We received the following press release:

Patty Johnson Announces Candidacy for State Representative

Alderman Bobby Davidson and Lyle Gregory Join Patty at campaign kick-off

BELTON – Raymore attorney Patty Johnson announced today that she is seeking the Democratic nomination for State Representative in the 123rd district, which encompasses Belton and Raymore in Cass County. Patty owns her own firm in Raymore and she works as a guardian ad litem for children and as a family law mediator.

“As a small business owner and the daughter of a farmer, I understand the value of hard work and see first-hand the problems and difficulties facing families in our community.  Our families need a voice for common sense and I will be that voice,” said Johnson.

Belton Alderman Bobby Davidson and Raymore attorney Lyle Gregory joined Johnson as she kicked-off her campaign on Main Street in Belton.

“It is time for new leadership in state government.  Patty will put working families first over special interests as our State representative and that’s why I’m proud to support her,” said Bobby Davidson.

“Given Patty’s community leadership and her commitment to helping families in need, she is absolutely the best choice as our next State Representative,” said Lyle Gregory.

Patty serves as the President of the Board of Directors for Hope Haven, Cass County’s Domestic Violence Shelter, and she is Secretary for Bel-Ray Sunrise Lions Club.  Patty and her husband Jerry are actively involved in St. Paul’s United Methodist Church in Raymore.

###

The 123rd Legislative District covers northwest Cass County immediately south of Jackson County. The seat is currently held by republican Chris Molendorp who is in his first term. By Representative Molendorp’s (r) list of bill sponsorship we see that he’s interested in insurance, all kinds of ethics reform, and he’s a “tenther”.

Looking at Molendorp’s fourth quarter 2009 campaign finance report, filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission in January, we see :

Detailed Summary of Committee Disclosure Report

Committe: FRIENDS OF CHRIS MOLENDORP

1. TOTAL RECEIPTS FOR THIS ELECTION PREVIOUSLY REPORTED $8,650.00

2. ALL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED THIS PERIOD $8,500.00

9. TOTAL ALL RECEIPTS THIS ELECTION(SUM 1B + 7A – 8A) $17,150.00

25. MONEY ON HAND AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (INCLUDING FUNDS IN DEPOSITORY, CASH, SAVINGS ACCOUNTS AND ALL OTHER INVESTMENTS) $2,270.29

28. MONEY ON HAND AT THE CLOSE OF THIS REPORTING PERIOD (SUM 25 + 26 – 27) $9,016.68

[emphasis added] That’s some burn rate.

And where did Molendorp’s contributions come from?:

Detailed Summary of Contributions And Loans Received

Committee: FRIENDS OF CHRIS MOLENDORP

Report Date: 1/11/2010

A. ITEMIZED CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED FROM COMMITTEES REGARDLESS OF THE AMOUNT, OR FROM PERSONS GIVING MORE THAN $100 TO A COMMITTEE.

RightCHOICE Managed Care, Inc.  Cincinnati, OH 12/11/2009 $1,000.00

Gene A. Molendorp Peculiar, MO retired 10/31/2009 $500.00

CHC of Kansas  KCMO 10/30/2009 $150.00

MO Optometric Assn Jefferson City, MO 10/30/2009 $200.00

GKC MO Dental PAC Jefferson City, MO 11/17/2009 $250.00

MO Correctional Officers Assoc Jefferson City, MO 10/12/2009 $300.00

Friends of Vicky Hartzler Harrisonville, MO 10/13/2009 $250.00

MO Assn of Insurance & Financial Advisors PAC Jefferson City, MO 10/12/2009 $500.00

Wal-Mart, Inc. Bentonville, AR 12/31/2009 $250.00

NRA Political Victory Fund Fairfax, VA 12/31/2009 $250.00

MO Assn of Municipal Utilities Columbia, MO 12/05/2009 $150.00

American Family Insurance MO PAC St. Joseph, MO 12/04/2009 $350.00

RGA Reinsurance Company Chesterfield, MO 12/31/2009 $300.00

Terry Reardon Village of Loch Lloyd, MO  retired 11/23/2009 $1,000.00

ATT Missouri Employee Political Action Committee St. Louis, MO 11/16/2009 $200.00

Anheuser-Busch Cos., Inc. St. Louis, MO 11/13/2009 $500.00

MO ASSN of Nurse Anesthetists PACJefferson City, MO 11/15/2009 $325.00

Long Term Care Leadership PAC Jefferson City, MO 12/28/2009 $1,000.00

Missouri Independent Banker Assn PAC  Liberty, MO 11/23/2009 $325.00

( 8. TOTAL: ITEMIZED CONTRIBUTIONS THIS PERIOD : $7,800.00 )

Vicky Hartzler? That ‘s all you need to know.

