August 28, 2025 • 38 mins
Our guest this episode is Dan Schaefer—a progressive political leader, engineer, and former candidate for the Missouri House of Representatives (District 97). His grassroots campaign focused on restoring reproductive rights, defending public education, and protecting the voice of working people.
Looking ahead to 2026, Dan plans to run again—either for State House District 97 or State Senate District 22. Known as a bold advocate for democratic principles, he has consistently spoken out against authoritarian overreach in state politics and efforts to undermine voter-driven initiatives.
Dan brings a rare blend of practical wisdom, policy expertise, and unwavering commitment to people over power. Whether he’s discussing union rights, economic justice, or civil liberties, he speaks with clarity, conviction, and compassion.
He is also the creator of Frontline Progressive, a newsletter spotlighting threats to democracy and uplifting grassroots action. With over 200 interviews from his past podcasting work, Dan continues to bring substance, energy, and insight to every conversation.
This interview was recorded on August 27, 2025.
You can find more about Dan on his website https://www.dan4mo.com/
Dan’s Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dan4mo
You can find Billy Dees links here https://linktr.ee/BillyDees
Looking ahead to 2026, Dan plans to run again—either for State House District 97 or State Senate District 22. Known as a bold advocate for democratic principles, he has consistently spoken out against authoritarian overreach in state politics and efforts to undermine voter-driven initiatives.
Dan brings a rare blend of practical wisdom, policy expertise, and unwavering commitment to people over power. Whether he’s discussing union rights, economic justice, or civil liberties, he speaks with clarity, conviction, and compassion.
He is also the creator of Frontline Progressive, a newsletter spotlighting threats to democracy and uplifting grassroots action. With over 200 interviews from his past podcasting work, Dan continues to bring substance, energy, and insight to every conversation.
This interview was recorded on August 27, 2025.
You can find more about Dan on his website https://www.dan4mo.com/
Dan’s Facebook https://www.facebook.com/dan4mo
You can find Billy Dees links here https://linktr.ee/BillyDees
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
You are listening to the Billy D's podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
All right, well, hello everyone, and welcome to the podcast.
As always, I am absolutely thrilled that you are here.
If you've never checked us out before, we are primarily
an interview and a commentary based podcast. My name is
Billy Dee's on the studio line with me today we
have an interview for you. Dan Schaeffer is with us. Dan,
(00:34):
welcome to the program.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Well, thanks, Billy, thanks for having me here. It's pleasure
to be here.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Awesome, great to have you every once in a while.
I'm actually not a partisan when it comes to politics,
but for whatever reason, we do have a Republican i'll
say leaning audience. And one of the things though they
do say, is I don't have a Democrat on. So
today we're going to take care of that.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
All right, Well, you got the red shirt on, I
got the blue shirt on, So let's go at it.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
That's fantastic. Den is an engineer by trade, and he
did a run at the Missouri House of Representatives before
and now he's doing it again as a Democrat. And
this is for the state. Correct me if I'm wrong, Yes, correct, Okay,
for the state. Let's talk a little bit about this.
(01:30):
You had asked me where I'm from, and before we started,
I'm from Ohio. And one of the I guess A
couple of things that share about Ohio that most people
may not know is, I know, we're known for corn, okay,
because we've got corn here, but we're actually like the
seventh largest economy in the country. Of course, we're behind California, Texas, Florida,
(01:53):
New York and a couple others. We have energy here,
we have technology here, medicine really big here, of course,
the Cleveland Clinic, all those other kind of things, and
so there's a lot happening here, a very vibrant economy,
and it's a very diverse economy too. We just don't
rely on one thing. Vivic Ramaswami is currently trying to
(02:18):
run for governor and that's one of the reasons why
he wants to get the handles on it, because Ohio
is kind of, you know, kind of a powerful state
in that way. So what would you want to share
about Missouri? What is something about Missouri that people just
don't get, they don't understand, you.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Know, I've never been asked that question before. I can
only guess and what we call it the show me State,
which means that we're naturally skeptical about things. Lately, though,
I think we've not been as skeptical as we should
have been, so we can't I don't think we can
brag about that anymore. But Missouri, I just I love
(02:57):
the state. I was born here. I mean, I'm sorry
I was born weren't actually in Milwaukee, but I grew
up in Missouri, and then I spent about thirty years
in California and then I'm back now and there's a
lot of I love California too. I consider it my
second state. But there's a lot Missouri has that I'm
sure Ohio has as well. You have the beautiful that
(03:18):
the changing of the seasons. I missed it when I
was in California. We have too many tornadoes, I mean
that that's that's getting that's kind of a reality. We
got got one really close to here last last last spring.
But the but the yeah, Missouri has done a pretty
good job of conservationism. We've we have a lot of
(03:39):
open areas that has just like pristine forest and you
can go walking through here. It's it's beautiful place to
walk around. We have the Lake of the Ozarks. We
have Branson, of course, down on the southwest part of
the state. Saint Louis is considering the gateway to the West,
which at one point it really was literally was you know,
(04:02):
I really don't know. I mean, there's like a thousand
things that come to my mind when you ask that question,
and I don't know which one is, like number one.
So I would just say it's a great state. I
love it.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Yeah. When you first came across my radar and we
started talking about the podcast running as a Democrat, I
always envisioned it and correct me if I'm wrong that
that's a very conservative area.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Is am I right? Or am I wrong?
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Yeah? It's conservative, but not always conservative Missouri, if I
recall correctly, we went for Obama back in two thousand
and eight. I'm not sure about twenty twelve. The conservatives
have made a concerted effort to take over the House
of the Missouri House and the Senate. But we had
(04:51):
a Democratic governor till about I think it was twenty sixteen.
I think his name was Nixon. It was lightly well.
I moved back in twenty fourteen, but I wasn't paying
that close attention to Missouri politics. But no, I mean
I go out there now. But I'm living in the
northern part of Jefferson County, which is which borders the
southern Saint Louis County area. So there's a lot of
(05:14):
it's a curious mixture here of suburban area mixed with
there's some rule areas in my territory as well, and
there's just a whole lot of Democrats out there. I
think a lot of them are afraid to come out.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
You know.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
I was knocking on doors last year, you know, when
I was running, and they'd say, oh, this is great,
I'm going to vote for you. I'm going to vote
for you. And I said, great, Can I put one
of my signs in your yard? And You're like, no,
I don't want the neighbors to see this. And I'm saying, well,
I talked to your neighbor two doors down and another
one four doors down. They're all Democrats as well. I mean,
(05:52):
come on, this is you know. But there's been this
large intimidation factor that's been taking place, not only in Missouri,
I think it's nation wide as well. And I think
we've had enough of this is this is We're going
to hit back now, and I'm part of that. I'm like,
you know, bring it on. I'll go on to the
conservative radio stations here and I'll go ahead to head
fifteen rounds with these guys anytime. And you know it's
(06:16):
it's just they've they've colored the state red and they're
going to try to color it even more red because
they're going to do like a mid decade redistricting. They're
they're considering doing that at this point. So instead of
being a we have we basically have eight representatives, instead
of it being in a six' to One republican Over,
(06:36):
democrat they want to make it seven to one or
pop maybe even eight to. One and this is misrepresenting
What missouri. Is we're at least forty Percent democrat out
there if you look at the last. Pole So i'm
rambling a, lot so please feel, free it's not on me.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Anytime, Well i'm trying to get engaged for what you're,
about BECAUSE i can tell you the same applies to.
Authors authors a, lot and typically they'll have a whole
laundry list of things that are in the. Book AND
i don't know that people really resonate with. THAT i
think if people can understand what the author is, about
and they like the. Author, generally the past to the
(07:16):
book kind of makes it. Itself, now this is my.
OPINION i do work in. Marketing it's my opinion, though
AND i think a lot of that applies to politicians as.
WELL i don't know if somebody doesn't know who you,
are that they're going to be interested in the whole
laundry list of things as far as what you're pro
and what you're. Against but likability is the, factor you,
(07:38):
know no matter what your opinion of him. Is Ronald
reagan was. Likable Barack obama in two thousand and eight,
likable you, know people figured out what where they were
on the issues. Later so with that being, SAID i
kind of lean to the, right probably a little bit
more than you, do But i'm with you on some,
Things LIKE i do Believe i'm not necess necessarily pro,
(08:01):
abortion if that's such a, Thing but my inclination is
to leave the choice up to the. WOMAN i think
that that's between the woman and the. Doctor do you
took the words right out of my mouth there in
the same, way? Kay do you how do you feel
that's being encroached?
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Upon?
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Well In, Missouri we were the first state in the
nation to make abortion completely illegal right after the reversal
Of roe. V. Wade we had what's called a trigger,
law and the secretary or the the attorney general at that,
time which Is Eric, schmid who's now a SENATOR us,
senator he signed that thing within. Hours and so we've
(08:41):
been completely not giving women any choice at. All AND
i think that that's that's a that's one of the
things that REALLY i think gets under a lot of people's.
Skin you, know we had a a referendum Or i'm,
sorry it was actually an initiative petition which circulated last,
(09:03):
year and we put abortion back into. Play we wrote
it into the, constitution and they still fought. It but
now abortion is legal In missouri because of. That The
republicans are doing everything they can now to reverse that.
Again so we'll see what happens over the next. Election
(09:26):
i'm not sure IF i answered your question there or,
not just if it WAS i on track with that, answer, yes, yes,
YES i believe SO i lose myself rambling sometimes and
what was the?
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Question?
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Now, yeah it's easy to. Do so that's kind of
Where i'm with a lot Of. Democrats i'll tell you
WHERE i part ways a little. Bit i'm a law
and order type, person AND i don't Know i've ever
Heard Gavin newsom or any of these individuals come out
and said simply say crime is bat criminals, bad they
(10:00):
need to be. Punished, well it's never that. Clear there's
always some sort of societal analysis that has to take
place before and preface all these. Things is it really
that hard to say that crime is? Bad that's kind
of my. Opinion where's your stance on? That philosophically, SPEAKING.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
I agree with you one hundred. PERCENT i think it's
a matter of degrees a. Lot i'll give you an example.
Here there's a guy that in my own PODCAST i
interviewed him a couple of. Times his name Is Bobby,
bostik and at sixteen years, old he did something. Stupid
he was a young black kid in Downtown Saint louis
at nighttime and he held someone up at. Gunpoint and
(10:44):
then when he went to, court he was seventeen by
the time he went to court and had his, trial
and he had had his fill of the, system and
so he told off the judge, basically so she put
down the gavel on him and Said, okay you have
like seventeen any, Accounts we're going to make you serve them,
consecutively which puts them in prison until he's like two
(11:05):
hundred and forty six years, old and he'll be eligible
for parole at ABOUT i think one hundred and twenty
or something like.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
That and you, know for.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
A seventeen year old, kid you, KNOW i, say, okay,
yeah he broke the. Law, okay but you KNOW i
tend to look a little bit further into things like
this and say he has to be has to do his,
time no question about. It but, really what happens when
you have a felony went with a gun like? That
what's the normal what's the normal? Sentencing and it turns
(11:40):
out to be, like you, know seven to ten, years
but you know it was In. Missouri it can be,
extremely very. Extreme and what's interesting too About Bobby bostik
is that one of my political, nemesis a guy by
the name Of Nick, schore who is a senator out Of.
St Charles, county very very, conservative very Very, republican he
(12:01):
actually Took Bobby bostik's cause and actually lobbied to have
his sentence either reduced or bring him into or redefine
the laws to lighten his, sentence and he. Didn't he
didn't follow a few of it in the sense that
the legislature was adjourned before anything. Happened but he started
(12:25):
this thing where it continued several years after, that and
Finally Bobby bostik got free at like forty two years.
Old so it's kind of a long, story BUT i
would say, that, YES i agree with. You we're going
To we're probably going to find a lot of agreement
on immigration as. Well but as far as law and order, goes,
(12:45):
yes we have laws for a, reason and it has
to make, society you, know. Safe on the other, hand you,
know we have to also have empathy available to, us
AND i think empathy has just written out of the laws.
Lately where you, know people Say, republicans especially when they
(13:07):
talk About, trump they, say cruelty is the. Point AND i,
say when we get to the point of being cruel
we're no longer serving law and. Order so we have
to we have to take things Like Bobby bostik into.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Account, well that's one of the reasons, why even Though
i'm very conservative on harsh punishments for violence and things like,
That i'm against mandatory sentences only because it ties the
judge hands in those situations that are, exceptions and there's
always going to be an, exception AND i don't like
the judge's hands to be. Tied i'd like to have
(13:39):
the ability for him to send somebody's stiff leaves if so,
necessary but by the same token the mandatory. SENSES i
was never a fan of getting into. Immigration Senator kennedy
FROM i believe he's From louisiana made a real good
analogy THAT i kind of. Thought he said that you
(13:59):
lock yours at night not because you hate everybody that's,
outside but because you don't want to let them in
until you know who they. Are and that is kind
of the common sense approach THAT i feel that Most americans.
HAVE i don't think that Most americans are against legal
(14:20):
immigration or hate people that want to get into this.
COUNTRY i think that most people feel that you should
have a fair shot to get. In AND i also
think that Most americans feel that once you get, in
part of The american dream was to work for your,
dreams not to have a list of. ENTITLEMENTS i think
THAT'S i think that's, reasonable, Okay and what has happened
(14:42):
is you know here again being somewhat of a person
that THAT i feel is. Objective the the The republicans
kind of turn this into, there turning the country into you,
know into a zoo and The marauder. Control and then
you have The democrats and the left to, say, well
that's that's a bunch of you, know your, racist your,
(15:03):
haters your this and that and the other. Thing and
really the truth of the matter is IS i think
most people just want a reasonably kept safe. Border AM
i right or AM i wrong about?
Speaker 3 (15:13):
THAT i one hundred percent agree with. YOU i think
that immigration is one of those issues that's, multifaceted and
each one of these facets has a lot of nuance to.
IT i think that the simple solution That trump reached
for was let's build a. Wall AND i think that
is an incredible waste of. Money was that twenty or
(15:35):
twenty five billion? Dollars, yeah it's it's an incredible waste
of money BECAUSE i can see videos of kids getting
over this wall like in thirty, seconds or they go
out to buy a buy a hack saw and they
can cut right through this, thing and people just come
streaming right the. Wall doesn't slow them down one. Bit
AND i think people know, that and the border patrol knows,
(15:55):
that so they still end up having to patrol those
areas out. There so you, know why don't we take
the twenty billion dollars whatever it is and beef up
our border. Patrol why don't we beef up our judges
so that so we can so we can vet these
people as quick as. Possible and there's one other thing,
(16:15):
too and this is this IS i met catch some
hell over. This but one of the things they Accused
harris of was that she was the borders. Are she
never was the borders. Are but she did something WHICH
i thought was absolutely, necessary and that is get to
the root of the. Problem what's going on In central
(16:36):
And South america that people are streaming up, here and you,
know it ties into the drug. Trade so we've had
this war on drugs for what since Since reagan was?
President how successful has that? Been it hasn't been that
successful as far AS i can. Tell so we have
to take a different approach to. This and you, know
(16:56):
and Again trump's simple answer is let's just send troops
in The. Mexico i'm, like what do you nuts or?
Something you can't do. That it's a sovereign. Nation but
BUT i understand his frustration with this whole. Thing but
the simple answer just makes things a lot. Worse, so you,
know what do You this war on drugs is part
(17:17):
of what's accelerating this process of people wanting to come
up here because because the drug lords are taken, over
the gangs are taken. Over, uh people feel physically. Threatened,
SURE i get, that you, know but what what can
we do As americans as a? Nation what can we
do to help out these countries control their own population
(17:39):
a little. BETTER i don't want to take it as
far As El. SALVATOR i think that's that's, way, way
way too far in the opposite. Direction but there has
to be some solutions out. There. Now i'm running for State.
