Slick Billy's Business Tour Offers Voters Very Few Minutes to Ask Billy Long Tough Questions

Late in this week's news cycle, and just before Labor Day weekend, Slick Billy Long announces his business tour. He will take four days next week to travel across the 7th District in hopes of talking to voters--or is that hopes of not having to talk to voters.

A close look in the schedule shows Long will be rushed for time and forced to keep the questions minimal at many locations. Look at the the Mount Vernon and Monett schedules for an example:

Friday: 11:30 Meek’s Lumber Company, 827 Jerome Lane in Monett; 12:30 p.m. Ozark Cooperative Annual Meeting 14548 Highway H, Mount Vernon.

They are spaced an hour apart from each other, and drive time from Mount Vernon to Monett is a minimum 23 minutes, which means Long will spend less than forty minutes accessible to voters, and that's providing he shows up on time and doesn't have to hit the head when he walks in the door.

Whoever planned Slick Billy's business tour, they knew what they were doing to keep Long's mouth from destroying his election chances. Minimize the time, but answer the critics who claim Long hasn't been accessible to voters. Like we couldn't see through this. Still, Billy Long keeps running from the debate challenges.

Darrell Moore Waits Until Friday Afternoon Before Labor Day Weekend to Endorse Billy Long

The last republican speaks, and to no surprise Darrell Moore, a much more qualified man, endorses Billy Long. It interesting to me the timing of this enthusiastic endorsement--Friday afternoon before Labor Day weekend when nobody is paying attention to the news.

Cory deVera from the News-Leader released the news on the News Leader blog late this afternoon. She writes:

Greene County Prosecutor Darrell Moore announced his support for Billy Long.

Moore and Long were two of eight who competed for the Republican nomination for Missouri’s 7th District seat in Congress. Long won the race with 36.6 percent of the vote. Moore received 8.9 percent of the vote.

The day after the election, the News-Leader asked Moore if he was ready to support Long. “I’m not ready to answer that question today,” he said then.

In the Friday news release from the Long campaign, Moore says “I enthusiastically endorse Billy Long. Billy and I have known each other for years and I believe that he will be able to bring a sense of good natured professionalism to the more conservative Congress that will likely be elected this November. It is vital to our nation’s future that we address the structural flaws that have crept into our budgetary situation and I believe that Billy will be able to meaningfully contribute to the solutions that we need.”

The question here is, and if you listen to Rush Limbaugh, Rush always points out this tactic from the White House, if Moore is so enthusiastic to support Long, why did he wait until late Friday leading into a three-day weekend to release the press release? Is it he hopes this will be quickly forgotten about as people celebrate their Labor Day and give this little notice. Like I said, this is a tactic Rush Limbaugh points out on his show--the late Friday press release.

So, let's look back at all the endorsements Billy Long received from his former republican opponents.

Gary Nodler was quick to endorse but we really haven't heard from him since.

Michael Wardell quickly endorsed Scott Eckersley.

Mike Moon said he will support Republicans without mentioning Slick Billy's name.

Bob Schanz, who dropped out of the race due to health problems, said he would never endorse Billy Long and doesn't trust him.

Jeff Wisdom received criticism over his endorsement because it sounded forced.

Jack Goodman carefully chose his words without a convincing endorsement. One news source wrote it felt like Goodman was holding his nose.

Steve Hunter--who knows what this guy is thinking?

Darrell Moore waits until Friday afternoon of a three day weekend to endorse Long.

The writing is on the wall. These are not solid endorsements that make me feel like these candidates believe in Slick Billy. In fact, they often felt forced and carefully written in hopes of not losing favor with the establishment while being careful to ensure their own names weren't attached firmly to Long.

What I Find Most Offensive About Billy Long's Cowardly Approach to Political Discussions and Debates

The color red in our beautiful American flag represents honor, valor, strength, and bravery. Every man and woman who died fighting for liberty and freedom is represented in our flag. They gave their lives so that political free speech can be upheld as part of the great American experiment.

I come from a family which each generation sent a son off for service of one kind or another. Some of us saw battles. Some of us took our wounds and were awarded Purple Hearts. I myself faced the very real possibility of fighting in the first gulf war, as I was trained to save both American lives, allied lives, and of course the lives of my enemy if needed. Americans have always represented the best of humanity, even when we are called to fight.

When you look at our flag and the many monuments around Washington, DC symbolizing the lost lives given so a free people can remain free, you come to give a greater respect for our basic liberties defined in the Bill of Rights, and you find sadness when people don't come to terms with the sacrifices made so we can continue enjoying these freedoms.

I guess that's one of the things that makes me saddest about this whole debate issue in Southwest Missouri's Seventh Congressional District. It comes across as a real dishonor to the men and women who served our armed forces for a political candidate to not have enough respect for those who have come before, those who serve now, and those who will serve in the future, to engage in a great political discussion when often the political discussion means these men and women's lives are put on the line. A candidate running for any office should realize these sacrifices and the bravery it takes to lace combat boots and carry a rifle, and they should want to debate because the decisions they make as elected officials have an impact on these very people.

These are the Americans who deserve most to know what their elected officials stand for, what they really believe in, and the leadership qualities they possess. When candidates like republican Billy Long run from debates, they are showing a disrespect to the men and women in uniform. They are showing a disrespect to the sacrifices they make. These Americans have the right to hear how an elected politician will react when an event takes place in which they are called upon. I guess that's what offends me most, as a former member of the United States Army who looked at the real possibility of serving on a battlefield, as Billy Long continues to run from debates.

Billy Long Now Using Talking Points Penned By Career Politicians He Was Once Fed Up With

It's come to my attention that we have an official meaning of what repeal and replace means; although I can't say for sure Billy Long knows what it means. It turns out Billy Long has graduated to the talking points used by career politicians, you know the same people he was fed up with.



During an interview after the Missouri Southern College Republicans, Long said he would repeal and replace Obama care. Well that had red flags flying for a number or reasons. One, it will take a veto proof majority to beat Obamacare, and I don't see that happening. Two replace sounds like more government, and it is sort of.

It it's most basic form, according to The Hill, is political tool or gimmick, depending on how you look at it which has Billy Long talking like a career politician. Replace and repeal and another catch phrase designed to attract voters just like Long did with fed up, and we know now Billy Long was never fed up with career politicians. It was all a clever marketing gimmick to give Long, who was falling in the polls help by creating the illusion Long was some kind of tea party fighter, all the while he was making campaign contributions to the establishment.

Replace deals with a forgotten republican version of healthcare reform, that would have grown the federal government on a much lesser scale. Remember, the neo-conservative belief over the last ten years has been a larger more powerful federal government while still claiming to be fiscal responsible, freedom loving conservatives. What took place in Washington was rather than put all efforts in fighting Obamacare, which I am not going to complain too much about because the republicans did do a good job of fighting the legislation, but they did come up with their version, which to some was more acceptable. Still, the true conservative way would be to get the federal government out of the way and allow the states to decide what works best for their healthcare, just like true conservatives preach on education reform.

Really the best thing here is not to replace, it is simply get the government out of the way as much as possible to increase competition in the market, whether it be health insurance by allowing policy's sold across state lines to tort reform. It should never be more federal laws, which is what replace is, even though it was a much better plan that Obamacare.

Voters should beware when Billy Long says he will repeal and replace Obamacare. It's really a gimmicky talking point with no meaning. Until the republicans have a veto proof Congress, it's not getting repealed. Some of the legislation will start to kick in during the next two years, which will make it hard to repeal if Obama is beaten in two years, or if the republicans make more gains (they would have to be significant to acheive a 2/3 majority) then repeal may be possible. Until then, well, Slick Billy is just blowing smoke up you kiester just like he did when he said he was fed up with career politicians. I am sure Slick Billy signed the pledge and petition just to make you feel better about these things. He always does.

