“There’s a whole ocean of oil under our feet!”

“There Will Be Greed!”

“I look at people and I see nothing worth liking!”

“There Will Be Vengeance!”

“I see the worst in people!”

“We have a sinner with us!”

“Get out of here Devil!”

“I have a competition in me; I want no one else to succeed!”

“There Will Be Blood!”

Pretty much sums up the upcoming Mn GOP Convention; let’s look!

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

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

And what a warm-up it was*! What follows, in reverse chronological order, are the tweets sent whilst on it.

Enjoy – and make sure you click on the TwitPic.com’s!!!

‏ @TwoPuttTommy 06 May 2012
OK, still at the Denver Airport; order a Bacardi-Coke. Is this my kind of drink, or what? #RoadTrip2012WarmUp TwitPic.com

@TwoPuttTommy 06 May 2012
Last man standing on #RoadTrip2012WarmUp – and I’ve seen better weather in Denver… TwitPic.com

‏@TwoPuttTommy 06 May 2012
OK, I appreciate @SouthwestAir doesn’t charge for a checked bag. Not happy with other stuff. #RoadTrip2012WarmUp

‏ @TwoPuttTommy 06 May 2012
Starting closest: Peacekeeper, Minuteman III, Minuteman II. #RoadTrip2012WarmUp TwitPic.com

@TwoPuttTommy 05 May 2012
As #RoadTrip2012WarmUp winds to an end (last night) I’d like 2 thank Ford for making a kick-ass V6 Mustang convertible! TwitPic.com

@TwoPuttTommy 05 May 2012
Now entering The Cowboy State – Wyoming! 1st billboard noted “cheapest beer in Evanston!” Gas $3.52 – my kind of place! #RoadTrip2012WarmUp

‏ @TwoPuttTommy 05 May 2012
Salt Lake City, Park City & eastern Utah are really Really REALLY beautiful & now w/ beer ‘n booze well-worth visiting! #RoadTrip2012WarmUp

‏ @TwoPuttTommy 05 May 2012
When you read the Mission Statement & see their featured Porter you’ll know why it’s a must stop on #RoadTrip2012WarmUp WasatchBeers.com

@TwoPuttTommy 05 May 2012
Stumbling back to the hotel& what do my wandering eyes perceive? Tomorrow’s gonna be a helluva day! #RoadTrip2012WarmUp TwitPic.com

‏ @TwoPuttTommy 05 May 2012
last song of the night at a bar in Salt Lake City? “Love Lies Bleeding” by Elton John. Bar & Elton John, SLC??!? Yes! #RoadTrip2012WarmUp

‏ @TwoPuttTommy 05 May 2012
Music sweeter than a Tabernacle Choir: “last call for alcohol” in down town Salt Lake City! #RoadTrip2012WarmUp

‏ @TwoPuttTommy 05 May 2012
There is a God! Dewars for a nightcap, within walking distance of Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City!! #RoadTrip2012WarmUp

@TwoPuttTommy 05 May 2012
FOR THE RECORD: the ol’ TwoPutter found two brew houses in Salt Lake City – @SquattersPub too! #RoadTrip2012WarmUp TwitPic.com

‏ @TwoPuttTommy 05 May 2012
Mission accomplished! A pilsner brewed locally in Salt Lake City; Red Rock Brewing Company. #RoadTrip2012WarmUp TwitPic.com

‏ @TwoPuttTommy 04 May 2012
Me: Which cooler is the beer in? Gas Station Attendant: The one 90 miles west – in Nevada. #RoadTrip2012WarmUp

@TwoPuttTommy 04 May 2012
Ummm…. no offense to anyone from Salt Lake City, or Utah, but: that lake stinks. Literally. #RoadTrip2012WarmUp

‏ @TwoPuttTommy 04 May 2012
Almost out of Nevada on I-80 heading towards Salt Lake City, where the mission is: find a bar. #RoadTrip2012WarmUp TwitPic.com

‏ @TwoPuttTommy 04 May 2012
Best looking four-wheeler I’ve seen in Nevada! #RoadTrip2012WarmUp TwitPic.com

‏ @TwoPuttTommy 04 May 2012
No such thing as a free lunch? Yes there is, when ya pull a winner! #RoadTrip2012WarmUp TwitPic.com

