Steve Rose, Publisher
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From beneath Kline's rock
BY: Steve Rose, Publisher
By now, everyone who is not a fanatic knows Phill Kline lives beneath a rock. What is amazing is that, every time that rock is kicked over, more slime, apparently bottomless, is exposed.
A quick refresher: Kline, as Kansas attorney general, named a virulent anti-abortionist attorney to be a so-called independent special prosecutor to go after Wichita abortion doctor George Tiller. Kline then went after women’s private medical records without probable cause. Soon after, Kline was booted out of office and re-planted as the Johnson County District Attorney, and then went after Planned Parenthood without cause, as part of his moral crusade. He will abuse his powers unflinchingly. Those are the principles one finds in a person who lives in another world, where abuse of power is a means to an end.
The slime oozes out yet again.
Kline has determined to go after former Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison, who deserved to resign for his long extramarital affair with a former employee. This column also called for his resignation.
But Kline smells blood. He says he has reason to believe Morrison is guilty of telephone harassment and blackmail.
And for that reason, Kline has called for two independent special prosecutors to look into this matter. He went to the Johnson County Commission and requested $25,000 now to fund this so-called independent effort, with possibly an additional $25,000 to be requested later.
The commission voted to appropriate the funds.
Who could say no? The whole idea of a special prosecutor is to take politics out of the investigation. And, since Morrison was the one who defeated Kline for attorney general, it is easy to see that politics could have played a biased role in any investigation.
Here is the definition of a special prosecutor: He or she is a lawyer outside, I repeat, outside, of government investigating a government official for misconduct while in office. The reason for such an appointment is the government branch may have political connections to those it might investigate. Thus, a special prosecutor eliminates a potential conflict of interest.
One of the two special prosecutors Kline has appointed flunks that test with flying colors. Timothy Keck worked for Kline as an assistant district attorney until about six weeks ago. And he worked in the same office with the alleged victim of Morrison’s alleged criminal actions.
The Johnson County Commission grimaced and then voted to ask Kline to appear and explain himself. Kline blew them off, saying he didn’t want additional media exposure to this case.
Kline conned the commissioners in a bait-and-switch. He requested an independent prosecutor and appointed someone who was anything but independent. There is conflict-of-interest written all over this.
Kline is, technically, a state employee. As a practical matter, he can go ahead with his so-called special prosecutors, and the county would have little recourse but to pay the bill.
Still, as a symbolic gesture, the County Commission should send Kline a clear message. They should vote to withhold the funds, because Kline lied to them. He did not hire an independent special prosecutor. He hired a buddy, an ally, and a recent member of his office who only pretends to be independent and unbiased.
Whether Morrison eventually is found guilty of any or all charges is beside the point.
Paul Morrison, whether you like him or not, is an American citizen who deserves fair justice, not a stacked deck. He deserves an independent prosecutor who is independent.
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A quick refresher: Kline, as Kansas attorney general, named a virulent anti-abortionist attorney to be a so-called independent special prosecutor to go after Wichita abortion doctor George Tiller. Kline then went after women’s private medical records without probable cause. Soon after, Kline was booted out of office and re-planted as the Johnson County District Attorney, and then went after Planned Parenthood without cause, as part of his moral crusade. He will abuse his powers unflinchingly. Those are the principles one finds in a person who lives in another world, where abuse of power is a means to an end.
The slime oozes out yet again.
Kline has determined to go after former Kansas Attorney General Paul Morrison, who deserved to resign for his long extramarital affair with a former employee. This column also called for his resignation.
But Kline smells blood. He says he has reason to believe Morrison is guilty of telephone harassment and blackmail.
And for that reason, Kline has called for two independent special prosecutors to look into this matter. He went to the Johnson County Commission and requested $25,000 now to fund this so-called independent effort, with possibly an additional $25,000 to be requested later.
The commission voted to appropriate the funds.
Who could say no? The whole idea of a special prosecutor is to take politics out of the investigation. And, since Morrison was the one who defeated Kline for attorney general, it is easy to see that politics could have played a biased role in any investigation.
Here is the definition of a special prosecutor: He or she is a lawyer outside, I repeat, outside, of government investigating a government official for misconduct while in office. The reason for such an appointment is the government branch may have political connections to those it might investigate. Thus, a special prosecutor eliminates a potential conflict of interest.
One of the two special prosecutors Kline has appointed flunks that test with flying colors. Timothy Keck worked for Kline as an assistant district attorney until about six weeks ago. And he worked in the same office with the alleged victim of Morrison’s alleged criminal actions.
