Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Please Don't Vote for Koster

The Associated Press dropped a bombshell on Missouri politics yesterday when it detailed the cozy triangle funneling money from donors to committees to candidates, and pointed to Chris Koster as the most flagrant and sloppy abuser of the system. Go read the article if you have a strong stomach - it's a disquieting look at the sort of person who views breaking the law as a game that everybody plays, even when they don't.

Let me state this clearly - Chris Koster is NOT a strong enough person to be our Attorney General.

He has demonstrated this time and time again. From his flip-flopping on pro-life positions, to his incendiary tactic of "calling the previous question" against my Senator, Jolie Justus, to his sudden, unconvincing switch to the Democratic party (when it appeared that Catherine Hanaway had the Republican AG primary sewn up), Koster has always sought out the quick fix, the easy way out.

Just look at the way he has conducted himself in this campaign. He has won the fund-raising race, but only because he has raised 81% of his total through his get-rich-quick scheme that sends campaign workers out to trade envelopes with shadowy groups throughout the state. He has NOT done the hard work of meeting ordinary, non-millionaire people throughout the state, the way his opponents have.

When it looked like Margaret Donnelly might have a gender advantage in a three-way race, he arranged for Molly "I'm not serious" Williams to muddy the issue.

When his right-wing donor friends invited him back with their wallets opened, Koster responded by reverting to his Republican ways.

More than any position in the legislative or executive branches, the Attorney General needs to be the sort of person with rock-solid integrity and dependability. Jeff Harris has that. Even though I'm supporting Jeff, I would never deny that Margaret Donnelly has that rock-solid integrity and dependability, as well.

Sometime during the term of the next Attorney General, there will come a time when justice and our Constitution require that the Attorney General do one thing, but the easy way out will beckon to the other path. I know that two of the Democratic primary candidates will do the right thing in that situation.

I also know that Chris Koster will take the easy way out and roll with what is popular.

Please don't vote for Koster. It's important that we have an Attorney General with strong values he or she will stand with, even when it's not easy.

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20 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Koster - 37%
Donnelly - 33%
Harris - 26%
Williams - 4%

7/09/2008 1:22 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Harris - 44%
Donnelly - 36%
Koster - 11%
Williams - 9%

7/09/2008 2:02 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Don't forget that $200,000 of the money koster has came from the money he squeezed from his wife after he dumped her. Getting a check for almost $600,000 after freeloading through a marriage is a VERY easy way out! I wonder how much he is making on the interest for the loan he made his campaign.

7/09/2008 2:12 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hmmmm does Koster know Mike Sharp? These guys should meet. They seem to have similar views on women. Of course they have to find the bimbos first but that is only a matter of hanging around adult entertainment facilities if you are Mike Sharp. Pick'em up at the strip club or adult movie set and drop them off at a mental hospital when you are done with them.

7/09/2008 2:21 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Actually Koster is closer to Bullard than to Sharp or Mauer. Bullard fought to get Koster the Fraternal order of Police endorsement and then Koster funnelled some of his dirty cash to Bullard's campaign fund for Jackson County sheriff. Them webs do get tangled.

7/09/2008 3:14 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

A Hawk you are spreading lies again though off-topic posts so we have to go through the same old thing.

Here is how it works. You say something stupid and dishonest. I get a phone call. Then I make a comment to point out that you are attacking people who are not even seeking office, and you are attacking them with lies.

It is a simple process, but I really believe you are a simple person. I am sure that you have no character or class.

It is particularly disgusting that you seem to focus your most hurtful and untrue assaults on a candidates friends and family . You seem fixated with tormenting people who do not deserve torment. Good caring people who have not done anything to deserve the attention of your "heat oppressed brain."

Still, it seems to be the only pathetic option you have before you. Politically, you are just wasting time and bandwidth. You hare not helping Mauer or whomever you want to see elected sheriff with these off-topic and untruthful allegations.

Grow up. Haven't two-a-days started yet?

7/09/2008 3:43 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I love getting Mike Sharp's manservant Kevin Hennosy pissed off and acting high and mighty on the blogs. He talks funny and you would think he would be smart enough to stay away from them but i guess he is not. And No Danny Boy I did not say anything about his sexual preference.

Anon 314 your correction is accepted. It is Bullard who took the dirty money from Koster, but he mistreats women like Sharp so why should we elect any of them?

7/09/2008 4:11 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

This it a total smoke screen. Campaign finance is a difficult subject to understand. What is TOTALLY LEGAL is very complicated to understand. This story uses some very colorful descriptions to insinuate that the law has been broken. That being said, the story does not even alledge that the law has been broken. Because, (drum roll please) everyone that understands campaign finance, understands that NO LAWS HAVE BEEN BROKEN, NONE.

