Expect more fallout today, and probably for weeks to come, from State Sen. Chris Koster’s decision to cross party lines.
As we mentioned already, the move has irked leadership in both the Democratic and Republican camps.
The latest I’m hearing is that GOP officials will call for Koster to resign – then, if he wants to keep the seat, to run as a Democrat.
That would be a page out of the Texas playbook. In 1981, Democratic Congressman Phil Gramm resigned his seat midterm, then won it back as a Republican. (He was fully devoted to his second party – 15 years later, he ran unsuccessfully for the Republican presidential nomination.)
Koster’s concerns are more near-term: How will his party switch impact his bid for Attorney General?
If nothing else, it might embolden U.S. Attorney Catherine L. Hanaway – long rumored to be running – to finally enter the race. (As a Republican, of course.)
We’ll know more about the dynamics stemming from Koster’s conversion after his flurry of announcements around the state today – and how state leaders react.
URGENT MRP STATEMENT on Chris Koster
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Contact: Paul Sloca, 573-636-3146 or 573-301-0576
STATEMENT
Following is a statement from Jared Craighead, executive director of the Missouri Republican Party, on Sen. Chris Koster’s decision to abandon the Republican Party:
“Republicans are surprised that Senator Koster who has championed so many Republican causes, participated in leadership of the Senate Republican Caucus and served as a member of the Republican State Committee would decide suddenly that he is a Democrat. Chris is a personal friend of mine but I fear he has blinded himself with his desire for higher office and the hollow promises of Jay Nixon’s political machine rather than keeping his commitment to the constituents who elected him to represent them.
I expect that Chris will resign from the Senate immediately and stand for election as a Democrat in a special election so that the people of the 31st Senatorial District have an opportunity to decide whether they want him representing them now that he has totally reversed his positions on important issues like gay marriage, Second Amendment rights and Medicaid reform.
If I had to guess, Chris will likely quote Winston Churchill to describe his decision saying, `some men change their party for the sake of their principles; others change their principles for the sake of the party.’ But I would remind Chris that Churchill also remarked on the occasion of a party switch that it was the only instance he could recall of a rat swimming towards a sinking ship - that sentiment seems particularly applicable in this case.
Simply stated, Chris has done the political calculus and does not believe he can win a Republican primary and does not believe that Jeff Harris is a formidable opponent.”
So we've established that he is a humble man.
Fat chance of him resigning, he’s shown his true colors ala Jumping Jim Jeffords. He’ll hang on till he’s kicked out.
Yeah, yeah ... and I'm going to change the world from my cubicle today.
Yawn.
He might want to note that Benedict Arnold was reviled by both Americans and British alike.
KS AG Paul Morrison’s twin in Missouri. A no-good, RINO apostate turned rodent who sold his soul on the altar of the unborn. Sick, twisted, and evil.
I see this a lot with politicians. When it appears that the ‘Pubbies are in control, suddenly die hard leftists wake up one morning to discover that they really are hardcore conservatives and members of the “religious right”.
Now that the ‘Pubbies appear to be on the ropes, a lot of ‘Pubbies will suddenly discover that they really aren’t conservatives, they are die hard leftists who want to increase the reach and power of Hillary and the loony left fringe.
Bottom line, these weenies see the potential for their jobs to go away if they remain with the perceived unpopular party so, to stay on the public payroll, they change teams. Principles, ethics and core beliefs have nothing to do with their decisions. This is why it is pretty pointless to examine whether or not someone has a “D” after their name or an “R”. They are all political whores who will do/say whatever it takes to keep them from having to get real jobs and work for a living!!
Make this twit think he outsmarted us - just before he gets voted out of elected office and politics. Maybe Hugo Chavez has a job for him!!
Sounds like a RINO, good riddance.
I smell opportunism and self-promotion in the morning.
He wants to run for higher office and decided how to get there. They teach that in “how to get MO deceased votes 101”.
Funny how the MSM missed out on the hundreds of switches from DEM to GOP that took place from 2000 until 2006.
Interesting. The 31st district isn’t a suburban district that supported the stem cell initiative, it’s a mostly rural area south and south east of Kansas City. I don’t think it’s a great career move for him since he had a better chance of getting the nomination as a Republican. He’s been very outspoken in his support for stem cell research since he’s been in the legislature so that must really be his big reason for the switch.
“Those who join us in all sincerity, we welcome. Those who do not favor our cause, we don’t expect to enter our ranks in any case.” - Barry Goldwater, 1964 Convention
“he promised “a speech that may transform the political landscape of Missouri.”
Delusional that he is somehow important.