Update: Please don’t get distracted thinking that I’m a huge supporter of Phoenix or anything, this post is about control and who has it. The grassroots controlled party OR people who look at us as an obstacle.

I was at the CD4 GOP convention Saturday. Well, I visited CD3, 5, and 4. But ended the day at CD4. Near the end, Pat Anderson announced that the MNGOP has already decided to hand over its database operations and ownership to outside group(s), that everyone running for state leadership agreed and that it was going to happen. She said this is exactly what the DFL does and its time for the MNGOP to do so as well. - I’d heard the rumors about this, and have even supported the idea in the past.

The idea is supposed to be along the line of “The Colorado Model” where business, owners, big donors, or other interest groups or associations, etc  (like the Chamber & MN Biz Partnership) and/or “Super PACs” take over  and run the database. They build a system (or buy one), clean up the data, and allow people to use it. Its a good model if you have a singular goal, or agreed upon terms. It works very well for the DFL because their base knows that a Democrat winning is the most important thing. We as Republicans, have more principled values, and winning isn’t always all that matters. Many believe some if not most Republicans in public office are no different than Democrats.

When it comes time for the DFL GOTV machine to kick into gear, they push straight ticket no ‘ifs, and’s or but’s about it. They don’t moan and kvetch over this guy or that gal that voted this way once or didn’t pay their BPOU the respect it thought it deserved. Nope, for the DFL, the only thing that matters is that (D) after the name on the ballot and their activists, volunteers, and GOTV goon squad will fight tooth and nail for each and every voter to cast their vote for the Democrat, no questions.

MNGOP activists don’t work that way. While we need to learn from many of the DFL’s tactics in operations, our activists are not lemmings or slaves. If you take a good honest look, the DFL is an anti-grassroots party. Their conventions have checks and balances built in to prevent “getting it wrong” and if they do, their endorsed candidate usually loses in the Primary anyways to who ever the Unions want. Heck, they have quotas to get elected Delegate, walking sub caucuses designed to derail proceedings from the floor of taking control of the business before the body.

But enough of why I am glad I am not a slave in the DFL party.

The 3rd party database model for the MNGOP is probably going to have a buy in process. So if a candidate wants to have the data, there will be a fee or commitment made. I’m not sure if that would be financial, or pledge, or what. But just because BPOU Chair from SD99 says so and so is good so send them the password (like we currently have), isn’t going to fly when someone else owns that data now.

There is apparently a growing desire to go with a 3rd party database  in the MNGOP. Meanwhile, there’s also chest thumping about fighting June Primary because it would allow the Chamber and rich people to undermine the “grassroots” endorsement process. 

Do you spot the huge problem that I do?

On the one hand we want to hand over control and ownership of our biggest resource (data) but on the other we don’t want to trust these very same people in candidate selection.

Why is this a problem? In the DFL, if a local BPOU or CD isn’t doing what it is told to and the DFL needs that District for their plan, they send in the unions or send the work through an outside group. One of their local volunteer leaders isn’t cutting it or doesn’t like the candidate, in comes the paid professional staffer to run local operations.

While I see the merits of that strategy when it comes to winning at all costs, I know that MNGOP activists would scream ‘top down’ and say that you are supposed to walk on the green side of sod not the roots. (attempt to be funny and clever. FAIL)

On a statewide basis this could work, I do believe we GOP activists have to approach endorsements with a much more, just let the primary sort it out” approach. Sorry, but 2 duds in a row and well, fool me once….. I do fully support the endorsement process for Congressional & Legislative races. Its just that a contest of “last man standing” (how I explain the Caucus/endorsement/Delegate selection process) to have 2000 people decide who is best to appeal to 2 million Minnesotans is proving its own faults. The only people to have had any electroal success statewide in Minnesota have run in spite of the objections of the grassroots, that can’t be ignored.

Here’s an example of why the 3rd party model has serious flaws.

DFL Senator Terry Bonnoff is supported by right leaning groups that are likely to have control of the new 3rd party owned database Pat Anderson mentioned on Saturday. The MN Chamber endorsed DFLer Bonoff in 2010 over Republican Liberty Caucus Chair Norann Dillion and again in 2012 over GOP grassroots endorsed David Gaither.

If you are naive enough to think that the people “allegedly” ready to spend their 3rd party war chests to fix our data problem, are going to give a crap if the Executive Committee from SD99 hates the chosen candidate…. Heck, GOP State Rep. Ernie Leidiger endorsed the DFL opponent for GOP Sen. Ortmann. That kind of crap doesn’t work in the business world, and chances are, the business community and professionals are not going to have much patience for the usual grassroots infighting. They will see it as unproductive and quickly solve the problem, and that won’t be finding a new candidate. That will be cutting the problem out of the loop.

