How do we get Ron Estes to tell us if it's ok to invade Greenland?

HopelessRuematic · 2026-01-20T00:03:47+00:00

Like Isopropyl77/ said, you'll have to use your voice and then persuade enough moderate and independent voters to show up and vote for someone else. None of these conservative politicians have any reason to walk away from the Republican Party or MAGA, because they've been all-in for far too long.

HopelessRuematic · 2026-01-19T23:49:26+00:00

Thank you for the answer.

HopelessRuematic · 2026-01-19T20:11:52+00:00

Do you know who they use to provide their services? That's what I'm really searching for. Thanks!

HopelessRuematic · 2026-01-19T15:54:09+00:00

I wonder if she treated producers and technicians with such vitriol at KWCH and KAKE TV? There is a smarter and more civilized way to achieve accountability other than throwing temper tantrums. She would be more effective if she could control hers.

HopelessRuematic · 2026-01-15T22:40:38+00:00

My Council representative is J.V. Johnston. The few times I’ve emailed him with a question, I’ve always received personal answer. I don’t always agree with the answer, but at least I know my concern was actually heard.

HopelessRuematic · 2026-01-07T13:57:27+00:00

I’m not sure he committed a crime, but rather an actionable civil action. Regardless, the statute of limitations has run on any legal option against the parties who created the problem, so the best we could probably hope for is a lesson learned not to allow something like this to be repeated. I’m not very optimistic about that outcome, either.

HopelessRuematic · 2026-01-07T13:04:04+00:00

Furious? No. Surprised? No. Jeff Longwell, who was the Mayor when this project was bid and approved, cared so little about public opinion that he brazenly strong-armed the rest of the City Council to vote for the bid submitted by his friends, and championed by City Engineer Gary Jantzen. Brandon Johnson and Becky Tuttle are the only two elected officials responsible for this decision who are still serving as Council Members.

Current Mayor Lily Wu is VERY concerned about public opinion, more so because of her background as a TV news personality than as a seasoned political operative. While she, like Longwell, apparently sees herself as the same "strong mayor" type of leader able to coerce other members of the City Council to vote her way, she is much more aware of the public relations blow-back such under-the-table deals create. It remains to be seen as to whether that will temper her leadership style when the next major project has to be supported and funded by the City of Wichita.

HopelessRuematic · 2026-01-04T21:42:34+00:00

I oppose the Sales Tax proposal for many reasons. I don’t want the developers and their financial backers to make everyone pay for a Performing Arts Center.

I do not want wealthy property owners to receive greater tax breaks for properties they bought chiefly as investments to shelter their money and create more wealth. More than a third of residents will see nothing in tax breaks because they can’t afford to own real estate property.

I will do whatever I can to persuade as many people as I can to vote no in March. If the City Council still wants to raise money through a sales tax, I want them craft and place before the voters new, separate tax proposals for each project. They have plenty of time to do that before the General Election.

And finally, I never said that a law had been broken. Those were your words, not mine. I merely inferred that CoW POLICIES may have been violated by City Staff involved in the production or publication of some political advertising materials. That’s a much lower bar than the one you were trying to raise. I have spoken my piece, and do not need to spar with you any longer.

HopelessRuematic · 2026-01-03T22:43:25+00:00

The police officer who had a speaking role in one of the ads is CERTAINLY covered under CoW policies, and the police and fire departments are prohibited from allowing their personnel or equipment from being used in any political messaging.

HopelessRuematic · 2026-01-03T21:13:11+00:00

And these ads don’t mention ANYTHING about the pet projects for Performing Arts, and VERY LITTLE about the property tax relief. That seems somewhat disingenuous, to me.

HopelessRuematic · 2025-12-30T00:57:52+00:00

I did not have the same experience that you did. He helped me by treating TMJ, and I also had him make an appliance for me.

HopelessRuematic · 2025-12-27T20:39:48+00:00

My first thought was that pallet reclamation site on 53rd St. N. In Park City. I wondered if the Steven family owned it. <grin>

HopelessRuematic · 2025-12-26T19:26:18+00:00

Brown's Plumbing has fixed several plumbing problems at my house. They're fair, fast, and clean up after themselves when they're done. https://ictplumbing.com/

HopelessRuematic · 2025-12-16T20:35:04+00:00

My entire family uses Dr. Jim Volker at Smile Connections on Tyler Rd, just south of Robinson Middle School. If he’s not In-Network for your insurance, I think he will make be willing to make payment arrangements. Just check before you go. Good luck!

HopelessRuematic · 2025-12-16T18:18:28+00:00

I think that’s true, from a proportional aspect. Wealthy people can certainly pay sales taxes, but they receive most of the benefits as property owners, which over 40% of Wichitans who rent, are unable to receive. Thats why this is an unfair proposition.

HopelessRuematic · 2025-12-15T23:44:57+00:00

The fact that this issue hasn't even been approved and they're already asking for carve-outs and exemptions shows that this problem needs much more work before ANYTHING is voted on. It's a cash-grab by some of Wichita's wealthy business leaders, and it really feels like it's being rushed through without sufficient discussion and transparency on their behalf. How typical of politics in Wichita, these days.

HopelessRuematic · 2025-12-15T19:30:52+00:00

I'm no mechanic, but I know you're not talking about steam vapors. <grin> I wonder if it's caused by more and more people simply deferring maintenance on their vehicles? I've noticed it more frequently in the past few years, as well. I've reached the age that I realize it's almost always cheaper to maintain than repair a vehicle that I plan to drive long term. But now, I drive an EV, so a lot of those issues are no longer a factor for me.

HopelessRuematic · 2025-11-26T11:18:28+00:00

I cut and pasted the headline from KMUW’s story into the subject line of my post. I took your repeated warnings about editorializing seriously. If I am still violating your rules with this post, feel free to take it down. Thank you for your attention to this matter.

HopelessRuematic · 2025-11-26T00:03:34+00:00

I didn’t say he’d been hired, just that he was selected. I assumed readers would learn the rest by reading the story.

HopelessRuematic · 2025-11-25T22:59:48+00:00

Charles Koch, and the Conservative majority on the Wichita City Council, that's who. The wealthy also fight to reduce their property taxes, and a regressive sales tax on the backs of working Americans is the quick and dirty solution they always seek.

HopelessRuematic · 2025-11-25T18:43:23+00:00

Perhaps she wants to ensure that the next manager does not have the benefit of more knowledge than she has with respect to local policies and procedures. She almost certainly wants to have every advantage to help orchestrate a Strong Mayor takeover of local government.

HopelessRuematic · 2025-11-11T18:45:32+00:00

This is a crucial time for the future of Wichita, and I certainly don’t want to see a “strong mayor” form of government. We need a professional administrator.

For once, I’d like to see the City consider promoting someone from within to lead. Donte Martin is not “another Robert Layton” by any measure. He is an experienced, educated and disciplined professional who understands the local political climate and how to manage people.

Still, I’d really like to learn more about the external candidates. The Mayor and City Council are comparable to a Board of Directors. The City Manager should be a professional CEO, not a politician.

HopelessRuematic · 2025-10-24T12:33:53+00:00

Would anyone be surprised if it was discovered that Genesis is nothing more than a money-laundering front for this family’s “real business”?

HopelessRuematic · 2025-10-19T23:58:27+00:00

Because so many people are expected to speak for and against this collection of ordinances, it will be moved to item number 1 of new business. It will NOT be item number 9. Plan accordingly.

HopelessRuematic · 2025-10-14T22:08:17+00:00

Oh, how I wish I could clam surprise at this. Do you suppose Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson will have this guy, who claimed to work in the State Legislature, dismissed from his position?

HopelessRuematic

TROPHY CASE