The hayseeds are in bloom

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Sunday January 25, 2009 · 7:22 AM PST

2009/01/25 · 07:22

Well, it's been quite a week, hasn't it? Aside from all that hullaballoo out there in Washington, the Kansas State Legislature came into session this week. The tone was set by the preacher who used the opportunity to give an invocationon Thursday to decry our "culture of death." There's your hope and change, right there.

Gov. Sebelius put in a budget but with huge Republican majorities in both houses it was DOA. The state like all others is projecting a humongazoid deficit this year, and the Republicans are using the opportunity to slash state spending on nasty social ills like public education and infrastructure. Kathleen wanted some kind of targeted cuts, you see, while the Repubs got that look in your eye like Johnny Depp going over the side of the ship, only you know, they're a lot less good looking.

Another thing the Republicans want to talk a lot more about is Holcomb,

the proposed double coal plant that was disqualified by the state environmental chief, who may well have given up his career to do it, a decision the legislature tried but failed three times to overturn because they couldn't overrule Kathleen's veto. The Republicans have to decide whether they're going to let this issue dominate things as much as it did last year. On the one hand, the major motivation in life for Kansas Republican state legislators is grandstanding. On the other hand, they may as well just wait until Brownback is the governor, he'll give them everything they want.

And that's a result that looks more likely every day. The "Democratic" lieutenant governor decided not to run, which makes you wonder what exactly Kathleen accomplished by convincing two prominent Republicans to run with her three years ago. One of them down by personal scandal, the other one by - what? regret? lack of ambition? And that's about what's passed for candidate recruitment by the Kansas Democratic party since the Insurance Commissioner herself.

Believe me, folks, the cupboard is bare. Aside from the Guv herself, who could probably win the Senate seat in 2010 if she runs for it (and I don't think she will, preferring to be ambassador to the European Union or some such) there is not a single Democrat with a statewide reputation who is any position to run for governor next year. And the same thing applies for Senator if Kathleen doesn't run.

But governor is particularly daunting. Brownback spoke in front of the pro-lifers in Washington this week, which much have been quite a mood change (not to mention a buzz-kill) after the inauguration. Kathleen has been the only thing standing between this state and the next as strict-as-the-letter-of-the-law-will-allow abortion law. And Holcomb. Both of those are slam dunks with Sam Brownback in there.

Oh, well. At least the national news is encouraging.

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