Previously:

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): maybe if corporations were women… (February 28, 2013)

Rep. Ann Wagner (r): maybe if corporations were women… (February 28, 2013)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): through the looking glass (March 2, 2013)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): Доверяй, но проверяй? (March 4, 2013)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): not too many people are buying it (March 5, 2013)

Piling on Vicky Hartzler (March 7, 2013)

Hartzler’s Deception (March 7, 2013)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): a VAWA letter to the editor (March 8, 2013)

Rep. Vicky Hartzler (r): still another VAWA letter to the editor (March 8, 2013)

Representative Vicky Hartzler (r) had a (sort of) defender in a letter to the editor [subscription required] in yesterday’s Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal. We’re not quite sure. It could just be performance art:

4/2/2013 10:18:00 PM

Editor not fair to Hartzler

Letter to the Editor

This letter is in response to your March 11, 2013 editorial, again taking U. S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler to task for her votes on the Violence Against Women Act because you made a mistake in “reading the message” in a press release. I thought Peggy Nuckles’ cogent March 7 letter to the editor, in which she advised, “You owe her an apology,” would have straightened you out. Not so.

[….]

Leave Harry Truman out of it. He was a principled president. He would disagree with your baseless attacks against Vicky Hartzler.

[….]

[emphasis added]

Now those republicans sure love them some Harry Truman (D), don’t they?

Harry Truman, on republicans:

Address at the State Capitol in Denver  

September 20, 1948

….When I talk to you here today about Republicans, I am talking about the party that gets most of its campaign funds from the special interests in Wall Street. I am talking to you about the party that gave us the phony boom of the 1920’s, and the Hoover depression which followed it. I am talking to you about the party that gave us that Republican 80th Congress.

The Republican Party today is controlled by silent and cunning men who have a dangerous lust for power and privilege. The Republican Party is fundamentally the party of privilege. These men are now reaching out for control of the country and its resources….

Heh.

The salient point in the March 7, 2013 letter to the editor from Peggy Nuckles (in part)?:

….Rep. Hartzler set her priorities and voted according to her beliefs. And you made it sound like she thought protecting women from violence was more important than her hatred of gays. You owe her an apology….

[emphasis added]

That there is a “cogent” letter.

Sarcasm can oftentimes escape the irony impaired.

Representative Denny Hoskins (r-121) prefiled HB 45, a bill to modify a statute with the catchy republican title: “Big Government Get Off My Back Act”. The proposed bill has an interesting addition:

Any federal mandate implemented by the state shall be subject to statutory authorization of the general assembly.

[emphasis in original]

Anyone have an explanation for that clause? Just asking.

There was a letter to the editor about Denny Hoskins (r) last Friday in the Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal:

12/10/2010 11:53:00 AM

Criticism hits appointee

Letter to the Editor

[….]

It appears that the way to get ahead in the Missouri Republican-controlled legislature is to try to avoid taxes and use unethical means to get elected.

These unethical tactics were used against a fine, upstanding and talented young lady. He should be ashamed of what he did, but it seemed to pay off.

The Republicans in the Missouri legislature must certainly condone these tactics, because he was appointed chairman of an important committee. God help us.

Representative Hoskins (r) was appointed by Speaker-elect Steve Tilley (r) to be chair of a House committee. Avoiding taxes and unethical means? Really?

Back to the full text of the bill:

FIRST REGULAR SESSION

HOUSE BILL NO. 45

96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES HOSKINS (Sponsor), ALLEN, NANCE, MOLENDORP, ZERR, NOLTE, POLLOCK AND SCHARNHORST (Co-sponsors).

0145L.02I                                                                                                                                                  D. ADAM CRUMBLISS, Chief Clerk

AN ACT

To repeal section 1.310, RSMo, and to enact in lieu thereof two new sections relating to small businesses.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:

Section A. Section 1.310, RSMo, is repealed and two new sections enacted in lieu thereof, to be known as sections 1.310 and 143.173, to read as follows:

1.310. 1. This section shall be known and may be cited as the “Big Government Get Off My Back Act”.

2. Any federal mandate implemented by the state shall be subject to statutory authorization of the general assembly.

3. No user fees imposed by the state of Missouri shall increase for the [four-year] five-year period beginning on August 28, 2009, unless such fee increase is to implement a federal program administered by the state or is a result of an act of the general assembly. For purposes of this section, “user fee” does not include employer taxes or contributions, assessments to offset the cost of examining insurance or financial institutions, any health-related taxes approved by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, or any professional or occupational licensing fees set by a board of members of that profession or occupation and required by statute to be set at a level not to exceed the cost of administration.

