I hadn't heard about Rex giving money to such blatant anti-union efforts - I thought he just focused on Tax Stuff.

However, buried deep in a recent online edition of the Milwaukee - Wisconsin Journal Sentinel, is word that soon-to-be-recalled Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker is getting some out-of-state financial help from a (un)usual suspect - Rex Sinquefield.

Three others gave him $50,000 each: Jere Fabick, president of Fabco Equipment of Milwaukee; Rex Sinquefield, co-founder of Dimensional Fund Advisors; and Robert Kerbell, president of Lorman Education Services in Eau Claire.

Huh. Weird.

Rex reminded us today that he really, really wants to kill the state income tax and replace with a higher sales tax that would apply to pretty much, well - everything. He wrote a check to Let Voters Decide for $1.224 million yesterday.

We all know there's plenty more where that came from.

Read cover at StL Today.

The audience is back, but Cranky Ron Paul got the laughs and most of the cheers were not for Newt.

There was the usual sparring about who is the most anti-immigrant (Jeb Bush says, in Spanish, that neither Newt or Mitt can win over Hispanics), why does Mitt have so much money, why does Ron Paul want to be friends with the Castro brothers, why they all hate Romneycare and Obamacare, and why is Suits Santorum still on the stage.

Newtie reiterated his theory of the war on religion to loud audience cheers, and talked about the importance of the president having core faith and living that faith everyday. Earlier, speaking on a radio show he said that same sex marriage is a pagan behavior. Guess he doesn't think one man, two women is "pagan behavior."

13.9%er Romney said he'd fire anyone with an idea of spending hundreds of million of dollars to colonize the moon. Miss Liberty would absolutely vote for Newt if he would promise to live there.

Fuzzy math has always been a republican affectation, but when Cranky Ron Paul called Newt out over his claims of balancing the budget, and Newt began to bloviate, the audience booed him.

The most demeaning question of all the debates was put to all four candidates. Why would his wife make a great first lady? Wolf Blitzer didn't specify which of Newtie's wives they were asking about, but his answer that Callista plays the french horn might be a reason to look at the other two.

If the average Missourian takes home approximately $45,000 a year, let's see what Mittens would make for every dollar a Missourian would.

From MittBucks.com:

Mitt Romney made over $21.7 million in 2010. For most people, that number is so huge it's hard to comprehend. Mittbucks puts Romney's income into perspective for you, showing you what ordinary stuff would have to cost him before he could relate to your daily experience with money.

For every $1 you make, Mitt Romney makes $416.01

For Mitt to have an understanding of your day-to-day expenses, a gallon of gas would have to cost him $1,393.65, a 20 oz. soda would have to cost him $661.46, and a pizza would have to cost about $4,318.23.

When Mitt casually bet Rick Perry $10,000 at a recent debate, that would be like you betting a friend $24.04. Consider that - Mitt thinks about $10,000 the same way you think about $24.04.

I would hope that Peter Kinder, Shane Schoeller and their anti-worker ilk in the Missouri legislature would pause for a minute after reading the following article out of Wisconsin.  Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin has said that he SUPPORTS the prevailing wage and has NO INTENTION of pushing Right to Work for Less.

Got that?  It bears repeating: one of the nation's most extreme anti-worker politicians is opposed to Right to Work for Less and supports the prevailing wage.

Walker won't push Right-to-Work legislation

Right-to-work legislation continues to be a contentious issue around the country, particularly in Indiana.

But don't look for Gov. Scott Walker to raise the issue in Wisconsin, particularly after the bruising battle over collective bargaining and public-sector unions.

Cullen Werwie, Walker's spokesman, said the governor would not be introducing any right-to-work legislation in Wisconsin.

That's what Terrance E. McGowan, business manager of Operating Engineers Local 139, believes, too.[...]

McGowan said he spoke with Walker's campaign at the time to underscore that the union was in favor of prevailing wage laws and was opposed to right-to-work laws.

Ed Martin is running for US Senate, Congress, Governor Attorney General. Where does one even begin? 

