The October 2011 quarterly campaign finance reports are showing up at the Missouri Ethics Commission. The active Secretary of State campaign committees:
Secretary of State Robin Carnahan (D) has announced that she is not running for reelection.
Jason Kander (D) filed his filed his filed his quarterly report on October 17th:
Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan (D) campaigning for the U.S. Senate in Lee's Summit, Missouri on October 30, 2010.
Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, in an e-mail to supporters, announced today that she will not be seeking reelection in 2012:
I'm proud of the success we've had in the Secretary of State's office by staying focused on things that matter for Missourians.
We've saved taxpayers money, while still providing terrific services to Missourians. We've cut red tape and costs for small businesses so they can focus on growing their businesses and creating jobs. And we have helped consumers and investors learn how to better protect themselves, and recovered more than $10 billion for victims of financial fraud.
We've made Missouri history come alive by making our state's precious historical resources available on-line to hundreds of millions of people all around the world. And, despite the efforts of some to let politics interfere with Missourians right to vote, we've protected the rights of voters and the integrity of our elections so that we can all have faith in the fairness of the results.
Without question, serving the state and people that I love has been the honor of my life. Your friendship and support over the years have given me the strength to stand up to challenges, both political and personal. But after careful reflection, I've decided not to run for a 3rd term as Secretary of State.
Many who step away from public life cite a desire to "spend more time with family." I've already learned to cherish every moment spent with family and friends, because I know that life is precious and unpredictable.
But I've also learned that service can and does take many forms, and elective office is just one of them.
I watched as my father moved regularly between elective office and private life...always devoted to his family and to making a positive difference in the community. He served on church boards, the local school board and helped the Red Cross and countless other causes--every day committed to helping a neighbor and making the community better. Dad always thought his experience as a private citizen helped make him a more effective public servant and a better governor.
After 8 years as Secretary of State, the time will be right for me to return to private life, to gather new ideas and experiences and a fresh perspective. But my commitment to public service won't stop, because I know the challenges facing our country can't be solved in Washington or Jefferson City alone. It will take ideas, energy and the daily commitment and determination of all of us.
So I plan to stay engaged and involved. And I ask you to do the same. For me, that could include running for elected office again, but it will certainly mean speaking out and working hard for the values we share and the candidates who stand up for them.
My term as Secretary of State continues for another 15 months. During that time, my terrific staff and I will stay focused on providing the type of outstanding service Missourians expect and deserve.
Thanks again for all your help and friendship. It means more to me than you will ever know. I'll look forward to connecting with you soon.
No one can question Robin Carnahan's personal commitment to public service. And no one should second guess when a fine public servant decides it's time for a change.
Representative Jason Kander (D) announced today that he will be running for Secretary of State in 2012:
Randy Turner at The Turner Report has a post up about focus group results released as part of the discovery in the Faux News Channel lawsuit against Robin Carnahan's (D) 2010 senate campaign. There's an interesting refrain about ACORN, showing that the rightwing's assault based on fake charges and Congress' capitulation with a bill of attainder did more damage than just shutting down the group which legitimately registered voters and provided other legitimate services.
Documents turned over to Fox News attorneys by a consulting firm provide evidence why Roy Blunt defeated Robin Carnahan in last year's U. S. Senate race....
....Among the comments from people asked about their greatest concerns about Robin Carnahan:
-Why was she quiet about ACORN?....
-May have ignored problems with ACORN, whatever that is....
-She is too close to ACORN.
-I would want to know if there is any truth to those ACORN accusations....
-She supports ACORN.
-Too cheesy or fake with the farming. Too tied in with ACORN....
-She is too much a yes man for the president. She also caused too much money to given to the ACORN people.
-How closely is she tied to special interests like ACORN?....
-What is ACORN?....
Never mind that the rightwing and their Mighty Wurlitzer stooges beat their truthiness drum. As we can see, all they have to do is repeat the lie.
....Get that - the videos were "edited to meet their agenda." In other words, these full-of-themselves rightwing echo chamber trainees, O'Keefe and Giles, were running a scam.
The Brooklyn investigation is the third such to cast doubt on O'Keefe's and Giles' veracity. Investigations by the former Massachusetts Attorney, Scott Harshbarger, and the Congressional Research Service have found ACORN innocent of wrong doing....
On Monday, June 14, a preliminary probe by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO)of ACORN has found no evidence the association or related organizations mishandled the $40 million in federal money they received in recent years.
A review of grants by nine federal agencies found no problems with ACORN's grants. In my book Seeds of Change I document how ACORN, the largest most successful national anti poverty organization in America, was forced to close its door....
