Kobach pledges to go full-tilt

   TOPEKA -- Kris Kobach took the reins of the Kansas Republican Party Saturday pledging to run an aggressive, pedal-to-the-medal "lean, mean election machine."

   Kobach of Kansas City, Kan., won on the second ballot over state Sen. Tim Huelskamp of Fowler by 109-65.

   He may have won it with a highly praised stump speech shortly before the state party vote. In that speech, the UMKC law professor was blunt:

   "If there's no drastic action to overhaul this party we will be killed again in 2008," said Kobach, 40.

    He said the party office would operate like a campaign that's "always going and never stops."

    He said his own defeat for Congress in 2004 at the hands of Democrat Dennis Moore was an example of a race lost because "the Kansas Republican Party didn't show up."

   Kobach said one big goal would be to make Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' life miserable following the 2008 election. The party needs to win six seats to make  GOP legislation passed in Topeka veto-proof.

Posted by Steve Kraske

Comments

[Pat]

"If there's no drastic action to overhaul this party we will be killed again in 2008," said Kobach.

His action will bring his prediction true. His "one big goal would be to make Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' life miserable following the 2008 election."

Good strategy. Gov. Sebelius won the recent statewide race by 17 points and her approval ratings are always around 60%. Too offer gridlock, opposition, and inflammatory rhetoric against a popular Governor will ensure the continued erosion of the Republican party in Kansas.

[Nick]

No it won't pat. They only have to stop giving her a free pass. She's done things that would have gotten anyone else the boot long ago, but since she's an insurance industry lackey, they let her slide.
She has some major kinks in her armor and is about as far removed from princess as you can get.
I used to work for her. This could be interesting.

[LMkk]

I am so happy that someone of the Bush/Kline/Talent ilk is taking the reigns of the Kansas Republican party - it means only good things for the Democrats of Kansas.

He is an irrational attention seeker. I had two of his classes in law school & his arrogance knows no bounds. I agree that he is smart but he has plunged himself into the Republican cesspool & he will be unable to recover.

Moderate Republicans - take a listen to his show on Sunday night - he is downright hateful. He makes Rush Limbaugh look like a moderate.

[try2Bobjective]

Hey Nick, I hope your comments are based upon a bad experience with Sebelius (which could be understandable) as opposed to you supporting Kobach et al.

When you realize that moderate Kansas republicans hate evangelical kansas republicans -- as opposed to Kansas democrats just disliking them -- you can get a good idea of the extent of their extremism.

Just after the moderate JoCo Kansas Republican chair was ousted a few years ago, he commented when his successor refused to meet with him. The new Republican chairman, an evangelical conservative, gave this reason for not meeting with him: "we don't negotiate with murderers".

Any Kobach supporters have the backbone to comment on this?

Is he still going to be a full-time law professor. Not sure how he can do both.

[Nick]

Try2,
I really don't know anything about Kobach other than he was some sort of Oxford law wizard and professor. I thought he was from Lenexa or something. Had no idea he was a KCK hack.
I have seen Sebelius in action though, and she can be knocked off her perch, IF, the republicans tell State Farm & Koch Industries to get bent.
Personally, I think it will all depend on whether or not they can have her inserted into a VP slot. If not, I'd be willing to bet they throw her to the wolves and get ready to install Sandy Praeger as Governor.

[Engawyer]

I WILL ALWAYS HAVE A HARD TIME RECONCILING PURE PARTISANS WITH CONSTITUTIONAL PURISTS.

HOW CAN KOBACH LOVE THE CONSTITUTION BUT CHAMPION A SINGLE PARTY, SINGLE GOVERNMENT SYSTEM.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND, WHAT THOSE WHO ARE IN CONTROL OF THIS COUNTRY WANT.

DO THEY REALLY WANT THEIR PARTY IN CONTROL OF THE EXECUTIVE, LEGISLATURE, AND JUDICIAL BRANCHES? WHY?

WHY NOT LEGISLATE A MANDATED TWO-PARTY SYSTEM (I.E., THE MINORITY PARTY SELECTS THE PRESIDENT EVERY YEAR).

...JUST VENTING

[Engawyer]

I AM A FORMER STUDENT OF KOBACH, AND CAN TELL YOU THAT HE IS TRULY AN AWESOME GUY.

I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THE SHAMEFUL INCENUATIONS THAT MOORE RAISED ABOUT RACE.

I WILL ALWAYS SUPPORT HIM.

ONE LOVE. ONE NATION. INDEPENDENT AND PROUD.

[Engawyer]

...THOUGH, I DIAMETRICALLY DISAGREE WITH HIS VIEWS ON MOST THINGS.

OKAY I'M DONE

[Mizzou82]

As long as the far right is allowed to control the Kansas Republican Party, our Kathleen will ride high in the polls and in the Statehouse.

[famousmortimer]

Reposted:

Since leaving Ashcroft's team, Kobach has done his immigration-related work primarily for an outfit called Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR). FAIR's outlook is nicely illustrated by a lengthy excerpt from a story on Kobach in the Pitch Weekly:

Started in 1979 by John Tanton, FAIR has been mired in controversies over its own funding sources and the beliefs of its founder. Though the group itself refrains from race-baiting, it has not escaped the shadow of Tanton. In 1986, Tanton published an article in which he argued: "To govern is to populate ... Will the present majority peaceably hand over its political power to a group that is simply more fertile? ... As Whites see their power and control over their lives declining, will they simply go quietly into the night? Or will there be an explosion?"

