Sen. Roy Blunt (r): Guess who’s coming to town?

27 Sunday Aug 2017

Posted by Michael Bersin in Roy Blunt, social media

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Donald Trump, missouri, Roy Blunt, social media, Springfield, Twitter

Donald Trump is coming to Springfield, Missouri on Wednesday. Senator Roy Blunt (r) is pleased.

Roy Blunt (r) [2016 file photo].

On Friday, via Twitter:

Senator Roy Blunt‏ @RoyBlunt
Glad that @POTUS will be in Springfield to highlight economic benefits that pro-growth policies will have for #MO families & businesses
[….]
1:24 PM – 25 Aug 2017

Some of the responses:

Between Trump, you, Greitens and Mo. GOP the only thing highlighted in Mo. is our new travel advisory status, our lack of providing needed…
aid to our elderly, disabled, foster children, Vets, etc. so that the rich and Corporations can have more tax cuts. The only thing trickling…
down in Missouri is poverty! Corporations do not give back to employees or community, they keep for themselves

I’m sure that POTUS will cite the huge benefits Missouri and Kansas have experienced with all the tax cuts.

Wonder which trump will show, teleprompted or unhinged. We know which Roy will show, grinning lap dog.

Are you sure? Or, is he going to rant about “fake” news and perceived slights from fellow GOP members for 77 minutes?

Mexico will provide the tax plan.

Maybe you should be encouraging him to focus Harvey and try to staff FEMA instead of coming here to stroke his ego and lie to us.

We don’t want him here

MO doesn’t need to hear about the tax policies of a man who won’t release his taxes. He and his bigot brigade are not welcome here.

Praying for Texas enduring Harvey and MO enduring Donald.

Makes sense. Springfield is Klan country.

Have the moral integrity to stand up to trump. He is ruining the Republican party.

With Arpaio pardoned, you are welcoming a man who continues to come out on the side of racism #notmypresident #ImpeachNow Silence tells all.

I wish instead of cheering him coming to our state, take a leadership role and stand up to his childish behavior

You are an embarrassment to Mo. He shouldn’t be welcomed here. He doesn’t care about anyone but himself. Oh wait. You have that in common

Im a farmer Roy. i too am interested in how much he addresses any of what youre referring to. im guessing Trump will be talking about Trump

Sad that pro-growth is really only code for anti-health & anti-environment. I guess as long as the rich get richer people don’t need water

Senator @RoyBlunt, how can you trust any @POTUS appearance to not turn into a rambling rant about nothing in particular?

You’re scared he’ll talk smack about you if you don’t welcome him? He doesn’t care about Americans unless he can use them. He’ll use you too

This will be a great photo op for Roy. Everyone knows Roy loves photo ops, unlike his fear of town hall meetings. tRump talks Roy language.

So presidential. He cares nothing about this country. Only himself. And you choose to support him instead of representing & fighting for MO

I’m not glad. And newsflash: trump doesn’t give a rip about working families anywhere.

Senator Blunt – you will be remembered for enabling a President who consistently chooses the morally indefensible.

You picked the wrong side of history. Choosing @realDonaldTrump over Americans, you lose. There is no excuse or reasoning for your decision

Your continued support of Trump puts you on wrong side of history. You continue to put party and self-interest over best for Missourians.

“burdensome regulations” and “tax reform” code for ” making the wealthy wealthier and keeping the workers waiting for trickle down crumbs”

The only reason he’s coming to Springfield is to campaign. He has no interest in Missourians.

You’re an embarrassment to Missouri. Donnie is an embarrassment for the whole United States

“Burdensome regulations” like the EPA rule preventing toxic coal ash being dumped in waterways. Great job letting your rivers be polluted.

There will be no redemption for you if you stand in support of this white supremacist. We will know without a doubt where you stand.

The only pro-growth you two are worried about is your own personal bank accounts #ImpeachTrump

Roy,
The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis.
Dante Alighieri

Like shutting down the government if he can’t get funding for his transparent border wall? He, like you, should stay out of MO

You can hold KKK rallies but not town hall meetings?

Your support for the modern world’s most prominent Nazi has been duly noted.

Unlike some other Republicans who actually care about this country, you have now joined yourself to the #CRAYCRAY #RascistInChief Disgusting

Sad that Senator Blunt is a shameless, spineless sycophant to a racist POTUS.

@clairecmc is busy holding #TownHall
Why won’t you??

And on and on…

Previously:

Donald Trump is coming soon to a city near you (August 28, 2017)

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) – town hall in Warrensburg – August 17, 2017

18 Friday Aug 2017

Posted by Michael Bersin in Claire McCaskill, Roy Blunt, Town Hall, US Senate

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Claire McCaskill, missouri, Roy Blunt, town hall, U.S. Senate, Warrensburg

On Thursday morning in Warrensburg Senator Claire McCaskill (D) continued her long chain of open public town halls for Missourians. Close to one hundred people attended and participated in the hour long event.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) – Warrensburg, Missouri – August 17, 2017.

As it has been over the past year and in past years the format for these town halls was the same as previous ones held by Senator McCaskill. Anyone can submit a written question. An individual in the audience who volunteers that they “would probably never vote for” the senator is asked to randomly select the questions from a basket. That volunteer gets to ask the last question.

At this particular town hall, unlike previous ones for Senator McCaskill we’ve covered this summer, we noticed that the volunteer was screening out and selecting the questions. Individuals in the audience noticed the same and insistently called him out. The silliness in his behavior, whether it’s emblematic of a larger cultural dynamic or not, is that there weren’t any questions Claire McCaskill hasn’t heard before and couldn’t easily handle. The unfairness in the activity was that some other individuals who had submitted questions for their senator had someone else screen them out of the process. That’s not fairness in anyone’s book.

Once the behavior was pointed out it was quickly resolved. Speaking out and speaking up can work.

There were other interesting exchanges:

An exchange.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D): [….] Uh, uh, we got a letter. [laughter] Um, this is not a, uh, [voice, in whisper: “Thank you.”] there’s no, nobody put their name on this.

[reading] In America we are observing groups decide they don’t like certain statues, nativity scenes, veteran’s symbols, even the American flag. Do you believe a group of twenty or a hundred have a legal right to tear down what they disagree with? What about the twenty or a hundred people standing there trying to protect the statues, nativity scenes, veteran’s symbols? Do they have a legal right to protect it? How would you solve this problem? This week I have watched news channels that have tried to convince everyone that if you are white and conservative you are a racist, white supremacist or neo-Nazi. Are you doing anything in your power to counteract this nonsense?

Um, I disagree with some of the things in this. Um [crosstalk]…

Voice: That’s me, Abby Phillips. I didn’t know we were supposed to put our name on [crosstalk]…

Senator McCaskill: That’s fine.

Voice: I’m proud of my question.

Senator McCaskill: Yeah, no, not a problem. Thank you for asking it. Um, I think anybody who destroys a public, a public statue or building, anybody who does any damage should be prosecuted for it. Um, so that’s what you do when someone destroys public buildings or destroys public statues. You prosecute them.

I think local communities and states should have the right to decide what they want to erect in terms of statues and what they want to take down in terms of statues. I believe very much in separation of church and state. [applause] I don’t think public money should be used to promote one religion over another. Private money, I’ve got no problem with it. Public money, public spaces, should not favor one religion over another. Not in a country that was founded on the premise of freedom of religion. People who came to this country were escaping religious prosecute, persecution for what they believed in. So, freedom of religion is really one of our core values in this country. And that’s why I don’t think public money should ever take sides with one religion over another.

Um, I think the people who are, people who are protesting have the right to protest and say whatever they want to say or do in this country. But that doesn’t mean that my father, who fought in World War Two, that I don’t have the obligation to speak out against hundreds of people carrying swastikas. [applause]

Voice: You know what, my father fought in World War Two, also. He was in Germany. But, what I’m trying, the point I’m trying to make is, what I’m seeing on TV they’re stereotyping people like me. I am a white, conservative woman. And so now, all of a sudden, all I’m hearing on TV is because I’m a white, conservative woman then I’m a racist, white supremacist, neo-Nazi. [voices: “No.” “Not true.” “Which answer do you want?”] No, I know, I know, I’m in the middle of Democrats, I understand that. But, but, they thing is what, what we’re getting sick of, and I hope both sides are, is that they’re, they’re doing word games in Washington, D.C. and on the media. It’s all games and it’s all true manipulation. It’s what they call the spin. And somebody besides me has to be sick of this. [crosstalk]

Senator McCaskill: I don’t think there’s any question. Yeah, let me [crosstalk]…speak a little to that.

