Over the course of the last year we covered a number of government and political events in Missouri (and elsewhere), in the process taking thousands of photographs. Most of them didn’t make it into the blog. Some of the things we saw and heard made us smile, made us think, made us gasp, made us hope, and made us despair. We thought we’d provide a retrospective of some of the pictures and stories we consider to be memorable.

January 5, 2011 – The Missouri General Assembly begins the legislative session –

Secretary of State Robin Carnahan (D) brings the House into session.

We covered the opening of the Missouri General Assembly session. Again.

Teabaggers, and nullification, and the cult of the lost cause, oh my! (January 5, 2011)

Teabagger rally at the state capitol: when astroturfing lobbyists speak, they listen… (January 5, 2011)

Opening of the legislative session in Jefferson City: January 5, 2010 (January 6, 2011)

Our hopes were dashed. Again.

January 19, 2011 – Senator Claire McCaskill (D) sits down for a talk with bloggers at her Kansas City office.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) sat down for a conversation with Missouri political bloggers for over an hour in her office in Kansas City. Five years ago the thought of doing so wouldn’t have crossed anyone’s mind. The world has changed.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D): a conversation with bloggers in Kansas City (January 20, 2011)

Senator Claire McCaskill (D): a conversation with bloggers in Kansas City, part 2 (January 20, 2011)

Senator Claire McCaskill (D): a conversation with bloggers in Kansas City, part 3 (January 21, 2011)

Senator Claire McCaskill (D): a conversation with bloggers in Kansas City, part 4 (January 22, 2011)

February 26, 2011 – Teachers and organized labor rally in solidarity with Wisconsin workers at the state capitol in Jefferson City.

Photo by Joan Ferguson, Show Me Progress.

In late February teachers and organized labor held a rally in solidarity with Wisconsin workers at the state capitol in Jefferson City. There was a much smaller astroturf teabagger rally on the opposite side of the building at the same time.

Rallies in Jefferson City, Saturday, Feb. 26th: support organized labor or teabaggers, your pick (February 24, 2011)

Rallies in Jefferson City, Saturday, Feb. 26th: organized labor or teabaggers – photos (February 26, 2011)

Voices of Organized Labor in Jefferson City on February 26, 2011 (February 27, 2011)

An editor for the Wisconsin State Journal, a Madison paper, contacted us in April about using the photo in their coverage of the ongoing rallies at their state capitol. We granted permission and they ran the photo, with a credit.

Wisconsin: “Thank God for Missouri…” (April 21, 2011)

March 22, 2011 – Sly James is elected Mayor of Kansas City – speaking with the media.

In March we had to make a choice about which post election gathering to cover for the two candidates running for Mayor of Kansas City. We made the correct one.

Sly James: Mayor-elect of Kansas City – photos (March 23, 2011)

Our long municipal nightmare is at long last over (March 23, 2011)

May 29, 2011 – President Barack Obama speaks at the memorial service for victims of the Joplin tornado

on the campus of Missouri Southern State University.

In late May we covered the memorial service on the campus of Missouri Southern State University for the victims of the Joplin tornado.

Governor Jay Nixon in Joplin – remarks (May 30, 2011)

President Obama in Joplin – photos and remarks (May 30, 2011)

Some thoughts on Joplin (June 2, 2011)

June 16, 2011 – Governor Jay Nixon (D) addresses Missouri Boys State on the campus of the University of Central Missouri.

Missouri Boys State 2011 (June 11, 2011)

Former Governor Bob Holden at Missouri Boys State: Q and A, part 1 (June 12, 2011)

Former Governor Bob Holden at Missouri Boys State: Q and A, part 2 (June 13, 2011)

Governor Jay Nixon (D) signs HB 233 into law at Missouri Boys State (June 16, 2011)

Former Senator John Danforth at Missouri Boys State: Q and A, part 1 (June 16, 2011)

Former Senator John Danforth at Missouri Boys State: Q and A, part 2 (June 19, 2011)

June 17, 2011 – A rally in support of Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security at Senator Claire McCaskill’s (D) office in St. Louis.

In June we had one of those rare Show Me Progress blog gatherings where the westsiders joined the eastsiders in St. Louis. We used the opportunity to cover two events.

St. Louis: calling on Sen. McCaskill (D) to protect Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security (June 18, 2011)

Definitely not a teabagger… (June 18, 2011)

Definitely not a teabagger, part 2 (June 20, 2011)

St. Louis: Jefferson Jackson Dinner – photos (June 18, 2011)

St. Louis: Jefferson Jackson Dinner – Wisconsin State Senator Lena Taylor (D) (June 19, 2011)

August 10, 2011 – Representative Vicky Hartzler (r) listens at a town hall in Warrensburg, Missouri.

Representative Vicky Hartzler (r) held town halls in Clinton and Warrensburg in August. People other than teabagger true believers attended and there was significant pushback against Representative Hartzler’s agenda from many in attendance.

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): town halls in Clinton and Warrensburg (August 10, 2011)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): town hall in Warrensburg, part 1 (August 11, 2011)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): town hall in Warrensburg, part 2 (August 12, 2011)

Vicky Hartzler is trying trying to scare you (August 12, 2011)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): town hall in Warrensburg, part 3 (August 13, 2011)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): town hall in Warrensburg, part 4 (August 14, 2011)

September 18, 2011 – Paul Begala (D) speaks to the media at the Harkin Steak Fry in Indianols, Iowa.

In what has become an annual September road trip for us, we once again made the trek to Indianola, Iowa to cover the annual Harkin Steak Fry.

The 2011 Harkin Steak Fry in Indianola, Iowa (September 18, 2011)

The 2011 Harkin Steak Fry in Indianola, Iowa: Senator Bernie Sanders (I) (September 19, 2011)

The 2011 Harkin Steak Fry in Indianola, Iowa: Paul Begala – part 1 (September 20, 2011)

The 2011 Harkin Steak Fry in Indianola, Iowa: Paul Begala – part 2 (September 22, 2011)

The 2011 Harkin Steak Fry in Indianola, Iowa: Paul Begala – part 3 (September 23,2011)

October 9, 2011 – Occupy Kansas City marches down to the Plaza.

In October the Occupy Wall Street movement changed the conversation across America, including in Kansas City.

