A new poll shows that while the Marriage Amendment has more support than opposition, it would fail.

Of the 542 respondents registered to vote, 47 percent said they would vote for the amendment and 39 percent said they would vote against it. Ten percent of respondents said they would not vote and 4 percent said they were unsure.

Leaving the ballot blank counts as a no vote. (Source) – Emphasis mine.

Since 1900, the constitution has required the approval of a majority of those voting at the election—not just a majority of those voting on the amendment question—to ratify the amendment. Thus, if a person votes at the election, failure to vote on an amendment is the equivalent of a “no” vote. A notice to this effect is printed on the ballot. Historically, it has taken roughly a 60 percent “yes” vote to pass an amendment.

This may not be the slam dunk the proponents said it would be.

Sidenote to Jack & Ben:

Constitutional amendment ballot questions appear on the ballot just after the listing of state offices, before the listing of county offices.

This message is for the MN media and press corps. Avoid the Drudge Report right now. There are stories about how the Democrat convention and how its being designed to accommodate the ultra rich 1% that Democrats claim only the Republicans cave to. In fact, just to be safe, why don’t you avoid the internet and twitter entirely, just for (wink) plausible deniability.

I will try to let you know when its safe to return to the internets. Its just not safe to risk having you feel compelled to expose the truth about the Democrats and how they see the poor and middle class as useful idiots.

Unbelievable. On my drive in this morning, I have already heard the onslaught of Republican pathetic-ness begin. Yep, for some reason having less than the same turnout as the year when you broke the record for turnout proves Republicans suck and Obama is God or something.

Meanwhile, we still don’t know if the Democrats matched their 214,000 person turnout for their Caucuses. Yep, they got 214,000 people to show up and vote last time, but refuse to release their attendance numbers. Why? Because the Republicans probably had more people show up at their Caucus than the DFL.

Of course I don’t know that. The DFL and their lynchmob asshats online are lashing out at the Republicans and calling people like me names for daring to ask what their turnout was. Because their only chance in defending the disaster that President Obama and his fundamental transformation of America (Read: The DFL agenda) is to make people hate Republicans.

You need a little bit of chaos to get the people to surrender their freedom and property for the collective. They don’t want to talk about how their turnout dropped exponentially and that people who voted for Obama in 2008 are now working to defeat him.

Nope for them, the fact that the MNGOP did not break a new record for precinct caucus attendance is somehow proof that Dayton, Obama, Klobuchar, and DFLers in the Legislator are going to clean up at the polls in November.

But we don’t know how many people attended the DFL caucus. They refuse to admit that they have low enthusiasm and their election machine is not genuine grassroots activism, but rather astroturf and paid for.

So unless the DFL releases their numbers and show at least half as many people as they had in 2008, I expect the media in Minnesota to stop regurgitating DFL talking points and report the truth for once in their lives. The DFL is the one pushing an agenda that people don’t like.

Oh and BTW: Mark Dayton shut down the state because he didn’t bother to read the last offer from the GOP in the Legislature. You want to know why the public has low approval of the Legislature? ITS BECAUSE YOU LIE ABOUT WHAT REALLY HAPPENED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So what is it DFL? Are you brave enough to release your attendance numbers? I know your lynchmob is trying to deflect that you had no contested election and such, but in CD8, a supposed DFL stronghold that is on the national radar to destroy the GOP who knocked off Oberstar, you only had 3190 people vote in the CD8 straw poll. 

I find it hard to believe that CD8 would have the lowest turnout of all your CDs.

Come on DFL, just admit that the MNGOP out drew people to Caucus despite being flat broke and having 2 major scandals unleashed internally. (Debt & affair) We literally were left adrift at sea when our former Chair just quit and went into hiding and left us with no money to advertise for Caucuses, and we still out drew the mighty DFL.

There’s a reason that the media is pushing so hard into demonizing the GOP, its because the DFL is in serious trouble, the public rejects their agenda, so we have to destroy the GOP. (As in use the Alinksky tactics or Chicago way)

Here’s the results from the MN SOS. (with 93.4% reporting)

PRESIDENT Republican
	Candidate	Totals	Pct	Graph
	NEWT GINGRICH	5134	10.73
	RON PAUL	13030	27.24
	MITT ROMNEY	8096	16.92
	RICK SANTORUM	21436	44.81
	WRITE-IN	140	00.29

That’s almost 48,000 votes. In 2008 the total was 62,828. So turnout was down slightly, but not bad considering there is a coronation by Democrats and far FAR less media coverage of what is really at stake.