So much for the grass rootsie feel of the rest. And what’s with the dental PAC?

HB 1588 Changes the penalty for any person practicing dentistry or dental hygiene without a license

Sponsor: Molendorp, Chris (123) Proposed Effective Date: 08/28/2010

CoSponsor: LR Number: 4286L.01I

Last Action: 01/13/2010 – Read Second Time (H)

HB1588

Next Hearing: Hearing not scheduled

Calendar: Bill currently not on a calendar

Can you picture some kid in Belton at bedtime when he’s told to go brush his teeth replying, “But Representative Molendorp introduced a bill making it a felony to practice dental hygiene without a license. I don’t have my license yet…”

HB 1620 Prohibits any contract between a health insurer and a dentist from requiring the dentist to provide services in a dental plan at a fee established by the insurer if the services are not covered in the plan

Sponsor: Molendorp, Chris (123) Proposed Effective Date: 08/28/2010

CoSponsor: Swinger, Terry (162) LR Number: 4285L.01I

Last Action: 01/14/2010 – Read Second Time (H)

HB1620

Next Hearing: Hearing not scheduled

Calendar: Bill currently not on a calendar

A twofer! Dentistry and Insurance!

Let’s look election result from that 2008 open seat election:

Official Election Returns

State of Missouri General Election  – 2008 General Election

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

As announced by the Board of State Canvassers

on Tuesday, December 02, 2008

State Representative – District 123 – Summary

Precincts Reporting 18 of 18

Molendorp, Chris REP 11,643 56.2%

Alonzo, Juan I. DEM 9,058 43.8%

Total Votes   20,701

This race is doable.

In her opening remarks at the memorial service for Melanie Shouse, Rabbi Susan Talve got laughter and a round of applause when she said that there were activists working the foyer with clipboards before the service started. “That’s how we know Melanie’s here.” Talve meant that only metaphorically, of course, because the next thing she said was: “Hard to believe she’s not here. I don’t know anybody who showed up more than Melanie Shouse.”

It was the unscripted theme of the day. Every speaker alluded to Melanie’s determination and promised to carry on for her. Barbara Finch, of Women’s Voices Raised for Social Justice, said that Melanie thought fast, talked fast, and walked fast. Then Finch spoke to Melanie’s mom: “Your Melanie did not give up and neither will we.”

Fellow activist Kathy Geldbach was impressed with the breadth and depth of Melanie’s knowledge on political issues and with her concern, not just for abstract issues, but for the actual people in  her life.

Ramona Williams echoed the awe each speaker expressed for Melanie’s determination: “She got the president elected, I’ll tell you. If there is such a thing as someone can will something into existence, Melanie willed Barack Obama into the presidency of the United States.” And then Melanie used her determination to nudge and coax Ramona Williams into one political cause after another. Together they created a structure for taking on various interrelated problems in North St. Louis City and County. Even though Melanie is gone, Williams concluded by saying: “So we’re gonna take the fight to the next level. It is on.

Various governmental entities will pay respect to Melanie: her suburb of Overland is calling Earth Day Melanie Shouse Day. St. Louis County Councilwoman Barbara Fraser read the Council’s statement honoring Melanie, and state rep Jake Zimmerman has introduced a resolution in the House to honor her. The most appropriate way to celebrate her activism, though, is by pressing the causes she sweated for. Jobs with Justice organizer Amy Smoucha, speaking last at the memorial service, delivered a call to action on health care reform. More about that on Tuesday.

Here’s a photo of Melanie–in younger, healthier days–with her partner of twenty years, Steve Hart.

“Our proposals will help ensure taxpayers receive competent, ethical service from qualified professionals and strengthen the integrity of the nation’s tax system. In addition, we are taking immediate action to step up oversight of tax preparers this filing season,” Shulman added.

http://www.lawandtax-news.com/…

“Habits change.  Men doesn’t.”  In 1958, a history professor who had escaped from communist oppression in Hungary, wrote that announcement  on a blackboard.  His English wasn’t all that good yet, but he certainly knew a lot about human behavior. Fifty years later, I’m more convinced than ever that he was right.

Saturday evening I attended a performance of Ibsen’s “Enemy of the People” at Washington University. Although written in 1882, the point Ibsen was making applies with as much, or maybe more, eloquence today.  The hero of the play tries to warn the town that their main source of revenue, a health spa, is swirling with polluted water and making visitors sick. The pollution is coming from a tannery which employs many of the townspeople.  Rather than face scientific evidence from a university lab and fix the problem, the town authorities, with help from a co-opted newspaper editor, incite the townspeople to condemn the man trying to do the right thing as an enemy of the people.  Fast forward to 2010.

