Jetton vs Lager

Republicans leadership attacking it's own for telling the truth????

Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!

Attaching a Democratic Governor was easy for them.
Being accountable to the people of Missouri that's a different story.

I look forward to watching the Republican house of cards come crashing down.

This Maida Coleman story is exactly what the Democratic Party did not need. This is exactly what the perception of a typical St. Louis City politician is. Maida Coleman should not be Auditor of Missouri for several reasons:

1) She is not a leader in the Senate. She terminated her campaign committee this summer even though she still has time left on her term. This means she was not raising money to help her own area get out and be active, but she was also not giving money to other candidates. This is what the leader does and she did not.

2) Her financial problems are a huge red flag for this job. One thing is to be late on a couple of payments but Chapter 13 BANKRUPTCY? Come on, lets be logical and serious now, this is not even a bad choice to put her in charge of Billions of dollars, it is a horrible choice. How can we trust her?

3) What exactly do you have to be FIRED from the ST. LOUIS HOUSING AUTHORITY?

4) With a Journalism Degree and no real leadership (see above), she is not qualified for the position.

5) Rural voters will not back her. While she was born in Sikeston, she represents St. Louis City and is very liberal politician. She was the named Plaintiff in the case verus Missouri on Conceal and Carry. Rural Missouri will not vote for her..

All these factors equal one thing...Maida Coleman should save herself and the Democratic Party further embarrassment and withdraw from the race. I hope those in the party leadership would ask the same of her.

Lawson
Nice to hear from the Montee campaign.

Coleman has been publicly talking about these issues for years. I applaud her for pulling herself up by the boot straps.
A bankruptcy has nothing to do with leadership and character. Didn’t Donald Trump file bankruptcy?
Real working folks have problems (problems that the “ultra rich” can’t understand). Senator Coleman has never run from her problems or her deep rooted Democratic value and I don’t expect her to now. Personally, I believe we need representation in Jefferson City that can relate to the working class. Republicans and “Republican lite Dems” like to talk about pulling your self up but, every time we have a candidate that actually does it we try and close the door.
Senator Coleman has proven her ability as an effective leader in the State Legislature and the Democratic Party.

It’s nice to know that the McMontee campaign has someone like Lawson to spread its message. Besides loaning herself some of her own money I don’t think anyone has heard anything from her.

Time will tell if Democrats are an inclusive party. Is there room at the top or do you have to buy your way in?

Democrats will stand by the Senator or they won’t. I’ve heard her speak. I’ve heard about her past problems and I know she shares my values.

Coleman’s bankruptcy is old news. She’s used in to campaign. I wouldn’t be surprised if her people leaked to story to Wagman to get it out, over and done with in 2005. A divorced mother of 3 who lost her job and put her kids through college. It sounds like something she wants to talk about. Everyone knew her bankruptcy was going to hit the press. Better now when she can use it on the campaign trail than in an attack ad.

Leadership is not determined by wealth, but rather by commitment to your cause and those you lead - Senator Coleman did in fact terminate her Senate account since she was term limited and could no longer run for the senate, but if you will check further, you will she that she has continually been raising money in her Leadership account and has consistently donated funds to a host of candidates both in regular and special elections.

I have heard Senator Coleman speak on numerous occasions, and she has never hidden the fact that life has thrown her some curve balls - including personal trials as well as financial problems; but she has continued her endeavor to improve the quality of life for those in the state of Missouri - she could have taken the easier way out - which many of our citizens and big corporations have done, leaving creditors and retirees to bear the brunt of their financial decisions, and continued with bankruptcy, leaving her creditors holding the bag, but rather, when she got a job, she withdrew from the bankruptcy and continues her attempts to settle with her creditors.

Being a single parent is not easy - no matter the gender or race, I would suggest that if you reflect on the job she has done in providing for her family and their education you would have to agree that these children are a testimony of her leadership abilities -

I see nothing she has to be embarrassed about - the way I see it she should be put forth as a shining example of the American Dream - hard work overcomes adversity. Money may buy many things, even elections, but no dollar figure can be put on a persons life and the satisfaction they have at knowing that they have stayed true to their beliefs, held a strong faith, treated others with respect and dignity and committed themselves to the needs of their family above personal wants.

Well if her bankrupcy was old news, I have never heard it and I am from the eastern side of Missouri.

What I want to know is if the other 4 points Lawson put out are true. If she is the leader then why shut down your committee?

Surprisingly, I didn't know all this about Maida - but it only makes me appreciate and like her more!

Anybody who can overcome such adversity - not to mention the inherent challenges in being a less-educated African-American woman in an elitist, racist, sexist political environment - to become a member of the Missouri State Senate deserves high praise.

