Former Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer beat Rep. Mark Olson for the HD16B Republican endorsement this weekend. Olson was not challenged because of liberal policies like the Override 6, but rather for personal and legal problems. Olson has been a solid conservative in the MN House, but his past problems did catch up to him and the 16B Republicans chose a different path.

Rep. Olson has not ruled out running as an independent.

The National Taxpayer’s Union is out with their latest non-partisan ratings for members of Congress. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R MN6) is at the head of the Minnesota class. 

Michele Bachmann (R MN6) - 86, A

The rest of Minnesota’s US House Delegation is as follows. 

John Kline (R MN2) - 82, B+

Jim Ramstad (R MN3) - 47, C-

Colin Peterson (D MN7) - 7, F

Keith Ellison (D MN5) - 6, F)

Jim Oberstar (D MN8) - 5, F

Betty McCollum (D MN4) - 3, F

Tim Walz (D MN1) - 3, F

And the Senate isn’t much better:

Norm Coleman (R) - 38, C-

Amy Klobuchar (D) - 5, F

I happened to be at a hockey tournament next to Eden Prairie High School this weekend, and happened to notice something 5:03 PM this evening (Sunday, March 2, 2008).

Bonoff is a DFLer running in Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District and State Legislator. Yep, her campaign decided to leave behind a few signs. The convention was held on Saturday, March 1, 2008. I’m sure if these were Republican signs that outrage would have overrun the sorosphere already.

Yes, that’s right, the Bonoff DFLers decided to leave behind a nugget of indoctrination for the high schoolers early Monday morning.

I hope all applicable janitorial services for removing the signs are charged appropriately.

State Representative Chris DeLaForest (R-Andover) announced today that he will not seek a fourth term in the Minnesota House of Representatives.  He cited the increasing difficulty in fairly balancing political, professional, and family commitments as the primary rationale for his decision.  “I’m just not in the same place I was six years ago.  Over time, it became exceedingly difficult meet my goals in these three areas.  I realized it was time for a change.”

He also thanked the citizens of District 49A for placing their trust in him for three terms.  “Serving my friends and neighbors in the Minnesota House was a wonderful, life-changing experience.  I am truly humbled to have had their strong support for the past six years.  While I have very much enjoyed elective office, it is now time for me to return to private life and begin the next chapter in my journey.”

Regarding future plans, DeLaForest spoke of completing his current term and then re-connecting with his wife, Karen, and sons Ben (6) and Will (3).  “My immediate focus is the current legislative session.  Once the session ends, I look forward to spending some time watching Little League, attending swimming lessons, and taking a much-needed family vacation to recharge my batteries and plot new goals.”

I live in Minnesota House District 51A which is basically the City of Blaine, minus 4 voting precincts. It was a Republican seat until we lost it as an open seat in 2006. I have been represented by a Education Minnesota plant since then, but luckily he doesn’t like it down at the Capital. It’s too political for him, so he’s not seeking reelection.

I’m the BPOU Chair for the Senate District 51 Republicans which covers Blaine, Spring Lake Park, Mounds View, and part of Fridley. And I am thrilled to say that we have 2 fantastic candidates running for the Republican nomination in HD51A.

I’m also the Vice Chair for Anoka County for the 6th Congressional Republicans. I was sent a request to find out who was running in each House District, GOP and DFL, and if there was an endorsement battle on our end, who we thought would win.

My reply to the part on who would win was:

NOT GOING TO DO IT. IT IS UP TO OUR DELEGATES TO DECIDE.
We have our Convention this Saturday, so you will have to wait.

It was a response others on the email much appreciated, Chair’s are not supposed to pick sides.

As BPOU Chair, I am not endorsing either candidate. I met with them and made sure they were fully prepared and qualified to both serve if elected and to run for the job and make sure they at least share the basic principles of the party. 4 years ago, I was being “groomed” if you will to run for office. Some people in 51A wanted me to run when our then Republican Representative Andy Westerberg was ready to step aside.

I met with people and realized I just am not able to do what it would take to run for office. Oh, I would love to serve in the Legislature, but I just don’t have the ability to take 5 months of the year off for session and the elections. I don’t like asking for money, nor do I like asking for money. Obviously, I am not a good campaigner, and I decided against it. (note: my time since on this blog has pretty much disqualified me from ever running for any office. Key example would be my run for State Executive Committee rep for the 6th, where my fellow Republicans ’swift boated’ me.) And since then, well, this blog has made me an opposition researcher’s dream, so it ain’t gonna happen.

Anyways, I have met with both Mr.’s Sanders and Bleess and ‘tried to scare them out of it. Not because they held bad positions on issues, but because I wanted to make sure we had a strong full time candidate running this time. Every now and then you get someone who wants to run for office. They assume it is easy and can do it on the side or balance their life and work around it. Most of the time when you say you’ll be working from March to November, 7 days a week, from sun up to midnight, you never hear from the people again. There had been quite a few like that in the last year or two.

