U.S. Republican Party

Planned Parenthood To Missouri Lawmakers: End The "Campaign Against Women's Health"

The Missouri legislative session ended last week and one of the many successes the state GOP is celebrating is the passage of a bill to add restrictions to the "abortion pill." It's one of several Republican initiatives that Planned Parenthood is now slamming in the aftermath of the session. It's no ... More >>

Will Missouri GOP's Gun Owner Privacy Efforts Make State Vulnerable to Terrorism, Fraud?

The debate around the privacy of gun owners has dominated the legislature this session, with Republican lawmakers' persistent outcry regarding record-keeping in the state. The worry is that the Missouri license bureau, under the direction of Democratic Governor Jay Nixon, could be collecting and st ... More >>

Gun Owner Privacy Debate Prompts Budget Proposal To Kill Missouri License Bureau

This is a new one. Missouri lawmakers concerned that the government is violating the privacy of concealed-carry permit holders have come up with a unique way to express their frustration: a budget proposal that entirely defunds the state's license division. The State Senate yesterday passed a bu ... More >>

Gun Privacy: Revenue Director Brian Long Resigns Amid Concealed-Carry Data Dispute

For weeks now, Missouri Republicans have increased pressure on the state Department of Revenue and the governor's office to address allegations that they are collecting and storing records on concealed-carry permit holders in the state -- and possibly shipping that data off to the federal government ... More >>

Republican Rep. Keith Frederick Introduces Bill to Make Obamacare Illegal in Missouri

Missouri Republicans have come up with many different ways to express their disdain for President Barack Obama and his health care plan. Notably, GOP leaders are continuing to fight the mandatory coverage of contraception as outlined in federal health-care policy. But this week, one House Republic ... More >>

Guns: After Firearm Privacy Lawsuit, Missouri Senate Wants Proof There's No State Conspiracy

Is the Missouri Department of Revenue purposely tracking information about gun owners and sending documents off to the federal government or a private company? That's a question that Republican lawmakers in the state still seem to be asking this week after a resident hoping to get a concealed carry ... More >>

Ann Wagner Opposes Violence Against Women Act: "I Was Pleased to Stand Up for All Women"

You read the headline right. Representative Ann Wagner, who represents Missouri's second congressional district in Washington D.C, voted against the version of the Violence Against Women Act that has now passed both the House and the Senate with bipartisan support. Not that you'd know from her off ... More >>

Claire McCaskill Slams Voter ID; Says GOP Scare Tactics Backfire With Black Voters

There's a silver lining to Republican voter suppression efforts. So says Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill, who argued at a recent St. Louis press conference that the scare tactics of the GOP had the opposite effect -- inspiring more voters to show up to the polls. "We had a record turnout in N ... More >>

Maria Chappelle-Nadal Says Gun Control Critics "Don't Care About Black Lives Being Taken"

The gun debates in Missouri reached explosive levels this week with the introduction of a GOP bill that would make it illegal to even propose gun control measures and a bizarre stunt in which a Republican rep literally opened fire on a piece of legislation he doesn't like. Meanwhile, Democratic St ... More >>

Voter ID Bill Heads to House Floor: Missouri's Most Partisan, Divisive Legislation?

There are few bills in Missouri that are so divisive and so precisely divided along party lines. But a proposed photo ID requirement for voting has state lawmakers locked in a clear partisan battle where all members on both sides will remain loyal. So says Representative Stanley Cox, one of two Repu ... More >>

Ask a Mexican: Are Cubans Mexicans with connections?

Photo ID Bill Hearing Controversy: Dems Slam GOP For Suppressing Public Feedback

Update below: This morning, we reported on the progress of a controversial GOP measure to mandate all voters in Missouri show photo identification. Despite push back from the left, the proposal is moving forward this week. But now, according to Representative Stacey Newman, a Democrat and outspoke ... More >>

Ask a Mexican: What does "Wey" mean?

Todd Akin Finds His Own "Reverend Wright" In Radical Militia Leader

This week isn't the first time Todd Akin has had to answer questions about his relationship with Tim Dreste, one of the country's most infamous anti-abortion activists of the 1990s. But with election day just two weeks away, a national media that's always achin' for some Akin, and news that Akin was ... More >>

[VIDEO] McCaskill Ad Finally Hits Akin for "Legitimate Rape" Comment

Now that Congressman Todd Akin has let the final dropout deadline pass, he's definitely in it to win it -- and his opponent, incumbent Senator Claire McCaskill, clearly no longer fears mentioning his "legitimate rape" gaffe for fear he'll bow out and cede to a more formidable GOP contender. Hence he ... More >>

Ask a Mexican: Why do Mexicans love "Crystal Blue Persuasion" so much?