....In fact the staff in most of ACORN's offices turned the pair away, reported the couple to the police, refused to provide them any aid, and in one case tried to convince the phony prostitute to get counseling. In no ACORN office did employees file any paperwork or do anything illegal on the duo's behalf.
But Fox News broadcasted the deceptive tapes nearly around the clock for several days defaming ACORN....
The 96th Missouri General Assembly went into session yesterday in Jefferson City. New members were sworn in, leadership was elected, and business has started in Jefferson City.
One of the first orders of business was the election of the Speaker of the House. The minority (Democrats) nominated representative Mike Talboy (D-37).
Representative Mike Talboy (D-37), the new House Minority Leader.
Given the overwhelming republican majority in the House Representative Talboy rose to speak on his nomination (remarks as prepared):
The Missouri House has tough work ahead of it, so I won't take up everyone's time with a long speech.
Missourians and their families are struggling and we must work to fix this situation. The No. 1 priority of both parties this year must be to preserve and create jobs to help restore our state's economy.
However, in our efforts to make Missouri more "business friendly," we must avoid being anti-worker.
While it is often said that businesses create jobs, it is really consumers who create jobs, because they are the ones who choose to buy the goods and services that make it possible for businesses to exist.
Policies that purport to help businesses by reducing wages ultimately hurt businesses, because it means hard-working Missourians have less money in their pockets to spend.
Education is the foundation for success and economic growth in our state.
We must take steps to make sure we do not decimate our education system to ensure we have the educated workforce to fill the jobs we create. Investment in education is critical in attracting new businesses and the expansion and retention of existing businesses in Missouri.
Republicans have the numbers in the House to do whatever they want on virtually every issue.
For our part, House Democrats will do our best to keep the majority accountable and work together to find solutions for these challenging times facing Missourians.
Although the majority party has increased power, it comes with increased responsibility.
All of Missouri will be watching the decisions House Republicans make. And ultimately they will be held responsible for those decisions.
House Democrats will offer concrete and realistic ideas to put Missourians back to work and create new jobs in our state. We stand ready to move Missouri forward and we are ready to go to work.
I am honored and humbled to be nominated as Speaker of this esteemed body, however, I respectfully decline this nomination.
Representative Steve Tilley (r) was elected Speaker by acclamation.
Representative Jill Schupp (D-82) in conversation with colleagues on the House floor before the start of the session.
Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan (D) starts the proceedings of the House.
Jackson County is split between two election boards. One board serves Kansas City, the other board serves everything else. The board for the rest of Jackson County made their results official today.
ROY BLUNT* 63870 54.42%
ROBIN CARNAHAN 47634 40.58%
Other 5561 4.73%
TOM SCHWEICH* 61255 52.73%
SUSAN MONTEE 50567 43.53%
CHARLES W. BAUM 4203 3.62%
It was only 2 years ago that this part of Missouri reported these results
JOHN MCCAIN-SARAH PALIN* 92833 49.79%
BARACK OBAMA-JOE BIDEN 90722 48.66%
So how did it all fall apart? Let's go region by region
Missouri Secretary of State (and U.S. Senate candidate) Robin Carnahan (D) made a quick campaign stop in Lee's Summit in eastern Jackson County late this afternoon. This was one of those events, in a long series for the day, that takes place in the last seventy-hours of a campaign as the get out the vote operation shifts into high gear.
Those attending this event are the folks who tend to be Democratic Party activists who will be instrumental in making the calls and knocking on doors to turn out the Democratic vote in the final hours leading up to Tuesday.
Robin Carnahan (D) spoke for a few minutes to the crowd about the importance of turning out every vote. She reminded everyone of past close elections. After her remarks she took time to greet everyone in attendance and give and accept best wishes along with encouragement for the next few days.
Then it was back on the bus for the next event of the day.
I just received the following text message on my cell phone:
878787
Failed stimulus & Bailout. Increased unemployment. Foreclosures. More govt spending? Want a new direction? Vote Nov 2nd 4 Roy Blunt. Txt STOP 2 Quit VHLP 4 Help
10/24/2010 3:14:23 PM
If this is from the Roy Blunt (r-lobbyists) campaign I'm seriously pissed. If it isn't I'm seriously pissed. I don't have a text plan for my cell phone. I very rarely text anyone. I have to pay for this shit. Assholes. And I didn't sign up for it either.
