Three brave GOP state legislators for State of Kansas have decided that they had enough with GOP extremism to where they took the step to change from their Republican Party affiliation to become Democrats.
Here’s the rest of the story…
On December 19, 2018, David of Crooks and Liars penned the following report, “Two Kansas Republicans Change Parties, Blaming Extremist GOP” (“Dinah Sykes and Stephanie Clayton flip to Democratic Party because far-right takeover is ‘getting worse’)
Excerpts:
Two Republican lawmakers in Kansas this week aligned themselves with the Democratic Party.
Kansas state Sen. Dinah Sykes and state Rep. Stephanie Clayton both announced on Wednesday (12/19/18) that they were leaving the Republican Party.”
“I strongly believe elected officials should serve the people they represent,” Sykes said in a statement. “That belief drove me to run for office. I ran for the Kansas Senate to protect the Kansas quality of life and to bring common sense to Topeka. At this time, I feel like I can either fight to change the Republican party or fight for the state I love and the people I serve. I think I can better serve my state and constituents as a member of the Democratic Party.”
Clayton said that she made her move to the Democratic Party after Republicans failed to increase school funding.
“Recent moves to support chaos in public policy have caused me great concern,” Clayton said. “Johnson County is the economic engine of the state and the fuel for that engine is our education system. I believe that I can better serve my constituents and support education as a member of the Democratic Party.”
Clayton told KCUR that she had initially hoped that the right-wing takeover of the Republican Party would be a “blip.”
“(But) I’ve been in this a long time and things are not blowing over,” she explained. “Things have not changed. They appear to be getting worse.”
The defections leave the Republican Party holding control of the state Senate by a 21-11 margin. The GOP also maintains control of the state House, which now has 84 Republicans and 41 Democrats.
Earlier this month, Republican state Sen. Barbara Bollier also announced that she had flipped her affiliation to the Democratic Party.
Gronda Morin 
Brave or opportunistic? The GOP is in free fall. So, what’s in it for them, personally? I notice they didn’t go independent, or talk about forming a new and non-compromised party. The Dems are no better than the GOP, it’s just convenient to believe that with Trump in the White House. If the Dems had been so good as voters are now supposed to believe, how could they lose to Trump? I’ve always maintained that the Repubs are open villainy whereas the Dems are hidden villainy. Both parties are corrupt to the core and you couldn’t find one honest member in the two piles if you scraped the bottom of their respective barrel for a week with a fine-tooth comb.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Dear Sha’Tara,
As a former Republican Party member for too many years to count until 2016, I respectfully disagree that both parties are equivalent.
You have a point in one way. Both parties have not been truly responsive of the needs of average Americans.
But one promotes racism, anti-immigration sentiments, fear of the other while another party supports diversity, tolerance.
There is a difference.
Hugs, Gronda
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, on the home front, I agree with you there, but I tend to observe the real America – the global Hegemon of unchallengeable “force de frappe” and the Coprorations that Hegemon ploughs the way through for maximum exploitation; the endless military interventions, regime change, sabre rattling, and of course those undeniable 800+ military bases whose sole purpose is to maintain and expand the grip the empire has on global economies and slave labour sources. To the world “homeland America” doesn’t count for much as we can all see the frittering away of that part of the empire. While Washington, the Pentagon and Langley are exporting terror world-wide, at a cost of over 50% of national income, the actual base that supports the empire is imploding and when I say the Dems and Reps are the same, it’s in that global context… you know, the one most Americans either know nothing about or simply swallow the propaganda thereof, hook, line and sinker. As long as your empire capital is hemorrhaging your national income to suck the lifeblood out of the “Third World” any change of local government is meaningless. If you want to see real change, you’ll have to pull in the empire’s horns and it’s likely way too late for that, but good luck. The world could use the respite. Yet when your idiot presidunce declares a pull-out of a totally illegal and immoral ‘war’ in Syria, the one good thing he may ever do, he’s dumped on. If the sky was falling, Americans would laugh, call it fake news and go back to watching some endless football game.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Dear Sha Tara,
While I appreciate you sharing your thoughts, I simply disagree.
Hugs, Gronda
LikeLiked by 2 people
There is no “law of agreement” binding us, is there? I look at the big picture, the entire chess board, not just that first line of defense held by the pawns.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Dear Sha Tara,
People do look at the same picture with different points of view. That’s a plus.
Hugs, Gronda
LikeLiked by 2 people
Gronda, this should be a clarion call to the GOP. I keep seeing 85% of Republicans still support the President, but I feel that overstates his Republican support as many have left the party. These women are brave. I recognize the Dems aren’t perfect, but they less imperfect than their counterparts whose leader is an untruthful and mercurial bully. Keith
LikeLiked by 2 people
Dear Keith,
The Republican Party is losing membership. So instead of expanding the party is detracting. This is why GOP leaders are resorting to cheating, as their candidates can’t win fair and square.
The Democrats are not a perfect bunch. Their tendency to want purity in ideology would mean that the Democratic Party would be one of contraction as well. But for right now, the Democratic Party is the only game in town.
Hugs, Gronda
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gronda, as you note Dems need to guard against going to far left. I think if they supported someone like former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg, he would wax Trump or any other Republican. I recognize he is an Independent, but he speaks about real issues like gun governance and climate change. He is not perfect, but he has more credibility and has a real business acumen as opposed to Trump’s learned gut. Keith
LikeLiked by 2 people
Dear Keith,
I would vote for Bloomberg who would be a great sales person for progressive causes. The American peoples don’t want purity of though so much as lawmakers getting things done on behalf of average Americans.
This push for purity vs. consensus is a formula for failure.
Hugs, Gronda
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a Christmas miracle! Let’s hope it is the start of a movement!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Dear Hugh,
Wouldn’t it be a true Christmas miracle if a couple of US republican senators decided to become Democrats? Now, I could drink to that.
Hugs, Gronda
LikeLiked by 2 people
What truly excellent news this is … let us hope it is only the beginning of a mass exodus from the Republican Party. The GOP became too arrogant, too greedy, and it’s time they pay the price. “I strongly believe elected officials should serve the people they represent,” — THAT is how each and every one of our elected officials should be thinking! Thanks for an uplifting post, for I had not heard this news.
Hugs!!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Dear Jill,
From your mouth to God’s ears. Wouldn’t it be great if a couple of GOP US senators changed their affiliation from the Republican Party to become Democrats. Now that would really be like lightening striking President Trump.
Hugs, Gronda
LikeLiked by 2 people
I would absolutely LOVE it! Especially if Mitchell McConnell were one of them! Yeah, I know, about as likely as snow in July.
Hugs!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
There are cracks which are appearing. The extreme in any party involved in democracy causes internal pressures which build up and build up.
Both the UK Conservative and Labour parties regularly do this sort of thing, although folk tend to stay in their own parties and cause trouble from within, but that’s the British system.
These were quite courageous moves considering the toxicity of the Trump ‘faithful’ in the social sewer….sorry I meant media….
Best wishes for Christmas Gronda
Roger & Sheila
LikeLiked by 2 people
Dear Roger,
This was outstanding news. Now if only more Republican Party lawmakers would do likewise. Now, that would be a real Christmas present.
Merry Christmas/ Happy holidays to you and Sheila.
Hugs, Gronda
LikeLike