Going forward, if the MN Chamber or 3rd party entity,  controls access to the database, what happens to the GOP endorsed candidate or primary winner is different then theirs? Who gets the data? On whose authority? And what if the BPOU doesn’t agree? Do they pull support or access if our guy beats their gal because they know our guy just can’t and/or shouldn’t win?

Think about this folks. You wanna hand over “the data” to the very people you don’t trust to pick the candidates. What happens when grassroots activists pick a candidate other than the Chamber does? Who gets the data? Look at it from their point of view, they have a vested interest in winning elections, not our principles or platform.

Phoenix is far from perfect. I get that. But the party owns it. The party controls it. And the party is responsible and held accountable by the grassroots.

Now let’s get in to the case for why we should stay with Phoenix.

We own it, for better or worse, but *WE* own it. The Party owns it and everything in it. No one can tell us what we can and cannot do with it, and more importantly, no one can tell us what we can do “to” it.

Short of someone finding about $1.5 million dollars laying around give to the party to buy a brand new system, to replace all our VOIP phones, servers, websites, and other things, (This is above and beyond the current debt) the only other options are the 3rd party “Chamber” model” or the RNC system. I’ve gone over some of the bad points above on the 3rd party model so let’s look at the RNC system.

I believe the RNC system is no longer called Voter Vault, its something like Data Center or what not. But here’s the big rub, scrapping Phoenix and going tot he RNC system doesn’t remove the Phoenix budget line item from the party’s budget. From what I understand, we don’t just plug in to some server in DC. Its a DC based system but run locally. Basically they wrote the software, and we have to run it here locally.  We would still have to run and maintain that data here. (Just like we are right now.) It is shared back and forth, but we would still need staff, servers, resources, and money to run the RNC system for just Minnesota.

The fact of the matter is, in some states or select Congressional Districts, yes the RNC helps and pitches in, but given the condition of the Republican Party of Minnesota compared to the footing of the DFL’s and the recent electoral calamities that we have put forth for statewide officer, the RNC wisely won’t waste resources here on a losing proposition. Nor should they in my opinion. They shouldn’t subsidize  poorly run and performing state parties. Its time for the grassroots to share some blame in our state party’s last 4 years. Everyone is great at pointing fingers until they get in front of a mirror.  I’ll save that for a later time, but the point is, we elected Carey, Sutton, and Brodkorb as well as endorsed Emmer & Bills. The results speak for themselves. So does that ash heap over there known as the party.

Frankly I am getting sick and tired of fighting over who to blame for what went right and what went wrong.

Unless Joe Mauer retires from Baseball to run against Mark Dayton, the RNC & Governor’s association are not going to even take a phone call from Minnesota. And if we still haven’t had anyone begin to start talking to the general public and not focussed entirely on GOP Delegates, until next May or June after the endorsement, they will block our phone number because that’s too late.

And even if Matt Birk does run against Al Franken and we have the name ID battle on the same page, the NRSC & RNC are not going to even consider spending a dime in Minnesota. Their logic firmly grounded in the 2012 US Senate results where the grassroots candidate had the worst election performance in modern history for a statewide candidate from a major party, and there have still not been one single set of reforms or at least mea culpa’s over the condition of the party or quality of the candidate. (And yes, I am looking at you grassroots)

In my opinion, the notion of “I hate Phoenix because it doesn’t do what I want so anything has to be better”, it is a lateral move at best, but one we would regret forever. 

Because the chance of a Republican winning statewide in 2014 appear to be, logically, somewhere between slim and fat chance. Its funny, because that’s about the same odds as us getting a bunch of big names in for fundraisers or for RNC staffers and national money to be airdropped in. So if we think that the RNC system we agreed to use, should be changed to do something that works for a BPOU or even if we at the State level want it to be able to perform some new specific function, the RNC isn’t going to change it just for us. Its a one size fits all solution and that’s a problem. Minnesota is a unique state.

Admittedly, I never seen or ever used the RNC system so maybe it is perfect. But what if it isn’t? What if it can’t do everything that Phoenix (whether it does it well or not) currently does for us? What if they don’t allow every single endorsed candidate to use it? During GOTV, I may or may not have seen  local volunteers deciding to add local candidates to GOTV calls. Some may have even  written the names of their County Commissioners into the script, or strayed from it in ways that would be, let’s just say, hard to explain to certain people. Some locals like to do things their own way, and more power to them, but when you buy in to someone else’s system, you work for them now. Its everything on the RNC’s terms. Go ask Bill Paulsen to tell you about the RNC… in case you missed his stump speech.