Flooded Roadways in Southwest Missouri Expose Why Billy Long's No Earmark Pledge is Wrong for Seventh District

Rains have fallen hard the last couple days in Southwest Missouri setting new records and causing flooding all over the place. I spent last night bailing water from my mother's home, as the second day of torrential downpours lasting for hours hit in the afternoon. Many Southwest Missouri roads were close because of the heavy rains.

KY3 last night painted a painful reminder about why this may continue to happen (it's the second time in a year and a half the area experienced this rains like these) to Southwest Missouri roadways. Here's part of their story:

Flooding in the spring of 2008 closed the highway. The Missouri Department of Transportation says the problem is the westbound lanes, which make up the original two-lane highway, were built over sinkholes.


“There’s no place for the water to go, so it sits at the top of these sinkholes,” said Bob Edwards, a spokesman for MoDOT.


Edwards says a fix for the problem has been drawn up.

“At some point we'd like to make 60 highway a freeway between Springfield and Rogersville, and probably new lanes on the south side," he said.

Those plans face a big roadblock: a lack of money. MoDOT recently slashed its budget for the next five years in half, thanks to falling tax and bond revenue.

“Money's very tight right now, and I don’t see money coming available for that," said Edwards.

MoDOT says it will look for a temporary solution until then, which could entail raising the roadway at the most-troubled spots.

Billy Long is fed up with good Missouri roads

The Missouri Department of Transportation's slashed budget exposes another reason why Billy Long's no earmark pledge is irresponsible. Southwest Missouri pays the federal government millions of dollars in fuel taxes. Every time you fill up at the pump, money heads to Washington, DC.

This money is supposed to be used for road repairs and to help state agencies like the Missouri Department of Transportation. Under responsible republicans like Kit Bond and Roy Blunt in Missouri, the state was returned 100% of the fuel tax paid into the federal government for Missouri road projects. We need to be thankful of these federal legislators as your family drives on safer roads, which they pay to drive on through the fuel tax.

If Congress was to debate every single road project in the United States, nothing would get done. That's why the earmark is an essential vehicle which is Constitutionally sound that ensures our tax dollars are returned to the district. Fed Up Billy Long doesn't understand this. Actually, he doesn't understand much when it comes to the federal government. He wants to sacrifice the quality and the safety of our roads by pledging not to earmark while he serves in Washington, DC. With MoDOT facing a budget crisis, this simply isn't acceptable.

If we use earmarks properly, our roads will be maintained better, which lessens the costs of major repairs on down the line. Which is another reason Billy Long is wrong on earmarks.

Article One Section Eight of the United States Constitution provides 18 enumerated powers for Congress to live by. One of those enumerated powers is to establish post roads. Not only that but it is the job of Congress to provide for the common defense o the United States, and our network of Interstate highways were built with national security in mind. They play a role in the defense of our country.

Ron Paul

Billy Long thinks he can go to Washington and take huge chunks out of the national debt with his no earmark pledge. This simply isn't so. Ron Paul spoke in 2009 about the Constitutional validity of many earmarks, even though he frowns on the ones all Americans should frown on. He pointed out if you eliminated all earmarks, you wouldn't cut a dime from the federal debt, and he's right. The money was appropriated long before the earmark was ever placed in legislation.

Paul also pointed out that earmarks only add up to one percent of total federal spending. One percent--that is all! To effectively cut the national debt, you have to gut the federal government and its inefficient and unconstitutional bureaucracies. Earmarks isn't going to cut it.

Paul also warns eliminating the earmark tool could provide more power to the executive branch. Do you really want Obama to gain more power? I don't.

So we should consider Billy Long's no earmark pledge and what it means to Southwest Missouri roads. With MoDot receiving less money, it will be federal earmarks that help MoDot keep our roads safer, which means healthier families and less car repairs.

Billy Long has promised no earmarks, and he's got career politician Mel Hancock driving this belief. With all do respect, Hancock is now in poor health and doesn't have to worry about Southwest Missouri highways much longer. Hancock wasn't a good steward of returning our federal tax dollars back to our district either.

Scott Eckersely knows if the congressman from Southwest Missouri gives up federal money by choosing not to use the earmark, that federal money will be spent in other congressional district, which means your tax dollars went to some place like Joe, Montana; Boar Tush, Alabama; or Toad Suck, Arkansas. That's why Scott Eckersley will better serve the people of Southwest Missouri.

Billy Long Was Never Fed Up With Career Politicians: Billy Long's Recent Political Contributions Proves Once Again Billy Lied to the Voters

One of the great things about the United States is we are allowed a vote. Our vote is done in private without any government official strong arming us or threatening us. There are other countries who get to vote, but the penalties of casting a wrong vote can be quite sincere.

I can't help but ponder a question anyway. You see, Billy Long told voters before the primary that he was fed up with career politicians. He slandered the impressive conservative voting records of two fine State Senators in the district on his fed up crusade, but there was something else I noticed about Billy Long as he was going around the district claiming to be fed up with career politicians. He liked to favorably drop Roy Blunt's name into his stump speeches.

Now this isn't an attack piece on Roy Blunt. I have endorsed Roy Blunt. I write pro-Roy blogs at BBCW, pointing out things that people seem to be missing in the Missouri US Senate Race. For instance, did you know the Carnahan family applied for $90 million in stimulus money to fund their wind farms. As if that isn't enough, Robin Carnahan wants to drive new energy taxes to raise the cost of energy from sources like coal, so her family will profit from the taxpayers more. I of course have never had a problem with career politicians. It's always been a dishonest argument from Long. To attack career politicians would be to attack great men like Ronald Reagan, who was politically active and influential since the time he left Hollywood.

There was a name I didn't hear come from Billy Long's lips, and if it did, it didn't come out as many times from Slick Billy's lips as the words Roy Blunt did. That name is Chuck Perguson.

Now I don't need to remind you, Roy Blunt and Billy Long may be on the same team, but they don't see eye to eye on much. Billy Long wants to rob Southwest Missouri of its tax dollars returning to the district for roads and services. Blunt has always been a good steward of the district ensuring our federal tax dollars were returned to Southwest Missouri.

I find it funny, considering Long's fed up with career politicians rhetoric and his pseudo status as political outsider, Long dropped Roy Blunt's name constantly during the primary while rarely mentioning Chuck Perguson. Just how fed up with career politicians was Slick Billy?

The question I ponder is who did Billy Long vote for in the US Senate primary. Of course, I will be told this isn't none of our business, but the question is worth asking considering Billy Long was so fed up with career politicians that he trashed Jack Gooman and Gary Nodler's pro-life records with lies.

The bottom line is I saw little to suggest that Billy Long would consider Chuck Perguson, the true political outsider whose views were more in line with Slick Billy's. This of course proves Billy Long wasn't at all fed up with Career Politicians.

So I set out to prove that Billy Long was never fed up with career politicians in the first place. Rather, he and Jeff Roe stole the whole fed up line from the Libertarian Party who are really, really fed up.

It wasn't hard to find out, and I am amazed that both Jack Goodman and Gary Nodler's campaign didn't end this fed up routine from the moment it started. Then again, there are lots of things I am amazed at as the dumbest, least experienced republican in the field managed to beat smarter men with those two words which could have been rebutted so easily. Just how fed up is Billy Long?

screen shot of FEC Web site donor database

Well, just eight months prior to telling the world Billy Long was fed up with career politicians, he made a personal political contribution to a career politician. On November 23, 2009, Long was so fed up with career politicians that he gave $1,000 to Roy Blunt through Friends of Roy Blunt. (I remind you I support Roy Blunt and this isn't an attack on Blunt. We are going to need Blunt to protect us from Billy's ignorance when this all goes down.)

So the question is, if Billy Long was so fed up with career politicians, why didn't he donate to Chuck Perguson's campaign or another republican other than Blunt running for Senate. Well, that question is simple to answer. Billy Long was never fed up with career politicians, and Slick Billy was never a political outsider. It was all a lie--a clever political mask in hopes of rallying support from voter anger. Of course, when Slick Billy proves he is more of the same, the anger will be directed at Billy Long.

