Obama snubs vets, skips Heroes ball
Since its inception in 1953, every new president has attended The Salute to Heroes Inaugural Ball – until now. The ball was created for President Dwight Eisenhower's inauguration to honor recipients of the Medal of Honor, the nation's highest military award. The event is sponsored by the American Legion and co-sponsored by 13 other veteran's service organizations, including the Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Military Order of the Purple Heart. And while 48 of the nation's 99 living recipients of the Medal of Honor attended the event, reports the Cleveland Leader and various self-attested attendees of the ball, newly sworn-in President Barack Obama became the first president in 56 years to skip out on the ceremony.

Artist creates Obama messianic Donkey ride into DC
Amid the pomp, circumstance and celebration of welcoming a new president, an artist in Iowa created an inaugural parade sure to draw attention, even hundreds of miles from Washington, D.C.: Barack Obama, riding on a donkey, complete with waving palm fronds just as Christ entered into Jerusalem. Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan declared in October that when Obama talks, "the Messiah is absolutely speaking." But artist Matthew J. Clark's parade – marching Obama through the streets of Des Moines in similar fashion to Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem – takes the messianic imagery even farther.

CNN likens inauguration to pilgrimage
A special CNN report has likened attendance at President Obama's inauguration to participation in the hajj, the pilgrimage to Islam's holy city Mecca that Muslims are required to make at least once.

Finally! Bush Commutes Border Patrolmen Sentences
President Bush commuted the prison sentences of former Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean on the last full day of his presidency. The sentences for Ramos and Compean are scheduled to expire March 20th. Two years ago, Ramos and Compean began serving sentences of 11- and 12- years respectively for a 2005 incident in which they fired on a drug smuggler as he fled back into Mexico after bringing 750 pounds of marijuana into the U.S. More than 150 members of the House of Representatives, including both Democrats and Republicans are in support of either a full pardon or a commutation of sentence for the agents.

Obama adviser: White males need not apply
A top economic adviser to President Obama has told a congressional panel the billions of dollars in the proposed economic stimulus plan should be allocated with social issues in mind, to make sure the money doesn't go to just "white male construction workers" or the highly skilled.

Canada says No to Domestic Terrorist Ayers Entry
An American education professor, one of the founders of a radical 1960s group known as the Weather Underground, which was responsible for a number of bombings in the United States in the early 1970s, was turned back at the Canadian border last night. Dr. William Ayers, a professor of education at the University of Illinois-Chicago and a leader in educational reform, was scheduled to speak at the Centre for Urban Schooling at University of Toronto's Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. But that appearance has now been temporarily cancelled.

American Voters Losing Faith in Theory of Global Warming
American voters are losing faith in the theory that human activity is causing global warming, a Rasmussen poll released Monday says. Americans’ changing views on the causes of global warming are backed up by science, according to Donald J. Easterbrook, a geology professor at Western Washington University. An examination of almost 400 years of climate fluctuations shows “an almost exact correlation” between climate changes and solar radiation, not human activity,” said Easterbrook. Only one in 30 climate events is linked to carbon dioxide emissions, a pretty shaky record according to Dr. Easterbrook. “Only one in 30 shows any correlation with CO2,” he said. “So if you’re a baseball player with 30 at bats, that’s not a very good average.”

Biden has to shush his wife on slip of the tongue
The wife of Vice President-elect Joe Biden let it slip that her husband had a pick of two jobs in the Obama administration. Jill Biden said President-elect Barack Obama gave Biden the choice of being secretary of state or vice president. Her comment came when the Bidens made a surprise appearance on Oprah Winfrey's show, recorded at the Kennedy Center. The vice president-elect tried to hush his wife as soon as the words came out of her mouth, with a loud "shhh!" Wonder how new Secretary of State Hillary Clinton feels about this one?

Obama Closes Gitmo – So where will we put terrorists, in America?
President Barack Obama on Thursday moved quickly to undo a contentious Bush administration national security program, ordering the CIA to close down secret overseas prisons and the Pentagon to close down the Guantanamo prison within a year.

Kansas wary of being new home for Guantanamo detainees
Kansas politicians and local government officials have complained loudly about the possibility of America's most troublesome captives being brought to the Midwest. Opponents' arguments center on security - both that the military prison might not be equipped for such high-risk inmates, and that the base and the community might be targeted by terrorists. "This is just not going to happen on our watch," said Republican Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas. Sen. Sam Brownback, another Kansas Republican, said he also has been told by officials from Muslim countries that they would no longer send officers to the Army Command and General Staff College if the detainees came to the Leavenworth Army base.

Republicans Introduce Bill Banning Gitmo Detainees From U.S. Soil
“Closing Guantanamo Bay presents a clear and present danger to all Americans," said House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith. "These suspected terrorists must now be relocated and if they are transferred to military prisons in the U.S., they automatically will be granted rights far beyond those given to enemy combatants by any other country." “The result is that many will petition friendly federal judges who may order their release into U.S. communities," he continued. The legislation, known as the Enemy Combatant Detention Review Act, has the backing of Minority Leader John Boehner and other prominent House Republicans. In addition to preventing courts from bring enemy combatants into the U.S., the bill requires that an alien captured and detained abroad during wartime cannot be admitted and released into the country.

Gitmo Prisoner Released and now head of Al Qaeda
The emergence of a former Guantánamo Bay detainee as the deputy leader of Al Qaeda's Yemeni branch has underscored the potential complications in carrying out the executive order that President Barack Obama signed that the detention center be shut down within a year. The militant, Said Ali al-Shihri, is suspected of involvement in a deadly bombing of the U.S. Embassy in Yemen's capital, Sana, in September. He was released to Saudi Arabia in 2007 and passed through a Saudi rehabilitation program for former jihadists before resurfacing with Al Qaeda in Yemen.

Sweet Caroline is a no go for Senator
In a stunning revelation, a source close to Gov. David Paterson insisted this afternoon that the governor "had no intention" of picking Caroline Kennedy for New York's vacant senate seat - because she was "mired" in an issue over taxes, her nanny and possibly her marriage.

Inaugural prayer slam prompts Obama smile
Outrage is erupting over the inauguration benediction by Rev. Joseph Lowery, an 87-year-old civil rights pioneer, for asking God to help mankind work for a day when "white would embrace what is right." Lowery, known for co-founding the Southern Christian Leadership Conference with Martin Luther King Jr., opened with a quote from the "Black National Anthem." He then asked God to encourage America to make "choices on the side of love, not hate, on the side of inclusion not exclusion, tolerance not intolerance" after President Barack Obama took the presidential oath.

Top Democratic consultant on Blagojevich tapes
A partner in a prominent, Washington-based political consulting firm is among those secretly recorded discussing ways Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich can cash in on President Barack Obama's old Senate seat. Frederick S. Yang, a top executive at Peter D. Hart Research Group Associates, is identified by prosecutors in the Blagojevich criminal complaint as "Advisor B," Michael D. Ettinger, a lawyer representing the governor's brother, said Thursday. Robert Blagojevich, who has not been charged with a crime, runs his brother's campaign fund.

President Change – No Questions Allowed
President Barack Obama made a surprise visit to the White House press corps Thursday night, but got agitated when he was faced with a substantive question. Asked how he could reconcile a strict ban on lobbyists in his administration with a deputy defense secretary nominee who lobbied for Raytheon, Obama interrupted with a knowing smile on his face. ??"Ahh, see," he said, "I came down here to visit. See this is what happens. I can't end up visiting with you guys and shaking hands if I'm going to get grilled every time I come down here." ??Pressed further by the Politico reporter about his Pentagon nominee, William J. Lynn III, Obama turned more serious, putting his hand on the reporter's shoulder and staring him in the eye.

McCain Already Showing True Colors
A joke made its way around the Capitol yesterday: How do you know the 2008 election is really over? Because John McCain is causing trouble for Republicans again. Two and a half months removed from his defeat in the race for the presidency, colleagues say, McCain bears more resemblance to the unpredictable and frequently bipartisan lawmaker they have served with for decades than the man who ran an often scathing campaign against Barack Obama. In some instances, he's even carrying water for his former rival. Asked if he had a sense where McCain's maverick streak would take him from here, Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) responded: "In a word, no. I have no sense. I'm ready for whatever happens."

Environment Guru says Global Warming is a scam
Most of the "green" stuff is verging on a gigantic scam. Carbon trading, with its huge government subsidies, is just what finance and industry wanted. It's not going to do a damn thing about climate change, but it'll make a lot of money for a lot of people and postpone the moment of reckoning. I am not against renewable energy, but to spoil all the decent countryside in the UK with wind farms is driving me mad. It's absolutely unnecessary, and it takes 2500 square kilometres to produce a gigawatt - that's an awful lot of countryside.

A Call to Arms in Britain
British Citizens have had it with gun control policies in Britain. Gun bans have failed miserably in Great Britain.

Mexican Socialist in Cultural War with Catholic Church
Mexican socialists are threatening the Catholic Church for opposing abortion, homosexual "marriage," and euthanasia. Mexico's Social Democratic Party members say they will file suit if the church does not keep quiet.

The Pro-Life Video that has caught the attention of the World!
A pro-life ad is celebrating President Barack Obama's mother's decision not to abort the first black American president, and the video has already caught the attention of more than 200,000 viewers.

Quarter Million March for Life at Capitol
Approximately 250,000 antiabortion advocates marched from the Mall to the Supreme Court this afternoon, part of a day of demonstrations and prayer marking the 36th anniversary of the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion. Speakers both slammed Obama, calling his election a "step back," and also used his story for inspiration, challenging young people to be "community activists. "We may have lost an election, but we have not lost a war," said Sen. Sam Brownback (R-Kan.).

Pro-Life Event sold out at Verizon
Verizon's 18,000-plus seats were full of chatty teens and less-boisterous nuns and priests in full robes and habits; overflow crowds were sent to Masses at nearby churches. Rosary beads were handed out at the arena entrances. Bishops from across the country celebrated Mass, and nearly 100 priests heard individual confessions. The rally included an official message from Pope Benedict XVI, relayed by Archbishop Pietro Sambi, apostolic nuncio to the United States. "His Holiness is deeply grateful for your outstanding annual witness to the gospel of life," Sambi said. " The holy father encourages young people to make their voices heard on this burning moral issue." Opposition to Obama's abortion-rights positions has energized participants in today's event. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops launched a postcard campaign encouraging people to express opposition to the Freedom of Choice Act, which would codify women's right under Roe v. Wade to terminate their pregnancy and would forbid any interference with that right.

Planned Parenthood: Force doctors to do abortions
Experts for the Alliance Defense Fund and Christian Legal Society are gearing up to defend three laws that allow medical professionals to follow their conscience and not participate in abortions. "Medical professionals should not be forced to perform abortions against their conscience," said Casey Mattox, litigation counsel with the CLS's Center for Law & Religious Freedom. "Planned Parenthood, the ACLU and their pro-abortion allies are seeking to punish pro-life medical professionals for their beliefs," Mattox said. "Far from arguing for 'choice,' these lawsuits seek to compel health care workers to perform abortions or face dire consequences."

Activists to Obama: Go watch abortion
"As a candidate, President-Elect Obama made two important campaign promises: first, that he will be president of all of the people, and also that he will make change. Then, as president of all the people, which includes preborn humans, he must educate himself about the evils over-flowing our American culture from Roe v. Wade," the challenge said. "They are the evils of denying worth to a whole class of innocent preborn humans. They are the evils of denying protection of the unalienable right to life of preborn humans in existence at fertilization. They are the same evils which America suffered by having to put down slavery and the holocaust." The campaign said Obama must learn that on his inauguration day alone an estimated 3,000 pregnant mothers were "brutalized physically and emotionally by surgical abortion, and 3,000 innocent preborn human boys and girls killed intentionally." The challenge states to be president "of all of the people": "He must watch the evil deed of a surgical abortion to know what it looks like to pull off the head, arms and legs of a preborn human – there is a commercial killing site within a few blocks of the White House. "He must learn about abortion evil by talking with suffering post-abortion mothers and fathers. "He must talk with an adult who survived the violations of abortion. "He must learn about the love and work of selfless pro-lifers who provide free services for pregnant mothers. "He must join with us volunteer March for Life defenders who stand up for change which overturns Roe vs. Wade because we cannot tolerate that our beloved country continues to participate in the intentional genocide of an estimated 50,000,000 innocent preborn human boys and girls since Roe v. Wade."