The Occupation of Kansas City: Day 9 (October 8, 2011)

Occupy Kansas City (October 8, 2011)

The picture I didn’t take (October 8, 2011)

Occupy KC, Day Ten: The day the occupation came to me (October 9, 2011)

Occupy Kansas City: a concert, a few speeches, and a march (October 9, 2011)

Occupy Kansas City: a concert, a few speeches, and a march – part 2 (October 10, 2011)

October 30, 2011 – Occupy Kansas City holds a downtown rally and marches in the streets.

Occupy Kansas City: rally and march from Ilus Davis Park (October 30, 2011)

Occupy Kansas City: rally and march from Ilus Davis Park, part 2 (October 31, 2011)

Videos from Occupy Kansas City October 30 rally! (November 1, 2011

Videos from Occupy Kansas City October 30 rally! – part 2 (November 2, 2011)

December 6, 2011 – President Barack Obama speaks in Osawatomie, Kansas.

Photo by Jerry Schmidt, Show Me Progress.

President Obama made a speech in Osawatomie, Kansas.

President Obama in Osawatomie, Kansas (December 6, 2011)

President Obama in Osawatomie, Kansas: the crazification factor kicks in (December 7, 2011)

Obama Speech at Osawatomie, Kansas 2011 Video(December 9, 2011)

December 19, 2011 – A conversation in front of the Middleton, Wisconsin City Hall

between a recall petition signature gatherer and a supporter of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker (r).

We had the opportunity to interview folks taking part in the recall process against Governor Scott Walker (r) in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin: in the trenches for the recall of Gov. Scott Walker (r) (December 19, 2011)

Wisconsin: in the trenches for the recall of Gov. Scott Walker (r), part 2 (December 21, 2011)

Wisconsin: in the trenches for the recall o
f Gov. Scott Walker (r), part 3 (December 23, 2011)

Wisconsin: they were misinformed? (December 26, 2011)

We look forward to more of the same in the coming year.

John Powers writes in The American Prospect that:

Today’s right-wingers have their own TV network, their own branch of Congress, and their own Supreme Court (which unfortunately is ours, too). They have their own Jacobins in the Tea Party and their own shadowy financiers in the Koch brothers (who are presently, or so I’m told, attempting to wrest control of SPECTRE from Ernst Stavro Blofeld). They have their own science (Intelligent Design, global-warming denial) and even their own “stupid things,” as Ronald Reagan once famously called facts.

They also have their own language-you betcha, they do-and they wield it with such demagogic effectiveness that George Orwell himself would stand in awe. …

The last point has inspired Powers to attempt a glossary that should allow even the most apolitical soul to plumb the almost cabalistic mysteries of GOP-speak. You should read it and recommend it to your friends. It hits all, or at least, most of the high points of this sub-dialect; my only complaint is that it is almost too polite. Consequently, I have tried my own hand at compiling some additional terms and  refining a few definitions, which, I believe not only captures the essence of many terms in use among GOPers, but also suggests why they feel so frightened by the 99% movement.  Hint: the clue is in the first term defined below, “job creators.”

Here, in the spirit of altruism, are a few of my additions to Powers’ glossary. Although they are not specific to Missouri politics, they may prove useful to puzzled Missourians whose only thought after listening to some of our state’s more polished speakers of GOP pidgin is WTF:

Job Creators:  Folks who contribute $$$$ to GOP election campaign and who fund lobbyists who, in turn, share the good life with GOPer pols.

Class Warfare:  Insisting that the job creators pay their fair share to insure the common good.

Moral hazard: The state that ensues if working or middle class folks take advantage of government subsidies which only job creators are supposed to enjoy, (e.g., big oil).

Free Speech: Campaign contributions from job creators (cf. Citizens United)

Regulatory Uncertainity: The state that ensues when government contemplates subjugating job creators to rules that reflect the need for common industrial standards or fair treatment of workers and customers.

Picking Winners and Losers:  The process whereby government subsidizes any job creator other than those who contribute massively to GOP election campaigns (e.g., green industries).

Lobbyist; consultant:  Often – although not always – a retired politician or political staffer collecting the premiums earned by faithful service to job creators during his/her political years.

Religious Freedom: Christian triumphalism, usually reflecting the beliefs of those sects who consider President Obama to be the Antichrist and who really, really want to support GOP candidates from the pulpit. Useful in animating folks who otherwise might not understand how important it is to placate job creators.

Small business:  Any business enterprise large enough to help support GOP politicians in the style to which they have become accustomed.

Left-wing hippies (also socialists, communists, mob, and thugs, occasionally even facists or Nazis – although most pols still have enough of a sense of shame to be very sparing with the latter two epithets): Anyone who speaks up and complains about the special relationship enjoyed by job creators and the GOP political establishment.

Envy and divisiveness:  The emotions that animate left-wing hippies; may be deleterious to the well-being of job creators.

Member of the middle-class:  There’s one born every minute, i.e., suckers.

An article in The Hill today details the subterfuges of the Democratic quislings who seem to want to go bat for the Republican election effort next year by voting “no” on the President’s jobs bill. The list includes most of the usual suspects – with one wonderful exception:

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.), another election-year target who has attempted to distance herself from Obama, has spoken favorably of the bill. Her office did not respond to questions on Monday, but on Tuesday said she would vote for it.

Looks like McCaskill’s been paying attention. As Greg Sergent reports, pollster Stanley Greenberg contends that not only is it important, politically speaking, for Democrats to attempt to to draw a distinction between themselves and Republicans with this vote, but that Democrats who shy away from doing the right thing could be undercutting themselves as well as the President:

“They reduce their risks for reelection by showing support for a jobs bill that’s going to be increasingly popular as voters learn more about it,” Greenberg said. “They have to be for something on the economy, and this the kind of proposal they should support. If I were advising them, I’d say you want to be backing a jobs bill with middle class tax cuts paid for by tax hikes on millionaires. Moderate voters in these states very much want to raise taxes on the wealthy to meet our obligations.”

But now is not the time to let up on the pressure on McCasilll. Keep those letters and phone calls coming; let our Democratic Senator know how important we think this jobs plan is and how enthusiastic we will be about those Missouri politicians who support it.

UPDATE:  After last night’s vote, don’t forget to call Senator McCaskill and thank her for standing with the real Democrats yesterday. The President’s bill got a majority even though it couldn’t breach the Republican filibuster, but as Greg Sargent explains, getting a majority was vitallly important.

