24thState

FiredUp Just Isn't Fun To Read Anymore

I'm of two minds about FiredUp's new blogger, .Sean.  On the one hand, the disappearance of all the former FiredUp writers (is it because they now have jobs in the Nixon and Carnahan offices?) has brought down the Missouri political hackery down several notches.  On the other, the addition of Sean has turned Fired up into a sad retread of other national blogs.  On any given day, stories are posted taken from Kos and TalkingPointsMemo and half a dozen other proud members of the Journolist echo chamber, but the analysis telegraphing what Carnahan family wants the state papers to write about is sadly lacking.

Maybe it's because Sean spent too much time in D.C., and maybe it's because he thinks blogging is easier when you're reading talking points straight from your email, but I worry about Missouri journalists.  There just isn't any "meat" left for them to read. Aside from copying other people's work, there aren't any juicy stories or good rants, just the mindless beating of a series of topics pre-approved by Sean's bosses.  

On any given day, the only original stories are how much Sean hates Roy Blunt and Blaine Luetkmeyer, unless of course he's gushing on his man crush, Ed Martin (a situation that has reached stalker status in the blogger hall of fame and really needs an intervention before Ed wakes up with a bunny on the stove).  This is what happens when you outsource your blog folks.  High volume, low quality.

Why Were Missouri Chrysler Dealers Closed?

A story swirling around the blogosphere is the question of why certain Chrysler dealerships were closed and others kept open.  Following research by Doug Ross, followed by Gateway Pundit, and with a crowd sourcing initiative by Reboot Congress, we have the potential to determine whether or not political considerations were used to shut down auto dealerships.  The project is in its early stages, so it's a mistake to jump to conclusions, but we won't know until the work is done.

This is no small matter.  If the Auto Czar and the Obama administration are using the Chrysler bankruptcy to reward unions and punish their enemies, the political consequences would be staggering.  The explanation that dealerships were closed on the basis of profitability, customer service, and demographic data doesn't pass the smell test.   Don't think this is just a blog thing - Missouri Senators McCaskill and Bond sent a letter to Steve Rattner, the Auto Czar, asking for information on the criteria of the closings.  Senator Durbin of Illinois (thankfully no close relation) sent letter to the GM and Chrysler CEO's (I guess he doesn't know that they weren't the ones who made the decision).  And Luetkemeyer and Shimkus are asking to keep the dealerships open.  What is strange is not that dealerships are closed, but who made the decision and why.  This lawyer for the dealerships seems to think it wasn't the Chrysler CEO who did it.  And of course, Rick Waggoner was forced out of GM, which today declared bankruptcy.   Profitable dealerships have been closed, even ones registering astounding growth numbers even in 2009, and so the question comes to mind, can we determine if there is a political connection? 

In Missouri, dealerships in Branson and Lee's Summit, owned by RLJ-McLarty-Landers ( heavyweight Democratic donors all), have been kept open, while their competition was closed.  Check out this research by Joey Smith, which suggests that three Branson Dealerships will close, with only the RLJ-McLarty-Landers franchise staying open.  There is a similar pattern in Huntsville, AL, and Bentonville AR, on those towns with more information to come. 

Those links above provide information on how you can help, especially through Reboot Congress, but I've compiled a list of the dealerships that were closed in Missouri (and some in Southern Illinois and Kansas).  If you know anything about these dealerships, or can add information to the search, please contact me at editor@24thstate.com. I'll be comparing these to donation records, and then comparing that to dealerships that were left open, and then comparing sales numbers over the next week.  If you have inside dirt, I want to know about it.  Confidentiality is assured. 

