A New Year's Eve Shocker: Laura Kelly Drops Out

Early this morning the Topeka Capital Journal broke some good news - JV candidate Laura Kelly is dropping her bid to take on Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins in the 2nd district. Kelly claims demands of conducting the U.S. House campaign and responsibilities of being a member of the State Senate were incompatible. The obligation to serve her constituents proved stronger than the desire to defeat Jenkins, she said. "I can't do this race and do the Senate," Kelly said.

Our thoughts: As an extremely liberal member of the Kansas State Senate who will probably have to vote for a tax increase this year, loves unions and would support everything Pelosi pushes - Kelly just didn't stand a chance against Jenkins. So what's the REAL reason Kelly is dropping out? A personal scandal? Can she really not run a campaign and govern at the same time? Could she not raise money in a climate that has become toxic for Democrats (especially here in Kansas)? Maybe she just doesn't have the fire in her to run a rigorous campaign. I guess we'll take her at her word.

Nancy Boyda got 46% of the vote in 2008 against Jenkins in the general election. We'd estimate that number is padded with an extra 2-3% from people turning out for Obama. Kelly really isn't known outside of her district and would need a lot of money to get her name out there. We'd guess against Jenkins in the general in 2010 - Kelly would have been lucky to break 42%.

We'll go ahead and add Laura Kelly to the 'Democrat Candidates That Weren't' Club - Tom Wiggins, Greg Orman, Dan Glickman, Mark Parkinson...So let's recap. Democrats are now without a candidate for U.S. Senate, Governor, the 2nd Congressional seat, the 3rd Congressional Seat, and pretty much, the 1st Congressional seat.

We can hear Democrats saying: Help us Raj Goyle, you are our only hope.

So with that, we wish you all a Happy New Year! We'll be back in 2010 to continue telling you What's Right With Kansas!

ObamaCare in Jeapordy?

The Senate narrowly rejected (45-54) an amendment that would have restricted abortion coverage in the pending health-care bill, leaving in question whether Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) has the 60 votes needed to move the bill toward final passage. Luckily for us - Senators Brownback and Roberts both supported the amendment.

A few weeks earlier the House passed the Stupak amendment to their health reform bill to prohibit the use of federal dollars to pay for abortion. Do surprise here - Rep. Moran, Tiahrt and Jenkins supported the amendment while Rep. Moore opposed.

The measure addressed the scope of restrictions on coverage of abortion services for people who receive subsidies to buy insurance. The outcome was expected, but could cost the support of Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), who has threatened to filibuster the $848 billion bill unless abortion restrictions are tightened.

Laura Kelly: Slim, Single and Running for Congress!

Liberal State Senator Laura Kelly threw her hat in the ring to run for Congress a few months ago. She remains a relative unknown to Kansans outside of Shawnee county. However, following her announcement to run, she has made quite the splash online. She's on popular social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, and MySpace. But her MySpace is the most intriguing.

Here are a few observations worth mentioning:

• According to Kelly's MySpace, she is out, proud, and SINGLE! We thought she was married, at least according to her website, but it shows she logged in the day before yesterday, on November 16. Is this simply a mistake or has Laura "gone rogue" in Cyberland?
  
  
• Secondly, she's profiled herself as Slim/Slender. Perhaps as to lure in perspective suitors? I mean who doesn't want a member of Congress that is fit and trim? You betcha! Maybe Kelly can pull a Palin and make the cover of Newsweek in a runner's outfit.
  
  
• Last, but certainly not least, Kelly is a proud Aquarius. haha...more on that later. Not to mention, Kelly's mood is "neutral". Come on Laura, get excited! You're running for Congress!
  

Just as soon as we finish this post, we are going to befriend liberal Laura on MySpace. Who doesn't want a friend that is nearly 60, slim, single, and an Aquarius! Like our friend Tom Wiggans, the last thing we want to see if liberal Laura in Congress. But we LOVE her on MySpace!

Help Coming for Treece

Roberts, Brownback and Jenkins announced yesterday that Congress has approved legislation to provide the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) the authority to buyout Treece, Kansas. The legislation will allow the EPA to protect and improve the lives of residents living with the daily threat of contamination and health related risks from long abandoned lead and zinc mining should a federal buyout be initiated. The bill now heads to the President’s desk where it is expected to be signed into law by Saturday.