Black Pastor Warns Obama not to Preside over “Genocide” of American Blacks
The most well received speech at the March for Life this year was that of an African American pastor from Frederick Maryland. Pastor Luke Robinson began noting that the election of the first African American President of the United States was a fulfillment of “part” of the “Dream” of Dr. Marin Luther King Jr. Speaking of the inauguration of the “first black President” of the United States, Pastor Robinson explained: “So many African Americans and other folks cried and shouted because the inauguration was part of the deferred dream come true.” But, he added, “We come here to deal with some unfinished business as it relates to the ‘dream’.” Then, using Barack Obama’s own rhetoric, Pastor Robinson used the phrase “We need change now more than ever” which would accentuate the rest of his talk. “We are calling on the President of Change, President Barack Obama,” he said, “to be an agent of change as it relates to the lives of over one million children who will be slaughtered in this, his first year as President, by a horrible practice called abortion and ‘a woman’s right to choose’.” The most striking portion of Robinson’s speech came as he begged Obama not to preside over the genocide of African Americans. “We need change Mr. President because every day about 4000 babies die by abortion. Every day Mr. President, people with your ethnic background any my ethnic background die in astounding numbers. Abortion is the number one killer of African Americans in this country.

Obama Signs Mexico City Abortion Policy
Officials say President Barack Obama will sign an executive order on Friday ending the ban on federal funds for international groups that promote or perform abortion.? ?The Associated Press said the officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to pre-empt Obama's announcement. The "Mexico City policy" bans U.S. taxpayer money from going to international family planning groups that either offer abortions or provide information, counseling or referrals about abortion. ? ?Critics call it the "global gag rule," because it prohibits taxpayer funding for groups that even talk about abortion as an option for unplanned pregnancies. Obama avoided signing the executive order on Thursday, when thousands of pro-life activists came to Washington to mark the 36th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion on demand.

Obama FDA Allows Embryonic Stem Cell Research
Despite grave concerns that problems such as the causing of tumors and immune system rejection issues haven't been solved, the FDA has approved the use of embryonic stem cells for human trial. Embryonic stem cell research has never cured or helped any patients to this point. Only the use of adult stem cells and treatments derived from them have cured or reduced the effects of any diseases or conditions afflicting patients. That efficacy reason, combined with the fact that embryonic stem cells can only be obtained by destroying early human life, has prompted the pro-life movement to oppose their use.

Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Niece Challenges Barack Obama on Abortion
The niece of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., will lead a prayer vigil and memorial outside the White House this morning to remember unborn children killed in abortions. Civil rights activist Alveda King will place 1400 flowers in front of the White House to honor the number of black babies who die from abortions. The event is part of the outreach directed this week to newly-minted President Barack Obama in an effort to get him to reverse his pro-abortion position.

Vatican official accuses Obama of 'arrogance'
A senior Vatican official on Saturday attacked US President Barack Obama for "arrogance" for overturning a ban on state funding for family-planning groups that carry out or facilitate abortions overseas. It is "the arrogance of someone who believes they are right, in signing a decree which will open the door to abortion and thus to the destruction of human life," said Archbishop Rino Fisichella of the Holy See.

Knights of Columbus Program Helps First Crisis Pregnancy Center get Ultrasound
A new program sponsored by the national Knights of Columbus has helped its first pregnancy center obtain an ultrasound machine. The program is meant to provide pregnancy centers with the tools to help women considering an abortion see their baby and choose pro-life alternatives. The Supreme Office of the Knights of Columbus and the Florida State Council of the Knights of Columbus yesterday donated $44,050 dollars to the Women's Help Center in Jacksonville, Florida, for the purchase of a new 4-D ultrasound machine.

FOCA will Close Catholic Hospitals in Kansas
In a speech before Planned Parenthood, President Barack Obama said, “The first thing I’d do, as president, is sign the Freedom of Choice Act. That’s the first thing that I’d do.” The FOCA would repeal the federal ban on partial-birth abortions and eliminate protections given to those who have moral and religious objections to abortions and sterilizations. Catholic hospitals closing their doors will disproportionately affect rural areas and low-income communities. When rural Catholic hospitals close as a result of FOCA, there will be 13 counties in Kansas with no hospital whatsoever! Rep. Lynn Jenkins should be very concerned about that figure, because six of those 13 counties are crowded into the Second Congressional District! I sure hope the folks in eastern Kansas are never in such desperate need of care that they can’t make it to Johnson County! Ironically enough, Wichita will also be hit hard. They only have five general hospitals, three of which are Catholic. They’ll lose 60 percent of their general hospitals and one of their two Level I trauma centers. Looks like the only medical service that the lower-income folks in Wichita will be able to receive is an abortion!

