John W. Carlin and Civic Leadership

2022 Election Thoughts Largely Depend on Your Priorities

11/22/2022

Without a doubt the big plus from November 8th is, at least for now, we still have a Democracy and the outlook for keeping our respect for the law and that every vote count across the nation is still intact. The 2022 election results do not mean that we are not now at risk and that we have won the war. Rather, we took a positive step and the results put us, for the moment, in a much safer spot but the risk of a reversal continues. Trump is still around. Election deniers seem to be everywhere. And the new Congressional House Majority seems clearly committed to only focusing on every creative excuse to investigate their perceived political foes with no plan for addressing any of our challenging issues. The narrow U.S. Senate majority remains in power, which provides a bright spot for some priorities, including on judges. But a divided government and constant investigations will certainly stall progress on a wide range of other challenges, as we enter an even more contentious political environment that will take us all the way through to 2024.

So, election 2022, how did it go? Well, it depends on your priorities. And the same is true for me when I look at the results in Kansas.

In Kansas, for me, celebrating with enthusiasm was much harder. Yes, we had a fantastic re-election of Sharice Davids in the 3rd Congressional District. Winning by 14% in a district the National Republicans targeted and now getting real national attention and exposure is a huge plus for Kansas. This also puts her in a place of real leadership potential and with this district boundary protected for ten years, in a position to have a much less targeted campaign in 2024.

Beyond Davids’ success, yes Governor Kelly won reelection, which is certainly good for the state, but there is little else to feel good about. Governor Kelly’s close win was against a lackluster candidate, who ran a campaign few objective viewers thought was that special. Then there was the third party candidate that certainly didn't help the challenger. But, then add to that losing the Attorney General position to Kobach, missing other opportunities including no gains in the Democratic House, and a missed opportunity with Patrick Schmidt for Congress, there are many Democrats who worked very hard and really wonder what happened. How could we, with so many great candidates, have so little success?

Well, to me and many others the answer is not too complicated. For some very hard to understand reason, the campaign for Governor forgot that the August 2nd dramatic win for NO on state legislative control on abortion was obviously important to a strong majority of Kansans. Instead of dramatically using the right-to-choice issue to rally more votes for Democratic candidates, the campaign totally ignored the political topic that was most important, particularly to new and hard-to-get-out voters. In addition, I think the struggle of the State Democratic Party to play a positive role did not help. Combine that with another pretty much failed Coordinated Campaign (ask the Mann and Rogers campaigns) and maybe we are lucky to have the limited success we have. No surprise then, with abysmally low turnout, that only the campaign with most of the money survived, and the other campaigns were largely overlooked, despite Kris Kobach being on the ballot in another key statewide race. This is an issue that will continue to cause problems for Democratic candidates. If success on only one part of the ballot is all we can expect, it will certainly be harder to get the kind of support and legislative partnership that is needed by the candidates who do win office—especially when it comes time to get important things done. So, again, it depends on your priorities.

The strategy employed in Kansas was also in total contrast to other Democratic Candidates for Governor nationwide, who learned from our vote in August, emphasized abortion, and raced to key wins including legislative progress all across the country. We now have a Democratic Caucus in the Kansas House who can not protect a Governor Kelly veto, which allows the Republicans to pass whatever they want, including another shot on another constitutional vote on abortion. Add to that having Kris Kobach Attorney General, and I find looking back on November 8th painful.

So what happens next? I suppose for most of us Thanksgiving and all the holidays, plus following our favorite sports teams, will take us into spring and a break from politics. Now that is fine and normal if we accept the results and will just try harder next time. But that does not get better results, especially if we operate the same way with a similar strategy.

I do not have the answers, but I do know new ideas or solutions do not just simply come along. Thinking and planning for 2024, if not already started, must begin very soon and maybe looking at some new ways to operate might help too. Seems to me we owe the State of Kansas and our fellow citizens giving this effort a try.

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Delaying Immigration Reform is No Longer Affordable

6/20/2022

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When the issue of immigration comes up now, and has for some time, the focus primarily for too many of us—and Republicans in particular—has been on the Wall and keeping out all those who they view as “undesirables'' from countries in Central America. Blatant, self-serving politics has so poisoned the well for action that making change to immigration policy seems far off, maybe impossible. Republicans love their position of attacking the current policy but offer no interest in working toward resolution because the status quo is politically to their advantage. So is there any positive way forward?

For me to see the possibility of change, I think we need to add some practical and honest elements to the debate. And that’s what I’d like to get across with this blog post. We have to introduce new narratives to this issue, and frankly, as many narratives as it takes to make progress. For many, the brutal human cost of this problem is enough to motivate them toward action. But one angle that I think will resonate with those of practical mind on the Republican side is the real economic cost to not having a serious and realistic approach to immigration. At a time when we have serious labor shortages and soaring inflation, this country simply cannot afford to kick the immigration issue down the road any further.

Apart from Native Americans, everyone here is a descendant of immigrants. Immigrants have built this country from the start, and that must and should not stop. Whether one looks at who puts most if not all new roofs on our houses or the growing diversity of the medical community, it is just insane not to appreciate the value of immigrants. They are huge contributors to growing our economy. Just think about where Garden City and Dodge City would be economically today without immigrants.

There is a reason here in Kansas that the livestock industry and particularly the packing plants depend almost exclusively on immigrant labor. American citizens are not standing in line for such work. How do you think the crops we enjoy eating that require workers to hand pick are going to get harvested? Second generation Americans and beyond have or are moving up the ladder, seeking a better life for their family, thus requiring new immigrants who will take these essential jobs. If you enjoy the relatively low prices and the quality of life we have here in the United States, you should accept the fact that new people and cultures will be seeking to contribute and prosper from the economy and market that we have here—the largest in the world. This is what keeps our country dynamic and our economy growing.

With the status quo on immigration reform continuing, along with our declining birth rates, the population labor force numbers will soon just not work. Look at all the “help wanted” signs and job opportunities just not being filled. For those of you who think or know of others that believe that this problem would go away if only the lazy people who feed off of social programs would work: That logic has two big flaws. Those numbers do not begin to satisfy our needs and, secondly, the vast majority of people who need assistance (such as the eldery and those with disabilities) would be, for the moment, of little value in the workforce as it exists today. Complicating this further is the accelerated retirement of the Baby Boomer generation that we are beginning to experience.

So how does such a divisive issue ever get addressed? I’ve always bought into the belief that major challenges often require a real publicly understood crisis. And that crisis point could be coming soon. A couple key issues and potential turning points to watch in the headlines will be the court fight over Title 42 and the growing responsibility to take in refugees, especially from conflicts the United States has engaged in throughout recent decades. Both are opportunities to demonstrate—and reclaim—the values of our nation. Asylum-seekers would bring more capacity to the workforce and contribute in diverse ways to our economy, including through innovation and expertise they’ve gained in their home countries.

Whether it is in weeks or months, or in the next few years, we simply and obviously will not have enough workers. This must and should give Washington the push to enact immigration reform. Because, in a real crisis, the pressure to do something gets so intense that doing nothing is not an option. There will be immediate demand for action. Hopefully, in the current insane Washington environment with most Republicans politically crazy, that pressure will make the difference.

All this points to the necessity for a modern, up-to-date immigration policy that truly serves the best interests of the American people. At the outset, this policy should clearly communicate that “opening the borders” is not the direction being advocated. Instead, it must be well funded, efficiently operated, deal effectively with legitimate border security, and could even set limitations on numbers based upon workforce needs that are justified and specific. All of that could and should garner bipartisan support. This would not just help our economy but maybe show that having folks in Washington who work together does have some merit. Now is the time to bring practical energy and momentum toward real solutions to this complex and immediate issue. Our country’s future depends on it.

Money Behind Cracks in a Rusted Wall of Obstruction

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Ukraine's Fight and Ours

3/24/2022

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Since writing my blog earlier this year on the challenges our form of government faces, not a day goes by without further crises emerging to make our future even more at risk. I wrote then about my concerns that too many Americans do not see this high risk, and those concerns have only heightened. In my post, I asked for thoughts from you all, which I would use to write this follow-up blog. On the day I published that, Russian forces launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. So, rightfully, many of the comments on the blog and Facebook post expressed concern over the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine, which is certainly getting the attention of almost all Americans given the 24 hour news coverage. The timing of all this should cause us to ask: Do we understand the link to our own security risks and how our own democracy is really being tested?

Let's start with a theme that's at the core of both, whether we're talking about our domestic challenges or the situation in Ukraine: Disinformation. One thing that has been clear after one month of the conflict is that Putin has used an array of lies and falsehoods to justify his brutal invasion of a sovereign country. He's counting on people worldwide to believe this fake information. This isn't new at all for his regime, but perhaps what we didn't expect is that he would find allies within our own country—and even in Congress—to support his lies.

We have folks right here at home who are accepting Putin's narratives, rather than supporting our republic, its interests, and its values. The real question is: Why? Unfortunately, Putin and Donald Trump seem to operate from the same playbook, and both are willing to use lies to assault free and fair elections and democratic institutions. This includes Trump's peddling of "the big lie" to drum up support for more restrictive voting laws and, of course, to justify a physical attack on our nation's capital.