Rep so you, KNOW i got to keep my mouth
shut IF i start rambling too much about this because
that's really a federal. Issue BUT i just want to
(17:59):
offer a different way of looking at this. Thing when
things are multifaceted and, nuanced the simple solution often makes it,
worse and the wall is something just makes it. Worse
and one other THING i might want to point out,
too is that there IS i think it was nineteen
eighty that was. Passed there was a congressional ACT i
(18:22):
think it's called The Immigration Something, act and they did
this in response to international law that talks about immigrants
or illegal aliens and immigrants coming over the. Border and
the law now reads such that if anybody sets foot
On american, soil they have the right to.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Ask for.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
Asylum they have that. Right and that's why we need more.
Judges if we had a judge that can just see very,
quickly within, days if this person really has a legitimate,
complaint than, fine let them. In other guys turn them.
Back but the way it is right, now the judges
are so overloaded that they basically, say, okay, well we'll
(19:08):
give you the benefit of the doubt and you can
stay here for the next five years and show up for,
trial you, know five years down the. Road, yeah that's
not a, solution. Right so that's that's again as one
of those nuanced facets that we are just not doing anything.
About but AGAIN i gotta shut my.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Mouth.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
Yeah, well one of the one of the reasons Why
i'm asking you some things about general politics here again
is just to get give. People and of course we
have a listenership that's all over the country and around the,
world but most of our listenerships in The United. States
and just to give people an idea where your head,
is let me transition into what kind of a candidate you,
Are i'll ask you. THIS i think one of the
(19:44):
problems that one of my episodes that ended really big
last year was last SPRING i did an episode as
to why and it wasn't. Partisan it was from a
marketing standpoint why The democrats were on the path to
lose the, election and it was one of the biggest.
ONES i had some real big. Names i'm in on,
me but one of the reasons was IS i think
(20:05):
The democrats have relied very much on the last couple
elections on the anti. Vote they relied on it in
twenty twenty, four they relied on in twenty twenty AND
i worked out for him in twenty. Twenty hillary did
the same. Thing she in twenty. Sixteen she relied on
the anti. Vote and here AGAIN i Mentioned Barack, Obama
(20:25):
Bill clinton in nineteen ninety. Two these guys were rock
stars of their. Time there's absolutely new question people voted for,
them and The democrats really haven't had a viable candidate
in a long, time somebody that really got the base.
Excited so with that in, mind you're A. Democrat you're
running for obviously, state but you're running as A. Democrat
(20:46):
when people look at, you what would you what would
you want them to see something that they should vote?
For how would you describe that for? Yourself, WELL i
want TO i want to emphasize several. Things i'm trying
to pick three topics right now that that you, know
speaking of. Marketing, SURE i want to pick three topics
THAT i, emphasize and one of.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Them is is our rights are being. Eroded now this
isn't an anti you, Know republican, thing but it's just
reality In missouri right, here they're consolidating. Power they've taken,
over they've taken, That they've taken over The Saint Louis
Police department and now run it from a centralized place
in our state capitol In Jefferson. City and this is
(21:29):
this IS. UH i can go down a path OF uh.
CAFOs for, example it's concentrated animal feeding operations where these
factory farms BASICALLY uh they've pretty much Ruined, ohio Not, Ohio.
Iowa they Ruined. Iowa there's no there's no good drinking
water In iowa. Anymore it's all polluted with this these.
(21:50):
CAFOs they that the hogs In iowa alone produce more
waste than half THE us population of. Humans so it's
and it's it's untreated and it just you know, what you,
know it gets dumped into the, groundwater so you, know
it becomes part of the. Aquifer and now you can't
you have to drink bottled water everywhere In iowa right
now or have it. Treated so In missouri they've made
(22:16):
it such that these CAFOs are largely. Unregulated the counties
have no more power over. Them so again people are
losing their. Rights property values are going to go, down and.
Such another thing, is you, know the our will has been.
Disregarded oh, gosh well that's kind of an Anti republican.
Thing but we vote for. Things missouri has the initiative petition.
(22:41):
PROCESS i think there's twenty five states in The union
that have that. Process and we can. Change people can
get together and change the, constitution which we've done. Well
we make both statutory and constitutional. Changes and if it's
something that The republicans don't, like they just. Revert that's
(23:01):
just the reality In, missouri AND i think people are
just tired of being. Ignored but another one of my
big pillars here is education that has been under, attack
AND i think that it's It's i'm not going to
pin this one On republicans BECAUSE i think it's it
goes deeper than. THAT i think there's actually Some democrats
that are complicit with this. Education public education has been
(23:23):
completely devalued in this. State AND i know a lot
of people like to pat themselves in the on the,
back breaking their, arms patting themselves in the back for
giving education more, money which the legislature did last time.
Around but the reality is they've not kept up with.
Inflation they're way behind. Inflation so our schools are being
defunded and private schools are being funded with tax payer.
(23:45):
MONEY i explain to exactly how that, works but that's the,
short short answer. There so it's really it's the will
of the. People it's it's our. Rights AND i put
women's rights in that. Too we talked about, abortion And
i'm with you on, abortion and, TOO i to, me it's.
WRONG i don't like using the word abortion because it
focuses on just one, thing but sometimes it is absolutely.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
Needed and.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
If you have doctors that are hesitating to give this
life saving, Procedure i've got a problem with, that you.
Know and so, education paying attention to people's will are
rights of being. Infringed that those are the big. Things,
now as far as you, Know i'm not Anti republican
in the sense That i've made friends with my. OPPONENT
(24:38):
i have his personal cell phone. Number i've used. It
i'll send him a. Text in, FACT i didn't use
it up until about two weeks. AGO i send him
a text message and, say, hey where do you stand
on this possible? Redistricting and he calls me back When
i'm in the gym right And i'm huffing, him puffing,
away and he's talking to me and. Stuff And i've
gone to visit him at the state capitol and he's
spent a couple hours with me and gave me a
(25:00):
tour of the capitol and. Everything so we're really good.
Friends WELL i want to say good, friends we're good.
Acquaintances we definitely respect each. Other he's going to have
an opponent on The republican side this this Next, august
And i've already gone to lunch with that guy as.
WELL i attend a lot of The republican events in
this area as, well BECAUSE i feel, that you, know
(25:24):
we can focus On republican Versus, democrat red shirt versus blue,
shirt you, know we can focus on, that or we
can just focus on what's right for the people Of.
Missouri and the reality is THAT i agree with my
opponent on a lot of, things a lot of THINGS
i think he's doing. Right but there are more things
(25:44):
THAT i disagree with him. On and these are just
these are just political. Disagreements leave it to the. People
i'll put it out there and leave it to the
people to judge how they feel about. It, so, YEAH
i tend you're right about this about uh about on
a national, Level democrats really aren't offering very much except
(26:06):
that they're Not. Republicans and that has frustrated me to
no when BECAUSE i saw it In Joe, BIDEN i saw,
it And HARRIS i saw, it AND i see. It
and there's a guy that ran for ran Against Josh
holly for senator last. Time his name Is Lucas. Koons
every single MAIL i got from, me he would he,
(26:27):
would you, know put mail in my mailbox all the.
Time every single one Had Josh holly's picture on, it
and it was, Like i'm Not Josh. Holly For god's,
sakes what are you? For you, know the guy's pretty.
QUALIFIED i actually spend some time with. Him the guy's pretty.
Qualified but, boy oh, boy you, know to say that
you're not selling that's not something people vote, for you.
(26:48):
Know and AS i mentioned, Before democrats are complicit and
a lot of things that are going on these days,
too AND i think people see right through that and The, Democrats,
uh they they have to get their act. TOGETHER i
like to feel in part of. That i'll stand up
and go fifteen rounds with anybody on the other side
of the, fence but at the end of the, Day
i'll shake their hand and we'll go out and have
(27:09):
a beer.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
Together, sure that's a great. Attitude that is an absolutely great.
Attitude you. KNOW i always kind of remember the quote
From Top. Gun you might not like the guys you're flying.
With they, MEAN i like, You but at the end
of the, day whose side are you? On And, yeah
that's an absolutely fabulous. Attitude so very very glad to hear.
That with all that being, SAID i think one of
(27:32):
the challenges that any candidate has right, now whether They're,
republican with They're, democrat whether they're running for state or
whether they're running on a federal, level is it's very
hard not to what's the What i'm looking for? Here
you're dealing with in an electorate that is very much
in a. Bubble you, know it's not just the. Politicians
(27:54):
you have an electorate now that you are either for
me or you're against. Me they could go down the
laundry list and say something about the you, know for,
example how you feel about women's, rights and right away you're, no, Goat,
okay we're not going to do. It how do you penetrate?
