They say imitation is the finest form of flattery, so here goes.
Sunday in the Wichita Eagle Edward Flentje, a WichitaState professor and former interim president of Emporia State (he did yeoman work between Mike Lane and Michael Shonrock) wrote a piece titled “Kansas GOP turned back on party history.”
Today I’ll share many things Ed said that I believe to be accurate.
Flentje started by claiming to have been a “card carrying Republican” all his life and listed his work history that includes many Republican assignments.
He asks current leaders? ”What exactly do Kansas Republicans believe?”
He thought beliefs included: “balancing the budget” and not “reckless tax cuts, reducing revenues while allowing spending to grow.”
But, he points out “by their own account spending $320 million more than taken in during the current budget cycle.”
Flentje also thought Republicans believed in “fair and balanced taxation.” He points out Landon campaigned for a state income tax in 1932 “as a way to reduce the reliance on the property tax.”
Our current Governor has campaigned “to eliminate the income tax and shift the tax burden onto sales and property taxpayers. A tax policy that places more of the tax burden onto lower-income Kansans….”
Professor Flentje also “thought Republicans believed in Reagan’s ideal of a “big tent” political party – with leaders who embrace Reagan’s 11th Commandment: “Thou shall not speak ill of any Republican.”
Check that idea – “Gov. Sam Brownback joined with political allies in campaigning against legislators of his own party.”
Flentje’s suggested “These Republican officeholders have turned their back on their party’s history and on those who have shaped that history.”
The current leadership of the Republican Party in Kansas have created a foul taste not only in Ed Flentje’s mouth, but also in many others who claim they are Republicans.
Ed’s answer was: “This year’s elections promise to be a watershed opportunity for Kansas voters to embrace or reject this radical “red-state” experiment with the future.”
Well said my friend, I’m Steve Sauder.
