Republican party chair Tony "FEC Tony" Sutton and former MN Auditor and current candidate for the seat Pat Anderson held a press conference a couple of weeks ago in which they criticized current Auditor and DFLer Rebecca Otto for excessive travel expenses.
The GOP challenged about $5,300 in work-related meals and hotel stays that Otto, a DFLer, charged in 2007 and 2008. Among the taxpayer-funded expenses Republicans criticized was a $368-a-night hotel stay in Chicago and meals in New Orleans and Boston, including a $44 dinner at Boston's Union Oyster House.
"We think State Auditor Rebecca Otto should apologize to taxpayers of Minnesota," said Republican Party chairman Tony Sutton.
There's only one problem with their accusations. They aren't true.
Otto was reimbursed up to what her per diem allowed and paid for the extra expenses out of her own pocket. Furthermore, Sutton and Anderson included expenses for someone not connected with the Auditor's office to inflate their numbers. But that isn't all. Sutton and Anderson lied about Anderson's behavior as Auditor and told a few other whoppers.
It's remarkable that the woman who wants her old job back but cannot do simple math and cannot tell the truth. I think that mathematical ability and honesty are two key traits our State Auditor must have.
OK, everyone knows that Tom Emmer really, Really, REALLY stepped in it - BIG TIME - with his, well, essentially: "Let's cut the paychecks of waitrons EVERYWHERE!" comment.
And saying something really, Really, REALLY stupid is nothing new for Tom Emmer; my favorite Emmerism is this:
"I don't think you can call yourself a freedom-loving American and be a Democrat." -- Tom Emmer, 9-26-09
(Marshall Independent)
And I was really, Really, REALLY happy when today's GreedOverPrinciples Party picked Emmer to be at the top of the ticket; I knew not only would that one come back to bite him but that there would be more!!!
But, here's the deal: Emmer isn't stupid. Sure, he says stupid things, but there's a reason he says 'em: they're designed to get him something (like an endorsement, from the Teabagging base of today's Small Tent Party).
So, I wondered who might benefit the most from Emmer's latest scheme to screw those with the least.... hmmm... hmmm - just who could that be?
Hey - might be this guy, current Chair of the republiCon Party of Minnesota, none other than FEC Taco Tony!!!
Yes, Ladies and Gentleman, click here for an Employment Application at one of GOPer Tony Sutton's tacoterias, and send the link to your kid. Why should you fork out big bucks for the kid's college, when there's an easy $100,000 to be made taking tacos to tables, or filling margaritas by the pitcher?
And get those high-paying jobs fast; Tom Emmer just doesn't think it's fair his pal Taco Tony has to shell out the big bucks to unappreciative waitrons, when a chunk o' that tip money could - and SHOULD - be going to Tony! And in Tom Emmer's Minnesota, if he's elected to the corner office, that's exactly what would happen.
So don't delay, do it today: hustle your kid down to the nearest Taco Tony's while the gettin's good!!!
Republicans are amazing. Their psychological disconnect can be astounding. Their hypocrisy knows no bounds. One day they'll be defending a Republican for something that just last week they were railing at a Democrat for. Consequently, acronyms like IOKIYAR were invented.
Yesterday, news broke that the Republican no-hoper running against Betty McCollum was convicted of drunken driving. Whatever. I could care less about her drinking problem. Voters should be far more concerned about her far right and kooky teabagger ideas.
"I said, 'Look, you make mistakes, you make amends for those mistakes and you move on,' " Sutton said on Tuesday. "She's a human being. And I don't think this detracts one bit from her ability to serve in the Congress and to do a great job for the people of the Fourth District."
Remember this quote the next time there is a scandal involving a Democrat in this state. I'm sure he won't be so understanding and forgiving.
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.
It's been a busy week, and I wanted to touch back on the Bachmann MotorMouth Overdrive FEC problems reported by Karl Bremer over at Dump Bachmann. It seems Bachmann has some serious paperwork problems with the FEC, and that's FEC problems from BEFORE she hired republiCon Ron.