[3.] 4. For the [four-year] five-year period beginning on August 28, 2009, any state agency proposing a rule as that term is defined in subdivision (6) of section 536.010, other than any rule promulgated as a result of a federal mandate, or to implement a federal program administered by the state or an act of the general assembly, shall either:

(1) Certify that the rule does not have an adverse impact on small businesses consisting of fewer than [twenty-five] fifty full- or part-time employees; or

(2) Certify that the rule is necessary to protect the life, health or safety of the public; or

(3) Exempt any small business consisting of fewer than [twenty-five] fifty full- or part-time employees from coverage.

[4.] 5. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to prevent or otherwise restrict an agency from promulgating emergency rules pursuant to section 536.025, or from rescinding any existing rule pursuant to section 536.021.

143.173. 1. As used in this section, the following terms mean:

(1) “Deduction”, an amount subtracted from the taxpayer’s Missouri adjusted gross income to determine Missouri taxable income for the tax year in which such deduction is claimed;

(2) “Small business”, any small business as described in section 1.310;

(3) “Taxpayer”, any small business subject to the income tax imposed in this chapter.

2. In addition to all deductions listed in this chapter, for all taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2011, and ending on or before December 31, 2014, a taxpayer shall be allowed a deduction for each new full-time job created by the small business in the taxable year. The deduction amount shall be as follows:

(1) Ten thousand dollars for each new full-time job created with an annual salary of at least the average annual county wage; or

(2) Twenty thousand dollars for each new full-time job created with an annual salary of at least the average annual county wage if the small business also offers new employee health insurance and pays at least fifty percent of the health insurance premiums of all full-time employees.

3. The department of revenue shall establish the procedure by which the deduction provided in this section may be claimed, and may promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section. Any rule or portion of a rule, as that term is defined in section 536.010, that is created under the authority delegated in this section shall become effective only if it complies with and is subject to all of the provisions of chapter 536 and, if applicable, section 536.028. This section and chapter 536 are nonseverable and if any of the powers vested with the general assembly under chapter 536 to review, to delay the effective date, or to disapprove and annul a rule are subsequently held unconstitutional, then the grant of rulemaking authority and any rule proposed or adopted after August 28, 2011, shall be invalid and void.

4. Under section 23.253 of the Missouri sunset act:

(1) The provisions of the new program authorized under this section shall automatically sunset on December thirty-first three years after the effective date of this section unless reauthorized by an act of the general assembly; and

(2) If such program is reauthorized, the program authorized under this section shall automatically sunset on December thirty-first three years after the effective date of the reauthorization of this section; and

(3) This section shall terminate on September first of the calendar year immediately following the calendar year in which the program authorized under this section is sunset.

[emphasis in original]

Because deregulation has worked out so well in the past.

The story of the funeral of Corporal Jacob Carver in Harrisonville, Missouri last Tuesday had national import. This is true for obvious reasons for the family of Jacob Carver and his friends, but also for the community around Harrisonville. The story of a service member who lost his life in Afghanistan and those who mourned him came to the attention of the nation because a hate group decided to protest at his funeral and a community decided to stand up to that hate group. And that community did so very effectively when hundreds, if not thousands, showed up.

We have a cordial relationship with the Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal – most of the time. Over the past few years we’ve given and gained a grudging respect to each other in covering politics and government in Missouri. On occasion we’ve exchanged photographs for publication. That was the case with this story. I contacted Jack Miles, the editor of the Star-Journal, and offered him photographs I took at the protest and counter protest in Harrisonville. He selected one photograph and ran it to accompany an editorial in today’s paper.

The editorial page in today’s Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal. The paper also ran the photograph in color online.

11/29/2010 2:43:00 PM

Protesting protest beats stifling speech

EDITORIAL

Jack Miles

Editor

First in Weston, then in Harrisonville, one group of protestors with strong feelings showed how to defeat the message of an opposing group of protestors – a group that also showed strong feeling – without violence and without stepping on the U.S. Constitution….

….Outrage amplified tremendously only after the Phelps clan targeted military members as a way to get across his anti-gay beliefs. His message is this: The United States is tolerant of gays and for that sin God allows American servicemen and women to die in Iraq and Afghanistan….

….The Constitution is designed to protect unpopular opinions. Pandering lawmakers who try to curry short-term favor with a majority of voters by disregarding the Constitution risk cracking the foundation that supports all of our freedoms.

