Front-runner from Kansas?
By Patrick Kelley
Originally published 02:13 p.m., June 2, 2008
Updated 02:13 p.m., June 2, 2008
If Barack Obama gets the Democratic nomination for president, will Kansas lose its governor? That remains a strong possibility.
Even before intensive campaigning began, Kathleen Sebelius was being mentioned nationally as a strong contender for the vice presidential nomination, no matter who led the ticket. Her early endorsement of Obama increased speculation about her role in a Democratic national administration.
For the Democrats, Sebelius’ strengths are obvious. She is a popular Democratic governor in a Republican state and has a proven ability to get support from Republican voters. She has played a leading role in national initiatives by state governors, especially initiatives on the environment.
Her repeated vetoes of bills that would have resulted in construction of a large coal-fired power plant in western Kansas showed that she is willing to back her “green” rhetoric with decisive action. The same cannot be said for most of the politicians now on the national scene.
As a state governor, Sebelius has long executive experience. She also is a member of the elite group of 50 politicians who have been best placed to witness the failures and confusion in Washington, D.C., over the past seven years. When Washington has failed, the states and their people have suffered.
If Sebelius were to become vice president, Kansas would lose its governor, but it would gain a strong advocate in Washington. And Washington would gain a top official aware of the workings of the world outside the Beltway.
jayhawker (anonymous) says...
There are several reasons why Governor Sebelius would be considered for the VEEP nomination. Sebelius might be the salve for the hurt feelings among the 49% of the Democrats who supported Hillary Clinton inasmuch as she is a Hillary "look alike". Sebelius has worked very hard at gaining approval of liberals on both coasts. For example, she has been a star for Emily's List, a liberal organization established for the sole purpose of electing pro-abortion women candidates. She also curried favor with liberals with her vetoes of concealed carry, abortion restrictions and coal fired electrical generation plants. However, all of these things will also be a problem for Obama. He already has the liberal vote, and Sebelius will not help with moderate and right independents, who will ultimately decide the election. Most of these voters will not approve of her having a late term abortionist like Dr. Tiller to her house for dinner, vetoing an economic development project like the electrical generation plants and the associations with Emily's list. Catholic voters will be reminded that her bishop says that she should not receive communion because of her strong support for abortions in general and late-term abortions in particular. Consequently, all of her strengths are also her weaknesses. The only thing that she might do is bring a Red state with 6 electoral votes. I think that is doubtful given that once she is vetted, many Kansans won't support her to the degree that they have heretofore. My speculation is that Obama will go elsewhere for a running mate, but we'll see.
June 2, 2008 at 2:43 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dougmarshall (anonymous) says...
Let's hope she isn't VP, that would be Obama is the canidate. We won't have Kathy anymore either way (thank Goodness!)
June 2, 2008 at 3:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dalelinn (Dale Linn) says...
For some reason the Gazette's editor likes Kathleen Sebelius to the same degree that he liked our former, disgraced attourney general Morrison. They both are tied in with Dr. Tiller, the Wichita abortionist. Now there's a trio to tie to, Sebelius, Morrison, & Tiller! Back to why the editor seems to like Kathleen Sebelius. Perhaps he just likes the game "Don't Drop the Soap", that was being sold out of the governors mansion.
I would agree that the governor has stuck to her guns about her beliefs (vetoing the proposed coal fire plant). Too bad the same purposeful conviction could be said about a bank robber. Purposeful conviction is not necessarily a good trait.
As far as your quote "When Washington has failed, the states and the people have suffered", Kathleen Sebelius would be right in tune with our congress. Congress has blocked any drilling for oil, exploring for oil, building nuclear power plants, or building any refineries that would help our energy situation. Kathleen seems to be fitting right in. The coal fired plant proposal would have been a great benefit to Kansas' economy and would have increased our energy by using a source of energy abundant in Kansas. She thinks it would benefit her, personally, to be block it, so she has. The people of Kansas lose.
June 2, 2008 at 5:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
eiggohp (anonymous) says...
I just hope she leaves Kansas one way or the other!
June 2, 2008 at 7:11 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bdprotheroe (anonymous) says...
I do like the Governor, and believe she has a lot to offer at the VP level, but Barack needs a running mate with strong international and military experience to compliment the ticket. I'm guessing Webb of Virginia, Richardson of NM or Daschle of SD. Perhaps Biden of DE.
June 2, 2008 at 10:28 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
jayhawker (anonymous) says...
You are right in your premises, bdprotheroe, but the only person that you mentioned that brings both qualities is Jim Webb. Richardson has UN experience, which may not be overly helpful, but Daschle and Biden offer neither of these qualities (outside of their service in the Senate, which has never impressed voters). Webb has a reputation for letting his temper get in his way, although Virgina would be a nice state to peel away from the Reds. Honestly, Obama may not be able to avoid Hillary Clinton if she wants the job. Politically that may help him, but can you imagine the rocky nature of their relationship if they should win? FDR left Truman completely out of the loop (for example, Truman did not know about the A Bomb until he was president). A President and a Vice President who don't talk to each other would not be good for the country.
June 2, 2008 at 10:38 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bdprotheroe (anonymous) says...
I like Webb because he was a Republican (head of Navy under Reagan) and ultimately I think it would be ideal to have both parties represented on one ticket (even though Webb is now a Dem). Help stop the fighting!
If McCain takes Leiberman, you can bet Obama will take Webb.
June 2, 2008 at 11:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bdprotheroe (anonymous) says...
BTW, I've read a lot about Truman. And, you're right, the Pres and the VP must be one team, communicating frequently. Truman didn't want to be VP, but FDR put him into a corner until he accepted. FDR said something along the lines of, "Has that stubborn mule from MO agreed to be my VP? If he says no, tell him it will be his fault if the Dem Party falls to pieces." During the '44 campaign, they only spoke twice, and only twice did they speak betweem January and FDR's death in April.
June 2, 2008 at 11:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bdprotheroe (anonymous) says...
Whatever one may think of Bill Clinton, he brought the VP role in the 21st Century. He and Al acted as one team, making decisions together. Bush and Cheney have followed the model.
June 2, 2008 at 11:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
gazette_reader (anonymous) says...
I love our governor, but my gut feeling says that even though I think she'd make a great VP, the democrats will push to have someone with more international experience.
June 3, 2008 at 7:49 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )