KC Buzz Blog

Morgan in, Freeman out in Kansas GOP

   New Kansas GOP chair Kris Kobach just confirmed it:

   Ron Freeman is out as state executive director. Taking his place is Christian Morgan.

   Morgan worked on Kobach's 2004 race for Congress and most recently ran Jim Barnett's losing race for governor.

   Freeman, Kobach said, has been offered a different job at the party. No word yet on whether he'll take it. (Freeman could not be reached).

   Ryan Wright of the Kansas Traditional Republican Majority, a moderate group, points out that six of eight new Kansas GOP Executive Board members are officers of the conservative Kansas Republican Assembly, a conservative GOP organization that now rivals the state GOP.

  Wright's bottom line: "The party's fund-raising base is comprised of traditional Republicans, and now that it is clear what direction the party will be heading in under Kobach, these donors are likely to go someplace else."

   Not so, Kobach said. "The staff will continue to include moderate Republicans as well as conservative Republicans, and the KTRM organization has apparently not bothered to check their facts as far as what's actually happening in the Kansas Republican Party."

Posted by Steve Kraske

Barnett: I was victim of criminal activity

   Jim Barnett, the Republican who  lost to Democrat Kathleen Sebelius in last year's race for Kansas governor, said today he was a "victim of criminal activity" during his campaign.

   Barnett, still a state senator from Emporia, would not say what the activity was, although he reported it to Emporia police.

   "I do know," he said about the type of crime, "but I can't disclose that. I do not want to compromise the integrity of the investigation."

   Barnett wouldn't comment further, and a spokesman for Emporia police could not be reached.

   "The timeline is entirely up to them," Barnett said.

Posted by Steve Kraske

Alicia, Audrey...whatever

   TOPEKA -- Outgoing GOP chairman Tim Shallenburger had one of those moments Saturday.

   In introducing national committeewoman Alicia Salibury, Shallenburger mixed her up with former state Sen. Audrey Langworthy, a Prairie Village Republican.

   In fairness to Tim, there is a passing resemblance.

   Shallenburger, a former House speaker, quickly corrected himself, but then blurted out, "Audrey Langworthy used to be a pain in my #@$."

   No word yet from Audrey, who was not in attendance.

Posted by Steve Kraske

Ryun wants to run again, could face Jenkins

   TOPEKA -- Jim Ryun wants his U.S. House seat back.

   But if he wants it, he may have to go through two-term state treasurer Lynn Jenkins to get it.

   Ryun spent part of his weekend telling Republicans he wants to get back in office. Democrat Nancy Boyda pulled off a huge upset in November when she knocked off the track legend in the state's 2nd District.

   But Ryun may not have an easy ride to the nomination because Jenkins made it clear she's being pushed hard to run herself.

   Asked about the possibility of running against Ryun, Jenkins didn't hesitate:

    "I think I will leave my options open," she said.

   Jenkins is seen as a formidable stump speaker and has a reputation of running -- this is her word -- "tenacious" campaigns.

   Oh, two-term U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts kicked off his re-election campaign on Saturday. No surprise there. He doesn't have a Democratic opponent yet, but he does have a website.

   Roberts, 70, said he was fired up, and he acted like it, too, even though he was virtually unchallenged in 2002. No doubt the GOP performance in 2006 has  something to do with it.

Posted by Steve Kraske 

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

Barnett campaign "victim of apparent criminal activity"

    Former Kansas gubernatorial candidate and state Sen. Jim Barnett has announced he's asking Emporia police to investigate "activities in which he and his campaign were apparent victims."

   In a statement light on details, Barnett said only that "Both the campaign and I, as an individual, have been the victim of apparent criminal activity."

   The statement went on to say "To protect the integrity and security of the investigation, no additional information is available for release at this time."

   Barnett, an Emporia Republican, lost to Gov. Kathleen Sebelius in November.

   We'll post more when we know more.

Posted by David Klepper

Kobach to seek top GOP job in Kansas

    Kris Kobach, a law professor and former candidate for the U.S. House, has tossed his hat in the ring again.

   He sent an e-mail Thursday to Kansas conservatives stating he was officially in the race for chairman of the Kansas Republican Party. Former House Speaker Tim Shallenburger is leaving that job after the party suffered some major losses in the November election.

