Monday, September 17, 2012

Akin: Obama Doesn’t Like America

Congressman Todd Akin caused another stir last week in talking about the Middle East turmoil concluded that President Barack Obama “doesn’t like America.”  Read more here.

I don’t want to get too deep into the mind of Akin, but I think what we have here a blend of three factors.

First, it wouldn’t surprise me if he actually thinks this.

Second, he’s never run a general election campaign, so doesn’t have any practice in the discipline of moderating his tone or words to reach out to swing voters.

Third, he’s cash-starved and needs to continue to stoke the committed right-wing base to write small checks to keep his campaign afloat.

Continuing the contradiction between the second and third factors – running to the middle to attract more than the easiest 40% Republican base, and running to the right to keep the far-right base engaged and funding the campaign – will be nearly impossible for Akin to pull off in the final six weeks.

GOP Money Tip-Toeing Back Into MO?

Last week I spoke to a Democratic veteran who insisted that Republican money would not sit on the sidelines during the final six weeks of the Claire McCaskill – Todd Akin race.  Sure, he said, we may not see “paid for” disclaimers from American Crossroads, but their billionaire dollars would find other vehicles.  They won’t concede this critical senate seat.

And – as I skimmed through political advertising contracts this morning, I did notice some rather substantial buys from American Action Network (see KSDK contract here).

Who is American Action Network?  They are a “center-right” 501 (c)(4).  And this from Wikipedia: “American Action Network is related to American Crossroads and American Action Network leases and shares office space to the other group.”

Barnes Versus REMI

It appears that Rep. Jay Barnes is going to begin to build the intellectual case to chop down some sacred tree in Missouri economic development orthodoxy.

For years, Quality Jobs tax credits have been heralded as one of the “good” incentives because the credits aren’t paid until the jobs are created.  But now questions are being asked whether those jobs would have been created anyway.

Furthermore, Barnes would like to evaluate the REMI model used to determine the potential pay-off of tax credits and specific projects.  He writes that there has never been a study to test the accuracy of its projections.  Read it here.

Reporterville

The mighty Jason Rosenbaum debunks my “Rumorville” from last week that “a Carter” would replace retiring Rep. Chris Carter.  He reports that the two leading candidates are Keith Tubbs and Chris Elliott.   Read it here.

Allergy Wars Again?

The push to make require prescriptions pseudoephedrine comes to St. Louis City, courtesy of Alderwoman Jennifer Florida.  Read it here.

Sinquefield Sends Koster $250K

In the $5K+ checks below, Rex Sinquefield contributed $250,000 to Attorney General Chris Koster’s campaign late last week.

By my estimation that brings last week campaign haul by Koster to something like $600,000.  Ed Martin’s recent 30Day Report showed $193,000 on-hand versus Koster’s $2.4 million on-hand.

Bits

Speaker Tim Jones plants picture on the House website.  See it here.

InkKC looks for new features editor. “The Kansas City Star is looking for an energetic, innovative editor to lead Ink, our weekly lifestyle and entertainment magazine and website targeting people in their 20s and 30s in Kansas City and Lawrence, Kan.”     See Ad here.
Sen. Robin Wright Jones, who losing her re-election primary, still hasn’t her 30 Day Report.  Wright Jones previously ran into controversy with late and confusing campaign finance reports.

eMailbag

Fact-checking the Republican Insider on Akin

“Someone should tell your Republican insider that in the U.S. Senate, the Pro Tem job is wholly ceremonial. The Maj Leader slot is the only one that counts. Also, Cornyn wouldn't be taking it from Reid - McConnell would. Still, interesting to hear an R thinking that pessimistically/holistically.”

$5K+ Contributions

Schoeller for Missouri - $10,000 from Citizens for Diehl.

Schoeller for Missouri - $10,000 from Friends of Tilley.

Jay Nixon for Missouri - $10,000 from Thomas R, Green.

Unite Here Tip Missouri State and Local Fund - $10,000 from Unite Here.

UTU-PAC - $12,000 from United Transportation Union PAC.

Missouri Senate Campaign Committee - $10,000 from Dr. Dan Brown for Senate.

Missourians for Fair Taxation - $50,000 from Missouri Association of REALTORS.

Missourians for Fair and Impartial Courts Committee - $10,000 from Shelter Mutual Insurance Company.

Missourians for Fair and Impartial Courts Committee - $10,000 from Missouri National Education Assoc. Legislative Crisis Fund.

Missourians for Fair and Impartial Courts Committee - $20,000 from Polsinelli Shughart.

Missourians for Koster - $250,000 from Rex Sinquefield.

Integrity in Law Enforcement - $10,000 from A Safer Missouri.

Jay Nixon for Missouri - $12,500 from Eastern Missouri Laborers’ Educational & Benevolent Fund.

Parson for State Senate - $8,000 from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City PAC for MO.

Parson for State Senate - $10,000 from RightCHOICE Managed Care Inc.

Missourians for Koster - $10,000 from Dowd Bennett LLP.

Missourians for Koster - $15,000 from Ameren Missouri PAC.

Missourians for Koster - $10,000 from James Emison.

Birthdays

Happy birthdays to Sen. Mike Parson (57) and Rep. Tom McDonald (66).