For years, Kansas Republicans have spoke of the ill of taxes and government. They have done so not in terms of limiting or finding a reasonable size, but instead they speak of Government and Taxes as things that should be drown in a bathtub.

Kasha Kelley (R-Ark City) spoke to this directly a few days ago, after reading Ronald Reagan's Red Hen story she referred to those who would want to advance taxes as "socialists" she would never be associated with.

Other Republicans said the same: NEVER on taxes. Any taxes. They, after all, took the pledge.

As Republicans continue to use the rhetoric that implies a fight between good and evil, they have moved themselves into a box where any move that goes against the most hardened position isn't viewed as a compromise - instead, it is viewed as committing an act of evil, a heresy that cannot be tolerated.

In the Kansas House last night, Rep. Rubin (R-Johnson County) spoke up and said "Taxes are evil. They are evil" at one point, which brought strong approval from the anti-tax rally folks in the balcony.

I asked them as the debate wore on what they thought and their position was clear "Taxes like this are the things socialists do, not a free country."

For those anti-tax advocates they have drunk the Kool-Aid and they are all in... those advocates were sold a prescription by Republicans and it has been drilled in so long they no longer question it.

This monster has become inescapable, uncontainable, and a slave master to Republicans of all variety. Stephanie Clayton (R-Johnson County), a Republican I respect, spoke at a Chamber of Commerce meeting last year and said, "I will stay a Republican because it is what I believe, and I will work to improve it. I know a lot of good Republicans.” The question becomes: when does the monster make it members like Rep. Clayton feel as though they are partners in a truly abusive relationship?

Moderate Republican or not - good Republican or not, and I believe there are many - they cannot escape the fact that their party is spending more time fighting them, accusing them of evil and recruiting their primary opponents than they are helping them.

Republicans in leadership know the truth: you can't control the monster at this point; you either jump on board and let it control you, or you find yourself facing the wrath of voters who have been informed a specific way to think about you.

Kasha Kelley (R-Ark City) in her speech to the floor earlier: "This is the first step toward socialism". (House)

Greg Smith (R-Johnson County), Senator, "Taxes are thievery, nickel and dime thievery."

Moderates may want a solution.

Governor Brownback may want a solution.

But at this point, Kansas Republicans are the parents who have told their children the voicebox in the drawer actually does bring a monster, the monster is real, and the monster will destroy everything they love.

Now, as we face a special session, Republicans have to own their own party--the party of the super majority.

They don't need a single Democratic vote to pass a budget.

They don't need a single Democratic vote to over-ride a veto.

In a backroom offer that was designed to satisfy all parties, House Leadership considered a 1% Business tax. This was something Susan Wagle said she offered "repeatedly"… but it was the conservatives who walked out, saying no tax on business would ever be considered. They were on the record saying these taxes were evil. How could they change that?

At this point, many Republicans will have to swallow pride and face the political cost - do not expect Democrats to ride to their rescue over bills that are incredibly punishing to the middle class and poor.

With protestors in the gallery though, Republicans realize that the years of preaching that taxes as evil has consequences. They can't control the monster they once created. And they are not brave enough to stand up to it, at least not yet.

* = Note, in the story this is actually an electrolarynx, a device that allows a cancer patient to speak, more true decades ago though they still exist. The statement as written was from the perspective of a 4 year old, as a result, it would be perceived as a "voicebox”which was the intended point.

