Capitol Calling

Alright, Alright...

... I will cut down on the online polls for awhile.

Tour in Trouble?

Stomping in My Air Force Ones

This poll is a follow-up of sorts to this blog post.

Steelman looms over MO-7

Although former state Treasurer Sarah Steelman told KY3 reporter Dave Catanese that she's still mulling a U.S. Senate bid, there is speculation that she could shift to the race for the U.S. Seventh District House seat.

Such a move would throw a monkey wrench into the already crowded race. While Steelman isn't actually from the district, she won sizable majorities in MO-7 counties during her 2008 gubernatorial bid in population bubbles such as Springfield. She also teaches a class at Missouri State University.

Make no mistake, Steelman's entry into the congressional race could be a big deal. Former contestants in statewide contests have experience in wrangling up staffers, formulating a media blitz and traveling long distances to reach out to voters. They also carry fairly substantial name recognition.

Even though he lost in 2004, some have pointed to Blaine Luetkemeyer's experience in running for state treasurer as a major asset in his 2008 congressional bid.

But all this talk could be moot if Steelman decided to square off against U.S. Rep. Roy Blunt, R-Springfield, in the GOP primary for U.S. Senate. And many of the other candidates in the MO-7 sweepstakes - such as Sens. Gary Nodler, and Jack Goodman, Billy Long and Darrell Moore - are not exactly pushovers.

Still, it's fun to speculate.

It would be a weird twist of fate if Steelman and Luetkemeyer both ended up in the U.S. House together. The two ran against each other in the 2004 race for treasurer, a contest that Steelman eventually won in the general election.

Hammer Time

Should the Senate confirm Sotomayor?

Rumble in the Jungle

I discovered while lingering around at a car dealership this morning that the wife of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is going to be on "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here."

I don't watch a lot of network television, so I could care less whether Patti Blagojevich survives in the Costa Rica wilderness.

But the news did inspire me to create this nonsensical poll. Enjoy:

MODOT warns against helmet law recall

The head of the Missouri Department of Transportation argued today against a repeal to a regulation requiring motorcycle riders to wear helmets.

MoDOT director Pete Rahn said vetoing the pending legislation will save lives. The Columbia Tribune reported that Rahn showcased a telephone poll pointing to public support of the helmet requirement.

But proponents of the legislation - including the Freedom of Road Riders - argue that deciding to ride with a helmet is a personal freedom issue.

What do you think?

Winner, Winner

In This Twilight

One of my colleagues at the Capitol suggested that I put up this poll. Ask and ye shall receive!