corrente

A guy named Thomas Frank came out recently with a book called "What's the Matter With Kansas?" discussing why that state in particular votes consistently Republican when all logic suggests they should be solid Dem. (The link is to his "Now" interview with Bill Moyers.)

So how weird is it that some are loudly outraged that Kansas Republicans aren't Republican enough?:

(via Lawrence KS Journal-World)

TOPEKA — Out-of-state groups with anti-tax, anti-immigration and anti-gay messages are flooding Kansas to put down what they see as an insurrection in a traditionally Republican state.

"The Republican Party needs to be reoriented in Kansas," said Stephen Moore, head of the Washington, D.C.,-based anti-tax organization called Club for Growth. "There is a civil war in the party, and we want to make sure the right side wins."

Several non-Kansas religious groups bombarded lawmakers with e-mail and threats of political retribution after state lawmakers voted against a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages.

Moore, the president of the Club for Growth, said if the group could help defeat [State Rep. William] Kassebaum "we can start to impose some discipline in the Republican Party. This is crazy thinking that states can tax their way to prosperity," he said.

"I don't know a lot about Kansas," Moore said. He predicted that in five years "there will be no pro-tax Republicans left in Kansas."

If this geek did know anything about the state's history he would know that things that start in Lawrence can spin badly out of control, and think about the name of John Brown. But until he does let's enjoy the spectacle of infighting on the Dark Side.