In the 51st Legislative District rematch between Gary Grigsby (D) and Dean Dohrman (r):

Office/Candidate Name Party Votes % of Votes

State Representative – District 51 19 of 19 Precincts Reported

Gary Grigsby Democratic 3,106 37.585%

Dean A. Dohrman Republican 4,727 57.200%

Bill Wayne Libertarian 431 5.215%

Total Votes: 8,264

County Gary Grigsby, DEM Dean A. Dohrman, REP Bill Wayne, LIB

Johnson 1,357 1,792 195

Pettis 172 781 47

Saline 1,577 2,154 189

Previously:

Dean Dohrman (r) thinks your stoopit (October 10, 2014)

Dean Dohrman (r) thinks your stoopit – part 2 (October 16, 2014)

Dean Dohrman (r) thinks your stoopit – part 3 (October 18, 2014)

Dean Dohrman (r) thinks your stoopit (so do his friends) – part 4 (October 24, 2014)

Dean Dohrman (r): the inconvenient truth of those votes for SB 509 (November 1, 2014)

We got a lot of mail today in the 51st Legislative District (November 1, 2014)

The last piece of mail (November 3, 2014)

It arrived at our household in today’s mail:

A Missouri AFL-CIO mailing on behalf of Gary Grigsby (D).

Two years ago there was no significant mail in support of Gary Grigsby (D) in the open seat race in the 51st Legislative District with Dean Dohrman (r).

Those veto override votes in the interim brought that into perspective, don’t you think?

Previously:

Dean Dohrman (r) thinks your stoopit (October 10, 2014)

Dean Dohrman (r) thinks your stoopit – part 2 (October 16, 2014)

Dean Dohrman (r) thinks your stoopit – part 3 (October 18, 2014)

Dean Dohrman (r) thinks your stoopit (so do his friends) – part 4 (October 24, 2014)

Dean Dohrman (r): the inconvenient truth of those votes for SB 509 (November 1, 2014)

We got a lot of mail today in the 51st Legislative District (November 1, 2014)

This was probably the last batch of campaign mail before Tuesday in the rematch between Gary Grigsby (D) and Dean Dohrman (r) in the 51st Legislative District.

Six pieces.

That’s a lot of clutter. Is anyone reading this stuff?

The right wingnut Club for Growth Missouri mailing with its “Keep us on the path to prosperity” tag line is particularly lame. Uh, we thought the evil Jay Nixon was preventing us from achieving the same level of prosperity as Kansas. Oh, wait…

Previously:

Dean Dohrman (r) thinks your stoopit (October 10, 2014)

Dean Dohrman (r) thinks your stoopit – part 2 (October 16, 2014)

Dean Dohrman (r) thinks your stoopit – part 3 (October 18, 2014)

Dean Dohrman (r) thinks your stoopit (so do his friends) – part 4 (October 24, 2014)

Dean Dohrman (r): the inconvenient truth of those votes for SB 509 (November 1, 2014)

Previously: This won’t be the last story on SB 509 (May 8, 2014)

No, it won’t.

What a difference two years can make. A lot of people are weighing in on the 51st Legislative District rematch between Dean Dohrman (r) and Gary Grigsby (D). We received this mail yesterday:

Paid for by The Committee to Protect Missouri Families.

[….]

The Warrensburg School Superintendent said the plan Dohrman voted for, “is something we don’t think is good for education.”

The UCM President said the plan Dohrman supported, “could disrupt funding for the University of central Missouri.” [….]

BUT DOHRMAN VOTED FOR IT ANYWAY.

Somehow republicans thought messing with the future of educational institutions in their districts wouldn’t be noticed around election time.

Heh. The piece also mentioned the billionaire by name.

The Committee to Protect Missouri Families is a brand new PAC (via the Missouri Ethics Commission):

C141549: The Committee To Protect Mo Families Pac Fund

Po Box 39368 Committee Type: Political Action

St Louis Mo 63139

[….] Established Date: 10/06/2014

[….]

