What I find absolutely hilarious is the poll asking voters who they would vote for; If Hamilton runs as a Democrat, he loses; if he runs as an Independent (while not changing a single thing about his political beliefs), he wins. This is why politics is broken.
Welcome to Kansas. When the heat gets to be too much for Republicans, they run as independents.
The "No Labels" party is running a candidate, too! He's a former KSGOP party official and the director of the Kansans for Life PAC. No Labels, my ass!!
By the way, there is a great book Called Bone of the Bone, by Sarah Smarsh, about growing up liberal in Kansas. She does a great job of pushing back on the idea that states like Kansas are hopelessly Republican.
IIRC the issue goes well beyond Kansas. Pretty much anywhere, if you poll people on their political opinions using descriptions that don't clearly align with a party, then they tend to give more moderate answers. Thus you get the large majority of USAians are in favor of moderate gun control, limited state regulation of abortion, etc. It's only when you clearly align an issue with a party that people then shift to voting based on their party affiliation.
So this guy is just being realistic. Take the party label out of voter consideration, and his moderate views get a lot more traction.
This is also why extremists always use the RINO label on their opponents. It's an attempt to bring party affiliation back into an argument they can't win on substance.
I think it is certainly true that people tend toward moderation in their political beliefs, but that they embrace more extremist or radical positions when party affiliation is thrown into the mix. This is classic identity politics which is the basis for such horrible polarity in this country. A person should be comfortable enough with their political positions so that not only does it not matter whether they align with a D or an R, but people don't view a differing viewpoint as an attack on their very existence.
Thomas Frank, I think, wrote a book entitled “what’s the matter with Kansas“. It was all about how Kansas used to be quite liberal and on the left, but for various reasons, decided to embrace the right no matter how bad the right does for the state.
Hamilton's not a progressive firebrand? Given the things he believes in and the stances he supports, he's a raging firebrand in his religion and would be were he a Republican.
Republicans don't really care about religion or religious freedom, they care about power. If ending a rule gives them more power, they will try to end it. If enforcing the same rule means more power, they will try to enforce it.
They worship power and authority so long as they are the ones exercising authority.
Many religions base their power on unsubstantiated and controlling fear, so do most politicians.
IMO fear is Part of the natural defensive anxiety in most humans. According to the CDC 25% of Amercians in the United States suffer from GAD. Making it easy for MAGA and religions to win over.
Yes. University of Kansas in Lawrence and Kansas State University in Manhattan. I've visited both. Had a better time in Manhattan, but wouldn't revisit either.
No, that was the hypocrisy meter. "[H]e’s been a supporter of the United Methodist Church’s inclusive position on openly gay clergy members and its decision to allow clergy members to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies." If his positions weren't (somewhat) liberal they wouldn't have batted an eye. Hell, there would have been support for him as a primary challenge to Marshall. After all, the trend in the NSGOP is farther and farther to the right and more and more authoritarian.
And now for something completely different: a MODERATE preacher using his position to sort-of-not-quite-but-damned-near promote his run for political office. Lyndon Baines Johnson must be doing about 5,000 rpm in his grave about now. The amendment that bears his name has been beaten bloody enough by evangelicals as it is, and the fact that the Kansas Republican party has a less than positive take on Hamilton's activities only muddies the waters further.
I have NO idea how this is all going to play out. I DO, however, have the beer and popcorn at the ready!
"The Kansas Republican Party believes strongly in the rule of law. This complaint raises serious questions about the separation between the Church of the Resurrection’s religious mission and partisan political activity,”
It’s really sad that so many average Americans buy into the GOP propaganda accusing the Democratic Party of being the devil. Repeating ad nauseum that you can’t be a Christian and vote democratic, or that the democrats are doing whatever evil thing the GOP is actually doing (overspending, destroying the economy, trafficking children, eating babies, the wilder the better and most likely true of the republicans). That no one seems to hear outrageous nonsense and recognizes it as outrageous nonsense. And then on top of that, the average Americans have voted for the GOP for generations in certain states and cannot recognize that their shitty situation is a result of that voting pattern. They still blame the democrats for their failing economy, lack of opportunity, and crumbling infrastructure. How? How can it be the democrats when they have no power to do anything since you keep voting for the GOP? And how can you not see that the GOP openly votes to make everything worse?
Same goes for the federal government, the voting patterns show that when the GOP is in power, more often than not, they have controlling numbers in the house and senate and presidency, but when it’s the democrats in the presidency, there may be a majority in either or both chambers but never enough to beat a filibuster. So when the dems try to make headway the republicans block everything they can, (it was obvious with Obama, but it’s been that way forever) and it makes it look like the dems can’t get anything done. Still the dems do make great change, and when folks get comfortable again they go back to the GOP thinking it is better to switch for switching’s sake.
