Johnson County Republicans

Kline choice was wrong

Regarding his Sunday column, it's a shaky set of "principles" that Steve Kraske sees the Johnson County Republicans hanging onto (12/17, Local, "GOP picks principle over progress").

Consider these things about the precinct committee members:

If they are elected to represent their voters, these committee members show they hold their constituents in disregard.

They chose someone not qualified for the job.

They chose someone who displays characteristics of being ethically challenged based on his record of hiring, with state money, relatives and former criminals.

They chose a person who flaunts campaign law by raising campaign contributions in religious, tax-exempt institutions.

Just what kind of "principles" does this display?

Royceann Mather
Overland Park

Johnson County politics

I wonder how many of the writers to The Star who are beating their breasts over the election of Phill Kline to the office of Johnson County district attorney actually took time to vote in an informed manner for their precinct representative in the August primary election.

With a voter turnout of only about 20 percent, those who are organized and have an agenda will generally win, with the result that conservative Republicans dominate the Johnson County Republican Party apparatus.

There are very few, if any, moderate officeholders in Johnson County who would not be replaced by a conservative if they were unable to fulfill their term of office.

If you are a Republican who was simply too busy to vote wisely, or if you are registered as an independent - that is, a conscientious objector in the Kansas culture wars, content to sit on the fence and let someone else do the dirty work - then you may bear some responsibility for Kline's election by having allowed his conservative Republican supporters to represent your precinct.

I'd encourage registered Republicans to telephone their precinct representatives and ask them how they voted.

Jim Quigley
Lenexa

Don't donate to party

If the Johnson County precinct committee refuses to listen to the voters, maybe it will listen to our pocketbooks.

I have been told there is nothing to be done about the secret vote in which precinct committee members elected a Johnson County district attorney without consideration of qualifications or the voters' mandate. But I think there is something we can do: Refuse to donate another dollar to the Johnson County Republican Party for the next two years during Phill Kline's tenure.

Peggy Graham
Olathe

Comments

[tomw]

Oh, I get it. You spend every waking moment seeking out and identifying what you you perceive to be not "true" republicans. As one of that group, I think you're on to something and I strongly urge you to continue.

[Kansas Meadowlark]

FWIW, Royceann Mather was the treasurer for "Republican" Jim Yonally from 2002-2005. Yonally lost to Kriegshauser in the August Primary.

Yonally was quite far left in his views, and received endorsements from Mainstream Coalition. Yonally was part of the "Progressive Community" Host Committee, who hosted a fundraising event on Oct 5, 2006 for Dr. Tiller's ProKanDo PAC.

I'm not sure what parts of the Republican platform Yonally represented by his votes in the Kansas legislature.

Both Yonally and Mather have connections to the far-left KFUPE group.

[tomw]

"Well, in that case, she isn't a dedicated Republican, is she?"

Huh?

" As to literature re Precint Committee Persons, it's my impression that there was very little campaigning for this post."

Both candidates in my precinct mailed literature. It was clear just from endorsements where they stood. That's Quigley's point. If you didn't vote for commitee person... quit yer bitchin.

[Engineer]

tomw
Well, in that case, she isn't a dedicated Republican, is she? As to literature re Precint Committee Persons, it's my impression that there was very little campaigning for this post. The only literature that I saw was from the "Pro-Choice" branch of the Party.

[tomw]

"Actually, KansasMeadolark pretty much illustrated the backgrounds of the letter writers, who seem to be anything but dedicated Republicans."

Really? Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see where Mather identifies herself as republican. As far as Quigley, most of what I got out of his letter was criticism of those disappointed in the Kline appointment if they didn't bother to vote in the August primary. I was able to make my choice for precinct rep quite easily based on literature mailed to my home. If Meadowlark and Engineer believe it's rare to make campaign contributions out of party, they don't know much about how politics works.

[Engineer]

Kansasdog
You are wrong, I'm not anti-abortion and there seems to be plenty of room for me in the Republican Party. The same is true of the Kansas Sec. of State, Insurance Comm., etc. On the other hand, is there any room for pro-life people in the Democtatic Party? It has never been demonstrated that there is, to my knowledge. Can you name any Democrats who are elected officials in Kansas and who are pro-life?
Actually, KansasMeadolark pretty much illustrated the backgrounds of the letter writers, who seem to be anything but dedicated Republicans.

[Ray Seay]

I would amend that to say do not donate ANY money to democrats ot republicans. Donate to and vote for 3rd parties.

I am registered democrat but since Reagan have voted mostly 3rd party.

[Kansasdog]

Save Kansas and Missouri from the Republicans. - Sophie

The Republicans are doing a pretty fair job of political suicide in Kansas. I can't see how much extra help they need.

[Kansasdog]

Kansas Republicans should come clean to the fact that unless you are anti-abortion, there is no room for you at their table. The 'big tent' philosophy of their hero Ronald Regan (who was pro-choice) as been abandoned.

They will reap what they sow. Alienating the moderates will strengthen the Democrats, making the third district pretty much a moderate Democrat congressional district for the future.

[Sophie Demartine]

Get Active to make Johnson County Democrat or better yet Progressive. Save Kansas and Missouri from the Republicans.

[T. Hanson]

No... this letter topic is not getting old anymore.

[Kansas Meadowlark]

Open Secrets says Royceann Mather gave $2200 to Democrat Dennis Moore and $300 to Mainstream Coalition since 2000:
http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?NumOfThou=0&txtName=mather&txtState=KS&txtZip=&txtEmploy=&txtCand=&txt2006=Y&txt2004=Y&txt2002=Y&Order=N

What kind of a Republican gives six contributions to a Democratic Congressman and a contribution to the far-left Mainstream Coalition?

Mather also gave $300 to Republican for Moore Sue Gamble, and $75 to Democrat Pete Roman for Kansas Senate.

Jim Quigley was a Republican for Moore in 2002 and 2006. Open Secrets says Quigley gave $1800 to far-left Democrat Howard Dean for President, and $500 to the Kansas Democratic State Committee.
http://www.opensecrets.org/indivs/search.asp?NumOfThou=0&txtName=quigley&txtState=KS&txtZip=&txtEmploy=&txtCand=&txt2006=Y&txt2004=Y&txt2002=Y&Order=N

Jim Quigley lost his Republican precinct race in 2004
http://www.jocoelection.org/archives/Results/results080304pctr3.htm

Was he still a "Republican" when he gave $500 to the Kansas Democratic State Committee the next year?

These letters are representative of "Republicans"?

[jack]

Mr Quigly: You demonstrate what I view as the comtempt that the "party faithful" show to the majority of the electorate. Us "moderates" are not "content to sit on the fence". There just isn't a political party that shares our views with us.

I am registered as an independent because I do not share a majority of my views with any political party. On some things I am a consevative. On some things I am a liberal. On some things I am a libertarian.

This does not mean I have no convictions. It just means I don't blindly pull a lever based on the party affiliation of a candidate. This is called thinking. Something you apparently view with disdain.

You are a perfect example of what is wrong with the major political parties. I am not willing to accept whatever you tell me to believe. Because of this, you and your like don't want me.

This is not my loss. It is your's and the rest of the "Party Faithful".