FAIR didn't endorse those words, but Tanton remains on its corporate board of directors. FAIR's political action committee, the U.S. Immigration Reform PAC, takes money from Tanton and his wife. The couple has donated a reported $4,000 already this year (2004). And between 1979 and 1994, FAIR received more than $1.2 million from an obscure foundation known as the Pioneer Fund, founded in 1937 to advance causes such as scientific racism (the theory that social problems and solutions are rooted in biology and genetics). The Pioneer Fund dropped its open admiration for Hitler's Third Reich after World War II, but it still bankrolls outfits such as American Renaissance, which promotes the idea that the United States is a "white nation" and that brown-skinned immigration should be completely stopped.

[UncleJoe]

The Kansas GOP simply has no more toes to shoot off. Here's the guy who decided that immigration was the issue to defeat Moore with. Really worked. Now he's following in the footsteps of the JoCo GOP with its brilliant Kline decision. And his job is to make Gov. Sebelius's life miserable? Sweet. That's the approach that will insure the continuing resurgence of the Kansas Democratic Party. Talk about not getting it.

[Nick]

As long as the far right is allowed to control the Kansas Republican Party, our Kathleen will ride high in the polls and in the Statehouse.

Correction: This is Kansas. As long as her bosses in the insurance industry deem it beneficial, your Kathleen will ride high in the polls. When it is no longer beneficial, she will be allowed to retire gracefully, or knocked off her perch. Either way, your next Governor is going to be Sandy Praegar and you are going to love her. You just don't know it yet, but it has been decided.

[NikkiD]

I am a Republican but ashamed at the direction my party is heading. The Dems get it, we don't. The public won't listen to us if we only have 2 major issues: abortion and bashing the Dems. Voters are growing tired of our leadership - we simply don't have it anymore. Why do you think so many Republican leaders from our ranks are jumping ship? Because it's sinking and we're just helping it along. Yup, Chris Kobach, good job buddy.

[try2Bobjective]

Engawyer,

You are diametrically opposed to Kobach on almost all issues, but you will always support him.

Please explain. (also, no need to yell)

[Jeetzwillager]

Leaders who jumped ship...

Morrison, and also Parkinson who jumped out of turn to be sworn into office thinking he was after Morrison's swearing-in, only to say (paraphrased) "I'm so use to following him I thought it was my turn."

That's leadership bolting to the pulse-setters?

[David (formerly known as) the giant killer]

This is great.Really.At first I thought this blog stuff was lame,but I'm enjoying the diverse opinions.Thank you all.

[billy bob]

THANKS KOBACH....YOU ARE AS STUPID AS THE REST OF
THE REPUBLICANS IN KANSAS...
YOU ARE ONLY DIGGING A BIGGER HOLE TO FORCE THE
REST OF THE REPUBLICANS TO GET OUT OF....
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK...LAURA INGRAHM SAID IT SO
PERFECTLY LAST NITE...THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS SO
FAR OUT OF TOUCH WITH AMERICA TODAY THAT THEY
COULD BE THE MINORITY PARTY FOR THE NEXT 40 YEARS.
THANKS CHRIS..YOU ARE DOING YOUR PART TO MAKE
THAT A REALITY........................

[billy bob]

THANKS KOBACH....YOU ARE AS STUPID AS THE REST OF
THE REPUBLICANS IN KANSAS...
YOU ARE ONLY DIGGING A BIGGER HOLE TO FORCE THE
REST OF THE REPUBLICANS TO GET OUT OF....
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK...LAURA INGRAHM SAID IT SO
PERFECTLY LAST NITE...THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS SO
FAR OUT OF TOUCH WITH AMERICA TODAY THAT THEY
COULD BE THE MINORITY PARTY FOR THE NEXT 40 YEARS.
THANKS CHRIS..YOU ARE DOING YOUR PART TO MAKE
THAT A REALITY........................

[john boy]

Sandy Praeger for Governor? I always thought Ron Thornburgh was running next.

[Nick]

Sandy Praeger for Governor? I always thought Ron Thornburgh was running next.

There would be nothing preventing him from it except for permission. They can let him sit on the shelf, but, Insurance Commissioner has an expiration date. California had the same scam going on in that office but stood pat with the same hand too long. The media finally caught on and it ended up costing them thier meal ticket.
Sandy Praegar has already been fronted out for taking "contributions" from those she regulates, and if she stays, someone is going to target the law that makes it legal. If you read the law, you will see that it doesn't mention a word about "Campaign Contributions", meaning she can solicit contributions from insurance companies at will, the only elected official that can do so legally.
It will be Kathleen Sebelius The Sequal. Even has the same appearance and marketing value.

[john boy]

do you really think that the conservative leadership would really allow a moderate to run without running their own candidate?

[Nick]

Disclaimer: Of course things can always change and my opinion is based on state employee scuttlebutt, but it has been deadly accurate since Mike Hayden looted the state coffers and nearly bankrupted the state before he left.

[Nick]

John Boy,

They don't care one way or another. They conceded the Governor's slot a long time ago. What they will not do is put someone up against the insurance industry candidate that could actually win. If they did, they would lose their own contributions.

[john boy]

who is they? does the insurance industry really give that much money that the loss of those contributions would make a huge difference? i don't buy that. how much did the republican party raise? 1.2 million? i don't think that the insurance industry's contributions constitutes a major percentage of that.