Let the races begin!
The primary race in Kansas’ Third Congressional District just got a lot more crowded with Dennis Moore announcing he’s quitting rather than face Republican opposition.
You can vote for your choice for a Republican nominee in our poll on the right. We’ve tried to list any candidate running or somewhat seriously considering running.
We’ll announce the results at a later date.
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on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 9:03 pm
You know, after all this time, I find this sudden rise of candidates interesting. Where was everyone before Dennis Moore decided not to run? Patricia Lightner was there, running. I don’t have anything against these other people and if they want to run that’s their choice. More power to them. Bless them.
I ask myself one question though: Who has been going at it all along – when this race was going to be against Dennis Moore?
Would it not make more sense to combine behind one candidate than to divide the constituents? We need to return this district to strong core principals that our founding fathers gave us. The rubber stamp days are now numbered. To say the least, this will be interesting.
on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 10:43 pm
Patricia Lightner joined the race months before Moore decided to not seek reelection. Jordan joined hours after Moore’s announcement and others are still considering a run. The Kansas 3rd district needs a representative that is fighting the hard fights unlike others who are looking for an easy general election win. Lightner is a seasoned fighter having been the Kansas House Majority Whip.
on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 11:35 pm
Oh, interesting. At 10 pm I looked and Rysavy had 2 votes. Now he has 25. Hmmm.
on Dec 3rd, 2009 at 11:49 pm
On Firefox you can revote every couple of minutes so if Rysavy stays up all night he could get hundreds of votes. He shows up at events without supporters unless you count the one that switched to Lightner. I have better things to do than stay up all night so I guess Rysavy will win. I’m just surprised that a man that has said on numerous occasions that he couldn’t spell or pronounce his last name until 8th grade could figure out how to beat the system.
on Dec 4th, 2009 at 12:00 am
It looks to me like the votes climb by the minute for Lightener as well as Rysavy. I question how accurate this poll is. Most polls list the candidates in alphabetical order. This one is skewed.
on Dec 4th, 2009 at 12:11 am
Look, the first 2 comments here already sound a little argumentative. Fellow party members, now more than ever we need to ensure that our party is unified and has a positive message in everything we do. This brings old members back in, new members in, and ensures victory in 2012. We have almost 3 years… seems like a long time, but it will fly by quickly… to decide __together__ on our very best candidate and build a very strong campaign for them.
Each and every person listed to the right on this poll would be an excellent representative to the US House, that’s why we see their names there. I personally have had the priveledge to meet and talk personally with SSgt Gilyeat, Dr Colyer, and Mr Jordan. A noble veteran who is also as humble as they come, a doctor with a true vision for real health reforms, an economic and political leader… I wish I knew the other candidates, for they each have qualities worth praising!
They each have my full support, as does whichever candidate the majority of us choose in our primary.
on Dec 4th, 2009 at 12:13 am
I also noticed Lightners numbers climbing steadily and JoCoPoli – how would you even know how many supporters any one candidate has at an event? If I recall Mr. Rysavy has quite a number of supporters and he injects a little humor with his joke about his name unlike some candidates who look like wax musuem figures. Sounds like sour grapes to me! The best candidate will come out the winner in the end.
on Dec 4th, 2009 at 12:22 am
There is no way to know who is voting for whom, nor how many times, nor for what reason. Any one of us could be voting multiple times for Lightner and or Rysavy just to make it interesting so regardless of who’s numbers fly up or who posts there is just no way to even be certain it is not the same person just trying to bring publicity to the page.
on Dec 4th, 2009 at 12:31 am
JoCoPoli – is that what you have been doing? Shame on you. You make a rude and false accusation about Mr. Rysavy and come to find out, you were the one doing it! WOW!!
on Dec 4th, 2009 at 12:53 am
That is quite a jump but now that you have gone there I think you are the one voting for Rysavy but it doesn’t matter because no one can tell who is voting for whom. The total lack of controls on this poll make it nothing more than an application that allows any person or bot to just click on any option at regular intervals. So whether you, I, a bot, a candidate or a monkey votes for any one person or persons more than once this absolutely unscientific poll is a poll no more. Therefore, it is irreverent who has voted for whom. I’m going to bed and won’t be responding to this string again.