The Minnesota GOPers have a longstanding tradition of running a completely FUBAR paperwork operation; for example, here's the infamous "Tostenson Memo".
And I wanted to share one FEC Filing from the MN GOP that just warms my heart:
GOPers simply have to wonder where their "donations" to the GOP go. We know at the national level, donations fund stuff like "meals" at bondage clubs. And I'm sure it warms local GOPer's hearts, too, knowing that their donations went to pay for Senator Franken's legal fees....
DFL Party Breathes Sigh of Relief as Minnesota GOP Narrowly Defeats Resolution to Grant "the Right of States to Secede From the Union"
GOP Chair Tony Sutton Saves the Day at Second Congressional District Convention
St. Paul (April 1, 2010) - The DFL Party breathed a collective sigh of relief this week as the Minnesota GOP came within two votes of supporting a resolution which Republican Chairman Tony Sutton described as "the right of states to secede from the union."
"Our party is greatly relieved that at a time when unemployment under Governor Pawlenty soars and the foreclosure rates in Representative Michele Bachmann's district are sky high, we don't have to tackle this issue," said DFL spokesperson Donald McFarland. "We only wish that Tony Sutton had that kind of common sense when it came to supporting the new legislation ensuring that Minnesotans will finally be able to afford quality health care for their families."
Occasional MN Governor Tim Pawlenty is about to sign an absentee ballot reform bill into law. Secretary of State Mark Ritchie pushed the effort through the state legislature. The bill will set uniform standards statewide for evaluating absentee ballots ... this was a major Republican complaint during the recount.
Here's Republican party chair Tony Sutton back in November 2009 commenting on the new absentee ballots which are easier to understand:
"Today's window dressing from Mark Ritchie can't change the fact that Minnesota's absentee ballot system remains broken. ... As a result of Ritchie's unacceptable failure to properly train local election officials, Minnesotans have been subject to appalling disparities in how absentee ballots are counted across the state."
[emphasis added]
(Star Tribune)
Republican MN-GOV candidate Tom Emmer was paradoxically outraged by this bill's passage.
Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Delano, voted against the election bill. Emmer, a GOP candidate for governor, said the measure lets the state take away too much local control.
"Our local officials are supposed to be in charge of their elections. Let's stop taking away that authority," Emmer said. "There's going to be one day when they wake up and say how did this happen? How did we turn all of this over to somebody else, and why are we operating under these not only ludicrous but onerous burdens that we've let somebody else create for us?"
(MPR)
Why is Emmer contradicting his own party line? That's because Emmer is running for higher office and is trying to separate himself from his opponent, Marty Seifert. Actually, Emmer used to support statewide absentee ballot procedures.
Republican lawmakers also question the process. Rep. Tom Emmer, R-Delano, says putting Supreme Court justices on the Canvassing Board forces them to bow out of the later, and binding, legal process that follows a recount.
He adds the board's deference to local elections officials made for troubling disparities from one place to another.
"How can you say you've done your job if it's true that there are counties where rejected absentee ballots were counted, and there are other counties where rejected absentee ballots weren't counted? Wouldn't you do it the same in every county? There's just too much grey," said Emmer.
[emphasis added]
(MPR)
Apparently, flip flops are standard practice for Republicans running for higher office.
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!!!
That's a question that should be asked, if - IF - Kline and Paulsen actually schedule, and Bachmann actually follows through, with Town Hall Meetings.
The question should also be asked of GOP State Chair Tony Sutton, and GOP State Deputy Chair Michael Brodkorb.
There's a powder keg out there, with a short fuse. And today's GOP leadership is sending out sparks. If one of those sparks catches, well......you can be sure, the GOP will blame it on anybody and everybody but themselves.