Missouri Legislature Overturns Nixon's Veto on Anti-Contraception Bill

It's official: In Missouri, employers, insurance companies or anyone else involved in an individual's health care can legally refuse to cover the Pill. In a not-so-surprising move, both houses of the Missouri Legislature voted to override Governor Jay Nixon's veto of Senate Bill 749. SB 749 give ... More >>

Romney Calls on Akin to Drop Senate Bid, Akin Tells Romney to Mind His Own Damn Business

The Washington Post reports that Mitt Romney has joined the overwhelming chorus of Republicans calling on Todd Akin to drop out of the Senate race today. The Romney campaign reportedly released a statement from the presidential candidate: As I said yesterday, Todd Akin's comments were offensive a ... More >>

Guns Blazin' n' Insults Flyin', GOP Candidates Wrap Up "Victory Tour" in STL County

We didn't find Abby Wambach amid the stacks of GOP yard signs, but 300 or so STL-area Republicans were on hand to celebrate their slate and revel in partisan glory... however premature.

Brunner, Kinder and Martin Favored to Win GOP Primary Contests, Poll Finds

According to an automated phone poll over the weekend of nearly 600 people likely to vote in Missouri's GOP primary tomorrow, 35 percent said they'd pick John Brunner to take on incumbent Senator Claire McCaskill30 percent said they'd prefer Todd Akin25 percent went for Sarah SteelmanBrunner enjoys ... More >>

America's Petro-Terrorists: Wall Street and Washington conspire to destabilize the U.S. economy, one barrel of oil at a time

Amazon Agrees to Pay Sales Tax in Texas; What About in Missouri?

On Monday, the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts and Amazon jointly announced they had struck a deal for the internet retailer to begin paying sales tax in the Lone Star state. Amazon has a distribution center in Irving, Texas, but has never paid sales tax for products shipped from the facility b ... More >>

The NRA Conference Is About To Rock Your Face; And Not Just With Guns

Whoowee! The America Center was all a-bustle yesterday with fork lifts bleeping, booths erecting, gun-lovers registering, and Daily RFT trying not to have an over-stimulated panic attack. Today begins the 2012 NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits; last time this happened in St. Louis, more then 64,000 ... More >>

If You Like Guns, Ted Nugent, Mitt Romney & More Guns, the NRA's Got a Deal for You!

Next weekend, more than 60,000 people are flocking to downtown St. Louis for the 2012 National Rifle Association Annual Meetings and Exhibits! This is a huge deal because, first of all, I will have a tougher time finding a parking spot. Secondly, an important national figure will be present: Ted Nug ... More >>

Ask a Mexican: Donde esta donkey show?

State Supreme Court to Decide Whether Missouri's Redistricting Map Is Unconstitutional

​Redistricting is the straw that stirs the bitter, burning, 195-proof partisan cocktail we chug down while squeezing our noses every campaign season before waking up the morning after the election massaging our temples, cursing the gods, wondering why we keep putting ourselves through this madness ... More >>

Vote In the State Primary! Or Don't. Whatever, Who Cares?

​Missouri's presidential primary is Tuesday, February 7. It's your chance to tell your party who you want to see represent you as president. Except that if you're planning on selecting someone from the Republican section of the ballot, your choice doesn't matter -- and that's not me saying that, i ... More >>

State Senator Evokes MLK to Defend Rolling Back Discrimination Laws

State Senator Brad Lager​Updated 1:15 p.m. with comments from State Senator Lager. This week Missouri Senate Republicans are pushing a bill that would dull workplace discrimination laws. Most notably, the legislation states that a person who files a discrimination lawsuit against an employer must ... More >>

As Obama Attacks Congress, McCaskill Becomes Vulnerable

An interesting political article in today's New York Times pinpoints incumbent Sen. Claire McCaskill as a potential casualty this November if President Obama continues to campaign on an anti-Congress platform. Experts say the oft-deadlocked Congress of last year is a fair target for President Obama ... More >>

State Senator Jane Cunningham Hints at Death Panels, Blocks Bill for Insurance Exchanges

​State Senator Jane Cunningham (R - Chesterfield) assures Daily RFT that she is not the "black helicopter type." Still, when reading House Bill 609 that would set up a health insurance exchange in Missouri, she came across language that reminded her of the "death panels" critics of federal health ... More >>

President Obama's Jobs Plan -- Voices from Barrister's

Albert Samaha"Stimulus has become a bad word," says Lasky (left).​Last Monday in his jobs speech, President Barack Obama made a serious effort to wrest control of the Narrative away from the Republicans.For months Democrats have complained about how they kept ending up negotiating on Republicans' ... More >>