Earlier today I wrote some unflattering words about Claire McCaskill. And while I stand by them, I do understand some of the pressures that she has to withstand. Nothing exemplifies the difficulties of toeing a straight line in today’s political world better than Michael Tomasky’s analysis of Alan Simpson’s harsh words about the president’s supposed role in the current political impasse in Washington:

Simpson knows he can walk this edge and still be taken Very Seriously because he knows how the conversation in Washington is set up. Democrats who won’t discuss entitlements are not “serious.” But Republicans who won’t discuss taxes are . . . just being Republicans. All the terms of the debate enable blackmail by the GOP: If no one expects you to behave like a reasonable person, then you simply don’t have to-and all the pressure to behave responsibly is transferred to those on the other side. It does not resemble Earth logic, but very little about Washington does.

My sympathy for McCaskill is, then, similar to the sympathy I have for any individual who, after repeated beatings, finds themselves unable to stand straight. I’m not exonerating her for her rush to adopt GOP-speak and think. I may have bought a reggae CD once just because it was titled “Dancing on John Wayne’s Grave,” but, in my heart of hearts, I admired the the clarity of purpose and personal integrity the archetypal John Wayne character projected. I would like my politicians to project the same clarity and integrity – but I also know that it’s a complicated old world.

Previously:

The Political Year in Pictures – 2010, part 1 (December 22, 2010)

The Political Year in Pictures – 2010, part 2 (December 23, 2010)

Over the course of the last year we covered a number of government and political events in Missouri (and elsewhere), in the process taking thousands of photographs. Most of them didn’t make it into the blog. Some of the things we saw and heard made us smile, made us think, made us gasp, made us hope, and made us despair. We thought we’d provide a retrospective of some of the pictures and stories we consider to be memorable.

We covered a local film festival, not because we’re fans of the cinema (we are), but because demagoguery and republican politicians always seem to go hand in hand:

Dee Wallace (left) and Pam LaFrenz, Executive Director of the Missouri Valley Community Action Agency.

Suppose you held a film festival and right wingnuts didn’t want anyone to attend (September 10, 2010)

The show must go on (September 10, 2010)

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r) and Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder (r): The review is in – two thumbs down (September 14, 2010)

Veto Session Reviews for Rep. Denny Hoskins (r): great potental for a Razzie (September 15, 2010)

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r) and the Film Festival: because the arts never generate economic activity? (September 17, 2010)

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r) and the Film Festival: demagoguery, not oversight (September 18, 2010)

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r) and the Film Festival: that was then, this is now (September 20, 2010)

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r) and the Film Festival: no one knew about it… (September 21, 2010)

A short film about a film festival… (September 22, 2010)

Ky Dickens, the film festival, the Chicago Reader, and teabaggers (September 23, 2010)

We get film festival hate mail (September 28, 2010)

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r) and the Film Festival: that was then, this is now – part 2 (September 28, 2010)

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r) and the Film Festival: what the teabaggers say (October 4, 2010)

New Rule: If you say you oppose all of the federal stimulus on principle… (October 7, 2010)

And in September we covered the annual Harkin Steak Fry (for the third time) in Indianola, Iowa:

(left to right, foreground) David Plouffe, David Axelrod, Senator Tom Harkin (D), Governor Chet Culver (D).

Iowa Road Trip! – the 2010 Harkin Steak Fry (September 11, 2010)

Iowa Road Trip! – Interstate highway rest stops (September 12, 2010)

Iowa Road Trip! – on the way back (September 12, 2010)

The bumper stickers of Madison County (September 13, 2010)

Iowa Road Trip! – photos and press availability (September 13, 2010)

The Missouri House republican Campaign Committee (HRCC) stepped in it none too lightly in the last week of the election by blasting homophobic robocalls against Democratic Party legislative district candidates. Of course, the republican candidates furiously backpedaled on the calls, disavowing any knowledge of them, when the HRCC was called to account for the outrageous calls. The thing is, the calls worked and the republicans got away with something, again:

October 23, 2010: Representative Denny Hoskins (r) (left, in white), Dave Hageman, Missouri Executive Director of Victory Enterprises (center, in blue) and Robert Knodell, Executive Director of the House Republican Campaign Committee (right, in blue) at the University of Central Missouri Homecoming Parade in Warrensburg.

HRCC robocall in the 121st Legislative District: desperation and homophobia (October 27, 2010)

The Missouri HRCC steps in it with homophobic robocalls (October 28, 2010)

Tilley (r) on HRCC robocalls: Uh, that didn’t go very well, did it? (October 28, 2010)

Tilley (r) on HRCC robocalls: “But, but, the Democrats are mean to us…” (October 29, 2010)

Tilley (r), the HRCC robocalls, and the media: “…testing, testing, testing, is this thing on?” (October 29, 2010)

Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal Headline: “GOP robocall attacks Cole’s ‘family values'” (October 29, 2010)

Campaign Finance: old media needs to learn to do some freakin’ research (October 29, 2010)

I guess I’m going to have to go with “No Comment” (October 29, 2010)

Another Democrat fights sleazy robocalls (October 30, 2010)

HRCC? What HRCC? I just like their swag… (October 30, 2010)

Missouri’s HRCC and the robocalls: follow the money (October 31, 2010)

HRCC? What HRCC? I’ve never heard of them… (November 1, 2010)

I see nothing! I know nothing! (November 24, 2010)

HRCC? What HRCC? I’ve never heard of them, part 2 (December 2, 2010)

People gathered in a small town to stand up to the Westboro Phelps clan with even more free speech of their own:

November 23, 2010: A community supports the family and friends of Army Corporal Jacob Carver, who died in Afghanistan,

at his funeral in Harrisonville, Missouri.

This photo appeared in the November 29, 2010 edition of the Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal

(upon our offer and with our permission) along with an editorial by Jack Miles on free speech.

A hate group, the First Amendment, and a funeral in a small town (November 23, 2010)

Where to start? (November 23, 2010)

A hate group, the First Amendment, and a funeral in a small town – part 2 (November 29, 2010)

Previously: The Political Year in Pictures – 2010, part 1 (December 22, 2010)

Over the course of the last year we covered a number of government and political events in Missouri (and elsewhere), in the process taking thousands of photographs. Most of them didn’t make it into the blog. Some of the things we saw and heard made us smile, made us think, made us gasp, made us hope, and made us despair. We thought we’d provide a retrospective of some of the pictures and stories we consider to be memorable.

President Obama in Kansas City on July 8, 2010:

President Obama at Smith Electric Vehicles in Kansas City.

