I have the distinct misfortune of being aware of Erik Paulsen’s less than stellar “service” in the state house. For those wondering what he’s like, I’ve heard a good analogy – reflecting Paulsen’s desire to go to W.D.C. – “If you liked Bush, you’ll LOVE Paulsen.”
It was recently brought to my attention that Paulsen has a website that’s, well, “unique”.
“Unique” as in “there’s no info, but you can send dough.”
So I thought the locals in Eden Prairie should be reminded of what I said about Paulsen in the local paper, just a couple of years ago. Here’s what I cross-posted over at www.edenprairienews.com :
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It is interesting to note that while the three announced candidates for Jim Ramstad’s seat have active websites and are out generating excitement, Eden Prairie’s Erik Paulsen is not. He does, however, have a website: http://paulsenforcongress.com/
And on Mr. Paulsen’s website is no information. However, Mr. Paulsen does offer the opportunity to donate. Why you should donate he does not say; but donate you can.
So in the spirit of providing historical information on what Mr. Paulsen’s candidacy for congress represents, I thought this would be a good time to go back into the “Letters To The Editor” of The Eden Prairie News, and reprint what I wrote about Mr. Paulsen, back when he led this state to a government shutdown.
Letters from the July 14, 2005 News
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Not represented
South Dakotans have twice tossed U.S. senators out of office when they felt the senators became big-shots, no longer representing them, but instead representing the party’s other officials and special interests. Both McGovern and Daschle came to be seen as getting too big for their britches by not listening to what the locals had to say, let alone taking care of what the locals needed done. We have a state representative that reminds me of those South Dakota senators, and that’s House Majority Leader Erik Paulsen.
Most folks I meet on and around the prairie are reasonable people, and feel that the gay “marriage” issue could and should be settled reasonably. Many personally know gays and lesbians; for instance, the family down my block has a lesbian daughter. Who cares? Not me. Not my neighbors. But, Michelle Bachman does. In Mr. Paulsen’s leadership position, he represents fear-mongers like Michelle Bachman. Actually, in his position, he LEADS them.
Most folks I meet on and around the prairie are sick of staying stuck in traffic; business folks losing money from employees idling away in a jam (by the way, for many businesses it’s cheaper to pay the nickel a gallon “user fee” than the wages of the employees); commuters losing precious time with family in the same jam. Would you pay a nickel a gallon more to get home quicker? Most folks I talk to would. And I don’t care where you go; it’s a jam – for much of the day. Yet Erik Paulsen, in his “leadership” position in the House, can’t get a compromise out of the governor – one simple nickel.
Most folks I meet on and around the prairie willingly compromise, go along to get along, and don’t feel they have to get it all. Politics is the art of negotiation and compromise – something Mr. Paulsen in his position of House majority leader clearly has demonstrated he cannot and/or will not do. Last year, he wouldn’t compromise and get the bonding bill done. This year, he wouldn’t compromise and get a budget passed, despite TWO deadlines.
For these reasons, it’s clear to me that Majority Leader Paulsen does not listen to the reasonable people on the prairie. He might hear the reasonable people, but he doesn’t listen. He’s listening to somebody else, representing somebody else, and leading somebody else. I personally don’t care who runs against Erik Paulson; the same way South Dakota voters really didn’t care who ran against Daschle or McGovern. It’s quite apparent he has become beholden to his party’s special interests, and no longer represents the average citizen of Eden Prairie. I trust the citizens of Eden Prairie will give Mr. Paulsen the same lesson South Dakotans give their elected officials that no longer represent them.
Thomas Johnson
Eden Prairie
