Is the Tea Party Express, er, PAC, fleecing municipalities in the name of free speech?

By GottaLaff

One of our favorite readers, Joeyess, stumbled on to something that he sent my way. Allow me to share some information on what the Tea Baggers are up to:

The Tea party Express is rolling through Topeka, Kansas tomorrow, and they are assembling at the state house.

If you click on the link at the RSVP button in the bottom right hand corner of this page (that's a screenshot, click to enlarge)...



...it leads you here:



Then, if you Google "ourcountrydeservesbetter.com", you get this:


They're a PAC.

They're fundraising on public grounds. I called Legislative Services to ask if the Tea Tantrumers were getting security and/or clean-up free of charge. I also asked what it takes to get permission to use capitol grounds.

I was told no, they weren't getting those services for free. The woman was a little defensive until I told her I wasn't writing a piece about her, but of the Tea Party. She informed me that the prerequisite was a legislative sponsor, and they got one: A female state senator whose name slipped the woman's mind.

She also told me all they had to do was fill out an application, and if the space was available, it was theirs.

The PAC told her their event was a "free speech rally".

I wouldn't be surprised if they were getting a free ride, considering this is the home of the one and only Westboro Baptist "Church's" own Fred Phelps.

So Joeyess and I are wondering, do they getting freebies anywhere when they shouldn't? Ace reporter Joeyess decided to make a call:

I just talked to Doris at Bettendorf, Iowa parks and recreation. She said that they were charging them a $125 fee for port-o-potties and they expected to have police on site.

I told her that I write a bit about the Tea Party Express, and in my research I found that they are involved with a PAC. She seemed really surprised. She also said that only a permit was required [Laffy Note: This is what I was told in my call to Topeka], and they had applied and received one for the event.

It seems that this Tea Party/PAC is taking advantage of municipalities and their resources, across the midwest at least, without revealing that a PAC is involved. [Laffy Note: The woman I spoke to seemed a little surprised when I told her that, too]

This particular event is taking place at Leach Park. I think they are fleecing municipalities in the name of free speech. $125??? That's chicken feed to FreedomWorks and their ilk.

I think this is endemic to this "movement". They're taking advantage of what are already financially stressed city governments and depleted resources for political purposes. This is not free speech. This is free fundraising.

This begs the question: Does this fall under Citizens United? If so, thank you very much, SCOTUS.

While we're on this topic, let's take a quick look at safety issues.

One of their stops is St. Paul, at the state capitol:

The Minnesota Capitol could be considered on of the most easily accessible public buildings in the state.

This is worrisome:

If you've visited a county office recently, or a courthouse, you've probably had to go through security, even a metal detector. But that kind of security is non-existent at the Minnesota State Capitol and some lawmakers believe the state's most visible landmark is a target.

Given the hostility and threats we've been witness to lately, security is a real issue.

Lawmakers sit just a few feet below unrestricted galleries and the doors to the House, Senate and governor's office are wide open.

"I think sooner or later something is going to happen here," said Rep. Rick Hansen, DFL-South St. Paul.

Unfortunately, the state budget is a problem. Security isn't an option at the moment.

"Whether we have a tough budget or not, we should prepare to provide basic safety for the people of Minnesota when they are engaging with their government," Hansen said.

Of course, nobody is accusing Tea Tantrumers of being gun-toting extremists. They'd never do anything rash like, oh I dunno, storm a capitol building. Who'd be that brazen?

Outside the Capitol building, the antiquated air exchange system makes it vulnerable to outside sabotage. [...] And unlike other public buildings, visitors don't get checked at the Capitol door.

So many Tea Tantrum/PAC rallies, so little time. If/when Joeyess and I find out more, I'll pass it on. Meantime, this is plenty to chew on.

UPDATE: One more thing ... Look at all their "tour partners"! See how many PACs you can find:

Nebraska abortion doctor to expand his practice

Department of Unintended Consequences. A very brave man.

OMAHA, Neb. - An abortion doctor said Friday that he will likely perform more late-term procedures at his Nebraska practice to meet the demand left when a Kansas physician was shot and killed earlier this year.

The move could solidify Nebraska's and Dr. LeRoy Carhart's place at the center of the fight over abortion because he's trying to offer the late-term procedures his friend Dr. George Tiller offered in Wichita before his death.

Carhart has considered opening a clinic in Kansas, but said he thinks expanding his practice in the Omaha suburbs may be the best option because it is easier for patients to get flights into Omaha than Wichita.

