Monthly Archives: August 2021

Governor’s Ham Breakfast – Missouri State Fair – Sedalia – August 19, 2021

19 Thursday Aug 2021

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The Governor’s Ham Breakfast at the Missouri State Fair took place this morning in Sedalia. This annual event is usually a “must attend” function for Missouri legislators, statewide office holders, and members of Congress. Usually.

There are always displays of yard signs and a gauntlet of t-shirt bedecked volunteers passing out campaign stickers at the entrance to the morning’s festivities.

It’s an opportunity for us to replenish our “b roll” of file photos of Missouri politicians with newer images. The problem is that the members of the General Assembly come by so thick and fast we can’t keep up. But we do get a few photos.

The annual Trump cult shrine.

Billy Long’s (r) campaign bus and Billy Long made an appearance.

The Missouri State Fair Queen, Rosie Lenz:

The cult of the lost cause:

Representative Rick Francis (r):

Flying above the annual Trump cult shrine:

MAGA “Bullshit” flag [top].

Representative Billy Long (r).

Representative Willard Haley (r):

Billy Long (r).

Masks anyone?

Missouri Attorney General and amateur medical expert Eric Schmitt (r).

Representative Vicky Hartzler(r):

New file photos!

Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (r):

Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer (r):

Representative Jason Smith (r), sporting a January 6, 2021 sedition look:

In case you’re wondering – in over an hour standing at the entrance with a camera and a 400 mm lens to help me keep my distance I counted only four individuals, including me, out of the many attending who were wearing masks.

Welcome to Missouri.

Stepping on the tines of a garden rake

18 Wednesday Aug 2021

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“…The deal also provides for a prisoner swap. Some 5,000 Taliban prisoners…”

Representative Vicky Hartzler (r) [2016 file photo].

Then:

Afghan conflict: US and Taliban sign deal to end 18-year war
Published 29 February 2020
[….]

Within the first 135 days of the deal the US will reduce its forces in Afghanistan to 8,600, with allies also drawing down their forces proportionately.

The move would allow US President Donald Trump to show that he has brought troops home ahead of the US presidential election in November.

The deal also provides for a prisoner swap. Some 5,000 Taliban prisoners and 1,000 Afghan security force prisoners would be exchanged by 10 March, when talks between the Taliban and the Afghan government are due to start.

The US will also lift sanctions against the Taliban and work with the UN to lift its separate sanctions against the group.

[….]

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

Now:

Rep. Vicky Hartzler @RepHartzler
[….]
With reports from our border of suspected terrorists attempting to enter America while the Taliban releases prisoners linked to terrorist groups, Biden must do what he has refused to do – take action and close the border from illegal immigration to protect American lives.
2:22 PM · Aug 18, 2021

Vicky Hartzler (r) [2016 file photo].

“…while the Taliban releases prisoners linked to terrorist groups…”

Some of the responses:

Yeah, we don’t need any foreign terrorists, we have our own domestic terrorists.

I don’t care what a member of the #SeditionCaucus has to say.
[….]

You have lost your mind #GOPLiesAboutEverything

You are no different than Boebart and Greene. You are tied to them and trump for ever

There’s that.

Previously:

Doha? Never heard of it…. (August 15, 2021)

Campaign Finance: social promotion

17 Tuesday Aug 2021

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Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C131144 08/17/2021 CITIZENS FOR EGGLESTON J Eggleston Box 290 Maysville MO 64469 Self Electronics Retailer 8/17/2021 $100,000.00

[emphasis added]

It’s a start. Just wait until the grass roots starts kicking in.

Rep. J. Eggleston, a Republican, represents Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, and Harrison counties (District 2) in the Missouri House of Representatives. He was elected to his first two-year term in November 2014.
[….]

Ah, term limits.

No room

17 Tuesday Aug 2021

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In west central Missouri, one person’s story.

I just received word from a friend that their elderly parent fell and broke a leg. This injury will require surgery and a hospital stay. Their local small town hospital has no available beds. Due to COVID-19 cases. This in a county with a very low vaccination rate and active anti-mask agitators.

Their injured parent was transferred to a suburban hospital. That hospital has no available beds. Their parent is in that hospital’s emergency department until a bed becomes available. The friend described a scene with patients in beds in the hallways.

What does anyone think will happen to a patient in the case of a heart attack, or a stroke, or injuries due to a car accident?

If you’re anti-vaccine and/or anti-mask you own this. It’s your world. And you’re a dumbass sociopath.

If you haven’t already done so, get vaccinated.

Wear a damn mask.

This you, Josh?

16 Monday Aug 2021

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Josh Hawley (r) [2016 file photo].

This you, Josh?:

Josh Hawley @HawleyMO
President Biden should withdraw troops in Afghanistan by May 1, as the Trump administration planned, but better late than never. It’s time for this forever war to end
[….]
12:40 PM · Apr 13, 2021

This is now:

Josh Hawley @HawleyMO
My statement on the crisis that Joe Biden’s failure of leadership has caused in Afghanistan
[blah, blah, blah…]
12:15 PM · Aug 16, 2021

Some of the responses:

Too bad you said nothing about Trump’s decision to withdraw.