Here's what Miss Liberty heard the president say last night:

"Each time I look at that flag, I'm reminded that our destiny is stitched together like those fifty stars and those thirteen stripes. No one built this country on their own. This Nation is great because we built it together. This Nation is great because we worked as a team. This Nation is great because we get each other’s backs. And if we hold fast to that truth, in this moment of trial, there is no challenge too great; no mission too hard. As long as we’re joined in common purpose, as long as we maintain our common resolve, our journey moves forward, our future is hopeful, and the state of our Union will always be strong."

This is what the Republicans heard:

"Class warfare."

DRUM Rollllll!  This week the winners of Fired Up’s coveted Big A Award are: Rep. Charlie Denison, Rep Pat Conway and Rep Tony Dugger, who in the line of duty “assiduously hold up for things that don’t matter.”  Congratulate these visionary statesman on their accomplishments.  Show your appreciation today by giving them the A-Hole salute (fingers scrolled to your thumb to form an “O.”)  

You can't make this stuff up...

• HB 1266 by Rep. Charlie Denison
  "Designates the regal fritillary as the official state butterfly"
    
• HB 1063 by Rep. Pat Conway
  "Designates the exercise commonly known as 'jumping jacks' as the official state exercise"
    
• HB 1107 by Rep. Tony Dugger
  Designates a portion of State Highway 5 between the cities of Ava and Mansfield as the "Missouri Fox Trotting Highway"

Apparently earlier today, someone placed rifle scope stickers on the capitol doors of some democratic senators in Jefferson City.

A year after Congresswoman Gabby Giffords was shot in the head and less than a week after a democratic operative came home to find his cat mutilated and killed on his doorstep, we now have someone in the capitol placing rifle scope stickers on the doors of democrats here in Missouri.

I cannot condemn this enough.  I eagerly await the unequivocal condemnation of this heinous act from legislative leaders from both parties.

This is unacceptable.  Missouri deserves and demands better.

Are you headed to a watch party for President Obama's State of the Union address tonight?  Need some slick numbers and facts to back you up in going toe to toe with your conservative fellow attendees?  Our friends over at ThinkProgress have compiled a must-see list of FACTS for you to have at your fingertips:

NINETEEN Facts You Ought to Know Ahead of Tonight’s Speech

• Since the last SOTU, the economy has created 1.9 million private sector jobs. [Source]

• The top 1 percent take home 24 percent of the nation’s income, up from about 9 percent in 1976. [Source]

• Private sector job creation under Obama in 2011 was larger than seven out of the eight years Bush was president. [Source]

• The top 1 percent of Americans own 40 percent of our country’s wealth while the bottom 80 percent owns only 7 percent. [Source]

• Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, 2.5 million young adults gained health insurance. [Source]

The pitiful panelette almost put itself to sleep tonight. Since the crowd seemed to be under a gag order, they had no fuel, and their "fact" based discussion was a snoozer for all.

Ever notice how every critic of Newt is not telling the truth? He doesn’t want to tell the truth tonight, but you can see it on his web site tomorrow. Mr. "I Was Not A Lobbyist" Gitt Rich reiterated his biggest whopper - he ordered republicans to vote yes to reprimand him in 1997. Really. Because the debate was in Florida, Newtie wants to overthrow Castro and won't take a stand on sugar subsidies.

Romney says his tax returns will have no surprises. He paid what he owed and not a penny more. Flip Flopper Mitt just can't find his niche - can't look like the smartest person on stage, can't be the most dynamic, and can't be a very effective attack dog. Even though he laid out some strong allegations on influence pedaling and poor leadership skills against Gingrich, his heart just wasn't into it. Romney keeps repeating his charge that President Obama is ignoring America's problems by playing ninety rounds of golf.

That's about 4 rounds a month. Surely scandalous.

Suits Santorum blames the bad economy on the oil price spike in 2008. Hope he realizes that was during President Bush's time. To save the environment, he wants to see pipelines replace tankers. Miss Liberty gets a headache picturing a pipeline over the ocean to the middle East.

The best part of the debate were some great tweets.

Looks like tea party darling Vicky Hartzler has gotten herself an opponent!

From the Cass County Democrat Missourian:

Hensley to Challenge Hartzler

Cass County Prosecuting Attorney Teresa Hensley is preparing to challenge Republican freshman U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler in November for her congressional seat.

"This country is facing difficult issues," Hensley said late Friday afternoon. "I want to be part of those discussions. I am forming a committee and will be making a formal announcement in the near future."

