stevewalsh2010's posterous

Nine years ago? It seems like only yesterday!

It's been a while since I contributed anything to this blog. Those who know me are aware of some of the changes that have occurred since my last entry. As for the rest of you we can talk about it another time. Today, I think it's appropriate to stick to the anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks that brought down the World Trade Center towers in New York, caused destruction at the Pentagon, and would undoubtedly have resulted in the U.S. Capitol or the White House being hit had it not been for the brave Americans who took matters into their own hands and forced Flight 93 to crash into an open field in Pennsylvania.

The morning of September 11th, 2001, I was preparing to head to my job as a reporter for a statewide radio network in Jefferson City. As was the case most mornings, I had one of the news channels on the TV as I drank my first cup of coffee and dressed for work. At some point before 8 o'clock I glanced at the tube to see one of the WTC towers on fire with the show hosts reporting that a plane had crashed into one of the upper floors. Having grown up on the East Coast and having worked briefly in New York I was quite familiar with the World Trade Center. My initial thought was that a small tourist plane had slammed into the tower by accident.

I got on the phone to a friend - a fellow reporter - living in the Kansas City area, only to get her voice mail. While leaving a message in which I informed her of the plane hitting the tower, the second plane crashed into the other tower. My message to her went something like this: "You're not going to believe this but somebody in a tourist plane got too close to one of the World Trade Center towers and hit the building ... OH (EXPLETIVE DELETED) ... A SECOND PLANE JUST CRASHED INTO THE OTHER TOWER!!!" Quite a message to receive on your voice mail.

The next few hours were almost surreal as I got to the Jefferson City offices of that statewide radio network located on Hobbs Road & Missouri Boulevard and started talking with others about what had happened in New York. Remember, at this time we were not aware that a plane would soon hit the Pentagon and we were not aware that a fourth plane had been commandeered by terrorists who had hoped to fly their airborne missiles into one of the landmarks in our Nation's Capital. Some employees had caught the news and knew about the World Trade Center but others did not know, at that time, that America was under attack. In fact, the then-president of the company had been in meetings and had no idea about what was going on until I filled him in. Needless to say he was shocked.

It was tough to focus on anything else that morning as the stories we had covered for that day and the ones we had planned to work on went out the window. We had to get someone in Washington to talk to us about what was going on there. Attempts to reach any of our contacts in Washington ended in failure as the 202 (D.C.,) 301 (suburban Maryland,) and 703 (Northern Virginia) area codes were completely tied up. Our attempt to reach someone to provide a Missouri perspective on what was taking place were futile. But we kept at it.

Shortly after that I received a call from a 202 area code and answered it before the first ring had completely sounded. It was our senior U.S. Senator Kit Bond who had correctly assumed I was trying to get in touch and took it upon himself to call. To this day I cannot thank him enough for finding a phone and calling to provide us with the most up to date information from someone at the center of our government under fire. He told me he and others had been taken to a safe location where he had access to secure lines and used one of his calls to provide our listeners with audio from the scene. Again, the information Kit Bond provided to our listeners that day might have been of great benefit to the families of Missourians working in Washington, D.C. as he let us all know that everyone at the Capitol and the White House was safe.

The newsroom remained full that day as employees working in other divisions of this broadcasting operation walked in to view the latest scenes of the carnage on TV. By day's end the news people took a collective breath and looked at each other, realizing we had just experienced the first day of a war this country might still be waging long after we are gone. The news reports we wrote in the early going, the audio from Senator Kit Bond, and the thoughts of the experts who offered insight on Islamic terrorism became part of the first draft of history that our children and grandchildren will review some day.

As I arrived home that night I got a call from the Kansas City friend with whom I had left that odd message earlier in the day - a message that might have been somewhat humorous had it not been for the somber events surrounding the call. She had been covering the story from a local perspective as journalists so often do. She told me she - like most journalists - had not had time to think much as she carried out her duties during the course of that day. That's what professionals do. But she volunteered that as she was driving home the events of the day started to impact her and the "mommy" in her kicked in as she thought of her children and what kind of world awaited them in the future. I was touched by what she had to say and, as I collected my own thoughts now that the initial whirlwind of activity had subsided, I realized our country would never be the same.

We came together that day and in the following days, weeks, and months. But we soon reverted to old political games with groups like the ACLU doing their utmost to stand in the way of President George W. Bush and his efforts to save America from another attack. Sadly, it wasn't long before The New York Times and other agents of the far Left joined the ACLU to try to thwart President Bush's commitment to spare us another national tragedy. He held firm during those trying times and America is better off for it. We can only hope and pray to God that our country is never again the target of such atrocious acts of violence and that the current and future occupants of the White House will exhibit the same resolve displayed by President Bush as he fought the war on terror.

