Via Twitter:

Tony Messenger ‏ @tonymess

Today in irony: MO House debating bill meant to limit Muslims religious freedom while MO Senate debates bill meant to protect Catholics 11:38 AM – 27 Mar 12

Uh, yep:

Previously: Will Paul Curtman continue to waste legislative time with his Anti-Sharia bill? (January 11, 2012)

….it was pretty easy to dismiss his anti-Sharia bill out-of-hand, although it’s difficult to say if that will be the case in the lege given some of their recent antics….

They never fail to disappoint:

Missouri House of Representatives

96th General Assembly , 2nd Regular Session

Activity History for HB 1512

Date Jrn Pg Activity Description

1/25/2012 H 168 Introduced and Read First Time (H)

1/26/2012 H 172 Read Second Time (H)

2/02/2012 H 217 Referred: Judiciary (H)

2/08/2012 Public Hearing Completed (H)

2/15/2012 Executive Session Completed (H)

2/15/2012 Voted Do Pass (H)

2/20/2012 H 373 Reported Do Pass (H)

2/20/2012 Referred: Rules – Pursuant to Rule 25(32)(f) (H)

3/08/2012 Rules – Executive Session Completed (H)

3/08/2012 Rules – Voted Do Pass (H)

3/08/2012 H 591 Rules – Reported Do Pass (H)

3/27/2012 Perfected (H)

[emphasis added]

The committee summary of the bill:

Summary of the Committee Version of the Bill

HB 1512 — CIVIL LIBERTIES DEFENSE ACT

SPONSOR:  Curtman

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted “do pass” by the Committee on Judiciary by a vote of 8 to 4.

This bill establishes the Civil Liberties Defense Act which specifies that it must be the public policy of Missouri to protect its citizens from the application of foreign laws when the application of a foreign law will result in the violation of a right guaranteed by the Missouri Constitution or the United States Constitution.

The bill specifies that any court, tribunal, arbitration, or administrative agency decision or ruling which is based, in whole or in part, on foreign law, legal code, or system that would not grant the parties affected by the decision or ruling the same rights granted under the Missouri Constitution or the United States Constitution will violate the public policy of Missouri and be void and unenforceable.

A contract or contractual provision which provides for the choice of a law, legal code, or system to govern any dispute which does not grant the same rights under the Missouri Constitution or the United States Constitution will violate the public policy of Missouri and be void and unenforceable.

A contract which provides for a jurisdiction in a dispute that includes any foreign law, legal code, or system that would not grant the parties the same rights under the Missouri Constitution or the United States Constitution will violate the public policy of Missouri and be void and unenforceable.

A claim of forum non conveniens or a related claim must be denied if a court finds that granting the claim would likely violate the rights under the Missouri Constitution or the United States Constitution of the non-claimant in the foreign forum.

These provisions cannot apply to a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, business association, or other legal entity that contracts to subject itself to foreign law in a jurisdiction other than Missouri or the United States.

No court or arbitrator can interpret these provisions to limit the right of any person to the free exercise of religion as guaranteed by the Missouri Constitution and the United States Constitution.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2013, FY 2014, and FY 2015.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the bill contains exemptions and exclusions to alleviate concerns in similar legislation from last session.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Curtman; and Missouri Family Network.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

One question:

What does God need with a starship?

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C121010 03/27/2012 GIVE MISSOURIANS A RAISE MISSOURI JOBS WITH JUSTICE 2725 CLIFTON AVE SAINT LOUIS MO 63139 3/27/2012 $55,000.00

C111126 03/27/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR RESPONSIBLE LENDING MISSOURI JOBS WITH JUSTICE 2725 CLIFTON AVE SAINT LOUIS MO 63139 3/27/2012 $65,000.00

A living wage, anyone?

That’s a lot of money, unless you compare.

Previously: Campaign Finance: pouring even more money into defending payday loans (March 22, 2012)

But not outnumbered.

Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court began a marathon three-day session debating the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, signed into law by President Obama two years ago on March 23, 2010.

At the crux of the matter is whether the Federal Government can force citizens to engage in an act of commerce, namely, the purchase of health insurance. Referred to as the “individual mandate”-if people fail to purchase insurance-they will be subject to a tax penalty.

Four federal appellate courts have rendered decisions on the issue in the run-up to being heard in the Supreme Court. Two courts upheld the constitutionality of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (often called “Obamacare” by Republicans), a third declared the individual mandate unconstitutional, and a fourth postponed any decision until taxpayers have started paying penalties for not purchasing insurance (satisfying a provision in the Tax Anti-Injunction Act).

A USA Today/Gallup poll conducted in February painted a sharply divided American public, with the most weighted opinion falling on the individual mandate: 72 percent believe it unconstitutional, while only 20 percent believe it constitutional.

“Obamacare is in direct violation of interstate commerce statute, invokes a restraint of trade, and puts the competition and/or individual at a disadvantage,” stated S. Hovis, one of three legal experts interviewed for this article.

Many conservatives fear a runaway train scenario where once the power is granted to the government forcing the purchase of a product (health care), there will be no end to further governmental intrusion into people’s lives.

St. Louis attorney Tom Appelbaum related some observations found at a recent moot court session covering the health care law’s constitutionality.

“The health care reform debate really centers on two conflicting conservative arguments: legislative supremacy versus federal overreach. On one hand, conservatives rail against judicial activists “legislating from the bench”-which clearly, overturning the health care law would qualify. On the other hand, the Federalist/Libertarian side of the Republican party caution against federal overreach and advocate for limited government-a position which would suggest overturning the law.”

St. Louis University administrative law professor Ken Warren commented on the likelihood that the Supreme Court would stay out of it:

“There is almost no real legal precedent to overturn-there have been numerous court rulings over the years that have used the commerce clause to uphold Congressional authority to regulate interstate economic activity.”

The author of “Administrative Law in the Political System” (Westview Press), Professor Warren states you can’t really understand legal decisions, “unless you understand the political environment in which they occur.” Warren also noted that the lower courts prior decisions regarding the Affordable Care Act have, “all fallen along partisan lines with Democratic courts upholding the law, and Republicans overturning it.”

In this light, who stands to benefit politically?    

Warren continued,

“The Supreme Court will rule on anything. They have arguments on both sides of an issue giving them the flexibility to arrive at what many times becomes more of a political decision rather than legal one.”

From a political perspective, some observers think overturning the bill could create a blowback scenario with Democrats rallying in the fourth quarter of the 2012 election year, while others feel overturning the law would be a fatal blow for President Obama’s reelection ambitions.

However, the fact remains that our health care system is a huge part of our economy-and its dysfunction is having an extremely negative effect. In many ways it has detached itself from being subject to healthy market forces, and has become anti-competitive, rife with waste, fraud and largesse. People are in fear of going bankrupt because they might become seriously ill, and people who do get ill are going bankrupt and losing their entire life savings. People are dying unnecessarily because they don’t have access to basic preventive care. And all this time medical science continues to advance with new discoveries in gene therapy, stem cell research and nanomedicine-and as treatments become more complex and increasingly reliant on advanced technology-costs will always rise.

With a fierce attachment to market populism, America has seemed to have met a stumbling block with health care reform. Where universal care is considered a basic right in every other Western industrialized nation, the US is languishing with an elitist medical system that turns away millions to protect corporate profits and puts America at a competitive disadvantage with other democracies around the world.

As flawed as the Affordable Health Care Act might be, it is a first step toward fixing a broken system that costs too much and leaves nearly 50 million Americans vulnerable without health care insurance. Regardless of the upcoming SCOTUS decision on health care this summer, the historical track record shows a very clear path of where we’re headed as a civilized society with a steady increase in universal public services. The quintessential question for us to consider is:

Should health care be a basic human right, or only a privilege?

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C091011 03/26/2012 CITIZENS FOR BRAD LAGER Ethelmae Humphreys 2505 E 11th St Joplin MO 64801 Tamko 3/26/2012 $100,000.00

Brad Lager and the New World of Missouri Campaign Finance (January 19, 2012)

Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder (r) has got himself a primary.

“Second to last day popular day to file. Folks don’t want to tempt fate by planning on the last day and then their car won’t start.” – Dave Drebes

Filing Month is wrapping up, with the last day of filing being tomorrow (Tuesday! Tuesday! Tuesday!). So traffic picked up slightly on the 2nd to last day of filing.

So here’s a report of the activity today.

Robert “Bob” Poole (R-Macon) and Hector Maldonado (R-Sullivan) filed for the US Senate. Maldonado ran for the Senate in 2010, finishing 5th of 9th in the Republican primary. Jonathan Dine (LP-Riverside) also filed today, making his second straight bid for the Senate.

