It’s DINO Dumping Time

One of the major problems with the Democratic Party is a severe infestation of DINO, sometimes called Blue Dogs.  The latter is fitting, because they have Republican fleas.  Another problem with DINOs is that, more often than not, they have the same ethical values as Republicans.  This can prove embarrassing, at best.  When such a DINO happens to be a US Senator who has consistently stood in the way of progressive reforms, such as a Medicare for all public option, it’s DINO dumping time.  Party resources should be spent on a progressive challenge to Claire McCaskill, not her reelection.

…U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill, a Missouri Democrat, is in the midst of one of those cycles. It’s a place where no self-respecting politician wants to be.

First came the news that the senator had billed taxpayers for the costs of chartered flights on a plane she co-owns with her husband.

Although that practice didn’t break any rules, that story was followed by one about how she had written an $89,000 check to reimburse the government for those flights.

Then came news that one of those flights was for purely political purposes, an apparent violation of Senate rules. A spokeswoman said McCaskill was “embarrassed by this mistake.”

Then came a hastily arranged telephone conference call Monday where she announced that she had discovered her failure to pay $287,000 in personal property taxes for the aircraft.

That was followed by a story Thursday that the total had reached $320,000 with interest, penalties and fees.

It was as ugly a streak as any pol has endured around these parts for a while.

Drip, drip, drip.

It’s one thing if the stories end there. They may. But it’s also a safe conclusion that Republicans remain intensely interested in the financial empire of McCaskill’s husband, Joseph Shepard.

He has made millions developing and managing nursing homes and low-income housing. The industry is heavily regulated and subsidized.

He also bought and sold tax credits, a market dependent on government policies.

Furthermore, one of Shepard’s interests — a Bermuda-based reinsurance company — at one point, at least, shared attributes with a tax shelter the IRS wanted Congress to rein in.

I mention all this because turning the Shepard empire into a political attack wouldn’t be tough, especially in light of the “air Claire” affair. The recent stories open the door for reporters to go further… [emphasis added]

Inserted from <Kansas City Star>

I’m sure that in going after McCaskill’s husband, it won’t bother Republicans that they are attacking one of their own.  That’s right.  McCaskill’s husband is a still a registered Republican.  That puts in bed with the Republicans in a whole new light.