The Johnson County Commission grimaced and then voted to ask Kline to appear and explain himself. Kline blew them off, saying he didn’t want additional media exposure to this case.
Kline conned the commissioners in a bait-and-switch. He requested an independent prosecutor and appointed someone who was anything but independent. There is conflict-of-interest written all over this.
Kline is, technically, a state employee. As a practical matter, he can go ahead with his so-called special prosecutors, and the county would have little recourse but to pay the bill.
Still, as a symbolic gesture, the County Commission should send Kline a clear message. They should vote to withhold the funds, because Kline lied to them. He did not hire an independent special prosecutor. He hired a buddy, an ally, and a recent member of his office who only pretends to be independent and unbiased.
Whether Morrison eventually is found guilty of any or all charges is beside the point.
Paul Morrison, whether you like him or not, is an American citizen who deserves fair justice, not a stacked deck. He deserves an independent prosecutor who is independent.
Comments on "From beneath Kline's rock"
Comments are limited to 200 words or less.John B wrote on Apr 5, 2008 3:35 PM:
" While I have voted for both Kline and Morrison at different times, I am disappointed in both of them. But more than that, I am SICK of the media's continually jumping on every little thing that happens in the DA's office.
It is this simple now.
1) Morrison has resigned and is being investigated because there are allegations that he attempted to tamper with a case in the DA's office. The investigation should go forward.
2) Phill Kline is NOT running for election as Johnson County DA. He is a lame duck. Let it go. He will be gone soon enough.
If the special prosecutors bring a blatantly biased case against morrison, it will be thrown out by a judge or a jury will acquit morrison.
Bottom line - get over it!! "
It is this simple now.
1) Morrison has resigned and is being investigated because there are allegations that he attempted to tamper with a case in the DA's office. The investigation should go forward.
2) Phill Kline is NOT running for election as Johnson County DA. He is a lame duck. Let it go. He will be gone soon enough.
If the special prosecutors bring a blatantly biased case against morrison, it will be thrown out by a judge or a jury will acquit morrison.
Bottom line - get over it!! "
Jennifer wrote on Apr 4, 2008 7:31 PM:
" Phil Kiline has zero crdibility. He wanted to investigate abortion clinics because he was worried about women underage having abortions because it is statuatory rape when minors have sex with an adult. But he did not investigate adoption agencies for their records to show if any minors were putting up for adoption babies that were conceived in the same circumstances. "
James wrote on Apr 3, 2008 8:43 PM:
" Steve is right on the mark about Kline. He is the worst example of a political hack that I have ever seen. Kline has no integrity, nor is he trusworthy. All of the commissioners who voted to give money to this political witch hunt should be voted out of office. People will remember this the next time we vote. "
G R wrote on Apr 3, 2008 8:37 PM:
" The argument that Kline shouldn't appear because he is no longer involved in the investigation was pure baloney. He was being asked to explain his choice of Keck, not the details of the investigation itself. But then why should Kline have to explain anything? He's on a mission from God and that places him above the rest of us and accountable to no one. "
Jerry Henderson wrote on Apr 3, 2008 8:01 PM:
" Rose, you are harsh. I wish I had my own bully pulpit to preach from. So anyone who believes that unborn innocent child is a fanactic? Admit it, you're a closet liberal. Why don't you pull a Paul Morrison and switch parties. Have you actually ever spent some time with Kline? If you did you know he would never hurl insults at you like you did in this article. (Speaking of slime). "
Mike Lawler wrote on Apr 3, 2008 7:39 PM:
" Thank you Steve. You're right of course -- Kline's slime is bottomless. But, I wonder, what's with this County Commission. How in God's name could they have put this guy in office in the first place? And how in the world could they have approved the budget for the special prosecutors without first determining who those special prosecutors would be? Don't they know Kline by now? One has to believe that people like Kline don't get or keep their jobs without being aided and abetted by somebody!
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John Altevogt wrote on Apr 3, 2008 9:34 AM:
" Speaking of lies, yours are numerous. Kline did not blow off the meeting because he didn't want more media exposure, He blew it off because he no longer has anything to do with the investigation.
Then there's the lie that there is no probable cause to investigate these death factories. That's not what 2 judges said.
Incidentally, this rag would be the last one to talk about fairness given the one-sided presentation of the news and opinion you have in it. Propagandist heal thyself. "
Then there's the lie that there is no probable cause to investigate these death factories. That's not what 2 judges said.
Incidentally, this rag would be the last one to talk about fairness given the one-sided presentation of the news and opinion you have in it. Propagandist heal thyself. "