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Tag Archives: Claire McCaskill

Sigh…

26 Wednesday Dec 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in Claire McCaskill

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Claire McCaskill, missouri, There's a Democratic Party base?

We’re a little confused why Roy Blunt (r) is a thing.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) [2018 file photo].

The Hill @thehill
Claire McCaskill on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: “I’m a little confused why she’s the thing”
[….]
3:57 PM – 26 Dec 2018

Because the republicans party is currently governing with empathy, intelligence, and moral courage?

Sigh.

Previously:

Uh, we already knew that… (December 24, 2018)

Well, yes (December 25, 2018)

Well, yes

25 Tuesday Dec 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in Claire McCaskill, social media, US Senate

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Claire McCaskill, Donald Trump, missouri, republican cowardice, social media, Twitter, U.S. Senate

On letting the world know that republican senators think Donald Trump (r) is nuts.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) [2017 file photo]

Late last night:

Dana Houle @DanaHoule
She should name them. They don’t deserve anonymity when they’re refusing to protect us all from someone they believe is a lunatic. And it’s not like she has anything to lose.
[….]
9:45 PM – 24 Dec 2018

Previously:

Uh, we already knew that… (December 24, 2018)

Uh, we already knew that…

24 Monday Dec 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in Claire McCaskill, US Senate

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Claire McCaskill, Donald Trump, missouri, republican cowardice, U.S. Senate

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) [2018 file photo].

McCaskill: GOP senators privately say Trump is ‘nuts’
By Owen Daughtery – 12/24/18 01:44 PM EST

Outgoing Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) did not hold back when giving a scathing assessment of the Republican Party and President Trump, saying GOP senators privately say Trump is “nuts.”

[….]

It’ll be interesting if any of them bother to deny it.

Anyone remember Bill Webster (r)?

22 Saturday Dec 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in Claire McCaskill, Josh Hawley, social media, US Senate

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Attorney General, Bill Webster, Claire McCaskill, investigation, Josh Hawley, missouri, Secretary of State, social media, State Auditor, Twitter

We do.

“…He [Josh Hawley] is, well here’s, let me make sure that you understand. He is, every member of his staff is a taxpayer resource. Every e-mail they read from his political operatives is using taxpayer resources. When political operatives are in official meetings giving direction, talking about punch lists that is a political operation that he is bringing his state staff to deal with. He is having the political operatives run the taxpayer operated operation. So he is bending taxpayer resources to his political will. That is using taxpayer resources for political purposes. It may not be a copy machine where he’s copying flyers, but it is just as significant and, frankly, in some ways more insidious because he has turned official resources into a political operation. That’s what violates, uh, not only good judgment, not only does it disappoint Missourians about what the Attorney General’s office is supposed to be, but I believe it crosses the line in terms of the law…” – Claire McCaskill (D) – November 1, 2018

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) [2018 file photo].

Late last night, Claire McCaskill (D) on Josh Hawley (r), via Twitter:

Claire McCaskill @clairecmc
This isn’t what real prosecutors do. And btw not one person has gone to jail or been convicted of a felony in Missouri as a result of this made for TV “raid”, directed by political consultants. “Run of show” and make sure he has law enforcement outfit on? Lord above this is bad.
[….]
10:55 PM – 21 Dec 2018

Josh Hawley (r) [2016 file photo].

On the documents in the Friday news dump:

Mark Pedroli @MarkPedroli
Josh Hawley’s “outside consultants” directing taxpayer-paid state employees to produce Josh Hawley movies.

“Wag the Dog”??

They’re even telling him what to wear. No wonder @AGJoshHawley dumped the docs on @JayAshcroftMO Fri before Christmas. Good Grief!
[….]
3:55 PM – 21 Dec 2018

We remember Attorney General Bill Webster (r).

