Jay Nixon Leads by Doing Nothing

TheSource posted a video in which Governor Nixon is depicted as being absent from leadership (unless it’s a natural disaster or football victory). The state GOP issued a similar criticism when it said that Nixon sat on the sidelines during the effort to change the presidential nominating process.  Party Chairman David Cole wrote,

This is yet another example of Nixon’s absolute refusal to lead.  He had ample time to express his concerns as this bill was being crafted, debated, and passed by an overwhelming number of Republicans and Democrats.  Instead, he chose to remain on the sidelines—and Missourians will suffer.”

Now the governor has opted to do nothing about the legislature’s tightening up language around when a late-term abortion is permissible. Free and easy access to abortion on demand is such an article of faith for the Left that we’re surprised the usual bloggy suspects (FiredUpMissouri, ShowMeProgress) have not made hay of Nixon’s passive endorsement. We are sure it is coming…

Nixon’s apologists can’t claim political expediency, either. His veto of the legislature’s congressional redistricting was promptly overturned, something he had to know would happen.

Perhaps Nixon is ashamed to be a Democrat. Or maybe he’s pretending not to be a Democrat. At times, though, it seems he’s pretending not to be governor. This criticism is nothing new. Here’s how Tony Messenger described it in January (we recommend you read the whole article):

He promised more education funding. It has been cut. He said he would undo Medicaid cuts. He hasn’t. He said he would increase college scholarships for Missouri high school students. Instead? More cuts.

And in the last election cycle, both Democrats and Republicans accused Nixon of being AWOL.

About that Martin/Wagner Poll

The Ed Martin campaign has released a memo about a poll conducted in the 2nd Congressional District. A statement includes, “The results speak loud and clear: Ed Martin is the true conservative for the citizens of the new Second District.”

We’re written previously about American Viewpoint polls (About that Emerson/Sowers Poll), and our complaints remain the same. But results matter. In that piece above, the data suggested that Emerson was 51% ahead of Sowers, 71% to 18%.  Emerson won the election seven months later by a 27% margin, 66% to 29%.

In October 2010, an American Viewpoint memo indicated Martin trailed Rep. Russ Carnahan 42% to 48%.  One month later, Martin ended up receiving 47% of the vote to Carnahan’s 49%.

So regardless of how little they choose to share with the public about their methodology, American Viewpoint hasn’t been wildly off in similar studies.

KC School District Seeks… More Money

Buried at the bottom of an editorial on the Kansas School Board last week was this nugget:

The superintendent said the district plans to seek either a bond or levy increase from voters. The last one approved by voters was in 1969. But a lot of work must be done before a request like that goes before voters.

The Kansas City School District spend approximately $15,640 each yer per student.  $15,640.  And yet the superintendent of the schools think they need to ask voters for more.  This per pupil expenditure is almost as much as the tuition of Kansas City’s most obnoxiously priced private school–$16,630. (I am sure Pembroke Hill would be willing to offer a volume discount.) Heck, in-state tuition, room/board, books and ‘personal expenses’ at Mizzou is only $21,280 per student.

We humbly suggest the the problem with the Kansas City School District has nothing to do with the taxpayers’ failure to contribute a reasonable amount.

Missouri Democrats in the Crosshairs

A while back we teased the Boone County Democrats for a very unfortunate mailer that featured a baby in a stew pot and a bulls eye painted around the word “Democrat.”  Seriously.

Now the state party has gotten in on the craziness and has adopted a target for their logo for the 2012 cycle. I don’t know when the new web site look was launched, and I am sorry I missed it.

In the aftermath of the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, everyone was examining the use of violent rhetoric, especially liberal Democrats. So it is breathtaking that Missouri Democrats have adopted the target as their main visual. Perhaps they mean to reference Karl Marx’s assertion that, “History repeats itself, first as tragedy, second as farce.” If the Giffords shooting is the tragedy, clearly, Missouri Democrats are the farce.

Speaking of farce, the logo does add new meaning to the tag for the Tommy Sower’s ad campaign. Now we know at what Tommy was shooting.

Black Conservatives to Gather in St. Louis

It was years ago that Clarence Thomas was attacked by the Left for being an Uncle Tom–a black servant to the white Republican establishment. Thomas is no exception to the rule, other conservative blacks have been similarly attacked for, let’s say, wandering off the liberal plantation.

The practice culminated in 2009 when Kenneth Gladney was assaulted by black union activists at a health care Town Hall meeting.  Gladney isn’t necessarily a conservative, mind you–he was just selling merchandise–but he was profiled as a Tea Party supporter and beaten for the extra indignity of being a race-traitor.

Because, to some, politics is all about race.

To combat the idea that politics ought to be subservient to skin color, the organizers of Move-On-Up–which may or may not draw inspiration from the Curtis Mayfield song of the same name–are hosting a gathering in St. Louis to showcase conservative ideals and leaders.  Their 2011 conference, which will take place in St. Louis from August 12 to 14, promises attendees the “unique opportunity to meet and talk with other people that share your concerns and beliefs.” This is important when so many seek to isolate conservatives blacks, but their numbers are apparently growing–at least 32 blacks ran for Congress in 2010 as Republicans!

The conference offers panel discussions on the economy, health care reform, immigration and education and will include an address by Rep. Allen West (R-FL).