Category Archives: Missouri Senate

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 – part 3

09 Tuesday May 2023

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Rick Brattin (r) and Denny Hoskins (r) are the pre-eminent legal scholars and final arbiters of the law in the State of Missouri, said no one ever.

Rick Brattin (r) [2013 file photo].

Denny Hoskins (r) [2017 file photo].

A group billing themselves as Johnson County Citizens for the Protection of Children is still up in arms about the Warrensburg Pride Festival scheduled for June 3, 2023. There will be drag shows on the program. You know, fancy costumes, theatrical makeup, show tunes. This is nothing new. There were Pride Festivals in Warrensburg in 2021 and 2022.

These right wingnut busybodies had organized on-line to present a petition to the Warrensburg City Council during the public comment portion of the City Council’s evening meeting on April 24th to limit or cancel the Pride Festival. A loosely organized group of LGBTQIA+ allies organized on-line to speak in support of the Pride Festival.

The pearl clutching busybodies returned to last night’s City Council to demand an ordinance banning drag shows in Warrensburg, this time with photos on posterboard. In the period between the two council meetings the producers of the Pride Festival had already changed the festival format to 18 years of age and older due to reported threats against the festival and the venue. A similar group of LGBTQIA+ allies attended and signed in to speak in support of the Pride Festival and against a city ordinance.

At last night’s meeting several of the busybodies made reference to a letter from Rick Brattin (r) addressed to the Warrensburg Police Department dated April 21, 2023. At the end of the meeting we requested a copy of the letter from the city. Denny Hoskins (r) also signed the letter.

…It has recently come to my attention that the “Warrensburg Pride Festival” program is scheduled for Saturday, June 3…in Warrensburg, Missouri. This is troubling for several reasons. First, the show is advertised as “family-friendly” and for guests “of all ages.” The event promotion includes no warning for “adult content” whatsoever for these drag shows that event organizers deem “family friendly.” A simple internet [sic] of similar shows reveals the content of such events is, at best, inappropriate for all ages and, at worst, highly sexualized and wholly unsuitable for children.

In fact, reports of these shows are so obscene and indecent that listing them in this letter would be unsuitable as it may be read minors. There can be no reasonable doubt that the good people of Warrensburg would be appalled by the behavior on display at these types of events, especially considering this behavior is being actively marketed to their children in apparent hopes they would become desensitized to such tasteless activities, and as a result, become sexualized at a young age. Not only are these shows immoral, but they are also illegal under Missouri State statute…

…It is abundantly clear that drag shows violate the existing Missouri State Statute, and it is time for them to be dealt accordingly. When I became a Marine, I swore an oath to the Constitution, and that oath never expires. Our Federal and State Constitutions share a common thread: all of us, whether elected officials or law enforcement officers, have a duty to protect the most vulnerable in our community. Our most precious resource, our children, is under attack, and it is time that we engage with those who harm them by destroying their hearts and minds.

I call on my fellow patriots with the Warrensburg Police Department to put a stop to this behavior and enforce Missouri’s existing laws. These types of events must be stopped, and the businesses that facilitate these events must be punished. We must also deal with these “drag queens” who are just men with perverted intentions, in accordance with exiting state law. I know these battles are not easy, but I want Chief Munsterman, and every member of the Warrensburg Police Department to know that I will…

…have your back. Not only will I have your back, but I am willing to stand alongside you as you protect our community.

I want to close out this letter by thanking the Warrensburg Police Department for all that you do. You deal with the madness of society so the rest of us can go home each night and enjoy our families in peace. Thank you, and God bless you.

Respectfully,
s/
Rick Brattin
[….]

s/
Denny Hoskins
[….]

Letter from Rick Brattin (r) and Denny Hoskins (r) to the Warrensburg Police

The only thing that’s actually obscene in this entire episode is this letter.

Previously:

Warrensburg Pride Festival – June 26, 2021 (June 26, 2021)

Local busybodies engage in pearl clutching (June 3, 2022)

“I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians, they are so unlike your Christ.” (June 4, 2022)

Pride Festival – Warrensburg, Missouri – June 4, 2022 (June 4, 2022)

The pearl clutching right wingnut bigots among us (April 19, 2023)

Always the other (April 21, 2023)

Meta – The pearl clutching right wingnut bigots among us (April 22, 2023)

Unified Field Theory of Right Wingnut Pearl Clutching, Self-Righteousness, and Victimhood (April 22, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council – April 24, 2023 (April 25, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council – April 24, 2023 – part 2 (April 26, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 (May 9, 2023)

Addressing Bigotry – Warrensburg, Missouri City Council Meeting – May 8, 2023 – part 2 (May 9, 2023)

Stop digging. Just stop.

13 Thursday Apr 2023

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Senate

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Lunacy.

Mike Moon (r) [2018 file photo].

Because he believes that nothing is wrong with this.

Today:

[image cropped]

Senate Democrats @MoSenDems
BREAKING: Republican Senator Mike Moon seeks to clarify his endorsement of child brides after a clip went viral of him supporting 12 year olds getting married.

In his clarification, Sen. Moon wants everyone to know the girl was 11, not 12, and she was impregnated. #moleg
[….]
2:20 PM · Apr 13, 2023

What?

Some of the responses:

OMG!!! The parents should be in jail.

Ah, well, that makes it all fine then. /s

What year is it again?

This explanation does not help explain the confidence in his position. In fact, why would parents support this travesty?

Oh, that makes it much better. Jesus

The “young man“ was 12. At 12, you are not even a teenager, much less a young man. He was a child, as was she. You know some horrible religion was involved to sanction the child abuse. I am so sorry for those kids.

Well, that makes it all better. Shotgun weddings are so underrated.

These Republicans are insane. No intelligent & civilized society supports this.

Yeah. That’s doesn’t help his position at all.

Every time he clarifies this story, he makes it worse.

Keep digging, Mike sweetie. The whole just keeps getting deeper.

Why did they even need to get married then? Never mind, being rational is too high a bar.

FFS, he’s making it worse.

WTF? Does Senator Moon not understand how dangerous that was for the pregnant child? And are we so disconnected each other that he didn’t think we would be horrified by his answer?

This is supposed to be a standard for our children? What is wrong with these people?

Not the least bit better. He’s as ignorant as they come. [….]

In the news:

Missouri senator says he doesn’t support adults marrying children, after comments went viral

[….]

Moon said the example he was referring to is a couple he has known for about 40 years.

“The young man was 12; the girl was 11,” he said. “Their parents allowed them to marry. There was no forcing in the situation. But the parents wisely took the boy to their home, and the girls’ parents took her to their home.

“Eventually a child was born to the girl, and then years later, when they were able to support themselves and they were more mature, they were able to begin living together, and still living together today,” Moon said, adding the 2018 legislation would’ve made that type of marriage illegal.

[….]

Previously:

This is Missouri (April 12, 2023)

You might want to stop digging, Mike (r) (April 12, 2023)

You might want to stop digging, Mike (r)

12 Wednesday Apr 2023

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Senate, social media

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Lunacy.

Mike Moon (r) [2018 file photo].

Mike Moon @realmikemoon
Something that is often missing is the back story. With regard to my answer, I did not discuss the details: a 12 year old impregnated a minor of similar age. With consent of the parents, they married… and are still married today.
2:01 PM · Apr 12, 2023

Some of the responses:

So this girl was raped & impregnated at 12. She was then forced into “marriage” & CHILD BIRTH while still in middle school, just so the church could “bless” her being raped forever by her “husband.” Now you tell us she’s still trapped today & that’s supposed to make it better?

Mike Moon (r) keeps digging:

Mike Moon @realmikemoon
You clearly did not understand. Her parents consented – no force. Their marriage is thriving.
3:09 PM · Apr 12, 2023

I’m trying to figure out if you’re being serious, or just trolling.

It doesn’t matter if their marriage lasts 70 years. It shouldn’t have started when she was 12 yrs old. The parents never had the right to give their consent. We don’t live in a Third World country

Ahem, Missouri.