Keith Olbermann worked his magic: Kansas City has biggest free health clinic yet

By GottaLaff

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

I am so proud to say I was an early donor to this cause. I bet a lot of you contributed, too, because look at the result:

As you may know, a series of mass free health clinics are being held across the country to call attention to the number of uninsured Americans and the strain that their untreated illnesses put on the nation's health care system. [...]

A producer on MSNBC's "Countdown with Keith Olbermann," Rich Stockwell, suggested to his boss that he use his pulpit to raise money for more such clinics ... and to hold them in key states where Democratic senators were wavering on a public option in the upcoming legislation on health care reform. Just like that, $1.2 million was raised and a clinic was announced in the home state of Arkansas senator Blanche Lincoln. Then a second, in the state represented by Sen. Mary Landrieux.

We the people, and all that...

Well, on Wednesday's "Countdown" last week, the National Association of Free Clinics announced a third mass clinic for the uninsured, right here in Kansas City. It will be the first 2-day-long clinic (Dec. 9-10) and according to Nicole Lamoureux, executive director of the association, it is designed as "a national version" of the Houston and Little Rock clinics. So it's not aimed at Sen. Claire McCaskill per se, but rather to make "a huge statement" about the crisis of Americans postponing vital, relatively low-cost medical care because they don't have insurance.

Kansas City was chosen, Lamoureaux told Keith Olbermann, because it has a "robust" free health clinic network, unlike other parts of the country; and, of course, it helps that we are in the middle of the country.

See? We can get big things accomplished when we put our minds, and wallets, to it.

Kansas State. Rep. Bill Otto (R-LeRoy): “Opossum--The other Dark Meat.”

By GottaLaff

A sharp-eyed reader, mdyerstudio, grabbed a screen shot of a now-deleted YouTube of a Rushpublic state representative from Kansas. See his hat? See the blog title? Now you know why it was deleted: [UPDATE: I just went to YouTube. It says it was deleted due to copyright infringement. The link sent me to a "locked" site.]

State Rep. Bill Otto, R-LeRoy, sang his song on a YouTube video. At the end of his song, Otto points to his hand-lettered hat and says, “Opossum, the other dark meat. A little greasy, but hey ...”

Nah, that's not racist at all.

A southeast Kansas legislator on Thursday said he wasn’t making a racial reference as he sang an anti-President Obama “Redneck Rap” while wearing a hat that said: “OPOSSUM the other Dark Meat.”

State. Rep. Bill Otto, R-LeRoy, sang his song on a YouTube video.

Senate Democratic Leader Anthony Hensley of Topeka called him out, and said this was not a one-time thing:

“If Opossum is the other dark meat, what is the original dark meat he is referring to?” Hensley asked.

Hmm, thinking... thinking... who on earth could he have been talking about?

Hensley added: “After a nearly three-minute rant about President Obama and his administration, it is only logical to presume that Otto was making reference to the President’s race. It is not only thoughtless, but outrageous for an elected official such as Bill Otto to make this reference to describe any person, let alone the President of the United States."

Okay, now let me know if you've heard this one before. Otto says it's not about race. Honest it isn't! Otto said that he just didn't see how a "reasonable person could think that."

Color me unreasonable.

Here's Otto's own very logic in his own very words:

“Rednecks eat possum. The possums are associated with rednecks,” said Otto.

Much more here. Go ahead, pop over to see how not-racist Otto is.

VIDEO: Rep. "Great White Hope" Jenkins Laughs at Uninsured Single Mother, Son

This one has got to be running for Michele Bachmann's crown. Vid & transcript via,.

Elizabeth Smith: I’m a 27 year-old single mother. I work full-time. I do not have health insurance. My employer does not provide health insurance to me and I cannot afford it privately. Why shouldn’t my government guarantee all of its citizens health care?

Jenkins: Thank you. I’m sorry, maybe you missed my opening remarks, but absolutely. That’s why we have Medicaid in the current system and that’s why under the alternative proposal we have an option for low-to-modest-income people to be able to afford health care and then we’ve got the SCHIP program for children. I think we’ve got all of the bases covered.

Audience member: She’s not covered under SCHIP!