Kansas Life rally draws large crowds
This year’s Rally for Life, which was promoted by Kansans for Life, drew a huge crowd of about 1500 in Topeka in front of the Kansas Supreme Court Building today.

GOP insists schools can take budget cuts
In the current state budget debate, Republican legislative leaders say public school funding can be cut without hurting classroom instruction. “We are sensitive to cuts in education,” said House Speaker Mike O’Neal, R-Hutchinson. “We don’t want any of our cuts to affect instruction, and we think that can be done.” O’Neal said from about 60 percent to 65 percent of school budgets are “instructional dollars.” He and other Republicans have argued that funding cuts can be made on the non-instructional side.

Americans for Prosperity group pledges to fight tax increases
Americans for Prosperity said Thursday it would work against any tax increase and would support lower government spending as the Legislature faces a growing budget deficit. AFP’s legislative agenda includes: Reduction of state debt. Requiring local governments to provide uniform budget information on a Web site. Opposing any tax increase, including a proposed 50-cent increase in the state cigarette tax. Requiring a super-majority in the Legislature to raise taxes. Reforming property tax law to hold in check increasing appraisals. Requiring legislative confirmation for selecting Kansas Supreme Court justices. Establishing a cost-benefit analysis to prioritize road projects. Providing residents more rights in issues of eminent domain and annexation. Establishing a “sunset” process to review agencies and programs to determine if they should continue.

Jessica's Law in jeopardy?
Jessica’s Law, which provides for lengthy prison sentences for persons convicted of sexual crimes involving children, would be watered down if recommendations that originated with the Kansas Sentencing Commission were accepted by the Kansas Legislature. Now, just two years later, the Sentencing Commission is recommending that sentences for those convicted under Jessica’s Law be drastically shortened. Rep. Lance Kinzer, an Olathe Republican who served on the Corrections and Juvenile Justice Committee, and who also serves on the group that passed the recommendations to the legislative committee, said he also was strongly opposed to any watering down of sentences under Jessica’s Law.

Mission Asks for Federal Bailout
The City of Mission has submitted a list of capital improvement projects totaling nearly $4.1 million for consideration as part of a potential federal stimulus package. Scanlon said the city’s most important long-term project is likely transit. Scanlon said any funding from a potential federal stimulus package would be benefit the city. “I think it would help a lot,” he said. “I think it would really get transit off the ground."

Two privately owned banks increase capital without help from U.S. Treasury
Two privately owned Kansas City area banks have boosted their capital without help from Uncle Sam. First National Bank of Olathe increased its capital by $20 million, and Union Bank in Kansas City boosted its capital by $10 million. The banks have common ownership but increased their capital through separate transactions, neither of which involved federal money. Neither bank will seek capital under the U.S. Treasury’s capital purchase program, said George Thompson, chairman of both banks. “We’re going it alone, I guess you would say,” Thompson said. “We believe we have the strength to do that.” Parent companies for Commerce Bank, UMB Bank, Bank of Kansas City and Capitol Federal Savings all decided not to seek federal money, as well. However the Parent firms of the Bank of Blue Valley, M&I Bank, Hawthorn Bank and Great Southern Bank all asked for handouts from the Bailout Program!

County hears about $70 million in further renovations for Arrowhead Stadium
The Kansas City Chiefs on Tuesday offered some new specifics about an additional $70 million in improvements to Arrowhead Stadium and common areas at the Truman Sports Complex. None of those costs would be paid by Jackson County taxpayers, representatives of the Chiefs stressed in a presentation Tuesday before the Jackson County Legislature.

Fairway Restricts Citizen’s First Amendment
At is Monday meeting, the Fairway City Council formally approved a new council meeting public comment policy it put into practice three months ago. Under the policy, meetings will feature two public comment periods. In the first, audience members may comment only on meeting agenda items. In the second period, held at the end of the meeting, audience members may comment on any city-related issue. In an effort to bring decorum to what are often unruly public comment periods, the new policy requires that audience members speak in an “orderly, respectful, dignified manner” and prohibits them from using “language that disrupts, maligns, upsets or otherwise impedes the orderly conduct of the council meeting.” Uncooperative speakers will be given one warning before they are “subject to removal,” according to the new policy. Teresa Sullivan was the only council member to vote against the new policy.

