Folks, I am begging for someone to talk about how badly we need a fiscal conservative using the bully pulpit voters gave him to beat the tax and spending, nanny state, Government expansionist liberals to a bloody pulp. And I don’t give a damn what party they belong to. But instead, we have fear and loathing from some, and revisionist history from others.

Oh how soon we forget someone’s fee and spending increases in sessions past in order to make Government “better”.

So, when you hear about the $373 million of “revenue” that the state is short on, keep in mind. They increased spending to the tune of billions and billions for this budget. Yes, they increased spending 9.5%, and surprise surprise, the revenue didn’t keep up. Now the revenue of which they are short on, is actually money they took away from you. Yes, they spent more than they had. Or rather, they spent more than they hoped they would have.

Democrats are likely preparing tax increase proposals. Pawlenty and CYA apologists are trying to figure out how to transfer blame and shift attention out of this, or blow smoke up somewhere, and do absolutely nothing to help the situation. No one is even acknowledging that Government in Minnesota is growing to dang fast.

Bandaids and political happy talk are not going to even begin to solve the real problem in Minnesota. The size of Government is growing at rates 3 to 4 times that of the economy,but it is never enough. Most politicians have plans for more and more and more. Democrats demanded 20% increases in spending last session. Pawlenty gave them 9.5%. Either way we citizens are screwed. I’d have much rather seen this be as painful as possible so that citizens would get a cold splash of water in the face when the govenment they were promised by Democrats is more expensive than anyone could afford.

So I am sorry if I don’t share the glee and giddiness that the Republican Party Chair does. I do not think Pawlenty’s leadership during the 2006 budget showdown was rockstar like. Govenment is growing under his leadership. Sure not as fast as Democrats would like, but half as fast, which is 4 times faster than those of us funding, this fiasco known as Government, get to expect in our own finances. So I will not be patting the guy who approved a budget 9.5% bigger than the last one on the back. I will save any pats on the back for a Republican who can shrink the size of Government.

The only thing we taxpayers and citizens can do to really solve this revenue shortfall, is to send a clear message to the power hungry nanny staters in St. Paul. Enough is enough. Don’t give them or the parties covering for them a thin dime until you see leadership on the issues. Mudslinging and revisionism is going to embolden them to do more to grow Government. Until they understand that the people really don’t want Government big enough to run our lives, they will keep trying to have Government do just that. the parties will continue to support politicians who care not about liberties and freedom, but rather them winning or losing.

It is time to get serious about reforming State Government while there is still room for liberty and the pursuit of happiness in this state.

Since it is common knowledge that the Democratic party is against just that, there is only one great hope. The Republican Party. Unless it can realize that what they are doing, and allowing their top politicians to do is in fact against the best interest of not only the party, but Minnesota and the nation, all hope is lost. The only thing that correct the problems facing Minnesotans is conservatism.

More of the same, or a fractional increase of the same is not going to stop the problem. We have a spending problem in this state because Government is doing too much. When Government does more, you get to do less via your free will.

DFL Legislators start harping how we need a tax increase in 5 .. 4 .. 3 .. 2 ……

(Yes I will catch hell for saying not to donate to the Republican party, but they clearly still don’t get it. I’ll bang my head against the wall til I pass out if that is what it takes. The party needs to lead on the issues. It cannot allow politicians to define it. They have their own motives in mind. That my friends is not leadership, it is followship.)

OK, so now we all know CNN is run by useless idiots for Democrats. Multiple “questioners” were in fact supporters and or staffers for Democratic candidates which was uncovered with google in 10 minutes by one person. CNN meanwhile has hundreds of researchers with journalism skills.

But they got duped, or simply played along and let Democrat supporters try to hammer the Republicans on National TV. The most agregious was the “Gay” General which CNN not only flew in but allowed him to have a mic and give a little speech live.

Anyways, that guy is a Clinton campaign committee member, and I think there is some angles to pursue.

1. Was allowing an audience member to ask a question with in the rules of the debate?
2. Did the guy act at the behest of the Clinton Campaign, or on his own?
3. Did they suggest he send the video?
4. If not, did they know he was going to?
5. Who came up with the unbiased idea to fly in a gay General to try to embarass the Republicans? CNN? The Gay General?
6. Did CNN just decide this one guy might be good, or were they “influenced” by a certain person, group, or campaign?
7. Once the arrangements were made, did the gay General alert the Clinton campaign about how he was being given preferential treatment?

Where is the media to try to figure out who is behind this? CNN is now trying to attack their way out of this one, hmmm, the politics of personal destruction? Maybe the Clintons are helping them make decisions afterall.

T ake a look at this exchanged from the CNN debate transcript. Does it seem that Cooper is forcing the issue?

Cooper: Governor Romney, you said in 1994 that you looked forward to the day when gays and lesbians could serve, and I quote, “openly and honestly in our nation’s military.” Do you stand by that?

Romney: This isn’t that time. This is not that time. We’re in the middle of a war. The people who have…

Cooper: Do you look forward to that time, though, one day?

Romney: I’m going to listen to the people who run the military to see what the circumstances are like. And my view is that, at this stage, this is not the time for us to make that kind of…

Cooper: Is that a change in your position…

Romney: Yes, I didn’t think it would work. I didn’t think “don’t ask/don’t tell” would work. That was my — I didn’t think that would work. I thought that was a policy, when I heard about it, I laughed. I said that doesn’t make any sense to me.

And you know what? It’s been there now for, what, 15 years? It seems to have worked.

Cooper: So, just so I’m clear, at this point, do you still look forward to a day when gays can serve openly in the military or no longer?

Romney: I look forward to hearing from the military exactly what they believe is the right way to have the right kind of cohesion and support in our troops and I listen to what they have to say.

(Audience booing)

Cooper: All right. General Kerr is — as I said — is here.

Please stand up, General. Thank you very much for being with us.

Did you feel you got an answer to your question?

Kerr: With all due respect, I did not get an answer from the candidates.

(Applause)

Cooper: What do you feel you did not…

Kerr: American men and women in the military are professional enough to serve with gays and lesbians.

For 42 years, I wore the army uniform on active duty, in the Reserve, and also for the state of California. I revealed I was a gay man after I retired.

Today, “don’t ask/don’t tell” is destructive to our military policy.

Every day, the Department of Defense discharges two people, not for misconduct, not for the unit cohesion…

Cooper: Wait, the mike is — you’ve lost me. Is the microphone not working? Please, just finish your — what is your question?

Kerr: Not for the unit cohesion that Congressman Hunter is talking about, but simply because they happen to be gay.

Cooper: OK. Senator McCain …

KERR: And we’re talking about doctors, nurses, pilots, and the surgeon who sews somebody up when they’re taken from the battlefield.

Cooper: I appreciate your comments.

He hammered Romney as a flip flopper, so I gotta love that, but is sure seemed like he kept twisting the knife and giving this one guy preferential treatment. Now if this was Tim Russert asking Hilliary Clinton if she changed her mind, or what she really stood for, the media would be in an uproar.

I think it is time for Republicans to fight fire with fire. They need to boycott any appearances on CNN. The Democrats do it, and get away with it. Time to fight fire with fire and out this leftist POS “news” network for the Democratic operatives that they really are.

Details here and here.

I have had photos of mine stolen as well by these clowns. I’ve been the victim of their crude tasteless photoshopping in the past as well.

What is truly the sadest of all, the media actually takes the stalkerazzi seriously, whenever they have s molecule of anything that could somehow maybe be used to say something bad about Rep. Michele Bachmann.

You know that guy CNN gave special treatment too by having him not only submit a loaded question, but also gave him a microphone to cross examine the GOP candidates in person live at the debate?

A Clinton plant.

I watched most of the debate last night and have to say it wasn’t as bad as i had expected. Granted it was clear that Cooper didn’t want to give everyone a chance to answer the questions. I was impressed with the Federalist/state’s rights answers from Thompson, but of course you’ll only hear about Rudy and Romney.

CNN ran a lot of loaded questions, but why this one man was given special treatment in what everyone could plainly see was a set up to embarass the Republicans is beyond me.

If they want to shrug off the Clinton New Network meme, they should really be a lot more careful about doing her heavy lifting.

A dedicated reader of RF sent this to me yesterday.

As if the fact that it’s only November 2007 wasn’t depressing enough, a recent story I read quoted Indiana University security researcher Christopher Soghoian, who warned that the 2008 presidential elections are the next likely source of “phishing” bait for hackers.

According to the story:

The presidential campaigns’ tactic of relying on impulsive giving spurred by controversial news events and hyped-up deadlines, combined with a number of other factors such as inconsistent Web addresses and a muddle of payment mechanisms creates a conducive environment for fraud, says Soghoian.

“Basically, the problem here is that banks are doing their best to promote safe online behavior, but the political campaigns are taking advantage of the exact opposite,” he says. “They send out one million e-mails to people designed to encourage impulsive behavior.”
So if you get bulk emails from Huckabee or Hillary asking for your generous support, and you feel the urge to give it, do yourself a favor and surf over to their official Web sites instead.

Donors beware!

This is a textbook case of intolerance on display thanks to Muslim theocracy.

KHARTOUM, Sudan - A British teacher accused of insulting Muslims after her class called a teddy bear Mohammed arrived Thursday at the Khartoum courthouse where she is expected to face formal charges.

British embassy representatives met Gillian Gibbons, 54, on her arrival from detention in Khartoum North and accompanied her into the courthouse. Court officers prevented reporters from entering the courtroom and said the session would be closed.

Sudanese state media said Wednesday that Gibbons was being charged with insulting Islam, inciting hatred and showing contempt for religious beliefs. If convicted, she could face 40 lashes, a fine, or one year in jail.

And Muslims can’t understand why people fear Islam.

Any word from CAIR if they support or oppose this action?

Paging Representative Ellison (CAIR MN5)….. Statment please

(Part 1 is here; 2 is here)

Sure Pawlenty was reelected in 2006, but only because Judy Dutcher was underwhelming and unqualified. Oh and Mike Hatch got tired of the nipping at his heels and lost his cool. The party and other groups spent something like $3 million dollars in the last weeks, and got lucky in my mind.

Who really caused what is something I don’t care to debate. What I want Republican leaders to think about, is what if it did not work? What if Dutcher wasn’t an idiot about E-85? There would have been no issue there? Hatch wouldn’t have had the chance to get “unhinged”. $3 million per single win is like a tennis player throwing all their effort into one single set in a best of seven match. You have nothing left for the other races. Pawlenty would not have won for not that one muffed question. That I feel is indisputable.

Frankly that was the only miracle of 2006. And given that we lost a Congressional seat, a chance at a US Senate pick up, the Majority in the MN House, and even more seats in the MN Senate, well, why should we follow the same game plan that has brought us to the precipice of irrelevancy? More of the same seems like a proven recipe for disaster.

(Note: I am so incredibly pleased Bachmann won, she did a great job, and is a shiny conservative star in Washington! But it was a conservative Republican District, so the idea that it was a long shot, held by many Party folks, is wishful thinking in my opinion.)

2008 is going to be a make or break year for Republicans. Nationally, someone needs to be nominated to lead the movement. It needs to be someone that not only does the base agree with, but that they can trust. Johnnie come latelys to the conservative cause are not going to do what the party needs to do.

Reunite it from with in.

It is the moderates in the party who have been tearing it apart, not us conservatives. Moderates and liberal RINOs have been setting the agenda, defining the party, and in far too many cases either sounding like Democrats or worse advocating for their liberal agenda items giving them credibility and creating riffs in this party.

This not only has driven wedges between the grassroots of the base and the leadership, but also damaged the ability to have prominent officials and leaders out in the market place of ideas fighting the good fight, and selling conservatism to the masses.