Let the Dems keep hating: Jamilah Nasheed could pull off the political coup of the century

The Downgrade -- Voices from The Royale

Somebody clearly messed up. But who will take the blame?​After S.& P. downgraded America's credit rating from AAA to AA , the political strategy on both sides of the aisle was clear: Blame the other guys.The irony of the situation, of course, is that Monday's stock market dip, partially sparke ... More >>

Debt Ceiling Debate -- Blueberry Hill Barfly Speaks Out

Albert SamahaPresident Obama "gave what he had to to get it done," says Vincent.​"An informed citizenry is the bulwark of a democracy" -- Thomas Jefferson The power of The People rests upon our ability to hold elected officials accountable for their positions. This means wading through the s ... More >>

Missouri Senate Race Narratives Emerge from Debt Ceiling Debate

Getcha popcorn ready: campaign season is heating up.​The narratives for one of the most high-profile senate races in America have begun to form. With the public's eyes on Capitol Hill for last couple of weeks, the major players -- Senator Claire McCaskill, Congressman Todd Akin, and former Sta ... More >>

Video: McCaskill says McConnell "Has Lost His Mind"

​Remember that scene in "Almost Famous" when the plane seems like it's about to crash, so everybody starts making all these outrageous confessions? I once hit a man in Dearborn, Michigan... If I took an extra dollar or two it's 'cause I knew I'd earned it... I slept with Marta... I'm Gay! Pe ... More >>

Is Photo ID Amendment Bigoted Enough to Drive Missouri Republicans to the Polls?

It's me, McLovin. Can I vote now, please?​Frankly, we here at Daily RFT are a little disappointed. We'd expected something juicier.Usually when Missouri's Republican-controlled Legislature rolls out a proposed constitutional amendment, it's something outrageously bigoted. Something that they hope ... More >>

Comment of the Day: Is It Okay For Blacks to Have Race-Based Agenda?

Today's comment comes in a response to a post about how four black Missouri legislators lined up with Republicans to override Governor Jay Nixon's veto of the state's new congressional districts. In voting with the Republicans, the four Democratic defectors ensured that the districts of Missouri's t ... More >>

Missouri Right-To-Work Bill Appears Dead -- For Now

​The Missouri Senate yesterday failed to come to a vote after debating for three hours a bill that would prohibit unions from operating "closed shop" businesses in the state. Supporters of the so-called "right-to-work" initiative -- which bars unions from collecting fees and dues from all employee ... More >>

Return to Sender: What would comprehensive immigration reform look like if the feds got moving?

New Dem Party Chair Susan Montee: "We're Down About as Far as We Can Go"

Can she bring her party out of the doldrums?​One month after Missouri's Democratic candidates suffered a series of bruising defeats in the midterm elections, the party swiftly moved to make a change at the helm. Out as party chairman is Craig Hosmer, who held the post for two years. In his p ... More >>

Kevin Jackson wrote the book on how to win (white) friends and influence (black) people

Obama Signs House Bill, Now Health Care Reform Heads to Senate for Debate

cnn.comObama signs health care reform today in the presence of, Gary Coleman???​President Obama moments ago signed the House version of health care reform. At a signing ceremony this afternoon Obama stated: "It's been easy at times to doubt our ability to do such a big thing, such a complicated th ... More >>

About Those Terrorists Moving In Next Door

So you may have heard that Missouri will soon be getting some new neighbors. Yesterday, Illinois governor Pat Quinn received a letter from President Obama informing him that the terrorism suspects currently detained in Guantanamo Bay will be moved to a largely unused prison in Thomson Illinois, a fe ... More >>

How St. Louis Area Congressmen Voted on Last Week's Hate Crime Bill

Matthew Shepard, a gay Wyoming college student murdered in 1998 and an inspiration for the revised hate-crimes law.​You've probably heard by now how the House of Representatives passed a measure last week that broadens the definition of a "hate crime" to include incidents committed because of the ... More >>

Elephant Down: Republicans are Leaving Their Party in Droves, Especially in the Midwest

flickr.com/photos/amanda kay riley It is hardly breaking news to note that Republicans here and across the country have been shedding their party like a chrysalis for quite some time now. But what is extraordinary is the sheer volume of the desertion. A new Gallup Poll shows that the precipiti ... More >>

Missouri Congresswoman joins the Palin 'Truth Squad'

Mount Buzzmore

Scandals, shootings and tax anger crack Westfall façade, but bags of money, no GOP opponent -- yet -- may keep him on his pedestal

The Ethics Omission

Enforcers of Missouri's campaign-finance laws would rather hide than seek.

Guns and Poses

Frenzied politicians do the Littleton shuffle