The newsletter, put out late Friday afternoon by G.O.P. chair Jared Craighead, is a clear indication of the party leadership's anger with Wright over his recent comments about Governor Blunt. The move is also stunning, because party figures rarely get involved in inner-party primary races so publicly. ...
"This is a political fragging," says one Greene County Republican who considers Wright a friend. It's also a huge sign of the divisions in the Republican party right now."
"Why would the Republican party feel the need to do this unless they felt Wright was a threat? He is either gaining some traction and striking a chord among party people or he is out there alone in the political wilderness," says the Republican.
Friday, August 04, 2006
MARK WRIGHT SLEEPS WITH THE FISHES
Dave Catanese at KY3's Political Notebook delivers juicy scoop, culled from a Missouri Republican Party newsletter, dated Friday. The newsletter urges the faithful to shun Mark Wright, a candidate for auditor. Catanese elaborates:
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32 comments:
It is amazing that any news organization would allow a blog like the KY3 blog to exist. Way too much subjective opinion from someone who is supposed to be a reporter.
What is completely appropriate (and welcomed) on sites like Chatter is exactly what isn't appropriate for a supposedly objective news organization. Shame on KY3 for falling asleep at the wheel on this one.
The Republicans have really shown Mark Wright and other Republican candidates what happens if they dare to tell the truth. So much for a party of diverganet viewpoints.
Blunt converts 11 state offices into fee agent offices. They are 11 of the largest in the state (Springfield's had the highest revenues from transaction fees of any in the state just under one mill). Profits from those offices (which exceed 50% of transaction fees -- i.e. $500,00 after payment of expenses for the Sprngfield office--) now go into the pockets of his hand picked appointees which are politcal insiders, friends,or relatives of politicos (the Springfield cash goes to the wife of Roy Blunt's political fundraiser) instead of to services for the poor of to pay for schoolsand Blunt and the Republcians don't see the problem with it??????? Of course not. They prefer to be indignant that anyone in their own party would dare question them. After all they are good Christians--- right??
Christians? Sound more like the money changers in the Temple. Didn't Jesus drive them out?
Now we know why the Governor pushed Wright out of the race against Norma Champion. He couldn't control Wright. Norma stays in her place and doesn't try to think for herself.... She smiles and votes the way the Governor tells her to.
BTW, Ron... you'll find out soon enough, but our ol' pal 417spellchecker is back, all tanned rested 'n ready. Golly.
Maybe they heard that Wright was the "hero" of VD(J).
I am not convinced that Wright would be the best candidate for auditor, but he sure has touched a nerve with the fee offices.
I just got an automated call from some guy who supports John Loudon for Auditor because he (Loudon) will support our second amendment rights. WTH does that have to do with being an auditor?
I saw some ad where the auditor candidate said he was pro-life. Again, WTH does that have to do with being an auditor.
On the fee offices, the guy running in the 139th on the Republican side, Schoeller I think his name is, his wife has the fee office in Nixa.
He said he didn't seek the office, Blunt's people came to him.
This is a guy who's worked for Blunt, Boy and Roy, Ashcroft, Bond and he doesn't understand political paybacks? He says he hasnt' made a decision on Wright's proposal for the fee offices.
Well I guess not, not when raking in big bucks for being a friend of the Blunts.
I wonder how long he has lived in the 139th district?
Mark Wright new he never had a chance in the election. He couldn't have beaten Norma if he had ran against her either. He was underfunded, receiving donations only through his PAC which was funded by his employer, Christian Healthcare.
The fee office situation is much about nothing. Governors have given these out to supporters since the 1950s. Not a big deal. Wright knew his political career was over after Catherine Hannaway left as Speaker. Wright was in top five leadership under her, but fell off the radar screen after Jetton took over.
To keep his name in the spotlight, he had to whine about fee offices and basically attempt to call Matt Blunt corrupt to get free publicity since he had no money to tout his own qualifications for auditor- Skycap at the airport????
The excitement in this race is whether Wright will finish fourth, or will he get beat by a convicted felon and finish last. The latter wouldn't surprise me! 3-5% at best.
oops that's knew...got in a hurry..
