Kansas leadership needed

I love politics despite its flaws and idiosyncrasies. But the past few decades have marked changes that worry me, and clearly worry the voting public.

Politics, particularly today, can be something of a circus between Twitter, 24-hour news cycles, partisan echo chambers and megadonors. There was always some degree of showmanship in the political arena, even before these new, hyper-speed forms of communication. But under the circus tent should always be a public servant’s desire to do what is right for one’s constituents, state and country.

If you will forgive me a walk down memory lane, I suggest that Americans think back to the model leadership demonstrated by the great politicians from Kansas as they seek political leadership that truly serves their interests. From Dwight D. Eisenhower to Bob Dole to Nancy Kassebaum, Jim Slattery, Kathleen Sebelius, Robert Docking, John Carlin, Dennis Moore, Bill Graves, Bill Roy and many others, the greats of Kansas political leadership all wanted to be known for good governance, common sense and public service.

All of these great Kansan political leaders took their work seriously and were appropriately partisan. Our political leaders today have forgotten that there is a limit to how much partisanship can get you if you are pursuing policy outcomes. Being a loudmouth might get you on cable news, but it won’t help you pass legislation through a divided Congress or even through the Kansas Legislature.

The great Kansas leaders like Dole, whom I worked with often, were strong leaders with deeply held convictions. But they preferred taking action to scoring political points for their own sake. They valued getting things done over blind allegiance to ideology or party.

Donald Trump supporters say they value strong leadership. But bluster doesn’t equal strength. Eisenhower was the model of a strong leader, but he showed his strength by taking on big projects like building the national highway system. He showed his strength by his independent decision making.

Eisenhower and Dole and many others showed that by charting a sensible course through partisan politics, you can prove that you are your own man or woman and not beholden to any kind of special interests, and that you can be kind and decent in the process. That is true strength and leadership in politics.

I certainly make my mistakes in public life. But I generally have tried to follow the model of the great Kansan politicians I had the honor to serve with, and those who came before me.

What it really boils down to is that these leaders put the whole country first, before party loyalty, ideology and donor interests. Kansans should be proud of their legacy and history, and not afraid to assert their model as a way forward for both parties as we pick up the pieces after this very complicated 2016 election.

This story was originally published July 18, 2016 at 12:04 AM with the headline "Kansas leadership needed."