Last Saturday, while Guest Hosting "Radio Cafe With Cathy Hauser," Erik Hare and I talked about Professor Frankfurt's book ("On Bullsh*t"), Erik's post over at Barataria, this post (and the subsequent comments!), the media's role in propagating/covering BS, and how BS seems to be the modus operandi of today's Republican Party.
Last July, we chronicled Steele County Republican Party Co-Chair Dave Thul and his dirty tricks - in Part 1 and in Part 2 and in Part 3 and in Part 4.
From "Part 2" --
And Steele County Republican Party Co-Chair Dave Thul's allegation regarding the picture is just as bogus, as I (tried) to explain to Steele County Republican Party Co-Chair Dave Thul last week; the sign does NOT read "Enduring Freedom Veterans" followed by "for Kerry" - the sign reas "Enduring Freedom" followed by "Veterans for Kerry."
From "Part 4: --
Yes, gentle readers, that's Steele County Republican Party Co-Chair Dave Thul calling Congressman Tim Walz a "phony soldier." And that BS about the photograph? COMPLETE BS. Of course, would anyone expect anything else from the party of Tony Sutton and Michael Brodkorb?
From an email I sent to Dave Thul on July 13th, 2009 --
> > > Oh - and you should know, in that sign? The bottom says "Veterans
> > > For Kerry" which was an organized group of Veterans supporting John
> > > Kerry. It included a Swift Boat Captain that now resides in Eden
> > > Prairie.
> > >
> > >
> > > While YOU seem to claim that sign reads "Enduring Freedom Veterans"
> > > I'm guessing the fact that there was a "Veterans For Kerry" group
> > > blows a huge hole in the story Michael Brodkorb loves to spin.
That was last July.
What did FORMER Steele County Republican Party Co-Chair, and NOW GOP Endorsed Candidate for House District 26-A post on his blog, last week?
And after 2 1/2 years of asking, neither Rep Walz, his staff, or any liberal blogger have been able to explain to me why Walz claimed to be an 'Enduring Freedom Veteran" back in 2004 in this picture- (picture, below the fold)
BULLSH*T. Complete and utter BULLSH*T.
Can't call what Dave Thul wrote a "lie," because it is far beyond lying; as Erik asked:
Is it really a lie when the person making an outrageous statement doesn't actually care if it's the truth or not?
When they don't care they are "bullsh*tters" - because they simply don't care if what they say (or, as in Thul's case, write) is true or not. GOPers don't care if what they say/write is true or not; they only care that the voter thinks it's true.
And that's why the GOP's newly endorsed candidate for House District 26-A, Dave Thul, is Today's Example Of Why Reasonable People Can No Longer Reasonably Assume GOPers Are Telling The Truth.
... "A Peek Through The Flaps Of The Small Tent Party"
Part 1 is here; Part 2 (with pictures!) is here. And I know I'm a day late with Part 3, but I thought last Saturday's post about the Strib leaving out Emmer's offensive quote ("I don't think you can call yourself a freedom-loving American and be a Democrat." -- Tom Emmer, 9-26-09) was too important to ignore. The Strib has a long history of carrying water for GOPers; Strib Reporter Repeater Kevin Diaz bein' the most notable of late.
It's important to note that at Sloganville (the GOPer State Convention), up was down, war is peace, and George Orwell was spinning in his grave at the trash the GOPers spewed. For instance, as noted by Big E, GOPers are continuing the long-debunked "Normie wuz robbed!!!" meme - and because of the pounding of that meme by GOPer Blowhards, the "base" actually still believes that.
Emmer ran through the pre-endorsement process as an "outsider" taking on "the establishment" even though his campaign staff was filled with plenty of "insider" staffers, such as former Bachmann Political Director Jack Tomczak. And Emmer's pick for running mate - Annette Meeks - is the ultimate insider, as noted earlier today by MPP's Joe Bodell.
So, I'm down at GOPer Sloganville, and I get the email that "@MnGOPInfo" is following me on Twitter. (FYI - I'm at @TwoPuttTommy - hint, HINT!!!) Initially, I figure it's just another one o' MudSlingerMike'sastroturf "MOB" groups, based on the name. But, what the (cheney) - ya never know, "right"? So, I always check 'em out, before hittin' the ol' Twitter "Follow" button.