“With this important first step, I look forward to working with Administrator Jackson and her team on a long term solution for residents of Treece,” Roberts said. “I applaud the EPA for going the extra mile, sending representatives to the area to listen to residents firsthand, and then understanding their special hardships. Together, I think we can now give these folks a little hope.”

Kudos to the Kansas crew for getting this accomplished. Speaking of Senator Roberts - he's launched a new official website. Check it out HERE He's also joined the cool kids club and is now on Facebook. Add him as a friend today!

Candidates - By the Numbers

Below are the top candidates (moneywise) in each race....more detailed analyses of these finance reports to come. Including the breakdown of Raj Goyle's DC insider/liberal money and Moore's overall breakdown of a fundraising base...

Q3 Raised Cash on Hand

Senate Primary
Jerry Moran - $521,000 - $3,500,000
Todd Tiahrt - $340,000 - N/A

KS-01
Huelskamp - $182,000 - $379,000
Barnett - $105,000 - $300,000**
Mann - $60,000 - $198,000
Wasinger - $107,000 - $195,000

KS-02
Jenkins - $151,000 - $475,000

KS-03
Moore - $129,000 - $420,000
Scherer - $40,000 - $80,000** Includes personal loan
Lightner - $45,000 - $27,000

KS-04
Goyle - $404,000 - $368,000
Pompeo - $99,000 - $270,000
Kelsey - $9,000 - $60,000

Enjoy the Weekend! Follow fellow GOPers on Twitter

Here's a listing:

@RepToddTiahrt, @jerrymoran, @RepLynnJenkins, @lynnforcongress, @sensambrownback

@ksgop, @amanda_adkins, @jrclaeys

If there are any other Kansas Republicans or Libertarians out there that we should be following, let us know in the comments section!

Parkinson Full Of Hot Air

We have never claimed Governor Parkinson to be the brightest one of the bunch, but his recent remarks to the Kansas Wind and Renewable Energy Conference make us even more glad he's not running for governor.

Parkinson spoke mostly about the cap and trade, climate legislation before Congress. The House barely passed the legislation earlier this year, with more than 40 Democrats defecting because of the impact it will have on rural states. Parkinson said the Kansas delegation should "place economic interests of the state ahead of other considerations" and simply vote for the cap and trade bill. Have you looked at the economic impact of this bill, Governor Parkinson?

FYI Governor: the cap and trade bill is not one big wind energy bill -- is that news to you?

The Obama Administration even estimates this bill "could cost some American families $1,761 a year in new taxes". Does that sound like in the economic interests of Kansans who are still being laid off and looking for work? Does that sound like in the economic interests of families who are already having to cut back and struggling to pay the bills? In addition, "taxpayers will have to pony up as much as $200 billion a year in new taxes, the equivalent of raising everyone's taxes by roughly 15%."

And this is just the tip of the iceberg. Luckily, Governor Parkinson isn't in Congress. Perhaps he was just pandering to a group who wanted to hear more about wind. But when you "call out" members of Congress, we think he really believes the cap and trade bill is the answer. Fortunately for Kansas, three of our four House members voted against the legislation and our senators look to do the same. Yes, liberal Dennis Moore is drinking the kool-aid full time.

If the cap and trade legislation was just a wind energy bill, that could probably benefit Kansans. But the package as a whole is chocked full of regulation, higher taxes, and will have little to show for other than wrecking the economy. Sorry, but getting approval from Europe because of our "progressive" fight against global warming isn't high up on our list. This cap and trade bill should be the last thing Governor Parkinson would wish on the people of Kansa. Next time, Governor, do a little more studying before you make an endorsement of legislation. Your remarks were nothing but a bunch of hot air.

Moore Ducks Transparency -- with Liberal Majority

Let Freedom Ring is organizing to get member of Congress to sign a discharge petition that would require Congress to post all bills online 72 hours before voting. Luckily, here in Kansas, we have our three Republican members of the House on board: Todd Tiahrt, Lynn Jenkins, and Jerry Moran. Yet there's always a bad egg in the group.

Enter Democrat Dennis Moore.

Let's encourage him to get on board and fulfill the promise of transparency that him and his fellow liberal Democrats promised when they took control of Congress. We've had dozens of broken promises from this Democrat-led Congress and Administration and it's up to us to put the pressure on them!

Twitter: Dump Dennis: Why are you breaking your promise for transparency?

