The 10 Most Influential Tweeps in Missouri Politics

POWER TWEEPS

There is no perfect formula to any list -- and that's the point, really. The Notebook's 10 most influential Tweeps is meant to drive discussion more than it's designed to dictate it. (Are Missouri conservatives & Republicans more active and effective users of Twitter -- or are there just more of them in the Twitterverse -- and, if so, Why?) Being an elected official held considerable weight, as did the number of followers one has collected. But there are also the immeasurables and intangibles -- the willingness to show some flair, the ability to deepen or widen a debate, the audacity to take some risk. Overall, this list tries to encompass the people in Missouri politics who most heavily influence debate regularly with their Twitter accounts. 2009 will be remembered as the year when Twitter exploded as a powerful tool in politics -- Here's The Notebook's list of the 10 most powerful politicos on Twitter.

1. @clairecmc - The undisputed Queen of Tweet in Missouri is also one of the most influential Twitterers in the country. Sen. Claire McCaskill openly believes the power of Twitter can change politics and is proving her own point by engaging even her most disparaging critics for all the Twitterverse to see. The most fascinating thing is not how often she Tweets, but how viscerally she responds to others inquiries. How many other pols would take the time to lend 140 characters to a faceless, at times, insulting inquiry past midnight? And if this is what she shares, can you imagine what she's holding back? Regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum, you have to admire the window she's provided into her life. Whether it's being a proud mom (Lily all packed, ready to go to ballet camp in Vermont), trashing talking sports (Why is it so much fun to beat the Cubbies?) or admitting a flaw (Guess all the criticism gets under my skin sometimes. It shouldn't, sorry) -- McCaskill's messages are allowing fans, foes and those in between to learn more about their junior U.S. Senator than any other pol in Missouri.

2. @tonymess - Anyone who cares about the sausage-making legislative process in Jefferson City knows that Tony Messenger's Tweet-by-Tweet of the action is indispensable reading. His late-night tweets (along with @ChadLivengood -- see below) for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch during the final stretch of the session managed to capture all the blood, sweat, tears, exhaustion, lunacy and hilarity of the waning hours. Tony even created potential drinking games for filibusters. Plus, follow Messenger and you'll always know the Rockies score. But, be warned, you'll have to put up with updates of that foreign sport, some refer to as "soccer".

3. @ChadLivengood - He may not admit it, but the Springfield News Leader's state capitol reporter was once upon a time a bit of a Twitter skeptic. But amid covering his first legislative session, Chad Livengood quickly began cranking out the Tweets and building up his list of followers. Like @tonymess, Livengood's Jefferson City updates became invaluable to politicos, citizens and even reporters like me who didn't have the wherewithal to sit through it all ourselves. At times, Livengood and Messenger would (seemingly in tandem) Tweet questions and answers back and forth to each other from the House and Senate -- producing live give-and-take reporting and analysis that fueled conversation and shaped the legislative debate. In addition to keeping tabs on the political action in the Show-Me state, Livengood sprinkles in a good amount of Tweets about his old reporting stomping ground in Michigan and the waning state of print journalism. Because of geography and followers, Tony gets a slight edge over Chad in Tweet power -- but only by a twit.

4. @DLoesch - Her bio says it all: Mother, blogger, talk radio host, smart aleck. And all those traits are reflected in the tweets produced by Dana Loesch. The conservative radio host writes tweets that punch with personality and she's steadily approaching the 7,000 followers mark. But she's also got purpose. She uses her St. Louis based sounding board to rail against the left and President Obama's agenda. But more specifically, she's got her eye on Rep. Russ Carnahan and Sen. Claire McCaskill. (Carnahan just fibbed: http://bit.ly/2ceEMn . It adds over $200b to the deficit, she Tweeted on July 20th.) Still, the real charm is the seamless balance Loesch demonstrates between Tweeting the personal and political. A recent fav: JEEBUS. Sorry pizza guy that my son answered the door with no pants on! So glad you weren't a pervert! If you can learn something and laugh, that's a worthy follow.

5. @JakeWagman - At times, one might think Jake Wagman picked the wrong beat. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch political reporter is full of Cardinal stats, play-by-play and commentary. Sure, his Tweets are filled with the latest campaign and political news for the state's most influential paper -- but Wagman always finds time to pepper in the question or comment of the moment on the Cards, the NFL season or other sports trivia. A sample: Who will start in left field tonight? Don't rule out Joe Thurston, though Ank was 2-5 against Moehler last year with a dinger . . . to . . . Scratch that -- game called, Cards win. Does this count as a complete game for Wainwright? We're hoping for more mixed political-sports metaphors are in his Tweeting future.