It’s impossible that two married 12 year olds are thriving. This is just horrible. I hope this is just a story he made up to try to cushion his position and it’s backfired on him.

With all due respect, Mr. Moon: you’re arguing semantics.

At the first mention of someone questioning whether the marriage of a 12-year-old is acceptable, your answer shouldn’t be “it’s up to the parents.”

It isn’t up to the parents. We answer to a rule of law.

Also don’t lose focus on the mealy mouthed “minor of similar age” which means the girl was probably even younger than 12.

We don’t actually know that. It’s bad enough as it is.

Disgusting. People want to know what is happening in the USA. Fascism and it is hitting the GOP States first. Next, you will want 9-year-olds to work in unregulated factories.

The back story is that a 12-year-old child was raped because, as a 12 yr old, she cannot offer consent.

And no sex education classes because that would be grooming. Epic fail on his example and defense.

Do you really think that makes it valid?

Ah that’s absolutely fine then – carry on promoting that backstory [….] dear lord America you are so so broken

Gross. What’s wrong with you?

That’s not marriage. That’s rape

So you want 12 year olds giving birth more freely

The scariest part is that you think there is an explanation

Define ‘similar age’ here.

You disgust me.

This doesn’t have the mitigating effect you might hope.

And that makes it okay? Sure sounds like rape, not consent.

Let me first say that a 12 year old girl is not capable of giving informed consent – she is a child for heavens sake
Anybody arguing it was OK for a grown man to marry a 12 year old girl is a GROOMER – pure and simple!
You should be ashamed of yourself
#PedophileEnabler #GROOMER

There’s no circumstance where it’s OK for 12 year olds to marry each other.
If you can’t drive yourself to the courthouse or chapel you shouldn’t be getting married.

Becoming a parent does not instill a sudden well of common sense, knowledge, or good decision-making. Some parents, like these, who would consent to marriage and sex between children are committing child abuse.

Hey Mr Freedom Mike… the freedom to marry at age 12 isn’t freedom. That’s straight up creepy and disgusting.

12 years old.

You’re approving marriage for minors.

There is no further explanation needed.

Something that is missing, Mr. Moon, is even a modicum of sense from you. But hey, congratulations! You’ve garnered national attention with your comments, so now it’s not just folks in Missouri who will be helping your opponents going forward. Have a great day!

That is still rape even if they are young. Forcing marriage on the 12 year old rape victim is NOT Justice.

You claim to hate groomers, yet here you are being a mouthpiece for groomers, giving them the power to rape little girls who cannot consent to rape. But you claim a piece of paper from the government gives those groomers the right to do as they wish

You’re disgusting.

So they should be allowed to vote then??

We all know the back story and it’s despicable.

Twelve year olds can’t drive, enlist, work 40 hours a week, vote, buy ATF, but can marry and raise a child? Since you’re a champion of this, I assume you’re sponsoring a Minors Raising Minors act where medical and living expenses will be paid for them? No? Didn’t think so.

Jfc, that does NOT make it ok. She’s trapped. Nasty child fookers. Talk about #Groomer

What exactly is of similar age? This is still an abomination. She was raped, you sick SOB.

So you left the door open for adults to marry kids? Simple question, Mike.

So a raped 12 year old should be forced into marriage and parenthood with no education and no means to support said “family”? And no social systems to help, because the GOP opposes all of that as “socialism”. Keep them ignorant & enslaved seems to be what you’re about.

There’s no fcking back story! No children should be married and raped under any circumstance! Unfckgbelievable.

So, would be your opinion be if the marriage was NOT thriving?

WTF does “minor of similar age” mean – was the girl even younger?

Was this child allowed to finish school or immediately indentured to the life of mother and wife?

The fact you think the marriage is thriving shows you also don’t understand how grooming works.

Uh… with absolutely zero respect… you’re fucking vile.

So wait….no minor transgender surgeries, no tattoos without consent, but “it depends” on a 12 yer old getting married?

You’re a sick fuck.

There is NO possible context that makes what you said ok.

Your party is for 12 year old children being married.

Your position is: better a 12 year old child be forced to marry their rapist than an abortion happen.

There is NO fucking cleaning that up moron!

Great logic you ignorant jerk. You are an embarrassment to Missouri.

Please stop yourself from talking right now.

My God, stop talking.

This isn’t better. Babies having babies IS NOT BETTER.

Seriously, what in the Hillbilly Fuckery is wrong with you. Caveman talk.

Honestly, this was a horrible take by you. I am disgusted as a fellow human.

In Missouri.

Previously:

This is Missouri (April 12, 2023)

This is Missouri

12 Wednesday Apr 2023

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri House, Missouri Senate, social media

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Lunacy.

In the Missouri General Assembly:

Rep. Peter Merideth (D): I’ve heard you talk about parents’ rights to raise their kids the way they want. In fact, I just double checked, you voted ‘no’ on making it illegal for kids to be married to adults at the age of twelve if their parents consented to it. You said, actually, that should be the law because it’s the parents’ right and the kid’s right to decide what’s best for them. To be raped by an adult. Okay. [crosstalk] With marriage.

Sen Mike Moon (r): [crosstalk] Do you know any kids that have been married, age twelve?

Rep. Peter Merideth (D): That was the law. [crosstalk] You voted not to change it.

Sen Mike Moon (r): Do you know any kids? [crosstalk] Do you know any kids that have been married at age twelve?

Rep. Peter Merideth (D): I don’t need to. [crosstalk] Uh.

Sen Mike Moon (r): I do. And guess what? They’re still married.
[….]

Mike Moon (r) called them “kids”. He knows.

We called Rep. Peter Merideth’s (D) office in the capitol in Jefferson City to confirm that this exchange with Sen. Mike Moon (r) at a House committee hearing did indeed take place.

It did.

Mike Moon (r) [2019 file photo].

From Rep. Peter Merideth (D) [April 11, 2023]:

Just had a rough inquiry with Sen Mike Moon on his hateful ban on trans medical care. I asked about his typical opposition to government interference with parenting decisions, even those that (unlike gender affirming care) are considered dangerous and harmful by pediatricians and psychologists around the country. I pointed to this vote of his from a couple years ago.

That’s right. He believes government has no right to prevent a 12 year old girl from marrying and legally having sex with a 40 year old if their parents are ok with it. But he thinks it’s the government’s role to ban kids getting medical treatments that have the support of their parents, the overwhelming medical community, and years of medical and psychological counseling and deliberation.

[….]

Peter Merideth (D) [2021 file photo].

This is Missouri.

Campaign Finance: it’s a start

30 Thursday Mar 2023

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Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C232382 03/30/2023 Bowlin for Missouri Jim Bowlin 2165 Timberline Valley Drive Wildwood MO 63069 Keystone Mutual Insurance Co CEO 3/30/2023 $100,000.00

[emphasis added]

Must be nice.

Bowlin for Missouri – Active
MECID: C232382
Committee Type: Candidate
[….]
8/6/2024 Primary Election State Senator District 15 Missouri State Senate

Who?

Jim Bowlin Earned Scholarships To Be The First Person In His Family To Go To College. He Went On To Study Law, Ultimately Obtaining A Law Degree From The University Of Missouri.
Jim Has Worked As A Laborer And Later Built A Small Business From The Ground Up To A Successful Company. His Company Provides Insurance To Physicians At A Low Cost So They Stay In Our Community And Serve Our Families.
He Was Elected To Serve His Community As Mayor Where He Has Distinguished Himself To Provide Critical Services Including Adequately Funding The Police While Keeping Taxes Low.
Jim Has Never Forgotten That When He Worked At His Local Bank As A Teenager He Was Responsible For Other People’s Money, A Lesson He Has Applied As Mayor Of His Community.
Guided By His Faith He Has Worked Hard For Everything His Entire Life—Never Taken Anything For Granted, Especially The Trust People Have Put In Him, His Company, And His Community Service.

Apparently, capitalizing the beginning of every word in a sentence is a hobby.

From Issues:

Crime Is At An All-Time High In Our Region.