And, what to my wondering eyes should appear??!?
Go look!!!
If you're on Twitter (and if you're reading this, you'd BETTER be), go to "@MnGOPInfo" and click "follow." Then, go to www.MnGOP.Info and add 'em to your RSS Feed.
It seems that a few folk other than ol' MudSlingerMike attended the prestigious Limbaugh Institute of Modifying Policy - DEMONrats, Independents and Commies Keepout....
But, to Brodkorb's chagrin, they just might beat the ol' MudSlinger at his own game!
... "A Peak Through The Flaps Of The Small Tent Party"
Part 1 is here. In part 2, we'll talk briefly about Day 2 (more, next Monday) - plus, there's some pictures below the fold!!!
On Friday, Tom Emmer was working the delegates over by Vendor Row; he saw me and said: "Hey, TwoPutt!" - which explains one picture (below the fold!). I've talked to Emmer several times over the last many months; like at last October at the Veterans Protest outside of the GOPer Trial-Run Convention in St. Paul; in the "Spin Room" after the Minnesota News Council/League of Women Voters Guv Debate in January; at the GOPer SD-42 Caucus in February (where I met his wife, Jacquie); and those are just off-the-top...
The thing about Emmer, is - just like Wellstone; just like Ventura; hey - just like Tommy Rukavina!!! --- when you ask Emmer a question you get an answer. You may not like the answer, but you get one and it's NOT an answer based upon what you want to hear -- it's based upon what they think.
And a LOT of voters like that, in a candidate.
That said, Emmer also - often! - says some really, Really, REALLY polarizing things, such as:
"I don't think you can call yourself a freedom-loving American and be a Democrat." -- Tom Emmer, 9-26-09 (MarshallIndependent.com)
So, can a guy like Emmer, saying stuff like that, really, Really, REALLY get elected?
"Children who are victims of failed personal responsibility are not my problem, nor are they the problem for our government." -- Majority Leader Tim Pawlenty, April 2001 - as quoted in the Aitkin Independent Newspaper
More, on Monday, and enjoy the pics below!
Oh - and the slogan of the day, at Sloganville, was:
... "A Peak Through The Flaps Of The Small Tent Party"
I'll start this post out dealing with the Fear Factor! As expected yesterday, Minnesota's GOPers weren't gonna give the ol' TwoPutter Media Credentials. But, that's no surprise; they didn't credential The UpTake, either. As a matter o' fact, the MN GOP is none-too-keen about letting "just anyone in" to see the goings ons o' their party; no one - and I mean NO ONE - can wander on in and watch how The Small Tent Party conducts their business, without bein' approved to do said watching.
One wonders what would happen, were a teacher to bring a coupla kids down to the Mpls Convention Center, for a teachable moment about democracy - GOPer Style. I'm guessing it would be a real teachable moment; GOPers refusing school kids to watch 'em in action!!!
Compare/contrast with the DFL's "Open Door - Open Look" policy in Duluth...which explains a lot about the difference between parties. Well, the average DFLer's "Open Mind" and average GOPer's "Closed Mind" does, too.
Here's the tweet, about my exchange with MN GOP Communications Director Mark Drake concerning my Media Credentials:
Drake: "U didn't rgstr in time" Me: "What was deadline?" Drake: "Didn't u get my memo?" Me: "U r a funny guy, Mark"
#mngop10 #Stribpol
about 14 hours ago via web
We'll post a whole buncha more tweets, down below the fold!
Getting back to Sloganville - apparently, judging by the "speeches" by GOPer Candidates and almost all of the Delegates and Alternates I talked with, the main qualification for elective office is "who loves freedom and liberty and hates tyranny more" and who hates "the direction our country is headed" the most. They all want to "cut gubmint spending" and "shrink gubmint" - although the GOPer Sloganeers don't talk much about what they'll whack once they get back power. Presumably, everything is on the table. Well, except Defense, I guess, because they're all "strong" on National Defense.
Pretty hard to be "strong" on National Defense whilst whacking a National Defense Budget that spends more than....well, probably the rest of the world combined. Nope! Can't whack that!!!