No matter whether we go 3rd party or RNC on a new database, we’d lose grassroots control and make the Republican Party at all levels virtually useless.

No more meaningful endorsements, no more database. Well what good is a state party with a 3rd party owned database who also controls the candidate selection? Do you think they will care if you endorsed someone else for Mayor, County Commissioner, or State House than they did? Do you think they would have left your phones on, if they knew you were going off script? No, they’d shut you down from DC. Your phones would go dead on GOTV weekend. There’s no incentive for big donors to give anymore. The State Party and all its affiliates would shrivel and die because, unfortunately, a platform is not enough to stand on let alone run a statewide organization on.

Plus, do you really think that they will actually give the grassroots access to the system? I’m guessing it would be read only and you won’t even be able to make changes if you find out someone is really a Democrat, but is marked as a Republican. Either way, they will have delays in updating as chances are it will be verified first. If you think Phoenix is slow, just wait until Minnesota is the lowest priority on that RNC data guy’s list and he  has a stack from every other purple or swing state ahead of Blue State Minnesota’s.

Just think about the logistics for a while folks because this will have lasting effects on the party. While we may enjoy conventions and monthly meetings, they will serve no real purpose. The people with the power and control will no longer be at those meetings.

So, on to the case for Phoenix. 

Since we own Phoenix, we can control not only who has access (as in candidates & BPOUs) but also how it works and what it can do. If there’s a problem or glitch, we can fix it. If it doesn’t do something we need it to, we can fix that. That’s something that will not be possible with the outsourcing options. Yes, it takes money to run our own database, and no it hasn’t been done that well. But just like we hastily and for suspect reasons went to Phoenix, change for change’s sake is not a good enough reason.

Phoenix isn’t perfect, it may not even be good, but its the best option we have to keeping grassroots control of our party. Its going to take work. Its going to take money and effort to get it better and the data better. But, that’s going to have to happen anyways. Someone will have to fix the data, the system, the question is, after its done, who has control of it?

The grassroots, or the people we are supped to be afraid of taking away our endorsement process?

Update 2: I’ve talked to a number of people today.  Contrary to what Ms. Anderson said, this is NOT a done deal and  most people are wondering who she was talking. Maybe this will make them realize that they shouldn’t trust her, but hey, that’s just me.

But there is something happening. And it has to. The question is about who controls controls access and how. Its become clear today that there are different tiers involved, and not everyone understand they aren’t at the head table.

I thought I had the full picture, but did not. Still don’t, but the more I learn the less worried I am. That being said, its a major change and people should be aware of what is happening.

Chose your party leaders wisely,.
I trust Keith Downey, Kelly Fenton, & Chris Fields to make the right call at the State Executive Committee level.
 

There’s a glimpse into the scam that is Minnesota’s election laws. Do you know that it is illegal to make your ballot in any such way as to make it identifiable. So like if you write your name in for a Judge or Soil and Dog Catcher race so you can go back and see if your ballot really counted? Yeah, that’s illegal. So is posting a picture of your ballot online or on the Facebook. Don’t do that!

Well, in the closest Minnesota election in quite some time, we see a good reason why I think ballots should be traceable. I believe there is stuffing of ballot boxes. A few votes here and there, those over votes, ext etc. Well, if there was a way to trace the ballot to the voter, we could prove it. But with our fraudster friendly laws, there is absolutely no way, especially when you have a Chief Election official who refuses to match the number of signatures with the number of actual ballots…. but I digress.

In the election of Rep. Franson (R) and challenger Cunniff (D) you have a slim margin of just 1 vote. Its in recount and litigation phase now and guess what. There was an error on election day and some voters were given the wrong ballots. So now 35 ballots will be drawn out at … (AHEM) “random”.

That means people who cast their votes will have their votes erased. They don’t get a redo and due to an error, their right to vote was thrown in the garbage.

ST. PAUL, Minn. – Minnesota’s closest legislative race is headed for court before it reaches a probable recount.

First-term Republican Rep. Mary Franson currently leads Democratic challenger Bob Cunniff by a single vote. But there was a counting error that could alter the margin. Douglas County auditor treasurer Charlene Rosenow says some voters received the wrong ballots on Election Day so 35 ballots are likely to be pulled at random before a pre-recount tally is certified.

