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Gov. Matt Blunt today released a television address to Missourians announcing that having achieved virtually everything he set out to accomplish when he ran for governor he will not seek a second term.
The habit of politicians is to remain in office and the desire to prove oneself in the next election is strong. After a great deal of thought and prayer, and with the knowledge that we have achieved virtually everything I set out to accomplish, and more, I will not seek a second term in the upcoming election. Because I feel we have changed what I wanted to change in the first term there is not the same sense of mission for a second. Read on…
Gee Matt, could the real reason be that pesky e-mail problem you have? Could it be because you’re down in the polls and see the writing on the wall? Perhaps he’s finally realized that the citizens of Missouri just aren’t that into him and prefer not to see Missouri turned into a theocratic state. At least he didn’t use the “spend more time with my family” as his main reason for jumping ship, I’ll give him credit for creativity. Howie Klein has more:
Then he proceeded to kick more than 100,000 low income Missourians off of the state’s health care program at the same time he dramatically slashed health care benefits for another 300,000 Missourians. And that doesn’t even get into why his administration is being investigated for corruption.
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he’ll run for president, I’m sure.
I got mine…..so screw you…I’m gone.
gold star for audacity
Actually he was quoted in the press yesterday that he was leaving to spend more time with his family.
this neocon bastard is getting run out like the rest of the republican party. st louis already smells better.
He said he accomplished what he wanted to accomplish. He didn’t say what he wanted to accomplish was legal or good. ;)
The guy is a jerk!.. He really screwed the state over and over again.
Just to Marko knows, the capital of Missouri is in Jefferson City, not St Louis.
www.pafundi.com
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Number of Operations Iraq Freedom and Enduring Freedom casualties
as confirmed by U.S. Central Command: 4390
Yes, but he seems like such a nice young man…
Wasn’t “having accomplished all of my goals, I decided not to seek a second term” the same lame-ass excuse that the Simpsons version of George Bush used in his memoirs? I swear, sometimes you can’t make this crap up…
Is it just me, or did he crib that line from the George (H.W.) Bush episode of The Simpsons?
Thanks for the linkage, Logan! We are doing the “Happy, Happy! Joy, Joy!” dance over here on the left side of this red state!
For what it’s worth, some of us think his sudden change of heart has something to do with a pending indictment. The Abramoff tentacles reached into Missouri and his 2000 run for Secretary of State. His State of the State last week was a campaign speech. There is something more here that he is not being forthcoming about.
He also commutes in a six-Suburban caravan from Springfield to Jeff City (dumping a ton of CO2 into the air every single day!) because his wife doesn’t like our Mansion. Lots of us would like to know how he affords the monthly nut on that house he bought.
Lots of questions surround this, and no answers are forthcoming.
He did use the “spend more time with the family” line along with the other usual fibs.
Everytime I see Matt Blunt he reminds me of Eddie Haskell from Leave it to Beaver.
MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!
He wants to spend more time with the Manson Family
I don’t buy Blunt’s excuse for a second especially after reading this from the linked article:
“The most recent campaign finance report from Missourians for Matt Blunt, filed with the Missouri Ethics Commission on Jan. 15, reflected anything but a campaign that was winding down or in doubt.”
Add to that Blunt laid out an ambitious plan only a week prior. Something isn’t right here with Blunt’s story. *sniff* *sniff*. I think I smell some form of charges coming Blunt’s way and he knows it.
What does his dad have in mind for him?
He’s a modern day James Polk… not!
one can’t run a state government from prison any more, just isn’t done! (except Illinois, maybe, again, perhaps, well…)
Roger Miller said it best. “you can’t roller skate in a buffalo herd”
bill w @ 17:
He and Roy aren’t on good terms. Matty B is still mad at the old man for the shabby treatment of Matt’s mom when he threw her over for that tobacco lobbyist he is now married to.
He’s opted for the “I don’t work there anymore” investigation avoidance plan. Just ignore it and it will go away.
If it doesn’t he can always start saving up for the shrub co. crime syndicate pardon plan.
This guy probably has some lucrative job waiting for him somewhere, its clear the reason her is stepping down is to avoiud scrutiny in any coming election, what exact scrutiny he is so worried I’m not yet sure of. Likely many things. It’s always nice to see another Republican step down, especially a sleazy one like this putz.
Republicans have proven themselves incapable of human compassion, and this twit is another sterling example.
Oh! One more thing! Ethics commission filings show that he paid $890,000 to the Lathrop & Gage law firm in KC in the last quarter of 2007 alone. His sister Amy is an attorney with that firm.
Oh well thank goodness he prayed!
ROTFLMAO!
