Right-Wing "Freedom's Watch" Launch Radio Ads Attacking Boyda

The right-wing radical group "Freedom's Watch," which has already run full page ads in area newspapers attacking Congresswoman Nancy Boyda, and only weeks ago launched a blitz of robocalls lamely attacking Boyda first on military pay and then on gas prices.

We're guessing they're learning the hard way people hate robocalls, because they're newest volley comes in the form of radio ads.

"Since last year, gas prices are up 75 [percent]," says a narrator at the start. "Everything -- from bread and milk, to airline tickets, even diapers -- costs more."

The ad then details a series of energy votes by the targeted Democrats that have blocked attempts to lower costs.

"But, Nancy Boyda stands in the way," says the narrator. "While we cut back on gas and groceries, family outings, and summer vacations."

(We haven't found the whole transcript of the Boyda ad yet- we'll let you know when we do).

So, really, nothing more than the partisan finger pointing we've been hearing for months- the same drivel that ignores anything and everything proactive that doesn't result in drilling in Yellowstone National Park. They willfully ignore votes taken by Boyda to increase funding for alternative fuels (which are, in the end, our only real way out of this mess), her endorsement of a federal gas tax holiday, and for more domestic exploration.

These ads aren't about informing voters, they're misleading voters with half-truths and misdirection.

Since we don't have the exact votes from the radio ad, we can't go at them one-by-one, but we can promise you from a purely non-partisan position we wholeheartedly agree with what Chris Cilliza said when he broke this story:

Gas prices are the latest political football in the positioning of the two parties in advance of the fall election. The simple truth is that neither congressional Democrats nor Republicans can do much of anything when it comes to lowering the price of gas. There is no good short term solution.

Skyrocketing gasoline prices are neither a Democratic nor a Republica problem, they weren't caused by either party, and both parties would do anythign they could to lower the price today. The only problem is- there isn't anything- nothing at all- that will lower them short-term and keep them down. Every solution discussed from alternative fuels to more domestric drilling will solve the problem in 10 years, not tomorrow.

When faced with problems like these, we need politicians who are prepared to think about what will actually fix the problem, not what will be expediant- Boyda's looking toward the future while trying to do anything she can, along with the rest of the Democratic majority, while groups like Freedom's Watch can't see passed their own noses.

Letter to the Editor: Medicare Cuts

A letter to the editor in the Sunday edition of the Topeka Capital-Journal from Congresswoman Nancy Boyda:

Medicate Vote
Sunday, June 29, 2008

If you needed a reminder of how important elections are, it comes this week. Tuesday, Medicare is going to get a lot worse for almost everyone. Last week, Congress had a chance to do something about it. In the House, where every member is up for re-election this November, the fix-it bill passed by a vote of 355 to 59 despite opposition from the president.

Unfortunately, only one-third of the Senate is up for re-election this year. When the Senate voted, the 50 Democrats (Sen. Ted Kennedy is still away fighting cancer) were joined by all of the Republicans facing tough re-election races in the fall. However, almost all the rest, including Sen. Sam Brownback, stuck with the president, and the bill fell one vote short of the 60 needed.

Doctors and other providers will see their payments cut by 10.6 percent. Those in rural areas will see their payments cut even more. The bonus payments that allow rural areas to keep their laboratories and ambulance services will expire. Patients who need rehab therapy will face tight caps on their number of sessions.

The bill we voted on blocked all of these changes. It also made some improvements, including help for pharmacies, rural clinics and low-income seniors, and it did it without increasing the debt.

The president opposes the bill because we pay for the improvements by cutting an insurance company subsidy, called Medicare Advantage, that will cost taxpayers $65 billion over the next five years.

I think Americans think it's good policy. That's why everyone who has to answer to the voters in November supported this bill.

Democracy is a team sport. This is a great example of why you need to be part of the debate.

REP. NANCY BOYDA, Topeka

Boyda Fights to Stop Medicare Reimbursement Cuts

Every single member of the Kansas delegation to Congress, all of them- save one- voted last week to prevent massive cuts from Medicare from going into effect- and to prevent very real hardship from hitting folks back at home and all over the nation.

Medical care options may be reduced after lawmakers packed up and left Washington, D.C., this week without stopping a 10.6 percent decrease in Medicare reimbursements made to physicians.

Primary care physicians with the Cotton-O'Neil Clinic will stop accepting new Medicare patients on Tuesday as a result of the cuts that go into effect that day.

"We urge citizens to communicate with your elected officials and ask for their support to repeal cuts to their Medicare benefits," said Kent Palmberg, chief medical officer for Stormont-Vail HealthCare, of which Cotton-O'Neil is a division.

Legislation was needed to block cuts that otherwise occur automatically under a formula. Congress has blocked similar cuts in the past.

The bill to prevent Bush Administration supported cuts passed the House overwhelmingly- 355-59. It was the Senate that become the problem, with responsibility resting directly at the feet of Senator Sam Brownback.

But in the Senate, the legislation fell just short of mustering the 60 votes needed to pass the measure under expedited rules. Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, fell out of line with other members of the state's delegation, voting against shutting down debate so senators could vote on the measure. Phone calls and an e-mail sent to Brownback's office on Friday weren't returned.

If Brownback had joined his fellow Republican from Kansas Senator Pat Roberts, the bill would have had enough votes to get passed the Republican filibuster and could have gone on to an up-or-down vote. But, instead, he voted in lockstep with the Bush Administration and prevented any action. His one vote cost thousands of Kansans, and millions of Americans, their medical coverage.

Don't like it coming from us? Take it from Pat Roberts, then:

"I urge my colleagues to put politics aside to pass this bill for seniors and our health care providers," Roberts said in a statement released by his office. "I hope the Congress and the administration can work together to adopt these reforms as soon as possible."

Congresswoman Nancy Boyda was, rightfully, "shocked" when she got the news the Senate had refused to act.

"I think this is where I'm hoping there is nothing short of outrage on this," Boyda said. "Public policy follows public opinion."

In addition to eliminating the planned reduction, Boyda said the legislation would have addressed problems that are driving small pharmacies out of business and leaving some rural counties with no pharmacies. The legislation would have continued to make bonus payments to physicians working in rural areas, kept caps off of physical therapy and increased Medicare payments to doctors by 1.1 percent in January.

Boyda said she worries about seniors losing out on medical care options.

"They don't need one more thing to worry about," she said.

It's nothing shy of sad Sam Brownback let politics get in the way of protecting the health and well-being our our senior citizens. We agree with Boyda- we hope Kansas is outraged.

Ryun vs. Jenkins -or- TV vs. Yard Signs

Particularly for the folk in the Topeka media market, it's been hard to watch broadcast TV the last two weeks without seeing Jim Ryun's "awkward as a colt" commercial. The message certainly as saturated...but, like Ric Anderson pointed out a week ago, it's a message that saturated, say, 40 years ago.

1. As part of congressional candidate Jim Ryun's bid to win the Republican primary, his campaign began airing a TV commercial focusing on his background as a record-setting runner and an Olympian. According to the Ryun campaign, the ad is aimed at telling voters more about the candidate's past. Kansas Republican voters who were unaware that Ryun was an athlete also might be surprised to learn which of the following?

A) Amelia Earhart was an aviator
B) Dwight Eisenhower was a general
C) William Allen White was a journalist
D) All of the above

Correct answer: D

Chalk it up to the Ryun campaign totally misreading the electorate, but that's not that kind of information they're looking for when they say the need more background on their former Member of Congress.

The ad's bad, of course, but what's even more surprising than the Ryun campaigns tin ear is the utter and complete silence with which the Jenkins campaign responded to it. For two weeks, Ryun's ads have been on air non-stop and unchallenged, and the very last thing a challenger who is already losing wants to do is let their opponent run the table. But that's exactly what it seems the Jenkins camapign is doing.

