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Monthly Archives: December 2018

A fitting end to 2018

31 Monday Dec 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in social media

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Donald Trump, maroon, Obama, social media, the wall, Twitter

Bad combover. Check. Too long red tie. Check. Orange spray tan. Check. Tiny hands. Check. Cluelessness. Check…

Seriously?

Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump
President and Mrs. Obama built/has a ten foot Wall around their D.C. mansion/compound. I agree, totally necessary for their safety and security. The U.S. needs the same thing, slightly larger version!
3:59 PM – 30 Dec 2018

Eh, what a maroon.

The reality:

Trump claims there’s a 10-foot wall around the Obamas’ D.C. home. He is wrong.
By Michael Brice-Saddler
December 31 at 3:28 PM

In one of his most recent arguments for a southern border wall, President Trump on Sunday falsely claimed that the Washington home of former president Barack Obama and Michelle Obama is surrounded by a 10-foot wall….

Someone bothered to check.

Campaign Finance: What a great name for a campaign committee! Did you think it up all by yourself?

31 Monday Dec 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

campaign finance, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission, PAC

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C180478 12/31/2018 Citizens to Protect Tax Revenues and Jobs Penn National Gaming, Inc. 825 Berkshire Boulevard Wyomissing PA 19610 12/31/2018 $161,781.99

[emphasis added]

C180478 : Citizens To Protect Tax Revenues And Jobs
Committee Type: Political Action
Po Box 156
Jefferson City Mo 65102
Established Date: 06/25/2018
[….]

Previously, this year:

C180478 06/28/2018 Citizens to Protect Tax Revenues and Jobs Penn National Gaming, Inc. 825 Berkshire Boulevard Wyomissing PA 19610 6/26/2018 $200,000.00

C180478 07/27/2018 Citizens to Protect Tax Revenues and Jobs Penn National Gaming, Inc. 825 Berkshire Boulevard Wyomissing PA 19610 7/26/2018 $200,000.00

C180478 08/17/2018 Citizens to Protect Tax Revenues and Jobs Penn National Gaming, Inc. 825 Berkshire Boulevard Wyomissing PA 19610 8/16/2018 $14,858.00

C180478 08/17/2018 Citizens to Protect Tax Revenues and Jobs Penn National Gaming, Inc. 825 Berkshire Boulevard Wyomissing PA 19610 8/17/2018 $100,000.00

C180478 09/28/2018 Citizens to Protect Tax Revenues and Jobs Penn National Gaming, Inc. 825 Berkshire Boulevard Wyomissing PA 19610 9/27/2018 $18,640.82

C180478 10/05/2018 Citizens to Protect Tax Revenues and Jobs Penn National Gaming, Inc. 825 Berkshire Boulevard Wyomissing PA 19610 10/4/2018 $20,000.00

C180478 10/05/2018 Citizens to Protect Tax Revenues and Jobs Penn National Gaming, Inc. 825 Berkshire Boulevard Wyomissing PA 19610 10/4/2018 $13,771.50

C180478 10/26/2018 Citizens to Protect Tax Revenues and Jobs Penn National Gaming, Inc. 825 Berkshire Boulevard Wyomissing PA 19610 10/26/2018 $15,631.00 C180478

11/11/2018 Citizens to Protect Tax Revenues and Jobs Penn National Gaming, Inc. 825 Berkshire Boulevard Wyomissing PA 19610 11/9/2018 $21,000.00

C180478 12/27/2018 Citizens to Protect Tax Revenues and Jobs Penn National Gaming, Inc. 825 Berkshire Boulevard Wyomissing PA 19610 12/26/2018 $101,363.38

What on Earth for?:

MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION
DIRECT EXPENDITURE REPORT
12/6/2018 Citizens to Protect Tax Revenues and Jobs [pdf]

Charter Amendment F Saint Louis County 11/6/2018 [in support] $28,770.00 $540,892.40

It was on the November ballot to allow smoking in casinos in St. Louis County.

Someone draw the line here for us – from “protecting tax revenue and jobs” to allowing smoking on up to 50% of gaming space in a casino (“excursion gambling boat”) in St. Louis County.

Charter Amendment F passed in St. Louis County.

Elizabeth Warren (D) – running for President in 2020

31 Monday Dec 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

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Tags

2020 Presidential Campaign, Elizabeth Warren

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D) has formed a 2020 presidential campaign exploratory committee.

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D) [2016 file photo by Jerry Schmidt]

The transcript:

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D): In our country, if you work hard and play by the rules, you ought to be able to take care of yourself and the people you love. That’s a fundamental promise of America – a promise that should be true for everyone.