That is why I say thanks to the good people who waved Old Glory at military funerals at Weston and Harrisonville over the past few weeks to hide the Phelps clan. As shown in Michael Bersin’s Harrisonville photo, supporters of Cpl. Jacob Carver’s family did a fine job of obscuring and marginalizing Phelps legally.

The anti-Phelps protest did not keep the Phelps clan from carrying signs, but did keep them from being seen and causing needless pain to grieving families, and did so without trampling on Phelps’ right – and the right of all Americans – to express unpopular, even profoundly ignorant, views.

The point is well taken. If we all cherish the Constitution and freedom of expression then we need to do something about it, not by diminishing someone else’s rights, but by exercising our own.

That’s what happened in Harrisonville, Missouri last Tuesday. A half a dozen members of a hate group showed up and left earlier than they probably intended because a community decided to speak up, too.

That’s the way it should be.

The gave us a photo credit. See how it’s done, large daily Missouri newspaper owned by a greedy downsizing corporation?

Previously:

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

Where to start? (November 23, 2010)

The original photo.

A double standard? *IOKIYAR!

Two years ago:

Transcript: Reps. Hoyer and Boehner on ‘FNS’

Sunday, November 23, 2008

….WALLACE: Congressman Boehner, finally, House Republicans – and I don’t mean to be unkind on a Sunday – have lost more than 50 seats in the last two elections with you as a leader, and now the leader.

Why are you the man to bring them back from the political wilderness?

BOEHNER: Well, if I thought that I was to blame for those losses, I wouldn’t have run for this job. And I can tell you my colleagues would not have re-elected me.

We’ve got a long way to go. The American people have issues. They’ve got concerns. We need solutions, solutions to the issues that the American people care about that are built on our principles.

And I believe that re-energizing our party, re-energizing the idea machine that we used to be, is a step in the right direction.

I think our fight last year on energy that lasted three or four months was a very good fight and showed us how to win, how we could grab an issue, grab the attention of the American people and succeed.

And so you’ll see a lot of effort on our part to be the party of new ideas. I don’t think we can be the party of no. There are going to be times when we do have disagreements and we do have to say no and be the loyal opposition.

But at the end of the day, I think that we have to be the party of new ideas, new solutions, and attract more Americans to our party….

[emphasis added]

“…I don’t think we can be the party of no….”

Well, that didn’t last very long, did it? Funny, I don’t recall an editorial in the local paper on this subject at the time.

An editorial in today’s Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal, High Broderism writ large:

11/10/2010 1:29:00 PM

Stepping aside best move for Rep. Pelosi

EDITORIAL

Jack Miles

Editor

….A Blue Dog Democrat, budget hawk Steny Hoyer, Maryland, would be a good replacement for Pelosi, his party and the House. Being a fiscal conservative is always a benefit to the public, especially in these times. Apparently, however, the best Hoyer can hope for is to take the minority whip spot, and even that is not a certainty with the party liberals casting ballots.

Oddly, liberals appear even stronger among House Democrats following the party’s November nightmare. The reason is as simple as the numbers: In districts held by conservative Democrats, such as U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton, voters cast their ballots for Republicans, and with so many conservative Democrats ousted, what is left to dominate the party are liberals, mostly from the East and West coasts.

Democrats seem intent on going with who brought them to the party – even at the risk of political date rape – meaning where Pelosi’s agenda has taken them is bad, but could get worse in 2012….

Yep, that’s what someone wrote.

“…In districts held by conservative Democrats, such as U.S. Rep. Ike Skelton, voters cast their ballots for Republicans…”

Uh, republicans cast their votes for republicans. You think maybe a few Democrats didn’t turn out in an off year election?

Two years ago:

Official Election Returns

State of Missouri General Election  – 2008 General Election

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

U.S. Representative – District 4 – Summary

Precincts Reporting 419 of 419

Parnell, Jeff REP 103,446 34.1%

Skelton, Ike DEM 200,009 65.9%

Total Votes   303,455

Last week:

Unofficial Election Returns

State of Missouri General Election  – November 2, 2010 General Election

Tuesday, November 02, 2010

U.S. Representative – District 4 – Summary

Precincts Reporting 415 of 415

Skelton, Ike DEM 101,512 45.1%

Hartzler, Vicky REP 113,530 50.4%

Braun, Jason Michael LIB 6,122 2.7%

Cowan, Greg CST 3,912 1.7%

Total Votes   225,076

So, ten thousand more voters cast ballots for Vicky Hartzler in 2010 compared with the number who voted for a post turtle in 2008. And the republicans were more motivated this year? Yeah, and Democrats stayed home.

