Although everyone knows that Barack Obama will be the Democrats’ nominee in the fall, Jay Nixon’s fear of alienating rural and urban Democrats by endorsing either Hillary or Barack, will keep this “super delegate” on the sidelines until Clinton quits or Obama secures the necessary delegates to clinch the nomination. The Missouri Republican party has it’s own 10 reason for Jay’s fence sitting.

Jefferson City_Jay Nixon has made it clear to anyone who asks that he is not “budging off the fence” and choosing between Senators Clinton and Obama. We aren’t surprised. In January 1999, Jay Nixon told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch: “When you refuse to take a position, you’re not punished,” Nixon said. “It’s only when you take a position that you’re punished.” So, here is MRP’s :

Top Ten Reasons Why “Super Jay” Won’t Pick A Nominee:

10. Too busy campaigning during the week to worry about presidential politics, even though he told the Dexter Daily Statesman that he would only campaign on weekends.

9. Using the Attorney General’s office for political purposes by colluding with his former staffers on the opposing side of litigation takes up all his spare time.

8. Lavishly rewarding lawyers who contribute to his campaign by outsourcing litigation to them is more fun.

7. Bilking Missourians out of at least $57,000 by illegally using state resources and staff for political purposes takes time – there’s no room for distractions.

6. Rethinking and reinventing the 1998 Project Vote Smart survey in which he indicated his support for allowing illegal immigrants and their children to receive taxpayer-funded services has him second-guessing every decision.

5. Watching videos of John Kerry to learn how to explain his defense of Holden Administration Medicaid cuts before his attacks on the Republican solutions to the healthcare crisis is much more important. Who wants to be labeled a “flip-flopper”?

4. Concealing the firing of a quadriplegic state worker is time consuming. It is an ugly job but somebody has to do it.

3. Establishing a legacy of mistrust and alienation between himself and the African American community can’t be done overnight, it requires dedication, time and skill.

2. Accepting money from Ameren and other companies while investigating their actions is a full-time job.

And the Number 1 Reason Why Jay Nixon won’t pick a nominee: Leadership and courage have never been his strong suit.

“It would be unacceptable for a voter to be denied the right to vote in America merely because an inefficient government bureaucracy cannot provide a copy of a birth certificate to one of its citizens.” Secretary of State Robin Carnahan

Check out the bottom of this Kentucky primary campaign flyer for Senator Obama. Besides the obvious pandering to people who “cling to their guns and religion,” we find the note at the bottom of the flyer especially curious. Isn’t this the same Party that vehemently opposes requiring ID’s to vote? We also wonder how many of the above horror stories have actually happened in Kentucky?

Hat tip: The QandO Blog

Doesn’t this picture remind you of that old song,”I only have eyes for you!”

From savagepolitics.com:

“With Barack Obama’s upcoming “surprise” leak, in which he will eventually declare Claire McCaskill as his November running mate (this is a well sourced rumor), this political season has become a spectacle of self interest and rabid pandering. Somehow, Obama’s campaign is expecting that Southern Whites and women are going to flock to the most divisive candidate in modern history, just because they intend to place a White female (ROOKIE) from Missouri as his “second” on a National ticket.” Read more…

Video Parody: Democrats, Just Pick One!

“This bill continues the committee’s commitment to restoring the readiness of our military as its first priority,” said Skelton, “Our military is under strain after six years of combat and five years of fighting on two fronts.- House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton

Last year during a Congressional junket to Guam, Chairman Skelton said our military readiness was dependent on spending billions of dollars on infrastructure in the all important, strategic island nation of Guam. Now Skelton tells us our military readiness will be strengthened by cutting “futuristic” weapons programs. I bet our soldiers in the first Gulf war who unleashed smart bombs and laser guided missiles on Sadam, are glad Skelton wasnt head of the Armed Service Committe in the ’70’s.

From CQ Politics:

The House Armed Services Committee began a long markup of a $531.4 billion fiscal 2009 defense authorization bill Wednesday, seeking to shift billions from futuristic technology programs towards readiness and health care for troops.

In addition to its core provisions, the bill would authorize $70 billion for fiscal 2009 war operations. It would increase contractor accountability, mandate more detailed reporting from Iraq and Afghanistan, and shift financial responsibility to the Iraqi government. Read more…

From MOPNS: (5/21/07)

Several earmarks are for chapels on military bases, including one at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., requested by House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.). The request is for $10 million. Apart from the funding request for the chapel, Skelton has only one other request: $25 million for training-based collaborative research also at the Fort Leonard Wood Institute.

Chairman Doug Russell issued the following statement today regarding the repeal of the Village Law:

“I urge every member of the General Assembly, Republicans and Democrats alike, to work together to repeal the so-called Village Law. Laws often have unintended consequences. Now is the time to fix a mistake in law that passed last year. I hope that partisan and personal differences will be put aside and that the Village Law will be repealed before the end of session.”

Related:

Wake Up Call Missouri:Top Ten “Explanations” Jetton Supported Village Law

 8. “Mr. Plaster said I could come over and play anytime and he might even make me sheriff.”

Thankfully, a judge in St. Louis last night euthanized the fledgling Connie Johnson for Senate campaign. One of the first things they teach you in law school is to never ask a question that you don’t already know the answer. First lesson any politician learns is to never make bold predictions. Johnson’s “I will be vindicated” line looks pretty silly today.

With Rep. Johnson’s 11:59 entry into the race, the ill conceived effort had - at best - an uphill shot at the Democrat nomination. Here’s our second astute political observation of the day: It’s especially difficult to win an election when you don’t live in the district you want to represent.

The 5th District Senate race is now a two person battle again between Rep. Rodney Hubbard and Rep. Robin Wright-Jones. Below is a video from Rep. Wright-Jones that is courtesy of Charter Communications.