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(crossposted at MnProgressiveProject.com)

Well, it could also be: …those that forget the lessons of history tend to vote GOP.

Actually, it’s “both” and it has to do with Pawlenty in 2009 doing something with the budget process that the State Supreme Court, in 2010, said he couldn’t, and recent claims by the Minnesota GOPers that – surprisingly – bring Pawlenty’s unallotment actions up at, coincidentally, the same time Pawlenty officially announces his presidential run.

Here’s the deal – in January of 2010, I wrote a post titled “The Minnesota Budget Crisis, By The Numbers”. The post was about how Minnesota got into Governor TBag’s Unallotment mess. Suffice it to say, GOPers were makin’ (stuff) up about THAT deal, too.

In a nutshell, here’s what happened during the 2009 Legislative Session: the February 2009 Forecast predicted revenues of $31.1 Billion (rounded). Knowing that number, Gov. TBag proceeded to sign Spending Bills of $33.8 Billion (rounded) anyway.

This created a deficit of $2.7 Billion (rounded) from Governor-approved spending — remember, when TBag signed those spending bills, they were now law). A bill to balance that deficit, HF-2323, was passed and presented to Gov. TBag to sign. Except, TBag didn’t sign that revenue bill to balance the budget; he vetoed it.

Upon creating an unbalanced budget, rather than call a Special Session, TBag immediately claimed unilateral power to fix the problem he created, and then hit the campaign trail. As to TBag’s actions creating an anticipated budget problem, then using powers to deal with unanticipated budget problems? The Court was not amused.

The only reason GOPers today can use that “$32 Billion” number, is because in 2009 Pawlenty did something the Supreme Court ruled he couldn’t.

The reality is that the “$34 Billion” compromise number the Kochzellerstan crowd is crowing about today, is really the same “$33.8 Billion” number that Pawlenty signed into law, before he went all Nixonian by utilizing excessive - and illegal – Unitary Executive Power (Nixon would be so proud!)

The bottom line is that in 2009, GOPer Governor Tim Pawlenty took state budgeting into unchartered waters; waters the Supreme Court eventually found illegal. In 2011, GOPer Majorities in both the State House and State Senate are again taking the state into unchartered waters – by refusing to negotiate and submit budget bills Governor Dayton would be willing to sign.

The fact that they are making (stuff) up by claiming to have “compromised” to a number Pawlenty already was at 2 years ago only goes to show, once again, that numbers don’t lie, but GOPers use numbers.

And, of course, anybody that falls for the BS GOPer line that they compromised to $34B also goes to show, once again, that those that forget the lessons of history tend to vote GOP.

***

That picture, above? I found it via a tweet by GOPer Freshman State Rep Kurt Daudt:

(crossposted at MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)

In short, even before the Reign Of Error by Boy Blunder And The Plunderers began, Neo-Cons had this swell idea of invading Iraq. Along comes 911 and Osama Been Forgotten Osama NowBe Dead – PNAC’s “New Pearl Harbor”, and these boys are in business.

One of the first casualties in the misAdministration of Bush The Lesser’s switch from The Powell Doctrine (war of overpowering force) to The RumsFailed Doctrine (war on the cheap) was General Erric Shinseki, who had the audacity to tell Congress what they needed to hear – not what Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, et al wanted them to hear. Here’s what Wolfowitz said, following Shinseki’s testimony that Iraq would (correctly) require hundreds of thousands of troops to secure the peace: “wildly off the mark.” So Shinseki was sacked.

To recap – the Good Soldier, General Shinseki, called it like he saw it – and the GOPers trashed him. That was then.

This is now:

State VA chief: Budget cuts by GOP would hurt veterans
Article by: RACHEL E. STASSEN-BERGER , Star Tribune Updated: May 5, 2011 – 11:18 PM

Republican committee chairman in the House called Shellito’s analysis “a complete overreaction.”

Republican budget cuts could trigger the closure of at least one veterans’ home, higher burial fees for veterans’ families and elimination of the Bronze Star grave marker program, according to state Veterans Affairs Commissioner Larry Shellito.

Shellito, who led the state National Guard under former Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty, said the budget as it stands would result in layoffs and other cuts, even though Republicans had pledged to protect veterans from spending reductions. “I’m very concerned,” Shellito said.

Rep. Morrie Lanning, R-Moorhead, the House State Government Finance chair, said the administration’s estimates are a “worse, worse, worse case scenario.” He called Shellito’s analysis “a complete overreaction.” (more, at StarTribune.com)

Then, Wolfowitz: “wildly off the mark.” Now, Lanning: “a complete overreaction.”

Me? I’m going with the guys that served with honor – the Generals.

