I'm fascinated by the message the Republican candidates are sending us -- not the message about their vision for the state, but their message about what they think of GOP voters.  According to GOP ads (I'm particularly thinking of Hulshof [0], Luetkemeyer [1] and Steelman [2] here) every voter in the GOP primary owns a truck and probably a tractor, lives on a farm, doesn't own a tie, has reckless disregard for the safety of their dogs (Hulshof almost hits his with his truck, Luetkemeyer appears to be shooting at his), hates San Fransisco and all things outside of Missouri.  According to the ads, GOP voters don't want anyone to have sex with anyone particularly gay people living in San Fransisco and poor elderly people (you should buy your own damned Viagra just like Bob Dole does, he doesn't need the taxpayers to get busy with Mrs. Senator Dole thank you very damned much, unless your gay and then you need to stop having sex altogether and no Viagra for you [3] even if you can pay for it yourself!).  GOP voters are highly influenced by the opinions of others, particularly if those others have the words "life" or "conservative" in their title.  On the other hand, GOP voters don't give a rip about rising gas prices, health care costs, education or the trade deficit.

God help us all if GOP candidates' opinions about their primary voters are correct.