That if you have a nuanced approach and a, realistic
objective approach to analyzing, problems and it takes time to
(28:18):
explain that a lot of, times and people don't have
patience for. That they don't want to hear an explanation
as to why you feel a certain way in a certain.
Subject they just want to hear what they have already
predetermined in their mind is the right way to. Go
how what kind of a how do you how do
you approach? That as someone who's trying to run being
a reasonable.
Speaker 3 (28:37):
Candidate you bring up really good, point and you said
you put some time in the, marketing AND i have
TO i, Know i'm an, engineer BUT i have kind
of a bizarre background in the professional. World SO i
was actually a marketing operations manager for a, while and
which MEANS i didn't know anything about, marketing BUT i
learned a lot by by working with those. Guys one
(28:59):
THING i know about, marketing AND i spent a lot
of time with salespeople. Too one THING i know is
if you've got to explain, yourself you've lost the. Argument so, you,
yeah you do have to come down to very small
phrases to encapsulate what it is you're trying to. Say
WHEN i was in, marketing we used to call it
the Seven deadly. Words anytime we had something we wanted
(29:21):
to put out there in a trade show or, whatever
you got to get it down to like seven words or.
Less and that is a real, challenge you. Know CHAT
gpt makes it a little bit easier because it comes
up with some bizarre, stuff but every once in a
while it's a good. One but you have to do.
That so, yeah it you hate to do that because
(29:41):
then it just becomes your talking points versus their talking,
points you, Know so you have to get in you
have to be able to get into the weeds a little.
Bit but the actual slogans, themselves they have to be,
simple they have to be, accurate and they have to
be who you. Are they have to be a reflection
of who you. Are so it's it's a tough thing to.
(30:04):
Do it's it's but it's the right thing to do
because people are extremely. Busy they've got families to, raise
they got mortgages to, make they got, jobs they got you,
know and they they may put if you're, lucky they
may give you like a minute of their. Time, yes
and you've you've got to hit them with that elevator
pitch and and resonate with them right. Away so, yeah
(30:28):
it's it's. Tough that's the toughest part about, POLITICS i
think is is is trying to condense all your thoughts
like seven. Words it's it's, tough And i'm trying To
i'm not the best at it, yet BUT i keep.
Speaker 1 (30:45):
Trying, yes.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
Let me ask you this as we're kind of winding down,
here do you think social media has helped or has
it hurt the, process the election. CYCLES i think the
election cycles have kind of eroded since the explosion on social.
Media to be honest with, YOU i think the, uh
the initial promise of social media was that you'd have
(31:09):
information free flowing and you wouldn't have to rely on
news organizations that are ratings driven to provide. It but
in actuality it put people in balla in here, again
LIKE i, said in little, bubbles we follow who we,
like we follow who we agree, with and those we
don't we. Block, yeah so how here, again that's another
(31:32):
very hard area to. Penetrate have you thought about that at?
Speaker 3 (31:35):
All, Yeah i've gotten. BACK i, mean look back at
the thirteenth. CENTURY i think it was when the when
the good And gutenberg press was was. Invented that kicked
off a whole series of. Things you, know people would
come up and they'd print pamphlets or, whatever and they
would uh, uh they would they would sway people one
way or. ANOTHER i could be argued that was A
(31:57):
louis the fourteenth and his Wife marian and twin at
this whole thing about let them eat. Cake that was
all just a bunch of bs that people printed up
and use the printing press for that. Purpose social media
puts that in, hyperdrive and you're. Right it creates these
vertical columns where people don't want to get out of
(32:17):
those vertical. Columns they will believe what they want to.
Believe AND i think at the end of the, day
WHAT i find out is that people vote on. Emotion
they don't vote on. Logic and one of the mistakes
that The democrats make is they, think, well if we
give them a better argument and more, logical naturally they'll
just gravitate towards.
Speaker 1 (32:36):
Us.
Speaker 3 (32:37):
Wrong you, know any marketing person with marketing experience should know.
That and my guess is That democrats got taken by
a whole bunch of consultants over that. One that's definitely not.
True so, yeah social media could be. GOOD i think
it's both good and. BAD i use it to try
to figure, out you, know what's going on from both.
(32:58):
Perspectives there's this great website called ground Dot news and
they present both sides and they have they have articles
from from both sides of the. SPECTRUM i Read newsmax almost,
daily not not completely, through BUT i read them almost
daily to see what's going on on that. End and you,
know a lot of times they just reprint stuff FROM
(33:20):
ap so it's pretty. Unbiased but they also have a
lot of biased. Stuff so but most people aren't like.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
That you.
Speaker 3 (33:26):
Know most people are just gonna hear what they want
to hear and wait until they get some sort of pain,
point like maybe they're paying too much taxes or maybe
they can't make their. Mortgage that's, when you, know that's
when you can jump in with a message and, say,
hey when it comes to your, mortgage you know why
houses are so expensive Because Black rock and The State
(33:47):
street and all The, vanguard they're all snatching up all
these houses on you and now bidding. You you, know
that's why the houses is going way. Up, so you,
KNOW i think if you can come at people like
that and, say there is your pain, point here's one
reason why it's, happening and then put my seven words
around that and see if that.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
Works, yes, well you certainly seem like a very interesting
and worthwhile candidate if people are interested in some of
the nuances some of the things that you stand, for
especially specifically regarding what's happening there In. Missouri where can
people find out more about your, website social, media et. Cetera,
(34:28):
yeah the website Is danformo dot. Com THAT'S D A
n the number FOUR, m which Is missouri's Abbreviation danformo dot.
Com and that kind of you could at the very
bottom of the web page you can see like lots
of different jump off.
Speaker 3 (34:43):
Points we can go into a different social media. THINGS
i got TikTok. FACEBOOK i also have a. NEWSLETTER i
challenge myself to write a hundred articles every, day every,
weekday AND i did, it so like one hundred a
articles on my newsletter, site uh one hundred plus now
(35:03):
BECAUSE i keep, writing but not quite as, fervently and that's,
uh that's Called Frontline Progressive Frontline progressive dot. Com and
also you'll find a link to that at the bottom
of my. Website so if you look at all that,
stuff far more information than anybody has time to, read
but at least you can, scan you, know some of
the headlines and the Newsletters i've, written and get a
(35:23):
pretty good idea Where i'm coming.
Speaker 2 (35:25):
From that is, Fantastic, DAN i, really LIKE i, Said
i'm a nonpartisan for the most. Part and obviously you're
in In, Missouri i'm In. Ohio BUT i recognize you
as a reasonable person AND i want reasonable people to,
succeed whether they're blue or whether they're. Red you, KNOW i, think,
(35:46):
uh it's it's kind of a cliche, now BUT i
want common sense to. Win, yeah and you you seem,
yeah JUST i really enjoyed talking to, you And i'm
glad we made, contact And i'm glad you. Can't i'm
on the, program AND i hope you know you can
come on. Again it would be great. To next time
a big news story happens or, something and this is
(36:07):
something you're passionate, about feel free to get a hold
of me and we might do a bit on it likewise.
Speaker 1 (36:14):
Too just reach. Out i'm going to be. Available so, okay,
great that's.
Speaker 2 (36:19):
Fantastic my name Is Billy d's and kind of like
my social media home is on well it's x. Now
at one time it Was twitter At Billy. D's you
can find me there and if you just Search Billy
d's With ability's.
Speaker 1 (36:33):
Podcasts on most social media come right.
Speaker 2 (36:34):
Up.
Speaker 1 (36:35):
Now we are on all the major podcast.
Speaker 2 (36:38):
Platforms as a matter of, fact we've got about a
ten year, history so we're on all the major big podcast.
Platforms very easy to find and subscribing is without any.
Paywalls we do not feed off of our, listeners so to.
Speak we appreciate each and every listen that we. Get
(36:59):
we share a lot of stories on this, program people
that have recovered from trauma and things like, that very moving,
stories and we just don't feel that we want to
create any paywalls that includes extra content things like, That
so no. Paywalls it's free to subscribe To The Billy
D's podcast on your favorite podcast.