NIXON did NOT break any laws when he raised money through these EXACT SAME methods, STEELMAN did NOT break any laws when she raised money through these EXACT SAME methods, HULSHOF did NOT break any laws when he raised money through these EXACT SAME methods. AND YOU KNOW WHAT...KOSTER did NOT break any laws when he raised money through these methods.

This is Jeff Harris convicing a reporter that something occured here when nothing did. What is amazing is that a respected AP reporter took the bait AND only focused the story on Koster.

People need to recognize that if Harris and Donnelly only attack Koster (ignoring Nixon, Steelman, Hulsof and so many others) this is pure politics. Another Harris/Donnelly attack.

Nixon, Steelman, Hulsoff etc... ALL RAISE MONEY IN THE EXACT SAME WAY. IT IS PERFECTLY LEGAL.

This is a total smoke screen by Harris to attack Koster because Koster is out front.

7/09/2008 4:26 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dan,

If this is not a purely political attack by Harris and Donnelly, then why are they not attacking Jay Nixon for raising money in the exact same way? If they think the law has been broken, then Nixon also broke the law and for heavens sake aren't they running for AG?

7/09/2008 4:46 PM  
Blogger Dan said...

It is amusing to see the Koster campaign come onto this website and simply make stuff up.

Where is your evidence in your accusations against Nixon? Do you have copies of emails demonstrating that Nixon's campaign orchestrated the donations? "E-mail communications obtained by The Associated Press show Koster's campaign staff helped direct donors wishing to give more than the state limit to the Economic Growth Council, then coordinated the transfer of that money to local political party committees and onto Koster's campaign - a potential violation of an 8-year-old ruling against such orchestration."

If you don't have evidence, then you are making accusations without evidence - an even worse breach of what I want in an AG than Koster's "easy way out" approach to politics.

7/09/2008 5:47 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dan -

Read the AP story, which discusses similiar transactions made by the Nixon campaign.

This entire thing is rather boring. Isn't there anything else on?

7/09/2008 6:09 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

"It is amusing to see the Koster campaign come onto this website and simply make stuff up."

You tell 'em Dan! Making stuff up on this website is reserved for you and only you.

7/09/2008 6:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well, ahawk, going off subject once again I see.

You should really stop spreading lies about the friends & family of candidates. It doesn't help your credibility.

People responding to your posts do not have to be the targets of your previous attacks - I'm offended by your statements, along with the rest of the readers of this blog. Your demeanor and statements are outrageous, in a very bad way.

You should stop spreading lies about candidates - and perhaps talk about issues, instead.

Why focus and target friends and family of candidates? Are you that mean, insane and bitter?

ahawk, you sound mean and bitter - what's the problem? Does your association with Rockhurst all these years leave you in that bad a mood?

7/09/2008 7:32 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

OK - The St. Louis Post (Chris' hometown newspaper) writes a story about 81% of Koster's money coming via political committees and from mostly Republicans like Singfield and Stowers. Emails and former employees are quoted.

The AP does a story - quoting emails and former employees and donors. The story says other folks take money from committees, but a former employee is quoted as saying she fears she broke the law. She says on Koster's computer she had to make up fake letterhead to make it all work (i.e. fraud).

The KC Star does a story, quoting the head of the Ethics commission. All the articles say Kosters actions are pushing the ethical boundaries.

The articles say other candidates take donations from committees, but nothing like this, nothing with emails, nothing with former employees, nothing from the head of the ethics commission.

Who is making stuff up?!?!

7/09/2008 8:33 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Are you a fan of Justus?

7/09/2008 8:35 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Bullard must be shitting his pants after taking Koster money, in return for getting Koster the FOP endorsement.

7/09/2008 10:36 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Bullard doesn't control the FOP endorsement smart guy. That comes from the state level.

I think all of the AG candidates could be better. Not sure who I will vote for there but I'm definitely voting John Bullard. He's the only one qualified.

7/10/2008 9:33 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Anyone seen this site yet? It's freakin' hysterical. Click the imposter's name:

Chris Koster

7/10/2008 1:01 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Not to worry, Dan. There is absolutely no chance I could ever vote for that man.

lol

7/10/2008 2:25 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yes, candidates use 3rd party committees but they are not allowed to control those committees the way Koster has done. That is how Koster broke the law. Both Koster and Chuck Hatfield should (and probably do) know better but their arrogance made them believe they could do this and no one would say anything.

7/12/2008 11:52 AM  

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