Previously: High Broderism: the debt, the debt, it’s the debt…. (November 16, 2012)

From CNN’s election exit polling in Missouri:

Most Important Issue Facing Country

Foreign policy:4%

Deficit:14%

Economy:59%

Health care:21%

Interesting. The deficit came in a distant third.

And the poll numbers nationally?:

The Real Mandate: CAF/Democracy Corps Election Poll 2012

By Democracy Corps/Campaign for America’s Future

November 8, 2012

….voters disagree strongly with the priorities of the elite consensus congealing around the president’s deficit commission co-chairs, Alan Simpson and Erskine Bowles, and his own discussions of a grand bargain with House Speaker John Boehner. Those discussions suggest a deal that trades cuts in Medicare and Social Security for tax reform that lowers rates for individuals and corporations while gaining revenue by closing loopholes – a sort of Romney-lite tax reform.

When it comes to a deficit reduction plan, Americans have clear ideas.

They want tax rates to be raised on the wealthy. 68 percent find a plan that did not raises taxes on the rich “unacceptable.” 70 percent support a plan that raises taxes on the top 2 percent while keeping the taxes of others at the same level. 63 percent would find a plan that continued to tax investors’ income at lower rates than worker’s wages unacceptable. 75 percent would support a plan to create a higher tax bracket for millionaires. 67 percent finds a plan that lowers tax rates on corporations or the rich unacceptable.

They do not want Social Security benefits cut over time. By 62 to 31, they would find a plan that did that unacceptable.

They do not want Medicare payments cut or capped: 79 percent, nearly four out of five, find capping Medicare payments forcing seniors to pay more unacceptable.

By 50 percent to 41 percent, they favor a deficit reduction plan that starts with closing loopholes and raising tax rates at the top, and excludes cuts to Medicare and Social Security over one that closes loopholes but “gets entitlement spending under control, including reducing the growth of Medicare and Social Security.”

The public is very skeptical of the $1.5 trillion in across-the-board cuts in discretionary spending over the next 10 years that Congress has already passed Most Americans do not share the scorn of Republican vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan for poverty programs providing a “hammock” for the lazy.

Seventy-five percent – three-fourths of the country – find a plan unacceptable if it requires deep cuts in domestic programs without protecting programs for infants, poor children, schools and college aid.

Moreover they embrace the president’s argument that we should reduce the deficit and invest in areas vital to the economy at the same time. By 70 percent-27 percent, they support a plan to cut “wasteful spending and abolish special interest tax breaks and subsidies so that we can invest in infrastructure and technology and make sure we support education, Medicare and Social Security which are key to the middle class, over a statement that we have to cut spending seriously and that will require across the board reductions in the size of government….including education, Medicare and Social Security….

Simpson-Bowles. Ah, yes, on the Internets it’s known as the “Cat Food Commission”.

All we have to fear is:

High Broderism – Also frequently seen as merely “Broderism.” A fetishistic attachment to bipartisanship for bipartisanship’s sake; reflexive adherence to false equivalencies, regardless of whether what one side says is patently insane. The result of forty years of believing that Dirty Fucking Hippies may be hiding under your bed. Whereby a center-right pundit, often Broder himself, decrees that bipartisanship is a good thing and can be achieved if only everyone would agree with the center-right pundit. For the last ten years or so, High Broderism has been the shorter version of virtually every op-ed from David Broder.

A press relase today, from State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (D):

For immediate release:

November 19, 2012

[….]

State Treasurer Clint Zweifel joins Campaign to Fix the Debt to urge leaders in Washington to reach bipartisan consensus

State Treasurer Clint Zweifel [….] has joined The Fix the Debt Campaign, a national bipartisan group dedicated to finding a long-term resolution to the current fiscal crisis facing the United States.  Treasurer Zweifel will be chairing the state’s steering committee. Treasurer Zweifel oversees state investments, invests state tax-dollars and ensures Missouri’s Aaa credit score is protected.

“The reality is that the math is simple, it is the politics that are hard,” Treasurer Zweifel said. “And it’s time for Washington to put politics aside. Fifth graders in Missouri can do the math required to fix these problems but it is going to take our politicians getting off the school yard and working together to get things done. This is not a Democrat or Republican problem and there isn’t going to be a Democrat or Republican solution. It’s America’s challenge and our opportunity to show the world why we still continue to lead.”