Trump lies to serve his own interests, and Putin does it to undermine the western powers. Taken together, they constitute an all-out war on democracy. The real danger is, their most fervent supporters will believe anything that either of the two autocratic strongmen say—without using their own critical thinking skills to verify or, especially in the case of Russia, simply not having access to correct information. But the stories and images of their suffering neighbors are sure to get through eventually, just like the horrific images of January 6th, 2021. The generation-defining question now is: Will those horrific images motivate folks to seek more facts, stand up for the truth, and take action where needed to push back against authoritarianism?

So far, here at home, we aren't making much headway. On the Select Committee investigating the Trump Administration and their involvement January 6th, we really know little more, as inquiries continue and Ukraine obviously dominates the news. Their work is important because they will document who did what, when that action was done, how those actions were coordinated, and who provided the leadership that brought about the tragic happenings at the U.S. Capitol Building that January 6th. With those facts, individuals at all levels can be held accountable and our system takes a very important step to survive. But how all this informs voters and their resulting actions at the polls in November will be what heavily influences the status of our democracy in the longer term.

The huge disappointment to date is no action at the national level on solid Voting Rights legislation. Democrats have gone almost silent on the topic and maybe given up. This inaction has been further elevated to crisis level because of all the continued state legislation that has passed. Many states now, including Kansas, have new laws being proposed to limit the time and ease of voting, making it their clear purpose of limiting some populations' access to help increase positive results for those pushing such change. The ultimate is the move of three states allowing the party that controls the legislature to declare fraud and change the results of the public vote. All this action could negate any hope of 2022 being a good year for our American democracy.

Then hearing the National Republican Party officially call January 6th, 2021 “civil discourse” blows my mind. I know some people would say in real terms my mind was blown decades ago, but this is unbelievable. Landon, Eisenhower, and Dole have to be turning in disgust in their graves. Given the National Republican Party has now for the last two Presidential elections chose to have no (zero) party platform positions, one has to assume this statement gives us at least some hint where they stand.

Democracy is clearly running amok when political parties work to change the Constitution to enhance their own political advantage, when blatant gerrymandering is tolerated and advanced by either party, and when access to voting is clearly designed to favor more positive results for those who had the political muscle to write the law.

What motivates me to speak out? My grandchildren and what their future might be like—and also the real possibility of pissing away what the Greatest Generation sacrificed for and all those who followed in their footsteps (active-duty and veterans).

Our Founders made clear to us all that we would have to fight to sustain democracy. The question now is: Will we step up? Will we the citizens wake up, accept the fact we have real risks to our democracy, and become more willing to take appropriate actions?

What can we do? Take this seriously. Learn more, read, listen, be willing to speak up, share your concerns. Make it clear you are going to vote on saving our democracy and work to help candidates who understand how important this is. Support candidates that seriously back democracy and the rule of law—and not just in words but in their deeds. All this, we should be able to agree upon. This is not deciding tax policy, immigration reform, or dealing with climate change. Supporting our democracy should be pretty easy if we understood the need.

I close with this thought: If the wonderful people of Ukraine, dying by the hundreds and risking everything, can continue on fighting to save their democracy, surely we can all take this challenge we have much more seriously and take our own actions.

Ukrainian flag blue yellow color flutters in blue sky on barricades

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2022 and the Survival of American Democracy

2/24/2022

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This year will have much to do with whether or not our democracy and our form of government survive. I know many of you might be thinking as you read that sentence that the date must be April 1st. But the truth is that this year is still in its early stages, and the threat to our republic is as strong as ever and not slowing down. I would love to start the year focused on progress and all the huge potential there is for success, and I am not saying everything is doom and gloom. I am just saying that there are a few real problems that demand our attention and action, or there just might be real catastrophic consequences. In saving our democracy, the ball game is now here in 2022. In this blog, I highlight the very real threats to our democracy and next time, influenced by the comments you write here, will share what we can all do to help.

We can not save our democracy permanently. There will always be challenges in a republic like ours. But for now we must avoid losing our system of checks and balances, and with proper actions we can get on that path. Key will be the work of the Select Committee on investigating January 6th, 2021 decisions by the Justice Department in dealing with individuals responsible for and participating in the Capitol assault, how effectively these actions are communicated to the American people, and, most importantly, how the 2022 elections go, which will heavily be influenced by whether election reform is passed into law.

I always remember the old line about how timing can be everything, and the application of this saying certainly applies here. With the exception of the election date (i.e., General Election will be the first Tuesday of November) all the key issues I raise have a serious timing issue.

The talented House Select Committee investigating January 6th is clearly busy, working hard, and bipartisan as realistic, but if some hearings are not made public soon and if the results are not public until late summer, the Committee’s conclusions and recommendations will not effectively get the public support needed to positively impact the fall elections. If the report is released closer to the election, it only makes the report appear more partisan. Congresswoman Liz Cheney, Republican, has been unbelievably strong and effective, but the fact that Republican leadership despises her reduces her effectiveness to some degree in the end.

Understandably, given the seriousness of the legal issues involved, the United States Department of Justice is heavily responsible. Because I am not a lawyer, I will make no comment on any specifics. What I will say is once again timing will play a serious role (Oath Keepers prosecution and Supreme Court action is a start). I say that because, as with the Select Committee, the closer to the election the Justice Department’s work becomes public, the more those actions look political. I know they must “dot their i’s and cross their t’s,” but they have the resources to make the maximum effort. And they need to start making real decisions soon.

Maybe in the end the biggest and most important challenge will be whether election reform is passed in the United States Congress and soon. Allowing some states, with their one-party political stronghold on their legislatures and Governors, to do any crazy thing that will keep that party in power simply does not fit a democracy. States are effectively disenfranchising some voters, making voting for certain populations more difficult, and—clearly the most absurd—giving the legislature the power to overturn the election if they do not like the results.

If the timing is not right on these issues, the end result of the 2022 elections will much more likely be having the Majorities in both Houses controlled by members loyal to Donald Trump, who if not in total agreement are certainly scared to say the truth. That result will give Trump what he wants. That is, the power as an autocrat to run the government if not from day one, certainly with this momentum after the 2024 elections. If this happens, ultimately, losing our democracy will be a very real possibility.

Bottom line is this: Come November, if the radical Trump Republicans take over the Congress, we will have taken a major step in destroying our democracy. I am sure there are many Republicans in Congress who do not want this to happen, but to this point they have not shown the guts to stand up to Trump’s obvious total disrespect for the rule of law and our Constitution.

So that is where we are, and the stakes could not be higher. I do really wish I was just seeing problems where they did not exist, but something tells me—on this—I am right. Let me know what you think.

This picture was taken by my daughter Lisa’s husband, Seemesh Anandan, on our recent trip to Arlington National Cemetery. Click the photo to read more. [Photo: Seemesh Anandan]

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Reflection, Gratitude, and a Call to Action

12/20/2021

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As we continue this season of reflection and gratitude, my thoughts go out to the countless Americans who have sacrificed in service to our country, our Constitution, and our way of life. The task of preserving our democracy continues to take on new forms in our challenging times, and today, I am grateful for all those who will rise to the challenges, respond in new ways, and ensure that our nation's ideals persevere and continue to provide hope and opportunity to a new generation.

Thanksgiving week brought Lynn and I to Washington D.C. and a great time with our three grandchildren and extended families. One of the real highlights was the trip to Arlington National Cemetery with my daughter Lisa’s husband Seemesh Anandan, who took the photo below on our visit that day. Seemesh was born in India and is now a global executive with a major pharmaceutical company. The weather was perfect and, arriving early ahead of the crowds, we had a fantastic experience.

This was a solemn, peaceful, and reflective time. Being there, one could not help but think about all the men and women who have served this nation in the military, many giving their lives in defense of our democracy and the rule of law. Men and women of all colors, creeds, and backgrounds responded to the call to serve at times of crisis, and they did so for the benefit of us all as well as generations that would follow.

One of the highlights for us and for many visitors to the cemetery was the gravesite of former President John F. Kennedy and the eternal flame. Memorialized in stone are six quotes from his Inaugural Address on January 20th, 1961. I selected this one to represent my thoughts and concerns on that special day.

In the long history of the world
only a few generations have been granted
the role of defending freedom
in its hour of maximum danger.
I do not shrink from this responsibility.
I welcome it.

The question for us is will our generations rise to the occasion, defending our democracy, our freedom, and the rule of law? For starters, do we even understand that this is really what is at stake today and not down the road for others to respond? If not, what would have to happen to not just get your attention but move you to action, to understand what is happening, and to be a part of the solutions that must be achieved?

Why has January 6th not been a huge wakeup call to all Americans? That in no way was a celebration of our democracy. Yes, there are flaws in our system. That has always been the case, but in previous times, the bulk of our focus was on positive changes that needed to be made, not on ways to blow up our system.

But that is not true today, and there are reasons why. Fake news is far too dominant and has a significant influence on folks that have little time to connect with what is going on. Fox News, not alone, makes little or no effort to tell the truth but instead are clearly aiding and abetting the enemies of democracy. This is especially true as it relates to their long campaign to downplay the significance of an attempted insurrection against our government.

