I’m not a New Year’s resolutions kind of guy and I don’t do “best of” year-end reviews. Ain’t nothing to see in the rear view mirror except history. Let’s get this party started, 2022 style.
The Missouri General Assembly will again make an attempt this year to make Daylight Saving Time permanent and my dogs and I could not be more pleased with this development. I’d say it is safe to conclude that the government has proved that they cannot manage time, viruses, or climate at this point, so let’s quit trying, one at a time. Kind of a Bill W program for government.
At least one pre-bill has been filed as of Dec. 8 that Missouri would standardize time. But, as you may remember from your Saturday morning cartoons, it takes quite a bit of effort for a “bill” to become a “law,” so here is hoping for a successful run.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said this in October of 2021 regarding the city’s desire to host the 2024 Republican national convention:
“To me, it’s not about what my politics are, which are a little different than other folks in the community. It’s about making sure our hoteliers, our restauranteurs and so many people who have taken it on the chin during this pandemic have the chance to make money and doing things like conferences and conventions. That’s what we’re talking about with the bid.”
Last week, he signed a letter to the Republican leadership that read in part:
“Kansas City has the immense honor of hosting the 2023 NFL Draft and we are in the final stages of bidding on and hopefully securing an opportunity to serve as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Both events will require significant resources including staff time, fundraising and private and public support. Given the timing and detailed requirements of the RFP, we feel it is not in the best interests of either party for us to move forward with a bid given our existing commitments. That said, we hope that Kansas City remains on the forefront of consideration as a future host city for 2028 and beyond.”
Ok, raise your hand if you don’t think this was about politics. Lucas decries political and regional division nearly every single day, yet he and his party continue to create it with antics like this. At the time of the October statement, he and other leaders traveled to Washington, in part to woo the Republican leadership, yet here we are less than 60 days later and Kansas City isn’t even going to try to get the business. Doesn’t pass the common sense test. In October, he was worried about local businesses making money and 60 days later, the city is just too darn busy with the 2023 NFL Draft and the 2026 FIFA World Cup to even put together an attempt. Smells like good old-fashioned politics to me.
An interesting litmus test for politics is going to take place to our north in November of 2022. There is a teacher by the name of Jess Piper whose candidacy is making lots of internet noise. Piper is a Democrat running for the Missouri House of Representatives in solid red area of Nodaway County and Maryville. Piper has a substantial internet following and is particularly outspoken about schools being under funded and general opposition to school choice efforts. Nodaway County has long been represented by middle aged to old white dudes for a long time and the social media buzz of Piper has some believing she may buck the trend.
Her opponent is a political neophyte in Jasper Logan, a recent college graduate and a guy that lists “coin dealer” as an occupation and e-commerce where he is reported to sell “Let’s Go Brandon” merchandise.
There is an equal divide in opinion on whether social media fame helps in local elections. This one might tell a part of that story as Piper is certainly a popular and factious social media presence, so this will at least reveal if that resonates with voters that actually show up to the polls.
(Guy Speckman can be reached at gspeckman@me.com <mailto:gspeckman@me.com> or offering to host the Republican National Convention at The Landmark office)