If not addressing Ryun head-on, what have the Jenkins people been doing? Yard signs, by the looks of neighborhoods in Topeka. We aren't talking Nancy Boyda 2006 coverage, but they've got yard signs 'round town. Yard signs are important, oh yes sir, but that don't match TV for effectiveness or reach, and they certainly don't provide the level of exposure Jenkins desperately needs. It's roundly recognized Lynn Jenkins' most significant problem is name recognition- people outside of Shawnee County just don't know who the heck she is. Rather than do the logical and throw herself up on TV, she's pushing signs into the ground.

What is all of this, distilled? While Ryun takes the first real steps to defines himself and the race, Jenkins seems to be sitting on her hands.

Social Network Battleground

Back again with our weekly update of how each of our major party candidates are doing in the world of social networking.

We're tracking Facebook and MySpace only.

Candidate	# of Friends	# of Friends	# of Friends
	6/14/08	6/21/08	6/28/08
Rep. Nancy Boyda (D)
FB Profile	493	607	874
FB Page	820	847	853
FB Group	415	431	457
MySpace	1,912	1,933	1,941
Frm. Rep. Jim Ryun (R)
FB Profile	142	152	163
FB Page	n/a	n/a	n/a
FB Group	27	90	105
MySpace	12	13	14
Treasurer Lynn Jenkins (R)
FB Profile	n/a	n/a	n/a
FB Page	92	92	99
FB Group	265	266	274
MySpace	10	10	10

Another week that sees the most movement from Boyda, though Ryun continues a slow upward trek and even Jenkins saw some new peeps on the Facebook side of things.

In end, we understand such things are hard for Republicans....there aren't so many young people you identify with the GOP...but it's so good they're trying.

Remember, each week we'll indicate any up and down movement by putting increasing numbers in bold and falling numbers in italics.

Analysis: Ryun's Ad Filled with Deep Metaphor Missed by Most

For those who missed it, Washburn University Political Science professor Dr. Bob Beatty was on Topeka NBC affiliate KSNT yesterday with his take on Jim Ryun's first ad the of the primary season, which is called by the Ryun campaign, "Duckling."

We don't disagree with Beatty's interperation of the ad, metaphors and all, but we're also quite certain the casual TV viewing audience isn't nearly as engage or paying nearly as much attention as neccessary to even begin to fathom that level of obliqueness.

We've all heard just one thing about this ad, "We all said we didn't know enough about Jim Ryun to vote for him again, and the first thing you tell us in your ads is the ONLY THING WE ALL ALREADY KNOW!"

KC Star: 2nd District Primary is Going to be Hot

Poor Jim Ryun- and poor Lynn Jenkins, too- the only thing the media cares about is Jim's clean campaign pledge that Lynn laughed (rightly) off the table.

You know it’s a hot congressional race when even talk of running a clean campaign turns nasty.

That’s what happened when Jim Ryun asked his Republican primary opponent, Kansas Treasurer Lynn Jenkins, to make their contest a polite one. Ryun, the track star who held Kansas’ 2nd District congressional seat for 10 years, said he got no response.

“She doesn’t show any interest in running anything other than a disappointing campaign,” he said last week.

But Jenkins said it is Ryun who disappointed her after outside groups from Washington spent thousands to denounce Jenkins in a round of television ads.

“This is a guy who has already spent — or his cronies in Washington spent — $120,000 running ads in this district that have distorted my record,” she said.

Snap. We're totally on Lynn's side in this one- Jim Ryun is trying to run the same kind of campaign against her that he ran against Congresswoman Nancy Boyda twice- he's desperately trying to make the issue the fact she's not worthy of being elected, so we'll all ignore the fact he was a horrible Member of Congress. Now, Lynn isn't worthy of being elected, but certainly not because she's pointing out the fact that Jim was, in fact, a horrible Member of Congress.

Here's another little tidbit-

Registered Republicans outnumber Democrats 43 percent to 29 percent. The district overwhelmingly re-elected President Bush in 2004, yet Democrats have held the congressional seat almost as often as Republicans during the past 40 years.

Also, those numbers make Boyda's 68% approval rating and her head-to-head match ups against both Ryun & Jenkins look pretty sweet- and evidence her work against illegal immigration and to bring our men and women home from Iraq with honor have resonated with the voters of her district.

KS GOP Blogs Stupid...When Talking About This Blog!

Yes, children, they even think we're funny!

First, and we'll say this again just for you, Christian, that this blog is not maintained by the Kansas Democratic Party, any member of the Kansas Democratic Party's staff, or anyone employed by Nancy Boyda, her congressional office or her campaign for re-election.

Second, Christian, perhaps you haven't noticed, but this blog has posted nearly 330 times- with only a handful of posts actively making fun of other blogs. True, we do make fun of you...we've actually made fun of The Trunkline more often than we made fun of Bounce Boyda...and that's saying something.

But, you see, Christian, it's so easy- and so necessary. The more times you post with lies, with misdirection, or with a blatant disregard for the facts, the more times we'll poke fun, the more time we'll, point-by-point, tear your post apart. It's a public service, you see, straight from us to the political general public.

Seriously, though, man- you're the Executive Director of the Kansas Republican Party- do you actually have nothing better to do with the time in your day than to blog about a blog that hurt your feelings?

Oh and, uh- where can we register to post comments on The Trunkline? We'd just love to!

Jenkins Stance On Abortion Makes Her Unique

Exactly who a Republican candidate in a nasty primary in Kansas wants to be: The poster-child for pro-choice Republican women!

WISH List, a group that supports pro-choice Republican women running for office, has only one non-incumbent on its federal-level endorsement list for November: Lynn Jenkins, the current Kansas state treasurer. Jenkins is running in a GOP Congressional primary against the highly favored Jim Ryun, a hard-line anti-choicer who served five terms in the House before being booted out of office by pro-choice Republican-turned-Democrat Nancy Boyda in 2006.

Lonely, Lynn?

Ryun's Media Buy Expands into New Markets

We still aren't sure if Frm. Congressman Jim Ryun is keeping his same "introduction" ad up or if this buy is going to be something new, but he has expanded his TV ad buy into the Joplin, MO market (which covers the southern portion of the district including Pittsburg), and also onto the Topeka ABC affiliate. That puts him up on the big three in Topeka (still not on FOX). Nothin' in the St. Joseph market still.

Buy for this week totals $28,300.

Still nothing from Jenkins- if you do see an ad for Jenkins, or any kind of independent expenditure, e-mail us at boydabloc@gmail.com

KS GOP Blogs Stupid: Is This Just a Running Gag?

We've finally decided: The Kansas Trunkline isn't actually run by the Kansas Republican Party. No statewide organization with hundreds of thousands of members could ever produce something that so...so...so stupid and that never, ever contains more than a ratio of 1 fact to every 5 lies.

It just isn't possible the blog is actually produced by the Kansas Republican Party. We refuse to believe a statewide party is that amateurish, that arrogant, that....stupid.

And chicken- we should mention chicken- because they don't have the cajoles to let people post comments pointing out their stupid.

For this disaster, we'll translate "Batshit Insane Right-Wing Radical" into "Reasonable-personspeak" for your convenience:

"While I'm pleased that Boyda has finally seen the light, Kansans should not forget the absurd remarks she made on the subject only four months ago. Boyda originally voted against this bill; and at the time she had the audacity to call the Kansas GOP 'damn liars' for pointing out the flaws in her position.

1. They only call the remarks "absurd" because she hurt their feelings, publicly calling them out for lying and the like. It was an amazing speech- the best double-fisted defense against the right-wing spin machine anyone in Kansas has seen in a lifetime.

2. Boyda has only ever voted one way on this particular bill- in favor of it. The bill Boyda voted FOR in February was a much better version of this bill- which the Republicans prevented from becoming law.

