Tuesday, July 22, 2008

Gone Mild Endorsements for August 2008

Two weeks from today, the primary season of 2008 will be completed. The Star will start issuing its endorsements this week, so I thought I would beat them to the punch with my own. I'd hate for anyone to think that the Star's analysis influences me . . .

I'm tempted to put in a cautionary note on the difference between endorsements and predictions. Sometimes, the better candidate doesn't really stand much of a chance, but, in this cycle, I'm feeling pretty confident that each of my favorite candidates will win his or her respective race, so these are both predictions and endorsements.

In order of the ballot:

FOR GOVERNOR
Jeremiah W. (Jay) Nixon - By no means is Jay Nixon my favorite Democrat, but he's the best candidate in the governor's race by a long shot. He has the ability to win the general, and the experience to be successful in the Governor's Mansion.

FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR
Sam Page - Sam Page may be one of the nicest people I've met in politics, and his sincere desire to serve the public as our Lieutenant Governor is exceeded only by his qualifications. He should win the primary easily, and then the real race begins. Look for Sam Page to oust Peter "Crooked Cash" Kinder from the office of Lieutenant Governor.

FOR SECRETARY OF STATE
Robin Carnahan - She's served us well, and will win the general in November, too.

FOR STATE TREASURER
Clint Zweifel - This is going to be an interesting race. I like Andria Simckes a lot, but Clint has the edge in qualifications and savvyness. Either would be great in the office, but Clint has had a sharper campaign team.

FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL
Jeff Harris - No surprise here for regular readers. Jeff has experience, integrity, and a willingness to outwork his opponents. As a result, he has better poll numbers without selling his soul through unethical campaign finance shenanigans. Jeff is just plain solid - a great guy with a good sense of humor and an outstanding sense of himself. If you want to see Missouri's Attorney General's office function as one of the best and most ethical AG offices in the entire nation, then vote for Jeff Harris.

FOR U.S.REPRESENTATIVE
5th District: Emanuel Cleaver, II - He's had a couple surprisingly bad votes (favoring the credit card companies over his constituents was particularly egregious), but Emanuel Cleaver is one of our best, most dedicated public servants. I hope he serves a long time.

FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE
40th District: John Patrick Burnett - This is not my district, but I cannot understand why Rizzo would try to unseat John Burnett. John is smart, hardworking and effective. He deserves to retain his seat.

44th District: Jason Kander - This comes as no surprise - I've admired Jason as a person of integrity and serious purpose since I met him before he went to Afghanistan. When I started this campaign, I thought he was a great candidate running against two good candidates. I haven't changed my feeling one iota - Jason's integrity and class have proven to be exactly as I thought they would be. Less importantly, but still persuasive, is the fact that he is precisely the kind of straight-shooting, dependable, competent, hard-working, thoughtful leader who will stand out in the legislature. He doesn't waffle, he doesn't flinch, he doesn't whine. He will get things done in Jefferson City, and he will be a spark for the entire Democratic team in our Capital.

FOR PROSECUTING ATTORNEY
Jim Kanatzar - Jim is a fine prosecutor, and will continue to serve us effectively.

FOR SHERIFF
John Bullard, Jr. - John Bullard is simply the kind of guy you want in the Sheriff's office. Law enforcement is what he thinks about when he wakes up, and he stays on point all day long. He has great plans to increase cooperation among the local departments, and he has the credibility to pull it off. He will also make the Sheriff's office more accessible and visible.

DEMOCRATIC COUNTY COMMITTEEMEN
8th Ward, Stephen Bough - Stephen Bough is fair-minded, has solid values, and is the hardest working politico in Kansas City. We disagree often enough that I know my endorsement isn't solely due to lockstep agreement - he's just a great volunteer, and belongs on the County committee.

DEMOCRATIC COUNTY COMMITTEEWOMEN
8th Ward, Mary Frances Weir - Mary is a solid Democrat with a solid grounding in social justice. In 2006, she received the prestigious Tiera Farrow Community Award from the UMKC Association of Women Law Students for her work on behalf of victims of domestic violence.

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8 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

What is Clint Zweifel's policy on sending unsolicited bulk e-mail to promote a campaign?

7/22/2008 7:37 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

How do you pronounce Clint's last name?

Swiffel? (rhymes with Mr. Whipple, pr Jerry Riffle)

ZZZZ-WHY-FELL? (you vill comply vis dis pronunciation!)

zwhyful (very easy pronunciation, sounds like delightful)

7/22/2008 8:38 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

After meeting all of the candidates I agree with you on the Bullard endorsement.

Please go through the list of state reps you are endorsing as regular readers come from all over the metro.

7/22/2008 11:53 PM  
Blogger Dan said...

I believe it is pronounced to rhyme with delightful. Or, more precisely, Eiffel.

7/23/2008 7:43 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I walked with the Kander folks this Sunday. Jason has a great crew, and his leadership of his team is outstanding. He trusted his folks use their skills and talents, and he backed them up. The canvass was one of the best organized and detail-oriented I have ever seen. It's no wonder there are Kander signs all over the district.

The day I was out with him the temps were in the upper 90's, but more than once Jason was double-timing down the street to make sure he got to talk to voters.

I have been a Kander supporter in theory all along, but after seeing his campaign up close, there is no doubt in my mind how this race will turn out.

PS: Rumor is that folks opposed to Kander are going to put about $20,000+ into trashing him in the next two weeks. My advice to those folks: put that money into beating Republicans. You're wasting it against Jason.

7/23/2008 9:12 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Good choices.

Except Cleaver. He is rated as one of the most ineffective Congressman...

And as for attorney general, anybody but KOSTER is my motto!

7/23/2008 12:52 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Agree with mostof your calls. Simckes has actually been working harder than the others. We have been seeing her all over the state and she has been rolling out inovative policy for the past couple of months. We are thinking her edge with women (50%/ 30% of popular), African Americans ( more voting than ever), and Liberal , progressive voters who want a change from the usual Jeffcity insiders puts her over the top with close to 40%. Powell's name put's him in second, Zweiffel...(any way you pronounce it!) comes in third...followed by the Man...Doc Charles Wheeler.

7/23/2008 1:42 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Cleaver rated as one of the most ineffective Congressmen? Says who? Rush Limbaugh and the KKK?

Cleaver is doing a great job as usual. People all across the board love him which is why he will once again wax his opponents.

7/23/2008 4:23 PM  

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