There are so many examples of the point Ibsen was making that it’s hard to pick one.  CAFO’s? Nuclear waste dumps?  Coal ash from power plants? (which Sen. McCaskill doesn’t think is dangerous, BTW) Concerned Missourians visited state reps and senators on Februrary 3 to present evidence of the need for raising water pollution permit fees. During one of those short visits, a state rep made the comment that he didn’t “believe in” climate change because scientists are not in agreement. (sound of jaws dropping) I have been exchanging emails with that state rep since our little chat, and his “sources” are free-market think tanks disguised as “institutes” and “policy forums.”  This particular state rep once taught geography so I’m holding out hope that evidence gathered by the National Geographic Society and available on the DVD I gave him will eat away at his “belief system.”

Hope?  Did I say hope?  Am I, like President Obama, an eternal optimist or just an old fool

When lawmakers speak candidly about “pay for play” in Jeff City, naive Missourians are shocked. Rep. Curt Daugherty is quoted by the KC Star as saying that Mo legislators might as well put a “for sale” sign in front of the Capitol.  And then this Ibsenism:

“It is not about being right or wrong,” Bushart recalled Dougherty as saying. “It is all about money. I hate to put it this way, but it’s the truth.”

The current issue of Newsweek offers  an excellent analysis of our current political paralysis by Jacob Weisberg.  Rather than polarizing the spectacle in Washington as one between Dems and Repugs or even public interest vs private greed, Weisberg sees the struggle as one between politicans who are brave enough to tell the truth and those who aren’t.  He says Americans generally live in “Candyland” and want everything taken care of without paying for it.  President Obama is one politican who will “speak frankly” rather than “indulging the public’s delusions.”

So, in addition to the powerful corporate lobbies threatening progress on health care reform and climate change issues, we also have to face the fact that we, the people, can’t have our cake and eat it too.  Weisberg warns that

“Our inability to address these long-term challenges makes a strong case that the United States now faces an era of historical decline.  To change this storyline, we need to stop blaming the rascals we elect to office, and look instead to ourselves.”

“Habits Change.  Men Doesn’t.”  What do you think the chances are that we can alter human nature in time to stop polluting ourselves into extinction?

   

Previously:

Senator Kit Bond (r): “Apologize, who me?”

Senator Kit Bond (r): “Respect my @&%$in’ authoritayyy!”

At Thursday’s White House press briefing Robert Gibbs took a question about Senator Kit Bond’s (r) continuing temper tantrum over briefings concerning the underwear bomber. The White House is not curling up in the corner and saying, “Please. Don’t. Hurt. Me.” on this one:

The White House

Office of the Press Secretary

For Immediate Release

February 11, 2010

Briefing by White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs and CEA Chair Christina Romer, 2/11/10

James S. Brady Press Briefing Room

….1:05 P.M. EST

….Q    Senator Bond accused the White House of using JohnmBrennan for political purposes, saying that he was being — doing the role, your role.  This economic report —

MR. GIBBS:  Let me just address that.  Let’s understand this:  John Brennan has been working in counterterrorism for more than 25 years — right?  First as a CIA agent hired by President George W. Bush to work at the CIA, and then to stand up the National Counterterrorism Center.  Okay?  We asked him to stay on.  I don’t have the slightest idea what political party John Brennan is a member of.  I’ve never had a political conversation with John.  I know this:  John is there each and every day working in his office to try to do everything he can to keep the American people safe.

And I would suggest, whether it’s to Senator Bond or others on Capitol Hill, that these are decisions best left to people that have an understanding of counterterrorism, experience in counterterrorism and law enforcement, rather than to politicians on Capitol Hill.

Q    But his specific accusation was that he was being used in a way that a press secretary is supposed to — I mean, that he was enunciating Obama’s policy.

MR. GIBBS:  I think Kit Bond didn’t — I don’t think Kit Bond liked to hear what he already knew, which was he’d been told that Abdulmutallab was in FBI custody after what happened on Christmas Day.

Now, I’ll let you, Jonathan, ask Kit Bond whether he understands the protocols of how the FBI deals with suspects enough to understand that at that point it would have been obvious he would have been read his Miranda rights.  I don’t know whether Kit Bond was confused or whether he just doesn’t want to admit the facts….

[emphasis added]

I vote for “C”, both of the above.