Franson has asked a judge to get involved. A hearing on the lawmaker’s request was set for Monday afternoon.

Recounts are automatic when the difference between candidates is less than one-half of one percentage point. The manual recount is slated to start on Nov. 28.

Democrats have a 73-61 majority pending a reversal in the Franson-Cunniff race.

How would you like to be one of the people who is going to have their ballot thrown away?

This is why I believe we should not only have our own names or some identification on our ballots, not to mention run offs in Minnesota. Not the Communist instant run off voting, but in a case like this, rather than waste all this time and money recounting and suing, you have another election on the first Tuesday after a Monday in December between Franson & Cunniff.

Whenever anyone doesn’t get the 50% +1, you have a run off. Just think if in 2010 what would have happened if the December election (shudder) between Dayton and Emmer head to head with out any distractions or spoilers. Another examples is the 2008 Fanken Coleman race where 10′s of millions were spent on the recount and court battles, the process took months and months, imagine if we just had a run off 30 days later.

Just some humble proposals to be thrown out and fall on the deaf and defiant ears of the new ruling class of Minnesota.

Listen to last night’s Late Debate and Corey Sax displays the mindset perfectly.

I’ll have more later today or this weekend. It was a truly enlightening display of how the “liberty” folks entering the Republican Party don’t want that anchor around their voting hand of, you know, having to, dare I say it, vote for Republicans.

In the interview he said Tom Emmer wasn’t good enough for him…..

I’ll edit this clip out and pst later…. Truly priceless.

Renaissance |?ren??säns; -?zäns|- a revival of or renewed interest insomething

In 2008, Republicans picked the worst possible candidate to represent the party’s conservative desires and principles of limited government to run against Barrack Obama.

I know a lot of you like Tm Pawlenty, some out of genuine fondness others due to your paychecks being the result of his aspirations. Its fine, I understand he has his pros, but I come from a school of thought that you have to grade people on merits, not accomplishments, and never on what they “want” people to know about them (the spin). Their records but more importantly how they handled the responsibilities they had, are the true test of what they will actually be like in office.

I ask an honest question in hopes of honest introspection and analysis from you and the media.  Why is Tim Pawlenty being given a free pass on his abandonment of Minnesota and the MNGOP?

He spent more time in the last 15 months campaigning for Republicans in the other 49 states than he did in his 8 years as the Head of the Republican Party in Minnesota?

Can you imagine what Minnesota would actually look like politically if Tim Pawlenty was concerned with what Republicans in his own state cared about rather than cranking up his name ID nationally and getting Republicans elected everywhere but Minnesota?

The electoral accomplishments in the 2010 Minnesota Legislative elections happened in spite of Tim Pawlenty. And you can’t help but wonder if his own seat changing party hands has something to do with him fleebagging on us during the lameduck last Legislative session. He had one foot out the door when the heat in the kitchen was highest.

The true test of a candidate’s principles is if you would be upset if a Democrat supported a policy or signed a bill. On a ton of huge issues, Tim Pawlenty let down conservatives in his state who worked very hard to get him elected at the expense of other Republicans.

It was only after the era of Tim Pawlenty that Republicans regained the House majority they had when he first got elected. I’ve spent a lot of my blogging time highlighting how Minnesota came up on the short end of the stick when it came down to Pawlenty or the Republican party as a whole, on this here blog.

Is Minnesota and more importantly, the Republican Party of Minnesota better off after 8 years of Tim Pawlenty?

My answer is no. What’s yours?

Note: Who was the 1st major name to glom on to John McCain in 2008? Tim Pawlenty

Meet The Real Tim Pawlenty On Energy

The Link That Made My Head Explode – TPaw Jumps The Shark

The Era Of Tim Pawlenty Is Over – Big Government Republicans Need Not Apply

Oh heck, I created a special category for it. McPlenty. Browse away to see the critical side of view on Tim Pawlenty.

Lord knows you won’t see it from very many other people. I get a lot of crap for my haranguing of Tim Pawlenty, but at least I am consistent. Which is something Tim Pawlenty, his record, his cheerleaders and defenders, and his recent rhetorical renaissance can’t.

If you’ve ever been through an audit by a government entity, you know that they don’t except any gaps in documentation nor do they tolerate anything that can’t be easily verified.

But when it comes to elections in Minnesota, its best guess and fingers crossed.

I think it times to look at serious reforms to our election system and process. First of which would be to Amend the Constitution to make the SOS an appointed position with confirmation by the Senate. This would remove any chances of too clever by half Progressives who are part of a grand scheme to fix elections.

What’;s the best way to fix an election? Make damn sure there is no paper trail for them to follow.

If you sent Revenue Department Auditors to audit the election system, they’d be throwing red flag after red flag…. if it was a private business. But since its Government, no one dares to care if the numbers don’t add up and after a hard fought election, here we are unsure of what really happened.

Audit the Election!

Take a look at this and ask yourself in Northern Minnesota’s surprising election anomalies may be far more then human error. (this post was actually written 4 days into the future.

Here’s a couple of great posts from True North today.

Follow The Dayton Money

Includes a great chart showing exactly how the big government lefties are able to smear Tom Emmer non-stop.

Concerning Polls From 3 Weeks Out

This one has the historic polling for MN Governor’s races for the last few cycles. It shows how widely wrong the media gets it.

Don’t forget, the big government bailout left’s only chance to win is to attack Emmer. Emmer has the message and plan that most Minnesotans want the next Governor to implement. The only way their Government bailout sugar daddy can win is by demonizing Emmer and demoralizing the GOP base from showing up.

To an extent, its working. Please make sure you send these links to all your friends and family members. This is a turnout election. If everyone who believes in limited government and conservative solutions turns out and votes for Emmer, he wins, if we have a split base and some of you fall for the DFL ploy of Emmer kicks kittens and vote for Horner, you will give us Governor Dayton. (A lot of you voted for Bakley in 2008 and gave us Sen. Franken.)

Anyone who doesn’t vote for Emmer who has political views anywhere to the right of Stalin is an idiot. The Dayton slushfund and the allies in the biased MN press are doing everything they can to split our base. The point of the 3rd party in MN is to play spoiler and the media gives them all the free press in the world to split the GOP and limited government vote.

Please folks, now is the time to show up and volunteer. We can overcome the tens of millions that Dayton and his minions have throw against Tom Emmer, but we need to work. These posts above are useful info to show that the press is trying to project the results by demoralizing us. the chart of where the attack ad money is really coming from should help your friends who are swayed by deceit and lies figure out that the ads are not based in truth, but are the nastiest of tactics. Saying anything to get elected is the sign of a politician who cannot be trusted.

Please go here and find out where and how to help make sure Emmer wins.

I’m sure the casual observer of politics hasn’t caught it yet, but Democrats are in a bit of a pickle. You see, they have run the country and state of Minnesota “Legislatively” and in Congress respectively for the last 4 years. They mounted dishonest campaigns in 06 & 08 about being real fiscal stalwarts and better suited to operate Government in order to keep America and Minnesota running smoothly or get it back on track.

They won those elections on 2 points:

1. Republicans were acting like big government liberals, spending and allowing government to grow unchecked
2. Democrats used the Republicans’ straying from fiscal conservatism and out flanked Republicans to the right in campaigns and fooled voters into thinking Democrats were actually fiscally responsible and conservative.

Well, let’s just say the election chickens have come home to roost now with Democrats controlling Washington for 4 years, and the White House for the last 2. That’s resulted in the largest expansion of government spending, entitlements, and unfunded mandates in modern times, if not ever.

Their campaign promises have all gone unfulfilled. Their claims to be fiscally responsible and looking out for the little guys and gals were just propaganda to get control of government to force more people to be dependent on it. Why? Because when you have people relying on Government for daily basic needs, you can demonize any opponent talking of unsustainability and proper role of Government.

And that’s just what Democrats have done. When Congressmen like Bachmann, Kline, Paulsen, Boehner, Ryan, etc talk about record deficits and the need to reign in spending and government growth, they call them extreme obstructionists- the party of no…. When Gubernatorial candidates like Tom Emmer talk about reforming and streamlining government they hammer them about stripping “services” away from the poor victims and elude to corporatism and elitism.

But after years of failed liberal policies and one of the longest recessions in modern America (normally 14 months if memory serves, we’re going on 4 years), the American people are catching on the the idea that Government is not the gravitational center of the economy. Americans realize that Obama, Pelosi, Dayton, and Democrats in general are not only as far removed from Constitutional conservative government, but they are in fact non-violent enemies to the principles our country was founded on.

Personal responsibility, limited government, liberty, and freedoms are what allowed this nation to grow into the most powerful and productive society on Earth. It wasn’t Government programs or members of Congress who built this nation, it was the people. Democrats, deep down in their political hearts, oppose the people, either by individual efforts or banded together in groups or businesses, doing great things.

