GOP gains on Nixon in MO governor's race.

Acc. to a new poll from Scott Rasmussen:

GOVERNOR - MISSOURI
Jay Nixon (D) 46%
Sarah Steelman (R) 39%

Jay Nixon (D) 48%
Kenny Hulshof (R) 37%

This poll was done March 24th among 500 likely voters.

With polls showing McCain routing Obama by 15 points and Hillary by 9 points in the Show-Me state, the margin in the governor's race is likely to continue to decrease.

JCCC set to approve armed security guards

Another reminder that in the wake of tragedies at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois Univ., institutions of higher learning cannot afford to wait for authorities to arrive on the scene. Johnson County Community College has taken a good preventative first step in arming its security guards. Rep. Ben Hodge (R-Olathe), a JCCC Trustee, has more on the subject over at Kansas Progress.

What say you? With the Supreme Court expected to rule shortly in the case of Heller v. D.C. on individual 2nd Amendment rights, gun rights has become a hot-button issue again. There are only a handful of states that do not have concealed-carry laws, and in most states, 2nd amendment rights and concealed-carry provisions don't apply on college campuses. Should this be revisited? Or should we at least look at actually arming the usually ill-equipped and unuseful public safety and security forces on most college campuses?

Obama describes the "typical white person"

This audio interview says it all. Between Michelle "I've never been proud of my country" Obama with her thesis based on racial division (despite receiving and Ivy League education) and the radical anti-Semitic and racist rants of Reverend Wright, Obama's campaign was already in desparate straits. Now, Obama is so nice to condescend and tell us what the "typical white person" thinks about minorities. Unbelievable.

Memo to Obama: Focusing on race, which is the antithesis of your campaign, will not help you--it will just drag you down. Why not propose real solutions to problems facing the black community such as reform in public education in inner city schools, economic redevelopment in the form of block grants, initiatives to sustain family life and sound finances, and an emphasis on job training/vocational programs? Sadly, Obama just wants to throw more tax money at the same failed government programs and institutions, doing little to really help those who live on the margins.

Poll: McCain should answer the 3 am phone call

Acc. to Zogby:

Who Do You Want To Answer 3am Phone Call

John McCain 55%
Hillary 37%

John McCain 56%
Barack Obama 35%

Hillary 48%
Barack Obama 38%

This poll was done March 13-14 among 1004 likely voters.

Obama fares badly against McCain and Clinton--perhaps his 20-year lapse in judgment regarding his radical reverend is the reason. Can you imagine the radical Rev. Jeremiah Wright (instead of Obama) on the other end of the phone line spewing racist vitriole to world leaders such as Nicholas Sarkozy and Harmid Karzai? Obama's failure to address and distance himself from this offensive hate monger is very troubling. After all, it was Obama who said that "words do matter..." in responding to the Clinton campaign. For a campaign that has stressed judgment, this is a debilitating blow.

The PC Police Strike!

Be careful what you say...according to a local Democratic blogger, calling a black person articulate is racist because it suggests low expectations. I hate to be the one to turn the tables, but this insinuation is troubling: basically, the blogger is saying you cannot praise a black person. I find it highly offensive that some bloggers on the left would suggest any praise of a minority is racist and not allowed, even though white people are praised in the same manner. Why does this blogger and others want us to have different standards for white and black--this strikes me as a form of segregation. Remember "separate but equal"?

Webster's Dictionary defines the word articulate in several ways, including:
1. using language easily and fluently; having facility with words: an articulate speaker.
4. expressed, formulated, or presented with clarity and effectiveness: an articulate thought.
5. made clear, distinct, and precise

That's funny, but I didn't see any mention of race in the dictionary definition. In fact, it's a color-blind word with a distinct, race-neutral definition.

Let's see: another descriptor for articulate I considered using was "good communicator." How is that any different? Oh, what a racist term--how dare I suggest that a black person is a good communicator! How about "Mr. Steele speaks with clarity and conviction." Oh, no--am I suggesting that it is exceptional for a black man to have conviction and be clear?

Let's see: out of the candidates for VP, Michele Bachmann is definitely not articulate (in my opinion), and the others are somewhat articulate to varying degrees, but Steele is the most articulate (I would even say he is more clear and articulate than most of the pundits on TV, on the left and the right).

George W. Bush? One of the most inarticulate politicians. Ron Paul? Very inarticulate. Joe Liebermann? Very articulate--but still not as articulate as Michael Steele, in my view.

I would find it humorous, except that I also find it very degrading and offensive that some on the left would try to limit praise of minorities by banning positive descriptors that have been in use in everday language for hundreds of years and have no racial undertones.

For the record, I've know Mr. Steele and I'm sure he would find this entire situation to be very humorous.

McCain's best choices for VP

Everyone's buzzing at the possible choices for VP--the list is almost limitless, but several figures stand out and could provide a good contrast to McCain either in age, gender, race, or ideologically. Here are some of our top picks:

#1: Michael Steele

Pros: the African-American, former lieutenant governor of Maryland and current GOPAC chairman is a rising star in the party, articulate, and charismatic. Plus, as a dedicated social and fiscal conservative, he would please McCain's critics and doubters on the right

Cons: None that we can see

#2: Condoleezza Rice

Pros: the current U.S. Secretary of State has a great life story to tell and her foreign policy credentials, along with McCain's experience, would make the ticket an unstoppable force. Plus, she's African American and a woman. Whether it's Hillary or Obama, the Dems won't be able to top that historic double-grand slam

Cons: Little is known about Rice's positions on domestic and economic policy--basically most issues other than foreign policy. Her ties to the Bush administration would also prove problematic.

#3: Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)

Pros: this relatively young (for congress) workaholic congresswoman serves on the Energy and Commerce Committee. She's intelligent, bright, and solidly conservative

Cons: very few. She's made a few controversial statements, but which congressional representative hasn't?

#4: Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN)

Pros: only Republican to win an open seat in 2006, Bachmann is solidly conservative on all accounts and hails from a critical swing state McCain needs to win in '08

Cons: a few controversial past statements and associations, but nothing glaring.

#5: Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R-MN)

Pros: commonsense, conservative Republican governor of critical state of Minnesota, site of August GOP convention. Well-liked and popular governor

Cons: some positions on climate change and taxes have irked conservatives

#6: Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-LA)

Pros: the young, 36-year old made history by becoming the first Indian-American to be elected governor in 2007 in Louisiana. He's conservative, charismatic, and described as the next Ronald Reagan

Cons: None, except Jindal was just elected to governor and hasn't served out his first term; may be too focused on state politics to consider a run for VP

#7: Sarah Palin (R-AK)

Pros: Young, attractive, beautiful, and savvy Alaska governor ran on ethics reform and has helped clean up the corruption of former GOP Governor Frank Murkowski. She was also the most popular governor in the nation--last summer, her approval rating hovered in the low 90s.

Cons: She's not from a state that would be in play, but otherwise she's an attractive choice (in more ways than one)

#8: Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)

Pros: experienced, long-time senator who adds gender balance and exertise on wide range of domestic policy issues

Cons: tolerated and even liked, but not loved by some social conservatives. Doesn't herald from a critical state McCain needs to win; having another senator on the ballot wouldn't be a plus--having a governor would be better

#9: Gov. Mitt Romney (R-MA)

Pros: former Mass. governor would put a solidly blue state into play and help bring conservatives on board with McCain's campaign

Cons: Romney is loathed by some on the right and accused of switching positions on many issues. Wouldn't necessarily solidify support from the conservative base

#10: Sen. Joe Liebermann (I-CT)

Pros: former Democrat, now turned Independent, Liebermann is conservative on national security and defense and a staunch McCain backer. Could make CT a swing state and turn it red for the first time in decades. Lots of opportunity for crossover Democratic support possible if Liebermann is chosen

Cons: Not a conservative and would not engender conservative base to McCain

Lawmakers take a stand against earmarks

UPDATE: Both Jim Ryun and Lynn Jenkins have taken the pledge to not use earmarks. Kansas Progress has more. This positive development is an encouraging sign that the Republican Party has learned some lessons from 2006 and some candidates are prepared to run on the core principles of limited government that helped propel Reagan to the White House in 1980 and led to the GOP takeover of the house in 1994.

25 congressional representatives and 5 senators have signed a pledge to stop receiving earmarks. Not suprisingly, only 2 of the 25 congressmen and 2 of the 6 senators are Democrats.
GOP Presidential nominee John McCain tops the the list, along with Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, but sadly, Kansas' delegation is completely absent.

Kansas Progress has more about the effort to encourage KS to step up and take leadership on the issue of earmarks.