Whither Ark City Democrats

Just had an interesting conversation with our new newsroom employee. Mick Watts. Mick grew up in Wichita and lived outside Kansas for many years before joining his mother here in Ark City. He said he still has the image of Ark City as a union, Democratic town symbolized by the Docking family. (Robert Docking was governor while he lived here in Ark City)

But the town's politics seem to have turned completely on its head. There is a very conservative streak here now, embodied by a very active "new conservative" Republican Party. It is the party of religious conservatives and very strict fiscal conservatives. Kasha Kelley embodies this agenda. It also is home to the man people most identify with the anti-evolution movement, Steve Abrams, who sits on the state board of education.

It's a fascinating story how this town's political image morphed from Democrat and Union to strict conservative, at least in image. Others would know better but I'm sure Ark City was never a "liberal" town per say, more of a Reagan Democrat town got swept up in the new conservative movement that just recently hit its peak.

The Democratic Party in Ark City seems to have gone underground. It's somewhat active in Winfield but you certainly see little signs of activity where it once thrived. I'm certainly willing to be challenged on this. But these are my observations.

Obama in Eldorado

He's speaking at Butler County Community College, in the gym. Doors open at 11:30 p.m.
check barackobama.com to register

Obama Wichita

Just heard from the Obama campaign. He's planning to speak in Wichita on Tuesday. No word yet on time or place. He likely will be the only presidential candidate to come through Kansas before Feb. 5. We don't have many delegates to give, but Obama is hoping for a sweep of southern and more rural states to counter Clinton's strength in California, New York and New Jersey.

Obama and Sebelius

Rumors are Obama campaign is courting Sebelius hard for an endorsement. They apparently see Kansas as a key to their Feb. 5 strategy, when 21 states vote for the Democratic nomination. Hillary probably will get California and New York, while Obama hopes to pick up several smaller states in the midwest and south, while getting home state of Illinois. I have gotten several calls and emails from his campaign. Full disclosure here - I donated $50 to Obama's campaign.

Registering voters

Proponents of the school bond issue were registering people to vote at the Rec Center Tuesday evening during youth basketbal games. They are trying to increase voter registration and promote turnout. This serves two purposes

1. A general civic good by getting folks registered

2. High turnout increases the chance of a YES vote.

As I've mentioned before, past experience shows that the higher the turnout the more likely it is that people who support a bond will outweigh the folks who don't - because the folks opposed to any tax increase show up no matter what. This is also why they decided to do a mail ballot - it increases turnout.

There are small billboards up for the bond issue and I expect we'll see ads in the paper and on radio soon. I haven't heard of any organized opposition to the bond. I think the citizens committee makes a persuasive case for this - leveraging state money up to 50 to 60 percent is a golden opportunity to fix heating and air, ad space for all day kindergarten, improve entrances and safety, beef up the high school tech building, and finally build a stadium worthy of Ark City's proud athletic programs. (and a few more things)

This district's academic performance is advancing. It deserves facilities to match the greatness we expect of our kids.

The Clinton machine

Following the Democratic race closely, I have been amazed at the effectiveness of the Clinton campaign's attacks on Obama. It's amazing how they can go negative first, and then make it look like they are targets of unfairness. (The race issue) I don't see how Obama survives this machine. They are too good. My prediction, though, is that if Hillary wins the primary, she'll lose the general by whomever (except maybe Huckabee) the Republicans nominate. Democrats may love Bill Clinton and Hillary as a second act, but Clinton never won 50 percent of the vote because Perot was in the race, and they are so polarizing that they will not win independets.


Here's what David Plouffe, Obama's campaign manager, wrote today and will probably become a theme of Obamas -- that the Clinton's will do anything to win ...

"The conduct of the Clinton Campaign in recent weeks essentially makes the case for why we need Barack Obama - it's the same old-style say anything or do anything to win, divisive attacks that have prevented progress in this country for so long."

Whoa Huckabee

Up until now, I thought Mike Huckabee did a fairly nice job tempering his religious beliefs with his political positions. But here's what he said in Michigan the other day.

"I have opponents in this race who do not want to change the Constitution," Huckabee told a Michigan audience on Monday. "But I believe it's a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living god. And that's what we need to do -- to amend the Constitution so it's in God's standards rather than try to change God's standards so it lines up with some contemporary view."