6. @PeterKinder - As speculation grows over the Lieutenant Governor's 2012 plans, his Twitter account will draw more eyeballs and scrutiny. There's no lack of passion in Peter Kinder's Tweets: Sebelius: EVERYONE will pay for abortion coverage. Take that, all us pro-life Missourians! He also enjoys striking the Caps Lock key: "THAT'S MSNBC FOR YOU" But strikingly, he's rarely used the platform to directly engage his rival, Gov. Jay Nixon (That's left to Chief of Staff @RichAuBuchon and Communications Director @gmcelyea). Instead, Kinder has focused his attention on national affairs, like President Obama's popularity and the healthcare debate. Some GOPers privately believe Kinder should suspend his Twitter account if he wants to be taken seriously. His "I was first the Tweet it" over a false alarm hostage scare in Jefferson City earned him considerable flack from his critics -- and prompted some telling deletions from his feed. The incident exemplified how Twitter can be used as a political tool but also as a self-inflicted dagger. In 2006, it was the Macaca moment on YouTube that sent Sen. George Allen packing. In 2010 or 2012, could Twitter similarly bury a candidate that's too quick to Tweet?

7. @RoyBlunt - It's unclear how much of the Ozarks Congressman's Tweeting is done by himself as opposed to aides, and many of the messages are formulaic and predictable. But Roy Blunt showed he can drive some news through the Twitterverse. His recent Tweet of a Charlie Cook prediction of a 2010 U.S. Senate campaign win drew attention and debate. And @RobinCarnahan's initial diss of Twitter has helped him build a healthy lead in followers over the Secretary of State. Both accounts will be mandatory viewing for politicos throughout 2010, but Blunt's camp seems a bit more comfortable and aggressive in Tweetland.

8. @MayorSlay - The mayor of St. Louis uses his characters less to drive political debate and more to inform the Twitterverse about events, trends and developments in the city under the arch: El Monstero plays their second night at The Pageant tonight. Francis Slay's Tweets are normally short, direct and helpful -- especially if you're an out of towner. But they also exude the calm command of a leader in charge and in touch, with slices of humor: Mayoral rules for office parties: try every dish, smile, don't wear a Santa hat for the picture. Next step, wearing the hat and having the chutzpah to Twitpic it.

9. @JolieJustus -As far as progressives go, this Kansas City State Senator is one of the leaders in the Twitterworld. Jolie Justus' messages are lively, consistent and her personality easily shines through the computer screen. She also varies her Tweet topics, which is important in order to lure followers outside the political realm. She'll dive into current events: "While MO newspapers have suffered massive layoffs, I heard an radio story this wkd that quoted the NYT "scent" editor. Must be nice." And have a little fun with (can you believe it) a Governor from her own party?!: Dear Gov, why do you hate turkeys? Even Palin pardoned a turkey. RT@Missourinet No pardon for Missouri's turkeys. For lawmakers who want to boost followers, they should keep an eye on the Justus model.

10. @Ed4Congress - More than any other candidate in Missouri, Gov. Matt Blunt's former chief of staff Ed Martin has build a significant portion of a Congressional campaign around Twitter. He's one of the state's most prolific Tweeps -- and some would argue he's an example of someone who Tweets too much. But persistence can pay dividends. Martin's scored close to 1,900 followers with just over 3,100 Tweets -- a pretty good ratio. There's no evidence all the typing will aid his bid against @RepCarnahan, but Martin certainly sees Twitter as a top campaign tool.

If There Were 20 (in no particular order):
Honorable mentions -- @Mommentator, @FiredUpMissouri, @ReneeHulshof, @MoRecord, @jrosenbaum, @johncombest, @shanamarchio, @senjasoncrowell, @KrisKetz, @AFPMissouri

Who'd I miss?
What did I get wrong?

Leave your own list in the comment sections.

Jericho Out; BlogTalkRadio Podcast Tuesday

RADIO SHACK

An employee with Journal Broadcast Media tells The Notebook that controversial conservative radio talk show host Vincent David Jericho is no longer employed with KSGF.

On Monday afternoon, Bruce Delay was listed as the new morning host on the KSGF website. Jericho was no longer listed as personality. An employee with an affiliated station said he could not elaborate on the reason for Jericho's departure. By Monday evening, fans were offering their prayers for Jericho on his Facebook page.

In August, Jericho, who had been on the air with KSGF for more than five years, made national news during an interview with Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele. Steele said he agreed with the often bombastic host on a point he was making about politicians "who can't behave themselves." "When stuff gets in the crapper, you got to clean it out," said Steele, leaving the impression to many that he was referring directly to Congressman Roy Blunt.