I’ve commented on this before. Republicans have been in power for over 40 years in the red states, and those states continue to rate pretty much at the bottom of just about every single measure of social well-being that there is. And that simple observation never dawns on them.
As I’ve also observed, Republicans managed to convince farmers that two guys getting married in New York is far more important than the farm bill that the Republicans are going to pass which will, within a few years, result in that farmer losing his farm to big agriculture.
That’s why he must run as independent rather than dem. I’m even betting that he thinks he’s Republican anyway, he just doesn’t want to primary the incumbent. Or he’s not a MAGA Republican so he can’t get anywhere that way.
I'm pretty familiar with Adam Hamilton's church, the work they do around Kansas City, and his numerous books. I think this is one preacher my atheist friends would find to be a senator they could be proud of.
Never forget that Kansas is home to the original fascist Koch Industries that did business with both the Nazis and Soviets while funding the John Birch Society which lead to the Heritage Foundation.
It's just possible that enough Republicans have grown tired of Trump and his BS that just maybe they might reach back for original GOP values. That's hardly a slam dunk, but it might happen.
What I find absolutely hilarious is the poll asking voters who they would vote for; If Hamilton runs as a Democrat, he loses; if he runs as an Independent (while not changing a single thing about his political beliefs), he wins. This is why politics is broken.
You didn’t hear democrats are demons?
Welcome to Kansas. When the heat gets to be too much for Republicans, they run as independents.
The "No Labels" party is running a candidate, too! He's a former KSGOP party official and the director of the Kansans for Life PAC. No Labels, my ass!!
By the way, there is a great book Called Bone of the Bone, by Sarah Smarsh, about growing up liberal in Kansas. She does a great job of pushing back on the idea that states like Kansas are hopelessly Republican.
Added to my wish list, thanks! Working on a book by Neil DeGrasse Tyson now.
Anything that guy does is outstanding.
IIRC the issue goes well beyond Kansas. Pretty much anywhere, if you poll people on their political opinions using descriptions that don't clearly align with a party, then they tend to give more moderate answers. Thus you get the large majority of USAians are in favor of moderate gun control, limited state regulation of abortion, etc. It's only when you clearly align an issue with a party that people then shift to voting based on their party affiliation.
So this guy is just being realistic. Take the party label out of voter consideration, and his moderate views get a lot more traction.
This is also why extremists always use the RINO label on their opponents. It's an attempt to bring party affiliation back into an argument they can't win on substance.
I have nothing against voting for moderate Republicans, I've voted for a few in my 25 years living here, but I don't trust pastors.
I think it is certainly true that people tend toward moderation in their political beliefs, but that they embrace more extremist or radical positions when party affiliation is thrown into the mix. This is classic identity politics which is the basis for such horrible polarity in this country. A person should be comfortable enough with their political positions so that not only does it not matter whether they align with a D or an R, but people don't view a differing viewpoint as an attack on their very existence.
Thomas Frank, I think, wrote a book entitled “what’s the matter with Kansas“. It was all about how Kansas used to be quite liberal and on the left, but for various reasons, decided to embrace the right no matter how bad the right does for the state.
I have a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.
"We're off to see the Wizard!"
Voting for a No Labels candidate is like voting for Jill Stein, but worse.
This is clearly a race where followup is MANDATORY!
Hamilton's not a progressive firebrand? Given the things he believes in and the stances he supports, he's a raging firebrand in his religion and would be were he a Republican.
He doesn’t sound like a terrible human being, but I still wouldn’t vote for a preacher unless the alternative was far worse.
Republicans don't really care about religion or religious freedom, they care about power. If ending a rule gives them more power, they will try to end it. If enforcing the same rule means more power, they will try to enforce it.
They worship power and authority so long as they are the ones exercising authority.
Many religions base their power on unsubstantiated and controlling fear, so do most politicians.
IMO fear is Part of the natural defensive anxiety in most humans. According to the CDC 25% of Amercians in the United States suffer from GAD. Making it easy for MAGA and religions to win over.
“The Kansas Republican Party believes strongly in the rule of law."
Insert jerking off gif here.
Are there 2 Kansases?
Yes. University of Kansas in Lawrence and Kansas State University in Manhattan. I've visited both. Had a better time in Manhattan, but wouldn't revisit either.
I have another image of Republicans claiming to believe strongly in the rule of law
youtu.be/rrPosTPSXxw
𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐾𝑎𝑛𝑠𝑎𝑠 𝑅𝑒𝑝𝑢𝑏𝑙𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑛 𝑃𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑦 𝑖𝑠 𝑎𝑐𝑐𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎 𝐶ℎ𝑟𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝑝𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑜𝑓 𝑢𝑛𝑓𝑎𝑖𝑟𝑙𝑦 𝑢𝑠𝑖𝑛𝑔 ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑚𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑢𝑟𝑐ℎ 𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑡𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑚 𝑡𝑜 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑚𝑜𝑡𝑒 𝑎 𝑝𝑜𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑑𝑎𝑡𝑒.