@TwoPuttTommy 04 May 2012
High noon at the Boomtown Casino! “welcome to the Boomtown…” #RoadTrip2012WarmUp TwitPic.com

@TwoPuttTommy 04 May 2012
Donner Lake, near Truckee Calif. Tons of snow up here at altitude #RoadTrip2012WarmUp TwitPic.com

‏ @TwoPuttTommy 04 May 2012
Tuba Pass, I-80 west of Reno. A great ride! #RoadTrip2012WarmUp TwitPic.com

‏ @TwoPuttTommy 02 May 2012
sunset from General’s Highway in Sequoia National Park #RoadTrip2012WarmUp TwitPic.com

@TwoPuttTommy 02 May 2012
Saw this, and it reminded me of today’s #MnGOP! #RoadTrip2012WarmUp TwitPic.com

@TwoPuttTommy 30 April 2012
Just got to the Danish Hamlet of Solvang, CA. 1st stop is obvious! #RoadTrip2012WarmUp TwitPic.com

‏ @TwoPuttTommy 30 April 2012
they aren’t all nuts ‘n berries lefties on the Left Coast: #RoadTrip2012WarmUp TwitPic.com

@TwoPuttTommy 30 April 2012
You know you’re on a military base when you’re eating breakfast at the bowling alley. #RoadTrip2012WarmUp TwitPic.com

@TwoPuttTommy 30 April 2012
Visiting a vineyard yesterday and listening to a discussion of corks reminded me of this #SNL skit! YouTube.com #RoadTrip2012WarmUp

@TwoPuttTommy 29 April 2012
If it’s so goddam hidden, how come I found it??!? #RoadTrip2012WarmUp TwitPic.com

@TwoPuttTommy 29 April 2012
Only thing would make this shot prettier if it is was a fairway. #RoadTrip2012WarmUp TwitPic.com

@TwoPuttTommy 29 April 2012
Next up on the cruise thru #PasoRobles wine country: Opolo.com vineyards! TeeShirt: TwitPic.com #RoadTrip2012WarmUp

‏ @TwoPuttTommy 29 April 2012
1st stop, 1st wine: a 2011 Grenache Blanc by ChateauMargene.com Vineyards! Tasty!!! #RoadTrip2012WarmUp TwitPic.com

@TwoPuttTommy 29 April 2012
After a few brews – and another visit to the fountain – it’s off to find a winery! #RoadTrip2012WarmUp

‏ @TwoPuttTommy 29 April 2012
2/2 The men’s room at The Madonna Inn has a fixture that’s a fountain- even the ladies go in to look! #RoadTrip2012WarmUp TwitPic.com

‏ @TwoPuttTommy 29 April 2012
Scratch another off the ol’ Bucket List! The World Famous Madonna Inn in San Louis Obispo! 1/2 #RoadTrip2012WarmUp TwitPic.com

‏ @TwoPuttTommy 29 April 2012
Another one down on the bucket list! Pacific Coast Highway, north of Big Sur! #RoadTrip2012WarmUp TwitPic.com

‏ @TwoPuttTommy 28 April 2012
You know you’re in CheeseLand when all the airport gift stores sell stuff like this! #RoadTrip2012WarmUp TwitPic.com

And, the tweet that started it all?

* What happened on return wasn’t so fun; on her first day back from vacation with her 2nd Lieutenant – my wife was terminated. No reason given; 24 (+/-) years of service ended with an empty box and an order to fill it with the stuff from her cube and get out – NOW.

Stay tuned….

(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)

Joe lost, Ron (and, status quo) won, and the Party’s problems Joe was running to correct: got worse.

The 2008 MN GOP State Convention in Rochester is mostly remembered for the shabby treatment of Ron Paul and his supporters. Paul was a bona fide candidate for the GOP nomination for president, even though he didn’t have a (deleted, for censors) chance in (deleted, again) of getting it. Doesn’t matter; as a party member, he should have been allowed to speak – Ron Paul wasn’t.

And then there’s the treatment of Ron Paul’s supporters at the Convention. Well, leading up to it, too – as you can read by linking here for but one account. There’s plenty more out there, like this one.

One significant event at that 2008 MN GOP State Convention isn’t remembered so much; fortunately, one Convention Delegate caught it on tape – let’s look!

Oh, and pay very, Very, VERY close attention to what then-Chair Ron Carey says, “right” at the very end!!!

