Race To The Right- Wrap Up
Posted by Andy on September 25th, 2005
I’d like to thank everyone for letting an amature like me share the booth with them. Tony and Marty were gracious hosts. Mitch and King are great co-guests. And Tom ‘the bomb’ is a great producer.
I had made only one trip to St. Cloud in the past that I can even remember and I choose not to talk about it due to the company I kept at that time. I underestimated the drive. Too much water and Diet Dew on the drive. It took me just over an hour to get there. But I navigated the town just fine, and had no problem locating the KNSI studio.
I was a little nervous sharing the airwaves with 4 great minds, but once it all started I felt I did alright. We were pretty tough on the 6th CD candidates. But I guess it is part of the radio gig. We have to sort through them and provide criticism in as constructive of ways as possible.
Most of the show was focussed on the 6th CD race, but we did spend a short time on the US Senate Race as well as the State elections like the Governor’s race and the legislature.
As for the DFL Senate candidates, Wetterling is a dud but would be the favored candidate if GOPers got to pick one. Doran switching to the Governor’s race seems odd, and will greatly change that race. Ciresi’s arrival is not a real threat, he has so much baggage from the tabacco lawsuit that he is easy pickins in a campaign. Klobuchar some felt was the most dangerous candidate. Some feel she can run on her tough on crime record, others felt she will be painted as a catch and release attourney. I did rip into Shudlick, so fun.
We did go into the State legislature a bit through out the show, mostly in regards to the incumbant Republicans seeking the 6th. There is a shared worry that there is an impending exudous of Republicans in the Legislature that is very troubling.
Everything in the next election will hinge on the Governor’s race. The Senate race will be the most watched, but Pawlenty’s fate will decide that of his fellow Republicans. I’m glad that the others do see that the MN House races are a HUGE part of Republicans once and for all ‘taking the state’. Pawlenty needs good supportive Republicans conservatives in order to be the Governor we want him to be. It was good to hear some one else has figured that out too.
I don’t quite know what to say about Jay Esmay’s call into the show. I’ve been trying to be fair and balanced to all the candidates on this blog, and I was attempting to on the show today. We were discussing Esmay and we kind of… were… well… tough on him. I think all is fair in ‘love and ploitics’. Maybe I was mis-stating his positions, but the others were not exactly on his side. I don’t remember the specific exchange, but I can say this. If you are ever a candidate for office, and someone is talking about you on the radio in unflattering ways, don’t call in unless they ask you to.
We were also tough on Knoblach. He has been very illusive to the public, and the people who do know his record in the legislature are concerned.
Ah, to be a fly on the wall during the off air moments. You wish.
All in all, it was so much fun. Marty was very impressive with my name at first. I was very grateful that he made sure he got it right. Double checked and everything. But as the show went on, he started slipping. Andy became Andrew. Andrew became Andre. Andre became Andrea. Then Andrea became Andry. I kept telling him tripple_a was fine, but he kept trying god bless him. Hey I can’t blame him, it took me years to get it right myself. Andy Aplikowski ain’t exactly a common name that rolls off the tongue.
Tony and I have not always, let’s just say, seen eye to eye. But he is a great radio guy, as well as a person. He is nothing like he comes across on the net. Mitch and King, come on, we all wish to be half the bloggers/radio guys they are. It was such an honor to share the airwaves.
Tony and Marty have a great thing going in St. Cloud. The show is well worth your time listening. They will be the Sunday show for the bloggers to get their fix.
The 5 of us even caught a bite to eat afterwards and continued the discussion. That would have made some great radio as well, but some things are better left to private.
I fear I may enjoy this radio thing now. My first experience was fun but was tainted by the Fair. This one was truly great fun. I could get into doing stuff like this. That is unless I sounded like the tool I think I did.
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September 25th, 2005 at 8:52 pm
How do you pronounce your name -
A plik KOW ski?
Andy shouldn’t be too hard.
Hopefully this one will be podcast.
Did you talk about the Plymouth race at all?
September 25th, 2005 at 8:53 pm
On the candidate for office and calling in…. I disagree with your advice. Call in when the radio hosts are ripping on you - and defend your record. That’s the best time to do it.
September 25th, 2005 at 9:10 pm
Yes to pronunciation.
You obviously didn’t listen.
No plymouth, I got enough on my plate already. Who is running?
Jay’s call was not good for him. That’s why I say that. It is advice for all.
September 25th, 2005 at 9:25 pm
Esmay called in because Marty said he “dodged a question”. Jay’s exact phrase to the screener: “Jay Esmay does not dodge a question.”
OK, but Marty clearly restated the question and STILL did not get a straight answer. Mitch was trying to clarify the question and give Jay a chance to get out of the jam but Jay was already in defensive mode and his inexperience prevented him from taking up the opportunity. In fact, Jay used the chance instead to try and mix it up more with us.
By the end of the call I think it was fair to say that Jay had not won anyone over with the exchange and a few listeners I have already talked to said the same.
This run may be a very good learning experience for Jay and he will be a kick ass candidate for Kleis’ seat in ‘06 after the nomination process.
September 25th, 2005 at 9:33 pm
Well Jay may not have had a good strategy for dealing with the call. I still think it’s good to call in - but you should be prepared to answer questions if you do. Practice on these things does improve your ability to campaign.
Is this podcast?
Check out Lloydletta’s Nooz - I’ve got lots of coverage of the Plymouth race there.
Who’s running:
http://lloydletta.blogspot.com/2005/09/sd-43-candidate-roster-whos-in-judy.html
Then there’s division in the Senate District - one of the co-chairs tried to remove the other co-chair - John Knight - for speaking out against the stadium tax.
The most outrageous quote in this letter is this:
“In spite of these discussions, you have continued to talk publicly against the levy of such a tax. While we recognise your personal right to be in opposition to that method of supporting a new Twins stadium, you have been told you cannot take this position publically without the backing of the Senate District Executive Committee. Because the SD is in support of Governor Tim Pawlenty and he is in favor of the tax, we cannot be opposed.”
Frank Weir, Co-Chair, Senate District 43 Republicans
Yup - a Republican committee attempting to remove a Republican officer for opposing a tax increase. Fact is stranger than fiction.
Image of Letter here:
http://lloydletta.blogspot.com/2005/09/nobody-expects-spanish-inquisition.html
Frank Weir is treasurer of Judy Johnson’s campaign. John Knight is also active with the campaign. Developer and former Twinsville and Urban Ventures lobbyist Bruce Lambrecht is out of the race.
John had been urging Judy Johnson to get into the race. He did tell me that if Judy wouldn’t run, and Lambrecht was running, he would run.
http://lloydletta.blogspot.com/2005/09/more-names-in-plymouth-race-judy.html
http://northstarliberty.blogspot.com/2005/09/focus-on-plymouth.html
43rd Senate District Republicans
John Knight and Frank Weir, Co-Chairs
PO Box 47611
Plymouth, MN 55441
August 12, 2005
Mr. John Knight
13511 Minnetonka Drive
Minnetonka, MN 55305
Dear John:
You have been spoken to by members of the Senate District Executive Committee and others concerning your use of the Senate District name when addressing various groups related to the new stadium and the additional taxes to be imposed on the residents of Hennepin County and have been told on numerous occasions that your position as an officer of the Senate District precludes you from using your personal position for talking against this issue. As an officer of the Senate District, you may only speak to those points upon which the Executive Committee has taken a published position. In spite of these discussions, you have continued to talk publicly against the levy of such a tax. While we recognise your personal right to be in opposition to that method of supporting a new Twins stadium, you have been told you cannot take this position publically without the backing of the Senate District Executive Committee. Because the SD is in support of Governor Tim Pawlenty and he is in favor of the tax, we cannot be opposed.
Secondly, you were very vocal about your support of Ron Carey to replace Ron Eibensteiner as the State Party Chair. Again, this was done without the support of the SD Exec Committee and you were also spoken to about your position in this matter. Once more, we will not tell you how to vote but we will insist that you function as a member of the Executive Committee and not go off on your own while a member of this committee.
Because of these repeated violations, the Senate District Executive Committee will be holding a hearing with the intent of removing you from office on Tuesday, August 30, 2005. You are entitled to have support to oppose these charges and a vote will be taken that evening on whether or not to remove you from your position of Co-Chair.
I have attached a partial description of the SD 43 Constitution with the specific paragraphs in red that allow the Executive Committee to use this procedure. Please let me know if you wish to contest these proceedings so we can also be prepared. Thanks.
Sincerely
Frank H Weir
Co-Chair, SD 43
CC: Senate District 43 Executive Committee
Account of Meeting:
http://lloydletta.blogspot.com/2005/09/martha-robertson-david-gaither-and.html
September 25th, 2005 at 9:48 pm
Tony,
Thanks again for the OP.
Problem is I asked Jay about that and he says that he is not going to run for it. He feels he is a federal level candidate.
September 25th, 2005 at 10:01 pm
Eva,
Are you Republican again?
First off, as a Senate District Chair, I cannot speak for the Senate Distict w/o their approval. Anything I say is entirely on my own fruition. (sp)
If Knight was speaking for the BPOU w/o permission, FOR THE BPOU, I agree he needs to go. Removing someone for that is not out of the ordinary.
Organized politics is a dirty game. Personalities play a huge part. I know this first hand. Some people (in multiple BPOUs that I have contact with, not just mine) are in it for themselves and often speak out of turn. More often than not, that comes back to bite them.
My (personal) view on all thestadiums is this. Not a single one should include a tax increase w/o taxpayer approval ( meaning referendum and voter approval( that is the law, and to skirt that would be wrong. But I am not against tax increases altogether. To be so would mean that no Republican could EVER support or back a school levy or local levy. That is just plain short sided and stupid.
Don’t hang a guy on backing Pawlenty, or Republicans (ahem, if you are one today) for backing the Republican Governor’s initiatives.
As per the Vikes Stadium:
I live in Blaine, and I welcome the Vikes. BUT, and I mean BUT, you pay, or it is our stadium. I absolutely oppose building a stadium (or building for any other business) and simply turning over the keys with out any revenue sharing.
The AAA stadium plans are:
1) The State/County?City contribute to the stadium and keep it. They own it and the Vikes only lease it. They have no control, and are simply tenants.
2) The State “loans” the money for the stadium (ONLY!) to the Vikes at a low to no interest rate. Something like 2% for 20 years. That is an irresisatble offer for a good business man. The Vikes could be the ‘owners’, and the State gets paid back.
Those are my humble opinions, but I feel are sensible ones.
September 25th, 2005 at 10:14 pm
I went to the hearing on Knight’s removal. I testified at that hearing that I was unaware that Knight was a Senate District Republican Co-chair until he told me about this issue. When he asked me to come and testify on his behalf, I told him, I wasn’t sure I’d be helpful - because I wasn’t all that popular in some republican circles.
When I did a lexis nexus search on John Knight, I did find an article which described a stadium tax opponents meeting in Anoka County - and Knight was quoted - and the article described Knight as a Senate District 43 co-chair. It was not written as if Knight was speaking on behalf of the SD.
I doubt the Twins or the Vikes would accept your plans.
September 25th, 2005 at 11:18 pm
People that I know who listened to Esmay said that he came across as agressive and fearless, and that the interview improved their perceptions of him. My only problem with him is he supports the assualt weapons ban, otherwise I tend to like him. However, I think that he should take a humble pill and run at the state level once or twice, if only to meet delegates and earn their respect.
September 26th, 2005 at 7:03 am
[...] Tony has the Podcast up for the show I was part of yesterday. [...]
September 26th, 2005 at 9:16 am
I personally liked the fact that Jay called and answered (or dodged, as the case may be) the questions you had and tried to correct (or reinforce) your opinions of his stances. One thing Republicans tend to do is to let someone else define them, and I thought Jay’s refusal to let you guys on the radio define him was a good thing, whether you liked his positions or not. This is his first campaign, and has the right to make what the professional politician may feel are mistakes. He may need a humble pill or two, (those of us who went to his school when it was tough also tend to need them) but he would be a formitable representative if he were ever able to be elected. It is his electability that I worry about.
September 26th, 2005 at 8:56 pm
Andy - very interesting assessment of Michele Bachmann. I’ve quoted it over on Dump Bachmann. She does constantly claim to be the victim.
I haven’t listened to the whole podcast, but will listen to Jay’s call. That sounded interesting.
It’s hard to tell who is speaking. I could tell that was you talking about the 6th District GOP insiders - because you are the only one who would know about that.
September 28th, 2005 at 2:57 am
I listened to Jay Esmay’s call. I think he expressed himself well. He put Mitch Berg in his place.
September 28th, 2005 at 9:09 am
Oh please Eva. You wouldn’t know what it is like being put in your place if it happened to you. Oh wait it happens daily to you and you don’t know.
And I think you have all of our voices confused.
October 4th, 2005 at 3:38 pm
[...] I think this is right up the alley of the anonymous Professor X from my Race to the Right appearance 2 weekends ago. He was the guy saying that the military has a radio transmitter of something that caused/steered Katrina into New Orleans to “get the poor people out.” (There is a podcast, I’ll try to issolate the segment and post the link tonight. Schemes to Control the Weather Clouded by Failure [...]