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Monthly Archives: July 2016

Campaign Finance: it’s all relative

24 Sunday Jul 2016

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Attorney General, campaign finance, Josh Hawley, Missori Ethics Commission, missouri

It’s still a lot. Yesterday at the Missouri Ethics Commission for Josh Hawley’s (r) 2016 campaign for Attorney General:

C151132 07/23/2016 HAWLEY FOR MISSOURI David Humphreys PO Box 4050 Joplin MO 64803 Tamko Building Products Executive 7/21/2016 $250,000.00

C151132 07/23/2016 HAWLEY FOR MISSOURI Herzog Contracting Corp PO Box 1089 St Joseph MO 64502 7/22/2016 $100,000.00

C151132 07/23/2016 HAWLEY FOR MISSOURI Charles Wall 777 Castle Creek Drive Aspen CO 81611 Retired Retired 7/22/2016 $20,000.00

[emphasis added]

Because $1,000,000.00 from one person isn’t enough. It should be more than that. Apparently.

It’s obscene.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: escalation (July 7, 2016)

Campaign Finance: escalation – part 2 (July 8, 2016)

Kurt U. Schaefer (r) thinks your stoopit (July 9, 2016)

Campaign Finance: San Francisco! (July 13, 2016)

Good day

24 Sunday Jul 2016

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

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sunrise

F 7.1, 1/100, ISO 400, 27 mm:

IMG_7367

Campaign Finance: mean people are paying a lot of money to be mean to John Brunner (r)

23 Saturday Jul 2016

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

ads, Federal Election Commission, governor, John Brunner, LG PAC, missouri

Since July 15th has passed we thought we’d take a look at the Federal Election Commission campaign finance report of LG PAC, the political action committee which started running television ads attacking republican gubernatorial candidate John Brunner in June. The LG PAC July quarterly report filed with the FEC covers the period from April 1st to June 30th.

FEC FORM 3X
REPORT OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS
For Other Than An Authorized Committee
FILING FEC-1086703
1. LG PAC
520 WEST 103RD STREET
SUITE 243
KANSAS CITY, Missouri 64114
2. FEC Committee ID #: C00617340
3. This committee has NOT qualified as a multicandidate committee (see FEC Form 1M)
4. Report Type = JUL QUARTERLY
Filed: 07/15/2016
5. Covering Period 04/01/2016 Through 06/30/2016
Column A
This Period
Column B
Year To Date
6. (a) Cash on hand, January 1, 2016
0.00
(b) Cash on hand at Beginning of Reporting Period 0.00
(c) Total Receipts (from line 19) 2300004.00 2300004.00
(d) Subtotal (6(b) + 6(c) for A, 6(a) + 6(c) for B) 2300004.00 2300004.00
7. Total Disbursements 2221046.70 2221046.70
8. Cash on Hand at Close of Reporting Period 78957.30 78957.30
9. Debts and Obligations Owed TO the Committee 0.00
Itemize all on SCHEDULE C or SCHEDULE D
10. Debts and Obligations Owed BY the Committee 0.00
Itemize all on SCHEDULE C or SCHEDULE D
Treasurer: Richard Monsees
Date Signed: 07/15/2016

[emphasis added]

That’s $2,300,004.00 in contributions and $2,221,046.70 in expenditures.

And where did the money come from?:

SCHEDULE A
ITEMIZED RECEIPTS
All Listed Line Numbers
[….]
Freedom Frontier P.O. Box 341016
Austin, Texas 78734
06/01/2016 1500000.00 1500000.00

Freedom Frontier P.O. Box 341016
Austin, Texas 78734
06/22/2016 300000.00 1800000.00

Freedom Frontier P.O. Box 341016
Austin, Texas 78734
06/29/2016 500000.00 2300000.00

So, that’s three different contributions of $1,500,000.00, $300,000.00, and $500,000.00 from the same entity over a period of four weeks. Note the address: P.O. Box 341016 Austin, Texas 78734

And how was all that money spent?:

SCHEDULE B
ITEMIZED DISBURSEMENTS
All Listed Line Numbers
Committee: LG PAC
[….]
Clark Hill PLC 601 Pennsylvania Ave NW Suite 1000 N. Bldg
Washington, DC 20004
06/30/2016 Legal fees 6311.50

Main Street Media Group P.O. Box 25093
Alexandria, Virginia 22313
06/02/2016 Media Buy 964964.00

Main Street Media Group P.O. Box 25093
Alexandria, Virginia 22313
06/15/2016 Media Buy 375552.50

Main Street Media Group P.O. Box 25093
Alexandria, Virginia 22313
06/23/2016 Media Buy 414681.50

Main Street Media Group P.O. Box 25093
Alexandria, Virginia 22313
06/30/2016 Media Buy 459336.50

That’s a lot of “media”.

