From the Department of Up Is Down:

GOPers inside the Beltway and around the country discussed a list of about 20 high-profile or rising-star Republicans being circulated by Duncan opponents who want a bigger name at the RNC.

The list contained such GOP luminaries as former Speaker Newt Gingirch (Ga.), former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt...

Is it possible to be forced from running for a second term as governor due to rampant unpopularity and still be categorized as a "rising star"?     

From a good story by the soon-to-retire Jo Mannies in yesterday's Post-Dispatch:

Herschel and AuBuchon denied repeatedly in their testimonies that they had ever instructed the administration's computers experts to take action that would have guaranteed the destruction of computer backup tapes that contained e-mails being sought by Eckersley's lawyers and various news organizations, including the Post-Dispatch.

Two computer technicians — Chris Wilkerson and Dan Ross, the state's custodian of records — have told state investigators that AuBuchon, Herschel and Martin had directly or indirectly issued such orders.

This matters as much because of the giver of the testimony as it does because of the content. 

Dan Ross and Matt Blunt have a long history together, with Ross following Blunt to the administration from a top perch in the Blunt Secretary of State office.  Ross was one of Blunt's first hires as he transitioned into the Secretary of State's office in 2000-2001, taking the number two spot as Executive Deputy Secretary of State and actually running the shop for a spell while Blunt fulfilled Naval service requirements.

5 out of 6 statewide offices in Missouri are now held by Democrats! Help them make our state a better place.  Apply to work with them in public service, here:

TRANSITION OFFICES

Governor-elect Jay Nixon
http://www.govelect.mo.gov/
State Treasurer-elect Clint Zweifel
http://www.stoelect.mo.gov/
Attorney General-elect Chris Koster
http://www.agoelect.mo.gov/

Office of Secretary of State Robin Carnahan
http://www.sos.mo.gov/jobs/sos-jobapp1.pdf
Office of State Auditor Susan Montee
http://www.auditor.mo.gov/employment/jobopps.htm  Story Continued »

Senator Kit Bond (R-Wild Turkey) and Peter "Every Other Dollar Counts" Kinder are reportedly in a pitched fight for control of the Missouri Republican Party.

According to the KY3 Political notebook, Kinder is backing long-time Emerson aide Lloyd Smith.  Bond is backing former State House Speaker Catherine Hanaway

Some state house observers are wondering why Kinder would opposed Hanaway.  After all, the two joined forces to try to spend taxpayer money on a new Cardinal's stadium.­  Story Continued »

Jay Nixon has tapped former House/Senate Budget Chair Wayne Goode to oversee budget issues during his gubernatorial transition.

Goode's return to the state capital comes over 45 years after his first legislative term in 1963.  He brings an unparalleled wealth of state government know-how to the Nixon Transition.

He is also the only member of Nixon's team to have his likeness cast in bronze, celebrating his leadership in the founding of the University of Missouri-St. Louis.  Story Continued »

Shorter David Brooks, Idiot:

"Voters rejected another term of Republican leadership in the White House, therefore Barack Obama can be successful only by governing as a Republican moderate."  

Send your resumes to the Hired Up! Missouri resume and job bank.  We’ll help connect you up with Missouri employers looking for talented folks like you. 

Email resumes to: HiredUpMissouri@hotmail.com and in the body of your email, please include career interests, location and salary requirements. 

Happy hunting! ­

There is growing resentment in GOP ranks over the way Peter Kinder worked against the GOP ticket in the closing days of the campaign.

According to GOP sources, Kinder and his allies distributed thousands of sample ballots in urban areas on Election Day.

Rather than suggesting voters support the GOP ticket, the sample ballots recommended only Democrats, except for the  Lt. Governor's race.  For that contest alone, a Republican was suggested---- Peter Kinder.

One sample ballot even sandwiched Kinder's pocked mug between the photos of Barack Obama and Democratic Congressman Lacy Clay.

Stay tuned to Fired Up for more on fratricide within the GOP.

UPDATED, 8:43am: Photos below the jump...

Jay Nixon today reached across the party aisle and met with GOP and Democratic legislative leaders.  Here's an excerpt from PD coverage:

In his first news conference in Jefferson City as the governor-elect, Jay Nixon adopted a purple tone, literally and figuratively.

Wearing a purple tie and surrounded by Republican leaders on his right and Democratic leaders on his left, Nixon told the press that he and his fellow legislative leaders would work together on “shared principles.”

That's the right way, Jay.­  Story Continued »

Roy Blunt will be having a press conference in half an hour to announce his plans.  With Eric Cantor having already announced his plans to run, rumors are rampant that Blunt won't be seeking re-election as Whip.

If that proves true, isn't that all but a retirement announcement?  And if so, will he serve out this term?  Seems doubtful.

Let the jockeying in Southwest MO begin!

­­We supercharged the world last night with the election of Barack Obama.  Not only did we reclaim our hopes and dreams for the 21st century, we took a giant step in restoring our moral authority in the world.  That hope was etched on the faces of all those who watched longingly throughout the evening hours, whether they were in Chicago, Times Square, outside the White House gates, in the villages of Kenya or in the ballroom of the Chase Park Plaza in St. Louis.

Many thoughts came to mind amid the tears of victory.  Each Election Day, we put ourselves and our democracy to the test.  You see, our country, like no other, is built on this “crazy” idea—one that should never work.  It’s the idea that “all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among them life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.” ­
 Story Continued »

    An Election Day shall ne­'er go by,
    From this day to the end­ing of the world,
    But we in it shall be remembered--
    We voters, we happy voters, we band of brothers;
    For he to-day that stands with me­
    Shall be my brother . . .
    And those who remain this day a-bed
    Shall think themselves the worst they were not here,
    And hold their freedoms cheap who did not rise
    And stand with me in St. Louis on Election Day.