Is the President looking at me?

White House Conference Call Preview of President Obama’s Visit to Kansas City (July 7, 2010)

President Obama in Kansas City – on the economy – Smith Electric Vehicles – July 8, 2010 (July 8, 2010)

Obama at The Folly: Fundraiser for Robin Carnahan (July 8, 2010)

President Obama in Kansas City – on the economy – Smith Electric Vehicles – photos (July 9, 2010)

…President Obama traveled to Kansas City Thursday to speak on the economy at an electric vehicle plant and later as the headliner at a fundraiser for Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan’s U.S. Senate campaign. Blue Girl covered the fundraiser (one of two) held at the Folly Theater in downtown Kansas City and I covered the speech on the economy at Smith Electric Vehicles next to Kansas City International Airport…

July 9, 2010: Congressman Ike Skelton (D) in Missouri’s Fourth Congressional District had a primary challenger. That was the least of his problems – he was upset in the November general election by Vicky Hartzler (r).

The NAACP National Convention was held in Kansas City in July. We received blogger credentials from the NAACP to cover the convention:

Representative Barbara Lee (D).

Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D).

Michelle Obama.

July 14, 2010: Waiting for the start of the press conference.

(left to right) Reverend Jesse Jackson, NAACP President and CE0 Benjamin Todd Jealous, Reverend Al Sharpton.

The 101st NAACP National Convention in Kansas City (July 10, 2010)

NAACP in Kansas City: Benjamin Todd Jealous at the opening press conference (July 10, 2010)

NAACP in Kansas City: EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson at the opening press conference (July 10, 2010)

NAACP in Kansas City: report on the impact of the BP oil spill in the Gulf region (July 11, 2010)

NAACP in Kansas City: Sunday – photos (July 11, 2010)

NAACP in Kansas City: Michelle Obama – photos (July 12, 2010)

NAACP in Kansas City: Representative Sheila Jackson Lee on the tea party and human rights (July 12, 2010)

NAACP in Kansas City: Senator Claire McCaskill (D) – “Now is no time to quit.” (July 13, 2010)

NAACP in Kansas City: Representative Emanuel Cleaver – “Don’t you forget it!” (July 13, 2010)

NAACP in Kansas City: Wednesday afternoon press conference – photos (July 14, 2010)

NAACP in Kansas City: Rev. Al Sharpton – “There clearly is some racial leaves in their tea bag…” (July 14, 2010)

NAACP in Kansas City: Rev. Jesse Jackson – “We want jobs, justice, and education for all.” (July 14, 2010)

NAACP in Kansas City: Benjamin Todd Jealous – “…we all need a testament of hope…” (July 15, 2010)

NAACP in Kansas City: press conference Q and A – “…we’ll keep our eyes on that prize…” (July 15, 2010)

NAACP in Kansas City: Rep. Barbara Lee – “Power concedes nothing without a demand…” (July 17, 2010)

NAACP in Kansas City: Rev. William Barber – “…we have to have more than words…” (July 18, 2010)

August 5, 2010: Courtney Cole, the Democratic Party candidate in the 121st Legislative District, at work on her campaign after the August primary.

August 10, 2010: Senator Claire McCaskill (D) at a town hall in Concordia, Missouri.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D): town hall in Concordia, Missouri (August 11, 2010)

Senator Claire McCaskill (D): town hall in Concordia, Missouri – media availability (August 11, 2010)

Senator Claire McCaskill (D): town hall in Concordia, Missouri – Q and A, part 1 (August 14, 2010)

Senator Claire McCaskill (D): town hall in Concordia, Missouri – Q and A, part 2 (August 15, 2010)

Senator Claire McCaskill (D): town hall in Concordia, Missouri – Q and A, part 3 (August 15, 2010)

Senator Claire McCaskill (D): town hall in Concordia, Missouri – Q and A, part 4 (August 19, 2010)

Over the course of the last year we covered a number of government and political events in Missouri (and elsewhere), in the process taking thousands of photographs. Most of them didn’t make it into the blog. Some of the things we saw and heard made us smile, made us think, made us gasp, made us hope, and made us despair. We thought we’d provide a retrospective of some of the pictures and stories we consider to be memorable.

The opening of the 2010 legislative session in Jefferson City:

The House chamber.

The Missouri General Assembly opens the 2010 legislative session (January 6, 2010)

The Missouri General Assembly opens the 2010 legislative session, part 2 (January 6, 2010)

January 6, 2010: The view from the train at the stop in Sedalia on the way back from Jefferson City.

….After the partisan applause lines the republican side of the House stood to offer their encouragement. The Democratic side tended not to.

This was a much more austere occasion then the previous openings of session I have attended.

Our friends at Fired Up, via Twitter:

RT @tonymess: Some lawmakers said Capitol was more somber today. Definitely a different feeling than some recent past opening days.    about 8 hours ago   from DestroyTwitter  

Tomorrow there will be a “technical session” – a significant number of House members were heading home this evening due to the incoming inclement weather.

I don’t blame them….

The Missouri General Assembly opens the 2010 legislative session, part 3 (January 8, 2010)

The Missouri General Assembly opens the 2010 legislative session, part 4 (January 9, 2010)

State Auditor Susan Montee (D) speaking at Truman Days in Independence, Missouri.

State Auditor Susan Montee (D) at Truman Days 2010 (May 9, 2010)

Truman Days 2010 in Jackson County, Missouri (May 7, 2010)

We made a trip to Jefferson City in the middle of the session and promptly got booted from the press gallery, supposedly because the capitol press corps complained about our presence on their turf. We contacted various folks in Jefferson City about the situation and eventually were allowed to work from a side gallery in the House chamber during the last week of the session in May.

Representative Luke Scavuzzo (D-124) (center, seated) in conversation on the House floor while other representatives (standing in the background) wait to be recognized by the Speaker.

Representative Beth Low (D-39) speaking against ant-choice legislation for the “millionth time”.

A typical end of session scene on a representative’s desk on the floor of the House.

Representative Jason Holsman (D-45) in debate on the House floor.

State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (D) in the House chamber side gallery.

The House in Jefferson City – May 13, 2010 (May 13, 2010)

Representative Paul LeVota (D): on the end of the legislative session (May 15, 2010)

Many good Democratic Party legislators won’t be returning due to either term limits or defeat in the bad election year that was 2010.