We looked for Freedom Frontier at the Federal Election Commission and came up with Freedom Frontier Action Network, which interestingly, has a Custodian of Records/Designated Agent with the very same address as Freedom Frontier:

FEC FORM 1
STATEMENT OF ORGANIZATION
FILING FEC-1041757
1. FREEDOM FRONTIER ACTION NETWORK
4790 CAUGHLIN PARKWAY #767
RENO, NV 89519
Email: so@gobergroup.com
NOTE: Email address is different than previously reported
2. Date: 01/07/2016
3. FEC Committee ID #: C00496372
This committee supports/opposes more than one Federal candidate and is NOT a separate segregated fund or a party committee.
Affiliated Committees/Organizations
NONE
Custodian of Records:
Shannon O’Leary
PO Box 341016
Austin, TX 78734

Title: Assistant Treasurer

Treasurer:
Scott Bensing
4790 Caughlin Parkway
#757
Reno, Nevada 89519
Title: Treasurer
Phone # (775) 771-4724

Designated Agent(s):
Shannon O’Leary
PO Box 341016
Austin, Texas 78734

Title: Assistant Treasurer

Banks or Depositories
Wells Fargo
420 Montgomery Street
San Francisco, California 94104

Signed: Scott Bensing
Date Signed: 01/23/2016

[emphasis added]

Very interesting.

On January 25, 2016 the Federal Election Commission accepted [pdf] the termination of Freedom Frontier Action Network’s involvement with federal elections (and hence, their need to file disclosure reports with the FEC).

We’ve looked for a Freedom Frontier PAC in Missouri, Texas, and Nevada. It could be our poor search skills, but we couldn’t find anything in those systems.

So, as it stands, someone or many people are possibly spending $2,300,000.00 to be really mean to John Brunner (r). And we still don’t know who is behind it.

Previously:

PAC people are being mean to John Brunner (r) (June 4, 2016)

PAC people are being mean to John Brunner (r) – part 2 (June 5, 2016)

Campaign Finance: once more, with feeling

23 Saturday Jul 2016

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance, Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

campaign finance, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission

….Yes, but the eventual republican nominee will have all the money they need….

The problem for republicans is that they haven’t determined who that is yet.

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission – a familiar amount for John Brunner’s (r) 2016 gubernatorial campaign, from John Brunner:

C151077 07/23/2016 MISSOURIANS FOR JOHN BRUNNER John Brunner 11939 Manchester Road #151 St Louis MO 63131 Retired Retired 7/22/2016 $1,000,000.00

[emphasis added]

That’s personal commitment. Is it possible for anyone to spend all that money in the next week?

Previously:

Campaign Finance: Why be any different? (July 19, 2016)

Senator Tim Kaine is Hillary Clinton’s pick for VP

23 Saturday Jul 2016

Posted by Michael Bersin in social media

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Hillary Clinton, president, social media, Tim Kaine, Twitter, Vice President

Senator Tim Kaine [May 2012 file photo].

Senator Tim Kaine [May 2012 file photo].

Yesterday, from Hillary Clinton:

HillaryKaine072216

Hillary Clinton‏@HillaryClinton
I’m thrilled to announce my running mate, @TimKaine, a man who’s devoted his life to fighting for others. -H 7:11 PM – 22 Jul 2016

From Cecile Richards at Planned Parenthood:

CecilleRichards072216

Cecile Richards‏@CecileRichards
.@HillaryClinton’s VP pick @TimKaine earned a 100% rating on the Planned Parenthood Action Fund scorecard in the Senate. 7:12 PM – 22 Jul 2016

Action in Virginia:

Siva072216

Siva Vaidhyanathan ‏@sivavaid
Keep hearing Kaine is “safe” and “not courageous.” Here in Virginia he won statewide opposing the NRA, coal, and the death penalty. 8:27 PM – 22 Jul 2016

On language:

EdwardDavis072316

Edward Mejia Davis ‏@TeddyDavisCNN
.@timkaine was the 1st person to deliver a Senate floor speech entirely in Spanish-today, it hangs in his DC office. 9:07 AM – 23 Jul 2016

Bersin072316

Michael Bersin ‏@MBersin
And, Senator Tim Kaine (D) @timkaine is not Governor Mike Pence (r). 9:24 AM – 23 Jul 2016

Okay. There’s work to be done.

Campaign Finance: not to be outdone

22 Friday Jul 2016

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

campaign finance, Catherine Hanaway, governor, missouri, PACs, Rex Sinquefield

Catherine Hanaway (r) [2015 file photo].

Catherine Hanaway (r) [2015 file photo].

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission for Catherine Hanaway’s (a) 2016 gubernatorial campaign:

C141055 07/22/2016 HANAWAY FOR GOVERNOR, INC Herzog Contracting Corp P O Box 1089 St Joseph MO 64502 7/22/2016 $100,000.00

[emphasis added.

$100,000.00 must be the new $5,001.00 – at least in the two weeks before the primary.

And from a Rex Sinquefield supported PAC:

C141055 07/22/2016 HANAWAY FOR GOVERNOR, INC Grow Missouri 308 E High Street Suite 301 Jefferson City MO 65101 7/22/2016 $319,151.25

[emphasis added]

That would make $4,231,520.00 from Rex Sinquefield or Rex Sinquefield supported PACs. Fancy that.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: subsidiary (July 2, 2016)

Campaign Finance: An even $3,912,368.75 (July 15, 2016)

Campaign Finance: endless Summer

22 Friday Jul 2016

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

campaign finance, Eric Greitens, governor, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission

Or, at least, until August 2nd. Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission for Eric Greitens’ (r) 2016 gubernatorial campaign:

C151053 07/22/2016 GREITENS FOR MISSOURI Jerald L Kent 13351 Buckland Hall Road St Louis MO 63131 Cequel III Chairman and CEO 7/22/2016 $100,000.00

Can actually vote in the primary, can vote in the general election, and can write the check. Trifecta! It ain’t $1,975,000.00, but it’ll do.

Previously:

Eric Greitens (r) – January 2016 Quarterly Campaign Finance Report – “Running for governor in which state?” (January 17, 2016)

Campaign Finance: another billionaire (July 14, 2016)

Governor – July 2016 campaign finance reports (July 17, 2016)

Campaign Finance: Oh, like they couldn’t come up with another $25,000.00? (July 18, 2016)

Campaign Finance: Such a nice gesture, but why bother? (July 21, 2016)

Something in common with the republican national convention

21 Thursday Jul 2016

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

republican national convention

Open range.

Open range.

They’re both full of bullshit.

Campaign Finance: Such a nice gesture, but why bother?

21 Thursday Jul 2016

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

campaign finance, Eric Greitens, governor, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission

What are your contributors gonna do after you get $1,975,000.00 from a PAC?

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission for Erc Greitens’ (r) 2016 gubernatorial campaign:

C151053 07/21/2016 GREITENS FOR MISSOURI Pat Curran 57 X Street Lake Lotawana MO 64086 C3 Partner 7/20/2016 $5,001.00

[emphasis added]

Someone who can actually vote in the primary!

Previously:

Eric Greitens (r) – January 2016 Quarterly Campaign Finance Report – “Running for governor in which state?” (January 17, 2016)

Campaign Finance: another billionaire (July 14, 2016)

Governor – July 2016 campaign finance reports (July 17, 2016)

Campaign Finance: Oh, like they couldn’t come up with another $25,000.00? (July 18, 2016)

What they’re saying about Trump’s Cleveland Sturm und Drang fest

21 Thursday Jul 2016

Posted by willykay in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Donald Trump, Election 2016, Republican Convention

For the past three days I’ve been transfixed with horror as I’ve watched the people who want to run our country lie and rage, egged on by Donald Trump, who thinks that the goal of the whole event was to demonstrate “the fact that I’m very well liked.” I’m not alone. Lot’s of commentators seem to have been gobsmacked by the spectacle to which Trump and the RNC have subjected us. Consequently, I’m going to deviate from my usual focus on what’s going on in Missouri and survey a few of the more telling responses to the Cleveland Carnival and to the Carny-in-Chief behind it all:

David Leonhardt (New York Times):

Screaming matches between delegates. Past nominees who refused to attend. Speakers who seem allergic to mentioning the nominee’s name – or policies. The runner-up refusing to endorse the winner.