So if you want to call me a coward or say you won or whatever else that is your decision but I stick by my statement about Lightner and those about the fact that this in no way resembles a poll. I have taken college courses on statistics and managing scientific polls. It is my opinion that every requirement for a valid poll has been violated so vote for anyone as many times as you want because you will be wasting your time as I will be wasting mine if I spend any more time responding to you.
on Dec 4th, 2009 at 12:54 am
… my apologies – I completely misstated my dates above. We have almost “1″ year, which will fly by very quickly, until the “2010″ elections
on Dec 4th, 2009 at 1:31 am
Lightner put a message out on Facebook which accounts for most of her number, though there is probably some inflating there too. Rysavy’s, however, went from 2 votes in the first 4 hours to 40 votes in a half an hour.
on Dec 4th, 2009 at 1:48 am
Do you think Ms. Lightner is the only one who knows how to rally voters with facebook or e-mail? Give it up. This poll means nothing. The voters will make their decision over the coming months and then we will all rally behind the Republican candidate. Mr. Rysavy and Daniel Gilyeat have also been in this race from Day 1 and were not afraid to go up against Dennis Moore. More importantly, why were you watching a poll for half an hour? You need to find something else to occupy your free time.
on Dec 4th, 2009 at 11:56 am
WOW this has really gotten out of hand here. This is what I was talking about at the outset. Instead of presenting a unified party, we are going to fragment into various camps of one candidate or another.
on Dec 5th, 2009 at 10:16 am
You are all wrong on this being about unity in the Republican Party. I’m not here to “support the party.” I’m here to support the candidate who best reflects the moral and constitutional principles that founded this country. It’s all about the principles, not about the stupid party!
I agree with Paula Krass, this poll is worthless, because the only ones who know about it are the ones who come here regularly, OR have been sent here by the candidates themselves.
on Dec 6th, 2009 at 11:41 pm
Hey Mary Ann,
Stop raining on my Candidate’s Parade, he’s in the lead. Hope that it doesn’t ice tonight so Dan can’t go to Topeka tomorrow. Hope to see you at the Capitol around 11:00 am. Motorcade leaves KC at 10:00 am.
This is just an internet poll but it’s still nice to be first.
on Dec 6th, 2009 at 11:54 pm
I heard on one of the news shows a few days ago that we are experiencing the “Hoffman” effect all across America. Meaning, we would be defeated by the Dems because we were so fragmented. Trouble was Hoffman was never in a Primary Race with Scoffava. She was just appointed by RINOs.
There is going to be a Primary here in Kansas and across the fruited plane and after those Primaries are over the Republican Party will support whom ever the people choose, unless they want to loose.
on Dec 7th, 2009 at 1:11 am
G’s kids don’t even support him. His idea of a parade is deep in the 2nd district driving around Ottawa in his pick up with his kids who obviously don’t want him to win. Don’t worry about rain. Worry about the lack of a supporters, money and ideas. But on the upside I bet he could spell and pronounce his name by 8th grade unlike Rysavy. Johnson County will not vote for anyone from Wyandotte.
on Dec 7th, 2009 at 6:47 am
To JoCoPoli,
You have to be with the Lightner Campaign. I was wondering how long it would take for the claws to come out. Dan Gilyeat and John Rysavy are both Veterans, family men and gentlemen as I’m sure that Lightner is a lady and a good Mother. She just has little character assassins like you “helping out”.
Being an Attorney, a Lobbyist (Government liaison) and a former State Senator are fine attributes if want to go with the politics of the past. We need new leadership that isn’t going to smooze with the hoi polloi social set.
Gilyeat and Rysavy are new to the political sphere but don’t underestimate either of them. Character isn’t Lightners domain alone. I don’t think the
Gilyeat and Rysavy campaigns will use Lightner’s children against her or her sense of humor. She doesn’t seem funny to me
on Dec 7th, 2009 at 9:18 am
WOW….this is exactly why so many average Americans don’t participate in politics. They want answers to their problems, not more back biting and political in-fighting…which is what we have here..political in-fighting.