Growing up in Oklahoma, that promise came through for me and my family. After my older brothers joined the military and I was still just a kid, my daddy had a heart attack and couldn’t work. My mom found a minimum wage job at Sears, and that job saved our house and our family. My daddy ended up as a janitor, but he raised a daughter who got to be a public school teacher, a law professor, and a Senator. We got a real opportunity to build something.

Working families today face a lot tougher path than my family did. And families of color face a path that is steeper and rockier, a path made even harder by the impact of generations of discrimination.

I’ve spent my career getting to the bottom of why America’s promise works for some families, but others who work just as hard slip through the cracks into disaster. What I’ve found is terrifying: these aren’t cracks that families are falling into – they’re traps. America’s middle class is under attack.

How did we get here? Billionaires and big corporations decided they wanted more of the pie, and they enlisted politicians to cut them a fatter slice. They crippled unions so no one could stop them, [….] dismantled the financial rules meant to keep us safe after the Great Depression, and cut their own taxes so they paid less than their secretaries and janitors.

[….]

After Wall Street crashed our economy in 2008, I left the classroom to go to Washington and confront the broken system head on.

[….]

We created America’s first consumer watchdog to hold the big banks accountable.

[….]

I never thought I’d run for office – not in a million years. But when Republican Senators tried to sabotage the reforms and run me out of town, I went back to Massachusetts and ran against one of them – and I beat him.

[….]

Today, corruption is poisoning our democracy. Politicians look the other way while big insurance companies deny patients life-saving coverage, while big banks rip off consumers, and while big oil companies destroy this planet.

Our government’s supposed to work for all of us, but instead it has become a tool for the wealthy and well-connected. The whole scam is propped up by an echo chamber of fear and hate designed to distract and divide us. People who will do or say anything to hang on to power point the finger at anyone who looks or thinks or prays or loves differently than they do.

But this dark path doesn’t have to be our future. We can make our democracy work for all of us. We can make our economy work for all of us. We can rebuild America’s middle class – but this time, we gotta build it for everyone.

No matter where you live in America, and no matter where your family came from in the world, you deserve a path to opportunity. Because no matter what our differences, most of us want the same thing: to be able to work hard, play by the same set of rules, and take care of the people we love.

That’s the America I’m fighting for, and that’s why today I’m launching an exploratory committee for president. But the outcome of this election will depend on you.

In the last two years, millions of people have done more than they ever thought they thought they would to protect the promise of America. And here’s what we learned: if we organize together, if we fight together, if we persist together, we can win – we can and we will.

Previously:

Julián Castro (D) – running for President in 2020 (December 12, 2018)

My favorite unposted image of the year – June 30, 2018 – Columbia, Missouri

30 Sunday Dec 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in meta, Resist

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

#resist, Columbia, immigration, meta, missouri, photo, protest, retrospective

June was a very busy month.

“Solidarity” – June 30, 2018

F 5.0, 1/640, ISO 200, 200 mm.

We shoot hundreds of frames when we cover an event. This image was not included in our original coverage.

Again, I learned online of an organized rally and march on immigration to be held in front of the Boone County Courthouse in Columbia, Missouri, midday on June 30, 2018. I made the drive to Columbia, arrived early, and found a parking spot north of the courthouse.

It was hot. So much so that early arrivals staked out spots in nearby building shade and under trees on the courthouse grounds.

Did I mention it was hot?

These two women were at the front of the crowd of around five hundred individuals listening and reacting to rally speakers on the courthouse steps.

Previously:

Families Belong Together – Columbia, Missouri – June 30, 2018 (July 1, 2018)

The Political Year in Pictures – 2018 – part 1 (December 28, 2018)

The Political Year in Pictures – 2018 – part 2 (December 28, 2018)

The Political Year in Pictures – 2018 – part 3 (December 28, 2018)

The Political Year in Pictures – 2018 – part 4 (December 28, 2018)

Our top ten traffic posts in 2018 (December 29, 2018)

My favorite image of the year – June 22, 2018 – Overland Park, Kansas (December 29, 2018)

December sky

29 Saturday Dec 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

This evening in west central Missouri:

Sunset. F 9.0, 1/320, ISO 400, 20 mm.

My favorite image of the year – June 22, 2018 – Overland Park, Kansas

29 Saturday Dec 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in meta, Resist

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

#change, #resist, 3rd Congressional District, immigration, Kansas, Kevin Yoder, meta, Overland Park, photo, protest, Sharice Davids

Making a choice was prompted by an exchange on social media.

I really do care. Do U?

On Twitter:

Michael Bersin @MBersin
Replying to @cathysherwin
@KurtEricksonPD My favorite image of the year – June 22, 2018 – immigration protest in front of Rep. Kevin Yoder’s (r) district office in Overland Park, Kansas. #change #YearInReview
[….]
12:03 PM – 29 Dec 2018

F 4.5, 1/400, ISO 200, 180 mm – June was a busy month for public protest.