Billy Long Ain't Fed Up With Dem Dere Career Politicians Anymore: Words "Career Politicians" Not Said at MSSU Forum

Back during the primary, Billy Long thought he was Cotton Mather ready to slay witches in the forests of New England. Long's puritan belief was that career politicians were the problem, ignoring the fact that republican small businessmen and women in DC were just as much part of the problem voting for TARP, bailouts, and other forms of federal leviathan. This led Slick Billy on a crusade slandering the voting records of Jack Goodman and Gary Nodler--even going as far as attacking their strong pro-life records. Obviously, innocence was killed in both eras.

Yes, Billy Long was fed up with career politicians, but as of recently, Long isn't saying career politicians are the problem. Could it be with Slick Billy's career politician machine, Slick Billy uses the tea party rhetoric of the day without any firm belief in what he is actually saying? You know, anything to get elected.

Now this isn't an attack piece on Roy Blunt. I am supporting Roy Blunt. I write pro-Roy blogs over at my other site, BBCW, pointing out things that people seem to be missing in the Missouri US Senate Race. For instance, did you know the Carnahan family applied for $90 million in stimulus money to fund their wind farms. As if that isn't enough, Robin Carnahan wants to drive new energy taxes to raise the cost of energy from sources like coal, so her family will profit from the taxpayers more. I of course have never had a problem with career politicians. It's always been a dishonest argument from Long. To attack career politicians would be to attack great men like Ronald Reagan, who was politically active and influential since the time he left Hollywood.

It's been noted Billy Long isn't saying he is fed up with career politicians. My, isn't it amazing how quickly Slick Billy changed after the nomination. Slander republicans in the primary, and then praise career politicians in the general. Does Billy Long seem two-faced at this point of the game? Perhaps, you feel like you were sold promises that Long never intended to keep?

At Missouri Southern University yesterday, Long bragged about the same type of republicans he attacked during the primary. From The Fuse Joplin:

Absent from Long’s vocabulary were two words that made him famous during the primary: career politician.

Instead, Long touted meetings with local legislative candidates and his support for his party’s U.S. Senate nominee.

What happened to Billy Long being his own man, who wouldn't be told what to say or do by his handlers or the establishment? He is talking about building relationships with the establishment and avoiding issues. Well, I have been telling you for months, it was all a mask, and Slick Billy was never a political outsider. He's always been a political insider willing to lie to voters with talking points that made him look like the outsider.

It makes me wonder who Slick Billy voted for in the US Senate primary in Missouri? Do you think he voted for the political outsider Chuck Perguson? I honestly doubt it. I bet truth be told he voted for the career politician Roy Blunt.

Billy Long Fed Up With Questions From Student At Campaign Stop For Students

I really don't like agreeing with Fired Up Missouri! this much; however, they once again make a valid point about Slick Billy, as Long continues to prove to Southwest Missouri he is politically incompetent.

From Fired Up Missouri:

Billy Long Fed Up With Questions From Student At Campaign Stop For Students

Eli Yokley has interesting audio from a very short Q&A period Billy Long conducted with reporters yesterday afternoon following a meeting with Missouri Southern State University College Republicans. Despite Long's ironic call for young people to get involved in politics, he was completely uninterested in answering questions from Yokley, a college student.



As you can hear at the 3:15 mark, the first journalist you hear pleads with Long to answer Yokley's question, but he walks away.

Did Billy Long Just Throw Mel Hancock Under the Bus?: Long Understands Western District Voters Don't Feel Represented by Springfield Representatives

The approval of Mel Hancock was of most importance to Billy Long during the republican primary. Mel Hancock is Slick Billy's mentor for his entire campaign, so Long's recent interview, which he tries to calm the fears of Joplin and western 7th District voters claiming he will represent them well after hearing western district voters have concerns that Springfield representatives don't represent the western side of the district well, appears to throw a couple republicans under the bus.

Let's review Slick Billy's quote:

BL: So, there’s a lot of concern in the Joplin area when you have a representative who’s gonna to be out of the Springfield area that they not, you know, remember the folks in the western end and I worked very hard last year and I think this is something that helped me because I think we had pretty good vote totals down here.


Considering the last two Representatives in the 7th district were from Springfield, Roy Blunt and Billy Long's first major endorser, Mel Hancock, the writing is on the wall. In Billy Long's comment, Long confirms some hearsay that some western district residents don't feel they have been represented well by Springfield area representatives. Billy Long brings up the negative and does little to defend Blunt and Hancock.

Rather than remove that doubt, and speak in favor of the jobs both Blunt and Hancock have done for the western side of the district, Long goes into it's about me mode and defends what kind of legislator he would be while producing a soundbite Robin Carnahan is more than likely interested in. Good job Billy, way to confirm it's all about you. Who else goes into the it's about me mode Billy? Anyone need a clue? Both Slick Willie and Barack Obama.

Here's another reason Billy Long may not have defended Blunt or Hancock with this idea the Western side of the Seventh District hasn't been taken care of by Springfield-based representatives. Long obviously hasn't done his homework to fully understand what Blunt and Hancock (although, I am not sure I remember what Hancock did other than vote no) has done for our district. This also shows just how politically incompetent Billy Long is. I wonder if former Governor Matt Blunt wants to remove his comment about Billy Long being a "common sense" kind of guy, because this was a very stupid thing for Slick Billy to say.

Slick Billy's RINO Moderate Words: Billy Long Calls Himself a Conservative?

Billy Long calls himself a conservative republican. I have had my doubts since meeting him a year ago that Billy Long is a true Constitutional conservative. Yesterday's interview at Missouri Southern State University further confirms my suspicions that Billy Long is a RINO moderate. After reading through the transcript, Billy Long says somethings that don't sit well with this conservative. Let's start first with Slick Billy throwing Roy Blunt under the bus.

A transcript from the interview above reads:

BL: glad to be back and we were in Joplin all day, we were in Joplin all day last Friday. So, there’s a lot of concern in the Joplin area when you have a representative who’s gonna to be out of the Springfield area that they not, you know, remember the folks in the western end and I worked very hard last year and I think this is something that helped me because I think we had pretty good vote totals down here.

So is Billy Long telling this interviewer Roy Blunt did a disservice as a representative to the western part of the district? This is a very stupid thing to say while Roy Blunt is in the middle of a fierce campaign with a Democrat Missourians will regret if she beats Blunt in November. Slick Billy, what are you thinking? Throw Roy under the bus for your own political gains? The last thing I want is McCaskill tag teaming with Carnahan in the United States Senate. Shut your mouth Billy!

Obviously if there is this concern it needs to be discussed within the republican ranks and not in a recorded interview for Roy Blunt's opponents to use against him. Say it Mr. Sanford.

Further in the interview Long not only shows how little he knows about the Constitution and the Congressional process, he opens the door for expanding the federal government. After talking about reducing the federal deficit, which his major platform is an elimination of earmarks, which would rob Southwest Missouri of a return of its tax dollars back to the district for roads and other valid projects and do little to reduce the deficit since they amount to only one percent of the federal budget (Ron Paul also states eliminating Constitutionally valid earmarks would also provide Barack Obama with more executive power), Long begins a very brief attack on Obamacare.

Here's the transcript:

BL: We need to repeal and replace Obamacare. That’s number one.

So after calling the national debt his "main" concern, he labels Obamacare as his number one concern with dishonesty and with another alarming look into the moderate RINO mind of Billy Long.

First he says we need to repeal. Fine, I agree, but Billy Long is smoking the wacky weed again if he honestly believes republicans are going to make big enough gains in the House and Senate to have a veto proof majority. It's not going to happen. Republicans would have to pick up 26 seats in the Senate this year to produce a veto proof Senate, and since there are only 36 seats available, Slick Billy is acting slick again telling the voters what they want to hear rather than the facts. Fine--I am used to it, and I will continue to point it out.