[emphasis added]

And they’re associated with the Carpenters’ District Council of Greater St. Louis and Vicinity. Working people. And they remember those votes on SB 509 which screwed working people, public education, public services, and public infrastructure. They’re using the mail to remind voters in the 51st Legislative District of those inconvenient facts. What a difference two years can make.

Also, previously:

Dean Dohrman (r) thinks your stoopit (October 10, 2014)

Dean Dohrman (r) thinks your stoopit – part 2 (October 16, 2014)

Dean Dohrman (r) thinks your stoopit – part 3 (October 18, 2014)

Dean Dohrman (r) thinks your stoopit (so do his friends) – part 4 (October 24, 2014)

Fancy that, the billionaire who benefited from Dean Dohrman’s (r) votes on SB 509 paid for mail in support of Dean Dohrman (r).  

Mailboxes in the 51st Legislative District are getting inundated with Dean Dohrman (r) campaign mail paid for by everybody but Dean Dohrman.

Dean Dohrman (r) spent his time in the General Assembly in Jefferson City voting to prevent an imaginary implementation of Sharia Law, voting to stop a right wingnut paranoid fantasy concocted out of the ether in the form of Agenda 21, and voting for nullification (which was settled 150 years ago). Nope, nothing on jobs.

Dean Dohrman (r) did vote to screw education (and the University of Central Missouri) in his district. School Boards across the state opposed that ill conceived cut to public education for the benefit of the wealthiest few.

Dean Dohrman (r) did vote to allow the state to intrude on an individual’s medical decisions.

With no record of legitimate legislative achievement to speak of Dean Dohrman’s (r) benefactors have to resort to mailers like these to prop him up.

This one is paid for by the Missouri republican party.

Uh, Dean Dohrman (r) ain’t no friend of educators or public education. Think for a moment about the delicious irony of the incumbent posing in front of the University of Central Missouri football stadium with young people wearing university gear after voting to screw the institution and its students in 2013, and again in the last session in 2014.

And for more delicious irony (or cluelessness, your choice) a mail piece paid for by a PAC largely funded by a right wingnut billionaire:

….Dean Dohrman listens to his constituents, not special interests!….

Who paid for that?:

Understatement (July 20, 2014)

[….]

MISSOURI ETHICS COMMISSION

CONTRIBUTIONS AND LOANS RECEIVED

MISSOURI CLUB FOR GROWTH POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE [pdf] 3/31/2014

Rex Sinquefield 244 Bent Walnut Westphalia MO 65085 Retired 3/27/2014 $973,000.00

12. TOTAL ANONYMOUS CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED FROM PERSON GIVING $25 OR LESS $0.00

13. TOTAL MONETARY CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED FROM PERSONS GIVING $100 OR LESS $0.00

[emphasis added]

[….]

Rex Sinquefield’s campaign contribution to the Missouri Club for Growth as reported to the Missouri Ethics Commission in 2014

– compared to those of seventeen other individuals and one business entity. That tiny slice is everyone else.

[….]

Uh, one person with a lot of money spending that money for a specific political agenda is a special interest.

Wait a minute. The second piece was paid for by an “independent” entity as an “independent” expenditure. Why is the candidate’s clothing in the respective glamor shots in different mailings by different entities identical?:

Paid for by the Missouri republican party (left) and Missouri Club for Growth PAC (right).

The tie, the shirt, and the jacket are identical. The haircut is exactly the same, too. What are the odds?

Just asking. Maybe there are paparazzi prowling the 51st Legislative District capturing images of candidates while they stand around outside smiling in their suits. Nah.

And the next mailing, an attack piece paid for by the Missouri republican party, extolls the virtues of SB 509:

And who really, really, really wanted SB 509? You guessed it, a right wingnut billionaire.