3. For the love of...Boyda never once said the KS GOP were "damn liars"- 12,000 people have listened to the speech, but Christian Morgan continues to believe he can just make things up about it. No, dear Mr. Morgan, Boyda called the "Defense of Democracies" TV ad "damned lies" because, wow, IT WAS FILLED WITH LIES! We're going to get tired of linking to the Newsweek piece that refuted it, but hell, it's necessary. (BTW, just like we said the last time they pulled this stupid out, the version of the ad they linked to on their blog contains 30 seconds refuting the ad....did they take it down? Oh no...of course not. Because they're idiots). Point remains the same as it was in February- the KS GOP was then (and, obviously are still) willfully pushing "damned lies."

(We hate how long these posts get...but point-by-point refutation takes a lot of words...)

"Now that her re-election is in doubt, she flip-flopped-showing that doesn't really know where she stands on the most important issue facing Americans today.

1. Yes, sure, Christian- Boyda's re-election is in doubt. Keep on ignoring reality- it will surely go away.

2. Boyda hasn't changed positions. She voted for the last bill, she voted for this bill. What on Earth is wrong with you people?

You don't have to lie to win, and you don't have to lie to blog. You'd think the KS GOP would learn that for their own sakes.

41 Years Since Ryun Mattered; Jenkins Announcement Video

For those of you lucky enough to be on Jim Ryun's mailing list, you already know this, but for those of you not so blessed, let us just tell you that today is the 41st anniversary of Jim Ryun's world record-setting mile.

Seeing as it's the only reason he's yet to provide the public at-large for his re-election, it shouldn't surprise you he'd like you to donate to his campaign today in celebration of his greatest triumph. Please send $41 or $351 today (get it? 41 years, 3:51 race time? SO clever!).

Also, as an FYI, Ryun has extended his media buy....don't know if he'll have a new ad, or just more of "Duckling."

We missed this last week- our deepest apologies- Lynn Jenkins' announcement speech from Holton. We'd make fun of the content...if we could hear her over the wind.

The American Conservative: Boyda May be Safe

A few days ago we linked to a piece written for The American Conservative- and, like we said then, that isn't a periodical we would normally ever...ever...read. But, again, they have brought us gold that we, in turn, are bringing to you.

Kansas’ 2nd District may be turning into a safe seat for the Democrats, according to this result. Generic approval for Congress is an abysmal 12% these days, but the personal job approval ratings for new Democratic incumbents appear to be very good, and we all know that the generic Congressional ballot is overwhelmingly pro-Democratic. As far as Nancy Boyda is concerned, there does not seem to be voter’s remorse over her 2006 election, which supports my earlier guess that her seat was not as vulnerable as the race rankings suggest that it is. Pretty clearly, contrary to what I was saying earlier this month, her endorsement of Obama has had no meaningful effect on support for her in the district.

Which, of course, we said at the time.

KS-02 ought to be one of the GOP’s best chances to retake a seat lost in the midterms, and that possibility seems more remote by the day. Things may change once the Republicans settle on a nominee, but there is no reason right now to think that a Boyda-Ryun rematch would yield a different result.

We're as buoyed by these polling results as this poor conservative is dejected by them, but, as realists, we know perfectly well these numbers will move a great deal after the Republicans start pummeling Congresswoman Boyda with negative TV. But, at this point, this is just another "Republican seat" slipping out of the grasp of the Republican Party. We can't forget they'll fight dirty to prevent that from happening.

67, 66, 65, 64...

We're just moments away from out 20,000th hit- making us arguably the best-read political blog in Kansas (and certainly the most-read Democratic blog in Kansas), and still the only place to stop for all your 2nd Congressional District Primary & General election news.

Thank you all for making this blog such a success!

-The Boyda Bloc Team

Social Network Battleground

Back again with our weekly update of how each of our major party candidates are doing in the world of social networking.

We're tracking Facebook and MySpace only.

Candidate	# of Friends	# of Friends
	6/14/08	6/21/08
Rep. Nancy Boyda
FB Profile	493	607
FB Page	820	847
FB Group	415	431
MySpace	1,912	1,933
Frm. Rep. Jim Ryun
FB Profile	142	152
FB Page	n/a	n/a
FB Group	27	90
MySpace	12	13
Treasurer Lynn Jenkins
FB Profile	n/a	n/a
FB Page	92	92
FB Group	265	266
MySpace	10	10

Boyda, in our first week, is our clear winner, though Frm. Congressman Ryun did more than triple the number of people in his "Jim Ryun for Congress" Facebook group- up from 27 to 90.

Hmm...for the only candidate in the race with an avatar on Second Life, he's not so good at the social media.

Each week we'll indicate any up and down movement by putting increased numbers in bold and falling numbers in italics.

Friday Photo Caption Contest: Ryun in the Countyside Edition

After the week we've had- from polling data to major legislation- we're well on our way to our highest high count ever for a single week- thank you all so much for reading us!

But, now, we need something a little more relaxing- so, photo caption contest it is!

Boyda: New FISA Law Provides Checks & Balances

From the Office of Congresswoman Nancy Boyda:

BOYDA SAYS NEW BI-PARTISAN FISA BILL PROVIDES CHECKS AND BALANCES IN FIGHT ON TERRORISM

CONGRESS APPROVES BI-PARTISAN FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE ACT

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Nancy Boyda (Kansas Second District) announced that, after months of debate, the United States House of Representatives has today voted in favor of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act 2008 by a vote of 293-129.

Boyda said "Since I took office in January, 2007, my highest priority has been to protect our country. It's the reason I ran for Congress – to protect my family and the families of Kansas. This is a responsibility I take very seriously. Congress has reached a bi-partisan agreement on a bill that provides protection for America – without violating the rights of Americans."

The FISA bill requires court approval prior to the start of surveillance in a non-emergency. In an emergency, it allows the "wiretap first, get permission later" policy that Boyda has been advocating.

Boyda said, "I have been adamant that any Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act require checks and balances. This bill reaffirms what I have said repeatedly. The Protect America Act and the Senate version did not reflect the values of America. This bill strikes a good balance."

"I heard from some constituents about immunity for telecommunications companies. This limited immunity should not in any way close the books on investigations into any illegal wiretapping which may have taken place. The American public deserves to know the truth."

Vote on FISA TODAY

In these last 48 hours leading up to today's vote on the new FISA bill, Congresswoman Nancy Boyda's speech chastizing conservative groups for playing with America's security to win political points, has been viewed almost 5,200 times.

It was an impressive speech, and we'd like to post it here again today:

Boeing, Emmergency Supplemental & More on the Poll

Three things: Boyda's congressional office sent out two press releases over the last few days, but in all the excitement with the Boyda & the Jenkins poll, we didn't get them posted.

First, Boyda's response to the GAO decision to sustain an appeal made by Boeing regarding the awarding of a contract for new tankers.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) today announced its decision to sustain an appeal by Boeing over a tanker contract awarded earlier this year to EADS, the European Aerospace conglomerate and Northrop Grumman. Congresswoman Nancy Boyda (Kansas Second District) called the GAO's decision "the right thing to do – for national security and for America's economy."

[...]

Boyda said "I am extremely pleased the GAO has called for the Air Force to reopen contract discussions, re-evaluate the revised proposals and make a new source selection decision. After all, it just makes no sense for America to outsource our ability to defend our nation. In World War II, our nation's manufacturers turned on a dime to produce the planes and trucks we need to keep America safe. With every contract we send overseas, we lose our capacity to build for our own military."

"Please know," added Boyda, "I will continue the fight to help protect our nation's security and jobs in Kansas when it comes to awarding military contracts."

Boyda also issued a statement regarding her reasons behind supporting the new emergency supplemental bill containing funds for the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan, along with new monies for domestic programs.

Congresswoman Nancy Boyda (Kansas Second District) announced today that the U.S. House of Representatives, in a bipartisan show of support, voted for an Emergency Supplemental Funding Bill.

Boyda said "Kansans should be pleased that my colleagues from both sides of the aisle came together in voting for this bill. It addresses many important issues for the Second District of Kansas, including funding for a much needed new hospital at Fort Riley, assistance for disaster stricken areas, and an extension of unemployment benefits for the jobless."