"The fee office situation is much about nothing. Governors have given these out to supporters since the 1950s. Not a big deal."
Here's an opposite point of view: While it's true that these fee offices have been patronage giveaways for quite some time, this is the first time that the GOP (the supposed "big tent" party with ideas and reforms), has had control of both the executive and legislative branches. Therefore, enter the chance for reforms. But we have seen a stark truth about the GOP come to the fore: on reform, they are all talk and no action, as they prove unwilling to police themselves and look at a reform measure that would be a win-win for everyone except our failed governor's sycophants.
While I have always found the awarding of fee offices scandalous whether it was Democrats or Republicans who were doing it, it should be noted that this situation is totally unlike what has taken place during past administrations. This is the first time many of the largest (and most lucrative) fee offices have been privatized and it is also the first time we have seen these management companies enter into the mix. If this is not an issue that is resonating with the public, it should be.
The fee agent offices at issue aren't old news as cah plays contends because Blunt is the first and only Governor to take the 11 largest state run offices and convert them to fee offices. The Springield office brings in the most cash nearly $1 million per year. Blunt made this a fee office in 2005 for the first time ever. NEW news cash plays.
I for one will be glad to see the Texas transplant known as Mark Wright finished in Missouri politics. His performance as a representative for my district was sub-par and I don't think he should be rewarded by being allowed to move up the ladder.
FWIW -- After a recent visit to the downtown fee office I have concluded that privatization is a joke on Missouri taxpayers. What was once an efficient government operation is now a Mickey Mouse operation. The offices are understaffed and the employees lack training. What would have taken 10 minutes in the past turned into 30 minutes only to receive an ambiguous answer to my question.
Marcus, the Glenstone fee office is just as rinkydink in every way, too. The cheaper it costs to maintain, the better the profit for the handpicked managers. The revenue from the Springfield offices is more than $1 million now, and managers say they get at least 50 percent profit, so...
It pays to be a friend of the Blunts.
The Republican wet dream, turn the entire government over to free enterprise.....
marcus,
Turn your statement around 180 degrees, and it reads:
The Democrat wet dream, turn free enterprise over to the government...
That's been tried before. Didn't work out so well, not so much.
The license and registration of motor vehicles is a governmental function. It exists because government says you have to register your car and pay sales tax on it. It is a revenue producer. Having the state run the license offices isn't turning free enterprise over to the state. It is having the state run its own busienss to maximize the amount available for service and prevent some of the profits from it from being siphoned off to repay campaign contributors and insiders.
Cashplays & Marcus-I agree on Mark Wright. His website states:
Rep. Wright is currently employed by Christian Health Care Corporation in Springfield, where he is responsible for implementing audit findings and maximizing dollars available for patient care.
Who knows exactly what implementing audit findings means, & the question remains does that job give him credentials for Auditor, but I will say that maximizing dollars for nursing home residents care is a bit of a joke. I have been very familiar professionally with the Christian Healthcare corp & the owners since their beginnings & I can say with some confidence that the overall care provided to the elderly in their nursing homes is average AT BEST. Unfortunately I also had a family member living in one of their facilities because we had no other care facility option at the time.
Why am I saying all this? Because I seriously question the character and intentions of a politician employed by this corporation. In addition, Wright's big contributor of late as been the MO Healthcare Association as someone mentioned. This organization is comprised of mainly nursing home administrators across the state & they are a powerful lobby. Most want more funding, but too many also want less State regulations that protect the elderly. Champion and Steelman are just a few legislators who have been influenced in the past by this organization, to the detriment of elderly care.
It certainly seems possible that the nursing home industry hired Wright to help their cause in this manner. And if he is elected auditor, that's icing on the cake both in itself and because Wright would obviously have loftier political goals for himself once he can tuck into the Auditor position.
mrsthrustonhowell - Thanks for the additional information about - soon to be former - Congressman Wright.
Personally I couldn't support him because:
a) He felt that it was more important that state legislators have government health care while at the same time voting to slash the Medicaid program.
b) He was on a committee that was working to introduce Intelligent Design into Missouri schools.
c) I have learned from someone who works for the city and had an encounter with Mr. Wright that he feels his position places above having to follow some city ordinances.