And Veterans, apparently, can't be whacked either. Here's a snippet from that notoriously liberal/leftist/socialist America-hating dam-near commie rag, The Moonie Washington Times:
On last Tuesday, I called the MN GOP to get Media Credentials for their State Convention; the nice person that answered the phone told me to talk to Mark Drake and gave me Mark's email and patched me through to Mark's voicemail. So, I left a message and sent an email. Didn't hear back. So I called and emailed again yesterday - and didn't hear back. So I emailed and called again today - and haven't heard back.
So, will the GOPers give the ol' TwoPutter media credentials?
Well, if The UpTake is any indication, don't bet on it!
Take a look at what The UpTake.org posted earlier today:
The other day, the MN GOP got its undies in a bunch over some money Charlie Rangel (D-NY) gave to Minnesota Democrats Betty McCollum, Keith Ellison, Tim Walz, and Al Franken. According to MudSlingerMike's spokestool Luke Hellier at Minnesota Democrats Exposed, here's the breakdown:
Donations To Minnesota Democrats From Rangel's National Leadership PAC:
Tim Walz Received $15,000 In 2006 & 2008. (OpenSecrets.org, Accessed February 26, 2010)
Al Franken Received $10,000 In 2008. (OpenSecrets.org, Accessed February 26, 2010)
Keith Ellison Received $7,000 In 2006. (OpenSecrets.org, Accessed February 26, 2010)
Betty McCollum Received $5,000 In 2000. (OpenSecrets.org, Accessed February 26, 2010)
Now, there's a reason I always say "Hypocrisy, Thy Party Is GOP" - and here's today's example.
And here's a cut 'n paste about merely one example of some really, Really, REALLY tainted dough ol' Smokescreen, who was essentially court-certified as The Fourth Most Corrupt Senator, took:
Norm Coleman got dirty money from Alaska
The Big E's picture
Submitted by The Big E on October 5, 2007 - 11:40am.
Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) has received $6,000 from VECO Corp executives. Norm may complain about Al Franken getting Hollywood money, but Norm is flush with dirty Alaskan oil money.
.
.
.
VECO founder Bill Allen and former company vice president Rick Smith have pleaded guilty to bribing public officials. They also admitted running a company "special bonus program" that steered money to favored candidates, violated federal tax laws and sent untold amounts of corporate money into political coffers.
...
Coleman's office said his campaign books were closed and the money was already spent. (MnBlue.com)
OK, "Coleman's office said..." Hmmm - I wonder who at Coleman's office said that? Thank God for google!
Coleman spokesman Mark Drake said the Minnesota senator is rejecting Democrats' calls that he donate to charity an amount equal to the $6,000 that his campaign got from Allen, Smith and two other Veco executives on July 9, 2002, because that money "has been spent and is not an issue." (AnchorageDailyNews.com)
Hmmm...hmmm...Mark Drake....Mark Drake.... Hey! Is that THIS "Mark Drake"??!?
Communications
Mark Drake
Communications Director
mhd@mngop.com
(MnGOP.com)
So, the same "Mark Drake" that defended Norm Coleman over campaign donations, is now the Communications Director for a GOP that is demanding that some Democrats do what Coleman wouldn't??!?
How can you tell when a Republican is lying? In new media terms it's when they type something on their keyboard. The Fightin' 101st keyboard wing of the Minnesota Republican Party, Minnesota Democrats Exposed, is at it again. This time they are spreading a lie that MN Secretary of State Mark Ritchie was Al Franken's guest at the State of the Union.
I personally know this to be a lie because I am going to be talking to Franni Franken about her experience at the SOTU. Aaron Landry has the scoop:
The Minnesota GOP has been shopping around the lie that Mark Ritchie was Al Franken's "guest" at the State of the Union last night. Of course, it's completely false. That doesn't stop Luke Hellier, however:
He links to this piece with the Politico which says:
Did Michael Brodkorb call someone at Politico trying to plant this lie? Was it Luke Hellier?
Politico is not known for it's responsible journalism. They are perfectly happy citing single anonymous sources if the news is breathless enough.
Will Luke Hellier have 2nd or 3rd degree burns from his pants catching on fire?