Jericho has also been a vociferous critic of Blunt and 7th District executive director Mavis Busiek. "If you don't kiss Mavis Busiek's ring, and if you aren't 800 years old, they don't let you in," Jericho said on his program during the Steele interview.
***
ALSO: TUESDAY: BLOGTALKRADIO
11 A.M CST

On my last day with Ky3 News, tune in for a podcast with KSPR news director Brad Belote in a discussion about politics and my move to POLITICO next month.

Call 917-932-1277 with your questions OR LISTEN HERE.

Frank Ribs McCaskill At Gridiron

Massachusetts Representative Barney Frank ribbed Sen. Claire McCaskill for her prolific Tweets at Washington's winter Gridiron Club dinner Saturday.

"Maybe I lack intellectual curiosity, but I'm not that interested in what Claire McCaskill has for lunch," said Frank, who poked fun at the new media tool Twitter.

Sarah Palin represented the Republicans at the dinner.

Palin, who repeatedly took aim at the mainstream media in a speech at College of the Ozarks Wednesday, poked fun at herself during her routine.

BEST LINES:

If the election had turned out differently, she said, "I could be the one overseeing the signing of bailout checks and vice president Biden could be on the road selling his book, 'Going Rogaine.'"

She announced she "came down from my hotel room and I could see the Russian embassy."

Focusing on criticism she has received from Steve Schmidt, a senior strategist in McCain's presidential campaign, she said, "If I need a bald campaign manager I guess I'm left with James Carville," a Democrat.

Full A.P. wrap HERE

Hump Day Inspiration

'LIKE HAVING ANOTHER GOVERNMENT'

I came across this crescendo of a passage at the end of a highly critical piece on the state of journalism in October's The Atlantic called "The Story Behind The Story". The overarching message of the piece (which is a worthy read) delivers some tough truth syrup to swallow, but Mark Bowden's finale inspired me, and I hope will do the same for my hard-working colleagues across Missouri, still proud to call themselves journalists:

Mark Bowden, The Atlantic:

"A reporter who thinks and speaks for himself, whose preeminent goal is providing deeper understanding, aspires even in political argument to persuade, which requires at the very least being seen as fair-minded and trustworthy by those -- and this is key -- who are inclined to disagree with him. The honest, disinterested voice of a true journalist carries an authority that no self-branded liberal or conservative can have. 'For a country to have a great writer is like having another government," Alexander Solzhenitsyn wrote. Journalism, done right, is enormously powerful precisely because it does not seek power. It seeks truth. Those who forsake it to shill for a product or a candidate or a party or an ideology diminish their own power. They are missing the most joyful part of the job."

Kinder's Tour De Tweet

TWEETER KINDER

The Lieutenant Governor attempts to break news on TWITTER regarding a potential hostage situation in Jefferson City, but later deletes a bunch of his posts on what turned out to be a misunderstanding.

"Sharpshooters on roof of Jefferson bldg. Hostage situation unfolding in Governor Office bldg. Police locked down the block. Developing ..." Kinder posted on his Twitter page.

Kinder then appeared on KTVI-TV in St. Louis around midday to report the news in the live interview. But the link to the interview has been mysteriously removed from the station's website. The left-wing blog FiredUp linked to the interview, which was posted on YouTube.

In the interview, Kinder was careful to say reports of shots fired was a "third-party unconfirmed report." As FiredUp gleefully noted, the Lieutenant Governor said, "I was the first to Tweet it."

***

THEN: After reports of a hostage situation in Jefferson City proved to be untrue, Kinder retracted a Re-Tweet of a message posted Tuesday morning about President Obama saying jail time was appropriate for not buying health insurance.

The Kansas City Star's Steve Kraske noted Obama never said that.

"I apparently erred in a re-tweet of a message tweeted by Renee Hulshof this morning re: something Pres Obama said. I hereby retract item." Kinder wrote.

A little later, Kinder wrote: "There. I have just corrected a mis-communication faster than my friends @ the KC Star ever have one of theirs. :)"

One Jefferson City observer called Kinder's posting "reckless." "Imagine if he sat in the big chair?," one mused. Others on Twitter praised the Lt. Governor for Tweeting what he knew in real time.

***

Kinder is the top statewide elected official to hold a Twitter account. An @JayNixon account used earlier in the year was found not to be an official account of Gov. Jay Nixon.

Obama Birther Infomercial Airs in Springfield

Almost nine months into his presidency, there are still groups questioning whether Barack Obama is a natural born citizen of the United States.