(direct link to YouTube)

To recap that video: there’s a white-wash/cover up concerning the GOP’s FEC Reports; Joe Repya asks two pointed questions; Tony Sutton goes ballistic; Ron Carey bloviates! And what exactly did Carey say, “right” at the end?

“At the end of the day, those that are criticizing us are to be shamed – because the truth will get out and the truth shall set us free.”

WHAT??!?

And then, in compete violation of Robert’s Rules, State GOP “leadership” ended the convention.

Shameful. Sadly, today’s GOP has no shame. It’s like I always say: You Couldn’t Trust The GOP Then, You Still Can’t Now, And Tomorrow Won’t Be Any Different.

Today, Joe Repya has an op-ed in the Star Tribune; it’s entitled “End of the state GOP as we know it?”

I’d recommend everyone read it, and remember: the problems Repya was talking about five years ago, back in 2007? Repya was correct.

I’m still wondering, though – isn’t it about time a prosecutor started taking a hard look at the problems Repya has been talking about all these years?

Stay tuned!

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

Well, the GOP’s Landlord finally decided to pull the plug, and yesterday filed paperwork with Ramsey County to get those deadbeat GOPers to “pay up or get out.” The Court is scheduled to hear the case next Tuesday, at 8:45am.

Also yesterday, a highly charged political memo from MN GOP Chair Pat (“Enron Boy”) Shortridge surfaced in the media. As a public service for you, our Gentle Readers, the following is a complete translation of this important document — from the original Republican into modern English. Let’s look!!!

Last Thursday, I sent the below update on party finances to local and statewide GOP leaders.

English Translation: Somebody leaked this, so now I’ve got to pretend I wanted it to go public.

In light of an exaggerated press story in a publication this morning,

ET: Because they’re wise to us.

we wanted to make sure you were aware of it.

ET: We can’t keep you in the dark any longer.

The MNGOP is not being ‘kicked out’ of its offices.

ET: …yet!

While we have successfully negotiated with our creditors in most cases,

ET: We’re doing our best to stiff our creditors…

our landlord took the unfortunate step, which they are certainly within their rights to do, of bringing the matter to court.

ET: …but the landlord finally figured out we’re full of crap, and is treating us like the deadbeats we are.

We believe we’re on track to settle this matter without further legal action,

ET: We’re going to offer him $0.10 on the dollar for back rent…

and we’ll know for sure in the coming days.

ET: …and we hope that stall will scam him out of another month or two before he drops a dime on us.

• First and foremost, we’ve amended our Federal Election Commission (2011) and Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board reports for 2011 and 2010.

ET: The FEC caught us with our pants around our ankles, but we think they’ll buy this new load of horse apples.

• The Financial Control and Oversight Committee, chaired very, very ably by Jeff Johnson, has looked into many of the questionable transactions from the past and will present a series of recommendations to significantly improve our processes, internal financial controls and oversight.

ET: We’ve found some clever ways to make the fraud in our FEC reports much harder to detect.

• We’ve continued to cut expenses,

ET: We’ll squeeze a few more dollars out of our naive staff and interns. Don’t tell them. And there’s a whole world of vendors out there, who still don’t get that we don’t pay our bills…

while continuing the process of restoring trust with our major donors and rebuilding our small dollar donor programs. Fundraising is improving and we’re getting things done on a shoestring.

ET: …and we’ll feed the donors the usual lies. They’re true believers and wimps, and will fall for anything we tell them.

You should be VERY proud of the party staff and our many key volunteers for going above and beyond the call to get things done.

ET: Once again, don’t let these poor saps in on what’s up next for them.

• We have negotiated with our creditors so we engage in an orderly process for paying down our debt. In 95% of the cases, that process has gone smoothly.

ET: We’ve stiffed almost everybody. I mean, what are they going to do? The party is totally broke, and it’s not like any of us are personally liable for this mess.

In a couple of cases, it has not gone as well as we’d hoped despite the best efforts of Mike Vekich, Bron Scherer, and me. One in particular that I wanted to tell you about is our negotiation with our landlord.

ET: Sadly, the landlord has seen through the BS of even our world-class scammers.

We have a long and very expensive lease which still has twenty-one (21) months to run.

ET: I can’t believe the previous guys negotiated such a bad lease…

As you know, we have more space than we need and our monthly lease cost is in excess of current, comparable market lease rates.

