Marty Andrade has a great article up at True North about the 6 (R)s who helped Democrats pass the massive tax increase last week. Here’s a taste.

Most of the time moderates should be tolerated but now these representatives have crossed the line. Not supporting them in 2008 might mean losing the MNGOP some seats but it’s not as if keeping those seats is important. The legislature is not likely to switch hands so those votes for Speaker are meaningless. They’re unreliable. Let them go.

Go read the whole thing, Marty has some great analysis on why we don’t need them and should purge them.

I’ve been pondering on what to post on the whole purge thing. I’ve gotten some feedback from some squishy lovers out there and heard about some behind the scenes leadership wavering.

Some of the Districts that these tax raising (R)s call home love their (R). They would rather have an (R) who raised their taxes $7 Billion than a DFLer who raised their taxes $7 Billion. Some of these 6 will probably live to betray the party again another day. Some of the people in those Districts bitch and moan about us principled people who demand accountability, and say we have no right to dictate who they endorse.

Well, there is one problem with that logic. Their (R)’s decision to cross party lines and side with Democrats to raise my taxes affected me on 2 levels. One, your Republican legislator raised my taxes. Two, your Legislator is a Republican and is not supposed to break from the party and undercut leadership.

Being a member of the Republican House or Senate Caucus is a privilege. It is a decision that each official has to make. Being a member of that caucus means one has to do certain things. There are times when you don’t get to vote how you want to for the good of the Caucus and the party. If raising taxes by the billion on Minnesotans, much of it by taxation with out representation, is so damn important to these 6 (R)s and their Districts, well they may be on the wrong side of the isle.

This one vote cut across District lines. We’re engaged in party politics, and these (R)s have lost sight in the concept of Party. The Party needs to remind them of what it means to be a loyal Republican. Yeah, we can have a big tent, but there need to be some sides on the tent, and a rope line checking credentials on the way in. You’ll need to have your hand stamped for reentry. There is a cost to admission as well, no free rides at this circus.

That’s where the party comes into play. Party rules are going to prevent any retribution for Districts that endorse tax increasing Republicans. “We just can’t do it, we have to support who the BPOUs endorse for candidates,” is what one senior Republican leader told me over the weekend.

That’s a factually accurate statement. Yes, the party does need to support teh endorsed candidates. I can only hope the same people who made decisions on which Republicans could win and which could lose in 2006 are still in control of the purse strings down at MNGOP HQ.

I’m not trying to drag up the past, ok, well maybe a little. The Party did pick winners and losers in 2006. Well, more like it picked a winner and let a bunch of other people lose. Resources by the Caucuses and Party were diverted to Districts that showed promise, and taken away where polling didn’t look good.

The Party and the Caucus do still have the power of the purse. Frankly, I’d love to hear Party leaders openly state that no MNGOP donations or resources will go to elect any elected official who voted to raise taxes $7 billion, but I just don’t think they can or will do so.

There have been party leaders making the rounds to the various BPOU, District, and County conventions making the case for holding officials to our party’s stated principles. Some have been very well received, but in a few cases, some Districts have fallen in love with their RINO and lashed out at party leaders as if our Republicans leaders were speaking to DFLers or union goons.

Here’s what you can do to make sure that the Party doesn’t give money or resources paid for with your donations to any District that endorses one of these 6 good for nothing Republicans: Give your money directly to BPOUs and conservative candidates. If the party doesn’t have your money, it can’t give it to Erhardt, Abler, Tinglestad, Peterson, Hamilton, or Heidjerken.

Find your BPOU. Find your local conservative candidates, and give locally! Hold your donations until endorsements are made and you have a chance to make sure your candidate is worthy of the (R) branding. If they aren’t there is nothing with in the party rules that state that you must work for the person in your District. You can cross District lines and go help great candidates in other Districts.

There are some great conservatives out there who would love your time, money, and help. There are a lot of vulnerable Democrats who need to call this session their last. I’m just premptively telling ya that we cannot get discouraged if/when a few of these 6 (R)s get reendorsed. We have 134 House races this year, don’t let some preliminary actions in 6 of them seal your involvement to watching the action from your couch.
Find good candidates, and work to defeat anyone who voted to raise your taxes in  non-partisan fashion. Let the RINO lovers get their RINOs elected. The rest of us must work to build a conservative coalition and then build it into a majority.  I encourage that for everyone from Joe 6-pack ‘likely voter’ all the way up to party and caucus leadership. Don’t support RINOs. As Marty said we don’t need them.

This entry was posted on Monday, March 3rd, 2008 at 10:52 am and is filed under 2008, A.R.O.R.A., Know Thy Enemy, MNGOP Reform, Minnesota, Politics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.