Fred Sauer (R-St. Louis) of the Missouri Roundtable for Life filed for Governor today, presumably due to the lack of anti-cloning credentials displayed by Dave Spence and Bill Randles and in opposition to Jay Nixon’s secret plan to clone himself and send his clone army to run in Republican districts.

Robb Cunningham (LP-St. Louis) filed for the 1st District, making his 4th straight Congressional candidacy.

Eric Mayer (D-Camdenton) filed in the 3rd District. Mayer unsuccessfully ran for Camden County Presiding Commissioner in 2010.

Herschel Young (???-Harrisonville) filed as a Libertarian, but you already read that earlier, didn’t you?

Mike Moon (R-Springfield) filed to face Billy Long in the 7th District. Moon finished with 4% in a 6th place finish for the same seat in 2010. Kevin Craig (LP-Powersite) also filed for his 5th straight Congressional bid.

And the Missouri General Assembly

In the State Senate: Jacquelyn Thomas (R-Florissant) filed in the 13th and ElGene Ver Dught (D-Higginsville) filed in the 21st. Ver Dught is an attorney and mediator. Republican Incumbent David Pearce and Mike McGhee are facing off in the 21st. Reddit Hudson and Gina Walsh are facing each other in the 13th.

In the State House:

2010 candidate Tim Remole (R-Excelo) filed for a second bid in the recently reopened 6th district. The 6th is a Macon/Randolph/Linn County district that was Randy Asbury’s choice for a new district until realizing the effects of moving his family north into the district. The Republican primary in the 6th has 4 candidates, Ron Gillett of Moberly, Tony Askew of Atlanta, Alan Wyatt of Macon, and Tim Remole. Democrat Diana Scott of La Plata filed last week.

Patrick Riehle (D-Raytown) filed in the 28th district to challenge incumbent Tom McDonald (D-Independence), who is moving south to represent a district that overlaps with the southern half of the current 49th district.

John Sutton (D-Independence) filed in the 29th district to challenge freshman Republican Noel Torpey. Sutton is a High School Teacher at Van Horn High School in Independence. The 29th is a fusion of parts of the current 52nd (which Torpey won in 2010) and the 49th (which is the bluer part of the 29th).

Darrel Hansen (R-Clark) filed in the 47th district to face the winner of the Nancy Copenhaver/John Wright Democratic primary. Machinist Donald Long (D-Harrisonville) filed to face Freshman Republican Rick Brattin in the 55th. Auctioneer Don Bullock (D-Windsor) filed to face Freshman Republican Wanda Brown in the 57th.

Former one-term Republican Steve Henderson of Versailles filed to create a 3 man primary in the 58th. Henderson served a term from 2001 to 2003 before losing a primary after his county was split in two. Attorney Vonnieta E. Trickey (D-Russellville) filed to challenge freshman Republican Mike Bernskoetter of Jeff City. Janine Steck (LP-Jeff City) is also running in the new 59th district.

Libertarian John Alsup of St. Charles filed in the new 65th to challenge Anne Zerr. Former 2006 House/2008 Senate candidate Jim Trout filed in the new 83rd district to face off with Gina Mitten. No Republicans have filed in the 83rd. Al Faulitsch (R-STL) filed in the new 92nd to face Genise Montecillo. Tony Leech (R-STL) filed to face the winner of a Scott Sifton/Joe Montecillo primary.

Chuck Brodell (D-Imperial) withdrew in the 112th and was replaced by Dean Asbury (D-Arnold). Asbury will probably face Paul Wieland (R-Imperial) unless there’s a surge of support for Avery Fortenberry.

Libertarian Bill Boone of Springfield filed in the 137th district. Ted Sheppard (R-Cabool) filed in the Texas County centered 142nd to face Don Bordwell (R-Plato), Chris Purvis (R-Houston, and Robert Ross (R-Eunice). Finally we see which Texas County city is the most powerful. Democrat R. A. Pendergrass of Bakersfield filed in the Howell County centered 154th. He will face the winner of a Shawn Rhoads/Kathleen Hensley/Stan Watson primary (all from West Plains). Pendergrass is a Missouri States-West Plains facility member who lost a bid for the State Senate to Chuck Purgason in 2004.

Also, Jane Cunningham withdrew from her bid to be a 7th Senate district candidate after finding that they weren’t gonna give her a district. Travis Fitzwater withdrew from running in the 49th district after finding that Jeanie Riddle didn’t have a Senate District to run in for this election.

The official 02/10 stats on the districts with candidate activity:

SD13: 77.5/22.5D

SD21: 55/45D

HD006: 56/44R

HD029: 60/40D

HD047: 50/50

HD055: 57.5/42.5R

HD057: 52/48R

HD058: 61/39R

HD059: 61/39R

HD065: 54/46R (no Dem filed)

HD083: 65/35D (no Rep filed)

HD092: 54/46D

HD093: 62/38D

HD112: 56/44D

HD137: 65/35R (no Dem filed)

HD142: 61/39R (no Dem filed)

HD154: 68/32R

After today’s filing, Republicans have candidates in 128 districts and Democrats have candidates in 98 districts.

Using the 02/10 scale, the 10 bluest districts without a Dem candidate are

HD11 (South Buchanan/North Platte, Galen Higdon): 53/47D

HD14 (Platte County, Ron Schieber): 51/49D

HD48 (Boonville, assorted counties, open seat): 50/50

HD90 (Kirkwood, Rick Stream): 52/48R

HD106 (St. Charles, Chrissy Sommer): 52/48R

HD119 (Franklin County, Dave Hinson): 53/47R

HD60 (Jeff City, Jay Barnes): 53.5/46.5R

HD35 (Lee’s Summit/Parts of KC, Gary Cross): 54/46R

HD64 (St. Charles/Part of Lincoln, open seat): 54/46R

HD65 (St. Charles, Ann Zerr): 54/46R

So it’s quite a few light-red districts to pick from there. There’s also the 116th (Ste. Genevieve/St. Francois/Perryville) and 126th (Bates/Vernon) which are bluer districts than the Shively/Shumake battle in the new 5th.

The reddest districts without a Republican are HD149 (Steve Hodges, 50/50) and HD117 (Linda Black, 52.5/47.5D). Both of which are Dems who defeated Republican opponents in 2010.

Democrats have a candidate in all 46 districts where they top 55%, compared to 14 Republicans in those districts.

There are 29 Democratic candidates in the 45 districts where neither party has an advantage of 10% or more. 42 Republicans are running in those districts.

Democrats have 23 candidates in the 72 districts with a +10R 02/10 spread.

So for all unfiled candidates with functional cars, tomorrow is the big day. And maybe there’s a day or two more if incumbents randomly drop out tomorrow and extend filing for a seat or two.

Today Herschel Young (take a guess which political party) filed again to run in the 4th Congressional District. From the Missouri Secretary of State:

U.S. Representative – District 4

Democrat

Teresa Hensley PO BOX 620

RAYMORE MO 64083 3/14/2012

2:58 p.m.

Republican

Vicky Hartzler 30218 S. PLEASANT RIDGE RD.

HARRISONVILLE MO 64701 3/2/2012

2:18 p.m.

Libertarian

Herschel L. Young 17100 E STATE ROUTE 2

HARRISONVILLE MO 64701 3/26/2012

10:30 a.m.

[emphasis added]

That would be three different political parties in two years.

Previously:

New Cass County Presiding Commisioner Herschel Young (r) removed from office by court order (January 4, 2011)

Cass County: whether you vote or don’t even bother to try you get the government you deserve (February 3, 2011)

11CA-CV00001 State of Mo Ex Inf T Hensley v. Herschel L Young (February 4, 2011)

“…Respondent is ousted from the office of Presiding Commissioner, Cass County, Missouri.” (February 18, 2011)

Gov. Jay Nixon (D) appoints Luke Scavuzzo (D) to the Cass County Commission (January 11, 2012)

Herschel Young (r) or (D), choose which axe to grind (February 28, 2012)

Another in a long list of reasons why politics in Missouri is always so interesting (March 6, 2012)

Herschel Young (r) listed as a disqualified candidate in the 4th Congressional District (March 8, 2012)

Herschel Young (r): a letter from the Missouri Democratic Party (March 11, 2012)

I buzzed over to Belton for a classy well attended event for Teresa Henley for Congress.  