ET: …and they leased wa-a-a-ay too much space. Fortunately, we can leverage the bad market against the landlord.

When I was elected on December 31, 2011, the rent had not been paid since August 2011 and as part of our continuing financial issues and our effort to re-negotiate the lease, no lease payments have been made in 2012 to date.

ET: This isn’t my fault, of course. I’m a genius for thinking to squeeze the landlord by holding back rent.

While this is a situation none of us wants, it’s part of the rebuilding process. No one ever said it would be simple or easy or without bumps along the way.

ET: Like I said, none of this is my fault. I walked into the worst mess in modern history, created entirely by the previous administration. Hmmm, something about that story sounds familiar. It’s totally convincing, though, don’t you think?

But I wanted you to hear about it from me rather than from any other source.

ET: Since the cat is out of the bag, I’m trying to get ahead of this story I’ve been scamming you about for months.

Rather than continue discussions with us, the landlord chose to exercise its rights and filed a notice of eviction in Ramsey County court.

ET: The landlord finally figured us out, and took legal action. What a moron. He should have done that months ago.

We’re not going to be evicted, and at the same time, are continuing to negotiate on the back payments as well as on a lease that better fits both our space needs and our budget.

ET: Hey, I know I can scam this guy some more. The market’s lousy, and I’m a master wheeler-dealer. Remember, just a few more days, and I would have gotten Enron a bail-out.

But I wanted you to hear about it from me rather than from any other source.

ET: So I’m paddling as fast as I can to get ahead of this story. Did I already say that?

• The bottom line: We’re in better shape than we were three months ago, but not as good as we’ll be three months from now.

ET: I know it doesn’t look that way, but I’m doing a fabulous job. You just have to trust me for another, let’s see, I can suck you guys into another three months, right?

It’s a daily process that requires hard work and common purpose.

ET: “Daily process” means don’t bother me with questions. I’m too busy saving your butts from your own incompetence to listen to your pitiful whining…

Please let me know if you have additional thoughts or questions.

ET: but please send it to me via email, so I’ll have the pleasure of deleting it unread.

I’ll see you in St Cloud, if not before.

ET: Now, go away. “…if not before” means “not before.” Got it?

Pat Shortridge, Chairman
Republican Party of Minnesota

ET: Remember, I’m the big shot you dragged in here to save your sorry @sses. Now, stfu and get lost.

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

When the Twins needed a new stadium, the Vikings and Gopher football teams were told, in essence: “be patient; your turn will come” – and the Twins stadium got the necessary votes in the legislature.

When the Vikings and Gopher football teams needed a new stadium, the Vikings were told, in essence: “be patient; your turn will come” – and the Gophers stadium got the necessary votes in the legislature.

Now it’s the Vikings turn to have the votes held for the stadium they were told would be voted on, would they only be patient.

The GOP is in control of both the state House and Senate. Have been, for two years.

Now it’s coming down to the proverbial “4th quarter, less than two minutes to play” in this session – and there’s no lease on the Dome; nothing keeping the Vikings in Minnesota.

Why wait until the very end of this session, to take the vote everyone knew – KNEW – the Vikings were promised?

Simple, IMNSHO: The GOP couldn’t take the votes in the legislature before their senate district endorsing conventions were held, and the incumbent GOPers got their local endorsment.

Put their Viking stadium vote on the record, BEFORE endorsement?

Today’s tea-party crazies in today’s GOP would more than likely challenge incumbent GOPers voting for a stadium. And likely endorse a fellow Tea Party Faithful.

That’s my take: the GOP Legislatures delayed a vote for the Vikings to save their thin political skins.

After all, from an incumbent GOPer’s perspective, isn’t it better to be endorsed and then face a primary challenge, than try to primary an endorsed tea bagger?

The biggest problem with what looks like the GOP’s shallow, self-serving protect their political @rses strategy, is it puts them in a horrible position, negotiation wise: it’s fourth down, with less than two minutes to play…

…and Ziggy and the NFL Bigwigs are in town, and they have the ball.

Biggest losers? Citizens of the great State of Minnesota. Thanks, Senjem; thanks, Zellers!

NOT.

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

“Spend Less!”

Yeah, “right.” I wonder what THAT banner cost??!?

Paulsen flew that banner last Saturday, and what does The St. Cloud Times report the very next day? Let’s look!

