Same point. From Joe Williams' review:

"A more penetrating picture of how Smith's personal values contrasted with the various constituencies would have made the film more objective, as would a fairer hearing for Carnahan, whose positions don't seem that much different from Smith's."

I had the pleasure of seeing the film last night and respectfully disagree with your take on it.

I think that the "most damaging" scenes you cite reflect more poorly on the American and the Carnahans.

I found the film to be breathtaking, inspiring, yet troubling at the same time. After seeing it, I am planning on doing everything in my power to help Jeff win this seat.

St. Louis has no greater hope than him.

By this seat, I mean the 4th district seat.

Russ may claim similar positions, but it's all about how strongly you'll stand up for what you believe in, not just passing a litmus test.

I still think the juxtaposition of Amendment 2 with the Congressional primary cost Jeff the election when Russ got LGBT endorsements for just promising to pass their test (Russ would later vote otherwise in Congress). Of course, various organizations were sell-outs or fell for the blessed last name, thinking that Russ was the only "winnable" candidate claiming to back their stances.

As for Jeff and Russ living happily ever after, anything is possible. Both have a conservative, Hill-rooted, zero-chance opponent in the primary. But looking forward, established Dems would be wise to realize Jeff is their best hope for attracting new blood to an aging party. Just look at whom Gambaro has targeted with his lit. While seniors would be foolish to vote for a pro-privatization candidate, established partisans would be even more foolish to think that seniors will forever be their strongest voting bloc.

"St. Louis has no greater hope than him."
Tell me you're kidding?! I mean he's smarter than the average bear and appears to have a deft political touch, but our City "has no greater hope than him." What does that even mean?

I hope that no one near Smith is filling his head with this Messianic crap. The guy has yet to do squat politically (close only counts in washers), and, apart from the Confluence Academies (with which I have no personal experience, but they sound great on paper), has done squat elsewhere. A PhD and appearing on the BBC don't count.

I hope that despite the fun of these campaigns, the gamesmanship, the headlines and ridiculous anecdotes that we don't lose sight of the fact that there is a great chasm between running for office and serving in office, between electioneering and governing.

All the fun documentaries and City Hall-shaped cakes and photogenic candidates are just eye candy if the candidates can't actually lead or legislate.

Mr. Mayor, a belated Happy 150th Birthday!

Me?

I wish Smith would have started out at the Board of Aldermen.

How can a bunch of kids from Ladue think they are outsiders?

I saw the film last night and have a few thoughts.

First of all is a fantastic movie. It's funny, inspiring, fascinating and frankly even though I knew the ending I found myself wiping away tears at the end. I think Frank Popper has a hit on his hands. The film should do well in St. Louis and around the country.

One of the reasons that the film works is that Popper didn't hold anything back. While he clearly admires Jeff he doesn't hesitate to show and unvarnished view of him and let the footage play out on the screen whether it reflected well on Jeff or others.

The American like MANY people in this race allowed themselves to fall under the Carnahan spell despite knowing in their gut that it was wrong. I am sure it makes them uncomfortable to see that play out in high drama on the screen but they can take comfort that they were not alone in blowing it. They have been fair in their coverage of Jeff this time and and I hope it continues.

I actually felt the movie was pretty fair to Russ. The point is not whether Jeff or Russ had differences on the issues the point is that Russ wouldn't be elected to anything if his name were not Carnahan. He's doing an OK job and usually voting the right way but we were robbed of the possibility of having a potential star in Jeff as opposed to one of 420 in Russ. That's just how it is. I hope he can prove us all wrong.

People who run for office find ways to work together after races far more bruising that this one. It will be a sad statment if the Carnahan's can't bring themselves to work with Jeff. For the good of the party I hope they are big enough for that.

What in the world is devastating about a picture of Russ with his Mom behind him on election night. It's only devastating if the core of the movie hits home.

Congrats to Popper. St. Louis shoud be proud. Check this movie out. It's a good one.