KSTP filmed and posted on their website parts of Mark Dayton's campaign kickoff speech. The film also shows the reaction of GOP Deputy Chair Michael Brodkorb to Dayton's speech. Brodkorb starts out by saying that Dayton has an inability to answer questions from the press. Good grief, he doesn't have an inability. He probably has a distrust of the press. Who could blame him for that? I wouldn't talk to them either. Besides, Dayton had to be in Duluth by noon to start his 87 counties in 87 days campaign tour. That's more important than the nasty questions some reporters have a propensity to ask.
Brodkorb then further shows us what an unpleasant character he has by saying Dayton displayed erratic behavior in Washington because he was the only senator to close his office during a terroristic threat. I suspect Brodkorb knows the true story about that but his Republican agenda insists that he not reveal the truth. So I'll do it.
The legislature was not in session. It was in recess. All the other senators left their staff behind to finish things up before the next session. There was a very serious terroristic threat. The question is not why Dayton closed his Washington office and sent his staff to carry on in Minnesota. The question is why none of the other senators thought that highly of their staff. Did they think their staff was expendable? The parents of Dayton's young staffers were grateful to him for keeping their kids safe. Perhaps Mr. Brodkorb would like to send his kids into the middle of a threatening situation. Of course we already know that Brodkorb is neither compassionate nor caring and only wishes to degrade his betters.
Let's look further into Brodkorb's hateful statements. He's certainly not a person to display random acts of kindness. He next states that Dayton called himself a failure as a senator. Wrong again, Brodkorb. He didn't just give himself an F. He gave all the senators an F because they didn't accomplish anything. There's a big difference there if you get the story right. Right, Brodkorb?
So, Brodkorb, you need to read a few things so that you can be better informed before you go shooting horrible words off your hateful tongue. Read what Senator Byrd had to say about Dayton closing his office.
Byrd Backs Dayton's Decision to Close Office
AP | Oct 15 2004
WASHINGTON - The Senate's most senior member on Thursday defended Sen. Mark Dayton's decision to close his Washington office over concerns about a terrorist attack.
"Senator Dayton took this precautionary step based on his conscience and his responsibility to his staff," said Sen. Robert Byrd, an eight-term Democratic senator from West Virginia. "I commend him."
Byrd, 86, said in a statement that law enforcement and intelligence experts have warned senators about increased threats to the Capitol in recent weeks. "They have urged senators to be prepared to have their staffs work from alternate locations," Byrd said. "Senators ought not take these warnings lightly. And those senators who put in place prudent security measures should not be mocked."
Mark Dayton is once again seen as a conscientious man with a deep integrity while you, Brodkorb, are now seen as a gossip-monger who either doesn't bother to research the true story or knows the story but won't reveal it because you'd rather attempt to destroy a kind and compassionate man for the sake of the misguided GOP.
Perhaps we should look at your own history, Mr. Brodkorb. I found that you previously engaged in an irrational personal vendetta against Mark Ritchie. Apparently you had an obsession with him to the point of exhibiting bizarre behavior. You are the pot attempting to call the kettle black. Except in this case the kettle is made of pure gold.
Jeff Rosenberg, writing at MNpublius, stated:
Now that he's Deputy Chairman of the GOP, Brodkorb is bringing his irrational hatred with him, in the form of a senseless attack on Ritchie a full 16 months before the election. This is just another in a series of bizarre attacks. After all, 16 months before the election, who cares? The only reason for the attack is because Brodkorb seems unable to control his rage; it certainly doesn't make political sense.
Ed Kohler has been doing some research on some of the things that the Republican lie machine, Minnesota Democrats Exposed, has been disseminating. He's been writing about it at his blog, The Deets. It's pretty funny and it's gotta suck for them when they're exposed (pardon the pun) for what they are. Aaron Landry has a nice roundup and interview with Kohler:
Lately, however, Kohler has been writing a lot about the MN GOP and their unofficially associated whisper site, Minnesota Democrats Exposed. Here's a few posts if you need to be caught up:
OK, maybe you went duck hunting, or to the gun show, or even followed a DFL Candidate to an event - at any rate, you missed all the fun stuff the GOPers were doing at The River Center in St. Paul last Saturday during their GOPer Convention. Well, today's your lucky day; not only was the ol' TwoPutter down there covering the event, I captured the best of it in the manner today's technologically "hip" folk get their info: tweets!!!!