To learn more about Fix the Debt, you can visit their website http://www.fixthedebt.org.

Uh, oh.

Via Twitter:

Jeff Mazur ‏@jmaz

You a Dem signing onto http://www.fixthedebt.org  agenda? Get ready to explain to key constituencies why you want to “reform” Medicare/Medicaid. 11:14 AM – 19 Nov 12

sethdmichaels @sethdmichaels

“Fix the Debt” is like a doctor you go to when you think you’re having a heart attack but when you come to they’ve given you a facelift. 3:21 PM – 19 Nov 12

State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (D):

Clint Zweifel ‏@ClintZweifel

It’s time to put politics aside, work together for fiscal responsibility & show the world why we still continue to lead. #MOTreas 2:25 PM – 19 Nov 12

The republican version of bipartisanship is that Democrats get to hand them the keys to the store, Democrats get to back the republicans’ truck to the loading dock, Democrats get to load the truck for the republicans, and then the Democrats get to smile and wave while the republicans drive away with the inventory. Almost everyone else then suffers.

Michael Bersin ‏@MBersin

@ClintZweifel That’s easy. Let dubya’s windfall tax cuts for those making $250,000+ a year expire. Invest in public infrastructure not war. 5:13 PM – 19 Nov 12

Michael Bersin ‏@MBersin

@ClintZweifel If we had wanted a cheerleader for the “Cat Food Commission” and High Broderism we would have voted for Cole McNary (r). 5:17 PM – 19 Nov 12

Sean Nicholson ‏@ssnich

All I want for Christmas is some High Broderism 8:24 PM – 19 Nov 12

Michael Bersin @MBersin

@ssnich Or “clean coal” in your stocking. Same difference. 9:48 PM – 19 Nov 12

Tony Messenger should be really, really happy.

Technology threatened to inflict slow times on the manual election map creation front. But so far since Tuesday, the Missouri Secretary of State’s site hasn’t found a way to make their mapping technology work (or they forgot to reactivate the maps after the traffic subsided).

So here’s where I step in.

This map shows which counties picked the most candidates who won statewide:

11 of 115 counties voted for Romney, Claire McCaskill, Jay Nixon, Peter Kinder, Jason Kander, Clint Zweifel and Chris Koster.

The largest of the counties to pick all 7 winners are Clay and Jefferson Counties. Jefferson County is considered by some to be a weathervane of how statewide elections will play out.

Also notable that Kinder swept 5 traditionally Democratic Southeast Missouri counties (Iron, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot and Reynolds).

Jackson County has two election boards, the Kansas City Board and the Jackson County Board (which reports non-KC results). If we counted the County Board separately, they would be on the 7 for 7 list as well.

So, which counties picked 6 winning candidates and 1 losing candidate?

Six counties picked one losing candidate.

Buchanan and Ste. Genevieve Counties backed St. Joseph native Susan Montee over Peter Kinder. Henry, Shannon and St. Francois Counties backed Shane Schoeller over Jason Kander. Linn County picked Cole McNary over Clint Zweifel.

The 23 counties picking 5 winners and 2 losers either backed Obama and Montee (Boone, Jackson, STL City, STL County) or backed Schoeller and McNary (the rest).

9 counties backed 4 winners and 3 losers. Dave Spence won Cass, Daviess, Gentry, Schuyler, Scotland, Sullivan and Worth Counties. Todd Akin won Monroe County. Ed Martin won Lewis County.

15 counties supported 3 winners and 4 losers almost had diversity as to the successful Democrat they supported. Claire McCaskill won Andrew and Pulaski Counties. Chris Koster won Callaway, Cole, Lincoln, Livingston, Maires, Moniteau, Montgomery, Oregon, Randolph, St. Clair and Vernon Counties.

The other 50 counties backed the entire Republican ticket.

As for media markets, for the sake of reference:

Voters in the St. Louis market went for the entire Democratic ticket. Voters in the Kansas City market went for Romney, and then 6 Missouri Democratic candidates. In head-to-head (D or R) percentages, Claire/Nixon/Zweifel/Koster were over 60% in St. Louis. While Kansas City State Rep Jason Kander won a higher percentage in the St. Louis TV marker than in the Kansas City TV market.

A majority of Springfield market voters went for the Republican candidates. With Romney winning 69% h2h in the market. But Akin winning 54% and Ed Martin winning 52%. 76 thousand Springfield voters voted Romney but not Akin. 52 thousand Springfield voters voted Claire but not Obama.

Columbia’s market picked 6 winners but backed Schoeller.

Cape Girardeau’s markets and Joplin’s markets backed all 7 Republicans. Jay Nixon won 42%h2h in the Joplin market and 45%h2h in Jasper County.

Kirksville and Hannibal were two parts of the state subject to Presidential ads, as both reached Iowa. Kirksville backed Claire and Koster, and Hannibal backed all 7 Republicans.

So the basic maps for the 5 Missouri-level races and the Senate race.

Senate:

Remember 2006 when a lot of coverage and emphasis went on Claire’s focus on outstate? This time around, outstate did pretty well, all things considered. The only way the result could have been more lopsided is if Claire won more counties (instead of just winning 53 of 115 and winning by 15%). The Pulaski County result was surprising, as it seemed like the only Democrat to win that county recently was Ike Skelton. A variety of counties north of the river may have been softened up by the one-two of Akin’s radioactivity and the Farm Bill issue, causing those voters to pick Claire over Akin.

It takes a special kind of terrible campaign/candidate to not win 40% in a Missouri statewide race.

Governor:

The 2008 map which had a horseshoe ring of counties from St. Louis to Springfield to Kansas City could not be reproduced here. Notable that Nixon pulled out a win in Greene County.

Lt. Governor:

Kinder already had spent a bit statewide to win the primary, and Montee didn’t have to spend as much in her primary. The difference between wins and losses involve the Dem losing places they should win in these kinds of elections.

Secretary of State:

Jason Kander put together enough of the usual Democratic coalition of KC, St. Louis and Sympathetic Outstate residents to move away from the recount margin by the time the last precinct reported. So despite the attacks thrown against him (“He likes Obama too much”, “He’s part of a 57 seat Democratic minority that is somehow crushing our hopes and dreams”), he wound up running 4.5% ahead of the President and winning traditionally Democratic outstate areas to get that 1.3% margin.

Treasurer:

Clint Zweifel won 3 counties that Jason Kander lost (Henry, St. Francois and Shannon), and lost one county that Kander won (Linn). Once you get to the Secretary of State/Treasurer level, concern is warranted if the upballot results are not looking as favorable as they could. Despite the difference in years, Clint Zweifel still managed to almost hit his 2008 winning percentage in 2012. Clint’s ads were some of the best statewide ads I had the chance to see this cycle (although Jay’s were good enough to inspire a defamation lawsuit).

Attorney General:

I haven’t done enough reading or research to verify this theory. But I suspect that voters who reside in state capitals sometimes defy their usual habits because they may have heard a little more about the actions that occurred in the capital city. Chris Koster won Cole County and counties all around Cole County. How much of that had to do with his time in Jeff City and how much of that has to do with the end of Ed Martin’s last job in Jeff City? Probably a bit. Koster also won 60 of 115 counties, making him the only Democrat who could claim a majority of the counties this year.

So that’s a look into how the maps looked for the statewide candidates on November 6th.

How are you gonna pay for those nasty television ads?

The republican candidate in the State Treasurer race scored a really big campaign contribution. Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission

C081190 10/31/2012 FRIENDS TO ELECT COLE MCNARY Ina Tornallyay 1206 Bel Air Drive Santa Barbara CA 93105 Retired 10/30/2012 $50,000.00

[emphasis added]

Sanata Barabara, California? Why would an individual in California drop $50,000.00 on a down ballot statewide race in Missouri? Is Ina a relative?

This is nothing new:

C081190 FRIENDS TO ELECT COLE MCNARY October Quarterly Report Ina Tornallyay 1206 Bel Air Drive Santa Barbara CA 93105 Retired 09/14/2012 $5,000.00

[emphasis added]

C081190 FRIENDS TO ELECT COLE MCNARY July Quarterly Report Ina Tornallyay 1206 Bel Air Dr Santa Barbara CA 93105-4602 Retired 06/14/2011 $1,000.00

C081190 FRIENDS TO ELECT COLE MCNARY January Quarterly Report Ina Tornallyay 1206 Bel Air Drive Santa Barbara CA 93105 Retired 12/31/2011 $1,500.00

[emphasis added]

In for a penny, in for a pound.

Today, republican State Treasurer candidate Cole McNary’s campaign benefited from the largesse of two related contributors. At the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C081190 10/24/2012 FRIENDS TO ELECT COLE MCNARY David Humphreys PO Box 4050 Joplin MO 64803 Tamko 10/22/2012 $100,000.00

C081190 10/24/2012 FRIENDS TO ELECT COLE MCNARY Ethylmae Humphreys 2505 E 11th Street Joplin MO 64801 Retired 10/22/2012 $25,000.00

[emphasis added]

Still, for now, they only get one vote apiece.

But wait, there’s more:

C081190 10/24/2012 FRIENDS TO ELECT COLE MCNARY Citizens for Diehl 2404 White Stable Rd Saint Louis MO 63131 10/22/2012 $10,000.00

[emphasis added]

I don’t believe a campaign committee gets to vote in an election. The good thing for the candidate is that these contributions show a bit of geographic diversity. A bit.

One October event in west central Missouri which draws large crowds, and in an election year, a significant number of candidates for political office, is the annual University of Central Missouri Homecoming Parade through the streets of Warrensburg. The parade took place this morning, in a break between rain storms, with a crowd of several thousand people lining the streets to watch. In addition to the political entries, their are floats, various organization and group entries, and, of course, high school marching bands.

The Fire Fighters brought their campaign land yacht in support of Senator Claire McCaskill (D).

Lineup for the parade started at 8:30 a.m. The Democratic Party entry number was in the 170s (the republicans were a number of entries behind that), so there’s plenty of time for candidates to visit and work the crowd in the lineup area before the candidates and their volunteers hit the parade route.

Elgene Ver Dught (left), the Democratic Party candidate in the 21st Senate District.

State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (D) (left).

Jason Kander (left), the Democratic Party candidate for Secretary of State, and State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (D).

Gary Grigsby, the Democratic Party candidate in the 51st Legislative District.

Attorney General Chris Koster (D).

A volunteer for Cass County Prosecutor Teresa Hensley, the Democratic Party candidate

in the 4th Congressional District, and Attorney General Chris Koster.

(From left to right) Chris Koster, Jason Kander, Clint Zweifel.

It’s nice to have a sister who looks like you walking in a parade on your behalf if you can’t be there. You could hear people in the crowd say as she approached, “Is that Claire?” She shook hands and waved, introducing herself as Claire’s sister, Lisa.

The statewide candidates (and many of the local candidates) dive into the crowd to shake hands and introduce themselves to voters. Much of the time you hear the response, “You’ve got my vote.”

Attorney General Chris Koster (D).

State Teasurer Clint Zweifel (D).

Jason Kander, the Democratic Party candidate for Secretary of State.

Clint Zweifel (D).

Gary Grigsby (D).

Elgene Ver Dught (D) walking the parade route.

International students in the parade.

The republican presence in their parade entry, while not insignificant, appeared to be much smaller in numbers than those of the Democratic Party candidates.

It’s the end of the quarter. The big money elves in the republican campaign finance industrial complex have been busily propping up their fringe statewide candidates. Via the Missouri Ethics Commission.

In the Secretary of State race:

C061132 09/14/2012 SCHOELLER FOR MISSOURI Citizens For Diehl 2404 White Stable Road St Louis MO 63131 9/14/2012 $10,000.00

C061132 09/14/2012 SCHOELLER FOR MISSOURI Friends of Tilley 100 S. Jackson Perryville MO 63775 9/14/2012 $10,000.00

C061132 09/17/2012 SCHOELLER FOR MISSOURI The Lamar Companies 7108 East 48th Terrace Kansas City MO 6412 9/17/2012 $89,300.00

C061132 09/27/2012 SCHOELLER FOR MISSOURI Jerry Sumners PO Box 604 Aurora MO 65605 Service Vending Company Chairman 9/26/2012 $6,973.59

C061132 09/27/2012 SCHOELLER FOR MISSOURI Lewis and Clark Council of the Ozarks Mountain Forum 2974 E Battlefield Springfield MO 65804 9/27/2012 $15,000.00

C061132 09/29/2012 SCHOELLER FOR MISSOURI Parson For State Senate 940 N Redel Pl Bolivar MO 65613 9/29/2012 $7,500.00

C061132 10/01/2012 SCHOELLER FOR MISSOURI Menlo Smith 15009 Manchester Rd #284 Ballwin MO 63011 Retired Retired 10/1/2012 $15,000.00

[emphasis added]

Shane Schoeller (r) didn’t much impress Yael Abouhalkah:

Missouri’s incompetent voter ID champion

Shane Schoeller is running to be Missouri’s next secretary of state. But being incompetent at recognizing real problems facing that office won’t encourage voters to support Schoeller, who faces Democrat Jason Kander on the Nov. 6 ballot….

After the headline it’s all down hill.

In the State Treasurer race:

C081190 09/20/2012 FRIENDS TO ELECT COLE MCNARY Citizens for Timothy W Jones PO Box 434 Eureka MO 63025 9/19/2012 $5,005.00

C081190 09/21/2012 FRIENDS TO ELECT COLE MCNARY Lewis and Clark Council Ozarks Mountain Forum 2974 East Battlefield Springfield MO 65804 9/20/2012 $15,000.00

C081190 09/29/2012 FRIENDS TO ELECT COLE MCNARY Friends of Tilley 100 S Jackson Perryville MO 63775 9/28/2012 $10,000.00

C081190 09/29/2012 FRIENDS TO ELECT COLE MCNARY Herzog Contracting Corp PO Box 1089 St Joseph MO 64502 9/28/2012 $25,000.00

C081190 10/01/2012 FRIENDS TO ELECT COLE MCNARY Citizens for John Diehl 2404 White Stable Rd Town and Country MO 63131 9/30/2012 $8,000.00

[emphasis added]

Oh, and in case you’re wondering, Ed Martin (r) is in a whole other league of lunatic fringe.

There’s a distinct difference in the fundraising success of the two candidates for State Treasurer, incumbent State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (D) and republican challenger Cole McNary (r).

Via the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C081066: Clint Zweifel For Missouri

Information Reported On: 2012 – July Quarterly Report

Beginning Money on Hand $1,009,218.87

Monetary Receipts + $127,464.79

Monetary Expenditures – $53,918.38

Contributions Made – $0.00

Other Disbursements – $0.00

Subtotal     $73,546.41

Ending Money On Hand   $1,082,765.28

[emphasis added]

C081190: Friends To Elect Cole Mcnary

Information Reported On: 2012 – July Quarterly Report

Beginning Money on Hand $75,977.57

Monetary Receipts + $43,683.00

Monetary Expenditures – $74,598.94

Contributions Made – $0.00

Other Disbursements – $0.00

Subtotal     ($30,915.94)

Ending Money On Hand   $45,061.63

[emphasis added]

Ouch.

Let’s take a look at some of the details:

CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED – SUPPLEMENTAL

FRIENDS TO ELECT COLE MCNARY 7/16/2012

Missourians for Matt Blunt Inc PO Box 144 Jefferson City MO 65102 6/21/2012 $1,000.00

[emphasis added]

Heh. Quality begets quality, success begets success.

ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OVER $100 SUPPLEMENTAL FORM

FRIENDS TO ELECT COLE MCNARY 7/16/2012

Victory Enterprises 5200 SW 30th Street Suite 7 Davenport IA 52802 5/11/2012 Printing $9,030.44

And a number of campaign workers.

A few details from State Treasurer Clint Zweifel’s (D) report:

ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OVER $100 SUPPLEMENTAL FORM

CLINT ZWEIFEL FOR MISSOURI 7/16/2012

Grindstone Research LLP 8185 Boone Trace Nashville TN 37221 5/7/2012 Research $1,750.00

Grindstone Research LLP 8185 Boone Trace Nashville TN 37221 4/2/2012 Research $2,340.00

[emphasis added]

We like research.

