Do you remember this press release from Governor Matt “baby” Blunt’s office back in 2007?:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Contact: Jessica Robinson

Blunt Official Seeks Investigation into Nixon’s Campaign Contributions from Ameren

JEFFERSON CITY-Ed Martin, Chief of Staff for Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt, today asked the Chairman of the Public Service Commission to investigate political campaign contributions from Ameren UE that were solicited by Attorney General Jay Nixon after he announced a criminal investigation into the utility company.

“I am concerned about Steve Sullivan, general counsel of Ameren, who has behaved in a manner that is sufficiently troubling to me that I feel compelled to notify you and your fellow commissioners,” Martin wrote in a letter to Jeff Davis, Chairman of the Public Service Commission. “To be more exact, I am concerned that Mr. Sullivan has repeatedly acted with questionable integrity with his interactions with Attorney General Jay Nixon.”

In the letter, Martin details a conversation he had with Sullivan on September 11, 2006, during which it was revealed that the Attorney General and/or his campaign was directed to send campaign contributions to certain legislative committees that would be funneled to Nixon’s campaign accounts. Sullivan told the governor’s office that Nixon’s request for campaign funds occurred after he announced a criminal investigation into the company following the Taum Sauk disaster.

The Public Service Commission is considering a request by Ameren to raise utility rates for Missouri consumers. Mr. Martin said he was concerned that the contributions to Nixon during a criminal investigation, Ameren’s attempt to justify their request for a rate increase by adding a $10 million charge related to the Taum Sauk disaster that was later rescinded and Ameren’s unsatisfactory response to storms over the last year should be considered by the Commission as they examine the rate case.

“It is important for Missourians to know what has happened and how Ameren and its top people operate,” Martin wrote. “I strongly urge you to call Mr. Sullivan before you address his actions. He may have plausible explanations; if so, Missourians deserve to hear them. Without explanations, however, I am naturally suspect of any and all Ameren statements or submissions.”

[emphasis added]

And then there’s this:

A 48 hour report (pdf) filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission by the republican Majority Fund showing a $10,0000 contribution from the Ameren UE PAC immediately before the November General Election.

Are we going to hear anything about this particular contribution? Yeah, I thought so. That chirping you’re hearing that is coming from the lame duck’s office in Jefferson City is the sound of crickets.

The Missouri republican party and its inhabitants are seriously irony impaired.

There’s even more irony via the Missouri Ethics Commission:

Detailed Summary of Contributions And Loans Received

Committee: FRIENDS OF PETER KINDER

Report Date: 12/04/2008

Ameren UE PAC P.O. Box 780 Jefferson City, MO 65102- 10/28/2008 $5,000.00

And the republican candidate for Attorney General?

October 17, 2008

…”Gibbons also takes a minor swipe at Nixon for accepting campaign money from Ameren at the very time he was negotiating with the utility company over reparations for its Taum Sauk reservoir breach. Nixon later returned the money, and Gibbons’ acknowledges sometimes campaign operatives receive donations unknown to the candidates, but, he says, “I simply will tell my people don’t do that, period….”

Detailed Summary of Contributions And Loans Received

Committee: MISSOURIANS FOR GIBBONS

Report Date: 10/22/2008

Daniel Cole Saint Louis, MO Ameren 09/30/2008 $500.00

Martin Lyons Saint Louis, MO Ameren Corp 09/30/2008 $500.00

Richard Mark Collinsville, IL Ameren Corp 09/30/2008 $500.00

Michael Moehn Alton, IL Ameren Corp 09/30/2008 $500.00

Charles Naslund Saint Louis, MO Ameren Corp 09/30/2008 $1,000.00

Gary Rainwater Chesterfield, MO Ameren Corp 09/30/2008 $1,000.00

Jeffery Russell Chesterfield, MO Ameren UE 09/22/2008 $150.00

Thomas Voss Eureka, MO Ameren UE 09/30/2008 $1,000.00

Ameren UE PAC PO Box 780 Jefferson City, MO 65102 09/30/2008 $5,000.00

[emphasis added]

Governor Matt “baby” Blunt’s office hasn’t been complaining about this either, has he?

What a bunch of losers. It’s symptomatic of the incompetence manifested by republican control over the last eight years. Their supportive vandals can’t even muster enough ability to properly and permanently bring down a  4 x 8 campaign sign. I almost feel sorry for them – to witness how far they’ve fallen.

A 4 x 8 along a well traveled road on a lot in an upper middle class neighborhood in the southeast part of Warrensburg. The sign faces south and greets a significant chunk of the “return from work” traffic in the evening.

In 2004 their sign vandals were properly old school. You knew that they had some self respect. They’d use black spray paint (“Communists!”) on a Kerry/Edwards 4 x 8. And when it got really close to the election they’d just cut the signs apart, leaving only thin strips of sign strapped to the steel posts. It was a different world in the old days. We could count on vandals with a modicum of skill, and even with a sense of panache. No more.

Now all we have to look forward to is this. You can hardly see anything from the road.

I don’t even want to know…

Then again, all that time spent vandalizing signs late at night and sleeping in late means they aren’t working the phone banks or out canvassing for their candidates.

I sent out our first canvassing team an hour and a half ago.

Any suggestions?

In Virginia:

GOP Rally Reaches Out To Minorities

By Amy Gardner

Washington Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, September 17, 2008; Page B01

Northern Virginia Republicans, realizing they need to improve their appeal among the region’s large ethnic population, will stage a “unity” rally Saturday that they say will draw 1,000 people…

…”We confront a perception problem, which we have to fight every day — that the Republican Party is not for working people or immigrants,” said Jim Hyland, a rally organizer and chairman of the Fairfax County Republican Committee…

One of the scheduled speakers is George Allen.

The republican party is irony impaired.

Hat tip to Oliver Willis.