Kansas Meadowlark

Kansas Democrats in July 2007 mocked Kansas Republicans for forming a “Loyalty Committee.” The KDP claimed then “Kansans are tired of having their political beliefs questioned,” and then invited the disillusioned to join the Kansas Democratic Party.

The Kansas press had a field day making fun of Republicans over party loyalty, while ignoring long-term Democratic facades such as the “Republicans for Moore” in the Third Congressional District.

But what do Kansas Democrats do when they face a loyalty problem? Democrats don’t bother with a loyalty oath or loyalty committee. Democrats attempt to “take out” any offenders at the polls. So much for “Kansans are tired of having their political beliefs questioned”?

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Sean Tevis, a Democrat in State Rep District 15 in Olathe, has become somewhat of an Internet political celebrity with a story yesterday about his unusual Internet campaign in the Los Angeles Times of all places.

His campaign report filed yesterday with the Kansas Government Ethics Commission showed an amazing $96,512 raised, but almost all the money was raised on dates that correspond to the far-left’s 2008 Netroots Nation convention in Austin, July 17-20. Is it possible that Tevis’ campaign was little more than a Netroots Nation experiment? Did other candidates across the nation use this same trick to load their campaign coffers with cash as part of Netroots Nation? (more…)

Over two weeks ago the Kansas City media blog, Bottom Line Communications, announced The Race is on: Phill Kline vs. Kansas City Star. Since that time ads have aired on Kansas City talk radio paid for by two non-profit organizations often highlighting the battle of conservative Phill Kline with the Kansas City Star in recent years. Kline’s real opponent in the August primary, Steve Howe, has been mostly ignored in these media battles both in the air waves and in recent mailings to Johnson County voters.

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Safe from easy public view in Topeka is a PAC report from 2004 that explains much about the election of Frank Denning for Johnson County Sheriff in 2004. With weak open records laws in Kansas, this PAC report can be purchased for $0.50/page if you know where to go and whom to ask at the Secretary of State’s office.

The brother and sister-in-law of Sheriff Frank Denning are his supporters, but how many know the amount of money Jim and Marearl Denning spent in 2004 to elect Frank Denning Sheriff? Isn’t $47,000 in “independent expenditures” to elect a relative to public office worthy of some public discussion? Yet, the Kansas City Star apparently has never asked why Denning’s brother, Jim, might be so interested in seeing him elected Sheriff in Johnson County? This shouldn’t be an issue in Denning’s re-election bid? (more…)

On Friday, Dave Helling from the Kansas City Star posted an article “Meadowlarking, part two” on the Star’s Prime Buzz. About 24 hours ago I posted a reply, but it’s being held for review as possible spam. As requested by “midtown guy” on that blog, here is the response I tried to post to the Prime Buzz, which may appear there at some point. (more…)

Jack Cashill published a five-piece series this week on WorldNetDaily about the battle between Phill Kline and Planned Parenthood. In case you missed the articles, here are the links:

1. Kansas bleeds once more, July 21
2. Targeting an ‘anti-choice extremist’, July 22
3. Pro-life Kline refuses to roll over, July 23
4. DA Kline tackles Planned Parenthood, July 24
5. Will Kline survive media onslaught, July 25

Voters in State Senate District 8 recently received a mailing from Tim Owens in his bid against Ben Hodge for Kansas Senate. This piece, “Protecting Kansas Seniors,” had this “paid for” messge:

“Paid for by Owens for Kansas House Committee, Donald Schrick, CPA, Treasurer.”

Several days ago in a mailing, the message was:

“Paid for by Owens for Kansas Senate Committee, Donald Schrick, CPA, Treasurer.”

Why does one say “Senate” and the other says “House”?

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Steve Rose from the Johnson County Sun appeared as a substitute “Ruckette” on KCPT’s Ruckus on Thursday evening. During the “Roast and Toast” segment, Rose said: (more…)

Kansas has weaker campaign finance reporting laws than Missouri and sometimes Kansas political money can be found in reports filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission before reports are filed with the Kansas Governmental Ethics Commission.

Earlier this year the Meadowlark reported the Greater Kansas City Chamber PAC, Awash With Cash, Formed New PACs to “Buy” Kansas Elections. It’s not clear how much of the Chamber’s political money will be used in Missouri and how much in Kansas, but reports filed by these three Missouri Chamber PACs on July 15 hint at what will be in their Kansas reports that are due next week. (more…)

Mary Ca Ralstin recently appeared at a candidate forum with her opponent, Brandon Kenig, to discuss education issues in Kansas. While Ralstin is a passionate advocate for education, she seems to act like a Democratic Party activist while calling herself a Republican. Is this deception, or advancing one’s political agenda, or both?

At the candidate forum, why was Ralstin not asked about policy questions related to teachers having drugs at school? Unbelievably, in 2005 Ralstin supported a teacher dismissed for having drugs in a high school parking lot. (more…)