- Steve Walsh 

Tony Perkins tells Lake-area Republicans victory and conservative principles go hand in hand

Tony_perkins_2

 

An overflow crowd of about 400 Republicans jammed Lake Ozark's Resort at Port Arrowhead on Saturday to take part in Camden County's Lincoln Days dinner.  And the attendees got a rousing call to arms from Family Research Council President Tony Perkins on the importance of this year's elections.
 
Perkins, the keynote speaker, warned against Republicans falling for the hype and forgetting that there is a lot of work to do between now and November.  He also cautioned against abandoning values.
 
"The Republican Party must resist the temptation of thinking that the present woes of the Democratic Party translate into an automatic political windfall for the GOP," said Perkins.  "This is not about Republicans - It's about conservative, constitutional government."
 
Perkins then spoke of the need to embrace the sanctity of life, referring to the discarding of innocent life through abortion and other means as "an indictment against the character of our nation."
 
Recent Obama Administration actions and proposals regarding the U.S. military also came under fire, including strategies for dealing with those who wish to harm this country.
 
"We're right to focus on the threats to national security, whether abroad or at our border," said Perkins.  "This administration is undermining security by pursuing a failed, poor foreign policy of apology and appeasement.  Too many men and women have sacrificed their lives to secure this country and gain what we have to be given away by this administration."
 
Perkins, a former Marine, injected humor to blast White House proposals to change the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy for the military.
 
"I spoke to an old buddy of mine who I served with in the Marine Corps, the other day, and he told me he was getting out," Perkins told his audience.  "I asked him why.  He said, 'I'm retiring.'  He said, 'When I enlisted homosexuality was illegal.  When I re-enlisted it was optional.  I'm going to get out before it's mandatory."
 
A more serious message followed as Perkins commented on what he sees as this country turning its back on its religious heritage.
 
"We must be the party that aggressively defends religious freedom," said Perkins.  "That includes defending America's Christian tradition."
 
Perkins concluded his comments with a reminder that America must not apologize for being "an exceptional nation," then urged his fellow Republicans to "Go to work ... Let's take this country back."
 
In addition to Perkins, Saturday's event heard from several speakers, including southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt and State Senator Chuck Purgason - whose Senate district includes Camden County.  Both are GOP candidates for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Senator Kit Bond.  Northeast Missouri Congressman Blaine Luetkemeyer addresed the gathering, as well.  The freshman Member of Congress faces no Democratic opposition in his bid for re-election.  Dick Bott, Chairman of Bott Radio Network, introduced the keynote speaker.
 
State Senator Bill Stouffer and former State Representative Vicky Hartzler, candidates for the Republican nomination to face longtime incumbent Democratic Congressman Ike Skelton in the 4th Congressional District in November, were in attendance but did not address the crowd.
 
 
- Steve
 
 
 
 
 

Budget process could get some help ... from on high

Anne_graham_lotz_crop

Noontime news conferences, rallies, and other events held under the Capitol rotunda tend to attract decent-sized crowds. But Monday’s Prayer for Missouri’s Budget Crisis event attracted more than the usual number expected to attend such gatherings.

Hundreds of people from across the state jammed into the Capitol for a non-partisan religious happening that saw organizers and speakers encouraging those in attendance to pray that God give state lawmakers the wisdom to make necessary budget cuts while minimizing the loss of jobs and services.

The keynote speaker was Anne Graham Lotz, daughter of the Reverend Billy Graham, who stressed there can be no solution to Missouri’s budget situation without input from God. She called on the crowd to pray for the legislators, their families, and staff members that they come together with pure motives as they work together for the common good.

Lotz told reporters, following the event, that she rearranged plans, last week, to accept the invitation from organizers of Monday’s gathering. And she believes God will help lawmakers with their difficult task.

“I’m not a lawmaker and I’m not an economist,” said Lotz. “But I know God has wisdom and I know when we seek Him He can give us ideas that we could never have had on our own. He can show us where money is that we never could have found without Him. He can show us what to cut that would be as painless as possible.”

She has no doubt that divine aid in dealing with our budget woes won’t come unless it is requested.

“God has wisdom and can help us do that,” said Lotz. “We don’t know what he can do for us until we ask.”

Lotz thinks part of the answer to our budget problems might lie in less dependence on government and more on churches.

“Sometimes, as the government has taken on more and more responsibility for those who need help the church has sort of backed off,” said Lotz. “Churches can look around them and they can pick up ways to help, and it’s what we need to be doing, anyway. We’ve sort of walked away from our responsibility and just left it up to the government to take care of.”