Rick Santorum proved that by focusing on organization and mobilization, you can win the non-binding Minnesota Republican Precinct Caucus straw poll. Mitt Romney & Newt Gingrich also proved the importance of it. Their decision to mail it in here may have saved resources for more important states, they didn’t win any friends here. Ron Paul, well, his organizing took a step back from 2008, but he held his own and I think he hit the high water mark in a 4 man race.

As I have said repeatedly, the great candidates I’d be happy to endorse and support are no longer in this race. We’re stuck with 4 flawed candidates. Here’s some random thoughts on each.

Romney: The narrative from the Santorum people (AND THE CANDIDATE HIMSELF) last night is that he is just as bad as Obama and/or a Mormon so we can’t have him as our candidate. Of course this is the view through rose colored glasses. this works with people who are not fully aware of the full records of each candidate and with those who can easily be swayed by their faith. For some reason bigotry is alive and well with some. It really bothers me. We are supposed to be better than this and it really makes me hard to look forward to “unity” when bigotry is used to win. Despite my dislike of his tenure as Massachusetts Governor, I believe he still has the best skills to get elected and become the President that undos the bureaucratic mess created in Washington over the last 25 years. (Who helped create that mess as members of Congress? Oh yeah, the other 3 candidates.) Our economy is in big trouble and I think Romney has the best chance at knowing what it needs. Platitudes and stump speeches are nice, but practical experience get’s far more accomplished.

Gingrich: A lot of the people participating weren’t alive or politically aware of what Speaker Gingrich was doing 20 years ago and the guy they see is a mudslinger. His strength in gravitas and debate performance gives some of us the impression of arrogance and stubbornness to admit that maybe, just maybe, he didn’t invent sliced bread and the wheel. He’s tied for 3rd on my list.

Paul: Love most of his fiscal and domestic policy, not all, but I can live with him on that, but his foreign policy is, well, unrealistic. It plays well with some, but the reality is the world is filled with evil people will to do evil things. I agree we can’t afford to continue to police the world, but we can’t hold out hope that diplomatic relations will keep Americans safe from terror attacks. That while on our soil we are going to prohibit intelligence and measures to prevent attacks. Its a complicated mess, but I don’t think we’re going to solve this debate before November. He’s stuck at number 2 for me.

Santorum: I’m sorry, I still fear going out door knocking or making a phone call to an undecided voter in October and having the person ask if I think my wife should be barefoot, pregnant, and in the kitchen or worse if a local candidate is painted with hat brush in the same way that in 2008, once McCain joined Operation TARP and Bailout, Republican State Legislative candidates got calls to come take down their lawn signs. While I don’t hold it against anyone for having strong faith, I do wonder how a social conservatism has somehow taken a role in the Tea Party. Taxed Enough Already. Not to say social issues don’t matter to me, but fiscal ones are my 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. Santorum’s record in the Senate would surprise many if they bothered to look. He seems to have played a role in creating this mess too, but he’s given a pass because he is a man of deep faith. Well, Bush was a man of deep faith too. Just saying. Oh and he got the coveted Ron Carey endorsement.

So where do we go from here? Me, as a Minnesota Republican will be refocusing on the home front. The fact is Minnesota will not go to a Republican Presidential candidate in November, and when you’re going up against the billion dollar President in Obama, every penny counts and needs to be spent wisely.

US Senate: Klobuchar is beatable if we can get the truth about her out there and have a good candidate who can raise the money needed to expose her duplicity while getting their own message out there. The draft Hegseth movement is going, but the US Senate race was sadly absent from most people’s minds last night. Severson, Hernandez, and Arwood are great guys, are right on the issues, but the 3 of them raised only $100,000 or som combined. Klobuchar has $4.5 million in the bank right now.

Congressional: We still don’t know what the maps will look like, but its safe to say that the 4 Republican incumbents will face a headwind at least. We need to push back on the media narrative that the problem in Washington is the Republican House. Sending all 4 Republicans back with huge wins and at the minimum putting a scare into Walz & Peterson is a must.

