Saturday, July 19, 2008

DOWN AND OUT IN JEFF CITY

An interesting op-ed in the Wall Street Journal highlights the difficulties facing Missouri Republicans in November. Selected grafs:
For an insight as to why the GOP is down and out in Washington, take a look at Jefferson City. That's where Sarah Steelman, the state treasurer, is running in an Aug. 5 primary for the Missouri governorship. And it's where her reform campaign against earmarks and self-dealing is threatening the entrenched status quo, causing her own party to rise against her.

So bitter are House Minority Whip Roy Blunt and Sen. Kit Bond at Ms. Steelman's attack on their cherished spending beliefs that last month they rallied the entire Missouri congressional delegation to put out a public statement openly criticizing her campaign against six-term U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof. Joining them in their support of Mr. Hulshof has been the vast majority of the state Republican machine. Ms. Steelman is clearly doing something right. ...

Ms. Steelman's Republican colleagues were livid with her attempt to strip them of comfy pensions, annoyed with her "sunshine law" requiring them to be more open in their dealings, furious at her attacks on their ethanol boondoggles, appalled that she criticized GOP state Speaker Rod Jetton for moonlighting as a paid political consultant. The final straw was her temerity to make her primary race about her opponent's Washington earmarking record.

For Mr. Blunt, this is also just a wee bit personal. His son, Matt, is the outgoing governor, and has been on the receiving end of a few Treasurer Steelman blasts. Last year she stopped payment on a $70,000 secret check his administration cut to settle a sexual harassment suit against an official. Her demand for transparency blew the case into the open, infuriating GOP colleagues. ...

Mr. Hulshof has been able to tout his own history as an ethics reformer, though the fervor with which his party's regulars have embraced him has undercut that message. His real weakness is that despite conservative credentials on taxes or social issues, he's run wild with the GOP crowd that just won't relinquish the pork. Which is of course why Mr. Blunt (who pioneered House earmarks) and Mr. Bond (who sits at earmark central, the Senate appropriations committee) love him.
Happy happy joy joy for Jay Nixon, Missouri's attorney general and Democratic candidate for governor. Nixon's a terrible public speaker and uninspiring gubernatorial candidate. But in this campaign cycle, all he needs is a pulse to be competitive.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

A great read Ron. In a weird way I miss the days when RIchard Nixon was President. Personal freedoms aside, (and they were) at least there was smaller government and the Dems were doing most of the spending.

Anonymous said...

Yes, anon, a great read. Especially if you do it blindfolded.
Ron, you make it sound like Senator Bond is the only one on the Senate Appropriations Committee, but alas, he is not. 15 Democrats are also on that "earmark central" including the chairman Robert "KKK" Byrd, Patrick Leahy, Dianne Feinstein, Dick Durbin and Frank Lautenberg. If you think Kit Bond can outspend these losers, well...whatever.
Also, you libs keep attacking people that aren't running for re-election, like Matt Blunt. Let us not forget that MO has a budget surplus of $800+ million dollars. And before you break out the violin and tug at the heart, Governor Holden, (who also has a pulse) was forced to cut $28.5 million in education and social programs back in 01 to balance the budget.
Ho hum, facts. They suck don't they?

Anonymous said...

Wow! I guess we know where KSPR is at in this election. In the tank for Nixon.

At least Republicans will know not to buy ads at that third-rate station.

Ron Davis said...

Anon 920: Reading comprehension can and should be your friend. The editorial column is from the Wall Street Journal, not the CHATTER typist. And your claim that I'm "in the tank" for Jay Nixon is beyond laughable. Or can't you read? Writing that someone is "a terrible public speaker and uninspiring gubernatorial candidate" is not a ringing endorsement.

Anonymous said...

Not related but intersting to say the least !!

Rolla News reported that Elected Chief of the Western Cherokee Nation is making a run for the 150 th house seat, yep you guessed it, Jason Smith has yet another "CHIEF" to contend with, this time this one is for real !!!

2008 said...

http://jasonsmithbadformissouri.blogspot.com/