Greg Orman would seem to be the definition of a self-made millionaire and successful businessman.
Orman would like to add governor of Kansas to that resumé.
It isnt going to happen.
When Orman announced his candidacy as an Independent, we thought the political landscape would make him a viable contender in a three-way race in which neither the Republican nor Democratic candidates were particularly popular or well-known.
And then Kris Kobach became the Republican nominee. At the moment Gov. Jeff Colyer gave his concession speech, Ormans hopes of being the next governor disappeared.
Its not that Orman might not be a good governor. He has some good ideas, such as requiring KanCare to negotiate for better prescription drug prices and calling for a truce in the tax break war between Kansas and Missouri when trying to lure businesses across the border.
Maybe his business experience trumps the background that either Laura Kelly or Kris Kobach have when it comes to running a $17 billion enterprise known as state government.
Its hard to say whether bringing a different perspective will make Orman a better governor. We wont find out over the next four years because Orman isnt going to be elected.
EVEN IF ALL the stars were lined up perfectly Orman was a longshot. By becoming the Republican nominee, Kobach completely disrupted the cosmos.
Thats because Kobach scares a lot of Kansans . . . and he should.
Kobach feels the only reason the Brownback tax cuts failed was because state spending wasnt slashed enough. We didnt deprive enough poor children of meals, create enough potholes in our highways, axe enough teaching positions from our public schools, underfund KPERS enough or force a high enough increase in university tuition fees.
Had Kansans been willing to suffer just a little more, the Brownback tax cuts would have worked like a gem.
Kobach promises to fix that.
And roughly 42 percent of voters in Kansas believe he will, which gives new meaning to the Russian proverb, Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Yes, the only voter fraud in Kansas is being committed by those who can vote legally but refuse to learn from the past.
KELLY HAS ALSO been polling at about 42 percent, which means the remaining 16 percent of voters moderate Republicans, Democrats and unaffiliated will decide the fate of Kansas when they enter the voting booth.