   "The Kansas Republican Party needs an overhaul," Kobach's e-mail began.

   Kobach ran unsuccessfully in 2004 against Democratic U.S. Rep. Dennis Moore in the state's 3rd Congressional District. Kobach is a former Overland Park councilman.

   "I will build a sizeable war chest with my proven fundraising ability, develop a statewide voter database, reinvigorate our ground game with an extensive GOTV program and will insure that Republicans support Republicans," he said.

Posted by Jim Sullinger

Meneilly to switch parties

  The list of Kansas Republicans bailing out of the GOP and going Democratic is growing.

   Today, Dr. Bob Meneilly, pastor emeritus of Village Presbyterian Church and chairman emeritus of the moderate Mainstream Coalition, said he was joining their ranks.

   Meineilly said he had been contemplating a switch for several years. Last week's election of Phill Kline as Johnson County D.A. pushed him over the edge:

   "The way they did it was kind of a slap in the face to the community," he said.

   Meneilly said he has the application at home and planned to mail it this week. His wife is switching, too.

Posted by Steve Kraske

Lessons learned for Kansas GOP

   Ron Freeman, executive director of the Kansas GOP, recently outlined what Republicans learned from the November election.

   He did it in a post on the Kansas GOP website.

   We'll make it easy for you. Here's what he wrote:

1. Even in a good year for Democrats, the three top vote getters in Kansas were Republicans. (See Sandy Praeger, Lynn Jenkins and Ron Thornburgh).

2. Democrats have to run on Republican principles to win. (See M&E tax cut, Jessica's Law, and "balance the budget without a tax increase").

3. Thirteen million dollars (approximate amount spent by Democrats) can't buy a majority in the legislature.

4. When Republicans don't vote Republican, the state will make a left turn. (wait, you'll see.)

5. Party switchers sometimes win.

6. Sebelius wants to defeat moderate and conservative Republicans.

7. Democrats have no plan. (see Congress and War on Terror)

8. The media does not have a liberal bias. The media is the liberal bias.

9. A law enforcement official, endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police, the State Troopers Association and 89 Sheriffs can be called unqualified by the liberal bias.

What do you think?

Posted by Steve Kraske

Shallenburger out as Kansas GOP chair

   Kansas GOP chairman Tim Shallenburger said today he won't seek re-election in January to the post.

   "I'm finished with politics," the former state treasurer, House speaker, state lawmaker and 2002 nominee for governor said.

   And yep, it's been a frustrating two years.

   The purpose of the state party is to elect Republicans to office, he said. But too many Republicans -- read: conservatives -- want the party to stand on principle, even if that means defeat after defeat at the ballot box.

   "That is the problem," the 52-year-old Baxter Springs banker said in an interview today. "That is the absolute essence of it."

   Shallenburger joins a growing list of GOP chairmen who left the job discouraged and, in some cases, disillusioned.

   The November election was devastating for Kansas Republicans. The party saw two of its former members -- Mark Parkinson and Paul Morrison -- win statewide office. And Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius won an easy re-election.

   "To win elections, you have to grab the middle," Shallenburger said. "I don't think we did a good job of doing that this year in Kansas or nationally. And, of course, the war hurt us."

Posted by Steve Kraske

Ed O'Malley out of the Legislature

   Ed O'Malley, the two-term Kansas lawmaker from Roeland Park who oozed a-glass-of-milk-a-day wholesomeness, resigned today.

   O'Malley, a Republican who had just won a third term, will become president/CEO of the Kansas Leadership Center, a new organization funded with a $30 million grant from the Kansas Health Foundation.

   The center's goal, the 31-year-old O'Malley said, is to develop civic leaders throughout Kansas.

   O'Malley said he would be active in choosing a successor to his 24th District House seat who shares his "centrist, bipartisan perspective."

Posted by Steve Kraske 

Huh?

    After presumably catching up on their sleep, two leading pro-life groups came out blasting the Republican Party for its defeat in the polls last week.

    In a release from Kansans for Truth in Politics, a pro-life PAC, activist Cheryl Sullenger says the attempt by some party leaders to embrace pro-choice Republicans doomed the election by alienating conservatives.

