U.S. Republican Party

Missouri's Approved Gun Bills: Concealed-Carry Permits Easier to Get, Record-Keeping Banned

The legislative session in Missouri is finally over. And after months of heated debates on guns, lawmakers have sent controversial bills to the governor that would dramatically change the concealed-carry permit application process -- and increase protections for gun owners. That is, these bills ma ... More >>

Missouri Seersucker Caucus Is Most Powerful, Bipartisan Force At The Capitol (PHOTOS)

Last month, we reported on Missouri State Senator Ryan McKenna's handwritten proposal to ban seersucker suits for anyone over the age of eight. His disdain for the fashion trend -- inspired by a growing love of seersucker at the Missouri State Capitol -- has apparently backfired. Big time. The so- ... More >>

Mo. Attorney General to Republicans: Enough "Foolishness" on Contraception Coverage

In a scathing rebuke of conservative lawmakers, Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster today called on Republicans to end their continued bickering over contraception coverage outlined in the federal Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. Obamacare. "The Republicans' attempt to deny contraceptive coverage to ... More >>

Gun Privacy: Judge Says There's Only "Hearsay Evidence" Missouri is Sending Data to Feds

As we reported earlier this week, Republican legislators have increased pressure on the Department of Revenue to prove that it is not collecting personal information of law-abiding gun owners and sending documents off to the federal government. But a judge has since issued an order in the lawsuit ... More >>

Concealed-Carry Lawsuit Pushes Forward, Missouri Says Personal Info Isn't Going to Feds

Officials with the Missouri Department of Revenue say they aren't sending people's personal information off to the federal government -- but that's not stopping a lawsuit aimed at protecting the privacy of gun owners in the state. As we reported last week, a petition from a Stoddard County residen ... More >>

Guns: GOP Wants Missouri to Destroy Personal Documents Tied to Concealed Carry Permits

Last week, we wrote about a lawsuit from a Stoddard County resident who was concerned that the Missouri Department of Revenue was violating his privacy by keeping records of his personal information when he went to apply for a concealed carry permit. Now, a group of Republican lawmakers say they a ... More >>

Guns: Dems Promote Poll Showing 85 Percent of Missourians Want Universal Background Checks

The Missouri legislature is full of pro-gun, anti-gun control, keep-your-hands-off-my-guns GOP proposals this season -- everything from a bill to stop Obama to legislation criminalizing lawmakers who even suggest gun control. In this climate, Democrats' gun bills are getting nowhere. But that does ... More >>

Rep. Tony Dugger On His Voter ID Bill: "Most Of The Feedback...Was On The Negative Side"

Last week, we brought you news of a controversial GOP bill to mandate all voters in the state of Missouri show some form of photo identification in order to cast a ballot. The proposal sparked backlash even before a scheduled hearing on Tuesday -- with opponents slamming the ID bill as a Republican ... More >>

Stacey Newman on Missouri GOP Gun Bill: "Could you imagine anything crazier?"

Gun debates are alive and well in Missouri and Representative Stacey Newman, a Democrat, is currently promoting her bill that would require all sales or transfers of firearms to go through a licensed dealer. She is also, however, speaking out about some Republican proposals that are directly in op ... More >>

Ed Martin Becomes MO Republican Party Chairman; Everyone Makes Exact Same Joke

After failed attempts to become a Missouri (1) congressman, (2) senator, (3) congressman (again) and (4) attorney general, Ed Martin has at last found success. On Saturday he was elected as chairman of Missouri's Republican Party. It's considered a victory for the more extreme elements of the state ... More >>

Muslim Hunting: David Horowitz has made taunting college students a spectator sport. Sometimes he's actually right.

GOP State Senator Rob Schaaf on Missouri's Obamacare Deadline: "Deadline Schmedline."

November 16, folks. That's the deadline for Missouri to decide whether our state government will set up the "insurance exchange" required by the Affordable Care Act (a.k.a. Obamacare), or whether the feds will swoop in and set it up for us. It's only one week away, so Daily RFT called Republican sta ... More >>

An Open Fan Letter to Mitt Romney and Todd Akin

Editor: Tef Poe is an artist from St. Louis City. Through powerful imagery and complicated honesty, he has earned a reputation as one of the best rappers telling the story of St. Louis, which is about much more than one place. Poe has been featured in music publications such as XXL and Urb Magazine. ... More >>

The Convention That Could Have Been: What if STL Had Hosted the DNC?

If life in St. Louis is better than it was four years ago, it still ain't got nothin' on the summer of 1916--the last time we hosted the Democratic National Convention. You might remember that in 2010, St. Louis was a finalist to host the convention that brought 35,000 people to Charlotte, NC this ... More >>

[VIDEO] The Raging Grannies to Todd Akin: "F**K YOU!"

