Talent's troubles, Missouri news, and some random blog links

I hope everyone had a pleasant weekend...I got to see a sizable swath of the state on my travels to and from Springfield, or at least as much of the state as I could see blasting by at 100MPH.

Everyone grab a hanky for Senator Jim Talent since he's been having a rough ride lately. His main fundraiser is apparently tied to Jack Abramoff and his stances on embryonic research might cost him re-election. With any luck we'll be able to bid sayonara to the sucker come November.

Gov. Blunt wins the award for this week's most ironic press release, for his masterpiece "Healthcare for All Missourians." Check it out:

Having access to quality and affordable healthcare is important for all Missourians, and together we must ensure this need is addressed.

Blunt's method of accomplishing this? Massive Medicaid cuts leaving 100,000 Missourians without healthcare. Amazing.

Also, State House Minority Leader Jeff Harris issued a press rlease on Monday proposing that all Missourians be allowed to deduct their college-tuition payments from their state income tax payments. So while Blunt is busy trying to sell MOHELA to Fannie Mae, Dems are working to actually save people money. While it was a little troubling to me that Harris didn't bother to calculate the cost of the program, this first step is encouraging to say the least.

And for some national politics fun, Chris Bowers of MyDD writes about election strategies for November, while Josh Marshall of Talking Points Memo ponders the irony of Harry Whittington apologizing to the Vice President for being shot in the face by him, and discusses what this reveals about Cheney's Vice Presidency. Orcinus provides us with a very good but perhaps overlong analysis of Ann Coulter's ethnically insensitive remarks at the Conservative Political Action Committee Conference. As Orcinus writes:

Let's face it, Coulter has been spewing hate -- ethnic and otherwise -- for a
long time under the guise of "political humor." In terms of poisoning the public
discourse, just how much worse is an ethnic slur than calling for us to invade
Muslim nations and forcing them to convert to Christianity? Or, for that matter,
wishing for the bombing of the New York Times Building? Calling liberals
innately "treasonous," and calling for their oppression? Disenfranchising women?
Extolling the benefits of "local fascism"? Fantasizing about shooting the
president?

Indeed. More to come sometime soon. In the meantime check out www.washudems.org for new volunteer and campaign opportunities.