Fine, You Deal With It
I pulled the post. Some dispute some parts, others don’t think it helps to point some truths out and demand higher expectations in the only way I know how.
So I am retracting the post and leave it up to others to deal with. There are very serious things going on right now folks, and I don’t believe they can be solved behind closed doors, others do. I think what is happening behind those doors is just plain wrong and part of the larger problem we have as a party right now.
As in the insiders vs. the grassroots & politicians vs. the will of the people that make up the party.
Sometimes you can think and think and think about a post and make a mistake or not put it all out there just right. I’ll be honest, I didn’t feel good about posting this one, not about what I was saying, just that it would fall on deaf ears and I’d become the enemy again. I do stand behind that this is coming from inside our own party for the gain of a select few if not less, but I will admit that this post probably did more harm then good. Sure we get to see the seamy underside of politics, but it allowed me to become the bad guy…..
It obviously cut close to the bone on some. And look folks, I am not here to win awards, friends, or pats on the back. Maybe some day when the MNGOP is a faint memory, someone will point out how some of us tried to fight. Kinda like the Minnesota 1st in the Civil Wat, we fought against the odds, but knew we had to try. We were the ones charging up the hill because doing nothing would have been even worse.
So yeah, it is a suicide mission to try to stand up to those who covet power more then they do the party as a whole.
It was my opinion, and like some of the commenters had said, “I have no credibility left”. I know that, but people keep coming back, and I suppose I could have not posted about this, but then the anonymous smear merchants who operate behind the scenes and cut deals with the people with fancy suites would own this party. Well, you know what, they do, and everytime us peasants try to have a decent debate, this sort of crap pops up.
It really is depressing that all we do is fight with each other and instead of us working as a team, our so called leaders spend all their damn time promoting themselves instead of our message for why conservatives principles and ideals are a better governing foundation for elected officials and government.
Look, we have another power struggle in the party where issues, stances, and philosophies are not part of the debate. Instead it is almost like jihad tactics are at play again, and yeah, I have a tendency to shoot first and ask questions later too, but look who I am. Just a lowly blogger who happens to have seen the dark alleys where this party is really controlled who is brave enough to bring the tactics to light. I’m not in office, or on staff, or paid by anyone. What is happening is not right, and I don’t think it should just be tolerated because it is really uncomfortable to deal with.
Let’s make this clear, in this case I did ask questions first, and I do believe I am pretty dang spot on that someone inside our party is smearing people through DFL bloggers and operatives in order to prop up a select few powerful people. I threw in some opinion based on observations that maybe there were people turning a blind eye to their friends too. Some fact, some gut feelings on my part based on past practices of people involved or who stand to benefit.
There is something very smelly afoot in the GOP and someone had better darn well get control of it or else all these anonymous clowns/staffers/operatives had better figure out how to replace the thousands and thousands of people who think their votes as delegates and activists matter do take their ball and go home. Caucus staff and paid campaign volunteers cannot win an election on their own.
There is a disrespect for the grassroots that is just tough to swallow for me and I let emotion get the best of me because I think what some people do is just plain wrong and someone has to say something.
You don’t want it to be me, that’s fine, I got that picture a while back, but the BS hasn’t stopped, in fact it has gotten worse because we are an oceanliner at sea with no one at the helm and a full on street fight in the wheelhouse. Someone had better dang well stand up and point everyone in the same dang direction and make them realize that their name ain’t the one keeping the ship afloat. I don’t want it to me, I just want to see someone not put the arrow pointing in the right direction behind their own dang career.
What happened to public service and a duty to the greater good?
Politicians will come and go, the party is going to need to be about more then personalities. I have been saying that the last few years. Pawlenty’s departure and the incompetence of Ron Carey have left us with no true common goal moving forward, so unfortunately the darker nature of some, myself included at times, is coming out as we are left to scrap and claw to save (in my case) or control (you know who you are) the party.
Fine, you deal with it.
You clean this crap up so THIS doesn’t happen anymore. I’m tired of this crap happening in MY party. I have no power but this blog to do something about it, this is my voice. And if the point of this is – that this is what is the status quo is and what we in the grassroots have to put up with, maybe Joe Repya is right and this party isn’t worth saving. I’d like to think he is wrong, but then this stuff happens again.