Speaker 1 (37:18):
Platform, dan thank you, Again.
Speaker 3 (37:21):
Thanks, BILLY i appreciate.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
It it's, awesome and thanks everyone for, listening and we
will talk to you again very very. Soon I'm Billy
d's and host of the self titled, Podcast The Billy D's.
Podcast we are primarily an interview and a commentary based
podcast featuring authors and creators talking about their, craft advocates
(37:45):
for community, issues and myself in an array of co
host discussing current. Events there's no partisan renting and raving
going on, here just great. Content you can Find The
Billy D's podcast on your favorite platform and On twitter
at The thank, you AND i hope you listen in
You are listening to the Billy D's podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
All right, well, hello everyone, and welcome to the podcast.
As always, I am absolutely thrilled that you are here.
If you've never checked us out before, we are primarily
an interview and a commentary based podcast. My name is
Billy Dee's on the studio line with me today we
have an interview for you. Dan Schaeffer is with us. Dan,
(00:34):
welcome to the program.
Speaker 3 (00:36):
Well, thanks, Billy, thanks for having me here. It's pleasure
to be here.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Awesome, great to have you every once in a while.
I'm actually not a partisan when it comes to politics,
but for whatever reason, we do have a Republican i'll
say leaning audience. And one of the things though they
do say, is I don't have a Democrat on. So
today we're going to take care of that.
Speaker 3 (01:02):
All right, Well, you got the red shirt on, I
got the blue shirt on, So let's go at it.
Speaker 2 (01:08):
That's fantastic. Den is an engineer by trade, and he
did a run at the Missouri House of Representatives before
and now he's doing it again as a Democrat. And
this is for the state. Correct me if I'm wrong, Yes, correct, Okay,
for the state. Let's talk a little bit about this.
(01:30):
You had asked me where I'm from, and before we started,
I'm from Ohio. And one of the I guess A
couple of things that share about Ohio that most people
may not know is, I know, we're known for corn, okay,
because we've got corn here, but we're actually like the
seventh largest economy in the country. Of course, we're behind California, Texas, Florida,
(01:53):
New York and a couple others. We have energy here,
we have technology here, medicine really big here, of course,
the Cleveland Clinic, all those other kind of things, and
so there's a lot happening here, a very vibrant economy,
and it's a very diverse economy too. We just don't
rely on one thing. Vivic Ramaswami is currently trying to
(02:18):
run for governor and that's one of the reasons why
he wants to get the handles on it, because Ohio
is kind of, you know, kind of a powerful state
in that way. So what would you want to share
about Missouri? What is something about Missouri that people just
don't get, they don't understand, you.
Speaker 3 (02:36):
Know, I've never been asked that question before. I can
only guess and what we call it the show me State,
which means that we're naturally skeptical about things. Lately, though,
I think we've not been as skeptical as we should
have been, so we can't I don't think we can
brag about that anymore. But Missouri, I just I love
(02:57):
the state. I was born here. I mean, I'm sorry
I was born weren't actually in Milwaukee, but I grew
up in Missouri, and then I spent about thirty years
in California and then I'm back now and there's a
lot of I love California too. I consider it my
second state. But there's a lot Missouri has that I'm
sure Ohio has as well. You have the beautiful that
(03:18):
the changing of the seasons. I missed it when I
was in California. We have too many tornadoes, I mean
that that's that's getting that's kind of a reality. We
got got one really close to here last last last spring.
But the but the yeah, Missouri has done a pretty
good job of conservationism. We've we have a lot of
(03:39):
open areas that has just like pristine forest and you
can go walking through here. It's it's beautiful place to
walk around. We have the Lake of the Ozarks. We
have Branson, of course, down on the southwest part of
the state. Saint Louis is considering the gateway to the West,
which at one point it really was literally was you know,
(04:02):
I really don't know. I mean, there's like a thousand
things that come to my mind when you ask that question,
and I don't know which one is, like number one.
So I would just say it's a great state. I
love it.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
Yeah. When you first came across my radar and we
started talking about the podcast running as a Democrat, I
always envisioned it and correct me if I'm wrong that
that's a very conservative area.
Speaker 1 (04:26):
Is am I right? Or am I wrong?
Speaker 3 (04:28):
Yeah? It's conservative, but not always conservative Missouri, if I
recall correctly, we went for Obama back in two thousand
and eight. I'm not sure about twenty twelve. The conservatives
have made a concerted effort to take over the House
of the Missouri House and the Senate. But we had
(04:51):
a Democratic governor till about I think it was twenty sixteen.
I think his name was Nixon. It was lightly well.
I moved back in twenty fourteen, but I wasn't paying
that close attention to Missouri politics. But no, I mean
I go out there now. But I'm living in the
northern part of Jefferson County, which is which borders the
southern Saint Louis County area. So there's a lot of
(05:14):
it's a curious mixture here of suburban area mixed with
there's some rule areas in my territory as well, and
there's just a whole lot of Democrats out there. I
think a lot of them are afraid to come out.
Speaker 2 (05:31):
You know.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
I was knocking on doors last year, you know, when
I was running, and they'd say, oh, this is great,
I'm going to vote for you. I'm going to vote
for you. And I said, great, Can I put one
of my signs in your yard? And You're like, no,
I don't want the neighbors to see this. And I'm saying, well,
I talked to your neighbor two doors down and another
one four doors down. They're all Democrats as well. I mean,
(05:52):
come on, this is you know. But there's been this
large intimidation factor that's been taking place, not only in Missouri,
I think it's nation wide as well. And I think
we've had enough of this is this is We're going
to hit back now, and I'm part of that. I'm like,
you know, bring it on. I'll go on to the
conservative radio stations here and I'll go ahead to head
fifteen rounds with these guys anytime. And you know it's
(06:16):
it's just they've they've colored the state red and they're
going to try to color it even more red because
they're going to do like a mid decade redistricting. They're
they're considering doing that at this point. So instead of
being a we have we basically have eight representatives, instead
of it being in a six' to One republican Over,
(06:36):
democrat they want to make it seven to one or
pop maybe even eight to. One and this is misrepresenting
What missouri. Is we're at least forty Percent democrat out
there if you look at the last. Pole So i'm
rambling a, lot so please feel, free it's not on me.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
Anytime, Well i'm trying to get engaged for what you're,
about BECAUSE i can tell you the same applies to.
Authors authors a, lot and typically they'll have a whole
laundry list of things that are in the. Book AND
i don't know that people really resonate with. THAT i
think if people can understand what the author is, about
and they like the. Author, generally the past to the
(07:16):
book kind of makes it. Itself, now this is my.
OPINION i do work in. Marketing it's my opinion, though
AND i think a lot of that applies to politicians as.
WELL i don't know if somebody doesn't know who you,
are that they're going to be interested in the whole
laundry list of things as far as what you're pro
and what you're. Against but likability is the, factor you,
(07:38):
know no matter what your opinion of him. Is Ronald
reagan was. Likable Barack obama in two thousand and eight,
likable you, know people figured out what where they were
on the issues. Later so with that being, SAID i
kind of lean to the, right probably a little bit
more than you, do But i'm with you on some,
Things LIKE i do Believe i'm not necess necessarily pro,
(08:01):
abortion if that's such a, Thing but my inclination is
to leave the choice up to the. WOMAN i think
that that's between the woman and the. Doctor do you
took the words right out of my mouth there in
the same, way? Kay do you how do you feel
that's being encroached?
Speaker 1 (08:16):
Upon?
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Well In, Missouri we were the first state in the
nation to make abortion completely illegal right after the reversal
Of roe. V. Wade we had what's called a trigger,
law and the secretary or the the attorney general at that,
time which Is Eric, schmid who's now a SENATOR us,
senator he signed that thing within. Hours and so we've
(08:41):
been completely not giving women any choice at. All AND
i think that that's that's a that's one of the
things that REALLY i think gets under a lot of people's.
Skin you, know we had a a referendum Or i'm,
sorry it was actually an initiative petition which circulated last,
(09:03):
year and we put abortion back into. Play we wrote
it into the, constitution and they still fought. It but
now abortion is legal In missouri because of. That The
republicans are doing everything they can now to reverse that.
