The continuation of our retrospective.

August

Good morning (August 1, 2018)

Proposition A – “Right to Get Paid Less” – loses big (August 7, 2018)

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) and Josh Hawley (r) (August 8, 2018)

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) – with campaign volunteers in Columbia, Missouri – August 7, 2018 (August 8, 2018)

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D): opening day at the Missouri State Fair (August 9, 2018)

For right wingnuts “The Handmaid’s Tale” is not dystopian fiction, it’s aspirational (August 16, 2018)

Keri Ingle (D) – 35th Legislative District – retail politics (August 19, 2018)

Senator Claire McCaskill (D) in Lee’s Summit – Press Q and A – August 25, 2018 (August 25, 2018)

September

Retail politics:

Suppose you organized an open public debate in the 4th Congressional District and the incumbent republican just couldn’t be bothered to show (September 19, 2018)

Fall weather brings Fall festivals (September 29, 2018)

October

Monarch (October 2, 2018)

At the U.S. Supreme Court reception after yesterday’s quickie swearing in ceremony… (October 7, 2018)

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) in Warrensburg – October 8, 2018 (October 8, 2018)

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D) – Odessa, Missouri – October 15, 2018 (October 15, 2018)

A Saturday morning parade (October 27, 2018)

Previously:

The Political Year in Pictures – 2018 – part 1 (December 28, 2018)

The Political Year in Pictures – 2018 – part 2 (December 28, 2018)

The continuation of our retrospective.

May

The Missouri General Assembly ends the legislative session and open a special session to consider the impeachment of Governor Eric Greitens (r).

The Petition for a Special Session of the General Assembly to consider “disciplinary actions against Governor Eric R. Greitens” (May 4, 2018)

Jefferson City: “Ah, the Eric Greitens bill” – SS SCS HB 1558 (May 10, 2018)

Jefferson City: it still doesn’t appear to be working – May 17, 2018 (May 17, 2018)

Jefferson City: House Rule 42 – May 17, 2018 (May 17, 2018)

Jefferson City: Tikkun olam – May 18, 2018 (May 19, 2018)

Jefferson City – the end of the regular session – May 18, 2018 (May 19, 2018)

Jefferson City: the beginning of the special session – May 18, 2018 (May 19, 2018)

And then:

June

And…scene (June 1, 2018)

Lauren Arthur (D) wins in 17th Senate District special election (June 5, 2018)

Parkland.

March for Our Lives – Road to Change – Kansas City, Kansas – June 18, 2018 (June 19, 2018)

Ryan Deitsch – March for Our Lives – Road to Change – Kansas City, Kansas – June 18, 2018 (June 21, 2018)

Children in concentration camps:

Senator Roy Blunt (r): suffer the little children (June 20, 2018)

Wendy Baird, a mom, age “thirty-something”, from Independence, Missouri and Senator Roy Blunt (r) (June 20, 2018)

In Overland Park, Kansas:

Protest imitates fashion (June 22, 2018)

Performance Art (June 22, 2018)

Somebody’s grandmother (June 22, 2018)

Immigration protest at Rep. Kevin Yoder’s (r) district office – Overland Park, Kansas – June 22, 2018 (June 23, 2018)

Being a Donald Trump (r) sycophant didn’t work out very well in November for Kevin Yoder (r).

In Kansas City, Missouri:

Melania’s claim to fashion immortality (June 24, 2018)

Don’t take away my rights, I’m still using them… (June 24, 2018)

No human being is illegal… (June 24, 2018)

Cosecha KC Rally to Protect Families – Kansas City, Missouri – June 24, 2018 (June 25, 2018)

Mayor Sly James – Cosecha KC Rally to Protect Families – Kansas City, Missouri – June 24, 2018 (June 25, 2018)

Again, in Kansas City, Missouri:

No, we cannot (June 29, 2018)

Children understand (June 29, 2018)

As we are all (June 29, 2018)

Be the badass on the right (June 29, 2018)

Why here? Why now? (July 1, 2018)

In Columbia, Missouri:

That was so last century )June 30, 2018)

The triumph of privatization (June 30, 2018)

Families Belong Together – Columbia, Missouri – June 30, 2018 (July 1, 2018)

June was a very busy month.

July

Welcome to Missouri:

The only Confederate flag that ever mattered was a white rag on a stick.