This is the forty-sixth post in an ongoing series as we file Missouri Sunshine Law (RSMo 610) requests and investigate the non-renewal of the contract of University of Central Missouri President Aaron Podolefsky. Links to previous coverage are below the fold. BG and MB

On Monday night, February 1st Darla Jaye on KMBZ radio in Kansas City devoted air time to the story. Later in the week Greg Hassler heaped effusive praise on the content, stating that KOKO radio would rebroadcast the show:

…It, it was a great show, uh, we are going to replay that show here on fourteen-fifty KOKO, it’s from an outsider, a third party that knows nothing about the University of Central Missouri, knows nothing about how Aaron Podolefsky did not get his contract renewed by the Board of Governors. Doesn’t know anything about me, doesn’t know anything about Wesly, and her thoughts and her comments on what she read in the newspaper and callers in the Kansas City area. It’s probably gonna be tomorrow once we get that whole show put together. Her producer has e-mailed it, uh, to us…

Of course, we commented:

…Because people who don’t know anything or any of the facts always have the best insights on the issues of the day…

The show was rebroadcast on KOKO radio, we received audio of that rebroadcast, and we weren’t disappointed in the Olympic scope of the show’s fact challenged presentation.

Darla Jaye started the show apparently reading the Kansas City Star version of the story. Unfortunately for anyone interested in actual, you know, facts, the Star’s version is the least coherent. The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle and the Muleskinner have much more comprehensive and understandable coverage.

[7:03] Darla Jaye: …And maybe he’s blaming it on this because, look, people do feel bad that there are no longer Christmas trees. If the president of the university, and they’re, they say that diversity is very, very important there, doesn’t want to have a Christmas tree in his front yard because he’s Jewish, so be it. But isn’t that somebody’s right to say, boy, I wish the Christmas tree was still there? It’s been there for years, now it’s gone, he did that. How is that anti-Semitic? [crosstalk] He didn’t say, uh, you know, this Jew, or this or that, he didn’t say that at all. It seems to me that he was looking for an excuse to pull his money and, of course, he has that right. But to blame it on this radio host, I kind of feel sorry for this guy. He didn’t say anything that wrong. Did he? Or do you see something racist or anti-Semitic in a remarks about taking down the Christmas tree?…[8:05]

[note times are approximate and indicate the point in the approximately 30 minute KOKO radio rebroadcast]

Darla Jaye did not quote a more substantial portion of the transcript of Greg Hassler’s remarks. Hasslers’s remarks from the October 2009 KOKO broadcast:

Greg Hassler: …The University of Central Missouri. End of an era.

Marion Woods: Uh, huh.

Greg Hassler: Aaron Podolefsky. Out. We’ve talked about it for a long time….

….The, the thing that really upset me, that kind of got [garbled] going originally was, for years there was a Christmas tree lit at Selmo Park. Remember that?

Marion Woods: Yep.

Greg Hassler: Drive by. He stopped that. I mean I think every religion should be able to celebrate, uh, in their own way, but, I mean we do live in Warrensburg, Missouri. This is America. You know. Let’s bring that back. How ’bout that?

Marion Woods: Wasn’t that the Christmas tree at the quadrangle?

Greg Hassler: No, there was also one at Selmo Park.

Marion Woods: Oh, okay.

Gregg Hassler: In the, in the yard, area there, so. I mean, I don’t know, it’s jus… It, it was a bad fit from the get go. It’s, it’s over…

[15:53] Darla Jaye:…a, a Danish entrepreneur, a Dutch entrepreneur funded scholarships at the University of Central Missouri. A radio host who does play by play for University of Central Missouri sports mentioned that the Christmas tree was gone at the president of University of Central Missouri’s, uh, residence, and he said he stopped that, I think every religion should be able to celebrate in their own way, but we do live in Warrensburg, Missouri, this is America, you know. Let’s bring that back. Let’s bring the Christmas tree back. What’s wrong with that? Why is that anti-Semitic?… [16:35]

[16:43] Darla Jaye:…Talkin’ about this story about, um, Radio Host Remarks Cost University of Central Missouri a Big Benefactor. Um, I just find it difficult to believe that this guy pulled all of his money after giving money to the University of Central Missouri for however, twen, twenty some years because a host said I wish the Christmas tree was back on the, the president’s property on, the University of Central Missouri. And saying that’s anti-Semitic. It just doesn’t make sense to me… [17:14]

There’s the matter of that one pesky fact:

…The Podolefskys say that after Hassler’s comments became a cause celebre, they checked and found that there had been a cedar tree in the front yard that was decorated with lights in years past at Christmas time, but that it was removed five years before they arrived…

[emphasis added]

It appears that like Greg Hassler, Darla Jaye didn’t bother to do any basic research. Apparently reading from a single newspaper article will suffice.

It gets even better:

[17:56] Darla Jaye: …Well, it is, and, and, you know what, I mean I think that Christmas trees have been pulled off lots of campuses. I mean, this is a, is a bigger issue. They’ve been pulled off lots of campuses and haven’t been on campuses for years because somebody, one person is offended. Uh, it, it’s just a tree. I mean, it’s something pretty to look at, and you’re right, it is a retail representation of, of Christmas, but, it’s something that means a lot to a lot of people. So, I just don’t understand what the big deal is and I, I feel for this radio guy because, you know, he said, he said something on the air and now he’s getting blamed for losing millions of dollars for the university. Come on… [18:36]

And why would a Christmas tree not be appropriate on the grounds of a campus of a state university in Missouri?:

Missouri Constitution

Article IX

EDUCATION

Section 8

Prohibition of public aid for religious purposes and institutions.

Section 8. Neither the general assembly, nor any county, city, town, township, school district or other municipal corporation, shall ever make an appropriation or pay from any public fund whatever, anything in aid of any religious creed, church or sectarian purpose, or to help to support or sustain any private or public school, academy, seminary, college, university, or other institution of learning controlled by any religious creed, church or sectarian denomination whatever; nor shall any grant or donation of personal property or real estate ever be made by the state, or any county, city, town, or other municipal corporation, for any religious creed, church, or sectarian purpose whatever.

Facts are really pesky things, especially when you’re a right wingnut radio talk show host.

[19:39] Darla Jaye: …So, we’re talking about the Radio Host Remarks Cost University of Central Missouri a Big Benefactor. I just have a hard time believing that this man, whose brother died in the holocaust, who lives in, uh, if you’re Dutch you live in Denmark, right? I think. Yeah. Okay. [laugh] How stupid was that? I know. [laughter]  I know, I was tryin’ to figure that out, too….[20:03]

Apparently, Greg Hassler has studied under the master.

As we pointed out:

…1. Dutch people are from The Netherlands. The city of Maastricht (you know, the tower thingy on campus, next to the football stadium) is in the Netherlands. Benoit Wesly is from the Netherlands. Benoit Wesly is Dutch.

2. Denmark is a different country than The Netherlands. They don’t even share a border. People who didn’t sleep through all of their classes tend to know that….

[23:24] Darla Jaye: …the guy, the Dutch entrepreneur is, uh, from Holland. Holland is Dutch, sorry about that… [23:28]

Okay, she caught it and sort of corrected it within three minutes.

What’s really funny is that Greg Hassler stated that he listened to the show, thought it was great, and yet continued to exhibit his ignorance, this after one of Darla Jaye’s callers reiterated “The Netherlands” on her show.

[26:43] Darla Jaye: …Well, the guy is entitled to his opinion, and entitled to say, boy I sure miss that Christmas tree that’s been up there for fifty years and now it’s gone. The new president took it down… [26:53]

No, as we pointed out, the new president didn’t take it down. It wasn’t called a Christmas tree. And the tree in question was cut down five years before the Podolefsky’s came to Warrensburg. I believe in actual journalistic circles that kind of error would call for a correction. I don’t think anyone is gonna hold their breath while they wait.

On Darla Jaye’s show a caller pointed out that it was the president’s private residence and he’s Jewish:

“Private Residence” – the sign at the entrance to Selmo Park.

[28:38] Darla Jaye: …Uh, it’s the university residence, it’s not his personal residence. If you’re the president then you, uh, get provided a residence. So, uh, is he just the president for the Jewish students, or is he the president for all the students? Perhaps he could have put the menorah in his window and left the Christmas tree in the front yard. And then he would show that the university is, is dis, diverse, as everybody always says it is. I mean, if we care about diversity, shouldn’t we care about all diversity? Or, because the majority of people that live in the country are Christians, they don’t matter? Only the minority matter. Right? Let me get that right because I, I guess I, I just didn’t realize that….[29:23]

Ah, the right wingnut cult of the oppressed majority because they can’t impose their religious beliefs through the state on everyone else. That pesky Constitution establishment clause, let’s get rid of it. How ’bout that?

Darla Jaye spent some time on her show feeling sorry for Greg Hassler. Let’s take a look at the evolution of Greg Hassler’s statements on this issue over time.

November 13, 2009

“…First of all let me say that I am not anti-Semitic, I love all people of all religions. I have never stated anything about anyone’s religion on or off the air. People have taken a comment out of context and have spun it for their purpose…”

December 10, 2009

…Greg Hassler: …But there’s another blogger out there that has taken some things that I have said, eh, out of context and has spun them around and at, attacked me on blogs, calling me a racist, a bigot, which I’m not. They’ve also called me anti-Semitic, which I’m not. I love all people of all religions, I do. I’m not anti-Semitic.

other voice: I would agree with that.

Greg Hassler: You know what I am?

other voice: What are you?

Greg Hassler: I’m a big Mules and Jennies basketball fan, [laughter] that’s what I am….

February 1, 2010

…Hassler told The Kansas City Star that his remark “was spun out of context” and he apologized on the air in December.

“I said that is not what I meant,” Hassler said. “I have nothing against anybody at all. I am not anti-Semitic.

“Did I actually say I was sorry? No, but I think that could be considered an apology. The whole thing is just silly…”

February 11, 2010

“…I am not an anti-Semite,” Hassler said. “Actually what I did was misspeak. I meant the tree on the quadrangle. I didn’t say it was because he was Jewish. I should have phrased it better….”

He meant the quadrangle? As we pointed out:

…You’d think a quick thinking media professional wouldn’t misspeak twice. And there’s that ‘religion’ thing…

Right, Darla Jaye?

The Darla Jaye show ended with:

[31:44] Darla Jaye:…Okay, my belief on this story is that the Dutch entrepreneur who funded the scholarships for twenty years, who doesn’t even live here, heard about the comments from, um, Greg Hassler, the part owner of KOKO AM from the Jewish president of the school. And, um, so when he heard those comments, the Jewish president of the school is losing his job by the way, so, who’s to say that, that mis, uh, Aaron Podolefsky, who’s losing his job as president of the University of Central Missouri, didn’t want to really jab it to the university? So he called his good friend Benoit Wesly in, um, Holland, right? Okay. In Holland, and he said, hey, guess what, this radio host said this and you should pull all your money, because they’re, they’re firing me. And, and, look, this guy wants to pull his money, that’s his prerogative, of course, but, I find it hard to believe that a man who went through the holocaust, the most horrible thing that has happened in this world, one of the most horrific times in our history, is so sensitive that a radio host in Warrensburg, Missouri, could upset him so much that he would end a twenty year friendship with this college because some guy on a radio said I wish they’d bring the Christmas tree back…. [33:23]

Yeah, “those people” stick together. It’s called the Internets, Darla Jaye, you should try it some time. I hear teh Google is really easy to use.

Our previous coverage of the issue:

Three steps behind, and to the right (January 25, 2008)

Three steps behind, and to the right, part 2 – a microcosm of our universe (September 21, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”? (October 15, 2009) (transcript of a portion of the live radio broadcast)

It wasn’t just about a tree (October 21, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement?”: I heard it on the radio (October 21, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement?”: let’s not get cut out of the will (October 22, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement?”: $87.75 will get you one sheet of paper (October 23, 2009)



“A Gentleman’s Agreement?”: They’re not playing hardball, they’re playing cat and mouse  (October 23, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement?”: a cola and some scoreboards (October 24, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement?”: a few more pieces of the puzzle? (October 28, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: your silence means consent (October 29, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: let’s not get cut out of the will, part 2 (October 30, 2009)

Old media irony impairment (October 30, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement?”: I heard it on the radio, part 2 (October 31, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: where everybody knows your name (October 31, 2009)

Methinks that someone is paying attention! (November 2, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: Bond, Stadium Bond (November 4, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: where everybody knows your name, part 2 (November 4, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: I heard it on the radio, part 3 (November 5, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: nothing succeeds like success (November 6, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: your Friday news dump (November 6, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: nothing exceeds like excess (November 7, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: a grade for Accounting 101 (November 7, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: there ought to be a law (November 8, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: there’s gotta be a contract around here somewhere (November 9, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: there ought to be a law, part 2 (November 10, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: Garbo speaks! (November 12, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: the Kansas City Jewish Chronicle (November 13, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”? Follow the money and it reveals the timeline (November 14, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: the new president search consulting contract (November 18, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: a march on a cold and rainy day (November 18, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: raise their voices (November 19, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: great moments in radio reporting (November 21, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: Oh, my! (December 3, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: It’s simple, really… (December 5, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: I do truly care about the success of our students (December 6, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: “…a wonderful relationship there we’re really proud of…” (December 7, 2009)

Oh brother, it’s time to convene another panel on blogger ethics… (December 8, 2009)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: a lesson on how not to attempt damage control (January 26, 2010)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: a lesson on how not to attempt damage control, part 2 (January 28, 2010)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: welcome to the party… (February 1, 2010)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: welcome to the party, four months late, part 2 (February 2, 2010)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: those people from Denmark, you know, the Dutch (February 3, 2010)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: a conversation with the Muleskinner (February 6, 2010)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: a simple question (February 8, 2010)

Find the Non-Employee Game! (February 8, 2010)(NYCMule)

“A Gentleman’s Agreement”?: a different choice of phrase would have made it all better (February 11, 2010)

Senator Eric Schmitt, R-Glendale, is no birther/deprive poor children of free summer lunches/table pounding Glenn Beck ideologue. Nuh-uh. Schmitt, one of the panelists at the Feb. 5th Missouri Budget Forum, showed the audience that he was not only as congenial a Republican as you’ll find in the state senate, but empathetic in the bargain.

“Having a son on the spectrum with developmental disabilities [autism], I am very sensitive to the folks in our community who are the most vulnerable, who have–particularly when times are difficult–have nowhere else to go. And that is a legitimate function of state government for us to look out for those folks. And so those are where my priorities are as we enter this very difficult budget year.”