There are 3 Democrats vying to represent me in the 137th and regardless who the winner is next Tuesday they can count on my vote next November. I'm tired of all these fundy whackjobs running our state.
Wow. Imagine being too wacko for the GOP!
Since fee offices have been privatized, service and efficiency have been supreme. I've heard comments from both Dems and Reps about how pleasant of an experience getting their licenses renewed was. They even have Saturday hours which sure as hell didn't exist when the state ran the offices. So someone is making money because they have offered a better product. Good for them. Before privitization, I always went to Nixa or Republic because it was convenient an fast. Now I can stay in town and have friendly, fast service. I love this country!!
No one (that I know of) is arguing that the revenue offices shouldn't have been privately contracted out in some sense. What Wright proposed is instead of awarding these as patronage perks, grant the leases to non-profit entities. This would have the effect of maximizing benefits to the taxpayer and the non-profit. Instead, these continue to be a cash cow for politicos who when awarded the fee office, have the expectation of large contributions back to the administration's campaign war chest.
True, there is nothing wrong with this as to the letter of the law, but if when can introduce a substantive policy reform which benefits all stakeholders, why shouldn't we? The only possible objection arises from individuals who have benefitted under the current system, namely Gov. and Rep. Blunt's cronies.
As we've seen from Wright's proposals and subsequent backlash, the Missouri GOP has ceased to be a party of ideas and has instead morphed into a cult of personality with the Blunts as the center of their worship. This state and the GOP can do better.
cashplay - I'm not sure how increased wait times translate into better service in your book. This is definitely a case where government bureaucracy outperforms free enterprise.
blub, blub, blup.
Note to marcus aurelius alrightus headuppus assus and flunktus high schoolus civicus classus:
Mark Wright is a state representative, not a Congressman.
Congressmen are federal office holders. They meet in Washington, D.C.
State representatives are state office holders. They meet in Jefferson City, Mo.
See the difference?
I'm with you on what appears to be your basic political beliefs, but fundamental accuracy in your rhetoric would really help your credbility.
Neither passing high school civics nor college level political science can overcome a fuzzy brain before morning coffee. I stand corrected.
Don't know which fee office you're going to, but at 445 on a Friday afternoon, I was in and out in under 10 minutes at the South Fremont office. That included parking at the door and not having to walk through the spooky breeze way at Park Central...Ooooh that scares me....Tell me a single time you've ever been in and out of park central in under 30 minutes...Go privatization!!!!!
I made plenty of trips in and out of the Park Central DOR office in less than 30 minutes time, and can't recall a single time when I was dealt with inefficiently or ineffectively.
On the other hand, thanks to the crack crew of clueless twentysomething nailbuffers who've been hired to take up space at the New & Improved BluntRewards Fee Office on Fremont, I recently experienced the pleasantry of having them re-do my driver's license FOUR times because the data entry teenager kept making spelling errors in my last name and the name of my street.
The first time I was handed my new license with misspellings, I handed it back and told her to please do it over again because of the errors. She insisted that I had to pay for what I'd got.
I asked to speak to her supervisor, and eventually got to explain my situation to her...with the SAME RESULT! Any number of people would have thrown their hands up and surrendered at this demonstration of bureaucratic stupidity. I stuck to my guns (not really...you can't bring a gun into those places!) and demanded a new license, refusing to pay for any errors.
Three more tries, they finally got it right. While I remained calm and polite (but firm) throughout this transaction, I was met with pissy attitude from both the line employee AND the supervisor.
You're going to have a hard time convincing me that this is an improvement over the situation we used to have.
You had a bad experience. Here's a bad experience I witnessed at the Park Central, State run office. Long lines, irritated customers, 45 minute wait. The guy in front of me gets ready to walk up to the next available state worker. He gets to the counter, she puts her "closed" sign in the window as says, "time for lunch". Kind of funny unless it happens to you. Did I mention long, long lines????
And FYI: No teenagers are employed at the Fremont office.
And you know this because......?
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