Those who attended the event were asked to take part in a Capitol Prayer Walk - walking in groups of two or more throughout the Capitol, stopping and praying outside various offices. Prayer walkers were cautioned to be respectful of those working at the Capitol and to remain humble, sensitive, and courteous … and to avoid engaging in political conversations or expressing personal opinions on issues.

A random check of lawmakers and staff members revealed the prayer walkers were extremely polite, courteous, and never got in the way of anyone doing work.
 
- Steve
 

Libertarians take on the big issues of the day ... and then some

It wasn’t the huge affair that was Republican Lincoln Days in St. Charles a week earlier, but it was a chance for Missouri Libertarians to come together to talk up the issues at play in this election year. And the Libertarians who descended on Jefferson City for the party’s state convention were well prepared to talk up those issues … and a few more.

The one-day gathering featured presentations from the Missouri Campaign for Liberty, the Missouri Sovereignty Project, and Missouri Citizens for Property Rights, among others. Discussions on candidate campaign financing and communications and the media were also part of the program.

While much of what was highlighted echoed the sentiments that have been heard at Libertarian gatherings in recent years, this year’s event featured a lively discussion among three of the five announced candidates vying to be national chair of the Libertarian Party. This event was billed as a candidate forum involving 2008 Libertarian vice presidential candidate Wayne Allyn Root of Nevada, Ernie Hancock of Arizona, and John Jay Meyers of Texas - a former Missourian.

What stood out was the issue of the direction in which the Libertarian Party is headed. Hancock and Meyers are appealing to left-leaning voters who might be disgruntled with the Democratic Party, Root is clearly reaching out to Republican voters who are unhappy with how the country is being run and don’t think the GOP has the answers to our problems. The new chair will be chosen at the Libertarian Party National Convention which is scheduled for Memorial Day weekend in St. Louis.

It has been said that what stirs passions in one person hardly matters to another. I find this to be true as I write about the 2010 edition of the Libertarian Party … just as I have found it to be true in the past. The Libertarians are very passionate about certain issues which they believe are important to American liberty. But will those feelings resonate with most Americans? More importantly, will those issues that create the passions among Libertarians lead to additional votes for the party on Election Day?

I had the chance to talk to a number of attendees about some of what I called the “fringe” issues that are embraced by Libertarians but - in my opinion - are not likely to garner too many votes in November. A friend recently joked that Libertarians tend to go one talking point too far. That was evident in Saturday’s discussions as calls for more openness in government were enthusiastically applauded. Calls for government to cut taxes and to get out of the way to allow businesses to flourish were also greeted with applause. A call for the Fed to be audited - something championed by Republican Congressman Ron Paul - was warmly embraced, as well. But I have to wonder how much appeal something like that has outside the walls of a Libertarian gathering.

This is not to say we shouldn’t be concerned with the Federal Reserve Bank and the power it wields. But your humble correspondent would wager that of the top 100 issues confronting Americans in 2010 … auditing the Fed comes in somewhere around number 658.

Again, this is NOT to say the Fed doesn’t need to be more closely monitored. I am simply expressing an opinion that at a time when many Americans are unemployed or underemployed, at a time many Americans worry about the future of the country’s health care system if what is known as Obama-care becomes the law of the land, and at a time still others fear legislation that infringes on individual rights and freedoms … blasting the Fed really amounts to preaching to the converted. It’s a safe bet that those who plan to vote Libertarian in November already want tighter scrutiny of the Fed. But how many newcomers will be attracted by this call?

I covered the Saturday convention for The Missouri Record and have linked to my stories. Enjoy!
 
 
 
- Steve

Missouri Republicans just can't wait for election day

I spent the weekend in St. Charles covering the annual Missouri State Lincoln Days events.  To say a good time was had by all would be an understatement.  There is no doubt that the GOP is ready to do battle and just can't wait until November when Republicans get the chance to go to the ballot box and vote.  I have covered numerous Lincoln Days events in the past ... but have never seen the party faithful this excited in an election year.
 
I covered the weekend's activities for The Missouri Record.  And, while I could tell you about many of the things that happened ... it might be easier to simply link to the TMR pieces I wrote and to let you read the ones that interest you.  That, my friends, is exactly what I will do.  I have five feature length stories and a half dozen blog posts.  Enjoy!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
- Steve

Back in the saddle again

Alright ... it's been a few weeks since I've practiced journalism. And I'm getting the chance this weekend to do just that.
 
