What, the other forums weren't good enough for them?
FUCK MCU. They need to realize they're in violation of the 1st Amendment and cancel this shit immediately!
You hear me MCU? Evolve or FUCK OFF!

The FBI could decide to investigate the previous post, and treat it as a hate crime. Now lets see if you decide to utilize that type of language toward the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I would not think it would be in your best interest, because your post could be classified as hate toward a religious organization. The Hate Crime legislation was made to protect organizations from this type of attack. Let's tone the hate language down in the future on this website. Thank you.

I'm really having a hard time judging which of the above posts is dumber.

The MCU forum was definitely a political forum. No frills, no thrills, no applause, no jeering, just the statements by candidates and one no-show!

State Representative Amber "Holly" Boykins and Derio "the Bull" Gambaro were at the forum on time, although it was hot in the church. Jeff Smith arrived late, but Representative El-Amin arrived extremely late for the forum and did not offer an apology. She was so late and so nervous that she sat in Candidate Kenny Jones seat rushing to appear on time. The seat was available because Kenny Jones did not show up at all, and didn't send a representative and that might explain all the Jeff Smith signs in his home base of the 22nd Ward. The host of the forum had to interrupt the forum to ask Representative Yaphett El-Amin to sit in the seat designated to her! Read the table signs at the forum Yaphett, they tell you where you are suppose to sit down (just like in Jeff City).

The moderator made it clear that no candidate information was to be passed out in the inside of the church out of respect, however, Jeff Smith's workers aggressively passed out literature on the inside of the church! Bad move, didn't look respectful!

The funniest part of the whole forum that had everyone talking in the audience was when Representative Yaphett El-Amin told the crowd that she wanted to bring back home the "BACON", everyone was shaking their head in disbelief but I guess she was referring to turkey bacon. Amazingly, Yaphett skirted away from the issue of vouchers, although she was a former co-sponsor of a bill supporting school vouchers. She also confirmed that she would support gay issues in the Legislature. Enough about Yaphett!

Jeff Smith was the idealist candidate. He claimed he would save every child, senior citizen, and everybody in the State of Missouri from the evil Republicans or any harm in any form. Jeff Smith's answer to every question was that he will pass a bill to change whatever is wrong or will ever be wrong! If Jeff Smith emphasizes that he majored in African-American studies one more time when he is asked about disenfranchisement of citizens, hey Jeff, African-Americans are not the only people disenfranchised in the State of Missouri! Enough about Jeff!

Derio "the Bull" Gambaro, was the industrial candidate, and thinks all things can be done through engineering. The people have nothing to eat, then let's build a plant and manufacture some food and then feed them! They can work at the factory, earn money, and take home some sandwiches to feed their family according to Derio "the Bull" Gambaro! Everything can be solved through engineering. Enough about Derio "the Bull" Gambaro!

Amber "Holly" Boykins seemed well informed about the issues. She emphasized her experience over (8) years in the State House Seat. In fact, if we don't know that she has spent (8) years in the State house seat by now, we will never know! I was kind of embarrassed when I aggressively asked Amber Boykins why she missed so many votes in the State Legislature during session, to find out that it happened in 2005 when her mother had life threatening surgery. I asked her in front of her mother (oops), and her mother shared that she was a breast cancer survivor and heart transplant recipient. I am glad your mother was there to set the record straight. Well Amber, may your mother be in great health in the future. I'm sorry for being so rude! Enough about Amber!!!

The 4th District Senatorial forum was well put together by MCU, and they kept everyone on an equal time schedule. This was a fair forum and more forums should look to this organization to learn how to run a forum!

Until the next, you have just received the real scoop.

I too was at the forum; I wouldn't call Yaphett horribly late but nevertheless she was late. I also thought it was well put together and uneventful. If it were scored, say on punctuality, charisma, and knowledge; I also agree that it was Amber's day. With that said, after speaking to many of the African American people there, Yaphett has lost some major traction with the Al Sharpton thing. Ameren,the evil "Black haters" they are, was all up in the hood delivering quality meals. But it might be too late to stop all of the advancement Jeff Smith has made and the wild card question is... What will the people angry at Yaphett do? Will they stay with her? Will they go to Amber? Or will they go to Jeff? I will say this the fact that Mr. Sharpton pulled up in a BMW is a nonfactor. He got a ride from the airport people; don't get the BMW brand label confused with luxury. Most 3 series are actually less in cost than American made SUV's. You don't get into real cost until you get into the 6 series and don't forget "quality pre-owned." I will acknowledge that the question I asked in 2004 was being echoed by a certain community. Why are you putting signs on vacant lots and buildings? The purpose of yard signs are to show support. Guaging from yesterday's forum and the "hood Scuttle-but" this thing may have changed to Jeff and Amber's race, instead of Jeff v. Yaphett.

Permitting the hate and language of Da Rat Bastid on its website detracts from the ACC being a forum for intelligent and civil discussion.

Dave or Lucas, someone is negligent in allowing such posts. Your silence indicates approval and will only encourage more obscene, uncivil, irrational postings that won't contribute one iota to any civil debate of issues.

Don't forget, language always precedes actions. Hateful, obscene language will precede hateful, obscene actions.

And what about the youth who come to this blog to learn something?

I was at the forum. When Yaphet came on to the stage Derio Gambaro was standing at her seat so, she was being polite in taking the Jones seat. It was "less interrupting" to the event.

The League of Women Voters did not sponsor a candidate forum, so I am glad that someone sponsored a candidate forum. It was the first time that I saw the four that have a chance together.

Also, if Dave would clean up the language, for example edit an original comment to F***, I might be more inclined to let my youngsters read this blog.

It was hot in the room and a predominantly Euro American crowd.

I am still undecided.

Gambaro and Boykins were early.

I do not remember hearing Yaphet saying that she had supported a voucher bill. The crowd did not look like a bunch of voucher supporters, but maybe I'm wrong. She would have appeared more gutsy if she had been open about it.

The candidates other than Smith made a point of saying that they grew up in the city. Smith would have looked better if he had had the guts to say that he didn't grow up in the city. Saying that St. Louis is his origin gave me a negative impression.

Gambaro did not explicitly state his position regarding stem cells, it would have looked better if he would have clearly stated his view. I would have liked to hear how he would replace the funds generated by the city earning tax, if he succeeded in abolishing it.

As far as just the forum went, I thought that Amber Boykins won with respect to being open about what she supports, even if she thought that the crowd might not like it.

Does anyone know when an independent poll will be coming out? I am still trying to figure out who to vote for. I am pragmatic and look at who can actually win and vote for the one I am most comfortable with in that category. I don't vote for someone that doesn't appear to have a chance.

I just wish Dave would ban metacomments.

Irony overload....

Pundit,

What's a metacomment?

Generally...

It's sad that a selling point with STL voters is having "grown up" in the city.

"I've got lame ideas, but hey, I grew up in the city!".

A meta comment is one about the discussion, not the topic at hand--it's meant to be a joke obviously. I make them as well.

The reason why having grown up in the city is an issue in this election is that Smith has no experience with elected office and is perceived by some as just trying to use the 4th senate seat as a stepping stone to bigger things. As in education, experience can help, just as it can be a negative.

===As in education, experience can help, just as it can be a negative.

I agree, especially if your experience is advocating for right wing Republicans attempting to destroy Social Security.

I always find the stepping stone argument odd. So if someone has the potential to climb the ladder in politics, it's a bad thing when it means the individual would be faithfully serving his constituents to improve his standing?

Isn't that what you want?