Cindy Claveau

I've never really felt like my political opinions counted for much in this state, anyway. It's always been conservative - the last time Kansas went for a Democratic Presidential candidate was LBJ in 1964 - but it's felt like for every creationist school board member or Bob Dole we've had, we've managed a Kathleen Sebelius or a senator Laura Kelley. There aren't many liberals here at all - even our Democrats would likely be classified as moderate Republicans in some other states.

But until this year I've never felt like things were disastrously over-balanced. Kansans may be conservative but for the most part I also like to think we're practical.

But this is the reality of the landscape. Kansas will always be a red state and do red things. Like Sec. of State Kobach's voter identification bill now in force here.

Tuesday, we had our state primaries. Most of the primary action was centered in the Republican field since Dems are either running unopposed or there aren't any Democrats running for that spot. So the races came down to who would prevail - the more traditional moderate Republicans or the new wave of ultraconservative wackadoodle Tea Party asshats.

Six of eight Republican moderates were unseated in their primaries.

KS: Conservative GOP sweep will have far reaching effects, Kansans say

I can't believe the trash that's been littering my mailbox from groups like Americans for Prosperity and Kansas Right to Life. (I recycle, so yay). But that was a harbinger. And I suspect this is the same thing that has happened in a lot of other states:

Steve Morris, Kansas Senate President, Blames Moderates' Defeat On Conservative Attack Ads

Brownback as been leading the charge to try to convert Kansas from a "moderate conservative red state" into a "lunatic fringe fascist state". His tussle with Planned Parenthood has already been covered in the news, but it's instructive how he circumvented a failed abortion ban proposal in the Statehouse to impose unlegislated regulations on abortion providers, driving at least one doctor out of the state and shutting down PP's two remaining abortion clinics simply by sending in inspectors to rule they didn't meet the standards.

Yes, this is how voters are disenfranchised by tyrants. Flood the media with cash to distort the message. Or as State Rep Paul Davis said last night: "They don't engage on ideas. They campaign on fear." Then once in power, who needs laws? Change regulations to get your way!

Rep. Paul Davis: Bipartisanship not a dirty word | Wichita Eagle

Then you pass regulations that make the poor and minorities feel unwelcome at the polls (Voter ID Supporter: Republicans Push Them For Political Reasons ).

I'm not sure the Koch brothers and their ilk are the problem here as much as they are the symptoms. Current campaign finance laws have thrown open the door to unlimited funding from super PACs, and I'm seeing our national process corrupted by the same influences.

If you want to see what the outcome will be, watch Kansas over the next year. Brownback will have his right-wing congress in place and we'll be seeing massive cuts in education, the arts, state Medicare and other services. We are about to become the backwater of American civilization, out-regressing even states like Texas, Arizona and Tennessee.

My fondest hope is that it all blows up in his ugly face and he gets ass-reamed in the next elections. Meanwhile, we're saddled with a hillbilly Hitler for at least another 2 years. Given his Koch brothers backing, I wouldn't be surprised if Brownback buys himself a second term.

Signed,
Disenfranchised in Kansas

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"As long as there’s one person on earth who remembers you, it isn’t over." - Oscar Hammerstein

Eris

The Tea Party idiots may not be so thrilled with their ultraconservative utopia after they have to live in it for a while.

Cindy Claveau

As long as they're not elderly, unemployed, infirm, or students they probably won't notice.

What I want to know is when Mr Average American Voter will wake the fuck up and realize that the Koch brothers do NOT have their best interests at heart? When will a Big Corporate America give two shits about laborers, minorities or the middle class?

This idea that they don't want to raise taxes on the rich because they might become rich themselves one day is going to have to be strangled by the big bite of reality - right on the ass cheeks.

Cindy Claveau

Sorry about the long, rambling OP. I'm so sick and angry this morning my stomach's in knots. My thoughts aren't coming out in any sort of organized way.

Found this on Facebook this morning, in the "Sam Brownback Sucks" group:

Jesus

Aren't "Ultraconservative" and "Utopia" pretty much exclusive terms?

eta: Perhaps "contrary" would be a better choice than exclusive.

Eris

I don't believe the Koch brothers have middle class white guy's best interests in mind. Shit is gonna hit him too, sooner than later.

Baltha

It really seems that the Tea Party, the fundamentalists and their ilk have opened the floodgates on the hatred that has been kept buried deep in people's hearts for all these decades. It is now acceptable to display your bigotry towards others and people will happily vote against their own interests just as long as whatever group they despise most are getting it worse.
The Koch Bros crowd will happily ride this wave of hatred until they and theirs are safely in their walled, gated communities and the rest of us are scrabbling around in the filth outside, squabbling amongst ourselves and hoping for one of the few jobs servicing them.
My only consolation is that the teabaggers and preachers will be right there in the mud alongside us having been chewed up and spit out by the plutocrats when they are no longer needed.

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Rory Patrick

I am glad their name is becoming more common place. I have been ranting for years about how he used his influence over Heritage to become a major proponent / advisor that brought us into war in the Middle East. There was so much personal agenda for a war with Iraq that America really needs to look at who really makes the decisions in our government.

Sonja Aeghin

It's a wonder why somebody hasn't tried to change the name of Liberal, Kansas yet. It exists, I swear! I've even actually been there once.

Cindy Claveau

When they say they drive a Beetle in Liberal, they're not talking about a VW!