Here's Rachel Maddow:
And speaking of the "MOB" - I noted this:
Moving The MOB
August 13th, 2009 by Mitch Berg
Well, the verdict (throwing out all the votest for "crashing Drinking Liberally") was pretty decisive. People want the MOB Summer Party moved to September 12.
When I'm not a caped crusader in the blogosphere, I work as a software developer. In the software world, we deal with boolean logic every day -- "IF {some condition is true} THEN {do something} ELSE {do something else}. And so on.
The reason I bring it up is because trying to figure out what the Minnesota Republican Party leadership is doing with their attacks against 7th district Congressman Collin Peterson is like trying to navigate a gigantic boolean logic block.
IF ...
Tony Sutton and Michael Brodkorb are actually trying to defeat Collin Peterson, starting with this silly little ad buy
THEN...
Good luck to them. Peterson regularly overperforms other Democrats in the 7th by anywhere from 20 to 40 points. That means he gets plenty of Republican votes, and it also means those voters don't care a whit what Tony Sutton and Michael Brodkorb are slinging.
IF ...
The GOP leadership is trying to rally their base after two devastating elections
THEN ...
I suppose this is possible. Nothing rallies the GOP's extreme right-wing base like attacks on Democratic officials. But don't they have better boogeymen? Keith Ellison is a Muslim after all. Isn't that enough to populate a few violently worded press releases? Betty McCollum hasn't been up to much lately? Larry Pogemiller? Somebody?
IF ...
The GOP leadership actually has some nefarious plan to get progressives and Democrats at large to defend Peterson, with whom we tend to have some ... disagreements? ... on policy matters
THEN ...
Fat chance. Peterson has been a stick in the mud on some of the most important reforms working their way through Congress right now, and he's more than a little too cozy with Big Agro interests for the taste of progressives here in Minnesota and America.
But that's not the issue -- by going after Peterson for a joke that actually did put things in perspective, the GOP leadership made themselves the issue, rather than hosting Peterson on his own petard. I'm not sure I can follow the tortuous logic they must have followed to arrive at the conclusion "yes, attacking Collin Peterson with a paid ad buy 16 months before the next election is a good idea."
Then again, I'm not this guy. Silver linings, and all that.
Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) Joe Repya is, by any standard, an American Hero. People may not like his conservative political philosophy, but few (if any) have served this great country with the courage, valor, integrity and distinction Lieutenant Colonel Joe Repya has. Colonel Repya served in combat in Vietnam, the Gulf War in 1990, and in 2004 - at age 58 - came out of retirement to serve again in Iraq. How Colonel Repya missed The Balkans has to be an interesting story; a story I'd like to follow up on - but, that's a tangent.
Colonel Repya challenged then-incumbent MN-GOP Party Chair Ron Carey in 2007, on a "reform the party" platform - because, clearly today's GreedOverPrinciples party needs to be cleaned up. For this, Colonel Repya was essentially smeared called an "enemy of the party" by then-GOP Party Chair Ron Carey. An important point is Ron Carey's campaign manager was current GOP State Deputy Chair Michael Brodkorb.
Everybody got that? Challenge the party chair's "stewardship" and get trashed as essentially an "enemy of the party", by the guy (Ron Carey) who's campaign Michael Brodkorb ran.
Fast forward, to last month. Tony Sutton, the GOP party's Treasurer under Carey, is elected Party Chair. Sutton was "the man" while a whole bunch of the GOP Party's FEC problems were unfolding - link here to read the Tostenson Memo. Michael Brodkorb, who's plotical tactics Joe Repya has condemened, is elected GOP State Party Deputy Chair.
So, when FEC Tony and MudSlingerMike were elected Chair and Deputy Chair, Colonel Repya had had enough - he wrote an Op/Ed in the Pioneer Press titled "Why I'm leaving the Minnesota GOP." While that Op/Ed is no longer available on the PiPress website, comments on that Op/Ed are. Nathan Hansen, GOP Deputy Chair of CD-4, did comment - here's what he had to say:
