Blunt holds a leadership position in the gop, he’s clearly out to lunch, basically jeopardizing a potential governorship, he and his merry band of porkers. Add to that the fact his family members are invloved in the holding of an ethanol co. which receives below market gov. money, thats a clear conflict of interest as far as I am concerned. Great, just great, I mean how dumb to you have to be to be a congressman or senator?


GOP Reformers Face a Tough Fight
July 18, 2008; Page A11
The 11th commandment of politics is that elected officials shall not take sides in their party primaries. Then again, Missouri Republicans are burdened with so many sins, what's one more?

For an insight as to why the GOP is down and out in Washington, take a look at Jefferson City. That's where Sarah Steelman, the state treasurer, is running in an Aug. 5 primary for the Missouri governorship. And it's where her reform campaign against earmarks and self-dealing is threatening the entrenched status quo, causing her own party to rise against her.

So bitter are House Minority Whip Roy Blunt and Sen. Kit Bond at Ms. Steelman's attack on their cherished spending beliefs that last month they rallied the entire Missouri congressional delegation to put out a public statement openly criticizing her campaign against six-term U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof. Joining them in their support of Mr. Hulshof has been the vast majority of the state Republican machine. Ms. Steelman is clearly doing something right.


Her sin is in fact to belong to that new mold of Republican – Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Sens. Tom Coburn and Jim DeMint – who know it's no longer enough to simply hawk lower taxes. In 10 years as a state legislator and treasurer, her target has been the slothful political favor factory that's led Republicans away from small-government principles and outraged conservative voters.

And, oh, the howls of misery. Ms. Steelman's Republican colleagues were livid with her attempt to strip them of comfy pensions, annoyed with her "sunshine law" requiring them to be more open in their dealings, furious at her attacks on their ethanol boondoggles, appalled that she criticized GOP state Speaker Rod Jetton for moonlighting as a paid political consultant. The final straw was her temerity to make her primary race about her opponent's Washington earmarking record.

For Mr. Blunt, this is also just a wee bit personal. His son, Matt, is the outgoing governor, and has been on the receiving end of a few Treasurer Steelman blasts. Last year she stopped payment on a $70,000 secret check his administration cut to settle a sexual harassment suit against an official. Her demand for transparency blew the case into the open, infuriating GOP colleagues.

There was also Ms. Steelman's attempted cleanup of an ethanol program. The treasurer announced her office would no longer provide below-market interest rates for ethanol plants that counted state officials or their relatives among investors.

Among companies barred was Show Me Ethanol, whose shareholders included Mr. Blunt's son Andy – one of the state's top lobbyists – as well as Republican state Rep. John Quinn and his wife, not to mention the wife of Republican U.S. Rep. Sam Graves. Instead of thanking Ms. Steelman for ridding it of this conflict, in May the Missouri state senate voted to overturn her policy. It did so with a head-count vote, so as to avoid a written record.

Undaunted, Ms. Steelman has made ethics reform the centerpiece of her campaign. Mr. Hulshof has been able to tout his own history as an ethics reformer, though the fervor with which his party's regulars have embraced him has undercut that message. His real weakness is that despite conservative credentials on taxes or social issues, he's run wild with the GOP crowd that just won't relinquish the pork. Which is of course why Mr. Blunt (who pioneered House earmarks) and Mr. Bond (who sits at earmark central, the Senate appropriations committee) love him.

Ms. Steelman's ads have noted Mr. Hulshof's support for the Alaskan Bridge to Nowhere, the Maine Lobster Institute, the Perfect Christmas Tree exhibit and the Woodstock concert hall. Their first debate last week centered on Mr. Hulshof's spending record. In an interview with a local reporter, he felt so cornered that he asked the interviewer what earmarks have "to do" with being "governor" anyway.

Mr. Hulshof's congressional protectors have proved equally amusing. In their statement, Messrs. Blunt, Bond and Graves, as well as Reps. Jo Ann Emerson and Todd Akin, told the public it was perfectly OK Mr. Hulshof had voted for earmarks – because they'd voted for them too!

Ms. Steelman has her own weaknesses – among them ties to the trial bar – which Mr. Hulshof is highlighting. He's also neatly spun his establishment ties into a formidable campaign war chest. Despite this, polls show he retains only a modest lead, and 30% of likely Republican voters have yet to decide. The winner faces Democratic Attorney General Jay Nixon, who currently beats both in polls.

If Ms. Steelman's bid shows anything, it's how determined a wandering Republican Party, both nationally and locally, is to hold on to the bad habits that lost them their reputation. Beware to the reformer.


Potomac Watch - WSJ.com

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"The captain has turned off the `No Dubbing' sign. You are free to speak any language you choose."

This is not surprising. When someone tries to force Republicans to face accountability, they raise hell and resist with every fiber of their being, even if it means tearing apart their own party. The funniest thing is that during the 2000 elections, people in the G.O.P. wouldn't shut up about accountability.

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Is our children learning? -George W. Bush

"I think—tide turning—see, as I remember—I was raised in the desert, but tides kind of—it's easy to see a tide turn—did I say those words?"—Washington, D.C., June 14, 2006

"[T]he illiteracy level of our children are appalling."—Washington, D.C., Jan. 23, 2004

I would like to say the GOP will be successful in purging itself of it's scum, but I somehow doubt that, just like the Dems not purging itself of the far leftist/communist. I think that’s the reason why a third party is looking more appealing to more and more Americans.

Yes, Im hoping the republican party uses this time to return to a party of conservative ideas, and not just doing whatever it takes to win. But I doubt it. And I doubt Ill be voting for D or R any time soon.

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"To take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of his father has acquired too much, in order to spare to others who (or whose fathers) have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, "to guarantee to everyone a free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it."

-Thomas Jefferson

I also would be pleased by another RW nutcase party. That would insure Dem invincibility for the next 40 or so years.

Until money, whether it is from large corporations, wealthy individuals or unions is taken out of politics this will never cease. I know the present belief is that money= free speech and I can hear the screams that are sure to come. And I also know that the public could change this by self-education but I believe the Easter Bunny will show up at an atheist convention first.

However, I believe that until money is taken out of political campaigns, and lobbyist are either outlawed or greatly restricted this will never cease. There will always be individuals who have genuine political convictions, and act on these convictions, but these individuals will always be the exception and not the rule.

I think the best recent example is the Rep primary of 2000, where McCain knew full well the affects of money and politics was defeated and (I hope I'm not judging him to harshly) I believe he became what he rallied against.

This may not address the local issues if the thread, but I do think it addresses the larger issue. Corruption is an equal party offender.

Republicans play hardball. Democrats play softball. The republicans are imploding and their hardball tactics are acting against the real reform the party needs to win elections.

I'm a bit shocked that Palin and Jindal are included in the original article as shining examples of fiscal responsibility though. I guess its better to look good than be good.

Republican popularity has improved. Dems has gone down. Independants are moving from Dems to Reps. Now this may be mostly due to the democrats ignoring the people and steamrolling everyone, or it may be because of Reps standing up for what they were supposed to be standing up for the last decade, but who knows.

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"To take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of his father has acquired too much, in order to spare to others who (or whose fathers) have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, "to guarantee to everyone a free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it."

-Thomas Jefferson

As you say, free speech. So youll have to find another way. Ideally we need voters to be informed, and thus not vote in whoever promises them the most stuff. But that will never happen, so where do you go from there? You cant remove free speech, you cant elect uncorruptable politicians. One solution would be to shrink govt such that they have little power to sell, but that still requires getting the right people elected.

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"To take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of his father has acquired too much, in order to spare to others who (or whose fathers) have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, "to guarantee to everyone a free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it."

-Thomas Jefferson

You're right. Both right and left are still guilty of taking money from lobbiest, wealthy individuals, special interest groups and what not. It's no longer a government of the people, by the people and for the people - no. It's a government of the people with deep pockets, by the people with deep pockets, for the people with deep pockets.

The little guys - the soccer mom, the joe sixpack working stiff and the small business owner have a hard time getting their voice heard. This is why town halls have be so popular. IMO, this gov. run health care smells to me like some lobbiest, someone powerful interest with lots of money pressuring our elected officials to force this down our throats - it's the old "follow the money" adage. (I don't don't have any evidence to back that up, just my suspicion)

I'm not sure about Jindal, but Palin does have a pretty good history of fiscal responsibility during her time in politics in Alaska. Her issue with ethics, well that's another story. . . .

Again, deep pockets only work if you keep electing people who are susceptible to it. I can only hope that if I am ever rich I have the freedom to use my money to support political causes. But I dont vote in corrupt politicians who exists to get relected. The rich and corporations have no more say than a poor person at the ballot box. POliticial corruption is already illegal.

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"To take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of his father has acquired too much, in order to spare to others who (or whose fathers) have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, "to guarantee to everyone a free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it."

-Thomas Jefferson

Yes, at the ballot box, but they can spend millions supporting issues and candidates that can influence the votes of everyday, ordinary Americans.

Only if ordinary americans allow that to happen. Just because someone speaks doesnt mean you have to listen. Perhaps people should simply stop beleiving everything they hear.

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"To take from one, because it is thought his own industry and that of his father has acquired too much, in order to spare to others who (or whose fathers) have not exercised equal industry and skill, is to violate arbitrarily the first principle of association, "to guarantee to everyone a free exercise of his industry and the fruits acquired by it."

-Thomas Jefferson

There is just as much distention in the democratic ranks. They just have a gullible press covering for them.

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January 21, 2013: The End of an ERROR.

"Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom. As nations become more corrupt and vicious, they have more need of masters."
"When the people find that they can vote themselves money, that will herald the end of the republic."
"The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself."
---Benjamin Franklin