KC Buzz Blog

Why your favorite politicos were yawning today

  Apparently quite a few folks were up into the wee hours of the morning listening to that riveting filibuster in the Missouri Senate as Sen. Matt Bartle objected to the nomination of Warren Erdman to the MU Board of Curators. Among them were former U.S. Attorney Todd Graves, who listened until 2:30 a.m.

   "It was fascinating to listen to it take place," he said.

   Graves said the personality of Bartle, his law partner, really came through. The two first met when they were undergraduate students at Mizzou two decades ago.

   "He is a loyal and kind and good person," Graves said. "I've heard filibusters before but I've never heard someone's personality come through so strongly."

   He said it was a complete "Matt Bartleism" that Bartle listed every single state representative and senator and said something complimentary about each of them. (colleague Kit Wagar said Bartle also lauded members of their staffs). Graves joked when is the last time anyone had something good to say about every single member of the Missouri General Assembly.

   (One could also argue that the personality of fellow filibusterer Sen. Victor Callahan also came through this morning, from the rough-and-tumble side in remarks about former JaCo exec and now mayoral contender Katheryn Shields to the softer teddy bear side with the heartfelt comments about his father.)

   About 1 a.m., Graves said he talked to big brother, Sam. The congressman noted that during a filibuster he conducted when he was a state senator -- in 1998 against the KC school deseg settlement -- no one came to his aid by speaking to him.

Posted by DeAnn Smith 

T. Graves lauds U.S. Attorney pick

   Former U.S. Attorney Todd Graves said today he wanted to make certain KC Buzz Blog readers know he is delighted with the selection of John Wood as his replacement. He said his mind was elsewhere when asked yesterday about Wood's appointment, but that in no way should reflect on the nomination by President Bush. He said he believes Wood deserves effusive praise.

   "He has had a stellar career. He has had very important positions in D.C. He has clerked for a Supreme Court judge," Graves said. "The guy graduated magna cum laude from Harvard law school and nobody gives that to you."

   Graves said he wishes Wood well and wants to help him however he can.

   "I am thrilled they are going to get political leadership back in that job," he said, adding that will provide important long-term strategic direction for the 120 employees in the office.

Posted by DeAnn Smith

Kanatzar gets an overflow crowd

    New Prosecutor Jim Kanatzar formally took the oath of office this afternoon in a Jackson County courtroom to an overflow crowd. Afterward, a reception was held by the Tim Dollar law firm at a downtown hotel. The Dollar law firm employs Kanatzar's wife, Jill, who glowed throughout the event. Kanatzar was surrounded by family members during the swearing-in festivities. Afterward, his adorable four-year-old son, Sam, clutched his father's hand as they were surrounded by well wishers.

   Mayor Pro Tem Alvin Brooks and former U.S. Attorney Todd Graves were among the overflow crowd spilling out into an outside corridor.

   In an interview, Graves wasn't exactly effusive with praise for John Wood's nomination to replace him as U.S. Attorney. He said Wood appears to be qualified for the job. Wood, the cousin of U.S. Sen. Kit Bond, was recently nominated for the post.  Graves said he likes that Wood has connections to the area. He said such knowledge is important to be able to do the job well.

Posted by DeAnn Smith

Are Tigers tickets a sufficient consolation prize to losing out on suite Chiefs tickets?

    Remember last fall when Gov. Matt Blunt skipped over Warren Erdman for a vacancy for the Jackson County Sports Complex Authority? Most had expected Erdman to be the pick among the three candidates, but instead Blunt went with former Chiefs great Deron Cherry (which helped Blunt because Cherry was a charismatic well-regarded African-American Republican and, like Erdman, a campaign supporter).

   So for those scratching their heads about Erdman not getting a pass for the authority's suite at Arrowhead Stadium, perhaps his consolation prize was sweeeet Mizzou tickets. Of course, state Sen. Matt Bartle has other ideas.

  And for KC Buzz Blog readers who love irony, note who's Cherry's state senator and thus listed as making the recommendation for Cherry? Why our very own Bartle.

Posted by DeAnn Smith

Erdman fracas begins this morning

   In Jeff City this morning, the Senate Gubernatorial Appointments committee takes up Warren Erdman's appointment to the UM curators.

   State Sen. Matt Bartle, a Lee's Summit Republican, is threatening to block it because of Erdman's support for early stem-cell research.

   But Erdman has deep GOP ties. He's a former chief of staff to Missouri Sen. Kit Bond and was an aide to John Ashcroft. Erdman works for Kansas City Southern.

   If the committee signs off, Erdman's name is to go to the full Senate on Thursday.

   This could get interesting.

Posted by Steve Kraske 

Jeff City's Feather to lead Romney bid

   Tony Feather, a Jefferson City GOP political consultant, will serve as Mitt Romney's political adviser. 

   As reported by the Washington Post via blogger John Combest, Feather is a former Missouri GOP executive director who served as political director for Bush-Cheney in 2000.

   The Post calls him "one of the pillars of the Washington Republican political establishment."

Posted by Steve Kraske

Jetton ready for statewide rumble?

   Rod Jetton has filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission for a statewide run in 2008.

   No word yet on which office he might seek.

   But statewide ambition is clearly an occupational hazard of the speaker's office. The last two, Democrat Steve Gaw and Republican Catherine Hanaway, tried and got toasted.

   But Jetton may sense possibility if Gov. Matt Blunt opts not to seek re-election -- either for governor or another statewide post that could open up in that event.

   Thanks to the Columbia Daily Tribune Political Blog for the head's up.

Posted by Steve Kraske

Having a hard time letting go or waiting for the rematch?

    A drive yesterday on U.S. 65 up from Branson revealed an interesting phenomenon. Between Springfield and Preston, there were almost a dozen Jim Talent for Senate and Sandra Thomas for state auditor signs still dotting the highway. The election was almost two months ago. Were they forgotten about or are the landowners already looking forward to 2008?

Posted by DeAnn Smith

Federal "hanging" judge Dean Whipple taking senior status

   Who is going to be the next Johnson County or Jackson County prosecutor is so yesterday's news. The legal community now is buzzing about who will get the really plum gig: a federal judgeship. 

  KC Buzz Blog heard through the grapevine that Federal Judge Dean Whipple had taken senior status and was trying to confirm it. And lo and behold having lunch today at see-and-be-seen Pierpont's was KC NAACP President Anita Russell and U.S. District Judge Fernando Gaitan Jr.

   And Gaitan kindly confirmed that, yes, Whipple's last "full-time" day is April 30 and that he will no longer be chief judge as of Jan. 22. What Gaitan modestly did not mention is that he will be the next chief judge.

   Taking senior status is not the same as retiring. Whipple will still have an office and staff. He can keep any existing cases that he chooses, but will have more say over which new cases he takes. There are already two senior judges and both carry heavy caseloads.

   Whipple is best known as the final judge in the 26-year, $2 billion Kansas City School District desegregation case. He often railed about patronage and micromanagement in the district and when he ended the case he said the district had a long ways to go before becoming a public school system that KC residents could be proud of. He also oversaw the Kansas City Housing Authority case and often provided wry and punchy quotes from the bench in a variety of cases.

   Whipple came to the bench in 1987 through an appointment by President Ronald Reagan. He had served 13 years as a state court judge in the Lake of the Ozarks area. He had previously served as a county prosecutor. 

    Colleague Dan Margolies says Whipple obtained a reputation as a "hanging judge" while on the state court bench, which Whipple confirmed in one of his earliest cases. In December 1988, he sentenced a real estate developer to 10 years in prison for bank fraud charges. In handing down the sentence, Whipple said he wanted to "send a message" to white-collar criminals, says Margolies who covered the sentencing.

   Politicos and attorneys are also curious to see how partisan of a replacement appointment does President Bush make with the Senate now controlled by Democrats. But several attorneys and politicos said today that Sen. Kit Bond, a Missouri Republican, is good about making sure the president nominates a well-qualified candidate.

