NationStates Jolt Archive

It would appear that Kansas of all places in the US is slowly waking up from the political nightmare that has plagued this country for the last six years (and perhaps even the last twelve). Huge numbers of what were republicans who considered themselves "moderate" are leaving the GOP in clumps. Even the prominent Presbyterian minister Dr. Bob Meneilly (http://kcbuzzblog.typepad.com/kcbuzzblog/2006/12/meineilly_to_sw.html) has now forsaken the GOP in favor of the democratic party. This is quite promising considering the Kansas has a looooong history of ultra-conservative wingnutery, and a near incomprehensable ability to consistently vote against their own best interest. Perhaps history is finally teaching the citizens of Kansas some valuable lessons.

It would appear that Kansas of all places in the US is slowly waking up from the political nightmare that has plagued this country for the last six years (and perhaps even the last twelve). Huge numbers of what were republicans who considered themselves "moderate" are leaving the GOP in clumps. Even the prominent Presbyterian minister Dr. Bob Meneilly (http://kcbuzzblog.typepad.com/kcbuzzblog/2006/12/meineilly_to_sw.html) has now forsaken the GOP in favor of the democratic party. This is quite promising considering the Kansas has a looooong history of ultra-conservative wingnutery, and a near incomprehensable ability to consistently vote against their own best interest. Perhaps history is finally teaching the citizens of Kansas some valuable lessons.

I'm glad to hear it, though I think you malign the citizens of Kansas. Their dalliance with wingnuttery (a very felicitous word!) is only relatively recent, say in the last 15 years. Prior to that, while perhaps conservative, they had not been heavily invested in voting against themselves. Indeed, if we go back to the Progressive movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the people of the Plains were in the forefront. You have to remember that a concerted effort was made by the ultra-conservative wing of the Republican Party to drive away moderates. It was they who began calling them RINOs and making sure that they lost all power and influnce in the GOP.

Although I am not a representative Kansan, I am quite mixed up between the Republicans and the Democrats. I favor the Republicans because they are religious and believe that God plays a large role in our lives. However, they offer no amnesty to the poor of the Earth, whether they be Mexican immigrants or minimum-wage families. The Democrats are much more lenient and helpful to such people, yet they ridicule religion and adopt hedonistic policies without any regard to moral ramifications. I guess some people may have shifted their priorities from social policies to economic policies, and that is what accounts for the shift.

Although I am not a representative Kansan, I am quite mixed up between the Republicans and the Democrats. I favor the Republicans because they are religious and believe that God plays a large role in our lives. However, they offer no amnesty to the poor of the Earth, whether they be Mexican immigrants or minimum-wage families. The Democrats are much more lenient and helpful to such people, yet they ridicule religion and adopt hedonistic policies without any regard to moral ramifications. I guess some people may have shifted their priorities from social policies to economic policies, and that is what accounts for the shift.

The Republicans aren't religious, they're just whoring themselves to get power. The Democrats are just retards who whore themselves so the Republicans don't get power. Neither end of the Party is productive.

To the OP: Republicans are leaving their party in every state, not just Kansas, but you're right, Kansas is probably the most conservative state in the US.

To the OP: Republicans are leaving their party in every state, not just Kansas, but you're right, Kansas is probably the most conservative state in the US.

Yeah, though they are becoming just "conservative" Democrats. The party change sounds good on the face of it but I think the chance for any real change because of this trend is pretty small.

all i ever hear about USA political partys are just the Republicans and the Democrats don't you have more

all i ever hear about USA political partys are just the Republicans and the Democrats don't you have more

Well, there are the Libertarians and the Green Party, but they generally don't do very well.

Yeah, though they are becoming just "conservative" Democrats. The party change sounds good on the face of it but I think the chance for any real change because of this trend is pretty small.

