Comments on Gone Mild: Should I Be Feeling Guilty? Because I'm Not Feeli...

Does that mean we can go back to discussing Beth?

2008-06-22T01:21:00.000-05:00

Does that mean we can go back to discussing Beth?

Kander the Panderer!!!

2008-06-16T22:55:00.000-05:00

Kander the Panderer!!!

Anonymous - I probably should have posted an updat...

2008-06-12T06:40:00.000-05:00

Anonymous - I probably should have posted an update. Amy has decided not to respond, so there's no longer any point to trying to preserve a place for her response. If she changes her mind, I'll put it on the front page, rather than in the comments.

Why does Doc get to post here when you are deletin...

2008-06-11T21:39:00.000-05:00

Why does Doc get to post here when you are deleting any other posts?

uh...while i'm on vacation, i do tend to read a bl...

2008-06-09T12:01:00.000-05:00

uh...while i'm on vacation, i do tend to read a blog or two. noticed in comments that you seem to be addressing me as a anonymous snarky commentor.

just to set the record straight: snarky, even haughty I may be, anonymous, never. that was not me.

cheers.

I don't want the dialog with Amy to be distracted ...

2008-05-31T17:20:00.000-05:00

I don't want the dialog with Amy to be distracted or buried by a thread of anonymous comments, so I'm going to respectfully delete them to facilitate Amy's responses.

Amy,Welcome to my blog. I'm puzzled by what you m...

2008-05-31T14:57:00.000-05:00

Amy,

Welcome to my blog. I'm puzzled by what you meant when you wrote "purports the senseless world of blogging", but I am grateful that in your listing of facts, you did not contradict a single fact that I have posted. Not one.

Seems like this blog is not part of the senseless world you describe, after all.

Since you want to stick to factual matters, let me ask just a couple questions.

Question: Did you drive a Prius in 2007?

Question: Did you buy a Ford Escape before or after you filed for office?

Now, if you answer those two questions, I'll do you the favor of serving you an absolute softball of a question that I ask with the utmost respect and sincerity. What is the most significant policy difference between you and Jason Kander, and why is your position the correct one?

OK, the time has come for me to personally to addr...

2008-05-31T12:10:00.000-05:00

OK, the time has come for me to personally to address the banter to nonsense that, in my opinion discredits Democrats, the democratic process, and purports the senseless world of blogging and the damage I believe it does to campaigning. Let’s begin with the facts:

Fact: I am from Missouri. I was born and raised here - January 19th, 1973 (yes that makes me 35 years old) at Spellman Memorial hospital in Smithville, Missouri. I was raised in Blue Springs, with my sister, Cortney, (whom you all have now heard from) and by my parents, Rose Mary (who worked for the Blue Spring School District) and David, (a retired elementary school principal in Raytown).

Fact: I went to Alaska to get my degree in linguistics. With 13 Alaska Native Languages, it was an amazing place to receive such a degree.

Fact: I worked in the Alaska State Legislature. I served as the Chief of Staff for the House Democratic Leader.

Fact: I returned home to Kansas City in May of 2005. I was ready to be near my family and in the City that has always been home.

Fact: I worked for AARP Missouri a non-profit organization focused on issues facing aging Americans. Yes, part of my job was influencing public policy which required me to register as a lobbyist. I enjoyed teaching my volunteers how to work with legislators and other non-profit advocacy groups on issues such as - Health Care, Long Term Independence, Consumer Protection, and Voting Rights. I am proud of the successes we had while I worked for AARP. We made Long Term Care safer, worked to restore health care to thousands of Missourians and protected millions of consumers from increased utility rates.

Fact: My sister and I own a business teaching children healthy lifestyles and proper eating habits. This is important to me since I have struggled with weight issues my entire life - something many of you on this blog have taken the time to point out.

Fact: I drove a 1994 Jeep at the beginning of 2007. In July of 2007, I was worried, with starting a new business and a campaign, that with its more than 150,000 miles it might not last until August of 2008. My sister’s father-in-law works at the Ford Plant and was able to add us to his friends plan to buy matching vehicles for our business at a much reduced cost.

Fact: It was confirmed to me by first-hand witnesses that one of my opponents walked into the UAW, AFT, SEIU, and the Progressive Vote Coalition and spread lies about me to undermine my credibility with them. Everyone makes mistakes, but if this was indeed a misstatement he has yet to apologize to me personally, or to correct his error with these respected organizations.

My commitment to the working people of Missouri goes well beyond the car I drive. I am committed to having friendly and safe work environments for all Missourians which is why the Missouri AFL-CIO decided to give me their endorsement - not always given in primary battles.