  Of course, incoming Sen. Claire McCaskill can have her say and put a hold on anyone she objects to (remember Ronnie White?). Which brings to mind an election-eve comment from Bond about how important a Jim Talent win was to him: "I've tried it with my vote being canceled on every important issue I've worked on."

   Look for a story from reporter Mark Morris in Thursday's Star about Whipple.

Posted by DeAnn Smith

Need a copy of Ed Emery's report?

    Lots of people have been asking Missouri House GOPers to post online the controversial report by a committee headed by Rep. Ed Emery of Lamar. The report argues that illegal immigration is partly the result of abortion and a "welfare culture."

   But the report is still not up, so KC Buzz Blog is posting reporter Tim Hoover's copy. Here it is, minus the appendices.

Posted by Keith Chrostowski 

Mehlman trying to deliver in Missouri

   GOP Chairman Ken Mehlman is making a swing through Missouri today to attend six events billed as efforts to rally grassroots volunteers.

    First stop: Clay County GOP headquarters this morning. Then he'll be at the Jackson County GOP Headquarters in Independence at 10:30 a.m.; the Cass County GOP Headquarters in Raymore at 11:45 a.m.; the Pettis County GOP Headquarters at 2 p.m.; at Health Partners Management Services in Poplar Bluff at 6:30 p.m.; and the Cape Girardeau County GOP Headquarters in Cape Girardeau at 8 p.m.

Posted by Keith Chrostowski

The Rev keeps promise to Chris Moreno

   Congressman Emanuel Cleaver is headlining a fund-raiser for up-and-coming politico Chris Moreno. As reported previously on KC Buzz Blog, Cleaver's folks had promised that Cleaver would campaign for Moreno, who is running for the 48th District Missouri House seat.

  Obviously, the Democrats are smelling blood in Moreno's bid against Republican Rep. Will Kraus. That's because virtually every major Democratic politico is locking hands in this event, including seven state lawmakers, four county lawmakers and several Democrats unopposed on the November ballot. The Hispanic political leadership is also stepping up for Moreno.

  And making another Kansas City appearance will be Attorney General Jay Nixon, who along with Jackson County Prosecutor Mike Sanders is joining Cleaver in hosting the event at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at a Lee's Summit banquet hall.Tickets start at $25 and go up to $325.

Posted by DeAnn Smith

Cigars all around! JacCo GOPers get to run a meeting

   Republicans across the nation may be worried about what the Congressional Quarterly calls the coming Donkey Stampede in November.

   But two Republicans were riding herd this afternoon over the traditionally Democratic Jackson County Legislature.

  Because of a business emergency, Legislative chairman Henry Rizzo skipped the meeting. So for the first time ever, a Democrat didn't run the meeting. Vice chairman Bob Spence, a Republican, took the reins.

  Only to get thrown when he wanted to object to spending $25,000 in county road/bridge/sheriff's office funds. According to the rules, legislative dean Fred Arbanas adroitly pointed out, by objecting, Spence would have to temporarily step down.

Many chuckles and ribbing all around. All eyes turned to Dan Tarwater, but county counselor Ed Rucker explained that Spence still got to choose his own replacement. And he wasn't about to give up his barely warm gavel to a Democrat. He chose the legislature's only other Republican, Rhonda Shoemaker, to temporarily step in.

  "Wow, this is a first," Tarwater said. Scott Burnett, joked that he smelled a conspiracy.

  Spence and Shoemaker just grinned and accomplished their tasks with a little parliamentarian assistance from Arbanas.

    Posted by DeAnn Smith

Letting go?

    Missouri GOP Rep. Jo Ann Emerson says GOP leaders made a mistake in failing to take quick action to address Foley's conduct. She said the controversy and the public's frustration with the war in Iraq could make it difficult for the GOP to retain control of the House: "Today, I'd say we aren't going to hold it."