Instead leaders and officials scrape and claw to save their own skin. No one seems willing to fight the good fight, win or lose at the highest levels. When critics raise points of concern and question the truthiness of one’s own revisionist history, they are targeted for political assassination. Barring the “pillow talk” in the public arena will not solve the angst and lack of leadership both in Minnesota and Nationally.

Silence the critics is the number one mission of far too many. And as I have heard far too often, what far too many leaders consider to be the worst possible thing to do is to say anything negative about one of our own or our leaders. But some do deserve criticism. A perfect case would be how Pawlenty is trying to get out in front of a looming beduget shortfall that he himself created with a 9.5% plus increase in state spending squandering a $2.2 billion surplus and the opportunity to reduce the size of Government.

If we cannot discus who is and is not qualified to define this party and lead the party into electoral battle now, how in the world can we honestly have that battle later? But they only care about one thing, 50% + 1.

Current party leaders are doing what their predecessors have done. They are saying it is all about keeping the Democrat out of the highest office. Nationally, that is the “socialist” Hillary Clinton. It appears that you can just dust off the old ads about John Kerry and Al Gore, cut and paste Hillary Clinton’s name in, and run with it. That’s the gameplan of 2008.

The voters are flat out tired of this crap, and so are the conservatives within the Republican Party. We showed up for far more than 50% +1. We showed up for the issues. We showed up because there was something that inspired us to get involved. Whether it was a local candidate, single issue, or desire to limit the overall impact of Government burden in the daily lives of our families, we showed up and work for more than a November victory. We expect results.

In Minnesota we still have yet to really heal as a party following the fallout of the 2006 elections. It seems that the current leaders of the Republican cause and Party still don’t understand that there is no inspiration for the grassroots yet, and that the true principled conservatives who care more about the issues than November wins, don’t trust the Republican Party or brand anymore. If they do, they have yet to prove so publicly.
As a local leader with in the Party, it is my job to prove them wrong in my District. In many cases I agree with the criticisms local activists have for top elected Republicans or the agenda and message as a whole. I urge the fact that we can help change that from the grassroots not by focussing our angst simply on the top of the ticket, but my working for good principled local candidates. And for some die hards, it works, or they are just so invested, they carry on regardless. But for others of a growing number, those of us who got involved for the issues, it is really hard to overlook the gains Liberalism has and is making in Minnesota under the current crop of Republican leaders and officials.

The task of remaining focussed is incredibly hard especially when the top of the ticket candidates are supporting liberal issues and the expansion of the nanny state for pure electoral advantages. Conservative issues are not publicly part of the political agenda for the Republican party in Minnesota and top elected officials. There seems to be an all out ban on advocating for or against anything before the Legislature by the party. There is absolutely no public display of conservative principles, and what seems to be a ban on any talk on it if a Republican happens to be on the wrong side of the issue.

Instead you see the Party and surrogates attack attack attack both Democrats and principled conservatives. You see some more intent on throwing mud to bury the Democrat than you do see them display why people should vote for Republicans. And if you want to see some fur stand on end, tell that to party leaders, surrogates, and spokesters to their face. They don’t give a hoot that the grassroots is tired of this negative gotcha crap. I’ve tried, and it has fallen on deaf ears

Why?

Because when we go door to door, chat in the supermarket checkout lane, or around the water cooler (the arena of grassroots) all some people can say is how sick they are of the negativity and don’t even care who wins anymore. “Politicians, they’re all the same,” is a frequent response when one does try to explain the true differences.

Others end up holding every single Republican responsible for the negative attacks done by the party and issues surrogates, and hold that grudge for multiple cycles. And then there are others who say why in the world is the Republican party spending so much time, money, and resources on some silly little misstatement or flat out lie about a list, when in the end, it has nothing to do with changing policy for the benefit of the state or conservatism. He should resign, she should resign, tit for tat is for grade school disputes, not that of public policy. Honestly, our argument looks like nothing more than petty politics. Sorry.
I am of course referring to the Secretary of State’s flap over Mark Ritchie’s lie. Most of us in the conservative movement knew he would be terrible.We knew of the links to socialist organizations and support from the Communist party. But clearly the voters didn’t. Now 11 months after his endorsement seems a little late to the dance if you ask me.