You see, to them, Government is the center of the universe. they believe in control and central planning. As much as they want to “spread the wealth around”, it isn’t to make everybody rich, its to spread the misery around to achieve control over the way of life and standard of living.

This recession which is about to be going on 4 years is not the result of conservative policies being fully implemented and having failed. Its the culmination of decades of liberal programs and mandates inflexed with spineless Republicans trying simply to put their own spin on the government interventions for political gain. They followed polls rather their principles.

No, Republicans are not excluded from blame for the 2007 recession, but they had nothing to do with why it has lasted this long. Democrats “inherited” the recession in late 2008, but did nothing to correct the errors that led to it. This was a Government induced recession.

High gas/energy prices, an inflated housing and financial bubble, and increased regulations and red tape all lead to this recession. The policies and legislation that led to those factors or prevented free market solutions to stave off the natural market corrections were not bred by conservative ideology. Liberalism is not a Democrat exclusive trait. Republicans can be liberals, but more importantly, due to the exponential growth of Government over decades, and the increasing dependency of people and businesses on Government and its bureaucracies, our economy was incapable of correcting itself as needed to limit the impact of the recession. Instead we’re seeing the recession of 2007 ripple on into 2010 with no real end in sight. While technically no longer a “recession” (at 1.5+/-% GDP growth) we’re clearly in a recovery-less economic malaise and no return to the economic levels we were at like normal.

Wow, so I haven’t blogged any long form rants in a while and as you can see, things are stacking up in my brain. Cribnotes:

• Republicans are to blame for this recession- BUT not for enacting conservative policies. Rather for failure to reform or repeal liberal ones. More importantly, their role in this recession was removed in November of 2008 when Obama and the Democrats used to mantra of being centrist conservatives to sweep the elections.
• Starting in January of 2009, Democrats took ownership of the recession. Yes, they did inherit a recession. But it wasn’t one created by conservative ideology. Heck, the Fed Chairman under Bush was reappointed by Obama and is doing more of what he did to meddle with the markets and attempt to control the economy from the marble offices of Washington.
• Democrats have done nothing to reverse course on terrible liberal policies that lead to exponential growth in government and reduction in true free markets and actual economic forces.
• We no longer live in a free economy, proof of that is that Government tells us what we can and cannot buy and when we don’t listen to their demands, and want to continue to have, say – the incandescent light bulb, they ban the sale of it.

If you think that banning normal lightbulbs is a conservative agenda item, you’re likely someone who has scrapped their Obama bumpersticker off with deep voter’s remorse. And that’s just one example of how Government is dictating what the economy does.

In 2006, and 2008, thanks to unprincipled Governing by Republicans, Democrats were able to bamboozle the American and Minnesotan voters into trusting them. They ran as conservative Democrats, but after the glitzy campign ads stopped airing and oaths were taken, all those promises were forgotten and it was back to the liberal status quo. (There’s lots of internal GOP crap that allowed this, but I’ve worn out my keyboard on this blog covering that)

It wasn’t conservative policies “that drove our economy into the ditch” as Democrats have been saying. And since January of 2009, if the economy really was in a ditch, why have the Democrats continued to pretend their plugin hybrid was a swamp buggy and continued to get further and further away from the pavement?

In the last 2 years Democrats have done nothing to stave off the recession and economic malaise, instead they’ve done more of the same on steroids. Massive wasteful spending, debt creation, dependency, regulatory burdens and uncertainty preventing prospective investment or attempts to recreate lost jobs.

Democrats may not have been in the White House when the recession started, but their policies were in place. Since taking charge of the Oval Office helm, they’ve actually made things worse while ticking off some agenda items and repaying some campaign debts.

They haven’t taken the task of governing responsibly.

When your family has faced tough times, huge fiscal challenges, or sudden responsibilities, (like far too many of us have lately) you’ve been forced to make changes in the way you do things.

When you are underwater in your mortgage, you don’t take out a second mortgage to add an addition.

When a family member loses their job and you need that income to make ends meet, you don’t run out and get a facelift or brand new timeshare.

When your healthcare expenses are getting out of hand, you don’t order up a cadillac plan and turn over control to people 1000′s of miles away.

When a family or business for that matter, faces tough times, they make choices based on what will fix the problem and if they don’t there are serious consequences. Short sighted cash back refinancing of a home, maxing out the credit cards, buying too big a house, taking a risky loan, buying too fancy a car, addiction to three $5+ a cup lattes from the local boutique status symbol bistro, or on the business side, taking a risk and expanding during a faux boom era. There’s lots of mistakes that led to people and businesses ending up underwater or in Chapter 11. When massive numbers of people and companies run out of money and lines of credit it creates a recession. People stop consuming, there’s no demand, hence no profits to pay people.

