The Missouri blogosphere heats up

   GOP uber-strategist Jeff Roe is making big waves in the blogosphere at The Source.

   Roe, who's thisclose to 6th District Rep. Sam Graves, has been taking the hide out of every Democrat in sight since going live three weeks ago. Jay Nixon? Whack! Kay Barnes? Whack! Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver of the 5th District, whom Roe lambasted for missing a vote to preside at a funeral, called the attack "sad," but said it wouldn't affect his working relationship with Graves.

   This weekend, the dead-tree version of The Star will examine the escalating blog wars and what they mean to Missouri politics.

Posted by Matt Stearns

Comments

[Jack of All Trades]

Jeff is not going after anyone just pointing out the facts about Dems that don't get reported elsewhere. Like the latest with Cleaver or Barnes and Charlie Wheeler's use of the Highway Patrol to intervene in an accident that went unreported by news organizations like the Star. Come on folks if the Republicans did some this stuff it would be frontpage news!

[Anne]

You are linking to a blog that has ZERO comments in the first two stories? Yup, "big waves."

[Wheeler fan]

The fact that Wheeler had an accident only tells us one thing, he is a human being. OMG! Charlie Wheeler is a human being! Stop the presses!

[PNO]

One question: Does "uber" mean obese?

[Sara Robinson]

For the record Charlie Wheeler was in a car when another person was driving. He was a passenger. A deer ran in front of the car and was splattered on the windshield. The Star mistakingly reported that Wheeler's Cadillac was involved. Wheeler drives a Chevrolet Nova or Chevette or something similar that is about ten years old. Really it is beyond belief that folks are so desperate as to care whether or not the Highway Patrol helped two men at night after they took a serious blow in what could have been a fatal accident to both parties. The car was totaled...that's how hard the impact was. Geez, folks be decent will you?

[rick]

Jeff Roe and decent in the same sentence is making me gag.

[JC]

I see "The Source" decided to put up a big no comment on the petty games Gov Blunt and his little friend are palying at the capitol. They would much rather talk about what Democratic staffers are doing when they're not working. Maybe they should take a look at what people are doing on OUR (the taxpayers) time.

[Jack of All Trades]

SARA:

You fool. The "accident" referenced in The Source was not the deer run-in which was actually reported by the Star (and to which The Source also provided a link) but a completely different event in which Charlie called in the STATE HIGHWAY PATROL to an accident at 80th and Wornall! For Christ's sake woman -- get the facts right before you put out this garbage. READ THE SOURCE! You will not appear so ignorant or lazy. This man used his influence to cover up an accident that none of us would have got away with. Wake up!!!

[John Boy]

my, my, arent we testy today !

[Hollaman]

Kay Barnes's facade of being a Democrat is like her get-up for the gay magazine cover. She is as bad a corporate shill as any Republican.

[SPSLE]

Jack, remember, The Source never said Wheeler called the Highway Patrol, only that the Highway Patrol was called. Also, remember the accident occurred on federal property, the post office parking lot. Sara may be in error, but, Jack, don't be fooled; Jeff Roe wants to counteract firedup, so he's going to try to outdo their technique. In other words, he's going to lie by innuendo, omission and characterization just like they do.

And now I read in today's Star that Matt Bartle has chosen Jeff Roe to handle his campaign for the Senate. Does Senator Bartle anticipate a vicious campaign? Can Kit Wagar confirm his reporting, did Roe really announce that "Bartle planned to limit his comments to the news media during this campaign"? I guess we know what Senator Bartle thinks about the quality of reporting in the Kansas City area.

[Jack of All Trades]

I amazed that the truth or getting to the truth means so little. If Wheeler was in an accident at 80th and Wornall -- a fact. If the STATE HIGHWAY PATROL was called to the scene instead of the local police and NO REPORT was filed -- a fact. If Wheeler has a history of car accidents -- a fact. If Wheeler is about to turn 80 -- a fact. If Wheeler has history of using the STATE HIGHWAY PATROL to drive him to and from Jefferson City -- a fact. If Wheeler serves on a committee that supervises the PATROL -- a fact. THEN we should have legitimate concerns about both his capability to drive and his abuse of his position to garner special treatment. If Wheeler or the STATE HIGHWAY PATROL had responded to JEFF's questions then we would know the details and maybe this could have been cleared up but since Wheeler has been silent I can only assume that like many DEMS he has chosen to put himself above the law and seek special status and treatment.

[Wheeler fan]

Jack, you are laughable. Mayor/Sen/Dr/Icon Wheeler can not be harmed by your shameless attempts at political spin. He is THE most beloved figure in local politics, and all you will do with your ill-advised attacks is harm yourselves and your man Bartle. You just don't get it do you, Wheeler is an untouchable. You, however, are not.

[SPSLE]

Perhaps Wheeler has chosen to deal with the "press" (i.e., Jeff Roe) the same way that Jeff Roe is directing Bartle to deal with the press--the Senator plans "to limit his comments to the news media during this campaign."

And Jack, why do you think it is necessary to post on The Source urging Republicans to get involved in these discussions about Wheeler's accident; what is the big deal about this accident? The big deal should be that The Shadow was there when someone reported the accident to Jeff Roe...

Witness: I saw an accident in the post office parking lot at 80th and Wornall involving Charlie Wheeler.
Roe: Was anybody hurt? Was there lots of damage?
Witness: No, it looked like pretty much of a fender-bender to me.
Roe: Okay, we won't mention that. Was Wheeler driving?
Witness: I don't know for sure, but he had been in the car.
Roe: Okay, we won't mention who was driving. How did the accident happen?
Witness: Well, it looked like someone pulled out of a parking space as the Wheeler vehicle was going down the lane.
Roe: You mean it was the other person's fault, well, we won't mention that. Uhh, why are you calling this in?
Witness: Well, I just noticed this highway patrol car at the scene taking statements from some people, and one of them was Charlie Wheeler; I thought you might want to know.
Roe: Well, thanks for calling, but I don't think we can use material this lame, but keep us in mind....Wait! Did you say HIGHWAY patrol car?
Witness: [dial tone].

Perhaps before we insist that Wheeler respond to Roe, we should get Roe to give us a few more "FACTS", since 90% of his "report" was editorializing.

Is this another reason why Jeff Roe doesn't want Bartle talking to the media--because they might want facts? Facts such as why a U.S. Attorney would want to quit his job to join Bartle's start-up law firm, less than one year old, when such a prestigious background would assure a secure, high-six-figure salary with far more established firms?