As the U.S. Select Committee to investigate the January 6th attack on the United States Capitol are revealing, viewing this as just a rally that spontaneously got out of control does not hold water. Thanks to Congresswoman Llz Cheney, this bipartisan effort I believe will lay out the facts of who was responsible for planning and funding that tragic day—and might be a significant step towards getting our democracy back on track. But if Americans don’t in large numbers see the Select Committee’s work as factual and helpful, then what?

Do we teach so little world history that we no longer really understand what happens when tyranny prevails? Most folks I fear have little or no understanding of how our system of government works and should function to serve the best interests of all our people. So today, we need heroes—not just one, but millions—rising to the challenge in new ways to make our system work. And to prove it still holds promise for a brighter, more just, more peaceful, more prosperous world.

I close with this quote on another stone at the Kennedy gravesite.

Now the trumpet summons us again
not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need
not as a call to battle, though embattled we are
but a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle
a struggle against the common enemies of man
tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.

The challenge for us is here and now. If and how we respond will determine our future.

[Photo: Seemesh Anandan]

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A Salute to Senator Bob Dole

12/9/2021

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Senator Bob Dole’s passing is an opportunity to reflect on his life of public service and forty years of many experiences we shared. Although I was aware and certainly followed his public service career, it was not until my second term as Governor that we established the value of really working together. Following my reelection in 1982, I made my decision public that I would not challenge Senator Dole for his reelection in 1986 to reduce politics in our working together as well as with Republican leadership in the legislature.

My first real connection with Dole was somewhat by accident and was not in person. When the community of Smolan finally switched from the old ring down pre dial system of telephone communication in 1976 (only three left after us in the entire country), I was asked as the local state legislator to take the first call. Local leaders had arranged for Senator Dole to make that call, and I have always wondered, when the decision was made, if his staff knew a Democrat would answer.

Probably what stood out most for me about Senator Dole was his commitment to not let partisanship get in the way of serving the people. I will always remember his comment many years ago, following a fall election that “now we have eighteen months to do the people’s business and then six months for election campaigning,” and he meant it and it was true. Today, campaigning for the next election starts the very next day, if not earlier.

One of his major legislative achievements and one I have used many times in class, was his working with very liberal Senator George McGovern to pass the Food Stamp program. It was a time when you looked for win-win compromises. Then McGovern got his food help for the poor and Dole got more demand for agricultural products, something that had to be put together to get the votes to pass.

On reflection, Dole was a model Senate Leader, particularly compared to Mitch McConnell. I can not believe Majority Leader Bob Dole would have done what McConnell did to stop President Obama from making a Supreme Court appointment or would have said publicly that he would do everything in his power to make Obama a one term President. He would not have refused to send over 400 bills to Senate Committees, sent over from the Pelosi House, even though many had strong public support and a few were very similar to bills introduced earlier by Republicans. That would not have been Senator Dole.

I went to Abilene when he was on his final tour of all 105 Kansas counties and had a really good visit (pictured below). The event took place at the Eisenhower Presidential Library, which of course bears significance as it relates to Senator Dole’s military service, and it’s also a facility I had the privilege to work with as Archivist of the United States—a position I was honored to hold, after being nominated by President Clinton and introduced to the U.S. Senate by Senator Dole.

The event at the Eisenhower Library was an opportunity to thank Senator Dole for his service in general, but also to thank him for all the hard work and successful leadership he had put into funding the WWII Memorial and more recently the Eisenhower Memorial, both important additions for public visitors to the Mall. But his respect for his fellow WWII Veterans by showing up at the WWII Memorial to greet fellow WWII veterans being flown in from all over the country to see that memorial may, in some way, to me, highlight and sum up his life of public service best. He was an extraordinary and committed servant to this nation, and we are in desperate need of more like him today.

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2021 Local Elections and Lessons for Public Education

11/10/2021

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Regardless how your local elections for school board went, there are serious take away lessons that far too many supporters of public education do not understand yet. On top of these lessons, for almost all of us, tragically this was our first experience with partisan politics in our local school board member elections. In most cases the local Republican Party with direction from the National Party made their choice candidates clear from the very start, pushing the Democrats to basically match that move in many cases.

For starters, the crazy and scary experiences that school boards have faced this year (for example, the police were called to one meeting in Manhattan when things got heated among attendees) all the way through the election season, have happened all across the country and they are not just going to go away. That is guaranteed because the current National Republican Party sees these so-called cultural issues, including masks and critical race theory (which is not taught in public K-12 schools) at the local level, in particular, as their bread and butter for future election success. The Republican Party in my opinion focuses on culture wars to cover the fact they have no real platform for leading positive change.

Leaders in public education need to understand that many potential supporters are not on board yet because they fail to connect the dots. The problem starts with folks not even thinking about off-year elections until scrambling at the end to decide who they should vote for and too often many just don’t finish the effort by casting their vote. This is despite local elections having a more direct impact than state or national elections on the issues citizens face every day.

Not understood and not used is that more and more businesses want to locate and expand in communities where the quality of public education is high. Why? Because the bulk of their employees as well as ones they are recruiting, especially those that have or will have kids, want quality public education. This would apply as well in any community with a public school of higher education and to some degree even with private.

Because anti-public education issues have gained traction, politically speaking, finding the right message, the right words, to respond successfully is essential. Not taking this specific challenge seriously as we look to the future only guarantees greater problems and a deteriorating environment for what most of us want. Framing the message correctly, that is avoiding “Defund the Police” mistakes, will make all the difference in the world.

Our public schools exist to make sure every single student gets a fair chance to succeed. But behind much of the anti-public school effort, especially from the Republican Party, is their opportunity, as they see it, to promote private education. Now they are not really thinking about private education replacing or taking over. They want more "quality" (as they define) kids with resources, pushed by their parents, drifting to private schools, expanding their numbers, lowering the cost per student, and at the same time very likely continuing their lack of state support for public education. While those already at the top may succeed in such a system, we would be failing the vast majority of the next generation.

So, what needs to be done? To begin with, we need supporters, official and unofficial, of public education to understand the dilemma we are in and appreciate that we must start right now working on a plan to restore strong support for the education of our children and their futures in Kansas. There will be positive lessons learned from other communities around the country that limited and discouraged such negative action, which could help. But in the end motivating leaders at all levels to step up, join hands, and respond to this challenge will be what has to happen. It will take good people speaking out, organizing, and getting involved in new ways.

We must, because this was no one shot deal. Using cultural wars to meet objectives is here and not leaving because, for now, the concept is working.

I close with a quote from Clay Wirestone in an opinion piece in the November 4th issue of Kansas Reflector. “If you want to know what is coming, read the memo from the 1776 Project PAC. In short, every single debunked bit of irrational absurdity we’ve heard over the last few months in Kansas and nationwide, will be repeated ad nauseum.”

[Photo: Shawnee Mission Post]

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Things to Consider When Evaluating Biden's First Year

10/18/2021

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As we move from fall to winter and Biden’s approval polls slide, a little sanity and practical facts need to be inserted into the dialogue about how our President is really doing. I am amazed at Washington veterans in the press corps who just accept and report on the poll numbers without adding some context. Obviously, there are real problems for not just the President but the Democrats in Congress as the 2022 midterm election approaches.

Now, I’m not here to argue that a 35 to 40% approval rating is no problem. What I want to do is put these numbers into some perspective, taking into account some challenges that few, if any, Presidents had to face in their first year in office.

For starters, no incoming President until Biden has had such a crazy transition from Election Day to Inauguration Day. Because then-President Trump fought the results of the election all the way to January 20th (and still considers the results false), his administration offered no help given they believed they were still in office. Not getting the traditional assistance during the transition certainly hampered the early days of the administration.

Keep in mind Biden inherited probably the worst mess of any incoming President in history. For example, the pandemic that was under Trump’s management for the first year was mishandled in so many ways. Yes, Trump pushed for warp speed action on getting vaccines, but more than off-setting this effort was his instilling in his supporters that the virus was not that big of a problem. Then after acknowledging the negative impact of the pandemic, Trump proceeded to tell his supporters that taking the vaccine was not smart. All the while, Trump was activating his army of supporters in opposition to just about everything the government was pushing to help address COVID-19 challenges.

Here is another example. Biden inherited a civil service team that had been brutally treated. President Trump had no respect for professional public servants. At every opportunity, he placed inexperienced political hacks into positions where there had been career professionals who often had worked under several administrations. In addition, there were voluntary exits from civil servants who could not tolerate an environment so counterproductive to serving the best interests of the nation.

Also getting key positions filled that require Senate confirmation slowed things down. The Republicans in the Senate took almost every opportunity to stretch out the process for weeks and in some cases months. In the first fifteen days they had only confirmed five of Biden’s fifteen Cabinet selections. For comparison, the Senate had confirmed 90% of the Cabinet secretaries for Presidents Clinton, Bush, and Obama combined during a similar transition time frame. The bottom line is that Biden is still filling some key leadership positions including ones that Trump never saw fit to fill because he really didn’t want the government to work efficiently.

Biden has received little or no help from Republicans across the board, even on issues they really want Congress to deliver for the American people. I have no doubt that many of the Republicans who will be voting ‘no’ on all Biden’s major proposals including infrastructure will find ways to take some credit back in their states and districts even if these proposals are successfully passed by only the Democrats. As well, in time, when key projects on climate change get done and public support grows, these Republicans’ message will be that progress could not have happened without their support.

