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R.J.'s Retort

R.J.'s Retort

By R.J. Dickens

A confluence of news, politics, commentary and popular culture from journalist, talk show host, former political candidate and lobbyist, and PAC chair R.J. Dickens.
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An open letter to my pro-life friends

R.J.'s RetortApr 06, 2020

00:00
09:35
An open letter to my pro-life friends

An open letter to my pro-life friends

A lot has changed since Susan Wagle first bottled up every bill even remotely related to Medicaid expansion.
Given what has happened since, was it the right decision?

Apr 06, 202009:35
W(h)ither Mike Pompeo

W(h)ither Mike Pompeo

My personal perspective and thoughts on the 72nd US Secretary of State.

Feb 21, 202008:41
That giant sucking sound

That giant sucking sound

The late Ross Perot had it wrong about that giant sucking sound-- it wasn't coming from Canada and Mexico, but from the mass of 2020 Democratic presidential candidates.
Jan 07, 202010:56
War on Intelligence

War on Intelligence

All of a sudden, if you are educated, ergo, you are an elitist. I don't think I resemble that remark.
Dec 26, 201914:03
R.J,'s Legislative Agenda--A Call Center Bill of Rights w/Dr. Tanisha Ranger and Remembering Jerry Karr

R.J,'s Legislative Agenda--A Call Center Bill of Rights w/Dr. Tanisha Ranger and Remembering Jerry Karr

Part 2 of my conversation with Dr. Tanisha Ranger, some ideas on a Call Center Bill of Rights, and remembering the late Kansas Senate leader Jerry Karr. 

Dec 10, 201917:36
R.J.'s Legislative Agenda... THIS TIME, IT'S PERSONAL! w/Dr. Tanisha Ranger

R.J.'s Legislative Agenda... THIS TIME, IT'S PERSONAL! w/Dr. Tanisha Ranger

Studies in 12 countries around the world show a link between call center work and disorders such as depression and anxiety.

It's time to take action.

Nov 28, 201919:39
NEWS FLASH--You CAN walk and chew gum at the same time.

NEWS FLASH--You CAN walk and chew gum at the same time.

Too many members of the Kansas Legislature don't want to hear any ideas from constituents because they say they're going to be too busy with Medicaid expansion in the 2020 session.

The Legislature was designed to handle many issues at once in a 90-day session. So why don't they?

Nov 19, 201911:30
Election 2019--Some final thoughts

Election 2019--Some final thoughts

A live feed following the final results of Wichita local elections.

Nov 06, 201912:14
Election 2019--Every vote counts... and speaking of counting...

Election 2019--Every vote counts... and speaking of counting...

Some final thoughts on Election 2019--every vote counts... and speaking of counting.... answering your questions about the census amendment, an issue near and dear to my heart.

Nov 01, 201910:35
R.J.'s Legislative Agenda, Part 5: Medicaid Expansion--Confusing the Radical Right with the Facts; Plus, a Mayor's race update

R.J.'s Legislative Agenda, Part 5: Medicaid Expansion--Confusing the Radical Right with the Facts; Plus, a Mayor's race update

Kansas Senate Majority Leader Jim Denning announced his Medicaid Expansion plan... it's better than we thought, but not as good as we need it to be. 

Plus, we update the neverending story of the Wichita Mayor's race.

Oct 28, 201912:25
R.J.'s Retort Special Edition--The Neverending Story... errr, Mayor's Race

R.J.'s Retort Special Edition--The Neverending Story... errr, Mayor's Race

We had to do this special edition because, well, you-know-what happens--and in a Wichita mayoral race, lots of it.

Oct 21, 201906:16
The Mayor's Race--As the World Burns

The Mayor's Race--As the World Burns

Party like it's 2005! We have another write-in attempt to try and throw a monkey wrench into the November vote with three weeks left.
Don't be fooled!

Oct 15, 201908:43
R.J.'s Legislative Agenda, Part 4: 17th In Age, 46th In Protecting Older Workers--WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE???

R.J.'s Legislative Agenda, Part 4: 17th In Age, 46th In Protecting Older Workers--WHAT IS WRONG WITH THIS PICTURE???

Kansas is the 17th oldest state in the country, yet we are 46th in the protections afforded older workers. Since we'll never be a magnet for young people, we need to fix this.

Oct 07, 201915:05
Water Hazard

Water Hazard

Supporters of Wichita Mayor Jeff Longwell are trying to turn this non-partisan election into a partisan fray by making himself a victim of Trumpian proportions.

Don't fall for it.

Sep 30, 201910:48
R.J.'s Legislative Agenda, Part 3: Suspended Reality

R.J.'s Legislative Agenda, Part 3: Suspended Reality

Too many cities and counties across America are too dependent on traffic fines to pay for local government.
The ACLU reports that it takes people 13 times longer to pay a traffic fine if your license is suspended--and there's a 51% chance it will cost you your job. 

It's time to stop this Jim Crow-era practice.

Sep 21, 201906:57
Leave Me A Loan

Leave Me A Loan

What the "experts" who never attended college don't know about the student loan crisis from a Kansas perspective.

Sep 12, 201915:16
R.J.'s Legislative Agenda, Part 2: I Hate the 70s, Traffic Stop Edition

R.J.'s Legislative Agenda, Part 2: I Hate the 70s, Traffic Stop Edition

With nearly every law enforcement officer having access to either body cam or dash cam video, it's time to update our traffic laws to reflect the technology of 2019... not the attitudes of 1974.
Sep 05, 201912:20
Casualties of (Cold, Uncivil) War.

Casualties of (Cold, Uncivil) War.

It's easy to demonize someone like the late David Koch. It's harder to keep in mind that to others, he was a brother, father, colleague, and friend. Even in the real Civil War, people on both sides could take time out for events like weddings and funerals.
Aug 28, 201905:28
R.J.'s Legislative Agenda, Part 1: Rage Against the... Algorithm

R.J.'s Legislative Agenda, Part 1: Rage Against the... Algorithm

Artificial Intelligence is not making our lives better. At best, it's a gigantic pain in the ass; and at worst, it's a growing nightmare that has the potential to ruin people's lives. This week, R.J. revives his proposal for a "real person" law to address these abuses.
Aug 25, 201914:43
#GiveToSomething

#GiveToSomething

Groups on our side of the aisle are being plagued by people who just sit around and do nothing... and their inactivity has reached crisis proportions.
Aug 21, 201917:19
August 20, 2019

August 20, 2019

Aug 20, 201900:25