Jenkins: OK, if you’re not then you’re the perfect example for why we need reform and why we need it now but we have to do it right and if we can do an alternative proposal, as I’m suggesting, give you the money to go buy it in a reformed marketplace where it is affordable, that’s my preference rather than to saddle the nation with yet another government program when they can’t afford the government run programs we have.

Elizabeth Smith: I want an option that I can pay for. I work. I pay my bills. I’m not a burden on the state. I pay my taxes. So why can’t I get an affordable option. Why are you against that?

Jenkins: A government run program (laugh) is going to subsidize not only yours (laugh) but everybody in this room. So I’m not sure what we’re talking about here.

Jenkins: I think it comes down to the whole discussion of...

(The crowd erupts. At this point, it's safe to say even they aren't buying Jenkins position...)

Lynn: OK folks. Let’s be respectful. UH-OH (talking over crowd). We’re gonna make time for everybody. We’re gonna all listen to each other respectfully, even if we disagree. I think we can agree we need reforms, again it’s just how we gonna do it. I believe people should be given the opportunity to take care of themselves with an advancebale tax credit to go be a grown-up and go buy the insurance.

Video- Free machine gun with every pick-up truck purchased

More background here. h/t to Booman for the vid.

This was what greeted those who attended Dr. Tiller's vigil in Wichita, Part 2

By GottaLaff

Original post here.

H/t: Nicki

Obama taps Sebelius for HHS secretary

By GottaLaff

So much for Teddy Kennedy's influence:

A White House source says Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius is President Barack Obama's choice for secretary of health and human services.

The source, who was not authorized to speak on the record, says Obama will formally announce the nomination on Monday.

There goes Kansas.

Sam Brownback Will Step Down

Let's hope Kansas went blue enough in '08 to keep this holy roller out of the governor's mansion.

Sen. Sam Brownback (R-KS), who pledged he would only serve two terms in the U.S. Senate, will formally announce today that he won't seek a third term in 2010, the Kansas City Star reports.

Brownback, "who's been wrapping up a statewide tour lately, is widely expected to run for governor in 2010 to succeed Democrat Kathleen Sebelius, who is barred by law from seeking a third term."

However, a statement from Brownback's office warns that he "will not be making any announcements about his future at this time."

Democrat Jim Slattery's Ad Against Republican Pat Roberts In Kansas

Oh my. Memorable at the least.

Added- Hahaha, snort, guffaw- from the comments at the Fix-

TALK ABOUT YOUR TRICKLE-DOWN ECONOMICS!

Kansas mayor wins prize for dressing in blackface drag: ‘All this PC is bullshit.’

By GottaLaff

clipped from thinkprogress.org

Oh yes he did:

Mell Kuhn, mayor of Arkansas City, KS, appeared last weekend in a beauty pageant fundraiser wearing a blackface drag costume. Appearing at the event to support Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), a group helping abused and neglected children in court, Koon dressed as a character named “Smellishis Poon.” During the talent portion of the event, he even had backup dancers called his “Red Hot Puntangs.” In an interview on Tuesday with the Arkansas City Traveler, Kuhn defended himself:

All this PC is bullshit. We go around walking on eggshells all the time, we don’t get anything done.

[...] He has insisted he didn’t intend his costume to be “blackface” because he “can’t do a black accent.” Since that time, under pressure from the NAACP and other organizations, Kuhn has apologized for actions.

Well, bully for him. That makes it all go away then. Unbelievable.

He won first place for "most creative talent" and the overall Ms. CASA 2008.

I wonder if he knows this guy...

H/t: Pam’s House Blend, Wichita NAACP Blog

Democratic excitement catches on in red state

Ground game people, it's all about the ground game.

The buzz created by the Democratic National Convention, which kicked off Monday in Denver, has filtered into Republican-heavy Kansas.

And some say it’s even a bit closer to home.

Burdett Loomis, a political science professor at the University of Kansas, said there’s more interest locally in this year’s election than in years past.

“The energy is way on the Democratic side this time,” he said.

(snip)

“The turnout for the caucuses was about 30 times the historic average,” he said of the more than 37,000 Kansans who participated in caucuses, according to figures from the Kansas Democratic Party. “We planned for a turnout many times over the historic performance, and it was many times greater than that. “That certainly kick-started the year.”

Harry Mullins, a steering committee member of the Olathe Area Democrats, said the excitement was evident from caucus participants who stood outside for hours in freezing rain just to be a part of the political process.

“And those folks have continued to become involved,” he said of the increased number of registered Democrats in Johnson County.