This just in.....

I've been busy

Attention All Bus Riders:

I am going on an extreme undercover assignment. You may not recognize me.

You can send me emails but I will not be in a position to read or respond to them.

I will touch base with you all as soon as I get back.

Keep up the good fight.

If you receive any ransom demands, Do not, I repeat, DO NOT pay them.

If this man approaches you and says he has information about me, he may or may be in a position to know.

Until I return.....Vaya con carne!

Former Nightclub Owner Billy Long: "We Never Said We Would Do Ten Courthouse Debates". Uh, I Think You Did, Billy

I transcribed the interview former nightclub owner Billy Long** had with Nick Reed on KSFG early Thursday morning.

It is interesting You can read it over here

Also interesting, after you read Billy's account ("We* never said we would do ten courthouse debates"), link over here and read KSMU's story ("A spokesperson for the Billy Long Campaign, Royce Reding***, told KSMU on August 4 and August 17 that Long would participate in the 10 courthouse debates.")

*Is that the royal "we" or the editorial "we"?

**Wild Bill's on North Glenstone

***Wonder how long it is before Royce goes the way of Curtis?

The Truth? You Can't Handle The Truth!

Billy's been believing his own press releases again.
this from twitter, developing:

# FiredUpMissouri
.@Auctnr1's campaign mgr 'told @KSMU on Aug 4 and Aug 17 that Long would participate in the 10 courthouse debates' http://bit.ly/cXDO77 #MO7 about 1 hour ago via web

# Busplunge
@auctnr1 "We never said we would do ten courthouse debates." August 26, 2010 KSFG morning show with Nick Reed. about 1 hour ago via web

I am almost finished with the transcript of the Billy Long interview with Nick Reed on KSGF this morning.

Billy Says The Darndest Things; Billy Speaks On KSGF This Morning

I am in the process of preparing a transcript of Billy Long's appearance this morning on KSGF.

It is not easy to do because Billy rarely speaks in complete sentences or completes a thought.

As a teaser, here are some quotes and comments that I tweeted this am:

"There will be debates."

"I can campaign all season long and not do debates."

"I ran for 18 months never running against my opponents." (What about that anti- Goodman and Nodler ad you ran late in the primary?)

"...debate at high noon?" that will "stroke me out, (I'm a) big old fat boy."

"...never said we'd do 10 courthouse debate, we did 17 debates, forums, whatever you want to call them."

"I AM ANXIOUS TO DEBATE HIM." KSGF morning show, "Not going to try this thing in the media."

"I'm not going to let Obama, Pelosi Reid cram this thing down my throat."

"I am anxious to debate him (Eckersley). There will be debates." KSGF August 26, 2010

When you compared Obama and Kim Jong Il to you and Eckersley on KSFG this am.... which one are you? The evil communist dictator or the socialist?

After listening to KSFG, it becomes clear why Billy's handlers want to speak for him. I guess his out of town people weren't in town.

Listen to the 18.5 minute (or so) broadcast from KSFG here.

Billy Backs Out.....Again

This just in from the Eckersley Campaign:
Springfield, MO 25th August 2010:
BILLY BACKS OUT AGAIN!

Billy Long continues to take voters for granted by rejecting invitations for public debate.

Since backing out of his agreement to participate in the Courthouse Debate Series, Billy has bailed on Springfield TV station KOLR 10, popular conservative radio station KSGF 104.1 FM, Springfield Chamber of Commerce, and a previously arranged forum at the Springfield Metro Bar Association. Other similar reports continue to flow into the Eckersley for Congress Campaign office and Billy is nowhere to be found.

“Billy doesn’t want to debate in each county at noon, he doesn’t want to do radio, he can’t handle TV, and he rejected a simple head-to-head debate at the Springfield Chamber today.” Said Eckersley, “This is the kind of gutless representation Billy plans to take to Washington. I plan to save him the trip.”

The Eckersley campaign will move forward by visiting all 10 counties and 19 cities.

Mr. Long is (again) invited to reconsider his decision not to debate, and meet Eckersley at any courthouse along the “Give „em Eck” tour –or on the radio, or on TV, or at any head-to-head debate.

Why Are Billy Long And His Handlers Afraid Of Eckersley? Billy Long's Handlers Fed Up With Debates Agreed To By Billy Long's Handlers

A follow-up from Ozarksfirst.com:

Democrat Scott Eckersley and Libertarian Kevin Craig have accepted KOLR/KSFX's proposal for a 7th District debate. As of 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, our newsroom has not received official word from Republican Billy Long's campaign.

From firedupmissouri.com:

Billy Long's Handlers Fed Up With Debates Agreed To By Billy Long's Handlers

KOLR/KSFX has a fascinating story out of the 7th District about the Billy Long's willingness to debate debating -- but unwillingness to actually engaging in actual debates. Long apparently isn't even allowed to discuss the idea of debates with Scott Eckersley on camera -- consultant James Harris has kept those responsibilities to himself.*

Remember as you watch this clip that Billy Long's campaign agreed to the debates Harris now says are "some type of media gimmick"

DC: On a serious note, I mean, that,that is a major (unintelligible)

BL: This whole thing hasn't been serious?

DC: Well, but you diverted me earlier. But the president...

BL: How'd I do that? I didn't mean to...

DC: Well the president...

BL: I'm not that good. I'm new at this Dave, don't be saying I diverted you.

DC: The president, well you know what I was talking about earlier, the president's plan to bring home most of the troops...

BL: How would you like to debate me?

