Branson Missouri Real Politik Part 1 of 3

(The image above is the property of Time Share Guru Larry Milton. It is not the official site of the city of Branson, nor is it the property of the Chamber of Commerce, however, the private company enjoys a special relationship with the tax-funded organization that enables special privileges including input on employment and setting prices on tax-funded websites. They also contract with two members of city council and financed another Branson Alderman's campaign after Milton's failed bid on a mayoral run.)

You've heard of the land of milk and honey - but Branson once had a dominate industry which created institutionalized coke and money. One prominent time share attorney called it the "Wild West Days" of the industry which was far less regulated than it is now after several high profile lawsuits.
Perhaps, the easiest way to view Branson's Time Share / Travel Club industry is a mafia minus the more utilitarian attributes - such as honor, integrity and protecting the community's most vulnerable. These guys were selling air and with a constant influx of senior citizens to rob - business was good.

To this day, the Branson Police Department won't file charges - nor file reports on citizens who feel conned by Time Share Companies or through Time Share Promotion Entities such as Larry Milton's Branson.COM - the largest existing time-share syndicate - making a killing impersonating the Branson Chamber of Commerce.

To this day many unsuspecting tourists think Branson.com and the Branson Tourism Center BransonTourismCenter.com are straight ticket resalers as opposed to Time Share Booking Firms- or their latest con - leading people to believe they're the city itself. And in in sense they are - bilking millions from impersonating the entity and controlling the flow to legitimate psuedo-government entities through seats on committees allocated with the responsibility of managing taxpayer funds.

Recently, another time-share solicitation firm started encroaching on Branson.Con territory opening a sales office just north of the Branson Tourism Center's Time Share Solicitation operation. With the help of the multi-million dollar tax payer funded funded privately controlled Chamber of Commerce they solicited state resources to shut the operation down. To some it looks like a protected racket.

Backing up a few years, Branson.com was in big trouble. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) was swarming on the Time-Share / Travel Club Sales firm.
In the end, a record judgment was issued by Missouri's 38th Circuit.

Milton made his move.

Contrary to Milton and Jeremiah Froyland (Little Milton)'s self issued press releases, Branson.Con wasn't purchased for 1.6 millon dollars. In fact, only a small fraction was actually spent to pay off debts accrued after the Feds shut the Branson.com operation down.
(Note: Gary Groman disputes this one portion of the article)
Running flank for the operation was Gary Groman who had an equity stake in Branson.com. While Groman attacked the Branson Chamber of Commerce on domain issues via the Branson Independent, his former employer, he was communicating with Milton and eventually the family closed a direct deal, all the while Earl Streasak was publishing an investigative piece about Time-Share/Travel Club Fraud - ads for Branson.com running in between the two authors.

Comedy

An unlikely hero eventually emerged. The industry in its form was eventually destroyed by the creation of the Branson Landing. Legislation leading to higher regulation federally, state and locally has decreased Travel Fraud moving off the Top 5 complaints to the Missouri Attorney General's Office many years running.

Locally, the Branson Landing contracted with Westgate Resorts giving them exclusive ticketing rights in sequence with a crackdown on Travel Scams and tightening of solicitation methods time share booking companies could use.


Consider this, all the public discussion and Trash Talk about HCW - constant accusations. Rick Huffman legitimized the industry bringing the city of Branson on board to help the process.

Branson City Council? Meet the new boss, same as the old Boss.

PRESLEY THEATER INC. BRAND FAMILY VALUES
Why Mayor Raeanne Presley criticizes the Branson Landing - she's doing dirt with time-share guru Milton by offering special rates to push theater tickets . Last visible contract rate was a 20% discount.

Consider the sources of what you read and how profitable a piece labled opinion could be to the author that drafted it. After all, everyone needs to feed thier family -right?

Perhaps, when you hear the words Family Values in Branson, it should be rephrased "Time-Share Mafia Family Values" aka "Brumafia " eventually crushed by the building of the Branson Landing.



******
Man is corrupt, each of us, thus we can all speak about corruption with authority. Due to a long lineage of politicians, priests and practitioners of law I feel sufficiently trained to elaborate on the art. Just becuase it's been this way, doesn't mean it always has to be this way.

Rousseau said, "Man is born free, yet everywhere he is in chains" - a result of our own shortcomings and inability to obtain courage to believe positive change can occur.

Branson Missouri Real Politik Part 2 of 3

Branson's Mayor tore out a dozen pages from the Economist and passed me the article linked after the jump.
A Branson area priest stood at the Missouri Republican Convention and after politicians bent their head to pray he declared, "God, I don't know what side you're on, but the Republicans are on your side"

Of course, the pastor failed to mention the first American president to declare himself a Born Again Christian was Democrat Jimmy Carter.

In Taney County US House of Rep. Missouri 8th District Democratic Candidate Joe Allen is vying for pro-life endorsements in hopes to sway the Southwest Missouri religious vote. Allen believes he can gain the Christian Vote with a more stringent stance against Stem Cell Research.

Last month when Missouri Governor Matt Blunt came to town a member of the audience exploded, "Swearing in with the Koran? What's going on here, we're supposed to be a nation under God!". Blunt said, "I don't know anything about that."

Branson Communications director Jerry Adams fielded this phone call from a Branson Resident:

8. Jan 11, '08

Ed Hathcoat,

Wanted to know if homosexuals are trying to take over city like they did in Eureka Springs.

1/14 Informed him city officials were not aware of any activity like this.

But as in international politics, the lines aren't very clear and the most visible aren't always the most shining.

Reporters from across the state have their eyes on Jim Bakker who has setup shop in Blue Eye just a few miles south.

Two books were released this year on the Branson Economy and Religion.