During my studies in American National Government this semester, the course has continuously focused on the candidate centered politics of our modern era. It was so clearly defined by the campaign of Obama and I see it rearing it’s head here in Kansas.
I agree – we need a candidate who is supporting traditional values; values that I THOUGHT Republicans held. With comments and people such as I have seen above, the Democrats need to do nothing but sit back and watch the Republicans break apart. It’s no wonder we have become the party of “no”. We can’t even get along before a primary.
It seems we all support different persons, or most of us do. Why do we attack each others candidates and not focus on strengths?
I would also agree it seems today, political parties are merely fronts for making money. Why not make a difference here in Johnson County? Why not show WE in this county are not like that? Hell, this District! So much for coming together as one. It’s no wonder the Tea Parties are gaining so much conservative support; “modern” Republicans are becoming nothing but a flock of backstabbing short sighted people.
I have never really been involved in politics until a couple of years ago; when I started really taking an interest in what is going on in our country. I thought it would be nice to belong to a group of people who were like minded and cooperated. Apparently, I have yet to find that. I will continue to support the candidate I believe will represent the best interests of the people of the 3rd District. I can only hope as this contest moves forward it will become more about the issues and less about personal attacks. I thought we were above the tactics of the Democratic Party.
Good day. Take care on the roads when the weather hits.
on Dec 7th, 2009 at 9:44 am
JoCoPoli–your anonymous name means you accept no responsibility for your comments or your positions OR YOUR PREJUDICES. I quote, “Johnson County will not vote for anyone from Wyandotte.” You remind me of the religious hierarchy of Jesus’ day saying, “Nothing good ever came out of Nazareth.”
You, sir or madam, are a pompous a$$. People like you are why my soul left the Republican Party a long time ago. I remain registered ONLY so that I have a vote in the primary. Once you get past the primary process, the choice is over for conservatives. Then we get a choice of liberal and liberal-lite (ref. NY-23rd).
The tea parties this past year established that We the People do not like liberal-lite. We like conservatism. I hope the 2010 primaries hand you your a$$ on a silver platter!
Gwindy–I wasn’t raining on anyone’s parade. Gilyeat was behind by several votes when I posted. No knowledge of anything at the statehouse this past weekend (it is Monday AM as I post this). I do have knowledge of a prayer rally and march at the statehouse for the 12th from Noon to 3.
Everyone else, you’d best be auditing the stuff you’re being spoon-fed by your local Republican Party. They do not always speak the truth, or tell the whole story. They tell you only what they want you to know or what they think you want to hear. They are empty suits. The GOP’s only value these days is their ballot access. Otherwise, I wouldn’t give them the time of day.
P.S. to JoCoPoli–I don’t give a rat’s a## whether Gilyeat’s kids support him or not. Reagan’s kids opposed him (all but Michael), Chaney’s kids opposed him, and many other politicians kids have been “turncoats.” I’m not voting for their kids. Just another comment by you that cements your position as a pompous a@@. The fact that neither Gilyeat nor Rysavy have legislative experience is a PLUS in my book.
on Dec 7th, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Does anyone have the number for ACORN? I am pretty certain I could get them to get me a lot of votes. Even from dead people and the Dallas Cowboys Football team. Like they did the last election. I never realized the entire Dallas Cowbows football team lived in Nevada. You can thank ACORN for getting all those votes, including dead people.
Can I just keep voting over and over? Let me try. Yes, I can. Thanks. Is this ACORN HQ?
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 1:31 am
To KenOziah–I’m sorry this thread has been so rude, crude and unacceptable…me included. I just absolutely see “RED” when someone slams someone else for no good reason. JoCoPoli’s comments about Gilyeat’s kids were out of line (oldest is 9), and the assertion that no one in Johnson County would ever vote for someone from Wyandotte County was just pompous BS.
Please excuse my crass replies and try to see my heart instead. My heart burns for the soul of this nation, my country. I see it slipping down the tubes and I feel powerless. Not one stinkin’, blinkin’ politician in DC will listen to We the People. Not one! I wish it were a treasonous crime to ignore your constituents.