Posted by Keith Chrostowski

From welfare to work

   Democrats were, well, worked up after hearing comments made Friday by Republican House Speaker Rod Jetton to GOP supporters in Platte County and captured by KMBC-TV.

  Jetton, of Marble Hill, thanked local Repubs for turning out, telling them, “Democrats don’t have a problem during the day because they don’t have jobs. Republicans work. It’s a little harder for them.”

  The comments, which brought laughter at the event, provoked House Minority Leader Jeff Harris, a Columbia Democrat, to issue a statement about Jetton’s remarks.

   “This incident once again shows the utter disdain high-ranking Republicans have for hard working Missourians,” Harris said in the statement. “Speaker Jetton obviously believes that people who don't share his politics are of less value. To the contrary, most hard working Missourians do not have the luxury of taking off work to attend a political rally.”

    Harris compared the comment to Gov. Matt Blunt’s 2005 comment that Democrats can only be found in “places where nobody wants to live anymore.”

In making the slight against Democrats, Jetton didn’t mention that he had been on welfare and lived in subsidized housing while a student at Southwest Baptist University in the late 1980s with a wife and young child.

    Jetton’s southeast region has among the highest rates of unemployment in the state, and more than half of all births in the area are paid for by Medicaid.

  Thanks to KMBC’s Micheal Mahoney for allowing a reporter to listen to the audio of the event.

Posted by Tim Hoover

Claire's '04 mistake and '06 fear

   The clear focus of the Jackson County Democratic Party's unity brunch Saturday was pushing Missouri Auditor Claire McCaskill across the victory line in her tight race against Republican Sen. Jim Talent.

   She may live in a St. Louis mansion now, but the former Jackson County legislator and prosecutor says Kansas City will always be home. So she asked for the party faithful's indulgence in that they aren't seeing her as much now and she's skipping important local events. She said she's traveling rural Missouri and having a ball.

  And she confessed she made a significant boo-boo in her 2004 campaign against Matt Blunt for the governor's seat by writing off outstate Missouri.

   "I made a big mistake, we made a big mistake assuming that people in rural Missouri don't care as much about college education tuition, health care, being able to afford a tank of gasoline. They care as much as we do," she said. "And we have not been out there listening to them....Even though the Republicans have been the ones talking to them and listening to them for the last 10 years, they fundamentally understand this is not going right, that something is terribly wrong in the direction this country is going in."

  She also 'fessed up that she's still rankled by Blunt's response to her explanation about why she didn't think a constitutional amendment was needed to ban gay marriage. According to news accounts from the October 2004 debate in Springfield, Blunt retorted, "I wouldn't talk about values either if I had hers."

  McCaskill said Blunt was insulting her family and friends. She said Democrats have values and she won't allow Republicans to use "values" issues against her as they did two years ago. She said she and other Democrats "must keep it simple" on issues and talk from the gut.

  But the low turnout in the Democratic primary does have her concerned about her prospects in November against Talent.

    "I am really worried," she said. "I saw the turnout. I'm telling you folks we've got problems. We cannot phone this in anymore. If we do not get out there and we do not start sounding the alarm right now, we will not lose this race because we don't have a strong candidate or the right message, we will lose this race because we can't get people to pay attention. So help me, help me, help me."

    And on a lighter note, McCaskill says about the hiring of an assistant prosecutor back when she was prosecutor: "Mike Sanders is so obnoxious I had to hire him to get him out of my office. I mean you talk about a jack hammer on your head. Ok, OK, leave me alone, you're hired," she said to laughter.

  Oh, and McCaskill says a bow-tieless newser George Will (who brought along his son) picked up the tab for their recent lunch at Pierpont's.

Posted by DeAnn Smith   

A jab from the left in the Mo. Auditor's race

   The race for state auditor to replace Claire McCaskill continues to heat up.

   Earlier this week, it was Republican nominee Sandra Thomas (though she first has to survive a recount) moving to divert attention to her alleged shortcomings as Platte County's auditor over a $200,000 discrepancy by attacking her Democratic opponent Susan Montee.