For true conservatives, the next part of Billy Long's statement should concern you and further points Long out to be a moderate RINO. Long says we need to replace Obamacare. Did you hear that?

That's right, we have a republican calling to replace Obamacare obviously with another federal program that Long has in mind. In other words, we don't want to grow the size of government as big as Obama wants it grown, but we will grow it to our liking. Either way, the size of federal government grows.

Now, how can Billy Long seriously say he is going to Washington to attack the national debt, when he talks like this? You can't say we are going to cut spending in Washington while saying we are going to replace Obamacare with another federal healthcare program, which would happen if republicans found a way to successfully repeal through bringing Democrats on board (Billy's opponent Scott Eckersley would be one willing to vote to repeal it). If you replace, like Long says, there will still be an expansion of government to regulate whatever Long envisions, which means more spending.

Billy Long continues to sound more like a moderate RINO than a true conservative Republican. Mr. Nodler, Mr. Goodman, Mr. Wisdom, and Mr. Moon, are you still on board considering what you just heard? As conservatives, you know the only choice is to repeal Obamacare and get the federal government out of the way by lifting the limits placed on insurance companies that prevent increased competition by allowing interstate commerce. You never suggest replacing Obamacare.

Where is Darrell Moore?: Republican Hasn't Endorsed Billy Long

The last thing Greene County prosecutor Darrell Moore wants asked, as most of the republican field that lost to Billy Long wants asked, is where is Darrell Moore. On Tuesday, the Southwest Missouri Republican Party celebrated a lackluster, carefully worded state of encouragement for Billy Long written by Jack Goodman, who watched his character assassinated by the Long campaign in the final weeks of the primary despite Billy Long promising Scott Magill and the Missouri Republican Assembly he would not go negative against the other republican candidates in the primary.

Few are believing Jack Goodman's encouragement for Slick Billy is anymore than giving into party pressure to make the republicans look unified behind Billy Long. After Michael Wardell endorsed Eckersley, the pressure from within the party on former candidates to endorse Long grew, and now most of the former republican candidates are doing it holding their noses. Trust me, few people had as much access to many of these candidates as I did and a few other bloggers. The mainstream media didn't follow this primary like you would have expected.

So where is Darrell Moore? I have not seen any endorsement coming from the prosecutor's office for Long, as well, I have heard Moore had some concerns over Long and his tactics. Moore is the last republican not to make an endorsement.

On another note, after the other Moore, Dean Moore, failed to produce signatures to make the ballot in November to oppose Billy Long, Long called up Dean to ask for his endorsement. Dean has not endorsed Billy Long, and appears to be leaning towards the Libertarian Kevin Craig. Dean is a lifelong republican who is interested in cleaning up the republican party on a local level, and I am sure his ideas conflict will Billy Long's direction of local party organization.

Polk Salad Billy: Another Day of Billy Long on Campaign Trail Without Specifics for Fed Up Voters

Billy Long tweeted last night he will be in Polk County campaigning. Where in Polk County, I don't know. (By the way, why is it I always hear Elvis Presley when I say Polk? Oh that's right. Hang on and extend me a little courtesy to get a song out of my head. Here's Elvis with a little Polk Salad Annie, and since Slick Billy eats more than he does trying to gain an in-depth understanding of the issues facing our Republic, we can fit this in.)



Now back to Slick Billy. For the third day in a row, it appears Billy Long doesn't want to be found by fed up voters who might ask him a we're fed up tough question, bloggers who are nearly all on board agreeing Long is dodging debates even though he claims otherwise, and the media who continue to challenge Long to Long's own personal disliking, which was heard by people who recently attended an event Slick Billy participated in. Long couldn't understand, from what I was told, why the media is being so tough on him after he has been caught lying about the debates.

Anyway, so we get a tweet from Slick Billy last night saying he will be in, hit it Elvis, POLK county. (Thank you very much!) You know Slick Billy's mind is a lot like salad, disorganized and absent of critical thinking. Billy tweets:

Just getting back to Springfield after a full day of meetings in Joplin. Starting early tomorrow in Polk County - another full campaign day
about 13 hours ago via mobile web

So where is Billy Long?

Once again, we go to his campaign Web site and look up events. Once again, there are no events listed so voters can show up and ask Slick Billy what's on his mind when it comes to Social Security, Afghanistan, States' Rights, Constitutional matters, and whatever the truly fed up politics as usual people can possibly ask this dolt of a republican that should have the entire party across the United States embarrassed.

Billy Long, the once fed up candidate, is running from the fed up masses. His handlers won't even let him sit through a tough question because of Sick Billy's political incompetence, which is demonstrated in this audio taken yesterday around the time of Slick Billy's appearance with the Missouri Southern College Republicans.



Did you hear Long's handlers pull him away from a question they didn't want Slick Billy to show his political incompetence with?

Never in my lifetime have I been more concerned about the future of our great Republic. I know my concern is similar to others as we watch big federal leviathan eat up states' rights and destroy the foundation James Madison laid for these United States. Surely Billy Long cares enough and has these same concerns to at least do a little homework to try to find some understanding of the issues. Time and time again, we see how he is just a republican puppet controlled by his handlers--clueless to what is need to fix the woes facing our country.

Remember what Billy Long once said about being controlled by his handlers. Consider the following video after listening to yesterday's audio.



Like I said, Billy Long is a big, fat, filthy rich millionaire who has no business in Congress. There are plenty of millionaires and small businessmen in Congress that prove Billy Long is sadly mistaken when he says things like this, which too was said at MSSU College Republican meeting:

“My whole thing for running, is that we need business people up there.” “Obama – the people he surrounds himself with – most of them never run a popsicle stand,” Long said. “I’m taking a common sense approach to D.C.”

Here are a list of small business owner republican fat cats who are just as much a part of the problem, which Long overlooks when he makes stupid comments like he did above. Some of them run real estate companies like Long as well.

House Republicans Who Voted For Tarp and are Small Business Owners or in Real Estate:

Bono Mack, Mary CA-45 Small-Business Owner
Calvert, Ken CA-44 –Small Business Owner
Campbell, John CA-48 Small Business Owner
Peterson, John PA-5 Small Business Owner
Radanovich, George CA-19 Small Business Owner
Saxton, H. NJ-3 Real Estate
Wamp, Zach TN-3 Real Estate
Wilson, Heather NM-1 Small Business Owner

Wouldn't common sense tell Billy Long that there are small business owners in Washington, DC, and he is by no means some political novelty outside of the fact that he is truly politically incompetent? Like I said, they are as much part of the mess as any other sector of experience in Washington. Which brings us to our point.

Billy Long is avoiding talking to as many voters as possible knowing this district will vote for a republican regardless of whether the republican is qualified to face the problems of our country or not. As someone who has voted 100% republican, I find this sad, especially when there is so much on the line for our great Republic. The fact that Billy Long is so out of touch with the issues tells me he doesn't care enough about anything but the title and the power which comes with being a Congressman.

Billy Long will never debate regardless of being on record agreeing to the ten courthouse debates. Billy Long will selectively choose his interviews, and use his radio skills learned on the once-great KWTO to control the interview like he did with Nick Reed. Billy Long doesn't even have the courage enough to participate in the Springfield Chamber of Commerce forums, even though he is a long-time member of the Chamber.

That's why Billy Long will continue to tell us how hard he is working on the campaign trail and hint where he might be day after day on Twitter without ever posting where he's been until after the fact. He doesn't want truly fed up voters asking him the truly fed up questions concerning their federal government because Billy Long doesn't have the fed up answers.

Why is Billy Long Fed Up With Voters' Questions on Social Security and Other Issues?

