BecomingAKosterFan-

You are so correct in everything you say. Especially that “they’ll find out that he can do more for the Democratic party and ideals than nearly anyone else who’s currently in state politics.”

I understand that a party switch is a difficult thing for people to understand, but shouldn’t we just be happy that a star came to see the light? Which should we prefer: Someone who never realizes their errors and fights the bad fight forever, or someone who figures it out along the way and chooses to make a difference?

On another note: If he’s so bad for the Democratic party in Missouri, then why are all the Republicans so up in arms about the switch? I don’t think I’ll ever understand that one…

The Republicans are up in arms just like so many Democrats because they know Koster’s only out for himself. It’s all about getting Chris elected and raising Chris some money. The guy only has one principle, and that’s a willingness to do whatever it’ll take to get elected.

As for the other candidates, both Donnelly and Harris have been strong, reliable Democrats. I’m supporting Harris because he has been a strong leader against Blunt and the GOP agenda, he’s whip-smart, he’s the only one with the best kind of experience — working for a Democratic Attorney General — and he’s ready to do the job. The guy has real convictions and is someone you can trust.

As for this inane contention that we should all just be happy that such a swell guy has finally joined our party, you’ll have to forgive our skepticism. Maybe if Koster actually bothered to prove himself to us before asking for a promotion, we’d trust him and would support him. If the guy had run for re-election, I’d have gladly cut him a check. But as my Attorney General? There’s not a chance in hell that I, or an awful lot of Democrats in this state, are willing to blindly trust a guy with his record.

By this same rationale, if Matt Blunt suddenly announced he he was a Democrat, does that mean that we choose him over Jay Nixon? Should we dump a guy we know and we can trust just because Blunt can raise more money? We’ll accept his apologies for his bad votes and his lousy record, but we won’t promote someone who hasn’t earned it.

Harris has earned it, and he’ll do Missouri and Missouri Democrats proud. FYI, in cased anyone on the St. Louis side of the state missed it, Harris just picked up a major endorsement from the Jackson County Democratic Council for Progress. That’s a huge endorsement, and it’s just more proof that Democrats across the state are recognizing that he’s the right candidate for the job.

Doubting Koster,

With respect, it really isn’t a matter of opinion about whether or not the AG is the chief law enforcement officer of the state: he/she is. That’s an unquestionable fact. That is the primary duty and function of the AG in any state including Missouri.

To be brutally honest, what people in Jefferson City think of someone running for state office is of no importance whatever to me personally, nor do I think it of any importance to the average voter. What difference does that make? Does it mean state bureaucrats like or dislike someone? It’s of no consequence except insofar as those unfortunate enough to live and work in that hapless little burgh we call our state capitol have something to chat about.

Being minority leader is fine, but not terribly relevant to being AG. Fighting Blunt on budget matters is also fine, but not terribly relevant to being AG. Being an experienced prosecutor and litigator is highly relevant to being AG. Koster is the only one of the three with that experience. Being an elected prosecutor also means that he knows how to manage numerous ongoing cases at once out of a small office, he understands the issues associated with that in terms of administration of the office, etc… Neither of the other two have any such experience. In fact, neither have much experience in the courtroom at all and none as a prosecutor.

Koster, as has been mentioned in this thread, is also a political rising star whose conversion from the Republican Party is something Democrats ought to celebrate instead of condemn. Donnelly and Harris have spent their entire campaigns carping about what everyone already knows which is that Koster used to be a Republican. Okay, they’ve made their point, we get it, but they still make no case for themselves as being better at the position of AG. They have very little positive to say about themselves or their ability to carry out the duties of AG for the state because they focus on sqwauking about Koster not being a “real” Democrat.

Koster spends no time at all dissing either of his opponents for two reasons as far as I can tell: A) he’s the best qualified, and B) he’s going to beat the other two in a walk so he is focused on letting voters know who he is and what he wants to do as opposed to trying to smear the other two who have little to offer and even less to say in terms of being AG. Koster is also just smarter and a better, more appealing candidate than the other two.

I’m going to enjoy listening to the crescendo of sniping and nasty digs coming from Harris and Donnelly as we approach the primary when Koster will whip them both like old mules. When he becomes one of the most outstanding AG’s in the nation, the complaints of Donnelly and Harris about his Democratic bona fides will end up (as well they should) in the dust bin of history.

Man, the Koster Love is getting knee deep in here.

1. The Attorney General may be the “chief law enforcement officer” in the state, but he or she is NOT the “prosecutor in chief.”
2. If being a prosecutor is such a big deal, then clearly you’re suggesting Jay Nixon (not a prosecutor) was unqualified. Very few Missouri Attorneys General have come from the prosecutorial ranks. Why? Because it’s largely irrelevant to managing and running the office successfully. Or are you suggesting Jay Nixon has done a bad job?
3. The AG’s office does a lot more than just prosecute court cases, but if that’s the best card Koster has to play, who can blame him for playing it. If I were him, I’d rather talk talk about being a prosecutor than my votes to cut Medicaid, for photo ID, and for just about everything else Matt Blunt has supported in his one term.

And being Minority Leader has a lot to do with being Attorney General, in that Harris has successfully rallied and led a group of Democrats behind a unified agenda and on behalf of issues that Democratic voters care about. Voters know exactly where he stands and what he’ll do as Attorney General. We’ve seen him fight the good fight on behalf of the little guy, which is exactly what most folks will tell you they want to see in their Attorney General.

Of course Koster wants to talk about being a prosecutor. What’s he got left? I worked for Bill Webster or I was a Republican Senator. So every time you spout ad naseum that Chris Koster was a prosecutor, what you’re really saying is “I don’t want to talk to you about how Chris Koster was a Republican.” Them’s the facts.

Oh, and by the way, did you know Chris Koster was a prosecutor?

Shecky, sorry for repeating myself but….Hmmm… Just as I said, not a mention of your candidate or his/her attributes. Attack, attack, attack.

Shecky,

Your logic is convenient but not applicable. Among the three candidates running for the post Koster is clearly the most qualified for the post in large part because yes, he has a prosecutorial background just like Tom Eagleton did when he was running for AG. Nixon is not running and I don’t believe he had any real opposition when he first ran from anyone. Your analogy is not a good one.