A third book released by blogger Randy Turner reveals a darker side. One chapter involves several highly-visible residents from Branson who invested in an AIDS cure that "wouldn't cure gay people. "God wouldn't allow that", professed the "inventor" before earning a prison sentence for fraud.

In Branson a religious culture has emerged and private organizations have linked hands with government entities to slow drug abuse rates and combat poverty. Two of the most notable are Church Army and Christian Action Ministries (CAM). Both organizations are funded by private and public funds.

Here in the 3rd Richest County in Missouri we also rank 3rd highest among people living in poverty.

(The Photo above was taken from Mayor Raeanne Presley's political library, accessible at city hall. The photo was banned from a British Art Exhibit)

To be Continued.....

Branson Missouri Real Politik Part 3 of 3

Journalism? this is the Media Mafia, the age of the Netizen.
Patrick Summerfield

Back in the early 1990's Democrats weren't receiving the cash flow they needed to make our area important.

Democrat Missouri Governor Bob Holden changed that. On the street in Jefferson City it was rumored Holden desired a seat at the 2002 All-Star Game in Milwaukee.

Enter Rick Huffman, Principal HCW, a Branson based company with a hunger for a $50 million tax rebate to builds a development on Lake Taneycom stretching along the White River's shore front.

Parachutes were removed from Huffman's private jet. Huffman planned it out, allow Missouri's Governor to chill and enjoy the game. Fly him in 1st Class to the Major League All-Star Game to the best seat in the house.

Two hours in, two hours back. Huffman could bet on Holden's life he'd have unfettered face time.

Plenty of time to close a deal.

In the background Huffman had a pep talk to give a few friends on the other side of the aisle. He needed them to increase funding for upcoming elections.

On Monday July 28, 2008 Huffman was asked, "Is this right? , Is campaign finance tied to support?"

Without a flinch, Huffman says,

"I don't think it's right, but I think this has been the way it has always been since the founding of the nation".

I have a campaign finance story to cover and Huffman reflects on a Missouri Ethics Commission violation for not reporting a stamp expense neither attributing it to a Political Action Committee. nor Lou Schaefer the candidate he was backing at the time. "They made me donate $1,000 dollars to a charity of my choice, " informed Huffman.

I'm hot on Rick Davis's trail. I believe a mailer blanketing Branson's District 3 wasn't properly recorded. As a public custodian of fact, if I have knowledge about it, I'm obligated to report it. Unless of course Davis acknowledges me as a priest, doctor or attorney. I know this much, the people that sent the mailer aren't willing to spend time in prison by perjuring themselves in front of a judge and that itself is enough information to pursue the story.

***Personal Bias: I cancelled an invitation to watch football with former Mass. Governor Mitt Romney in Iowa before the Branson Alderman elections like a stood up prom date.

In one sentence I can explain the media mafia to you -

News it's what we say it is

Huffman has chosen his horse in the Missouri Gubernatorial race backing Congressman Kenny Hulshof who has recieved substantial financial support from Branson residents.

Hulsohof's in for a challenge and Huffman's committed to financially supporting the Congressman before and after the primaries next week.

Hear Media Mafia Member MMM © Quote the Wall Street Journal:

Happy happy joy joy for Jay Nixon, Missouri's attorney general and Democratic candidate for governor. Nixon's a terrible public speaker and uninspiring gubernatorial candidate. But in this campaign cycle, all he needs is a pulse to be competitive. Ron Davis's Chatter on Jay Nixon

Elections are Hunting Season. Politicians have to make themselves appear, openly debate. They spend cheddar on our media outlets. They feed our children by making themselves open to scrutiny. In return, we help them communicate their ideas.

Davis, canceled my hunting season last April, but I'm a little more irritated with the Taney County Election Campaign management who delayed my right to vote.

Rule #2 Follow the Money.

Fortunately, we live in a democracy and campaign finance documents helped me follow Rick Davis on the campaign trail.

Unfortunately, since elected, I can always tell how he's going to vote by looking at his campaign contributers view scape ™.

Over the past couple meetings Branson's City Government committed to over $500,00 in payments , it's flowing like water - millions in the works - infrastructure, bond payments , contract fulfillment on NID's, CID's, TIFF's. lawsuits, contract fulfillment and funding special interests such as the multitude of Psuedo Government Entities demanding payment.

Earlier this week Branson City Leaders spent $90,000 to have a consulting firm babysit the cash. When they met to discuss it, no one from the press showed up.

Branson is a Billion Dollar Economy affected my international labor law.

In meetings, Alderman Stephen Marshall has focused discussion to international labor and immigration policies.

Twice an immigrant, Marshall has first-hand experience with the process.In Jamaica, the country of his birth, they have a word for Caucasians without "black native assistants" - Canadians.

Importing labor is part of Marshall's business. The 2008 season provided a low supply of the usual Russian workforce shifting focus to ex-Soviet satellite states - Ukranians and Lithuanian college students are easily identified throughout Branson by their stark blue eyes and blond hair.

In higher supply is the Romanian and Hangarian worker variety. These countries produce women of a harrier lineage contrasting sharply against those from former U.S.S.R. proper.

"Only Mexicans want these jobs", asserted Marshall to the Branson Daily News.

In the Meantime FBI Director Robert Meuller informs me:

"The majority of victims in FBI human trafficking cases are woman and
young girls from Central American and Asian countries. They are
primarily forced into the commercial sex industry and, like the young
teen from Haiti, domestic servitude. Men and boys are typically
victimized in the migrant farming, restaurant, and other
service-related industries. However, there are an increasing number of
young males being forced into the commercial sex industry as well."
Link: FBI Report - Today's Human Trafficking and Slave Trade

To Be Continued.....