Tomorrow is the Missouri Primaries and if you are a Progressive, Liberal, or a Democrat, please get out and vote for Liberal and Progressive causes. I am from Illinois, so I can't vote tomorrow, but I will tell you about it instead. If you are from Missouri, don't let Dana Loesch and her cronies rig the elections to help them win. To prevent that from happening, please vote.
Prop C, which some Conservatives/Teabaggers say (led by Dana Loesch) is "a choice for freedom," but in reality, it is just another excuse to defend the corporations and the wealthy, not to mention the Healthcare Industry.
The all-important Senate seat next to Claire McCaskill will feature the heavily favored Robin Carnahan (D) vs. Roy Blunt (R)/Chuck Purgason, who is endorsed by almost all of Missouri Tea Party groups (R/TP)/Hector Maldonaldo (R/TP). I hope Carnahan wins to flip the seat Blue.
Election Day: Know Your Rights
Via an email from Denise Lieberman, Missouri Voter Protection Advocate:
VOTE AUG. 3!
Help protect the right to vote! Missouri's Primary Elections will be held Tues. Aug. 3, 2010. Polls are open from 6 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Voters can select a party ballot of their choice (Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Constitutional, or Non-Partisan).
Attached is the Missouri Voter Bill of Rights. This contains important nonpartisan information about your right to vote!
You can distribute this to members of your group, voters, people who will be working the polls, and anyone else you think might need this information.
- You have the right to vote if you are in line when the polls close at 7 p.m. §115.407.
- You have the right to cast a provisional ballot if your eligibility can’t be established. § 115.430.2. But a provisional ballot cast in the wrong polling place will not count! Make sure you are directed to vote at your correct polling place or at a central polling place, such as Election Board headquarters.
- You have the right to assistance to help you vote. §115.445.3. You can get help from an election official, or may bring any person of your choice (including a child, relative or friend) to help before, during or after voting if you need help reading or casting your ballot. The assistant does not have to be over 18 or a registered voter. You may bring children into the polling place with you.
- Voters with disabilities have a right to accessible voting. If your polling place is not accessible, poll workers must come to your car and let you vote curbside outside your polling place upon request. You have a right to an accessible ballot (voting machines tilt, move up and down, and are equipped with accommodations for the visually impaired). You may move to the front if a disability prevents you from standing in line.
- If you were convicted of a felony other than one related to voting, and have completed your sentence (including any probation or parole), you have the right to register to vote and vote. § 115.133.4.
Full post: Voting rights for Missouri citizens
Nieves Threatens Legal Action Against Stratman Campaign In Nasty SD26 Primary
State Rep. Brian Nieves emailed supporters last night decrying the campaign tactics of former Washington mayor Dick Stratman and an unnamed "High Priced, Politically Powerful Consultant." Nieves accuses the Stratman campaign of spreading "evil lies" in an "anonymous letter" and "15 Brutally Negative and Lie Filled mail pieces" --and declares that "the Vile and Disgusting things being said in print, on TV and on the radio about me are slanderous to the point that we WILL seek legal action and Press Charges against them!" (Odd capitalization in original -- please see below.)
YouTube clip of Nieves being a kook:
Nasty SD26 Primary: Nieves, the Teabagger-backed candidate, versus the more moderate Stratman.
Prop C - Whole Nation Is Watching Missouri Primary
ST. LOUIS, MO (KTVI-FOX2now.com) - It's not often Missouri gets national attention for a primary election. It's happening this year because of Proposition C. It is viewed by many as the first test of the president's health care plan at the ballot box. Election Day is Tuesday so we asked FOX 2's Elliot Weiler to break down what Proposition C is all about since the language on the ballot is a little confusing.
That's the gist of Prop C.
If Prop C passes, it's thought to be a blow to Democrats who are already struggling to retain seats in the mid-term election.
Even if it does pass, a Prop C victory is largely symbolic. Many legal scholars think the courts would overturn it based on the supremacy clause of the constitution, meaning state law cannot trump federal law.