Previously:

Josh Hawley (r): Who did you say was in charge at the Attorney General’s office? (October 31, 2018)

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D): Who was in charge at the Attorney General’s office? (November 1, 2018)

Senator Claire McCaskill (D): Who was in charge at the Attorney General’s office? – Press Q and A – November 1, 2018 (November 1, 2018)

Josh Hawley (r): Ask me no more questions, I’ll tell you no more lies… (November 4, 2018)

Josh, we barely knew ya (December 6, 2018)

By the book (December 14, 2018)

Claire McCaskill (D): closing remarks

13 Thursday Dec 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in Claire McCaskill, US Senate

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Claire McCaskill, missouri, U.S. Senate

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) [2017 file photo].

Today:

McCaskill Delivers Farewell Speech on Senate Floor
Thursday, December 13, 2018

U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill today delivered her farewell speech on the Senate floor. Her remarks as delivered:

“It probably won’t surprise my colleagues to know that I don’t like much the idea of a farewell speech. I haven’t spent a great deal of time contemplating it over the years I’ve been here. I’m not a big fan of the concept. But I want to respect the tradition, especially since I’ve witnessed so many Senate traditions crumble over the last 12 years. So I will do my best to get through this without breaking up.

A traditional farewell speech in the United States Senate is full of accomplishments and thanks. I’m gonna skip half of that. I’m extremely proud of my body of work over 34 years of public service, but it is for others to judge, and I won’t dwell on it today other than to say it is a long list and a tangible demonstration of the value of hard work.

The wonderful Barbara Bush said, “Never lose sight of the fact that the most important yardstick of your success will be how you treat other people—your family, your friends, and coworkers, and even strangers you meet along the way.”

So Rather than talk about what I’ve done, I want to speak a few moments about my family—and I have three different families I want to talk about today. My actual family. My family I like to call Missouri—or Missourah, we argue about it a lot. And my family here in the Senate.

First my actual family. Because they are the most important.

In the words of author Andre Maurois, “Without a family, man, alone in the world, trembles with the cold.”
I have been very warm my whole life. I have not trembled in the cold, because I’ve always had my family.
My parents taught me that caring about the community around us was noble and good, and that holding public office was an honorable endeavor, even though my parents were largely spectators and supporters, and not candidates or office holders. They just cared—and they wanted me to care too.

And at the risk of going down too many family stories, it may explain a lot that my dad fell in love with my mom when he saw her smoking a cigar and belting out Won’t you come home Bill Bailey at a party. And that my mother made me say, “Trick or treat, and vote for JFK,” when I was 7. And that my father insisted that I not only learn the rules of football, but that I also learn to tell a good joke and to learn to laugh at myself.
My siblings, my two sisters, my brother. They simply have been the port in every storm.

My children, we have a large blended family of many of children and grandchildren that is close and loving. I adore them all. But I need to specifically mention my three children: Austin, Maddie, and Lily. Because they were there from the beginning. Infants in car seats going to political events, toddlers sitting sometimes not so quietly as I gave a speech, and then amazing troopers in the almost decade of my career when I was a single working Mom, hauling them all over the state on campaigns.

They now have forgiven me for the missed recitals, and the missed field trips, and the fact that I couldn’t be the homeroom mom. Today they have grown into amazing strong adults who make me very proud.

And yee howdy those grandchildren! I have 11, going on 12. I can’t wait until they’re all old enough to yell at them what my mom used to say to us when we were dawdling and too slow in getting to the car, “Last one in is a Republican.”

And my husband, Joseph. How lucky I am to have him as my best friend. We were married 16 years ago, after I was well in to my political career and after he had achieved great success in business. He is proud and supportive of me always—but he certainly didn’t bargain for the incredibly unfair treatment we got at his expense because of his business success.

Let the record of the Senate now say what my Republican colleagues did not during my campaigns. Thank you Joseph for your integrity, your honesty, your generosity, and your heart—which has always directed you to do good as you do well.

And then there’s my Missouri family. I love my state. All of it! Every corner of it—even the parts that aren’t very crazy about me. My honor to work for Missourians has been immense, and I’m incredibly grateful to them for the opportunity I’ve had to get up every day and work my heart out in an interesting, challenging career of public service. And so lucky to have made many, many good friends along the way. I’m excited that I will now have more time for them.

