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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsGreitens' Refusal To Resign Is Dragging Entire Missouri GOP Down
By Allegra Kirkland | April 20, 2018 6:00 am
Its been over four months since the world learned that Missouris governor allegedly tied a woman up in his basement, took a nude photo of her without consent, and threatened to release it publicly. Two months since he was indicted on a felony invasion of privacy charge for that incident. A week since the womans graphic version of the 2015 events including the claim that he pressured her into a sex act while she sobbed on the floor was released in disturbing public testimony. And days since Missouris top leadership told him to resign following news that he may face an unrelated felony charge for matters involving a charity he founded.
But Eric Greitens is still sitting in the governors mansion in Jefferson City, with no plans to step down. The Republican governor admits he had an affair but insists he committed no crime, and that hell be vindicated in court.
But the Missouri GOP sees things differently: Increasingly, it views Greitens as an anchor, defiantly dragging the entire state party down with him.
State Republicans worry that the longer Greitens spends firing off defensive tweets and huddling with his defense lawyers, the more it will split their party and demoralize Republican voters, dooming the partys chances in the November midterms. Foremost among the GOPs concerns is the states closely watched U.S. Senate race, which could help determine control of the chamber.
What I know from the data is that this information flow is awful for Republicans, Missouri GOP strategist James Harris told TPM. Theyre not talking about efforts to lower taxes in the state, trying to improve education. Instead everything thats on TV is about deviant sexual activity, assault, coerced sexual acts. Its not good.
more
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/muckraker/eric-greitens-scandals-dragging-missouri-republican-party-down
SWBTATTReg
(22,191 posts)showed their true colors. Disgusting, all of them. Overrode St. Louis and KC Missouri minimum wage laws and prevented other MO cities from enacting min. wage laws too. Assho***!!!!
NewJeffCT
(56,829 posts)I hope it spills into races for the US House as well.
hatrack
(59,600 posts)Bible-beating bullshit artists.
Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)Hopefully there will be plenty of other turds going with him. Theres a lesson for the RNC about Trump in there.
UpInArms
(51,289 posts)MARYVILLE, Mo. District 1 State Representative Allen Andrews, who represents Nodaway County, called Thursday afternoon for the resignation of Missouri Gov. Eric Greitens.
After the release of a report from the House Special Investigative Committee on Oversight and new information that Attorney General Josh Hawley has evidence to support another felony charge of an unrelated matter, Andrews said, I am joining with the members of the House leadership team in calling for the governor to step down.
The House leadership issued a joint statement calling for Greitens resignation:
At the outset of this process, we said the governor needed to be forthright and accountable for his actions. After thoughtful consideration of the findings in the House committees report and todays news that the attorney general has evidence to support another felony charge, we believe the governor needs to take responsibility for his actions.
Leaders at all levels of government are entrusted with an incredible responsibility to the Missourians we represent. When leaders lose the ability to effectively lead our state, the right thing to do is step aside. In our view, the time has come for the governor to resign.
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hatrack
(59,600 posts)Not quite as Trumpy as some Ozark counties, but pretty close.
UpInArms
(51,289 posts)I was just disgusted
hatrack
(59,600 posts)https://www.politico.com/2016-election/results/map/president/missouri/
Perhaps not coincidentally, another dying rural north Missouri county, waiting and thoughts-and-prayering for the return of the Magic Man with a big bag of Good Old Days for everyone.
Population 1900 - 14,706 (peak population)
Population 1950 - 7,235
Population 2000 - 3,757
Population 2016 - 3,699
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercer_County,_Missouri
leftyladyfrommo
(18,874 posts)I don't think he's very popular any more.
hatrack
(59,600 posts)Then Gov-Elect Greitens did a quick walk-on "Howdy!" appearance. It wasn't that you could have heard a pin drop, but applause was tepid at best - and that was 18 months ago.
leftyladyfrommo
(18,874 posts)He just isn't very likable besides being a Trump mini me.
hatrack
(59,600 posts)"Navy SEAL - Outsider - Adulterer - Sexual Predator" - sound good for 2020?
loyalsister
(13,390 posts)He changed parties because he knew he couldn't beat Koster, after having been a delegate for Obama in 2008. I have heard from legislators that a lot of republicans either don't trust him or hate him. There's no doubt he's a drag on their 2018 candidates. Even better, Democrats have an outstanding ground game this time and are doing a very good job of reaching out to rural districts. I don't think they'll flip either chamber, but they may be able to pick up some seats.