Regardless of what happens with Prop C Tuesday in Missouri, there are countless legal challenges ahead for the health care bill.
Prop C - Whole Nation Is Watching Missouri Primary
Cynthia Davis outraged with healthy meals for poor children, suggests jobs at McDonald's
Clue #122,213 that your State Representative is way, way out of the mainstream: She writes a column explaining why providing healthy meals for poor children during summer vacation is a horrible, horrible idea.
Rep. Cynthia Davis' latest outrage is Missouri’s Summer Food Service Program, which provides food during the summer for thousands of low-income Missouri children who rely on the school cafeteria for free or reduced-price meals during the regular school year. This week's newsletter from Davis contains a point-by-point response to a press release announcing the program, at the end of which she concludes the program is really "all about increasing government spending, which means an increase in taxes for us to buy more free lunches and breakfasts."
This is a person who NO ONE should vote for: Cynthia Davis (R/TP)
Martin Finding It Difficult To Back Up Claim That Dems Will Block Your Access To Jesus
Ed Martin says he totally meant what he said we need to be be "very, very aware" of moves by Barack Obama and Russ Carnahan to "take away..the ultimate freedom to find your salvation," but is finding it oddly difficult to explain why that's true.
Ed Martin busted for claiming that the "Liberals will take away the right to worship Jesus"
Say no to Missouri's Proposition C | Barb Shelly
The Missouri Hospital Association is nothing if not persistent. It keeps pushing this crazy idea that people should have health insurance.
Last year the member hospitals went so far as to volunteer to pay the state to gather more low-income citizens under its Medicaid umbrella. Republicans in the legislature called the plan a welfare trap and told their would-be benefactors to keep their money.
This year, the hospital association is spending money to oppose Proposition C. That’s the measure on Tuesday’s statewide ballot that seeks to tell the federal government that it can’t require Missourians to purchase health insurance if they don’t want to.
Missouri hospitals don’t want this measure to pass. They prefer that people be insured when they seek treatment.
No doubt this strikes some as self-serving. After all, supporters are calling Proposition C the "Health Care Freedom Act." Who would begrudge Missourians their freedom?
Better yet, go vote. Don’t be fooled by the hype or phony titles. Proposition C is not a referendum on federal health reform, and it’s not a ticket to freedom. It’s a license to freeload. Just say No.
Barb Shelly: Vote "No" on Prop C
My photo on the "NO" vote on Prop C
Ed Martin Gives Dana Loesch's Husband $2500 Prior to Loesch Attacking His Primary Opponent
In other words, Ed Martin gave $2,500 to Chris Loesch's business in February. Since that time, Dana Loesch has had Martin on her show but never John Wayne Tucker. And then, a few weeks before the primary, Loesch freaks out publicly, attacking Tucker on her Twitter account, her facebook page, and her radio program.
Now, in the interest of not becoming the very thing I am fighting against by adopting all of the same nasty tactics, let me acknowledge that there may well be a good explanation for all of this. But Loesch has yet to provide any evidence to back up her claims, and the situation certainly looks pretty fishy.
Ed Martin gives a $2.5K check to Chris Loesch
Missouri Health Care Reform Foes Hope Ballot Initiative Will Start National Trend
Christina Bellantoni | July 21, 2010, 12:45PM
The first real test of health care reform won't take place before the Supreme Court, as some Republicans have promised. Instead, it will happen in the heartland, when Missouri voters take a stand on their Republican-written ballot measure dubbed the "Health Care Freedom Act."
The actual question from the Aug. 3 Proposition C measure centers around the individual insurance mandate included in the sweeping overhaul of the nation's health care system. If it passes, it would amend state statutes to deny the federal government the authority to penalize people for not buying health insurance. Boosters are campaigning on the fact that it's the "first time" voters will get a chance to weigh in on health care reform passed this spring.
Anti-HCR foes hope it will start a trend, but will get stopped
Missouri Senate candidates divided on health referendum
JEFFERSON CITY, MO (AP) -- Missouri's top U.S. Senate candidates are divided on a state ballot measure that attempts to reject part of the new federal health care law.
Republicans Roy Blunt and Chuck Purgason both support Proposition C on Tuesday's ballot. Democrat Robin Carnahan plans to vote against it.
Two candidates in 26th state senator race receive a total of $40,000 on the day before election
BY PHIL SUTIN | Posted: Monday, August 2, 2010 6:56 pm
Contributors today added a total of $40,000 to the campaign chests of two candidates for the Republican nomination for state senator from the 26th District -- the last day before the primary.
A campaign committee for state House Speaker Ron Richards, R-Joplin, donated $25,000 to state Rep. Brian Nieves, R-Washington area, one of four candidates in the race. Former Washington Mayor Dick Stratman, a candidate in the race, received $15,000 from Herzog Contracting Co. of St. Joseph, Mo.
The information was on statements Nieves and Stratman filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission.The district covers Franklin County and the Wildwood and Eureka areas of St. Louis County.
STLToday.com's Politcal Fix: Nieves and Stratman get 40,000 total from Ron Richards
From the 08.01.2010's The Jaco Report: A Look A Proposition C
(KTVI-FOX2now.com) - This week, a look at health care and the Proposition C vote in Missouri on August 3rd. When President Obama signed health care reform into law, the debate was far from over. In fact, in many ways, it was just starting. The escalating cost of health care and the millions of Americans without insurance were the twin targets of reform. Long-term, reform may drive down costs. Short-term, it requires insurance companies to provide coverage despite pre-existing conditions. And it also requires all Americans to have health insurance.
Missouri Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder has sued the federal government because of that mandate. So have officials in two dozen other states. The President's conservative opponents claim health reform is a federal takeover of health care. And the centerpiece of that objection is the mandate that each individual has to have insurance.
So in Missouri, opponents of health reform put Proposition C on next Tuesday's ballot.
KTVI's The Jaco Report: Prop C discussion
Bachmann overdrive: Even by Skype, Tea Party Caucus chair causes stir | Jake Wagman
ST. LOUIS -- If you're looking for a side show in the carnival of modern politics, search no further than Michele Bachmann's virtual visit to Roy Blunt's campaign headquarters this weekend.
The outspoken Minnesota congresswoman -- founding member of the "Tea Party Caucus" on Capitol Hill -- was scheduled to appear with Blunt on Saturday at his campaign office in Sunset Hill to help rally the troops at a pre-primary phone bank.
But due to a "sudden illness," Bachmann was admitted to the hospital, and spent the weekend resting at home instead of visiting St. Louis. She did, however, appear via video conference -- Skype, actually -- to address Blunt supporters.
Democrats milked both end of Bachmann's fiery reputation, using her scheduled appearance to make a fundraising pitch for Senate hopeful Robin Carnahan -- Blunt's likely opponent in the fall -- while at the same time reveling in the dissent from Tea Party faithful, who viewed Bachmann's support of Blunt as a betrayal of their ideals.
Michele Bachmann criticized by some Missouri Teabaggers
Key races to watch:
MO State Senate:
MO SD2
DEMOCRAT
Don Crozier
REPUBLICAN
Scott T Rupp
Cynthia L Davis *&
MO SD26
DEMOCRAT
George (Boots) Weber
REPUBLICAN
Brian Nieves *&
Dick Stratman
Donald D Meyer
Jack Jackson
CONSTITUTION
Richard E Newton
US Senate:
DEMOCRAT
Francis J Vangeli
Robin Carnahan*
Richard Chaes Tolbert
REPUBLICAN
R. L. Praprotnik
Hector Maldonado
Kristi Nichols
Roy Blunt *
Deborah Solomon
Davis Conway
Mike Vontz
Chuck Purgason
Tony Laszacs
Proj:
1 Blunt
2 Purgason
3 Maldonaldo
LIBERTARIAN
Jonathan Dine
Cisse Spragins *
CONSTITUTION
Joe Martellaro *
Jerry Beck
Mike Simmons
US House Of Reps:
DISTRICT 1
DEMOCRAT
Candice (Britt) Britton
Lacy Clay *&
REPUBLICAN
Robyn Hamlin *
Martin D Baker
Marshall Works
LIBERTARIAN
Robb E Cunningham *
Julie Stone
DISTRICT 2
DEMOCRAT
Arthur Lieber
REPUBLICAN
Jeffrey Lowe
Todd Akin *&
William C (Bill) Haas
LIBERTARIAN
Steve Mosbacher
DISTRICT 3
DEMOCRAT
D Michael Dedic
David Arnold
Russ Carnahan *
Edward Crim
REPUBLICAN
John Wayne Tucker
Ed Martin*
Rusty Wallace
LIBERTARIAN
Steven R Hedrick
CONSTITUTION
Nicholas J (Nick) Ivanovich
DISTRICT 4
DEMOCRAT
Leonard Steinman
Ike Skelton *&
REPUBLICAN
James Scholz
Arthur John Madden
Vicky Hartzler *
Roy Viessman
Brian Riley
Bill Stouffer
Brian Clark
Eric James McElroy
Jeff Parnell
LIBERTARIAN
Jason Michael Braun
Thomas Holbrook II
CONSTITUTION
Greg Cowan
DISTRICT 5
DEMOCRAT
Emanuel Cleaver II &
REPUBLICAN
Patrick Haake
Ralph Sheffield
Jacob Turk *
Jerry Fowler
Ron Shawd
LIBERTARIAN
Randall D Langkraehr
CONSTITUTION
Dave Lay
DISTRICT 6
DEMOCRAT
Clint Hylton
REPUBLICAN
Sam Graves *&
Christopher Ryan
DISTRICT 7
DEMOCRAT
Tim Davis *
Scott Eckersley
REPUBLICAN
Jeff Wisdom
Gary Nodler
Mike Moon
Darrell L Moore
Jack Goodman
Billy Long *&
Michael Wardell
Steve Hunter
LIBERTARIAN
Kevin Craig
DISTRICT 8
DEMOCRAT
Tommy Sowers
REPUBLICAN
Bob Parker
Jo Ann Emerson *&
LIBERTARIAN
Rick Vandeven
DISTRICT 9
REPUBLICAN
James O Baker
Blaine Luetkemeyer *&
LIBERTARIAN
Steven Wilson
Christopher W Dwyer *
* = Favorite to win in the Primaries
& = Favorite to win in November
Out of 114 Counties and 1 Independent City, here's the region breakdown of the projected outcome of the Prop C vote: YES = Pass, NO = Fail
STL Metro Area (STL City, STL County, Jefferson, St. Charles, Franklin, Warren, Lincoln, St. Francois, Washington, Ste. Genevieve counties): Heavily Democratic STL City and County: NO, Swing Counties Jefferson, St. Francois, Washington, and Ste. Genevieve: YES (except for Jefferson and possibly Ste. Genevieve and St. Francois). GOP Strongholds in Franklin, Warren, Lincoln, and St. Charles: YES.
Central MO: Except for Boone and maybe Cole, YES.
SW MO: Sure YES, even in Greene Co.
SC MO: Sure YES, except maybe Phelps/Pulaski counties.
SE MO: Sure YES
N MO: Sure Yes
NE MO: Sure Yes
KC Metro Area (Jackson, Clay, Cass, Lafayette, Platte, Johnson, Ray, Bates counties): Jackson NO, Close in Clay/Platte YES in Lafayette, Johnson, Cass, Bates, and Ray.
State Results: VERY close call, barely fails.
Get out and vote tomorrow to vote "NO" on Prop C.