Time for War?
Reading through the released Blunt administration emails, one can't help but notice a palpable disdain for the Missouri press corps. Looking at things from the Blunt Team perspective, it's not that hard to see why -- with just a little poking around, one could uncover some pretty embarrassing stuff.
For instance, in August 2007, former Governor Matt Blunt wanted to repeal the state's ticket scalping law. Coincidently, Blunt's brother, Andy, was a lobbyist for Ticketmaster, which stood to make a lot of money from the change. Much to the chagrin of Blunt and his allies, Post-Dispatch reporter Virginia Young noted the conflict in a piece called "Blunt Backs Ticket Scalping. His Brother Appreciates It." Here's an excerpt:
What does ticket scalping have to do with economic development?
Jessica Robinson, the governor's spokeswoman, said the provision "will be good for tourism and economic development. It will make it easier for fans to gain access to tickets in a legal and convenient secondary market."
Labeling the issue urgent had nothing to do with the fact that the governor's brother, Andy Blunt, lobbies for Ticketmaster, Robinson said. Andy Blunt "did not have a role in the decision." Robinson said.
Not surprisingly, the Blunt Team, including Lt. Governor Peter Kinder and Chief of Staff Ed Martin, didn't like getting out for what looked like a pretty obvious conflict.
Kinder, never one to understate things, immediately complained to Martin about the article's "nixon wet dream headline."
And Martin, for his part, was somehow convinced that the article was evidence of the Post-Dispatch was "panicking":
------ Original Message------
From: Martin, Ed
To: The Honorable Peter Kinder
Sent: Aug 18, 2007 5:50 PM
Subject: Re:As we get our sh-t together, the p-d is panicking. B-st-rds.
Then, two minutes after sending the above email to Kinder, Martin emailed fellow lackey Rich Chrismer (now an advisor to the elder Blunt), calling for "war" with the Post-Dispatch:
------ Original Message------
From: Martin, Ed
Sent: Saturday, August 18, 2007 5:52 PM
To: 'rchrisrner@rnattblunt.corn'
Subject: Fw:May be time for war with the p-d or at least a meeting.
Heaven forbid they evaluate or change the way they were governing (gasp). Penalizing or assaulting the press were apparently the only options on the table.
And what a shame it was that right as they were about to "get their sh-t together" (three years into the term), Blunt pulled the rug out from under them and decided not to run.
