Category: Election 2024

Things to Consider When Evaluating Biden's First Year

10/18/2021

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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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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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]

31 Comments

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"The Big Lie" Fueling Voter Suppression

Bringing Trump's Guilt Home to Kansas

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