Kansas political shifts sign of things to come?

[yngliberal]

Kansas political shifts sign of things to come?

By DeWayne Wickham
USA Today

Mark Parkinson thinks it's time Thomas Frank wrote a sequel to his 2004 best seller, What's the Matter with Kansas?, which explains how the descendants of abolitionists, free-soilers and trustbusters became the backbone of the conservative movement in U.S. politics.

Frank made his home state the focus of his contention that cultural issues have been used by conservatives to get Midwesterners (and other Americans) to vote against their economic and political interests. But Parkinson says a lot has changed in the Sunflower State and Frank's new book should be called "What's Right with Kansas."

He ought to know. A Republican for 30 years, Parkinson is a former GOP state party chairman. In that job, he spearheaded the unsuccessful effort to derail the 2002 gubernatorial campaign of moderate Democrat Kathleen Sebelius. Sebelius made funding for public education - not hot-button social issues - a major plank in her campaign. She won with 53% of the vote in a state where Democrats are just 28% of registered voters.

MORE at http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/columnist/wickham/2006-06-05-kansas-politics_x.htm

[I Have A Dream]

1. This is good to hear! n/t

[Neecy]

2. excellent article

Moderate Republicans are jumping from the sinking ship and finally abandoning the batshit-crazy harpies of the Reagan/Bush GOP. High time.

[MuseRider]

3. I'm going to give this

a K and an R because it will probably sink like a stone. Usually the Kansas threads are quite nasty.

This is a good article about what is actually happening here. I have to admit that it makes me a little nervous but given that I live here I think the article genuinely portraits what is happening. The Repubs have killed themselves, no one here is really happy with them right now because everything they have done has pitted neighbor against neighbor and essentially bankrupted everything.

How did this happen? Well, a lot of it was the hard work of the Democrats here in Kansas. With only 28% of the voting public being Democrats I think we owe them a hugh (I can't believe I actually posted hugh! I meant huge but think I will leave it for comedic purposes) thank you for all the hard work. Even though they have worked hard I think we also must thank the Republicans for being such gigantic assholes that they could not hold on considering the numbers. In my best Nelson impression.....HA HA!

[nolies32fouettes]

4. good news!

[MuseRider]

5. Sinking pretty fast.

So kick back up. Thank you for posting the article.

[yngliberal]

6. Your welcome...

I'm not sure how to keep it at the top without people recommending it.

[MuseRider]

7. Let it fall then kick it up.

I waited until it went second page then kicked it.

I think it is important but there is a lot going on right now so it probably will sink. You could boot it back up later this afternoon or evening. :shrug: As I said before, usually not too many people care to hear about Kansas unless they can rub our noses in something, it is more fun that way. Still, there are an awful lot of good people here who would love to see this article.

[calimary]

19. I'lll kick it for ya.

I used to live next door, too.

K&R!

And Welcome to DU!

[catmandu57]

8. I live next door

and I'm encouraged at whats going on. The saner republicans are jumping ship and everyone can see the crazies for who they are.

[Hamlette]

9. great quote from the article k/r

Republicans have branded Parkinson a traitor, but he told me he didn't break with the GOP, it broke with him. It became more interested in cultural warfare than improving schools, economic development "for everyone" and the idea that government should not be involved in people's personal lives.

[MuseRider]

10. If you read the things

that these former Republicans are saying I think it comes down to realizing they were Democrats all along.

[DancingBear]

13. Aw, Kansas ain't that bad

I mean, it isn't.

Is it?

Right?


:) :) :)

[MuseRider]

16. Well hello there stranger!

:hi:

Naw, Kansas may seem a bit braindead at times but when it comes down to it it is a state full of good people and lots of wheat!

Maybe the Republicans have been registering wheat! :shrug:

[militaryWife]

11. Having lived there (KC) for 2 years,

I will gladly K & R this!

[nolies32fouettes]

12. How is this ban playing in Kansas?

I haven't read the book yet, but this is how I feel people even in red states are thinking:

http://www.progressiveu.org/190000-bush-panders-to-base-with-anti-gay-movement-formalizing-discrimination-in-legal-status

[MuseRider]

17. We did this last year here

in Kansas. Sad but true. I do not have a real handle on a lot of the state but the areas I work with are feeling a little creepy about it it seems so I am not sure how they feel about a federal amendment, probably not too good (but then I am an optimist so I can't be counted on ;)). It spawned this organization that is helping a lot http://www.kansasequalitycoalition.org/.

[nolies32fouettes]

18. they did it back home too.

I think when the rush of hate wears off people will change their mind. Like they did over civil rights. (Even though there are still bigots and rascists out there, it's not as many.)

[klook]

14. Very encouraging.

Thanks for posting. I bet Tom Frank's book has had some hand in turning attitudes around in Kansas, and elsewhere around the country, too.

[MuseRider]

15. Kick for the evening crew. n/t