Second voice: I’m sure that African Americans [crosstalk]…

Voice: Really, you know, I, I don’t blame people for fighting. [crosstalk]

Senator McCaskill: [crosstalk]First of all let me say, let me just say clearly that you are a white, conservative woman and I don’t think anybody in this room thinks you’re a racist. Anybody. [applause]

Voice: But, but it’s being, wait, but we’re being stereotyped that way it’s what I’m trying to tell you [crosstalk] and I just…

Senator McCaskill: Well, I think that, if that, if that’s being stereotyped that way that’s just as unfair as stereotyping every black person as somebody who’s a terrorist in Black Lives Matters [inaudible][applause][crosstalk]…

Voice: [inaudible][crosstalk] I don’t do that. You know, I don’t do that.

Senator McCaskill: But, and you don’t do that. And the people in this room don’t do that. But it, those stereotypes are going on, too. So, here’s the problem we have, and I don’t know how we get over this problem, [voice: “I don’t either.”] believe me, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about it. [….]

Remarkable.

Do you think Senator Roy Blunt (r) will hold open public town halls in Missouri any time soon? Or ever?

Previously:

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) – town hall in Warrensburg – Press Q and A – August 17, 2017 (August 17, 2017)

Sen. Roy Blunt (r): there are thousands of health care stories

25 Tuesday Jul 2017

Posted by Michael Bersin in Roy Blunt

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

missouri, Roy Blunt, Trumpcare

Roy Blunt (r) [2016 file photo].

A constituent’s account of her phone call to Senator Roy Blunt’s (r) office earlier today:

Recap of what I told Blunt’s LA just about five minutes ago…

“I’m calling again to make sure you understand what’s at stake for me and my family in the healthcare debate. I grew up in Missouri, the youngest of three. My older brother has autism and depends on Medicaid for care. When I was in grade school, my mother showed me a report on Willowbrook, a mental hospital where patients were left to rot in their own waste, naked and unattended for days on end. My mother looked me in the eye, told me that she’s fighting to keep my brother out of an institution because of inhumane care, and explained that one day this fight would be mine. That day is now. I’m fighting hard to ensure my brother is the first man in our family to live past 62 years old. I spend hours on his health, his quality of life, his daily community involvement. And the last thing I need is less funding, less support, and fewer options. I’m calling to tell you that I will be relentless in this quest…because my mother was, my father was, and my brother deserves it. My brother’s name is Bill. He’s 47. He loves trains, planes, the smell of vanilla, Kit Kats, lunch meat, walks, and contributing to his community. It took him years to learn to write his name, to use the bathroom, to sign basic requests. He’s amazing. He’s a Missourian. And he is why I’m on the phone talking to you about a reckless healthcare bill no one wants pushed by a historically unpopular president no one likes. This is what’s at stake. Bill Merritt’s quality of life and health is at stake. And this story is what I intend to share with you daily. Because I inherited this quest with love and appreciation, and my brother is more than worth it.”

Pamela Merritt

Senator Roy Blunt (r) is much more concerned with giving billionaires and millionaires a tax cut. He voted for the motion to proceed. Then he voted to take away access to affordable health care for millions of Americans.

There are thousands of these health care stories. Senator Roy Blunt (r) isn’t listening.

Talking about health care at Sen. Roy Blunt’s (r) office in Kansas City – July 14, 2017

14 Friday Jul 2017

Posted by Michael Bersin in Resist, Roy Blunt, US Senate

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

#resist, ACA, health care, Indivisible, Kansas City, missouri, Roy Blunt, Trumpcare, U.S. Senate

Again. Like the last six months.

Again. At noon today over forty constituents showed up at the building entrance for Senator Roy Blunt’s (r) Kansas City office at Tenth and Walnut to express their opposition to Trumpcare.

“Trumpcare costs lives”

Nope. Still no open public town halls in Missouri with Senator Roy Blunt (r).

A healthcare story”

“Healthcare not wealthcare”

Again. Two staffers from Senator Blunt’s (r) office came out to the building entrance to listen and take notes.

Two staffers.

“Listen to us”

There’s a lot of frustration. Speakers asked why Senator Blunt (r) won’t hold an open public town hall or bother to show up at one of these regular events to listen to them. They wonder if their words here today and in the past are even reaching him.