To Disagree:
I couldn’t agree more with Wells. Here’s a tip, Disagree. Next time they are serving the special Kool-Aid at the campaign headquarters, say” No thanks, I have had enough."
Smith still has not fixed the problems from his 04 financials. His campaign says he will return the illegal contributions he received, that he will file all his late reports –he hasn’t filed in two years- and that his lawyer (“his lawyer”?) is preparing an affidavit to explain why he hasn’t complied with the law. I wouldn’t; expert anything soon. When you do see it after this campaign, I doubt it shows where the mystery $30,000 in donations came from and I doubt it will itemize his lawyers’ fees or his campaign fines. There are violating the law and continue to do but are counting on people not seeing it.
Also the Confluence Academies were mentioned. As has been mentioned before, they are woefully underperforming the St. Louis public school. Even if you just look at black students in the city schools or special needs students, Confluence can’t even meet those sub groups performance.
I think he should run for alderman in Ladue. I am sure mom and dad could buy that for him.

Steve,

It would be terrific if you would let us know which campaign you are working for or better yet if you are working for the Republicans who are financing Derio Gambaro's race to keep Jeff from winning?

I agree that "Disagree" is a bit over the top but give me a break. Jeff is a smart, hard working, committed guy. I can't sit here and shoot down every piece of mud that you are flinging. Nobody is perfect, but my opinion when I look at the choices is that the Democratic party could use more Jeff Smiths in Jefferson City not fewer.

Thanks for the intelligent discussion of the issues.

===ials. His campaign says he will return the illegal contributions he received,

No, he did return the contributions. The problem with the FEC is they won't let him amend a committee report once it is closed so he's trying to get them to allow him to fix the reporting problems, but they've created a wonderful Catch-22 in that he has to fix the reports, but they won't let him.

===hen you do see it after this campaign, I doubt it shows where the mystery $30,000 in donations came from and I doubt it will itemize his lawyers’ fees or his campaign fines. There are violating the law and continue to do but are counting on people not seeing it.

There isn't a mystery $30,000--there is bad accounting--go through the numbers and what you'll find is that between Nick leaving and the reports after that the COH numbers are screwed up as are the personal loan numbers, but the numbers add up, he just didn't pay off the loan to himself--and if he can get the FEC to allow him to submit amendments, he'll submit them.

===has been mentioned before, they are woefully underperforming the St. Louis public school.

On two years of data in one subject and one year of data on another? It's a bit early with Confluence to say they are failures. It's also important to note that all of the kids tested started in the SLPS. Typical school turnaround time is around 5 years. Taking students who don't even start in the same school and come in at different levels presents an even bigger challenge.

The bit about the subgroups is a bit bizarre given the make-up of the Academies. There are 10 non black students out of 967. It has higher poverty rates amongst its students than in the District as a whole. Pretending that the subgroup results would be different from the general population tends to signal you are repeating something you heard and not actually familiar with the data.

I'm skeptical of many of the charter schools, but Confluence has a real curriculum, strong instructional support and is transparent in its accounting. It'll have to prove itself as time goes on, but its hardly time to declare a failure of an innovative program before it gets off the ground.

Or, I guess we could just forget about those kids and pretend a voucher bill will help them out despite having all the same issues, but none of the accountability that a public school has.

I thought the criticisms of Russ were far more subtle than I expected putting it into a context of

Bush
Blunt
Clay
Emerson
Carnahan

in contrast to Gephardt who wasn't politically connected, but ended up being Congressman. Chuck Todd had a great line in there as well about Gephardt is the kind of guy who would be President in the old days.

Williams misses the point---Russ and Jeff have relatively similar positions, though on some key environmental issues like Holcim, Jeff was distinct. The point is that they are somewhat similar ideologically, but Russ had this overwhelming advantage because he of his name. His experience wasn't greater than other people in the race, yet he was annointed the favorite.

I think that's a criticism that even if you are a big Russ fan raises some rather important questions that isn't just about Russ, but about media and political insiders and the system.

I thought the criticisms of Russ were far more subtle than I expected putting it into a context of

Bush
Blunt
Clay
Emerson
Carnahan

in contrast to Gephardt who wasn't politically connected, but ended up being Congressman. Chuck Todd had a great line in there as well about Gephardt is the kind of guy who would be President in the old days.