Unknown people, behind closed doors, decide the fate of the party and the state. That just isn’t right in my mind. It isn’t a plague just of the GOP, the Dems are far worse at self serving and self promotion, but they are the Democrats, we’re supposed to be better. And yes, my mind must be wrong since I am a no one. I hold no public or party office. I don’t work for any politician or the party. It is just my stubborn and ignorant passion that make me keep fighting to try to save this party from the corrupt people with in. I’m beginning to think it is insanity, and yes, I probably am.
We have been leaderless in this party the last few years and this is exactly what has become of it. Career politicians and bureaucrats have seized control, but lipservice was paid to those of us who believed in the way the party was supposed to work, that WE actually do matter in the grassroots. But I guess that my worst fears are true and it isn’t the case. They just need us to shut up and work, to check our thoughts at the door, they are the professionals afterall.
When lowly bloggers like me have to deal with the crap that is taking place behind the scenes because no one else seems to care or has the cajones to stand up and do the right thing. Well damn it, this crap shouldn’t be happening, let alone in the party of family values and personal responsibility. I expect it from Democrats, but not from Republicans.
I will apologize if what I believe to be true – isn’t. If Seifert is with out any knowledge of what his supporters are doing and he is not spreading the lies about his opponents, then I am wrong and I apologize that the post was on my blog for just an hour or so.
Nevermind that it has been on DFL blogs for weeks or months some of the dirt has even made the news papers and 10PM news a time or two. I know, I know, I am held to a higher standard. That’s fine. I know how this works, you shoot the messenger. Remember I have seen this crap from the dark allies before.
Lord knows I pissed a lot of people off in just a few minutes today, but a whole ton of us out here in fly over land of the party have been pissed off for a damn long time and we’re sick and tired of people dictating what we are supposed to do, say, and think.
Frankly the people in charge right now (and not just in the party apparatus, but also the various campaign arms and orgs) have a pretty bad track record the last few elections, but I guess I’m just supposed to leave it to them, after all, they are the professionals. What do I know anyways?
So would someone tell me what I am supposed to believe from now on. No seriously, obviously I am not smart enough to think for myself. Please, you all pick who I should vote for in that little tiny room and just let me know. It works out so much better that way, doesn’t it?
Better yet, you deal with it all. You clean up the wretched behavior of this party, you get people to treat others with respect, you get this party to do what its leaders always say it does, as in listening to the grassroots. You get this party lead by people who you don’t think is capable of the worst and just maybe people won’t believe it is possible.
Forgive me if I have little faith, I just haven’t seen much evidence that anyone in any level of power really understands the whole concept of grassroots yet or is capable of stopping the immovable objects in motion that are the egos of politicians and political powerbrokers who want to get into the next office not represent the party they are using to get there.
Good day.
Sphere: Related Content
I’ve known Marty Seifert for years. Integrity and character are the words that come to mind when you hear his name. Pulling a post filled with gossip and rumor after you engaged in the act of spreading those falsehoods is too little too late. Did you at any time talk to Representative Seifert before participating in the rumor mill? Maybe you should have. Blogs will only have value in political debate and discussion when they maintain the appropriate level of ethics and integrity.
And Ron Carey is a good Christian. He could never do any wrong….
Ethics? Integrity? Do not lecture me about any of them when you are defending the establishment of this party. I don’t think I would let any of them pick up the dog crap in my back yard. Do you know how many people have been run over while people have raced to the spotlight over the years? Give me a goll darn break. Wake up before you realize the Easter Bunny doesn’t really lay chocolate eggs.
Please, where is the outrage from this stuff being out on other blogs already? I was not the first to post it, I simply connected all the dots. I hit too close to the mark, that’s the problem with this whole deal. They thought they could steal the endorsement, and I had the balls to stand up and try to stop them.
Some people refuse to acknowledge that politicians are just politicians, they are not saints and they can’t walk on water. Sorry, to be the one to break it to you.
