Ex-Kansas GOP Chair Switches Affiliation

[hvn_nbr_2]

The former chairman of the Kansas Republican Party jumped ship in a big way Tuesday, switching his affiliation to Democrat amid speculation that he would become Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' running mate.

Note: This is from the Edwardsville Intelligencer, which I know nothing about, except that it appears to be a local Kansas newspaper.

Note2: I found this by following a DU Google ad for this site: http://bluenoodle.jazznoodle.com/
which says it is "news and commentary for Democrats you won't get on TV."

[C_U_L8R]

1. Sounds like a good start

hope to see more come over to our side

[Bossy Monkey]

2. Here's another small-town paper, not as reliable-- the Washington Post

though it's just an AP story, so you could get it anywhere:

Ex-Kansas GOP Chair Switches Affiliation

By JOHN MILBURN
The Associated Press
Tuesday, May 30, 2006; 4:14 PM

TOPEKA, Kan. -- The former chairman of the Kansas Republican Party jumped ship in a big way Tuesday, switching his affiliation to Democrat amid speculation that he would become Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' running mate.

Johnson County Elections Commissioner Brian Newby confirmed that Mark Parkinson, the state GOP chairman from 1999 to 2003, came to the office and switched his party affiliation shortly before noon.

Parkinson's name has been widely circulated as Sebelius' choice for a running mate as the Democratic governor seeks a second term. Current Lt. Gov. John Moore _ another former Republican _ is retiring when his term expires in early 2007.

Sebelius spokeswoman, Nicole Corcoran, would not comment about Parkinson, but said an announcement of the governor's choice of running mates was scheduled Wednesday not far from Parkinson's home in Olathe, a Kansas City suburb.

(more)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/30/AR2006053000878.html

PS: K&R

[nealmhughes]

14. I'm waiting for Shelby to cross the aisle again.

Hey, Dick! Can we get our time back I spent campaining for your Democratic ass when you had won the primary? Oh, by the way, please do cross back over so you can be annihiated by Bedford, Davis or Folsom!

[mtnester]

3. I do not like this trend....Repubs seeing how the wind is blowing, and

saving their ass by becoming Dems to keep their job, or a job of some sort. It worries me greatly.

[acmavm]

4. You and me both.

[formercia]

5. I had the same thought...

He may be legit but those who change party affiliation when the wind changes should be regarded with suspicion, Let's see what he does in the future. He might wind up being another DINO.

[eppur_se_muova]

16. No voting for weathervanes. Not in primaries, not in elections. nt

[tblue37]

21. Let me explain something about Kansas politics.

Here in Kansas we actually have three mainstream political parties. The Democrats and Republicans, obviously. But the Republican Party is actually two parties. The ultra conservatives have taken control of the state Republican Party, and the moderates are in a constant battle with them for control. Kathleen Sebelius became governor with the crossover vote of a lot of moderate Republicans in this Repblican dominated state--Republicans who deplore the rightwing leadership of their party in the state.

Other moderate Republicans have switched affiliation because, as they say, their party has left them. I don't think most are DINOs. I think most of them are genuine moderates who are appalled at what their party is doing.

[wordpix2]

23. thanks for the explanation---sounds good to me. DU, we should welcome

moderate repubs and join with them in getting rid of the neoCons and wacko extreme RW. I have some moderate Repub friends and they are bashing BushCo so let them join us without such a fuss. You have to make coaltions in politics to get things done and getting rid of BushCo and putting the nation back on track is what we need to do WITH the mod repubs.

[mistertrickster]

24. Wichitan here confirming TBlue--I was going to post this too, but

you said it well.

The day they sign their voter registration cards over to Dem is the day they become Democrats.

Were not going to start demanding loyalty oaths now, are we?

That's exactly why the Reps are losing them--they demand unthinking, lock-step agreement like the theocrats they are . . .

[MODemocrat]

31. That is good, sound reasoning

Kansas has started to be more moderate, and I think they're being pretty honest. Most of my old time republican friends are dishearted by the direction of their party. One of my elderly friends told me that he had never voted the Democratic ticket; but he is going to this time around. He says
Bush is the worst president he can ever remember.

I live in Missouri, just eight miles from the Kansas line, so I watch their political maneuvers
about as much as I do here in Missouri. :hi: :thumbsup:

[formercia]

27. Now that I think of it

most of the people that I talk with that are complaining are Republicans, some not so moderate either.