𝑇ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑠𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑 𝑦𝑜𝑢 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑟 𝑖𝑠 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑖𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑦 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑏𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔.
No, that was the hypocrisy meter. "[H]e’s been a supporter of the United Methodist Church’s inclusive position on openly gay clergy members and its decision to allow clergy members to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies." If his positions weren't (somewhat) liberal they wouldn't have batted an eye. Hell, there would have been support for him as a primary challenge to Marshall. After all, the trend in the NSGOP is farther and farther to the right and more and more authoritarian.
Can you imagine what Trump would say about Hamilton? Doesn't take a LOT of imagination, really.
"He knows that I need a big beautiful ballroom!"
🤪🤪🤪
“Church of the Resurrection” - aka Church of It Never Happened, aka Church of Make Believe,
aka Church of Some People Will Believe Anything.
aka Church of Hand Over your Wallet.
aka the Church of Give Us Your Children.
And now for something completely different: a MODERATE preacher using his position to sort-of-not-quite-but-damned-near promote his run for political office. Lyndon Baines Johnson must be doing about 5,000 rpm in his grave about now. The amendment that bears his name has been beaten bloody enough by evangelicals as it is, and the fact that the Kansas Republican party has a less than positive take on Hamilton's activities only muddies the waters further.
I have NO idea how this is all going to play out. I DO, however, have the beer and popcorn at the ready!
"The Kansas Republican Party believes strongly in the rule of law. This complaint raises serious questions about the separation between the Church of the Resurrection’s religious mission and partisan political activity,”
https://media.tenor.com/4pFJ4HBoDscAAAAM/bullshit-smelly.gif
Statements like that are how you break bullshit detectors!
That needle shouldn't have just gone past 3, it should be spinning wildly.
The proud history of Kansas republican senators. The stupid runs deep there:
https://americanloons.blogspot.com/2010/06/38-sam-brownback.html
Brownie doesn't understand what a scientific theory entails. And he doesn't want to.
ignorance isn't just bliss to xtians. It's a survival mechanism.
That Brownback has any intelligence is 'just a theory'.
It’s really sad that so many average Americans buy into the GOP propaganda accusing the Democratic Party of being the devil. Repeating ad nauseum that you can’t be a Christian and vote democratic, or that the democrats are doing whatever evil thing the GOP is actually doing (overspending, destroying the economy, trafficking children, eating babies, the wilder the better and most likely true of the republicans). That no one seems to hear outrageous nonsense and recognizes it as outrageous nonsense. And then on top of that, the average Americans have voted for the GOP for generations in certain states and cannot recognize that their shitty situation is a result of that voting pattern. They still blame the democrats for their failing economy, lack of opportunity, and crumbling infrastructure. How? How can it be the democrats when they have no power to do anything since you keep voting for the GOP? And how can you not see that the GOP openly votes to make everything worse?
Same goes for the federal government, the voting patterns show that when the GOP is in power, more often than not, they have controlling numbers in the house and senate and presidency, but when it’s the democrats in the presidency, there may be a majority in either or both chambers but never enough to beat a filibuster. So when the dems try to make headway the republicans block everything they can, (it was obvious with Obama, but it’s been that way forever) and it makes it look like the dems can’t get anything done. Still the dems do make great change, and when folks get comfortable again they go back to the GOP thinking it is better to switch for switching’s sake.
Fuck! People are dumb.
I’ve commented on this before. Republicans have been in power for over 40 years in the red states, and those states continue to rate pretty much at the bottom of just about every single measure of social well-being that there is. And that simple observation never dawns on them.
As I’ve also observed, Republicans managed to convince farmers that two guys getting married in New York is far more important than the farm bill that the Republicans are going to pass which will, within a few years, result in that farmer losing his farm to big agriculture.
That’s why he must run as independent rather than dem. I’m even betting that he thinks he’s Republican anyway, he just doesn’t want to primary the incumbent. Or he’s not a MAGA Republican so he can’t get anywhere that way.
I'm not a Kansas voter so my actions mean very little. That said, even this guy is a vast improvement over ANY Banana Republican traitor.
I'm pretty familiar with Adam Hamilton's church, the work they do around Kansas City, and his numerous books. I think this is one preacher my atheist friends would find to be a senator they could be proud of.
Never forget that Kansas is home to the original fascist Koch Industries that did business with both the Nazis and Soviets while funding the John Birch Society which lead to the Heritage Foundation.
Just to prove that it isn't only the US has this kind of problem - https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/apr/29/crewe-police-raid-ahmadi-religion-peace-light
I dunno, voters will always choose the real thing over gop lite. But maybe this year?
It's just possible that enough Republicans have grown tired of Trump and his BS that just maybe they might reach back for original GOP values. That's hardly a slam dunk, but it might happen.
Agree.