Plagiarism. Lies about plagiarism. Talk of Lucifer from the stage. Humanizing stories about the nominee relegated to obscure time slots. Multiple speakers calling for the jailing of the opposing nominee. A prominent delegate calling for that nominee’s execution by firing squad.

It’s time to ask where the Republican National Convention of 2016 ranks on the list of modern history’s worst political conventions.

Josh Marshall (Talking Point Memo):

Trump brings together aggression and narcissism with a kind of militant ignorance which can be harmless or even amusing in the make believe world of reality TV or New York real estate but becomes positively dangerous on a national and global stage, thrashing about like a hose spewing fire. As Will Saletan memorably put it, the GOP is a failed state and Trump is its warlord. […]

In any case, here we are. Trump’s convention is everything you could have predicted: a mix of bracing disorganization, provocation, aggression and lies. It is simply impossible to pick apart the incompetence from the transgressive behavior and pettiness. […]

This is Trump. His convention would be his presidency – entertaining and hilarious if he weren’t also a live wire against the fumy gasoline can set against our national home. It is quite literally a terrifying prospect. He’s quite likely to lose his quest for the presidency. But he might not. He’s that close to the unimaginable. And he’s brought almost an entire political party along with him. We will be blessed if we can escape this with no more harm.

Steve Benen (Maddow Blog)

… . There’s something rotten in Republican politics, and it’s contributing to the convention fiasco. This is a party lacking in leadership, substance, and ideas. Each of the individual errors this week help add up to a debacle, but what GOP officials need to recognize is the bankruptcy underpinning all of their many problems.

The nomination of a racist television personality to be president of the United State is a symptom of a larger crisis. Norm Ornstein and Thomas Mann explained this week that Trump’s rise in GOP politics is “the culmination of a proud political party’s steady descent into a deeply destructive and dysfunctional state.

Greg Sargent (Washington Post)
… . Trump wants the key takeaway from the whole convention — including his speech tonight — to be that people come to appreciate that he is very well liked, specifically, that he is already very well liked. Not that he hopes to spell out his and his party’s vision for America (if you can call it that) with new sweep and clarity. Not that he hopes to demonstrate that this vision is preferable to the opposition’s. Not that he hopes people who are undecided in this election, concerned about the country’s future, and choosing between those two competing visions will come away reassured and persuaded by his own.

David Corn (Mother Jones):

Trump’s convention has given voice to the most extremist portions of the right. It has sharpened the partisan divide. It has cast Clinton as a figure who cannot be allowed to take the White House—even if somehow she collects more votes (or the “rigged system” says she collects more votes). Trump has established a term sheet for this election that establishes an alarming dichotomy: If he wins, the process worked; if she wins, the game is corrupt and the results cannot be trusted. This is a perilous moment. There is talk of killing a presidential nominee and a foundation is being set for delegitimizing an election. And the convention is only halfway over.
E. J. Dionne (Washington Post, reprinted in Real Clear Politics):
The journey [i.e., the demonization of Hillary Clinton at the convention] into what once would have been written off as the land of the lunatic fringe explains how Trump has seized control of the GOP and forced traditional Republicans such as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Speaker Paul Ryan to bend to his will. Far from being an intermeddling alien force, Trump represents the true center of gravity in a party that has spent a quarter-century defining itself through extravagant shows of opposition first to the Clinton family and then to Barack Obama.
[…] Trumpism is an ideological wasteland where anger is the only point and winning is the only objective. Here in Cleveland, we have seen what the wasteland looks like.
These excerpts are only a taste of the collective disgust and fear aroused by the antics of The Donald and his RNC minions in Cleveland. All are worth reading in their entirety and all underline just how important the coming election is.
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