Billy Long continues to appear to be fed up with this whole election thing. After running from debates for the last month, Billy Long is puzzled why more young people aren't getting involved in politics. Perhaps, they have lost respect for the system because of dishonest people who choose to enter politics and not engage in debates and serious political discussion like Slick Billy himself. Once again, we are learning, Billy Long is avoiding the tough questions on the campaign trail.

The Fuse Joplin reports Billy Long dodged serious questions from voters yesterday at a campaign stop at Missouri Southern University. Long's message was getting more young people engaged in the political process, which offers voters little insight about what Long plans to do in Washington to stop the Obama Pelosi agenda. As mentioned before, Long is no roll model for these young voters considering he's playing politics as usual dodging political debates.

The most eye opening occurrence at the event was when Long was asked a question about Social Security, something that man who has wanted to run for Congress since "Roy ran back in 1996" should have an opinion on.

Long was asked by Eli Yokley from The Fuse Joplin about Social Security reform. The following audio is from the Q&A from the MSSU campaign stop:



As you can hear, Billy Long gets softball questions that have nothing to do with the issues facing our great country. You have to wonder if this is by design, because when the question is asked about Social Security, Billy Long's handlers remove him from the Q&A forum.

At this point in the game Billy Long should have a good understanding of issues like Social Security, but once again, we see Slick Billy's handlers keep him on talking points, and Slick Billy has been told not to answer or has chosen not to answer questions that aren't based on his talking points. It looks like this confirms it even more, Billy Long isn't ready for Congress. He doesn't understand the issues. He is dodging debates and serious political discussion. Now he is dodging any questions that are off his talking points.

Terrorism: Billy Long's Gambling Makes Him a National Security Security Risk

When I served proudly in the United States Army, we were required to go through a yearly class updating us on handling classified and non-classified information that could lead to the deaths of Americans soldiers. Soldiers aren't the only Americans placed in these situations, and because of the terrorist threat level in the United States, Southwest Missourians should consider Billy Long's gambling before casting their vote for the republican.

Billy Long never laced up combat boots, so he may be unaware of how terrorists use weaknesses like gambling to blackmail their enemies for information. This is a serious threat that Long faces if he is elected to Congress. The behavior he has shown during the campaign makes me a little worried about his behavior when he gets to Congress and what it means to the security of our great Republic.

It's not hard to come up with a realistic scenario for Slick Billy. Trouble awaits this man at every turn, and one must have the character to overcome these weaknesses. Does Billy Long have that character? I have my doubts.

Terrorists look for politicians, soldiers, and government personal who have these weaknesses. That's why the United States military does a thorough background check on soldiers before putting them in positions where national security can be compromised. Even such minor things like credit card debt can make a soldier ineligible for certain military occupational skills (MOS).

So let's look how gambling could be used by terrorists to make Billy Long give up information vital to national security.

Slick Billy gets comfortable with a new crowd in DC, and they meet regularly for a game of poker. With each passing week, the stakes get higher, the drinks pour easier, and the beautiful women gather.

Now there is always the possibility of gambling debts, but Slick Billy is another millionaire hoping to get to Congress. The gambling debts would have to be huge.

There is always the possibility that while Long is drinking, one of these beautiful women distract him, and someone drugs his drink with Rohypnol, a date-rap drug for men. Before the night is over Slick Billy is fornicating like he was Slick Willie with one of the beautiful women in the room.

Over the next few weeks, the normal crowd slowly grows disinterested in Slick Billy. Eventually, he loses interest in the game as well and looks for a new crowd.

A few months later, as Slick Billy sits in one of those restaurants he looks forward to filling up in as noted on his Twitter page, a man approaches him with an envelope. Inside the envelope are pictures of Slick Billy naked with the woman who drugged his drink. There is a note too. "If you want these pictures to go away, contact..."

These are the same scenarios the United States military works around the clock to prevent. Depending one what committee Slick Billy serves on, it's a real possibility enemies of the United States, especially organized terrorist cells, could very well use Long's reputation as a gambling man to blackmail him to give away national security secrets.

That's why Long's gambling, his Las Vegas vacation, and his frequent trips Downstream should be an interest not only to Southwest Missourians but all Americans.

Slick Billy Doesn't Seem to Follow Republican Family Values Platform: Eckersley Clearly Family Values Congressional Candidate for Southwest Missouri

Billy Long told me repeatedly at Pizza by Stout, my wife and I don't party. It was said three or four times, almost like he was afraid his lifestyle would be exposed. Long said they go out to dinner and then come home for the night, as he described life as routine.

Clearly since the night Billy Long attempted to bribe the blogger, Slick Billy's reputation for gambling and partying has grown. For it was just a few weeks later, a picture of Billy Long looking quite drunk during a New Year's Eve Party showed up in my inbox. Like I said, he sat in front of me at a Joplin pizza joint telling me over and over he isn't a partier.

Considering just the gambling, it's clear to be Billy Long isn't the family values candidate Southwest Missouri needs and as a member of the religious right, I couldn't in good conscious call Billy Long a family values candidate. He might try to promote family values in his speeches as he claimed to be the only pro-life candidate in the race, but his actions tell me Billy Long lives a life most Christians in Southwest Missouri couldn't identify with. It's even being reported Long once owned a nightclub in Springfield.

That's why Christians across Southwest Missouri who hold family values as one of their priorities in their voting philosophies need to consider Scott Eckersley for Congress. Eckersely is a strong-pro life candidate, who has promised not to rubberstamp the Obama Pelosi agenda. In fact, in recent speeches in front of Democrats, Eckersely attacked the Obamacare health plan while stating he would not support Pelosi for speaker.

Eckersley lives a gambling, tobacco, alcohol, and drug free life based on principles learned in his faith. The faith-based community is starting to pay attention, as Eckersley has gained endorsements from tea party members of faith in the Branson area.

Slick Billy is Southwest Missouri's version of Ted Kennedy. Fired Up Missouri already labeled Long "the Charlie Wilson" of the GOP. They write of Billy Long, "Indeed, in these past few weeks Long’s looked like a seasoned political veteran, going to Vegas like he’s Charlie Wilson and flip-flopping over whether or not he’ll debate Democratic opponent Scott Eckersley. He’s exactly like a career politician, just without the knowledge or experience..."

Slick Billy's campaign is made up of paid handlers described in many circles as political goons, Billy's career politician producing machine. As well family was rarely seen with Billy during the republican primary. Stepping into Eckersley's campaign headquarters, you quickly see how much family means to Eckersley.

So if family values is important to you, this year you are going to have to look away from the party that prides itself as the family values party (repblican party), and look at the more independent minded Eckersley.

Slick Billy Meets Missouri Southern's College Republicans: "We Must Get the Youth Engaged in Politics"

After running from any type of serious political debate over the past month leading many to question just how much Billy Long understands our great Republic's problems, Slick Billy tweets the funniest thing I have ever seen tweeted by Rosco's little buddy. After visiting the college republicans at Missouri Southern today, Long tweets:

Just spoke to MSSU College Republicans in Joplin, nice size group today. We must get the youth engaged in politics, it's their future!!!
less than a minute ago via mobile web

Mr. Long how can we get the youth engaged in politics and any serious political discussion when the republican Congressional candidate in Southwest Missouri won't engage in any serious political debate or discussion of issues? It's people like Slick Billy Long that tire these kids of the whole political process as it's politics as usual--dodging the debates.

Come on Mr. Long, where is your courage in this tweet? You have cowardly ran from debates, and now you hope these kids will engage in political activity when you continue to run from any intellectual serious political discussion and debate. You are no role model for the college republicans at Missouri Southern, Mr. Long. In fact, you are an insult to the party of Reagan. I hope these college republicans are bright enough to see through your facade.

I know I was a college republican at Missouri State, and we didn't let republicans get away with dishonesty in our organization. Just ask Jean Dixon, Mr. Long.

Are GOP Leaders in Missouri's Seventh Holding Their Noses Over Billy Long?