Another Rethugnican cretin going home to, er, uh, ’spend more time with the family.’ Jay Nixon, the Democrat hotly pushing to get Blunt’s office and Blunt into the pokey, must really have some very tasty goods on this miserable, lying, deceitful, John Ashcroft-esque, Medicaid-cutting jerk. Blunt’s an Abramoff graft-taker who really merrits deeper investigation. I guess by bowing out of gubernatoral contention graciously now, the most interesting political dirt can’t prompt the sort of investigation that could lead to a prison sentence right in the middle of another Blunt campaign for Missouri’s top office, especially given the draconian ‘prison reforms’ Blunt implemented during his administration. Investigations during a campaign are always most embarrassing for the encumbant, even when exxonerated. Ask Ashcroft who lost a Senate shot to a dead man the same election he got to be Attorney General of the United States. Missourians can hold a grudge beyond the end.
Such a shame, though! Another rethugnican perp-walk pre-empted by elephantile cowardice passed off as expedience. A rat to the end!
Can someone list all the repugs that have:
’stepped down’
‘not seek re-election’
busted with gay hookers
busted with hookers
busted with underage male pages
busted cheating
indicted
convicted
…..in the last 6 years?
I’d love to have all the names where I can use’em as my signature on the other forums/blogs that I visit.
Thanks!
Yet, another one bites the dust. Now grab your Republican brethren with you and slink back to the sewer, from where you came!
I have it from an extremely high authority that Matt Blunt’s brother is selling bill-passing for $25k a pop. Pay to play, folks.
He’s accomplished all his goals…
Wow, he stole all he needed in just 4 years?
More effecient then most Republic crooks…
Who Would Jesus Kick Off Of The State’s Health Care Program?
Whats with Missouri? So many criminal GOP pols, so much voter suppression, so much corruption. Might be time to turn blue, Show Me State.
As pointed out here this speech was lifted from the Simpson. Clip:
http://firedoglake.com/2008/01.....-500-alex/
I went to High School with these Bums They are all fake bitches…His sister was a real bitch. The weirdest one was Jay Ashcroft. Lord help us because the roots of corruption run too deep.
They always pray “a great deal” before they run from the office they’ve used to screw everyone sideways. I guess that makes it all OK.
The whole Blunt family are parasites living off their host……..the taxpayers…………and the economic elite who bribe them in order to screw the taxpayers for every dollar we have.
Just like the Bush Family.
As a Show Me State denizen (KCMO): Great news on its own merits!
Even better news in that it can’t but help strengthen the coattails of any of our stellar Democratic Party presidential candidates in helping get Kay Blaine elected from Missouri’s 6th District.
Good riddance to both Blunt and Sam Graves (R-MO 6th)!
After Missoureans were through with this Blunt did they raid the refrigerator to have canned cheese and whip cream swallowing contests?
One less corrupt repug in office. Good riddance asshole.
As a former Missourian with family still there, Blunt won’t run again because he damn well that the good folks of MO will not re-elect him. The people have had enough.
Go on home and spend more time with your family, Blunt. You’ve done enough damage.
“Furthermore, [Sibel] Edmonds says that former House speaker Dennis Hastert and at least two other congressmen were investigated as suspected recipients of illegal political contributions or even bribes from Turkish sources. Her website gallery includes photos of Congressmen Roy Blount, Dan Burton, and Tom Lantos, though she has not otherwise implicated any of the three directly.” — Found in Translation
FBI whistleblower Sibel Edmonds spills her secrets.
by Philip Giraldi
moondancer @ 31:
Actually, the state only went red in 2000, when term limits for the state lege were enacted. It has been touted as a red state lately, but really, we are a true swing state, with the only truly reliable red areas in the southern tier counties. As far as presidential election go, we have only failed to go with the winner once since the 1850’s. Here is a bit of a primer. We are a swing state, but there is also a real live swing district - the 6th, which was mentioned upthread. And Sam Graves is going down. My former mayor, Kay Barnes, is going to kick his ass. He’s a mean sumbitch - but she is a going to walk all over him wearing spike heels. His SCHIP votes and blind fealty to Bush is going to destroy him.
Oh - and there is the bit about him trying to hitch a ride on the ethanol gravy train - and getting into a conflict of interest kerfuffle.
he accomplished his goals of Tort reform for corporations
he’ll be replacing daddy
I am from Missouri, and my thoughts are that either his father, Roy Blunt, or Senator Kit Bond plans retirement and he’s going to take the money that he has raised for this campaign, keep it, and use it to go after one of those offices.
He was a terrible governor and you could put him, cheap suit and all, in your pocket, he is such a little man. My husband has always called him, Governor Fuzz, because he reminds him of Lt. Fuzz from the old Beetle Bailey comic strip.
Bye, bye. Don’t let the door hit you in the rear as you exit…..