Kansan Refuses to Be Victim

This letter to the editor today is a must read in the Topeka-Capital Journal. Apparently, this Kansan was used in a column awhile by back liberal and former Congressman Dr. Bill Roy. Roy portrayed this man as being a helpless victim and a reason why we should simply give in to government run health care. Liberals LOVE to use people and their unfortunate stories for their political gain. However, this citizen not only stands up for himself, but refuses to play the victim. We will let Mr. Asher speak for himself.

Surprise, surprise, I somehow garnered the attention of a political figure as important as Bill Roy when I attended Rep. Lynn Jenkins' town hall meeting in Holton. Never did I imagine he would want to write about me in his Sept. 19 column in The Topeka Capital-Journal.

I am honored. But let's look a little closer at what Roy had to say in his column, just to set the record straight.

It is true that I am a dialysis patient, although I am 49, not 45 as Roy said in his column. I hate that my treatment is paid for by the government. Yes, I said hate. The more the government pays, the more control it wants. And that control will be between you and your doctor. Is that the kind of care you want?

I don't think the government will do a good job with my medical care, and I talk from personal experience. I don't think that if 47 million people were added to the ranks of the insured that we would have enough medical personnel to care for them all. Finally, I don't believe a government that can't run the post office efficiently, that can't run Cash for Clunkers correctly, should run medical care, which will cost us trillions of dollars and amount to 1/6th of the total budget. Would you?

So you see, Bill Roy, I may have lost control of my medical treatment, but I have not lost the right to voice my concerns about the direction some in Washington, D.C., are trying to take us. And I will be at the voting booth each and every year to cast my ballot for those who believe as I do.

I am so glad I had the opportunity to meet you, Bill Roy. The next time we meet, I hope you won't feel the need to write about me just to pen a column to support your views - views that if they become policy will hurt this great country and run up a debt that our grandchildren will never be able to repay.

MATTHEW S. ASHER,

Holton

Good News: Guantana-NO

Yup, that's right. It looks like after the hard work of our Kansas delegation at all levels, terrorists sitting tight in Guantanamo Bay probably won't be headed to Kansas. So who are the winners and losers?

Winners:

• The people of Kansas: Most Kansans, especially the people of Leavenworth said NO to having these terrorists in their state and city and it reverberated to Washington.
• Sens. Roberts and Brownback: Our senators took the courageous and bold step to put a hold on President Obama's nominations until the senators got some real answers about Guantanamo. It looks like their leadership and strategy proved successful.
• Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins: Jenkins introduced legislation earlier this year to prevent funding to transfer the terrorists to Fort Leavenworth. If they go elsewhere, this will be a big accomplishment for Jenkins and one the people of her district should be proud of.
• Leavenworth officials: They weren't afraid to take a position and make it clear where they stood. Although local officials don't always get a lot of attention, we'll give them a shout out.
  

Losers:

• The terrorists: Isn't that one obvious? Looks like they may be headed to cold, crisp Michigan where the average temperature in the winter is an icy 30 degrees. Sure won't be the ocean side view that was Guantanamo. Hope they pack their warm jackets.
• Shameless "We Want Thems": Believe it or not, some Kansans wanted the terrorists in Leavenworth and use them for "economic development" Strange logic, but needless so say, that crowd consisted of the Wichita Eagle Blog, some KC Star editorial members, and the libs in Lawrence.
  

Schmidt Is All in for AG

Now we don't necessarily want to toot our own horn here at RWK, but we'll go ahead and do it.

State Senator Derek Schmidt apparently just needed a little encouragement to take on Steve Six in next year's Attorney General's race. And just like that, a day later Schmidt took the plunge.

And not wasting anytime taking a shot at Six. There is clearly an opening for some leadership in the Attorney General's office.

"Earlier this month, I picked up my hometown newspaper and learned that local law enforcement officers took down a meth lab only about a mile from my home in Independence. An armed fugitive was loose, perhaps somewhere in my town, perhaps somewhere in my quiet neighborhood, perhaps in a yard where my children and their friends play.

"Life's events sometimes have a way of opening our eyes to the obvious. The principal focus of my service in the Senate has been making Kansas a safer and more secure place to live, work and raise a family. This work is not done and I remain committed to it. This is where I can make the greatest difference for our state over the next four years."

So it's off to the races and Steve Six must have the sweats, being a virtually unknown around the state and it won't help having a "D" next to his name next fall.

This gets the Kansas GOP one step closer to sweeping the State next year. Now the GOP just needs to recruit a well-known and qualified person to take on Democrat Dennis McKinney, who was appointed state treasurer after Lynn Jenkins defeated Nancy Boyda in the 2nd district in 2008. We'll throw out some names for state treasurer and see if, like Schmidt, someone heeds our call.

Dems: Don't Let the Debt Get You Down!

Kansans cannot keep every politician across the nation accountable, but we CAN keep our politicians accountable. While our Republican delegation - Todd Tiahrt, Jerry Moran, Lynn Jenkins and our Senators Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts are fighting against these outrageous spending packages, Democrats like Dennis Moore are out of control. Click here to donate to Defeat the Debt.com and to help them place more of this ad around the country. While Democrats could care less about the debt now that they are in power, it's OUR responsibility to hold their feet to the fire.

Morning Brief: No Smokes, Jackasses, Jenkins Lands Olbermann, Rose on Moore

• Parkinson Says No Smoky!: It was nice to see Mark Parkinson slap the radical environmentalists across the face when he said "yes" to clean coal. Parkinson's next clean initiative? A state-wide ban on smoking in public places. 24 states currently have such bans in place...this sets up a public health v. business rights battle in the 2010 legislative session.
  
  
• The New "Jackasses": Ever since the Kansas Jackass had "gone fishing" earlier this summer, the blogosphere has been devoid of Kansas Democrat idiocy. The disappearance has been the cause of intrigue for wandering minds: alien abduction? a change of heart? under investigation? Nonetheless, some new jackasses have stepped forward -- dubbed Kansas Forward. Nothing beats a bunch of liberal, idealistic college students who try to blog their way to victory. Cute.
  
  
• Lynn Jenkins Gets Every Republican's Dream: You betcha -- being featured on token liberal Keith Olbermann's show. Republicans consider this a badge of honor...and being on there while serving in a red-red state is like having Christmas again and again. We can't think of too many things Kansans hate more than MSNBC & Keith Olbermann...who continue to get walloped in the ratings.
  
  
• It's Never Too Early: This was last week, but Steve Rose had a great article on why and who might send Dennis "the coward" Moore packing in 2010. It's getting considerably easier to visit Moore's district and hear people saying ABM: Anyone But Moore.
  

Morning Brief: Revenues, Dream Ticket, Jenkins' Town Hall, Dole Schools Obama

Some of the top headlines this morning:

• Revenues Up, For Now: The Associated Press is reporting that Kansas state revenues are up for August, coming in at $376.8 million, up from the predicted $369.9 million. Alan Conroy, director of legislative research was this was "modest" good news and Governor Mark Parkinson issued a statement, saying the revenue report is an "encouraging sign".
  
  
• The Dems Worst Nightmare?: Yesterday, the KC Star reported Senator Brownback, Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh, and GOP Chairwoman Amanda Adkins will hold a press conference at 11am on Thursday. Could this really be the dream ticket Republicans are waiting for or will it be a friendly, unifying endorsement? Seeing how the Democrats' bench is literally non-existent, especially after Jim Slattery's humiliating defeat in last year's election, a Brownback-Thornburgh ticket would seal the deal for the GOP to take the governor's mansion back for the next 8-16 years. But either way, Brownback will be governor in 2010. Such a ticket will surely send Dems running with their tails between their legs.
  
  
• Jenkins Fends Off MoveOn/Dennis Kucinich Clones: The Topeka Capital-Journal and Lawrence Journal-World highlights Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins' town hall yesterday at the Dole Institute in Lawrence. Single-payer loons, public option fiends, and "Health Care for All" advocates were there to spout their usual talking points. An enlightened KU student said health care is "the biggest social justice issue (in our time)". Riiiight. You know when liberals start making moral arguments like this, they've run out of actual reasons. A poll yesterday said only 40 percent of Americans support President Obama's handling of health care...if that's national number, I can't even imagine what the number is in Kansas. Stating the obvious: Kansas DO NOT want government in their health care.
  
  
• Bob Dole Schools Obama: In case you missed this goodie a few days ago, former Senator, and a great Kansan, Bob Dole, lashes the White House for its amateur handling of health care. Dole dishes out good advice for the president and if his Ivy League education taught him anything, he'd come down from his Hope cloud and listen.