Four years ago:

Official Election Returns

State of Missouri General Election  – November 2006 – General Election

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

U.S. Representative – District 4 – Summary

Precincts Reporting 437 of 437

Noland, James A. (Jim) REP 69,254 29.4%

Skelton, Ike DEM 159,303 67.6%

Holthouse, Bryce A. LIB 4,479 1.9%

Ivey, Melinda (Mel) PRG 2,459 1.0%

Palmer, Jerry L. WI 30 .0%

Total Votes   235,525

“…and with so many conservative Democrats ousted, what is left to dominate the party are liberals, mostly from the East and West coasts…”

And what are Lacy Clay (D), Emanuel Cleaver (D) and Russ Carnahan (D) in Missouri? Chopped liver?

Raul Grijalva (D) and Gabrielle Giffords (D) in Arizona? Tammy Baldwin (D) in Wisconsin?

You think maybe that Democratic voters didn’t bother to vote for Democratic Party candidates who were running away from the accomplishments of their party?

“…even at the risk of political date rape…”

That was a very poor choice of words.

What is missing in the editorial is any mention of the two years of the rhetoric on the right and their agenda of complete obstruction. How about the big bucks spent on campaign ads paid for by right wing front organizations?

There are important lessons in life. Never eat at a diner called “Mom’s”, never buy into an investment scheme promoted by a guy named “Slick”, and never ever take any political advice from a “moderate” journalist.

Besides, no one representing Missouri’s 4th Congressional District in January 2011 has a vote in that matter.

* it’s okay of you’re a republican

The saga of a small town film festival, a desperate republican politician, teabaggers and the stimulus continues.

Remember this, from Representative Denny Hoskins’ (r-noun, verb, CPA) September 20, 2010 Capitol Report?:

…My own questions were based on those I received from constituents concerning the film festival.  As you can see, I did not request funding be withheld or rescinded.  I simply asked how people who need assistance would be helped by the film festival.  Since the film festival was held, I have received even more questions from constituents.  The idea of a film festival or similar event to shine a spotlight on the Warrensburg community is not in itself a bad idea.  How to pay for this event is what concerns me…

[emphasis added]

In today’s Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal, front page, above the fold:

9/28/2010 1:44:00 PM

Spotlight still shines on film fest

Jack Miles

Editor

….Rep. Denny Hoskins took partial credit for the withdrawal of funds in a Sept. 10 release labeled, “Rep. Denny Hoskins helps recover Social Services funding inappropriately used….”

Apparently it’s really convenient to immediately claim credit when teabaggers have been complaining and it’s also really convenient to walk it all back when more rational constituents wonder what the big to do was all about. Read the article.

You’d think that someone who was ostensibly interested in economic development and promoting job creation would think twice about doing anything to diminish an event, long planned by people in their community, which was designed to do exactly that. You’d think.

But, the damage was already done:

….[MVCAA Executive Director Pam] LaFrenz said the festival drew about 150 guests – less than a third of the more than 500 organizers expected to draw in the first year of what they hoped would become an annual event. She said the controversy, a few hours before the festival started, hurt attendance.

“Absolutely,” LaFrenz said. “There was a lot of confusion at the last moment about whether or not it was even going to happen. … I had a couple of calls from regular people asking whether the film festival was going to happen….”

Adding insult to injury:

….We received word that Representative Hoskins (r) did not contact MVCAA before or during the film festival, but he did contact them on Monday afternoon (September 13th)….

You’d think someone who was concerned about getting the full story on the film festival might try to contact the people running it before intervening and doing a happy dance about the result via an opportunistic press release the day before the festival opened. You’d think. You know, possibly a simple question along the lines of, “Could you explain what you all are doing?” I’d suppose that most people living in the 121st Legislative District get the fundamental fairness of extending the folks at the Missouri Valley Community Action Agency that common courtesy.

Previously:

Suppose you held a film festival and right wingnuts didn’t want anyone to attend (September 10, 2010)

The show must go on (September 10, 2010)

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r) and Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder (r): The review is in – two thumbs down (September 14, 2010)

Veto Session Reviews for Rep. Denny Hoskins (r): great potental for a Razzie (September 15, 2010)

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r) and the Film Festival: because the arts never generate economic activity? (September 17, 2010)

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r) and the Film Festival: demagoguery, not oversight (September 18, 2010)

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r) and the Film Festival: that was then, this is now (September 20, 2010)

Rep. Denny Hoskins (r) and the Film Festival: no one knew about it… (September 21, 2010)

A short film about a film festival… (September 22, 2010)

Ky Dickens, the film festival, the Chicago Reader, and teabaggers (September 23, 2010)

We get film festival hate mail (September 28, 2010)

Western Missouri Medical Center in Warrensburg, Missouri is expanding and remodeling its facilities.