Oh and it is still available.
http://www.brianfalldin.com/2009/06/warning-brod-smear-campaign-confirmed/
Andy,
Anyone who quotes liberal links to prove a point doesn’t have any credibility in my book. Maybe you should ask Brian Falldin who he is supporting and what his motives are with respect to publishing the rumors.
I’d also like to ask you, who you are supporting for Governor. If you’re going to make accusations against a campaign, you should disclose which candidate you’re shilling for.
Finally, I’d note that to my knowledge there is only one candidate for governor who has an actual committee and that’s Marty Siefert. Maybe another candidate has a committee, but most of the names I’m hearing about are pure specualtion that so-and-so might run or is interested in running.
Lord knows I have had my own issues with the party over the last couple of years. This isn’t about top-down politics. It’s about honesty and integrity. And if you’re going to accuse others of not being honest or having integrity, then you need to live up to what you expect out of others.
Here’s the thing I don’t understand. It takes two to disagree. If you disagree with the majority of State Central delegates, or State Convention delegates, or the thousands of activists looking for MORE coordination and assistance from the State Party, how can they be wrong and you right? That’s not criticism, it’s just another way of looking at the situation that might be better for your blood pressure. We care, OK?
And anyone who sends lies to liberal blogs in order to get the out there is scum. I didn’t take this off liberal blogs, I confirmed what they were saying, as in this was coming from the inside. Please try to keep up.
I am supporting anyone but Seifert.
I love how I am the bad guy in some people’s minds. You know what, you better hope I am as nuts as the peaders say I am, because if I am right, the party is going to fall real damn hard, and all the little minions who are there are going to get squashed under the enormous egos.
Jerry, once again, I have no clue what you’re really talking about, just nice to see you be contrarian as usual. Good to know you’re not slipping up.
First – You keep saying no one is listening to the grassroots.
What makes you think you speak for the grassroots.
You lost the major party elections you ran for.
Your candidates lost.
Heck, you couldn’t even convince your local folks to elect you as a delegate to State Central. Is it possible that maybe you are the one who is out of touch.
Also, would dirty tricks also involve leaking party documents to the star tribune?
or Running Op Eds in the Pioneer Press trashing the party.
Just curious where your draw the line between bad people and people you admire and support.
Andy didn’t leak anything to the Strib. I’m his girlfriend and probably most trusted confidant and I had to drag that information out of him. He did not leak any internal party documents.
Andy,
What in the hell makes you think that Republicans are leaking damaging information to liberal blogs so that we can damage fellow Republicans? It’s a little like circling the wagons only to shoot ourselves. Maybe you should talk to your local GOP reps (if you have any left up there) and ask them what kind of a leader Marty Siefert is. I have never seen any evidence that Marty is the kind of person to leak damaging information about people in his caucus. If you don’t have any evidence to support who is leaking what about whom, then maybe you should shut up about it.
Also, I love hearing you complain about the party elite. Isn’t your grandmother a long time State Central, District and State Convention delegate? She’s the very elite you’re complaining about. Andy, I think it’s great that you like politics — but you seem to always be negative about everyone in the GOP. Not that I think we should be electing Republicans simply because they have an R next to their name. But I also see nothing positive that can help the party and our candidates coming from this blog.
Amazing….I read comment after comment excoriating AAA for “attacking fellow Republicans” while they are totally oblivious that they are doing THE SAME DARNED THING and NO ONE condemns the whisperers. How many of you, who are upset with AAA, were upset over the Letterman cracks on Sarah and Willow Palin? How many of you who are here attacking AAA, thought that Letterman crossed a line? HOW ARE THESE ATTACKS ON LAURA BROD ANY DIFFERENT???????
LL
I don’t think I am being contrarian at all, certainly not to you. I think I’ve been totally consistent in saying that Republicans need to concentrate on finding the best conservative candidates they can with a realistic chance of winning election. Anybody and everybody that wants to help with that is a Republican, in my mind. You seem to want to throw anybody that doesn’t run right down your same viewpoint, or who makes one infraction of your rules (real or suspected), under the bus.