It is time for the body politic to wean themselves from the tits of the federal pig and admit their complicity in creating the problem. Cities hire lobbyists to campaign for this money or that project, welfare recipients think that this entitlement is now a right (I’ve asked God, he said it wasn’t). Everyone thinks that everyone else’s pork barrel projects should be cut, but not their own little pet projects–like Pat Roberts’ Bio Science lab at K-State. Was DHS going to build such a lab anyway? Was it in the budget? Were proposals taken from any other facilities? How much of the K-State farm did we give away in order to land this cherry tree?
As disturbing as the politicians lack of response and decorum in the town halls were, the questions from John Q. Public were worse. I want thus and so, we need this and that for our city park, ad infinitum, ad nauseum. It is time for this nonsense to STOP. It is time for the cadillac pension plan of full salary for the rest of your life to STOP. It is time for our out of control Congress to STOP. Stop with the nonsense and the idiocy. Where has all the common sense gone? Do they check it at the city limit or at the door of the Capitol Building?
It is time for common sense for Kansas–and yes I think Dan Gilyeat is just the man to take common sense into Washington DC and spread it around! (Maybe even Marine style, ha ha.) Go get ‘em Dan!
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 7:32 am
I am new to public politics, and especially new to this web site. I keep both my views and my ‘presence’ pretty much to myself, all in all.
However, in recent years I have come to realize that sitting on the bench because “what can one person do?” is very much akin to “if I fail to plan, I plan to fail”. I am tired of failing.
Constitutional Liberterian is as close as I can come to being on the political spectrum. Once any two people come in close proximity, they will work out some method(s) of managing that contact. That is the definition of politics.
What the Founding Fathers created in America was nothing new in concept. They simply had all the right ingredients to make the experiment work: a population of individuals strong in the gut-level knowledge that no one could provide for them as well as they could provide for themselves. The experiment has worked for us together, only to the degree that it has worked for each of us individually.
I see the American Experiment being contaminated by incorrect ingredients: people who desire to rule, to wield the power of government for their own ends. And I see the waning days of the Republic. I think this must be what it was like in Rome of the 4th and 5th centuries: a shell of the old, prosperous order, but hollowed out by greedy, corrupt, power-hungry politicians to the point that it all collapsed in on itself.
We recently watched the perpetrator of “the largest Ponzi scheme” of our time as he was taken off to a just punishment. But, folks, stand back and look!!!
The U. S. government has become one HUGE Ponzi scheme. There is nothing solvent about it. With the power of government and color of law, politicians have gone where no Ponzi operator could ever dream to go: not into the pockets of new ’suckers’, but into the pockets of free individuals not yet born. They have hollowed out the shell of American personal freedom, and have thrown shackles on us and generations to come.
When will it stop? Short answer: it won’t. Long answer: I am part of the problem unless, and until, I become part of the solution.
And so I have decided that in this election cycle, I will try to pull the party nearest my own beliefs back toward the concepts of “maximum personal freedom”. This is the only way I can win back my America.
I am not a Republican. But I believe Republicans may be the source of good, pure, correct ingredients which can return the American Experiment to what is was and what it should be: Free people prospering in self-fulfillment, in economic success, and in personal expression.
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
MaryAnnH – Thank you for your commentary. This is what I mean by real considerate conversation. We all (at least I believe we do) want the same thing; to get Washington to wake up to the useless rhetoric and spending policies and do some real good for the people. It’s of the people, by the people and for the people; not of the government, for the government and by the government. I agree with you that Washington and many, if not most all, politicians appear to be more concerned with their wallet and face time rather than doing business that takes care of the country. That is seen clearly on the National Level, State Level and sometimes on the local levels.
Average Citizens have sat aside too long. Perhaps it’s partly due to the increased cost of raising a family or even just taking care of yourself these days. Everywhere you look, it seems, life is flying by at an alarming pace. Then you have to decide: do I buy out the time to work on that paper for college, watch C-Span to see what slick tricks Congress is up to, or sit with the kids while they do their own homework.
It could also be due to the fact every time we see elections or members of Congress, it’s more of the same and people lose interest quickly with that.
No matter what the past causes of our own personal lack of understanding or caring about the issues, now is the time for people to stand as one and say NO MORE to this government run crap! Our country didn’t start out this way; in fact there was so much more power the States had up until the Great Depression era. Slowly, more and more power has been taken by the Central Government without much dissent.