That's something that scares me a little. The Republicans and Democrats are the same party, basically, that deny they are the same party. The Republicans have pissed everyone off and are now joining the Democrats, to become "conservative Democrats". The Democrats are enjoying this, because their side of the Party is getting stronger. The media is sensationalizing everything, which leads Average Joe to believe that the Republicans are complete idiots and all of them support Bush. Eventually everyone starts voting Democrat, and the Republicans jump on the bandwagon so that they can stay in power. After a while there are only a handful of people who are Republican, and everyone else is a Democrat. The third parties still can't get a word in edgewise, so the country is all Democrats, and the Democratic Party splits up between "Conservative Democrats" and "Liberal Democrats" so basically that would kind of verify that the USA is being controlled by one party.

:(

Well, there are the Libertarians and the Green Party, but they generally don't do very well.

There's also the Socialists, Communists, and Constitution Party. And Neo-Nazi, though they've only been elected in one little Midwestern town, thank God.

That's something that scares me a little. The Republicans and Democrats are the same party, basically, that deny they are the same party. The Republicans have pissed everyone off and are now joining the Democrats, to become "conservative Democrats". The Democrats are enjoying this, because their side of the Party is getting stronger. The media is sensationalizing everything, which leads Average Joe to believe that the Republicans are complete idiots and all of them support Bush. Eventually everyone starts voting Democrat, and the Republicans jump on the bandwagon so that they can stay in power. After a while there are only a handful of people who are Republican, and everyone else is a Democrat. The third parties still can't get a word in edgewise, so the country is all Democrats, and the Democratic Party splits up between "Conservative Democrats" and "Liberal Democrats" so basically that would kind of verify that the USA is being controlled by one party.

:(


*Votes Jello Biafra in '08*

Well, there are the Libertarians and the Green Party, but they generally don't do very well.

do the new's station's ever speck of them

do the new's station's ever speck of them

Not in my state. Green Party Member=dirty tree huggin' hippie in Arizona. Libertarians are tolerated slightly more, but are rarely mentioned in the media here. It's different in other states, though. *shrugs*

Well, there are the Libertarians and the Green Party, but they generally don't do very well.I seem to remember Ross Perot did quite well. Got 19% of the popular vote in the 1992 presidential elections, but no electoral votes. The system perpetuates the idea that there is no point in voting for a candidate over than a democrat or republican. Disgraceful really.

*Votes Jello Biafra in '08*

I can't vote in 2008. I'll only be 16.

:(

I seem to remember Ross Perot did quite well. Got 19% of the popular vote in the 1992 presidential elections, but no electoral votes. The system perpetuates the idea that there is no point in voting for a candidate over than a democrat or republican. Disgraceful really.

We should get rid of the electoral colleges. I think the popular vote should count.

I can't vote in 2008. I'll only be 16.

:(

I'll vote for you, then. ;)

Edit: Uh, I mean I'll put in your vote. I won't vote for you, as you won't meet the requirements...

Oh, what the hell. Darknovae in 2008!. :D

America is essentially a two party system.

As far as Kansas, please don't let them become civilized. I live in Oklahoma. Who else can we make fun of- Mississippi? Texas?- crap, I'm from there. It'll ruin things.

Not in my state. Green Party Member=dirty tree huggin' hippie in Arizona. Libertarians are tolerated slightly more, but are rarely mentioned in the media here. It's different in other states, though. *shrugs*

so i see the greens are the same all over the world

i can say when i do watch the new's sometime's i hear of the other partys

I'll vote for you, then. ;)

Edit: Uh, I mean I'll put in your vote. I won't vote for you, as you won't meet the requirements...

Oh, what the hell. Darknovae in 2008!. :D

Pancake for Prez!

:p

America is essentially a two party system.

As far as Kansas, please don't let them become civilized. I live in Oklahoma. Who else can we make fun of- Mississippi? Texas?- crap, I'm from there. It'll ruin things.

You can always make fun of North Carolina.

It's full of tree0huggers though, I'm very surprised that the Greens never run around here..... :confused:

Pancake for Prez!

:p

hell i would vote for you, if you stay out of how we run my Nation

hell i would vote for you, if you stay out of how we run my Nation

No more lapdogs and whores!

Though the UK is knind of both at the moment... :eek:

No more lapdogs and whores!

