Moran takes an edge
Congressman Jerry Moran spoke at the Washington Rotary Club meeting today. I also heard him speak on Saturday at the District Republican reorganization meeting in Hays.
He has taken on a new edge in his stump speech, calling for a refocus on fiscal responsibility… something that used to be a standard of the Republican party but was lost during the last administration. To me, his message seems to be right on target. He has always looked out for the best interests of Kansans, even when that meant going against the party.
Moran has announced he will be running for Senator Brownback’s seat in 2010. Chances are, he will be running against Governor Kathleen Sebelius with a possible primary against Rep. Todd Tiahrt. I think Tiahrt would be wasting precious time and money running against Moran, who is one of the most popular Congressman in his district in the nation.
If he has to face off against Sebelius, I figure he just needs to ask us what she has done over her eight year term that stands out to us. I can’t think of anything and I doubt very many others will. Win the base and he wins the election. He’ll also likely pull many from the middle. It’ll be that easy.
Sen. Brownback said previously that he was not going to run for another term in the US senate. I wonder if he will stick with that or make a run for Governor. I wonder how often it has happened that a sitting Governor and a sitting US Senator switched jobs. Not saying that would happen, but just wondered if that would make history if it were to happen.
Brownback has made it very clear that he will not run for the Senate, and it is also well understood in the party that he will run for the Governorship. Few could challenge his name recognition. His only threat will be if there is a moderate Democrat who could pull votes away from him, since he is on the conservative side of the fence.
There is also talk of Dennis Moore not running for re-election to his House seat. Kris Kobach made a run for his position this year, but was unsuccessful.
Kansas Senator Tim Huelskamp announced a bid for Moran’s seat. He is 39-40 years old and has grown in influence in the party over the last decade. (He was one of the youngest senators elected in Kansas.) My first run-in with him was not good (around 10 years ago). I think he’s better now.
I’ve met and talked with Mr. Kobach several times, and I am not impressed with him at all in person. He has a talk show on AM radio in KC that I like to listen to. He is impressive on the air, not so much off of it.
I’ve also ran into Sen Brownback a couple times. The force is strong in that one. He seemed genuinly interested in what I had to say and seemed well versed in subjects I wouldn’t expect him to be. He’s to the right of me politically but I think he is one of the few good guys in the Senate, could be wrong.
I have a friend who grew up next door to Rep Moore. He mowed his lawn 5 times when he was a kid and Moore has never paid him to this day. Stiffing a kid mowing your lawn is pretty low.
I’ve never met Rep Moran, hopefully I will someday. From what everyone says he always tries to put Kansas first, which is great.
You’ll meet him once you’re in Washington. He stops in 3-4 times a year it seems. He’s also a KU grad, but now sends his money to K-State with his two kids.
I liked the fact that Moore could play the guitar.
That’s good that he travels his district often. Many seem that they run to D.C. and don’t look back until election time. Probably why he is so popular.