List of Dealers Closed in the Chrysler Bankruptcy (MO)

Name, Owner, City

Auffenberg Chrysler, James A Auffenberg Jr, O'Fallon, IL
Bud Brown, Phillip J Brown, Overland Park, KS,
Cape County Autopark Inc, Chris G Auffenberg, Cape Girardeau, MO
Century Motor Corporation, Frank J Mock, Wentzville, MO (Century Dodge/Chrys/Jeep)
Chris Auffenberg Ford, Christopher G Auffenberg, Washington, MO
Crawford's Raytown J-E CO, Michael Crawford, Raytown, MO
Dave Croft Motors - David Croft - Collinsville, IL
Davis Chrysler - Larry D Davis - Ava, MO
Dodge City Motors, Inc    Larry G Estes, Columbia MO
Heritage Chryler Jeep - Kay Church, Ozark MO
Mid-Missouri Motors - Julian Harrison - St Robert, MO
Miller-Campbell Company - Jack C Miller - Kansas City, MO
Milner-O'Quinn Chrysler Dodge - Charles S O'Quinn Harrisonville, MO
Mitch Crawfrod's Holiday Motors - Michael Crawford - Raytown, MO
Ozark Dodge, Kay Church, Ozark MO
Raytown Dodge, Michael Crawford, Raytown, MO
Reuther Dodge, Janey Schopp Creve Coeur, MO
Reuther Jeep Chrysler, Janet Schopp, Creve Coeur, MO
Ron Hulett Automotive, Ronald P Hulett, Camdenton, MO
Sam Ogle Chrysler Jeep, Sameul Ogle, Crystal City, MO
Swafford's Ford Sales, Gary L Swafford, Richmond, MO
T&C Motors, William J Shumake, Sedalia, MO
Tony Martens Dodge, Phillip A Martens, Platte City, MO
Weinberg Dodge, Stephen Weinberg, Grandview, MO

Honoring The Fallen

From Thucydides, through the lips of Pericles:

I believe that a death such as theirs has been the true measure of a man's worth; it may be the first revelation of his virtues, but is at any rate their final seal. For even those who come short in other ways may justly plead the valor with which they have fought for their country; they have blotted out the evil with the good, and have benefited the state more by their public services than they have injured her by their private actions.

None of these men was enervated by wealth or hesitated to resign the pleasures of life; none of them put off the evil day in the hope, natural to poverty, that a man, though poor, may one day become rich. But, deeming that the punishment of their enemies was sweeter than any of these things, and that they could fall in no nobler cause, they determined at the hazard of their lives to be honorably avenged, and to leave the rest. They resigned to hope their unknown chance of happiness; but in the face of death they resolved to rely upon themselves alone. And when the moment came they were minded to resist and suffer, rather than to fly and save their lives; they ran away from the word of dishonor, but on the battlefield their feet stood fast, and in an instant, at the height of their fortune, they passed away from the scene, not of their fear, but of their glory.

hattip:  The Corner

Conservative Heartland Leadership Conference June 3-4

The Midwest is getting its own C-PAC.  That's right.  June 3-4, conservatives from the Midwest and the Plains States will converge on St. Louis for a two day conference in principles, values and technology.

The Conservative Heartland Leadership Conference takes place in a couple of weeks, and the editor of this fair blog will be speaking at the conference and also leading a training in social media for consultants and officeholders.

This is a small conference, but there are some noteworthy names attending, including Phyllis Schlafly, Grover Norquist, Matt Blunt and others.  In fact, through some strange mix of humor and fortuitous circumstance, I'll actually be on the panel with Mr. Norquist and Mrs. Schafly, in addition to Alan Cobb and Wendy Wright.

If you're curious as to what a small Missouri blogger with no connections, no history of political consulting (and about two hours of campaign volunteering in the last 10 years) is doing in a panel of nationally known speakers and movement leaders, the answer is simple - I'm the token grassroots guy!  Actually I'm a professional marketing trainer, and social media in politics is far behind the commercial world.  I'm there to give actionable intelligence how to connect with conservative consituents without having to bypass the media filter.

The panel will be about potential, but I'll be leading a training session with Bill Hennessy of the St Louis Tea Party, Kristina Rasmussen of the Illinois Policy Institute, and if I can ever get organized enough, Dana Loesch from The Dana Show on 97.1.  What we'd like to do is split the session into those running for those office and those supporting the politician.  Dana and Bill will likely speak to the politicians on what it takes to build and sustain a grassroots organization using social media, and Kristina and I will be focusing on the excruciating minutiae of blogging, Twitter, websites and SEO. That's all in flux, but we'll get it down sooner rather than later.