Another Sign 7th District GOP Leaders Are Holding Their Noses

from Fired Up Missouri

It's not hard to read between the lines in this News-Leader story about state Sen. Jack Goodman's tepid endorsement of Billy Long:

In a carefully worded statement Tuesday, Missouri State Sen. Jack Goodman encouraged people to vote for Billy Long to keep a Republican in Congress...

Goodman could not be reached for comment, but his campaign advertising manager, John Thompson, said he was authorized to release Goodman's statement:

"The Republican primary voters spoke on August 3, nominating Roy Blunt for U.S. Senate and Billy Long for U.S. Congress, and I respect the voice of the voters.

Goodman's lukewarm support for Long might have something to do with Long's campaign commercial calling him a "career politician" and suggesting he was behind "false ads" from an independent committee.

-----------------------

Of course, after winning the primary, Long falsely claimed that he never actually ran that ad we saw with our own eyes against Goodman and Sen. Gary Nodler. From Jim Lee's transcript of Long's recent appearance on KSFG:

You know I mean, there’s only, you know I ran for 18 months in the Republican primary never running against my opponents. I told who I was, what I was, what I did, what I wanna do in Washington and that’s what I want this to be.

Fired Up Missouri forgets to mention as they point out Billy Long's obvious lies about going negative on KSGF, Long also lied about Goodman's pro-life record, a $100 million tax credit to St. Louis, which Long's own campaign strategist James Harris lobbied for, and some casino lobbying money that Goodman clearly returned to the gaming lobby. Considering how Goodman's character was slandered by Long, how could Goodman do this without holding his nose?

Slick Billy Continues to Receive Criticism for Debate Lies: Long won't even participate in an environment only dreamed about by other GOP candidates"

Billy Long continues to draw criticism for lying about debating, and then running from the debates he promised to participate in. From Show Me Progress:

Today, again via FiredUP!, we learn that Billy Long, the Republican running for Roy Blunt's House seat, is not only trying to get out of a series of debates with his opponent, the putative Democrat, Scott Eckersley (and, like Roy Blunt, lying about it), but he won't even participate in an environment only dreamed about by other GOP candidates. As of this writing, Long just doesn't seem to be able to find time for a debate sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and moderated by a chamber member who will, get this, "ensure that we remain on topic and that it doesn't turn into a debate format." A debate that doesn't have a debate format and candidates who would want that to be the case - am I missing something here?

Which brings us to the eponymous question: Why are Republicans scared to debate? I admit that it's a rhetorical question. We all know the answer. If you were intent on sticking to your focus group tested, to-the-gut-but-well-shy-of the-brain talking points and were incapable of defending said points with facts, you probably wouldn't want to debate either. (The author defines Billy Long in one sentence.)

I still ask the question, what happened to character matters in the republican party? If you promise to debate and then you lie about the promise, which is on record in multiple sources, you obviously have some character issues [Billy Long].

In a time, where voters want to believe republicans like Billy Long are capable of fighting the Obama Pelosi agenda through political debate and other vehicles, candidates like Long aren't providing voters with much to believe in. If Billy Long can't scrap in his own back yard, how can Southwest Missouri expect him to fight the Obama Pelosi agenda with any effectiveness? What, is he going to scare them in submission with his cowboy boots and his ten-gallon hat?

Had Scott Eckersley Chosen the Downstream Casino Over Courthouses, Slick Billy Might Have Actually Debated

It's clear now, Billy Long is dodging debates like hippies dodge the draft. It didn't have to be this way, and I blame Scott Eckersley. Yes, you heard me right. I blame Scott Eckersley for the reason these debates aren't happening.

Overall, the debate idea was good. Go to each county in the 7th and debate on the courthouse steps so people have easy access to the candidates. What Eck didn't realize is perhaps Long has some bad memories at courthouses and Long appears to have made many enemies in the county courthouses as well, kicking people out of their homes.

Obviously, this venue was unfair for Long, considering all the cases Long has filed against Southwest Missourians found on Case Net. Can't you see it now, a man down on his luck suddenly goes postal because Long kicked a family of five out of their home?

Of course, we can't answer why Billy Long dodged the Chamber of Commerce events and the KOLR/KSFX debates as well other than Billy Long just doesn't have the brain power to debate.

So Eck's biggest mistake was the venue where the debates were held. Therefore, I am recommending a change in venue, someplace Long won't turn down. Eck needs to challenge Billy to ten debates at the Downstream Casino. Billy couldn't possibly turn down a chance to gamble, could he? Long loves the Downstream so much that he would gamble with a debate or two against the wishes of his handlers just to get some poker in.

A little debate, some poker, heck, Slick Billy could have shown Eckersely around the place and probably got him an upgrade in Q Club status as well. It could have been a real bonding experience for both candidates.

So Eck, get on the phone and change the venue to the Downstream Casino. I am sure Long has enough Q Club points built up that he plays in a special room away from all the common folk, so he could probably land a deal on a conference room as to hold an audience. The best part of it for Billy is this. Everyone will forget how dumb he looked because they will all be mad over the amount of money they lost following the debates. Yes, if you want Billy Long to debate, the Downstream Casino is definitely the carrot to hold in front of the bunny, I mean turtle. Of course, there is always the chance Long doesn't arrive because he can't get past the poker tables.

Left Coast Rebel Praises Conservative's Fight Against Establishment RINO Billy Long

The Left Coast Rebel just praised my conservative fight against Billy Long. Here is that article published earlier today by one of California's finest conservative bloggers. Thanks to the Left Coast Rebel for acknowledging my conservative fight! Here is his article:

Bungalow Bill's Conservative Wisdom was one of my favorite blogs on the net. Bill had an incredible sense of what is right for the nation and was a great writer as well. Bungalow Bill also achieved blogger-nirvana when Rush Limbaugh read one of his pieces on the air.


Bungalow Bill was is one of the best - after a hiatus he's back and kicking butt in the blogosphere.

And he endorsed a Democrat in his congressional district! Meet Scott Eckersley:

It was almost two years ago when the sick feeling in my gut came when they announced Barack Obama was elected the 44th President of the United States. Two years later, I never thought that I would vote for any party but the Republican party in 2010. Having studied Billy Long for the past eight months, there is no way I can mark a ballot for the Republican ticket and believe republicans are sending a man who can steer us out of this mess.


One hundred percent of every vote I have ever cast has been for the Republican candidate. This year will be different. I am a Ronald Reagan conservative who believes America's best days are in front of her. I believe in limited government and personal achievement. I believe in our great Republic and the Constitution that guides her, and it is for these reasons, I cannot cast a vote for Billy Long.


Long doesn't have the courage of Ronald Reagan. He doesn't have to political understanding of Ronald Reagan, nor does Billy Long understand the issues that face our great Republic. Watching him run from the debates and interviews shows me Billy Long is a coward. There is no room for cowards in the conservative ranks, and there is no room for cowards at this moment in American history when so much is on the line. What happened to the days in which character mattered in the Republican party?


Over the past few weeks, I have gotten to know Scott Eckersely, the former conservative Republican running on the Democratic ticket. Eckersley hasn't bought into the party rhetoric. He has served in state government fighting corruption and winning. Billy Long only can say he is fed up and then he kisses the butts of the same people he claims to be fed up with.


Yes, for the first time in my life, I will mark the ballot where for the D candidate, but I do so after hours of conversation with Eckersely. I know he will not be a rubberstamp for the Obama Pelosi agenda. He has promised the people of Southwest Missouri his first vote will not be for Pelosi as speaker. Even more amazing, Eckersely stood up in front of his Democratic supporters and told them he would not have voted for Obamacare, and then listed his reasons why.

Eckersley has a better understanding of the issues that face our great Republic that Billy Long, who continues to hide this weakness by running from debates and serious issues. He will be an independent thinker, where as Long has already been bought by the establishment, special interest, and his big money supporters.


