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Friday, October 23, 2009 12:00 PM

HAWVER: Interesting times in Kansas

By MARTIN HAWVER, At the Rail

If there ever was a loaded pistol on the nightstand for Kansas Republicans, it probably is the “Taxed Enough Already” (as in TEA) wing of the party that sprang up in parking lots, outside government buildings and in the conservative media this summer and fall.

Luckily for moderate Republicans, we’re headed toward chilly weekends, when it’s uncomfortable for anti-government, enough-government or whatever folks to congregate.

And sometime this fall, national health-care reform — or at least change — probably will be decided or not decided in Congress, and there may or may not be reason for the TEA baggers to return to the streets with their signs and complaints about government intervention in health care.

That’s why this winter is going to be worth watching, to see whether continued complaints about health issues, or maybe a new issue that we haven’t seen yet, pops up to bring the TEA baggers back to the parking lots when the weather turns nice next spring.

The TEA baggers, of course, are predominantly Republican or would be if they decide to get politically active next year. That’s when the “regular” Republicans, the still generally conservative but “let’s make this government thing work” crew, must watch who files for House seats in the Kansas Legislature.

If some of those TEA baggers decide to run for the Kansas House, well, there will be primary elections, and in a few districts, the incumbent Republicans who at least know how government works will lose primaries to them, ultimately possibly handing their seats to Democrats who will woo moderate Republicans’ votes. Or not.

That’s why this winter becomes important for so-called moderate Republicans and — for different reasons — Democrats in Kansas, where in past years a relative handful of Republican primary voters winds up deciding the general election by electing a candidate who can or can’t hold together the GOP faithful through the general election.

Moderate Republicans, at least through the primary election, can’t afford to rile the TEA baggers, but probably shouldn’t offer them much comfort. Democrats? They probably ought to hope for a good spring for the TEA baggers, maybe offering valet parking or at least coffee at the conservative rallies, hoping that from among the crowds will come Kansas House candidates who can win primaries but be un-electable at the general election.

Interesting winter coming up, interesting spring. Oh, and 125 Kansas House seats are up for grabs.

Martin Hawver is publisher of Hawver’s Capitol Report. Visit his Web site at www.hawvernews.com

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HAWVER: Interesting times in Kansas

By MARTIN HAWVER, At the Rail

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article | Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article |
Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.