State of Kansas Finances

[Cdizzle]

I'm seriously. I love you guys.

[Kung Wu]

You need to pump the brakes on your hatred for Cruz. As is the case so often, you're off base. Cruz won Kansas, in a landslide. These were rural voters furious with Huelskamp not being on the Ag Committee and a stupidly thought out campaign strategy. Had nothing to do with backing Cruz.

You really need to find something else to do.

But ... but ... mandate.

[shocka khan]

I can't see the trolls, but I know they're here.....

https://www.yahoo.com/news/physician-marshall-ousts-us-rep-huelskamp-kansas-primary-032508556--politics.html?nhp=1

"Getting kicked off the Agriculture Committee is a crime that can't be forgiven," Brian Scheideman, a 52-year-old driver's education instructor, said after voting in his hometown of Wamego for Marshall. "I don't mind the independent voice, but you've got to figure out how to work with people.""

And that is what happens when you hang out with a bomb-thrower like Cruz. I hope Cruz gets primaried next cycle. I'd love to vote against him

[Aargh]

I can't see the trolls, but I know they're here.....

https://www.yahoo.com/news/physician-marshall-ousts-us-rep-huelskamp-kansas-primary-032508556--politics.html?nhp=1

"Getting kicked off the Agriculture Committee is a crime that can't be forgiven," Brian Scheideman, a 52-year-old driver's education instructor, said after voting in his hometown of Wamego for Marshall. "I don't mind the independent voice, but you've got to figure out how to work with people.""

And that is what happens when you hang out with a bomb-thrower like Cruz. I hope Cruz gets primaried next cycle. I'd love to vote against him

From the cited article

Huelskamp blamed his loss on $3 million of super PAC money coming to support his opponent.
"Half-truths and smears were spread by billionaires that bought a seat in Kansas," he said.

Huelskamp had as much Super PAC money as Marshall. At least the number of TV ads and who was paying for them would indicate that.

Speaking of lies and half-truths, Huelskamp's campaign was absolutely loaded up on them.

Huelskamp seems to be a whiny little ***** when he doesn't get his way. He appeared to be that way in Congress. He appeared to be that way when he kicked the media out of his election party when he wasn't winning. He certainly appears to be that way with virtually every post-election statement he's made.

[RoyalShock]

Huelskamp lost his Ag Committee seat prior to being reelected two years ago. That isn't why he lost, unless western Kansas gets their news 2 years late. They could have voted for LaPolice in the 2014 primary. I can only guess it was bringing up the legal incident that cost him the race.

That said, people say they want someone to go shake up the Washington establishment, but they aren't willing to accept the consequences. Losing his Ag and Budget Committee seats was a direct result of not walking in lock-step with John Boehner. A good friend of mine runs a health clinic and has worked directly with Huelskamp in the past. Here is what my friend had to say a few days ago leading up to the primary:

The media and the Marshall camp have stated that Tim’s removal from the agriculture committee was due to unwillingness to compromise. Tim is guilty as charged, except there is more to the story. The Speaker of the House, John Boehner, wanted Tim to vote in favor of a farm bill that cost, approximately, $960 billion over ten (10) years of which nearly 80% of the allocated funds have nothing to do with farming. In fact, only 14% of the budgeted dollars go towards ensuring a farm safety net. Tim recognized that the bill was less about farming and more about waste and special interest.

Huelskamp's handling of the media has been awkward at best, and an area he needed to improve on. But otherwise, I think he was the type of representative we need more of in Congress, striking a balance between representing his constituents and doing what's best for the country.

[shocka khan]

Huelskamp lost his Ag Committee seat prior to being reelected two years ago. That isn't why he lost, unless western Kansas gets their news 2 years late. They could have voted for LaPolice in the 2014 primary. I can only guess it was bringing up the legal incident that cost him the race.

That said, people say they want someone to go shake up the Washington establishment, but they aren't willing to accept the consequences. Losing his Ag and Budget Committee seats was a direct result of not walking in lock-step with John Boehner. A good friend of mine runs a health clinic and has worked directly with Huelskamp in the past. Here is what my friend had to say a few days ago leading up to the primary:



Huelskamp's handling of the media has been awkward at best, and an area he needed to improve on. But otherwise, I think he was the type of representative we need more of in Congress, striking a balance between representing his constituents and doing what's best for the country.

Thanks to you for presenting different contexting on this primary election in a respectful manner. I enjoyed reading your perspective.

I agree we need change, but people need to at least try to work within the system. I am as tired of career politicians as anyone. And that's what I like about Trump.

[RoyalShock]

Thanks to you for presenting different contexting on this primary election in a respectful manner. I enjoyed reading your perspective.

I agree we need change, but people need to at least try to work within the system. I am as tired of career politicians as anyone. And that's what I like about Trump.

I think trying to "work within the system" is the very problem that needs addressed. The system now (or at least while Boehner was in charge) is, "play or pay", that is, play along or you will pay the price. No positive change will come from acquiescing to those rules in Washington.

