Talk-show host starts petition to revoke Kansas’ statehood

A Wichita talk-show host is petitioning the White House to revoke Kansas’ statehood, citing a provision in the Constitution requiring the federal government to “guarantee to every state in this union a republican form of government.”

That’s republican small r, not Republican big R, as in the party that dominates Kansas politics.

The petition was launched Monday night by R.J. Dickens, the news director/anchor/talk-show host on Wichita-based KCTU-TV, Channel 43.

The action line: “We urge the President to certify that Kansas can no longer guarantee a republican form of government under Article 4, Section 4; revoke Kansas’ statehood; and appoint a Territorial Governor until such time as it proves worthy of re-admission to the Union.”

“It’s sort of tongue in cheek, but the more you think about it, the more you can make a case that Kansas is a failed state,” Dickens said. “Look what happened (Tuesday) in the House. (House Speaker Ray) Merrick runs that place like a tinhorn dictatorship.”

Read more here: http://www.kansas.com/news/politics-government/article66639302.html