­Those of you who have been following the Fired Up coverage over the past 4 years of the Missouri ties to the Abramoff scandal may be interested in today's news. From Congress Daily:

Former Hill Aide Pleads Guilty To Not Disclosing Gifts

Ethics.
A former congressional staffer has pleaded guilty to not reporting thousands of dollars in illegal gifts from lobbyists, the Associated Press reported. Trevor L. Blackann pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court to lying on his 2003 tax returns. He is a former aide to House Minority Whip Blunt and Sen. Christopher (Kit) Bond, R-Mo. Blackann is the most recent person convicted in the Jack Abramoff lobbying scandal. Among the gifts from lobbyists that Blackann failed to report was a free trip to a World Series game in New York. He also failed to report airfare, meals and entertainment at a "gentleman's club" paid for by lobbyists.

Columbia Tribune reporter and blogger Jason Rosenbaum is off to bigger and better things...

­http://blogs.columbiatribune.com/politics/2008/11/rosenbaum_departs_to_conquer_k.htm­l

Good luck, Jason - we've enjoyed your coverage and creativity on the blog.

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.

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!