Attorney General Chris Koster (D) continues to do quite well on the campaign fundraising front. This past week, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C031159 03/19/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER Thompson Coburn LLP One US Bank Plaza St Louis MO 63101 3/19/2012 $5,000.00

C031159 03/20/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER Langdon & Emison 911 Main St. P.O. Box 220 Lexington MO 64067 3/20/2012 $25,000.00

C031159 03/20/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER QC Holdings Inc 9401 Indian Creek Pkwy. Overland Park KS 66210 3/20/2012 $7,760.00

C031159 03/20/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER James Nutter 1201 W. 66th St. Kansas City MO 64113 James B. Nutter & Co Mortgage Banker 3/20/2012 $5,000.00

[emphasis added]

But wait, there’s a whole lot more:

C031159 03/22/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER Charles Hatfield 1825 Chelle Ct Jefferson City MO 65101 Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP Attorney/Lobbyist 3/21/2012 $2,000.00

C031159 03/22/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER Stinson Morrison Hecker LLP P.O. Box 419251 Kansas City MO 64141 3/21/2012 $2,500.00

C031159 03/22/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER Comcast 1701 JFK Boulevard Philadelphia PA 19103 3/21/2012 $5,000.00

C031159 03/22/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER Ameristar Casino St. Charles One Ameristar Blvd. St Charles MO 63301 3/22/2012 $5,000.00

C031159 03/22/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER Ameristar Casino Kansas City, Inc PO Box 33480 Kansas City MO 64120 3/22/2012 $5,000.00

C031159 03/22/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER MHA Political Action Committee for Health (HEALTHPAC) P.O. Box 60 Jefferson City MO 65102 3/22/2012 $2,500.00

C031159 03/22/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER Thomas McDonnell 4909 Sunset Dr. Kansas City MO 64112 DST Systems, Inc. CEO 3/22/2012 $10,000.00

C031159 03/25/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER Polsinelli Shughart 700 West 47th St. Suite 1000 Kansas City MO 64112 3/23/2012 $5,000.00

C031159 03/25/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER J.E. Dunn Construction Group, Inc. 1001 Locust St. Kansas City MO 64106 3/23/2012 $5,000.00

C031159 03/25/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER Lathrop & Gage LLP 2345 Grand Boulevard Kansas City MO 64108 3/23/2012 $5,000.00

C031159 03/25/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER Husch Blackwell LLP 4801 Main Street Suite 1000 Kansas City MO 64112 3/23/2012 $2,500.00

C031159 03/25/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER Dollar, Burns, & Becker, L.C. 1100 Main Street Suite 2600 Kansas City MO 64105 3/23/2012 $25,000.00

C031159 03/25/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER Pipefitters Local #533 Volunteer Political Action Fund 8600 Hillcrest Road Kansas City MO 64138 3/23/2012 $5,000.00

C031159 03/25/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER Life Sciences Fund of Greater KC P.O. Box 1865 Jefferson City MO 65102 3/23/2012 $25,000.00

C031159 03/25/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER Cerner Corporation PAC 2800 Rockcreek Parkway Kansas City MO 64117 3/23/2012 $10,000.00

C031159 03/25/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER KCS Rail PAC P.O. Box 219335 Kansas City MO 64121 3/23/2012 $2,500.00

C031159 03/25/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER Bryan Cave Missouri PAC 221 Bolivar St. Suite 101 Jefferson City MO 65101 3/23/2012 $3,400.00

C031159 03/25/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER Harris and Harris, LLC. 206 North Holden Warrensburg MO 64093 3/23/2012 $5,000.00

C031159 03/25/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER White Goss Bowers March Schulte & Weisenfels, PC 4510 Belleview Suite 300 Kansas City MO 64111 3/23/2012 $1,000.00

C031159 03/25/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER Maurice Watson 711 Brush Creek Blvd. Kansas City MO 64110 Husch Blackwell LLP Attorney 3/23/2012 $650.00

C031159 03/25/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER Robert Thompson 628 Greenway Terrace Kansas City MO 64113 Bryan Cave LLP Attorney 3/23/2012 $750.00

C031159 03/25/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER Michael Healy 425 NE St. Andrews Circle Lees Summit MO 64064 The Healy Law Firm, LLC Attorney 3/23/2012 $5,000.00

C031159 03/25/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER Terrence Dunn 12008 Ensley Lane Leawood KS 66209 J.E. Dunn Construction Group, Inc. CEO 3/23/2012 $5,000.00

C031159 03/25/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER Rex Sinquefield 244 Bent Walnut Westphalia MO 65085 Retired Retired 3/23/2012 $10,000.00

C031159 03/25/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER Kenneth McClain 308 W. Maple Independence MO 64050 Humphrey Farrington McClain Attorney 3/23/2012 $25,000.00

[emphasis added]

Ed Martin (r)? Not so much:

C121046 03/17/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR ED MARTIN Jack Pohrer 15 Overbrook Drive St Louis MO 63124 St. Louis Parking Co. President 3/16/2012 $1,000.00

[emphasis added]

Previously:

Campaign Finance: fear can be a powerful incentive (February 18, 2012)

Campaign Finance: Attorney General – pro forma endorsements don’t seem to matter (March 7, 2012)

Campaign Finance: fear can be a powerful incentive – part 2 (March 8, 2012)

Campaign Finance: Ed Martin (r) has another really bad week (March 15, 2012)

From Obama 2012, U.S. Senate candidate in Massachusetts, Elizabeth Warren (D) on the stakes in November:

Narrator: Not since the days of Franklin Roosevelt had so much fallen on the shoulders of one president.