Secretary of Defense Robert gates spoke at a high school commencement in Kansas City in May.

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates at Blue Valley Northwest High School Commencement – photos (May 24, 2010)

Secretary of Defense Robert Gates at Blue Valley Northwest High School Commencement – speech (May 25, 2010)

We covered the speakers at Missouri Boys State in June:

Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster (D) at Boys State.

Attorney General Chris Koster at Missouri Boys State (June 13, 2010)

Attorney General Chris Koster at Missouri Boys State: Q and A, part 1 (June 13, 2010)

Attorney General Chris Koster at Missouri Boys State: Q and A, part 2 (June 13, 2010)

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon (D) at Boys State.

Governor Jay Nixon at Missouri Boys State: Q and A on Arizona’s SB 1070 (June 13, 2010)

Governor Jay Nixon at Missouri Boys State: opening remarks (June 14, 2010)

Former Ambassador John Bolton at Boys State.

Ambassador John Bolton at Missouri Boys State: photos (June 15, 2010)

Ambassador John Bolton at Missouri Boys State: remarks (June 16, 2010)

Ambassador John Bolton at Missouri Boys State: Q and A, part 1 (June 18, 2010)

Ambassador John Bolton at Missouri Boys State: Q and A, part 2 (June 19, 2010)

January 7, 2009: Opening day of the legislative session – Missouri Senate.

Over the course of the last year we covered a number of government and political events in Missouri (and elsewhere), in the process taking thousands of photographs. Most of them didn’t make it into the blog. Some of the things we saw and heard made us smile, made us think, made us gasp, made us hope, and made us despair. We thought we’d provide a retrospective of some of the pictures and stories we consider to be memorable.

The opening session of the 95th Missouri General Assembly

…We stopped by the House Communications office, signed in, and picked up our opening day press credentials. We then stopped by on the senate side and signed in. We would be announced from the floor and then we could start taking photographs. An aide to Blue Girls’ senator gave us an informative tour and gave us valuable insights much of the protocol.

We both started out at the press table “near” the senate floor, but at the last minute before the ceremonies started an old media personage asserted his turf, so I made my way to the balcony to watch the rest of the proceedings. Blue Girl remained at the press table…

Wouldn’t you know it, stabilizing the economy, protecting jobs, and creating new jobs were concerns of some people in Congress and state government.

February 8, 2009: Organized labor “Save Our Jobs Rally” in Kansas City.

UAW “Save Our Jobs Rally” in Kansas City

Governor Jay Nixon (D) at the UAW “Save Our Jobs Rally” in Kansas City on February 8

Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (D) at the UAW “Save Our Jobs Rally” in Kansas City on February 8

Congressman Emanuel Cleaver:…These are some difficult times. In times like these you always discover who your friends are. At times like these you find out who is in fact for you and who is neutral and neutrality is opposition…

April 16, 2009: Vice President Joe Biden at the ABB plant in Jefferson City.

Vice President Joe Biden at ABB in Jefferson City

May 2, 2009: Missouri State Treasurer Clint Zweifel at Truman Days in Kansas City.

Truman Days in Kansas City: Missouri State Treasurer Clint Zweifel

May 2, 2009: Missouri Governor Jay Nixon at Truman Days in Kansas City.

Supporting health care reform (for most Democrats) or obstructing it (for most republicans) became a blood sport by the end of the year.

May 28, 2009: Missouri Governor Jay Nixon at the University of Missouri – Kansas City nursing school.

Governor Jay Nixon (D): “Caring for Missourians” at the School of Nursing, UMKC

Governor Jay Nixon (D): “Caring for Missourians” press conference in Kansas City – May 28, 2009

…Sure we need to do more for health care. But if we don’t have the basic backbone of professional services, trained workers, we will never be able to, to move forward in health care. And making sure we have this base done now is vitally important. I also think, not only at the state level, our efforts in health care are far from complete, but also at the national level. We sit here today on the precipice of a national debate about where we’re goin’ on health care. That is clearly gonna move this state and this country forward. Wherever that process ends in the coming months in Washington it will clearly expand access to health care, provide additional resources. We want to be the best positioned state in the country to have trained workers to provide those services. This provision will help us do that…

Missouri Boys State, held annually on the campus at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg, is an opportunity for us to cover individuals in government and politics at the state and national level, their speeches, and the question and answer sessions with the citizens attending the week long event. We’ve been doing so for the last two years and wonder why most old media doesn’t bother to show up.

June 13, 2009: Congressman Roy Blunt (r) addressing Missouri Boys State in Warrensburg.

Roy Blunt at Missouri Boys State: opening remarks

Roy Blunt at Missouri Boys State: Q and A, part 1

Roy Blunt at Missouri Boys State: Q and A, part 2

Roy Blunt at Missouri Boys State: Q and A, part 3

…Blunt is right: Lincoln was trying explain the essential differences between the Republican Party and the Democratic Party.  However, it was not about the role of government in people’s lives, but the position the Republicans had on slavery and particularly opposition to Douglas’s “popular sovereignty.”  Popular sovereignty ended the Missouri Compromise and allowed territories to vote whether states would enter free or slave. It is why Kansas was bleeding at the end of the 1850s.

The Republican position, and the central issue in Lincoln’s contest with Douglas in 1858, was whether slavery should expand into new territories. The Cooper Union speech was Lincoln’s understanding of the Founding Fathers opposition to slavery’s expansion. The speech was crucial for Lincoln getting eastern support for the Republican nomination.

Thanks, Congressman Blunt, for getting history wrong at Boys State….

June 15, 2009: Former Assistant Secretary of State Richard Armitage addressing Missouri Boys State in Warrensburg.

Richard Armitage at Missouri Boys State: via Twitter

Richard Armitage at Missouri Boys State: Q and A, part 1

Richard Armitage at Missouri Boys State: Q and
A, part 2

…Question: …My question, over the past few months, uh, we’ve seen that Vice President, the former Vice President Cheney’s been doing a lot of public criticism of the new Obama administration. Uh, as a former Bush administration official yourself, do you agree with what the former vice president is saying, and also do you think he’s within his rights to be criticizing him like this, or do you think he should kind of pipe down and stay quiet like, uh, President Bush has?

