For over a decade the National Association of Retired Federal Employees has sponsored one of the best attended forums in Leavenworth County, but this year there were fewer attendees than usual. I counted about 75, and that included the candidates. Normally the NARFE's attract around one hundred participants. Unfortunately many of our state-wide candidates were unable to attend.
 
Chris Biggs, the Democratic candidate for Secretary of State was in attendance. When Republican Ron Thornbourgh resigned the SOS position, Democratic Governor Mark Parkinson appointed Chris Biggs to the position. Chris is just one of many unelected Democrats that have been appointed to fill Republican vacancies in top positions in Kansas government. Biggs will be facing Kris Kobach. In my opinion, Kris is the best candidate Republicans have ever had for this office. By the way, the General Election begins on October 13th with advanced voting and ends on November 2nd. At the forum, Chris Biggs said one important thing that I believe every voter needs to know. He said there is no need to be concerned about voter fraud in Kansas. I'm concerned! I think we all want to make sure that only citizens, United States citizens, Kansas citizens, are voting in our elections. By now, everyone should know that Kansas has a large population of "undocumented" individuals living in our state. They can all get a driver's license. Anyone can. And they can sign up to vote through the motor voter program. They can check the box saying they're U.S. citizens and sign up to vote. No one verifies their citizenship. This has to change. It's not enough to show a driver's license or a phone bill or some other piece of paper with a place of residence listed. Proof of citizenship must be required when voting in our elections. With Kris Kobach as Secretary of State, we will remedy this problem.    
 
Ron Estes the Republican candidate for Treasurer and Dennis McKenney the Democrat candidate for Treasurer were not able to attend.  You may remember that Dennis McKinney was appointed to fill the Kansas Treasurer's position that was formerly held by Lynn Jenkins after Lynn resigned to take her job as Congresswoman for the Kansas Second Congressional District. Lynn was also unable to attend this forum and so was Cheryl Hudsbeth, her Second District opponent.
 
Janet Waugh, the Democrat candidate for the Kansas State School Board, was in attendance. The recently selected Republican candidate for this position was unable to attend. In a District Convention, Willie Dove was chosen to represent Republicans. Willie was chosen to replace Dawn Weston who resigned after filing for the position. Willie Dove was chosen by Republican Precinct Committee Delegates from the State School Board's First District to fill her vacancy, but a ruling from Chris Biggs at the Secretary of State office refused to accept Dawn's resignation and recognize Willie Dove as the one chosen to replace Dawn as the First District Republican Candidate. Biggs claimed that Dawn had not properly submitted her resignation. First District SSB Delegates will re-convene on September 9th to confirm what they had decided last month. Willie Dove will be the official Republican candidate for SSB. Folks, we need someone new in the office of Secretary of State. In Janet Waugh's opening statement she asserted that for every eight-tenths of a percent of additional funding for schools, there was a one percent increase in student achievement. I guess that's her way of saying education needs more of your money. When asked if she thought all theories of evolution should be taught she answered by saying she favored the teaching of evolution and that in the past Kansas had become the laughing stock of the country and the world because of that debate. I am not the one who asked that question but I think the person who asked wanted to know if micro evolution and macro evolution should be taught equally as fact? I don't think so. Macro evolution is an unproven theory. If you are going to teach macro evolution, teach it as unproven theory, not fact. She did mention intelligent design. She said that she believes in local control. School boards can choose to examine any theories they desire. I'm not so sure about that.    
 
Next were the candidates for State Representative. I'm going to briefly mention the races in the 40th and 41st Districts. I thought Republican Sandra Bohne did well in her presentation. She is going up against the 40th District incumbent, Melanie Meier. Being an incumbent has its advantages. Melanie is well-informed. Sandra also showed a very good grasp of the issues. This question wasn't asked at the forum but I do know something about how Melanie voted on the fiscal issues. She voted against the House Appropriations Budget proposal that balanced the budget without increasing taxes. Then she proceeded to vote with the coalition in support of budget proposals that would require additional state spending. The coalition was made up mostly of Democrats and a few liberal Republicans. Many of those liberal Republicans did not make it through the August Primary. I wonder why? If the current trend towards supporting conservative Republicans continues and if the Democrats continue to have nothing to offer but more spending and higher taxes, in my opinion, Sandra can win this seat.           
 
Republican candidate 41st District, Jana Goodman did a wonderful job of answering the questions. Jana knows the issues. Her opponent, Nancy Bauder, stumbled over many of the questions. Bauder was asked if she favored going to a Fair Tax system of taxation. She said NO. She had no clue. Apparently she has never heard of the Fair Tax. Folks, because this is my report, let me say that Bauder attended several Leavenworth County Republican Women luncheons. She apparently changed her party affiliation or perhaps she was just a spy? One thing I know for sure, she is the hand-picked choice of Marti Crow and the Democrats. Marti took the time to show her around the capitol and introduce her to her Democrat friends. With Bauder, it will be business as usual. What you see is what you'll get.
 
