Cole's blog

Newly minted GOP Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin will be traveling to O'Fallon, Missouri on Sunday to reunite with her separated-at-birth ideological twin--- State Rep Cynthia Davis.

No word on whether the Secret Service will allow Davis anywhere near Palin's kids.  Story Continued »

In this year's gubernatorial election, the Democrat's secret weapon may well be... Michael Kelley.

Kelley is a long-time Democratic and labor activist.  This summer, Kelley has frequently co-hosted a radio show on KMOX in St. Louis with Hulshof campaign manager John Hancock. 

The entertaining programing is reportedly raising a troubling question in GOP circles: Who is running the Hulshof campaign while the self-indulgent Hancock nurtures a second career as a radio personality?

Apparently no one, including the candidate.  This weekend, Kansas City Star political writer Steve Kraske described the state of the Hulshof gubernatorial campaign as, "running up the down escalator."  Story Continued »

How's this for GOP message discipline?

Both John McCain and  Kenny Hulshof think the economy is doing well.

Maybe from their perch. 

McCain has at least seven houses (note: staff recount still not official) and millions of dollars in annual income.

As America waits for the text message from Barack Obama announcing his vice-presidential choice, GOP circles are buzzing about Kenny Hulshof's big announcement. 

According to straight faced GOP sources, Kenny Hulshof will use text messaging to announce a real jobs plan an earmark for a Bridge to Nowhere an endorsement of his candidacy by Sarah Steelman. 

I'm guessing Kenny is out of cell range.  Story Continued »

Nearly two weeks after the GOP gubernatorial primary, Sarah Steelman still can't name one Republican candidate for Governor she will support.

After watching Kenny limp across the primary finish line, I don't blame her. 

In a remarkable example of government leveling the playing field between everyday Missourians and large corporate interests, Robin Carnahan's Office lead a multi-state, on-site investigation of Wachovia Securities Monday.  

Wachovia has been accused of misleading small investors about the safety and liquidity of certain investments.  The large securities firm has been stonewalling investigators from Missouri and other states.

The ethically challenged Blunt Public Service Commission has found itself faced with the unfathomable--- drafting an ethics policy.

So the Commission has punted and asked a private vendor to tutor it on ethics.

No word on whether Andy Blunt's law firm will bid on the contract.   Story Continued »

In an indication of just how far down the wrong track things have gone, the Blunt Administration today announced its opposition to Bush Administration regulations of health-harming ozone.  Team Blunt thinks the Bush standards are too strict and wants to join the state of Mississippi in opposing them.

Quite a legacy their building there--- and that Kenny and Sarah want to continue.­­  Story Continued »

According to recently released state documents, GOP Attorney General candidate Mike Gibbons has asked the Missouri Development Finance Board to divert $5 million in job creation funds to Stages of Chesterfield, "a musical theatrical company that has four performance shows a year."

No word yet on whether MDFB President Peter Kinder is supporting Gibbon's bold jobs plan.

All week, Sarah Steelman and Kenny "Fred Thompson" Hulshof have been engaged in a pitched battle for the GOP gubernatorial nomination.

What will the winner get for their trouble?

The right to be trounced by Jay Nixon.

A new Survey USA poll has Nixon beating Steelman by 25 points and Hushof by 24.

Moral of the story: Be very careful what you wish for.  Story Continued »

All day, Matt Blunt has been issuing press releases trying to build a legacy around his handling of the Great Quake of '08.

And yet, Blunt has neglected to fill three vacancies on the Seismic Safety Commission.

Inaction speaks louder than words.  Story Continued »

As Republicans look to conservative Christians for help in the fall elections, they should mark the Missouri Baptist Convention off their target list.

According to the Missouri Baptist Pathway, the Convention is facing deep internal strife in a battle for the soul of the conservative denomination.  It seems unlikely they will have much time or energy for secular politics this fall.

Public education opponent Rex Sinquefield is facing an Ethics Commission investigation over his coordinated use of 100 cookie cutter PACs to circumvent state campaign contribution limits.

Last week he got some bad new from Ohio.  

The Missouri Development Finance Board is set to meet on April 15th.

With jobs drying up, these are tough times for the state's economy. 

But the big question for Tuesday's meeting is whether Board Chair Peter Kinder will continue to insist on using the Board's limited job creation resources... paying off the debt of his 2007 French-style, novelty bike race.

And Peter "Every Dollar Count" Kinder hasn't even provided the board a detailed accounting of his race's spending, including that on GOP cronies.

Stay tuned.  Story Continued »

Last week, opponents of stem cell research and cures launched a campaign against... opponents of stem cell research and cures.

With a filing that was effectively a Declaration of War, a group calling itself the "Missouri Roundtable for Life" filed three initiative petitions with the Secretary of State to ban stem cell research, cures and the funding of both.

The proposals directly compete with one promoted by a rival group, deceptively calling itself "Cures Without Cloning."  Story Continued »