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Monthly Archives: August 2024

Vote today – Primary

06 Tuesday Aug 2024

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

election, missouri, Primary

Today is Primary Election Day in Missouri.

Via the Missouri Secretary of State web site:

“Polling places open at 6:00 a.m. and remain open until 7:00 p.m. Those individuals arriving after the polling place has closed will not be allowed to vote. However, those individuals in line at 7:00 p.m. will be allowed to vote.”

[2024 file photo]

When I went to my local polling place early this morning to cast my Democratic Party primary ballot there were right wingnuts electioneering in the parking lot outside the twenty-five foot polling place limit [RSMo §115.637.(18)]. One was wearing a Will Scharf (r) t-shirt and carrying labeled “Vetted Candidates” material. This is the first time I’ve seen electioneering at my polling place. I didn’t engage them.

With nine (apparently) right wingnuts (one with a flamethrower) in the republican gubernatorial primary, six right wingnuts in the republican Lt. Gov. primary, eight right wingnuts (one with a flamethrower – burning books) in the republican Secretary of State primary, and six right wingnuts in the republican State Treasurer primary we can be assured that the eventual republican candidates for the general election will probably get there with just a plurality of the vote, possibly with somewhere between 20-30% of the vote. In Missouri there are only runoff primaries in case of numerical ties among any number of candidates in the race [RSMo §115.515].

The republican primary for Attorney General has two right wingnut candidates who have been relentlessly attacking each other with the assistance of PACs spending in seven figures. We’re rooting for a scoreless tie.

The successful right wingnut republican candidates will, of course, have unlimited finds backing them in the General Election.

You can view statewide office primary, General Assembly primary, and initiative results at the Missouri Secretary of State web site after the polls close

For the results of local races and issues check your local election authority web site.

The last piece – with a twist

05 Monday Aug 2024

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance, meta

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

31st Senate District, campaign finance, Dan Houx, H-PAC, meta, missouri, PAC, Rick Brattin, right wingnuts, theft

The primary election is tomorrow.

The last piece of right wingnut republican attack mail for the 31st Senate District primary arrived in today’s mail:

There isn’t a lick of difference between right wingnut Dan Houx (r) and any of the other right wingnuts running in the republican primary.

“Trying to use taxpayer funds to defend himself in a Twitter [we would have used the term ‘social media’] lawsuit”

True.

Collecting more than $500K in taxpayer funded salaries

That’s probably correct. But it’s a stupid statement. All people who hold elected public office at those levels get paid a salary. Over time it adds up. Dan Houx (r) has been collecting “taxpayer funded salaries” for a while, too.

Sending taxpayer-funded mailers to voters

True. They all can do that. It’s called “franking”. What Rick Brattin (r) did was send a franked piece that looked like a campaign mailing unseemly close to the primary election.

And, China, China, China.

Wait, that image looks familiar.

Those assholes stole my image:

Rick Brattin (r) [2013 Show Me Progress file photo].

[Click on image to enlarge] The dimples and wrinkles in the suit jacket are exactly the same, the hair and hair gel(ish) are exactly the same, the facial expression is exactly the same, the tie and tie knot are exactly the same, the collar and its placement are exactly the same, the stance is exactly the same. They apparently edited out the legislator pin on his lapel.

It was the fifth image in a sequence of five taken from the side gallery of the House chamber:

The image, from external storage/archive:

IMG_6607 [Rick Brattin (r), May 15, 2013]

The data with the original image:

IMG_6607
Type of file: JPG File (JPG)
Size: 5.43 MB (5,694,588 bytes)

Date taken 5/15/2013 1:45 PM
Dimensions 5184 x 3456
Width 5184 pixels
Height 3456 pixels
Horizontal resolution 72 dpi
Vertical resolution 72 dpi
Bit depth 24
Color representation sRGB
Camera maker Canon
Camera model Canon EOS REBEL T4i
F-stop 2.8
Exposure time 1/100 sec
ISO speed ISO-1600
Exposure bias 0 step
Focal length 200 mm

They spent a ton of money on their mailers and yet they were too cheap ass to pay for a tracker or paparazzi to get their own images. They stole mine. Thieving losers.

China, China, China – from a PAC mailer during the right wingnut republican primary in the 4th Congressional District in 2022:

Rick Brattin (r) lost that primary.

Campaign Finance: a face in the crowd

03 Saturday Aug 2024

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Jamie Corley, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission, right wingnut, Secretary of State

We saw another campaign commercial in the Kansas City media market. The noise is substantial. The signal is the same.

Via the Missouri Ethics Commission “24 Hour Notice of Late Contributions/Loans Received-8/6/2024 Primary”:

That’s $350,000.00. Must be nice.

It is a crowded right wingnut republican Secretary of State primary, with eight candidates, including several of the usual embarrassing subjects:

Certified Candidate List
2024 Primary Election
[….]
Secretary of State
Republican

Name Mailing Address Random Number Date Filed

Valentina Gomez 2811 INDIANA AVENUE ST. LOUIS MO 63118 278 2/27/2024

Shane Schoeller PO BOX 746 WILLARD MO 65781 749 2/27/2024

Denny Hoskins PO BOX 118 WARRENSBURG MO 64093 766 2/27/2024

Adam J. Schwadron 419 ANGELIQUE PL ST. CHARLES MO 63303 923 2/27/2024

Jamie Corley 7186 DELMAR BLVD ST LOUIS MO 63130 3/25/2024

Dean Plocher PO BOX 16065 CLAYTON MO 63105 3/26/2024

Mary Elizabeth Coleman PO BOX 1409 131 W HIGH STREET JEFFERSON CITY MO 65102 3/26/2024

Mike Carter 500 BOONE’S LICK RD. ST. CHARLES MO 63301 3/26/2024

From Jamie Corley’s (r) campaign web site:

ELECTION SECURITY
With attacks from the left to impede voter turn out in the 2024 Presidential Election, Missouri needs a Secretary of State who will stand up to those who attempt to stack the deck against their political enemies. Missouri needs to set the expectation of holding free and fair elections with results on Election Day — Jamie Corley is the one who will set that standard. She will ensure that we have a zero-tolerance policy for election interference in the Show-Me State.

Every right wingnut accusation is actually a confession.

PRO-BUSINESS ECONOMY
With people and companies fleeing states like California and New York, Missouri must be competitive in attracting new businesses to our state. This starts by setting the example of supporting the local and small businesses that already drive Missouri’s economy and cutting the bureaucratic red tape that prevents businesses from being successful.

Uh, right wingnut republicans have been in control in Missouri for over twenty years. Your beef is with yourself. Ironic, huh?

CRIME
Jamie Corley has seen the worst of what comes from weak-on-crime policies, and how that impacts communities and businesses. As Secretary of State, Corley will fight for safety and security in our streets so that Missourians and their businesses have the opportunity to thrive. This starts with supporting law enforcement and ensuring that they have the training and resources necessary to effectively do their jobs.

Again, right wingnut republicans have been in control in Missouri for over twenty years.

There’s not a lick of difference among the right wingnut republicans running for Secretary of State.

Venn Diagram of Right Wingnut Orthodoxy – not complete

Do tell us about China

02 Friday Aug 2024

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

31st Senate District, campaign finance, mailing, Mike Haffner, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission, PACs, Primary, Rick Brattin, right wingnut, True Patriot PAC

Our favorite image of Rick Brattin (r):

In today’s mail:

Ironic, eh?

Via the Missouri Ethics Commission:

In the republican primary:

Certified Candidate List
2024 Primary Election
[….]

State Senator – District 31
Republican

Name Mailing Address Random Number Date Filed

Rick Brattin P. O. BOX 421 HARRISONVILLE MO 64701 45 2/27/2024

Michael Haffner PO BOX 407 RAYMORE MO 64083 821 2/27/2024

Dan Houx P. O. BOX 115 WARRENSBURG MO 64093 997 2/27/2024

We’re rooting for a scoreless tie.

Pass the popcorn.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: You get what they pay for (July 25, 2024)

There is no such thing as a “moderate” republican (July 26, 2024)

Lazy and incurious (July 30, 2024)

Campaign Finance: Solidarity ain’t what it used to be (August 2, 2024)

Campaign Finance: Solidarity ain’t what it used to be

02 Friday Aug 2024

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance, Missouri Senate

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

31st Senate District, Dan Houx, mailing, organized labor, PAC, Primary, right wingnut

There is no such thing as a moderate republican. You’d think individuals and organizations would learn. Instead, they persist in wanting to believe in some mythical unicorn despite all evidence to the contray.

In today’s mail:

Venn Diagram of Right Wingnut Orthodoxy – not complete

A right wingnut republican touting an endorsement from the AFL-CIO?

Nothing from Missouri NEA, eh?

And just think of the juxtaposition of an endorsement from the Missouri State Teachers Association (MSTA) with “Defends the 2nd Amendment and voted repeatedly to guarantee Missourians right to conceal and carry”. Missouri Association of School Administrators, too?

“Protecting our kids from liberal indoctrination in our schools”? Is that book banning or book burning? Just asking.

Try as I might, I haven’t been able to find an International Allied Printing Trades Council label – “union bug” – on any of these mailings. Solidarity forever.

Previously:

There is no such thing as a “moderate” republican (July 26, 2024)

Lazy and incurious (July 30, 2024)

Campaign Finance: the high dollar shell game continues

02 Friday Aug 2024

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Attorney General, campaign finance, Club for Growth Action, Defend Missouri PAC, missouri, PACs, right wingnuts, Will Scharff

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission for a right wingnut PAC:

C232374 08/02/2024 Defend Missouri Club for Growth Action – Missouri Federal Committee 1700 Dogwood Farm Lane New Bloomfield MO 65063 8/2/2024 $500,000.00

C232374 08/02/2024 Defend Missouri Club for Growth Action – Missouri Federal Committee 1700 Dogwood Farm Lane New Bloomfield MO 65063 8/2/2024 $20,000.00

[emphasis added]

Some of what they’re paying for:

And those hysterical (both meanings) television ads continue.

The right wingnut republican primary for Attorney Genral has been lit.

Pass the popcorn.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: making the rubble bounce higher (July 25, 2024)

Campaign Finance: even more bounce for the buck (July 26, 2024)

Campaign Finance: salting the Earth (July 31, 2024)

Campaign Finance: yet another right wingnut high dollar shell game (August 1, 2024)

Campaign Finance: yet another right wingnut high dollar shell game

01 Thursday Aug 2024

Posted by Michael Bersin in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Attorney General, campaign finance, Club for Growth Action, Defend Missouri PAC, missouri, Missouri Ethics Commission, PACs, right wingnuts, Will Scharf

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission for a right wingnut PAC:

C232453 08/01/2024 Club for Growth Action – Missouri Federal Committee Paul Singer 340 ROYAL POINCIANA WAY Suite 317-150 Palm Beach FL 33480 Elliott Investment Management Co-CEO/President/Co-CIO 8/1/2024 $500,000.00

[emphasis added]

What they’re paying for – via Missouri Ethics Commission “Amended 8 Day Before Primary Report” – August 1, 2024:

And, in turn, the Defend Missouri PAC pays for this:

And those hysterical television ads.

The right wingnut republican primary for Attorney Genral has been lit.

Pass the popcorn.

Previously:

Campaign Finance: making the rubble bounce higher (July 25, 2024)

Campaign Finance: even more bounce for the buck (July 26, 2024)

Campaign Finance: salting the Earth (July 31, 2024)

Campaign Finance: dreaming on

01 Thursday Aug 2024

Posted by Michael Bersin in campaign finance

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

American Dream PAC, campaign finance, Jay Ashcroft, Mike Kehoe, Missouri Ethics Commission, PAC, right wingnuts

Mike Kehoe (r) [2022 file photo].

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission for the right wingnut PAC propping up Mike Kehoe (r) and attacking Jay Ashcroft (r) in the republican gubernatorial primary:

C180684 08/01/2024 American Dream PAC Uniting Missouri PO Box 444 Farmington MO 63640 8/1/2024 $100,000.00

C180684 08/01/2024 American Dream PAC Rex Sinquefield 244 Bent Walnut Lane Westphalia MO 65805 N/A Retired 8/1/2024 $250,000.00

C180684 08/01/2024 American Dream PAC Nodaway Valley Bank 304 North Main Maryville MO 64468 8/1/2024 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

And, yesterday:

C180684 07/31/2024 American Dream PAC CFM Insurance Inc. PO Box 968 Concordia MO 64020 7/31/2024 $10,000.00

C180684 07/31/2024 American Dream PAC Missouri Senior PAC PO Box 651 Perryville MO 63775 7/31/2024 $15,000.00

C180684 07/31/2024 American Dream PAC Missouri Soybean Association 734 S Country Club Dr. Jefferson City MO 65109 7/31/2024 $25,000.00

C180684 07/31/2024 American Dream PAC Ameren Missouri PO Box 66892 St Louis MO 63166 7/31/2024 $25,000.00

C180684 07/31/2024 American Dream PAC Pharmacist Political Action Committee of Missouri 211 East Capitol Ave. Jefferson City MO 65101 7/31/2024 $5,500.00

[emphasis added]

Jay Ashcroft (r) [2019 file photo].

American Dream PAC
[May 22, 2024]
Today we celebrate the service of America’s Merchant Marines. Why is Jay Ashcroft silent about #NationalMaritimeDay?
For years, Jay Ashcroft tried to hide from Missourians that he was kicked out of the Merchant Marine Academy. When he was forced to come clean, his statement created more questions than it answered.
Did Jay Ashcroft fulfill his obligation to pay back taxpayers who paid his tuition for three years before he was kicked out of the Merchant Marine Academy? If his accounts were actually settled, who paid, and how much?
When Jay Ashcroft kicked out of the Merchant Marine Academy, did he receive special treatment because of his political connections?
Until Jay Ashcroft authorizes the Merchant Marine Academy to release his full record, including the record of his dismissal, Missourians will remain in the dark about Jay Ashcroft’s shadowy past. #NationalMaritimeDay

They don’t appear to like Jay Ashcroft (r).

Some of what the American Dream PAC has spent their money on – Missouri Ethics Commission “24 Hour Expenditure Report” – July 30, 2024:

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