Celebrating treason for the season (July 3, 2018)

Ouch. (July 6, 2018)

The fight against “right to get paid less”:

Vote “No” on Proposition A rally – Kansas City – July 10, 2018 (July 10, 2018)

Campaign Finance: less than four weeks to go (July 11, 2018)

Donald Trump (r) came to Kansas City:

Protesting Donald Trump (r) in Kansas City – July 24, 2018 (July 25, 2018)

Well, yeah.

Previously:

The Political Year in Pictures – 2018 – part 1 (December 28, 2018)

It’s been another very interesting year for us. We could all benefit from less interesting.

We took a lot of photos in 2018. Many having to do with the aftermath of the 2016 (yes) and 2018 general elections.

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

The Missouri General Assembly opened its session on January 3rd.

The opening of the legislative session – in the House – January 3, 2018 (January 3, 2018)

Rep. Bruce Franks, Jr. (D): comforting the afflicted, afflicting the comfortable (January 4, 2018)

HB 1817: Well, what brought that up? (January 4, 2018)

The sordid story of now former Governor Eric Greitens (r) started early in the month.

Oh, my. (January 11, 2018)

Oh, my – part 2 (January 11, 2018)

Oh, my – part 3 (January 11, 2018)

אַ שאַנדע פֿאַר די גוים and *IOKIYAR (January 11, 2018)

Oh, my – part 4 (January 11, 2018)

Oh, my – part 5 (January 11, 2018)

Oh, my – part 6 (January 12, 2018)

Sen. Denny Hoskins (r): not exactly a ringing endorsement (January 12, 2018)

Gov. Eric Greitens (r): piping (January 16, 2018)

Oh, my – part 7 (January 16, 2018)

On January 20, 2018 close to two thousand people (the organizers’ head count was over 1600) gathered at the amphitheater in the Courthouse Square in Columbia, Missouri for a rally and march to commemorate last year’s Women’s March and to protest Donald Trump, his administration, and his republican enablers.

Rally and March in Columbia, Missouri – January 20, 2018 (January 20, 2018)

Rally and March in Columbia, Missouri – January 20, 2018 – Valérie Berta-Torales (January 21, 2018)

Rally and March in Columbia, Missouri – January 20, 2018 – part 2 (January 21, 2018)

Welcome to Missouri:

Donald Trump (r) carried the county by 46.855% in 2016 (January 27, 2018)

February

Donald Trump’s (r) draconian immigration enforcement directives had inhumane and devastating effect on families across the United States.

Immigration: Syed Ahmed Jamal and many other stories like his (February 11, 2018)

Immigration: Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D) – Press Q and A – Kansas City – February 11, 2018 (February 12, 2018)

Immigration: Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D) – Kansas City – February 11, 2018 (February 12, 2018)

Immigration: Rev. Eleanor McCormick – Kansas City – February 11, 2018 (February 13, 2018)

Immigration: on DACA – Kansas City – February 11, 2018 (February 14, 2018)

March

Yet another demonstration after a mass shooting in a school in America.

March for Our Lives – Kansas City – in Theis Park on Saturday, March 24, 2018 (March 20, 2018)

Another sign for the times (March 23, 2018)

March for Our Lives – Warrensburg, Missouri – March 24, 2018 (March 24, 2017)

March for Our Lives – Kansas City – Theis Park – March 24, 2018 – signs (March 24, 2018)

Are we tired of 2nd Amendment overkill (and I do mean kill) yet? (March 24, 2018)

Until this changes… (March 25, 2018)

March for Our Lives – Kansas City – Theis Park – March 24, 2018 – more signs (March 25, 2018)

March for Our Lives – Kansas City – Theis Park – March 24, 2018 – getting there (March 25, 2018)

There but for the grace of… (March 26, 2018)

Students walked out of class.

Seventeen minutes of silence (March 14, 2018)

Members of the Westboro Baptist Church from Topeka, Kansas came to town:

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

At noon today in Warrensburg (March 12, 2018)

It’s hard out there (March 13, 2018)

April

Everything Eric Greitens (r).

The Report (April 11, 2018)

A CAFO, a neighborhood, a botanical garden, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources. What could go wrong?