Again so we'll see what happens over the next. Election
(09:26):
i'm not sure IF i answered your question there or,
not just if it WAS i on track with that, answer, yes, yes,
YES i believe SO i lose myself rambling sometimes and
what was the?
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Question?
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Now, yeah it's easy to. Do so that's kind of
Where i'm with a lot Of. Democrats i'll tell you
WHERE i part ways a little. Bit i'm a law
and order type, person AND i don't Know i've ever
Heard Gavin newsom or any of these individuals come out
and said simply say crime is bat criminals, bad they
(10:00):
need to be. Punished, well it's never that. Clear there's
always some sort of societal analysis that has to take
place before and preface all these. Things is it really
that hard to say that crime is? Bad that's kind
of my. Opinion where's your stance on? That philosophically, SPEAKING.
Speaker 3 (10:20):
I agree with you one hundred. PERCENT i think it's
a matter of degrees a. Lot i'll give you an example.
Here there's a guy that in my own PODCAST i
interviewed him a couple of. Times his name Is Bobby,
bostik and at sixteen years, old he did something. Stupid
he was a young black kid in Downtown Saint louis
at nighttime and he held someone up at. Gunpoint and
(10:44):
then when he went to, court he was seventeen by
the time he went to court and had his, trial
and he had had his fill of the, system and
so he told off the judge, basically so she put
down the gavel on him and Said, okay you have
like seventeen any, Accounts we're going to make you serve them,
consecutively which puts them in prison until he's like two
(11:05):
hundred and forty six years, old and he'll be eligible
for parole at ABOUT i think one hundred and twenty
or something like.
Speaker 1 (11:14):
That and you, know for.
Speaker 3 (11:16):
A seventeen year old, kid you, KNOW i, say, okay,
yeah he broke the. Law, okay but you KNOW i
tend to look a little bit further into things like
this and say he has to be has to do his,
time no question about. It but, really what happens when
you have a felony went with a gun like? That
what's the normal what's the normal? Sentencing and it turns
(11:40):
out to be, like you, know seven to ten, years
but you know it was In. Missouri it can be,
extremely very. Extreme and what's interesting too About Bobby bostik
is that one of my political, nemesis a guy by
the name Of Nick, schore who is a senator out Of.
St Charles, county very very, conservative very Very, republican he
(12:01):
actually Took Bobby bostik's cause and actually lobbied to have
his sentence either reduced or bring him into or redefine
the laws to lighten his, sentence and he. Didn't he
didn't follow a few of it in the sense that
the legislature was adjourned before anything. Happened but he started
(12:25):
this thing where it continued several years after, that and
Finally Bobby bostik got free at like forty two years.
Old so it's kind of a long, story BUT i
would say, that, YES i agree with. You we're going
To we're probably going to find a lot of agreement
on immigration as. Well but as far as law and order, goes,
(12:45):
yes we have laws for a, reason and it has
to make, society you, know. Safe on the other, hand you,
know we have to also have empathy available to, us
AND i think empathy has just written out of the laws.
Lately where you, know people Say, republicans especially when they
(13:07):
talk About, trump they, say cruelty is the. Point AND i,
say when we get to the point of being cruel
we're no longer serving law and. Order so we have
to we have to take things Like Bobby bostik into.
Speaker 2 (13:19):
Account, well that's one of the reasons, why even Though
i'm very conservative on harsh punishments for violence and things like,
That i'm against mandatory sentences only because it ties the
judge hands in those situations that are, exceptions and there's
always going to be an, exception AND i don't like
the judge's hands to be. Tied i'd like to have
(13:39):
the ability for him to send somebody's stiff leaves if so,
necessary but by the same token the mandatory. SENSES i
was never a fan of getting into. Immigration Senator kennedy
FROM i believe he's From louisiana made a real good
analogy THAT i kind of. Thought he said that you
(13:59):
lock yours at night not because you hate everybody that's,
outside but because you don't want to let them in
until you know who they. Are and that is kind
of the common sense approach THAT i feel that Most americans.
HAVE i don't think that Most americans are against legal
(14:20):
immigration or hate people that want to get into this.
COUNTRY i think that most people feel that you should
have a fair shot to get. In AND i also
think that Most americans feel that once you get, in
part of The american dream was to work for your,
dreams not to have a list of. ENTITLEMENTS i think
THAT'S i think that's, reasonable, Okay and what has happened
(14:42):
is you know here again being somewhat of a person
that THAT i feel is. Objective the the The republicans
kind of turn this into, there turning the country into you,
know into a zoo and The marauder. Control and then
you have The democrats and the left to, say, well
that's that's a bunch of you, know your, racist your,
(15:03):
haters your this and that and the other. Thing and
really the truth of the matter is IS i think
most people just want a reasonably kept safe. Border AM
i right or AM i wrong about?
Speaker 3 (15:13):
THAT i one hundred percent agree with. YOU i think
that immigration is one of those issues that's, multifaceted and
each one of these facets has a lot of nuance to.
IT i think that the simple solution That trump reached
for was let's build a. Wall AND i think that
is an incredible waste of. Money was that twenty or
(15:35):
twenty five billion? Dollars, yeah it's it's an incredible waste
of money BECAUSE i can see videos of kids getting
over this wall like in thirty, seconds or they go
out to buy a buy a hack saw and they
can cut right through this, thing and people just come
streaming right the. Wall doesn't slow them down one. Bit
AND i think people know, that and the border patrol knows,
(15:55):
that so they still end up having to patrol those
areas out. There so you, know why don't we take
the twenty billion dollars whatever it is and beef up
our border. Patrol why don't we beef up our judges
so that so we can so we can vet these
people as quick as. Possible and there's one other thing,
(16:15):
too and this is this IS i met catch some
hell over. This but one of the things they Accused
harris of was that she was the borders. Are she
never was the borders. Are but she did something WHICH
i thought was absolutely, necessary and that is get to
the root of the. Problem what's going on In central
(16:36):
And South america that people are streaming up, here and you,
know it ties into the drug. Trade so we've had
this war on drugs for what since Since reagan was?
President how successful has that? Been it hasn't been that
successful as far AS i can. Tell so we have
to take a different approach to. This and you, know
(16:56):
and Again trump's simple answer is let's just send troops
in The. Mexico i'm, like what do you nuts or?
Something you can't do. That it's a sovereign. Nation but
BUT i understand his frustration with this whole. Thing but
the simple answer just makes things a lot. Worse, so you,
know what do You this war on drugs is part
(17:17):
of what's accelerating this process of people wanting to come
up here because because the drug lords are taken, over
the gangs are taken. Over, uh people feel physically. Threatened,
SURE i get, that you, know but what what can
we do As americans as a? Nation what can we
do to help out these countries control their own population
(17:39):
a little. BETTER i don't want to take it as
far As El. SALVATOR i think that's that's, way, way
way too far in the opposite. Direction but there has
to be some solutions out. There. Now i'm running for State.
Rep so you, KNOW i got to keep my mouth
shut IF i start rambling too much about this because
that's really a federal. Issue BUT i just want to
(17:59):
offer a different way of looking at this. Thing when
things are multifaceted and, nuanced the simple solution often makes it,
worse and the wall is something just makes it. Worse
and one other THING i might want to point out,
too is that there IS i think it was nineteen
eighty that was. Passed there was a congressional ACT i
(18:22):
think it's called The Immigration Something, act and they did
this in response to international law that talks about immigrants
or illegal aliens and immigrants coming over the. Border and
the law now reads such that if anybody sets foot
On american, soil they have the right to.
Speaker 1 (18:45):
Ask for.
Speaker 3 (18:45):
Asylum they have that. Right and that's why we need more.
Judges if we had a judge that can just see very,
quickly within, days if this person really has a legitimate,
complaint than, fine let them. In other guys turn them.
Back but the way it is right, now the judges
are so overloaded that they basically, say, okay, well we'll
(19:08):
give you the benefit of the doubt and you can
stay here for the next five years and show up for,
trial you, know five years down the. Road, yeah that's
not a, solution. Right so that's that's again as one
of those nuanced facets that we are just not doing anything.
About but AGAIN i gotta shut my.
Speaker 1 (19:22):
Mouth.