Look, everybody knows things are really bad for senatorial candidate Todd Akin right now: One little "legitimate rape" comment  and the guy's a  a national punchline, a target of violent threats, down in the polls and practically friendless in his own GOP. But now he's got these people mad ... More >>

Odds Stacked Against Black Candidates, According to Some Operatives

If black candidates do not win these elections, where the odds are stacked against them, St. Louis, a city that is roughly 50 percent African American, will have no black representatives in Congress, the Missouri Senate or in the state House.

Romney Attacks Obama's Pro-Union Stance With Video Ad Vilifying St. Louis' Local 42

Yesterday, after presumptive GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney attacked President Barack Obama for his ties to teachers' unions, Daily RFT went a-digging for some background and found an interesting precursor: Back in September, the Republican blasted Obama by training a spotlight on one of St. ... More >>

St. Charles GOP Holds a Caucus: Round Two

When last we left the St. Charles Republican Party, they were attempting to hold a caucus on St. Patrick's Day. That one ended in shouting, recriminations and a couple of arrests -- so it was more like Thanksgiving dinner than St. Pat's. Then David Cole, chairman of the state GOP, announced there wo ... More >>

St. Charles GOP Catches March Madness, Caucus Implodes

​First we had the Republican primary that didn't matter. Now we have a Republican caucus that goes nowhere and breaks down in finger-pointing, shouting and recriminations. Say what you will about the GOP, but the guys behind the scenes seem game-ready for the big show in Washington.

Senate to Vote on Roy Blunt's Opt-Out Bill for Contraception Coverage

It's nearly March, just six months before the G.O.P. convention, which sounds like a perfect time to celebrate our quadrennial political tradition: culture wars. In Michigan, Republican presidential nominee Rick Santorum is telling folks there shouldn't necessarily be a complete separation of churc ... More >>

The Ten Biggest Presidential Endorsements by Musicians in the 2012 Campaign

Megadeth rocker Dave Mustaine raised a few collective eyebrows this week when he endorsed former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum's bourgeoning presidential bid. The former Pennsylvania senator has been gaining steam as of late after prevailing in a trio of February contests, including Missouri's non-bindin ... More >>

Ask a Mexican: Who's the most pro-Mexican GOP candidate?

What People Are Saying About Santorum's Missouri Win

​Last night Rick Santorum swept the primaries in Missouri, Minnesota, and Colorado. As expected, his most decisive victory was in Missouri, where he took all 114 county for a 55 percent runaway, more than doubling Mitt Romney's 25 percent. In many ways, it's a hollow success. It didn't count towa ... More >>

Steelman For Payroll Tax Cut, Akin Against Payroll Tax Cut, Brunner... Against?

​A few days ago, the Springfield News-Leader published a Q&A with the three candidates in Missouri's GOP Senate primary race. It's still early in the race and Sarah Steelman, Rep. Todd Akin and John Brunner have all positioned themselves as rock solid conservative candidates. As such, it's a ... More >>

Peter Kinder Will Not Be Running for Governor

Peter Kinder's had a rough year.​Today Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder announced that he will not run for governor. Instead he will seek a third term at his current seat. On one hand this is mildly surprising considering that he's been considered the GOP front-runner to challenge Governor Jay Ni ... More >>

(Unofficial) Senate Candidate John Brunner Could Shake Up GOP Primary

When will John Brunner officially enter the Senate race?​St. Louis businessman John Brunner's political advisor John Hancock says that Brunner will announce his candidacy for Claire McCaskill's U.S. Senate seat "soon." It seems like Brunner has been on the verge of entering the race for months n ... More >>

Top Missouri GOP Consultant Hasn't Paid His Taxes

courtesy of Fired Up! MissouriDavid Barklage (right) with Missouri Lt. Governor Peter Kinder​As the main political consultant to Missouri Lt. Governor Peter Kinder -- and a key strategist for the Missouri Republican Party -- David Barklage preaches the gospel of financial responsibility and ac ... More >>

Claire McCaskill Third Most Vulnerable Senator, Washington Post Says

Claire McCaskill: Vulnerable, but not because her challengers are so awesome or anything.​So Todd Akin is a smug know-it-all convinced that only those with his political beliefs are capable of respect for the Almighty. And so what if Sarah Steelman's campaign thinks 100 x 1,000 = 10,000?Never mind ... More >>

Ask a Mexican: Is Mexico a Tea Party paradise?

Did Senator Claire McCaskill Torpedo St. Louis' Bid for the Democratic Convention?