Yes, if you missed the opportunity to toss a ten-spot (plus parking) to the GOP to see veterans protesting the GOP at a GOP Event; missed seeing Gov. T-Bag actually in-state at the Civic River Center; if you missed the rare opportunity to see Bachmann MotorMouth Overdrive give a speech and NOT rip ACORN; well, I got your back - I went through an' used the tried 'n true method of cut 'n paste to same some o' the best tweets from the festivities!
So, go beyond the fold, and read the tweets from #rpm09 and those covering it (that haven't blocked the ol' TwoPutter), and you, too, will be "in the know"!!!!
And, hey! With today's technology, you, too, can cut 'n paste and retweet the best from last Saturday, in St. Paul!!! I didn't comment on 'em; we'll do that in the comments section!!!
...well, could be filed in the ol' republiCon "Do As We Say (Not As We Do)" Department, too...
Yesterday, over on Brodkorb's Blog, Michael's newest pseudonym "Contributor" tried - TRIED - to rip Tarryl Clark for the ghastly deed of "holding a fundraiser outside of the 6th District." Now, this is funny for two reasons: 1) Michael's newest pseudonym "Contributor" - Luke Hellier - used to work for Bachmann, so he surely knows about the many fundraisers Bachmann MotorMouth Overdrive has held outside the 6th District, such as the infamous fundraiser D*ck (cheney)in' Cheney held for Michele on Lake Minnetonka, and 2) Brodkorb knows - KNOWS - that GOPer Eva Ng recently held a fundraiser outside of the district bounaries where she's running, 'cause not only did MudSlingerMike tweet about it, it's on the official Mn GOP website, where the ol' MudSlinger is the State Party Deputy Chair!!!
And Tony Sutton had to know about the fundraiser; it was held at FEC Tony's taco shop.
That, gentle readers, certainly qualifies as "stupid is as stupid does."
It's things like this, and more, why I say - often - "Hypocrisy, Thy Party Is GOP."
Richard Glasgow is an American Patriot that has taken honoring Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines to a higher level. At this moment, I'm looking at a business-sized card that on one side says:
Dear American Hero,
I am not certain as to how to express my gratitude for all you have done to secure my freedoms. Please accept this simple card as a small token of my appreciation.
A grateful American citizen.
It was handed to me by someone while shopping; he noticed the hat I usually wear. I keep the card on my desk, where I'm writing this.
Richard's website is called Dear American Hero, have your speakers turned down before you link. I talked to Richard earlier this week after receiving this Press Release:
How did THAT Happen? The short story: Colonel Joe Repya has been a long-standing critic of republiCon Ron - and, by extension, FEC Tony and MudSlingerMike - over (among other things) the MN GOP's apparent financial mismanagement. For said criticism, and mounting a challenge to Carey for the MN GOP party Chair position, Colonel Repya was essentially labeled an "enemy of the party" by republiCon Ron. After republiCon Ron stepped aside, and FEC Tony and MudSlingerMike were elected Chair and Deputy Chair, Colonel Repya had had enough: The Good Colonel announced in a PiPress Op/ed on 6/23/09 that he was leaving the Minnesota GOP - and why.
Here's where it gets really, Really, REALLY interesting: in the comments section of said Op/Ed, Nathan Hansen, GOP Deputy Chair of CD-4, wrote, and I quote:
I am Deputy Chair of the Fourth Congressional District and one of the newer anti-war Republican activists. It's difficult for words to describe how happy I am that you are leaving our Party. The roots of your "neconservative" philosophy lie in Straussian Trotzkyite Communism. "Corporate money" influencing our Party? Nothing compared to the damage your military industrial complex (that Eisenhower warned us about) has wreaked on our Party and our Country.
I hope you will find a happy home among your fellow communists. Your days of endless illegal wars and military industrial complex domination of our party are over.
Obama is ramping up his War in Afghanistan and continues to illegally bomb Pakistan. Perhaps you can join him to satiate your bloodlust. (emphasis added) (PiPress)
So, what was the MN GOP's response to Nathan Hansen, speaking as GOP Deputy Chair of CD-4, calling The Good Colonel a commie? Why, a plum Committee assignment in the MN GOP!!!
Did Michael Brodkorb call someone at Politico trying to plant this lie? Was it Luke Hellier?