Observers of Biden’s first nine months often compare his results with that of previous administrations. The logical focus is with Lyndon B Johnson who also pushed major initiatives and with great success. Pundits often ignore the fact Johnson had strong Democratic majorities in both Houses. Biden has little or no margin for error, and the Democrats are struggling to find consensus on almost everything.

Yes, Biden has made mistakes. All Presidents do. But given the hurdles he has had to overcome, drawing conclusions this early in his term of office does not fairly represent where things really are. The keys for more success going forward are how much has been learned so far and how much getting the full team on board will make a difference.

In the end, Presidential polls are interesting and for the moment give a sense of where things appear to be, but to project conclusions for months and years down the road makes no sense. Things do change, and that includes for the better.

[Photo: Susan Walsh/AP]

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November 2nd is Important for the Future of Kansas

10/4/2021

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Tuesday, November 2nd, is election day in Kansas. This is the last day to vote and express your support for the candidates you want on your local City Commissions and School Boards. But between now and then there are other key dates to remember, such as the last day to register to vote on October 12th and the last day to register for an Advanced Ballot by mail on October 26th. Early voting starts by mail October 13th and in some counties in person voting can be done at your County Courthouse. Voter participation, or lack thereof, will significantly shape the future of the community in which you live.

Why is this so important and maybe more important than ever before? Because we have gone through and continue to experience major change that demands more attention. Businesses and people are more mobile than ever. Quality health care will be even more important coming out of a pandemic. Competitive public schools are often a key factor in family and business location decisions. The younger generation sees things much differently and are much more likely to see their future somewhere else. That future comes down to retention and attraction of residents and explains why in this competitive world, electing the best candidates to local leadership positions is so essential.

Now, if by chance you do not give a crap who makes decisions for your local population, that is your choice but don’t yell and scream when your community suffers from leadership that has failed in key areas, leaving you with higher taxes and lesser results. There is a direct connection between electing real leaders that are engaged in the community and having a community that can compete in these challenging times.

These upcoming elections are officially non-political but very unfortunately in practice are already becoming more partisan. Why do I think getting political parties openly engaged is bad? In my opinion, the importance of electing quality candidates who will serve the community well is far more important than political parties pressing for their preferences to be elected on political party biases. Voters tend to see the political fight and miss the candidates' positions and real qualifications for local leadership. In the end, political parties get their successes at the expense of what the community really needs.

Just think… If President Biden’s Build Back Better plan gets adopted and the potential infrastructure investments become available, there will be huge opportunities for communities that have quality leadership to take full advantage. November 2nd results will significantly play a direct role in how your community responds to the many challenges we face. Please do your part in helping make that future what your community needs to compete in these fast changing times.

Line Outside Sedgwick County Election Office

[Photo: The Wichita Eagle]

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Why Democrats Should Become the Real "Pro-Life" Party

9/14/2021

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The line about strategically sticking with the same old game plan and expecting better results, for me, fits with where we are as Democrats in Kansas as we look to 2022 and beyond. Because we play Pro-Choice against Pro-Life, this allows the Republican Party to use abortion very successfully as a wedge issue. This must stop or at the least we must reduce their success significantly. Because when we leave the issue of abortion to be the battle in a very conservative state and, particularly in the more conservative areas of the state, we can’t even recruit candidates.

Today going forward, I believe we must clarify and expand what life issues should be under the banner of Pro-Life. We must present life in a much broader context. In contrast to most Republicans whose focus is all about the fetus, where Democrats share concern is our belief that the health of the expectant mother is also a life issue. As important life issues go forward through birth, early childcare, and all the way through aging issues as well, the support for key programs leans heavily on Democrats. Take funding of expanded Medicaid as an example where the fight for positive action is overwhelmingly led by Democrats.

Think of all the programs that are key to quality life that we Democrats support, which really make a difference directly for the family involved but also for the larger society as well. Sex education for young adults, prenatal care for expecting mothers (e.g., regular doctor check-ins, vitamins), the Women Infants and Children (WIC) program that provides healthy food and immunizations are just a few examples that make real differences in the lives of Kansans.

Our country’s record on infant mortality (2019 stats show 47 countries or territories with better infant mortality rates than the USA) is embarrassing and needs to be addressed by Republicans and should demand more attention from Democrats. Additionally, there are endless studies that show how important the first three years are in the development of the child’s brain, much of which cannot be corrected in later life. Preschool, quality child care, education in general, and all the challenges that we all face as we grow older, it is we Democrats (although we used to have a lot of Republican friends who were likewise concerned) who are primarily supportive or at least open to more wisely investing in life. And for what it is worth, investing early and wisely will bring dramatic returns over time, including better education results, a healthier society, and a population less dependent on government services.

In addition, we must change how we deal with the Pro-Life/Pro-Choice issue within our own Party. I don’t suggest we should oppose Pro-Choice policies or candidates. I am Pro-Choice and will remain, but politically, we must move towards a bigger tent that includes within our Party folks who are what I call “sane Pro-Life.” Our current Democratic Legislators who are Pro-Life vote consistently against the crazy, unconstitutional Republican ideas as well as support all the other truly Pro-Life programs. Also just a reminder, without a significant number of high quality Pro-Life Democratic Legislators, neither myself or Marvin Barkis would have been Speaker of the Kansas House. With their support, we were able to utilize our elected positions to bring about more positive action for Democratic issues. Bottom line, we should not paint all Pro-Life supporters with one brush.

Texas is currently leading the way in terms of passing extreme restrictions that the majority of Americans see as unacceptable and go too far. And, if we're not smart, compassionate, and strategic, Kansas is at risk for joining the sad momentum against a woman's right to make her own health care decisions.

Not to mention, we're in the midst of a pandemic that has further revealed—and, in fact, amplified—the level of hypocrisy present among the so-called "Pro-Life" party.

The truly Pro-Life position would be to respect and respond to an urgent public health threat through responsible actions that keep more people in our communities alive, which you might think would be an obvious for someone with a staunchly "Pro-Life" position. Instead, folks on that side of the argument seem to be all for freedom of choice, unless you happen to be a woman. People can see through these hypocrisies, and this creates space for Democrats to recognize the nuance of the issue and carve out a principled position that voters can understand and trust.

In the end, when Democrats focus on abortion with in-your-face tactics to defend the right of choice, we lose support for all the other key life issues because we can’t elect enough Democrats. Look at where we are in the current Kansas Legislature. We can’t even protect a Governor Kelly veto without Republican support, which we seldom get. With this broader definition of Pro-Life, we would be in a position of electing Democratic Legislators outside the current seven counties where our two caucuses reside today.

Bottom line, many Republican elected officials are Pro-Life primarily for votes and campaign money. They are almost like “bye, bye fetus, you’re on your own.” We Democrats are clearly the Party that is by far most concerned about life issues. Why not just go public and be the Real Pro-Life Party in Kansas?

[Photo: Olivier Douliery/AP Images]

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"Alternative Facts" Eroding the Truth

8/23/2021

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In today’s fake news environment, where getting any clarity and agreement on the actual documented facts surrounding any news story is often impossible, the fact that we have American citizens all over the place on the core facts of almost any story should be no surprise. As long as we have news outlets with very limited commitment to the truth, we will continue fighting without the results that are needed for the best interests of our nation, all the way down to local government.

Conflicting news stories is not novel and probably one can make the case that there have always been news outlets with some limited focus on the truth. Having said that, the current problem with fake news is off the charts and is seriously compounding the challenges of dealing responsibly with the major issues we face. With all the doubt of information shared in the public to build support, progress on issues like the economy, climate change, and a broad-based infrastructure plan may not move forward.

So why is very questionable reporting and disinformation off the charts? Why is fake news now so dominant in the daily news cycle and the impacts so dramatical? The answer is quite obvious. Former President Trump, in the last five or so years, has put his stamp of approval on the use of false information, twisted conclusions, and downright acceptance of lies as part of today’s dialogue. To add insult to injury, he has successfully used his showman skills to attract a following that enthusiastically buys into the lies and false messages, making him a political force despite not holding an elected position.

Because of Trump’s style, much of the Republican Party, particularly office holders, toe the line and salute the outrageous actions primarily to get re-elected. These politicians count on the Fox-like news outlets for getting their message out to the voters who they need to win. This partnership is certainly financially positive for both Trump and Republican candidates, and with money being so important in today’s politics, we should not be surprised that truth tends to be the forgotten player.

But it is not just Fox and Newsmax folks that are at fault here. The more liberal outlets could help if they could find a way to separate the news from their positions and beliefs that would fit better as editorials. The way it is now with news and opinions meshed together, I understand why folks with more conservative views turn off MSNBC and CNN, seeing these news outlets as guilty as anyone and, naturally, staying loyal to the conservative version of the daily news.

Clearly, Public Radio and Television do the best job at providing objective information as they present the facts as clearly as possible. Proof of their objectivity is the year-after-year effort by Republicans to shut these news outlets down and take away any government support for the truth being presented. Volunteer contributions are the lifeblood of public-funded news, and thanks to all who do support their efforts.

