KINDER'S COMMENTARY: JAMES' WIN IN ALABAMA PRIMARY TAPS CONSERVATIVE DEMOCRATS

The recent victory of Alabama Gov. Fob James in his Republican primary runoff is most interesting. James has made national headlines in recent years for backing the Alabama judge who insisted on displaying the Ten Commandments on his courtroom wall. James champions prayer in schools, confronts activist federal judges and regularly offends against liberal piety.

What is fascinating for political demographers is this: Although he was outspent 3 to 1, James' 58-42 percent victory may be traced to his overwhelming win in rural, historically Democratic counties across the state. That's right: Conservative Democrats took GOP primary ballots to vote for a Republican of great courage and conviction. This was the first year ever that GOP voter turnout exceeded that of the Democrats.

Of course, anyone wishing to duplicate this winning formula will have to endure the slings and arrows of elite media liberal critics -- and, for that matter, those anonymous Speak Out critics, as well.

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Concealed weapons, nailed

As Missourians prepare for next April's statewide vote of the people on concealed weapons, a much-reviewed new book will be widely read. It is the work of criminologist John Lott and carries the provocative title: "More Guns, Less Crime: Understanding Crime and Gun Control Laws." (University of Chicago Press). I have read reviews and articles about the book and will be reading it later this summer. A full column will follow.

Essentially, Lott studied thousands of pages of data, comparing thousands of counties across the nation over many years. Based on his research, Dr. Lott concludes that the more guns there are in the hands of law-abiding citizens, the lower the rate of violent crime.

The eyes of the nation will be on Missourians next spring as we become the first state whose people will vote on this question. It will take all the native Missouri good sense, facts and fair argument we can muster to counter the misinformation we can expect from Big Media liberals who hate the Second Amendment and who would gut or repeal it if they ever get the chance.

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Geraldo the Bootlicker

Is there a more shameless media shill anywhere than Geraldo Rivera of CNBC? Here he is, reporting from China during the president's trip there:

"The people here, and it is impossible for the central government to manipulate this, are ecstatic. Everything I have heard, everything I have seen ... read. ... These people are sweeping up in front of their homes, they are painting, they are polishing. Everybody is extremely, extremely happy."

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NOW, Call Your Office!

A new CNN-Time nationwide poll revealed news that must be galling to those two bastions of political correctness: A heavy majority -- 65 percent of American women -- don't consider themselves feminists. Those most likely to do to so are childless white women with some post-college education.

~Peter Kinder is assistant to the president of Rust Communications and a state senator from Cape Girardeau.