Did you feel it? Kansas was nearly politician-free yesterday

   Who the heck was in charge of Kansas Wednesday? 

   Gov. Kathleen Sebelius was in Washington, announcing a new renewable energy task force.

   Lt. Gov. Mark Parkinson was in Japan on a trade mission.

   Secretary of State Ron Thornburgh was in Montana at a convention (though he returned at 1:30 p.m., according to his office). 

   Now we find out that Kansas Senate President Steve Morris was in Puerto Rico, where today he picked up the "Charles Dick Medal of Merit"* from the National Guard Association of the U.S. during its annual convention.

   Joining him there was Kansas Adjutant General Tod Bunting.

   We think that means, based on our reading of the Kansas Goverment Continuity chart, that the mail clerk here in the Capitol may well have been in charge of the state for a few hours yesterday.

   Actually, though, House Speaker Melvin Neufeld was in Kansas (Garden City counts), touring a medical clinic. And Attorney General Paul Morrison was in Dodge City (that counts too) meeting with law enforcement groups.

   And, lest we forget, U.S. Rep. Nancy Boyda and U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer were in Topeka for a Boyda fundraiser. 

   *If you're wondering about the Dick Medal of Merit (that's its name, we swear), it was in recognition of his support for the National Guard over the years. Morris, himself a veteran, has worked on various benefit packages for Guards, funding for Guard facilities and the Kansas Military Bill of Rights.