Unlike, say, Jeff Smith - who is progressive but definitely NOT working-class - Maida Coleman can really appreciate the point-of-view of the average voter.

What's not working class about Jeff Smith?

Don't tell me he's another silver-spooned liberal...

Now, don't put words in my mouth...

I'm just telling you - Jeff's a class of '92 grad of Ladue Horton Watkins High School.

See:
http://www.laduealum.com/class1992.html

I'm not saying being from Ladue School District indicates super-rich status - indeed, certain parts of Olivette (north of Olive) are pretty affordable - but, in general, it indicates a fairly stable financial status.

Truman:

Actually I am from Illinois, but work in Missouri from time to time. I pay much more attention to your side of the state line due to our state being what you once were, a strong stable democratic state. I just wish you could return to that status. Situations like this don't help in that pursuit.

The Housing Authority was a pretty turbulent place before the current director and very political. It might still be, I don't know. The changes in mayors in the 1990s brought a lot of changes in staff and board composition. Maida's work in affordable housing goes far beyond this one job and includes long stints at a couple other non-profit organizations that were known for their innovative approaches to affordable housing. This sort of work is difficult and challenging in St. Louis; you have to be passionate and self-directed to want to do it.

It is to her credit that her pre-electoral career was time spent in these sort of trenches. It is appropriate to her outlook on politics and the sort of family-oriented agenda she has promoted and one of the reasons I have supported her as my state senator.

Will Winter

What gives anyone the right to judge? Do you think this lady is so stupid that she would have thought no one would question her struggles with finances in the past, particularly when she has been so open about them? Do you think she didn't take into account the toll this would take on her family, having their lives displayed on the front page of the Post and every other newspaper in the state? It is a wonder we get anyone from the general public to put their name on a political ballot - we have had good political statesmen right under our noses who have been run out or service because of their personal lives being scandalized by he media, personal health issues made public that had no bearing whatsoever on that persons' ability to serve.

Now do you see how committed Maida is to public service? You may call her many things, but stupid is not one of them!

Does it make anyone wonder why people are so concerned about Ms. Coleman running for statewide office that they would feel the need to start a nasty negative campaign this early, before filing has even opened after the bankroll didn't scare her off? After the cruel cuts made to our state programs by the present administration, we will find many more people who will be making the difficult choices of food, medicine or car payments.

This conversation is why I am troubled with the article. As a statesman and politician, the story of being able to overcome odds, trials and tribulations is a great asset. If she were running for Governor or Congress I would say right on.

When you are basically applying for the job as the financial chief of a state, it does cause one to worry about anyone who has serious financial difficulties as recent as 2 months ago filling that post.

Here is my concern for Maida running for AG. We are in need of minority woman in politics and we finally have one in place to run. Even if you know Maida, you have to be concerned how her story will play in rural Missouri. Maida should come out now and have the backing of people to prove that she can do the job and has learned from her mistakes. Missourians will forgive if she has the background and capability to actually perform this job. Remember that as the first of I hope many more minority Missourians with power, she has to be capable of being not just an "okay" but a "GREAT" AG. If Maida is qualified, like I believe she is take a page from the Republicans and push past this one-sided article and stress her capabilities and accomplishments that make her qualified for AG.

Here is my concern for Maida running for State Auditor. We are in need of minority woman in politics and we finally have one in place to run. Even if you know Maida, you have to be concerned how her story will play in rural Missouri. Maida should come out now and have the backing of people to prove that she can do the job and has learned from her mistakes. Missourians will forgive if she has the background and capability to actually perform this job. Remember that as the first of I hope many more minority Missourians with power, she has to be capable of being not just an "okay" but a "GREAT" SA. If Maida is qualified, like I believe she is take a page from the Republicans and push past this one-sided article and stress her capabilities and accomplishments that make her qualified for SA.

The center-left establishment of the Missouri Democratic Party will not tolerate a grassroots candidate like Maida Coleman. The Post-Dispatch is an organ of the party's center-left establishment. (Republicans say the paper is too liberal, and progressives say it's too conservative, and from their respective perspectives, both are right.) It is clear from the timing of this article (immediately after Coleman filed her committee papers with the MEC, and right before her formal campaign kickoff, in an attempt to dampen it) that this article was a planned "hit" on behalf of the party establishment. The research behind this article obviously took a great deal of time, but it was kept in a can until this event.

The center-left party establishment has the wheels greased for the Montee candidacy. As monied moderates flee the Republican Party for the Democrats, the Democratic Party will pander to them, at the expense of the working class and minorities that have been its base until now. They figure the working class and minorites have nowhere else to go and can therefore be taken for granted.

