Yeah, I know that politics is all about back door deals (ouch - no homo) but I thought that just referred to to the many partners that Beth Gottstein has garnered among the up and coming (ew) studs in local politics. (Note: I feel better making those jokes now that I support her and because she's a go getter!!!)
Here's a bit of the latest day old bread to fall in my lap via The Prime Buzz blog which I've heard has fewer comments than one of those Livejournal pages hosting cat photos:
Mayor Kay Barnes endorsed Alvin Brooks for mayor at a private meeting she held last Thursday with a select group of KC business leaders.Nice. I did not know that nowadays press conferences are only for po'folk. Private seems to be the way to go, just like Prime Buzz whose authors might not realize that e-mail provides a lot of the juiciest details of any VIP room. But I digress . . .
Barnes secretively arranged the 8 a.m. breakfast at the Downtown Marriott, which Brooks attended.
In her invitation on Feb. 28 to about two dozen people, Barnes wrote:
"I wish to discuss with you my thoughts on the general election which will be held only 27 days from now. I am concerned that the progress we have achieved, in large part because of your efforts, is now in jeopardy."
Among the persons invited by Barnes: Lawyers Herb Kohn, Jack Craft, David Fenley, Jerry Riffel, Michael T. White and Mike Burke.
Businessmen John Bluford, Gary Forsee, Tom McDonnell, Pete Levi, Mark Ernst, Warren Erdmen, Tom Bowser, Terrence Dunn, Charles Garney, Lee Derrough and William Zollars.
Is it just me or do these rich white guys crowded in a room to support Brooks seem a tad unseemly? If Mayor Kay wants to come out for Brooks then why can't she do it in public? Not only would it look better but I'm guessing that she could get a hell of an echo in our empty stadium now that they're putting the glass into the thing.
Private meetings, big money donors and doubts about the future of TIF funded development deals (which the downward spiral of the stock market and the slowing economy will kill faster than Funkhouser) . . . Just seems like politics as usual as the best friends of Brooks also seem to be the worst enemies of anybody in this town who cares about KC's debt load.