I know that we can give this district the representation and campaign that it deserves. I will continue to run an honest and positive campaign focused on my strengths and vision, not personal attacks against my opponents. I ask that they do the same.

Cortney -Respectfully, I think it's you that's doi...

2008-05-31T09:40:00.000-05:00

Cortney -

Respectfully, I think it's you that's doing the spinning here. The ultimate issue (and a silly issue it is, IMHO) is whether Amy is committed to "driving American". She apparently wasn't before she filed - and she apparently continues to own two foreign cars. She drove her Prius around, and that's fine with me, but not so much with the UAW.

So, she goes and gets herself a Ford Escape. That's super. It's a good vehicle from what I've read, and I would certainly look at one if I were buying a new vehicle. But, come on, tell me with a straight face that one of the key reasons for her to make the change (after filing for the race) was not to make herself more palatable to the union vote. Of course it was! You don't park your Prius and buy a new Escape just because you have too much money in the bank, do you?

Perhaps (and I wasn't there, and haven't had anyone who was talk to me about it) Jason mentioned Amy's Prius to the UAW. That would be legitimate, wouldn't it? Perhaps (same caveats) he had the precise details on the timing of her trade-in wrong. Would that really be "inexcusable"? Would that really mean that he is trying to get ahead at the expense of others, any more than you are trying to help Amy get ahead by trying to spin this incident into something much more than it is, or ever was?

Again, Cortney, notice whose partisans were the first to mention cars in this thread. Notice whose partisans have attacked Jason's military service. Notice whose partisans are eager to quote someone calling the other a lying sack of shit. And ask yourself who is trying to get ahead at the expense of others.

Seems like the lobbyist is not so pure . . .

May I chime in?I have just finished reading throug...

2008-05-31T00:38:00.000-05:00

May I chime in?

I have just finished reading through all of this and have just a few things to add.

Dan, this is your blog, you can write whatever you like. however, you must already know that when it is offensive (intentionally or not), it will bring out the nastiness in others. I don't know if you should feel guilty. If Beth is your friend as you claim, then you probably should feel a little bad for your insinuations..regardless, it won't be solved here on the blog.

As for Jason...he served this country, that much is clear and for that I am(and my family is) extremely grateful. My husband served in the Navy during "peace" time and though he never saw the front lines or was in imminent danger, his service was still for this country.
I too have been appalled by some of the comments regarding this issue, and find them very spiteful. Do we have the right to know what Jason did? That's definitely a fair question. I don't know how much we should know, but certainly it's fair to ask.

As for Amy, ya'll are really working the spin on this. So, for the record, the Escape's transfer of registration is from their Jeep Cherokee (American made). The timing of the purchase was based on my schedule. That was my 1st day off to go and look for cars, Amy and Jay waited to make their purchase with me because my father-n-law offered them the opportunity to purchase on the friends plan. (He works at the Claycomo plant), so we all went together. It's very simple, no conniving and manipulating as has been suggested here. Sorry that I was unable to buy before her filing, but as shocking as it may be...not everything in my life revolves around this campaign...unfortunately or fortunately the same cannot be said for my sister. But regarding this car issue, ENOUGH already...she bought it, she drives it! Period.

It's a simple fact that the manipulating came from your guy, Jason. He told the UAW that Amy didn't own the vehicle at all, that he would even offer proof by going by her house and taking a picture (creepy)...but damn the luck when he drove up with his camera and there was the Ford Escape (and by the way, if it hadn't been there, that would have meant that she was out, driving in it). So anyway, he goes back and says oh, well she must have only bought it two days ago... so whether or not he intentionally lied to set the UAW against Amy, or he just miserably failed in gathering his facts..what he did was inexcusable and that is what everyone is angered about.

I don't know Jason personally, I can't say whether or not he has what it takes to someday become a great leader in government. However, it would appear that his desire to get ahead comes at the expense of others. That's not what is best for the people of the 44th district or anywhere else as far as that goes. Not now, not yet, and if his tactics don't change...not ever.

I'm gonna have to say a few words here, Dan. I ca...

2008-05-30T21:24:00.000-05:00

I'm gonna have to say a few words here, Dan.

I can't weigh in on whether her communication to the exec commmittee was ethically in the public domain or not. Let's assume for the moment it was.

You did criticize her opinion itself by saying she didn't offer good enough reasons per se, which is ok. I'm fine with that.

However, you also criticized her timing and characterized her intent as an intent to "hijack" things at the last moment. You also highlighted the day part in which she sent the email to further bolster your "hi-jacking" metaphor. Your ultimate intent at the moment in time you wrote the post was to attribute less-than-honourable motives to the councilperson.