For the entertainment of all of you, all over the United States, I include a link to Melanie Blunt’s Inaguration day photo, wearing possibly, the funniest looking dress you will ever see a governor’s wife wear in public.
http://www.robthurman.com/webl.....00492.html
I’m from Missouri, and all I can say is “THANK GOD!!!!” Do you know how awful and stifling these past years have been with him as governor?!!!! He’s like a George W. lite. I’ve been simply waiting for time to pass hoping that eventually someone competent would take office. And who in their right mind would have voted for him in the first place? His age alone reeks of inexperience!! What was he when he got elected, thirty?? I didn’t even know what I wanted to be at that age, and apparently, he didn’t either.
Here is the St. Louis Post-Dispatch editorial on Blunt’s sudden announcement:
http://www.stltoday.com/stltod.....enDocument
On a side note, Blunt may have gotten the idea about his popularity when he spoke at the St. Louis Cardinal victory celebration just after winning the 2006 World Series title. The event was attended by half-a-million joyous fans. When it was Blunt’s turn to speak - he was booed.
I smell a rat here. Little Boy Blunt knew he couldn’t be re-elected as did the entire republican party. I suspect that the state republican party assumes that either Jim Talent (former Senator), Peter Kinder (Lieutenant Governor), Catherine Haneway (US Attorney and former Speaker of the House) or Kenny Hulshof (six-term Congressman from Central Missouri) stand a better chance of defeating Jay Nixon (Attorney General) who has some popularity problems of his own. Nixon polled well against Blunt, but then so would Satan, Hitler, or Paris Hilton.
The question is where the party would be most vulnerable where the republican vacates the current office. Jim Talent is not a current office holder, but he was beaten by Bob Holden when he ran for Governor in 2000 even though the State went republican in the Presidential election. He beat Jean Carnahan to win one term in the US Senate, but was beaten by Claire McCaskill in 2006. He’s working with Mitt Romney’s campaign, but he may see a limited future in that position. He could beat Jay Nixon. He’s not wildly popular, but neither is he reviled. I think he’d do well in the Kansas City area, and in St. Louis County (but not St. Louis City).
If Kinder runs, and he probably will, he won’t have much more popularity than Blunt, though he has been less partisan in recent years than he was in the past. If he vacates the Lt. Governor’s office, there’s a good chance it will go to the Democrats. Kinder is seen as being kind of wormy and slimy. He’d do OK in Southeast Missouri, but there aren’t all that many people in Southeast Missouri. I think Nixon would take him fairly easily.
Kenny Hulshof is a moderate republican and a man of high principles. You may recall that he lost his place on the house ethics panel when he stood up to Tom Delay. If he vacates his seat in the House, there is no guarantee that the republicans will keep it. The seat is pretty well gerrymandered to maintain a republican presence, but it historically went Democratic until Hulshof came around. He could beat Jay Nixon. I’m not sure that would be a bad thing.
Catherine Haneway (I may not be spelling her name correctly) is a strong possibility even though the State does not hold a more repugnant person. When she was speaker of the house she was known as Hard Hearted Haneway. She opposed every piece of legislation benefiting the poor or middle class. She is very bright, but she’s not very analytical. Her logic seems to follow polarized patterns. She rarely sees shades of grey and apparently thinks that “nuance” is a dirty word. She could carry western St. Louis County and most of Southwest Missouri, but I think she’d get killed in the rest of the state.
I think Blunt stepped down under pressure. I think the scandals would ensure his defeat and I think he’s guilty as hell. By stepping down, he gives the republicans a chance to keep the Governor’s office.
Blunt got elected in Missouri because of the religious boob-heads. I know, because I live amongst them. They’re kinda like the zombies in horror movies but they carry bibles and have “My Boss is a Jewish Carpenter” bumper stickers. You can always count on the religious folk here “to do the right thing”. As long as a politician puts in a few “God bless yous” and “Praise the Lords” into every speech, then the constituency is a big push-over—kinda like a drunk virgin at a frat party. It doesn’t matter if you own a brothel and two drug dens on the side, just stick in a few Hallelujahs into every sentence and you can easily get elected.
By the way, Missouri was a gigantic Democratic state for a LONG time when Stuart Symington was our Senator until 1976. Then he decided to retire. That’s when the Dark Force took over. Minister (R)Jack Danforth won Symington’s Senate seat, and blessed (R) Kit Bond became governor in 1973 at the tender age of 33. Glory Hallelujah!!
Kathy in St. Louis, I thought you were being a little too harsh in your criticism about Melanie Blunt’s dress—maybe it’s because I personally wear clothes that are decades out of date. But then I clicked to the site that you provided. My jaw dropped open. You weren’t being harsh at all. I may look like I just walked out of Saturday Night Fever, but at least I don’t look like the blueberry from Willy Wonka.