Welcome

Hello. Welcome to Kansas Dino Watch. Let me tell you about this blog.

Kansas is thought of as a red state, but as we learned in 2006 Democrats can win any time and any place in Kansas.

For those outside Kansas, the Kansas Democratic Party has been very successful the last couple of election cycles. We have elected and re-elected Governor Sebelius. We have elected congressman Dennis Moore for almost a decade. We have elected an Attorney General. And we have elected another congresswoman Nancy Boyda. We also picked up seats in the Kansas legislature.

I am pleased that Democrats in Kansas are doing well. They are far better than the Republicans who would be in their place.

However, politics isn't just about keeping people out of office, it is more about doing something when you are in office.

There is a lot to do in Kansas. Health care needs to be available to all Kansas. We have troops who need to be sent home from Iraq immediately. Our public schools barely have any money. Our welfare programs are not funded. Gays and lesbians are discriminated against every day. We have a death penalty law that needs to be repealed. Jobs are being outsourced. We don't have a living wage. Abortion isn't a constitutional right in Kansas.

I understand that progress is not accomplished overnight. But we must have leadership that is completely committed to passing progressive legislation - not just worried about winning re-election.

I always vote a straight-ticket. I've waved signs at intersections. I've walked precincts. I've met all of the "now famous" Kansas Democrat Officials. I still intend to do these things.

But I think that the progressive blogosphere should hold our leadership accountable. It isn't enough just to beat Republicans and make fun of right-wing wackos. We have a state and a nation to change. There is work to be done. This blog is committed to accomplishing that.

What will this blog do? The following:

1. Encourage Democrat leadership to support progressive legislation

2. Hold Democrat leadership accountable for votes and their commitment to the progressive cause

3. Criticize Republicans, conservative and moderate, who block progressive legislation. And highlight any collusion between Democrats on such matters

4. Inform progressive activists

5. Evaluate "Republicans turned Democrats" and see if they really are one of us.

6. Recruit Democrats to run for office.

If Democrats are elected, but don't accomplish Democrat ideals, then we are nothing more than Democrats-In-Name-Only. I'm committed to making sure that we earn the party label of Roosevelt, Kennedy, and Dean.

The future is ahead of us. Let's not squander it like the Republicans did. (Although it was fun to watch that :)