Who is Buttering Bunny's Bread?

Hey, Kids!

A few weeks ago, I downloaded some files from The Missouri Ethics Commission. While it's not the easiest system to navigate, you can find all sorts of interesting info about who's donating how much to which person's campaign.

Just for fun (and yes, sadly, this is what I do for fun these days) I thought I’d take a look at who donated money to support our fearless Governor in the last election cycle.

Well, as it turns out -- Matt Blunt ( Missouri Governor/Husband of Bunny Blunt) received $1,125 from the Volunteer PAC of Nashville, TN in October, 2004. That's the Political Action Committee Bill Frist runs. You might have heard of it lately, since Jack Abramoff just copped a plea to coercing, bribing and influencing federal policy by donating money to Volunteer PAC, along with other organizations. I dunno about you, but I think Abramoff is kinda sexy, in that former-wrestler turned asshole neo-con kinda way. Maybe the Rock will play him in the made-for-tv-movie?

Oh, well....I digress...I guess all this just goes to show how money, power influence and steroids are peddled in Washington D.C., and even here in the less-than-fair Midwest..

Let's take a sample gander at some other donors, shall we?

Southern Belle Dairy - $1,000
These fine folks are being sued by the Department of Justice for price-gouging and artificially fixing prices for milk served to children in public schools. Why this Ohio based company is interested in a Missouri governor’s race (and mistreating younglings for profit) is beyond me.

Speaking of Ohio...

Rep. Michael Oxley (OH) - $1,000
This fine fellow "offered to ease up on his investigation of the mutual fund industry if the industry replaced its top lobbyist, a Democrat, with a Republican" and there's been no response to whether he, himself, is gonna give back the $2,000 contribution Abramoff made to him back-in-the-day.

Let’s travel south to another Republican strong-hold and pay a visit to…

Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL) - $1,000
Ms. Ros-Lehtinen's claim to fame may be that she's all for giving supermodels "their own immigration category" and her ass scored a free trip to Malaysia around the same time the U.S. began changing its political and trade policy with Malaysia, which was **whoooooo...here it is** around the same time that Jack Abramoff "...was indirectly paid by the government of Malaysia."

Turning our attention back home…while I found no connection to Jackie-boy with this local company, it is staggering to review the contributions made to Blunt's campaign made by local juggernaut:

Emerson Electric – in the tens of thousands of dollars!
From a cursory glance, Blunt received $250 from Emerson, which doesn’t look that bad until you start looking at these other funds, tucked away in various financial forms:
Emerson’s Missouri Responsible Fund - $1200
Ridge Tool (a subsidiary of Emerson Electric) - $2400
Copeland Corp (another subsidiary of Emerson Electric) - $2400
Closet Maid ( yet a subsidiary of Emerson Electric) - $2400
David & Betty Farrell (Emerson Electric Board of Directors) - $2400
Albert Suter (Emerson Electric Board of Directors) - $2400
Charles & Joanne Knight (Emerson Electric Board of Directors) - $2000
Robert Cox (Emerson Electric Board of Directors) - $500
Oh, Emerson also gave hundreds of thousands nationally, too...and only, as far as I can tell, to Republicans.

I’m sure there’s more to discover, I just got tired of cross-checking Emerson's vast array of holdings -- and what's listed above reeks of shadiness, as far as I’m concerned.

Speaking of which, even little-ole Springfield, Missouri, has it's share of businesses doing business as other businesses doing business. Take for example,

James E. Cologna, CPA who represents (and I assume owns) these businesses:
Class Act Management - $1200
C+S Marshfield Doing Business As Marshfield McDonald’s - $1200
Rogersville McDonalds - $1200
Buffalo McDonalds - $1200
G & J Development - $1200

And finally...

Wendy’s Restaurants
and the local franchise owner, Ron Saverin, along with David, Jessica, Justin and Matthew Saverin - $7200.

Saverin also owns Castle Hill Holdings, with $50 million in local restaurant assets and numerous variations of the name ( at $1200 a pop) ...so who knows how much he actually donated...tens…hundreds of thousands of dollars to Blunt and others?

It just goes on and on, truth be told, adding up (eventually) to millions of dollars of influence-peddling and bullshit parading itself as an investment in the democratic process. Not just here in Missouri - but everywhere.

At first, I wondered "Is this all some Right Wing conspiracy?"

And you know what?

I don't think so.

I just think it's a sad example of what's wrong with America. A few people have a helluva lot of money and can go through numerous channels to make sure their candidate wins. It's not just the Right -- it's also those on the Left. That doesn't make it any better, as far as I'm concerned.

And while all these records are safeguarded by the Ethics Commission, I question just how ethical our current political system is anymore.

And to think we were once upset by dangling chads...and to think I'll never be able to enjoy a Frosty in this town again.

*sigh*

Here's where I found the numbers I quoted, so have at it -- go get your Nancy Drew on -- and if you can connect the dots to even more political bullshit, please leave me a comment!

Blunt's Financial File 1
Blunt's Financial File 2
Blunt's Financial File 3
Blunt's Financial File 4
Blunt's Financial File 5
Blunt's Financial File 6
Blunt's Financial File 7
Blunt's Financial File 8
Blunt's Financial File 9