The campaign finance reports for the Attorney General candidates from the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C121078: Missourians For Adam Warren

Information Reported On: 2012 – July Quarterly Report

Beginning Money on Hand $10,026.36

Monetary Receipts + $8,415.44

Monetary Expenditures – $12,579.20

Contributions Made – $0.00

Other Disbursements – $0.00

Subtotal     ($4,163.76)

Ending Money On Hand   $5,862.60

[emphasis added]

That republican primary could have a sleeper.

And, the republican who is everywhere on our TV sets:

C121046: Missourians For Ed Martin

Information Reported On: 2012 – July Quarterly Report

Beginning Money on Hand $300,271.19

Monetary Receipts + $400,525.48

Monetary Expenditures – $121,526.11

Contributions Made – $0.00

Other Disbursements – $14,885.65

Subtotal     $264,113.72

Ending Money On Hand   $564,384.91

[emphasis added]

It just goes to show that republican candidates will always have the money they need, no matter how right wingnut they are.

An item from the expenditures:

ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OVER $100 SUPPLEMENTAL FORM

MISSOURIANS FOR ED MARTIN 7/16/2012

Something Else Strategies 112 Lantern Ridge Drive Easley SC 29642 4/20/2012 Consulting Fee $5,000.00

[emphasis added]

Probably a choice of vendor, with no sense of irony. On several levels.

An item from the contributions:

CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED – SUPPLEMENTAL

MISSOURIANS FOR ED MARTIN 7/16/2012

David Humphreys PO Box 4050 Joplin MO 64803 Tamko Building Products — Executive

5/31/2012 $250,000.00

[emphasis added]

As we wrote, it just goes to show that republican candidates will always have the money they need, no matter how right wingnut they are.

And from the current Attorney General, Chris Koster (D):

C031159: Missourians For Koster Information Reported On: 2012 – July Quarterly Report

Beginning Money on Hand $2,009,737.71

Monetary Receipts + $555,980.61

Monetary Expenditures – $205,917.92

Contributions Made – $0.00

Other Disbursements – $0.00

Subtotal     $350,062.69

Ending Money On Hand   $2,359,800.40

[emphasis added]

That’s impressive. It’d be easier to list who hasn’t contributed to Attorney General Chris Koster’s (D) reelection campaign.

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C121244 07/18/2012 FRED SAUER GOVERNOR Fred Sauer 454 Hammersmith Road St Louis MO 63141 Orion Investment Company 7/18/2012 $25,000.00

[emphasis added]

Previously:

Campaign Finance: Governor- July quarterly reports (July 18, 2012)

…Why, raising that amount in a quarter would make you a republican U.S. Senate candidate in Missouri…

And self funding, too. Do we call ’em, or what?

…you’ve seen all of the tractors in the district?

Freedom PAC, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C091269: Freedom Pac

Information Reported On: 2012 – July Quarterly Report

Beginning Money on Hand $1,414.78

Monetary Receipts + $0.00

Monetary Expenditures – $0.00

Contributions Made – $0.00

Other Disbursements – $1,000.00

Subtotal     ($1,000.00)

Ending Money On Hand   $414.78

[emphasis added]

Well, that isn’t very much money (up to June 30th).

And then:

C091269 07/13/2012 FREEDOM PAC Herzog Contracting Corp 600 S Riverside Road St Joseph MO 64507 7/13/2012 $54,409.15

[emphasis added]

What on earth would they spend that kind of money on?

Today we received a fifteen inch by twelve inch slick mail piece – that’s huge and very expensive:

An attack piece directed at Senator David Pearce (r) who is facing an August primary with Mike McGhee (r).

And on the other side of the mail piece:

Why, that’s Mike McGhee with a tractor.

And who paid for that mail piece?:

Well, look at that. You’ve got to wonder if it was $54,409.15 worth of mail.

Here’s an interesting detail:

How’s that previous support for Mike McGhee working out for you, AFL-CIO?