Today, at the Missouri Ethics Commission:

C081066 07/16/2012 CLINT ZWEIFEL FOR MISSOURI Simmons Browder Gianaris Angelides & Barnerd LLC One Court Street Alton IL 62002 7/16/2012 $20,000.00

C071012 07/16/2012 KANDER FOR MISSOURI Simmons Browder Gianaris Angelides & Barnerd LLC One Court Street Alton IL 62002 7/16/2012 $20,000.00

C111177 07/16/2012 MONTEE FOR MISSOURI Simmons Browder Gianaris Angelides & Barnerd LLC One Court Street Alton IL 62002 7/16/2012 $20,000.00

[emphasis added]

Well, that’s interesting.

“…when we do these three things right, invest in education, help invest in jobs here at home, and help care for our most vulnerable then we’re, as a party, standing up for the right values. And that’s the belief that tomorrow is better than today. Folks, that’s what this election is about in two thousand twelve…”

Missouri State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (D).

On Saturday night the Cass County Democratic Central Committee hosted their annual back to Blue Dinner in Belton, Missouri. State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (D) was one of the featured speakers:

Missouri State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (D): ….You now, I was talking with, uh, a group of folks the other day about, you know, the challenges that we have with our economy both in Missouri and nationally. And I think about the experience that I had growing up. I was the son of a union carpenter, my mom was a hair dresser. And I think about the experiences that I had on the ground, uh, being able to grow up in a neighborhood where we had those middle class opportunities. And guess what? Unions are part of the solution. And they help make that happen [voice: “Right.”] every single day. [applause]…

[….]

I also want to just say how proud I am to be here, uh, tonight with Teresa Hensley. Uh, when we think [applause] , when we think about the state of Washington right now, not only is Teresa right on the issues, and that’s really, really important, right, because we have somebody up there right now that is wrong on almost every issue., but on top of that Teresa understands that, that public service , public service is more than about simply winning an election. It’s about actually governing and getting things done. And it’s gonna be great to see her as a leader for our state in Washington. Teresa. [applause]

I’m, I’m really excited to be on the campaign trail again and really excited to come to you and ask for your support, uh, in reapplying for my job as State Treasurer, a job that I really love. And, you know, when I think about these campaigns I, I think it’s important to note that, you know, two big pieces of this. You know, we often think about campaigns in terms of, uh, in terms of TV sets and, and raising lots of money, which, don’t get me wrong, I’d like to have both. But we also know that campaigns in Missouri, campaigns in Missouri are won and lost by just a few votes, by just a few votes. You know, in my first election in two thousand two when I was running for the state House, uh, we won that election by just sixty seven votes out of fourteen thousand cast. Now, that was the impact that folks made back then in two thousand two and now I’m serving as State Treasurer. But now, the challenge is upon us to also remember that that same opportunity exists for candidates like Teresa [Hensley] and Chris [Koster] and other candidates all around this state, to have that same opportunity to make sure that we understand that as individuals we can make an impact when we all work together on the journey ahead.

And, and the second piece of these campaigns, and I think this is really important right now, more than ever in our country, is that the way we campaign and the way we behave during the campaign, it really matters. And that, first of all, we have to run a campaign that’s based on ethics and integrity, and that’s first and foremost. And if you don’t have that foundation a lot’s gonna fall apart underneath you. But, but the second piece of that is making sure that we campaign in a way that really sets us up to actually govern and get things done. And that’s really what’s been lost the last few years, in terms of these elections, is that investment that you have to make in your campaign and talk about real issues. Talk about how we’re going to bring people together to solve problems that are really, really difficult. And, that is the type of campaign I’m gonna be running.

Now, you know, as Treasurer I get a chance to travel all around the state and meet some pretty amazing people along the way. Uh, and it is a constant reminder that the job we have ahead of us is something that we can get done and we have a responsibility to get done. You know, when I was in Joplin not long, during one of my visits, not long after setting up some satellite services for residents there, uh, I had a chance to, during one of my stays I was at a hotel where there was a man with his five daughters, uh, eating breakfast in the hotel lobby. Now, anybody that’s ever ate breakfast in a hotel lobby with five girls and a waffle machine’s involved you know how hard that is[laughter].  Well, he was doing a great job with this and the girls were doing wonderful. And, had a chance later on that day and saw him swimming with them, uh, in the hotel pool and visited with a hotel employee and learned that he had just lost his wife, uh, and his daughters their mother in that terrible storm. And when you think about that experience it reminds us that the job we have is a serious one. But the job we have and the problems we face, they’re not as tough as the problems that that man faced that day. And we have a responsibility to stand up and get things done. And if it’s an election year, that’s no excuse not to get things done. If it doesn’t fit into your partisan ideology, that’s not an excuse not to get things done. We need to stand up and get to work. [applause]

Now, now, I was really disappointed, the Republicans did finally find a candidate to run against me. [laughter] And, and I’ll tell you, this, this is a fellow that has some difficulty grasping the challenges and the seriousness of, of this job and our responsibility. Uh, you know, when he announced he said, I don’t have any problems with the work that, that Clint’s been doing, but, this sounds like a kind of interesting idea to run. [laughter] And a way to fulfill some responsibility to his party. And, he said his campaign strategy has three key points. First of all, he’s gonna ride the Republican wave. Secondly, he’s gonna, quote, go where the votes are, whatever that means. [laughter] And, and, third, he’s actually just gonna focus on campaigning on his dad’s name ID in St. Louis.  Now, when he came into the Missouri House he formed a legislative committee. Remember, he came into the House the same time I came into my work as State Treasurer, a difficult time in the economy. Unemployment was beginning to zoom up to what nearly was ten percent. He formed a legislative committee, chaired it, and the work that he focused on was regulating the color of margarine and how cabooses operate. [laughter] Now, that’s sort of like cleaning out your closet when your house is on fire. You, you’re missing the point. And during that he has not had one idea, nor during this, on how to improve our state, how to make it better. What is he going to do as State Treasurer to improve the job, to improve our lives here in Missouri, to better manage tax dollars.

Now I took office during a crisis and it was a crisis that was deeper than any of us ever expected. It was deeper than any of us expected. And before taking office I worked with both sides, Republicans and Democrats, to provide stability for our investment portfolio, to protect that four billion dollars that I manage, to make sure that we continue to invest capital in farms and small business across our state during a difficult time, and to make sure that we continue to help families save for college. Now, we did those things during tough times and actually got results. That four billion dollars that we manage? That’s money that Missourians, we’ve kept safe, we’ve kept it secure. Other states, by the way, have created burdens for the next generation. Other small towns and municipalities have, have actually gone bust. But, not under my watch. We’ve kept your money safe and secure. We are one of only nine states in the nation that has a triple A credit rating from all three m
ajor rating agencies. [applause] And, we took that a step further and we said, you know, part of growing our economy is making sure that we invest in our assets, small business and agriculture is part of our solution. We’ve invested now one billion dollars, including a hundred and twenty-five right here in the region into small businesses that have touched sixteen thousand jobs and farms since I’ve come into office.

And we all know how important education is, is a, is a key piece of this. Uh, we have a college savings plan in Missouri now, a college savings plan that’s ranked number six in terms of low cost and number one in terms of performance. We’re a leader now. Other states are calling us to ask what they can do to improve their college savings plan. [applause] And, and even the Republican State Auditor, the Republican State Auditor said, guess what, Clint Zweifel is doing an excellent in his administration. Only the third agency out of the entire state, a hundred and fifty audits, to get such a rating. You can clap. [applause]

So, it’s a reminder that, you know, that those things aren’t about politics, they’re about getting things done. And in this state, making sure that we believe and we invest in the belief and the value that politics should be the art of the possible. It’s about the idea of creating the opportunities for our kids in education to better themselves, whether it’s going to a community college or a trade school or an apprenticeship program or a university so that they have those opportunities. But also to make sure that we reinvest inside our state and our infrastructure so that there are jobs here for them to keep them here at home. And then finally, making care, making sure that we care for our most vulnerable so that they don’t fall through the cracks during some of the most difficult times.

You know, last year I, after twenty-four months, I championed a proposal in our state’s housing commission, uh, that began to really touch the issue of homeless, homelessness in Missouri. Uh, we have twenty-four thousand homeless Missourians on any given night. And of that twenty-four thousand, sixteen thousand are children with an average age of eight. Five thousand are our veterans who are returning home and not yet really have the stability to find a place to call their own.

