Captain obvious

If a tree falls in the woods and nobody hears it, did the tree really fall?

If Rob Wasinger endorses someone and there's only one candidate left, did he really endorse him?

Granted, at the time Rob thought he was just what Brownback needed to scare off that pesky Ron Thornburgh. Never mind that 50 point deficit in the polls. I'm sure Thornburgh dropped out of the race because Rob threw his political might behind his old boss. I'm rather shocked Wasinger's campaign hasn't tried to claim credit for Thornburgh's demise.

But I can't help but laugh at Wasinger "endorsing" any candidate, for governor or otherwise. Does Rob really think that one single person in Kansas cares that he thinks Brownback would make a good governor? Um, no. I'm pretty sure they have to know who you are first to care.

So while it was cute to try and (again) use your old boss to further your own political ambitions, it just further proves that your willing to throw anyone, and I mean anyone, under the bus to get yourself back to Wasington. I mean Washington. Wow, Freudian slip.

Wasinger's "endorsement" of Brownback is yet another cry for help. One that I doubt will be answered.

Which Barnett will be on the ballot?

With the entry of state Sen. Jim Barnett, the race for the big first just got a bit more interesting. Barnett is a known entity in Kansas politics as he was the GOP nominee for governor in 2006, loosing quite badly to Sebelius.

His '06 run was one of the more remarkable political makeovers in the state, going from a staunch "moderate" to a conservative in just one short voting cycle. And then back again for his Senate re-election in '08 and now back to "conservative" for a Congressional run in '10. John Kerry has nothing on this guy.

Barnett's first political snafu was in 2004 when he couldn't decide if he was for gay marriage or not. It turns out that when he thinks he might not get re-elected, he's against gay marriage. Nice to know he can at least be pressured into doing the right thing.

In '06 he runs as a conservative with state Sen. Susan Wagle only to reject her as Senate President two years later. Not only did he not vote for her, but according to Wichita Liberty he actively encouraged others to vote for Morris et company. So the Senate leadership team that got the state into its current financial mess is the leadership we should be looking at to help us get out? I don't think so. Welcome back liberal Barnett.

Now it would seem he's back to being conservative, talking about fiscal responsibility, blah blah blah. That's going to be hard to sell to voters with a taxpayer friendliness rating of less than 50% from the former Kansas Taxpayers Network. Why buy Barnett when you can get the real thing with Huelskamp?

Taking a look at the last governor's race, Barnett lost 46 of the 69 counties in the first district in the Republican primary. Canfield and Jennison carried a majority of the first district, and both have already endorsed Tim Huelskamp. It will be interesting to see how Barnett attempts to reshape his image in the big first to try and correct his '06 primary loss. A blog post at townhall.com is an interesting read.

Barnett adds a lot of questions to the already crowded race. What does this mean for "moderates" like Tracey Mann and Tim Barker? Is Barnett the new Morris/Vratil pick? Will Barnett use his considerable personal wealth to try and buy the race?

For me, the most interesting is which Barnett will be running? "Conservative" Jim or "moderate" Barnett?

Huelskamp picks up more endorsements

I'm running out of headlines that say Sen. Huelskamp has gained yet more endorsements, but it looks like I'll have to get creative as a blast email from the Senator's campaign says more are on the way.

A blast email from the campaign says that Sen. Huelskamp has picked up the endorsements of five Kansas legislators. State Senator Ralph Ostmeyer (R-40) and State Representatives Jim Morrison (R-121), Owen Donahue (R-39), Mario Goico (R-100), and Don Schroeder (R-74) all outlined why they support Sen. Huelskamp for Congress.

"I've served with Tim Huelskamp in the Kansas Legislature for nine years, and I have never seen a more dedicated public servant -- or a more effective conservative leader," said Sen. Ostmeyer.

Endorsements from key legislators this early in the race is quite telling of the strong campaign Sen. Huelskamp is running.