And now the so-called "birther" movement has taken to the airwaves right here in the Ozarks.

WATCH THE KY3 NEWS @ 10 REPORT HERE

BELOW:

INTERVIEWING THE BOSS

WHY KY3 INC. OK'D IT TO AIR ON SISTER STATION KSPR

"Obviously, the opinions in this particular program may be a minority of our viewers, but certainly I think this group has the right to express themselves. I don't think it's libelous in any fashion," explained Ky3 Inc. General Manager Mike Scott.

EXCERPTS OF MY PHONE INTERVIEW WITH U.S. JUSTICE FOUNDATION LEADER GARY KREEP:

"I'm saying that his family was probably trying to cover up something -- not the fact that he was born in Africa," said USJF executive director Gary Kreep in an interview from California.

LivePrayer's website has a video comparing President Obama to Hitler.

HERE is FactCheck.org's findings that Obama is a U.S. citizen.

HERE is PolitiFact's Final Chapter on the matter.

Turning The Tables

7th District Congressional candidate Billy Long interviews The Notebook and the Springfield News-Leader's Chad Livengood on NewsTalk radio Monday morning.

Livengood & myself will appear between 7-9 a.m. on AM 560 KWTO

*Listen HERE*

Claire Does Fox

Sen. Claire McCaskill will be a guest on Fox News Sunday this week.

She'll appear along with Sens. Kent Conrad, Orrin Hatch and Lindsey Graham to talk about healthcare.

PLUS: FNS snags Rep. Joe Wilson

Read the other Sunday show line-ups HERE, via The Page.

Mazel Tov

The Notebook wakes up bright and early to appear on Rabbi Eukel's radio show to talk Missouri politics.

I'll appear at 7 a.m. with Eukel on Blogtalkradio.

But wake up at 6:30 a.m. to hear the Springfield News-Leader's Chad Livengood.

Listen HERE.

McCaskill Makes Newsweek's Tweet List

FOR GAFFES . . .

Newsweek rounds up the top ten social media site slip-ups and Sen. Claire McCaskill comes in at #7.

Writes David Graham:

"Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill, one of Congress's most prolific Twitter users, inadvertently got her colleague Michael Bennet of Colorado in some trouble with liberal Denver blogger David Sirota. Sirota had been trying to snag an interview with the senator for a talk show he was guest-hosting, but was told Bennet was too busy. As a result, he wasn't too happy when he saw tweets from McCaskill (“Lunch w/ Lily in the Senate dining room. Sen. Bennet at large table surrounded by journalists. Don’t know whether to say congrats or try and save him.”) showing that Bennet was with other Washington reporters in the Senate dining room."

Read the entire list HERE.

Steele Stumble Exposes Far Right Rift With GOP Establishment

INCIDENT OVERBLOWN?
BUSIEK: STEELE SHOULD'VE 'PUT A STOP TO IT'
CANDIDATES STRADDLE JERICHO TIGHTROPE
THE RNC'S 'TACTICAL MISTAKE'

The fracas over Republican National Committee chairman Michael Steele's appearance on Vincent David Jericho's radio program illustrates the power of political exaggeration as well as a more instructive rift between some grass-root, populist conservatives and establishment Republicans in Southwest Missouri.

And Jericho's repeated inflammatory statements about Congressman and U.S. Senate candidate Roy Blunt also presents a tricky tightrope for the GOP candidates running to replace him.

Steele is still dealing with national political fallout from his reaction to Jericho's laundry list of accusations against the GOP's likely U.S. Senate nominee.

On Friday morning, the conservative KSFG talk show host accused Blunt of "committing adultery multiple times" and amending homeland security legislation to benefit his second wife, a Washington lobbyist. "Guys like Papa Blunt make us sick to our stomachs," Jericho said, in what was a fairly typical riff for his program.

Lost in much of the coverage though, is that Jericho concluded his thought speaking about the page scandal involving former Florida Congressman Mark Foley. "You had the page boy scandal, you had all of that crap, and nobody stands up to it, and says, 'this is crap,'"Jericho went on, before making a reference to men acting like boys "who can't behave themselves."

Steele's initial response -- "I mean, I agree with you" -- is earning himself political fire from Democrats and scorn from some Missouri Republicans. "When stuff gets in the crapper, you got to clean it out," said Steele, leaving the impression to many that he was referring directly to Blunt.

"I'm very disappointed," said 7th Congressional District executive director Mavis Busiek. "I do not think Mr. Steele had a handle on the situation. A journalist never has the right to attack a person's character on something he knows nothing about. Mr. Steele should've put a stop to it right then and there and ended the interview abruptly," Busiek added.

