TKC SUNDAY SPECIAL!!! ALTERNATIVE EULOGY FOR MR. PEANUT: POLITICAL LEGACY OF JAMES B. NUTTER EXEMPLIFIES KANSAS CITY CORRUPTION!!!



We come to bury Mr. Peanut, not to praise him.

Quick point of fact for the timid among our blog community: We're not talking about Mr. Nutter as a person; I'm sure he was a nice guy and had a lot of people who loved him -- But, like all good deeds, that's completely irrelevant and worthless in terms of the political discourse.

Moreover . . .

UNTIL HIS DYING DAY, MR. PEANUT OWNED SO MANY KANSAS CITY ELECTED OFFICIALS JUST LIKE THE PROPERTIES IN HIS REAL ESTATE PORTFOLIO!!!

To be fair, Mr. Peanut played by the book and his corruption of public officials was perfectly legal inasmuch as American Democracy has always been for sale to highest bidder.

However, singing the praises of this political power broker is pointless given that his EPIC BANK ACCOUNT ensured that so many Kansas City politicos were working for him and NOT the vast majority of their constituents.

Real talk . . . One of the boldest moves in modern day local political history was Mr. Nutter featuring the Jackson County Prosecutor seemingly sitting on his lap in a snub to all of local Democracy and a very real sign that every facet of this town worked for him.



Worse still, Mr. Nutter played the game of identity politics better than anybody during his last years and used his cash to prop up worthless Legislators like Crystal Williams and her "girl power" coven. Mr. Nutter was basically her "Daddy" and the main reason she was plucked from a Midtown bar stool to play local politics by way of calling anyone who disagrees with her a misogynist.



In his final power move, Mr. Peanut funded the political ambitions of Jackson County Exec Frank White. The result has been a clueless jock in charge of a jail crisis that gets worse almost every week. Human rights and law enforcement safety are seemingly ignored because some guy threw a ball around town back in the 80s and found the right benefactor.



Let's get even more real even though we agree with his legacy on this account . . .

Cash from Mr. Peanut killed streetcar expansion. He never cared for the idea of the toy train, didn't like the additional taxes near his properties and helped derail efforts over and over again with a great deal of success.



And while the real estate juggernaut is being praised as a saint today, he was not universally beloved. Remember that former Council Dude Russ Johnson threw a memorable insult Mr. Nutter's way regarding "subprime" mortgages amid frustration about continued rail transit opposition . . .



Fun fact, Russ Johnson has about as good of a chance as Mr. Nutter in his current state at getting elected to any other office and that's party because of loyalty to the Kansas City mortgage kingpin.

And so . . .

MEDIA AND LOCAL POLITICOS ARE LYING WHEN THEY TOUT THE PHILANTHROPY OF JAMES B. NUTTER GIVEN THAT HIS ELECTION ADVENTURES WERE ALWAYS A PART OF PROTECTING HIS INVESTMENTS!!!



Yes, I'm sure that he gave a lot to charity and many other good causes but the legacy of his political activity is nothing more than an enduring example that the loyalty of so many Kansas City elected officials can be purchased easily by way of timely contributions.



Nevertheless, people can't take their power and fortune to the grave. Even the greatest local legacies are forgotten quickly in the age of ephemeral digital content, reporting and life that's as disposable as cheap mobile phones manufactured in the Far East.

There are those who proudly celebrate the life and times of Mr. Peanut along with the golden era of Kansas City politics. There is no question that he was a powerful man who built an empire by way of gaming a corrupt system and so many elected officials who lacked cash and self esteem. But, in the final analysis: Times change, memories fade, properties switch hands and not all houses hold value but often cheapen very much like growing public disregard for the Democratic process.

You decide . . .

Comments

  1. Translation: Frank White might not last his term.

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    1. The gravy train has left the station. Sorry Jackson County. You're on your own.

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    2. The Sly James Project7/9/17, 7:15 AM

      +1

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    3. Welcome to the Tony Botello "I don't know what I'm talking about so here are a bunch of cliches" Festival.

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    4. And while the real estate juggernaut is being praised as a saint today, he was not universally beloved.

      There's three in one sentence!

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  2. When is City Hall downtown constructing a transgender bathroom for my child?

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  3. No more nutter no more libtard funding!!!!!

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  4. 7:42 there is no transgender bathroom for your child?

    WTF!!!

    This must be protested NOW!

    Where is the KANSAS CITY ATHEIST COALITION? Why don't they DO SOMETHING?

    Is all they can do is protest the kids at the International House of Prayer in Grandview passing out bibles?

    How about they protest the MUSLIM outfit in South Kansas City off of James A Reed road.

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  5. Time to drain the swamp

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  6. Gutsy post Tony. Thanks

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  7. Another way to say what is said in this blog entry --When in Rome do as the Romans do. Nutter knew that he just had to DO MORE than the local Romans.
    If you don't do as the romans do or actually out do the Romans they will eat you up and spit you out in the street.

    Remember Nutter won, and he died a winner.

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  8. Tony, I call bullshit on you, my friend.

    First of all, do NOT crawl into the gutter with Hearne Christopher, who ALWAYS criticizes the dead, thinking it is his job to take the departed down a peg--right after they die.

    Lay off for three months, at least. Wait till after the funeral. It's a grave insult to the family for this kind of low social media to occur. My rule is: It's fair game to criticize the living, you and I both do that. But SHOW SOME CLASS, Tony. Your mother and father raised you better. (Just like Hearne's did, in Mission Hills.) You're messing up your karma big time when you can't wait to lob hateballs and call out the anonymous haters--till well after the funeral.

    Second, if you saw the TV5 story last night, you'd see how much Nutter gave to animals and health care and Children's Mercy--none of those were to "build his empire" or protect his real estate. Link THAT!

    Third, if you had ever, ever met him, which you never bothered to do, or if you had ever had a conversation with him about the candidates and issues he supported, you'd know, he did not TELL or ORDER those folks how to vote. Period.

    In fact, that was one of his hallmarks. He was proud of backing the better candidate, and then letting them serve. (Now in the case of Frank White, Frank's failures are all on Frank. Not Nutter. And I can't recall who the opponents were. Nor can your readers, I am guessing. Politics is a case of limited choices, we all know that. Ideal people are not filing for office these days.)

    And finally, Tony, I call you out on your blatant sexism, pretending that Jean Peters Baker was "sitting on Nutter's lap." She had stooped down for the photo of the two of them, because, having lost a leg to diabetes, Nutter was confined to a wheel chair. She was not on his lap.

    For the love of God on this Sunday--I'm asking you to look at the photo, figure out the physics and composition of the photo, and take that back. Have you ever tried to be in a photo with someone in a wheel chair? It's awkward. Especially wanting to not tower over someone. I lived in a wheelchair for 6 months, so I know. You defamed Mean Jean AND Nutter. Disgusting.

    Whether you agree or disagree with someone, eg Baker--don't play that card, especially now, Tony.

    Please do not show up to the funeral--chasing another false headline or insulting the dead--or I will call you out!

    Tracy Thomas

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    1. Did youwork for the man? Did You know how awful he could be to his employees? How little he has payed them, what he expects from them, what an jerk he was to them. He was real good at showing a "good face" to others, but treated his workers like crap.

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  9. Hey, Trace...Fuck off!

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  10. Does a young lawyer who would like to work in the Prosecutors office need political connections?

    I hear there is a lot of politicking in that office and a high turnover.

    Do any commenters actually know the answers to these questions?

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  11. Did Traci Toemas just threaten Tony?

    Did I read that right?

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  12. He had white privilege nothing more

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  13. 9:39--Kinda.
    But it's not a threat, it's a promise.

    I will, of course, attend Jim Nutter's funeral. Tony should not.

    Maybe I'll bring my bullhorn in case my pal, Tony dares to show up to snap cheapshot photos. I do not countenance hate talk of the dead.

    I recall when Ken Hill died--the memorial service was in Ken's back yard, south of the Plaza. I was the singer, appointed by his sister, Charlotte. And the memorial service featured a soapbox, supplied by Lonnie Shalton, former chairman of the Jackson County Democrat party--so Ken's friends could step up on the Pepsi crate to deliver their tributes like they do at famed Speaker's Corner in London.

    We got word that the despicable group from Topeka, led by the fake Reverend Fred Phelps was going to picket the funeral. Shalton has a grand sense of humor, and made political buttons stating, No Fred.

    Tracy Thomas
    Respectful friend of Jim Nutter
    And feminist who doesn't put up with bullshit cheap shots when
    an elected official appears in a photo with a man in a wheelchair

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  14. Grrrr.

    Take it back, Tony. Do what Tracy sez.

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  15. Agree with 10:01.

    Hell hath no fury...

    95 degrees in the shade, Tracy with a bullhorn, Tony with his cellphone...

    Craig Glazer is takin' bets...

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  16. Great post Tracy!!!!

    Jim Nutter was a fine man, who never demanded anything from those he supported, and was never afraid to take on the Chamber swells!!!

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  17. Tracy gwaana' bitch slap yo' ass.

    You be gummin' yo' tacos affer Tracy knock yo' teef' out.

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  18. I agree with Tracy there is a time to expose the soft-underbelly of a political operative. I always think of Keith Whitley's You Say It Best (When You Say Nothing At All) when a public figure I despise passes on.

    I think Tony and Tracy both miss the the historical passing of a local man who was a power player in politics use his own money to influence local politics. The Unintended Consequences of Good Intentions might well explain his legacy.

    Nutter put his money where his mouth was and didn't hide behind some phony PAC which claims to be grass-roots.

    One man's traitor is another man's hero.

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  19. Tony: Have to agree with your article. This worship of the rich is kind of disgusting. Just because someone made a pile of money or was born into wealth, does not make them better than the rest of the poor working slobs. It means they have access to the powerful and can buy influence. I've met some very wealthy people in my life. Most of them are intolerable. Thanks for your honesty.

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  20. Thoughtful comment, 10:25. Wish you would sign your work, even with a nom de Plume.

    Please scroll down to read the original separate post, marking Nutter's passing, posted early Sat. am.

    Come on, Tony.
    It takes little for a man to apologize for an error. Look at the photo of Jean Peters Baker, crouched down for the photographer, not sitting on a generous benefactor's lap. Don't accuse the departed of sins they did not commit. Clean this up, please, my friend.

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  21. I know a few young girls that worked for Mr. Nutter, according to them sexual harassment was just a part of the low paying job. Thanks, Nutter you shit bag mother fucker.

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  22. 9:50 Get over yourself, the man apparently had brains enough and worked hard to build what he had. Just because you black people fell for LBJ's "handouts for votes" doesn't mean you're under privileged.

    So take your bullshit and shove it up your lazy moocher black ass.

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  23. Thoughtful post from TKC.

    He clearly delineates the separation of personal versus business/political interests up-front in the posting, thus informing the reader he's commenting on the big picture effect of this individual's use of money to buy influence.

    I found it to be a fair and informative post.

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  24. What's not being said is that Jim Nutter's integrity offset a number of other powerbrokers over the last fifty or so years who have tried to control KCMO and JaCo who totally lacked integrity and with absolutely no concern for the welfare of ordinary taxpayers. Some have gone. But others remain and are active today. Have to mention the sleazy consultants who enable the hotel builders, airport exploiters, and toy train bunch. Out of respect for Jim Nutter they will not be named.
    RIP, Jim. Thanks.

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  25. Just my opinion and I respect Tracy's take on most everything, but, it seems like, to a "man in the street" reader, a spot on take, salted with the usual smarm and snark.

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  26. Tiny, you're paulruddsdick on Reddit, aren't you?

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  27. I only met Mr Nutter once and that was some years ago out on one of his properties for a blowjob. Was pleasant to me treated me as an equal and paid me pronto so hate to see us lose guys like this in the world.

    Mr. Nutter was a fine example of how had work will get you ahead in this world.

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  28. keep it up, Tony.

    you'll be sued again yet, you keep this up.

    and here we thought you were or might be capable of learning.

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  29. Hnirobertpaulsen and paulruddsdick write like tiny botello

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  30. 3:17 I don't find your attempts at humor funny it only makes you look like the disgusting loser you are. Remember the Nutter family is loaded and has lots of lawyer friends I bet who would like nothing better than to expose a lowlife such as yourself who thinks it's funny to trash their friend. Will look forward to seeing you in court jackass.

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  31. I liked that Nutter gave to a lot of charities. Didn't care for his politics but it was just business. I think that's the story here, just business, not personal.

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  32. Thank you for your class, Tracy. All those criticizing her: go screw yourselves, you're a bunch of ignoramuses.

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  33. Should have put "Trigger Warning" at the beginning of this post.

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  34. Anybody else think Nutter looks kinda like Yoda standing next to Peterless? Of course she kinda looks like ET after bariatric surgery.

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  35. Yeah, Tony, ya gotta play nice and wait a few decades to get realz bout dirty deeds dead dudes done!!! Like Krappy, er, uh Kraske did on "Nice Nigless Neighborhoods" Nichols.

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  36. Some of you realize that nutter gave a LOT to charity. I think that is important that for the rich of KC to realize, he might have had his interests to protect but he GAVE BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY!

    That is a good thing.

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  37. Councilman Johnson was a subprime councilperson.

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