We're also planning a small conference for area conservatives, a TCOT Tweetup around the conference where those interested n what other conservatives are doing can get together without an agenda and just meet up.  I'd like to do this either lunchtime the 3rd, or possibly the Tuesday night before - again we're working on that schedule.  Follow @24thstate and this blog for more information, and head on over to the conference page if you're interested in attending.

Finally Someone Tells Off Windbag Senators

It's just too bad that it's a commercial for Best Western, and not the real thing

Understanding Reinsurance In Bermuda's Tax Haven

The following is independent research done by the editor of this blog, with the help of some interviews, some internet searching, and some document sifting.  It's quite possible that some of the information is inaccurate regarding tax laws.  If you catch something here, please let me know and I'll correct the post.

TAX HAVENS AND CLAIRE MCCASKILL:
The Obama press conference on closing corporate loopholes for tax havens is threatening to ensnare Missouri's own Claire McCaskill, whose use of a reinsurance company headquarted in Bermuda has once again given rise to Missouri GOP charges that she's using the company as a way to avoid paying taxes. This was an issue brought up in a contentious Talent-McCaskill Debate in 2006, and it was never fully resolved.

The problem for Claire is her story has changed over the years.  Her benefit is the issue is complex, and on one wants to take the time to research the matter.  This gives her leeway to make new claims that are accepted without question.  The crux of the matter is the Rural Reinsurance Company International, LTD, which in the filing for 2008 is listed as a company where up to $1,000,000 is invested by the McCaskill family. It's important to note that Senator McCaskill's husband owns a string of low-income apartments and nursing homes that provide a steady stream of income and excellent tax savings.  It's one of those complicated rich people things, which there is nothing wrong with, but it's obscure enough that the average person can't understand, and can easily be convinced it's no big deal.

THE RURAL REINSURANCE COMPANY
The Rural Reinsurance Company International, LTD, is a company in Hamilton, Bermuda.  It's a reinsurance company, which is to say that it's purpose is to insure insurance companies against losses from their primary holdings, allowing them to write more policies than they have capital in the bank. 

Now, I wanted to understand more about the reinsurance industry, especially since RGA is a St Louis based reinsurance company, and I see their sign when I drive past it each day.  It didn't make sense to me that a company in Chesterfield could sell reinsurance, but McCaskill had to put hers in Bermuda.   I thought I'd ask around and see if I could find someone to explain reinsurance, tax laws, tax havens, and Bermuda to me, and measure that knowledge against what Senator McCaskill has told us.  I did find someone who generously explained it to me and walked me through the complex maze of Bermuda and reinsurance. 

Tucson Tea Party Brings 1000 To City Council

This is what I'm talking about.  From Instapundit, we see that the Tucson Tea Party brought over 1000 people together at the local level to prevent tax increases from their Mayor and City Council.  Do this over and over at the local level, winning smaller successes, and you'll energize people for the bigger battles of healthcare, cap-and-trace, card check, and yes, next year's budget.

Protests with a point.  Congratulations Tucson.  Thank you for showing us the way.

Here in St Louis, using just the people who showed up on April 15th, we could protest 7 local or state issues in a revolving door protest to demonstrate real concern.  For both Republicans and Democrats, the story must be clear.  We're fed up, and we're watching you.

10 College Students Raped And Shot Dead In Georgia

I'm sorry, that headline is incendiary, and violent, and actually didn't happen.  You see, one of those ten students carried a gun in his backpack. 

A story making it's way around the blogs, but absent from the nightly news is that of a group of college students who were the victims of an armed home invasion in Georgia.  They were throwing a birthday party for a friend, when two young men came into the house and held guns on the group.

Pretty scary.  The two masked gunmen separated the men and women, demanding their cell phones and wallets.  One gunmen then stood guard over the men, while the other took the women into a room where he was preparing to rape them.

Luckily for this group of students, one of the students was carrying a weapon in his backpack.  It wasn't a shotgun, and it wasn't a musket.  It was a handgun.  He grabbed the gun, shot at the first intruder and missed, and when the first gunmen fled, the student kicked in the door where the women were being held and shot at the second gunmen, wounding him and forcing him to jump out a window.  The second gunmen died of his injuries.