So Paris Hilton is out? :D

We should get rid of the electoral colleges. I think the popular vote should count.Not so much as it needs Runoffs, whether instant or otherwise.

You can always make fun of North Carolina.

It's full of tree0huggers though, I'm very surprised that the Greens never run around here..... :confused:I'm not sure I'd call a state dominated by timber, mining, and tobacco interests a bunch of tree huggers. Not to mention the stinky old paper mills and textile plants.

No more lapdogs and whores!

Though the UK is knind of both at the moment... :eek:

lot UK is

Australia need's to stop bring one

Although I am not a representative Kansan, I am quite mixed up between the Republicans and the Democrats. I favor the Republicans because they are religious and believe that God plays a large role in our lives. However, they offer no amnesty to the poor of the Earth, whether they be Mexican immigrants or minimum-wage families. The Democrats are much more lenient and helpful to such people, yet they ridicule religion and adopt hedonistic policies without any regard to moral ramifications. I guess some people may have shifted their priorities from social policies to economic policies, and that is what accounts for the shift.
As a European Christian. I sympathise with you. However, I do not believe that Republicans really care about God, or banning abortion any more than Democrats do. However at least the latter may help the poor more than the Reps.

We have our share of Tree-huggers up here in Maine (I should know, I am one). A Green Party candidate ran for governor here, but came in 4th. Of course this is also the state where Ross Perot actually finished 2nd in '92 ahead of GHW Bush, so there are a lot of weirdos here too.

Perot was of the Reform Party. Sometime in the mid-ninties, they had an internal argument and, basically, dissolved. They're still around, but they rarely field or endorse any candidates.

Me, I'm a libertarian, though I really admire the Federalists, whereas the regular Libertarians don't.

I can't vote in 2008. I'll only be 16.

:(

*Points and laughs*

I'll be 20.

It would appear that Kansas of all places in the US is slowly waking up from the political nightmare that has plagued this country for the last six years (and perhaps even the last twelve). Huge numbers of what were republicans who considered themselves "moderate" are leaving the GOP in clumps. Even the prominent Presbyterian minister Dr. Bob Meneilly (http://kcbuzzblog.typepad.com/kcbuzzblog/2006/12/meineilly_to_sw.html) has now forsaken the GOP in favor of the democratic party. This is quite promising considering the Kansas has a looooong history of ultra-conservative wingnutery, and a near incomprehensable ability to consistently vote against their own best interest. Perhaps history is finally teaching the citizens of Kansas some valuable lessons.

Well,not really.Kansas,was,for most of its history,a stronghold of the left.This was true about most of the West outside Arizona.It began to migrate toward conservatism around 1950 and by 1980 conservatism dominated the state.Kansas is not becoming more liberaL.Lets face it-the Right in this country is slowly rolling back the Left.States were Rightists once had not a prayer of getting elected(particularly the Deep South)are now turning into states were Republicans are the dominate party.The only states that can certifiably be said to be moving towards the left are a group of New England states such as New Hampshire.But this is bad news for the American left.Throuhgout American history,the Northeast has always been conservative.(I use the term to refer to a resistance to change,not to the political movement now styling itself "conservative".)It was a bastion of the Old Gaurd,whatever that maybe.It worked as a moderating influence on radical reformist movements that are usually born in the west.Politics supported by people in this region are declining movements.Kansas isnt finally "coming around".It would be more accurate to say the country as a whole is finally waking up from a nightmare of liberal rule that began in the 1910s under Woodrow Wilson.
Dont bother mentioning the 2006 elections.The Democrats have suvived since the 1790s.They simply are realizing that the countrys political enviroment has changed since the 1960s.Look at the Democrats just elected.People like John Tester,Heath Shuler,Webb.Bob Casey.These are people that reject liberalism.Now look at the defeated Republicans.A group of RINOs such as Lincoln Chafee massacred in the Northeast.Also a number of seats were nothing more than "scandal seats".Seats the Democrats wouldnt have had any hope of winning if the incumbent Republican wasnt corrupt.
Im getting bored typing.whatever

all i ever hear about USA political partys are just the Republicans and the Democrats don't you have more

The political culture of the U.S. has all but silenced any party other than the Dems and the Repubs, who are essentially alike though they do everything they can to make everyone THINK they're on opposite sides of the politcal spectrum.