In yesterday’s Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal:

…American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds play a key role in the $54 million construction project at Western Missouri Medical Center, a USDA representative said Wednesday.

“If not for the stimulus funds, we probably wouldn’t be in this room today,” USDA State Rural Development Director Anita “Janie” Dunning said.

Without stimulus money, Gregory said, the USDA could not have loaned the hospital $34 million…

It’s the only hospital in the county – the nearest hospital after that is at least thirty miles away.

The punch line? A republican state senator was quoted in the same article:

…Sen. David Pearce said, “We’ve all invested in this hospital and believe in it.”

Wait, doesn’t the Missouri republican playbook dictate that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is pure evil? Just asking.

Previously: Wecome to post-racial America

A letter to the editor was published in the Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal on Monday, August 16th, with the heading “Racism targets Obama”:

Racism is alive and directed at our president.

Two very offensive racist bumper stickers were sent to the Johnson County Democrats PO box in Warrensburg. One had the donkey symbol with a strike-out mark and the words “2010 – Don’t renig.” The other had the initials BP above an oil blob and a photo of President Obama, with the words “Slickest and blackest disaster in US history.” I turned the second one in to post office staff to register a complaint with the post master, and kept the first in case people didn’t believe me.

I hope that local republican and conservatives are as offended as I am, and will speak out publicly to disavow these racist bumper stickers. Some people believe conservatives are closet (or not) racists and this is why. Please prove them wrong by speaking out against racism.

Jane VanSant, chair, Johnson County Democratic Committee

[with permission of the letter writer]

Curiously, the letter doesn’t appear to be available on-line.

It turns out that a local republican office holder did speak out and then some:

Hoskins Speaks Out Against Racist Bumper Stickers

…The letter to the editor regarding the bumper stickers called for local Republicans to speak out against racism, which I will gladly do, Rep. Hoskins said…

…No one has taken credit for sending the bumper stickers Rep. Hoskins continued, I was offended that the tone of the letter clearly implied that conservatives tend to be racists and therefore must have been the ones responsible for sending the bumper stickers. I have friends, business acquaintances, House colleagues, Johnson County Central Committee members and family of different colors. While I am clearly a conservative Republican, I am confident that I am the norm and not reflecting the attitude implied by the letter to the editor. Its ironic the very narrow-mindedness the letter speaks against is the same narrow-mindedness it projects by stereotyping conservatives as racists…

That’s right, because liberals and progressives would have every reason to anonymously send bumper stickers to the local Democratic Party post office box.

And, apparently, when victims ask others to speak out it’s their fault.

“…I hope that local republican and conservatives are as offended as I am, and will speak out publicly to disavow these racist bumper stickers. Some people believe conservatives are closet (or not) racists and this is why. Please prove them wrong by speaking out against racism…”

Uh, you did say you were offended and you did speak out. So, according to the letter writer you proved some people wrong. Is this a problem? Just asking.

…or having a republican state representative who continually trips himself.

In yesterday’s Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal:

6/7/2010 1:38:00 PM

Star-Journal Newspaper of the Year

Kansas City – The Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal received the Newspaper of the Year Award from the Kansas City Press Club….

….Individual winners and their awards for The Star-Journal…

….Gold, Beat Reporting. This award for coverage of state government drew these comments from judges, “Great story on state rep owing taxes. Other stories also solid coverage of government.”

[….]

[emphasis added]

Oh, that story:

Denny Hoskins: Noun, Verb…CPA? (November 12, 2009)

I think I was way too nice to Denny Hoskins when I gave him the benefit of the doubt (November 13, 2009)

Denny Hoskins (r) in the 121st District: who is to to blame for all this misfortune? (November 16, 2009)

Denny Hoskins (r) in the 121st District: “You must have been misinformed.” (November 17, 2009)

Denny Hoskins (r) in the 121st District: unhappy constituents write letters to the editor (November 24, 2009)

Sincerely, congratulations to the folks at the Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal. Even though we give them grief at times, we greatly appreciate their efforts and the vast improvement of their content and reporting since their previous management.  

