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 ...