He Is A Constitutional Conservative Who Will Vote To Preserve The Second Amendment And Protect The Unborn.

Driven By The Biden Administration’s Government Spending, Gas And Groceries Are At Historic Highs Hurting Our Families And Neighbors Least Able To Afford It. Higher Taxes Are The Last Thing Families Can Afford Which Is Why He Has Signed A Pledge Not To Raise Taxes.

Jim Believes We Need To Keep Our Commitment To Our Seniors And Our Veterans. That’s Why He Opposes Any Taxpayer-Funded Services For Illegal Immigrants.

“No human is illegal”

He should fit right in.

Campaign Finance: there’s work to be done

10 Tuesday Jan 2023

Posted by in campaign finance, Claire McCaskill, Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Senate

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They’re not wasting any time.

Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission, for the PAC supporting Stephen Webber (D) in the 2024 19th Senate District race:

C232347 01/10/2023 HOMEFRONT PAC UFCW Local 655 300 Weidman Rd Manchester MO 63011 1/9/2023 $10,000.00

C232347 01/10/2023 HOMEFRONT PAC Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council Missouri-Kansas Area PAC 1401 Hampton Ave St Louis MO 63139 1/9/2022 $100,000.00

C232347 01/10/2023 HOMEFRONT PAC Joseph Shepard 17 W Lockwood St Louis MO 63119 Self Real Estate 1/9/2022 $10,000.00

C232347 01/10/2023 HOMEFRONT PAC Sheet Metal Workers International Association 2319 Chouteau Ave Suite 100 St Louis MO 63103 1/9/2022 $10,036.00

[emphasis added]

Friends in organized labor and in St. Louis.

Stephen Webber (D) [2016 file photo].

Previously:

A lifelong commitment to public service (January 10, 2023)

A lifelong commitment to public service

10 Tuesday Jan 2023

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Senate

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For the 19th Senate District in Missouri in 2024:

Stephen Webber (D) [2017 file photo].

Yesterday:

Stephen Webber

Most people know how proud I am of my hometown. On my worst days in Iraq I used to close my eyes and imagine myself driving around Boone County to visit all my favorite places. Shakespeare’s Pizza, all the soccer fields, the campsites, Murry’s, 9th Street and on and on.
Today I’m announcing that I’m running for the new, open State Senate seat that represents Boone County. I want to make sure that kids in Boone County have the same opportunities growing up that I had, that our communities are safe, the vulnerable are protected, that everyone is welcomed and valued. It’s going to be a long journey (Election Day is in 2024!) but I invite you to come along on it with me. What we have is worth protecting, worth serving and worth growing. Thank you for all your help. Let’s GOOOOOO!

And:

Stephen Webber @s_webber
Politics can be brutal. Politics can rip your heart out.

But sometimes you have an amazing day when hundreds of people from all parts of your life take a moment to tell you how much they care about you. And that’s really cool. And I’m gonna cherish that part this time. Thank you
8:05 PM · Jan 9, 2023

At the Missouri Ethics Commission:

Stephen Webber (D) has previously served in the United States Marine Corps and the Missouri House of Representatives.

In 2016 he unsuccesfully ran for a seat in the Missouri Senate – it was an expensive campaign.

It was that close.

The current 19th Senate District now encompasses Boone County. This will be a different race.

Campaign Finance: making the rubble bounce

25 Tuesday Oct 2022

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Today at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

071094 10/25/2022 Missouri Senate Campaign Committee Herzog Contracting Corporation PO Box 1089 Saint Joseph MO 64502 10/24/2022 $100,000.00

[emphasis added]

Sigh. They’ll always have more money than they will ever need.

For anyone who was wondering, this is not the reason for the existence of higher education

16 Sunday Oct 2022

Posted by in Missouri General Assembly, Missouri Senate, social media

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Caleb Rowden (r) [2016 file photo].

Yesterday evening:

Caleb Rowden @calebrowden
College football is just absolutely awesome!
6:41 PM · Oct 15, 2022

Previously:

Defunding the public good as a feature, not a bug (September 29, 2022)

That’s the matter with Missouri (October 5, 2022)