Missouri's Senator Blunt in the news, bigtime -- just not in a good way

Yessiree, Missouri's own Senator Roy Blunt is getting sent up today, in the news, on the internets and at The Raw Story, Daily Kos and Crooks and Liars.  The people in that political party just keep saying more and more ignorant things:

GOP senator to Fox News: Providing access to health care just makes people lazy

Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) on Sunday suggested that President Barack Obama’s health care law would make some people so lazy that they didn’t want to work at all.

Last week, Republicans used a Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report that said 2.3 million less hours would be worked after the Affordable Care Act was implemented to claim that the law was destroying jobs.

A Washington Post fact check, however, pointed out that access to health care meant that people would no longer be forced to work if their only reason for working was to receive insurance benefits.

But on Sunday, Blunt stuck to the Republican talking point, saying that providing health care “can’t be a good idea” if it allowed people who were only working for health insurance benefits to leave the workforce.

“I think any law you pass that discourages people from working can’t be a good idea,” the Missouri Republican asserted. “Why would we wanna do that? Why would we think that’s a good thing? How does that allow people to prepare for the time when they don’t work?”

Seriously, it's difficult to believe he or anyone privately even thinks these things, let alone believes them but to then say them, outloud and then, not just aloud but on very public stages like network television,  It's stunning, yet it keeps happening, ala' Todd Akin.

Missouri Senator Roy Blunt on "The Late Show With David Letterman"

Yessirree, Bob, none other than our own Missouri Senator Roy Blunt was on the best late-night talk show there is last night. The only trouble is--for the Senator, anyway--it wasn't in person and it wasn't good for him.

For those who don't know, Dave does a segment called "Stooge of the Night" wherein Dave lampoons the Senators who voted against the weapons background checks last month, even though their constituents poll solidly for it.  The fact is, 85% of Missourians are for background checks but our Senator voted against them.

An example, in case you've never seen one and is, coincidentally, about next-door-neighbor in Arkansas' Senator John Boozman:



As soon as CBS posts it, I'll put it here, likely.

For now, here is a link to more "Stooge of the Night" segments:

http://www.youtube.com/results?q=Stooge+of+the+night&sitesearch=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=w1

If it's legal, it surely shouldn't be

Steve Kraske's Primebuzz column today, through The Kansas City Star, had an important mention in it concerning 6-digit figures of cold, hard cash being exchanged between government representatives running for office:

Few political deals appear as transparent as the one that was consummated right after Christmas.

And the reason it went down right after Christmas was in the hopes that you wouldn’t notice.

On Dec. 30, former governor Matt Blunt formally forgave a $300,000 loan made to Peter Kinder’s 2008 re-election campaign for Missouri lieutenant governor.

That’s a lot of money, and it’s a debt that was hanging over Kinder’s head as he’s gearing up for his 2012 grudge match for governor against Democrat Jay Nixon.

Last year, Kinder made an outsized donation of $220,000 to Tom Schweich’s successful campaign for state auditor. That came after Kinder had worked quietly to persuade Schweich to get out of the GOP primary for U.S. Senate, in which he was lining up against — insert drumroll here — Matt Blunt’s father, Roy.

Roy Blunt managed to clear the primary field and went on to an easy win in November over Democrat Robin Carnahan.

Said a Democratic Party official: “It is now crystal clear that Peter Kinder, Tom Schweich and the Blunt family participated in a backroom deal to clear a U.S. Senate primary.”

Not that there’s anything wrong with backroom deals. But at least now you know about it.

It seems important to ask first, if this money being exchanged between these representatives is legal.


Second, it seems important to say that if it is legal, it shouldn't be and finally, if it is legal, it should be changed and as soon as possible.


We need far more strong ethics rules in our government.  Jason Kander and his efforts for stronger ethics rules was very welcome in the last session.  He and more in Jefferson City need to give us more of these rules yet.


Link to original post:  http://primebuzz.kcstar.com/entries/kraske-first-edition-kc-mayoral-power-ratingsand-bluntkinder-deal/

This just in: Missouri voters dumber than catbox litter

Proof positive:

Roy Blunt Defeats Robin Carnahan In Missouri Senate Race

He's as dirty a politician as you can find, he's up to his eyeballs in special interest, corporate money, he's been in Washington for years--WAY too long--but the voters of Missouri just foisted him up as Senator of our State.
 
Y'all are stupid.
 
Sorry.  I gotta' call 'em as I see 'em and this one I'm going to call.

That said, I'd like to thank Robin Carnahan for working as hard as she did in order to derail Mr. Blunt's senatorial plans.  It was a valiant effort.  In part, you just didn't have enough corporate money behind you, Ms. Carnahan, I'm sure.
 
Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/02/roy-blunt-robin-carnahan_n_765993.html

Roy Blunt and his non-denial denial

I saw this first linked over at Tony's Kansas City Blog and then went to the original news site--KSHB--to see the video and get this link, above.

It seems like Roy Blunt's actions are, in fact, being badly reported.  One said he "stormed out" and if you see the video, that seems a bit harsh, if not out-and-out untrue.

But here's the flip side:  To Michael Mahoney's question of whether Mr. Blunt knew this Hispanic woman who worked for the family--a yes or no question--he says it's "desperation politics" and that his campaign "put out a statement at the time and it was accurate at the time..." and he and the statement trail off.

Wow.  Really, how much more a "non-denial denial" can you get?  He didn't say "No, Mike, I didn't know her", he just goes off in a completely different direction and doesn't answer the easy, up or down question.

The fact is, Roy, we think you're clearly hiding something here.

Between this "NDD" and the woman's statement that she did work for the family, it doesn't look good.

Come on, people, vote this clown out of office.  Don't make Roy Blunt our next, new Senator from Missouri. He's as dirty as a politician can be and still be in office.

For the love of pete and all that is good, don't vote for Roy Blunt.

In the meantime, thank God for video cameras on the campaign trail.

Links:  http://www.nbcactionnews.com/dpp/news/political/blunt-rolls-through-area-on-bus-tour;
http://20poundsofheadlines.wordpress.com/2010/10/27/blunt-gets-testy-with-reporter-over-immigration-charge/;
http://www.firedupmissouri.com/content/cmon-guys-blunt-stormed-out-his-own-campaign-stop-because-he-has-nothing-hide

More reasons why Roy Blunt shouldn't be our Missouri Senator

You've heard about Roy Blunt's "housekeeper-gate", haven't you?

How, reputedly a woman worked for their family, years ago, and he filed papers for her to remain in the country and blah, blah, blah?

Well, first Roy says it's no big deal:

(ST. LOUIS, Mo.) The Missouri Democratic Party released documents Tuesday that they say paint Blunt as hiring an illegal immigrant and working to expedite her case during his time as Missouri Secretary of State.

“Blunt clearly states in the letter that dora has done some work for his family, and blunt attaches a letter clearly showing Blunt knew of her status,” said Corey Platt, with the MDP.

In the letter, sent on official state letterhead, Blunt writes to Gene McNary, then Commissioner of Immigration and Naturalization, explaining the situation.

“Dora Narvaez has done some work for Roseann [Blunt],” Blunt wrote. He wrote that Roseann Blunt, Blunt’s previous wife, received a letter from Narvaez expressing her “concern regarding her status in the United States.”

A woman who identified herself as “Narvaez” told the Kansas City Star she worked as a housekeeper for the Blunt’s for some time in 1990, but declined further comment.

Then--now, actually--he says he "doesn't remember" her.  From Steve Kraske and The Kansas City Star yesterday:

Blunt can't recall meeting Nicaraguan woman he helped with immigration matter
U.S. Senate candidate Roy Blunt said Wednesday that he could not recall meeting a Nicaraguan woman he helped with an immigration matter in 1990.

Well, Roy, I gotta' tell ya', on this one, we believe the first story, that she worked for you and that you plead her case to the government, that's all there is to it.

It's just one more reason we don't want you in the Senate, representing us, too.  It isn't your housekeeper, either.  It's the fact that you seem, clearly, like you have a problem with truth--and telling it.


But wait--there's more.  Check this out from Mike Mahoney's page and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:


Blunt spoke to the editorial board by phone. He was scheduled to appear in person, but changed plans after a small group of protesters — maybe half a dozen — gathered outside the Post-Dispatch building downtown, holding signs accusing Blunt of hypocrisy on immigration.


Six people are holding up signs and you can't show up to talk to the editors of the paper, Roy?


What a wienie.

Links:  http://politicmo.com/2010/10/19/mdp-alleges-blunt-hired-illegal-worker-expedited-her-proscess

http://www.kansascity.com/2010/10/20/2336796/blunt-cant-recall-meeting-nicaraguan.html


http://20poundsofheadlines.wordpress.com/2010/10/20/blunt-says-he-doesnt-remember-immigrant-woman/

How did we get here? And are we all really this stupid?

What I mean is, how did we get to the place we are now, where a wack-job like Sharron Angle, of all people, can say things like the following, as examples, and be in a tight race for a Senate seat out in Nevada against Harry Reid?