…Mike McGhee took on union bosses to protect the right to secret ballots, and stop union bosses from taking money out of workers’ paychecks without permission…

Yeah, that filthy union money, via the Missouri Ethics Commission:

CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED – SUPPLEMENTAL

CITIZENS TO RE-ELECT MIKE MCGHEE 10/12/2010

Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 562 Voluntary Political, Educational, Legislative, Charity & Defense Fund 12385 Larimore Road St. Louis, MO 63138 9/28/2010 $500.00

Missouri AFL-CIO COPE 227 Jefferson Street Jefferson City, MO 65101 9/29/2010 $200.00

[emphasis added]

And that was just a quick search of one campaign finance report.

The people who paid for this mail piece and the people who created it think the people in the district are too stupid to notice.

And the tractor? We’ve seen that before, on a mail piece paid for by and and on behalf of Mike McGhee’s (r) campaign:

Detail from a previous mail piece paid for and on behalf of Mike McGhee (r).

Why, that’s the same tractor and Mike McGhee is wearing the same clothing. Fancy that.

You’d think they’d arrange for a change of clothes during the photo session.

Another mail piece paid for and on behalf of Mike McGhee:

Ah, the usual right wingnut drivel.

Pass the popcorn.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: David Pearce (r) and Mike McGhee (r) – July quarterly reports (July 16, 2012)

Campaign Finance: Missouri Club for Growth really likes Mike McGhee (r)… (July 13, 2012)

Campaign Finance: dueling checks – the republican primary in the 21st Senate District (July 9, 2012)

Campaign Finance: Sen. David Pearce (r) in the 21st Senate District – gonna need more signs (July 5, 2012)

Campaign Finance: five more an it’d be a right wingnut dozen (July 2, 2012)

Campaign Finance: somebody doesn’t like Sen. David Pearce (r) (June 30, 2012)

Campaign Finance: when an amazing perpetual motion machine isn’t enough (February 8, 2012)

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C031159 07/18/2012 MISSOURIANS FOR KOSTER Simmons Browder Gianaris Angelides Barnerd, LLC One Court St. Alton IL 62002 7/16/2012 $25,000.00

[emphasis added]

Previously: Campaign Finance: maybe they didn’t like Ed’s commercial (July 12, 2012)

John Brunner, one of three republican candidates in the August U.S. Senate primary gets the treatment of Majority PAC in an ad:

Narrator: He keeps saying he’ll bring down the debt.

John Brunner (ad): They will not cuts spending, but I will.

Narrator: But John Brunner’s business record says something else. He saddled his own company with one hundred ninety-five million in debt. It was downgraded, rated a higher credit risk. And under Brunner’s leadership the company nearly shut down. John Brunner, debt, mismanagement. How can he fix our problems if he’s part of the problem?

Majority PAC is responsible for the content of this advertising.

Majority PAC?:

Our Mission

Majority PAC was founded by experienced, aggressive Democratic strategists with one mission: Protect the Democratic majority in the U.S. Senate.

That majority-the firewall against the radical Tea Party agenda-is under attack in 2012. Democrats must defend 23 seats, compared to only 10 Republican seats. And only four seats separate Republicans from control of the Senate.

In 2010, the Citizens United decision allowed Karl Rove and a network of Republican-aligned third-party groups to outspend Democrats on television alone by $50 million-swamping the Democratic message in virtually every top Senate race and nearly handing the Senate to the GOP along with the House. Rove has already pledged to spend even more-$240 million-plus-in 2012.

But this time, Majority PAC will level the playing field. Running a transparent, low-overhead, take-no-prisoners Independent Expenditure campaign, we will aggressively contest critical open seats, exploit opportunities to take over Republican seats and expand our firewall, and respond to attacks from Rove and his allies on Democratic Senate candidates.

With your support, Majority PAC will change the game. We will not let Karl Rove buy the Senate. We will hold Republicans accountable. We will protect the Democratic firewall in 2012.

It’s about time.

