Counter-Revolution
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Posted on Monday, June 28, 2010 by Coco Letterman 
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Good morning! Some quick hits for you as we move through some up & coming news & notes…
Is Joe Maxwell’s work to restore the Wedge Building in Monroe City the first step in a political comeback? According to the Lake Gazette, “Attorney Joe Maxwell, who served as Missouri senator and lieutenant governor before returning to his Mexico law firm, told the board of aldermen that he is representing Greg Klement and other investors who want to save the historic building.” True, it could be that Maxwell is just honoring a client’s wishes and representing Klement before council. However, Monroe City isn’t exactly next door to Mexico…but Mexico is in Missouri’s 9th Congressional District, and Missouri pols have wondered out loud for years when Maxwell might return to the public stage once his wife’s illness improved. Could this be the first sign? Is Maxwell getting the hint that Missouri might actually get to keep all of its congressional seats? Bystanders have wondered for years whether the state’s population would survive and warrant keeping all of its seats. If the state had to sacrifice a 9th seat, most thought the Northeast Missouri district would merge with several others and become the Big 12 of the Missouri political scene. Instead, is this the first sign of a Maxwell/Blaine Luetkemeyer matchup in 2012? Luetkemeyer has no serious 2010 opposition, but Maxwell would represent the stiffest challenge since Luetkemeyer faced – and lost to – Sarah Steelman in his primary bid for State Treasurer in 2004. If Obama pulls a Bill Clinton–esque turnaround in the second half of his first term and really manages to pull his rear out of the fire, that could fire up some Democratic votes, particularly if the new Republican blood that may come to power this fall doesn’t fix things in Washington fast. The 9th could be a potential pick-up seat for Democrats.
On a side note, in the same meeting where Maxwell addressed the Monroe City Aldermen, “Mike Roberts of Roberts Demolition was at the meeting with his attorney, James Lemon.” Lemon was Maxwell’s opponent in his only state senate re-election campaign in 1998. Small world.
Reading time: Five minutes.
Free Kenny Hulshof.
While we’re talking Missouri congressional politics, would someone put out an APB for the former U.S. Congressman? Hulshof, who defeated 20-year Congressman Harold Volkmer and then handily defeated opponents in five re-election campaigns from 1998-2006, was defeated in his race for Missouri Governor in 2008. In his concession speech, Hulshof vowed to continue a public presence and perhaps return to elected office someday. However, Hulshof made a quicker disappearance than anyone since D.B. Cooper jumped off a plane in 1971. Some thought he’d make at least a token nod toward Kit Bond’s senate seat this year; now one wonders if he’ll even take a casual glance at Claire McCaskill’s seat in 2012, particularly with Jim Talent giving some consideration to a rematch.
Breaking with some conservative brethren, I don’t think President Barack Obama had any choice but to accept (and probably ask for) the resignation of General Stanley McChrystal. Do I agree with McChrystal’s assessment of Obama’s leadership and war plans? Absolutely. However, for those conservatives who say McChrystal’s entire career was ruined because of a few lines of print in a newspaper, I agree. Unfortunately, that’s the way of the military. What did we learn as kids when we were growing up? With great power comes great responsibility. No matter what way you cut it, it was insubordination, and that cannot be tolerated, particularly in times of war. President Harry S Truman was correct in his dismissal of General Douglas MacArthur, and Obama was correct in his dismissal of McChrystal. Two different situations, yes, but the base problem – insubordination – was completely the same.
This just in: At the Tennessee Volunteers “Ladies Day” games next year, they’ll be handing out Al Gore bobblehead dolls. Bad joke perhaps, but who knew Gore – a “crazed sex poodle” – and former boss Bill Clinton had so much in common and the same taste in women? In 2000, was Gore feigning disgust at his former boss’ interaction with Monica Lewinsky, or was he just not into adultery yet?
In Illinois, looks like Bill Brady’s putting the pedal to the metal in the race for Governor. And just when you thought Pat Quinn might get away from the circus acts with the General Assembly and actually get a chance to campaign on his own merit, here come the Blago trial. Quinn is looking more and more like an Illinois version of the previously-mentioned Hulshof: a policy guy trying to defend a horrible track record of a gov that came before him, and all the while he’s going to get run over by a good candidate in a great year for his party. I’m pulling for Brady; this could be a massacre before it’s over.
I keep checking my inbox…did Phil Hare ever release the results from that re-election poll he took earlier this spring? Bobby Schilling is moving & shaking the race, and he’s already got the attention of the NRCC. A lot can change at this point in a race, and if the numbers don’t really break Schilling’s way, the national party could cut bait and find other candidates to invest in more wisely. But for Hare to be this quiet about his re-election prospects in an even-numbered year can’t be good for Dems. Schilling is no Aaron Schock, but me thinks Phil Hare might regret having given a smoking gun to the Schilling camp earlier this year, stating he doesn’t care about what the Constitution says. Bet he cares now.
As always, thanks for reading. See you next time.
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