Legislature: Bored rich debutant Governor is going to spend millions and millions trying to defeat Republicans and take control of the House & Senate so that he can wage war on the Minnesota economy. He plans to raise taxes, impose more fringe regulations, and make it nearly impossible to operate a business here. He can’t be allowed to succeed.

Long rant short…. we need to not get caught off guard thinking the Presidential race is the only thing worth fighting for. We have 201 Legislative races to battle for, 8 Congressional races, and a US Senate race. Our time, energy, and effort would be far better spent on them, than on the POTUS race.

My hope is that the party isn’t ripped apart by Delegates fighting to get elected to the next convention (CD, than State, then National) while our state and congressional candidates are struggling for dollars and volunteers. The anti-Romney, pro-Paul, pro-Rick stuff isn’t going to help us hold the Majorities in the MN House & Senate nor get our Congressmen reelected.

Let’s put last night behind us and refocus on what really matters. Last night was a blip. The POTUS battle will continue, but let’s hope it happens out of sight and out of mind so that we can focus on what is the safeguard against radical executives in Dayton & Obama.

Please don’t put all your eggs in one basket folks. How would like to see Speaker Pelosi return?

Thanks to those of you who presented my platform resolution last night. It passed in at least 4 Congressional Districts.

This is not to tarnish the hard work over the years to create that document. There is a lot of very good stuff in there, but I feel that the simplified document encapsulates them too.

Let’s keep this thing going. St. Cloud or bust!

I am giving you a direct order to show up at your Precinct Caucuses at 7:00 PM tonight. You can find your location here. 

I’ll be casting my vote reluctantly for Romney. There was never a perfect candidate in this race and the better choices all dropped out. Heck, I’d vote Pawlenty over these 4 guys.  Those remaining offer glimpses of greatness on some issues, but come up well short on others. Some would be huge disasters and drag the entire ticket down. Some would work against what I believe such as liberty, border security, and shrinking government.

Romney has done what the other 3 haven’t, been a very successful business man. While all have some experience in the private (real) world, only Romney has run a business that was more than a lemonade stand or self promotion firm. While Reagan 2.0 would be great, and despite some of them saying they are Reagan clones, no one is. There is only one Reagan.

6 months ago, who’d have thunk I’d come full circle and be supporting the guy I didn’t want to get the nomination, but considering my options, he’s still the Mitt that Fits.

RF Flashback circa February 2008: The Mitt that Fits

I’m confident that had we nominated Romney over McCain, Obama wouldn’t have had such an easy path to victory. Romney would have at least put up a fight, McCain laid down and rolled over.

Plus, don’t forget, theta’s that whole ticket mate thing. Romney gives Republicans favorables with some big business people that the others won’t, maybe Mitt will give us a rock solid Vice Presidential nominee to galvanize us.

Vote with your head not your emotions. While our vote is non-binding, it is getting national coverage in the first time in like forever, so flippant votes cast in spite our out of rage will make us all look like morons.

Oh and help me change the MNGOP Platform

You can’t make this up.

Detroit ‘Comeback’ Ad Filmed in New Orleans, L.A.

Not Detroit.

Read the rest than laugh hysterically at the other Obama Motors.

A little help please. I posted on the disaster that is the current 5,742 word long Republican Party of Minnesota platform and the onslaught of special interest group please to add even MORE to it. The thing will be well over 10,000 if all these special interest groups get their pet project wordage in it just so they can hammer Legislators over it. I posted on it here. 

Here is what I’d appreciate some help doing. To make it to the State Convention as a final amendment to the platform, each resolution needs to come from 2 different CDs. Please spread the word and have some friends and fellow activists see if we can get this on the final agenda for the St. Cloud State Convention by having it come from across the state.

Here is a simple form you can print off and hand out at your Caucus. It is a simple one page form. If you share my desire to simplify the platform, print this off and help try to pass it at your Caucus. Let’s reclaim our Platform from the special interests.

I mean this as no slight to most of the center right special interests, but they are “non-partisan” and have been known to ignore requests for help, work against Republicans, or helped promote our political opponents. Example: MN Majority promotes DFL & other party caucuses, not exclusively the GOP. Or how the Taxpayer’s League is targeting 7 Republicans for authoring legislation that goes against a major funder’s desires, or the CAGE RACINO mess.

