Here in my backyard a political hornets nest got kicked. Congressman Todd Akien (R-MO), a deeply religious man with strong conservative roots, is running for the Missouri Senate. His opponent is the incumbent, Claire McCaskill (D-MO) a zealous liberal. While on a local broadcast, he made a very stupid statement regarding the topic of abortion. He confirmed he is against all abortions. When questioned about an abortion after the horrible crime of rape, Akien said, "A woman's body would shut down and prevent a pregnancy if it was a legitimate rape" ! As horrible a comment any person in office can make. The conservative group Crossroad GPS has spent millions on ads against McCaskill, but have now pulled $5 million out for future spending. The National review is calling for his head. The Republican Party is on him to drop out by the deadline tomorrow. Regretfully, the decision will not be made but the voters, but by national political action groups. Here's my problem.... I don't want either one of them ! But, since we only have 2 party system, I and others, have no real alternatives ! If fact, like the last Presidential Election, I don't like my choices for President of The United States ! My personal view is I'm not strongly conservative, nor am I strongly liberal. But our present day national elections are abstract points of view. Far right wing, or far left wing. Neither party has solutions to our problems of out of control crime, our economy, care for the disabled and elderly, world relations....etc I'm not calling out for a revolution, just practical choices in elections. Until we offer voters additional parties and alternatives to an outdated, money run system, how can we ever find solutions ? Just My Opinion.....
He got elected due to the way Congressional districts are drawn up. That's part of the problem too ! They say it's aligned with the population, but a one mile change can make a BIG difference in a district . We have a second generation Clay representing the poor, crime riddled area of north St Louis. The Democratic cronies have assured Bill Clay and now his son stay in power without challenge. It's a pure hell hole, you would be much safer in Baghdad and they have lined their pocket for decades ! The Republicans have done the same for Akien in the conservative St Louis County.
Well, he's not the first politician to suffer footinmouthitis! He did apoligize and try to clarify his remearks. Meanwhile America burns....
Poppy, it is because the media/leadership doesn't encourage us to vote our interest.............now we are to vote for an ideology for a solution. The word idiot and ideology must somehow be related but I can't remember why. In that very same memory of mine is how we remember the "sound bites" over what used to be our "real" voter interest. As a result today the poor and the middle class often vote for more wealth for the wealthy, more power for those that are too powerful etc. Just my two bits for thought.
Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill, wanting a weak opponent, 'endorsed' Akin in the republican primary by airing commercials calling him 'the true conservative' in the race. Akin, an underdog at the beginning, eventually ended up winning the primary by about 6%. I guess McCaskill is pretty happy now. This should be a shoe-in for her. No one of importance is standing by Akin (including the entire Republican House and Senate leadership), and he is about to lose NRC funding. The big 'Crossroads' SuperPac already withdrew the day after the remarks.
Alan, She has been slamming him over and over in one sided commercials since the primary. Yesterday, she backs him as the true candidate and should remain in the race. As superficial as one can get !
Yes, but I'm saying she 'supported' him in the primary (Is Claire McCaskill helping Todd Akin in the GOP primary? : Stltoday). So, she now has her 'hand-picked' candidate and is going to reap the benefits. I just saw an interview with McCaskill today, and she said he is 'sincere' and 'should stay in the race'. She once had the most vulnerable senate seat in the US -- not anymore. As I said, she'll be laughing all the way to ballot box on November 6th.
The scary part about all this is Akin has a Lot of company! Seems to me that too many politicians (on both sides of the aisle) appear to have an IQ that barely allows them to function. If not for their 'party' dictating the "What to say, When to say it, and How to vote" most would fail to meet job qualifications to get a job at McDonald's. Amazing how they always "Misspoke" or were "Taken out of context". But like I've said in the Past, we deserve what we get. We follow like sheep to the slaughter (sorry Urgh), and rather than do our own thinking let the rhetoric guide us at the ballot box. I challenge anyone to actually research the comments and statements made by either side. Too many times what is said is not only misconstrued but an outright Lie. I use to receive many emails from a someone who eats, breathes and lives Republican. Devoutly Religious but also despises Unions, Democrats and Liberals. But also first in line with hands out for the "Social Programs". I finally started to send them back a link from several different sources that either 'put things into context' or completely 'blew the BS out of the water'. I no longer get those Party advertizement emails. If we can ever get ourselves to not believe everything the Party Line utters maybe then we can take back our Country. Anyone who constantly votes a straight ticket is as much to blame as anything. Just my opinion.
I used to vote what could only be called a split ticket every time. I voted the person and his/her stated goals rather than a "party's" position. Since the appearance of the further right section, and domination of the Republican party I have rarely voted for any of the Republicans on any ticket outside of local, i.e., city and county. I think the shift started during the Bush years when it seemed more and more that they were supporting a plutocracy where the wealthy ruled. That was during the off year election of 2004 I believe. Could have been 2006 though just as easily.
I think it would help if more people voted for other parties as well. In recent years idealogs do seem to be running both the Democratic and Republican parties some third party wins might shake things up a bit.
I'm an unreconstructed liberal, though I agree that the country is well on it's way to being a plutocracy. I don't think I've voted for many Republicans, other than a few at the local level. The Democrrats seem to be more in line with my way of thinking, although there are many who are also rich. I guess that you almost have to be in order to run.
This stuff just gets better and better-er! State Senator and U.S. Senate candidate Michael Baumgartner issued an apology Tuesday, then retracted it after apparently sending a profane email to a reporter for the political blog Publicola. The email, which Publicola writer Josh Feit published on his blog, featured a photo of Baumgartner holding a gun and included the text, “Josh, this is Pat Feeks, a Navy SEAL killed last week in Afghanistan. Take a good look and then go f*** yourself.” (Note: The original email did not include asterisks.) Feeks was killed last week in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan. It isn’t entirely clear why Baumgartner used Feeks’ name, though Feit wrote that, “I interviewed Baumgartner yesterday [Monday] in the context of the story about US Rep. (and US Senate candidate) Todd Akin (R-MO). It’s hard to know what prompted his e-mail last night, but he noted during our interview yesterday that he was frustrated that the abortion issue was getting so much attention when he was focused on ending the war in Afghanistan.” Baumgartner's office emailed a statement issuing an apology (below in italics), but after the apology was issued, Baumgartner took it back and told KIRO 7's Graham Johnson that Feit, "had it coming." Baumgartner said he did not apologize and that he did not see that part of the news release ahead of time. More information on the initial exchange can be found in Feit’s post (WARNING: strong, possibly NSFW lanugage at link): kiro.tv/NjhqyE
Nic Pistor, a reporter for the Post-Dispatch and a good friend, was interviewed tonight on CNN. The P-D sponsored an independent poll gauging the Missouri voters regarding their views after the Akin statement. He is seeing a ground swell of support and now leads McCaskill by 1% ! I've tried to post his interview from my Facebook, but that crappy, stock falling website doesn't allow it and CNN doesn't have a direct link.
Is this the interview you mentioned, Steve? Nick Pistor discusses Todd Akin 'legitimate rape' comments on CNN - YouTube