Sorry to burst your bubble.....but Kansas is a very conservative state no matter what cycle of politics we happen to be in at the moment. The way all of you seem to be talking it will vote Democrat in 08'. Don't hold your breath. Hillary or Obama has the chance of winning Kansas that President Bush had of winning Rhode Island. Not going to happen.

Sorry to burst your bubble.....but Kansas is a very conservative state no matter what cycle of politics we happen to be in at the moment. The way all of you seem to be talking it will vote Democrat in 08'. Don't hold your breath. Hillary or Obama has the chance of winning Kansas that President Bush had of winning Rhode Island. Not going to happen.
Not even if Gov. Sebelius is the VP nominee? There's been talk, and I hear she's hella popular.

Not even if Gov. Sebelius is the VP nominee? There's been talk, and I hear she's hella popular.

Well, North Carolina is a much less conservative state than Kansas and John Edwards was very popular their. They Kerry Edwards ticket lost North Carolina by a large margin. Same with Gore and Tennessee (only worse).

Well, North Carolina is a much less conservative state than Kansas and John Edwards was very popular their. They Kerry Edwards ticket lost North Carolina by a large margin. Same with Gore and Tennessee (only worse).

Not quite the same--Edwards wasn't the most popular, and might have had trouble repeating as Senator had he not been the Veep candidate, and Gore hadn't been in Tennessee for a long time when he ran, but your point is still well made.

Not quite the same--Edwards wasn't the most popular, and might have had trouble repeating as Senator had he not been the Veep candidate, and Gore hadn't been in Tennessee for a long time when he ran, but your point is still well made.

Thank you. Your points are taken as well. :D

I hate to commit the mortal sin of thread necromancy here, but there is some outrageous nonsense in this thread what needs correcting.

and a near incomprehensable ability to consistently vote against their own best interest.

Just curious, but what do you think is Kansas' monolithic "best interest"?

I thought at first you might be talking about farmers or something, but that's silly, since farm subisidies have grown rapidly under Republicans (not sure how it compares to how fast they grew under Democrats, but the fact that they grew is still something).

Then I thought you might be talking about economics, but Kansans certainly are not poor in the traditional sense of the world; the average Kansan's annual income for 2006 was $64,215, only about $900 below the national average of $65,093 (and still higher than the median national income of $64,128). Plus I don't think you straight-facedly, seriously buy that people's "best interest" is limited solely to their economics. I consider myself middle-class, but I'd be willing to pay crippling taxes if it was necessary to keep my children safe from crime, war, etc. Plus, the four states with the highest income are solidly Democratic, and the next five are either solidly tax-jacking Democratic or swing states that voted straight Democratic this year, so obviously people themselves disagree with your analysis on what's in their "best interest."

Kansas is probably the most conservative state in the US.

Hardly. I'd reserve that honor for somewhere like Alaska. People forget that Kansas' gun laws are some of the most restrictive in the country, that taxes there are actually above the national average (in the top 15 by state, last I heard), and that abortion restrictions are not that restrictive (a parental notification law, which most Kansans support, and a 24-hour waiting period). Alaska beats them on all counts, but no one considers them conservative because they're small and no pretentious liberal shmuck wrote a malicious book about them.

They may have one of the most conservative branches of the Republican Party in the U.S., but that doesn't necessarily mean anything, as witnessed by the fact that they've accomplished virtually jack in instituting conservative policies.

And the fact that Kansas' Democratic governor easily won reelection, the conservative incumbent Attorney General was defeated, a conservative five-term Congressman was defeated, and numerous Republicans lost their seats in the state's lower legislative chamber, should disabuse anyone of the notion that Kansas is monolithically conservative.

Lets face it-the Right in this country is slowly rolling back the Left.

This will not continue as long as both the right and left continue to import massive numbers of future Democratic voters from the Third World.