Roger Marshall lacks Kansas Courage

Junior Senator fails to live up to the storied examples of Kansas leadership

Note: I’m going to be upfront and tell you that I’m behaving like a good capitalist here and hawking merch for a cause here. You can buy them to show your Kansas Pride, or you can buy them to push back against Sen. Roger Marshall, but my hope is you’ll buy a few and share the store with your friends, who are likely more Real Kansans) than Roger Marshall.

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I’ve been reading a good deal lately about the history of strong leaders in Kansas. Most of us know about President Dwight Eisenhower, who before becoming president led the Allied forces to against the fascist Nazi regime - but there are other less well known examples who showed grit and resolve in the face of relentless pressure.

The ruling party today suffers from an absolute void of courage. In this moment, the only elected Republican who seems to show any residue of a backbone is Sen. Jerry Moran. I’ve always had a measure of respect for Moran. He’s at times stood up against his party and leadership, and he is one of the rare elected officials taking steps to mitigate some of the damage being done by the Trump+Musk team. Everyone else it seems, from Congress to the Kansas Legislature, seems to be bowing down to their Dear Leader.

Roger Marshall is a tool who has built his career on fear, division, and misinformation. He is vapid, lacking any source of real power and identity. He is opportunistic, using any crisis to his advantage.

He also lacks the courage and leadership that has been part of the story of Kansas.

As a U.S. Senator, Roger Marshall represents the entire state of Kansas. From Oakley to Lawrence - which, it’s worth noting are in the same U.S. House District thanks to Republican Gerrymandering. There’s not a person in the state who doesn’t have a right to address their elected Senator.

Yet, Marshall has a long history of picking his audiences. If she shows up in the state at all, he hand picks his audiences. He enjoys the false confidence that comes from echo chambers, and anytime there might be a conflict or disagreement, he tucks his tail and runs.

I can understand why Sen. Marshall was stunned when he saw all the people at his forum in Oakley. If he really wanted a big crowd, he’d have done a public forum in Overland Park, Salina, Lawrence, Hays, Dodge City, Wichita, Garden City, Liberal, Great Bend, Pittsburg, or Hutchinson. He likely expected about 20 friendly faces to join him for coffee.

And, while it’s true that people drove a good distance to attend the meeting, it’s also true that they have that right. His claim that they’re paid operatives was nonsense, but that never stopped Marshall from leveling nonsensical claims before. Then he said that Real Kansans support the firing of Veterans, the slashing of funding to ag research, lost contracts to farmers, and a host of other policies that turn out to be bad for Kansas.

Well, Roger, I know a few Real Kansans, and we got something to say about that.

Real Kansans don’t lie down and take it from bullies.

Real Kansans don’t try to scare or divide their neighbors.

Real Kansans believe in serving their communities.

Real Kansans still think the truth matters

Real Kansans understand how today’s decisions affect the future.

Real Kansans know a huckster when they see one.

Real Kansans know to pull back the curtain on small men desperate for power.

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