The summaries, from the Missouri Ethics Commission, starting with Governor Jay Nixon:

C001135: Jay Nixon For Missouri

Information Reported On: 2012 – July Quarterly Report

Beginning Money on Hand $6,130,704.05

Monetary Receipts + $2,092,348.19

Monetary Expenditures – $556,657.75

Contributions Made – $63,350.00

Other Disbursements – $0.00

Subtotal     $1,472,340.44

Ending Money On Hand   $7,603,044.49

[emphasis added]

Hudson: That’s it man, game over man, game over!….

Dave Spence, a republican challenger with really deep pockets and a lot of television commercials:

C111205: Spence For Governor

Information Reported On: 2012 – July Quarterly Report

Beginning Money on Hand $1,744,137.88

Monetary Receipts + $1,000,819.41

Monetary Expenditures – $1,554,646.74

Contributions Made – $0.00

Other Disbursements – $18,772.23

Subtotal     ($572,599.56)

Ending Money On Hand   $1,171,538.32

[emphasis added]

Hicks:  Outstanding. Now all we need is a deck of cards.

And another republican candidate:

C121244: Fred Sauer Governor

Information Reported On: 2012 – July Quarterly Report

Beginning Money on Hand $0.00

Monetary Receipts + $224,730.00

Monetary Expenditures – $141,977.06

Contributions Made – $0.00

Other Disbursements – $0.00

Subtotal     $82,752.94

Ending Money On Hand   $82,752.94

[emphasis added]

Why, raising that amount in a quarter would make you a republican U.S. Senate candidate in Missouri.

Newt: We gotta get inside. It’s gonna be dark soon, and they mostly hunt at night. Mostly.

And still another republican candidate:

C101387: Missourians For Randles

Information Reported On: 2012 – July Quarterly Report

Beginning Money on Hand $5,364.76

Monetary Receipts + $45,220.20

Monetary Expenditures – $48,797.77

Contributions Made – $0.00

Other Disbursements – $0.00

Subtotal     ($3,577.57)

Ending Money On Hand   $1,787.19

[emphasis added]

Burke: Maybe we can build a fire, sing a couple of songs, huh, how about we try that.

Pass the popcorn.

Last week we noticed that GOP senatorial wannabe Sarah Steelman was attempting to ignite some enthusiasm for her candidacy by exploiting her mavricky resemblance to erstwhile rightwing star, Sarah Palin (e.g., they both love to play with guns). It must have paid off because this week she earned Palin’s endorsement. This turn of events has got the worshipful Steelman absolutely, gushingly giddy:

I am deeply honored and humbled to have earned the endorsement of Governor Palin, whose willingness to stand up and fight for what is right, regardless of the political consequences, has blazed a trail for conservatives who believe as we do, that the status quo has got to go. I am ready to join Governor Palin and lead the fight in the Senate to restore fiscal discipline and speak truth to power by putting this country back into the hands of the people!” said Steelman.

I can’t help smirking when she talks about “joining” Palin, whose selection as John McCain’s running mate arguably put the final kibosh on his inept presidential campaign, and who is now well on her way to the political dustheap she so deserves. Actually Steelman might get her wish and join Palin among the also-rans since Palin’s endorsements haven’t always delivered the keys to the kingdom in the past.

What’s even more amusing is the way that these fighters against the “status quo” always propose the most status quo GOP non-solutions to our problems: Gutting social programs in order to keep the tax rate low for corporations and the wealthy – check. Cutting public spending and in the process destroying public sector jobs along with our social and physical infrastructure – check. Privatizing successful government programs like Medicare and Social Security that serve the middle class – check. Fighting like hell to take affordable health care away from the uninsured – check.  Opposing government regulations that keep our food and water safe along with financial regulations that would have saved us from the 2008 recession had they been in place – check.

All in all, a strange way to “put the country back into the hands of the people,” but I guess it’s really a matter of which people you’re talking about – not that I expect either Sarah would have a clue.

There’s a distinct difference in the fundraising success of the two candidates for State Treasurer, incumbent State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (D) and republican challenger Cole McNary (r).