House spending reflects priorities
Bachmann spends on offices; Cravaack on travel, supplies

WASHINGTON — Rep. Michele Bachmann spent more on maintaining her congressional offices in 2011 than any other Minnesota member of the House of Representatives.

Rep. Erik Paulsen spent more than any of his Gopher State colleagues on printing and publications, as well as sending out unsolicited mail.

And freshman Rep. Chip Cravaack led the delegation in spending in three categories: equipment, supplies and travel.

Those are some of the highlights from a review of the House Statement of Disbursements for the final quarter of 2011. The three-volume, 2,794-page document is a window to how much tax dollars lawmakers spent in nine categories.
(emphasis added, more, here)

Let’s repeat that:

“Rep. Erik Paulsen spent more than any of his Gopher State colleagues on printing and publications, as well as sending out unsolicited mail.”

No surprise there!

Erik Paulsen, R=Bachmann, is notorious for, well, I won’t say “abusing” the franking privilege, but: I don’t have to! Somebody else will!!! This is from an editorial, naming Paulsen by name, from North Carolina – yes, North Carolina!

The idea that a representative would use as much as one third of his office budget, money meant to be spent in ways that benefit constituents, on thinly veiled re-election entreaties, is unconscionable. It’s an inappropriate use of the funds, and it presents an unfair advantage for incumbents.

Such spending should be eliminated. If politicians want to send glossy, self-promoting pamphlets about themselves, they can pay for them themselves.

You can read the whole thing, in a post entitled “Erik Paulsen And The Times-News Editorial”, dated 13 April 2010.

And once again, what does Paulsen’s banner say?

“Spend Less!”

Well, maybe YOU have to; sure seems like Paulsen doesn’t.

Because, today’s GOP believes in fiscal restraint – BY OTHERS. Them? Not so much.

Oh, and “how did Paulsen vote on the (fill in the blank) issue?” “That’s easy; just check Bachmann’s voting record!”

***
Some of the previous coverage, of Paulsen abusing “using” taxpayer money and the franking privilege:

“Paulsen uses taxpayer money to play campaign-season games”, dated 09 April 2009

“More on Paulsen’s franking/game-playing”, dated 10 April 2009

“AP: Paulsen 3rd in Congress for mass communications spending”,dated 26 March 2010

“Postage-Stamp Paulsen Sends Another Mailer”, dated 31 March 2010

“Erik Paulsen And The Times-News Editorial”, dated 13 April 2010

“Did Postage-Stamp Paulsen Really Send Out ANOTHER Mailer?”, dated 16 April 2010

“Paulsen WINS – Most Franked Mail – Minnesota Division – First Quarter 2011″, dated 12 June 2011

I’m sure there’s more; this is just from a quick google search – stay tuned!

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

I actually wrote two posts back in ’08, immediately after Paulsen announced. It’s worth going back and taking a look at them again, especially after we recently compared the voting records of career politician Erik Paulsen, R=Bachmann, and, well, Michele Bachmann. In somewhat of a surprise, Paulsen toes the party line even more than Bachmann! OpenCongress.org also noted:

Michele Bachmann and Erik Paulsen have voted together 2723 times on roll call votes since January, 2007 in votes where neither abstained, representing a voting similarity of 92%

Which is exactly why I’m bringing up the 2nd post I wrote 4 years ago, about Paulsen — let’s look!

* * *

The “New! And Improved!!” Erik Paulsen
Submitted by TwoPuttTommy on January 28, 2008 – 9:45am.

Folks, you just can’t make this up – Erik Paulsen claiming to have, and I quote from his press release: “…years of working in bipartisan fashion, across the aisle, to get results in the business world and in the Minnesota legislature.”

ROFLMAO!!!!!

Just who does Erik Paulsen think he’s kidding??!?

ERIK PAULSEN, working in a “bipartisan fashion”??!? Those two belong together the same way “George W. Bush” and “articulate” do. Well, more like: “don’t.”

I was at Paulsen’s formal campaign announcement, and it was surreal. Now, most professional media types will tell you 1:30 on a Sunday afternoon is NOT when you want to have an announcement – not if you want to have a lot of media attention, that is.

And for this “major” event in a major race, I saw only one TV camera there. When I arrived, I asked the friendly folks at the check-in table for a media kit – and nobody knew where they were, or even who had them. After a half hour of asking volunteers for the kit, and even just who was the media contact, a volunteer brought me a one page press release.