DC: I'm doing that right now.

BL: Yes, no you're not. How would you like to do it on the campaign. I hear it's gonna be fun.

DC: I want to I want to hear some of your auctionering voice.

BL: I think you get me up against some of these people that are prim and proper and their handlers have told them just what to say and then you get me out there and I think it's going to be very interesting.

*From Auctnr1's twitter: Had a great meeting today with Greene County Sheriff Jim Arnott - very interesting to hear what's going on and learn his greatest concerns about 4 hours ago via web There is no indication if during this meeting food was involved or whether lunch or snacks were served.

See Billy. See Billy Run. See Billy Run Away. Run Away, Billy, Run Away. Billy Long Runs Away From Debate Invite From KOLR

This is a photo of Billy Long running. Look at the determination in his face. We can tell he is serious about running. Can you see what he is thinking? "Lift left foot, move it forward at the hip, place foot on pavement. Now I got remember what I did and do it with the right foot, and I gots to do it fast. Oh man, all this hard work makes me hungry. Let's eat!"(Ok, this is a photo of Billy Long attempting to run. Ok, this is a photo of Billy Long walking but if you squint your eyes, it sort of looks like he's running. To see Billy walk really fast, watch the video below.)

The race to replace Roy Blunt get more interesting with each passing day.

Frequent bus riders will recall that one of the candidates has dodged debates before. Trying to pass off questions and answers at a candidate forum ain't gonna cut it.

Billy Long is running away from something. You can't hide that anymore. Watch Billy run away from Eli Yokely just as he's running away from Scott Eckersley, just as he's running away from the debates. Run,Billy Long, run.

It is one thing to first accept, then spin it and then back out of a debate challenge issued by your opponent, it is one thing to pass your twittering off as a discussion of the issues, it is one thing to try turn this election into a three ring circus featuring you and Bozo the Clown".

Some of us take this democracy stuff seriously Billy, even if you don't.

A couple of days ago I posted "How would you like to debate me, it's gonna be fun.

All shucks, jollies and grins. Yes, how in the purple permission did it come to this? It is one thing to ignore a couple of bloggers, one on the left side of the aisle and the other on the right side of the aisle--- we're not MSM, but these guys are:

(Springfield, MO) -- When it comes to the 7th U.S. Congressional District race, the only real debate we're seeing is when and where to debate.

And there are only 70 days until Election Day, so time's running out.

At first, Republican Billy Long appeared to accept Democrat Scott Eckersley's invitation to debate on the courthouse steps in every county in the district.

Eventually, Long backed out, disagreeing with the format. With time ticking away, there's still no debate -- yet.

Throughout history, political debates have resulted in the most memorable moments of all time.

But when it comes to 7th U.S. Congressional District voters making a choice, they want to hear from the candidates.

"If you have a debate, they have to say what they're thinking about at the time of the debate," says voter Toni Storch.

"Billy Long has made it very clear that we're very open to discuss debates," says Long spokesman James Harris.

"It's obviously clear that there's one candidate in this race who wants to discuss what's important to folks, and who wants to learn and listen and there's one who doesn't," says Eckersley.

But will it happen? Will Republican Billy Long and Democrat Scott Eckersley go at it?

"Meeting at noon at the courthouse steps really doesn't work for many voters here in Southwest Missouri," says Harris. "People are working, taking care of their families, in school."

"If they're on the courthouse steps, I want to be there," one voter tells KOLR/KSFX.

Be it radio, television, newspaper -- the two claim they're ready to talk. They just can't agree on how to talk.

"What we're not going to participate in is some type of media gimmick," says Harris.

"I'll go so far as to say my opponent is a gimmick," says Eckersley.

Regardless of whether they debate long distance --

"I put most everything I had into this race because I didn't want to depend on special interest dollars like my opponent," says Eckersley.

-- or face to face --

"Scott Eckersley will be a rubber stamp for Nancy Pelosi," says Harris.

-- on Election Day, the voice that speaks the loudest will be the voters.

"If you're not ready to step into the fire, you'd better step out," says a voter.

For the record, KOLR/KSFX talked to Libertarian candidate Kevin Craig Tuesday. He says if Long and Eckersley decide on a debate, he'd be happy to be a part of it.

To all of the campaigns, KOLR/KSFX extends this offer: call our newsroom at (417) 862-6397. We will sponsor a debate in our studios.

To our viewers, stay tuned. We will tell you Tuesday on KOLR10 News at Six whether the candidates are willing to debate.

Has anyone else noticed that whenever Billy Long gets cornered, he trots out Nancy Pelosi? Is he in love with her or what?*

*It's 'or what'. A frequent bus rider comments, "Because that's what misogynistic, insecure Republican types do. I see it regularly. Find an aggressive, "threatening" female in political power and make her a target."

Now THIS Is Funny

Billy Long may not like debating...

Roy Blunt’s Unforgivable Role In The Life and Death of Terri Schiavo

By Duane Graham

More than five years have passed since the death of Terri Schiavo, the reportedly quiet and shy Pennsylvania girl, who those five years ago was the center of worldwide attention, as her husband Michael—the first man Terri ever kissed—finally succeeded in allowing her to pass away with not much dignity to spare.

click here for the rest of the story.

I Can Predict The Future!

Blunt Staffers Kick Out Senior Citizens During Chamber of Commerce Endorsement Tour: "This Is A Private Deal"

It's too hot to mow and my lawnmower is broken anyhow. So I sit here at the computer and surf the web.

Look what I found: