defy credibility.
Like, this!
Restoring Fiscal Discipline
Reckless Washington spending and continued taxpayer bailouts are threatening the future of our country and saddling our children and grandchildren with record debt.
What makes that statement defy credibility, is the "reckless spending" of taxpayer money that Paulsen has spent - on himself. Paulsen got called out on the carpet for his excessive spending on his taxpayer-paid mailers not only in a Strib Letter To The Editor, but across this great country - from the Baltimore Sun to the Witchia Eagle to the Las Vegas Review-Journal to the.... well, a LOT of places.
The Hendersonville, North Carolina Times-News specifically took Paulsen to task:
The idea that a representative would use as much as one third of his office budget, money meant to be spent in ways that benefit constituents, on thinly veiled re-election entreaties, is unconscionable. It's an inappropriate use of the funds, and it presents an unfair advantage for incumbents.
Such spending should be eliminated. If politicians want to send glossy, self-promoting pamphlets about themselves, they can pay for them themselves.
Indeed. And it's not as if Paulsen couldn't spend his own cash on himself; here's what his website proudly proclaims:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 14, 2010
Eden Prairie, MN - Congressman Erik Paulsen (MN-03) raised $379,862 during the second quarter of 2010 to give his re-election campaign a total of $1,347,000 cash on hand.
"It is clear my message of fiscal discipline and job growth is certainly resonating with people in the 3rd District," said Paulsen. "I will continue to work hard every day to put a lid on excessive government spending and push for greater economic prosperity for all Minnesotans. I also want to thank my campaign volunteers, who are working very hard to promote our grassroots effort. Now, with this level of financial support, we can make sure our message is heard."
To date, Paulsen has raised $1.9 million during the 2010 election cycle.
Hmmm... Paulsen, sitting on $1.3 million of campaign cash... yet out of the 435 Members Of Congress, Paulsen spent more taxpayer dough "on thinly veiled re-election entreaties" than 432? Yes, in total mailer spending, at the time of that editorial, only 2 Members Of Congress had spent more than Postage-Stamp Paulsen.
And some people actually wonder why I say that these days, GOP stands for Greed Over Principles??!?
Now let's take a look at GOPer endorsed Candidate for State House in 42-A, Kirk Stensrud:
Minnesota families are making tough choices every day. Let's elect a representative who is willing to do the same for our state!
* Not beholding to special interests groups or supporters who continue to put us into debt and stifle our economy.
Now, it's not really realistic to expect GOPer Endorsed Candidate Kirk Stensrud to criticise the State GOP's deficit spending; the State GOP has used that deficit spending to mail at least 3 negative "hit" pieces (that I know of) on his opponent - so far. The State GOP's deficit spending sure is working for Kirk Stensrud!
Of course, to believe GOPer Candidate Kirk Stensrud, one would also have to believe that the State GOP isn't a "special interest group" or, after sending all those negative "hit" pieces against his opponent, a "supporter"....
Here's what GOPer Endorsed State Senator David Hann's website has to say:
MN State Senator David Hann tells what the state must do to live within its means during this time of economic downturn.
Now, one presumably will NOT hear GOPer David Hann criticize the State GOP for "not living within its means during this time of economic downturn" -- he's probably hoping that the State GOP spends some o' that borrowed dough for a negative "hit" piece or three on his opponent!
GOPer Endorsed State Rep Jenifer Loon?
"I believe our government needs the same kind of fiscal discipline Eden Prairie families are applying to their own budgets, and must live within its means."
Does anyone really expect GOPer Loon to say:
"I believe our State GOP needs the same kind of fiscal discipline Eden Prairie families are applying to their own budgets, and must live within its means."
I sure don't.
GOPer Endorsed Candidate for Mayor, Jon Duckstad, apparently doesn't even know what "deficit spending" is; see "Professor Duckstad Flunks Econ. 101". Yet Duckstad's website chimes in with the same tired tripe, too:
"If our citizens are enduring wage freezes, layoffs and their own belt-tightening budgets, then the city should do likewise.
Let's keep Eden Prairie on the right track with common sense leadership and responsible spending."
Go with that, Professor. One can hardly expect GOPer Endorsed Candidate For Mayor Duckstad to say the following, can we?
"If our citizens are enduring wage freezes, layoffs and their own belt-tightening budgets, then the State GOP should do likewise.
Let's get the State GOP back on track with common sense leadership and responsible spending."
Now we're going to look at what GOPer Endorsed Candidate for City Council Donna Azarian's website has to say, but first I have to remind our Gentle Readers of Azrian's blatant cut 'n paste from disgraced and fellow GOPer Endorsed Mayor Phil Young. So the question must be asked: is it real, or is it Azarian? Anyway, this is from "her" website:
Using Money Wisely: We can't afford to spend more than we have and neither should government.
And it's pretty clear with Cut 'n Paste Donna, that the only way SHE'D say....
Using Money Wisely: We can't afford to spend more than we have and neither should the State GOP.
...is if GOP "Leadership" told her to say it. And, Gentle Readers, you know - KNOW - that's not going to happen.
Why?
Well, I'll say it again:
Kicking the can down the road is the way today's GOP "leadership" operates, and its Today's Example Of "Republicans Believe In Fiscal Responsibility (Except When They Don't)."
And it's also another example of why reasonable people can no longer reasonably believe anything GOP "Leadership" says - especially their endorsed candidates.