Here’s the thing for candidate Dean Dohrman (r), he can’t cheerily benefit from insipid mailings (with no substance) like the first piece paid for by the Missouri republican party and at the same time escape accepting responsibility for the nasty attack pieces on his behalf paid for by that same Missouri republican party – all mailed to the same households in the district.

Previously:

Dean Dohrman (r) thinks your stoopit (October 10, 2014)

Dean Dohrman (r) thinks your stoopit – part 2 (October 16, 2014)

Dean Dohrman (r) thinks your stoopit – part 3 (October 18, 2014)

The Committee to Protect MO Familes, a PAC, has released a video ad in the 51st legislative District race in support of challenger Gary Grigsby (D) and against incumbent Dean Dohrman (r).

Announcer: Things are still pretty tough around here. That’s why it’s more important than ever that we have someone in Jefferson City who will fight for us. But Dean Dohrman [r] has not been looking out for us. Dohrman supported legislation backed by a St. Louis billionaire that would have cut taxes for the wealthy, slashed funding for local schools, and even raised taxes on the rest of us for things like textbooks and prescription drugs. We can do better. Support Gary Grigsby [D] for state representative. He’ll look out for us, not just the wealthy. Paid for the committee to protect MoFamilies, Martin Walter, treasurer.

We expect that this is running (or will run) on cable, since the 51st Legislative District is not in a major media broadcast market.

At the PAC website:

The Committee to Protect MO Families is a growing broad-based coalition of organizations and individuals who have come together to oppose so-called “Right to Work” efforts in Missouri, as well as the corporate extremists and self-interested politicians who are using “Right to Work” as part of their larger war on the middle class.

Ah, it’s a pro organized labor and working people organization.

Still another disingenuous piece of campaign mail on behalf of Dean Dohrman (r), the incumbent republican in the 51st Legislative District –  received today and paid for by the Missouri republican party:

Uh, the only groups which can raise our taxes are elected bodies. You know, like the Missouri General Assembly.

Uh, job growth is up in Missouri. It’s not so good in Kansas. You know, the state with the radical right wingnuts in control. Projection, it’s not just for movie theaters.

Who really is fighting to take away our constitutional rights? You know, like maybe equal protection under the law? Just asking.

Gary Grigsby (D) runs a small business, he raised a family, he has worked as a teacher, he served his country as a Marine, he volunteers for Missouri Boys State, he announces for the band at the University of Central Missouri. That’s radical values?

The Missouri republican party is nuts or full of crazy people or run by twenty something morons or all of the above.

Gary Grigsby (D), the Democratic Party candidate in the 51st Legislative District, in rehearsal

this morning as the band announcer for homecoming at the University of Central Missouri.

Meanwhile, Dean Dohrman (r) spent his time in the General Assembly in Jefferson City voting to prevent an imaginary implementation of Sharia Law, voting to stop a right wingnut paranoid fantasy concocted out of the ether in the form of Agenda 21, and voting for nullification (which was settled 150 years ago). Nope, nothing on jobs.

Dean Dohrman (r) did vote to screw education (and the University of Central Missouri) in his district. School Boards across the state opposed that ill conceived cut to public education for the benefit of the wealthiest few.

Dean Dohrman (r) did vote to allow the state to intrude on an individual’s medical decisions.

With no record of legitimate legislative achievement to speak of Dean Dohrman’s (r) benefactors in the Missouri republican party have to resort to mailers like these.

Previously:

Dean Dohrman (r) thinks your stoopit (October 10, 2014)

Dean Dohrman (r) thinks your stoopit – part 2 (October 16, 2014)

Here’s another disingenuous piece of campaign mail on behalf of Dean Dohrman (r), the incumbent republican in the 51st Legislative District –  received today and paid for by the Missouri republican party:

Somebody has it backwards, but it’s Dean Dohrman (r).

Think about that for a moment.

Gary Grigsby, the Democratic Party candidate in the 51st Legislative District doesn’t presently serve in the Missouri General Assembly. Gary Grigsby has never served in the Missouri General Assembly. He does not nor has he ever had the ability to vote for or against a bill on the floor of the House.