The Genealogist
(4,723 posts)This Missourian will be pleased to see their control of this state collapse.
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)Wouldn't this be a good time to hold some political rallies in heavily Republican areas and point out the fecklessness of Missouri Republicans? You know, give some of those rock-ribbed conservatives a little information that might budge them off the schneid and get them thinking that there's an alternative to voting lock-step for Republican corruption every other year?
pandr32
(11,637 posts)Lucky Luciano
(11,267 posts)askyagerz
(776 posts)I lived in western st louis for awhile. Honestly some of the dumbest people I have ever met were the Missouri rednecks. That's saying a lot because I know a lot of dumb people
Moostache
(9,897 posts)I have been a St. Louis resident for the last 25 years. There are a lot of wonderful people and elements of the St. Louis region that make it bearable to remain in this area...but the people in the hinterlands and exurbia are truly insufferable idiots. Uneducated, superstitious, angry racists and proud of it. They are stereotypes and caricatures in every way imaginable.
I have literally zero friends beyond 25 miles outside of the city limits, the fact that my school district encompasses some of these Emmy-Award winners means I (and my children) are forced to abide them, and it is not an easy thing.
Missouri is essentially like many places - a few scattered oases of sanity (Columbia, St. Louis, Kansas City) amidst a sea of insanity, superstition and anger. I'd have sympathy for the plight of these forgotten regions like Joplin, Springfield, Branson and the rural western counties if it weren't for the infestation of indigenous morons that infect them. These people are unreachable...their self-inflicted wounds cannot be healed because they refuse to see them as self-inflicted, instead believing the GOP nonsense and blaming immigrants and dark people instead of idiotic voting records and stupidity.
I have called this shithole state "East Kansas" for a while now and outside of the cities, there is nothing to make me change my mind about that judgment.
hatrack
(59,600 posts)Lots of things I love about this place, but what I hate about it seems to be getting worse.
askyagerz
(776 posts)Holy cow... I literally had to show 30 year olds how to sweep.
The city isnt as bad as a lot of people make it out to be. I had a blast when I lived there but you are definitely in methville as soon as you get out of the nice western suburbs.
Growing up closer to the Wabash in southern Illinois our rednecks just dont have nearly the venom that these Missouri guys have in them. It really is a special kind of hate.
My kids are still in Fenton. Super nice town with some of the best schools in Missouri but still too close to all the b.s.. I have been desperately trying to get get the ex to move out to Oregon where the world is a much different place.
Moostache
(9,897 posts)It has grown exponentially since my wife and I built our house in 1996! We have been active in the Guffey Elementary, Ridgewood Middle and Fox High Schools over the last 15 years and they are very good schools with some dedicated teachers and staff, but like I said before, the incursions of the idiot offspring is a huge drag.
Best of wishes to your kids!
askyagerz
(776 posts)My girls are up in the Rockwood schools area. My oldest just turned 20 but my youngest will be starting rockwood high next year. That is unless I can coax them all to moving out here this summer. They both love the west coast. I'm in Eugene Oregon and the counter culture is definitely alive and thriving here for a couple hippy girls
BobTheSubgenius
(11,573 posts)Everyone should recruit letter-writers to send messages of support to him.
PLEASE stay the course, Mr. Greitens. You are absolutely doing the right thing by nailing yourself to the hull of a ship you are working so hard to sink.
IronLionZion
(45,615 posts)in every district and state.
GusBob
(7,286 posts)He probably thinks that Trump gets away with it, so should he
Missouri and the whole GOP is anchored to Trump
Blue_true
(31,261 posts)struggle4progress
(118,379 posts)threatened to blackmail a woman with a photo of her tied up naked in our basement? What's next? People complaining about thirty-somethings groping underage high school girls? People complaining about lawyers using home equity loans to pay off porn stars? This is a very dangerous slippery slope!