As for the content of the text message? Here's the true story:
...Reality: While many people conflate the "stimulus" with the bank bailouts, the bank bailouts were requested by President Bush and his Treasury Secretary, former Goldman Sachs CEO Henry Paulson. (Paulson also wanted the bailouts to be "non-reviewable by any court or any agency.") The bailouts passed and began before the 2008 election of President Obama.
Uh, wasn't Roy Blunt instrumental in getting the bailout passed? Uh, yep.
Missouri Secretary of State (and U.S. Senate candidate) Robin Carnahan (D) stopped in Warrensburg this afternoon to visit with voters at the UCM homecoming football game. This was the third of four campaign stops for the day - spanning the state from east to west.
Arriving at UCM's stadium.
The campaign bus arrived at the stadium at approximately 3:15 p.m., trailed by a car with a reporter and a photographer for the New York Times (as I understood it - I was shooting photographs and the Times folks weren't engaging me in small talk).
Foreground, left to right, former State Representative Deleta Williams (D), Secretary of State Robin Carnahan,
Juan Carlos Antolinez, Robin Carnahan's spouse.
Two campaign staffers (right) accompany the group to the stadium entrance.
With the news of Roy Blunt having his own illegal housekeeper problem, it's worth highlighting this quote before we go deep into this post.
"I decided that if the guy you know best at Immigration and Naturalization happens to be the person in charge, then it's all right to direct your correspondence to him"
Perhaps the most illuminating part of the story released on Tuesday is that it shows once again the Roy Blunt philosophy on government. The Roy Blunt philosophy of government seems to involve his family and allies getting first dibs and the rest of us getting the leftovers.
Roy Blunt is someone who asked "How bad do you want this job to be?" when criticized for riding the pay-raise train over his 14 years in Congress. It's not about doing the right thing, it's about the power and privilege and the ability to have it trickle down to the friends and family.
Back in 1990 when he was pulling out the stops for someone who his campaign wants you to believe was just helpful at church events, Roy Blunt was showing a preview of what we know he has done in the last 14 years in Congress. Also when it comes to the Dora Narvaez story, there must have been a lot of church events, some of which must have occurred at Roy Blunt's house, since Dora Narvaez said that she worked for Blunt.
Last week Greg Sargent's Plum Linedetailed some of the falsehoods in the flood of third party ads produced by Carl Rove's Crossroads group and by the Chamber of Commerce. Because of the furor over their funding - the undisclosed donors, the possibility of foreign contributors, etc. - the fact that these ads are chock full of blatant, egregious falsehoods had not received much attention earlier. The onslaught has now truly begun; third party ads have been flooding the airwaves (on some evenings I have seen the same ad over six times - and I don't watch that much TV). Many of us were worried about what Citizens United would mean for our democracy; these ads, the ugly spawn of that decision, prove that we were more than right to be concerned.
One ad in particular centers around absurd claims that the Affordable Care Act cuts Medicare by 500 billion dollars - the ad has been directed at several Democrats with only slight variations. You can see some of the versions of the ad and get the real facts about its lies here (you can also see one such ad below the fold). Take a look at it and then compare it with the new Roy Blunt ad (also shown below the fold) - not too much difference, right?
Given Blunt's past propensities for abusing the truth, I'm not surprised that he is putting out one more dishonest ad, nor am I surprised that the subject matter is Medicare. He is clearly hoping to stem the damage Carhanan did in their last debate when she not only brought up Roy's past statements about Medicare, but confronted him with proof when he denied them:
Among other things, the Carnahan camp disputed Blunt's apparent denial during the debate that he had ever said that Medicare shouldn't have been created. Carnahan's campaign sent out a number of links to numerous news accounts -- including two videos (click here and here) -- in which Blunt appeared to disparage the government health-care program for the elderly, voted for cuts or voted for a proposal to turn the program into a voucher system.
What better way to save face when you are caught in a lie, but to lie some more - hence this new Medicare ad. Of course, if you are Roy Blunt, your contempt for your constituents is so great that you don't even bother to come up with something plausible - you simply crib from your Crossroads GPS pals and adapt their all-purpose lies to do your dirty work. After all, Carl Rove proved that if you tell a lie often enough, everyone will think it's the truth.
Update:FiredUp! Missourihas video of a KMBC TV segment that factchecks the Blunt ad.
One of the Crossroads GPS ads, the new Blunt ad, and two videos of Blunt dissing Medicare can be found below the fold:
If you say something often enough, it becomes true. Which is why I'm eventually going to be dating supermodels.