Eckersley has fought for Missourians for ethics in government. He has fought against his own party, and he survived the games they played to tarnish his image. In the truest sense of the word, Eckersely is a true tea party candidate. The DNC hasn't welcomed Eckersely to the party after his primary win, and the Republican party already kicked him out. He isn't going to Washington to represent the DNC or RNC. He is going to Washington to represent the people of Southwest Missouri. That's why I am endorsing Scott Eckersely for Congress.

I would hate to be on Bungalow Bill's you-know-what list as he has proven to be quite the pitbull for the conservative cause in his district. He took his passion and writing skills and aimed them squarely at the establishment candidate Billy Long.

We should all fight so hard for what is right...

Go Bungalow Bill! -- written by The Left Coast Rebel with segments from BBCW

So Where is Slick Billy Today?: Long Somewhere in Joplin and the Voters and Media Must Guess Where

A few minutes ago, Slick Billy Long tweets while driving in the rain (probably swerving to miss the family of five now living in their car that Long just removed from their home):



Driving to Joplin in a beautiful rain! We have 6 Campaign stops in Jasper County today starting at 9AM & ending at 6 PM- Sprinting to Nov. 2
34 minutes ago via mobile web

OK, so as a concerned voter who wants desperately to ask Billy Long the questions that he refuses to allow asked at debates and forums, I want to know where Billy Long is going to be in Jasper County today. So I go to the Billy Long for Congress Web site, only to find the words "all events are currently over."



So once again we have Billy Long claiming to be working hard on the campaign trail to reach voters, but voters have no clue where to find Slick Billy. Are you getting the feeling this is intentional yet?

I think I might head downstream in hopes of observing Long's leisure time tonight, because I bet, being so close to Joplin, Billy Long might not be found on a stump, but more than likely he will be found in front of a poker table.

Jack Goodman Unenthusiastically Encourages Supporters to Vote for Slick Billy: Billy Long's Endorsements in Seventh Not Worded Favorably for Long

Billy Long lied and slandered Jack Goodman's good character. Goodman a strong pro-family, pro-life conservative republican, should have never had his pro-life record questioned. In fact, if Billy Long was a man of his word, Long would have never gone negative in the campaign just like he promised Scott Magill and the Missouri Republican Assembly. As well, Billy Long also lied about Goodman taking casino lobbyist money, which everyone in Lawrence County knew Goodman returned. So it must have been with great pain that Goodman carefully wrote his unenthusiastic encouragement, although some are calling it an endorsement to vote for Billy Long.

Like Mike Moon's lackadaisical endorsement of Long, Goodman never mentions Long's name. He never comes out and says I endorse Billy Long. He just talks about a republican majority.

It is very possible that the majority party of the U.S. House or Senate may be determined by the outcome of a single election in a single district. Therefore, it is crucial for the 7th District to send a Republican vote for both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate, so Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid can be replaced by leaders who can get America back on the right track. I ask my neighbors to join me in this effort.

For the sake of all future Americans, I sincerely wish those we elect every success in their service. I hope they will serve with zeal, integrity, honesty and a tireless commitment to those principles that make America the greatest nation in the world.

So Billy Long may think this is a win, but the writing is on the wall. Both Goodman and Moon, men of the greatest character who ran in the 7th, won't even say Billy Long's name in their carefully worded press releases. While some will say the republican party is coming together to support Long, it really breaks down to this.

Two unenthusiastic endorsements in which former republican candidates won't even mention Billy Long's name.

One republican, Michael Wardell, endorsing the more conservative Scott Eckersley, who is on record in front of Democrats saying he will not vote for Pelosi for speaker.

Then you have Steve Hunter, who after a Neosho event, said he didn't trust Billy Long, which was one of the reasons he entered this race.

Then you have Jeff Wisdom's press release which has angered his base and hasn't brought them any closer to voting for Billy Long.

Republican Bob Schanz, who was forced to drop out due to health reasons, doesn't have a kind word to say about Billy Long, and endorsed another candidate.

Who knows what Gary Nodler is really thinking. From experience, I know Nodler doesn't like his record lied about, which Long clearly did, so his endorsement seems unenthusiastic as well and based more on party than principle.

So what does Billy Long really have? He has former candidates carefully wording press releases with no enthusiasm and little to no praise for the republican nominee. The party still looks divided to me over the nomination of Long. To think these lackadaisical endorsements are helping Slick Billy gain solid support, think again. The following was left on Long is Wrong yesterday:

I supported Jack Goodman wholeheartedly. I attended every event I could, knocked on doors, and sent emails to every person I knew in the district. I worked very closely with Jack and the other people on the campaign and I can tell you that Jack has nothing to do with this blog and that I would not vote for Billy Long if he paid me, which I would not be surprised to see him try to do. It's not that I am a sore loser either. He's not qualified, he has no unique platform, he brings nothing to the table, and has proven to be more of a typical politician than ANY other candidate. He does not deserve the nomination, and he will more than prove that, as he is already doing. I will be there when Jack runs again, as he is the kind of candidate this nation needs, and many of us were praying for.

What do the other candidates who endorse Billy Long get? They get to run again as republicans without any flack from party insiders, and that's what this is all about anyway, something Michael Wardell will never enjoy again all because he put principle before party.

Slick Billy: It May be the Republican's Best Choice Not to Vote for Billy Long

1992 gave us Slick Willie, a slick governor of Arkansas who was always running from something or hiding something else. We know now in 2010, Slick Willie, despite term limits never went away. We know in 2008, even some Democrats wish he would just go away.

In 2010, Southwest Missouri gets Slick Billy, who also seems to be running from something and hiding other things. Slick Billy could be the most damaging political force for the conservative movement ever in Southwest Missouri's history, and conservatives and republicans need to understand one thing. Billy Long is here to stay as long as he can, despite claims otherwise.

I know some die hard republicans that just can't cast a ballot for Billy Long. I talk to them daily, and occasionally they leave comments on this blog. Yesterday, the following comment was left on a post:

I supported Jack Goodman wholeheartedly. I attended every event I could, knocked on doors, and sent emails to every person I knew in the district. I worked very closely with Jack and the other people on the campaign and I can tell you that Jack has nothing to do with this blog and that I would not vote for Billy Long if he paid me, which I would not be surprised to see him try to do. It's not that I am a sore loser either. He's not qualified, he has no unique platform, he brings nothing to the table, and has proven to be more of a typical politician than ANY other candidate. He does not deserve the nomination, and he will more than prove that, as he is already doing. I will be there when Jack runs again, as he is the kind of candidate this nation needs, and many of us were praying for.

First, let's clear the air. Jack Goodman has nothing to do with this blog. If he did, don't you think it would be gone?

I have been watching Billy Long very closely over the last eight months, and what you have developing in Billy Long is a political machine designed to turn Billy Long into a career politician. Billy isn't bright when it comes to issues and solutions to solve our nation's woes. He isn't going to say anything memorable beyond a couple of words, for instance 'fed up.' He is good at one thing when it comes to politics. In fact it's hard not to compliment Billy when it comes to raising money. I know it, he knows it, and the republican party really knows it.

This is why I believe, nobody in the local party took a close examination of Long during the primary and pointed out the lack of character within. This is what makes Billy Long dangerous. Even though he speaks against career politicians, he has hired a career politician producing machine, and he is quickly becoming a career politician who will be very hard to exterminate later, so it might be best to get the job done sooner and vote against him this year.

As you know, incumbents are hard to beat. Billy Long will come prepared for primary challengers with a war chest much larger than what we saw this year. It will be harder for a more qualified candidate to wage war against the Billy Long machine if we let it sprout roots in Washington, DC.

Currently, the republican voters in the Seventh District are divided over Billy Long. Many of them are offended as they watch him say one thing and do another. Like good republicans obeying Reagan's 11th commandment, few speak up. They just look on in shock. Some offended by the things he says, others offended by the things he does. Trust me, the trip to Las Vegas immediately after the primary didn't win Long the approval of many conservatives in the district.