Meanwhile, Dean Dohrman (r) spent his time in the General Assembly in Jefferson City voting against Sharia Law, voting against Agenda 21, and voting for nullification (which was settled 150 years ago). Nope, nothing on jobs.

Dean Dohrman (r) did vote to screw education (and the University of Central Missouri) in his district. School Boards across the state opposed that ill conceived cut to public education for the benefit of the wealthiest few.

Dean Dohrman (r) did vote to allow the state to intrude on an individual’s medical decisions.

With no record of legitimate legislative achievement to speak of Dean Dohrman’s (r) benefactors in the Missouri republican party have to resort to mailers like this.

And look who else has been propping up Dean Dohrman’s (r) campaign recently (via the Missouri Ethics Commission):

C111221 10/13/2014 COMMITTEE TO ELECT DEAN DOHRMAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE House Republican Campaign Committee PO Box 1313 Jefferson City MO 65102 10/13/2014 $26,804.66

C111221 10/16/2014 COMMITTEE TO ELECT DEAN DOHRMAN STATE REPRESENTATIVE Realtors Political Action Committee-Missouri PO Box 30635 Columbia MO 65205 10/15/2014 $14,797.30

[emphasis added]

Previously: Dean Dohrman (r) thinks your stoopit (October 10, 2014)

A campaign mail piece from Dean Dohrman (r), the incumbent in the 51st Legislative District race:

Dean Dohrman’s (r) first 2014 campaign mailing.

So, apparently, Dean Dohrman (r) is running against Barrack Obama. Interestingly, he spends his time in Jefferson City voting against Sharia Law, voting against Agenda 21, and voting for nullification (which was settled 150 years ago). Nope, nothing about jobs in all of that.

Dean Dohrman (r) did vote to screw education (and the University of Central Missouri) in his district.

Dean Dohrman (r) did vote to allow the state to intrude on an individual’s medical decisions.

Let’s see. It’s paid for by the Missouri republican party (they’ve been getting a lot of cash recently from the HRCC), and there are endorsement logos from Missouri Right to Life, the NRA, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, and the Missouri Chamber – all functionally republican front organizations.

There’s irony everywhere. Consider this: Gary Grigsby, the Democratic Party candidate in the 51st Legislative District, is an independent businessman. And a former Marine. And a former school teacher. And he serves on the Warrensburg school board.

Oh, by the way, the photography on this particular mailer sucks.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) met for coffee early this morning in downtown Warrensburg with Johnson County Democrats (and anyone else who showed up). She spoke at length about the 2014 election, the Missouri General Assembly, Medicaid expansion, the Affordable Care Act, and also took questions.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) in Warrensburg – October 8, 2014.

[….]

Senator Claire McCaskill (D): ….I have watched, from afar, Jefferson City. And, you know, um, I’ve spent some time in Jefferson City. And it isn’t as if I don’t understand what this state is. I think you all know I get Missouri….I get that there are a lot of conservative people in this state. But if you step back from it and you look and you see that I have been elected and reelected statewide four times. [Governor] Jay Nixon has been elected and reelected state, in statewide office one, two, three, four, five, six times. [Secretary of State] Jason Kander was elected, [State Treasurer] Clint Zweifel was elected, [Attorney General] Chris Koster was elected. All of these are Democrats that are winning statewide. Now how do you reconcile that with the Missouri legislature, because the Missouri legislature is way, way, way to the right? It’s so far to the right you can hardly see it on the horizon. And the reason that’s happened is because of two things. One, they controlled redistricting, but, more importantly is because they have recruited candidates, funded candidates, and helped candidates run and win and….we behaved, well, you know, that Jeff City, it just is hopeless. You know, they’re in charge and there’s nothing we can do. Well, they cast votes that are completely out of step with most Missourians. I guarantee you they’re out of step with the people that would be in Gary [Grigsby]’s district [51st Legislative District]. Um, I could go through a list. I mean, how many Missourians want them to be spending time on Sharia law? Um, how many Missourians really think Agenda 21 is a problem? How many Missourians think it’s a good idea to tell the local sheriff and the local police department that if they’re gonna work on an interdisciplinary task force with Federal officers they could go to jail if they arrest somebody in that effort that has a gun that’s prohibited by the Federal government. They wanted to put local law enforcement in jail for cooperating in a Federal investigation that could involve guns. I mean, this is crazy time….