Major newspaper outlets like the Washington Post and the New York Times do a much better job of separating the sharing of the news in a factual way from how they personally feel about the direction of whatever policy issue is at hand. I find the Wall Street Journal to directly share the facts on the news side of the paper and, yes, on the editorial pages they clearly represent their very conservative views of how things should unfold. But too few people today read newspapers in depth or possibly at all, and many people are fine getting their ‘facts’ from anonymous sources like QAnon.

So where does that leave us? How does this clearly wrong set of actions continue to prevail? What can be done? It isn't really complicated. Winning elections would really help. Complaining alone will not get it done. As long as lies have huge political impacts for some elected officials, the lies will continue. We who prefer the side of truth to win out need to adopt the Stacy Abrams philosophy of an intensive ground game, starting early and often on mobilizing voters—which actually works, as demonstrated in Georgia—and get to work.

To put this in historical context, I share this message from Ulysses S. Grant, key General in the Civil War and later President of the United States. “If we are to have another contest in the near future of our national existence, I predict that the dividing line will not be Mason and Dixon, but between patriotism and intelligence on one side, and superstitions, ambition, and ignorance on the other.”

[Image: NPR]

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Fallout from January 6th Continues

7/6/2021

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It's been just over six months since January 6th—and just days after we celebrated our nation’s Independence Day—and the anti-democracy movement in this country continues to grow.

With Republican Governors and State Legislators doing everything possible to limit Democrats from voting, and the Democratic Majority in Washington to this point unable to take steps to at least reduce if not eliminate such action, keeping our democracy is up in the air. How can we in any way assume that this democracy we have is secure and not vulnerable to the actions taking place? If we allow January 6th to be forgotten, consider it no big deal, and on top of that fail to stop the voter suppression so blatantly taking place in states all across the country, the core fundamentals of a democracy are lost and will not simply return.

January 6th, 2021 was not just another day of citizens visiting their Capital and seeing their democracy in action as some politicians are trying to peddle. That day saw American citizens storm the Capital, aroused by Impeached President Trump, to very clearly try to reverse the outcome of the November election. This was done despite all the court denials of any fraud, including from Trump-appointed Judges and the certified results from Republican Secretaries of State declaring President Biden as the rightful winner. If the storming of the Capitol and reversing the presidential results had been successful, the United States would no longer be a democracy.

Minority Senate Leader McConnell is without a doubt the most un-American Congressional leader this country has ever had. I wonder how much things could be different with someone else leading the Republican Caucus. He bluntly and publicly states he wants to do everything possible to keep the Biden Administration from getting anything done, and with the archaic Senate rules, he is well on his way to success with our Senator Roger Marshall right at his side. I want to make it clear there are a few sane Republican members of Congress who publicly state more responsible positions and vote accordingly. There are just not enough of them.

The continuing and crazy hold that Trump still has on so many elected officials is hard to believe but very real. Take our own Republican Congressional delegation. Following Trump’s lead not a word of concern from them in denying January 6th any real bipartisan investigation as if it was not really a big deal.

Topping off all of this, which should horrify any and all Americans, is the action taken in Georgia and Arizona (and spreading to other states, including here in Kansas) that just in case all their voter suppression actions do not deliver the results they want, a new law will allow the Republican controlled legislature to overrule the certified count. Now that is way beyond the pale and one does not have to have any legal training to know that is unconstitutional, undemocratic, and would certify we no longer have a democracy.

So how does all of this get stopped and turned around? There are bills introduced by Democrats in Congress that would generally reverse much of this craziness, but getting such legislation passed will not be easy. Given the close partisan makeup of Congress, the very few, if any, Republicans that would help, and the crazy rules of the Senate, success can be achieved but not without strong leadership, all hands on deck, and President Biden’s ties helping in the Senate.

Maybe most important will be whether the American people wake up to the potential loss of their democracy and make clear such action will be a voting issue come election time. This is not just another partisan fight like we’ve been through many times before. This is the ball game, the whole enchilada, and there will be no second act. Wake up Americans, and together we just might keep our democracy.

[Photo: Probal Rashid via Getty Images]

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Infrastructure is More than Roads and Bridges

6/17/2021

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My last couple blog posts have centered around infrastructure. It’s an issue I had the privilege to work on and support during my years in public service, and it’s something I feel just as strongly about today—as one of the most important things we can do to set our future generations up for success.

What needs to be made clear now is that infrastructure goes far beyond roads and bridges. Throughout the course of our history, that definition has changed—and should continue to change—over time as our needs evolve. In the late 1800's, the transcontinental railroad connected the country, and it laid the foundation for rail infrastructure development that continues to move people and goods efficiently from coast to coast. In the 1930’s, rural electrification was an infrastructure investment that provided an important utility, improved quality of life, and opened the door for more development in all areas of the country. In the 1950’s, infrastructure meant the Interstate Highway System—which supported transcontinental travel and commerce. Today, infrastructure must include broadband, housing, elder care and, yes, childcare. Investments that promote more engagement in the economy—and support the workforce that makes things happen—should be what meets the definition of modern infrastructure, needed for growth today and into the future.

I understand why the Republicans are taking the position that President Biden has a lot of “non-traditional” infrastructure in his plan before Congress. Given how, recently, Republicans often live in the past, taking that position should not be a big surprise. They frequently don’t see the big picture, connect the dots, and combined with their typical response of opposing any and all Democratic proposals, we should not in any way be surprised.

I expect there are Democrats who are a little puzzled about the Republicans' resistance given the last major Infrastructure plan was with President Eisenhower and the Interstate Highway Program back in the 1950’s. That effort was focused almost exclusively on much of the concrete we drive on today—and for the cross-country connections made and the positive impact on the economy.

What makes today so different is all the changes that have happened in the last sixty years to make today very challenging and the demand for new approaches very real. Today, broadband (for which there is some Republican support) has to be part of any infrastructure package because fully connecting the country takes much more than just roads and airports. Combined with our climate change challenges, dealing with the advancement of electric cars, and in concentrated urban areas much more efficient rail transportation, shouldn’t we be pleased that Biden rightfully looks at infrastructure needs more broadly?

Look at all the countries that in one area or another have caught up with us on infrastructure just in the last 30 years. China obviously leads the pack. But to put that in perspective, if you go back to the 1980’s when our Interstate Highway System was complete, on my 1982 visit to Henan Province, we rode on several dirt and sand roads that connected population centers. In fact, support and partnership on infrastructure from the Kansas Department of Transportation was included as an original component of our Sister-State relationship with Henan Province, which was established during our visits in the 1980’s. Now, contrast that with today, where China has surpassed us with very modern transportation systems that include high speed rail and airports that put ours to shame.

But much of the real investment Biden wants to make is in families as part of this program, which is much more than just raising some folks out of poverty and paying a fair wage. He knows that our current education system needs an upgrade to provide a quality workforce with the skills needed for us to compete in a fast changing world. He also knows that the availability of high quality childcare will be a must for many families to participate in the workforce of tomorrow.

Fortunately, there are communities stepping up to take some action on their own. I call your attention to what Lindsborg, Kansas is doing. They knew in many ways that they had a very attractive community with much of the extras that make the quality of life high. But they learned from their research the problem holding them back from growth was the lack of quality child care. Located between McPherson and Salina they knew the jobs existed but the families who were looking to locate in Lindsborg wanted the quality childcare that currently was not there. More detail can be found in an article “Nurturing Prosperity” in The Journal, published by the Kansas Leadership Center in Winter 2021. It provides a great example of how a community can step up to help meet needs, improve quality of life, and enable more growth.

Maybe what surprises me the most, not really, is much of the corporate community and particularly the wealthy who don't want to help pay for Biden’s plan, when in the end they will be the ones who likely benefit the most. Remember, they got the big Trump tax cut and now with Biden’s plan, yes, they will pay more but not fully back to the level prior to the cut. Adding salt to the wound, the previous administration cut the Internal Revenue Service budget so much that they do not have the staff to collect all the taxes that are due. Now combine that with some of the most wealthy, including corporations, who currently pay no taxes. Chew on that for a while.

Biden’s package for building back better is non-traditional but reflects his understanding of the changes and the challenges we face—and what we must do to have the future we want for coming generations. Hopefully, those who are savvy, investment-wise Republicans can send a message to their elected Republicans that infrastructure is not partisan and that the time is now to do what is smart, period.

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The Rough Road to Bipartisanship

5/24/2021

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I know talking about the good old days comes across often as just talk. But there are clearly documented examples that we need to remember before we just assume that the often stupidity of our current times becomes totally acceptable. For example, I am old enough to clearly remember the late 50’s when Republican President Eisenhower, working with Democrats LBJ and Speaker Sam Rayburn, created the Interstate Highway System—the last, yes the last, major infrastructure package. Now, today, the Biden Administration has a bold, modern package on the table that takes major first steps to get us on the path to a well-structured future.

President Biden has had Senators from both Parties over to the White House to try to find common ground on his infrastructure package. There have been positive Republican comments about the effort, but clearly they want a much smaller investment and one focused on concrete and asphalt, that ignores how far behind we are. This old thinking is out of touch with modern needs. There is Republican support for broadband expansion, something desperately needed, but only as part of a much much smaller package. Then there is Senate Minority Leader McConnell, who in the end will likely want no Republican support for any package that the President wants.