Richard Armitage: I completely disagree with former Vice President Cheney. I think he should, in your word ‘pipe down’. [applause] I think it’s unseemly. [applause] I think it’s unseemly and very much admire the way President Bush has, has said he owes President Obama his silence. And that’s right. Beyond that, as a citizen, obviously Mr. Cheney has a right to his point of view, but I think the, the burden of being a former vice president trumps it. And it makes him look so mean spirited now as it, it’s, I guess Leon Panetta, uh, the CIA, said it makes Mr. Cheney look as if he’d almost want a terrorist attack to kind of show up Mr. Obama. And look, I’m an out of work Republican right now, but I don’t want our president to fail, I’ll tell you that. And it seems Mr. Cheney’s kind of seen to put a lean in that direction. I don’t like it…

June 18, 2009:  Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan (D) addressing Missouri Boys State in Warrensburg.

July 14, 2009: Air Force One landing in St. Louis.

President Obama flew to St. Louis on Air Force One and then threw the first pitch…

…Yeah, this is a process story. Since we cover politics and government in Missouri and President Obama was here yesterday, we went through the process to be able to cover his trip. Since we don’t cover major league baseball (pace RBH) we weren’t going to get credentials to cover the first pitch along with 2500 other media folks. Instead, we covered the arrival and departure of the President on Air Force One…

August 8, 2009:  Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnhan at the 4th Congressional District Democratic Committee dinner honoring Congressman Ike Skelton (D) in Warsaw, Missouri.

Secretary of State Robin Carnahan (D) in Warsaw, Missouri on August 8, 2009

…And you know this current debate? It seems like it’s just showing up all the time. And I want to say just a little bit about history. I know Ike likes history. And it strikes me that we have this same debate going on right now that we’ve seen through the whole course of American history. If you think about it just for second, sometimes we have leaders and there’s great progress and strides that get made and other times we kind of fall backwards and almost all the time the debate is the same. It’s the debate between progress and the status quo. Isn’t it? And then the arguments that the sides use are pretty much the same, too. The arguments are hope versus fear. Have you heard any fear tactics lately? [laughter] You hear anybody, the forces of the status quo who say, “You’re gonna lose your health care. Government’s gonna take over health care. Everything is gonna to go to hell in a handbasket.” Well I gotta tell you folks it just, I shake my head when I hear these things. You know, particularly this one about government taking over health care. Now, I’m not for government taking over health care and I don’t think anybody here is. And I don’t think anybody here is talking about that. But the notion that there’s not somebody standing between me and my doctor is wrong. I’m somebody who knows about this. You all prayed for me a few years ago when I was going through my breast cancer treatments. And I had my eyes opened about the health care system. And folks I’m telling you there is somebody standing between you and your doctor right now. It’s called the insurance company. They’re making out like bandits. [applause] And it’s time we do something to change it.

So, when you hear these debates just try to step back for a second. Step back and wonder who is it that thinks the status quo is good for what’s ailing America? How is it these Republicans who all the sudden say that it’s a miracle and they want to change health care – well goodness sakes they were in charge for how many years? [laughter]  And what did they do? [voice: “Nothing.”] They didn’t do a thing. And so there are all of these issues, one right after the other we need to stand up about, we need to talk about…

August 8, 2009: Congressman Ike Skelton in Warsaw, Missouri.

Honoring Congressman Ike Skelton (D) in Warsaw, Missouri

Congressman Ike Skelton (D) in Warsaw, Missouri on August 8, 2009

August 11, 2009: The “incident” at Senator Claire McCaskill’s (D) health care town hall in Hillsboro, Missouri.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D): open forum in Hillsboro – photos

Senator Claire McCaskill (D): open forum in Hillsboro – video of the Rosa Parks poster altercation

Senator Claire McCaskill (D): open forum in Hillsboro – more on the Rosa Parks poster altercation

August 11, 2009: Senator McCaskill’s press conference after the Hillsboro town hall.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D): open forum in Hillsboro – press conference

Senator Claire McCaskill: Hi guys.

Voice: Hi Senator.

Question: What was your reaction to the crowd today?

Senator McCaskill: You know, I, I wouldn’t, let me say it this way. This is hard, but, I’m proud of, overall, the people that came out today and that most of them wanted to stay through it and ask questions and answer questions. I think it is a healthy thing for Democracy. And I, I wouldn’t want to do it every afternoon for the rest of my life [laughter in room] because it was obviously contentious. But that’s okay….

August 11, 2009: A satirical sign held by a supporter of health care reform outside after the Hillsboro town hall.

August 11, 2009: Maxine Johnson and her Rosa Parks poster outside after the Hillsboro town hall.

Show Me Progress: So, what happened? What happened, did, after you sat down?

Maxine Johnson:  When I sat down I put my sign in the chair in front of me. It was rolled up. And the reporter kind of, news reporter crawled over there, she was standing up and she asked could she take a picture of the sign. We unrolled the sign laying down in the chair. And she was taking a picture of Rosa Parks. This man comes out of the crowd, snatch my sign, I stood up, they said he pushed me. I don’t remember anything ’cause you know by that time my adrenaline going everywhere…All I’m thinking about is getting my sign back. I got up in…to proceed, go get my sign back. ‘Cause he was crumbling it up. I said, “Give my sign back!” When I said that, next thing I know I had four police officers on me and one on him. I’m the victim here, [laugh] you know. And then as I say, “I’m pressing charges!”…I said, “Obama, Obama!”  So, you know what, you know like I said Rosa Parks fought for our freedom back then, now I’m fighting for our freedom now…So we’re fighting for the next generation…

August 26, 2009: An angry individual in the audience at Senator McCaskill’s health care town hall in Jefferson City. This individual made sure everyone in attendance knew that she was angry.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) – health care town hall – Jefferson City

…I have to write it. These people are fucking batshit crazy. No sign of rational understanding that “death panels” are a myth. No sign of understanding that the “free market” (as pointed out by Senator McCaskill) is operating now and hasn’t fixed the problems.

They have this completely irrational fear, amplified by who know[s] what, and nothing is going to change that…

Senator Claire McCaskill (D): health care town hall in Jefferson City – press conference

Senator Claire McCaskill (D): health care town hall in Jefferson City – prayer and first Q and A

September 2, 2009: Randy Huggins and his grandson at a pro health care march in Warrensburg.

A health care story

…SMP: And, and you’ve told your story in a variety of, of places. Last week you attended a, another forum for, in this area. Could you tell me about that?