Now first - let me say this is not a cause for rejoicing.  One young man is dead, and will not get a chance to redeem himself.  Another young man will have to live with the fact that his actions cost another person their life, and though justified, that's not something to rejoice in.  In addition to the anguish, the shooter, and the other nine students, will have to worry about retaliation, as well as the post traumatic stress of a violent situation.

But they're alive.

Has The Obama WhiteHouse Been Caught In A Second Bold-Faced Lie?

Remember when Obama bowed to the Saudi King?
Robert Gibbs, the White House Press Secretary, denied it.  The claim at the time was that Obama is so tall, he had to bend a little to give the king a two-handed handshake.

The video we showed you and this picture proved that to be a bold-faced lie.  That lie told us two things.  One, it wasn't some kind of secret Muslim thing.  Obama was embarrassed by it so he denied it through his spokesperson.

Embarrassing, but better than not saying anything.  At least he recognizes he did wrong, and he's taking the sleazeball politician way out of it by pretending it didn't happen (and he knew the press wouldn't linger on it).  It was telling though.  When pressed into a corner and facing negative press, this administration doesn't mind lying about the little things.  That suggested we needed to be careful about believing what they say in the future.

Now multiple sources are claiming the Obama administration is lying about something much, much worse.  The Chrysler bailout is a big deal, as it's direct government intervention in a major industry, far removed from loans and guarantees.  It seems that the Obama administration stands accused of threatening senior creditors with the destruction of their reputation by the White House Press Corps if they didn't acquiesce to the administration's demands to put the unions in charge.

Bob Burton unequivocally denied the charge earlier in the week that the White House had threated to use the press to get even with any creditor not willing to take the White House Deal.  The charges came from Thomas Lauria, who told ABC news that Rattner had threated Perella Weinberg.

Today, Business Insider quotes more senior creditors who have said the story is true, and who refuse to go on record precisely because of the political threats.  This is a serious charge.  If the President of the United States is threatening executives in a negotiation deal, then we can no longer trust our system of government.  This is the kind of bullshit that goes on in Cuba and Venezuela and Russia, not in a free market where the rule of law holds sway.  This is the kind of dirty dealing that will cause the economy to nosedive.  Who in their right mind would negotiate with the government if the government is willing to use street corner thug tactics to get their way?  Is the official policy of the US government "You do what we want or we'll hurt you?"

Very, very disturbing.  The Obama White House believes they can threaten business executives with the help of a complacent Press Corps.  This should not stand, but as the Democrats move towards 60 votes in the Senate, the reality of who we put in office cannot be denied.  The Dear Leader references are more apt now than ever.  Republicans cannot afford to take this lying down.

 

Will FiredUp Apologize To Blaine Luetkemeyer?

UPDATE: Sean has responded, sort of, in the comments of his post.  More information at the bottom of the page, but the basic idea is he'll apologize when he sees it in other newspapers.  I've challenged him to back up his statements once again.

FiredUp has a new chief blogger in residence, Sean Soendker Nicholson, and his output is prodigious, which is to say his cut-and-paste arguments of more important liberal blogs is growing old.  I guess it's better than "anonymous" "citizens" posting from Jefferson City, but the problem with counting on other people to do your reporting is you don't always catch it when they're wrong.

Setting aside the shots at Sean, let's address a serious issue. Sean is a paid blogger - he's now part of the FiredUp staff.  He is also a Missouri political blogger, and it's up to us to police ourselves  We have our first opportunity to determine just what kind of man Sean is, and whether he's interested in the truth, or only mindless partisan attacks against Republicans.

.Sean, as he styles himself, has been accusing Blaine Luetkemeyer of lying.  The freshman congressman has been arguing against a Cap and Trade program, and has been citing a cost of over $3000 per family if it's enacted.  .Sean references a series of liberal blogs reporting the same story from the St Petersburg Times Politifact to say the claim is not true.  Originally, it didn't look food for Blaine and the rest of the GOP, as the MIT professor who wrote the study cited by the GOP has said they misinterpreted his data and made false claims.

And then John McCormack at the Weekly Standard did some real reporting.  Exchanging emails with John Reilly of MIT, we find two facts that exonerate Blaine Luetkemeyer, Michele Bachmann, John Boehner and the rest of the Republicans.  The true cost to each household will be over $3900 under cap-and-trade.