I had read online that there would be an immigration demonstration in front of Representative Kevin Yoder’s (r) district office in downtown Overland Park on the 22nd starting at 4:00 p.m. I arrived early, parked on the street at a nearby park, and walked to the district office. I had expected a handful of protesters. By the time the demonstration was at its peak there were over five hundred people picketing on the sidewalk. There were a few counter protesters, not more than a handful.

Usually protesters face the street with their signs. Early on I noted this individual with her back to the street. I took a series of images.

It was over four months to the general election, this was Johnson County, Kansas, and over five hundred people showed up. That’s when I realized Kevin Yoder’s (r) 2018 reelection campaign was in trouble.

Sharice Davids (D) is now the Representative-elect for the Third Congressional District of Kansas.

Previously:

Protest imitates fashion (June 22, 2018)

Performance Art (June 22, 2018)

Somebody’s grandmother (June 22, 2018)

Immigration protest at Rep. Kevin Yoder’s (r) district office – Overland Park, Kansas – June 22, 2018 (June 23, 2018)

Our top ten traffic posts in 2018

29 Saturday Dec 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in meta

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

meta, missouri, Show Me Progress

The top ten traffic posts for Show Me Progress in 2018:

1. Claire and the #Trumpshutdown – Claire tries to save military pay, McConnell slaps her down (January 20, 2018)

“While I voted yes tonight to continue funding the government, it’s embarrassing how badly this place is being run,” McCaskill said.

The past is prologue.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) [2018 file photo].

2. Be the badass on the right (June 29, 2018)

In the late afternoon of June 29, 2018 at a Kansas City rally in support of Muslims, Immigrants, & Refugees a young woman with poster board and a marker took it upon herself to peacefully confront a right wingnut counter protester.

The badass on the right. #resist

3. Suppose you organized an open public debate in the 4th Congressional District and the incumbent republican just couldn’t be bothered to show (September 19, 2018)

The Vicky Hartzler (r) of 2010 bears no resemblance to the incumbent Representative Vicky Hartzler (r) of 2018.

4. March for Our Lives – Kansas City – in Theis Park on Saturday, March 24, 2018 (March 20, 2018)

The announcement for the March for Our Lives event held in Kansas City, Missouri. There was a lot of interest. There were a lot of people attending four days later.

“There should be a background check before the NRA is allowed to buy a senator.”

5. Suppose you threw a DNR CAFO hearing in Warrensburg and everyone came? (April 3, 2018)

A company in the process of creating an “up to” 6,999 beef cattle confined animal feeding operation (CAFO) on 400 acres on U.S. 50 in western Johnson County, just west of Powell Gardens, faced a public permit hearing in Warrensburg with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. Hundreds showed up.

6. AG Josh Hawley (r): CAFO manure trumps Powell Gardens (September 1, 2018)

Attorney General Josh Hawley (r) (and now U.S. Senator-elect) literally shit on Powell Gardens (“Kansas City’s botanical garden”) by intervening against a Missouri Administrative Hearing Commission stay of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources decision in support of a confined animal feeding operation [CAFO] up wind of the gardens.

At Powell Gardens, Kingsville, Missouri.

7. He knew. We knew. They knew. Everyone knew. (June 1, 2018)

Posted on the day Eric Greitens (r) resigned as Governor. Chris Koster (D) tried to warn us during the campaign.

Attorney General Chris Koster (D), the party’s nominee for Governor, speaking at a GOTV kickoff rally in Kansas City – October 29, 2016.

8. Seventeen minutes of silence (March 14, 2018)

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. #NationalWalkoutDay

9. Now that’s a CAFO – comments addressed to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (March 21, 2018)

Public comments addressed to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources as part of the permitting process.

“Say No to Valley Oaks”

10. Oh, my – part 3 (January 11, 2018)

When the Eric Greitens (r) scandal broke in the news.

Eric Greitens (r) [2016 file photo].

It’s been quite year.

Previously:

The Political Year in Pictures – 2018 – part 1 (December 28, 2018)

The Political Year in Pictures – 2018 – part 2 (December 28, 2018)

The Political Year in Pictures – 2018 – part 3 (December 28, 2018)

The Political Year in Pictures – 2018 – part 4 (December 28, 2018)

About that state budget – very bad tidings

28 Friday Dec 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri House

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

budget, General Assembly, missouri, revenue, SB 509

Representative Crystal Quade (D) [2018 file photo].

This evening:

Crystal Quade @crystal_quade
Democrat Budget Ranking member @Kip_Kendrick on the revenue estimate #moleg
[….]
5:06 PM – 28 Dec 2018

Representative Kip Kendrick (D) [2018 file photo].

