The Governor’s Ham Breakfast at the Missouri State Fair took place this morning in Sedalia. This annual event is usually a “must attend” function for Missouri legislators, statewide office holders, and members of Congress. Usually.
There are always displays of yard signs and a gauntlet of t-shirt bedecked volunteers passing out campaign stickers at the entrance to the morning’s festivities.
It’s an opportunity for us to replenish our “b roll” of file photos of Missouri politicians with newer images. The problem is that the members of the General Assembly come by so thick and fast we can’t keep up. But we do get a few photos.
The annual Trump cult shrine.
Billy Long’s (r) campaign bus and Billy Long made an appearance.
The Missouri State Fair Queen, Rosie Lenz:
The cult of the lost cause:
Representative Rick Francis (r):
Flying above the annual Trump cult shrine:
MAGA “Bullshit” flag [top].
Representative Billy Long (r).
Representative Willard Haley (r):
Billy Long (r).
Masks anyone?
Missouri Attorney General and amateur medical expert Eric Schmitt (r).
Representative Vicky Hartzler(r):
New file photos!
Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (r):
Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer (r):
Representative Jason Smith (r), sporting a January 6, 2021 sedition look:
In case you’re wondering – in over an hour standing at the entrance with a camera and a 400 mm lens to help me keep my distance I counted only four individuals, including me, out of the many attending who were wearing masks.
The early morning Governor’s Ham Breakfast in the second week of the State Fair in Sedalia is the largest annual one day gathering of ostrich skin boots, tailored jeans, and silver decorated leather belts in the State of Missouri.
We’re talking menswear.
It’s an opportunity for us to photograph and (rarely, if ever) talk to a number of Missouri politicians, all in one place at the same time.
This year a number of office holders either skipped the event or managed to avoid the entrance gauntlet. Others made their way through it.
Governor Mike Parson (r).
Right wingnut swag.
Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft (r).
A journalist:
Eli Yokley – Morning Consult.
On a break of sorts, though he hasn’t stopped tweeting. We knew Eli way back when…
State Auditor and recently announced gubernatorial candidate Nicole Galloway (D):
State Auditor Nicole Galloway (D).
After covering the breakfast under the tent for 1000 people we ventured on to the State Fair grounds.
An encounter on the main drag:
A blue ribbon in the Home Economics Building:
Getting ready to judge pies:
Judging rabbits in the Poultry/Rabbit Building. Poultry during the first week of the fair, rabbits during the second week:
Various political parties have tents on the main drag promoting their candidates and ideology.
The folks at the Democratic Party tent have noted a consistent number of people this year passing by calling out and yelling “Socialists!” (among other things) at them. Yeah, sure, everyone’s a rabid capitalist until their party leader imposes tariffs to engage in a trade war and then has Congress bail out agricultural interests. We didn’t ask the occupants of the Republican tent if people were consistently yelling “Fascists!” at them. We probably should have.
We noted at yesterday morning’s Governor’s Ham Breakfast at the Missouri State Fair that a number of republican candidates and office holders (along with some campaign’s supporters) were outfitted in informal campaign wear. Not so much for the Democratic Party candidates and office holders we ran into.
This candidate was just making sure everyone knows where he stands:
This morning we attended the largest annual single gathering of politicians in Missouri, outside of the General Assembly, at the Governor’s Ham Breakfast on the grounds of the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. It makes for an interesting juxtaposition – potential political opponents for statewide and legislative office milling around and greeting each other, breakfast attendees, and the media.
It’s also an opportunity for us to get photographs of a number of public officials and political candidates in one place. Some of those results:
Attorney General Chris Koster (D), a (probable) candidate for Governor in 2016.
This morning’s Governor’s Ham Breakfast at the State Fair in Sedalia took place without Governor Jay Nixon. Governor Nixon was in Ferguson, Missouri as was/is Senator Claire McCaskill. No statewide Democratic Party office holders were in attendance at the breakfast.
Senator Roy Blunt (r), Representative Vicky Hartzler (r), Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer (r), State Auditor Tom Schweich (r), House Speaker Tim Jones (r), and former Speaker Catherine Hanaway (r) were at the State Fair. We also covered a republican press conference at the Farm Bureau building going after the EPA on water regulation. Senator Blunt, Representative Hartzler and Representative Luetkemeyer spoke. Not a word about Ferguson, but the were all pleased about the “right to farm” amendment.
Serenading folks in the Home Economics Building.
The band also performed in the big tent for the ham breakfast crowd. They were quite good.
Senator Roy Blunt (r).
Politicians weren’t the only ones on display and being judged.
Representative Vicky Hartzler (r).
The Democratic Party tent at the Missouri State Fair.
They were open and active long before the republican tent opened up.
Former House Speaker Catherine Hanaway (r).
State Auditor Tom Schweich (r).
Judging pie.
Representative Vicky Hartzler (r).
Representative Blaine Luetkemeyer at the republican press conference in the Farm Bureau Building.
Interestingly, all three purported republican candidates for Governor in 2016 attended the breakfast. There was no tear gas.
If @GovJayNixon does tomorrow’s state fair ham breakfast and doesn’t get some smarter policing in #Ferguson, could be a new low. 9:10 PM – 13 Aug 2014
Tony Wyche @tonywyche
Gov Nixon, NOW is the time to step up. In the absence of leadership we get chaos. National aspirations or not, here’s your chance. #Ferguson 9:42 PM – 13 Aug 2014
Tony Messenger @tonymess
Every ounce of leadership legacy earned by @GovJayNixon after #Joplin tornado is being sucked away by the #Ferguson vortex. Engage dammit. 9:46 PM – 13 Aug 2014
Philip Rucker @PhilipRucker
Gov. Jay Nixon had been itching to expand his national profile, even eyeing 2016 run. His being AWOL tonight prob won’t help. #Ferguson 9:40 PM – 13 Aug 2014
I’m sure all the liberals were as upset when Bush was called a killer, Hitler,vile names, had his head put on a stick and a movie made about him being murdered. I guess Obama is not all that upset since he hasn’t said anything, I am sure he is smart enough to figure out that every president has been mocked and they roll with it, if they are man enough. if he did come out and cry about it he would look like a wimp. .why is it that liberals are so thin skinned and can dish it out but can’t take it…oh, yes, I know why, i used to be one…very predictable. get over it, cry babies, and get a life. you over played it and now you look like fools. at least Obama didn’t fall for it. The clown looks like the victim now, and the people that wanted their 15 minutes of fame look like little Rats..pathetic
[raises hand] Point of order. Does this mean we can invoke Godwin’s law? Just asking.
Somebody put somebody’s head on a stick? Really?
This one appears to have all the right wingnut talking points in it.
“…I guess Obama is not all that upset since he hasn’t said anything…”
“…why is it that liberals are so thin skinned and can dish it out but can’t take…”
“…i used to be one…”
So, as a former liberal you’re saying that Obama isn’t a liberal? Just asking.
We’re totally flummoxed by the incoherence. We won’t be able to post anything here for weeks. Rats.
