ha ha... already won one over...

Former GOP Chairman Parkinson switches affiliation to Democrat

TOPEKA, Kan. - Former Kansas Republican Party Chairman Mark Parkinson switched his party affiliation to Democrat on Tuesday, fueling speculation that he will be named Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' running mate.

Parkinson came into the Johnson County election office shortly before noon Tuesday and switched parties, said Brian Newby, the county election commissioner. Newby said Parkinson did not say why he was switching parties. But his name has been widely circulated as Sebelius' choice to run for lieutenant governor after she announced Friday she was seeking a second term without a running mate in tow.

Sebelius spokeswoman Nicole Corcoran declined to comment about Parkinson, but the governor planned to announce her choice for running mate Wednesday morning at the University of Kansas campus in Overland Park, near Parkinson's home in Olathe.

"Traditionally, you do see that that the first stop would be in or around that person's home base. It would be safe to assume that she would be choosing someone from the Johnson County area," Corcoran said.

Parkinson, 48, wasn't available for comment and didn't return a telephone message left at his home.

In 2002, Sebelius announced in Wichita that her running mate would be John Moore, a Republican who had a long career as an executive with Cessna Aircraft Co. in Wichita. Moore is retiring when his term expires in January.

Moore switched from Republican to Democrat days before being introduced on the Sebelius ticket. For years, Kansas Republicans have been split between moderate and conservative factions, and both Moore and Parkinson are moderates.

House Speaker Doug Mays said he was disgusted by Parkinson's lack of loyalty to the party that made him chairman.

"To me, one of the most valuable traits that a person can have, particularly a person who find himself in a position of authority is loyalty," said Mays, R-Topeka. "I think he's being opportunistic on a personal basis. The Republican Party had been very good to Mark Parkinson."

Also among prominent Kansas Republicans who have switched parties is Johnson County District Attorney Paul Morrison, who switched to challenge conservative Republican Attorney General Phill Kline in the November general election. Parkinson is co-chairman of Morrison's campaign.

A former House member also recently switched from Republican to Democrat to challenge the woman who beat her in 2004. Cindy Neighbor of Shawnee filed for office as a Democrat and faces Rep. Mary Pilcher Cook in a rematch in November.

Besides serving as GOP chairman from 1999-2003, Parkinson served in the House from 1991-92 and the Senate from 1993-97.

Senate Minority Leader Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, has known Parkinson since he was a teenager and served with him in the Legislature. He said Parkinson is qualified to be lieutenant governor and that his party switch was significant.

"My guess is that he's been thinking about this for a long time, that this isn't a fly-by-night decision to change parties," Hensley said. "It's not a case of them leaving the party, they feel the party as left them for a long time. This is not an isolated deal."

Mays said Republicans need to find common ground rather than defecting. He doesn't consider the rift in the party surprising, considering the GOP has dominated Kansas politics since statehood. Mays said while the party recently has shifted to the right, it inevitably will shift back to the left.

more... http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...l/14700196.htm

Republican=Democrat.

2 sides of the same coin.

as long as they say they are moving away from the right and the president.... i don't care.... it's a start...

I agree and hate both... but think there are enough democraps to get bush out when they win in Nov.... then all the fake republocraps will get kicked out...

i'll take progress in small steps with living in this much of a Nazi state...