Trying to put this in context with history, I share three historical examples, leaving you to see where we might be tomorrow without major investments being made now. If President Eisenhower had thought like Republicans of today, his highway infrastructure package might have been the creation of passing lanes, fixing potholes and, of course, no interstate highways. If President Truman had not successfully sold the Marshall Plan, playing a major role in rebuilding Europe following WWll, how much bigger and more powerful would Russia be today? And if President Kennedy had not pushed the space program, think of all the technology advances we would have at least delayed for decades.

I am obviously not suggesting that the minority Republicans in the Senate should just accept the fact they are the minority caucus, admittedly by a thread, and roll over waiting for their return to the majority. What I am suggesting is that they consider voting somewhat along the line of what Republicans back home want. National polls now show strong support from Republicans for Biden’s Infrastructure plan to help the economy and build it back better. There are 50 Republican Senators and, at the moment, not one supports the package-all because of McConnell, their crazy tie to Trump, and their loyalty to the richest Americans.

I know from my own experience how important bipartisan support is for leading significant change as well as creating new directions that benefit the state’s overall interests and serve individual and family needs. Success for Kansas came in the 80’s from having both Democratic and Republican support for proper funding of public education, approving a major state infrastructure package, reforming the state banking system, creating a state water plan, implementing the first state effort on business development and job creation with a new Department of Economic Development (now called Commerce), and giving the citizens the opportunity to vote on several key constitutional changes that passed overwhelmingly.

So how did we lose our willingness to put the state and country first? I suppose when wedge issues became such a key to Republican strategy things changed. Abortion, gun control, and immigration today tend to dictate Republican strategy, not because they should lead the agenda, but because they divide people and lead to Republican political success.

As a wild example of how far Republicans in Kansas have changed, when the Equal Rights Amendment was sent to the states for approval in the early 70’s, I was there in the legislature. Kansas was a very early adopter and approved the amendment—yes, led by Republican leadership. That simply would not happen today.

So what needs to happen to have hope for common sense to return and take the first significant steps towards addressing the challenges we face? My only thought that makes any sense and could possibly happen is for Biden’s package to get passed by whatever means possible, that the public reaction is quite positive, that the Democrats hold both Houses in the 2022 election, and Biden is reelected in 2024. That might get the attention of Republican leaders. For, as long as wedge issues prevail for the Republicans, I see little chance in the near future of any real progress being made on climate change, infrastructure, and the other endless challenges we face. I know this reads partisan but, for me, without Biden succeeding, these key changes and investments will not be made, and the price we pay will set us back dramatically for decades.

[Photo: Doug Mills/The New York Times]

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Federal Infrastructure Bill Past Due

4/19/2021

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Given that the last major national infrastructure package was the Interstate Highway System under President Eisenhower, partnering with Speaker Sam Rayburn and Senate Majority Leader Lyndon Johnson, both Democrats, one would think that President Biden’s infrastructure package just might be needed. These are needs that, if not addressed, will have huge negative consequences and particularly for states like Kansas, which do not have the resources to go it alone.

When it comes to maintaining infrastructure, we know there are higher costs down the road when we are not regularly reinvesting, and as a nation, we are falling behind on basic transportation needs as well as the important infrastructure of the future, like Broadband. This means the total price tag of such a bill will be high, but that is largely because it is clearly past time for national infrastructure investment.

The Republican-led Kansas Legislature has done some good on infrastructure, but there has been no help in Washington from the Republican members of our delegation.

Republicans in the Kansas Legislature have generally been positive about the Kelly Administration's efforts in Economic Development, and this includes another ten-year infrastructure program, the Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Plan. Of particular significance is the investment for Broadband, which is built into that plan for highways and bridges. No question, that is positive for many of our rural areas and small towns that are today without Broadband. But to really deliver on our total demands for Broadband, we need what President Biden is proposing in his infrastructure plan, and our Republican Congressional delegation needs to find ways to help.

Given the recent investments the state has made on Broadband, it's clear that from the state-level, Kansas is ready to put these dollars to work right now, in order to improve internet access statewide.

The value of expanding access to Broadband cannot be overemphasized for the best interest of Kansas collectively but most seriously for those areas not now served. Quality of public education, particularly in sparsely populated areas, can really be enhanced. Likewise, in delivering needed health care, Broadband would make a real difference. But maybe most important is the value Broadband will be to existing businesses and attracting startups that are likely non-starters without it.

We should not let our Republican delegation in Washington get away with hiding behind any concern about raising taxes or, God forbid, raising the national debt given their record on both issues in recent years. Their lack of consistency is off the charts. They had no problem borrowing a couple trillion for Trump’s pandemic package not that long after cutting the taxes of the richest individual taxpayers as well as corporations that often find ways to pay nothing and will further benefit financially from implementation of the Biden Infrastructure plan. But, despite all this, Republicans have already vowed not to cast a single supportive vote to address our clear infrastructure needs.

So why is this contrast with Republicans between D.C. and Kansas so hard to understand? I have given it some thought, and I am down to just one possibility. Maybe the explanation is tied to the actual measurable distance between the constituents and those representing them. D.C. is so far off that the real needs of the people do not rise to the top of priorities like they do in Topeka. I feel confident that most rural Kansas Legislators have constituents raising Broadband deficiencies as a critical priority.

Now, let’s get to the real message. I accept the fact that my making these points directly to our Congressional delegation (with the exception of Congresswoman Davids who is on board) in D.C. has no value or return. So I am reminding all of you who are reading this message that your direct contact by text, email, or phone message, just might get their attention and make a difference. Your efforts would particularly be effective if you can share a specific community or location that would significantly benefit from Washington Broadband help. The need is undeniable, and the time to act is now.

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Henry Hollie and the Gettysburg Address

4/1/2021

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As I look back on our collective pandemic experience, when we return to something like the old normal, the one thing I might miss most will be the extraordinary amount of time I have had to read books. This was new to me because, up until the pandemic, work dominated. One book I really enjoyed was John Alter’s, “His Very Best," about former President Jimmy Carter. I share in this blog why I found the book so timely, as well as a direct connection to what I was doing in Topeka during the Carter Administration.

Having lived through the late 70’s and 80’s and, in very modest ways, participating in those historical times, I saw some of the ups and downs of the Carter Administration up close when I was on the Executive Board of the National Governors Association and when I spent time in D.C. Reading Alter’s book, it was fun to be reminded that, on reflection, there is much more good than bad about President Carter and his record. In fact, today, after first placing Carter in the bottom 1/3rd of Presidents, historians now have him in the top third.

Part of the book covers the Camp David Accords, the 13-day effort in 1978 to bring peace between Israel and Egypt after four major wars starting in 1948, a peace that remains today. During this experience, President Carter’s patience was frequently tested in keeping Israel’s Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egypt’s President Anwar el-Sadat at Camp David and from just leaving and giving up, which was frequently close to happening. After about seven days, Carter decided they needed a break. He chose to take them to Gettysburg and the famous battle ground from the Civil War.

As they were walking around the memorial, Begin, a few feet away from Carter and Sadat, started reciting “Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation, conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that "all men are created equal." He went on to flawlessly complete the entire Gettysburg Address.

My first reaction, after some shock, was how President Lincoln’s words would fit right into the many challenges we face as a country today. Polar opposite positions on everything from dealing with the pandemic, to the economy, infrastructure, immigration, and election reforms, puts Lincoln’s message “a house divided cannot stand” to the test.

My next thought after reading that reflection was how I knew someone who worked for me who could also recite the Gettysburg Address flawlessly. Henry Hollie at Cedar Crest, the Governor’s residence, could at any appropriate opportunity likewise perfectly recite the Gettysburg Address. Henry Hollie was my everything at Cedar Crest. From greeting and taking care of guests, to making sure events came off smoothly, to helping improve my pool game, to making sure I left Cedar Crest to go to work in a freshly pressed suit. My success as Governor can be attributed to incredible staff, a powerful talented cabinet, and maybe most importantly to the thousands of talented civil servants who in the end delivered the goods. Henry Hollie was a valuable part of that team.

Here's a photo of Henry Hollie and I during an event at Cedar Crest. From his ability to flawlessly recite the Gettysburg Address, to the essential functions he served on our team, and his infectious smile, these memories still bring a smile to my face.

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Building a "Big Tent" in Kansas

3/16/2021

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Kansas Democrats currently face a wall in expanding their clout much beyond the current level in the Kansas Legislature. Today, with eleven Democratic Senators and thirty-nine House members, Governor Kelly will need Republican votes to just sustain a veto, and given how far right the Republican caucuses are, that will be a challenge. If you can’t sustain vetoes, then the far right agenda will go into law.

To expand these numbers and have any real influence, Democrats need to do much much better at identifying and supporting quality Democratic candidates. This will take strong leadership, a willingness to make change, and an understanding that this will not happen in just one election cycle. I know our State Party has a plan to get counties that are not now organized activated, and I strongly support their effort but much more will need to be done.