Well, both Sanders and Bleess called back, and they have been busting their butts for weeks working the Delegates and Republicans in HD51A. We have our endorsing convention this Saturday, and it is a shame only one of them can win.

I’ve offered advice and impartial assistance to both of them, and have done as best as humanly possible to provide equal support and assistance. It is not my place to king-make.

If any one out there lives in HD51A we will be having a candidate meet and greet this Tuesday night at 7:30PM at Tasty Pizza. With the over exposure of the Presidential race we wanted to make sure these guys got a fair shake.

I believe it is very important for Party units to provide as much exposure for candidates with the Delegates as they can so that the Delegates can pick the best candidate. It is up to the candidates to win the nomination, it is just our job to make sure we provide as best a situation for them to do so. We set the stage, they have to deserve the standing ovation at the end.

Tim Sanders - Austin Bleess

This Saturday one of them will be endorsed at our convention in Mounds View and begin their journey to be the next Representative for HD51A at the Legislature.

Just crazy busy here folks trying to catch up on all the work I missed dealing with the mess that is Caucus, but trust me if I have time to sit down at a keyboard and write about what has been really bugging me lately, you will be …… well some people will be pleased, others pissed.

Is all that is required to be a good conservative to call yourself a Republican?

Comparison example: Is someone who simply goes to Church for an hour a week a good Catholic?

More later as time permits.

Huh? What is AAA talking about now? Has he officially gone nutter?

No, for a lot of you out there sending emails and sharing the pondering of just what the heck we are to do this election season, we need to remember all is not lost just because a Democrat in elephant’s clothing (that’s McCain) appears to be the presumptive nominee. (No the fat lady isn’t singing, but if Rudy does endorse McCain, she is warming up (regarding Romney there))

Reps. Bachmann and Kline are solid principled conservatives who do have tough reelections ahead of them. They will get little to zero national or state party help so we the grassroots will have to pick up that slack to carry them over the line.

With Rep. Ramstad hanging it up, we have a chance to get a real conservative there in the 3rd.

Democratic Rep. Walz,  is beatable in the 1st, he got lucky in 06. There are 2 guys taking a run at him, Sen. Dick Day (meh), and Brian Davis who reminds me A LOT of Bachmann.

The MN House is a target rich environment for Republicans. Well, there are so few Republicans, you couldn’t help but say that. Especially when the DFL admittedly overreached last session. There are 134 races across the state, and I know that each and every local Republican party BPOU and candidate would love your help.

So don’t take off your sneakers. Don’t pack up your bat and ball to go home. Get local. The House of Representatives both in Minnesota and in Washington are where you can really send a conservative message. They are called the People’s House because the are elected in smaller districts so they have to be better representative to the electorate.

That’s you my fellow conservatives. You are the electorate and have to bust your butt in order to get good conservatives elected so the agenda can be reflective of our common views. If you can’t live with the POTUS nominee, (and neither can I if it is McCain) then we will all have to find another great conservative to help get elected. Maybe our grassroots effort is focused on Congressional seats and MN House races.  You don’t have to help McCain, not matter how badly some people say you do. It is still America, and you can allow your principles to guide your decisions.

But you do have to help out the candidates who do represent the principles and values you hold dear. You can’t sit it out on them too. We did that in 2006, and look at the mess it created. What’s great is that there are a lot of good candidates out there. They don’t even have to be in your District for you to help them.

So let’s all take a deep breathe. McCain may get the nod, but that doesn’t mean principled conservatives can take the election off.  Oh, and if you aren’t one of the dozen or few people who listen to Sean hannity, don’t bother tuning in, he was on his knees today talking about he has been wrong and McCain has been right all along.  The voters spokeHannity said, we all have to shut up and support McCain. I couldn’t take anymore, so i flipped over to Medved….. I had to double check to see if my radio actually  responded because he too was  attacking Rush for not shutting up and selling his soul to support McCain.  That one lasted about 12.5 seconds before I just turned the radio off and listened to the whoosh of hot air blowing out of the vents in my truck.

In conclusion, you do not have to sell your soul and support McCain should he get the nod. Frankly, it isn’t over yet. 36% of the people who “SAY” they are Republicans for the Primary in the state that has one hell of a hard figuring out how to vote picked McCain by 5%. That ain’t a mandate, and it sure as hell ain’t enough for me to fawn all over McCain as some sort of gOD.

So what if I won’t be invited on those conference calls, or to the fancy parties. At least I still have my principles. And, I’ll make a far larger difference with my time, money, and effort in a more local race in the first place, and so can you. So no one can take their ball and go home. You don’t have to drink the McCain koolaid.