Especially since GOPer these days, when caught tellin’ whoppers defend it by saying (stuff) like “His remark was not intended to be a factual statement.” Of course, there’s also the simple fact that Lanning and his cronies have been using Enron-style accounting to get their numbers.

GOP “Leadership” is completely shameless in covering for their mendacity – and Lanning is simply today’s example of a GOPer that happily wraps himself in a flag every chance there’s a camera around – and stabs a veteran in the back every time there’s not. Wolfowitz, Lanning – they’re all the same.

The more things change, the more they don’t – and “those that forget the lessons of history, tend to vote GOP.”

(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)

GOPers do it all of the time – make (stuff) up. In the Minnesota Legislature, these days they are – literally – using Enron’s Accountants to come up with the numbers for their budget bills.

Jeff Rosenberg, over at MnPublius notes:

When I first wrote that the MNGOP was using “Enron-style accounting,” it was meant as just a simple metaphor for their made-up budget numbers. But in a hilarious turn of events, it appears that the state government budget bill numbers were actually produced by Enron’s accountants.

Maybe the local GOPers should do what Arizona GOPer Senator Jon Kyle did, after whipping out this whopper – which simply IS NOT TRUE:

CNN Anchor TJ Holmes called GOPer Kyl’s office about that made up (stuff):

HOLMES: We did call his office trying to ask what he was talking about there. And I just want to give it you verbatim here. It says, ‘his remark was not intended to be a factual statement, but rather to illustrate that Planned Parenthood, a organization that receives millions of dollars in taxpayer funding, does subsidize abortions.’

GOPer Kyl is on the floor of the United States Senate, and ‘his remark was not intended to be a factual statement’??!?

Reasonable people cannot reasonably believe what GOPers say.

And here’s a few examples of that:

Today’s Example Of Why Reasonable People Cannot Reasonably Believe What GOPers Say: Screenshots

Today’s Example Of Why Reasonable People Cannot Reasonably Believe What GOPers Say: Capitol Damage

Today’s Example Of Why Reasonable People Cannot Reasonably Believe What GOPers Say: Katy Kersten

Today’s Example Of Why Reasonable People Cannot Believe Anything A GOPer Says: Ben Golnik

Mitch Berg – The Poster Boy Of Why Reasonable People Cannot Reasonably Believe republiCons

And, of course, there’s these…

February 15th, 2009: RNC’s Michael Steele: “You have absolutely no reason – none – to trust our words or our actions at this point.”

July 31st, 2009: You Couldn’t Trust The GOP Then, You Still Can’t Now, And Tomorrow Won’t Be Any Different

“His remark was not intended to be a factual statement.”

Indeed.

(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)

Mar 27, 2011

Recount: MNGOP promises to pay Olmsted County $3,050 and Mower County $2,424 soon

The Rochester Post Bulletin reports in Recount costs to be paid soon, Republicans say:

Unpaid bills owed to Olmsted and Mower counties from last year’s governor’s race recount are set to be paid soon, state Republican Party chairman Tony Sutton said.

“The checks … are going out before the end of next week,” Sutton said. “By the end of the month, they’ll have their payment.”

I just got off the phone with Pam Fuller of Olmsted County, and – no surprise here – they have NOT gotten a check for the money the GOPers owe (email to Mower County hasn’t been returned).

I guess it could be worse – they could have received a check written in the style of Bounced Checks Berg…

(crossposted at MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)

Capitol damage cost claim based on 1 page of notebook paper
Handwritten page was all state had behind $7 million figure

By Jason Stein of the Journal Sentinel March 30, 2011

Madison — State officials’ controversial courtroom testimony that protesters did more than $7 million in damage to the Capitol was based on a single handwritten page.

An open records request by the Journal Sentinel on the damage estimate turned up only one page of notebook paper listing costs written before the courtroom testimony. Other e-mails from state officials listing areas to check for potential damage also were released, but there were no others with any dollar figures written before the court testimony.
.
.
Department of Administration spokeswoman Carla Vigue said Wednesday that the single page written by state architect Dan Stephans and dated March 3 – the same day as the court statement – was the basis for the testimony. Stephans did not respond to a phone message left Wednesday.

“The only real document we had to give was the handwritten one,” Vigue said.

The day after the testimony, Walker administration officials sharply backpedaled from the damages figures amid widespread questions about their validity.

Incredible.

“An open records request by the Journal Sentinel on the damage estimate turned up only one page of notebook paper…”

Ladies and Gentlemen, I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again and Again and AGAIN:

Reasonable People Cannot Reasonably Believe What GOPers Say.

Even the least dishonest of GOPers admitted that; remember what GOPer National Chair Michael Steele once said?

“You have absolutely no reason – none – to trust our words or our actions at this point.”

True then, true today, and it’ll be true tomorrow too.

Reasonable People Cannot Reasonably Believe What GOPers Say.

(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)

Because the “event” wasn’t “public” – unless you’re a rightwingnut that picks ‘n chooses which part o’ the Constitution you support, and believe pro-democracy protestors don’t have the right to peacefully assemble on puplic property anymore. Fox9 Noise “News” continued that meme after the event:

Walker spoke at Empire Bucket (1360 Livingstone Road, Hudson) at 1:55 p.m. The event was open to the public, and was attended by supporters and protestors alike. (myfoxtwincities.com)

Apparently, to Fox9 Noise “News” — “open to the public” means “stand on the street behind police barricades.” Whatever – the point is reasonable people have good reason to figure that what’s on Faux Noise isn’t quite accurate – but it is “right”!

Once inside, Ol’ “Baseball Bat” Walker spoke to a couple dozen employees. It seemed that they weren’t really thrilled to be seeing/listening to him – we’ll get to that. I had a video camera (it’s not the best, but hey – on a blogger’s salary, at least I got one!), and I simply had to stop taping to send a tweet:

Yep! That’s what Ol’ Baseball Bat Claimed!!! Here’s the exact quote (with a YouTube of it!):

“We did all these things in the first four, five weeks in office. So we got active right away and sent a clear message. The good news even in talking about it in November and December about what we were going to do and then doing it, we’ve already seen success. Last Wednesday we announced numbers statewide for the first month of the year. The private sector created more than 10,000 new jobs in the state of Wisconsin. More than 10,000 new jobs. Much better than the national trend. Much better than nearly every other state across the country. On top of that we saw our unemployment rate go down to 7.4%” — Governor Scott “Baseball Bat” Walker (R=Rightwingerstan) (emphasis added)

Seriously, you can’t make that stuff up. “…numbers statewide for the first month of the year…” Say what??!? So those 10,000 new jobs – AND lowered unemployment – are the result of what Ol’ BaseballBat simply TALKED about, in November and December 2010 – BEFORE he took office??!? Let’s look!

(direct link to YouTube)

TheUpTake.org was there, they have video too:“Scott Walker Opponents Outnumber Supporters 300-8 in Hudson Today”.

Now, at the end of Ol’ Baseball Bat’s talk to the employees, you may have noticed something; I sure did – which resulted in this tweet!

The videos clearly show “no standing o’s” for Ol’ Baseball Bat inside, and protesters clearly outnumbered those duped by the republiCons. When I got to Hudson, I counted 7 there that were blinded by the “right” ( 2 or 3 carried printed signs prepared by “AmericanMajority”) – and when I walked down the line after Ol’ Baseball Bat skeedaddled, I counted 8.

Here’s a sign that tells those opposed to Ol’ Baseball Bat exactly what they need to do:

And Hudson GOPer State Senator Sheila Harsdorf might be recalled, too – along with 7 other Wisconsin GOPer State Senators…

…just don’t expect to see any accurate reporting from Fox9 Noise “News” about it.

(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)

Advocates Discuss Wis. Bill Debacle : MyFoxTWINCITIES.com

To no surprise, GOPer Ben Golnik starts out by telling a whopper: “unprecedented.”

Yeah, “right.”

A quick google search of “lincoln illinios legislature walkout” – and there, on the first page, from CNN:

Wisconsin legislators aren’t the first to walk out, leave town
February 18, 2011 | By Phil Gast, CNN

This week’s bitter budget showdown in Wisconsin isn’t the first time state legislators have fled a state, left a building or refused to show when votes were called.

The “Killer Ds” and the “Texas 11,” for example, skedaddled from Texas in 2003 to prevent consideration of a redistricting bill.

In 1839, a young Abraham Lincoln, serving as a Whig in the Illinois House, jumped out of the building in a futile bid to prevent Democrats from getting a quorum to vote on a banks bill. (CNN.com)

The northern part of the Whig Party morphed into today’s Republican Party; Lincoln went on to become a Republican President. Not only is the walkout by Wisconsin’s Fighting Fourteen NOT unprecedented, there IS a precedent by the very Party GOPer Golnik was there, last night, to represent.

I don’t know why, but it is: reasonable people cannot reasonably believe anything a GOPer says. Today’s GOPers are ready, able, and perfectly willing to smile at a camera and lie through their teeth.

And they certainly cannot expect Fox9 News to follow up and let their viewers know GOPer Ben Golnik started out with a whopper, can they?

(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)

I checked out their website, and there’s an icon:

So I clicked. And – surprise! – all the “recommended candidates” are GOPers.

So I went up to watch; at the start time, there were a little over 30 in the room; late arrivers probably doubled the attendance.

Anyway, my tweets from the TeaBagFest follow; enjoy! And then go do som GOTV stuff; the election’s next Tuesday!!!

