Missouri’s embattled juvenile-offender of a governor has announced that he will not seek reelection in November.
It also raises a lot of questions…
What brought this on? There have been allegations of abuse of power – there is the Eckersly scandal. There were allegations that the Abramoff tentacles reached all the way to Missouri and throwing the taint of corruption on one of Baby Guv’s campaigns. There is the six-Suburban caravan that schleps his feckless ass from Springfield to Jeff City every business day because his wife “doesn’t like the mansion.” There was the incident where one of his goons shoved Kit Wagar and caused a three-reporter pile up on veterans day.
There is the fact that Missouri as a whole is pissed off at him for myriad of reasons.
He said that he has accomplished everything he set out to do –
Sure, if he was setting out to destroy the social safety net and finish wrecking the economy, he has been a stellar success.
I’m sure the fact that he has been sucking Jay Nixon’s draft since inauguration day has nothing to do with his decision to not lose in a landslide…
UPDATE from Clark: A statement from Jay Nixon on Blunt’s announcement:
“My campaign for Governor has always been about moving Missouri forward. I will continue to focus on changing the direction of our state so that more Missourians have access to health care, more Missourians can find good-paying jobs and more Missouri children can get the quality education they deserve.
“I wish Gov. Blunt and his family all the best in the future.”
UPDATE from Michael Bersin: The press release and statement by Blunt on the flip:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Contact: Jessica Robinson, 573-751-0290
With Campaign Promises Fulfilled, Gov. Blunt Will Not Seek Second TermGov. Blunt Releases Television Address to Missourians
JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Matt Blunt today released a television address to Missourians announcing that having achieved virtually everything he set out to accomplish when he ran for governor he will not seek a second term.
In his address, Gov. Blunt cites among his accomplishments turning an inherited $1.1 billion deficit into three straight surpluses without a tax increase, cutting taxes, ending the education cuts of the past and providing budgets that will deliver $1.2 billion to universities, classrooms and students, rescuing the broken Medicaid system and transforming it into a network of care for vulnerable Missourians and helping turn record job-loss into nearly 90,000 new jobs.
The governor called a news conference tomorrow morning at 9:30 am where he is expected to discuss his announcement.
A video file of the governor’s television address is attached and is also available at http://youtube.com/GovernorMat…
The following is a transcript of Gov. Blunt’s television address:
Fellow Missourians. Let me speak directly with you.
In 2004 I promised leadership, vision and change. It was more than a slogan, it defined a mission. You elected me to chart a new course.
And together we are creating a future of greater opportunity for all Missourians.
We inherited a budget that was $1.1 billion dollars in the red and turned it into three straight surpluses without increasing taxes. In fact, we cut taxes.
In contrast to the old education withholdings and cuts, my budgets will have delivered 1.2 billion new dollars to our universities, classrooms and students.
A broke and broken Medicaid system is being transformed into a network of care offering vulnerable Missourians healthier lives at a cost taxpayers can afford.
We have turned record job-loss into nearly 90,000 new jobs.
Hundreds of millions of dollars in waste has been eliminated and we reduced the size of government.
What we set-out to achieve four years ago has been accomplished.
Once when asked if he were running for re-election another governor responded, “Yes, I like being governor.” When I read that I thought at the time that I never wanted to run for any office just to hold it. I did not run for governor to have a title, but to bring change to state government.
The habit of politicians is to remain in office and the desire to prove oneself in the next election is strong. After a great deal of thought and prayer, and with the knowledge that we have achieved virtually everything I set out to accomplish, and more, I will not seek a second term in the upcoming election. Because I feel we have changed what I wanted to change in the first term there is not the same sense of mission for a second.
At the end of my term, I will have served twenty years in public service, ten years in the United States Navy followed by ten years in state government. Melanie and our son William Branch mean the world to me. I have spent more time away from them than I would like. We are ready for the next chapter in our lives and I am looking forward to spending more time with them.
Some will wrongly think that this is a retirement from the effort to improve the lives of Missourians. But they will have failed to understand that the greatest and wisest leadership of our state is not housed within the ornate offices of the Capitol. It springs from our citizens, communities, churches and institutions of private life.
