How do you spell Democratic unity? T-H-E H-U-G

   It was a smorgasbord of Democratic political news as the party leaders showed up Saturday morning to munch on scrambled eggs, danishes, bacon and Republicans while putting aside their primary differences.

   The expected handshake between Jackson County executive opponents Mike Sanders and Charles Wheeler occurred. As did, however, an unexpected HUG; yes, dear reader, Sanders and Jack County Ex Katheryn Shields embraced. (Read more in Sunday's Star but don't worry no Godfather kiss was involved.)

  Between the handshake and the hug came the funny, the sublime and the comical, all of which created a feast for any blogger worth her sugaah. Unfortunately, no Republicans were trailing Claire McCaskill or Emanuel Cleaver so, gosh darn, there will be apparently no YouTube.com video of their red meat tossed to the Democratic faithful.

    The morning started off with a svelte Sen. Victor Callahan pulling up his car right after Sanders and his incredibly shrinking wife Georgia (jealous thy name was every woman in the room). The three ignored each other. But Callahan who said he was all about party harmony joked outloud about whether he dared be seen at the same event as Sanders. (Though unity only goes so far, 'cause no hugs between Callahan and Shields or Callahan and Phil Cardarella). Callahan eventually sat beside state Rep. John Burnett whose absent (and we're told ailing) opponent J.J. Rizzo sought this week a recount since he's down by just 14 votes.

  Sanders is now so popular that some feathers were ruffled when people were unable to sit at his table. And with his 65 percent vote in hand, he tossed his own red meat to the crowd when he said Republican Sen. Jim Talent lacked, er, talent and didn't have Claire's "intelligence." Oh yeah, and he called Republican Gov. Matt Blunt disgraceful.

  In the spirit of Democratic unity, former judge Albert Riederer made a point of shaking the hand of Sanders' campaign manager, Calvin Williford. Riederer, of course, wrote in a Wheeler mailer, "I am so sorry to see the unfair and insensitive negative advertisement being aired by Mike Sanders. Given the opportunity, no ethical person would have approved this advertisement." (St. Louis-area Rep. Sam Page who also chided Sanders in the mailer recently sent Sanders a congratulatory note but offered no apology). Williford on Saturday accepted Riederer's handshake but his clenched smile screamed that some wounds haven't healed quite yet.

  Speaking of screaming, that can only describe KC Councilwoman Saundra McFadden-Weaver's opening and closing prayers. Because of the distortion from the microphone, one of her colleagues even mockingly covered one of his ears during her invocation. Then Cleaver in his speech, Cleaver briefly out-yelled McFadden-Weaver. That is until McFadden-Weaver's lengthy benediction, which had the microphone reverbing the entire time. One elected official complained of a splitting headache, others openly rolled their eyes or shook their heads (during the prayer!!) and one Eastern Jackson Co. committeewoman afterward demanded that rally organizers never again ask McFadden-Weaver to give a prayer.

  Now that's unity!

Posted by DeAnn Smith   

Comments

[Its our choice in November]

Democrats have a full platter of issues to present to the voters this year. Perhaps this is the richest year in a long, long time for democratic candidates to expose the greed, graft and insensitivity of the the republican office seekers.
The AP had a great article written by David Espo that uncovered the real money behind the alleged Chamber of Commerce ad for Jim Talent that praised his vote for the Medicare Prescription Act.
The Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America paid nearly $10 million to the Chamber to produce this ad.
In other words, Jim Talent's vote for the Medicare Prescription Act is sealed and delivered by the industry who wrote this bill.
Who suffered because of this cozy relationship? Our senior Americans suffered as well as every taxpayer in the United States.
If Missouri wants this type of greed and graft to continue...we must re-elect Jim Talent. But if not, we have the moral and the ethical responsibility to vote Claire McCaskill to the Senate.
Almost every race this year gives this same type of choice.
Continue the course of corruption or choose the course of right.
What will it be Missouri?
How will you vote in November?
More of this same corruption or a government interested in doing the right thing for the right reason?

[kayne]

Victor Callahan and Landslide Burnett that a pair to draw too . They where just missing there primary candidate Republican Bob Johnson.

[michelle]

Katherine Shields is a classy lady . She walks it like she talks it . Thanks for making unity your outgoing theme .

[Phil Cardarella]

There are times when history and patriotism demand that individual personal and political differences be put aside for the good of the nation. No one at the Democaratic Unity event had a personal interest in Claire being elected. No one there expects any jobs or patronage from a US Senator. Why, then, are so diverse a group willing to put aside their own discord to present a united front?

The answer is simple patriotism. Everyone in that room understands that the Bush/Chaney Kleptocracy is doing serious harm to the country we love. Not just a disasterous war of choice, or just ruinous economic policies. Not just destruction of our good name throughout the world. Not just a serious attack on the individual rights and division of powers of our Constitution. All of the above, and more.

This really is bigger than any of us or our egos. This is a fight for the future and the soul of the Republic. Elections have onsequences. This election may well decide what kind of country our children and grandchildren will inherit.

DeAnn, you misspelled it! It is not T-H-E H-U-G; it is simply T-H-U-G!!!!!!!

"If Missouri wants this type of greed and graft to continue...we must re-elect Jim Talent. But if not, we have the moral and the ethical responsibility to vote Claire McCaskill to the Senate."

Yeah, work the moral angle! That worked so WELL for you in 2004!!!

Phil, NOTHING is bigger than your ego!

Michelle, If you had heard the words come out of her mouth that I have heard, you would say katie was ANYTHING but classy!

Hey 851. THUG is when Republican Legislators make Animal Noises in celebration of Medical Care cuts to the elderly. THUG is when Republican House Legislators threaten organizations in order to force an endorsement.

THUG isn't a word that describes Democrats. In this state and in Washington D.C., it's a word that describes the Republican Party.

If it weren't then tell me constituents are yet to see the word "Republican" on Republican Candidates political literature?

Instead they use the word "Independent" on EVERY SINGLE PIECE.

Have a look at the Republican Candidates literature from around the county. You won't see "Republican" on any piece.

[John Evans]

Democrats are scared to death of the government enforcing a police state upon us which the Republicans say is not a bad idea. One way to keep people from voting against you. Throw them in a goulag. The Republicans are scared shitless of the "terrorist. I wonder who the actor for thier recent Bin Ladin movie. He looks better now than ever. Little was said about the small funeral in a little town for a man named Bin Ladin some time back. I believe he is dead. They shut down the unit that was put together and assigned to find him. Now he is just good propaganda for this administration to scares us so the can claim they need more power tools (fewer civil liberties) to fight the enemy. Now they have the president of Iran. Who's next. These people are evil and I question the sanity of the people who continue to vote for them. They can't see it coming. They are blinded by fear and hate. Benjamin Franklin said "Democracy is two wolves and a sheep voting on what to eat. Liberty is a well armed sheep prepared to challenge the vote."

[DKC]

JJ wants a recount? Whenever the vote total for both candidates has a difference of 1% or less there is an automatic recount. This occurred and JJ lost again. You'd think twice would be enough.

[adam]

I live in northeast and I think John Burnett would get the message that his days are numbered . He is a sitting Legislator who had to have a recount to stay in office. And I am sure the third time will be a charm.

[John Evans]

White House Aide to Rove Resigns
By DEB RIECHMANN
ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON (AP) - A key aide to presidential political strategist Karl Rove resigned Friday in the wake of a congressional report that listed hundreds of contacts between disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and the White House.

Susan Ralston, special assistant to President Bush, submitted a resignation letter to him less than five weeks before congressional elections in which corruption and scandal are emerging as key issues for voters.

"She did not want to be a distraction to the White House at such an important time and so we have accepted her resignation," White House deputy press secretary Dana Perino said.

"We support her decision and consider the matter closed," Perino said.

Critics have pointed to Ralston as evidence that Rove - and thus Bush - are possibly closer to Abramoff than the White House has acknowledged. Ralston was Abramoff's administrative assistant at his lobbying firm and, after Bush took office, assumed the same post with Rove.

The House Government Reform Committee last week issued a report saying that based on documents supplied by Abramoff's former lobbying firm, he had 485 lobbying contacts with White House officials over three years, including 10 with Rove. At the time, the White House said it was unclear whether all the listed contacts were legitimate because they were based on sometimes-sketchy information provided by Abramoff himself.
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/bw-wh/2006/oct/06/100603350.html

[jansenkoe]

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