Perhaps the Stimulus was more of a gauze than anything else. Especially if you believe the CBO when they say that The Stimulus prevented another depression. And there's that whole thing where the 'official' recession ended, which leads up to the current stabilization. Sadly, a stabilization in the realm of "lousy" is not enough and economic stimulus/acceleration still has to be done to get things going. The same "tax cut everybody and hope it works this time" Republican voodoo is not quite enough here. (Assuming that the Republican strategy isn't "wait until 2013", of course)
Oh yeah, the flier.. almost forgot about the rest.
When you hear Claire McCaskill strutting her deficit cutting stuff by boasting about how she opposes earmarks, you are entitled to roll your eyes. Earmarks amount to less than 2% of the budget and the deficit would hardly know it if they said bye-bye tomorrow.
There is, however, a serious problem with earmarks: influence peddling. They provide a very useful tool for corrupt politicians. The reason I'm bringing this topic up now is this little nugget that I came across while scanning the KC Star's Prime Buzz:
We're told Roy Blunt has worked hard to get support from some leaders in Kansas City's African-American community, particularly from members worried about Robin Carnahan's opposition to earmarks, which are used to help projects in the inner city.
And we're told that work has or will bear fruit, with endorsements from some members of the community, including we're told, Rev. Modest Miles.
I've got no problems with the Rev. John Modest Miles. I am sure that he just wants to do the best for his community. He and any other member of the Kansas City African-American community have every right to decide that Roy Blunt's positions on earmarks suit them more than Robin Carnahan's.
But if Blunt, who is known for inserting favors for campaign donors into unrelated legislation, goes after Rev. Miles' endorsement while waving his earmark wand, doesn't it create just a little stench? We need to remember that this is the same Roy Blunt about whom former New York Times columnist Thomas Edsall wrote that he "embodies the insidious, half-legal corruption that has permeated the G.O.P. majority since 1995."
During the past few weeks, Roy Blunt has managed to mention his "jobs plan" in just about every other sentence, and like that fish story where the fish gets bigger and bigger with each retelling, it seems the job plan also gets bigger and bigger with each retelling. He's so proud of it that last night, during his debate with Robin Carnahan, he inflated his 20 page plan to 100 pages, comparing it with what he called Carnahan's "500 word plan."
Not only was he mistaken about the size of his plan, but he also misspoke about Carnahan's "jobs plan." Rather than a detailed blueprint for jobs creation, you will find on Carnahan's campaign Webpage a list of general "commonsense" principles that she would use to guide her efforts as a legislator charged with creating jobs, a principled, intelligent approach to a complex issue that will be only be resolved as part of a cooperative, congressional effort.
When I try to reduce Blunt's plan to similar principles, I come up with three sentences that left me with a serious (and not very pleasant) case of deja vu:
1. Cut social spending, some administrative government expenses, and privatize wherever possible in order to cut the deficit.
2. Cut taxes
3. Gut industrial and business regulation.
Bearing in mind the "500 word" jibe, I tried, just for fun, to list each more or less substantive proposal listed in his plan in order to count the words. After cutting out the standard GOP talking points and the empty whinging about the Obama administration and the Democratic congress, I was left with about 280 words.
You will notice if you read the shorter Blunt jobs plan below, that it is seriously uneven and often duplicative. There are big, vague proposals combined with extremely specific and often rather trivial proposals. Many would have a questionable or even a negative effect on either job creation or deficit reduction, which is one of the legs of his plan, others would probably have some small effect, while still others reference future issues (e.g., cap-and-trade, which is already probably dead for the near term). What they all have in common is that, taken together, they could be mistaken for a wish-list prepared by Blunt's corporate donors and lobbyist pals.
If you want to read Blunt's six point jobs plan in the 280 word version, jump below the fold. (There's also an excellent analysis of the deficit cutting claims Blunt makes about his proposed spending cuts over at FiredUP Missouri if Blunt's jobs mania interests you.)
Reading one of the newspaper reports about the Roy Blunt-Robin Carnahan debate last night, I was struck by a no doubt trivial detail. At one point, talking about jobs, Blunt claimed that
Our jobs plan is over 100 pages. Secretary of Carnahan's jobs plan is under 500 words _ you could tweet her jobs plan in four tweets," said Blunt, referring to the Internet social networking site, Twitter.
Does he mean this Jobs Plan which can be downloaded from his campaign Webpage? Because I swear I can't find more than 20 pages. Does he think that the linked references comprise part of the Plan? If so, I've got news for him - they don't. I've also got to say that lots of those 20 pages don't amount to more than boilerplate and whining about the Obama administration.