The Supplemental contains $161.8 billion to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through the summer of 2009, as well as $2.65 billion in disaster relief funds for areas of the Midwest hit by tornadoes and flooding. It extends unemployment compensation by 13 weeks for Kansas workers unable to find jobs because of the ailing economy. It expands the GI Bill to provide improved education benefits for veterans and allows veterans to transfer education benefits to their families.

And, finally, another new analysis piece about the new poll showing Congresswoman Nancy Boyda polling substaintially ahead of her Republican challengers & with approval ratings higher than any other elected official in Kansas.

RealClearPolitics: "Boyda Up Big"

More about the new 2008 General poll from RealClearPolitics:

Though she is widely believed to be one of the most vulnerable first-term Democrats in the country, Kansas Rep. Nancy Boyda may be in better shape than initially thought, a new survey conducted for national Democrats shows.

But in exactly the same place people on the ground in Kansas thought she was.

Despite some missteps in her first term, Boyda is hugely popular, if the poll is to be believed. 68% of respondents in her district said she was doing an excellent or good job, while just 21% had a negative impression of her job performance. 54% said they would definitely or probably vote to re-elect Boyda, while just 35% said they would give someone else a shot.

More popular than any other elected official in the state of Kansas, in fact.

In short, Boyda should be in serious jeopardy in her eastern Kansas district, which includes Topeka and Manhattan. The district gave President Bush a twenty-point win in 2004, the same year Ryun beat Boyda by a fifteen-point margin. And she's not on the DCCC's Frontline list of endangered members, after making clear she would not participate in the project to appear more independent to her district. But if the latest poll is accurate, Boyda may have struck a cord that would keep her safe in her first bid for re-election.

Hell yes she has- but having this kind of information out is only going to make the Republican Party and the NRCC fight even harder, even meaner, to knock her down. She needs your donation today.

Finally, just a little more about the Republican primary:

The late primary, just three months before Election Day, will force Ryun and Jenkins to spend much of their money on each other rather than on Boyda, who already has a financial advantage. Through the end of March, Boyda had $814,000 in the bank, while Jenkins held $486,000 in reserve and Ryun kept $459,000 around. Ryun had outraised both his opponents by wide margins, but much of that money went to paying off debt from last cycle.

Not quite right...Jim's been spending his money on postage stamps, but, the message is OK. Hey, maybe that's why Jenkins isn't doing anything to improve her name recognition- she's keeping her money in the bank for the general! Careful, honey, or you're not going to make it there to spend it.

More New Polling! Jenkins...trails Ryun?

In what strikes us as a case of "Me, too!" Lynn Jenkins' campaign shot out an email this morning about a new poll commissioned by them that contained some amazing, stunning, shocking news about the Republican primary in the 2nd District of Kansas!

She's still losing.

No, wait, that's not exactly what she said-

According to the findings, Lynn Jenkins leads Jim Ryun by 13 points among people who know both candidates! This is great news, but let me be clear - this indicates that once voters get introduced to Lynn, they support her.

Important: She leads among voters who know who they both are. Question: Exactly how many people is that, Lynn?

She'd rather not say.

This poll confirms that our greatest challenge is to get Lynn's name out there to the people.

Then why aren't you on TV? The radio? Anything?

Money troubles?

But, do you get the point? If people just knew who Lynn Jenkins was, they'd support her. In fact, according to this e-mail, the people of the district already just love her!

In fact, nearly one third of likely primary voters have a negative impression of Ryun as opposed to only 4% who view Lynn unfavorably.

Golly gee! That's amazing! But...wait...didn't you say no one in the district knew who you were? Isn't it awfully hard to have an opinion of any kind about something (or someone) of which you've never heard? Hmmm...Ms. Jenkins is trying to pull the wool over her supporter's eyes with that last one.

Regardless- the e-mail is important for what it leaves out. We don't have any idea how many people have any idea who Lynn Jenkins is, and we don't have any idea what her actual head-to-head with Jim Ryun is. Also, notice, she didn't tell you how she fairs against Nancy Boyda, either...that's because, as we saw yesterday, she's getting her hat handed to her.

Poor Lynn. Another bad week.

More on the Poll

Last night's breaking news about the astounding poll results coming out of the KS-02 drew considerable attention around the tubes.

Swing State Project, DailyKos, and Everyday Citizen all had the numbers on their front page. We'd encourage all of you visit each on, they all provide different interesting analysis of the numbers. (In a separate treat, Boyda's speech on FISA is currently also on the front page of kos...gosh, these poll numbers must really suck for all the people who spent so much time and money saying Boyda's position on FISA was wrong and out-of-step with the district...).

While this poll is good new for Boyda (obviously, seeing as she's more popular than any of the 2nd District-wide elected officials, including Gov. Kathleen Sebelius & both U.S. Senators), it particularly bad news for both Jenkins & Ryun. Their head-to-head match ups aren't even close- 37% and 27% respectively. That's got to hurt Ryun especially.

And while this poll shows the Republican primary much closer than previous polls (49-35-16 R-J-U), Jenkins still has an awfully long way to go to close the gap and pass for the former Congressman.

One thing though- she probably needs to stop saying she's the more difficult challenger for Boyda...because, by these numbers, she's quite obviously not.

BREAKING: Boyda Polling in the Lead

Just as the Republican Primary campaign bursts on to the stage, all of us watching the race in the Kansas 2nd Congressional District got a very, very unexpected surprised today that throws the conventional wisdom about this race right out the window.

Results of a poll conducted in the Kansas 2nd District in May by Anzalone Liszt Research, Inc. shows truly shocking numbers- and proves Congresswoman Nancy Boyda isn't quite as weak as previously thought.

Here they are as they were sent to us:



How would you rate the job that Nancy Boyda is doing as U.S. Congresswoman?

Total Positive- 68% (!!)
Total Negative- 21%
Don't Know- 10%

68% approval for a Democrat in eastern Kansas! That's currently better than either United States Senator or Governor Kathleen Sebelius!

Will you re-elect Nancy Boyda, or support someone new?

Re-elect- 54%
Someone new- 35%
Don't Know- 11%

That's what a year of hard work gives you- 54% want to re-elect Boyda in this R+7 district.

Nancy Boyda vs. Jim Ryun

Nancy Boyda- 54%
Jim Ryun- 37%
Undecided- 9%

After 10 years, the KS-2 has had enough of Jim Ryun!

Nancy Boyda vs. Lynn Jenkins

Nancy Boyda- 57%
Lynn Jenkins- 27%
Undecided- 15%

So much for the logic Lynn Jenkins is the stronger candidate against Boyda.

Lynn Jenkins vs. Jim Ryun

Lynn Jenkins- 35%
Jim Ryun- 49%
Undecided- 16%

(Link to the polling report as it was emailed to us)

Instant reactions: All the Republican posturing about how poor a fit Boyda is for her district is patently false- it's obvious the people of the Kansas 2nd Congressional district think Boyda is doing an exceptional job if 68% of people are giving her good or excellent marks.

Also, so far at least, the people of the district have no interest in trading out Boyda for the messages being peddled by either Ryun or Jenkins- and it looks like Jenkins still has a long way to go if she has any hope in the world of beating Ryun in the primary.

The only other thing- while this poll is good news for Nancy Boyda right now, all this new information means is, in the end, the fight is going to be even harder. Why? Because Ryun & Jenkins both know Boyda's winning, too, and they'll redouble their efforts to knock her out of her seat. Even though this polling shows Boyda's as strong as we had all hoped, this means the Republicans will pull out ever stop in an attempt to beat her.

She needs your help. Sign up to volunteer and, please, make a contribution of $10, $25, or $50- she's going to need it to stay in the lead.