I asked the cameraman if he had received a media kit; and he said his “media kit” consisted of the same as mine – a one-page press release.

That’s hardly what one would expect from a candidate wanting to get his message out – unless, perhaps, a candidate simply doesn’t want to get his message out. And quite frankly, with Erik Paulsen’s highly partisan past, it strongly occurs to me that he simply doesn’t want to be questioned about what he says. How else does one explain a one-page press release by a major party candidate for a seat in Congress?

There were no questions after Paulsen’s “I will represent the common sense values of Minnesota families…” sound-bite laden address.

Excuse me? I thought Paulsen was running to represent the THIRD DISTRICT’S families. And he’s claiming “common sense”? Common sense should tell people to question Mr. Paulsen very, Very, VERY closely about what he says – like what he said about “civility in politics”, and how he learned this lesson from “his friend and mentor, Jim Ramstad.”

Ladies and Gentlemen, I’ll be the first to recognize the genuine civility Jim Ramstad has graciously shown throughout his career.

And I’ll also be the first to say Erik Paulsen is no Jim Ramstad, in the civility department or, for that matter, just about any other department. If Erik wanted a lesson on incivility, all he would have to do is go to his party’s local website, which is the epitome of incivility. This website, which represents Paulsen locally, has a documented record of incivility and distortion. Just who does Paulsen think he’s fooling?

And in his quest to ditch his record for the “New! And Improved!!” label, Erik Paulsen correctly stated that Congress is broken. What Erik Paulsen neglected to say is that government is broken because of blind partisanship as practiced by the ilk of him here in Saint Paul, and John Kline in Washington.

Quite frankly, Paulsen – the former state house GOP majority leader – claiming to want to work to fix the Congress that republicans broke, defies credibility. Paulsen rose to power by being part of the system; Ramstad never rose to prominence because he refused to compromise his values. There’s a reason Jim Ramstad, first elected to congress in 1990, never rose to a leadership position, while Roy Blunt of Missouri, first elected in 1996, has.

And that reason is partisanship – Blunt personifies partisanship in Washington, while Ramstad personifies bi-partisanship. And Paulson’s record is clear; he has personified partisanship in Saint Paul.

Erik Paulsen – “new, and improved”? Not a chance.

All in all, Erik Paulsen’s performance yesterday, in stealth mode and by design, just goes to show once again why reasonable citizens simply cannot trust republiCon leadership.

(MnBlue.com, 28 January 2008)

* * *

OK, to recap: 4 years ago, Paulsen claimed he’d work in a “bi-partisan” manner, should he be elected.

And what’s he done, since getting elected?

Toe the party line even more than Bachmann!

And that’s just today’s example, from the archives, of why “You Couldn’t Trust The GOP Then, You Still Can’t Now, And Tomorrow Won’t Be Any Different”.

In the days and weeks and months ahead, we’ll be taking a very Very VERY close look at what career politician Erik Paulsen has said, and what he’s done.

In the mean time, remember this: want to know how Paulsen voted on any given issue? That’s easy; check Bachmann’s voting record!

(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)

Hmmm… “I will not be out hustled.” –Erik Paulsen

Hmmm…where have I seen that before?

Hey! I wrote about that before – let’s look!

* * *

The “Hustler”
Submitted by TwoPuttTommy on January 29, 2008 – 11:58am.

At his announcement, Erik Paulsen claimed to have, and I quote from his press release: “…years of working in bipartisan fashion, across the aisle, to get results in the business world and in the Minnesota legislature.”

Yeah, “right.” Anyone even slightly paying attention understands Erik Paulsen did not rise to Republican state House leadership position by being “bi-partisan.”

Right out of the box, Paulsen forces the interested citizen to question his credibility.

The very first line of the press release says, and again I quote: “Saying ‘Congress is broken, I will work to fix it,’ Erik Paulsen….”

Just who does Erik Paulsen think he’s kidding?

Jim Ramstad tried to fix it, and for that he was rewarded by GOP Leadership with backbench status.

If Jim Ramstad couldn’t fix it, what reasonable person could possibly believe Erik Paulsen could?

Newt Gingrich’s “Contract With America” fundamentally changed how power is structured in the Republican Party, in Congress.

Serious academics can explain exactly how power was removed from committees and placed in party leadership, leading to things such as the strong-armed ouster of Gingrich and the installation of Dennis Hastert as Speaker, with Tom DeLay the muscle. Not to mention the Abramoff Scandal, the K-Street Project, etc etc etc.

To the layman, the following explains it clearly: when it comes to Republican Congressmen, “the people elect them, but the GOP Leadership directs them.”

Paulsen’s claim he’s going to “work to fix it” is simply not credible.

Like Erik Paulsen is really – as a freshman congressman – going to take on and challenge John Boehner and Roy Blunt’s power and authority?

Quite frankly, in a one page press release, Paulsen seems to have a knack of saying things that simply don’t ring true.

Consider this: “Failed ideas and yearning for the past stand in the way of change. So do the politics of blame, division and partisan spin. Minnesotans are weary of this brand of politics.” (emphasis added).

Say, Erik?

THAT’S YOUR PARTY YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT.

Especially in Eden Prairie, in Paulsen’s home town. Paulsen’s party’s website is the epitome of blame, division, and partisan spin.

Gentle readers, that’s the local GOP website that blamed the DFL and spun the per diem issue; that put Erik Paulsen (along with David Hann) in the position of: “Well, I voted against it, before I profited from it.”

And that per diem issue is but one example of the “blame, division, and spin” Paulsen’s party’s website is known for; not to mention dirty politics and distortion.

Is Erik Paulsen really condemning his party, here?

Right before he’s going to ask them for their endorsement of his campaign?

Will reasonable people really think Erik Paulsen is being sincere?

Just who does Erik Paulsen think he’s kidding??!?

In his speech, Paulsen claimed to be the moderate candidate, like Frenzel and Ramstad, that accurately represents this district, Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District.

ROFLMAO!!!!!

Erik Paulsen, “moderate”??!?

Ladies and gentlemen, Erik Paulsen is no moderate. He represents the extreme right wing of the GOP. He always has. If Erik Paulsen is saying he’s a “moderate”, I’m asking “since when – tomorrow?”

At the end of his speech, Erik Paulsen stated:

“I will not be out-hustled in this campaign.”

Clearly, those that look into Erik Paulsen’s past – his verifiable record – and compare that to what Erik Paulsen said on Sunday, can only conclude that Erik Paulsen is indeed a hustler.

Because he certainly isn’t believable.

This is crossposted at The Eden Prairie News

* * *

Gentle Readers, Pulsen is indeed a “hustler” – and he’s also today’s example of this:

You Couldn’t Trust The GOP Then, You Still Can’t Now, And Tomorrow Won’t Be Any Different

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

I’m tellin’ ya – it was a Barnes-Burner!!!

What was pleasantly surprising, and demonstrates the unity of the opposition to career politician Erik Paulsen, R=Bachmann, is Sharon Sund’s gracious concession speech calling for just that – unity. This unity was demonstrated by how many of her supporters stayed to the very end of the concession – LONG after their candidate had lost.

Why such unity? A – both sides ran good – and clean! – campaigns; B – both sides understand the horrible representation in the 3rd CD by career politician Erik Paulsen, R=Bachmann. Indeed, one thing Sharon Sund repeated often: “Erik Paulsen may say he’s a moderate – but he votes like Michele Bachmann.”

And indeed Paulsen does – let’s look!

OK, the key statistic in that screen shot is “Bachmann votes with party: 91%; Paulsen votes with party 93%’

Yes, Gentle Readers – Paulsen toes the party line even more than Bachmann!

And how closely do those two vote alike? Again, let’s look!

Michele Bachmann and Erik Paulsen have voted together 2723 times on roll call votes since January, 2007 in votes where neither abstained, representing a voting similarity of 92%

(source: OpenCongress.org)

So when someone asks”Well, how did Paulsen vote on that issue?” – clearly, an accurate response is: “Hey – just check Bachmann’s voting record!!!”

The .gif to the right (and with Paulsen, it’s apropos it’s WAY to the right) is courtesy of the amazing Tild – and as the above demonstrates, it’s entirely accurate. This election is about a far-right career politician – Erik Paulsen – and the not only far-right but far-WRONG Republican Party that represents the Top 1%, and a Progressive Candidate – Brian Barnes – that will represent The 99%.

Link here to contribute $$$ to Brain Barnes – every buck counts when the object of the mission is to retire a corporate-controlled, career-politician like Erik Paulsen, R=Bachmann.

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