Via the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C081066: Clint Zweifel For Missouri

Information Reported On: 2012 – July Quarterly Report

Beginning Money on Hand $1,009,218.87

Monetary Receipts + $127,464.79

Monetary Expenditures – $53,918.38

Contributions Made – $0.00

Other Disbursements – $0.00

Subtotal     $73,546.41

Ending Money On Hand   $1,082,765.28

[emphasis added]

C081190: Friends To Elect Cole Mcnary

Information Reported On: 2012 – July Quarterly Report

Beginning Money on Hand $75,977.57

Monetary Receipts + $43,683.00

Monetary Expenditures – $74,598.94

Contributions Made – $0.00

Other Disbursements – $0.00

Subtotal     ($30,915.94)

Ending Money On Hand   $45,061.63

[emphasis added]

Ouch.

Let’s take a look at some of the details:

CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED – SUPPLEMENTAL

FRIENDS TO ELECT COLE MCNARY 7/16/2012

Missourians for Matt Blunt Inc PO Box 144 Jefferson City MO 65102 6/21/2012 $1,000.00

[emphasis added]

Heh. Quality begets quality, success begets success.

ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OVER $100 SUPPLEMENTAL FORM

FRIENDS TO ELECT COLE MCNARY 7/16/2012

Victory Enterprises 5200 SW 30th Street Suite 7 Davenport IA 52802 5/11/2012 Printing $9,030.44

And a number of campaign workers.

A few details from State Treasurer Clint Zweifel’s (D) report:

ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OVER $100 SUPPLEMENTAL FORM

CLINT ZWEIFEL FOR MISSOURI 7/16/2012

Grindstone Research LLP 8185 Boone Trace Nashville TN 37221 5/7/2012 Research $1,750.00

Grindstone Research LLP 8185 Boone Trace Nashville TN 37221 4/2/2012 Research $2,340.00

[emphasis added]

We like research.

Via the Missouri Ethics Commission. Jason Kander (D) had a very good fundraising quarter and healthy cash on hand:

C071012: Kander For Missouri

Information Reported On: 2012 – July Quarterly Report

Beginning Money on Hand $648,567.02

Monetary Receipts + $229,598.75

Monetary Expenditures – $80,949.79

Contributions Made – $0.00

Other Disbursements – $0.00

Subtotal     $148,648.96

Ending Money On Hand   $797,215.98

[emphasis added]

Shane Schoeller (r) had a very good fundraising quarter, but has a high burn rate:

C061132: Schoeller For Missouri

Information Reported On: 2012 – July Quarterly Report

Beginning Money on Hand $161,893.78

Monetary Receipts + $280,496.12

Monetary Expenditures – $135,441.08

Contributions Made – $100.00

Other Disbursements – $5,046.32

Subtotal     $139,908.72

Ending Money On Hand   $301,802.50

[emphasis added]

Bill Stouffer (r):

C041627: Friends Of Bill Stouffer

Information Reported On: 2012 – July Quarterly Report

Beginning Money on Hand $247,157.64

Monetary Receipts + $76,126.27

Monetary Expenditures – $48,016.96

Contributions Made – $0.00

Other Disbursements – $38,000.00

Subtotal     ($9,890.69)

Ending Money On Hand   $237,266.95

[emphasis added]

Scott Rupp (r):

C111045: Rupp For Missouri

Information Reported On: 2012 – July Quarterly Report

Beginning Money on Hand $148,375.78

Monetary Receipts + $88,045.70

Monetary Expenditures – $60,100.84

Contributions Made – $0.00

Other Disbursements – $0.00

Subtotal     $27,944.86

Ending Money On Hand   $176,320.64

[emphasis added]

There are some interesting details.

Some of Bill Stouffer’s (r) expenditures:

ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OVER $100 SUPPLEMENTAL FORM

FRIENDS OF BILL STOUFFER 7/16/2012

AXIOM STRATAGES 1251 NW BRIARCLIFF PKY KANSAS CITY MO 64116 4/12/2012 CONSULANT/BUMPER STICKERS $2,891.11

AXIOM STRATAGES 1251 NW BRIARCLIFF PKY KANSAS CITY MO 64116 5/7/2012 CONSULANT $3,300.00

The Lamar Companies 7108 East 48th Terrace KANSAS CITY MO 64129 5/21/2012 BILLBOARDS $2,016.00