Gulp

Change the religion and the country and it sounds like what some Islamic leaders say ...

Obama's background

For anybody who believes the internet and email rumors about Obama being a Muslim, or being raised a Muslim, please see these links.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/muslim.asp
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/28/AR2007112802757_2.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama_background_whisper_campaign_and_media_controversy

Some people on the Traveler poll said they wouldn't vote for him because of his Muslim heritage. The efforts to attach him to Islam, despite the facts at hand, are disturbing.

Bond info

There does seem to be some misleading information surrounding the bond issue.

One point is that 16 percent of the bond issue, $5.8 million, would got to the sports complex west of the high school. It's only a piece of the whole.

Second point is about costs. A couple comments to the last post said it will cost $3,000 per resident, or $6,000 for taxpayers for a new stadium.

The $3,000 number looks like it comes from taking the whole $35.8 mil and dividing by the population of Ark City, 12,000. I suppose you could argue this but practicaly speaking, locally, only property owners will pay for this and it averages to about $70 year for a house of $100,000, according to USD 470 figures. Over the 20 year life of the bond, that's $1,400. The number will be less if you have a cheaper house, more if you have a more expensive house.

Also, with 50 percent of the total being funded by the state, about $17.5 million will come from taxpayers throughout the state. It's certainly tax money, but that's money being collected on residents througout the state that would go somewhere else.

Not sure where the $6,000 figure came from. Certainly nobody is going to be taxed that much for this bond, unless they have lots of property or very expensive property ....

School bond election

With the big box debate and presidential election in full swing, our schools vote coming up March 4 has kind of been lost among the trees.

But this is a big deal - $38 million in improvements to all schools and a new sports field for USD 470. I'm told that the mail ballot will increase chances of passage because the higher the turnover, the more likely it is that the hardcore "no taxes" voters will be swamped by those persuaded by a good campaign.

Expect to see ads soon and public hearings coming up held by a citizens' comment stumping for the bond issue. I wonder, though, with talk of a recession and "progressives" losing the big box vote, if voters feel like protecting their pockets. I think that would be a shame. A top notch school district needs top notch facilities. Check out Traveler data center for power point on the project at www.arkcity.net

Kansas caucuses

They aren't getting much attention, but Kansas' caucuses are coming up in February.

The Democrats go Feb. 5, or Super Tuesday, when some 20 other states vote, including California, New York and Massachusetts. With so few votes, or delegates, toward the total, it always seems like Kansas is irrelevant during the nominating process. But this year, it could shape up to be a long, protracted battled between Obama and Clinton and our tiny share might really matter. Looks like, as in Iowa, you can register to vote that night or switch party affiliation to vote.

The Democratic Caucus is at 7 p.m. (can't be late) at Baden Square in Winfield for everybody in Senate District 32.

Here's the Web site http://www.ksdp.org/caucus


Republicans in Kansas caucus Feb. 9 starting at 10 a.m. (Don't be late) They are doing it by Congressional District and it looks like the closest spot is Belle Plaine, at the Belle Plaine City Building, 401 N. Merchant. This, too, could be an important race. With four people in real contention, it might go down to the wire. The web site (below) states that this is the first time in 20 years! that Republicans in Kansas have been part of the nominating process.

http://ksgopcaucus.org/locations.htm

Obama movement

Thursday night I watched speeches of the candidates after the Iowa election results were in. Mike Huckabee was great. Humble and inspirational ..... money can't buy votes, and people want a new kind of leadership that values average Americans.

Then Obama's turn came. He won't outshine Huckabee, I thought. But he reached another level altogether. There he was, alone on a stage, elevated above frenzied supporters feeding him inspiration and confidence. I know this sounds corny but he looked regal, dignified and his words cemented that image.

It contrasted with Clinton's speech, where she basically listed some issues and bounced around on topics. Her advisors stood behind her, including Bill and others from the past. The old guard, whose time had come and gone.

Obama stood by himself. Above all the political choas, and gaving a sweeping speech about hope and unity and political transcendence that was both believiable and aspirational. I at least for a few minutes there, I was completely swept up in the words and images.

He has definately tapped into a powerful sentiment — like Kennedy's "ask not" theme and Reagan's "Morning in America."

I've never heard or felt anything like it.