Speaker 2 (19:23):
Yeah, well one of the one of the reasons Why
i'm asking you some things about general politics here again
is just to get give. People and of course we
have a listenership that's all over the country and around the,
world but most of our listenerships in The United. States
and just to give people an idea where your head,
is let me transition into what kind of a candidate you,
Are i'll ask you. THIS i think one of the
(19:44):
problems that one of my episodes that ended really big
last year was last SPRING i did an episode as
to why and it wasn't. Partisan it was from a
marketing standpoint why The democrats were on the path to
lose the, election and it was one of the biggest.
ONES i had some real big. Names i'm in on,
me but one of the reasons was IS i think
(20:05):
The democrats have relied very much on the last couple
elections on the anti. Vote they relied on it in
twenty twenty, four they relied on in twenty twenty AND
i worked out for him in twenty. Twenty hillary did
the same. Thing she in twenty. Sixteen she relied on
the anti. Vote and here AGAIN i Mentioned Barack, Obama
(20:25):
Bill clinton in nineteen ninety. Two these guys were rock
stars of their. Time there's absolutely new question people voted for,
them and The democrats really haven't had a viable candidate
in a long, time somebody that really got the base.
Excited so with that in, mind you're A. Democrat you're
running for obviously, state but you're running as A. Democrat
(20:46):
when people look at, you what would you what would
you want them to see something that they should vote?
For how would you describe that for? Yourself, WELL i
want TO i want to emphasize several. Things i'm trying
to pick three topics right now that that you, know
speaking of. Marketing, SURE i want to pick three topics
THAT i, emphasize and one of.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
Them is is our rights are being. Eroded now this
isn't an anti you, Know republican, thing but it's just
reality In missouri right, here they're consolidating. Power they've taken,
over they've taken, That they've taken over The Saint Louis
Police department and now run it from a centralized place
in our state capitol In Jefferson. City and this is
(21:29):
this IS. UH i can go down a path OF uh.
CAFOs for, example it's concentrated animal feeding operations where these
factory farms BASICALLY uh they've pretty much Ruined, ohio Not, Ohio.
Iowa they Ruined. Iowa there's no there's no good drinking
water In iowa. Anymore it's all polluted with this these.
(21:50):
CAFOs they that the hogs In iowa alone produce more
waste than half THE us population of. Humans so it's
and it's it's untreated and it just you know, what you,
know it gets dumped into the, groundwater so you, know
it becomes part of the. Aquifer and now you can't
you have to drink bottled water everywhere In iowa right
now or have it. Treated so In missouri they've made
(22:16):
it such that these CAFOs are largely. Unregulated the counties
have no more power over. Them so again people are
losing their. Rights property values are going to go, down and.
Such another thing, is you, know the our will has been.
Disregarded oh, gosh well that's kind of an Anti republican.
Thing but we vote for. Things missouri has the initiative petition.
(22:41):
PROCESS i think there's twenty five states in The union
that have that. Process and we can. Change people can
get together and change the, constitution which we've done. Well
we make both statutory and constitutional. Changes and if it's
something that The republicans don't, like they just. Revert that's
(23:01):
just the reality In, missouri AND i think people are
just tired of being. Ignored but another one of my
big pillars here is education that has been under, attack
AND i think that it's It's i'm not going to
pin this one On republicans BECAUSE i think it's it
goes deeper than. THAT i think there's actually Some democrats
that are complicit with this. Education public education has been
(23:23):
completely devalued in this. State AND i know a lot
of people like to pat themselves in the on the,
back breaking their, arms patting themselves in the back for
giving education more, money which the legislature did last time.
Around but the reality is they've not kept up with.
Inflation they're way behind. Inflation so our schools are being
defunded and private schools are being funded with tax payer.
(23:45):
MONEY i explain to exactly how that, works but that's the,
short short answer. There so it's really it's the will
of the. People it's it's our. Rights AND i put
women's rights in that. Too we talked about, abortion And
i'm with you on, abortion and, TOO i to, me it's.
WRONG i don't like using the word abortion because it
focuses on just one, thing but sometimes it is absolutely.
Speaker 1 (24:09):
Needed and.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
If you have doctors that are hesitating to give this
life saving, Procedure i've got a problem with, that you.
Know and so, education paying attention to people's will are
rights of being. Infringed that those are the big. Things,
now as far as you, Know i'm not Anti republican
in the sense That i've made friends with my. OPPONENT
(24:38):
i have his personal cell phone. Number i've used. It
i'll send him a. Text in, FACT i didn't use
it up until about two weeks. AGO i send him
a text message and, say, hey where do you stand
on this possible? Redistricting and he calls me back When
i'm in the gym right And i'm huffing, him puffing,
away and he's talking to me and. Stuff And i've
gone to visit him at the state capitol and he's
spent a couple hours with me and gave me a
(25:00):
tour of the capitol and. Everything so we're really good.
Friends WELL i want to say good, friends we're good.
Acquaintances we definitely respect each. Other he's going to have
an opponent on The republican side this this Next, august
And i've already gone to lunch with that guy as.
WELL i attend a lot of The republican events in
this area as, well BECAUSE i feel, that you, know
(25:24):
we can focus On republican Versus, democrat red shirt versus blue,
shirt you, know we can focus on, that or we
can just focus on what's right for the people Of.
Missouri and the reality is THAT i agree with my
opponent on a lot of, things a lot of THINGS
i think he's doing. Right but there are more things
(25:44):
THAT i disagree with him. On and these are just
these are just political. Disagreements leave it to the. People
i'll put it out there and leave it to the
people to judge how they feel about. It, so, YEAH
i tend you're right about this about uh about on
a national, Level democrats really aren't offering very much except
(26:06):
that they're Not. Republicans and that has frustrated me to
no when BECAUSE i saw it In Joe, BIDEN i saw,
it And HARRIS i saw, it AND i see. It
and there's a guy that ran for ran Against Josh
holly for senator last. Time his name Is Lucas. Koons
every single MAIL i got from, me he would he,
(26:27):
would you, know put mail in my mailbox all the.
Time every single one Had Josh holly's picture on, it
and it was, Like i'm Not Josh. Holly For god's,
sakes what are you? For you, know the guy's pretty.
QUALIFIED i actually spend some time with. Him the guy's pretty.
Qualified but, boy oh, boy you, know to say that
you're not selling that's not something people vote, for you.
(26:48):
Know and AS i mentioned, Before democrats are complicit and
a lot of things that are going on these days,
too AND i think people see right through that and The, Democrats,
uh they they have to get their act. TOGETHER i
like to feel in part of. That i'll stand up
and go fifteen rounds with anybody on the other side
of the, fence but at the end of the, Day
i'll shake their hand and we'll go out and have
(27:09):
a beer.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
Together, sure that's a great. Attitude that is an absolutely great.
Attitude you. KNOW i always kind of remember the quote
From Top. Gun you might not like the guys you're flying.
With they, MEAN i like, You but at the end
of the, day whose side are you? On And, yeah
that's an absolutely fabulous. Attitude so very very glad to hear.
That with all that being, SAID i think one of
(27:32):
the challenges that any candidate has right, now whether They're,
republican with They're, democrat whether they're running for state or
whether they're running on a federal, level is it's very
hard not to what's the What i'm looking for? Here
you're dealing with in an electorate that is very much
in a. Bubble you, know it's not just the. Politicians
(27:54):
you have an electorate now that you are either for
me or you're against. Me they could go down the
laundry list and say something about the you, know for,
example how you feel about women's, rights and right away you're, no, Goat,
okay we're not going to do. It how do you penetrate?
That if you have a nuanced approach and a, realistic
objective approach to analyzing, problems and it takes time to
(28:18):
explain that a lot of, times and people don't have
patience for. That they don't want to hear an explanation
as to why you feel a certain way in a certain.
Subject they just want to hear what they have already
predetermined in their mind is the right way to. Go
how what kind of a how do you how do
you approach? That as someone who's trying to run being
a reasonable.