David Stier said, “Family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.” And that’s how I feel about Missouri. That’s why my office has tried very hard to help every individual who has come to us for help—every veteran who has needed assistance, every senior caught in Social Security red tape. No matter who they were, or where they lived, or what their politics were.

And my staff family. Mr. President I ask unanimous consent that my staff’s names be entered into the record.
My staff, here and in Missouri, in this job, my previous jobs, and many, many campaigns.

Richard Bach said it best, “The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life.” They have been my rock, my compass, my inspiration, and my coach. The best and the brightest, looking not for money or fame, but just to make a difference.

To my Senate staff here today and watching—and all the staffs of my offices, of the prosecutor’s office, the Auditor’s office, county legislature, state legislature—I respect each of you immensely. As you go forth in the world, remember the McCaskill office motto, they could cite it for you right now if I ask them, “If you work hard, you can do well. But if you’re having fun, you’ll do great.”

We were happy, and it made a difference.

George Bernard Shaw said, “A happy family is but an earlier heaven.” Working with my staff was heaven.
And finally, to all of my fellow Senators, and all the many people who work here in the Senate. I’d be lying if I didn’t say I was worried about this place. It just doesn’t work as well as it used to. The Senate has been so enjoyable for me, but I must admit it puts the fun in dysfunction.

Peter Morgan, an author, said, “No family is complete without an embarrassing uncle.” We have too many embarrassing uncles in the United States Senate. Lots of embarrassing stuff.

The United States Senate is no longer the world’s greatest deliberative body. And everyone needs to quit saying it until we recover from this period of polarization and the fear of the political consequences of tough votes.
Writing legislation behind closed doors, giant omnibus bills that most don’t know what’s in them, K Street lobbyists knowing about the tax bill managers package before even Senators. That’s today’s Senate. And no amendments.

Solving the toughest problems will not happen without tough votes. We can talk about the toughest problems. We can visit about them, we can argue about them, we can campaign on them. But we’re not going to solve them without tough votes. It will not happen.

My first year in the Senate was 2007. We voted on 306 amendments in 2007. This year, as of yesterday, we voted on 36. That’s a remarkable difference. Something is broken, and if we don’t have the strength to look in the mirror and fix it, the American people are gonna grow more and more cynical—and they might do something crazy like elect a reality TV star President. I’m not kidding. That’s one of the reasons this has happened.

Power has been dangerously centralized in the Senate. We like to say, “Oh, we can’t change the rules, we’ll be just like the House.” We kind of are like the House, guys. We kind of are. A few people are writing the legislation, a few people are making the decisions.

We have to throw off the shackles of careful, open the doors of debate, reclaim the power of members and committees—and most of all realize that looking the other way and hoping that everything will work out later is a foolish idea. And for gosh sakes, debate and vote on amendments.

But with all the problems I’ve outlined, know that I love this place and you. Almost all of you!
You have filled my life with interesting work and unforgettable memories. We have argued, we have sang, we have fought, we have cried, and we have laughed. Together. Just like family. You are family, and I will miss you terribly.

Desmond Tutu, a very wise man, said, “God’s dream is that you and I, and all of us, will realize that we are family, that we are made for togetherness, for goodness, and for compassion.”

Thank you very much. I yield the floor.”

###

You can lead the people to water, but you can’t make them vote for their own interests. Or can you?

30 Friday Nov 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in Claire McCaskill, US Senate

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Claire McCaskill, Interview, missouri, NPR, Overton Window

…The essence of the Overton window is that only a portion of this policy spectrum is within the realm of the politically possible at any time…

…Since commonly held ideas, attitudes and presumptions frame what is politically possible and create the “window,” a change in the opinions held by politicians and the people in general will shift it. Move the window of what is politically possible and those policies previously impractical can become the next great popular and legislative rage…

The Overton window moves in two directions, Claire.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) [2018 file photo].

This morning, via NPR:

….In an interview with Morning Edition host Rachel Martin, McCaskill characterized her loss as a “failure” of the Democratic Party “to gain enough trust with rural Americans,” and she predicted her party will struggle to win other seats as long as President Trump remains in office.