My push for a more influential Democratic Party is much more than party politics and political gains. It is primarily driven by my concern for the future of Kansas and the fact that the current directions and politics of the far right Republicans do not bode well for the future of our state. We have very serious challenges that must be addressed or our future will continue to be declining population growth, limited opportunities for our young people, and a shortage of jobs and economic viability particularly in many of our rural communities.

For progress, I think there need to be major adjustments with statewide candidate campaigns, which now tend to focus only on just a few of our larger population centers and leaving the bulk of the counties with little or no attention. Over time, this practice has dramatically decreased Democratic political activity in the bulk of Kansas counties. Yes, there has been success electing Democratic Governors (with just a little more effort in rural counties, Kansas could have elected at least one more), but when legislative numbers remain low, the capacity to actually impact key decisions is limited. Today, Democratic legislators come from only seven counties. That did not used to be the case.

For example, starting with the 1956 election of Democratic Governor George Docking and through the tenure of Governor Joan Finney in 1996 (who was the last Democratic Governor to really campaign across the entire state), on average there were 13 Democratic Senators and 55 Democratic House members. During the Docking-Finney time period, our statewide candidates helped create an environment where a Democratic candidate for the Legislature had a chance, regardless of what area they were from. Consequently, Representative Marvin Barkis and myself became Speakers of the House with support from Democrats from every area of the state and, consequently, some good things got done. Since that time, the average numbers have been 10 Democratic Senators and 42 Democratic House members.

I also think candidates often focus too much on delivering messages to the base and not enough reaching out to the voters who Democrats need to win. Beyond political organizing and candidate recruitment, the Democratic Party and its representatives must develop an intentional effort to talk with rural residents and identify ways in which we as a party can address effectively those issues and concerns that affect negatively the sustainability and quality of life in rural Kansas. With the right policy messages, Moderate Republicans and Independents should be good targets for persuasion.

Senator Jon Tester of Montana wrote a book called “Grounded,” which I highly recommend for anyone wondering what Democrats need to do to build support and elect more Democrats. His advice on how to make headway in rural areas that we often choose to avoid is: 1. Show up and not just when asked; 2. Be smart with messaging; and 3. Listen, listen to their concerns and learn more about what is going on in the candidate’s district to understand what their issues really are and do not just rely on some statewide strategy. As Tester said, “there is a reason you have two ears and only one mouth.”

Quoting (page 114) from Molly Ball in her book Pelosi, she instructed her lead recruiter Rahm Emanuel to “find candidates that fit their districts, regardless of ideology.” For example, in 2018, quality Democratic challengers in three conservative Indiana districts were pro-life and pro-gun, but they won. Pelosi took a lot of heat for this approach, but she also was able to become Speaker and be able to pass a more progressive agenda. They recruited candidates to take on kitchen table issues and stand up for working people. Given the minority status Democrats have in Kansas, such advice from Pelosi makes lots of sense. Another example, at the national level some Democrats go after Senator Joe Manchin from West Virginia on some of his more conservative positions, but where would we be without him right now? Mitch McConnell would still be Majority Leader, and now think about the real impact that would have on Covid relief and so many other things that need to be done in the coming year. Though it's easy to complain about some of his positions that you may disagree with, a recent piece in the New York Times argues, "Nothing would help Democrats as much as more Joe Manchins." A larger Democratic majority would certainly help, and it would provide more flexibility for certain members to dissent when they felt it was important for their districts. But the only way to make that possible is to elect more Democrats, regardless of where they're from.

At this point, the dominant Republican Party in Kansas can afford to work for purity and still win. Their years of working to eliminate Moderates has been successful, particularly in primaries, because of their huge voter registration advantage and the political strength of the far right. For Democrats, that is not an option, but we often operate like it is. Being pro-life, for example, is too often used to blackball or ignore some good candidates who could win. Keep in mind that pro-life Democrats played a key role in electing two House majorities, two Speakers (Barkis and Carlin), and as far as I know, pro-life Democrats have always voted against crazy unconstitutional abortion amendments. Instead, there is an opportunity for Democrats to make the case that their policies represent a truly “pro-life” position.

What I am sharing is not an anti-progressive move. It is a recognition that ideologically Kansas is a center-right state. Not accepting this reality dooms Democrats to continued disappointment. We need and should welcome progressive legislators to challenge the system and represent the views of their districts, but I want in the end to have enough Democratic votes to take some positive steps forward. The pattern of just working harder, doing that same thing over and over, and expecting better results has not and will not work.

The question now is, are we as a Democratic Party willing to take the time to make key strategic changes necessary to put us in a position of strength to help lead Kansas to a better future? Is now not the opportunity to reach out to more Moderate Republicans, given the shocking time in which we live with so much division in the Republican Party? And as Democrats, if you need more incentive, this action will help local, statewide, and Congressional candidates as well. This could just be the time, if Democrats are willing to make the changes to not just win, but help pass legislation on issues that will truly make a positive difference for our great state. The door is open now, and the party should be willing to accept any Kansan who wants to be part of the solutions to our state's pressing challenges.

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Covid Relief Needed Now

3/6/2021

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Why is this next week so critical for the American people? Dealing successfully with the many challenges of the Pandemic, which includes unemployment benefits extension, funds for the vaccine roll-out, cash to families who are in trouble paying rent, feeding the family, and paying utility bills is on the table for the Congress particularly now for the Senate to do its work following the successful start in the House. Local and state governments will get some help on funding many unanticipated financial challenges and, unlike the Federal Government, must stay within their budgets. There is aid for public education to help get schools open as well as to assist with technology improvements.

The deadline for extending unemployment benefits is March 15th. Adding urgency to this deadline are the goals set by the President to have the package successfully implemented. Keep in mind the total opposition from the two Republican caucuses and the obstacles created by Democrats coming from both the right and the left of the Party. As I post this blog, Republican Senator Johnson from Wisconsin will have succeeded in requesting and, acting within the rules, demanding the clerk read the entire Covid relief bill and a marathon of amendments will be proposed and brought to a vote. This, of course, will only take valuable time away from getting the job done—which is no doubt his objective. Other delays will follow as Republicans will do everything possible to deny the American people what they want and need.

It isn’t just the $1.9 trillion package that is involved here. We need to understand how critical it is for the Biden Presidency that this be done by March 15, which is one working week away. The Republicans and press will go after him on the deadline if unmet, just as they will go after him for not accomplishing the goal of having a vaccine for every adult by the end of May or early June. Believe me, the press wants to go after Biden, because they will be eager to show that they are indeed objective fact-finders. If Democrats fail in meeting the March 15th deadline, the press—even the friendly opinion columnists—will run a story comparing Biden to Trump and highlighting his failures. The press would love to demonstrate their fairness; although, in reality, that would be a big plus for Republicans over Democrats, because it will be like comparing a first degree murder to a misdemeanor.

For the long-term success of the Biden Presidency, it is really important that these goals be met on time. They are good for the American people; they will help mid-term 2022 Democratic reelections and gains; and, obviously, they will enhance Biden’s ability to get reelected in 2024. If Biden loses in 2024, the Republicans will come in and reverse everything that has been done.

Here is my message to Senate Democrats: Don't miss this opportunity to prove to the American people that the government can work. In the process, you should be able to remain in power and perhaps build on congressional majorities—something that is also necessary to maintain the progress you have made by the end of the term and make more strides in the future. The polls unanimously say the American people back you on passing the stimulus, including lots of Republicans too.

Some Congressional Democrats seem to be fine with a delay on COVID 19 in exchange for attempting to pass the minimum wage increase to $15 dollars. They must not understand the political need to be flexible with Biden so that, in the long-run, the Biden Administration can accomplish more of the priority goals that were promised. Pushing the minimum wage increase now only increases the possibility for failure. There are some brilliant and very important members of Congress who are occasionally short-sighted and do not always see the big picture. With so much to be done, and much of it critical for the American people, it is certainly easy to get in a hurry. But save the push on a minimum wage increase until after the Covid package and infrastructure, when you will have the momentum of those two going forward to successfully deliver on a federal policy to increase the minimum wage.

Infrastructure investment will and should be the next congressional priority. In doing so, we will be addressing a fundamental matter where, compared to many other countries, we have much to do. Bridges, highways, broadband, major improvements in transportation—this would be a huge win. It will bring good jobs to boost the economy, get a real start on climate change, and modernize much of our transportation system. The stimulus, infrastructure, and increasing minimum wage are all important, but they need to be done in a certain order to succeed. There is strong support for these policies from the people, and they will get done if strong and wise leadership prevails.

Again, if Democrats screw this up, we are handing the Republicans the opportunity to take the Congress back in less than 2 years and not re-elect Biden. If that happens, they will likely reverse virtually everything done by Biden and the Congressional Democrats.

An advantage for Republicans, to be optimistic in the long-term, is that a big Biden win might be what it takes for the sane Republicans still with Trump to start to leave the crazies and return to rebuilding a responsible conservative party so desperately needed for the future.

Meeting big goals leads to momentum, failing leads to inertia, and that is something this country must avoid.

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"The Big Lie" Fueling Voter Suppression

3/1/2021

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At every level of government, from the Nation's Capital to individual states including Kansas, with direct impacts on local elections as well, there are currently active efforts to pass voter suppression laws to make it more difficult for some people to vote—efforts with much success likely. The sole purpose of these efforts is to win some elections that would likely be lost without such help. Making it more difficult for some folks to vote has a long history in this country. It took us a long time to even allow Black men and women to vote, and we gradually saw some progress to make voter participation in elections more fair.