More seriously, what would YOU have done to prevent this.

It is strange you only mention Biden. Who got us into Afghanistan?

Did you include the part that said, you realize he was fulfilling the promises made by the previous, DJT last March and May of 2020 When he gave them a gift of 5,000 Taliban prisoners ahead of his so called negotiation Peace Talks he wanted them to attend at Camp David? I bet not

Trump cutting a deal with the Taliban without the Afghan gov even being involved was “hugely demoralizing” and led to the current chaos. Just weeks before the 2020 election, the Taliban endorsed Trump for pres in the hopes he would “wind up U.S. military presence in Afghanistan.”

1 month ago, Trump claimed full, unequivocal credit for the withdrawal in Afghanistan. “I started the [withdrawal] process. [Biden] couldn’t stop the process.”

Biden merely completed what TFG started to begin with. If there’s blame, you know where to go
[….]

You’re just jealous the Taliban pulled off what you couldn’t on 1/6.

There’s that.

Talk to trump, he set this up. Released prisoners. Met with taliban but didn’t include Afghanistan officials in on the agreement. Why

If it’s bidens fault why take down the website that praised trump for his great negotiating skills in Afghanistan

There’s that.

Where was your outrage when the deal was signed by Trump last February?

Good question. Apparently it isn’t what is done, it’s who did it that outrages them. I guess they also forgot the Kurds.

Are you visiting MO or in VA where you actually reside?

Some questions on military capacity do indeed need answers, but this is a ridiculous over-simplification of complex & intractable problems.

What about the Doha Agreement signed on Feb. 29, 2020?

Doha? Never heard of it…. (August 15, 2021)

Didn’t you say that you wanted to withdraw forces when Trump was in power? Why has your opinion changed?

Who negotiated it Josh? It wasn’t Biden.

Josh, where were you when #tfg released 5000 Taliban prisoners?

Actually, Biden is the one whose leadership had succeeded whereas Bush, Obama, and Trump failed. Once the dust settles, the only thing people will care about is that he got us out.

Memory loss? [….]

Gaslighting, actually.

And on and on…

Nothing new here

16 Monday Aug 2021

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Missouri Revised Statutes:

[§]167.181. Immunization of pupils against certain diseases compulsory — exceptions — records — to be at public expense, when — fluoride treatments administered, when — rulemaking authority, procedure. — 1. The department of health and senior services, after consultation with the department of elementary and secondary education, shall promulgate rules and regulations governing the immunization against poliomyelitis, rubella, rubeola, mumps, tetanus, pertussis, diphtheria, and hepatitis B, to be required of children attending public, private, parochial or parish schools. Such rules and regulations may modify the immunizations that are required of children in this subsection. The immunizations required and the manner and frequency of their administration shall conform to recognized standards of medical practice. The department of health and senior services shall supervise and secure the enforcement of the required immunization program.

  2. It is unlawful for any student to attend school unless he has been immunized as required under the rules and regulations of the department of health and senior services, and can provide satisfactory evidence of such immunization; except that if he produces satisfactory evidence of having begun the process of immunization, he may continue to attend school as long as the immunization process is being accomplished in the prescribed manner. It is unlawful for any parent or guardian to refuse or neglect to have his child immunized as required by this section, unless the child is properly exempted.

[….]

Yesterday:

State Representative Brian Seitz
Yesterday at 2:24 PM ·
I joined hundreds of Patriots last night in front of Mercy Hospital as we took a stand against mask and vaccine mandates. Our healthcare workers, and employees in all other industries, should not be forced to choose between their job and a jab.
Getting the vaccine and wearing a mask are personal decisions that each individual should be able to make for themselves in consultation with their families and their doctors. No one should be forced or coerced into making these medical decisions.
We must confront tyranny wherever it is found, be that in government or the private sector, and I will proudly fight alongside you as we say NO to these Draconian mandates. Enough is enough.
[….]

“…against mask and vaccine mandates…” Ever have surgery? Just asking.

Dumbasses.

Two of the comments:

Here’s an idea. Why don’t you guys form your own society and breathe Covid germs all over each other to your hearts content? No vaccines and no preventative measures of any kind. The only catch is you can’t go to the hospital in real society. You game?

Good to see you out there actively pushing for people to have rights over what is happening with their bodies. Can I expect you to vote pro-choice from now on? Or are you strictly only for that when it comes to Covid-19 and vaccines?
Get vaccinated you fuckwits.

Spending $15 million promoting tourism has made all the difference

15 Sunday Aug 2021

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Mike Parson (r) [2019 file photo].

July 16, 2020:

[….]