Let me tell you about my presentation. I was given three minutes to tell everyone what I would do if re-elected as State Representative for the 42nd District. Here's what I said.    
 
I started by telling the NARFE's what I would not do.

There were several questions asked. One important question was asked of my opponent.  "Would you vote to repeal the state sales tax increase?" Here's how he answered.  "No!" He said he would not vote to repeal the sales tax increase. He said, "If I had been a State Representative, I would have voted for the sales tax increase." This is the big difference between me and my opponent, in fact, it's a big difference between Democrats and conservative Republicans. Democrats are for growing government. Democrats have what I call a "Nanny State" mentality. Republicans are for empowering people. Get government out of the way. Let the people keep more of their hard earned money so they can prosper and  pursue the American dream. Another question about the smoking ban was asked. Would you support a smoking ban. My opponent said, "Yes." I voted against the smoking ban for two reasons. One, it was unbelievably flawed. State casinos, nursing homes, private clubs and some hotel rooms are exempt. I believe this is self regulating without any need for government interference. Business owners will cater to their clientele and do what's best for their business. Customers will patronize those businesses that cater to their needs. Problem solved!
 
We also heard from Patricia Stoneking. Patricia is the President of the Kansas Rifle Association. She explained the second amendment ballot question. A "yes" vote on #1 is a vote to amend our state constitution to affirm that the second amendment is an individual right. We need to do this because of a court decision from several decades ago that claimed it was not an individual right. Folks, the Second Amendment in our Bill of Rights applies to individual citizens. Vote YES on #1.  
 
We also heard from Donna Gillett concerning the ballot measure that will allow Leavenworth and Atchison County voters to elect judges. Currently, First District Judges (Leavenworth and Atchison County) are appointed. Because of the serious political ramifications associated with appointments, I recommend supporting this ballot measure. Let the people decide. 
 
There will also be a measure on the ballot concerning those who are mentally ill. Should they be allowed to vote? What do you think?     
 
Remember; Advanced Voting begins on October 13th. Let's work between now and then to get our good Republicans elected. Make sure your friends and neighbors know who they are. The choice is simple. Do they want more spending, bigger government, higher taxes, oppressive regulations, bad public policy or FREEDOM!

November 2
 
A 1905 ruling from the Kansas Supreme Court interpreted Section 4 of the Kansas Constitution to mean that the Right to Keep and Bear Arms only exists as a collective right for those in the militia or military and no individual right exists. For that reason, the NRA has worked with the Kansas State Rifle Association, Senator Mike Petersen and the legislature, to pass a Constitutional Amendment during the 2009 legislative session, which provides new language that clarifies Section 4 and guarantees an individual Right to Keep and Bear Arms. The language reads: "A person has the right to keep and bear arms for the defense of self, family, home and state, for lawful hunting and recreational use, and for any other lawful purpose." Our elected officials have done law-abiding Kansans a tremendous service by passing this landmark Constitutional Amendment. Now it is up to YOU to do your part on November 2, 2010 and vote this provision into the Kansas Constitution.
 

 

Voters in Atchison and Leavenworth and Counties will have a chance to decide this question in the General Election to be held November 2. Kansas is comprised of 105 counties. One half of the counties (52/53) elect their judges. In an effort to put the people's voice back into the judicial system, the "Take Back Our Courts" group formed to promote a YES vote on the ballot question.

  
Under the current system in our district, a commission nominates candidates to fill a vacancy. The Governor then appoints one of the nominees to serve as a judge. Every four years the judge will appear on the ballot for a retention vote. In the entire history of Kansas, only One judge has ever been denied retention. The current method of appointment and retention until the mandatory age of retirement for our District Judges does not adhere to the One Person One Vote doctrine.

It's time to take back our courts

Vote YES to Elect Judges

 The Federal Budget explained by a college student

 

 National Debt Road Trip

 

 Election Humor (Reality)

 

An Anonymous Observation
"The danger to America is not Barack Obama but a citizenry capable of
entrusting a man like him with the Presidency. It will be far easier to limit and undo the follies of an Obama presidency than to restore the necessary common sense and good judgment to a depraved electorate willing to have such a man for their president. The problem is much deeper and far more serious than Mr. Obama, who is a mere symptom of what ails America. Blaming the prince of the fools should not blind anyone to the vast confederacy of fools that made him their prince. The Republic can survive a Barack Obama, who is, after all, merely a fool. It is less likely to survive a multitude of fools such as those who made him their president."