Randy Huggins:…Last Thursday I went to a health care information forum, I guess you could call it, Vicki Hartzler [a declared Republican candidate for the 4th Congressional District seat] held here. And she had concerns about the legislation and she had things that she liked about the legislation. Then she said she had solutions. The solution that she offered for the pre-existing condition my grandson had was, she offered to bring the family a, a hot meal. [pause] We’re hungry, but that’s not gonna help his heart, so.

SMP: And so, do you, do you feel some frustration when, when dealing with this, you know, the subject of health care reform and when you feel like people give you solutions that really aren’t solutions?

Randy Huggins: Absolutely it’s frustrating. [pause] I, I just, I don’t understand where they’re coming from. Why they can’t see the need to fix, the system’s broken. And they don’t see any need to fix it or to change it in any way. Just….

September 2, 2009: An opposition sign at the Warrensburg health care march.

“It is time for our voices to be heard.”

“It floors me how absolutely brilliantly broken our system is.”

September 2, 2009: An opponent of health care reform at the Warrensburg march  realizes his sign is upside down

September 2, 2009: The march in support of health care reform from the Johnson County Courthouse to the campus of the University of Central Missouri. Opponents of health care reform joined the march.

September 13, 2009: Senators Al Franken and Tom Harkin at the Harkin Steak Fry in Indianola, Iowa.

Senator Al Franken (D) at the 2009 Harkin Steak Fry – part 1

Senator Al Franken (D) at the 2009 Harkin Steak Fry – part 2

Senators Harkin (D) and Franken (D) in Indianola, Iowa – there will be a strong public option

The 2009 Harkin Steak Fry in Indianola, Iowa – photos

Before anyone gets a shovel and digs a grave for the Public Option, read this

…Senator Al Franken:….The truth is, if we don’t fix the system most of us are gonna lose the health care because we’re simply not gonna be able to afford the health care. [applause] And at the Minnesota state fair that’s the question everybody was asking, Democrats and Republicans. But right now in Congress Democrats seem to be the only ones asking it. Republicans are busy asking Washington questions. They’re asking, “How do we break President Obama?  How do we make sure he fails?” That’s what they’re asking…

December 14, 2009: Press conference with Representatives Jason Kander (D) and Tim Flook (r) on their ethics reform bill in the House Lounge at the capitol in Jefferson City.

Kander (D) and Flook (r): ethics reform legislation in Jefferson City

Kander (D) and Flook (r): ethics reform legislation in Jefferson City, part 2

Kander (D) and Flook (r): ethics reform legislation in Jefferson City, part 3

Kander (D) and Flook (r): ethics reform legislation in Jefferson City, part 4

Yes, that was the year that was…

Over the course of the last year I believe I’ve taken close to 4000 photographs at political events in Missouri. Most of them didn’t make it into the blog. Some of the things we saw and heard made us smile, made us think, made us gasp, made us hope, and made us despair. I thought I’d provide a retrospective of some of the pictures and stories I consider to be memorable.

January 26, 2008: Former President Bill Clinton speaking at a pre-primary rally for Hillary Clinton at Truman William Chrisman High School in Independence, Missouri.

Bill Clinton in Independence, Missouri on Saturday night

This was a rally for Hillary Clinton in the auditorium gym at Truman William Chrisman High School in Independence right before the February 5th presidential primary. I had asked for media credentials for days and kept getting put off. I never got the credentials, but I did get into the event and I did cover it.

March 4, 2008: Antonin Scalia looking out to the audience during his speech in Warrensburg, Missouri.

Antonin Scalia in Warrensburg, part 1

Antonin Scalia in Warrensburg, part 2

Antonin Scalia in Warrensburg, part 3

Antonin Scalia in Warrensburg, part 4

Antonin Scalia in Warrensburg, part 5

Only credentialed media could take photographs or record (not for rebroadcast) this speech. I did get press credentials. I had been given tickets to the reception after the speech. I attended the reception, but did not get the opportunity to speak to Antonin Scalia – if I had done so it would have been off the record.

May 10, 2008: Registration for delegates to the Missouri State Democratic Convention in Columbia, Missouri.

Lacy Clay at the Missouri State Democratic Convention

Claire McCaskill at the Missouri State Democratic Convention

Leila Medley: uncommitted super delegate

The Missouri State Democratic Convention was the first time Hotflash, Clark, Blue Girl, and I were in the same place at the same time. We had the largest media presence at the convention.  

May 17, 2008: Former Kansas City Mayor Kay Barnes, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, and Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. at Truman Days in Independence, Missouri.

Truman Days 2008 in Jackson County

Truman Days 2008 in Jackson County, day 2

Joe Medley: Greater Kansas City Democracy for America

Blue Girl and I got credentials to cover the two days of the Truman Days activities sponsored by the Jackson County Democratic Committee. We had so much fun we figured we should sponsor a hospitality suite at the next one.

June 14, 2008: Former Arkansas Governor (and Republican presidential candidate) Mike Huckabee speaking at Missouri Boys State in Warrensburg, Missouri.

Mike Huckabee at Missouri Boys State: Q and A, part 1

Mike Huckabee at Missouri Boys State: Q and A, part 2

Missouri Boys State gave me credentials to cover the week long event, including speeches by Mike Huckabee, Missouri Attorney General Jay Nixon, Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, and Missouri Treasurer Sarah Steelman. They had never had a blogger cover them before – the folks at the journalism school had me speak about blogging in two separate sessions.

Mike Huckabee is slick, polished and affable. His packaging and his content scare me to no end.

June 30, 2008: Barack Obama speaking on patriotism in Independence, Missouri.

Barack Obama in Independence, MO: the preparation

Obama in Independence: photos

This was the first Obama event I covered during the campaign. In contrast to the McCain campaign the press credentialing process was relatively straightforward. We interviewed a campaign volunteer at the open site event the day before. We later heard she was reminded to not talk to the media, including bloggers. This is standard campaign operating procedure – only the candidate or their designated campaign spokesperson can speak for the campaign.

This event itself was quite different than the usual campaign rally. It was treated by the campaign as a serious speech on a very serious subject. Obama was speaking on patriotism – the campaign did not distribute rally signs or other campaign “chum” to those in attendance.

In the press area I sat next to Scout Finch from the Daily Kos. I understand that Blue Girl may have tormented some reporters in the traveling press by pointing to Scout Finch and saying, “See her, she has a lot more readers every day than you do.”

July 17, 2008: An infant in the audience at the John McCain town hall in the Great Hall at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri.