KS GOP Blogs Stupid- Bad Statistics & Bad Research

Literally nothing makes us happier than calling out Republicans for lying, screwing up, or just plan forgetting their brains at the door when they try to attack Congresswoman Nancy Boyda. Today's new post on The Trunkline from the Kansas Republican Party provides us with a truly beautiful opportunity to do just that.

Two things:

• Their missive cites two different roll call votes, #370 & 380, that supposedly are instances that prove Boyda "is actually voting against debating any amendment aimed at reducing the cost of gas."

• It then smacks Boyda for not knowing how much the price of gasoline has increased for the average Kansan ("Boyda is so out of touch with what we, as every day Kansans, are paying at the pump, she thinks that gas prices have risen only 30 percent!"). The GOP says the number is actually 80%.
  

Damning, eh?

Oh, quite the opposite, dearies.

First- the roll call votes. Perhaps less vodka would make the KS GOP's researcher a little more effective, because, honestly, you'd have to just be trashed to try to pair either of their cited roll call votes with evidence Boyda has voted against lowering gas prices.

Why? Since Boyda has been in Congress, there have been two votes with each of those numbers (one for each in 2007 and in 2008) and Nancy Boyda voted "Aye" on three of them. The one she voted against? It was #380 in 2007 and it was an amendment but it had literally nothing to do with gasoline prices- it made ridiculous changes to the affordable housing fund. See for yourself.

As evidenced here, Congresswoman Boyda was right when she chastised the leadership of the KS GOP peddlers of "damned lies."

Next- the price of gas. The gist of this one is that Boyda doesn't even know how much the price of gas as increased because, on her web site, she says it has gone up 30% over the last year while the KS GOP says it's really be 80%. Basically, they're calling her out-of-touch and a liar.

First, kiddies, Boyda's web site says "in the last year," so lets make sure we're all talking the same timeframe. Second, we'll have to quibble with the prices cited by the GOP in their email. A quick drive around Topeka shows the average price is about $3.86 (same average show here), and, also, the price of gas one year ago today was $2.88 (on average) in Kansas. Damn, another problem with facts....pity.

So, do the math. The price of gas as increased 34% in the last year- a number almost identical to the 30% Boyda cites on her web site.

Again, less alcohol in the office would stop mistakes like these.

The price of gas is skyrocketing...just like it was doing before the Democrats took control of Congress. The situation hasn't been fixed, that's obvious- the wars in Iraq & Afghanistan are consuming huge amounts of gasoline, and demand at home as continued to grow. Somethings got to give.

Boyda's voted (with the Republicans) for more domestic exploration, she's voted to increase research into alternatives, which, in the end, is the only real way out of this mess, and she's done something else that's exactly right on track- she's voted to stop giving our tax money to the Big Oil companies who are killing us at the pump.

This is a conversation that needs to be had...but the Kansas Republican Party needs to not lie when they have it.

Also...Boyda didn't take office in January 2006, it was 2007. We'll guess that's not a lie, just a typo.

So Much for not Mentioning Jenkins, Huh, Jim?

We already talked about the horrible stupid that got spewed by both Jim Ryun & Lynn Jenkins at the Farm Bureau candidate forum in Iola, but we just had some new information passed to us that makes it pretty clear Ryun has already forgotten his own pledge to run a "clean campaign" or, at least, one that doesn't include either he or Jenkins mentioning each other by name but only in vague and/or subconscious ways.

Anyway, before Jenkins took to the stage, Ryun said:

"You’ll hear in a few minutes from my opponent. She’ll talk about new, Republican leadership. Actually, where was that when she served in the state house and senate?”

So much for the 11th Commandment. But, Jim, you silly, don't you see? Raising taxes is the new brand of Republican leadership she's talking about!

Oh, one more thing- Jenkins wee child of a campaign spokesman Josh Hersh had this to say about Jim's new TV commercials:

"While a TV ad can tell a story, Lynn Jenkins' lifelong record of cutting waste and balancing budgets demonstrates the kind of discipline we need in Washington."

He wouldn't say when Lynn planned to go up on TV...for her sake, hopefully soon.

You Be the Pundit: What are the Numbers?

A friend of ours says blogging isn't just about exposure- shoving a story out for people to see- but it's really about a conversation between the person blogging and the people reading and writing comments.

So, to fill what seems to a slow news day, we'd like to hear your gut instincts about where the Republican primary really is at this point. We've seen these poll numbers:

Mid-April 08 (from the Jenkins Campaign)
Ryun..........50
Jenkins.......34

Mid-May 08 (from the Ryun Campiagn)
Ryun..........65
Jenkins.......21

So...which one is closer? Has Jenkins closed the gap? Has Ryun pulled ahead? We've had a couple of people comment here about a rumored Jenkins poll that was in the field a few weeks ago...what did it show?

And what about Congresswoman Nancy Boyda? What's does her district think of her? We know there hasn't been any public polling on that point...but we're interested in your gut reaction

Have fun!

NFIB: Boyda Pledges Support for "Solutions Start Here"

The healthcare crisis in the United States doesn't just effect the millions of Americans without health insurance, it also has a direct impact on the millions of small businesses that try to do the right thing and provide their employees with health insurance. As prices skyrocket, it becomes more and more difficult for those businesses to still be able to do the right thing and stay in business.

In a pledge to work with small businesses & the next president, Congresswoman Nancy Boyda has joined with the National Federation of Independent Businesses buy signing their "Solutions Start Here" petition.

From the NFIB press release:

"I am proud to support the Solutions Start Here healthcare petition. Affordable medical insurance coverage continues to be one of America's most significant healthcare problems," said Congresswoman Nancy Boyda. "Small businesses are especially impacted by the lack of affordable coverage. Therefore, I am pleased to have representatives of small business at the table as we look for solutions to this dilemma."

Small businesses are disproportionately burdened by healthcare costs. Of the 47 million Americans without health insurance, more than 28 million are small business owners, employees and their dependents. Under current law they generally do not enjoy the same tax treatment, coverage or pooling options as large businesses and corporations; on average, they pay 18 percent more for the same healthcare benefits. On top of this, over the last eight years, insurance premiums have increased an alarming 129 percent.

"Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy and healthcare is their No. 1 issue, yet finding and providing affordable health insurance has become an overwhelming obstacle for many small business owners," said NFIB President and CEO Todd Stottlemyer. "The support of policymakers like Representative Boyda is critical as we work to find solutions to this healthcare crisis that work for small business owners and employees."

• Quality, affordable health coverage with options for small business owners, employees and their families;
• Choice in insurers, doctors and hospitals;
• The peace of mind that if people leave their job, they won't lose their health coverage;
• A clear understanding of how much people are paying for healthcare and what level of quality they are getting; and
• Confidence that medical records are private, safe and secure.

The petition reflects the goals of the Solutions Start Here campaign, which serves as the small business platform for healthcare reform. It is the largest and most aggressive campaign in the 65-year history of NFIB. As part of the effort, NFIB is hosting a series of "Fix-it Forums" across the country to engage small business people in a dialogue about the challenges they face on the frontlines of this healthcare crisis.

Here's hoping the NFIB, along with Congresswoman Boyda, are successful.

Boyda Camp Launches New Campaign Web Site

Congresswoman Nancy Boyda's campaign launched a brand new revamped web site today- complete with one of the most extensive "Issues" sections we've ever seen on any candidate's web site.

Check it out at http://www.nancyforcongress.com

Iola Register: Jenkins & Ryun Both Too Stupid to be in Congress

Good golly Miss Molly!

From the Iola Register:

Saturday morning the two Republican candidates for the Second District Congressional seat now held by Democrat Nancy Boyda spoke at the Farm Bureau forum in the high school.

Jim Ryun said he wants his seat back. He held it for 10 years and lost it to Boyda in the 2006 Democratic revival. Ryun spent most of his time at the podium recalling his glory days as a miler, beginning with his high school triumphs in track and cross country.

He'll figure it out eventually: NO ONE IS GOING TO SEND YOU TO CONGRESS BECAUSE YOU USED TO RUN FAST!

Now, the crazy:

Perhaps his most revealing comments came when he was asked if he would favor federal policies that discouraged corporations from paying their chief executive officers enormous salaries and bonuses. No, he said, he would not. That’s the business of the board of directors, he said. Well, then, would he vote for a law requiring company directors to submit CEO salary proposals to the stockholders? No, he would not.

Government, he said, should stay out of the way private businesses are managed.

Oh. My. God. Did Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover teach the Republican Party nothing?

With the nation at the verge of recession, or already in one, because of a housing and credit crisis brought about by reckless decisions made by the very highly paid CEOs of the nation’s top investment banks and mortgage brokers, Ryun’s hands-off- business stances are as curious as they were out of touch with public opinion.

The questions he was asked offered him a great opportunity to talk about today’s shaky economy, what government could do to revive it and should do to narrow the scandalous gap between the nation’s super rich and the rest of the people. He flubbed it.

Exactly!

Now, moving from out-of-touch and stupid on to stupid & dangerously clueless:

Then came State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins. She accused Boyda of running up the federal deficit with reckless pork barrel spending and promised to use her skills as a CPA to cut spending and reduce the deficit — as though inexpert bookkeeping were the problem.

When question time rolled around, she was asked how she felt about the war in Iraq.

My training as a CPA didn’t teach me how to fight a war, she said. “But I know who does have those skills: the generals who are leading the troops. Those are the ones we should listen to on war policy.”

That's twice she's been heard by a journalist saying she didn't know anything about the military (exactly what we need in a time of war) and that she was perfectly comfortable turning over her constitutional duty to, well, really, anyone else.

Jenkins apparently rejects the principle of civilian control of the military, a bedrock principle of our democracy. The generals on the ground do what the Secretary of Defense tells them to do and the Secretary of Defense follows instructions from the Commander in Chief. The president, in turn, is pledged to represent and serve the people at large — which is what the upcoming elections and the political campaigns which precede them are all about.

Voters should expect candidates for election to Congress to have a well-reasoned stand on the course our country should take on Iraq and Afghanistan. Jenkins apparently does not.

What an embarrassment of embarrassments the Kansas Republican Party has turned out for candidates against Congresswoman Nancy Boyda. First, a man who think the same laissez-faire policies that plunged this country into the Great Depression are what we need in the face of our currently lagging economy, and second a woman who is so blithely ignorant of her own responsibilities as an elected official you can almost hear her giggling as she pushes her profoundly depressing lack of a clue.

Memo to Ryun; Find a New Campaign Manager

In today's AP story about Jim Ryun's worthless new TV commercial, Ryun's Campaign Manager Kyle Robertson tries to explain why they went with it's particular message.

"A lot of what we're seeing and hearing from people is they didn't know enough about Jim when he was in Congress," Robertson said.

Yep, that's probably true- because Jim never ever talks about anything he might have accomplished when he was in Congress. So, how exactly does this ad fix that problem?

"What Kansans want to know is what makes the man himself, what drives him."

Um, WRONG. What Kansans want to know is exactly what you just said they wanted to know- they don't want to know about him personally, they want to know what he did when he was there. Does the Ryun campaign really believe Kansans don't know anything about him? Please.

The AP piece also says:

Nor does it mention any specific issues or even that he's running as a Republican.

What is it your running from, Mr. Ryun?

Ryun On TV: "Ducking" His Record

Tuesday marks the first day of the televised leg of the 2008 Republican primary in the Kansas 2nd Congressional District- with our first ad coming in from Frm. Congressman Jim Ryun:

Talk about an ad without worthwhile content. After a decade in Congress and one would have hoped, for his sake, a laundry list of accomplishments, the only thing Jim Ryun wants to tell the Republican primary voters in his former district is that he used to be a runner and he participated in the Olympics 30 years ago?

Biographical ads are all well and good- if no one has ever heard of you. But Jim Ryun is basically the incumbent Republican in this race- how could a man who received the Republican nomination in five separate cycles not be- so he has absolutely no business trying to bowl voters voter with shiny happy "I used to be a track hero" ads.

Ryun's made this mistake before, of course- focusing on everything but what people really care about- what he has done for them. Maybe he never, ever talks about his time in Congress because he'd really rather people forget he ever even was in Congress- and that he took money from Tom Delay and that he got a sweetheart deal on a townhouse in DC from friends of Jack Abramhoff, and maybe he'd like everyone to forget he sat on his hands while budgets ballooned and illegal immigrants entered the country unabated.

Or maybe he just didn't do anything at all while he was in Washington. Either way...he'd rather talk about running thank you very much.

Regardless of why he's made the bad choice he has made, if Ryun honestly wants people to trust him again, he's going to have to do a lot more than just smile and warm-fuzzy them to the polls.

As a side note: Does anyone else get the sense the ad is indirectly referring to Ryun's loss to Congresswoman Nancy Boyda when it says he has the "determination to get back up, even after a fall," and then to Lynn Jenkins when the announcer says Jim never allows "obstacles to stand in his way"? Just a thought...that's how it struck us.

BREAKING: Ryun Up on TV Tomorrow

Frm. Congressman Jim Ryun will take to the airwaves tomorrow in a very limited ad buy (just under $13,000 and just on Topeka CBS affiliate WIBW), making him the first Kansas in the 2nd Congressional District race to bring the campaign to television.

UPDATE: Ryun has also purchased another $6,500 worth of ads on the Topeka NBC affiliate KSNT.

UPDATE II: Click here to view Ryun's ad (it is in .wmv format)

Left Brain Kansas: Conservative District?

In a great post over at Left Brain Kansas, our blue comrade at arms takes up the question as to whether or not the 2nd District of Kansas really is as "conservative" as Jim Ryun seems to think it is:

First, let's examine how the district is represented in the Kansas Legislature. Of the 43 seats that lie either in whole or in part in the 2nd District, 22 are held by Democrats compared to 21 Republican-held seats.

State House and Senate seats are divided proportionately based on population, so that means the majority of the voters in the 2nd District are represented by at least one Democrat in the Kansas Legislature.

And, a kicker the Republicans really wish we'd all just forget:

In the past 20 elections, Democrats have won the seat 11 times, Republicans have won it nine times. Republicans not named Jim Ryun or Sam Brownback have won the seat only three times.

If nothing else, history proves that while Republicans definitely have the voter registration edge in this district, but that doesn't make it a Republican lock.

AP Analysis: Clean Campaign Only Benefits Ryun

A wonderful little bit of political analysis was provided by AP reporter John Hanna over the weekend regarding Jim Ryun's request Lynn Jenkins hobble her primary campaign against him with a pledge to never mention him.

We've already made the same point, but it's always nice to have your sense of things re-enforced by outside forces.

Ryun, the congressman ousted in 2006, and his GOP rival, State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins, filed for office hours apart last week. In between, Ryun issued his call for a campaign free of the negative attacks that he said tend to alienate voters.

[...]

Jenkins shows no signs of accepting the pledge, but if she did, it could limit her campaign against Ryun. If she rejects the pledge, Ryun is almost certain to point that fact out to voters in a bid for their support.

It's an unfortunate lose-lose for Jenkins. If she doesn't mention Ryun in her TV buys, she can't draw the distinctions between them that are going to be necessary in order for her to beat him. And, if she doesn't sign the "clean campaign pledge," Ryun's going to make sure every single person in the district knows she plays dirty. Neither place are places Jenkins should want to be. Hanna agrees:

Not mentioning Ryun by name would make it difficult to contrast Ryun's voting record with her positions. Ryun's clean campaign means one devoid of the criticism of him that needs to take root in voters' minds for her to win.

[...]

Thus, Ryun has reasons to call for a clean campaign outside of any desire to respect voters' sensitivities. He has the potential to gain an advantage over Jenkins, regardless of how she responds.

