Comments on: Blunt: Do as I say, not as I do

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 21 Jan 2006 19:56:16 +0000

this article discusses blunts quid pro quo policies that hurt Missourians for his own benefit.

kinda long, but well worth downloading the PDF and reading when you have 10 minutes to get fired up about blunt corruption.

http://www.simpletonu.com/PPI_20060112_Blunt.htm

By: Danny Gregory

Danny Gregory — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 23:08:17 +0000

First off, I seriously doubt that all the time in the vehicle is wasted, Chris. You said yourself that his time is in the backseat of the SUV, and I would expect that time to be spent on the cell phone or laptop.
Secondly, I don’t get state dollars to drive back and forth to work, but I am not the Governor of the state, either. And, I doubt that the most of those miles are racked between Springfield and Jeff… How many miles driven by the Gov. would be okay for you? 100 per day? 50? To me, that means that he’s not out in front of the people, answering questions from the farmers in Tarkio or Cape. As it stands, he’s covering roughly 270 miles per day(I’m sure we’ll agree that his position is not a 5-day work week)… With more some days, some less days, that seems reasonable to me… Likewise, how much of the month is 162 hours? There’s more than 700 in a thirty day month… That leaves over 500 for him to be outside the car… Technology being what it is today, I feel just as comfortable him being in the car as I would were he in the office… Moreso, in fact. I don’t think that he’s joyriding. Could be wrong, though. All those miles could come alongside a sixer on the way to the strip clubs.

By: ChrisM70

ChrisM70 — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 20:51:40 +0000

Danny, Here’s what we are talking about:

Here’s some info I found from an AP story:

Over a three month period (February, March and April), Blunt racked up an astonishing 24,388 miles in his two taxpayer financed Suburbans. That doesn’t even include travel in standard patrol cars. (Click Read More)

If that total wasn’t stunning enough, let’s do some “executive time allocation modeling” on his travels.
24,388 miles divided over the three months reviewed by the Associated Press averages 8129 miles per month.
At an average continuous speed of 50 miles per hour (probably a very high assumption), Blunt would be spending 162 hours a month in the backseat of his taxpayer funded Suburbans.
————
Now, if the time he wastes isn’t bad enough, I figure that his SUV gets about 20mpg. So, with gas being about $2.00/gal, that means he has spent (just on gas) around $2,438.00 driving around.

How much money state money do YOU get to travel back and forth to work, just to make you “comfortable”?

By: Danny Gregory

Danny Gregory — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 20:26:25 +0000

Obviously sarcasm, which is what the airplane comment was meant to be, doesn’t translate onto a message board…
As for the rest, it’s not as if Blunt is making a daily commute, he’s just not making Jeff City his primary residence. The gas burnt in his SUV on a 180 mile trip twice a week doesn’t really count for “extravagance”, does it?
By no means am I supporter of the Gov., don’t get me wrong. In fact, I hold quite a bit of disdain for him and his ultra-conservative stance on social issues within the State… Issues that are really pretty petty within the scheme of things… i.e. The Strip Clubs! What a waste of time that legislation was..
But, your argument on his commuting habits is no less petty. I mean, really, what are we talking about here?

By: ChrisM70

ChrisM70 — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 19:55:05 +0000

Danny,

You don’t think it’s a little silly for the Governor to shuttle back and forth wasting all this time and gas just so his family is happy? Sacrifice is a dirty word, I guess, unless he is asking US to sacrifice.

“At least he isn’t burning airplane fuel.”

So by using that rationale…
At least he isn’t asking MODOT to build him his own “super expressway” to make his ride extra comfortable…

Is the Governor allowed to live where he likes? Yes.

Should the taxpayers be upset at his extravagance and arrogance while he asks citizens to conserve? ABSOLUTELY.

By: Danny Gregory

Danny Gregory — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 19:16:10 +0000

I’ve no problem with Gov. Blunt living where ever he chooses… And, yes, as one of the people he works for me as well as the rest of you… Company car comes with the job, folks. Sorry.
However, I do think it’s a little crazy that the State pays for the police escort that I’ve been told leads the way for the Gov. on every trip he takes between Jeff City and Springfield… Look at it this way, at least he isn’t burning airplane fuel.

By: ChrisM70

ChrisM70 — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 19:05:10 +0000

Kelly Cole said
“I do not know about you but if I had a new child and a wife at home I think they would probably be more comfortable in their own surroundings.”

I don’t know if this makes any difference to you, but
THE GOVERNOR WORKS FOR THE PEOPLE.
I don’t care if living somewhere else would make them more comfortable!

Blunt took the job – now he should deal with it! And that includes living in the Governor’s mansion. If he can’t put up with a little inconvenience while doing the people’s work, and thinks this job is too much of a burden on his family, he should quit.
A lot of hard working people have to put up with much worse “inconveniences”. (like having their Medicaid cut…)

By: Kelly Cole

Kelly Cole — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 18:39:49 +0000

I would like to comment on the first selection from Heidi. I am not sure where you are coming from bringing up the point that the state should be responsible for covering the cost of the public transit system in KC but this falls on the local government. The state has nothing to do with this. I am sure you probably think the Federal Gov’t should pitch into too. What is next should the state also pay for our Chiefs and Royals.

Also, there is only one state government that position requires the person to reside in Jeff City and that is Attorney General. I do not know about you but if I had a new child and a wife at home I think they would probably be more comfortable in their own surroundings.

By: Ben Edsall

Ben Edsall — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 01:37:08 +0000

Don’t worry, now that Kay Barnes got her giant fishbowl with no parking they will soon be coming to us with yet another proposal to build some overpriced underused train system.

Look at the system in Houston! Total failure!

Besides like everything else in KC if we try to build it someone will complain that their group did not get to be part of the bidding process. Then we will have to have massive court battles to see if we can put the tracks through blighted neighborhoods to be fair to the less fortunate. When it is all said and done the politicians and lawyers will make millions and we will get the shaft.

By: Ben Edsall

Ben Edsall — Tue, 03 Jan 2006 01:32:45 +0000

Most opposition to Blunt I am sure is more politically motivated than thought out. I see few tree-huggers complaining when Gore, Clinton, Kennedy, or any other liberals cruise around in gas guzzlers.

They are all politicians and until you realize they are buying your votes with your own money they will continue to play you!