I guess their vote is as good as mine.

[11cents]

6. Please

After the 1994 election and for some years thereafter, we saw a steady stream of Democratic officials (including some members of Congress) becoming Republicans. I can assure you that the GOP did not see this as a bad thing, nor did they worry that these people were crypto-liberal fifth columnists. It's probably the case that most politicians who switch from the GOP to the Dems now will be blue dogs or centrists, but the inclinations of a few individuals matters little; the blow to GOP morale of having a significant number of defectors matters a lot.

[nevergiveup]

13. Thanks for the bright/optimistic view

This trend of Dems switching to Repubs flip flopped the entire South. If Kansas wants to start a trend in our favor, it is cool with me.

[RufusEarl]

7. They go by another name around here, Dino

[Renew Deal]

15. I have mixed feelings.

Are they switching for ideological reasons, because the pukes are too far right or is it to keep a job? It is a really big deal to switch parties when you are elected or a party chair. I mean really big. You lose a lifetime of friends, contacts, resources, and other stuff.

I don't have a problem with a diverse Democratic party. It's a large country and we represent so many different types of people. The pukes are a mess and represent nothing. Many people are coming to realize that conservatism is a failed ideology.

[Voltaire99]

20. It's a big, big tent...

...so big, in fact, that you can be a Republican and pass for a Democrat, although once inside you run the risk of being mistaken for a Democrat passing for a Republican. That's why it's important that these men and women stitch their names in their underwear.

[VegasWolf]

25. DINOmite. nt

[kestrel91316]

26. I smell a DINO DINO DINO DINO DINO DINO DINO

[rucky]

32. That's what my gut says, too.

we already know they'll say and do anything to get elected, and just do whatever the fuck they want once they're in.

[stepnw1f]

8. Anubody Have the Scoop on this One?

I don't know if I trust any switchovers, not after what I have seen the last 6-8 years.

[acmejack]

10. He'll undoubtedly fit right in with our "Centrists"

I share your wariness, I imagine Will Marshall got him all excited with that speech the other day. I know that all tough on National Defense talk certainly got me feeling manly.

[SaveElmer]

9. God knows...we have enough Democrats in Kansas...

We certainly don't want any more!!!


:sarcasm:

[Tansy_Gold]

12. I'm in Arizona and I wouldn't mind a few crossovers . . .

.. . . except we have so few really RATIONAL pukes here! :-)


All kidding aside, though, you'd think a few people would actually be GLAD to see that someone has seen the light and is coming over from the dark side. I mean, isn't that what we're all trying to accomplish? We cheer when the boooshnazi's approval ratings drop, but then we give the cold shoulder to those who are bringing the numbers down?

I say, "Welcome to the fold, sir! You're among friends now."



Tansy Gold

[Selatius]

11. Yes, we need more "Democrats" who want to junk Social Security

If we get enough of them in the Democratic Party, then there'd be broad consensus with the regular Republicans on what to do with Social Security: Eviscerate it with personal accounts.

:sarcasm:

[wildeyed]

17. I read "What's the Matter with Kansas".

According to that book, there is a pretty wide divide between the old line moderate repubs and the religious fanatics. The fanatics took over the repub party in that state. Some of the old guard have been crossing over to the dems for some time now. I don't have a problem with it. If the old line pubs and the dems are able to join forces and defeat the wingnuts, then more power to them.

[Hardrada]

18. Just so they don't change parties

as often as they change their shorts.

[yngliberal]

19. I'm worried about this...

I'm not sure if this is his or not but I found a website, www.markparkinson.com. It seems to be a political blog and they have no problem bashing liberals.

[warrens]

22. This is what was happening in 1994

The other way around, of course. But as the election season started, suddenly all these state level people started jumping to the GOP.

This is a very good sign.

[ripple]

28. Another savvy choice by Kathleen!

This will create an even bigger rift between far-right and moderate republicans here, while ensuring plenty of crossover votes for Sebelius. Given the overwhelming republican population here, our dem governor MUST get a good chunk of those votes again in order to be reelected. She's done a great job while in office, so she can probably get quite a few based on her record alone- choosing Parkinson is certain to seal the deal.

[Bucky]

29. This (& her reelection) will start up the Sebelius for VP movement...

Coming soon to a discussion thread near you.

[Odin2005]

30. The Pukes "1968" is comming.