Slattery Reconsidering Senate Race

[Big Unit]

This was probably the biggest news I heard at Washington Days - that Jim Slattery - who was also present at the Friday night banquet - is reconsidering a decision to enter the Democratic primary and run against Sen. Pat Roberts.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. His son is running in my district

against a GREAT progressive Democrat.

Does Slattery have a chance to beat Roberts?

Sorry I missed you at Wash Days. I didn't go Friday night but I was there yesterday for KS Progressive Caucus meeting.

[Big Unit]

2. Indeed Slattery has a Chance

I think he definitely has a chance. It will depend on his ability to raise enough money to implement a complete campaign strategy, of course. One thing Roberts will not lack is an adequate campaign fund. But Roberts will be portrayed by a smart Slattery campaign as the alter-ego of George Bush, will remind voters that Roberts was in charge for 6 years of the Senate Intel Committee, that Roberts shielded Bush/Cheney/Rummy before the 2004 election by stalling the publication of the investigataion of the Rush to War, and $3 trillion added to the federal deficit. Most recently, Roberts is culpable for the loss by Boeing of the tanker contract - which should weigh heavily in Slattery's favor in Wichita.

Unlike Lee Jones (the other Dem in this race already), Slattery will not have a problem raising adequate funds.

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Lee Jones came and talked to our caucus yesterday

He said Roberts has sided with Bush 96% of the time. We need to keep pounding that home.

That Boeing loss is huge. I was so sorry to hear about that. Damn.

[Big Unit]

4. Lee Jones Ran Four Years Ago

Jones ran four years ago for the U.S. Senate against Brownback. He was opposed in the primary by a last minute filer from NE Kansas - I don't even remember the name. Lee Jones was beaten in this primary by the Nor'easterner who didn't even campaign. When that winner withdrew from the race, Jones was installed as the opponent, and he failed miserably in even constructing a serious campaign. I don't think this track record speaks well for his ability to succeed this year, despite public sentiment weighing in favor of change.

[Vet31203]

7. Hopefully

We can get him in there

[SheilaT]

5. I'm told that Slattery has

enormous name recognition here in Kansas.

I've lived here 17 years, and have become quite active politically only in the past five or six years.

I barely recognize that name myself. He wasn't my Congressman, he left the state a decade or so ago. But I do clearly understand that he will be able to raise serious money.

I spent some time talking to people about Jones at Washington Days, as well as Lee himself. If Lee actually gets out there and starts making the kind of phone calls he needs to be making day after day to raise money, he stands a distant chance of running a viable race. If Slattery enters the race, I hope Jones has the grace to pull out.

What has me very frustrated about Lee Jones is that he should have been spending most of the past four years raising money, and it seems as if he's done nothing at all to get a serious campaign organized. He needs a professional staff. And he has almost no one, and I suspect that everyone is a volunteer. That's not how to run for the U.S. Senate and have any chance of winning.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. Slattery does indeed have the ability to raise some serious cash

His kid is running against Andy.

[Big Unit]

8. For Now it is Jones

Lee Jones has filed against Roberts, so he is our only candidate for now. So I wish him well.

[Mabus]

9. Oh jesus! Not Slattery!

He was one of the big players in pushing the SLT! He worked with Sandy Praeger and Wint Winter to run the road through the Haskell/Baker wetlands.

Archive for Friday, July 26, 1991
OFFICIALS PRESS ON FOR HIGHWAY FUNDS
Steve Buckner, J-W Staff Writer

July 26, 1991

Although pleased that a House committee approved federal funds for a city-county highway project, several local officials agree there are many miles to go before funding is secured.

On Thursday, U.S. Rep. Jim Slattery, D-Kan., announced that the House Public Works and Transportation Committee approved a five-year transportation bill that included $5.6 million for the Lawrence circumferential loop. Three projects the South Lawrence Trafficway, Eastern Parkway and widening of U.S. Highway 40 (Sixth Street) constitute the loop.

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/1991/jul/26/officials_press_on_for/

IIRC, he was also in favor of the infamous Eastern Porkway Parkway project that would have demolished much of east Lawrence and served as a connector for the SLT and I-70. The plan was to take out a lot of housing in east Lawrence and put in a road from the East Hills Business Park on K-10 (where the southern terminus for the SLT would be) through east Lawrence that would have terminated at 6th & Mass (near City Hall) and that traffic would then be funneled up US-59 up to I-70.

He was working for the developers then and I don't trust him now. Especially since the fight over the SLT is heating up again and the developers need someone to help pass the financing.


Besides, he's currently a Virginia resident and a partner at Wiley Rein (formerly Wiley, Rein & Fielding) and is a telecom lobbyist. This isn't surprising since Wiley Rein's address is 1776 K Street NW, Washington, DC 20006

Wiley Rein & Fielding Rated Top Telecommunications Lobbyists
June 17, 2004

Washington, DC—The Hill, a newspaper covering Congress and its members, has rated Wiley Rein & Fielding’s Richard E. Wiley, Susan Buck, Mimi Dawson and Jim Slattery as top telecommunications lobbyists. The rating is based on conversations with the major players on K Street, congressional staffers and other Washington insiders.

Of the group the paper said, "Nearly every telecom lobbyist in town recognized former Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Richard Wiley and his group as the top outside experts on telecommunications policy. His legislative team includes former FCC Commissioner and Senate Commerce Committee aide Dawson, one-time Sprint lobbyist Buck, and former Rep. Slattery (D-Kan.), a 12-year member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee."
http://www.wileyrein.com/news_release.cfm?press_release_id=1245

[Big Unit]

10. Would Pat Roberts Be a Better Senator?

Welcome back, Mabus. Long time no hear. Lee Jones is the only filed Dem so it may never happen that Slattery will enter the race. After all, Slattery already said he would not run this year. However, I know three things to be true in 2008: (1) Lee Jones will never come close to beating Roberts; (2) I have no doubt that Slattery would be a far more politically acceptable than re-electing Roberts. Maybe Slattery has matured and become wiser; and (3) we need 60 Democrats in the Senate to ever hope to change this country for the better. Roberts is vulnerable, and we need a candidate who can win.

[Mabus]

11. Slattery's in the pocket of big business

and at best would be a Dennis Moore/blue dog in the Senate. I doubt he's matured if he's a telecom lobbyist.

If he gets in, you can kiss Haskell good-bye.

[Big Unit]

12. So We Should Concede the Senate Race to Roberts?

I appreciate how long and hard you fought that battle - successfully. I certainly would not want to lose Haskell either. But I would hope that we could elect (after how many decades?) a Democrat to the US Senate AND not lose Haskell. Wouldn't Haskell fall within Boyda's district? Would she be an ally against the SLT? Did she ever take a position on the SLT during her two previous campaigns?

I know that we could continue searching for another Senate candidate, and that may indeed have to happen as we don't know that Slattery is going to do it.

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. No, we should support Lee Jones

His campaign has been working hard here in Johnson County. I am impressed. Haven't met Slattery yet.

[Mabus]

14. Haskell is in Moore's district

and you know how much of a spine he has.

If Slattery runs I will go after him with both guns blaring. I mean it. He's a telecom lobbyist for chrissakes. Hmmm, who has HQ in KC? Oh, that's right, that would be Sprint. What's a big issue these days? Telecom immunity. Now, ask yourself why Slattery would give up his day job and move back to Kansas to run for office? Is he just that wonderful of a guy or will he use his office to continue doing the same work he's been doing since he left Kansas? Who do you think he'll be working for? I have a damned good idea. He sold the residents of Lawrence down the river more the once on behalf of his friends and believe me, he would do it again in a heart beat. Even better, he'll sell the state of Kansas and the US down the river for a few shekels of gold.