Friday, May 22, 2009

Gov. Parkinson denies military easy access to ballots

We here at the Konnection have been pleased with Gov. Parksinson so far. He demononstrated the type of bipartisan, centrist decision-making we so admire when he compromised to allow for the building of a coal-fired plant in Holcomb, a welcome development that enables our state to move forward with a comprehensive energy policy and address other issues, such as the looming spending cuts. As a former moderate Republican who changed parties not out of ideology but out of self-interest and self-advancement, Parkinson has proven to be a maverick who seems more willing to compromise and find bipartisan solutions rather than scoring points with the Washington liberal elites and far-left blogger community (as Sebelius did).

Well now we must part ways with the new Governor. Today, Parkinson vetoed election reform legislation that would have allowed our military men and women easier access to the polls by registering to vote and casting their ballots online. The entire legislation was vetoed by Parkinson due to the inclusion of a provision which would add a signature and affidavit line to advance ballots--a needed addition to prevent and combat election fraud. Unfortunately, Parkinson found this requirement too burdensome and confusing. It seems that Parkinson's commonsense, centrist pragmatism is giving way to desire to placate the liberal base of the Democratic Party, especially after Kansas Democrats' angry reaction to his compromise on the coal plants and his failure to choose a viable, 2010 contender for governor as his Lieutenant Governor.

The U.S. military turnout in 2006 was an abysmal 17 percent, due in large part to the onerous regulations and requirements that our servicemen and women mail their ballots weeks, even months--in advance, and even then, military ballots are routinely rejected due to technicalities.

Our many thinks to J.R. Claeys, Republican candidate for Kansas Secretary of State, for bringing this story to our attention. As Secretary of State, Claeys will implement crucial election reform to prevent voter fraud and expand voter access, especially to our military men and women. To find out more about Parkinson's veto and J.R.'s candidacy, read J.R.'s blog entry on today's veto:
http://www.jrclaeys.com/content/blog/00202000.php and visit his website: www.jrclaeys.com.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Elephant Club Luncheon Tuesday, May 19th

The Johnson County Elephant Club has their first event scheduled for this Tuesday, May 19th. The Elephant Club. The primary purpose is to provide an opportunity for members of the Johnson County Republican Party to become more fully informed on issues facing our elected officials and to provide support to our candidates. The county party hosts a luncheon or dinner forum for Members of the Elephant Club, and Johnson County Republicans. The Elephant Club is a select group of Johnson County Republicans who have demonstrated a commitment to our party. Elephant Club events are scheduled at different times and dates to provide maximum participation of Republicans and Elected officials. The Elephant Club Events also provide candidates an opportunity to meet with Elephant Club Members, Party Leaders and Republican voters.

Annual Membership is $100 per year and includes this first event. Prices per event, including this luncheon, are below.

MAY 19 - LUNCHEON - 11:30 - LEAWOOD HERFORD HOUSE Annual Elephant Club

Registar & Pay Online! Cash or Check at the Luncheon!

Elephant Club Member Luncheon: $25.00 Non- Member: $40.00

Table of 8: Member: $175.00 Non-Member: $300.00

PROGRAM: JCRP Update ; Ronnie Metsker, Chair What's NEW for YOU!

Featured Speaker: Steve Howe, JOCO District Attorney

Legislateve Update: Sen. Karen Brownlee, and Rep. Pat Colloton

Reservations, PLEASE: e-mail Marearl at mdenning@kc.rr.com or JOIN ONLINE! http://www.johnsoncountyrepublicanparty.com/

Hereford House · (913) 327-0800 5001 · Town Center Dr, Leawood

YOU will also receive our NEW JCRP logo lapel pin so you can proudly show your support of the Johnson County Republican Party. Please join the JCRP Elephant Club through our website, online through PayPal. http://www.johnsoncountyrepublicanparty.com/ Click on the Donate tab in the upper right hand area by the Calendar. Or mail your Elephant Club Membership to: JCRP, PO Box 12446, Overland Park, KS 66282-2446

Elephant Club members will also receive Club e-mail notices and links to State and National Party Events. Elephant Club Members receive the JCRP discount for our events.

Friday, May 15, 2009

A Republican Resurgence in Alexandria?

OK, I must take a break from KC Metro/Kansas/Missouri politics to comment on recent developments in Northern Virginia. Since I lived in D.C. for six months while interning for Sen. Brownback, I developed an extensive knowledge of the Capitol region and really love it, despite it's liberal politics--and I still go back to visit whenever I can. I love the entire area, including the District, Arlington, Alexandria, and Fairfax County in Virginia and and the suburban counties and enclaves in Maryland.

The deepening Democratic trend of politics in Northern Virginia in the the past several election cycles seems to have peaked in 2008 with Obama winning the state of Virginia for the Democrats for the first time since 1964. Yet, the recent off-year elections show Northern Virginia, and particularly, Alexandria, taking on a slight-red hue.

