a major shift in the nation’s heartland. Kansas – lately considered the reddest of red states – emerged from the election as a bastion of moderation.”Just two years after President Bush carried the state by 25 percentage points, Kansas voters rebelled against continued domination of the state’s politics by the sharply conservative state Republican Party. The Democratic Party posted major gains, including some by former Republicans who switched parties. …”And for us, one of the most satisfying results was the resounding defeat of Attorney General Phill Kline, an anti-abortion zealot who gained national notoriety by misusing his office to further his ideology. He tried to force health care workers to file reports on the sexual activity of teens, and to seize women’s confidential medical records. That gross assault on privacy and legal rights was a major issue in the campaign. The 58-to-42 landslide that elected a former Republican, Paul Morrison, was a victory for moderation and the rule of law.”Other political news and commentary about Kansas on the national scene:Sen. Sam Brownback (R) !(GOPUSA commentary) What The Election Means For Religious Conservatives: In a national conference call with religious conservatives, Sen. Sam Brownback said that President Bush squandered the mandate of the 2004 election by pursuing social security reform when he could have taken action on an important social issue, such as the federal marriage issue. He also rejected the idea that the election represented a repudiation of social conservatism because the Democrats who were recruited to beat incumbent Republicans were precisely that, social conservatives! Six of the Democrat freshmen are pro-life — the biggest group since the eighties.The link also includes commentary from Drew Ryun, son of outgoing Rep. Jim Ryun.Rep. Jerry Moran (R)!(49abcnews.com) Moran expects new Congress to push Bush for resolution to Iraq war: The war in Iraq became a contentious issue during this campaign season. Now, a more civil discussion of foreign policy regarding the war can commence. At least that’s the hope of Congressman Jerry Moran. “The hope is that partisan bickering can come to an end and that Congress can get down to work and get some things done,” said Moran, who represents Kansas’ 1st District. … Moran, a Republican, agreed with the Bush administration’s recent decision to retire the phrase “stay the course” when referring to the war. “It’s not a matter of setting a firm deadline for troop withdrawal, but it’s also not simply this phrase of ‘staying the course,’ Moran said. “It’s trying to figure out how we have success so we can bring our troops home from Iraq.”Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R)!(Computerworld) Tech groups want R&D tax credit restored in U.S.: The U.S. will lose jobs to other countries if the U.S. Congress fails to quickly resurrect a research and development tax credit that expired in December 2005, a large coalition of technology trade groups said today. “We are seeing American R&D going offshore,” said William Archey, president and CEO of AeA, formerly the American Electronics Association. … t’s important for the U.S. to catch up to countries such as Australia, which offers a 125% tax deduction for R&D expenses, the trade groups said. “Today, it’s important we start looking over our shoulder,” said Rep. Todd Tiahrt (R-Kan.). “The question is, where do you want those jobs? Do you want them in Finland, Ireland, China or India? Or do you want them in America?”