OK, go to the bottom and scroll up. I’d put it in earliest to latest, but I got GOTV stuff to do, and so do you. So when you’re done with this, go book some GOTV activities and Get Out The VOTE!!!

“We’re trying to get our TeaBagger memebership up; did you hear our ad on the Rush Limbaugh Show?#YouCantMakeThisStuffUp about 12 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® Delete

Minnesota Voters Alliance now speaking; now trashing League Of Women Voters; says they filed IRS complaint. #StribPol about 12 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® 
Delete

Wersal trashing current Mn Supreme Court Justices; TeaBaggers here apparently don’t know which party appointed ‘em. #StribPol about 12 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® Delete

‘Scuse me, supposed to be “Wersal” – (cheney)in’ spelczecher… #StribPol about 12 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® Delete

For a non-partisan non-political “party” the TeaBaggers sure seem mighty partisan. MnSC Candidate Weasel speaking now. #StribPol about 12 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® 
Delete

Severson pumping crowd to vote for Wersal; now pushing Photo ID. TeaBaggers love it! Next GOPer up? about 12 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® delete

Dan Severson: “Lori Swanson is a crook; Mark Ritchie is a crook!” Now trashing RINO’s. But hey – I’m in a room of Patriots! #StribPol about 12 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® Delete

End of Barden Campaign flick asks “why won’t Swanson investigate ACORN?” Hmmm…. tough one; crowd can’t answer. #StribPol about 12 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® Delete

Barden calls for boycott of Strib; calls to shut Strib down and calls Strib crooked. #StribPol about 13 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® 
Delete

WOW! If Swanson is half as crooked as Barden claims, she’d have to be a GOPer!!! #StribPol about 13 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® 
Delete

Barden: “Very serious corruption in current Attorney General’s Office” – now trashing media for not covering. #StribPol about 13 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® Delete

Chris Barden; “Attorney General controls elections!” Of course, requisite ACORN bashing… #StribPol about 13 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® Delete

I wonder where Chris Barden was during the Bush years? TeaBaggers seem to love him, especially his Tentherism. #StribPol about 13 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® Delete

“Normie wuz ROBBED!” seems to be universal belief. Dan McGrath tells vigilantes to follow busses from polls. #StribPol about 13 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® Delete

Dan McGrath tells the vigilantes to not confront/talk to anyone suspected of fraud; hope Gertitol Set has hearing aids turned up #StribPol about 13 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® Delete

Dan McGrath – Minnesota Majority – speaking about lawsuit they filed and voter fraud. “We’re like neighborhood watch” #StribPol about 13 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® Delete

Attendance less than 40 at TeaBagger “Election Integrity Forum” – mostly retirees. If there were snacks, they’d be prunes. #StribPol about 13 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® Delete

@prairielive TeaBaggers hate gov’t so much, they’re meeting at the taxpayer-financed EP Community Center #YouCantMakeThisUp about 13 hours ago via Twitter for BlackBerry® in reply to prairielive

Here were some campaign signs to take home at this “non-partisan” TeaBagger rally:

In 1994, Newt “Is My Wife Well Enough To Divorce Yet?” Gingrich came up with some slogans he packaged and sold as “The Contract On With America.” In September 2010, GOPer Minority Leader (thank God!) John Boehner cut and pasted from it and repackaged that same old (stuff) as the “Pledge To America.” Let’s look!

(link to The Daily Show” here)

In California, The “new” GOPer candidate for Governor is saying the exact same (stuff) the old GOPer candidate did. Let’s look!

(Link to YouTube here)

WOW!!! They titled that YouTube “Echoes” for a reason, yes?

And then locally, as described in full detail here, disgraced GOPer Mayor Phil Young’s 2006 campaign website was blatantly cut and pasted to GOPer Endorsed candidate Donna Azarian’s 2010 campaign website.

This is from Phil Young’s 2006 “Values” webpage:

Efficient Government: Eden Prairie is a very-well run city. I want to make it even better….

This is on the GOPer-Endorsed Azarian, 2010 “Issues” webpage:

Fiscal Responsibility — Eden Prairie is a very-well run city. I want to make it even better….

More? But of course!!!

Young, circa 2006:

…While every community should take steps to capture its past, our residents have told us that spending tax dollars on historical preservation is not a priority. The City Council should honor the community opinions which it has solicited.

GOPer Azarian, today:

…While every community should take steps to capture its past, our residents have told us that spending tax dollars on historical preservation is not a priority. The City Council should honor the community opinions which it has solicited.

And there’s more, of course, as described in full detail here – with screenshots, too! Maybe I should make another YouTube….

It’s really rather pathetic. The more things change, the more the CAP (Cut And Paste) GOP doesn’t.

(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)