Video: 2013 Missouri Lincoln Days with John Barrasso (R-WY)

The Missouri Republican Party held their state-wide 2013 Lincoln Days gathering in St. Louis this weekend. The Friday night dinner saw speeches from party Chairman Ed Martin, Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, State Rep. Tim Jones, State Senator Tom Dempsey, 2012 GOP gubernatorial candidate Dave Spence, GOP candidate for Missouri's 8th Congressional District, Jason Smith, Auditor Tom Schweich, Rep. Ann Wagner, Senator Roy Blunt, and keynote speaker Senator John Barrasso (R-WY).

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• Barrasso: Obama has 'addiction' to spending (thehill.com)
• U.S. Senators DeMint and Barrasso Introduce Bill to Remove Regulatory Burdens and Grow Businesses (kauffman.org)
• Sen. Barrasso: Obama sees a 'political victory' in going over the cliff (thehill.com)
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#MOSen: Brad Lager Should Replace Todd Akin for US Senate

Brad Lager

By now you've probably heard about Todd Akin's (R-MO) embarrassing gaffe on the Jaco Report over the weekend. Here's what Akin said:

It seems to me, from what I understand from doctors, that's really rare. If it's a legitimate rape, the female body has ways to try to shut that whole thing down.

A lot has been written about Akin's inexcusable turn of phrase: "legitimate rape." To his credit, Akin's apologized for that; however, his problems go much deeper than that phrase. There are two fundamental problems facing Akin right now. First, he apparently does not understand the science of human reproduction and, second, while he won the three-way primary, 64% of Republican primary voters didn't vote for him.

My policy preferences on abortion are pretty close to Todd Akin's. Because I believe that embryos are not part of their mother, but rather created human beings, I do not support policy carve outs to allow abortion for rape and incest. That said, I do not understand where Akin's comment about the female body shutting down comes from. If you're a conservative and can show me an article in Cell, Science, or Nature--the top three biology journals--that supports that, then maybe I'll reconsider. Until that time, Akin's view about human reproduction appears to me to be faux-scientific babbling. If you're a leftist or even a moderate, Akin might come off as peddling a faux-scientific myth to advance or justify his Christian policy preferences. This horribly undermines his credibility which should be based on facts and truth.

Akin's other problem is that nearly two-thirds of Missouri's Republican primary voters did not vote for him (I voted for Hector Maldonado). That means, that at every Akin misstep conservatives will swarm since his backing is weak.

Akin has until 5PM Tuesday (8/21) to decide whether or not he will end his bid for US Senate. That along with Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, Charles Krauthammer, the RNC Chairman, his own advisers, and possibly even Mitt Romney calling for him to get out has created some urgency. That urgency has led to speculation about candidates to replace him.

The list of names to replace Akin is long; however, I will only focus on a few. First, some ground rules. Akin could very well stay in the race. He's said that he'll do so and it is his decision to make. I do not think that any of the candidates that Akin beat for the Missouri Republican nomination for US Senate are good alternatives. I think a replacement needs both party backing and grassroots support. Even though I live in St. Louis, the fact that the Republican ticket in Missouri is basically a who's who of St. Louis Republicans is a problem for me. I think a party ticket should better represent the state.

Gateway Pundit and others have thrown Ann Wagner's name into the ring. I was looking forward to ignoring her race in MO-02.... I guess because she's running for Congress they think she can step up to run for Senate, but if that's the case, then why not tap Vicky Hartzler? Unlike Wagner, Hartzler's actually been elected to public office so she's better prepared for a race on the national stage. The real risk in advancing a woman--especially one as unqualified as Ann Wagner--is that it will be seen as pandering to women. The national press will rightly criticize the Missouri GOP for choosing a candidate to fill a gender quota, though I do not think that criticism works in Hartzler's case because of her Congressional experience.

Unfortunately, the Missouri Republican party does not have many women with the state-wide name recognition and the electoral experience to run for US Senate. There are some great women in the General Assembly who will hopefully change that in the coming years, leaders like: Luann Ridgeway, Jane Cunningham, Cloria Brown, Marsha Haefner, Melissa Leach, and several others who's names escape me at the moment. With the electoral drought for Republicans at the top of the ticket for the past few cycles, only Sarah Steelman had that potential in this cycle and she's effectively been eliminated finishing third behind Akin and Brunner.

And electoral success is important. The United States was founded on the idea that those in power derive their authority from those they govern. With that in mind, I think Brad Lager, who hails from Northwest Missouri, is the best replacement for Todd Akin. Lager lost a close race against Peter Kinder for the Republican nomination for Lt. Governor, but in that lose, Lager garnered more votes than any of the Republican candidates for US Senate. The fact that he garnered more Republican votes than any other Republican candidate on August 7th who did not win their election gives him a sort of electoral legitimacy that others lack. If Todd Akin steps down, then, in my opinion, that statewide vote total puts businessman Brad Lager next in line and provides him with a kind of grassroots legitimacy.

Party backing is something that Lager will mostly have to arrange on his own. To some extent his experience in the Missouri Senate and his race against Kinder garnered him a base within the party, but I'm not sure if that is sufficient. Kinder, as the de facto head of the Missouri Republican party, could express support for Lager as a replacement to Akin. The fact that Lager waged a scorched earth campaign against Peter Kinder makes that personally hard for Kinder to do, but it also heightens the political rewards because it symbolizes the coming together of two factions within the party to make common cause against a greater foe: Democrats.

Lager represents a fresh start for Missouri Republicans eager to unseat Claire McCaskill. He doesn't live in the St. Louis area like so many other candidates on the Republican slate. He has something of a grassroots base as well as establishment support. He's a businessman who's started multiple companies and he's a legislator with a track record as a fiscal hawk. He's earned an A+ rating from the NRA. But ultimately, he's a compromise candidate.

When I first started hearing that Akin might step down, my initial response was to tweet my support for Hector Maldonado. Later I thought about drafting 2010 Tea party favorite Chuck Purgason for the job. I've seen the establishment names out there, too. Former Senator Jim Talent would be ok, but he's already declined. His wife, Brenda Talent, would be an interesting choice, but I think I'm the only one who thinks that. Matt Blunt would be a stretch because his dad's already a senator. Ann Wagner is a non-starter for me as is Kit Bond. And none of them has the legitimacy of a recent, closely-fought statewide election like Brad Lager does. A nod from Peter Kinder in support of Lager represents an opportunity to bandage the wounds the party suffered during the primary much as Indiana's elder statesman Dick Lugar recently salved the wounds of his primary loss to Richard Mourdock. It's time to set aside the factions and compromise on a unity candidate: Brad Lager.

Related articles

• Step Aside, Todd Akin (nationalreview.com)
• Report: Republican Todd Akin Will Withdraw From Missouri Senate Race (theothermccain.com)
• Todd Akin Must Withdraw (nicedeb.wordpress.com)
• The Todd Akin mess (michellemalkin.com)
• Todd Akin refuses to drop Senate bid amid 'legitimate rape' outrage [AUDIO] (dailycaller.com)
• Todd Akin defies calls to withdraw from Mo. Senate race (dailycaller.com)
• Toxic Todd Akin Told Not to Come to RNC Convention (thegatewaypundit.com)
• Who could be a replacement for Akin? (midwestdemocracy.com)
• A Few Thoughts About Todd Akin (pjmedia.com)

Video: Republican Victory Bus Tour Stop in St. Louis

Thanks to Bob Keough for shooting this video last weekend at the Victory Fieldhouse.

Related articles

• Victory Bus Tour Rally - ALL Missouri Statewide and Local GOP Candidates! (jeffcoteaparty.com)
• If We Don't Flip Some Toss-Up States, Romney, Ryan, and the USA Are Screwed (hennessysview.com)
• Republicans tout party unity on statewide swing (missouri-news.org)

Brad Lager Built That

The defining quote of presidential election may very well be Barack Obama's gaffe: "You didn't build that!" As The Wall Street Journal observed: "Rarely do politicians so clearly reveal their core beliefs."

One politician whose core belief in the American Dream is driven by hard work is Republican candidate for Lieutenant Governor of Missouri, Brad Lager. Tuesday afternoon, I had an opportunity to speak with this state senator who hopes to move to higher office next November. We talked about the businesses that Lager's started and worked for over the years.

By the end of our conversation, it was clear to me that Brad Lager is a serial entrepreneur, but his political career is also of note.

Lager entered politics in 2001 when, at 25, he became the youngest councilman ever elected to the Maryville City Council. At the time, Maryville was facing some difficult fiscal decisions. The council reigned in the town's costs returning it to sound fiscal footing. That held an important early lesson for Lager: "That's when I realized that good people, who work hard, who are focused on good results, can change the way that government operates."

The summer after Lager finished high school, he went to work for a real estate office. That experience taught him about the importance of investing. With that knowledge, he saved money during his college years and used that money to buy an older, six-unit apartment building. He spent the next few years fixing up each unit and ultimately getting all the units rented out before selling that property. With the money he made from that investment, Lager and his father bought a car wash--Squeaky Clean Car Wash.

The real estate office where Lager started his working career was also a sales agent for Northwest Missouri Cellular. When Lager graduated from college with a degree in computer management systems, one of the partners at Northwest Missouri Cellular told him: "If you're willing to stay, run it like it's yours." At that time, Northwest Missouri Cellular had several hundred subscribers and two employees. Recognizing the great entrepreneurial opportunity that he'd just been given, he dove in.

With such a small staff, most of their business functions had been outsourced--billing, customer service, etc. Bringing those business functions in-house would allow the company greater competitive flexibility by reducing their cost structure, so they began to plan for growth. As each business function was brought in-house, jobs were created. In short order Northwest Missouri Cellular had five employees and had to start dealing with workers comp and the regulatory environment that faces all small businesses. Soon they had eight employees. Lager remembers setting up a retirement plan and shopping around for the best health insurance for his team.

In the late 1990s, the regulatory environment for placing cell towers became much more rigorous. In addition to the existing process for building a cell site which involved engineering and regulatory approval from the FAA and FCC, Northwest Missouri Cellular found itself having to do Indian burial ground studies and migratory bird reports. These added regulatory burdens drove up the cost of each new cell tower by tens of thousands of dollars.

In late 2001, as Lager began to focus more on his political career and a run for Missouri's House, he stepped down as the day-to-day manager at Northwest Missouri Cellular. At that time the company employed about fourteen people. He's still involved with them as a consultant for their strategic planning as they continue to grow their cell tower network. Today, Northwest Missouri Cellular employs thirty-two people.

Lager has started other businesses in recent years as well. He partnered with a friend in the lumber industry to form Northwest Additions which purchased fifteen acres in Savannah, Missouri, for real estate development. The economic downturn has meant that their new home sales have gone more slowly than he would have liked; however, the few homes that have been built have brought some contracting work to the area.

In 2007 Lager with two business partners bought a Made-Rite franchise in the food court of the Columbia, Missouri, mall. I couldn't imagine an elected politician working behind the counter in a mall food court, so I had to ask:

Me: You're telling me that a Missouri State Senator was making sandwiches while the General Assembly was out of session? 

Lager: No. Well... Occassionally, yes, but not very often. I didn't run the business day-to-day. We hired someone who had a background in the restaurant business.

At one point the franchise was employing about a half-dozen people; however, the economic downturn brought mall traffic to a standstill and Lager and his partners decided to close down the business. They admirably did not file for bankruptcy. Instead, he and his partners are still making payments on the loan they took out to start the franchise.

Lager grew up on a farm and has longed to get back into agriculture. Last year, he took advantage of an opportunity to join an existing cow-calf operation run by a neighbor. Cow-calf operations use a predominantly female herd of cows to produce calves for the beef industry. Lager also does some cattle backgrounding--raising weaned calves typically in a pasture. The cow-calf operation has a herd of almost thirty while Lager has about 250 that he is backgrounding.

In addition to those businesses, Lager is an employee of Cerner Corporation. Cerner employs over ten thousand people in the healthcare technology industry. Their business is built around technological innovation in healthcare systems. As Lager put it: "They build software for hospitals and doctors." Because Lager's degree is in computer management systems, his technical skill set makes him a perfect fit for Cerner. He began working their in 2009.

Lager works on a team that is building health information networks. The problem that this team is working on is: how do you share healthcare data in a way that is secure, but that ultimately allows consumers to control their own information? The team is trying to figure out how to deliver your doctor's notes, x-rays, and other medical information to your computer or even your cell phone. The difficulty of the problem is two fold: first their's the integration of the many heterogeneous healthcare systems in use today and, second, security--they have to be sure that the person receiving the data has a right to see it. Lager is confident that private businesses like Cerner are part of the solution. As he told me in the interview:

I'm proud of the work I do at Cerner. You talk about fundamentally thinking about healthcare differently and understanding that the private sector does have solutions that can help us fix these problems. I can tell you this: I am more reassured than ever that if we get government out of the way, the private sector can address these problems.

Simply put, Brad Lager is an engineer at Cerner. It's just politics as usual for Lager's opponent, Peter Kinder, to accuse him of being a lobbyist. The fact of the matter is that Brad Lager has built more businesses in his 37 years than most people build in a lifetime.

Related articles

• Brad Lager Endorsed by Four Fiscal Hawks of the Missouri Senate (rebootcongress.blogspot.com)
• Video: Brad Lager on Getting Government Out of the Way of Business (rebootcongress.blogspot.com)
• Brad Lager Fights for Missouri's Taxpayer Protection Act (rebootcongress.blogspot.com)
• Brad Lager Earns A+ from NRA (rebootcongress.blogspot.com)
• Will Dana Loesch Interview Peter Kinder about His Cerner Solicitation? (24thstate.com)

Brad Lager Endorsed by Four Fiscal Hawks of the Missouri Senate

Republican Brad Lager picked up endorsements today from four fiscal hawks of the Missouri Senate--Jason Crowell, Jim Lembke, Brian Nieves, and Rob Schaaf--in his bid to become Missouri's next Lt. Governor. Lager's campaign issued the press release below. Lager will face Peter Kinder in the August 7th Republican primary.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Ray Bozarth
Wednesday, July 18 2012
(573) 268-8177

Senators Crowell, Lembke, Nieves, Schaaf Endorse Lager

SAVANNAH, MO—Brad Lager, Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, today announced endorsements from conservative Senators Jason Crowell, Jim Lembke, Brian Nieves, and Rob Schaaf, reflecting a clear changing of the guard within the Republican Party. Lager’s endorsements solidify him as the real conservative in the race.

“Our elected officials are looking for real conservative leadership and I am proud to have conservative Republicans from across the state supporting my campaign,” said Lager. “Now is the time for new ideas and bold leadership from citizen legislators, not more of the same from career politicians. These endorsements reflect that sentiment.”

“If we keep electing the same people we are going to continue on the same path, and that has led Missouri to 48th in job creation,” said Crowell. “Government should not pick winners and losers. Government needs to get out of the way of the private sector, and only one man in this race understands that. That’s why I’m proud to endorse Brad Lager.”

“Brad Lager understands that the status quo must change if we want to improve our state,” Lembke said. “Brad Lager’s conservative leadership is exactly what we need to change the direction of Missouri.”

“Senator Lager is someone who shares our conservative family values and will govern by those same values,” said Nieves. “As a small business owner, Brad understands that government must get out of the way and allow the private sector to flourish. It’s an honor to support his campaign.”

“Senator Lager is a committed advocate for Missouri taxpayers and small business owners,” said Sen. Schaaf. “I have full confidence that Brad Lager will continue his stellar record of stewardship to the people of Missouri when he is elected Lt. Governor.”

Brad Lager is a small business owner and job creator. In 2010, Lager was re-elected to represent the 12th Senatorial District in the Missouri General Assembly. Brad and his wife Stephanie reside near Savannah with their two children, Addison and Andrew. Lager is also a proud graduate of Northwest Missouri State University.

###

Related articles

• Was Peter Kinder a Community Organizer? (rebootcongress.blogspot.com)
• Lager calls for special session (midwestdemocracy.com)
• Is Dana Loesch in the tank for Peter Kinder? (ozarkspolitics.wordpress.com)
• Will Dana Loesch Interview Peter Kinder about His Cerner Solicitation? (24thstate.com)

Was Peter Kinder a Community Organizer?

I saw the photo to the right in Jefferson Thomas's twitter feed. It's a photo of a marked ballot that was paid for by "Voters for Good Government" and distributed to polling places in St. Louis city and county on election day 2008. The top screams: "Support our Community Ticket" and Republican Peter Kinder is clearly marked.

What's odd is that all of the other candidates that are checked off are Democrats: Barack Obama, Jay Nixon, Robin Carnahan, Clint Zweifel, Lacy Clay, Russ Carnahan, and even Chris Koster who is hated among St. Louis city Democrats.

Is that really the company that Kinder keeps?

Kinder suffered a series of missteps last year which led him to abandon his gubernatorial bid and try for a third term as Lt. Governor. It would appear that the LG office is a sort of Mendoza Line for Kinder and now it's time for "the coach"--Missouri Republican primary voters--to decide whether they're satisfied with his batting average or whether they should tap someone from their farm team. Fiscal hawk Brad Lager is the guy I think Republicans should put in their lineup. Lager is one of only two Senators during the 2011 regular session to oppose the China hub/aerotropolis bill. 

Related articles

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Video: Peter Kinder in St. Charles

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder joined other conservatives at a candidate forum in St. Charles. Kinder is running for re-election as Missouri's Lieutenant Governor.

Thanks to Bob for shooting and posting the video!

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Dave Spence for Missouri Governor?

David Catanese of the POLITICO reports on possible Missouri gubernatorial candidate Dave Spence: If Kinder's out, I'm in:

St. Louis packaging executive Dave Spence told POLITICO Monday he will run for Missouri governor in 2012 if Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder passes on a campaign. 

“I know Peter Kinder, I consider him to be a friend. But if there's an opportunity, I'd like to be part of the solution," he said in an interview. "If he decides not to run, I'd do it with two feet." 

Spence, a 53-year-old executive at Alpha Packaging, met with the Republican Governors Association last week after his name circulated in GOP circles as a possible replacement candidate.

It's interesting that Spence is priming his campaign with the old-guard GOP. It's also interesting that Spence gave $1000 to far-left NY Senator Chuck Schumer (D) in 2004.

This is not how you jump start a Republican campaign. Spence leaked his political ambitions not to a media outlet with a right tilt like National Review or the Wall Street Journal, but to the left-leaning Catanese at Politico. He's donated to notorious liberal Senator Chuck Schumer. And he's seeking the help of establishment Republicans.

Dave--Mr. Spence, if you prefer--you've obviously had some difficulty getting the helium into your trial balloon, so let me offer a suggestion. Elections are won and lost at the ballot box. That means that you have to appeal to the average, grassroots voter. There are basically two hordes of average, grassroots voters: Tea Partiers or Occupants (as in Occupy Wall Street). You need a strategy to reach out to one of those groups. I suspect that you're not in what the Occupants call the 99%, so you've got to target your message for Tea Partiers.

Now, I've noticed that you've got a nice home in a good neighborhood with great yard (h/t: MOScout). That 7,700 sq. ft. golf green is pretty sweet. You should have the St. Louis Tea Party over! You'd get to know the conservative grassroots, maybe recruit some campaign volunteers, and we'd learn more about your policy preferences. We could have a cookout. That sand trap is big enough... we could spit three or four pigs and bar-b-que them in that.

Dave Spence Mansion

Related articles

• Ed Martin's Path to the Missouri Governor's Race (rebootcongress.blogspot.com)
• Video: Peter Kinder on the need for School Choice in St. Louis and KC (rebootcongress.blogspot.com)
• Is Politico's Dave Catanese A Democrat Party Press Secretary? (bigjournalism.com)
• Kinder Must Go? (rockinconservative.com)

Ed Martin's Path to the Missouri Governor's Race

Ed Martin

The Washington Post: GOP struggles to land top-tier talent in top-targeted Missouri:

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder has been battered by a number of bad headlines, including for his past flirtations with a stripper whom he happened to be photographed with recently. (Ah, politics. 

Kinder has also seen his fundraising drop off significantly, from $1 million in the second quarter to $400,000 in the third, and Gov. Jay Nixon (D) is looking stronger every day.

Republicans familiar with the race note that Kinder hasn’t officially announced his bid — he’s getting some pressure not to run — and they expect an alternative candidate to emerge soon.

The question is just how good that candidate will be. Failed 2010 House candidate Ed Martin, who has been severely outraised by Wagner in the 2nd district race, is the subject of a draft effort by some conservatives.

Patrick Tuohey of the Missouri Record has gone so far as to write that Kinder Must Go. I will not go as far Tuohey. Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder has heard the conservative call of the Tea Party and, unlike so many establishment candidates, he has heeded that call.

However, things have changed for Kinder. He's taken a beating in the press as the Washington Post illustrates incompletely above. I've found myself unable to defend him the past few months while talking with friends. I find that I just don't jump to his defense as I did six months ago. I think that bodes ill for Kinder's gubernatorial aspirations because, if he's not getting positive press in the political banter between friends, then I think he's going to have a long hard slog ahead of him.

Those conversations between friends inevitably turn to alternative GOP candidates for governor. Ed Martin is frequently mentioned as he was in the Washington Post article above, but I don't see Martin jumping into the Governor's race unless he's pushed. If there's a cry from the masses that pushes Ed in, he will jump in with both feet and fists flying at Gov. Jay Nixon. That's just who Ed is.

But Ed Martin hasn't ever been elected to office which is almost a prerequisite for a state-wide run, especially for Governor. He does have experience working as former Governor Matt Blunt's Chief-of-Staff, but that experience will draw the obvious attacks from the left about the emails Blunt's administration was slow to release. The real question is whether Martin or Kinder has a better temperament for leading the conservative fight at the top of the ticket. That's for others--like the masses crying for Ed Martin--to decided.

Let's be clear about who those masses are. Yes, Ed Martin has grassroots support, but it's his ties to the Republican Party that must provide momentum for the push. The grassroots are not going to raise the million plus dollars required to put force behind that push. Furthermore, Martin will not elbow Peter Kinder out of the way even if the grassroots want him to. In short, the only realistic path I see for Ed Martin to enter the Governor's race is for the heir apparent, Peter Kinder, to pass the baton to Martin. That would involve stepping aside and endorsing Martin as well as providing an infusion of cash to a Martin for Governor campaign committee.

Peter Kinder has been waiting his entire life for a shot at the Governor's mansion. You don't often get a second shot, so the decision before him is a difficult and very personal one.

I will agree with Patrick Tuohey of the Missouri Record on one point: that stepping aside from his run for Governor allows Kinder to write his own epilogue. It's rare for an executive like Kinder to step aside from the enticing thrall of political power, but not unheard of. In fact, George Washington did so twice. The first time was when he resigned as commander-in-chief of the armies at the close of the American Revolution. The second was when he retired after his second term as president setting a two-term precedent for presidential service.

Related articles

• Kinder Must Go? (rockinconservative.com)
• Video: Ed Martin: Voting is not Enough (rebootcongress.blogspot.com)
• The best way to change government... (ruthcarlson.blogspot.com)
• Peter Kinder Responds (24thstate.com)
• Ed Martin taps Allen Icet to Build Grassroots Base (rebootcongress.blogspot.com)

Video: Sherman T. Parker Banquet featuring Star Parker

The Sherman T. Parker banquet was part of the first Move-on-Up.org conference. Move-on-up.org is a social network of African American conservatives and moderates. The banquet was held in honor of former state Rep. Sherman Parker who died suddenly in 2008 at the age of 37.

The keynote speaker was internationally syndicated columnist Star Parker. Other speakers at the banquet included Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, former ambassador Ann Wagner, former Missouri Treasurer Sarah Steelman, congressional candidate Ed Martin, co-founders of Move-on-up.org Chris Arps and Stephanie Rubach, Martin Baker who announced his candidacy for Missouri's first congressional district, and chairman of the St. Charles Republican Central Committee Eugene Dokes.

There are eight videos in the playlist above. Here's the featured speaker in each video with direct links to the YouTube (please like and/or favorite the ones that you, well, like and favor):

• Martin Baker
• Stephanie Rubach
• Ann Wagner
• Ed Martin
• Sarah Steelman
• Peter Kinder
• Chris Arps
• Star Parker

The video of Star Parker is almost an hour long. Make sure you watch the whole thing. She speaks both powerfully and eloquently about the issues confronting black Americans and she speaks from experience.

Related articles

• Video: Martin Baker announces for US Congress MO-01 (rebootcongress.blogspot.com)
• Star Parker Shines at Move-On-Up.org Annual Conference in St. Louis (thegatewaypundit.com)
• Martin Baker Announces His Run For Congress At Move On Up Conference (poedpatriot.com)
• Video: Peter Kinder on the need for School Choice in St. Louis and KC (rebootcongress.blogspot.com)
• The best way to change government... (ruthcarlson.blogspot.com)
• Breitbart Cooks Lefties for Lunch at MoveOnUp.org's Luncheon (hennessysview.com)
• MoveOnUp.org was never supposed to happen (hennessysview.com)
• Meet Me in St Louis 2011 Next Weekend (cryliberty.wordpress.com)
• Credit Where It's Due: KTVI Fox 2 Covers Black Conservative Conference (bigjournalism.com)
• Kinder Must Go? (rockinconservative.com)
• Let's Meet a Democrat "Tracker" (sharpelbowsstl.blogspot.com)

Video: Peter Kinder on the need for School Choice in St. Louis and KC

Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder spoke at the Sherman T. Parker banquet about the importance of educational options and school choice. The banquet was part of the first conference hosted by Move on Up, a social network of African American conservatives and moderates. Kinder spoke about the public education system that is failing Missouri's urban children--especially the children of St. Louis and Kansas City. He emphasized the need for school choice.

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• Video: Martin Baker announces for US Congress MO-01 (rebootcongress.blogspot.com)
• Let's Meet a Democrat "Tracker" (sharpelbowsstl.blogspot.com)
• School Choice - The Final Solution? (missourieducationwatchdog.com)
• Breitbart Cooks Lefties for Lunch at MoveOnUp.org's Luncheon (hennessysview.com)
• Kinder Accuser Tammy Chapman Can't Keep Story Straight (biggovernment.com)
• Credit Where It's Due: KTVI Fox 2 Covers Black Conservative Conference (bigjournalism.com)
• Move-On-Up.org: Stepping Outside the Template (biggovernment.com)
• Kinder Finally Comments on Stripper's Allegations (politicalwire.com)
• When Did the Riverfront Times Become Such a Prude? (bigjournalism.com)

Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder talks to PJTV at Smart Girl Summit

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder begins by speaking about the rise of Republican women and encouraging more women to get involved in politics especially online and in the new media. Kinder also discusses the debt ceiling debate, the irresponsibility of DC Democrats, and the role of conservatives going forward.

Related articles

• Smart Girl Summit 2011 (nicedeb.wordpress.com)
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US Senate Race and Unity Candidates

The 2012 US Senate race in Missouri is already heating up. Senator Claire McCaskill's comment over the weekend that it may really be time for Americans to take up pitchforks is an early indication that the battle lines are drawn. And it looks to be a closely fought race. Public Policy Polling has found the Missouri Senate Race to be within a point or two:

McCaskill leads Sarah Steelman by 1 point (45-44) in a hypothetical match up and trails Jim Talent and Peter Kinder each by 2 points in them (47-45 and 46-44 respectively,) all results well within the poll’s margin of error.

As of today, Steelman is the only candidate that's announced that she's running. She's trying to position herself as the Tea Party candidate; however, as I wrote last Friday, Sarah Steelman has not yet earned the title. I like the fact that she's not hand-picked by the party, but she hasn't earned my vote yet.

With the election behind us and the next one almost two years away, Steelman will be a popular guest on political radio shows across Missouri. She made two appearances on St. Louis stations today. Both Mark Reardon and Dana Loesch interviewed her (audio at the links). Reardon offered a post interview commentary that was pretty harsh. In my opinion, too harsh. Steelman's radio interview skills are weak. I think it's that the cadence of her responses are slower than a radio audience expects, so I think Reardon was being unkind in saying that she lacked substance. Yes, it was boilerplate conservative talking points, but do you really expect actionable policy recommendations two years out? That said, Reardon's point that "the quality of your candidate matters," is absolutely correct.

Jeremy Jacobs of the National Journal's Hotline on Call thinks that Steelman will need Tea Partiers in a primary battle with Talent:

Garnering Tea Party support will be crucial for Steelman, if she faces a primary against Talent. And it's clear she is courting them. Steelman spokesman Jeff Layman pointed to Steelman's history of opposing earmarks and said that Steelman "is one of the early heroes of the Tea Party movement."

While I appreciate the link and reference to my first article on Steelman, again, what has she done that's made her a hero of the Tea Party? What I see happening here is the Tea Party (ostensibly Steelman) being pitted against the establishment GOP (ostensibly Talent). Since Talent has taken a four year hiatus from running for office, he still has a reasonable shot to be the Tea Party candidate if he plays his cards right.

Returning to the poll above. PPP also polled a Peter Kinder vs. Claire McCaskill race. While everyone's assuming (rightly, I believe) that Kinder will run for governor, I think he'd be an interesting candidate for US Senate. Peter Kinder is a hero of the Missouri Tea Party movement because he brought a law suite against the federal government over the new healthcare law. In other words, Kinder draws his base of support from both the establishment GOP and the Tea Party movement. He's a sort of unity candidate. Again, I think he'll run for governor, but it's an interesting idea.

While the St. Louis Tea Party has the glamor of a major American city, the workhorses of the movement include the Tea Parties in neighboring counties. Two such Tea Parties are the Franklin County Patriots and the Jefferson County Tea Party. Jeremy Jacobs in that National Journal article mentioned above recognizes the importance of these other Tea Party groups:

James Harris, a Missouri Republican consultant who has worked for Steelman in the past, said the Tea Party movement could make the difference for Steelman both in the primary and the general election race with Sen. Claire McCaskill (D).

"We have a very strong and vibrant Tea Party movement in St. Louis and the collar counties," said Harris. "Jefferson County, for example, swung to the Republican side this year because of that movement."

Jefferson, the sixth largest county in the state, has been a traditional swing area where Republicans have to perform well to win statewide. Pres. Bush carried it by 600 votes in 2004 and Pres. Obama carried it by two percentage points in 2008.

What I think Jacobs (and Harris) are discounting is the contributions of GOP volunteers. Ed Martin got out 40 volunteers in Arnold (Jefferson County) on a rainy Saturday in early October. During the closing weeks of the campaign, Martin had a contingent of volunteers manning the phones from dawn til dusk.

The point being that the turn around in Jefferson County came about because of the work of both Tea Party and GOP volunteers. And that brings me to another unity candidate: Ed Martin. If he were to step into the US Senate race he would be the only candidate running that was endorsed by the St. Louis Tea Party. I think he'll run for Secretary of State, but we've got lots of time to speculate about the US Senate race against Claire McCaskill, so why not do just that?

Update: It's early in this US Senate race. Best of luck to all the candidates mentioned above as well as Chuck Purgason and Kristi Nichols (if they decide to run again).

Related:

• Sarah Steelman: Tea Party Candidate or Establishment Candidate?
• Sarah Steelman is Not Establishment?: Give it up Sarah!

Sarah Steelman: Tea Party Candidate?

Earlier this week, Sarah Steelman filed to run for US Senate in 2012 against Democrat Claire McCaskill. There's a strong presumption that former Senator Jim Talent—the man who lost to McCaskill in 2006—will also run for the Republican nomination. Talent is seen as the party favorite.

Steelman served as Missouri's Treasurer from 2005 to 2009. In 2008 she made a bid for the Governors office, but lost in the Republican primary. In a Talent v Steelman race for Republican nominee for US Senate, she would be seen as an outsider.

With that background, it's interesting to learn that the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) has apparently promised Steelman that it would not endorse Talent. Dave at Missouri Scout reports on the NRSC and Sarah Steelman (paid subscription):

The NRSC was burned last year in primaries across the country. In Colorado, Nevada, Alaska, and Maryland [I think he means Delaware - ed.], its anointed candidates lost in each primary and the eventual nominee lost each general election. In other words, the NRSC’s miscalculations (and spending on losing primary candidates) may have cost them control of the Senate.

In short, the NRSC lost money on several primary races so it looks like they plan to keep their money out of Missouri's primary in 2012. I hope they stick with that plan. You might encourage them to do the same in your state.

That said, I have to take exception with Dave for referring to Steelman as the "Tea Party favorite". Dave isn't the only reporter to do that. Jeremy Jacobs of National Journal reported on Steelman's announcement earlier this week this way:

Second, the NRSC is showing a newfound interest in Steelman, a Tea Party favorite, who it shunned last year in favor of Roy Blunt.

Since Steelman did not run in the 2010 Missouri Republican primary for US Senate, it's odd to say that the NRSC shunned her. They certainly anointed Roy, but Steelman wasn't among the candidates that were shunned. Those would be Chuck Purgason (2nd in the primary, 13%), Kristi Nichols (3rd in the primary, 7%), and several others.

I don't understand why Sarah Steelman is being referred to as the Tea Party favorite. She's not. She may be by the time the election is here, but she's not the favorite yet.

There are basically two paths to becoming a Tea Party candidate. The first path is to show up, maybe speak at events, maybe lead a local Tea Party group, recruit others, and just generally participate in the Tea Party. That's the path that Ed Martin and Gary Fuhr followed. The other path is to do something heroic, something exceptional that clearly indicates your commitment to Tea Party values. Once you've done that, you probably need to do some of the things on the first path: speak, lead, recruit, and participate. Paul Curtman followed the second path. I also think that Lt Gov Peter Kinder went above and beyond the call of duty when he brought suite against the federal government over the healthcare law.

Those are the paths to becoming a Tea Party favorite. As of today, there are no Tea Party favorites for US Senate in Missouri. I look forward to learning more about all the candidates. For now, best wishes for a successful campaign to Sarah Steelman, Jim Talent, Chuck Purgason, and Kristi Nichols (assuming the last three decide to run).

Photos from the K & N Patriots 9-11 Remembrance

Doug from Leaning to Starboard posted these pictures from this morning's 9-11 Remembrance at K & N. Here's his description:

K & N Patriots gathered to remember and honor the victims of 9/11, and to pay tribute to all first responders on Saturday, 9/11/10. LTGOV Peter Kinder, REP Roy Blunt, County Executive Steve Ehlmann and State Rep Cynthia Davis all spoke.

Photos and Video from the KSDK Can You Hear Us Now Rally

Protesters sing God Bless America

Protesters waive signs at passing cars (photo by Jim B)

Protesters assemble outside KSDK Channel 5 in downtown St Louis (photo by Jim B)

Protester with sign

KSDK news team interviewing one of the protesters

Alex from ConservativeTVonline.com (Check his site for video in a couple days)

Flags

I tweeted the protest. You can see some more pictures from the event at twitpic:

• http://twitpic.com/lvz2z - Daniel Boone ("Ch 5: where the bias comes first") and others begin to gather at #KSDK's can you hear us now rally
• http://twitpic.com/lw0yl - Vendors selling t-shirts at the KSDK Can You Hear Us Now Rally. #teaparty #tcot pls RT
• http://twitpic.com/lw5r2 - #teaparty folks don't just bring flags. They bring the flagpole to the KSDK Can You Hear Us Now Rally. #tcot
• http://twitpic.com/lw8rl - Lt Gov Peter Kinder stopped by the KSDK Can You Hear Us Now Rally. #teaparty #tcot
• http://twitpic.com/lwar7 - KSDK covers the #news that arrives at their door. #tcot #teaparty pls RT