John McCain in Kansas City – the crowd gathers

The Greater Kansas City AFL-CIO on John McCain’s visit

I had called the McCain campaign headquarters in Virginia to inquire about credentials for this event. The told me that they really didn’t issue credentials, but that I should show up with identification. I did, but they didn’t quite know what to do with me and about a half dozen other individuals. First we were in, then we were out, then we were in, then we were going to be asked to leave. It didn’t really matter to me because either way, I was going to get a story.

August 14, 2008: State representative Judy Baker (left) and Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan (center) at the Governor’s Ham Breakfast on the grounds of the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia, Missouri.

August 14, 2008: United States Senator Clair
e McCaskill (left) and Missouri State Auditor Susan Montee (right) at the entry of the Governor’s Ham Breakfast on the grounds of the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia, Missouri.

A ham breakfast at the Missouri State Fair

Attorney General Jay Nixon’s press conference at the Missouri State Fair on Thursday

The Governor’s Ham Breakfast at the Missouri State Fair is the largest annual concentration of Democratic and Republican politicians in the State of Missouri outside of Jefferson City.

September 6, 2008: The crowd listening to a speech by Missouri Attorney General (and now Governor-elect) Jay Nixon at the Johnson County Democratic headquarters in Warrensburg, Missouri.

A Democratic crowd gathers in Warrensburg

October 18, 2008: The line of people waiting to get in to the Obama rally at the Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri.

RBH, Blue Girl, and I received credentials for this Obama campaign rally at the Liberty Memorial. I had to leave (a scheduling conflict) before Obama spoke, but I was able to witness the huge lines of people waiting to get in to attend the event. As I walked south toward 31st street I would periodically call Blue Girl, in the press area at the site, on her cell phone and exclaim, “Holy shit! The crowd is huge.” This is one of my favorite photos from the campaign. Before I left the site I loaned Blue Girl my second camera. From her perch on the press “cut riser” she took some of the best campaign photos I’ve ever seen of Barack Obama speaking.

October 24, 2008: A relative of the Johnson County Obama Campaign field organizer sent him this t-shirt in a care package.

October 30, 2008: The crowd at an Obama campaign rally in Columbia, Missouri.

Obama in Columbia, Missouri – photos

The logistics were a nightmare. The setting was spectacular. The crowd was huge.

We waited at the press entrance for an eternity, then waited another eternity to get our credentials. The one volunteer checking the press list didn’t have a flashlight so she couldn’t read it in the dark. I tried to live blog, but the available WiFi was quite skittish. I took a large number of photographs – close to 200. I spent an inordinate amount of time on the huge press “cut riser”. Too late into the event I noticed a lift that was being used to take credentialed media up about thirty feet so that they could get aerial photographs.

At this point in the campaign we were struggling to keep up with one event after another.

October 31, 2008: A bumper sticker through the looking glass.

November 15, 2008: A sign at the Proposition 8 protest rally in the park near the Plaza at 47th and Main in Kansas City, Missouri.

Proposition 8 rally in Kansas City

Join the Impact in Saint Louis

Proposition 8 rally in Kansas City – more photos

After the election I had a tendency to sleep in on weekends. Late one morning my spouse asked my, “Are you going into the Plaza to cover the Proposition 8 protest rally?” “Holy crap,” I thought to myself. I rushed around getting batteries charged and getting my equipment together. The weather was cold – I dressed from previous cold weather protest experience. I interviewed a number of people at and near the event. That’s something I wouldn’t have easily done before this year started.

This is a small slice of the experience of this past year. For me here at Show Me Progress this certainly was the year that was. Now that we’ve had practice I suspect we’re going to do quite a bit more.

If you are in the market for a battleground state, have I got a deal for you! 

You can have your Florida and your Ohio.  I got the real deal – the original battleground state – the only one that entered the Union with a  legislative compromise bearing it’s name, the one every American child learns about by sixth grade.  Our eleven electoral votes would have spared the nation the entire Bush administration in 2000.  Bush took the state by 3.5% – a mere 80,000 vote difference…out of 2.3 million ballots cast here in the 2000 presidential election.  The Republicans had that 80,000 vote margin because they had the GOTV playbook, and we did not yet have the netroots.  What a difference a decade makes. 



No Democrat has won the White House without carrying Missouri since the mid-19th century, and Missouri has been carried by every winning presidential candidate in the last 50 years.  Let us consider:  In my lifetime, we have elected seven presidents; three Democrats and four Republicans, and in every single one of those elections, the state I have always called home, no matter where I was hanging my hat, has been carried by the winner.

I just don’t think it is possible to get more “swing state” than that.


Our Governor’s mansion goes back and forth, and will flip back to the Democrats with the election of Jay Nixon in 2008.  Since Matt and the Mrs. don’t live in the mansion anyway, because she “doesn’t like it” (so he commutes in a six-Suburban caravan and dumps a ton of CO2 in the air every single day), Jay’s wife might as well go on in and start measuring for drapes and planning the décor.


Our embarrassing little weasel of a Governor’s  legislative signings have taken on a surreal “Passion Play” quality of late – he signs anti-family planning legislation in a Baptist Church sanctuary, yet on another day, he decidedly plays the role of Pontius Pilate, calling for a mandatory death penalty when convictions for certain capital crimes are secured.  The Republican majorities in both chambers of the statehouse are the reason everyone outside Missouri thinks we are a bunch of foam-flecked loons, each and every one.


These are the compassionate souls who brought you animal sounds when a Democratic legislator from St. Louis compared the Medicaid cuts of 2005 to a National Geographic special about culling the herd of the weak and the infirm.


Right now, the Missouri congressional delegation is as evenly split as 11 members can be using whole numbers.  In the U.S. Senate, we have one of each, and our nine congresspeople are five Republicans and four Democrats.  In 2008, the numbers are likely to flip, because the Missouri 06 has a strong Democratic challenger for Sam Graves in former KC mayor Kay Barnes.


Missouri stands on the precipice, and those of us who follow politics have already picked up on the atmospheric changes.  2008 is going to be a battleground year, and Missouri is going to be the quintessential battleground state.


Before y’all write us off as a bunch of quixotic liberals tilting at imposing red windmills, remember that those chuckleheads in charge in Jeff City only seized power in the last decade,  and, with the way they have conducted themselves, and the fact that they have passed legislation that directly hurt so many Missourians, their majorities are vulnerable.. 


And that’s where we come in.