Residual Forces

Sarah Janecek has somehow become a well respected political commentator. I say somehow, because I can see no reason except the fact that she claims to speak from the right side of the political spectrum. But every time she does creep into the public’s consciousness, it is when she is attacking Republicans. Case and point. A new insult to toss at female candidates Her editorial is another fine example of how she is making a living at be the goto ‘republican’ commentator by attacking Republicans.

In a letter from AFSCME Local 2938 president James Appleby to the union’s state board asking the group not to endorse Hennepin County Attorney and likely DFL U.S. Senate candidate Amy Klobuchar, Appleby wrote, “Qualified personnel from her own and other public offices have been rejected because her priority has been to choose candidates who support her ambitions.”

That’s shocking, simply shocking. Think about Gov. Tim Pawlenty, Sen. Norm Coleman or Klobuchar’s likely GOP opponent, U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy. Certainly they haven’t committed the supposed sin of hiring people who support their ambitions.

She is writing in response to the kerfuffle over the weekend when the local AFSCME union that works in Amy Klobuchar’s office requested the State wide union not endorse her candidacy for US Senate. Their request fell on the usual deaf ears of union management, and now this story has taken the usual ’smear the attackers’ direction. Janecek is alleging we’re the next generation in the long line of GOP anti-feminists.

And for women running for U.S. Senate, there’s a new rule: Don’t be too ambitious.

You see, those of us in the blogosphere who wish to see Mark Kennedy replace Sen. Dayton in November, are trying to point out how Mrs. Klobuchar has had a singular mission while serving as the Hennepin County Attorney. That mission is not to protect and serve the public, but rather to propel herself beyond the bounds of the lowly County Attorney’s office. She’s surrounded herself with cronies and political allies who share the common goal of Promoting Amy. Since Klobuchar has begun the official quest to be a US Senator last year, she’s been an absentee boss, but since she’s padded the staff at the County Attorney’s office, those doing the heavy lifting haven’t minded that Klobuchar is taking credit for their work from the campaign stops around the state. Most of the time, these Campaign stops just happen to coincide with the County Attorney’s office 9-5 workday, even though Klobuchar is out of her jurisdiction.

Janecek seems to be a mere puppet of the DFL now. Every-time questions are raised for the DFLers to answer, in this case Klobuchar, Janecek sweeps in to answer it for them before the DFL gets a chance. Usually her preemptive responses include smearing the question asker. Plus, more often than not, she’s given preferential treatment by her media drinking buddies and low and behold she gets valued editorial space to attack the Republican point of view.

Her latest argument is ‘thou shalt not question a woman’. Sorry Janecek, but when someone steps up to run for the US Senate, they deserve to face equal scrutiny, no matter the gender.

Quite frankly I think it is time for Janecek to be put on a GOP watch-list. Her motives as a Republican political commentator are now suspect, as her objectivity is clearly gone. She’s a close friend, er coworker, with Blois Olson who led the onslaught against Michael Brodkorb (aka MDE). And throughout that whole situation, Janecek sided with Olson over a Republican, with nary a convincing reason.

It is obvious Janecek is now hostile to the Kennedy Campaign, Gov. Pawlenty, Sen. Coleman, and the Republican point of view in general. Who knows what’s spawned the latest barrage from her. But I think it is time for people, namely the Republicans in MN and the media, to make Janecek earn the title Republican commentator and the privilege to speak on our behalf. In my opinion, she’s done enough over the last few months with her newsletter, TV appearances, and on her daily radio show to warrant an investigation into her motives.

She’s obviously not a team player. Well she sure as heck isn’t talking like she’s on my team or deserves to speak for me.