Now that’s a CAFO (March 18, 2018)

Now that’s a CAFO – comments addressed to the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (March 21, 2018)

Suppose you threw a DNR CAFO hearing in Warrensburg and everyone came? (April 3, 2018)

Suppose you threw a DNR CAFO hearing in Warrensburg and everyone came? – photos (April 5, 2018)

Suppose you threw a DNR CAFO hearing in Warrensburg and everyone came? – Tabitha Schmidt, CEO President, Powell Gardens (April 5, 2018)

Suppose you threw a DNR CAFO hearing in Warrensburg and everyone came? – Karen Lux (April 5, 2018)

Suppose you threw a DNR CAFO hearing in Warrensburg and everyone came? – Al Weir (April 6, 2017)

Suppose you threw a DNR CAFO hearing in Warrensburg and everyone came? – Aimee Davenport on behalf of Powell Gardens (April 6, 2018)

Suppose you threw a DNR CAFO hearing in Warrensburg and everyone came? – Eric Tschanz (April 7, 2018)

Suppose you threw a DNR CAFO hearing in Warrensburg and everyone came? – Chuck Petentler (April 7, 2018)

The continuation of our retrospective.

A sign of things to come:

Crossing the state in August:

Chris Koster (D) in Columbia, Missouri – August 5, 2016 (August 6, 2016)

Chris Koster (D) – video by Jerry Schmidt – 8/5/2016 (August 6, 2016)

Chris Koster (D) in Columbia, Missouri – media questions – August 5, 2016 (August 6, 2016)

Speaking, meeting, and greeting in August:

Jason Kander (D) – Warrensburg – August 14, 2016 (August 14, 2016)

Ah yes, the Missouri State Fair Governor’s Ham Breakfast:

Trumpoids at the Missouri State Fair Governor’s Ham Breakfast (August 18, 2016)

Missouri State Fair Governor’s Ham Breakfast – August 18, 2016 (August 19, 2016)

Cognitive Dissonance (August 19, 2016)

Hillary Clinton spoke at the National Baptist Convention in Kansas City on September 8, 2016:

Hillary Clinton (D) at the National Baptist Convention in Kansas City – September 8, 2016 (September 8, 2016)

Media narrative? What media narrative? (September 10, 2016)

Statewide candidates made their way across the state, sometimes with a trailing opposition campaign tracker.

Campaign Tracker: apparently a tie is now optional working attire (September 10, 2016)

Teresa Hensley (D) with Lafayette County Democrats in Odessa, Missouri – September 10, 2016 (September 12, 2016)

Campaign Tracker: Where’s Waldo? (September 12, 2016)

Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign opened its campaign office in Kansas City:

Hillary Clinton Campaign Headquarters Open In Kansas City – September 25, 2016 (September 25, 2016)

Emanuel Cleaver speaks at the Hillary Clinton Campaign Headquarters Opening In Kansas City – September 25, 2016 (September 26, 2016)

October is a time for statewide candidates to crisscross the state:

Jason Kander (D) in Warrensburg – October 7, 2016 – press availability (October 7, 2016)

Fall parades are part of the Missouri political landscape:

Everybody loves a parade (October 22, 2016)

What true believers spend their time on when your campaign doesn’t have a field operation and it doesn’t believe in GOTV (October 22, 2016)

A Democratic Party get out the vote rally in Kansas City on the Saturday before the election:

Judy Baker (D) – GOTV kickoff rally in Kansas City – October 29, 2016 (October 30, 2016)

Jason Kander (D) – GOTV kickoff rally in Kansas City – October 29, 2016 (October 30, 2016)

Chris Koster (D) – GOTV kickoff rally in Kansas City – October 29, 2016 (October 30, 2016)

Russ Carnahan (D) – GOTV kickoff rally in Kansas City – October 29, 2016 (October 30, 2016)

Mayor Sly James (D) – GOTV kickoff rally in Kansas City – October 29, 2016 (October 30, 2016)

Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D) – GOTV kickoff rally in Kansas City – October 29, 2016 (October 30, 2016)

Speakers on a university campus the week before the election:

The antidote to free speech is more free speech (November 2, 2016)

Two days after the election around 200 students held an ant-Trump rally on the campus of the University of Central Missouri. There were a few incidents perpetrated by individuals in opposition to the students.