Example: Marty Seifert is far and away the leading candidate for Governor, as measured by the straw poll at State Central. He has earned it, as one of the most effective minority leaders we’ve had in a long time. He’s got our conservative values down pat, but also understands that you’ve got to win elections and you’ve got to have a majority to advance conservative principles. He’s an effective spokesperson and I would have loved to have him as Speaker of the House, but now we need a Governor. Look hard enough and you’ll find something wrong with every Republican. I’m not interested in looking much beyond principles, performance, character and electability. The rest is the job of the DFL.
Lady Logician,
I’d like to challenge you to name which Republicans are tearing Laura Brod apart. And I’d like proof they are doing this.
The link Andy discussed was from Brian Falldin’s blog. Brian is a DFL blogger with ties to a particular DFL candidate who’s also running for Governor.
Finally, the Brod and Palin comparison falls flat. Rep. Brod has never been portrayed as a stupid airhead with out-of-control children like Palin was portrayed. I do think the rumors about Rep. Brod are sexist and disgusting, but don’t make comparisons where there are none.
“Brian is a DFL blogger with ties to a particular DFL candidate who’s also running for Governor.”
And who might that be?
Best,
Brian Falldin
OK….I’m new here, but just how does one earn the right to be the GOP choice for gov? Isn’t that line if thinking that got us McCain in the last election?
Maybe Marty is above everything that is going on, but are you all sure someone in his committee or in the core of the party has not been learning from the Dem’s book of dirty tricks?
The MN GOP is a lost party in need of new leadership and the need to focus on the core conservative principles of family, small government, lower taxes. If it can’t do that this will be another all Dem control state after the next election.
just my two cents worth
The last time I looked it was the grass roots of the Party that selected the candidates, and that’s how we “got” McCain– he won the caucuses and primaries. Just because your guy didn’t win the nomination doesn’t mean that “the wrong people” chose him.
As for principles, feh. I’m tired of hearing it. Conservative principles and a dollar will get you a cup of coffee in a few places, nothing more. You win elections by winning elections and, if you do it right, you get a candidate and a majority that can actually move those principles into law. You can’t beat somebody with nobody. It’s easy to sit back and criticize the decisions made by the grassroots majority, if you’re one of the minority, but once the decision has been made you need to choose the Republican or the Democrat. That’s it, no third choices.
Chris dear – let me speak slower so that you can understand what I am saying….
I come HERE and I see people HERE taking the proprietor of THIS BLOG to task for attacking “fellow Republicans” when the people that I see HERE attacking the proprietor of this blog call themselves “republicans” and they are attacking a “fellow republican” and they don’t see the irony of the situation(or their hypocrisy) at all.
In other words I said nothing about the situation with Rep. Brod and the allegations that were made against her. Got it?????
LL
I happen to agree with Lady Logician:
http://www.brianfalldin.com/2009/07/strange-bedfellows/
I’ll say it again: I don’t give a rodent’s derriere about any of it– not the stuff about Laura Brod, not the stuff about Marty Seifert, and most certainly not the part about what some liberal blog may or may not take delight in saying about any of it. That’s their barn floor to play in, and Republicans ought to be above it. Seems like whenever some Republican makes a morally questionable choice, even 30 years ago, the Democrats are all aghast at it, followed almost immediately by round condemnation by fellow Republicans. But when a Democrat is caught with his pants down, literally, and Republicans call attention to it, Democrats defend the Democrat and excoriate Republicans for bringing up the tawdry subject! That’s not a double standard, that’s a triple or quadruple standard and “the only way to win is to not play.” We need to learn that.
Lady Logician,
What you’re seeing here is Andy Aplikowski attacking Marty Siefert for rumor mongering against Laura Brod and without any evidence, let alone proof, that Marty is spreading rumors about Brod.
As Republicans we have an obligation to not only be honest ourselves but to hold people on our side accountable for their honesty as well. I would not equate attacking Andy’s rumor-mongering with the attacks against Laura Brod. I hope you get that.
I guess Dusty Trice responded to Brian Falldin alright — check out his post here: http://www.dustytrice.com/?p=4234
Right?
Andy,
I just got a response from Rep. Marty Seifert. He’s denying everything.
http://www.brianfalldin.com/2009/07/seifert-responds-to-allegations/