Looking forward to 2012; how ’bout you?

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

Here’s the story of a district
That once was pretty solid red.
Then along came a guy named Brodkorb
So let’s see where his politics have led….

In the 2000 election, winners were GOPer State Rep Tim Wilkin in 38-A by 9 points, GOPer State RepTim Pawlenty in 38-B by a whopping 32 points, and DFL State Senator Deanna Weiner by a mere 529 votes – or, .31%. In 2002, with T-Bag taking off for the corner office at the Capital, GOPer State Rep Tim Wilkin increased his margin and won by 16, T-Bag replacement GOPer Lynn Wardlow won by 16 in 38-B, and GOPer Mike McGinn knocked off the incumbent DFLer – giving the GOP all three seats in Senate District 38.

Since then, Brodkorb – a/k/a “MudSlingerMike” – started a smear machine “blog” and “served” in a variety of positions in the State GOP (rising to his current position as State GOP Deputy Chair) – including a stunt “stint” as Chair of the local SD-38 GOP. The results o’ MudSlingerMike’s hard work, locally in 38?

The incumbents for next Tuesday’s elections are:
DFL State Senator Jim Carlson
DFL State Rep Sandra Masin in 38-A
DFL State Rep Mike Obermueller in 38-B

Brodkorb, you’re doin’ a heckuva job in your own back yard!!!

Well, this year, certain GOPers are hoping money will make a few things different.

Yesterday, I got a tip:

It seems that the Racino people are dropping money bombs on Senator Jim Carlson. In the October 15th edition of the local “Eagan This Week” newspaper, there was an ad ripping State Senator Carlson for his opposition to former GOPer State Senator Dick Day’s current meal-ticket, the proposed Racino at Canterbury Park. The tip also noted that although the ad was in the October 15th paper, the “new” Racino group (the “Vote Racino Now Committee” dropping the moneybombs (they also ran 2 ads on the 22nd) didn’t file their Campaign Finance Board unitl October 20th.

Hmm… buy ads on the 15th; don’t file until the 20th? Well, fact-checking this tip turns up that it’s probably legal; the Campaign Finance Board tells me that a “Committee” has 14 days to file after incurring a debt or spending money. And the Treasurer of that new Committee, Attorney Chris Johnson, assured me future Campaign Board filings would confirm that. We’ll see….

Anyway, who has tossed dough at that Committee that has tossed moneybombs at State Senator Carlson’s way? Let’s look!!!

Canterbury Park dropping $18,000 into a newly formed Committee that’s dropping anti-Senator Carlson ads into the local newspaper days before an election…..

That, Ladies and Gentlemen, is political payback in the land of Brodkorb.

And under the Citizens United ruling, it seems that’s the way GOPers will play.

Earlier, I pointed out that despite the antics and politics of Michael Brodkorb, the voters that know him best – the voters in Senate District 38 – turned a solid GOP District into a solid DFL District.

Let’s hope those voters are still paying attention, and reject the moneybombs tossed at Senator Jim Carlson by returning him – along with Sandy Masin and Mike Obermueller, too – to St. Paul.

(Cross posted from MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)

Mike put in yeoman’s work over the State Fair’s 12 day run and is taking a deserved break – I’m happy to fill-in for him. Since Mike’s passion is citizen journalism, and his show is called “Quick On The Uptake”, we’re bringing in-studio Jeff Strate, Producer for the DFL’s SD42 cable access TV program, “Democratic Visions” – an all volunteer run program. Below the fold are YouTubes of the Democratic Visions program currently running on Comcast Channel 15 in Hopkins, Minnetonka, Edina, Richfield and Eden Prairie on Wednesdays at 5:30pm and Sundays at 9 pm; present and past programs are available at the Democratic Visions’ YouTube Channel.

DFL State Rep. and Gubernatorial Candidate Paul Thissen will be calling in at 5:30 pm, and at 5:45 we’ll be joined by MnProgressiveProject’s Grace Kelley to talk more about citizen journalism.

The studio call-in number is 952-946-6205; we will be giving away one copy of Bill Prendergast’s exceptional comic book: False Witness! The Michele Bachmann Story (Part 1).

So, tune in the radio today to AM-950, or listen live on your computer, here.

And go beyond the fold; there’s three YouTubes you’re not going to want to miss!

AM950 Radio owner Janet Robert talks about the success of her progressive talk radio station in a format universe that had been dominated by right wing local and national radio talk programs. Blogger Tommy Johnson joins Ms. Robert to weigh in on talk readio and the new media.

State Public Defender John Stuart talks about the challenges confronting Minnesota’s court system prompted by cuts to the number of public defenders serving the poor.

This video memoriam honors the 10th anniversary of the death of state legislator Willard Munger, Minnesota’s “Mr. Environment.” The segment features scenes from a documentary-in-progress about Mr. Munger.

(originally published at MnProgressiveProject.com)

There’s so many examples of republiCon hypocrisy, that it’s becoming hard to keep track of them all.

And that’s true. They have no shame – NONE.

Today, we’re going to talk about republiCon hypocrisy regarding cursing – you know, when someone (cheney)in’ swears.

Let’s go to the WayBack Machine (actually, MnBlue.com archives), and look at what happened when two people dropped the F-Bomb (forever after, known as “The (cheney) Bomb”):

What am I referring to? John Forbes Kerry’s interview with Rolling Stone magazine, where – referring to Boy Blunder’s handling of The War Of Choice – John Forbes Kerry asked, and I quote:

“Did I expect George Bush to f— it up as badly as he did? I don’t think anybody did.”

And that IS true; who expected that Boy Blunder would create “The Mother Of All FUBARs?”

What John Forbes Kerry also didn’t expect was how the republiCons would respond. (from “Hey! Senator!! Go (cheney) Yourself!!!”

So, how did hypocritical republiCons respond? Let’s look!

Drug Limpstick and the rest of the EchoChamberRadio gang jumped all over it; El Druggo started callin’ him “John F-ing Kerry.”

Andy Card, Boy Blunder’s Chief of Staff, was all over it, too. As reported on FauxNews.com:

“That’s beneath John Kerry,” the president’s chief of staff, Andrew Card, said in a televised interview.
“I’m very disappointed that he would use that kind of language,” Card said. “I’m hoping that he’s apologizing at least to himself, because that’s not the John Kerry that I know.”

WOW! In 1999, Boy blunder repeatedly drops the F-Bomb, no problemo. In late 2003, John F’ing Kerry drops the F-Bomb, BIG DEAL. With me so far?

Yep – it’s that ol’ republiCon hypocrisy. But wait – there’s more!!!

In his duties as Vice President, Dick (cheney)in’ Cheney presides over the Senate. And one day, a few months after the republiCons jumped all over John F’ing Kerry, Dick (cheney)in’ Cheney was over at the senate. Now, two things notable happened at the Senate on this day: the Senate passed “The Defense Of Decency Act” which addressed indecent language on TV, and VPOTUS Dick (cheney)in’ Cheney told Senator Patrick Leahy, in the Senate:

“Hey! Senator!! Go F*** yourself!!!”

Or, as I like to say, to point out the blatant hypocrisy of republiCons:

“Hey! Senator!! Go (cheney) yourself!!!”

Asked about it on FauxNews, in addition saying it was “appropriate”, and that he “felt better afterwards”, Dick (cheney)in’ Cheney said, and here’s the whole quote:

CHENEY: Well, I think that a lot of my colleagues felt that what I had said badly needed to be said, that it was long overdue.

In that interview with Neil Cavuto, Dick (cheney)in’ Cheney also weasels out of breaking a rule by dropping the “(cheney)-bomb” in the senate, on the technicality that the senate wasn’t in session. Other places covered for Dick (cheney)in’ Cheney by noting that, technically, Cheney’s a member of the administration, so rules governing senator’s behavior in the senate, don’t apply to Dick (cheney)in’ Cheney. Hmmm…. republiCons citing “technicalities” to cover THEIR guy….who’da thunk?

Well, “thinking” people “woulda thunk” EXACTLY that.

And again, there’s more!

Now, let’s revisit what Andy Card said when John F’ing Kerry dropped the “(cheney)-bomb”:

“That’s beneath John Kerry,” the president’s chief of staff, Andrew Card, said in a televised interview.
“I’m very disappointed that he would use that kind of language,” Card said. “I’m hoping that he’s apologizing at least to himself, because that’s not the John Kerry that I know.”

What was the official White House line on Dick (cheney)in’ Cheney droppin’ the “(cheney)-bomb”?

Zip. Nada. Crickets.

But, here’s what Dick (cheney)in’ Cheney’s spokesman said:

“Reserving the right to revise and extend my remarks, that doesn’t sound like language the vice president would use, but there was a frank exchange of views.”

republiCons count on people not remembering history, let alone recent events. IMNSHO, here’s why: “Those that forget the lessons of history, tend to vote republiCon.”

OK, that was the hypocrisy of the GreedOverPrinciples party, then. Here’s the “now” – Van Jones called republiCons “@zzholes” (I’m editing what he actually called ‘em, to keep this site available at libraries, but: thinking people know what Van Jones really said; GOPers (clueless cretins that they are) can email me for the exact word). Let’s look!!!

And, to no surprise, rightwingnuts are going ballistic.

Well, why – EXACTLY – did Van Jones call republiCons @zzholes? Because, to quote D*ck (cheney)in’ Cheney, on Faux News:

CHENEY: Well, I think that a lot of my colleagues felt that what I had said badly needed to be said, that it was long overdue.

Bingo!!!

And this needs to be repeated, over and Over and OVER:

“Hypocrisy, Thy Party Is GOP”

( cross-posted at MnProgressiveProject.com)

What a maroon.

Fortunately, in 38 days it will be The End Of An Error, and competent people will take over.

(originally posted at MnProgressiveProject.com)

Just another “up is down, war is peace” Orwellian Bushism we’ve come to expect from Boy Blunder. What is disturbing, but predictable, are the “McCain Moments” coming out of the Bushy McSame Campaign.

While clearly January 20th, 2009 will be The End Of An Error, if Bushy McSame is elected January 21st, 2009 will be The Start Of Another.

(originally published at MnBlue.com)

President Dumbya: Just because there was a bunch of, you know, Soviet-era flags in the street yesterday doesn’t — you shouldn’t read anything into that. I — look, this is an interesting debate that’s taking place, and it’s — you know, as every nation has told me, Russia will not have a veto over what happens in Bucharest, and I take their word for it. And that’s the right policy to have. – Kyiv, Ukraine, April 1st, 2008(White House)

Lately, it’s not “Soviet-era flags in the street” — it’s RUSSIAN TANKS. And it’s fitting that Boy Blunder uttered this tripe on April Fools Day — no greater of a fool has entered the White House than The Texas Fence Post Turtle. Fortunately there’s only 153 days until Dumbya exits literally and figurtively for good, as January 20th, 2009 will be The End Of An Error.

(originally published at MnBlue.com)

“The trial lawyers are very politically powerful. But here in Texas we took them on and got some good medical malpractice.”

– George aWol Bush, speaking at the President’s Economic Forum in Waco, Texas, Aug. 13, 2002

Well, let’s toss in another one – Dumbya was on a roll….

“Tommy (Thompson) is a good listener, and he’s a pretty good actor, too.” -George aWol Bush, apparently confusing his Health and Human Services secretary with Sen. Fred Thompson, Waco, Texas, Aug. 13, 2002

Yes, Boy Blunder was on a roll, that day in Waco. He was on a roll before, and since, too. But in 159 days, this misAdministration will be in the history books – as will the Adventures In BushSpeak, and January 20th, 2009 will be The End Of An Error.

(originally published at MnBlue.com)

Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s more of that Napoleonic Complex, from the guy that said it’d be easier if he were he were the dictator, and that he’s “The Decider.”

Only 173 more days, until The End Of An Error

(this post originally published at MnBlue.com)

DOH! But not only was Bush The Lesser willing to stretch reality, he and his misAministration were willing to do it over and Over and OVER again. How many times, just on Iraq? Well, the Center For Public Integrity says 935 times, and here’s how they say it:

”in a widely reported study of orchestrated deception, the Center found that President Bush and seven top officials made 935 false statements leading up to the Iraq war – and offer them in a database for all to see.

Link here and see for yourself, in the searchable database.

But if you really want to see someone willing to stretch reality in order to win points, link here, which describes this guy, here.

Thankfully, there’s only 179 days until January 20th, 2009 – The End Of An Error

(this post originally published at MnBlue.com)