Am I really mistaken, or is this one more instance of Roy the serial liar? There are folks who just can't resist a fib, no matter how silly. Is there another version of the "Jobs Plan," have I not seen it all, or is Roy one of those sad, dissembling individuals? I'm confused.
Update: The account of the debate in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch omitted Blunt's assertion that his jobs plan had more than a hundred pages:
Blunt stressed his theme of private sector job creation, accusing Carnahan of lacking details on how she would boost the economy. He used a reference to the popular social media network, Twitter, to make his sharpest jab in the debate.
"You could tweet her jobs plan in four tweets," he said.
An odd omission since the "four tweets" comment is part of a comparative statement.
Our snarky colleagues tell you all you need to know about Roy Blunt's (r-lobbyists) performance at tonight's debate:
BGinKC Wow. Obamacare is so bad it's responsible for wrecking the economy and the first provisions went into effect three weeks ago? 2 minutes ago via Mobile Web
BHIndepMO Debate reaction: I can see why Roy Blunt didn't want to have more debates 26 minutes ago via web
BHIndepMO @BGinKC Did you know the budget was balanced while Blunt was in the leadership? guess we missed that in 2003 #doubleblink about 1 hour ago via web in reply to BGinKC
BHIndepMO "Every reporter who has asked me a question has got a clear response" - unless his phone rang while he was walking #mosen about 1 hour ago via web
Heh. I tell you, it's always been great working with these folks.
Nothing says Washington DC outsider like seven-term Congressman (and former Republican Whip) Roy Blunt! He's such an outsider that there are dining establishments in DC that he has only been to once!
(Wonder how much of that debt is in stuff that he voted for, but wants you to forget about)
Last night Rachel Maddow nailed the key to Claire McCaskill's 2006 victory over Jim Talent: the minimum wage. The GOP's business constituency hates it, everyone else loves it. It didn't hurt that a minimum wage initiative was on the Missouri ballot then either:
To their credit, the DSCC does get that this is a potent issue. I just saw an ad last night that they produced for Carnahan that hits Roy Blunt for his past opposition to the minimum wage - a past record that he is eager, by the way, to keep quiet:
I take the ad as indicating that Robin Carnahan gets it too, although she certainly isn't running hard with it.
Another issue that strikes me as having all the positive mojo of the minimum wage is wiping out the BushCo tax giveaways for the wealthy - but wait - Carnahan already blew that. To be fair, she's not alone in this lack of judgment, since the entire Democratic Congress crapped out on ending the tax breaks for the wealthy when they had a chance to use a vote on the issue to make a statement before the midterms. Remember operant conditioning? The GOP has been far too successful in training the Democrats to fold their tails between their legs and run whenever they hear the dreaded "T" word.
The real import of what Maddow is saying, though, lies in what both these issues have in common. They represent a core Democratic principle: fairness. When Democratic politicians fail to stand up for this principle, they deny their intrinsic identity, what it means to be a Democrat - and you can be sure that a self-hating Democrat isn't likely to inspire much love from voters.
Vice President Joe Biden was in Springfield last night for a fundraising event for Robin Carnahan's (D) campaign for the open U.S. Senate seat:
Vice President Joe Biden spoke at a fundraiser for Missouri Senate candidate Robin Carnahan Thursday night in Springfield, Mo. Biden blamed many of the country's problems on the George Bush administration and said the stimulus and other programs are working.
"The reports of the death of the Democratic Party are greatly exaggerated," he said, playing off of the famous quote from Missourian Mark Twain.
He said Carnahan has "more grit and backbone in her little finger than most people have in their whole body. I can't imagine her bending to anything."
He said Democrats will continue to push for science and environmental issues.
Carnahan spoke about her opponent, Rep. Roy Blunt, and the money that third parties have put into the campaign.
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon, who won handily in several conservative counties, touted Carnahan's record as Missouri secretary of state and said Blunt is part of the problem.
"We've got a lot of problems in this country now's not the time for this state and this country to mess around," Nixon said.
Earlier that day, Biden attended an event for Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Tom Barrett in Madison, Wis.
Carnahan's campaign said the event sold out at 170 people, and it expected to bring in $100,000. Tickets started at $500 per couple for event, which was at the Tower Club in downtown Springfield.
Diners ate chicken and beef, a house salad and cheesecake or chocolate cake. Biden spoke for about 45 minutes. Carnahan's mother, Jean Carnahan, who served with Biden in the Senate, attended the event, along with state Rep. Sara Lampe and some local candidates.
Located in the heart of Westport --
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Missouri Secretary of State (and U.S. Senate candidate) 