A short early morning conversation (November 10, 2016)

Donald Trump (r) – expect this for the next four years (November 10, 2016)

These kids are all right (November 11, 2016)

Arrest announced in Warrensburg protest assault (November 14, 2016)

An anti-Trump protest in Kansas City on the Saturday after the election:

Anti-Trump rally in Kansas City today. (November 12, 2016)

Anti-Trump rally in downtown Kansas City – November 12, 2016 (November 12, 2016)

Anti-Trump rally in downtown Kansas City – November 12, 2016 – part 2 (November 13, 2016)

Anti Trump Rally Kansas City MO 11/12/16 Photos by Jerry Schmidt (November 13, 2016)

Anti-Trump rally in downtown Kansas City – November 12, 2016 – part 3 (November 13, 2016)

Anti-Trump rally in downtown Kansas City – November 12, 2016 – part 4 – Love Trumps Hate

Anti-Trump rally in downtown Kansas City – November 12, 2016 – part 5 (November 14, 2016)

Presidential Electors met at the capitol in Jefferson City. People showed up to let them know what they thought about Donald Trump:

Never Mind The Bollocks, Here’s The Electors (December 16, 2016)

Have a Great Day! (December 19, 2016)

Previously:

Our top ten traffic posts for 2016 (December 29, 2016)

The political year in pictures – 2016 – part 1 (December 30, 2016)

It’s been another very interesting year for us.

2016 was an election year. That’s good for us. It helped us feed the content beast. The outcome of those elections were bad for everyone – in America and Missouri.

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 Missouri General Assembly went into regular session in January.

Missouri General Assembly: opening of the 2016 legislative session (January 6, 2016)

Senator Jill Schupp (D): January 6, 2016 (January 7, 2016)

Rep. Stacey Newman (D): January 6, 2016 (January 7, 2016)

Missouri House and Senate Democratic Caucus Press Conference – January 6, 2016 (January 8, 2016)

Missouri Opening Session 2016 photos by Jerry Schmidt (January 12, 2016)

Candidates for state and local offices raised money to run.

Jessica Podhola (D) in the 11th Senate District – January 21, 2016 (January 21, 2016)

Jessica Podhola (D) – January 21, 2016 (January 22, 2016)

A, yes, the presidential primaries and caucuses.

Hillary Clinton Campaign Headquarters Open In Kansas City – February 17, 2016 (February 18, 2016)

Bernie Sanders Campaign Headquarters Open In Kansas City – February 20, 2016 (February 20, 2016)

Bernie Sanders (D) in Lawrence, Kansas – March 3, 2016 (March 4, 2016)

Bill Clinton in Springfield, Missouri – March 11, 2016 (March 12, 2016)

Things to do in Kansas City on a Saturday night (March 13, 2016)

Keep Calm and Carry On – part 2 (March 16, 2016)

Impatient (March 19, 2016)

After the presidential primary in March statewide and local candidates made their way to county fundraising dinners across the state.

Johnson County Democratic Committee Kirkpatrick Dinner in Warrensburg – April 2, 2016 (April 3, 2016)

21st Senate District: ElGene Ver Dught (D) at the Kirkpatrick Dinner in Warrensburg – April 2, 2016 (April 3, 2016)

The long road in the Missouri Democratic Party delegate selection process continued in April at county mass meetings, then at congressional district conventions.

If you’re planning on a revolution it actually helps if you show up (April 7, 2016)

Just because I think you’re an idiot doesn’t mean I don’t like your candidate (April 9, 2016)

The 4th Congressional District Democratic Party Convention – Warsaw, Missouri – April 28, 2016 (April 29, 2016)

The end of the legislative session in Jefferson City in May was filled the triumphal wreckage which is the agenda of the right wingnut super majority.

HA 4 to HCS SS SCS SB 663: open season (May 12, 2016)

Missouri House – May 12, 2016 (May 12, 2016)

The end of the legislative session – May 13, 2016 (May 13, 2016)

CCS HCS SB 656: hypocrisy (May 14, 2016)

Governor Jay Nixon came to Warrensburg to sign a higher education bill. We asked him a few questions about vetoing “stand your ground” and voter ID.

Gov. Jay Nixon (D): on SB 656 (“stand your ground”) and HJR 53/HB 1631 (voter ID) (June 16, 2016)

The Missouri Democratic Party state convention held in Sedalia on June 18th was interesting, to say the least.

Your $27.00 won’t get you into heaven anymore (June 19, 2016)

Running for at-large delegate to the DNC (June 19, 2016)

At the Democratic Party state convention (June 20, 2019)

Previously:

Our top ten traffic posts for 2016 (December 29, 2016)

Robert Bolt – A Man For All Seasons:  A Play In Two Acts

….William Roper: So, now you’d give the Devil the benefit of law!