Get local. Go to Caucus. Get elected a Delegate. bust your arse for a good MN House candidate who is as conservative as can be. If that doesn’t work, no, you can’t go sit on the couch. Find a good conservative and help them.

(Yes, I purposely left Sen. Coleman off this list. More on that later, possibly)

(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.

So I guess all that great work to get rid of Sen. Dean Johnson was a waste.

Is Pawlenty going to have to call a second Special Session?

Our US Senators only managed to secure $195 million for the 35W bridge reconstruction. Of course there was plenty of money for light rail and hundreds of other pet pork projects, as the also secured $100 million for the social engineering projects of Central Cooridor and Northstar. Of course priorities like bridge safety take a back seat to social engineering and economic re-developement.

So it seems that state funding will be needed. Pawlenty may be forced to call another special session as the Fed money will likely be delayed. And well, that means a gas tax increase, doesn’t it?

Just look at what Rybak is saying around the county.

TRENTON, N.J. - Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak challenged the nation to “have the guts to do what we need to” to pay for bridge and infrastructure repairs.
“There’s something deeply wrong with a country that spends billions to destroy infrastructure halfway around the globe and billions to try to repair it and doesn’t stop a war that’s sucking cities dry across this country,” he said Friday, six weeks after an interstate highway bridge collapse in his city killed 13 people.

And

Rybak endorsed a federal gas tax increase matched by increased local spending.

“Because we will never get this done unless we do that,” Rybak said. “You have just seen a politician advocate more spending. That has to be done.”

Now that Rybak, a non-legislator that Pawlenty doesn’t really have any power over, is taking the guilt trip national, I am worried about the spine principles of Pawlenty.

(Since this draft began, Rybak beat me to the punch, and is trying to guilt Pawlenty into calling a special session. )

The DFL’s PR machine is very strong and diverse, and despite my Republican blogger friends’ confidence that Pawlenty can singlehandedly take them on, well, I don’t think any one person is that great. You will start to see pressure like never before. The DFL special interest groups will likely start running ads soon, the DFL officials will start doing barn storming runs around the state. The Mayors and County Commissioners are going to be screaming for LGA.

I’m willing to bet that a second special session is called.

Will Pawlenty trade a gas tax increase for an end to the DFL screaming and blaming him? I for one hope he reminds them of the $3 billion dollars of new spending that the Legislature spent this last session. All their LGA, transit, and transportation screaming didn’t seem that important to fund them at the time. They hitched most of that to tax increases, and Pawlenty rightly vetoed those measures.

So what has changed? A bridge fell? That means abandoning all principles and throwing more of the same into the mix? Diverting MORE money from roads and bridges to fund, subsidize, and study mass transit, while bridges and highways fall further behind the curve.

Let’s just get the facts our there before people try to confuse you.

$3.5 billion dollar increase in state spending in the 07-08 bienium. That was a 9.5% +/- increase.

There is currently a $370 million dollar surplus the Legislature will have at their disposal. (ugghh)

Now in that new story, you get to see what the DFL is going to push, Pawlenty blew the opportunity to deal with bridges, LGA, etc etc. You name it, the DFL wanted it. That’s why I was oppose from day one to a special session, especially before we even know what is needed fr the tragedies.

Rybak is out there saying what DFL leaders in the Legislature can’t He’s their spokeman on the guilt trip for a special session. St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman (DFL) is also trying to blame Pawlenty for the city’s huge budget deficeit.

Look Pawlenty opened the window for all this talk. He is still trying to get along with these Democrats. Look Mr. Governor, you have that (R) behind your name, you hold office in Minnesota, the DFL is never going to honestly negotiate with you. They are going to harpoon you in public, and blame you for all of their deficiencies.

I strongly encourage you to hold fast, and get back to your 2003 self. The State of Minnesota has a spending problem. It does too much, and ends up putting critical public needs like safe and adequate roads and bridges behind the socialist utopia of the DFL agenda.

With the state and nation’s economies on the brink of recessions, the last thing we need is higher taxes, and a bigger Government burden.

I strongly encourage you to go be with regular people as soon as possible. I am not talking about people at ceremonies or at tragedy sites. Go out and spend some time with us regular people who are busting our butts everyday to just get by. Sure, we don’t have the great tear jerking story. Ours is more of just trying to live our lives as best we can with out our Government doing us more harm.

We have our own problems to deal with, so why do we have to pay for yours (state Government misguided spending agendas for decades)?

You have a winning position to take that conservatives would love. What’s better is that it is exactly the kind of thing that could make more people realize they are not tax and spend liberals.

Get away from your advisors. Get away from your staff. Most importantly, get the heck away from those lobbyists. Come out and meet with us regular joes who have to live with all the terms of these upcoming negotiations.

Don’t we get a say too?