Now neither of the major parties is a suitable home for working class and minority voters.

BTW, kudos to Mayor Slay for his early endorsement of Coleman. I have my differences with Hizzoner, but he deserves credit for this action.

I will vote for Maida Coleman! I hope she stays in the race. As the only child of a single parent, I know how tough it was for my mom to keep the bills paid and provide the basics for me. The article said that Senator Coleman was not only the sole provider for her 3 children but was unemployed while trying to put 2 through college. It seems to me that a person that had managed to rise to the top like this can rise to the occasion as state auditor. And explain this to me, if these financial `woes` are so bad, why did they conveniently not surface when she ran for senator in 2002? The bankruptcy and these problems stem from 1998.

Senator Coleman is a strong Leader. She is a strong and great voice for working class Missourians. She has shown that she exspects accountability. Montee is also a great canidate. We MO Dems should be proud that we have such capable canidates. It will be a great race but my heart and my vote goes to Sen. Coleman. She has fought for me so I will fight for her.

I'm a big fan of Maida's. However, more than any other statewide elected position, geography and experience matter in State Auditor elections. Maida has neither on her side. Same goes for John Loudon and Jack Jackson. From the current issue of ACC.

ACC Research Dept: History against Coleman

Despite the hub-bub, Maida Coleman's bid for Auditor has significant barriers besides race. Voters rarely choose a legislator for Auditor and have never chosen a St. Louis City resident.

Since 1900, Missourians have elected twelve State Auditors. Voters have consistently picked State Auditors with experience in a) collecting/accounting for money, b) county or statewide elected or appointed service, but usually c) both. At the time of their first election, six were County or State-elected officials, three worked in the State Auditor Office, one worked in the County Clerk Office, one was Assistant Attorney General, and one was a sitting State Legislator. State Rep. Will Holmes, the lone sitting legislator to be elected State Auditor, was author of major reforms of the statutes on revenue, including creation of the Department of Revenue. Prior to election to the Missouri House, he was a bank examiner.

St. Louis City has never produced an elected State Auditor. Missouri's first three State Auditors, 1820-1833, were from the City, but they were appointed. Claire McCaskill, was re-elected from St. Louis County but she had the Jackson County base of her first Auditor win.

St. Louis County has produced no other State Auditors.

Joe Frank, As you have noted ad nauseam, Jeff Smith (full disclosure: he taught me and my roommate) is not a tenured faculty member but an adjnuct, so he probably makes something like $10K per year. I bet that's less than anyone else in his race and probably less than just about anybody in any MO race - and I think it qualifies him for working class status. If you're going to harp consistently on his exact title you should at least recognize the lower pay that goes with it.

Isn't the definition of working class something along the lines of low hourly unsalaried wages, skilled or unskilled manual labor, less than four year college degree?

Avoiding a costly primary would be smart. And I find Coleman's bankruptcy not such a put off. It might even have some appeal to voters who have money at risk themselves. Most Missourians don't have half a million to risk on a statewide primary and many may find that as offensive as a bankruptcy. I say they are a push at this point. This campaign needs to be fought on the turf of political ideas and visions for the future of Missouri. Most people I talk to these days say things like "the rich getter richer and the poor get a kick in the butt." Coleman may have an advantage some of you are blinded to, and that is she's been poor. Outstaters, like city folks, have allot of poor people who may very well believe Coleman "gets it." Both these women have good qualities and I hope they sit down together and attempt to solve it now. But more importantly the primary will solve it and after the primary the survivor can't be so damaged the Republicans win. We as democrats have been through this one before and in the not so distant past. Let us not forget.

Political ideas and visions for future of Missouri? Isn't Coleman running for State Auditor, the financial watchdog position?

Hey Truman,
Trump never ran for auditor!

I think Lawson is sadly mistaken on his comment Missouri was a democratic state. If he'd study Missouri history this is not the case. If Mel Carnahan would have ran anywhere like Califorina or New york Hed loose. Missouri is a Conservative state if it weren't for the Civil War it'd been GOP from the start and this comes from someone who does not like the GOP.

Back to the issue at hand. I am an ultra conservative but I like Sen Coleman. She is very real and care about the people she represents. Her woes only shows that she is human. Everytime i spoke to her she was more open then most of the republicans. While I believe she will win the primary she cannot win the generals. She will never be able to sway enough rural voters to beat Sen Loudon. I hope she stays in the race and does very well.

Liz Brown trashed Sen. Coleman badly on her radio program last week. Do sensible people care about what she says? And, she said that a big meeting would be held with politicos to talk Coleman out.

Did she win the job of AG?

IF SO, WOW, AND I MEAN WOW.