A letter criticizing President Obama appeared in today’s Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal.

6/3/2010 2:28:00 PM

Plug leaking oil well

Letter to the Editor

….The fishing industry will be devastated in the Gulf and to add to the mockery our very own president (did) not attend ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery. Obama should be ashamed that a sports game is more important.

Our soldiers and sailors have died for this audacity of arrogance.

Arrogance with meaningless speeches.

I kid you not. Go, read the whole thing.

Doesn’t it remind you of when you were little and that crotchety neighbor who was always yelling at the wrong neighborhood kids to keep off his lawn?

Or maybe it’s just repetition of Faux News Channel talking points.

“…our very own president (did) not attend ceremonies at Arlington National Cemetery…”

Interesting.

May 28, 2010 7:30 pm US/Central

President Obama To Skip Arlington On Memorial Day

….Last year, President Obama kept with tradition and attended the ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery. But this year, he chose to attend a ceremony at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Illinois.

The move is not entirely unprecedented. Obama’s predecessor, George W. Bush, was in France on Memorial Day in 2002. He traveled with a bipartisan delegation, including former Secretary of State Colin Powell, to American Cemetery in Normandy to pay respects to those who gave their lives on D-Day.

His father, the first President Bush, never attended Memorial Day ceremonies at Arlington, and even Ronald Reagan missed two such events there, though for one of those missed ceremonies he went to speak at West Point….

[emphasis added]

I don’t recall similar letters to the editor concerning this issue in the local paper when daddy bush and dubya were in office, do you?

Where did this all come from? The usual suspects.

The punch line?:

….Incidentally, during his eight years in office, President Clinton never missed a single Memorial Day ceremony at Arlington.

Previously: Rep. Denny Hoskins (r): a short fuse on the floor of the House (May 15, 2010)

Representative Michael Frame (D):….And when looked up, when I turned up again he was almost nose to nose with me. And asking me if, if I had a, a problem, with some few other cuss words thrown in there as well, too. And, and do I have a problem, do I have problem. I told him he was, you know, to paraphrase, was, was way out of line. He really needs to step back…

“…with some few other cuss words thrown in there as well…”

The Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal printed the story in today’s edition, quoting Representative Tim Flook (r):

5/17/2010 1:26:00 PM

A Dust-Up for Denny?

Tempers or politics flare in final hours of session

Jack Miles

Editor

….”All Denny did was walk over and say, ‘Hey, what’s the problem with the bill? He had his hands in his pockets,” Flook said, adding, “The whole thing was a joke.”

Well, that sounds totally innocent, doesn’t it?

Okay, the Star-Journal also quotes Representatives Frame (D), Burnett (D), and Skaggs (D), the latter relating the use of “curse words”.

Old media presents equal and opposing viewpoints. I suppose all we can do for them is hope that someone caught the confrontation on audio and/or video.

You’d think someone would ask Representative Flook (r), when you were actually interviewing him, about how he managed to get across the floor of the House to so closely and definitively witness the exchange on the Democratic side of the chamber and how he could characterize the incident so differently from those three Democratic representatives. You’d think.

It’s time to convene another panel on blogger ethics.

Update: Representative Denny Hoskins (r – noun, verb, CPA) via Facebook:

Wow, only in Warrensburg can two legislators disagree and it makes the news. Since my side of the story was not printed, I’ll elaborate more here. Rep. Frame and others were yelling, making noises and snide comments from the back of the House Chamber during my presentation of SCR 31. As I prefer to talk face-to-face… with someone versus shouting and hiding in the “peanut gallery”, I finished my closing remarks, went over to Rep. Frame and asked him if he had a problem with my bill as I could not help but hear shouting and yelling from the back of the chamber. Rep. Frame responded “Don’t you square up to me!” to which I responded, “I’ve got my hands in my pockets, I’m just asking you a question.” Rep. Skaggs and Rep. Burnett then jumped in and tried to escalate the situation by yelling remarks at me.

If Mr. Miles, Editor of the DSJ, was not friends with Rep. Skaggs this would have never even made the news.

I will continue to advocate for legislation important to my constituents and not be bullied by Rep. Frame or his accomplices.

[emphasis added]

A quote from the Warrensburg Daily Star-Journal:

…Hoskins said, “I had a disagreement and didn’t appreciate some of the disrespectful comments from the peanut gallery…”

Maybe the paper doesn’t print some of the stuff it doesn’t find credible.

And using the term “peanut gallery” is respectful? Just asking.