“No to Trumpcare”

That’s a good question.

Previously:

Talking about health care at Sen. Roy Blunt’s (r) office in Kansas City – June 23, 2017 (June 23, 2017)

A Sen. Roy Blunt (r) health care story (June 23, 2017)

Talking about health care at Sen. Roy Blunt’s (r) office in Kansas City – June 23, 2017 – signs of the times (June 24, 2017)

Talking about health care at Sen. Jerry Moran’s (r) office in Olathe, Kansas – June 28, 2017 (June 28, 2017)

Talking about health care at Sen. Jerry Moran’s (r) office in Olathe, Kansas – June 28, 2017 – signs of the times (June 29, 2017)

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D): even more town halls (July 5, 2017)

Claire McCaskill Town Hall Meeting in Eldon Missouri – video by Jerry Schmidt (July 5, 2017)

Talking about health care at Sen. Roy Blunt’s (r) office in Kansas City – July 7, 2017 (July 7, 2017)

On Health Care – Claire McCaskill Town Hall Meeting in Eldon Missouri – video by Jerry Schmidt (July 8, 2017)

On our culture (July 8, 2017)

On our culture

08 Saturday Jul 2017

Posted by Michael Bersin in Resist, Roy Blunt, US Senate

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

ACA, health care, Indivisible, Kansas City, missouri, Resist, Roy Blunt, Trumpcare, U.S. Senate

At noon on Friday, on the corner of 10th and Walnut in Kansas City:

At a demonstration in front of the building entrance to Sen. Roy Blunt’s (r) downtown Kansas City office – July 7, 2017.

Vote No!

It doesn’t take courage to help the rich…

…but it takes a lot of courage to help the most vulnerable, the poor, the sick!

That’s not supposed to be how it works.

Previously:

Talking about health care at Sen. Roy Blunt’s (r) office in Kansas City – June 23, 2017 (June 23, 2017)

A Sen. Roy Blunt (r) health care story (June 23, 2017)

Talking about health care at Sen. Roy Blunt’s (r) office in Kansas City – June 23, 2017 – signs of the times (June 24, 2017)

Talking about health care at Sen. Jerry Moran’s (r) office in Olathe, Kansas – June 28, 2017 (June 28, 2017)

Talking about health care at Sen. Jerry Moran’s (r) office in Olathe, Kansas – June 28, 2017 – signs of the times (June 29, 2017)

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D): even more town halls (July 5, 2017)

Claire McCaskill Town Hall Meeting in Eldon Missouri – video by Jerry Schmidt (July 5, 2017)

Talking about health care at Sen. Roy Blunt’s (r) office in Kansas City – July 7, 2017 (July 7, 2017)

On Health Care – Claire McCaskill Town Hall Meeting in Eldon Missouri – video by Jerry Schmidt (July 8, 2017)

On Health Care – Claire McCaskill Town Hall Meeting in Eldon Missouri – video by Jerry Schmidt

08 Saturday Jul 2017

Posted by jerrycentral in Claire McCaskill, democrat news, Roy Blunt, Town Hall, US Senate

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Claire McCaskill, Democrat, healthcare reform, missouri, town hall, U.S. Senate

Claire McCaskill answers questions about Health Care at Eldon Town Hall.

Video by Jerry Schmidt

Previously:

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D): even more town halls (July 5, 2017)

Claire McCaskill Town Hall Meeting in Eldon Missouri – video by Jerry Schmidt (July 5, 2017)

Talking about health care at Sen. Roy Blunt’s (r) office in Kansas City – July 7, 2017

07 Friday Jul 2017

Posted by Michael Bersin in Resist, Roy Blunt, US Senate

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

#resist, ACA, Indivisible, Kansas City, missouri, Roy Blunt, Trumpcare, U.S. Senate

Nope. Still no open public town halls in Missouri with Senator Roy Blunt (r). Go figure.

At noon today over seventy constituents showed up at the building entrance for Senator Roy Blunt’s (r) Kansas City office at Tenth and Walnut to express their opposition to the republican Senate Trumpcare bill. Many held umbrellas.

“Keep us covered”

“People before money”

“Coverage for all”

Individuals in turn told their health insurance stories and the challenges they will face with repeal of the provisions of the Affordable Care Act and any implementation of Trumpcare.