Where was this dedication during the election cycle?

Look, the Republican party is on the ropes. it is make or break, and the only thing that can save it is embracing conservative publicly and principles. Rather than focus on why Democrats suck, we need to explain why our ideas and policies make sense, and make the case for them with voters. With that our candidates need to not only believe those issues, they need to fight for them.

We can’t correct the course of this party’s downfall by simply staying quiet. What ails this party is what has been ignored and shoved into the shadows. Not only does the base of this party question the agenda of the party as a whole but also the top leaders. We no longer trust this party. How in the world do you expect voters to do so?

So frankly my dear, I will not keep my discussions of what I feel has troubled this party in the shadows. Iw ill not shut up when I see the same mistakes that got us where we are today being made. I do care about this party far too much to sit back, shut up, and watch this party fall apart. I have no where else to go. That is a fact, whether you believe it or not, I am in the Republican party because I believe it is the last best hope to bring true conservative principles to the forefront of public acceptance.

The idea of the shining city on the hill Reagan spoke of is not something that can happen by simply focusing on winning one election. We need to get back to growing this party through making people realize they believe with conservative ideas and that only the Republican party can deliver on the promise of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

This post is far from perfect. I have more in my head, and could clean this up to that perfection, but well, I blame Luggers. He has done a number on my laptop charger, and I am now faced with holding the cord end into my laptop to charge it.

My final point is this. What I am talking about in this series of posts is about that now is the time to have debates of internal nature. Now is the time ti debate the best vision the party should propel. We need to do this not only by party structure, messaging, focus, but also by who we select for top of the ticket positions.

Rudy and Romney are doing little to nothing to inspire me, and it really is sad that they and their campaigns are clinging to the 2 man race in order to silence the legitimate conservative ideals of the other candidates. It is those very issues and ideals that make up the principles that core conservatives are craving.

So what think? I know it was a lot. I would love the opportunity for debate and discussion on it.

(Part 1 is here)

Yes, that wins ONE election, but……

It does not build a movement or propel conservative issues to the forefront and change policy. A candidate that has to transform their platform to meet the polls is as unreliable as the UN Security Council. That is the model for the Republican party now its seems. Rather than stand for principle, and try to convert others to think like and agree with conservative thought, conservatism is the first item tossed overboard in many cases.

The Rove model for winning elections worked, twice, maybe 3 times. Now the party is in shambles. There is a battle being waged on a daily basis between the grassroots and Party leaders over the message and agenda of the party. All that the ruling class in the party simply care about is winning, and if that means a liberal in Elephant’s clothes, ‘what’s the problem, its a win in their eyes. Meanwhile The grassroots is demanding conservative principles from someone to return this Party to greatness through advocating for conservative issues.

As you all can see from many of the major issues being pushed by Republicans, there is not much, if any for conservatives to be proud of. Spending is up. Government is getting bigger and less “better”. Dependency is on Government is growing. Liberty is on the decline as a result, and with that tax increases are looming in the future.

Stay tuned. More is to come. Big long rant about how Republicans are destined to repeat their mistakes, especially if they cannot even acknowledge them. You know me.

So we needed some coffee here at work, and I needed a few things for the house. Yummy steak (as I finally have a night free to enjoy a nice home cooked meal), dog food, vegetables, milk, etc etc. Kinda the basics, so I said I would grab coffee and hit the store over lunch. That went swimmingly well. No wobbly wheel on the cart, no run ins with pallet blockades, I was able to pass the seniors (which is not easy most days) who were roaming or acting like pylons always standing where you wanted to go, there was no waiting in line at the register, and the cashier was incredibly nice.

Phew! No sweat, in and out, plus a few minutes to spare for some grub.

There’s a Wendy’s and a Culver’s by the grocery store here. Since I can’t handle the Butter burgers nor the snooty people who believe that they are actually fast food aristocracy for deciding to graze there, I chose Wendy’s.  This may have been just the 2nd time in the 2 years the Wendy’s has been there, that I have eaten there. Oh, there is a Chipoltle there too, but if you think the Culver’s people are snobs, well, you have another thing coming at Chipoltle. (Also, spicey food like that and I don’t get along.)

0 for 2

That’s Wendy’s record of giving me what I ask for.

Mind you: 

At Wendy’s®, we’re unrivaled in our passion for giving people what they want — and uncompromising in giving people what they deserve.

Now you pull up and look at the menu board, you see a bunch of ridiculous names for burgers and meals. They prominantly display their latest deepfried chicken low carb blah blah sandwich, just like the other fast food joints. All I want is a cheese burger and fries, so I ask for that with just ketchup on it.

There’s a pause on the speaker. “So you want the combo meal?” the box says. I replied, sure, cheese burger with just ketchup though.”

Mind you: 

At Wendy’s®, we’re unrivaled in our passion for giving people what they want — and uncompromising in giving people what they deserve.

The box then asked what kind of drink. I say Pepsi or coke, what ever you have is fine. And we all know there is next to no difference in taste from the fast food fountain machines, and I really didn’t want it anyways.  I pulled up, paid, got the food, and raced back to work.

Once I got here and unwrapped the burger, I discover not only is there more than just the requested ketchup but worse….

Mind you: 

At Wendy’s®, we’re unrivaled in our passion for giving people what they want — and uncompromising in giving people what they deserve.

My cheeseburger that was requested to only have ketchup on it also included: Mustard, lettuce, tomato, onions, and worst of all MAYO.

No human being should have to request that MAYO not be added to their burger. Is this Canada or something?

In the movie the Whole Nine Yards, Bruce Willis goes on a tyrraid about how the Canadians always put MAYO on their burgers. How every red blooded American knows that pickles and ketchup (if memory serves) are all that belong on any burger. And then threatens the (presumably) French-Canadian waitress to take the burger back and if she brings him another one, and it has MAYO on it, he’s going to beat her with it or something.

That’s kinda how I feel right now, but it is too late.

So that is twice now that I have eaten the only bottom of a Wendy’s burger, gagged on the over salted fries, and not been given what I deserved.

Mind you: 

At Wendy’s®, we’re unrivaled in our passion for giving people what they want — and uncompromising in giving people what they deserve.

Why just the bottom? Because that is where the ketchup was, and unlike the top of the bun, wasn’t soaked with white nastiness called MAYO. So I simply fold it in half, and pretend I went to Taco Bell and that it is really a taco.

I either need a vacation, a nap, or a shrink.

A lot of people of late have been saying that Republicans cannot say anything bad at all about fellow Republicans, and need to (basically) just shut up. I can’t disagree more when it comes to the issues. And don’t let them fool you, it is the issues that matter.

For the past few years, the fly over class of pundits, powerbrokers, and party leaders have been picking candidates for as long as can be, grassroots be damned. In the last few years you saw the grassroots and Delegates run out of the system. You’re seeing the exact same thing this year by those in the Romney and Rudy corners. Basically they are saying those of us who support other candidates or refuse to support theirs, are nuts and irrelevant.

“It is a 2 man race” You’ve heard, I’ve heard it hundreds of times. Saying it doesn’t make it so. Unless you are a Democrat……

Why would they do this? Because the people leading the party are scared of Conservatives being on the ballot. They are terrified of the looming battle of unbridled conservatism vs. the liberalism that is seeping into our culture.

Now I am not saying those people leading the party are themselves RINOs or that their own stances on the issues are liberal. Frankly their stance on the issues doesn’t matter one bit. It is the message the party sends, but more importantly, what the major candidates do that defines the party on the issues.

They are simply caving to the advisors and strategists who think that 50%+1 is the only thing that matters.

Yes, that wins ONE election, but……

(Stay tuned to RF for more on this subject. Big edgefication post for Republicans is being crafted by me today.)