Shout out to Peter Kinder for the bloggers-only conference call today. 

Here's how it went: 

When Editor MOTO finally got the passcodes figured out, there were 11 callers on the call... 

Lt. Gov. Kinder started off by reinforcing the fact that his online campaign was an attempt to not talk at the people, but to have a dialog with the people.

He went on to talk about the online social networks that were being launched to broaden his online presence, and admitted to really not understanding what they were, or how they worked, claiming to not be a 'cutting edge techie" and explaining that that's why he hired David All - "who is a cutting edge techie".  All tells kinder that he is the first statewide campaign to launch a twitter.com account.  (although I don't see the link on Kinder's website). 

Kinder went on to explain how "uncool" he was by telling us that he has an iPod in his Lt. Gov's desk drawer in the capitol, but he has yet to load any music onto it.  He also shared that his website is only a "good start to a two-way conversation" and he plans to launch his own blog soon.  

I'd like to mention that this was all pretty scripted.  The only time he shifted to 'conversational' tone was when he was talking about the iPod - but even then - I felt like they had said "can you prove you are not a tech guy?" - and he planned the story.  So points for being prepared, but I hope he loosens up. 

The Lt. Gov. went on to name-drop some blogs...starting with JohnCombest.com...but then went to laundry list every person who is being paid by a media outlet to blog....the corporate blogs...the ones back by huge media outlets...MOTO jumped in though, and Kinder said he was just about to mention us.  Uh-huh. 

He also mentioned some national blogs, but I didn't recognize them, but I can only assume that they too have endorsed Fred Thompson. 

Mentioned that he has a blackberry and reads the blogs on it.  (Hold on - isn't an iPod easier than a blackberry?)

Then the Lt. Gov went on a long script about how as Pres Pro Tem of the Senate they gained more seats than ever before, and about how difficult the budget was to work with...blah blah blah...even his own staffer cut him off.  Thankfully.

The first question came from...you guessed it:  Editor MOTO!

I asked what his favorite meal was at the Courtesy Diner, where his online ad welcome was filmed - he said a fried egg sandwich and an iced tea.  Here's some inside baseball:  the Lt. Governor prefers iced tea for breakfast instead of coffee.  And it costs about $6.00 at the diner. 

MOTO went on to ask about Kinder's life and family and the Lt. Governor told us that he has a home in Cape Girardeau, an apartment in Jefferson City, and that he spends a lot of time in St. Louis.  He was in Cape today, visiting his mother, who is 81 and broke her hip this Father's Day.  Lt. Gov. Kinder shared that he lost his father seven years ago this month in a traffic accident. 

Then the questions moved to fundraising, and Kinder told us that we can expect an $11,000 payment to David All on the ethics report.  I think that Peter was expecting that question.   He also shared that the bloggers will get an early peek at the Team Kinder report this thursday morning.  He's proud of the number, and it "blasts last quarter". 

When asked about the recent butting of heads with the Governor, Kinder said that this was not a a way to distance himself from an unpopular governor - he could have done that in many other ways.   Wow.  I don't know if that is an albatross I would want to bear. 

Kinder went on to talk about his early political career - Jr High in 1968, Bond in 1970, graduating from Cape Girardeau in 1972 and mentioning making $500 a month driving Jack Danforth around. 

Then we got cut off.  I can only assume that Team Kinder was tracing our call, they got the trace, and they were done with us.  

When we got back on either Ozarks Politics was asking about property tax...it was a good question...but I have not idea what it was about, and I hope they post about it. 

Not wanting to let the Lt. Gov get only softball questions, MOTO asked how much money Paul McKee gave his campaign.  Kinder said about $11,000 and when pressed about the fundraiser McKee hosted on June 25th, Kinder said he had not seen the report (hold on, he told us the report was great earlier?) but that it was only a little fundraiser:  $15,000 to $20,000. 

Feeling that our time was about up the call ended with the promise that we would do it again. 

Thanks again to TeamKinder for letting Editor MOTO join the call.