And I do not think you had the knowledge of Beth's intent behind her timing and words, when you wrote your post.

I think you were ultra-hyped just prior to the vote, and you may have over reacted. Beth doesn't have that much pull where one email from her will throw the whole thing.

My hope is that, as a long-time Gottstein supporter in the heat of political polemics you have not betrayed a personal trust between you and Beth. I believe Beth's a fundamentally good person, her motives are fair, she's far from perfect, and I like her votes on council.

And I believe that you came close, and probably crossed the line in your initial post.

Just sayin'...

Dan believes women should not speak unless they ag...

2008-05-30T20:46:00.000-05:00

Dan believes women should not speak unless they agree with him.

So, just read a bunch of the fanatic postings on e...

2008-05-30T19:28:00.000-05:00

So, just read a bunch of the fanatic postings on either side of this argument. I'm new to it all and this race, as I live in Kansas. It seems like you all need to grow up, on both sides. All you posting during the afternoon, do you even have jobs?

You don't.

2008-05-30T16:26:00.000-05:00

You don't.

Same reason someone would need permission to write...

2008-05-30T16:05:00.000-05:00

Same reason someone would need permission to write about a city councilperson's political activities.

Anon 2:46 -- why would you do that?

2008-05-30T15:52:00.000-05:00

Anon 2:46 -- why would you do that?

Shouldn't you submit your writing to the city gove...

2008-05-30T14:46:00.000-05:00

Shouldn't you submit your writing to the city government before publishing it?

Shouldn't you ask Beth's permission before posting...

2008-05-30T14:22:00.000-05:00

Shouldn't you ask Beth's permission before posting about her?

Actually, it's about whether I should have felt gu...

2008-05-30T13:52:00.000-05:00

Actually, it's about whether I should have felt guilty about questioning Beth's attempt to influence the endorsement process.

I don't have much power, but I do get to define the topics of my posts, at least.

I thought it was about attacking Jason Kander's mi...

2008-05-30T13:49:00.000-05:00

I thought it was about attacking Jason Kander's military service, without any basis in fact.

Or is it only Coffman supporters who get to change the topic?

(Change it like changing to American-made cars two weeks after filing . . .)

Anon at 12:13 p.m. -- Agree completely! Thanks fo...

2008-05-30T12:54:00.000-05:00

Anon at 12:13 p.m. -- Agree completely! Thanks for one of the more lucid posts on this topic.

This isn't about commitment to labor, this is abou...

2008-05-30T12:13:00.000-05:00

This isn't about commitment to labor, this is about Jason Kander lying for political gain.

Kander's defenders seem to think that changing the subject, or worse, saying it was a "small lie", is an effective defense.

It's not. It is yet another instance that further establishes a troubling pattern of behavior for Jason and Diana.

So why would Beth get upset without actually readi...

2008-05-30T09:55:00.000-05:00

So why would Beth get upset without actually reading the post?

Objectively, it seems to this Spence supporter tha...

2008-05-30T09:03:00.000-05:00

Objectively, it seems to this Spence supporter that Whitman has not spread that characterization here - that has been done by those who appear to support Coffman. Objectively, Coffman's campaign (or those supporting it) is using the quote.

Objectively, if you care what kind of car a candidate drives (though I don't), it undermines Coffman just as much to have "gone American" two weeks after filing as two days before screening, doesn't it? It still shows a lack of commitment to labor.

Objectively, Kander and Coffman's supporters seem to spend a lot of time knocking each other, while we on the Spence side are running a nice, positive, clean campaign. I think I see where the leadership lies.

I am struggling to look at this objectively. It is...

2008-05-30T08:45:00.000-05:00

I am struggling to look at this objectively. It is difficult.

Dan said:

"..I think that kind of language reflects poorly on the campaign using it."

A campaign didn't say that. The statement calling Kander a liar was made by a person associated with the UAW.

"...it appears, from what I can piece together, that the much-ballyhooed "lie" was that Coffman bought a Ford Escape two weeks after she filed for office instead of two days before the UAW screening."

That is a totally wrong characterization. My understanding is that Jason told the UAW that Coffman had purchased her Ford car two days prior to her screening, in his screening. That was not true, and was a false statement obviously intentioned to undermine Coffman's credibility. Making false statements for political motives is the issue, and it matters not whether Coffman purchased her car two months or two years prior to the screening.

As far as Jason's military service, his isn't really relevant to the campaign. This is a State house rep seat, and military service is certainly not a pre-requisite or required experience to be successful in office.

I will say, however, that a candidate's full record should be subject to scrutiny. I think that makes common sense.