Sir Thomas More: Yes! What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil?

William Roper: I’d cut down every law in England to do that!

Sir Thomas More: Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned round on you, where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country ‘s planted thick with laws, from coast to coast – man’s laws, not God’s – and if you cut them down – and you’re just the man to do it – d’you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, I’d give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety’s sake….

….10.2 Human Rights in Times of Emergency

Certain rights have been considered so important that they are non-derogable. In the three conventions there exist four common non-derogable rights. These are the right to life, the right to be free from torture and other inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment, the right to be free from slavery or servitude and the right to be free from retroactive application of penal laws. These rights are also known as peremptory norms of international law or jus cogens norms….

Even at the most challenging of time, to the point that the life of a nation itself is in peril, there is no allowable derogation from those principles.

The Siracusa Principles on the Limitation and Derogation Provisions in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights

Publisher UN Commission on Human Rights

Publication Date 28 September 1984

Citation/Document Symbol E/CN.4/1985/4

…58. No State party shall, even in time of emergency threatening the life of the nation, derogate from the Covenant’s guarantees of the right to life; freedom from torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and from medical or scientific experimentation without free consent; freedom from slavery or involuntary servitude; the right not to be imprisoned for contractual debt; the right not to be convicted or sentenced to a heavier penalty by virtue of retroactive criminal legislation; the right to recognition as a person before the law; and freedom of thought, conscience and religion. These rights are not derogable under any conditions even for the asserted purpose of preserving the life of the nation….

[emphasis added]

The United States is a signatory to and ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).

United States Constitution, Article VI

….and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land….

Introduced in the Missouri House on February 29, 2012:

SECOND REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 83

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES KELLEY (126) (Sponsor), SCHAD, HAEFNER, BRATTIN, GATSCHENBERGER, HOUGHTON, GUERNSEY, FUNDERBURK, COX, FISHER, LAIR, McNARY, STREAM, THOMSON, DAY, HOSKINS, ENTLICHER, WHITE, DAVIS, WETER, KEENEY, ROWLAND, JONES (89), FRANZ, DIEHL, HUMMEL, HARRIS, PACE, WEBB, FALLERT, CASEY, NICHOLS, BROWN (85), LONG, REDMON, PARKINSON, FREDERICK, JOHNSON, RICHARDSON, HAMPTON, BERNSKOETTER, CONWAY (14), REIBOLDT, SOLON, WIELAND, GOSEN, LANT, PIERSON, BURLISON, BAHR, BLACK, FITZWATER, SMITH (150), SCHOELLER, BROWN (116), HIGDON, WRIGHT, NANCE, RIDDLE, ELMER, LASATER, LARGENT, MOLENDORP, McCREERY, BROWN (50), McGHEE, McCANN BEATTY, McNEIL, LAMPE, STILL, ZERR, BERRY, JONES (63), MAY, HUBBARD, COLONA, QUINN, SHIVELY, HODGES, SMITH (71), LOEHNER, GRISAMORE, DIECKHAUS, SILVEY, KLIPPENSTEIN, FLANIGAN, NOLTE, ASBURY, SCHATZ, SCHIEFFER, HUGHES, ANDERS, ELLINGER, CROSS, SATER, WALLINGFORD, McGEOGHEGAN, SCHIEBER, LEACH, McCAHERTY, SOMMER, ALLEN, LAUER, COOKSON, NASHEED, HOLSMAN, TORPEY, RIZZO, MONTECILLO, FRAKER, MORGAN, BRANDOM AND TILLEY (Co-sponsors) .

6036L.01I                        D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk

JOINT RESOLUTION

Submitting to the qualified voters of Missouri an amendment repealing section 13 of article I of the Constitution of Missouri, and adopting one new section in lieu thereof relating to laws retrospective in operation.

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring therein:

           That at the next general election to be held in the state of Missouri, on Tuesday next following the first Monday in November, 2012, or at a special election to be called by the governor for that purpose, there is hereby submitted to the qualified voters of this state, for adoption or rejection, the following amendment to article I of the Constitution of the state of Missouri:

           Section A. Section 13, article I, Constitution of Missouri, is repealed and one new section adopted in lieu thereof, to be known as section 13, to read as follows:

           Section 13. That no ex post facto law, nor law impairing the obligation of contracts, or retrospective in its operation, or making any irrevocable grant of special privileges or immunities, can be enacted; however, a law may be retrospective in its operation with respect to a new obligation, duty, or disability imposed upon sex offenders.