Earlier, we chronicled the special election for Fairfax County Chairman of the Board of Supervisors, where the Republican came within 0.5 percent of winning. We also commented on the Republican takeover of a vacant Board of Supervisors seat held by the Democrat who ran for chairman of the board, which opened up her seat for a special election.

Alexandria, a historic port city that has figured prominently in American history and served as home to many of the nation's founding fathers, remains a premier D.C. bedroom community and a liberal bastion in Virginia. Typically, the vote ceiling for any Republican candidate in local, state, or federal elections in Alexandria is 35 percent, which makes it extremely difficult for any Republican to win the city. Obama captured the city easily with a landslide 72 percent of the vote. The last Republican presidential candidate to win Alexandria was Ronald Reagan in 1980.

When Brian Moran vacated his state legislative seat, based in Alexandria, to run for governor, no one gave Republican Joe Murray a chance, but the Republican rocked the political establishment and gave Democrats a heart attack when he only lost to the Democrat by 16 votes in this heavily-Democratic city.

Well, Alexandria Republicans have more to celebrate. The two candidates the party backed in this month's city council elections both won (Frank Fannon ran as a Republican, but Alicia Hughes, as a federal government employee, could not run with the party label, although she had the party endorsement). For the first time in several years, the Alexandria City Council will have Republican representation, and not just one Republican, but two! The city is not carved into districts, so all candidates ran citywide and the top 6 candidates received spots on the council. Fannon, running as a Republican won with the 3rd highest vote total citywide out of 10 candidates total (mostly Democrats) which makes his win all the more remarkable (maybe Alexandrians are ready for some real change)! Fannon's success ensures that he will remain a Republican to watch. Alicia Hughes, a young African American and federal employee who works for the U.S. Patent Office, ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility and sound budget management--as a young, minority woman Republican, she also represents the future of the party and it is not to early to speculate on higher office for her as well (state assembly? congress?)

All in all, these signs point to a trend, not just an anomaly, and Democrats are on notice--their stranglehold on Alexandria and Northern Virginia is not permanent, nor should it be taken for granted.

More Americans pro-life rather than pro-choice

For the first time in more than 15 years of polling, more Americans self-identify as pro-life (51 percent) over pro-choice (42 percent), according to Gallup. Almost an equal number oppose abortion in all circumstances as those who support abortion in all circumstances, with the vast majority in the middle, although this survey shows a significant increase in the percentage of Americans who oppose abortions in all circumstances.

So if the extreme positions on abortion are relatively equal and compare to past surveys, what has changed? Well, the change in self-identification can be attributed to the vast moderate middle; Americans who have always been uneasy with abortion and favored every restriction possible, except for an outright ban on the procedure.

The Obama administration's radically pro-abortion policies have probably contributed to this shift in self-identification, as this polling is supported by other recent polling, including a Rasmussen survey that found strong opposition to Obama's reversal of the Mexico City policy, which allows taxpayer funding for abortions overseas, and the 42-39 percent lead for Republicans as the party whom Americans most trust on the issue of abortion.

Tuesday, May 05, 2009

Rep. Lynn Jenkins delivers the weekly Republican address...

Kansas' own Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins was chosen to give the weekly Republican radio address, commenting on spending, taxes, President Obama's first 100 days, and Republican solutions to curb spending, create jobs, and control the debt.

Poll: Sebelius unpopular with majority of Kansans...

Probably due to a combination of issues: her opposition to the coal plants, inability to compromise with the legislature on a variety of issues, her inability to lead on the state budget debacle, her focus on finding a job in Washington, and her long absences away from Kansas during the 2008 campaign.

Survey USA says that 50 percent of Kansans disapprove of Sebelius' job performance while only 46 percent approve.

Maybe Sebelius saw the writing on the wall and opted for the cushy HHS job in Washington over possibly losing a bruising 2010 U.S. Senate campaign.

Sunday, May 03, 2009

Jack Kemp, RIP


A conservative legend passed away yesterday. The Hon. Jack Kemp, a celebrated football player, and New York congressman of 18 years, was an instrumental player in the Reagan Revolution and one of the co-sponsors of the Reagan tax cuts, which brought a close to the Carter recession. Kemp served as HUD secretary in George H.W. Bush's cabinent and ran for vice-president as Bob Dole's running mate in 1996. Kemp's legacy is secured through the establishment of the Jack F. Kemp School of Political Economy at Pepperdine University, a center and program that will advance Kemp's unique commitment to American democracy, free markets, and Judeo-Christian values.

On a personal note, during my participation in George Washington University's Semester in Washington program, I had the opportunity to take a campaign management class at the lobbying offices of Whitmer & Worrall with instructor and firm co-partner Mr. Tom Worrall. Tom and Jack Kemp were great friends, and my classmates and I were introduced to Mr. Kemp during one of our classes and had the benefit of discussing the state of modern-day politicals and political messaging with Mr. Kemp.

Kemp's legacy and contributions to the conservative movement will not be forgotten.