Less specifics, more simplicity! Let’s stop fighting with our selves.  OK, a short post is turning into the Platform now, so please consider submitting this at your Caucus.

PLEASE!

AAARF_2012_MNGOP_platformresolution(pdf)

Here’s what it says:

Whereas the 2010 Republican Party Platform has grown to 5,742 words and become full of hyper specific pseudo legislation, whereas it is too long and confusing, whereas the party platform can be amended every 2 years by state law, be it resolved that the entire existing Republican Party Platform be deleted and replaced with the following.

“The Republican Party of Minnesota stands for four core values:

• Personal Responsibility
• Free Enterprise
• Fiscal Responsibility
• Limited, Sensible Government

Those four values are guide posts for our beliefs and principles.

Promote Economic Prosperity

We support lowering the tax burden, exercising spending restraint, and creating and maintaining a fair, honest and competitive business environment to promote economic prosperity and once again make Minnesota the economic engine of the Upper Midwest.

 

Preserve Civil Rights

We support defending the right to life, protecting religious, political and economic liberties, and respecting personal privacy and property to preserve civil rights and ensure that government treats all of its citizens equally under the law.

 

Educate our Children

We support the belief that parents are responsible for their children’s education and that parents, teachers and local school boards can make the best decisions about our children’s education.

 

Strengthen our Families and Communities

We recognize the blessings that God has bestowed on this great Nation. We also recognize the sanctity of human life and the central role of the traditional family in our society. We work to defend those values in order to strengthen our families and communities.

 

Protect Public Safety

We believe that the most fundamental function of government is to keep citizens and our property secure.

 

Strengthen the Rule of Law

We support limiting the power of attorneys and frivolous lawsuits, increasing the responsibility of the jury, protecting judicial elections and holding judges accountable to strengthen the rule of law and prevent abuse of our legal system.

 

Enjoy and Protect our Natural Resources

We believe that proper stewardship of our natural resources and agricultural lands is best achieved through sound science and adherence to constitutionally guaranteed property rights.

 

Make Government Smaller and Better

We support keeping government functions in state, local or private hands, electing honest and responsive legislative bodies and advocating for fair election processes to make government smaller and better.

 

Defend America at Home and Abroad

 

We believe that we can maintain peace by having a strong national defense, securing our borders and by encouraging all people to seek freedom, democracy and free enterprise.”

 

Submitted by: ________________________________ Phone: ___________________________ BPOU: _________ Precinct: __________________    Passed: _______  Defeated: ___________  Secretary signature: __________________________________________

Couple of quick tips here.

1) If you are supporting a candidate, bring their letter (most candidates will have a letter to be read at Caucus already done) with you. And make sure you or another supporter volunteers to read it. Or ask to speak on their behalf with a quick 30 or 60 second from the heart on why you support him or her. – WHY? Some locations may only have letters on display (if they were sent them in the 1st place (candidate responsibility, not local precinct or party duty). Plus from experience I can tell you some precincts may be populated with people not as in tune as you and may know nothing about the candidates. In 2010, my precinct didn’t know Seifert or Emmer, I read Emmer’s letter off my phone’s email and then we had a Q&A on why I was supporting Emmer. Emmer went on to win our straw poll HUGE.

2) If you have platform resolutions, bring a copy of the platform. WHY? The MNGOP is not providing the newspaper print out of the entire platform and since the thing is 14 pages long and that money is needed for other purposes (not to mention that the current platform will be replaced in months at the state convention), most BPOUs are not going to waste the money to print it off so everyone gets a copy either. I know in SD49 conveners were asked to make 1 copy in case anyone wants to see it, but you can’t count on that everywhere. So bring your own copy of the platform, or a couple to share if this means a lot to you.

3) PLUS if you plan to submit a platform resolution, bring it in writing with your name, address, phone number, email, and precinct/BPOU information on it. And bring extra copies to pass out. Its always easier if you can show people what you want to do rather than read them. All resolutions must be submitted in writing, so if you bring yours printed up in advance, it will speed up the night as you can hand the convener yours. If your resolution is in hand writing, it NEEDS to be legible as they are handed over to people to compile who were not in your precinct. Sometimes you can’t read them and if you don’ have a record of who submitted it, you can’t do anything with it.

From Americans for Prosperity

America needs a leader, not a lecturer.