We also just love the false sentiment from Jim Ryun- he's just doing this for the voters! No, Jim, you're doing this in an attempt to save your own ass.

And, really, this is an interesting pivot for Ryun to make. After all, just like Hanna says when he cited a 2004 ad Ryun ran against now-Congresswoman Nancy Boyda featuring a picture of Osama Bin Laden, Ryun has been known for playing particularly dirty- which is certainly something Lynn Jenkins is willing to point out:

Jenkins was skeptical. She noted that last year, she was the target of ads by national groups, describing them as "buddies" of Ryun's. Ryun's campaign has said there was no coordination.

And, suggesting she wouldn't take the pledge, she said: "Unfortunately, everybody knows that Jim Ryun didn't do a lot for us in Washington, D.C."

After months of trading jabs up and down the 2nd District, we can't expect anything different now that they're official candidates. We just can't wait for their pre-primary TV!

Lynn & Jim: Tap Dancing Around the Issues

Social Network Battleground

We've decided to add a feature, which, probably, will be an every Saturday affair dedicated to monitoring how each of the three major-party candidates are winning the war of the social networking sites. (We're only leaving out the Libertarian and Reform Party candidates because we can't find any evidence they have entered the playing field...if they do, we'll include them as well).

We're tracking Facebook and MySpace only.

Candidate	# of Friends
	6/14/08
Rep. Nancy Boyda
FB Profile	493
FB Page	820
FB Group	415
MySpace	1,912
Frm. Rep. Jim Ryun
FB Profile	142
FB Page	n/a
FB Group	27
MySpace	12
Treasurer Lynn Jenkins
FB Profile	n/a
FB Page	92
FB Group	265
MySpace	10

A little explanation: If the cell says "n/a" it means just what you think it means- that particular candidate didn't have one of those. For Jim Ryun, he has 3 different MySpace pages- we only included the one his campaign links to on their website.

Each week we'll indicate any up and down movement by putting increased numbers in bold and falling numbers in italics.

Photo Caption Contest: Filing Day!

We have our candidates for Congress...just what must have been going through Jim's mind as he filed for the offices he used to hold...

Letter to the Editor: "Bonus Points for Boyda"

From the Pittsburg Morning Sun:

Bonus Points for Boyda

Dear editor,

We were pleased by Mr. George Weeks' letter to the Editor regarding Congresswoman Nancy Boyda.

Very appropriate, but not fully complete!

In the fifty years we have been residents of Crawford County, we cannot remember any other political office holder so intimately involved with so much very important legislation! Within her first month as a "rookie" Legislator she authored and introduced an ethics bill (The Morning Sun, 1/28/07). The Pension Forfeiture Act, 431-0 was passed unanimously by the U.S. House of Representatives on January 31, 2007.

Congresswoman Boyda is obviously a superb organizer, and intent on conducting our "Public Business" in an open and transparent fashion. Her News Letter, CONGRESS IN YOUR MAILBOX; and her District visitation program, CONGRESS ON YOUR CORNER, has created an unfettered communication network with this dedicated elected official.

Mel & Doris Potts
Frontenac

Friday's Funny Vid: "I'm Voting Republican"

A supplemental to our normal Photo Caption Contest: A clever little video to let you know exactly why everyone should be voting for Republicans in November.

You'll get what you deserve.

And, only because we know someone out there is sooo clever, this isn't from the Boyda campaign and any opinions expressed herein are only those of the folks who run this blog. It's always good everyone gets reminded of that every once in awhile.

The American Conservative: Not Clear GOP Can Beat Boyda

You might not suspect it, but we aren't usual readers of The American Conservative magazine, but we do get Jim Ryun, Lynn Jenkins & Nancy Boyda Google Alerts, so that brings into our laps all kinds of publications we wouldn't normally see.

We're awfully glad this particular piece dropped out of heaven for us though- it's called "The GOPocalypse Keeps Getting Worse." Catchy, don't you think?

When asked which party should control Congress, Democrats win 52-33, which is the largest lead any party has had in 13 years and is a larger lead for the Democrats than they had two years ago. Anyone who cites the high disapproval numbers for Congress as proof that the public has wearied of the Democratic majority is kidding himself.

We've said it before...perhaps now the Republican nuts who have found the blog will believe it, since now it's coming out of the mouth of a fellow conservative. Or, what, is this realist just a liberal in disguise? It's so hard to tell anymore.

The author mopes around in the garden of Republican sorrow for a long time- running through the list of upwards of 30 seats the Democrats have a very serious shot at wresting away from the Republicans in 2008 before finally getting the the Kansas 2nd.

Nancy Boyda’s endorsement of Obama may come back to haunt her in her district, partly because she succeeded against Jim Ryun because she kept her distance from national Democrats last cycle. It may be a mistake for her to associate herself with the national party now that she is an incumbent, but it’s not clear that the Republicans will be able to recover that seat. [emphasis ours]

It actually made this blogger titter to read, "but it's not clear that the Republican will be able to recover that seat."

As to Boyda's endorsement of Obama hurting her...if she had instead run from him as fast as she could in the opposite direction would that have prevented the Republican Party from trying to tie her to him? No, no, no- of course not, they were going to try do it anyway. They'll run their already thrice failed ads again, while Boyda's time back home, two years working with the district & the fact she won't be going to the Democratic National Convention will be plenty to make her distinct in the eyes of the voters.

But, anyway...it's not just "not clear" that the Republicans will be able to beat Nancy Boyda, it's apparent they won't be able to beat her.

Our Thoughts And Prayers

After last night's tornadoes, which claimed two lives in Kansas (including one in the 2nd Congressional District) and did tens of millions of dollars worth of damage to the city of Manhattan, the campus of Kansas State University, and the 1st District community of Chapman, our thoughts and prayers are with all of the residents of each of those Kansas towns- and with all of the parents of students who might still be in Manhattan.

From the Topeka Capitol-Journal:

A tornado also hit the Kansas State University campus in Manhattan, damaging several campus buildings and tossing cars around in parking lots. Several local businesses also received extensive damage, according to the National Weather Service.

"We have reports that the northern part of Kansas State University took a pretty good hit," said Weather Service meteorologist Ken Harding. "Cars were tossed and there is a lot of damage up there."

The university said in a statement that no injuries had been reported.

From the Manhattan Mercury:

A tornado between two and four blocks wide touched down near the Manhattan Regional airport late night Wednesday and bounced across Manhattan, the Kansas State University campus, and then went back up into the clouds near Moore Hall on the campus. It inflicted tens of millions of dollars of damage -- at least $20 million on the campus alone, authorities said.

[...]

No confirmed totals are available, but an estimated 30 homes in the Miller Ranch area -- in the southwest portion of the city -- have been flattened, with only foundations remaining. Many more are severely damaged. The University Heights area near E.J. Frick Drive was also hard-hit.

Congresswoman Nancy Boyda, along with both United States Senators and Governor Kathleen Sebelius will be in Manhattan this evening to survey the damager

One Used-Up Athlete & One Ambitious Self-Promoter File Against Boyda

The filing deadline in the state of Kansas has passed, and there weren't any surprises associated with the filings for the 2nd Congressional District.

Republican Party:
Jim Ryun
Lynn Jenkins

Democratic Party:
Nancy E. Boyda

UPDATE: And two more!

Libertarian Party:
Robert Garrard

Reform Party:
Leslie S. Martin

Very early in Boyda's term various other names were bandied about by the national press as potential challengers, including State Representative Lee Tafanelli, Frm. Speaker of the Kansas House Doug Mays, Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, and leader of the crazy brigade (Kansas Americans for Prosperity) Alan Cobb.

For one reason or another they all decided against challenging Boyda....Schmidt didn't want to run in a district he didn't live in, Tafanelli got burned early by writing an editorial saying Boyda has lost millions for the military bases when she actually hadn't, and we're just guessing Doug Mays' life is a lot easier now that he doesn't have to deal with partisan politics. As to Alan Cobb...well...he had blogs to bother instead.

Anyway, the line up is now official, and exactly has it had been for months.

By the way- we've seen some Jim Ryun yard signs in Topeka...this puppy's about to hit full swing!

Boyda Supporting Obama for President

After going on the radio yesterday and explaining why she had not yet endorsed Barack Obama for President of the United States, Congresswoman Nancy Boyda did say she was supporting the Senator from Illinois- after the radio program was over.

Boyda's invested herself in representing the people of the Kansas 2nd and has tried to stay out of the presidential race as much as she can, but she has always said she'd plan to support whoever would become the Democratic nominee for president.

UPDATE: Boyda makes it even more official...she has endorsed Barack Obama. Why?

She said she decided to announce her support of Obama now because his campaign has promised to focus on all 50 states instead of only so-called swing states.

Montano said Boyda still plans to skip the Democratic National Convention in Denver so she can work in the district. “She’d rather be doing her day job,” she said.

That be that.

Ryun & Jenkins Squabble Over Who's Being Meaner, Boyda Talks the Issues

A half dozen more reports about Jim Ryun going prostrate before Lynn Jenkins begging her not to attack him in her pre-primary ad buy appeared in today's papers. Here, a smattering from the Topeka Capital-Journal:

"I'm extending to Lynn a friendly offer," said Ryun, a conservative Republican and former Olympic athlete. "It's time for us to set an example and rise above the usual political attacks and distortions."

(He says that with a straight face, ladies and gentlemen).

"I find it odd Jim wants me to sign a pledge he's already broken," said Jenkins, a moderate Republican and two-term state treasurer. "His Washington cronies have already spent $120,000 running negative attack ads regarding my record. I think he just needs to look in the mirror."

This comes on the heels of Lynn's spokesman Josh Hersh saying yesterday Ryun was "in denial" about how badly the people want him back in Congress. Hell, just accusing Ryun of having anything to do with the $120,000 TV ad buy Club for Growth did is pretty sleazy- seeing as such collusion would be illegal...

But it was a nice ad:


Ah, Republican leadership...don't you just love it?

While all that nutsy-ness was going on, Congresswoman Nancy Boyda took a little bit of time to actually address a huge problem facing the United States today: gas prices. She talked about several of the measures she has personally supported in an effort to bring down the price of gasoline- though she noted a quick fix wasn't in the picture.

Earlier this year, Boyda successfully helped push a bill through Congress that would temporarily suspend purchasing oil for an emergency government stockpile of gas.

[...]

Boyda has also favored suspending the 18.4 cent-per-gallon federal gas tax, which is set aside for building highways and bridges, as a way of helping consumers, spokesman Thomas Seay said.

On a Kansas City-based public radio show, Boyda said she favored paying for the reduction by rolling back millions in tax breaks given to oil companies in an effort to bolster their attempts to find new oil sources.

Boyda wasn't the first to propose a suspension of the federal gasoline tax- but she was one of the first to suggest a way to pay for the lost highway construction & maintenance funds. After the disaster in Minnesota, we'd be surprised if anyone could argue against the necessity of keeping those particular coffers full.

Finally, the more sobering bit:

Boyda said on air that many Americans are also waking up to the fact that there are limited options for holding back price increases, including efforts to reduce oil speculation.

"There aren't a lot of short-term fixes out there," Boyda said.

The Republicans love to toss out "drilling in ANWR" as the solve-all for our gasoline problem, but no one has any idea if that drilling would actually produce enough crude to effect the price of gas at the pump.

Boyda made it clear in her radio interview yesterday, though, she certainly supported expanded domestic drilling (and, like we've been tryin' to tell you all for months, she has even voted that way).

Ryun Begs Jenkins to Not Slam Him in Ads

From the KC Star:

Jim Ryun made it official today, filing the papers for his run to take back Kansas' second district seat in Congress.

The Republican Ryun pitched a clean campaign idea to his primary opponent, state Treasurer Lynn Jenkins. Ryun said he'll agree to not mention Jenkins' name in any advertisements if Jenkins will do the same.

In his announcement, Ryun cited Ronald Reagan's 11th Commandment: "Thou Shall Not Speak Ill of a Fellow Republican."

No word yet on whether Jenkins will accept the deal. She's yet to file for office (filing closes at noon Tuesday).

Ryun, of course, knows full well Jenkins can't agree to such a thing- the only thing she has in her arsenal is the fact Ryun was a piss-poor Member of the United States Congress. With that said, it's always good to set up your opponent to look like a meany...but, really, will anyone anywhere in the district be sympathetic to Jim Ryun if Lynn Jenkins reminds us all for the next several months how miserable he was?

UPDATE: So, it appears Lynn's not only ignoring Ryun's request, she's being as dirty as she can be:

"There's no question that Jim is in denial," said Jenkins campaign spokesman Josh Hersh. "Between 2004 and 2006, 60,000 voters chose change over Jim Ryun."

This is going to be fun!

Only So Many Ways to Say "D'oh!"

So, we don't really want to be rude, but, you know, there are only so many ways to say, "How on Earth were you in Congress as long as you were?"

From the Fort Mills (South Carolina) Times:

Jim Ryun doesn't believe he has to change his message to recapture the 2nd Congressional District seat he once held.

Good for you, Jim- stay the course.

Ryun says political conditions are different this year than they were in 2006 when Democrat Nancy Boyda defeated him.

That's true- they are different. Conditions are actually worse for Republicans than they were in 2006.

Boyda Live on Public Radio

For those interested, Congresswoman Nancy Boyda and Missouri Congressman Emmanuel Cleaver are currently live on Kansas City- area public radio.

Click here for a streaming link- and we'll bring more later in the day.

No Wonder They're Doing So Poorly...

We've said it before (please, people, note the plural there...we don't do it for our health...), but our very best days hits-wise are the days we mention Lynn Jenkins. People just come out of the woodwork.

Not just any people, though- frequently they're people with the same e-mail extension:

webmail.lynnjenkins.com

Another little tidbit- we recently crossed the 17,000 hit marker- not bad. A lot of those hits are from referring sites- other blogs, stuff like that. Our top referring site is Blogger.com...our number 2? Yep, you guessed it: webmail.lynnjenkins.com. More hits than from both Google & Facebook combined.

We are awfully happy y'all to continue to read us, but, really, your boss would probably benefit from all of you spending more time working and less time posting nasty comments about Jim Ryun here.

We'd really like for you to keep coming back- you add a certain spice to our day.

Letter to the Editor: "Helping the Troops

From today's Topeka Capital-Journal-

Letter: Helping the troops

Billions of dollars have been spent reconstructing Iraq, financing the war and paying for Iraqi oil, while little has been allocated for injured soldiers returning from the war.

Iraq's oil profits should have to pay for its reconstruction projects and the training of its security forces. Instead, the American government has given $45 billion to Iraq in the past five years. It also pays $153 million in fuel to Iraq each month. Yet, the Iraqi government is expected to make $70 billion in oil revenue this year.

Rep. Nancy Boyda is right when she said that taxpayers have been hit with a double whammy: We pay at the gas pump and, then, again with tax monies the government continues to give to Iraq with no strings attached.

In 2003, Congress budgeted money for the war and the reconstruction of Iraq but left our VA hospitals significantly underfunded.

The House recently approved new legislation containing $404 million for a new hospital and $50 million to build a housing facility for injured soldiers at Fort Riley. The vote was split down party lines — Democrats Boyda and Dennis Moore supported the measure while Republicans Jerry Moran and Todd Tiahrt voted against it.

If the U.S. Senate passes the bill, the new hospital (to replace the 50-year-old facility) will provide the health care for injured soldiers and veterans that they need and deserve. The hospital will also provide more job opportunities for Kansans.

Rep. Boyda has led the support of health-care legislation that will directly impact soldiers, their families, and veterans. She isn't just talk. She will make sure government works for its citizens.

JEANETTE STAUFFER, Holton