Elizabeth Warren: I think that question is, why didn’t someone wave a magic wand and make it all better? And, the answer is, that, because it’s not how the world works.

It took a long time to shake the foundations of America’s middle class. But it also means it’s gonna take some time to put that back together.

The President gets about what American families face.

This next election is about the direction that our country takes. It’s about whether or not we are going to be a people who say, I got mine, the rest of you are on your own. Or whether we’re gonna be a people who say, we can invest in our future.

And we can build a real future for ourselves and for our kids so that when the next kid comes up with a good idea they got a shot to make it big. So does the kid after that, and the kid after that.

This election’s going to affect everyone. We really have come to a, to a real choice. And, um, what our future looks like is gonna be very different depending on who’s governing.

[Obama/Biden]

You got that right.

Senator Claire Mccaskill (D), there’s more than a few pages in that book you should use.

When I lived in San Francisco, I read the society gossip column authored by Herb Caen every day – not because I cared about the lives of San Francisco socialites, but because Caen was such a witty and lively writer and managed to beautifully convey the San Francisco ambiance. So far I haven’t managed to find in St. Louis a substitute for Caen’s evocation of the life and times of the denizens of Baghdad on the Bay, as he termed San Francisco in the pre-war days when Baghdad was evocative of the Arabian Nights rather than WMDs. However, today I found that it can pay for a political blogger to occasionally glance at the local equivalent, Deb Peterson’s “Breaking Schmoose” in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, which informed me that Rep. Tod Akin, one of the dueling GOP senatorial primary hopefuls, was on the verge of becoming a movie star- at least among the die-hard fundamentalist evangelicals who form his most reliable constituency:

U.S. Rep. Todd Akin’s bid for the U.S. Senate may be experiencing some growing pains, but – thanks to a child star turned conservative crusader – he’ll soon be enjoying some face time on the big screen.

Akin, who’s slugging it out with fellow Republicans for a chance to take on the Democratic incumbent, Claire McCaskill, is featured in a new film by Kirk Cameron, the curly-haired cutey who spent the 1980s portraying the unctuous Mike Seaver on TV’s “Growing Pains.”

Now, Cameron and his wife, Chelsea Noble, a co-star on the show, are Christian evangelicals who promote projects aimed at like-minded people. Cameron’s latest undertaking is “Monumental,” the film in which he gets a little help from his friend Akin in retracing American history in search of the nation’s moral fiber.

It should be a good fit. Cameron, who has recentlly garnered attention for his homophobic pronouncements seems to have a lot in common with the Christian dominionist Akin who has been vigilant for opportunities to try to institutionalize homophobia in government policies, declaring that, “I oppose the attempts of homosexual activists to treat homosexual activity as a civil right to be protected and promoted by the government.” Of course, for folks like Akin “protected” always implies “promoted.”

Nor is it hard to imagine the nature of Akin’s contribution to the movie. As Peterson notes, Akin, who fancies  himself as an historical scholar, will share his views on U.S. history in the movie. Sadly, according to the evidence available to date, those views seem to be derived from fellow dominionist and pseudo-historian David Barton. People for the American Way charaterizes Barton as:

… a Republican Party activist and a fast-talking, self-promoting, self-taught, self-proclaimed historian who is miseducating millions of Americans about U.S. history and the Constitution.

Barton has been profitably peddling a distorted “Christian nation” version of American history to conservative religious audiences for the past two decades. His books and videos denouncing church-state separation have been repeatedly debunked by respected historians, but that hasn’t kept Barton from becoming a folk hero for many in the Religious Right. …

Peterson reports that the movie will be playing a limited engagement in St. Louis starting March 27. Since I like a good laugh as well as the next person, I’m tempted to attend – if the thought of giving good money to these charlatans isn’t too overwhelming. I may just have to wait for the DVD.