First A.G. debate rehash
Last Thursday, the Dems running for attorney general came together in their first debate. That night state Rep. Jeff Harris almost immediately sent out an e-mail proclaiming victory:
“They say if you want to know where someone’s going - take a look at where they’ve been. I’ve spent my career going after the people who would do you harm - whether it’s a governor who thinks it’s okay to cut 89,000 people off the Medicaid rolls, the CAFOs that pollute near your property or the meth dealers who hang around your child’s school.”
Friday, Margaret Donnelly, also touted her performance in a release. From her announcement:
“The attorney general’s office is a place where law and policy intersect. When I talk about ‘protecting families’ it isn’t just a catch phrase, it is what I did day in and day out in my law practice. Voters will know I have a record of fighting for them. Serving on the boards of two local government agencies, a large school board, and on a public transit system I have overseen budgets and staff larger than the Attorney General’s office. From my work on the budget committee in the legislature I know the workings of the departments represented by the attorney general better than anyone in the race. This all makes me uniquely qualified to put our democratic values into action.”
Then today, state Sen. Chris Koster claimed victory himself, in a very short release that cited the KC Star’s Steve Kraske who said Koster “displayed a depth of knowledge and a commanding rhetorical style.”
Kraske gave Koster points for suggesting the AG’s Jeff City office be decentralized in favor of boosting attorney staff in St. Louis and Kansas City.
Kraske also gave a bit of wrap on the debate, which took place at UMKC:
After the debate, [Koster's] rivals, state Reps. Jeff Harris and Margaret Donnelly, pounced.
Both questioned Koster’s account that a filibuster he led at session’s end was about standing up for Democrats to kill the much-hated voter-ID law. Instead, they said Koster’s talkathon was aimed at performing a favor for his buddy, GOP House Speaker Rod Jetton, on an unrelated bill.
Several Republicans backed up the story. “That is so full of baloney, I can’t believe it,” state Sen. Delbert Scott of Lowry City said of Koster’s take.
Kraske also noted that Molly Williams, the KC teacher/lawyer running a nonexistant campaign didn’t show.
The Dems will debate again May 30 in Lake Ozark. That one will be sponsored by the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, at its annual Bench, Bar and Professional Development Conference.
Jeff Harris - “They say if you want to know where someone’s going - take a look at where they’ve been.” and for once I agree with him.
Harris is a demogouge, has always been a demogouge, and will always be a demogouge.
Someone has to say it - the past few yeas - actually since he became a Senator - Delbert and others have adopted this “No one is holier than we are and if we don’t like you (they don’t like Jetton) you are devil spawn and we will always diss you”. Not to mention I am sure he and others feel jilted with Koster’s party change.
Bottom line to me is this - Koster and Harris are both buffoons looking for the next stepping stone. Donnelly is the real deal - the only sincere candidate in the democrat AG race.
Gibbons is a much beter choice than Donnelly but if she were to win - you wouldn’t be wondering about the move she is taking and what she is up to like you would with Koster or Harris.
Koster can’t even tell the truth about why he assisted Jetton in filibustering the village law. He knows better than anyone (as a former GOPer) that if the Repubs wanted to pass Photo ID they would simply move the previous question and it would be done in a matter of minutes.
I wonder what he was promised in return for selling his soul to Jetton?
Yep - just like former GOP’er Chuck Graham. Koster, Graham, and Callahan all claimed to have been delaying the Village Law to slow down the Photo ID bill. The difference it appears is that Graham and Callahan have been long time democrats and it is apparently a given and acceptable that they are going to lie about their reasons to filibuster the Village Law but Koster - a recent democrat “convert” - isn’t being afforded the same democrat courtesy of being able to lie and have it accepted.
Of course, there is absolutely no proof he is telling a lie but then again - he is a democrat now.
Koster has the most experience, the most endorsements, has raised the most money and has the most support across the state. KC Star’s Steve Kraske said Koster “displayed a depth of knowledge and a commanding rhetorical style.” I am so sorry that people picked thier horse so early. Jeff Harris and Margaret Donnelly do not have the experience to be AG. Harris worked in the AG’s office - wow, I better be concerned about the summer intern taking over the whole office if that is the standard for “experience”. Margaret Donnelly was a divorce laywer for the vast majority of her career - hardly the training we need in the AG’s office.
Koster was a prosecutor for 10 year (elected multiple times in Ike Skelton’s democratic district). From there he went to the State Senate for 4 years. STATE SENATE not the House. Koster was elected by many more people then voted for either Harris or Donnelly.
Bottom line..Koster has experience, an understanding of the issues, endorsements (labor, police, firefighters, prosecutors)and has raised a ton of money. Koster is the best candidate in the race.
All the rest of this retoric is nothing more then arm waving and sour grapes.
Calm down folks. We’ve got a long summer ahead of us. And those in the know will tell you that Harris is in the driver’s seat.
Isn’t it interesting that Harris and Donnelly both “pounced” on Koster? People in the know usually call that the drivers seat.
If Harris is in the driver’s seat - God help us.
How could one be for protecting families first and foremost when they are first and foremost their “Brother’s Keeper in Wrongs and Evils, unwilling to throw themselves on the sword in the best interests of a child and rights of a mother?
Margaret Donnelly is no better than the next ambitious do anything self serving attorney or any other self serving individual.
JasonB and Jack -
Where is all of this hatred of Jeff Harris coming from. Jack, could it be because he’s a real Democrat and has more experience than your boy Koster? JasonB, could it be because your horrified Gibbons will have to face Harris in the General? Either way, Harris will make a great AG. He has experience in private practice, in the legislature, and most importantly, in the AG’s Office under Jay Nixon. And of course (this is for you Jack), Harris also has endorsements from labor, law enforcement, and civic organizations from across the state and the largest donor base of any AG candidate. He has a firm grasp of how the office works and will be able to quickly adopt to the new job. I’m sure Donnelly would do fine, but Harris is best option for Attorney General.