Image viaU.S. Senator Claire McCaskill​Check out The New York Times this morning on why the Dems chose Charlotte over other contenders for their national convention: St. Louis was widely seen as the next choice to Charlotte...[but] there were broader concerns raised about Missouri....One of the co ... More >>

Slay Joins Chorus of DNC-Hopeful Mayors Praising Obama's Tax Deal

​Readers of Mayor Francis Slay's blog may have wondered last week why St. Louis' top elected official was so quick to praise President Barack Obama over the contentious tax bill he's working out with Republicans. On Sunday, the New York Times provided an explanation. Slay had to keep up with the m ... More >>

Claire McCaskill: Will 'Absolutely' Seek Another Term in 2012

image viaStand by your man.​Missouri's junior senator, Democrat Claire McCaskill, who won her seat in 2006 by beating out Republican incumbent Jim Talent, says that she will "absolutely" run to keep her Senate seat in the 2012 election, reports the St. Louis Beacon. Now that Republicans ... More >>

Rupert Murdoch: Ass Clown of the Week

Murdoch: A new feather in his cap, Ass Clown.​It wasn't even close. Rupert Murdoch collected three times as many votes as any other candidate this weekend to earn him the title of Daily RFT Ass Clown of the Week. Sixty percent of voters thought the media mogul worthy of the honor after his Fox New ... More >>

Who is Daily RFT's "Ass Clown of the Week" -- August 6 - 13?

​Whoa! It's nearing quittin' time and we've yet to post this week's Ass Clown of the Week nominations! You know the rules, vote for the person or group whose words/actions brought them the most shame and/or embarrassment this week. 1. Brandon Phillips: The Cincinnati Reds infielder was left eating ... More >>

Missouri Democratic Party Files Complaint vs. Joe the Plumber, But Why?

​So, I'm a little late to the game here. The reason? I just can't get my head around the latest political skirmish pitting the Missouri Democratic Party against Joe the Plumber and G.O.P. Senate hopeful Chuck Purgason. Purgason, something of Tea Party extremist (though grudgingly appreciated here ... More >>

Payment of $2,500 at Center of Latest Dana Loesch Pissing Match

Dana Loesch: Tea'd off, again.​There's some interesting bickering underway in the G.O.P. primary race for Missouri's 3rd Congressional District. And contrary to what you might expect, it doesn't involve the candidates hurling insults at each other -- at least not directly.The controversy surrounds ... More >>

How They Voted on Health Care: Missouri and St. Louis Area Representatives

Todd Akin: Health care reform = fightin' words.​Updated 10:00 a.m. The health care reform bill passed the House of Representatives last night with a 219 to 212 vote. No Republicans supported the measure. Thirty four Democrats also voted no, including Missouri rep Ike Skelton.The bill now heads to ... More >>

Cougar and Congresswoman-Wannabe Teri Davis Newman Leading in Poll

Cougar and conservative Teri Davis Newman: Can she claw her way to Congress?​GOP voters in Illinois' 12th Congressional District get to vote in a primary tomorrow to select the nominee who will try to unseat Democratic congressman Jerry Costello in the November general election. As we told you a w ... More >>

News from the Far Right: Taitz Tells Patriots to Take Up Arms; Davis Might Run for Senate

http://www.flickr.com/photos/andrewaliferis/ / CC BY-ND 2.0​Voila a couple of quick political tidbits during this no-one-gives-a-sh$t week. 1) First, the always-responsible Dr. Orly Taitz -- a California attorney who believes President Obama is not really a U.S. citizen -- posted a literal call to ... More >>

Kit Bond: Obama "Sending Terrorists to A Neighborhood Near You"

Last month he accused the commander in chief of turning the U.S. into a "banana republic" by releasing the torture memos. Now, in the senator's weekly GOP radio address, closing Gitmo equates to moving the 9-11 planners into your subdivision. Other highlights include: pronouncing the name of hi ... More >>

Over the Weekend: Arch Rivalry, John McCain, Lil Wayne, Gay Cowboys, East Loop Block Party, Body Painting, Gateway Cup

Malcolm asks the question of the day: What goes down smoother than a campaign promise?

Boston (The Band) Pwns Presidental Candidate Mike Huckabee

Unreal Presents the Only Endorsement That Matters

Stripping Bush

Nude dancers, pot smokers and hip-hoppers register to oust Dubya

Lunatics Fringe

Jefferson City lawmakers hit the roof over Nelly's visit to the statehouse

Party Disloyalty

The 20th Ward delivers for the Democrats, then gets dumped

There's No Place as Bad as This Home

Assessment flap doesn't bode well for the county's ambience

Really Strange Bedfellows

With good guys like this, who needs bad guys?

Impeach Pit