“This demand for purity, this looking down your nose at people who want to compromise, is a recipe for disaster for the Democrats,” she said Thursday in her Capitol Hill office. “Will we ever get to a majority in the Senate again, much less to 60, if we do not have some moderates in our party…?”

“…This demand for purity, this looking down your nose at people who want to compromise…” Were you talking about Mitch McConnell (r)? Just asking.

How did that work out for you, Claire? How many open public town halls across the rural part of the state were there?

State of Missouri – General Election, November 06, 2018
Unofficial Results

U.S. Senator
3256 of 3256 Precincts Reported

Josh Hawley Republican 1,249,854 51.457%
Claire McCaskill Democratic 1,103,461 45.430%
Japheth Campbell Libertarian 27,508 1.133%
Jo Crain Green 13,195 0.543%
Craig O’Dear Independent 33,303 1.371%
WRITE-INS:
Write-in 1,605 0.066%

Total Votes: 2,428,926

Those 1,249,854 voters weren’t going to vote any other way, no matter what. A lot of people didn’t vote in the election. A lot.

It takes two sides working in good faith to actually achieve compromise. It’s impossible if the side on the far right is insane.

Anyone check soy bean markets recently?

We already knew that

27 Tuesday Nov 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in Claire McCaskill, media criticism, social media

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

Claire McCaskill, fascists, Faux News Channel, media criticism, missouri

“Faux News channel, fascist groupies” – protest sign, circa 2003- 2004.

Today, via Twitter:

Claire McCaskill @clairecmc
I have been interviewed on tv a gajillion times. I have never been given the questions, much less allowed to approve their scripts! This is bizarre. Fox and Friends is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Trump administration.

ProPublica @ProPublica
In multiple interviews on “Fox & Friends,” former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt was essentially allowed to dictate the terms for the interview and avoid any difficult questions.

2:22 PM – 27 Nov 2018

We knew a long, long time ago.

The really good news for Josh Hawley (r): now he can unload that Jeff City apartment and the commute to visit his real constituents in DC will be a lot shorter

07 Wednesday Nov 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in Claire McCaskill, Josh Hawley, US Senate

≈ Leave a comment

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apartment, Claire McCaskill, Josh Hawley, missouri, plane, U.S. Senate

Saving on rent and airfare, what’s not to like?

The results:

State of Missouri – General Election, November 06, 2018
Unofficial Results

U.S. Senator
3256 of 3256 Precincts Reported

Josh Hawley Republican 1,249,854 51.457%
Claire McCaskill Democratic 1,103,461 45.430%
Japheth Campbell Libertarian 27,508 1.133%
Jo Crain Green 13,195 0.543%
Craig O’Dear Independent 33,303 1.371%
WRITE-INS:
Write-in 1,605 0.066%

Total Votes: 2,428,926

Previously:

Attorney General Josh Hawley (r): the pepul of Misoori our stoopit (January 23, 2017)

HB 797: no confidence in the legal opinion of Attorney General Josh Hawley (r) (January 31, 2017)

Josh Hawley (r): well, maybe (July 11, 2017)

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

Josh Hawley (r): looking to unload that apartment in Jefferson City (October 10, 2017)

HB 1347: Well, isn’t that special? (December 1, 2017)

Josh Hawley (r): you brought up planes (October 20, 2018)

The new Kansas

06 Tuesday Nov 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in Claire McCaskill, US Senate

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Claire McCaskill, Josh Hawley, missouri, U.S. Senate

Claire McCaskill (D) has conceded.

There’s not much else to say, is there?

Turnout

06 Tuesday Nov 2018

Posted by Michael Bersin in Claire McCaskill, US Senate

≈ Leave a comment

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Claire McCaskill, GOTV, missouri, U.S. Senate

Turnout is high. Beyond predictions.

Meanwhile, the afternoon canvassers have gone out to talk to voters. They won’t stop knocking on doors (and making phone calls) until right before the polls close:

A volunteer leaving the Coordinated Campaign office with afternoon turf – November 6, 2017

Vote.

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