John Boehner was a Rino authoritarian, not a leader or stateman. Perhaps it will be better under Ryan, in which case "working within the system" will have a different meaning and allow actual discourse without punishment.

[SHOCKvalue]

Huelskamp lost his Ag Committee seat prior to being reelected two years ago. That isn't why he lost, unless western Kansas gets their news 2 years late. They could have voted for LaPolice in the 2014 primary. I can only guess it was bringing up the legal incident that cost him the race.

That said, people say they want someone to go shake up the Washington establishment, but they aren't willing to accept the consequences. Losing his Ag and Budget Committee seats was a direct result of not walking in lock-step with John Boehner. A good friend of mine runs a health clinic and has worked directly with Huelskamp in the past. Here is what my friend had to say a few days ago leading up to the primary:



Huelskamp's handling of the media has been awkward at best, and an area he needed to improve on. But otherwise, I think he was the type of representative we need more of in Congress, striking a balance between representing his constituents and doing what's best for the country.

Yep.

I previously had zero opinion whatsoever of Heulskamp (and really, I still have none), but it seems pretty clear he lost because he was not beholden to the crony capitalists and corporate welfare-ists of the ag special interests. He lost because there was an impression he was missing out on freebies from the public tit, much like an urban democrat would lose his/her seat should they not shake the welfare and social services entitlement tree enough for their respective constituents.

Both the democrats and the republicans love them some free sh*t, it just happens to be different pieces of the same pie. They are the ying and yang of an iron ball and chain that is tied to this country while we try to tread water.

[shockmonster]

I think trying to "work within the system" is the very problem that needs addressed. The system now (or at least while Boehner was in charge) is, "play or pay", that is, play along or you will pay the price. No positive change will come from acquiescing to those rules in Washington.

John Boehner was a Rino authoritarian, not a leader or stateman. Perhaps it will be better under Ryan, in which case "working within the system" will have a different meaning and allow actual discourse without punishment.

You and your friend may be right. However, I don't think that Boehner had anything to do with his loss. I heard reports that he had a prickly personality that couldn't work with other people. My take on this is that his personality went farther than only in working with other Congressmen (although imo, surely he can find some common ground to progress bills that he does agree with and maybe in fact he did). When he kicks media, etc. out of this party does show some of this prickly personality perhaps. It could be as you pointed out earlier that the public took out his handling (or dishonesty) of his advertisements on Marshall.

I do want to point out the ONLY FACT that we know for sure. His race wasn't a close call. He lost by 14 points. While I don't live in the 1st District, the people of that district seemed to be sending some sort of message.

[SHOCKvalue]

I do want to point out the ONLY FACT that we know for sure. His race wasn't a close call. He lost by 14 points. While I don't live in the 1st District, the people of that district seemed to be sending some sort of message.

They were sending the message that Huelskamp's position on ethanol (that it should stand on its own two feet or not at all) is not proper tact when you're entire congressional district lives off of the fruits of what fundamentally equates to the rural/ag equivalent of welfare.

[shockmonster]

They were sending the message that Huelskamp's position on ethanol (that it should stand on its own two feet or not at all) is not proper tact when you're entire congressional district lives off of the fruits of what fundamentally equates to ag welfare.

Maybe you are right but you forget that the same farmers elected him two other times. His views weren't a secret. He was the same ultra right guy in the State legislature. If he would have been in the State Legislature this past year, he would have agreed with Brownback and have been voted out there too. He was totally ideological and couldn't alter his view regardless of the circumstances. He says that he is against the Special Interests but in this election, the special interests included the Kansas Chamber and his ideological views would have favored them.

[shocka khan]

Maybe you are right but you forget that the same farmers elected him two other times. His views weren't a secret. He was the same ultra right guy in the State legislature. If he would have been in the State Legislature this past year, he would have agreed with Brownback and have been voted out there too. He was totally ideological and couldn't alter his view regardless of the circumstances. He says that he is against the Special Interests but in this election, the special interests included the Kansas Chamber and his ideological views would have favored them.

I hate the Chamber of Communists. They used to be an organization that promoted Main Street USA businesses, but now they are all into best shoring and government welfare. They are a pox on working families and the middle class

[wufan]

Yep.

I previously had zero opinion whatsoever of Heulskamp (and really, I still have none), but it seems pretty clear he lost because he was not beholden to the crony capitalists and corporate welfare-ists of the ag special interests. He lost because there was an impression he was missing out on freebies from the public tit, much like an urban democrat would lose his/her seat should they not shake the welfare and social services entitlement tree enough for their respective constituents.

Both the democrats and the republicans love them some free sh*t, it just happens to be different pieces of the same pie. They are the ying and yang of an iron ball and chain that is tied to this country while we try to tread water.

Good take.

[RoyalShock]

National Review and Conservative Review on Huelskamp's loss.

[shockmonster]

I hate to bring this up again but Brownback and his minions have continued to dig us in a budget hole. Another 10 million less funding in August than estimated. Current fiscal year (only July and August) place Kansas more tha 25 Million in the hole. Meanwhile our neighboring states have much stronger economies.