WOO HOOOO! Matt Blunt is withdrawing from the Missouri govenor race!

[MadHound]

Just heard the news on the radio. Some of the best news I've heard in awhile. I don't think that after his horrible damage he did to the Medicaid system and Missouri infrastructure that he would have won anyway. But to top it off, he's facing a case of disappearing emails scandal and I think that was the last straw that caused him to throw in the towel.

NO MORE BLUNT TRAUMA

:bounce::bounce::party::toast::bounce::bounce:

[bluestateguy]

1. Does this mean that Jay Nixon will have a free ride now?

??

[MadHound]

3. Probably not exactly a free ride, but damn close.

I'm sure that the 'Pugs will toss a sacrificial goat into the ring, but at this late date, and with the stench of Blunt all over the 'Pug nominee, it's the next best thing to a free ride.

[maddezmom]

2. good news

:hi:

[shain from kane]

4. Do you think it may have something to do with his father? Is he being investigated?

[MadHound]

5. Nah, Matty boy stepped into the shit all on his own.

He's royally fucked over Medicaid, the University of Missouri, and Missouri infrastructure in general during his tenure. It was almost assured that he would lose this fall. However a few weeks ago it came to light that there's been email retention problem in the governor's office, and what with the various little scandals swirling around his office, that pretty much sealed the deal for any shot he had at reelection. I imagine all he's going to try and do now is hunker down and ride out the end of his term without any criminal charges coming his way.

[MO_Dem]

6. Sweeeeeeeeet!

MAYBE Missouri will survive, after all!

:applause:


edited to correct typo

[hatrack]

7. Oh, and then there's his brother and Graves' wife highly questionable ethanol connections

EDIT

Show Me Ethanol, which is on track to open this spring, received conditional approval 15 months ago from State Treasurer Sarah Steelman to benefit from below-market interest rates. But that condition required Show Me Ethanol to comply with the treasurer's strict conflict-of-interest policy, which applies to all statewide projects, not just the proposed ethanol plant.

Under the rules, no incentives can be given if the company has even a single investor who is a lawmaker, statewide elected official, state department director or a parent, sibling, spouse or child of any of those officials. So far, Show Me Ethanol has been unable to comply.

That's because its investors include state Rep. John Quinn, R-Chillicothe; his wife, Mary; and Andy Blunt, the brother of Republican Gov. Matt Blunt. Also invested in the plant is Lesley Graves, the wife of U.S. Rep. Sam Graves, R-Mo. The treasurer's policy doesn't specifically list Missouri's federal lawmakers as prohibited investors, but Steelman has interpreted her policy so that it does. The Graves family was unaware its investment could pose a potentially costly conflict for Show Me Ethanol until contacted last month by The Associated Press, said the congressman's spokesman, Jason Klindt. As a result, Lesley Graves now plans to sell her investment, Klindt said. "She didn't want Show Me to be held to some sort of different standards just because she was an investor," Klindt said.

The Quinns and Andy Blunt are still holding on to their shares, though they told the AP they would consider selling if Steelman remains steadfast and the company needs them to do so. Steelman insists no exceptions to her policy will be made.

EDIT

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/22/AR2008012200424.html?nav=printbox