Speaker 3 (28:37):
Candidate you bring up really good, point and you said
you put some time in the, marketing AND i have
TO i, Know i'm an, engineer BUT i have kind
of a bizarre background in the professional. World SO i
was actually a marketing operations manager for a, while and
which MEANS i didn't know anything about, marketing BUT i
learned a lot by by working with those. Guys one
(28:59):
THING i know about, marketing AND i spent a lot
of time with salespeople. Too one THING i know is
if you've got to explain, yourself you've lost the. Argument so, you,
yeah you do have to come down to very small
phrases to encapsulate what it is you're trying to. Say
WHEN i was in, marketing we used to call it
the Seven deadly. Words anytime we had something we wanted
(29:21):
to put out there in a trade show or, whatever
you got to get it down to like seven words or.
Less and that is a real, challenge you. Know CHAT
gpt makes it a little bit easier because it comes
up with some bizarre, stuff but every once in a
while it's a good. One but you have to do.
That so, yeah it you hate to do that because
(29:41):
then it just becomes your talking points versus their talking,
points you, Know so you have to get in you
have to be able to get into the weeds a little.
Bit but the actual slogans, themselves they have to be,
simple they have to be, accurate and they have to
be who you. Are they have to be a reflection
of who you. Are so it's it's a tough thing to.
(30:04):
Do it's it's but it's the right thing to do
because people are extremely. Busy they've got families to, raise
they got mortgages to, make they got, jobs they got you,
know and they they may put if you're, lucky they
may give you like a minute of their. Time, yes
and you've you've got to hit them with that elevator
pitch and and resonate with them right. Away so, yeah
(30:28):
it's it's. Tough that's the toughest part about, POLITICS i
think is is is trying to condense all your thoughts
like seven. Words it's it's, tough And i'm trying To
i'm not the best at it, yet BUT i keep.
Speaker 1 (30:45):
Trying, yes.
Speaker 2 (30:48):
Let me ask you this as we're kind of winding down,
here do you think social media has helped or has
it hurt the, process the election. CYCLES i think the
election cycles have kind of eroded since the explosion on social.
Media to be honest with, YOU i think the, uh
the initial promise of social media was that you'd have
(31:09):
information free flowing and you wouldn't have to rely on
news organizations that are ratings driven to provide. It but
in actuality it put people in balla in here, again
LIKE i, said in little, bubbles we follow who we,
like we follow who we agree, with and those we
don't we. Block, yeah so how here, again that's another
(31:32):
very hard area to. Penetrate have you thought about that at?
Speaker 3 (31:35):
All, Yeah i've gotten. BACK i, mean look back at
the thirteenth. CENTURY i think it was when the when
the good And gutenberg press was was. Invented that kicked
off a whole series of. Things you, know people would
come up and they'd print pamphlets or, whatever and they
would uh, uh they would they would sway people one
way or. ANOTHER i could be argued that was A
(31:57):
louis the fourteenth and his Wife marian and twin at
this whole thing about let them eat. Cake that was
all just a bunch of bs that people printed up
and use the printing press for that. Purpose social media
puts that in, hyperdrive and you're. Right it creates these
vertical columns where people don't want to get out of
(32:17):
those vertical. Columns they will believe what they want to.
Believe AND i think at the end of the, day
WHAT i find out is that people vote on. Emotion
they don't vote on. Logic and one of the mistakes
that The democrats make is they, think, well if we
give them a better argument and more, logical naturally they'll
just gravitate towards.
Speaker 1 (32:36):
Us.
Speaker 3 (32:37):
Wrong you, know any marketing person with marketing experience should know.
That and my guess is That democrats got taken by
a whole bunch of consultants over that. One that's definitely not.
True so, yeah social media could be. GOOD i think
it's both good and. BAD i use it to try
to figure, out you, know what's going on from both.
(32:58):
Perspectives there's this great website called ground Dot news and
they present both sides and they have they have articles
from from both sides of the. SPECTRUM i Read newsmax almost,
daily not not completely, through BUT i read them almost
daily to see what's going on on that. End and you,
know a lot of times they just reprint stuff FROM
(33:20):
ap so it's pretty. Unbiased but they also have a
lot of biased. Stuff so but most people aren't like.
Speaker 1 (33:26):
That you.
Speaker 3 (33:26):
Know most people are just gonna hear what they want
to hear and wait until they get some sort of pain,
point like maybe they're paying too much taxes or maybe
they can't make their. Mortgage that's, when you, know that's
when you can jump in with a message and, say,
hey when it comes to your, mortgage you know why
houses are so expensive Because Black rock and The State
(33:47):
street and all The, vanguard they're all snatching up all
these houses on you and now bidding. You you, know
that's why the houses is going way. Up, so you,
KNOW i think if you can come at people like
that and, say there is your pain, point here's one
reason why it's, happening and then put my seven words
around that and see if that.
Speaker 2 (34:05):
Works, yes, well you certainly seem like a very interesting
and worthwhile candidate if people are interested in some of
the nuances some of the things that you stand, for
especially specifically regarding what's happening there In. Missouri where can
people find out more about your, website social, media et. Cetera,
(34:28):
yeah the website Is danformo dot. Com THAT'S D A
n the number FOUR, m which Is missouri's Abbreviation danformo dot.
Com and that kind of you could at the very
bottom of the web page you can see like lots
of different jump off.
Speaker 3 (34:43):
Points we can go into a different social media. THINGS
i got TikTok. FACEBOOK i also have a. NEWSLETTER i
challenge myself to write a hundred articles every, day every,
weekday AND i did, it so like one hundred a
articles on my newsletter, site uh one hundred plus now
(35:03):
BECAUSE i keep, writing but not quite as, fervently and that's,
uh that's Called Frontline Progressive Frontline progressive dot. Com and
also you'll find a link to that at the bottom
of my. Website so if you look at all that,
stuff far more information than anybody has time to, read
but at least you can, scan you, know some of
the headlines and the Newsletters i've, written and get a
(35:23):
pretty good idea Where i'm coming.
Speaker 2 (35:25):
From that is, Fantastic, DAN i, really LIKE i, Said
i'm a nonpartisan for the most. Part and obviously you're
in In, Missouri i'm In. Ohio BUT i recognize you
as a reasonable person AND i want reasonable people to,
succeed whether they're blue or whether they're. Red you, KNOW i, think,
(35:46):
uh it's it's kind of a cliche, now BUT i
want common sense to. Win, yeah and you you seem,
yeah JUST i really enjoyed talking to, you And i'm
glad we made, contact And i'm glad you. Can't i'm
on the, program AND i hope you know you can
come on. Again it would be great. To next time
a big news story happens or, something and this is
(36:07):
something you're passionate, about feel free to get a hold
of me and we might do a bit on it likewise.
Speaker 1 (36:14):
Too just reach. Out i'm going to be. Available so, okay,
great that's.
Speaker 2 (36:19):
Fantastic my name Is Billy d's and kind of like
my social media home is on well it's x. Now
at one time it Was twitter At Billy. D's you
can find me there and if you just Search Billy
d's With ability's.
Speaker 1 (36:33):
Podcasts on most social media come right.
Speaker 2 (36:34):
Up.
Speaker 1 (36:35):
Now we are on all the major podcast.
Speaker 2 (36:38):
Platforms as a matter of, fact we've got about a
ten year, history so we're on all the major big podcast.
Platforms very easy to find and subscribing is without any.
Paywalls we do not feed off of our, listeners so to.
Speak we appreciate each and every listen that we. Get
(36:59):
we share a lot of stories on this, program people
that have recovered from trauma and things like, that very moving,
stories and we just don't feel that we want to
create any paywalls that includes extra content things like, That
so no. Paywalls it's free to subscribe To The Billy
D's podcast on your favorite podcast.
Speaker 1 (37:18):
Platform, dan thank you, Again.
Speaker 3 (37:21):
Thanks, BILLY i appreciate.
Speaker 2 (37:23):
It it's, awesome and thanks everyone for, listening and we
will talk to you again very very. Soon I'm Billy
d's and host of the self titled, Podcast The Billy D's.
Podcast we are primarily an interview and a commentary based
podcast featuring authors and creators talking about their, craft advocates
(37:45):
for community, issues and myself in an array of co
host discussing current. Events there's no partisan renting and raving
going on, here just great. Content you can Find The
Billy D's podcast on your favorite platform and On twitter
at The thank, you AND i hope you listen in
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