   "If the Republicans fail to unite under the Reagan-era, conservative ideals... they can expect to loose (sic) even more ground in 2008," said Sullenger. "The pro-life position is the winning position. If we cannot stand firmly on that most basic of human rights issues, then we shouldn't be calling ourselves Republicans."

   Sullenger also said state GOP leaders like Chairman Tim Shallenburger were "missing in action" when it came to supporting Attorney General Phill Kline's re-election bid. (Kline lost to Johnson County DA Paul Morrison).

   Kansans For Life emailed out another analysis of the campaign, ticking off the big defeats for the anti-abortion crowd: the defeat of South Dakota's abortion ban, Missouri's successful stem-cell initiative, the loss of the U.S. Congress to Democrats and Kline's defeat.

One of the reasons cited?

    "Democrats out-cahoneyed Republicans."

Posted by David Klepper

Half of Kansas party switchers won

   Led by Mark Parkinson and Paul Morrison, four of the eight Republicans-turned-Democrats won in Kansas Tuesday, and three others appear to have lost narrowly.

   The sudden rash of party switching was a new phenomenon in Kansas and was another result of the bad blood within the Kansas GOP between moderates and conservatives. Many of the newly minted Democrats said the Kansas Republican Party drifted too far to the right and abandoned them.

   Parkinson, of course, ran as Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' running mate. Morrison beat Republican Phill Kline in the race for attorney general.

   The other six ran for the state House of Representatives. Of the six, two won, and a third trails by 25 votes in a race that ended at 50-50 percent. One of the winners was Cindy Neighbor of Shawnee.

   Kansas Democratic Party chairman Larry Gates said he is hopeful that the trend will continue.

   Oh, Democrats picked up four seats in the Kansas House, which will have 79 Republicans and 46 Democrats come January. Three seats are still in play and could be the subject of recounts because of the closeness of the vote.

   More in Friday's Star. 

Posted by Steve Kraske 

Mod Squad eyes Kansas, warns GOP

    It has been noticed in DC that among the Democratic victors in Kansas were three former Republicans: Lt. Gov.-elect Mark Parkinson, Attorney General-elect Paul Morrison, and Congresswoman-elect Nancy Boyda.

    "They were us," said Sarah Chamberlain Resnick, executive director of the Republican Main Street Partnership, a moderate Republican group. "And they left the party and ran as Democratic versions of us. In Kansas! We're not talking the East Coast here. Kansas!"

   Resnick's conclusion: "If all the moderates leave this party, you've got a southern minority party."

Posted by Matt Stearns

Ron Wimmer saddles up for O'Connor Senate seat

   Now things are getting really interesting.

   One day after outgoing Kansas state Sen. Kay O'Connor announced her endorsement of Julia Lynn as her successor, former 14-year Olathe school superintendent Ron Wimmer said today he's also a candidate.

   Wimmer, well-known in the district, had considered a run against O'Connor in 2004 while he was still superintendent and was planning to run in 2008, he said today.

   He declined to label himself. But Wimmer said he opposes school vouchers, which was one of O'Connor's biggest causes.

   "There's mostly a difference in style," he said comparing himself to O'Connor, who remains one of the best-known conservative Republicans in the state.

   The 9th Senate district's precinct committee members will pick O'Connor's successor to fill out the remaining two years of her term.

Posted by Steve Kraske

Kay O'Connor endorses Julia Lynn

   It didn't take long for outgoing Kansas state Sen. Kay O'Connor of Olathe to endorse a possible successor.

   O'Connor, one of the state's best-known conservatives, is backing Julia Lynn, an entrepreneur who said she started multiple start-up businesses.

   Lynn said she also has been endorsed by several state representatives in the area: Lance Kinzer, Arlen Siegfreid and Mike Kiegerl.

   Said Lynn: "I am honored to receive Kay O'Connor's endorsement. As the next senator for the 9th District, I am committed to growing our economy, improving health care and schools, and defending our core values."

   A district convention will pick O'Connor's successor, and conservative Republicans are said to hold a controlling majority.

Posted by Steve Kraske

Kansas Republicans join hands, link arms

   They pulled it off, all right.

   Moderate and conservative Republicans came together this afternoon at Johnson County Community College for a GOP love feast formally called the "Kansas GOP Unity Conference."

   As U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas said at the outset, "The most important thing is the photo opp."