Wyandotte County Officials Upset with Governor over passing the buck
The Unified Government and other municipalities are also bracing for a loss in liquor tax revenues. If the state withholds those revenues, the Unified Government stands to lose $1.6 million. “The governor, in her proposed budget, said she’s not going to use tax increases to balance the state’s budget,” Taylor said. “But in effect, she is. She’s just making the city councils and county commissions do the dirty work. There are a lot of communities that just won’t be able to cover the losses they hit without raising property taxes or cutting services.”

Herm get the boot as Chief’s Coach
That call from chairman Clark Hunt and general manager Scott Pioli finally arrived Friday afternoon, more than a month after Hunt put Edwards on notice and 10 days after Pioli was hired. Edwards was fired after three seasons as Chiefs head coach. That support began to erode as the Chiefs at times bumbled their way to a 2-14 record, the worst in franchise history.

“When rural Catholic hospitals close as a result of FOCA, there will be 13 counties in Kansas with no hospital whatsoever! Wichita only has five general hospitals, three of which are Catholic. They’ll lose 60 percent of their general hospitals and one of their two Level I trauma centers. Looks like the only medical service that the lower-income folks in Wichita will be able to receive is an abortion!”
– Bob Sutton, president of Proud Catholic Voters

From Proverbs 15:22
“There is joy for a man in his utterance; a word in season, how good it is!”

Gospel according to Mark 3:13-19

13: And he went up on the mountain, and called to him those whom he desired; and they came to him.
14: And he appointed twelve, to be with him, and to be sent out to preach
15: and have authority to cast out demons:
16: Simon whom he surnamed Peter;
17: James the son of Zeb'edee and John the brother of James, whom he surnamed Bo-aner'ges, that is, sons of thunder;
18: Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Cananaean,
19: and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Then he went home;

Open Up Process of Picking Justices

Gov. Kathleen Sebelius recently appointed Dan Biles to the Kansas Supreme Court, showing once more what an unusually secretive and clubby process our state uses to select its highest judges.

Biles is the law partner of the Kansas Democratic Party's chairman, and the governor is, of course, a Democrat. Sebelius said that she and Biles have been friends for more than three decades, and he has made campaign contributions to her.

Importantly, Biles is a member of the former Kansas Trial Lawyers Association, now called the Kansas Association for Justice. Sebelius used to be state director of that group of lawyers who most aggressively push to increase lawsuits and expand liability.

People can decide for themselves whether that is the direction they want for Kansas courts, but what is unusual about Kansas is how little the people's views matter. All the power in selecting the justices of the Supreme Court belongs to the governor and the bar (the state's lawyers). So if the governor and bar want to push the state's courts in a particular direction, there are no checks and balances in the judicial-selection process to stop them.

After Kansas justices have gained the advantages of incumbency, they are subject to retention elections. But these "elections" lack rival candidates and thus rarely include any public debate over the direction of the courts. In fact, a retention election is nearly always a rubber stamp, and no Kansas justice has ever lost one. With these judges so entrenched once they are on the court, the process for initially selecting them is all the more decisive. Kansas is unusual in limiting Supreme Court selection to the governor and the bar. By contrast, when a federal judge is nominated, a Senate confirmation process allows citizens and their representatives to learn about the nominee and play more of a role in selecting judges.

Many states around the country use that process, too. But in Kansas the governor and the bar get all the power, and they exercise that power through a commission's secret vote. There is no public record of who voted which way.

This secrecy prevents journalists and other citizens from learning about crucial decisions in the selection of our highest judges. In this closed process, a small group of insiders (members of the Kansas bar) have an extremely high level of control. In fact, Kansas is the only state in which the bar selects a majority of the Supreme Court nominating commission. Why does the division of power between lawyers and nonlawyers lean further toward the lawyers in Kansas than in any of the other 49 states?

The Kansas bar defends this with the claim that the bar keeps judicial selection from being "political." But when the process results in a governor appointing one of her own friends and campaign contributors, you have to wonder what kind of politics goes on behind closed doors or at trial lawyers' cocktail parties.

Politics are inevitable when it comes to picking judges. The question is whether the politics will remain largely confined to the bar or become more open to the public and its elected representatives.

Stephen J. Ware is a professor at the University of Kansas School of Law in Lawrence and is a member of the Federalist Society.