Former Blunt chief of staff Gregg Hartley wrote on Twitter that Steele should apologize to Blunt and resign over the remarks.

Another Republican operative muttered that Steele helped cut "an automatic commercial," for Blunt's 2010 Democratic rival, Robin Carnahan.

But other Republicans think the transcript looks worse than hearing the entire interview and that the left cynically and successfully elevated a minor gaafe into a larger controversy for the GOP.

"When I first saw the transcript of the interview on a liberal blog site, I figured Steele was just sticking his foot in his mouth," said Patrick Tuohey, who runs the conservative website, The Missouri Record. "But now that I listen to the audio, I don't think there is much here. The specific talk that Steele was reacting to involved Rep. Foley and the leadership that let it pass. Steele was probably just happy to have a chance to squeeze some words in," Tuohey said.

"This particular episode is silliness that won't have legs and we'll be on to something else in a week," he added.

Conservative Kyle Dowden, a Jericho fan, also said that Steele's comments were being "made out as bigger than they really were." "Michael showed some integrity and gave himself credibility by not just defending the members of his party. He could've easily given the typical D.C. sound byte and avoided the question. He didn't," Dowden said.

But Dowden represents a slice of the conservative movement in Southwest Missouri that remains largely Republican, but anti-establishment and in some cases, anti-Blunt. It is the group that Jericho has both cultivated and depended on to fuel his following on his morning radio show.

"I have voted for Roy and Matt (Blunt) in every election they have been on the ballot," explained Dowden. But, I've been losing faith in Roy, especially since he ditched his wife in favor of the lobbyist that Jericho referenced. I remember attending the press conference when Matt announced his candidacy for governor. There was a coolness in the air as it related to Roy and Matt's mother. Everyone was aware that Roy was baggage for Matt's campaign," Dowden said.

"I think we voters have to ask the question, 'Is it possible for a man who sells out his family for pleasure also able to sell out his beliefs and constituents for a kickback?' I think it's possible. That's why character and integrity matter," Dowden went on.

The personal remarks about Blunt's private life are part of an undercurrent that Jericho has used to tap into, to make his case that the Congressman isn't "one of us."

But Jericho is also in a long-running feud with Busiek, who he views as a dictatorial gatekeeper who won't embrace newer and younger conservatives who want to be part of the local GOP structure.

"If you don't kiss Mavis Busiek's ring, and if you aren't 800 years old, they don't let you in," Jericho said on his program during the Steele interview.

"What I make of it, is he must be fairly desperate. No one has to kiss anyone's ring to get in the party. He says these things to get attention. He seems to want to draw a divide with young conservatives and the following I have. But he doesn't seek the truth," Busiek said.

"I'm not 19 years-old, but for 743, I'm pretty well preserved," she added, hitting back at the age crack.

Jericho's viewpoint and following by no means represents a majority of 7th District Republicans. But some political observers say growing discontent with the Republican Party combined with Ron Paul's fringe candidacy and the election of President Obama has created the perfect storm for Jericho's bombastic style.

"Like any good demagogue, Jericho sought to make Blunt an emblem for a party that lost its way, and made demands upon the congressman to show fealty to Jericho's very narrow brand of conservatism. By doing this, Jericho became the leader of the "conservative underground," said Springfield Republican Matt Lyons.

Despite his harsh attacks on Republicans, most area candidates and officials agree to appear on Jericho's show. All five of the announced Republicans running to replace Blunt in the U.S. House appeared at Jericho's cattle call two weeks ago.

State Sen. Gary Nodler said he couldn't make a judgment on Jericho's interaction with Steele because he didn't hear the broadcast. He said he views Jericho as just another media outlet to convey his views through and added that a diverse Republican Party in Southwest Missouri shouldn't surprise anyone.

"The Republican Party in Southwest Missouri is too big to be monolithic. Tensions are bound to exist," said Nodler. The Joplin lawmaker wouldn't render an opinion on Jericho's influence, but said it's expected that his act is designed to generate controversy.

"It's not just about information, it's about entertainment," Nodler said, referring to Jericho's show. "They're free to disagree with Congressman Blunt and Governor Blunt. They're free to disagree with me."

Greene County prosecutor and 7th District candidate Darrell Moore, who also hadn't heard the broadcast, said it helps no one to use harsh damning rhetoric to get a point across.

"Yes, Jericho has some influence, but I have no use for the trash talk. That's high school behavior. What good does it do anybody to trash Roy at this point? It just tears us all down," Moore said.

"I would say, sometimes, my friend Jericho, goes over the line," Moore added.