Today, the Federal Government gives out money to states and then acts as a loan shark, holding it over their heads to get what the Feds want. Common Sense had gone out the window a long, long time ago in the Federal Government. We need people across the country to wake up and send common sense people to Washington…be that my candidate or yours or another….which will eventually be decided on at the polls in August and November of 2010.
Working in Washington USED to be a temporary position. People would be elected, go off to Washington, work FOR the people of their district or state then RETURN home to the life they had. Now, getting into Congress almost always ensures an appointment akin to a Federal Judge – LIFETIME. Over 90%+ members of Congress have been and will continue to be re-elected; unless WE THE PEOPLE rise up and demand they actually do the job we sent them to do.
(I get worked up too MaryAnnH LOL)
Thank you again for stating your opinion in a common sense way. I hope others on this forum will take this example and follow with a sound debate.
on Dec 8th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
the_Wonderer: Very nice comments. Thank you. You are exactly right; we all must contribute to make this country work again.
on Dec 11th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
I’m a swing voter who actually spoke to Dan Gilyeat. I tried to speak to Lightner and Rysavy and wasn’t given the time of day. I’d voted for Dennis Moore for years. I got the same response from him as I did from Lightner and Rysavy.
Let’s face it there isn’t enough Republicans or Democrats to win an election. It’s the swing voters that chose your next Congressman or woman, Senator, or President.
I’m looking for a true conservative with a little bit of intellegence about the world. We have had 1 Commander in Chief that cut the military money to help the domestic economy. You had another that went to war with only half a military because the first one made the cuts. Now you have someone wet behind the ears, that allowed troops stay in Ahganistan without help. Then he decides he needs to get them there quick. I have 1 question WHAT TOOK SO LONG.
I’ve seen American congress and senate spend money like drunken sailors. Bush didn’t have much of a chance. We send unarmored Humvee’s. I have another question. IF WE HAD OF SPENT THE MONEY ON THE HUMVEES TO START WITH WOULD IT HAVE COST MORE THEN. NO COMPANIES WHEN YOU REALLY NEED THEM SELL YOU THE BILL OF GOODS FOR A HIGHER COST, AND WHAT ABOUT THE LIVES IT COST?
You really might what to think about who runs against the Democrat because you can’t win without a TRUE CONSERVATIVE.
on Dec 11th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
MARYANNH– In reading some of the comments, I hate to tell you this I’M FROM JOHNSON COUNTY AND HAVE ALWAYS LIVED IN JOHNSON COUNTY. Just because your from Johnson County don’t make you the next congressman. I’ll vote for whoever can do the best job PERIOD.
on Dec 12th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
I would really appreciate a small edit in your post. My name is spelled incorrectly. It is S C H E R E R. You reminded me of Steve Kraske at the KC Star who could spell very well either.
So please try to do a small edit in correcting how my name is spelled. I have been able to spell correctly now for 57 years.
Signed yours truly,
Thomas E. Scherer. See, it not that hard to spell it. lol.
on Dec 16th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
Ken, you can call me. I want you to call me. And everyone else. Call 403-8584. I want you to tell me what jobs you want to be do as your next congressman. You are going to be my boss. Call me whenever you want. Email me. Come over to my house. I am not hiding out here. How can I find out what you want me to do as your employee? As my boss, it is your job to tell me what you want done.
Email: tscherer4@kc.rr.com.
Address: 7916 West 6oth, Merriam, KS
Blog: http://schererforyourcongressman.com
on Dec 20th, 2009 at 7:34 am
One good thing worh noting about polls are how they never discuss the method or controls to ensure the validity of the results. In 2006. at the Olathe GOP Picnic, the poll went like this.
I asked them how many times I could vote. They said they did not care. Each vote cost a dollar. So, I voted for myself 40 times. When they published their poll results, somehow, their pollster reported I only had 17 votes. So when it comes to these polls, they really do not mean much of anything. Including this one.
on Dec 20th, 2009 at 7:37 am
Can I send the KRA 40 bucks so I get more votes in this poll? Let me know before the poll closes.