[emphasis in original]

That’s a significant change.

Does anyone not think there would be a court challenge if this is enacted?

Yeah, this is a touchy subject. The reality of the impact of sex offenders on society is very real. Those convicted within the law of these offenses are heinous.

The solution? Vigilance. Investment in the infrastructure of public safety. And, if laws are needed, enact them to apply prospectively, not retrospectively.

Previously: The Political Year in Pictures – 2011 (December 29, 2011)

We did this last year with Our top 16 traffic generating stories of 2010.

There are some patterns to our readers’ interests. Occupy, occupy, occupy. Working people. Child labor. Teabaggers. Money. Racism. Office holders and their constituents. Money. There you have it, our current political climate in a nutshell.

Our top twenty for 2011 from the top:

=====================================

#1 Occupy Wall Street comes to St. Louis (October 2, 2011)

99 > 1

=====================================

#2 Sen. Nieves is a bully and a fraud (May 19, 2011)

The republican members of the Missouri General Assembly never fail to generate traffic. This story was about an elected representative’s interaction with constituents.

=====================================

#3 Todd Akin greets peaceful constituents. With cops.  (August 25, 2011)

When a republican member of Congress is afraid of little old ladies who aren’t teabaggers packing sidearms.

=====================================

#4 Wecome to post-racial America (August 6, 2010)

This story was at #5 in 2010. It still generates traffic and it’s moved up the list.

=====================================

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

Photos from the competing rallies at the state capitol. The folks at the organized labor rally were gathered in solidarity with Wisconsin workers. The teabaggers on the other side of the capitol were obsessed with communists. I kid you not.

=====================================

#6 In which I explain who showed up for Ed Martin’s dance (February 17, 2011)

Half the battle is in actually showing up.

=====================================

#7 Jane Cunningham hearts child labor (February 14, 2011)

Again, a republican member of the Missouri General Assembly leads the way. And it just goes to show that Newt Gingrich (r) doesn’t have an original thought in his head.

=====================================

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

Kansas City gets a new mayor, Sly James.

=====================================

#9 Missouri Teachers Are Denied Social Security Benefits (October 22, 2007)

Yep, another oldie, but goodie. This post from our early days continues to generate significant traffic. Teh Google is so useful.

And it’s moved up a spot from last year.

=====================================

#10 Bank of America foreclosing unjustly on Mike and Mary Boehm (December 21, 2010)

A real family, not statistics, in the foreclosure crisis. From late in 2010.

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

The lead up to #5 above.

….I thought accusing someone of being a communist went out with high button shoes. Evidently not for fascists….

=====================================

#12 Should Democrat Tracy McCreery run as an Independent? (October 7, 2011)

A House seat special election, a legislative committee selected candidate, and an independent in the race. The progressive independent won.

=====================================

#13 Police roust Occupy STLers from sleeping bags at 4:15 a.m. (October 5, 2011)

Having DFHs around public spaces inconveniently reminds the top one percent that they’ve been winning the class war.

=====================================

#14 Missouri State House Redistricting, an introduction (May 15, 2011)

An explanation of the history and the process of legislative district redistricting by our colleague who could probably run the show better than anyone else.

=====================================

#15 Why do conservatives hate poor people? (April 19, 2010)

What has become the universal question of our time. From 2010.

=====================================

#16 The Post-Dispatch fails St. Louisans again (March 12, 2011)

Suppose you held a downtown rally and over four thousand people show up. If the local paper of record doesn’t bother to cover it does the dead tree media make a sound in the twenty-first century forest when it falls?

=====================================

#17 Is Dave Spence a new GOP contender for governor? (October 23, 2011)

Why, yes he is. And with two million dollars of his own money.

=====================================

#18 Missouri American Water Company: as bad as Ameren? (June 8, 2011)

Profits, worker contracts, and rate increases.

=====================================

#19 Friday Public Art Blogging: Thomas Hart Benton’s Mural in the Capitol (May 1, 2009)

A sample of our public art blogging from 2009. Teh Google is awesome.

=====================================

#20 Welcome to the Midtown KC chapter of Drinking Liberally (January 4, 2011)

Sometimes it’s nice to meet face to face.

=====================================

What a year. And 2012 is an election year. Think about that for a minute.