But for some in the conservative movement, that's exactly where they want him to be.

"I know Vincent has offered for Blunt to come on his show, but, I guess he doesn't want to face real questions on his record," said conservative Clint Hallowell. "And I do respect and know that Jericho will only talk about things he's researched and has the facts on so I have to deduce that Roy Blunt doesn't want to face him to clear things up and explain his position on the matter and could very well be because Jericho's right," added Hallowell, who said he's divorced himself from the Republican Party.

"I am absolutely conservative and agree 100% with Vincent," added Jericho fan Peggy Meads. "I do think he may have been a bit tough on Steele, but it is so needed at this point. This country is slipping away from everything that once made it great. The GOP has become a party of wimps and needs to make a conservative stand and bring back common sense," she added.

Privately, many local Republicans are grumbling at what they see as a tactical mistake the Republican National Committee made by allowing Steele to go on Jericho's program in the first place.

But there seems to be wider frustration that Jericho and his listeners can't unite behind the GOP's common rival: President Obama and a Democratic Congress.

"I'm loyal to Congressman Blunt, I think he's been a good Congressman and will be a good Senator. I will never betray him. I'm not saying he's never made a mistake, but he's my friend. Maybe that's what's tormenting him," Busiek said. "I'm not interested in someone who stirs fears and tears people down all the time," she added.

"Their angst for Blunt runs so deep that it's hard to see who they display more antipathy toward: Blunt, or Obama?," said Lyons, who is supporting Blunt for U.S. Senate. "Again, this is something that should unify the two parts: both are against the stimulus, government health care, Cash for Clunkers, cap and trade, etc. Yet because the conservative/libertarian faction holds such antipathy for the local establishment GOP, it doesn't," Lyons said.

"Everyone in public life has made mistakes. As Jericho has pointed out, Blunt is no different. Yet atonement can be made for those mistakes. My advice to all involved is, look at the big picture," he said.

Report: Blunt Pushed for CBS to Retract Guard Story

The Los Angeles Times reports that Congressman Roy Blunt wanted CBS News to officially retract its highly questionable report about George W. Bush's service in the Texas Air National Guard.

The revelation comes in a piece about Dan Rather's legal fight against CBS News.

"Email included in court filings shows that one Viacom lobbyist, Carol Melton, urged Heyward and CBS communications chief Gil Schwartz to officially retract the story in order to satisfy then-House Majority Whip Roy Blunt (R-Mo.)," reports the Times.

"Plainly the 'retraction' point per se seems to be a final shoe that some would like to see drop -- and have no doubt that Blunt is acting as the mouthpiece on this for the Administration," she wrote on Jan. 10, 2005."

Behind the scenes, CBS rebuffed a retraction as "unnecessary."

Read the whole piece HERE.

Sorry Tweeps, Carnahan Not Yet on Twitter Wagon

Secretary of State Robin Carnahan isn't an active Twitter user -- and if she becomes a U.S. Senator, don't expect that to change.

The Democratic candidate initially laughs off a Notebook inquiry about her Twitter use before saying, "I don't think people care that much about when I'm brushing my teeth and what I'm doing all day long."

ALSO: Asked about Chuck Purgason's primary challenge to Roy Blunt, Carnahan says: "I'm not particularly surprised Republicans are questioning following a guy who's been there in leadership for 10 years and got us into this mess we're in right now. He really does own some responsibility for that."

*FULL FINAL CARNAHAN CLIP ABOVE*

BLUNT CAMPAIGN RESPONSE:

"Robin Carnahan and the Carnahan family are creatures of Washington. In 1993, well before Roy Blunt was elected to Congress, Robin Carnahan left Missouri to live and work in Washington when she was an executive for the Export-Import Bank. Consequently Robin Carnahan's Washington bank has been rated one of the worst corporate programs in the country. Robin Carnahan's mother was a Senator in Washington and her brother is a Congressman in Washington. The bottom line is the Carnahan is synonymous with Washington," said spokesman Rich Chrismer.

Kinder Remembers Cronkite's Missouri Roots

"Most Trusted Man in America" Dead at 92

Walter Cronkite was the face of CBS News from 1962 to 1981 and became a journalistic icon during what was known as the golden age for television news.

Cronkite was born in St. Joseph, Missouri in 1916. He covered World War II in the 1930's for United Press in Kansas City.

Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder was the first Missouri official out with a statement:

"This evening, America has lost a trusted voice and lifelong friend in Walter Cronkite. As a native son of Missouri, Mr. Cronkite brought our nation the days events with eloquence and poise across multiple generations. Tonight, I think back on memories of some of America's most historic events. Those events found life through the words of Walter Cronkite. On behalf of all Missourians, I send my deepest sympathies to the Cronkite family."

Kinder's office notes that Cronkite was inducted in the Hall of Famous Missourians in 1999 and that a bronze bust honors his life in the rotunda of the Missouri state capitol.

CBS is planning a one-hour special on Sunday to remember Cronkite. It will air in place of 60 Minutes.

Twitter Me This

Congressman Roy Blunt says he'll announce his second quarter fundraising total this week on TWITTER.

Blunt's team has already signaled that the U.S. Senate candidate has brought in more than $1 million dollars between April and June. But the exact number will be Tweeted soon.

"I want to encourage everyone who is interested in the campaign to follow us on Twitter which is a great way to stay in contact. Missourians can follow our campaign on Twitter, Facebook, RoyBlunt.com and in many other ways. We want our campaign to be open and accessible so Missourians can get the information they want about my record and positions on issues directly from me and the campaign," Blunt said.

You can follow Roy Blunt on TWITTER HERE.

Likely Democratic U.S. Senate nominee Robin Carnahan hasn't yet fully embraced Twitter.

She has a Twitter account, but no updates have been registered.

Her campaign manager, Mindy Mazur, has only typed 3 tweets to date.

UPDATE 9:52 PM: From Blunt spokesman Rich Chrismer:
"Robin Carnahan will not state her positions in 140 characters or more so why would we expect her to state her positions in 140 characters or less."

*Second quarter fundraising reports are due to be filed Wednesday*

Is The Record The "Right" Answer?

A new voice for conservatives recently entered the blogosphere called The Missouri Record.

It's got a sleek look, a neatly organized homepage and the conservative muscle of Patrick Tuohey and Jay Barnes.

The site clearly has a Republican-bent, but Tuohey has promised an arena where opposing views will be represented and stand on their own feet in the battle of ideas.

Case in point: one of the first editorials it published came from David Steelman, who wrote a biting critique about the Republican party. Jay Barnes, a former aide to Congressional candidate Bob Onder and ally of Kenny Hulshof, then issued a response. This type of back and forth from two opposing views is not often seen in the current hyper-partisan blogosphere.
When surveying the blogosphere, the problem isn't the lack of diverse voices. It's trying to find the credible, well-reasoned venues that bring worthwhile thoughts, analysis or new information to the debate.

As blogs have proliferated, they've seem to become more partisan. Nationwide, they're also more liberal blogs out there than conservative blogs.

In Missouri, while there are several conservative-leaning blogs, not one has had the staying power of Fired Up, the go-to website for the Democratic perspective. Fired Up posts more regularly and is cited more by mainstream media blogs than its counterparts. Conservatives might be tempted to say that's because the mainstream media is liberal.

But it may say more about the lack of one cohesive blog that represents the Missouri Republican Party.

Tuohey said he decided to start The Missouri Record after participating in the 2006 and 2008 election cycles. He said he observed that people in Missouri have few places to go to either write about their own views or read about the political views of others.

"Campaign sites depend on the fortunes of the campaign and then are focused on a single issue and blogs are often nasty and authored by just one person," Tuohey said. "Several blogs are run by consultants who just act as shills for their clients."

Tuohey said the Record is designed to be a "perpetual and statewide op-ed page of a newspaper, independent of any campaign, party or client."

If Tuohey's stated goal remains pure, that would be a welcome departure. In fact, he won't even call his website a blog. "Although the Record has a blog attached to it, I think it is the least of our offerings," he said.

In the coming weeks, The Record hopes to interview freshman House members from both sides of the aisle and all of the candidates to fill Sen. Kit Bond's seat.

But he said not to look for it to become the conservative answer to Fired Up.

"I don't care for Fired Up's model for several reasons. First, they publish under pseudonym, something we have committed to not do. Second, Fired Up prints personal attacks which I don't care for, and third, Fired Up is so rabidly partisan that it really brings nothing of value to readers, save for making like-minded partisans more angry," Tuohey said. "When you visit Fird Up, you already know what you are getting."

Asked for a response, Fired Up's Sean Nicholson said Tuohey's dislike of Fired Up may be related to his website's reporting "that his efforts on TABOR (Taxpayer Bill of Rights) were not a Missouri-based effort, but were instead an Astroturf group based on behalf of New York millionaire Howard Rich."

He added that "a significant portion" of the Fired Up community posts under their own names, and that the decision is left up to the individual user.

Despite their ideological differences, Nicholson said he welcomes The Record to the debate. "If he is trying to build a conservative counterweight to Fired Up, we wish him the best. It'll be the fourth of fifth try," Nicholson said.

Tuohey said he wants to attract a readership that comes for the quality, not because they can guess the content. "Although the three directors who run The Record have a right-of-center worldview, we will publish well-written pieces with which we disagree," Tuohey pledged.

Now just imagine a world where Record contributors could submit the occasional response to appear on Fired Up and vice versa.

Now that'd be content we'd all be interested in.

Rambling & Rumbling With The Rabbi

SHALOM!

Wake up bright and early Thursday morning and tune into to "Ramble & Rumble with Rabbi Eukel" to hear me chat about Missouri politics.

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Rabbi Eukel has invited me on from 7-7:24 a.m. to talk about the latest developments in the 2010 U.S. Senate race and 7th Congressional district race in Missouri.

Click HERE to listen, and then look for the May 14th episode.

Open up the community chat room to leave your thoughts, comments and criticisms.

Read more about the Rabbi HERE.

Take It Where Ya Can Get It

Springfield's GO Magazine is out with its "20 Under 30" list, and apparently the Missouri Political News Service was shut out of the voting.

The Notebook humbly thanks the folks over at "GO." Their generous description will surely have music fans horrified (Lady GaGa!), some conservatives outraged (Chris Matthews!?) and many of my colleagues rolling their eyes.

You can read their "20 under 30" picks HERE.

NYT's Bai: McCaskill Tweets Sound Like Cast Away

Sen. Claire McCaskill is "tumbling" back on her blog after a New York Times writer dissed her tweets in a recent column.

The New York Times' Matt Bai cites a few of McCaskill's more personal, less-serious tweets . . . “I get old style crunchy taco, and a chicken burrito supreme & Diet Coke at Taco Bell" . . . "Miss those tostados" . . . before comparing her to Tom Hanks in the movie Cast Away, "jabbering to his battered volleyball so as not to lose touch with his own existence."

FIRING BACK . . .
"Like many in Washington – he misses the point," wrote McCaskill on her Tumblr blog. She listed 4 reasons why she Twitters . . . 1) To drive conversation 2) To stay connected 3) It's unfiltered without an editor 4) It's fun.

Catanese's Quick Twitter Take:
While I respect Bai's journalism, The Notebook is with McCaskill. How can anyone complain when we get more real-time information from our politicians? And if the Tweets are filled with personal anecdotes, all the better. What's wrong with a little levity to lift a smile during our hectic days? I can understand why it's not every pol (or journalist's) game. But this is the new frontier. It will never replace the old staples of a well-written in-depth article or a stellar 60 Minutes piece, but it's another tool. It's influence shouldn't be overemphasized -- but it's becoming harder for those in politics and the media to ignore it.

Your Questions, McCaskill's Answers

Q & A
The Notebook asked for your questions for Sen. Claire McCaskill as she tours the state during the Congressional recess. Below is video of her full answers given during her Springfield stop to your inquiries on gay marriage, A.I.G. bonuses, a student minimum wage and Twitter.


GAY MARRIAGE
"According to the Iowa Supreme Court I was wrong."

Q: Ron Bradley asked about Iowa's gay marriage ruling, and if the Senator would be comfortable with a similar court decision in this state?

McCaskill said "they couldn't make a similar decision in Missouri because there's a constitutional amendment." When reminded that she said such an amendment wasn't needed in Missouri, she replied, "According to the Iowa Supreme Court I was wrong."

A.I.G. BONUS TAX
"I would vote for it."

Q: Dustin James asked about the A.I.G. bonuses and if she supported the Congressional move to take them away.

McCaskill said she did, although possibly in a different way than the House voted to do so. "If somebody's doing a really good job and they want to give them a bonus, that's fine, but they need to wait to collect it, after we've been paid back," McCaskill said.

Also notes the President Obama is criticized whether he intervenes in companies or he doesn't.

STUDENT MINIMUM WAGE
"I think that's a bad idea."

Q: Brian Rushing asked if Sen. McCaskill would support a special student minimum wage to help protect small family-owned businesses?

McCaskill said she would not. "We need to be giving college kids as much help as possible," she said.

Mentions she's not proud that MIZZOU leads the Big 12 in tuition.


THE AGE OF TWITTER
"I think, what would Jim Talent think?"

Q: Greg Holman wanted to know if McCaskill really thinks Twitter will help Democrats win elections?

McCaskill doesn't believe Twitter is a fad and explained how it serves as a great discipline, because it makes her think about Missouri.

She reads each Twitter three times before she clicks.
First, she makes sure what she thinks.
Then, she asks what her grandmother would think.
Finally, she thinks "what would Jim Talent think."