Revenue estimate shows Missouri in for yet another rough budget

The official revenue estimate released today for FY 020 shows Missouri has yet another rough budget year ahead and again proves [the] folly of attempting to tax-cut your way to prosperity. While the estimate reflects an expected $193 million in revenue growth, it is silent on the $320 million in revenue Missouri won’t collect next year due to the next phase of implementing an ill-advised 2014 tax cut [SB 509] As House Democrats warned then, this tax giveaway for [the] rich is resulting in serious consequences for everyone else.

State Rep. Kip Kendrick
House Budget Committee, Ranking Democratic Member
D-Columbia

Everyone knew this over four years ago.

SB 509: the moment when all hope for the future of Missouri died (May 6, 2014)

The final vote to override Governor Jay Nixon’s veto of SB 509. Representative Jeremy LaFaver (D) (left) – bearing witness, Representative Keith English (center) – casting the 109th vote necessary for the override, and Representative Ron Hicks (r) (right) – his escort on and off the House floor. May 6, 2014.

Representative Martha Stevens (D) [2018 file photo].

Kip Kendrick @Kip_Kendrick
Replying to @MBersin @Martha4MO
3 years into 5 year phase in and conservative estimate is $320 million this year. Year 4 and 5 will basically double this year’s cost.
6:13 PM – 28 Dec 2018

What, a $640 million shortfall the year after that?

No hope. It died on May 6, 2014.

The Political Year in Pictures – 2018 – part 4

28 Friday Dec 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

missouri, photos, pictures, retrospective

The continuation of our retrospective.

November

The coordinated campaign field office in Warrensburg, Missouri.

2 days (November 4, 2018)

The new Kansas (November 6, 2018)

“Real Traitor”

Back to the streets – Kansas City, Missouri – November 8, 2018 (November 8, 2018)

Who’s next (November 24, 2018)

Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America – Johnson County

Coexist (November 30, 2018)

December

The comet:

46P/Wirtanen

Searching for 46P/Wirtanen (December 9, 2018)

Finding 46P/Wirtanen (December 15, 2018)

Finding 46P/Wirtanen – again (December 16, 2018)

Governor Mike Parson (r) [2018 file photo].

Campaign Finance: “…make just one someone happy…” (December 18, 2018)

Campaign Finance: Oh, Santa, you shouldn’t have! (December 26, 2018)

A fitting end. It’s always about the money.

Previously:

The Political Year in Pictures – 2018 – part 1 (December 28, 2018)

The Political Year in Pictures – 2018 – part 2 (December 28, 2018)

The Political Year in Pictures – 2018 – part 3 (December 28, 2018)

The Political Year in Pictures – 2018 – part 3

28 Friday Dec 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

missouri, photos, pictures, retrospective

The continuation of our retrospective.

August

Good morning (August 1, 2018)

Proposition A – “Right to Get Paid Less” – loses big (August 7, 2018)

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) in Columbia, Missouri – August 7, 2018

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) and Josh Hawley (r) (August 8, 2018)

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) – with campaign volunteers in Columbia, Missouri – August 7, 2018 (August 8, 2018)

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D): opening day at the Missouri State Fair (August 9, 2018)

Concerned Women for America “Women for Kavanaugh” tour bus outside the Missouri State Fair Governor’s Ham Breakfast – August 2018.

For right wingnuts “The Handmaid’s Tale” is not dystopian fiction, it’s aspirational (August 16, 2018)

Keri Ingle (D), the Democratic Party candidate in the 35th Legislative District.

Keri Ingle (D) – 35th Legislative District – retail politics (August 19, 2018)

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) in Lee’s Summit – Press Q and A – August 25, 2018 (August 25, 2018)

September

Retail politics:

Suppose you organized an open public debate in the 4th Congressional District and the incumbent republican just couldn’t be bothered to show (September 19, 2018)

Fall weather brings Fall festivals (September 29, 2018)

October

Monarch. F 6.3, 1/1000, ISO 800, 200 mm, 25 mm extension tube.

Monarch (October 2, 2018)

The refreshing beverage of choice for Associate Supreme Court Justices everywhere…

At the U.S. Supreme Court reception after yesterday’s quickie swearing in ceremony… (October 7, 2018)

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) – in Warrensburg – October 8, 2018.

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) in Warrensburg – October 8, 2018 (October 8, 2018)

Watching from the main dining room.

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) – Odessa, Missouri – October 15, 2018 (October 15, 2018)

Moms.

Vote Blue.

A Saturday morning parade (October 27, 2018)

Previously:

The Political Year in Pictures – 2018 – part 1 (December 28, 2018)

The Political Year in Pictures – 2018 – part 2 (December 28, 2018)

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