   Saturday, it was Montee's turn at the Jackson County Democratic Party's unity brunch. She laughingly encouraged the Republicans to keep the recount tension going, no need for the unity thing on their side.

   Montee talked up her accomplishments as an attorney, certified public accountant and Buchanan County auditor. She said voters will be interested in knowing that their auditor "can balance their books" and said Thomas' is Gov. Matt Blunt's handpicked candidate.

  "I'm so glad to see it," Montee said, gleefully adding that Thomas' woes have been served up to her on a silver platter that she'll gladly take advantage of.

Posted by DeAnn Smith

Jack Jackson wants auditor race recount

   Republican and Missouri auditor candidate Jack Jackson wants a recount of the Aug. 8 primary.

   Primary results certified earlier today by Secretary of State Robin Carnahan show Republican Sandra Thomas, the Platte County auditor, squeaking out a narrow win over Jackson.

   Results as of Wednesday evening showed Thomas with 86,786 votes, or 29.1 percent, to Jackson's 84,942, or 28.5 percent.

   Jackson said he would formally request the recount on Thursday morning when he presents a letter to Carnahan's office.

   "I'm not trying to delay the process," Jackson said in a statement. "I just want to make sure that the final vote count is as accurate as possible. I owe that to the tens of thousands of Missourians who put their trust in me when they voted on Election Day.

   "With the vote totals as close as they are, I feel I have no choice but to exercise my right to ask for a recount."

Posted by Steve Kraske

Steelman hits network TV circuit

   Missouri state Treasurer Sarah Steelman went national the other day, promoting on CNBC a state investment fund that ensures that no tax dollars are invested in companies that support terrorism.

   The program "Closing Bell" billed the segment as "Show me your anti-terror money."

   The Missouri Investment Fund also screens companies that have relationships with countries that sponsor terrorism.

   Here are two of Steelman's choicest quotes:

• "We have made a decision in Missouri that public tax dollars should not be used to finance terrorism anywhere in the world."
• "The United States has sanctioned countries including Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Cuba, and Americans can't do business there -- that is against the law -- yet we would send public dollars to invest in companies that are doing business with these very countries that are threatening not only our soldiers but our country and innocent people all over the world?"

Posted by Steve Kraske

Mark Wright continues attack on Blunt fee office performance

   Heading into the final weekend before the election, Republican auditor candidate Mark Wright is going after Republican Gov. Matt Blunt for his handling of the motor vehicle fee offices.

   Wright, a state representative from Springfield and former roommate of the governor, has started running a radio ad promising to fix the fee office fiasco if voters elect him as auditor.

   "Are you disappointed in our governor awarding state license offices to his fat cat contributors as the quality of services goes down?" Wright says. "They get rich. You get steamed."

   To listen to the ad, follow this link and click on "Political Patronage Reform."

   The ad follows campaign appearances by Wright in which he blasted Blunt for leasing state offices from political supporters.

   The governor's office called Wright's previous remarks farcical and the last gasp of a candidate seeking attention. Insiders intimated that Wright's criticism stems from disappointment that Blunt refused to endorse him in the five-way auditor's race.

Posted by Kit Wagar

Sports authority candidates need not apply?

   With fanfare, Jackson County legislators announced Monday they were taking applications for the five-member Sport Authority Complex Commission. Besides overseeing the zillion, er, almost a billion dollar Truman Sports Complex overhaul, commissioners get cushy sweeeet, I mean, suite tickets to Chiefs games.

   The legislators made clear it was an open process and anyone of any political stripe could apply to be on the three-person panel submitted to Gov. Matt Blunt, who will have the final say (with Senate approval). County honchos said interviews would occur in two weeks.

  Of course, legislators would want to go above and beyond about being transparent since a previous appointment of a sports authority member led to a federal investigation of Jackson County, Executive Katheryn Shields and former executive Bill Waris. (Shields was cleared but Waris pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI).

   But at Tuesday's sports authority meeting, folks were buzzing that the panel members had already been selected: Albert Riederer, Bob Lewellen and Tony Romano. All three are Democrats.

   Riederer is a former judge and prosecutor. He was challenging incumbent Henry Rizzo until Rizzo accused Shields of getting Rierderer into the race against him and threatened to go ballistic on the eve of the April stadium vote. Riederer then bowed out. Lewellen served with Shields on the city council. Romano's term just ended (he serves until someone replaces him) and Legislator Dan Tarwater wants him re-appointed.

   Rizzo confirms that Riederer, Lewellen and Romano are keenly interested in the gig and are strong contenders. But he insists no deal has been struck and other viable candidates are also emerging, including Kansas City Southern's Warren Erdman, a staunch Republican.

  Some county folks (hint: Shields) think only a Democrat should get the seat and want to send up only Democrats to Blunt.

  But the two Republicans on the Legislature -- along with some other county officials --  question whether Blunt will pick from a list of three Democrats or keep rejecting the panel until he gets an independent or Republican to choose. That's because state law allows the five-member sports authority to have up to three members from the sitting governor's party and Blunt has made clear he wants a Republican majority. And right now the authority has just two Republicans: Mike Smith and Richard Hastings. Blunt twice rejected panels in 2005 because they didn't include a Republican. Why wouldn't he do so again in 2006?

  Time will tell who the county submits and who Blunt picks and how many times the submission/rejection dance occurs. But if history is any guide, it will be almost as entertaining as a Chiefs-Denver game (at Arrowhead, not Denver, of course).

Posted by DeAnn Smith

Endorse this!

   As the Aug. 8 primary approaches, more sparks are starting to fly among Republicans vying to be the next state auditor.

   The campaign of Sen. John Loudon, a St. Louis County Republican, put out a statement today criticizing Rep. Jack Jackson's campaign for claiming to have the endorsements of both Missouri Right to Life and the National Federation of Independent Business.

   Loudon's campaign director, Gary McElyea, said Jackson, also of St. Louis County, was "misleading" people by claiming the endorsements.

   "Sen. Loudon also received the endorsement of Missouri Right to Life and the NFIB has endorsed no one," McElyea said in a statement. "Any statements implying exclusive endorsements or any specific support from MRL, the NFIB or any of the other major business organizations does a disservice to these groups who are very judicious about their political activities."

   Jackson's campaign said there was just one problem with the Loudon campaign's accusation. While he had been endorsed by Missouri Right to Life, he had never claimed being endorsed by the NFIB, said campaign spokesman Paul Brown. Jackson's campaign only said that the group had showed its "support" for Jackson by indicating he scored 100 percent on voting for the small business group's issues.

   "It's unfortunate that the Loudon campaign has decided to take his message in a negative direction," Brown said.

   The volley between the two candidates illustrates the confusing nature of endorsements during election seasons. Some organizations have traditional endorsements in which they pick one candidate who they feel represents their interests best. Other groups don't officially endorse any candidates.

   But some groups, like Missouri Right to Life, "endorse" multiple candidates in the same race, effectively giving a green light to like-minded voters to choose any one of the candidates. That's why candidates running against each other often are able to say they've been endorsed by the same group.

Posted by Tim Hoover

In auditor battle, a home-turf invasion

    An appearance by Missouri State Auditor candidate John Loudon at last week’s Platte County Pachyderm Club meeting might have been seen by some as a big in-your-face to one of Loudon’s opponents -- Sandra Thomas, who is Platte County’s elected auditor.

    Former Platte County Commissioner Michael Short sure hopes it was. He is still fuming over his defeat two years ago to Tom Pryor in the Republican primary for his commission seat. Thomas supported Pryor and criticized Short publicly during that campaign.

   “Sandra Thomas caused a lot of turmoil within this county’s Republican Party,” Short said. “I hope that this (meeting) is a sign of what goes around comes around.”

    About 65 people attended the Pachyderm Club meeting, in which Loudon, a state senator from suburban St. Louis, spoke about sexual predator legislation that was passed this year by the state legislature.

