Saturday, September 30, 2006

Saturday - The Kansas Edition: Phill Kline, Kathleen Sebelius & the continuing saga

By Diane Silver

Former Kansas Attorney General Bob Stephan walks away from current AG Phill Kline just as Kline is battling for his political life. Ole' Bob, once popular in Kansas, refuses to say whether he endorses Kline. See the Lawrence Journal-World report.

Another update on Kline's claim that he used medical records to investigate a rape case: Kline says he did one thing & the folks he supposedly did it with say that's impossible.

Some folks are furious at Kline for comparing a top staffer's anti-abortion protests to the efforts of civil rights pioneers Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Kline's comment has been called "offensive and disrespectful" by African American lawmakers.

Meanwhile, Kline's campaign posted a web site slamming his opponent, Paul Morrison, for being part of a commission that created a bill that the Republican Legislature passed with the help of yes votes from the current GOP candidate for governor and lieutenant governor. Got that?

I once had the link, but can't seem to find it now. Has the site disappeared, or am I just missing it? Does anyone have the link?

What seems new about this is how the Kline campaign is using the web for negative campaigning. No word, yet, on if this has hurt Morrison, who now has his TV commercials on the air.

In the race between Gov. Kathleen Sebelius & Republican state Sen. Jim Barnett, a new Rasmussen poll shows the campaign tightening, just barely. See The Wichita Eagle story with analysis by political scientists, who still say it doesn't look good for Barnett.

4 comments:

--Blue Girl said...

Never trust a guy who can't spell "Phil."

Anonymous said...

You can blame his mother, a single mother raising 5 kids alone, if you'd like to make fun of the spelling of his name. She started it. It did help him not get quite as confused with someone else when, as a member of the Kansas House of Representatives, there was another Phil Kline holding office at the same time.

As for the other comments, partisan politicians and commenters on both side of the political battles are becoming more and more negative. It's a shame I think. The voters SAY they want to hear about the issues and future plans, and not be subjected to mud slinging character assassinations, but all too often that is the only type of thing to which they really pay much attention. It's no wonder that most candidates eventually succumb to the pressure and engage in such negative conduct; it is after all what everyone talks about. Just look at the blogs......when was the last time you wrote anything postive about your chosen candidate or his/her platform?

Anonymous said...

At least you know where this man stands. Unlike most elected officials he is doing what he thinks is right. I happen to agree with him, but that is just my opinion. I would never vote for a turn coat who knows he would not win if he did not change parties. Jon

Anonymous said...

Well, I am all for Paul Morrison since he has actually done positive, beneficial things for Kansas and stands for morality. I'm sure Phil(l) will run another sketchy campaign as usual but hopefully Kansans realize how badly he has represented them.