   The photo opp in this case featured a group shot that included Roberts with conservatives Phill Kline and Chuck Ahner standing next to moderate statewide office holders Sandy Praeger, Lynn Jenkins and Ron Thornburgh.

   "This is the team, guy," Roberts told the crowd of 60 or so.

   Before the rally began, state Sen. Nick Jordan, a Shawnee Republican, acknowledged the GOP was feeling some heat from the heretofore sad-sack state Democratic Party.

   "All this has forced Republicans to come together," Jordan said.

   The treacherous national political picture, Roberts added, is one other factor. "It's a rough climate," he said.

Posted by Steve Kraske 

Kansas Republicans unite!

   A party most notable for its internal dissension is joining arms today at Johnson County Community College.

   The Kansas GOP is holding what's being billed as a "GOP Unity Conference" at 4 p.m. at the Carlsen Center.

   U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts will speak. Here's a bet: The conference is aimed at sending out a message: Moderate Republicans can back Attorney General Phill Kline and gubernatorial contender Jim Barnett.

Posted by Steve Kraske

Kay O'Connor to resign from state Senate

   Kay O'Connor, who has served in the Kansas state Senate since 2000 and is one of the best-known conservatives in the state, announced today she'll resign from the Senate, probably next month.

   "My friends, I am tired," she wrote in a letter to supporters. "(Husband) Art and I would like more time together."

   O'Connor, 64, said she had taken a teaching job at the Padre Pio Academy.

   Last month, she lost a Republican primary race for secretary of state to incumbent Ron Thornburgh.

   "It is time to hand the reins of District 9 to a new voice," she said.

   Reactions in tomorrow's Star.

Posted by Steve Kraske

Yoder changes Web site to identify children

   Beginning today, visitors to Kansas state Rep. Kevin Yoder's Web site (www.kevinyoder.org) now know that the children in the photos are his nieces from Lawrence, Myah and Amelia.

   Yoder added the IDs to the Web site after a story appeared today in The Star.

    Alex Holsinger of Overland Park, his Democratic opponent, and Holsinger's supporters complained that without those IDs, voters might conclude that the two girls were Yoder's children. They accused the Republican of faking a family.

   Yoder said he wasn't trying to mislead anyone. We still don't know, however, who owns the cute Golden Retriever.

Posted by Jim Sullinger

Ethics panel swipes at two JoCo pols

   When candidates or political groups mail campaign brochures to potential voters, they've got to indicate somewhere on the piece who's paying for the mailing.

   Simple enough, right?

   But Wednesday, the Kansas ethics agency took aim at two Johnson County candidates for the state House who apparently messed up on that very point prior to the Aug. 1 primary.

   The commission plans to notify Republicans Jeff Colyer of Overland Park and Scott Hattrup of Lenexa about a Sept. 20 hearing at which fines could be levied.

   Hattrup never responded to an agency letter asking for more information, said ethics exec Carol Williams. Colyer was questioned about two mailings and, to his credit, pointed out lack-of-attribution issues on two other pieces, Williams noted.

   Hattrup lost his 30th District primary race to Ron Worley. Colyer, a 2002 congressional candidate, won his 48th District primary and advanced to the November election.

Posted by Steve Kraske 

Thomas Frank: The cons will be back

   Writing in The New York Times today, What's the Matter with Kansas? author and Mission Hills native Thomas Frank concludes this about last week's Kansas primary:

• "The nation breathed a sigh of relief...after the conservative majority on the Kansas school board, world famous for its war on the theory of evolution, went down to defeat..."

But:

• "It is far too soon to write the obituary for the godly radicals...The movement is deeply ingrained in Kansas culture. The conservatives will undoubtedly be back."

And:

• "When I caught up with the various Republican personalities, at a candidates forum in Independence, what struck me was the feebleness of the moderate response..."
• "That the moderate Republicans succeeded this time around is testimony more to the sheer fatuity of the conservative issues than to the strength of their own message."

Posted by Steve Kraske

Wasn't it hot 4 years ago, too?

    The turnout for yesterday's Kansas primary was 18 percent, the lowest since the secretary of state began keeping records 20 years ago.

   In all, 296,045 voters went to the polls Tuesday. That compared to the 410,703 who voted in the last mid-term election in 2002, or 26 percent of all registered voters.

   In 1998, more than 29 percent, or 439,463 voters, turned out for the August primary.

   Wanna bet it was hot back then, too?

Posted by Steve Kraske

A tale of two strategies

    How do you campaign for Congress when potential contributors are pinching pennies and there aren't a lot of differences on issues between the candidates?

    Scott Schwab and Chuck Ahner, running for the GOP nomination in the 3rd District of Kansas, are answering that question using two different strategies -- a ground and an air assault.

   Ahner, a West Point graduate, is on the ground with a large direct mail campaign in which he takes a few negative jabs at Schwab, a state representative.

   Schwab has taken to the airwaves, spending much of his advertising budget on radio ads that highlight a tough stance on immigration policies. He doesn't say anything about his opponent in those ads or in his direct mail literature.

   So, which strategy wins? We'll know tomorrow night when all the votes are counted.

Posted by Jim Sullinger

Barnett, Canfield mix it up

   With four days to go before Tuesday's primary, the quietest campaign in recent Kansas history is finally perking up.

   Today two leading GOP candidates for governor strapped it on over a Jim Barnett radio ad airing on Wichita, Junction City and Manhattan religious radio stations.

   Barnett's target: rival Republican Ken Canfield of Overland Park.

   Check out these exchanges:

• "Canfield is not telling the truth about Jim Barnett''s position on abortion."
• "Canfield says he is a fiscal conservative but proposes $1 billion of new spending and debt."
• "Canfield has advocated amnesty to illegal immigrants giving them a fast track to citizenship."

   False, false and false, Canfield responds.

   The $1 billion of new spending would come from a private equity fund to spur economic development, Canfield said. That means no new taxes. And he said he opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants and has not misled voters on Barnett's abortion stand.

Posted by Steve Kraske

GOPers explain switch to Dems

    In today's Star, former Republicans in Kansas tell Steve Kraske why they've jumped the fence to run as Democrats.

Posted by Keith Chrostowski

Kansans for Life goes for two

   What do you do when you can't decide which Republican candidate for governor to support?

   You back two.

   Kansans for Life, the state's largest anti-abortion group, did just that Saturday, opting for Jim Barnett and Ken Canfield. That left out former House Speaker Robin Jennison who's also considered anti-abortion.

   "People felt that we couldn't really choose one above the other," said Mary Kay Culp, KFL's state executive director.

   Why not Jennison? "There was a feeling by people who had been around awhile when he was speaker of the House that they didn't completely trust him to be honest," Culp said.

     In the GOP primary for insurance commissioner, KFL went for state Rep. Eric Carter over incumbent Sandy Praeger. The group delayed an endorsement on another GOP primary race involving incumbent Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh who faces Olathe state Sen. Kay O'Connor.

Posted by Steve Kraske 10:05 a.m.

Web site targets GOP "RINOs"

   Want a peek into the Kansas GOP's intra-party bickering?

   Look no further than the Web site of the Johnson County Republican Party, which is now under the management of social conservatives.

   Here it is. (Link was broken earlier; it's fixed now.)

   You'll find a link on the opening page entitled: "RINO Sightings." Click on that and you'll read about a "Trojan horse" called the Kansas Traditional Republican Majority or KTRM and their attempts to infiltrate and take over the Kansas GOP.

   The Web site also names the parties to this conspiracy: Andy Wollen, Dick Bond, Steve Cloud, Audrey Langworthy and long list of other so-called moderate Republicans.

   Is it any wonder these folks don't feel welcomed in the state's GOP?

Posted by Jim Sullinger  4:45 p.m.

Parkinson: Tired of wondering about Darwin

   The L.A. Times profiles Mark Parkinson today on his recent decision to switch parties and sign up as Gov. Sebelius' sidekick.

   The money quote: ``A lot of people in Kansas are feeling lost right now. I decided I'd rather spend time building great universities than wondering if Charles Darwin was right."

    To reach the profile, go here.

Posted by Steve Kraske 2:22 p.m.

They're also running

Ahner

Schwab

     Recognize these guys?

  Chuck Ahner and Scott Schwab are running against each other -- for the right to run against Dennis Moore in the Kansas 3rd Congressional district.

  Schwab officially announces today.  Ahner already has.

  More about Schwab here.

  More about Ahner here.

