KS-Sen: Taylor drops out

[Tender Branson]

I+1

2014 is the right climate in KS to get rid of Roberts.

[Tender Branson]

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/216603-legal-questions-complicate-democrats-exit-from-kansas-senate

If his name remains on the ballot because of the election law §§§, it would certainly lower the chances of Orman defeating Roberts.

[Tender Branson]

I think blaming the Kansas SoS here is wrong. If the KS election law explicitely says that you can only step down as candidate by notifying the SoS that you are unable to serve if elected, then Krobach is only acting according to the law. It's his job.

You should rather expect the Taylor campaign to be smart enough to know the election law and they should have put the "unable to serve" thing into his letter.

[Tender Branson]

I think blaming the Kansas SoS here is wrong. If the KS election law explicitely says that you can only step down as candidate by notifying the SoS that you are unable to serve if elected, then Krobach is only acting according to the law. It's his job.

You should rather expect the Taylor campaign to be smart enough to know the election law and they should have put the "unable to serve" thing into his letter.

Except the letter Taylor wrote was written with the assistance of the Secretary of State's office, implying the Secretary of State knowingly deceived the Taylor campaign.

This, and also just try to imagine how Kobach would be acting if the situation was reversed and it was to benefit Republicans.

Interesting if true. In this case, the Taylor campaign would have a good chance of legal victory.

Hopefully it is resolved (Taylor's name taken off) before any ballots are printed.

[Tender Branson]

I think blaming the Kansas SoS here is wrong. If the KS election law explicitely says that you can only step down as candidate by notifying the SoS that you are unable to serve if elected, then Krobach is only acting according to the law. It's his job.

You should rather expect the Taylor campaign to be smart enough to know the election law and they should have put the "unable to serve" thing into his letter.

Except the letter Taylor wrote was written with the assistance of the Secretary of State's office, implying the Secretary of State knowingly deceived the Taylor campaign.

Its much more likely that they consulted some mid-level bureaucrat in the office who got it wrong. I very much doubt the secretary himself was involved in the decision in any way.

Well, in that case the Taylor campaign should just send a 2nd letter to Kobach's desk with the "unable to serve after elected" thing in it and Kobach needs to accept (unless he's willing to be OK with his incompetent staff that doesn't know the election law of the state).

[Tender Branson]

From what I understand, the Taylor-camp now has ca. 4-5 weeks until ballots are printed and sent to polling stations and absentee voters.

How likely is it that a court rules before the ballot deadline and will there be appeals ?

[Tender Branson]

The KS Supreme Court will hear the Taylor-case today, just 1 day ahead of the ballot-printing deadline:

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http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/election/article2116230.html

[Tender Branson]

Suck it, Kobach:

Kansas judges question why Democrat kept on ballot

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[Tender Branson]

So, are the Supreme Court dudes going to rule on this today ?

Otherwise, the ballots will start to be printed with his name on them ...

[Tender Branson]

What the heck are these useless sloths in robes doing?

2-day coffee break ?

[Tender Branson]

I can't wash away the suspicion that they're doing it on purpose, because they know Taylor is in the right and don't want to set a bad precedent, but they are also GOP hacks who want Roberts to win. Going "sorry dude, you were totally right but it's too late!" might be their best strategy.

Nope:

Four justices — a majority for the seven member court — were appointed by former Democratic Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, including Beier and Biles. Two others were appointed by Sebelius' predecessor, former moderate GOP Gov. Bill Graves. The seventh spot is open because conservative Gov. Sam Brownback's first appointee won't be sworn in until December, and a retired district judge is sitting with the court.

[Tender Branson]

Kansas Supreme Court Sends Orel Lawsuit to District Court

The twists and turns in the Kansas Senate race would make a great political thriller book or movie. Very briefly, when the Democratic nominee withdrew, the Kansas secretary of state, Kris Kobach (R) refused to take his name off the ballot, but the Kansas Supreme Court ordered him to do so. Then David Orel, the father of an aide to Gov. Sam Brownback (R-KS), filed a suit to force the Democratic Party to name a replacement. The idea here is having any Democrat on the ballot, no matter how obscure, would siphon off votes from independent Greg Orman, who might actually beat Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS).

Now the Kansas Supreme Court has ordered the case to be first heard in the Shawnee County District Court. That could take weeks. Only then would it come back to the state Supreme Court, by which time the ballots would already have been printed and the case would be moot. In effect, the court's ruling is a win for the Democrats and a setback for the Republicans.

http://www.electoral-vote.com/evp2014/Senate/Maps/Sep24.html#item-1

[Tender Branson]

Kobach now badly wants to speed up the lawsuit process:

Kobach intervenes in Kansas Senate election dispute

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http://www.kansascity.com/news/government-politics/election/article2240672.html

[Tender Branson]

Let's assume the replacement-lawsuit reaches the KS Supreme Court again in early October and the court then rules that the KS Dem. Party needs to pick a replacement candidate.

Does the KS election law say that the KS Dem. Party can pick any random person as their candidate ?

Or does this person have to be a registered Democrat ?

[Tender Branson]

Assuming the KS Supreme Court requires the KS Dem. Party to choose a replacement candidate before the election, with the KS Democrats refusing to choose one and with the election being held between Orman and Roberts, does the KS law allow to challenge the general election after it is held, invalidate it and set a new election ?

[Tender Branson]

Kobach about to lose again:

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http://cjonline.com/news/2014-09-29/no-ruling-bid-make-dems-fill-us-senate-candidate-vacancy

[Tender Branson]

Good to see Kobach sucking the hairy balls of justice and choking on them.