Helping the vulnerable is “a legitimate function of state government”, eh? There’s no Grover Norquist peeking out from behind Schmitt’s shoulder. And his time has been where his mouth is. He founded Habitat for Humanity at Truman State, has always been involved in Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and serves on the board of Nurses for Newborns. In an echo of Rachel Storch’s remarks about avoiding the  penny wise, pound foolish mindset–she said we ought to spend a little money on drug treatment programs instead of incarcerating drug offenders for years at great expense–Schmitt pointed out that spending on early intervention is smart. He’s seen it with the autism issue and is ready to apply that lesson to other needs that nonprofit organizations will bring to the legislature.

I did have a distinctly “huh?!” reaction, though, to Schmitt’s claim that Republicans had been bipartisan on last year’s budget–considering the zig zagging merry budget chase that Allen Icet led the House on last spring. But perhaps Schmitt spoke only of the Senate, where common sense is more likely to poke its head above ground.

During the Q & A, a participant called out the nice man for Republican behavior. She wanted to know why the Rs turned down a hundred million free bucks last year when the MO Hospital Association offered to pay for putting more poor people on Medicaid.  

Schmitt pointed out that the Senate did pass a bill last year accepting the funds but that it didn’t pass in the House. He explained in some detail the advantages of the Health Savings Accounts for additional Medicaid recipients that the senate Republican plans called for.

Did he convince you that HSAs “bend the cost curve” while teaching recipients to make responsible choices? If he was persuasive, it was in part because he, ahem, glossed over the steep downside of that bill. Did he omit the weaknesses because he didn’t want to talk too long? Perhaps. But if so, let me help him out:

But when you [Senator Schmitt] spoke of plugging those folks into insurance, what you neglected to add was “well, sort of.” People making less than fifty percent of the poverty level can get Medicaid IF they can scrounge up a thousand dollars a year for a “health savings account” and IF they meet a laundry list of eligibility requirements that will eliminate some of them and that will require a federal waiver for the program. Oh, and that’s IF in any given year, the legislature chooses to appropriate the funds.

And IF hell freezes over?

Tsk. I do jump towards being harsh, don’t I? Perhaps the bill you’re co-sponsoring makes sense to you, Senator, but consider, in contrast, Governor Nixon’s proposal. He is asking that people under fifty percent of the poverty level be included in Medicaid, using the additional funds from the Hospital Association and the federal funds that money would draw down. Simple.

The plan outlined in SB 306 is Rube Goldberg-ian.  

It sets up a new bureaucracy, which will increase costs. As a recent Post-Dispatch editorial points out:

A peer-reviewed study published last June in the journal Health Affairs concluded that switching Medicaid enrollees to private insurance would increase costs by 26 percent – an average of nearly $1,500 per person.

Oh wait, I have a brainstorm. Why not go with Medicaid, save the fifteen hundred per person and spare the churchmice from coming up with a thousand apiece? And I’m not even suggesting that you put that extra $500 into insuring a few more people.

Another problem with the Senate plan is that it requires recipients to use HMOs, despite the fact that many of them live in rural areas that are not served by HMOs (but would be served by Medicaid).

Don’t get me wrong. Senator Schmitt is no Scrooge. Or at least not all the time. His heart is often in the right place. He cared enough to found a chapter of Habitat for Humanity and to serve on the board of Nurses for Newborns. But he defends a bill mandating that parents in a family of four who earn more than $340 a month have to find one thousand big ones–and for them, every single dollar is a big one–before they get Medicaid.

Oh, and speaking of items Schmitt probably wouldn’t care to reveal to a fairly liberal audience, he has signed on for some revealing legislation. He sponsored:

SCR 36, which “Urges Congress to pass a balanced budget amendment to the United States Constitution”

SJR 32, which “Requires a two-thirds majority vote of both houses of the General Assembly to pass a new, or increase an existing, state tax”.

He co-sponsored:

SCR 34, which “Reaffirms Missouri’s sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment”

SJR 25, which “Prohibits laws interfering with freedom of choice in health care”

SJR 34, which “Requires the attorney general to seek appropriate relief against actions of the federal government when directed by the governor, general assembly, or a petition of the voters”

Now what was it I was saying about Schmitt not being a Glenn Beck ideologue? He is and he isn’t. He’s a tenther but not–as far as we know–a birther. So give Eric Schmitt all the credit he deserves for whatever empathy he shows. Just remember that a moderate Republican is still a Republican.

We are not worthy.

The incomparable Digby:

Prove It

…it’s worth noting more explicitly, that the government presumably always “knows” that someone is guilty before they indict him or her for a crime. At least it should. The point of the trial is to make them prove it. They have to put their evidence on the table and convince 12 people that it’s enough to take away someone’s freedom or, in this case, execute them. And because trials are public, this demonstration of proof creates trust in the justice system and the rule of law among the population at large…

[emphasis in original]

You’d think a wingnut might comprehend that, except they can’t fit the whole paragraph on their palm.