Patrick Tuohey of The Missouri Record has hired me to cover this weekend's Missouri Lincoln Days event in St. Charles and I expect to write some interesting and perhaps some fun stuff coming out of the annual Republican lovefest.
 
My first piece for TMR appears today, with plenty of others to follow in the coming days.
 
It's great to be back in the saddle.
 
- Steve
 

417 help launch campaign filing season

The late Jimmy Durante used to say, "Everybody wants to get into the act!"

Tuesday's opening day of filing for candidates putting their names on the ballots for the 2010 primary elections saw 417 Missourians moving away from the political sidelines to center stage ... well ... maybe not center stage but certainly to a part of the stage as Decision '10 in Missouri formally got underway. 417 is a large opening day number, 100 more than filed on opening day in 2008 and easily surpassing the 360 in 2006, 369 in 2004, 386 in 2002, and 348 who filed on the first day in 2000,

The unofficial totals from the Secretary of State's office show Republican filers for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, State Auditor, State Senate, State Representative, and some circuit judges outnumbered Democrat filers 224 to 170. There were also 17 Constitution Party filers and 6 filing for the Libertarian Party.

It shouldn't come as much of a surprise that the biggest interest is in this year's U.S. Senate race, with 14 candidates in the running after Day One - nine of them Republican to join two Democrats, a pair of Constitution Party flag bearers and a Libertarian.

The list of hopefuls is bound to grow between now and March 30th - the final day of filing.

- Steve

Photos: 1) U.S. Senate Candidates Robin Carnahan and Roy Blunt; 2) U.S. Senate Candidate Robin Carnahan; 3) U.S. Senate Candidate Roy Blunt; 4) Congressman Russ Carnahan; 5) U.S. House Candidate Ed Martin (l) and State Senate Candidate Bill Deeken (r); 6) State Auditor Susan Montee; 7) Congressman Sam Graves; 8) Congressman Emanuel Cleaver 9) U.S. House Candidate Bill Stouffer and Sue Ellen Stouffer; 10) U.S. House Candidate Vicky Hartzler (r) and assistant Samantha Hill (l); 11) State Senate Candidate Mike Kehoe.

(download)

Ken Blackwell rallies Cole County Republicans

Photo1

 

On the day Senator Evan Bayh of Indiana became the latest Congressional Democrat to announce he would not seek reelection in November, Cole County Republicans attending their annual Lincoln Days dinner got a rousing pep talk from former Ohio Secretary of State Ken Blackwell, the keynote speaker at the Jefferson City event. It's not that they needed much of a pep talk. They're already excited about their chances of making big gains in the fall.

For those who might not be familiar with Ken Blackwell - In addition to being a former Ohio Secretary of State he is a former Mayor of Cincinnati. He also was the Republican candidate for Governor of Ohio in 2006 - losing to Democrat Ted Strickland. Blackwell is one of two recent former Mayors of Cincinnati who have gained a degree of national attention - He's the one who did NOT use a check to pay for prostitution services ... and has NOT hosted a TV show in which miscreants shout expletives at each other. Hard to believe that some people think of the Jerry Springer Show as entertainment ... but I digress.

Anyway, Blackwell's message to the GOP faithful was that positive results are within reach but that nothing will come easy.

"We are on the verge of a 1994-type election in 2010," said Blackwell from the podium. "But we're not there yet."

Blackwell's message made clear his belief that conservative ideals and principles will carry the day.

"Republicans must be an alternative to [U.S. House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi - not Democrat-lite," he told his audience.

Blackwell spoke of his Christian faith and how it shaped his view of the world from early childhood to his football playing days at Xavier University - a Jesuit, Catholic school in Cincinnati - to his entry into politics.

"We are accountable to our Creator - not Washington, D.C.," stated Blackwell. "Human rights are gifts from God - not government."

Attendees at the dinner included U.S. Senator Kit Bond, Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder, Members of the General Assembly, local Republican office holders ... and numerous folks hoping to be elected or reelected to Congress, the General Assembly, and various local offices in November.

A personal observation ... I am certainly not someone who claims to be good at reading the tea leaves, but as one who has reported on many Republicans events since I came to Missouri in 2000 ... I am sensing an energy that has been lacking in Republicans in recent years. It's not quite at the level of the excitement surrounding Democrats in 2006 and 2008, but it appears to be moving in that direction. It is reminiscent, in some ways, of what I saw when I covered politics in Washington in 1994 - the year of the so-called Republican Tsunami - when Newt Gingrich and company captured the U.S. House for the Repubicans for the first time in a half century. Gingrich in '94 ... Obama in '08 ... ??? in '10. These political mood swings among the party faithful and everyday Americans make politics such a fun "sport" to follow.

- Steve

Nothing says midwifery like homemade cookies

Midwives

It was in June of 2008 that the Missouri Supreme Court issued a ruling that, in effect, legalized the practie of professional midwifery. The Court did so when it ruled on a challenge to a piece of legislation sponsored by then-Senator John Loudon of Chesterfield. It was a bill that got through the State Senate, despite the efforts of then-Senator Chuck Graham of Columbia, who did all he could to talk the bill to death.
 
It was the controversy over passage of the bill that started tongues wagging at the Capitol back when the legislation passed. Loudon, who had been frustrated by Graham's filibustering, employed a rarely used tool known as a legislative tuck. He attached midvwives' language to a much larger bill and did so using a word with which it is safe to say most in the Legislature were not familiar: tocology. It is associated with obstetrics and midwifery. That word was suggested by Sarah Greek, who was and still is working on behalf of the cause. Use of the word did not sit well with some of Loudon's colleagues ... but they voted in favor of the much larger legislation ... and the bill was signed into law by then-Governor Matt Blunt. The doctors challenged but the Supreme Court ruled they lacked standing. Score a big one for the midwives.
 
Wednesday, Missouri's midwives and their supporters came to the State Capitol for the annual Midwives' Cookie Day - a chance to drop off homemade cookies at the offices of lawmakers in both the House and Senate. Sure, midwifery is already legal in the state, but the midwives want to keep it that way so they visit legislative offices at least onece a session to talk up the positives of the Midwife Law ... and to hand out those delicious baked goods.
 
There are about a dozen professional midwives practicing in Missouri, with another 12-15 expected to join the ranks in the next year or two.
 
And, on Wednesday, nothing said midwifery like homemade cookies.
 
Photo: Ame and Addie Hunter of Springfield at the Capitol for Midwives' Cookie Day.

Thanks to all (so far) ... and filibuster frustration

First and foremost I must thank all who have written and texted and called to offer their best wishes in light of my sudden departure from radio political reporting in Missouri. For those who left messages and have not yet heard back from me, rest assured I will respond to each of you as I truly appreciate the kind thoughts you have sent and I will mention some of them in the coming days. Today I'll just thank my good friend, John Combest, who was more than happy to link to my new blog and help get out the word of the change in my employment situation. John, my email cup runneth over and that's a testament to the power of your site. Thanks, again.
Although I am unemployed I am keeping up with political rumblings. And I chanced upon a piece written by former Carnahan Chief of Staff and longtime Democratic operative Roy Temple. It's written for the St. Louis Beacon and asks the question ... "Why aren't 59 votes enough in the Senate?"
Good question, Roy. Allow me to top it ... Why aren't 51 votes enough in the Senate? Simple answer - the U.S. Senate rules call for 60 votes to bring about cloture to end a filibuster.
I'm not telling Roy anything he doesn't already know. And there is no doubt a lot of people - Democrats, Republicans, and independents - would agree with Roy that a minority should not be allowed to hold up the will of the majority. Yet, this concern expressed by Roy would sound less partisan had Democrats in the Senate allowed up or down votes on several of President Bush's judicial nominees during the early days of this century.
I remember visiting Washington and sitting in the Senate gallery during one of these filibusters and I can distinctly remember Senator Barbara Boxer of California telling one and all from the floor of the Senate that the rules call for this super majority of 60 and the rules must be respected. Where were you then, Roy?
Frustration over use of the filibuster is not new. It frustrates Democrats now just as it frustrated Republicans when they controlled the chamber. But you can't have it both ways. Democrats want those necessary up or down votes on legislation they believe to be extremely important ... just as Republicans wanted those up or down votes on judicial nominations the GOP believed to be extremely important.
Roy's point is well taken but unless the U.S. Senate rules are to be changed to allow for simple majorities or to restrict use of the filibuster as a tool the stalling will remain.
We see similar stalling in the Missouri Senate in Jefferson City as one of 34 members can and has succeeded in killing legislation or in forcing the withdrawal of a key appointment. Is it fair? That's up to Senators who have it, within their power, to change the rules.
Some who spend time in political arenas have argued that the filibuster rule should be changed to allow Senators to make a point before sitting down and getting out of the way of a vote. Others will argue the filibuster is a great tool to not only delay but to kill what opponents of a bill consider to be bad legislation.
One day Republicans will regain control of the U.S. Senate. It could come in the elections later this year or it might not come for a decade or more. But it will happen one day. And when it does we can count on Democratic filibustering. It would be nice, at that time, to read another piece from Roy asking the same question he puts forward today.
Steve Walsh