There are new and important initiatives we can achieve this year.
Their success will help keep the change working for Missouri families.
I will focus on these initiatives.
To serve as your governor is a great privilege. I will continue to work every day to be worthy of the faith and confidence you have placed in me.
Thank you for listening, and may God continue to bless our great state.
UPDATE from Clark again: Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder is in:
“As Lt. Governor and President Pro Tem I have brought fundamental change to state government. I have served as a change agent my entire career and look forward to continuing my positive leadership. Missourians deserve a strong economy to create new higher paying jobs, a world class education, and affordable and accessible health care. I am the right person to deliver the positive change Missourians deserve.
I am heartened by the outpouring of support and I will be formally announce my plans for Governor in the coming weeks.”
Michael Bersin said:
…an interesting election cycle.
Think of the dynamics now. Which republican wants to run now?
Bob Yates said:
He accomplished everything he wanted to do.
Right! Cut 100,000 working Missourians from health care and cut money for K-16 public education.
Mission Accomplished, Matt.
BillinMidMO said:
Something very interesting is going on. I think that some uber Theocrat is in the wings…we will soon hear somehting. How about Cynthia Davis? (It can always get WORSE)
Clark said:
I’m glad that’s all he wanted to accomplish.
Michael Bersin said:
…look at the legal fees from his 4th quarter campaign finance report on file at the Missouri Ethics Commission:
That’s $89,300.03 if I used the calculator correctly…
Clark said:
RBH said:
That’s not as mean as “The $10M quitter” though
Predictions for the Whole New Race on the GOP side
1) Kinder runs for Governor
2) Jetton runs for Lt. Governor
3) Only one of those two wins the primary
4) Some major candidate emerges from the 7th district (The Republicans didn’t have a statewide candidate from SW MO in 1996 though)
5) Delbert Scott, Charlie Shields, or Matt Bartle runs for Lt. Governor (or more than one)
6) Sarah Steelman runs for re-election and bids her time
7) Sam Graves declines to run for Governor after being held outside a window by his ankles by NRCC officials
8) Kenny Hulshof declines to run for Governor after doing some math and finding out that he’s at risk of losing a pimary
One more note.
The last time a Lieutenant Governor succeeded a Governor from his party in the Governor’s office was 1956 with James T. Blair.
And since 1956..
Edward Long was appointed to the Senate
Hilary Bush lost to Warren Hearnes
Thomas Eagleton became a Senator
Bill Morris lost to Edward Dowd
Bill Phelps lost to Kit Bond
Kenneth Rothman lost to John Ashcroft
Harriet Woods, Roger Wilson, and Joe Maxwell retired
Mel Carnahan became Governor
So four of the five Lt. Governor’s to run for the Governor’s office lost. Three of the five lost their party’s primary.
The Kween said:
I love heavy news days!! First, in KC for those of you not on the Western side of the state, is our Park Board punching bag. She was appointed by new mayor Mark Funkhouser, then someone said ‘BUT SHE IS A MEMBER OF THE MINUTEMEN” and the fun began. While I do not support any group that labels people and uses the kind of language the MM has used concerning undocumented workers, I also believe you can’t not let people who believe differently from you serve in government (see how well that worked in Iraq when they ‘deBathasized?) Groups should look at a much bigger picture than one old woman sitting on a park board to get up in arms about. But it is over. And the letter she wrote really showed her real side. Yuck! I stand by my original support of not firing her – but dang! if she doesn’t know the difference between ‘free speech’, ‘censored speech’ and ‘diplomacy’ – then she deserves to be out. As a park board member – you are a spokesperson for the city – which means she absolutely could not speak about, for or with the Minute Men – as Funky told her. She was miffed. Move one.
Baby Blunt is an interesting little news item. Why is he backing away? Some say there is scandal. Maybe. Some say he is being moved out for a more secure candidate. Hum??? Me? I think Melanie put her little fur covered foot down and said – “NO More commuting, Matty! You need to stay home with little Branch and I.” I hear he has been using taxpayer money to commute – what 4 hours every day to and from Jeff – Springfield??? Cost? priceless.
That’s what I think. Mamma called him home.