WP:Moderates in Kansas Decide They're Not in GOP Anymore

[cal04]

Paul Morrison, a career prosecutor who specializes in putting killers behind bars, has the bulletproof résumé and the rugged looks of a law-and-order Republican, which is what he was until last year. That was when he announced he would run for attorney general -- as a Democrat.

He is now running neck-and-neck with Republican Phill Kline, an iconic social conservative who made headlines by seeking the names of abortion-clinic patients and vowing to defend science-teaching standards that challenge Darwinian evolution. What's more, Morrison is raising money faster than Kline and pulling more cash from Republicans than Democrats.


Nor is Morrison alone. In a state that voted nearly 2 to 1 for President Bush in 2004, nine former Republicans will be on the November ballot as Democrats. Among them is Mark Parkinson, a former chairman of the Kansas Republican Party, who changed parties to run for lieutenant governor with the popular Democratic governor, Kathleen Sebelius.

"I'd reached a breaking point," Parkinson said, preparing for a rally in Wichita alongside Sebelius. "I want to work on relevant issues and not on a lot of things that don't matter."


http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/18/AR2006101801679.html

[AlCzervik]

1. while i like the idea of my D's i'm more than a little skeptical of party

changers or at least so many at once.

[Bucky]

7. In 50-50 America, we only win with party changers.

This is a sea change, a tidal shift, a bunch of people collectively waking up and realizing that the Democratic Party is not the monster that radio lunatics scare them with. We've been advocating sensible, fact-driven solutions for real world problems for generations while the Republican Party devolves into a fear mongering, minority for moral hermits and anti-science demogogues. When the country wakes up, it wakes up fast. So of course a bunch of new people will join our party suddenly. That's what a realignment is.

I guess we could get nervous about new people joining our dialog, maybe consider start pulling up the drawbridges and fortifying ourselves against fellow citizens seeking an open, intelligent home for their politics. But that just doesn't seem very liberal to me.

[hfojvt]

12. they are not joining our dialogue

they are making it. As a progressive, I am more about dismantling the Prison Industrial Complex than I am about fortifying it. I am not in favor of the war on drugs. Nor do I support the death penalty. I am not that concerned about the bogeyman of "internet predators" who probably need medical care more than they do prison. Morrison is running as a Republican on the Democratic ticket, even more of a me-too Democrat than usual. His ads emphasize how conservative he is "he supports the death penalty and will protect us from internet sex predators"

He did not become a Democrat because he moved to the left, and he did not win the primary - he ran unopposed in the primary. New voters are one thing. New candidates are another. I feel like the AG election is a win-win for the Republicans.

[Heywood J]

17. Gotcha...

His ads emphasize how conservative he is "he supports the death penalty and will protect us from internet sex predators"
So we're conservative if we don't support giving molestors a free pass or if we support jailing pedophiles who make overtures to children? No wonder people aren't as "left" as you like.


>he ran unopposed in the primary.
>I feel like the AG election is a win-win for the Republicans
Someone break your legs to keep you from running in the primary?

[havocmom]

2. Sane people in highly GOP eastern Montana saying same thing

'If all this is what Republicans stand for now, guess I'm not a Republican' heard often where I live.

[johnnyrocket]

3. Kansas getting a clue!? What's next ? Dogs and cats living together!?

[Lucky Luciano]

5. heheh

[jbpdx]

16. That pic is too cute

[filer]

4. Hey, Kansas Pubs...

Send a little of that sanity south. Please.

[curiousdemo]

6. Turn the lights out!!

that repug party is over.:party:

[Change has come]

9. A perfect tune

to be singing Nov 8th :toast:

Welcome to DU

[newyawker99]

15. Hi curiousdemo!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[badgerpup]

8. I just read Keillor's "Homegrown Democrat"

...and heartland Repubs have the same needs that the heartland Democrats have.
The livestock needs fed, the taxes are disgustingly high, the kids need clothes and shoes, the car needS maintenance to keep running...these are all REAL things, that affect one personally at the end of the day.
Flag burning and gay marriage are GREAT conversation starters :sarcasm: but when all's said and screamed, you still have a full day's work ahead of you that won't pay enough to cover everything you need.

These are relevant issues...and it seems as though the Democrats have become the Party of Relevant Issues.

I loves me some Garrison Keillor...:loveya: wish he were twins ...and one of them was single.

[KharmaTrain]

10. This Is A Big Story...

The greatest falls in the Repugnican party this year are happening in the Midwest and Inter-Mountain states. It's the years of fundie and right wing antics that finally are catching up to them. Moderates have finally been able to feel confident to take a stand against these zealots and the Democratic party is benefiting.

Sebelius, like Schweitzer in Montana, have found the way to break through and show how Democrats can and do work for the people in these regions. We're not trying to force school boards to teach "Intelligent Design" or determine who lives or dies (Schaivo) or stifling dissent (that runs against the very independent spirit of these people).

Here's hoping there's some surprises in Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming & Kansas (I'd love to see Ryun get his ass kicked) and Tester kicks Burns ass big time.

If reality comes close to what we're seeing in the polls, soon Democrats will fly from coast to coast and never leave a blue state! The GOOP stands to be totally wiped out in the Northeast, in major majorities in the Midwest and West and feeling the wave of change coming over the Great Plains and Rocky Mountains. The political landscape for '08 could look a lot different and so will the Democratic party.

Cheers...

[9119495]

14. The North Shall Rise Again!

I read an article with that title not long ago. It forcasted the end of the GOP up north as people were disgusted by what was happening in the bible belt. Basically, the Northeast is becomming alomost a one party area. The midwest and west are also forcasted to move blue (moderate but still blue).

[ComerPerro]

11. In Kansas, there are two powerful political groups

Talibornagain, fundie zealot nutcase assholes like Kline, and moderate Republicans like Morrison.

Sad, but its all we got...

[hfojvt]

13. What about Biggs?

He did not lose by much.

[Fovea]

18. See my earlier post...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=2569200&mesg_id=2570049