Tearful Jetton gives farewell speech
Departing House Speaker Rod Jetton, R-Marble Hill, said today that he has learned a few things during his eight years in the House.
“I came here a hard-core, conservative nut,” Jetton said. “Ask Gov. Holden. I even interrupted his speech once, which I shouldn’t have done.”
Jetton was referring to his outburst during Bob Holden’s “State of the State” speech in 2004. At the time, Republicans and Democrats were blaming each other for cuts in education funding, prompting Jetton to shout: “Release the money, governor!”
Jetton came to the House in 2001, when it was under Democratic control. He said his side was frustrated with its lack of a voice and often fought just to fight.
He helped lead the 2002 campaign that put the GOP in charge. He said Wednesday that he had tried to operate the chamber in a more bipartisan fashion.
He teared up when he recalled colleagues who have died or suffered tragedies. “People were always there, with cards, letters, and they didn’t care which party you were in,” he said.
Jetton, who is now a political consultant, said that control of the House will change again at some point. No matter who is in charge, he said, his parting advice is to “treat the minority with respect.”
Some legislators have privately questioned whether Jetton is already showing his bipartisanship by consulting for some Democratic campaigns, but Jetton told reporters later that he has only three clients and they are all Republicans: Sens. Luann Ridgeway, Jason Crowell and Rob Mayer.
Jetton!? Bipartisan!?
That’s quite a story.
He did get one part right, though, “I came here a hard-core, conservative nut.” Too bad he’s leaving as one, too.
He is a horrible person and an embarrassment to Missouri. I am one Republican who is very glad to see him go.
Good riddance. He acknowledges being a hard-right conservative nut. The bad news is, there are many more like him in Jefferson City, and now the VP nominee on the GOP national ticket qualifies. Poop rises to the top.
Jetton should be run out of Jefferson City. I expect his political “consulting” business will wane once he no longer can hold legislation hostage to his nutty selfishness.
Bipartisan. What a bunch of baloney. He and his henchman Lograsso will go down in history as the corrupt politicians they are.
Just go away, already. Better yet, disappear! Verschwinde!
The hypocrisy from the GOP state party is insulting. This is exactly why we are so bad off right now in this state. Bi-partisan!! What a joke-do these guys live on Fantasy Island? “Hey Governor-release the emails!” It will be nice to see the state GOP take some lumps in November
Jetton told reporters later that he has only three clients and they are all Republicans: Sens. Luann Ridgeway, Jason Crowell and Rob Mayer.
Isn’t he forgetting Lucifer? He’s Satan’s consultant too, right? Although the Devil is undoubtedly a Repugnican, this is tehnically a lie.
Bye, Rod–hope you trash corporate American as badly as you did our state government, you wacky right-wing nut-job! Please find a job for Blunt–I hear there are openings at the DMV–with his natural “charm,” he should be a shoo-in.
During Holden’s State of the State address, Jetton didn’t just shout “Release the money, governor!”…I was there. He cackled, booed, and made obnoxious flatulence noises in an effort to interrupt the governors speech. It didn’t work. Jetton made a juvenile ass of himself. Something out of Animal House. Even his Republican colleagues moved away from him when he started elbowing them to join in….He giggled like Eddie Haskel trying to get Wally to steal Lumpy Rutherford’s hub-caps….
He’s a down state hoosier.
Let’s not forget that Rod Jetton is also the man who referred to certain Missourians as “lazy” earlier this year.
http://columbiatribune.com/2008/Feb/20080223News019.asp
Thank God Harry Truman never lived to see this!
Rod is a good guy. I had the pleasure to work with him on several issues, and there are few people as dedicated as Rod to the state of Missouri. Its a shame Democratic detractors let their own partisanship get in the way of recognizing Jetton’s accomplishments.