--"I hope that's not where we're going, but you know if this Congress keeps going the way it is, people are really looking toward those Second Amendment remedies and saying my goodness what can we do to turn this country around? I'll tell you the first thing we need to do is take Harry Reid out." --interview with right-wing talk radio host Lars Larson in Portland, OR, January 2010

--"People ask me, 'What are you going to do to develop jobs in your state?' Well, that's not my job as a U.S. senator."  --May 14, 2010

--"We needed to have the press be our friend ... We wanted them to ask the questions we want to answer so that they report the news the way we want it to be reported." --during an interview with Fox News Channel's Carl Cameron, Aug. 2, 2010

--"You can make more money on unemployment than you can going down and getting one of those jobs that is an honest job, but it doesn't pay as much. And so that's what's happened to us is that we have put in so much entitlement into our government that we really have spoiled our citizenry and said you don't want the jobs that are available." --on unemployment benefits, interview with KRNO, July 14, 2010

--"The Federal Department of Education should be eliminated. The Department of Education is unconstitutional and should not be involved in education, at any level." --July 12, 2010

--"When I said privatize, that's what I meant. That I thought we would just have to go to the private sector for a template on how this is supposed to be done. However, I've since been studying and Chile has done this." --explaining why Social Security should be phased out in favor of a system resembling the one created in the 1980s by right-wing Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, Aug. 12, 2010

"I think that two wrongs don't make a right. And I have been in the situation of counseling young girls, not 13 but 15, who have had very at risk, difficult pregnancies. And my counsel was to look for some alternatives, which they did. And they found that they had made what was really a lemon situation into lemonade." --Sharron Angle, explaining why she is against abortion even in cases of rape or incest, July 8, 2010

"Government shouldn't be doing that to a private company. And I think you named it clearly: It's a slush fund." -- on the BP escrow account set up at President Obama's urging to pay out oil spill claims, Alan Stock Show, July 7, 2010

"They [Republicans] say, 'You're too conservative.' Was Thomas Jefferson too conservative? I'm tired of some people calling me wacky." --March 21, 2010

Okay, Harry Reid isn't perfect and he's no saint and Nevada can no doubt do better in their representation--you can always find someone "better", one way or another but at least he doesn't say patently stupid, outrageous things, rapid-fire, again and again on the record.

Then, here in Missouri, you've got someone like Roy Blunt, for pity's sake, who's been in Washington 14 years, and there's this huge anti-incumbent sentiment but he's ahead in the polls and he's been shown--factually--to be as dirty a politician as about there ever was. 

Why is Roy Blunt leading in the polls, people?  Are we really that stupid? 

Sure, he's got name recognition and there's the incumbency thing on his side to campaign, you can't deny that, and then the corporations and all his wealthy friends are backing him because they know if he gets back in there he'll take care of them all with his votes but really---are we all that dumb?

It surely seems so.

Links:  http://politicalhumor.about.com/od/republicanquotes/a/Sharron-Angle-Quotes.htm;
http://citizensforethics.org/crew-26-lawmakers-corrupting-halls-congress

UPDATE:  Mon 10/18/10:  LAS VEGAS – Nevada U.S. Senate candidate Sharron Angle told dozens of Hispanic high school students last week that "some of you look a little more Asian to me..."


Man, she's not very bright.  (I'm trying to be nice)

Roy Blunt: voted out

Please folks, either vote for Robin Carnahan or against Roy Blunt, something.  It only makes sense.

Missouri voters: Are you paying attention?

According to the group Citizens for Reponsibility and Ethics in Washington, our own Representative Roy Blunt is one of the top 26 "Most corrupt members of Congress":

•Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)


•Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO)

•Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL)

•Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL)

•Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA)

•Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)

•Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA)

•Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)

•Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)

•Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA)

•Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-IL)

•Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)

•Rep. Gary Miller (R-CA)

•Rep. Alan B. Mollohan (D-WV)

•Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)

•Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA)

•Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY)

•Rep. Laura Richardson (D-CA)

•Rep. Harold Rogers (R-KY)

•Rep. David Scott (D-GA)

•Rep. Pete Sessions (R-TX)

•Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH)

•Rep. Pete Visclosky (D-IN)

•Sen. David Vitter (R-LA)

•Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)

•Rep. Don Young (R-AK)

What do you need, people?  He's dirty.  He's been in Washington for years.

Let's vote him out, once and for all, for pity's sake.  He's not up there for you and me, by a long shot.  I don't care if you're Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Independent, Green Party or whatever--LET'S VOTE ROY BLUNT OUT OF WASHINGTON.

Could I be more clear?

Link:  http://www.crewsmostcorrupt.org/

The Tea Party Pledge Rep Roy Blunt signed

Herewith, the “Tea Party Treaty” Rep Roy Blunt signed earlier (see video in earlier post), sans much comment from me other than the fact that, to date, Rep Blunt has not followed items 2 or 3 in any way.  He has only been instrumental in getting us where we are today, with a much larger government.  But who knows?  Maybe that old dog can learn some new tricks.  (All punctuation their own).

Tea Party Treaty

1)      I believe the Health Care Reform bill (Affordable Care Act) should be immediately repealed as an un-Constitutional extension of governmental powers according to Article I of the US Constitution, and thus a burden on the people’s rights as recognized by the 9^th Amendment.

2)      I believe the government should reduce taxes and cut spending, as a rejection of the Keynesian model of economics.  Government should be fiscally responsible with the people’s dime.

3)      I believe that we should reduce the federal bureaucracy.  The size and scope of federal regulation endanges all liberty, and hinders accountability to the public.

______________________________         _________________

SIGNATURE                                                                         DATE

Link:  www.stlouisteaparty.com

Roy "The Toy" Blunt, being bought and sold

Roy Blunt, once again selling his soul, in effect, in order to get elected.  This time, it’s to the Tea Party.  Forget what Roy Blunt stands for—forget what he’s done for himself and his family and his rich friends and the corporations that pass him thousands of dollars, repeatedly, in order to get what he and they want.  Forget all that.  Just keep in mind that he’s signing a document to you, for your group’s goals and you say you’ll give him your vote.

I have just one question for this “Tea Party”:  How, exactly, is that going to “clean up Washington”?

Does this not reek of desperation?  Desperation on both their parts--both Roy Blunt and the Tea Party.  Desperate on Roy’s part:  “Oh, I’ll sign anything, anything, as long as you vote for me.”  And the Tea Party because it screams, “Look, old man, you’re the guy with all the money and name familiarity and political party machinery behind you so since you’re going to win anyway, would you do us a favor and sign this document, pretend you care about our goals and in exchange, we’ll give you our votes and support?”

This is no way to get the big money, the corporations, the graft, the lobbyists and the ugly money out of our government, folks, if anyone is listening and cares remotely otherwise.

You don't need to be for Robin Carnahan, but I can't imagine how anyone but corporatists, corporations, their lobbyists and wealthy people would be for Roy "The Toy" Carnahan.

Sad.  Pitiful.  Pathetic.

Maddening.

Links to source posts:  http://rebootcongress.blogspot.com/;

http://rturner229.blogspot.com/2010/10/blunt-signs-tea-party-treary.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+blogspot/ASRIt+(The+Turner+Report)

Roy Blunt: Bad, old, corrupt Washington politics

Like big, corporate government? Vote Roy Blunt

Roy Blunt: wrong for Missouri

Notes on a Sunday morning

--Steve Kraske makes a terrific point about media outlets in town making boodles of money--hundreds of thousands of dollars per ad run--but those same media outlets not doing any real, serious analysis of the ads, to the detriment of their viewers specifically and our society, more generally; --Thomas E. McClanahan complains in his big, bold headline today that (Robin) CARNAHAN IS RUNNING AN OUTDATED CAMPAIGN. Hmmmm. I'm thinking it's also effective, Mr. C., since she's closing in on her Republican opponent for the Senate, Roy "Put the Money in Here" Blunt. Is that why you're having such a hissy-fit, Mr. C?; --There is a terrific and informative, if depressing and frustrating, article today in the NY Times about computers bought by you and me--the US taxpayer--to the tune of $1,800,000 (8080 in all) that were stolen by someone in Iraq before they got to the students they were intended for. I see it as just that much more proof of why W's reasons to attack Iraq and for our reasons to stay now are at least mistaken, if not downright stupid; --20 more US military service members died , we are told, this week in Afghanistan. More proof, to a lot of us, of why we need to get out of Afghanistan, of course, not meaning to be repetitive; --There is a brief story in the Star today about the coral reefs around the world possibly bleaching out, due to the record-setting heat set this year and what it might possibly mean for the ocean--and us humans. It was far too short and needed more information, I thought, but it was an important and helpful start on the topic; --Not in the Star but our annual "block party" that is the Annual Plaza Art Fair is about over now. It was great fun. Now, y'all get out of my front yard, will you? Links: www.kansascity.com http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/26/world/middleeast/26iraq.html?th&emc=th;