Destination Marketing Organization Grant Program

Through this program, $15 million in CARES Act funding will be designated for destination marketing organizations (DMOs), entities that promote Missouri as a great place to visit. The funds will be administered by the Missouri Division of Tourism and will grant eligible DMOs funding for recovery efforts such as payroll relief, reimbursement for necessary safety equipment, and the initiation of marketing campaigns with messaging focused on safe travel. Eligible DMOs must have participated in the Division’s Cooperative Marketing Program in FY19, FY20, or both.

“This program is part of a focused effort to support Missouri’s tourism industry. When the COVID-19 health emergency hit Missouri, the tourism and hospitality industry nearly shut down completely,” Missouri Department of Economic Development Director Rob Dixon said. “This funding will help our tourism industry make our state’s many attractions and activities safer and reinforce messaging to encourage visitors to come to Missouri and safely enjoy all there is to see and do here.”

[….]

Sure, a great place to visit.

Tonight:

Charles P. Pierce @CharlesPPierce
[….]
I hear Missouri is nice this time of year. Except for, you know, the pandemic.
8:14 PM · Aug 15, 2021

Doha? Never heard of it….

15 Sunday Aug 2021

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Agreement for Bringing Peace to Afghanistan
between the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States
as a state and is known as the Taliban and the United States of America
February 29, 2020

[….]

The United States is committed to withdraw from Afghanistan all military forces of the United States, its allies, and Coalition partners, including all non-diplomatic civilian personnel, private security contractors, trainers, advisors, and supporting services personnel within fourteen (14) months following announcement of this agreement, and will take the following measures in this regard…

[….]

With the start of intra-Afghan negotiations, the United States will initiate an administrative review of current U.S. sanctions and the rewards list against members of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and is known as the Taliban with the goal of removing these sanctions by August 27, 2020…

[….]

With the start of intra-Afghan negotiations, the United States will start diplomatic engagement with other members of the United Nations Security Council and Afghanistan to remove members of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan which is not recognized by the United States as a state and is known as the Taliban from the sanctions list with the aim of achieving this objective by May 29, 2020…

[….]

Signed in Doha, Qatar on February 29, 2020…

Remind us. Who was president and who was running the Department of State in 2020?

Representative Vicky Hartzler (r) [2016 file photo].

This afternoon:

Rep. Vicky Hartzler @RepHartzler
One month ago, Biden declared that the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan was not inevitable and that the Afghan government would not collapse.

Today, he could not be more wrong as the Taliban has overtaken the country and President Ghani has fled Afghanistan.

(1/4)
1:01 PM · Aug 15, 2021

Rep. Vicky Hartzler @RepHartzler
[….]
With this latest act of incompetence, the Biden administration’s track record of repeated negligence has resulted in crises at our border, in our communities, and now overseas in the Middle East.

(2/4)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler @RepHartzler
[….]
In Afghanistan, gone and lost are decades of progress for women, who will now see their advances crushed under Sharia Law.

I pray for them on this somber day and condemn our current administration for their bungled and failed withdrawal from Afghanistan.

(3/4)

Some of the responses:

Actually, the former guy, who you supported, wanted us out earlier.

In the meantime, what should Biden have done?

I missed your call for sending more troops. Did you?

Do you have the reaction with Trump inviting the same Taliban to Camp David? How about Pompeo just 10 months ago in face to face meeting with the man who is being called new Taliban President?

This isn’t Biden’s fault. It’s a losing game. What are we to do?

So you must have been furious when Trump invited the Taliban to Camp David.

1) Afghanistan is not “the Middle East”. 2) Biden inherited this 20 years war. US had already drawn down troops when he took office. Did you criticize Trump for that?

“…In Afghanistan, gone and lost are decades of progress for women, who will now see their advances crushed under Sharia Law.”

Does anyone want to tell her?

Previously:

May 1, 2021 (August 15, 2021)

August 15, 2021 (August 15, 2021)

August 15, 2021

15 Sunday Aug 2021

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Jason Kander (D) [2016 file photo].

This morning:

Jason Kander @JasonKander
We defeated Al Qaeda.

It was mission creep to attempt to build a western style government.

We improved many lives during these 20 years.

The Taliban was always going to wait us out.

We succeeded. We also failed.

I feel pride, anger, and sadness.

All of it can be true.
9:38 AM · Aug 15, 2021

Previously:

May 1, 2021 (August 15, 2021)

May 1, 2021

15 Sunday Aug 2021

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

This morning:

Rep. Vicky Hartzler @RepHartzler
I just finished a briefing on the truly sickening situation unfolding right now in Afghanistan.

The diplomatic pressure of warning the Taliban that if they hurt people there will be “international condemnation and isolation” is a joke.
[….]
9:52 AM · Aug 15, 2021

A response:

Where were you, Vicky, when trump ordered the withdrawal of US troops by May 1, 2021?

Vicky Hartzler (r) [2016 file photo].

What’s another twenty years, right?