The Lamar Companies 7108 East 48th Terrace KANSAS CITY MO 64129 6/11/2012 BILLBOARDS $5,775.00

The Lamar Companies 7108 East 48th Terrace KANSAS CITY MO 64129 6/13/2012 BILLBOARDS $4,200.00

The Lamar Companies 7108 East 48th Terrace KANSAS CITY MO 64129 6/13/2012 BILLBOARDS $4,725.00

AXIOM STRATAGES 1251 NW BRIARCLIFF PKY KANSAS CITY MO 64116 6/13/2012 CONSULANT $3,300.00

The Lamar Companies 7108 East 48th Terrace KANSAS CITY MO 64129 6/27/2012 BILLBOARDS $6,300.00

The Lamar Companies 7108 East 48th Terrace KANSAS CITY MO 64129 6/27/2012 BILLBOARDS $1,575.00

The Lamar Companies 7108 East 48th Terrace KANSAS CITY MO 64129 6/29/2012 BILLBOARDS $4,800.00

WAITT OUTDOOR 4725 “F” STREET OMAHA NE 68117 6/27/2012 BILLBOARDS $3,450.00

[emphasis added]

That would explain this:

Huh?

Will that dog hunt?

Oh, this is very interesting. A few in-kind contributions:

CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED – SUPPLEMENTAL

FRIENDS OF BILL STOUFFER 7/16/2012

The Lamar Companies 7108 East 48th Terrace KANSAS CITY MO 64129 6/6/2012 $5,313.00

The Lamar Companies 7108 East 48th Terrace KANSAS CITY MO 64129 6/13/2012 $3,864.00

The Lamar Companies 7108 East 48th Terrace KANSAS CITY MO 64129 6/15/2012 $5,796.00

The Lamar Companies 7108 East 48th Terrace KANSAS CITY MO 64129 6/16/2012 $12,000.00

DDI MEDIA 8315 Drury Industrial Pky St Louis MO 63114 6/25/2012 $8,200.00

The Lamar Companies 7108 East 48th Terrace KANSAS CITY MO 64129 6/26/2012 $25,500.00

The Lamar Companies 7108 East 48th Terrace KANSAS CITY MO 64129 6/11/2012 $4,347.00

The Lamar Companies 7108 East 48th Terrace KANSAS CITY MO 64129 6/1/2012 $4,500.00

The Lamar Companies 7108 East 48th Terrace KANSAS CITY MO 64129 6/19/2012 $4,575.00

The Lamar Companies 7108 East 48th Terrace KANSAS CITY MO 64129 6/21/2012 $4,060.00

The Lamar Companies 7108 East 48th Terrace KANSAS CITY MO 64129 6/28/2012 $2,415.00

PORLIER 1027 N SERVICE ROAD WEST FORISTELL MO 63348 6/15/2012 $1,900.00

PORLIER 1027 N SERVICE ROAD WEST FORISTELL MO 63348 6/18/2012 $4,750.00

PORLIER 1027 N SERVICE ROAD WEST FORISTELL MO 63348 6/19/2012 $800.00

PORLIER 1027 N SERVICE ROAD WEST FORISTELL MO 63348 6/21/2012 $450.00

[emphasis added]

Well, what do you know? An interlocking billboard strategery.

And Shane Schoeller’s (r) fundraising success was largely because of four people:

CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED – SUPPLEMENTAL

SCHOELLER FOR MISSOURI 7/16/2012

DAVID HUMPHREYS PO BOX 4050 JOPLIN MO 64803 UNKNOWN 4/3/2012 $25,000.00

ETHELMAE HUMPHREYS 2505 E 11TH STREET JOPLIN MO 64801 UNKNOWN 5/18/2012 $25,000.00

REX SINQUEFIELD 244 BENT WALNUT WESTPHALIA MO 65085 RETIRED 6/22/2012 $150,000.00

MENLO SMITH 15009 MANCHESTER RD #284 BALLWIN MO 63011 RETIRED 4/12/2012 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

That’s so grassrootsie.