Posted by Dave Helling 9:05 a.m.

UPDATE:  Tom Scherer here.

   I can't find a link for Paul Showen (no "c".)  I'll put it up if someone can find the link.

Posted by Dave Helling 2:10 p.m.

UPDATE: Thanks, Paul!

Posted by Dave Helling 2:45 p.m.

Gettin' trendy: Another GOP defection in Kansas

    Edwards (Kan.) County Commissioner Duane Mathes has switched his party affiliation from Republican to Democrat to run for a seat in the Kansas House.

   Mathes has filed for the 117th District seat held by Republican Larry Powell, of Kalvesta. The district covers Hodgeman County, as well as parts of Edwards, Finney, Ness and Pawnee counties.

"I don't think I left the Republican Party," he said. "I think it left me."

Posted by Keith Chrostowski 7:15 p.m.

Schwab to kick-off race for Congress

   Rep. Scott Schwab, an Olathe Republican, will kick-off his campaign Tuesday for the GOP nomination for the U.S. House in Kansas' 3rd Congressional District.

   The event is scheduled for 9 a.m. under the clock tower in downtown Overland Park near the Farmers Market.

   The winner of the Aug. 1 GOP primary will face Dennis Moore, the incumbent congressman and a Democrat, in the November general election.

Posted by Jim Sullinger 12:25 p.m.

Re-election tour Monday for Kansas AG

  Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline will file for re-election Monday and begin a two-day tour of the state to kick off his campaign.

   Kline, a Republican, is a former state representative from Shawnee and an unsuccessful candidate for the U.S. House in 2000. He was elected attorney general four years ago in a close contest against a Democratic challenger.

   He will face a Democrat again this year -- Johnson County District Attorney Paul Morrison, who switched parties last year to run against Kline.

   The attorney general will begin his campaign tour Monday at Memorial Hall in Topeka at 9 a.m.. He will arrive at the Johnson County Courthouse in Olathe for a rally at 11 a.m. and then travel to Pittsburg, Wichita and Garden City. His Tuesday stops will take him to Liberal, Colby, Hays and Salina.

Posted by Jim Sullinger 10:20 a.m.

Brownback, Roberts weigh in

  It's rare that Sunflower State senators Sam Brownback and Pat Roberts take a public stance on state politics, but Mark Parkinson's defection to the D's was enough to prompt a few soundbites Wednesday.

   Brownback said he felt "personally betrayed" by Parkinson.

   Roberts pointed out that party switches aren't that uncommon in Kansas. Still,  he was "surprised and perplexed" by Parkinson's decision.

  "I wish him well but not success."

Posted by David Klepper 6 p.m.

Jennison makes his pick

   Kansas GOP gubernatorial candidate Robin Jennison has selected his running mate.

   "I've made my pick, and it's a Johnson County legislator," the former House speaker said.

   Jennison won't release an identity, although he said he expects to make his announcement next week.

   Insiders say the pick is...state Sen. Dennis Wilson of Overland Park. Reached this morning, the normally loquacious Wilson would say only this:

   "Here's the standard line today: I was talked to. I heard the rumors, just like you heard rumors about me, and I have no comment at this time."

Posted by Steve Kraske 9:35 a.m.

Kansas plaudits for Bush

   Kansas state Sen. Jim Barnett is applauding President Bush for his immigration speech Monday night.

   Barnett, one of three GOP candidates for governor, said Bush's speech on the treacherous political issue struck exactly the right tone. The address "laid out a clear and proactive approach" to dealing with the issue, Barnett said.

      Barnett also took a shot at Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius who is seeking a second term this fall. He said Sebelius refuses to acknowledge the importance of the issue and charged that the governor "is more concerned about not having been notified by the White House" about the president's plan to deploy more National Guard troops.

   No reaction yet from Barnett's two primary opponents: Robin Jennison and Ken Canfield.

Posted by Steve Kraske 9:45 a.m. 

New Kansas GOP director

Ron Freeman, who ran for Congress and the state Senate in Missouri, has hopped the state line.

Freeman is expected to be named this week as executive director of the Kansas GOP.

Freeman wouldn't comment on his new post this morning.

"We'll gete a press release out the next couple of days," he said.

Can't wait? Click here.

Posted by Steve Kraske 10:30 a.m.