Williams misses the point---Russ and Jeff have relatively similar positions, though on some key environmental issues like Holcim, Jeff was distinct. The point is that they are somewhat similar ideologically, but Russ had this overwhelming advantage because he of his name. His experience wasn't greater than other people in the race, yet he was annointed the favorite.

I think that's a criticism that even if you are a big Russ fan raises some rather important questions that isn't just about Russ, but about media and political insiders and the system.

=="Gephardt who wasn't politically connected"
Pundit - are you speaking about the 04 CD 3 race or Gephardt's origional run for CD 3?

When he first entered politics...

Our current US congressman will no doubt seek retribution for this negative attack by Jeff Smith! How dare he be in a movie that shows Russ talking in his eloquent shakespearian iambic pentameter!

Hmmmmm, seems like we have some Russ spinners, p.eye, "rolla", and steveo at SLU. Rusty CarnahaRn is the best though. P.Eye, your other client, Mayor Slay, is not that enamored with the outcome of the 3rd CD race as we saw hizzoner call Mr. Smith and urge him not to concede. In addition, Mr. Slay, Sr. endorsed Jeff from the beginning of this state senate campaign. Bottom line: Jeff and the kids ran a better campaign than Carnahan, but there is no 2nd place in politics.

Hmmmmm, seems like we have some Russ spinners, p.eye, "rolla", and steveo at SLU. Rusty CarnahaRn is the best though. P.Eye, your other client, Mayor Slay, is not that enamored with the outcome of the 3rd CD race as we saw hizzoner call Mr. Smith and urge him not to concede. In addition, Mr. Slay, Sr. endorsed Jeff from the beginning of this state senate campaign. Bottom line: Jeff and the kids ran a better campaign than Carnahan, but there is no 2nd place in politics.

I have been surprised by the number of Catholic south side voters that are supporting Jeff Smith. One voter said it is because he fears Gambaro's fiscal platform. Another neighbor of mine is backing Smith because he wants to be backing the winner and he thinks Smith will outrun Gambaro.

Gambaro could exploit the effect that charter schools have had on Catholic schools. Some of the southside Catholic schools have lost enrollment to the charter school on Fyler. The whole priest abuse issue is certainly also a factor in the closing of schools and parishes, but the charter schools also played a part.

Charter schools have lower test scores than even St. Louis Public Schools.

Gambaro could exploit another neighbor of mine's Catholic school serving the special Kool-Aid?

Gambaro's fiscal platform has lower test scores than even St. Louis Public Schools!

Gambaro's whole priest abuse platform is certainly also a factor!

When Gambaro's Republican $30,000 in donations dont help him win. I doubt he will itemize his lawyers’ fees or his campaign fines.

Also the southside Catholic schools were mentioned. As has been mentioned before, they are woefully underperforming the St. Louis public school.

Smith will outrun Gambaro.

Steve,

How does one compare performance at Catholic schools to public schools? This is an honest question. I don't know how to compare these apples and oranges.

Ann/Stillundecided

Ahhh education policy. Why is it that when a candidate or elected official has actually been doing some proactive thinking, hardwork, and implementing outside the conventional box of that sort of thinking is just too political risky, do we serve them up as destructive and not constructive? Oracle, Mr. Reems, Archpundit..REACT TO ME!

Bubba:

I'm not sure what you are wanting me to react to. And, I'm not sure where the conversation about schools came from. I've not seen the movie yet (I'm a DVD kind of guy), but maybe that's why I'm not in-tune with the current conversation.

Oh, by the way, I (over)heard that Donald Suggs, President and Publisher of The Saint Louis American, loved the movie.

I've also heard that the Carnahan/Smith camps have moved beyond the 2004 race. This isn't uncommon. Look at all the Presidential primary elections, where fierce competitors end-up as running-mates and work well together. The party needs less division, more unity and more ideas to move us through the future.

Travis, I did not realize you hadn't seen the movie. Where you gettin' the Carnahan/Smith camps have moved beyond the 2004 race. That will simply never happen.