Politics

Kansas jobs since pandemic
20
Mar
By Bob Weeks

Kansas jobs since pandemic

Examining the effect of the pandemic on Kansas jobs using industry groups. These charts show data from January 2019 through January 2021. Data is from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, part of the United States Department of Labor. The industry groupings are as defined by BLS. This data is adjusted for seasonality. The first chart shows the count of jobs in each industry. The vertical axis is different for each industry. This is useful for seeing how many jobs are in each category. For the interactive versions of the chart, click here. Click charts for larger versions. The second chart…
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Fake news: How it happened
12
Oct
By Bob Weeks

Fake news: How it happened

When politicians condemn fake or phony news, it may be of their own making. A favorite topic of President Donald J. Trump is "fake news." In this passage by Jonathan Karl, who is ABC News Chief White House Correspondent, a Trump administration official briefed reporters on background, meaning the information may be used, but the official may not be named. A newspaper then reported what the official said, respecting the rules by not naming the source. Then, President Trump criticized the newspaper for using phony sources. Here's how it happened, as described by Karl: The next day, May 25, the…
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Partisan Conflict Index
14
Sep
By Bob Weeks

Partisan Conflict Index

Have you suspected that the country has become more partisan? An index supports that. The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia produces a monthly index that measures one aspect of political partisanship. The authors explain: The Partisan Conflict Index tracks the degree of political disagreement among U.S. politicians at the federal level by measuring the frequency of newspaper articles reporting disagreement in a given month. Higher index values indicate greater conflict among political parties, Congress, and the President. The index is an outgrowth of recent Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia research that finds that the index tends to increase near elections…
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Libertarian campaign visits Wichita
29
Aug
By Bob Weeks

Libertarian campaign visits Wichita

In Wichita Story, Tim O'Bryhim reports on the visit of the Libertarian Party vice presidential candidate to Wichita: "It is another hot August day in Kansas; a good day to be inside. But a crowd gathers in the (sadly only proverbial) shadow of the Keeper of the Plains to welcome Spike Cohen, the vice-presidential candidate of the third largest political party in the United States of America. If elections were the Olympics, the Libertarian Party would proudly climb on the medals stand every four years with a bronze medal around its neck. But in American politics, third place is almost…
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30
Jul
By Bob Weeks

Herman Cain, RIP

Today we learned that Herman Cain has died at the age of 74. He had been hospitalized with COVID-19, according to a statement on his website. He was an interesting man. In 2010, as he was rising in national prominence, I interviewed him in his hotel suite in Las Vegas. He ran for president in 2012. For my interview, click on Herman Cain: Conservatives should dream, be united, informed, inspired.
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All Kansas Republicans should have a voice
29
Jan
By Bob Weeks

All Kansas Republicans should have a voice

A presidential nominating caucus or primary would allow Trump skeptics in Kansas to have their say. It could provide a safety valve, a way to release the pressure that builds up from being told they are traitors to not only their party but to the country as well. In September, leaders of the Kansas Republican Party decided to deny giving rank-and-file party members a voice in choosing its presidential nominee for 2020. In a release, the state party said : "The Kansas Republican Party will not organize a Caucus for the 2020 election because President Trump is an elected incumbent…
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Kansas Republicans buck longtime conservative voices
22
Sep
By Bob Weeks

Kansas Republicans buck longtime conservative voices

In deciding to forego a presidential caucus or primary, Kansas Republicans act contrary to mainstream conservative thought. After several states (including Kansas) decided to cancel or not schedule primary elections or caucuses, two noted conservative publications criticized these decisions. From the editors of National Review, founded by William F. Buckley: The president says he has nothing to do with these decisions, but also that holding primaries he is sure to win would be a waste of money. The susceptibility of this argument to abuse by a ruler ought to preclude its being made. The vast majority of Republicans approve of…
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Kansas Republicans should have their say
08
Sep
By Bob Weeks

Kansas Republicans should have their say

Kansas Republicans should insist on having a voice in choosing the next Republican presidential nominee. The Kansas Republican Party has decided to deny giving rank-and-file party members a voice in choosing its presidential nominee for next year. In a release, the party says : "The Kansas Republican Party will not organize a Caucus for the 2020 election because President Trump is an elected incumbent from the Republican Party." The release gives a reason: "Every time an elected incumbent Republican has run for re-election, except in 1912, the Kansas Republican Party state convention adopted a resolution instructing all delegates to vote…
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