…an astroturf “populist” lobbyist, and a few ankle biters.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) busted the chops of the republican leadership of the Missouri General Assembly over their hypocrisy when it comes to using federal money. The Twitter flurry started on February 10th.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D): What portions of the stimulus funds do Missouri republicans not want?

From Allen to Claire

The Twitter posts from Senator McCaskill:

Sent letter yestrday askng budget chairs in Mo legis what programs they’d cut if they didn’t have almost billion $ in stimulus this year.    8:58 AM Feb 10th   from web  

Mark Reardon at KMOX:

MO House Budget Chair Allen Icet responds to @clairecmc and the letter she sent on the Federal Stimulus $$ this afternoon.    1:17 PM Feb 10th   from web

@clairecmc I will ask him. You are more than welcome to join us at 3:20p. It would be a blast!    1:42 PM Feb 10th   from web  in reply to clairecmc

Senator McCaskill responded:

@MarkReardonKMOX Not really.He didn’t answer the ?. Either he can’t or won’t.Time to be honest w/MOians about their dependence on stimulus.    1:32 PM Feb 10th   from web  in reply to MarkReardonKMOX

@MarkReardonKMOX Don’t let him skate,this not about capntrade or healthcare About stimulus preventng massive educ cuts during deep recession    2:13 PM Feb 10th   from web  in reply to MarkReardonKMOX

@AFPMissouri My question: if you want us to pull back remaining stimulus $ tell me what will be cut, how will MOians be hurt? Fair question.    2:17 PM Feb 10th   from web  in reply to AFPMissouri

What’s that, a fake grassroots lobbyist you say? What did Carl Bearden write to prompt a response from Claire McCaskill?:

AFPMissouri

They dnt wnt the stimulus $$ but if MO residents r paying @clairecmc ‘s earmark big debt bill, how cld they not spend it? RT @ChadLivengood    2:15 PM Feb 10th   from TweetDeck

@clairecmc now that gun has bn held 2 leg head, they r n box. Ur vote forced Missourians 2 pay 4 the big debt so how cld leg not spend $$?    2:19 PM Feb 10th   from TweetDeck

@clairecmc Leg shld not have spent $$ 2 begin with, MO wld pay taxes 4 ur vote 2 indebt them. They shld start by not spending $$ on HB22.    2:22 PM Feb 10th   from TweetDeck

@clairecmc my point is using orig $$ which they hd no real choice 2 do places them in a hole. I wld sprt tkng $$ bck & hvng thm mke decisns    2:33 PM Feb 10th   from TweetDeck

@clairecmc U ddnt ask how they wld spnd b4 voting 2 put MOians n debt so asking now is pol. Vote 2 pull remaining $$ & lt thm do thr job.    2:44 PM Feb 10th   from TweetDeck

@clairecmc decisions 2 cut always tuf but stimulus $$ jst delayed it & now made decisions harder.    2:45 PM Feb 10th   from TweetDeck  

Senator McCaskill finishes with:

Going forward,if we pull back unspent stimulus $, how will the budget in #MO be balanced? Who will take the billion $ cut?Impt to be honest    2:24 PM Feb 10th   from web  

The usual right wingnut suspects – teabaggers, tenthers, and numerous and sundry members of the political lunatic fringe join the fray:  

Another great moment in right wingnut critical thinking:

24thstate Since @clairecmc took office in 2007, the national debt has gone from $9 trillion to $12 trillion. Heckuva job, Claire!   1 day ago from web

And who was president from 2001 to January 2009 and left a really big mess for someone else to clean up? Just asking.

Bioethike Sen. @clairecmc : Asking MO budget chairs which programs they’d cut without fed money is paternalistic colonialism. #fiscalresponsibility   2 days ago from web

Paternalistic colonialism? Because there’s no such thing as a Constitution?

Danstlmo @clairecmc It does not matter “WHO” takes the cut, it is about we “Must” make the cuts. This is not sustainable.   2 days ago from web

[with a “Don’t Tread on Me” avatar]

PoliticalTheft @clairecmc A politician even typing the word honest gives me chills.. If by honest you mean a Madoff ponzi scheme, then yes, I get it.   2 days ago from web

Ritzer @clairecmc I’m sick of all the damn spending. You all don’t get it! #MO   2 days ago from Nambu

markparkinson @ChadLivengood @clairecmc with or w/o the stimulus money, our budget must be balanced, per our Constitution.   2 days ago from Tweetie

That’s someone familiar. And on and on and on…

They remind me of a crowd somewhere.