"I just love her to death as a candidate for this seat,” [Don Long, chairman of the Cass County Democratic Central Committee] said. “She's just the person to represent the working people of the 4th District, and not the special interests. We need someone who will fight to save Medicare and Social Security. Teresa is the consummate person to represent us in Washington.”

The Democratic political blog "Show Me Progress" posted a headline late in the day Jan. 19 proclaiming Hensley as the challenger to Hartzler in 2012. Underneath the headline, the blog posted an email it had received describing Hensley's accomplishments as the Cass County Prosecuting Attorney and her beliefs as they translate to Congress.

"Hensley will provide a strong independent voice for the middle class," the email read.

Emphasis added.

Fighting to protect Medicare and Social Security?  Fighting for Missouri's middle class?  SIGN ME UP.

When Dave Spence announced his campaign for governor, he promised to talk about "controversial but...badly needed [tax] reforms." The rhetoric on his now-scrubbed website suggested that his "controversial" tax platform might include Rex Sinquefield's disastrous Everything Tax proposal, but it now looks like he's running  away from the plan.

Last week on KSGF, Spence said he was "intrigued" by Rex's Everything Tax petitions, but refused to endorse.

HOST: One of the big areas that people do talk about when it comes to their own pocket book, and in turn the growth of this state, and there’s- I think probably it will be voted on by people, and that is the elimination of the state income tax and going to a state sales tax form instead. Where are you on that?

Everything you always thought about South Carolina is true. A state that considers itself the most conservative in the nation voted to make Newtie Gitt Rich the republican nominee for President of the United States. In a four way race with a few also and not runnings, the silver haired, silver tongued Newt took 40% of the vote. A state that takes it religious commitment seriously elected a compromising, ethically challenged, friend of Pelosi, mandate supporting, serial adulterer. He charmed them with his sly race baiting, media bashing, anti Mormon, and redemption messaging. The top four are still in, and look for Newt to wear out his welcome pretty darn quick.

Thank goodness South Carolina will vote soon. Time for the panelette to move on to another bizarre political environment in Florida. The audience at tonight 's debate sank to a new low - giving a standing ovation for infidelity. Newtie, when asked about his "open marriage" proposal, attacked the media in his usual bellicose manner, and had the audience with him every step of the way. Miss Liberty believes that anyone married to Newt would want a closed marriage. Newt closed in a closet, never to be seen.

Historian Newt's lecture on prosperity after World War II properly credited the GI Bill (a government program) for growth of the middle class. He also said taxes were lowered. He was a bit misleading. From 1944 until 1956, the top rate was over 90%. It stayed at 89% until 1964, when the top rate dropped to 76%. Of course, during the 1940s we were paying for WWII, something we apparently have forgotten how to do - put our wars on the books and pay for them with tax receipts, not credit cards. At any rate, even with these high tax rates, we saw tremendous growth and the development of a broad and prosperous middle class.

Flip Flopper Romney will be releasing his tax return. Sometime. He once again spoke of his humble beginnings, saying he didn't inherit money from his father, that he made it on his own. I guess name, zip code, education, and connections didn't help. Romney might have had the best zinger of the evening - revered Ronald Reagan only mentioned Newt once in his diary, and he wasn't very complimentary.

Missouri democrats are firing yet another salvo in the fight against Dave Spence and his refusal to pay back the $40 million his bank took in bailout funds and then refused to pay back.  Check it:

MDP Launches New Website and Online Ad Campaign Calling on Dave Spence to Come Clean About Bank Bailout

The Missouri Democratic Party today launched a new website and online ad campaign calling on David Spence to come clean about his role in Reliance Bancshares’ refusal to repay the taxpayers its $40 million bailout. The website, www.SpencesBankBailout.com, includes information about Spence’s role on the board of directors at Reliance and allows Missourians to sign a petition calling on Spence to come clean about his role in the bank’s decision not to repay its bailout.

I'm sure Steelman is just trying to rally her base, or whatever.

"For far too long, we’ve seen jobs leave our country, and now it’s not just China with whom we must compete, it’s the 22 states that have instituted free-market principles by passing Right to Work legislation,” said Steelman. “Missouri employers and workers deserve a competitive economic landscape."

"Those close to Kinder say they haven't ruled out a go at the
governor's mansion in 2016..."