[….]

…You know what people of this state want from their state legislature? They want good roads and bridges, they want good public education, and they want to make sure that their money is being spent wisely. They don’t want rape victims to have to wait three days to terminate a pregnancy that their rapist caused. They don’t want that. Vast majority of Missourians do not want that….

[….]

Question: …You must fight, the Democrats must fight no matter what happens in November, it [the Affordable Care Act – “Obamacare”] must not be repealed.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D): Well, it won’t be repealed as long as, uh, Barrack Obama is President of the United States. Um, and I do, I will tell you that I think our, I’m traveling next week on behalf of my colleagues, I do think that, um, we are in pretty good shape. It’s gonna be close across the country. Um, but I will be surprised if we don’t hold on….

[….]

….The election that will determine the future of health care reform in this country, as to whether or not we continue down the path, will be, um, electing Hillary Clinton in, in twenty-sixteen. I will be back here and this place will be full, wall to wall, with people, I hope, working, um, on behalf of Hillary Clinton in twenty-sixteen.

Question: I think the one, the one issue that the state Republicans are the most opposite of their constituents is on Medicaid expansion. Because, a lot of my Republican friends, that is the one thing that they are really the most distressed about, is that we haven’t expanded Medicaid in the state and we didn’t accept the Federal money, because they have family members who should be Medicaid eligible and are not. And I see that’s just the most vulnerable issue for these, for, you know, at least our state representatives is that they didn’t support that.

Senator Claire McCaskill (D): There are, we have three hundred thousand Missourians, so you can speak to this when people that you, you talk to them, we have three hundred thousand Missourians who are working. You know, when people hear Medicaid I think they think of people that aren’t working. These are people that are working. They are working two and three jobs. They are making too little money to get on the [ACA] exchanges, but they make more money than they can do to get Medicaid. So, the, the weird thing is that, um, you know, we’ve got this gap. And that is all because they have turned down the Federal money that would, that would expand. [voice: “Our Federal money.”]  Our Federal money is going to other states for their health care. And it is really hurting rural Missouri, uh, because in many rural communities the number one employer is the hospital. And these hospitals are dying on the vine. I mean, they are desperate. And that’s the irony, is the reddest parts of the state are gonna suffer the most  ’cause that’s where a lot of the working poor are, people that are working two or three minimum wage jobs and don’t have insurance at work. And they can’t, they can’t get on the exchanges and they don’t qualify for Medicaid. Um, so it is really crazy. I mean, it would be, imagine if the Republicans said, you know, we’re not gonna take Federal Highway funding. They might cut it off some day so we better not take it. [laughter[ Let’s just not take Federal highway funding. We don’t want our money that we’ve paid, come back for our highways, because it’s the Federal government. And they might cut it off some day and then we’d be left holding the bag. And I’m like, well, I think you’re holding the bag now because, guess where all those people are going for health care? They’re going to hospitals who are treating them and then they’re passing on the bills to Missourians. It’s like a huge hidden tax increase. It’s craziness. And the only reason they won’t expand it is because they think it’s connected to Obamacare. So, it’s about the political messaging of Obamacare, it’s not about Missourians. It’s really unbelievable….

[….]

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) [center] with Gary Grigsby (D) [left], the Democratic Party candidate in the 51st Legislative District,

at an early morning coffee in downtown Warrensburg – October 8, 2014.