The economy is a multi-faceted machine with tons of gears and moving parts. It really is quite hard to cause a massive recession like we’re in. It doesn’t happen overnight and professionals should be able to see it coming. We’re a diverse enough economy that we can absorb high gas and energy prices. Amazingly we can handle a war now with out retooling everything for the effort.  We can survive turbulent stock markets. We can probably also deal with serious problems with the credit world………

But add all of those together, shadowed by the threat of further government intervention, takeovers, banning of consumer goods or industries altogether, tax hikes, and you have yourself what the economy of 2010 looks like.

OK, now I really need to sum this up. (or not)

The reality of today’s American economy in shambles – is not – the result of conservatism, in fact liberalism caused the various problems I just mentioned. Democrats run away from being called liberals, but demonize conservatives. They, like Obama this week, blame conservatives for problems caused by liberal ideas or people or bureaucracies. Barny Frank and Fannie and Freddie come to mind.

“Never let a crisis go to waste”

Here’s the rub, the economy is going to recover. It always does. The question is, when, but more importantly, what will it look like after all the manipulating and “fundamental transformation” that Obama and Democrats do? Why yes, they are kicking America when she is down. They are taking this crisis and using it as cover for changing America into something she was designed not to be.

They know that Americans will reject them if they are honest about this. They knew that in 2006 and 2008, if they ran as bold liberals hell bent on expanding government and trying to turn America into Europe or a socialist country, they’d be rejected at the polls. Well, in 2010, after 2 years of their “CHANGE” the voters have wised up, hence the new and improved Democrat campaign of 2010 where they’re sounding like conservatives.

I saw a snippet of Dayton’s new ad trying to pretend he’s not a trust fund baby, but rather a taxpayer watchdog and not a friend of the government bureaucrat. Its a lie, but he’s not alone. Taxin Tarryl Clark running in MN’s 6th Congressional District is also pretending she isn’t a tax and spend, grow and intervene liberal.

Why?

Because even Democrats know that a majority of Americans and Minnesotans reject liberalism at first glance. They have to hide what really makes up their political ideology and what their true intentions are. Their victories are based on misdirection and dishonesty. They just need to get elected, then they can go back to appeasing the special interests and trying to implement massive tax hikes and expansion of government. Because that’s what liberals do.

Anatomy of the smears

I wish the media would truly point this out. Instead, a Democrat or their slushfund special interest allies runs ads calling Emmer and conservatives extreme, it gets coverage. The TV anchors adopt the mantra of every time Emmer and Bachmann are mentioned, “extreme” is used to describe them. It starts with the Democrat candidates, its repeated by the so-called political professor experts the press relies on to lend credibility to their talking point shows, then the reporters and anchors adopt it as a middle name for the Republicans.

Now, after thousands of ads across the country and tons of focus groups, the Democrats realize that their “change” is going to lead to a voter backlash. Those “extreme” Republicans are actually more aligned with the majority of voters. And that means the Democrats will be removed from power if they continue to point out the other guy is more conservative. Hence, now after 2 years of unchecked tax and spend liberal big government policies, Democrats are trying to sound like the conservatives they just got done spending millions to bash.

Why yes, the Democrats are running from their own record.

I’m Andy Aplikowski, an American citizen fed up with the lies and dishonest tactics of the Democrats trying so desperately to destroy this great country, and I approve this message. Not paid for or approved by any party or candidate. This is just me getting upset with the political world around me and the terrible way in which things are manipulated by Democrats, bureaucrats, and the media.

I am Citizen

End rant, let me know if this needs more expansion, It is just shy of a novel, maybe I could get a publishing deal out of this……

Al Franken is a crazy kook fringe radically lefty. Period.

He does not represent Minnesota. He represents the radical left. He is not mainstream, oh sure, in terms of DFL leadership, he’s mainstream, but not in terms of Minnesota or America.

But he is championed by the Democrats.

Get the point yet?

Hopefully you and a majority of Americans do before their dangerous radical agenda to destroy what we know as America is fully implemented?

I’ve written 3 drafts on the Marty Seifert campaign smear this morning and each of them has turned into a novella/rant. So here’s the one point that I think is most important and why this was such a mistake of biblical proportions.

Let’s start off with a joke. Some people say it is really dangerous to stand between a politician and a TV News Camera. (drumroll)

The public is sick and tired of career politicians. We’re sick and tired of politicians who think that only they are qualified to be in office and make decisions that affect us all. We’re sick of politicians who think no price to win an election is to big, whether it be financial or ethical.

