While the Kansas Senate Debate was feisty and weird, the Governor's debate was filled with errors. Sam Brownback found himself running away from his own issues on Education and Renewable Energy, but more importantly, his knowledge of the facts found himself in hot water within minutes of the close of the debate.
But the governor failed miserably in talking about education funding, which has not gone up for help in the classroom during his term.
On another topic, Brownback was especially misleading in saying Kansas counties in the Kansas City area are gaining three times more jobs than Missouri-side counties are. That’s a lie.
Read more here:
http://www.kansascity.com/...
Those weren't the only errors that dogged Brownback though. At one point Governor Brownback embraced Jan Pauls, the democrat who converted to Republican after her protest of support for Birth Control and Equal Rights, and used it to make a point that Democrats have no elected officer west of US-81, a dividing line most Kansans see as splitting the west of the state from those easterners.
One problem: Representatives John Carmicheal, Ponka-We Victors, and Brandon Whipple are all elected Democrats west of US-81. These simple errors made us wonder exactly how well Brownback actually knows his own legislature.
Brownback found himself setting the state that Pat Roberts would use later, repeatedly uttering the phrase that Paul Davis was simply Nancy Pelosi in disguise. Unlike Roberts though, Brownback was unable to provide any real substance on policy - no numbers of offers of proof. Instead, Brownback resorted too frequently to the see-saw that Davis was simply lying.. at one point, early in the debate he said:
"But those are numbers, I want to talk about people..."
Deciding to shift himself away from a debate revolving around statistics or tested monetary values. Brownback twisted his first question, on education into a response based on FFA participation and why he loves his daughter.
Paul Davis developed something rare in a Kansas Democrat - an interest in pressing the attack. Paul Davis found himself pressing home the point in regards to water policy, rural education and economic performance. Brownback, meanwhile uttered claims such as "the fastest growing economy in the midwest" a stat that I have been unable to verify through any source - including Brownback's campaign website.
Brownback found himself going back to blame Mark Parkinson, prior governor for faults and saying there simply wasn't enough time to clean up the problems.
The audience, unruly and loud, often drowned out candidates with bongo drums, cow bells and more, which reduced the ability of candidates to respond.
Brownback's issue with facts that were quickly disputed (like who are members of the Kansas House) put his entire debate in question, and likely to be picked apart by the press as days to come.
Brownback offered up several zingers, but they often came home to a debate that Paul Davis was Obama.. at one point allowing Paul Davis to say:
"The Last Presidential candidate you supported is under indictment in Texas"
Brownback issued decrees: "President Obama doesn't like rural America." The decrees, however don't act to substitute any statement of actual policy.
But when pressed, Davis fired back: "The governor challenged me on credibility, but credibility would mean funding the water plan, but he has failed to do so every year he's been in office"
Outside of grappling to Jan Pauls, Sam Brownback found himself defending his recent appointment of Caleb Stegall to the Kansas Supreme Court, and in a phrase that should be remembered, he referred to Stegall as a "Legal Prodigy" and someone who would not be overturned by the USSC while on the Kansas Bench. Those are some amazing promises.
I'd encourage every Kansas democrat to share this diary and their thoughts.
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4:59 PM PT: Please note, there is also full video and commentary of the Senate Debate here:
http://www.dailykos.com/...