Rep Roy Blunt is one smart, calculating wienie

Did you see where Republican Roy Blunt--candidate for Missouri Senator running against Robin Carnahan--will only debate her twice and even that won't be televised? As I said above, he's one smart, cunning, calculating coward. Missouri Senate candidate Rep. Roy Blunt has backed off an earlier pledge to participate in a series of debates with Democrat Robin Carnahan, agreeing to just two face-offs — neither of which will appear on network television. Check it out: Missouri Senate candidate Rep. Roy Blunt has backed off an earlier pledge to participate in a series of debates with Democrat Robin Carnahan, agreeing to just two face-offs — neither of which will appear on network television. And this makes sense because, in the polls, Blunt is ahead but also, if you're Roy Blunt, you had a lot of baggage to run from, for sure. But earlier in the campaign season, ol' Roy shot off his mouth and said he'd give Missourians all the debates they wanted or needed so they could see he was better than Ms. Carnahan (see 2nd link, below). It's an interesting race. Right now, Ms. Carnahan has narrowed the lead Roy had in the polls. Here's hoping it goes well and we get to throw what he hope is this one last member of the Blunt family out of office one last time. Have a terrific weekend, y'all. Link to original post: http://www.robincarnahan.com/blog/post/new_article_from_politico_blunt_backs_off_debates_with_carnahan/; http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0910/42619.html

Roy Blunt at top of "America's Most Crooked Candidates" right now

From Alternet and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, just now: Roy Blunt -- Running for U.S. Senate, Missouri Roy Blunt is a candidate in the Republican primary for the United States Senate in Missouri. For the last 14 years, Rep. Blunt has served in the U.S. House of Representatives in the state’s 7th congressional district. As a member of Congress, Rep. Blunt came under fire for a variety of issues including employing the same corrupt tactics that forced his mentor, former Texas Rep. Tom DeLay, to resign. Rep. Blunt’s ethical issues were documented in CREW’s 2006 report on the most corrupt members of Congress. In 2003, Rep. Blunt divorced his wife of 31 years to marry Philip Morris (now Altria) lobbyist Abigail Perlman. Before it was known publicly that Rep. Blunt and Ms. Perlman were dating – and only hours after Rep. Blunt assumed the role of Majority Whip – he tried to secretly insert a provision into Homeland Security legislation that would have benefitted Philip Morris, at the expense of competitors. Notably, Philip Morris/Altria and its subsidiaries contributed at least $217,000 to campaign committees connected to Rep. Blunt from 1996 to 2006. Also in 2003, Rep. Blunt helped his son, Andrew Blunt, by inserting a provision into the $79 billion emergency appropriation for the war in Iraq to benefit U.S. shippers like United Parcel Service, Inc. and FedEx Corp. Andrew Blunt lobbied on behalf of UPS in Missouri, and UPS and FedEx contributed at least $58,000 to Rep. Blunt from 2001 to 2006. Family connections have also helped another of Rep. Blunt’s sons, former Missouri Governor Matt Blunt. Gov. Blunt received campaign contributions from nearly three dozen influential Missouri lobbyists and lawyers when he ran for governor of Missouri in 2004, half of whom had provided financial support to his father. Earlier in 2000, when Matt Blunt was running for Secretary of State, Rep. Blunt was involved in an apparent scheme, along with Rep. DeLay, to funnel money through a local party committee into Matt Blunt’s campaign committee. Rep. Blunt and his staff had close connections to convicted former lobbyist Jack Abramoff. In June 2003, Mr. Abramoff persuaded then-Majority Leader DeLay to organize a letter, co-signed by then-Speaker Dennis Hastert, then-Whip Blunt, and then-Deputy Whip Eric Cantor, which endorsed a view of gambling law benefitting Mr. Abramoff’s client, the Louisiana Coushatta, by blocking gambling competition by another tribe. Mr. Abramoff had donated $8,500 to Rep. Blunt’s leadership PAC, Rely on Your Beliefs. Holy cow, people, let's not vote him back into office---let's throw this bum out! Link to original post: http://www.alternet.org/news/148196/12_of_america's_most_crooked_candidates_on_the_ballot_in_the_2010_election/?page=entire

Roy Blunt: Truly the very worst of Washington

Let's vote this clown out, people. And have a great weekend, y'all.

The real Roy Blunt keeps standing up

Congressman Roy Blunt deserves to be retired for so many reasons. This is just one more. Let's get him and all Blunt family members out of government and end this family dynasty. They've fed off the American taxpayer trough far too long.

Roy Blunt on Medicare

Medicare and Medicaid, along with Social Security, have proven themselves to work for decades. Sure, they need solutions now but this is just to be clear--Roy Blunt is against Medicare and says as much here. Go do your work, voters. Let's get this clown out of office.