Posted on 09/18/2009 6:03:59 AM PDT by Non-Sequitur
Steve Rose, the longtime publisher of the Johnson County Sun and well-known civic leader, said Wednesday that he’s running for Congress.
Rose, 61, said he would campaign as a Republican in Kansas’ 3rd District. If he wins the GOP nomination, he presumably would face six-term Democratic incumbent Dennis Moore.
Rose acknowledged that he had endorsed Moore repeatedly over the years in his Sun column. But Rose said Moore had changed.
“I think that under the current administration it’s a much further left government,” Rose said. “And Dennis Moore is voting with them. I think he’s left the mainstream of his constituency.”
Moore has been criticized this year for backing cap-and-trade legislation and the stimulus and bailout packages. He favors health care reform, including the public option.
“The election is more than a year away, and Congressman Moore is going to keep his focus on the challenges facing our nation,” a Moore campaign spokesman said Wednesday in response to Rose’s announcement. “He’s going to continue to work hard for the constituents of the 3rd District.”
The only other Republican actively campaigning is former state Rep. Patricia Lightner, who told supporters this week in an e-mail that she was launching radio ads next week.
State Rep. Kevin Yoder, an Overland Park Republican, said he also expects to run. Other Republicans mentioned as possible contenders are state Sen. Jeff Colyer of Overland Park and former state Sen. Nick Jordan, the 2008 GOP nominee who lost to Moore.
(Excerpt) Read more at kansascity.com ...
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
Galloping through the sward
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
And his horse concorde
He steals from the rich
And gives to the poor
Mr Moore, Mr Moore, Mr Moore
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
Riding through the night
Soon every lupin in the land
Will be in his mighty hand
He steals them from the rich
And gives them to the poor
Mr Moore, Mr Moore, Mr Moore
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
Dum dum dum the night
Dennis Moore, Dennis Moore
Dum de dum dum plight
He steals dum dum dum
And dum dum dum dee
Dennis dum, Dennis dee dum dum dum
It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress.
Mark Twain
That district had been Republican going back to 1875 up until 1999. These are the type of districts that the GOP needs to pick off, because there’s no way places like that can be philisophically closer to Pelosi than to Palin.
Then when the conservative candidate wins (e.g. Tim Shallenburger), the RINOs will refuse to support him or campaign for him, will either skip that race on the ballot at election time or (most likely) will vote for Dennis Moore - again.
It's always a 1-way street with RINOs & alleged moderates or "independents" - they're just too gutless to admit that they are really liberals, but they show their true stripes at the ballot box.
You can't beat a liberal with a conservative, they claim, only a mushy moderate can win. And their claims become reality when these "Republicans" absolutely refuse to vote for a true Republican. Yet we are expected to support any lifelong lefty who happens to adopt the "R" label for his political convenience.
Some ex-Rats see the light and convert to our side out of principle, and that type of convert is welcome; Rose doesn't seem like one of those, however, based on his comments.
Rose probably represents the best chance to regain the seat the GOP has ever had. He has the reputation and name recognition to attract the Republicans and independents that have gotten Moore double digit wins in the last two races. But he is what most people would classify as a RINO - a fiscal conservative/social moderate. Lightner is the far more conservative of the two. But she wouldn’t attract the independents or the moderate Republicans, and that plays to Moore’s advantage. The unknown in all this is how much Moore’s support of Obama initiatives like Cap and Trade, Health Care, and Unions will hurt him. Those aren’t popular stands around here.
It probably IS closer to Palin than Pelosi - but not by much. KS-3 is the quintessential moderate dictrict. Even when it was GOP back in the 1980's and 1990's, it was represented by people like Jan Meyers, who was a RINO in the mold of Olympia Snowe and Sue Collins. The district has both the Kansas side of the KC Metro area as well as Lawrence (where KU is at) in it, so that counterbalances the farm country in between.
If recent past history is any guide, moderate Republicans will flock to Moore is Lightner is nominated. And conservative Republicans would rather gnaw off their own arm than cast a vote for Steve Rose. That's what's gotten Moore his last 5 wins. But this year may be different. If Rose gets the nod he might win without the conservatives.
This is a sign of blood in the water. Moore has gotten to the point that he thinks he is unbeatable. He has become more and more of a Pelosi synchophant and so arrogant that he refused to have a town hall meeting (he said that he was afraid that he would be physically attacked).
Anyone who "chooses" which party to run from, isn't any kind of candidate I'd vote for. He doesn't know who he is himself. How could I ever trust him?
Thanks of the insights.
Well, this suggests he has passionate opposition, at a minimum.
A RINO is a democrat who uses GOP funding to get elected.
If we’re going to elect people to reverse Obama’s policies, then we’d better stay away from those who will be joining ‘Gang of 14’ or ‘Gang of 6’ voting blocks.
No to Rose. Go with the conservative.
IMO, Rose does not care if he wins or not, but he’ll cause the true conservative (whom ever to emerge) to spend resources in the primary to be weaken before the general elections.
Rose has carried Moore’s water for every election –ALWAYS indorsing him. Then, when Moore will probably have his toughest re-election fight , Rose runs against him –this does not make sense.
BTW, I heard Rose on Shannon & Parks show yesterday… he sounded bad. Rose sounded ‘half-hearted’ at best… he had no passion.
Something is wrong with this picture…
Patricia Lightner is the best candidate here — go to http://www.patricialightner.com to learn more about her. She’s a fabulous candidate. Rose is a lefty who has praised mandates for health care and fought against tax increases and spending reductions in his column for the last two decades.
If it’s a crowded primary, it’s always crowded with conservatives and guess what, the moderate wins.
Not a problem.
Even with its weirdness there, I love KS. Texas is great, but I can’t wait to move back in a couple years hopefully.
not a problem in the sense that it’s not difficult to see what happens in a crowded field. The conservative always loses, period.
Does not surprise me that Steve Rose dropped out today....
Rose Out of 3rd Dist. Congressional Race
Last week, Rose told KMBZ that he was dissatisfied with current 3rd Dist. Congressman Dennis Moore, and threw his hat into the ring.
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