We’re sick of politicians who have the mindset that if you haven’t been in office, you just don’t understand what it takes to do the job. I’ve had quite a few arguments with various Republicans over the years about that very notion, that it takes 4 terms to even know how to be on this committee or that. They live and breathe in the mindset of the Legislature and see it more as a private fraternity then public service for the millions of Minnesotans.

The Tea Party movement as well as the general public’s distrust for career politicians who will do and say anything to win is why Seifert’s DWI smear letter will fail. If this – and what I am sure will be more nasty attacks in the next 7 days – manage to work and fool Emmer Delegates into thinking Tom isn’t worthy of the Republican endorsement, Seifert is going to get it.

But Seifert just proved he is exactly the kind of politician every one out in the real world who votes in November hates and will do just about everything they can to avoid voting for them. Heck, some may even show up to vote against him, whether Republican, Independent, or Democrat. People will come out and vote to teach some polticians a lesson.

Seifert hides behind the electability defense on this particular smear, but in the very attempt to sink his opponent’s ship, he managed to define himself as a selfish politician who cares more about himself winning then he does about the issues.

I’ve walked away from Republican politicians in election seasons for far less then this. My friends and supportive readers know me. Unlike many in this whole inter party political squabble stuff, I don’t get paid a dime. I do this out of the passion for our conservative principles to be the law of the land. I stand to gain absolutely nothing personally if Emmer wins, then having a Governor I can trust to make the right decisions. I believe in accountability and honesty. I believe in good people doing good things, not win at any cost.

Trust is the key. How can we trust a man who will politicize a tragedy for his own personal gain? How can we trust a guy who is going to do and say anything he has to to save his political career? How can we trust a guy who is willing to destroy people in order to maintain their seat at the power brokers’ table?

Its about trust and being able to look into someone’s eyes and believe the words coming out of their mouth. After this nasty attack, I can’t see myself ever being able to trust that it wouldn’t be me, or someone else who he’ll have to take out in order to shut us up if he disagrees.

I know, I’m supposed to just let this go, but I can’t stop thinking about it and typing. Its important to me, and gosh darn it, its a big F…ing deal if you can’t trust politicians. Trust me. TRUST ME. We have to be able to trust the people we endorse. A man who will do this is capable of anything.

That’s why our government and political system is so despised right now. Because people who’s careers and financial well being depend on then winning, not the principles and the issues that are best for the state and nation, drive them. They have to get this law passed, or win this election, so that the pay check comes, or the next candidate will hire them. Its not about the issues. Its simply about the power and or money.

There’s that joke, let’s see if I get it right: The second oldest profession in the world is politics and it closely resembles the oldest profession.

I’ve told sitting US Senators, a rockstar conservative Congresswoman, and a Governor that I can’t help their election efforts because I disagree with how they handle themselves with in the party or based on issue based principles. The scorched earth party politics end up eroding their own support before they even win any general election votes and the divide and conquer endorsement/convention strategy ends up driving people out of the volunteer base. Its a double losing proposition, but some don’t care because their name in the headlines and spotlights is more important. They’ll figure out another way to win the next round, its just important to win the battle today. They’ll worry about tomorrow later.

I honestly don’t know how some people sleep at night. I know seeing what some people do keeps me up at night.

Marty Seifert just doused the entire Republican base with kerosine and then sent his campaign staff out to sit in the weeds ready to ignite the fumes. He’s proven he is just a desperate politician who is clinging to the debris that is his sinking campaign ship, and instead of accepting defeat, he’s trying to sink the rescue boat.

Gosh dang it. Here is the 4th one of what was supposed to be short but here we go ranting on again post.

A career politician is not to be trusted, they will do and say anything to maintain power and control. Marty Seifert just proved that he is a career politician of the worst kind, a desperate one. I’m not saying that he singlehandedly doing all the negative stuff, but he surrounded himself with people who are pros are character destruction and is letting them do what they do best. In the end, the candidate is responsible for everything that his campaign does. Good or bad.

And when you have a code of ethics displayed on your website that says…

“Any Seifert for Governor campaign employee or member of the Seifert for Governor team that engages in negative campaign tactics of a personal nature against any opponent of either party will be fired or removed from the campaign should those charges be proven.”

… and then you send out a nasty letter like that and defend it, it just proves the point that you are not to be trusted. Your words, pledges, and codes mean nothing if they get in the way of what you want.