We know have, so we looked at that problem. We met with veterans organizations, met with lots of folks in the mental health community and said, we have a housing commission that should be able to do more than that. We now have the states’ leading housing commission in terms of its commitment to veterans, children aging out of the foster care, and those who are suffering from chronic homelessness to actually provide a safe place for them to call home and supportive services to top. That’s good news for Missouri. [applause]

And one of those people that I had a chance to meet on that journey, her name was [xxxxxxx] and I can tell her story. She was on the street for more than a year and was homeless for even longer than that time period. Uh, [xxxxxx] was raped while she was on the streets, she was in a wheel chair, uh, and she had lost the basic hope that all of us take for granted, right, that sense of optimism that tomorrow’s gonna be better than today. Um, she happened to find an agency that was doing some of this good work that we’ve helped support. Uh, she got back on her feet. She now has a bachelor’s degree, she’s working on her CPA, and she’s a resource advocate helping other individuals care for these, care, care and improve their lives.

So it’s a reminder that when we do these three things right, invest in education, help invest in jobs here at home, and help care for our most vulnerable then we’re, as a party, standing up for the right values. And that’s the belief that tomorrow is better than today. Folks, that’s what this election is about in two thousand twelve.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve as your State Treasurer. [applause] Thank you so much.

State Treasurer Clint Zweifel (D) filed his first quarter campaign finance report at the Missouri Ethics Commission on April 16, 2012:

REPORT SUMMARY

CLINT ZWEIFEL FOR MISSOURI [pdf] 4/16/2012

2. All Monetary Contributions Received This Period $256,293.00

10. Expenditures made by cash or check this period $50,859.86

27. Money On Hand at the close of this reporting period $1,009,218.87

34. Total Indebtedness at the Close of This Reporting Period $0.00

[emphasis added]

That’s a really good fundraising quarter. And one hell of a great cash on hand at this stage of the game.

The republican candidate, Cole McNary, filed his first quarter campaign finance report on April 13, 2012:

REPORT SUMMARY

FRIENDS TO ELECT COLE MCNARY [pdf] 4/13/2012

2. All Monetary Contributions Received This Period $39,629.00

10. Expenditures made by cash or check this period $16,137.93

27. Money On Hand at the close of this reporting period $75,977.57

34. Total Indebtedness at the Close of This Reporting Period $0.00

[emphasis added]

Okay, that’s just embarrassing. Like there aren’t any “friendly” republican sugar daddies who will write a check for $100,000.00?

Maybe they’re all tapped out. Nah.

Let’s take a look at some of the contributions to Cole McNary’s (r) campaign:

CONTRIBUTIONS RECEIVED – SUPPLEMENTAL

FRIENDS TO ELECT COLE MCNARY 4/13/2012

Denny Hoskins for State Rep

PO Box 118

Warrensburg MO 64093

3/31/2012

$500.00

The Good Folks for Cookson

HC 1 Box 163

Fairdealing MO 63939

3/31/2012

$500.00

August Busch III

1 Mid Rivers Mall Drive

Saint Louis MO 63376

Retired

1/26/2012

$1,000.00

Sam Fox

7701 Forsyth Road

Saint Louis MO 63105

Harbour Group

1/27/2012

$1,000.00

William Danforth

10 Glenview Road

Saint Louis MO 63124

Retired

3/7/2012

$1,000.00

Gene McNary

3 Watch Hill

Saint Louis MO 63124

Retired

1/3/2012

$5,000.00

Gene McNary

3 Watch Hill

Saint Louis MO 63124

Retired

3/20/2012

$350.00

[emphasis added]

A few bucks from republican colleagues in the General Assembly on the last day of the quarter.

Are there a “Bad Folks” or “Okay Folks” committees? Just asking.

Beer! And the usual suspects, just not in the usual large amounts.

Family?

Let’s take a look at some of the expenditures:

ITEMIZED EXPENDITURES OVER $100 SUPPLEMENTAL FORM

FRIENDS TO ELECT COLE MCNARY 4/13/2012

Capitol Consulting LLC

PO Box 931

Jefferson City MO 65102

2/20/2012

Fundraising Expense $8,542.64

[emphasis added]

Okay, that didn’t go very well. What’s the ratio of expenditure to result on that?