…Now we could do it with conventional weapons, but that could take years and cost millions of lives. No, I think we have to go all out. I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody’s part…

The television ads are everywhere in the republican primary for the 31st Senate District. They’re on our television and we don’t even live in the district. Nothing exceeds like excess. The 8 Day Before Primary Election reports:

REPORT SUMMARY

CITIZENS FOR ED EMERY [pdf] 7/30/2012

1. Total Receipts For This Election Previously Reported $159,592.47

2. All Monetary Contributions Received This Period $158,254.25

8. Total All Receipts This Election $321,745.00

10. Expenditures made by cash or check this period $108,219.28

27. Money On Hand at the close of this reporting period $133,789.91

[emphasis added]

REPORT SUMMARY

CITIZENS FOR LARGENT [pdf] 7/30/2012

1. Total Receipts For This Election Previously Reported $71,430.00

2. All Monetary Contributions Received This Period $72,005.12

8. Total All Receipts This Election $144,110.12

10. Expenditures made by cash or check this period $97,324.12

14. Total Expenditures This Election $137,159.30

27. Money On Hand at the close of this reporting period $32,566.00

[emphasis added]

Still, that’s a lot of money.

Not in the same league:

REPORT SUMMARY

FRIENDS OF MORRIS [pdf] 7/30/2012

1. Total Receipts For This Election Previously Reported $16,222.00

2. All Monetary Contributions Received This Period $6,815.00

8. Total All Receipts This Election $23,037.00

10. Expenditures made by cash or check this period $8,016.27

14. Total Expenditures This Election $17,163.98

27. Money On Hand at the close of this reporting period $5,651.02

28. Outstanding Indebtedness at the beginning of this period $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

John Bolton would consider that particular candidate’s campaign an existential threat.

Some of the details:

CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED – SUPPLEMENTAL

CITIZENS FOR ED EMERY 7/30/2012

David Humphreys P O Box 4050 Joplin MO 64803 Tamko Building Products 7/2/2012 $50,000.00

Committee to Elect Ron Richard P O Box 2523 Joplin MO 64803 7/12/2012 $1,000.00

Cunningham Campaign Committee 1602 Timerlake Manor Pkwy Chesterfield MO 63017 7/2/2012 $1,000.00

Political Action Committee for Health P O Box 60 Jefferson City MO 65102 7/16/2012 $1,500.00

Sarah Atkins 4713 Rock Spring Rd Arlington VA 22207 Consultant 7/16/2012 $50,000.00

CNS Corporation 500 E 9th Street Kansas City MO 64106 7/24/2012 $10,000.00

Fred Sauer 1657 Forest View Dr St Louis MO 63122 Investment Professional 7/24/2012 $1,000.00

Chris Patterson 17415 S 291 Hwy Pleasant Hill MO 64080 Patterson Oil Co 7/1/2012 $2,500.00

LaClede Political Action Committee 720 Olive Street, Suite 1516 St Louis MO 63101 7/25/2012 $1,000.00

Missouri Club for Growth P O Box 2068 St Louis MO 63158 7/20/2012 $40,000.00

[emphasis added]

Take those big bucks away and there’s almost nothing left. Now that’s grassrootsie.

…I say we take off and nuke the entire site from orbit. It’s the only way to be sure…

From high orbit:

ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OVER $100 SUPPLEMENTAL FORM

CITIZENS FOR ED EMERY 7/30/2012

Thompson Communications

P O Box 5

200 W Jefferson

Marshfield MO 65706

7/24/2012

TV/Radio/Cable $43,750.00

Thompson Communications

P O Box 5

200 W Jefferson

Marshfield MO 65706

7/24/2012

TV/Radio/Cable $39,968.80

The Singularis Group

P O Box 9265

Shawnee Mission KS 66201

7/24/2012

Postcard advertising

$6,633.07

The Singularis Group

P O Box 9265

CarthageShawnee Mission KS 66201

7/17/2012

Postcard Advertising

$5,010.99

Nevada Ad Specialties

4804 Meadowlark Lane

Unit#C

Columbia MO 65201

7/23/2012

Hand Fans $1,971.33

Nevada Ad Specialties

4804 Meadowlark Lane

Unit#C

Columbia MO 65201

7/23/2012

Hand Fans $2,595.81

VictoryStore.com

5200 SW 30th St

Davenport IA 52802

7/6/2012

Emery Boards $631.00

[emphasis added]

Okay, that last one is funny.

CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED – SUPPLEMENTAL

CITIZENS FOR LARGENT 7/30/2012

CENTURYTEL INC PO BOX 4065 MONROE LA 71211 7/19/2012 $1,250.00

MO STATE TEACHERS ASSN PO BOX 458 COLUMBIA MO 65205 7/20/2012 $2,000.00

CLAYTON A JONES ATTORNEY AT LAW 405 FOXWOOD DR PO BOX 257 RAYMORE MO 64083 7/19/2012 $1,000.00

ANHEUSER BUSCH 1 BUSCH PLACE ST LOUIS MO 63118 7/17/2012 $1,000.00

LIFE SCIENCES FUND OF GREATER KC PO BOX 1865 JEFFERSON CITY MO 65102 7/17/2012 $12,000.00

MO SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS PAC 3550 AMAZONAS DR JEFFERSON CITY MO 65109 7/17/2012 $4,000.00

RED ROCK ANGUS 18352 S 1453 ROAD NEVADA MO 64772 7/17/2012 $1,500.00

MHA PAC PO B OX 60 JEFFERSON CITY MO 65102 7/7/2012 $2,000.00

MO SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS PAC 3550 AMAZONAS DR JEFFERSON CITY MO 65109 7/7/2012 $1,000.00

D C INC 895 BOLGER COURT FENTON MO 63026 7/7/2012 $1,000.00

MISSOURI FREEDOM PO BOX 1792 JEFFERSON CITY MO 64735 7/10/2012 $2,500.00

CENTURYTEL INC PO BOX 4065 MONROE LA 71211 7/10/2012 $1,250.00

HALLMARK CARDS PO BOX 419580 KANSAS CITY MO 64141 7/10/2012 $1,000.00

FRIENDS OF CHRIS MOLENDORP PO BOX 722 BELTON MO 64083 7/5/2012 $5,001.00

MO PUBLIC SCHOOL ADVOCATES 704 WILDWOOD DR COLUMBIA MO 65203 7/5/2012 $1,000.00

RIGHT CHOICE MANAGED CARE INC PO BOX CINCINNATI OH 45206 7/24/2012 $1,000.00

HCA MO GOOD GOVT FUND 101 E HIGH ST JEFFERSON CITY MO 65102 7/24/2012 $1,000.00

FRIENDS OF CALEB JONES PO BOX 5 CALIFORNIA MO 65018 7/26/2012 $2,250.00

SUPPORTERS OF HEALTH RESEARCH AND TREATMENTS PO BOX 11591 ST LOUIS MO 63105 7/26/2012 $12,000.00

MO SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS PAC 3550 AMAZONAS DR JEFFERSON CITY MO 65109 7/26/2012 $2,500.00

MO CHAMBER PAC PO BOX 149 JEFFERSON CITY MO 65102 7/26/2012 $2,500.00

SMITHFIELD FOODS INC PO BOX 9004 SMITHFIELD VA 23431 7/26/2012 $1,000.00

[emphasis added]

Some of the same players.

ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OVER $100 SUPPLEMENTAL FORM

CITIZENS FOR LARGENT 7/30/2012

EXEMPLER

815 PARK DRIVE

RAYMORE MO 64083

7/1/2012

CONSULTANT $5,000.00

EXEMPLER

815 PARK DRIVE

RAYMORE MO 64083

7/1/2012

CONSULTANT $5,000.00

CANDIDATE COMMAND LLC

1831 NW VIVION

RIVERSIDE MO 64150

7/10/2012

MAILING $7,755.00

WILSON RESEARCH STRATEGIES

1319 CLAUSEN DRIVE

OKLA CITY OK 73101

7/13/2012

POLL $8,000.00

CANDIDATE COMMAND LLC

1831 NW VIVION

RIVERSIDE MO 64150

7/16/2012

MAILING $8,112.00

WILSON PERKINS ALLEN

1319 CLAUSSEN DR

OKLA CITY OK 73103

7/19/2012

POLL $1,000.00

CANDIDATE COMMAND LLC

1831 NW VIVION

RIVERSIDE MO 64150

7/18/2012

MAILING $8,112.00

CANDIDATE COMMAND LLC

1831 NW VIVION

RIVERSIDE MO 64150

7/24/2012

MAILING $8,112.00

VICTORY ENTERPRISES

4301 E 53RD ST

DAVENPORT IA 52807

7/25/2012

CABLE TV ADS $30,000.00

[emphasis added]

You don’t have to worry about targeting when you have have unlimited throw weight.

And then, the third world:

CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED – SUPPLEMENTAL

FRIENDS OF MORRIS 7/30/2012

Balentine Rentals 509 Winslow Drive Raymore MO 64083-8331 7/9/2012 $1,000.00

ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OVER $100 SUPPLEMENTAL FORM

FRIENDS OF MORRIS 7/30/2012

Fletcher’s Forms

PO Box 995

Belton MO 64012-0995

7/13/2012

Sign Printing

$6,301.13

Maybe. In another time, on another planet, without Citizens United.

Previously: Campaign Finance: a microcosm of the struggle in the republican universe – 21st Senate District (August 1, 2012)

Previously:

Campaign Finance: sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t really have a choice (June 16, 2012)

Campaign Finance: throwing down the crazy gauntlet (April 23, 2012)

Campaign Finance: throwing down the crazy gauntlet – the prequel (April 24, 2012

Signs on Missouri Highway 291 south of Lee’s Summit on the way to Harrisonville – we kid you not:

If he wins the republican primary they’re gonna have to rewrite the campaign how to manuals.