Who is mostly impacted? Voter suppression laws are primarily designed to impact citizens of color, but across the board they disenfranchise anyone who has difficulty voting. Whatever reason that might be, whether tied to the job one has, their living situation, parental responsibilities, some kind of disability, academic commitments, language barriers, business or family challenges, their likelihood of voting can be altered dramatically by the access options provided.

In recent years, several changes have been made to improve access to the polls. These changes include voting by mail, early voting, sufficient number of places to vote, drop boxes, and maybe most importantly, a communication effort to make sure all eligible voters know their options. And we're coming off a 2020 election where more Americans voted than ever before, something you would think would make us all proud. Unbelievably, but true, is that basic efforts to expand voter participation are used by many to claim voter fraud and, most importantly, to justify suppressing the vote.

Proponents of passing voter suppression laws at both the national and state level are folks who know that, without such actions, too many of their candidates would lose. They hide under the false concern of illegal ballots being cast when there is little or no evidence today of any fraud at any level that would have impacted any election. Despite, for example, the Biden-Trump race in Georgia being recounted three times with basically no change and even the Republican Secretary of State certifying the election, claims of fraud continued to be pushed by then President Trump all the way to the riots in the Capitol January 6th and the first speech of his post-presidency, delivered at CPAC. They continue this lie today. And buying into "the big lie" is being used as a type of litmus test, to prove that certain Republicans are truly "with" the Trump program. It's hard to imagine something more damaging than attacking the integrity of U.S. elections as a base-line belief for a major political party.

Trump’s own Attorney General confirmed the election was fair and very well administered nationwide, and there is a general agreement among professionals in both parties that our 2020 elections were run, with rare exceptions, fairly. Some more-than-sixty lawsuits were filed by Trump’s team claiming election fraud in several states that were key in determining the Electoral College victory for Biden. None gained any traction, including several that reached the Supreme Court and in front of Judges who were appointed by President Trump.

What blows me away is all the voters here in Kansas who happily look the other way and accept such discrimination as perfectly acceptable while they hide under outlandish claims of voter fraud. Former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach made a huge issue of voter fraud, spending state dollars to investigate with no success in the end finding any real problem, other than a few very isolated examples. Then costing the state more money to defend the discriminatory policies put on the books, many of which have been struck down in court. He did, however, manage to secure years of far right government in Kansas and put himself on the radar of the Trump administration, who unsurprisingly loved his anti-democratic ideas.

Modern elections, particularly after the fine-tuning following 2016, are confirmed to be run fair and square by expert and objective viewers. This is why there is a growing shift for most Republicans to push voter suppression as the way for their candidates to win. We live in a country that theoretically believes in "one person one vote" and throughout our history have made strides towards every legal voter having easy access to the ballot box. Why should that not be our practice?

What needs to happen to stop voter suppression, given Republicans control legislatures and Governors in many state capitals, is for the Biden Administration to introduce a new John Lewis Voting Rights Act setting national standards for voting access and for Congress to pass it. This law would probably be passed by only Democratic votes, but it would counter all the efforts being made by Republicans to suppress the vote and disenfranchise large populations of voters.

Now to those who say this is all just politics, I am happy to be on the side of believing all eligible voters should have easy access to the voting booth and not be handicapped in any way. How else would we truly insure that the will of the people is determining our government, rather than the other way around? And what credibility would we have in standing up for democracy around the world if we consistently did the opposite here at home? This is directly at the core of who we are as a nation and, most importantly, who we want to be.

Donald Trump delivered his first speech as a former President, a lie-filled tirade at the annual CPAC convention. Chief among his "greatest hits" was the effort to deny the results of the 2020 Presidential election. The crowd enthusiastically cheered "the big lie," as they prepare to do his bidding and push for an agenda of voter suppression, that just might help him get elected in 2024. [Photo: Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images]

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Bringing Trump's Guilt Home to Kansas

2/15/2021

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I think often of the old Chinese Proverb “may you live in interesting times.” And as I think back over now eight decades of living, there have been many times that fit that slogan. Going with my Dad in the morning after milking to pick up a German Prisoner of War to work on the farm certainly fit that bill. I think of the droughts, the floods, the hail, the pressures from bankers to somehow magically make the numbers work. And then all the lucky opportunities in my life for public service and now teaching, have brought many interesting times. But today, “interesting times” just don't fit. We definitely live in a time where our democracy and our Constitution are literally vulnerable.

Americans have had challenges before for sure. The great depression, WWll, and Watergate for example, but during those times there was bi-partisan leadership for dealing with these challenges. Senator Capper, a very conservative Kansas Republican, worked with FDR on much of what had to be done to overcome the great depression. WWll brought us together like never before (or since) with our own General Eisenhower playing a key role. In the Nixon debacle, fellow Republicans, Senator Howard Baker for example, played key roles in holding their Party’s leader accountable. Today with rare exceptions, Republicans are almost totally united in defending whatever President Trump has done or said. Their collective behavior makes surviving as a Democracy, a governance model that has spread around the world, to be the greatest American challenge since the Civil War.

That brings us to the Saturday vote on impeachment. Senator Moran, you were there in the 90’s for a House vote for the Clinton trial on impeachment where lying about sex with a White House Intern rose to the level for you to vote to impeach. Senator Marshall, you were not there, but I think it is fair to assume you would have likewise voted for impeachment and conviction. Given the issue involved then, compared to the actions of Trump in inciting a mob to violence on January 6th, threatening our Democracy, doesn’t that make your votes on the impeachment of former President Trump all the more difficult to defend—false constitutional challenges aside?

And, Senator Moran, it cannot be ignored that this most recent acquittal vote follows in the wake of your earlier impeachment decision to excuse Trump’s effort to extort a foreign leader and government to create false information for the purpose of influencing this past election. What legal or ethical standard do you apply in making these fundamental decisions affecting our national interest and character? Or do you believe that your perceived interest in political self-preservation and an unrestrained commitment to partisanship must always prevail?

Obviously, neither of you were seriously bothered by the fact Vice President Pence’s life was under real threat that January 6th day in the Capitol because he was not doing what President Trump wanted (i.e., reversing the vote of the Electoral College). That threat toward Vice President Pence was clearly provoked by Trump talking directly to his followers, taped for the world to see. Trump made it clear that, in his opinion, his Vice President had the opportunity and the need to act and have the courage to unconstitutionally invalidate the election.

Maybe most surprising is that after you were both there, front row and all, and after getting over I assume the initial shock of having your own lives at serious risk, you two cast votes as if it were no big deal that the Vice President and members of Congress, including the Speaker, were targeted to be assassinated and that the lives of police officers were threatened and lost.

What would a Republican President in the very last days of his or her administration have to do to get your concern? How many people, for example, would have to die due to the President’s instigation? How more threatened would our Constitution and Democracy have to be for you to vote for conviction? Keep in mind, the former President’s defense focused almost exclusively on Constitutional grounds with little or nothing on his innocence for January 6th. In fact, Leader McConnell used his speech after the vote to make the case that Trump was in fact guilty, before explaining his own vote to acquit, based on the situation he created by not taking up the case until after Trump's term had ended. This defense was so paper thin that it was even surprising to hear from the mouth of McConnell, who spent four years looking the other way on Trump's conduct in order to accomplish his singular focus on confirming his often totally unqualified judicial nominees. To say it's been a low point for the GOP would be an enormous understatement, and you Kansas Senators have been right there to cheer it on.

Setting aside all of the above, how do you see your actions helping the Republican Party going forward to reestablish some level of normalcy, some common sense that puts the real interests of the American people first? Today’s Republican Party is certainly not the one that included Dole, Kassebaum, Pearson, Sebelius, and Myers. Most importantly, the American people benefit when we have two strong, sane political parties that represent different positions but who, notwithstanding these differences, are always in the end working to do what is best for the Country. What is the benefit of placing the interests of one man over all the principles that have guided the Republican Party in the past? And how does this serve our nation?

Aren’t your actions of putting re-election and Party affiliation over upholding your oath to defend the Constitution and our Democracy something very awkward to explain?

[Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Associated Press]

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2022 Election Thoughts Largely Depend on Your Priorities

Delaying Immigration Reform is No Longer Affordable

Ukraine's Fight and Ours

2022 and the Survival of American Democracy

Reflection, Gratitude, and a Call to Action

A Salute to Senator Bob Dole

2021 Local Elections and Lessons for Public Education

Things to Consider When Evaluating Biden's First Year

November 2nd is Important for the Future of Kansas

Why Democrats Should Become the Real "Pro-Life" Party

"Alternative Facts" Eroding the Truth

Fallout from January 6th Continues

Infrastructure is More than Roads and Bridges

The Rough Road to Bipartisanship

Federal Infrastructure Bill Past Due

Henry Hollie and the Gettysburg Address

Building a "Big Tent" in Kansas

Covid Relief Needed Now

"The Big Lie" Fueling Voter Suppression

Bringing Trump's Guilt Home to Kansas

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