That's why republicans must make a tough decision this year. They must put blind faith in a man who has insulted good Republican candidates like Jack Goodman and Gary Nodler with lies, offending their constituents, and continue to vote down party lines knowing Billy Long will be tougher to beat in two years. Or they must trust Eckersley will remain conservative in Washington, DC, and not given to to party pressure to blindly follow the Obama Pelosi agenda. I believe the second is the most viable options who fear Long building up a mob-like presence in Southwest Missouri that will be tough to bring down once established.

Obviously, judging from the words written in the comments, there are republicans who see Billy Long becoming everything he ran against in the primary. They see the dishonesty of his campaign and his lack of courage as he dodges debates, forums, and interviews. In the background, out of site, the Billy Long machine grows, and we know the goons who are pushing the agenda, and they aren't from Southwest Missouri. Republicans are going to have to bring the machine down this year, or face Billy Long being your congressman for a very long time, God forbid he wins this. Trust me, on November 3, 2010, Billy Long starts fundraising for 2012 knowing he will be challenged.

Is Billy Long Keeping His Schedule Confusing to Talk to the Least Number of Voters?

Is the Billy Long campaign worried about media, the bloggers, and possibly the voters? It sure appears that way judging from Long's tweets. Could it be Long is doing all he can to avoid possible run ins with the people prepared to ask Billy the tough questions about why he is running from the debates and other issues?

The reason why I ask is Long posted a tweet yesterday morning letting voters know he will be in five counties. I watched throughout the day to see where he was going to be next, and the tweets never came.

His first tweet read:

Campaign stops in Polk, Lawrence, Greene, Christian and Stone Counties Today - first up 8AM Smith's in Bolivar.
6:00 AM Aug 30th via mobile web

So at 6:00 AM, with virtually no time for anyone to make arrangements to get to Smith's in time to catch Long in Bolivar, Long announces his first "campaign stop." Like I said, throughout the day, Long didn't alert voters where he was going to be next. The Billy Long for Congress Web site also didn't pose any information about these "campaign stops." Now if you want people there, don't you tell them where you are going to be?

Then suddenly towards the evening, Billy Long tweets he's leaving the Tea Party Headquarters.

Just leaving TeapartyHQ.com in Branson - good group of volunteers there today even 60 Plus days out from the Election!!!
about 19 hours ago via mobile web

The problem is Branson is in Taney County, and Billy Long never listed Taney County on his campaign stops. Either the Billy Long campaign is very disorganized and they have no clue where Billy Long is going, or they don't want certain people showing up to where Billy Long in order to keep Billy's mouth shut and away from as many people as possible.

The Missouri State University Standard Calls Billy Long a Moron and Idiot: "Should Be a Separation Between Hick and State"

It didn't take the students at Missouri State long to come up with the realization of who Billy Long really is. In a brutal piece describing the election for a new congressman in the Seventh District, Long takes most of the hits.

The piece called "The Lesser of Two Evils," describes Scott Eckersley rightfully so as conservative and a DINO while calling for a "separation between hick and state" in a clear attack against Billy Long. Obviously written by a liberal student named J.D. Garretson, the author says there is little to celebrate in either candidate, but chooses Eckersley over Long based on the the author's belief Billy Long is a moron and an idiot. (Hey, I didn't write this. I don't even know J.D.) It comes down in the end of a race between two republicans, and Garretson chooses the flip-flopper over the idiot moron.

It's an interesting perspective from the eyes of student as classes get started at Missouri State who notes no major differences in political philosophies between Long and Eckersley. There's some cute language in the piece as well. You have just got to love the line there should be a separation between hick and state.

Here's Garretson's piece on the 7th District race, which he holds back no punched against Rosco's chubby little buddy.

Every so often, even on the smallest of scales, history repeats itself. I can still remember the heart-rending decision I made way back in 2004, choosing whether to support Kerry or Bush. On the one hand, Bush was the worst president of all time. We all remember that video surfacing that apparently showed him killing an infant and imbibing its blood for power.

On the other hand, John Kerry looked dorky even when he was doing cool stuff. My grandma could hop on a wakeboard and still look kind of rad, but seeing Kerry out on the waves made me think of the time I put my cat on a foam floaty and set her adrift in a wading pool. They both seemed to have the same look of confusion and desperation, the same awkward body language.

I'm at the same crossroads today, but on a smaller level. Voters are never satisfied with their choices, I suppose, but it's getting downright ridiculous. I'm talking, of course, about Scott Eckersley.

Let's get to the important stuff first, the real issues. Like, the dude has a horrible last name. Eckersley is proud of his misfortune, it seems, making a slogan of "Give 'Em Eck!" I should say I usually have a pretty firm rule about voting for people who use the word "heck," and I'm less inclined to like someone who makes a pun of it. But - and maybe this is just because I read Mad Magazine as a kid - all I can picture is Alfred E. Neuman campaigning to "Give 'Em Ecchh!" or something.

It's the most unfortunate advertising since MSU's ill-advised "I Heart New York" rip-off, where they plastered campus with a slogan that seemed to translate to "I Bear MSU." How true, MSU.

This Dem-In-Name-Only flipped parties a few years ago because ideology apparently means little to him. And this supposed fiscal conservative once essentially sued our state, costing taxpayers nearly $2 million, counting legal costs and the settlement.

He was doing the right thing, suing Roy Blunt's Chief of Staff over some Sunshine Law e-mail kerfuffle. But suing the government is sort of like (and by that, I mean literally the same as) suing your neighbors. I see it the same way as I see protesting - sure, it'll make you feel better, but that's only if you ignore the facts that you're accomplishing nothing and generally annoying everyone around you.

So that's the Democrat. An anti-choice fiscal conservative who cost the state millions, whose plan to save the local economy is having a "hard look at the Federal deficit," according to the Springfield Business Journal. He wants to gut health care, can't decide if individual freedom outweighs the threat of terrorism (uh, in Missouri?), and thinks "taxes are too high." (Uh, in Missouri?)

But then there's Billy Long, Eckersley's opponent. I don't vote for anyone who wears a cowboy hat, first off. It's just bad policy - I'm a firm believer in the Separation of Hick and State.

The first thing you'll learn about Billy Long, should you decide to do a little research, is that his webmaster has never heard the word "Favicon." Things seem to go downhill from there - he wants to dictate tax law through the Constitution. He figures, were he in charge, he would scrap health care plans and save you up to 10 percent by outlawing medical malpractice suits, or something.

(Don't worry about losing the house because of the surgery, Granny, just remember we saved up to 10 percent! So, really, those blankets were free. If you think about it, the sicker you get, the more you save!)

The guy is so against a woman's right to choose he wants to block foreign aid to nations that allow the practice. He thinks the current tax code, which allows the gap between the wealthy and the rest of us to grow daily, "penalizes success." And, most damning of all, the goddamn cowboy hat. He's wearing it in every picture! And it's one of those nice ones, too - the kind you can't even work in. I grew up in a honky-tonk, and I'll tell you that kind of cowboy hat would cause many a real cowboy to strap on what they affectionately call their "s-- kicking boots."

Scott Eckersley is an imperfect candidate. He's right-wing and smiles like a goober. He spends too much time trashing the colleagues he's campaigning to work with. But Billy Long is a moron. And when choosing between a flip-flopper and an idiot, I think Kerry/Bush taught us all that we should ignore the shivers in our spines and pick the flip-flopping, dorky lesser of two evils.

(The views of J.D. Garretson don't necessarily reflect the views of Long is Wrong, although we do see Billy Long in a similar light. Garretson forgets to mention Bush graduated from Yale and Billy dropped out of Mizzou after a hard semester and went to auction school, where he learned to talk fast. I never really trusted fast-talking salesmen.)