   Thomas’ campaign consultant Jeff Roe was not too concerned about Loudon’s appearance on Thomas’ home turf. And he was not surprised by Short’s remarks.

   “The reason he is no longer a commissioner is because Sandra is a tough independent auditor,” Roe said. “She blew the whistle on several of Short’s poor financial decisions as commissioner. His endorsement carries the weight of a feather.”

   Three other Republicans are running in the primary: State Rep. Jack Jackson of Wildwood; State Rep. Mark Wright of Springfield; and Al Hanson of Concordia.

Posted by Mike Rice

What do Adam Taff, Richard Lugar, Jim Talent and Fred Thompson have in common?

   Todd Elkins, an Independence minister who is active in Missouri politics through a group known as Missouri Impact, is also a longtime blogger on public policy. He points out on toddelkins.net an interesting tidbit regarding disgraced former Kansas congressional candidate Adam Taff, who pleaded guilty last year to wire fraud while misusing campaign funds to obtain a home loan.

   Elkins notes that Republican news compiler John Combest recently posted polling data that showed Rep. Todd Akin of St. Louis County leads his challenger, state Rep. Sherman Parker, by 77% to 3%. (Parker's campaign says the poll was skewed.) But the interesting part was the list of clients touted by the polling firm, American Viewpoint.

The list includes Taff along with other prominent Republicans, including Sen. Jim Talent of Missouri; Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana; Actor-turned-Senator-turned-TV Prosecutor Fred Thompson of Tennessee; Gov. Matt Blunt and his father, U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt; U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson of Missouri; and Missouri Treasurer Sarah Steelman.

Posted by Kit Wagar

Different poll, different result: McCaskill leads Talent

   For all the crowing Republicans and weeping Democrats tea-leaving the Zogby poll below, here's a new one to debate, er, chew over. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch and KMOV-TV have their own poll out.

  And this one shows State Auditor Claire McCaskill increasing her lead against Sen. Jim Talent. McCaskill apparently has built on her three-point lead in January to six points now. But her lead -- like Talent's in the Zogby poll -- is within the poll's margin of error.

  Which means whatever poll you like your guy or your gal is in a close, toss-up race.

  What isn't known from the news reports is how many Republicans, Democrats and independents were surveyed in these polls. Those numbers hold great sway in affecting the results. If you know the answer to that, give us a shout, please!

Posted by DeAnn Smith

Claire's plea to her blogging supporters

   Senate candidate Claire McCaskill apparently had her daughter distressed by unflattering words about her family she read on a blog. So McCaskill has posted on FiredUp!Missouri her request to her blogging supporters: Sen. Jim Talent's family is off limits.

   I'm sure this isn't the last we hear about this....

Posted by DeAnn Smith

Battle of the blogs?

   Jeff Roe, a former aide to Missouri GOP Rep. Sam Graves and now a heavyweight political consultant, has started a new blog on Missouri politics called The Source. This could be the long-awaited Republican counterweight to FiredUp! Missouri, the vigorous blog run by former Carnahan aide Roy Temple. We guess it won't be too long before some fireworks start.

  From the (somewhat overheated?) press release announcing its debut:

As the first independently operated Republican blog in the state, The Source will provide an alternative philosophy to the current crop of political blogs. The source will take political blogging to the next level as it will provide inside scoops, tough investigative reporting, and unique, well thought-out opinions. Combined with hard hitting breaking news and unrivaled perspective, The Source is bound to become the most popular blog in Missouri.

The source is being published under the leadership of Jeff Roe and will contain a regular contingent of writers. The Source is being published under the belief that the real truth should be told. The Source vows to dedicate itself to the demanding and selfless job of informing all Missourians.

   But it may already be living up to its hype. One of its first posts reports that Sen. Kit Bond apparently wants Department of Homeland Security chief of staff John Wood appointed U.S. attorney for the Western District of Missouri. Wood is also Bond's cousin.

Posted by Keith Chrostowski 10:45 a.m.