In Part 1, we looked at how FEC Tony Sutton’s (pictured, right) MN GOP couldn’t (wouldn’t?) accurately report to the FEC how much they owed a vendor they hired to ensure accurate FEC reports. In Part 2, we noted there are now 2 citizen watchdog groups looking into the MN GOP’s Cooked Books — Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington – which nailed ‘em last time (the MN GOP got smacked with a near-record $170,000 fine), and Common Cause MN. In Part 3, we looked at how a payroll deductions “no, NO!” that got the MN GOP in trouble last time seems to be a pattern. In Part 4 we looked at the MN GOP using a strange address for one of it’s fundraisers.
In Part 5 we looked at at the official FEC Complaint – filed 12 Jan 2012 – by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (“CREW”). In Part 6 we looked at the MN GOP misrepresenting their expenses. In Part & we looked at how the MN GOP categorized pay for a guy that they very well may have been paying to run for state senate – Lakeville’s Dave Thompson in SD-36.
Today in Part 8 of the continuing Cooked Books Series we’re going to take a look at a MN GOP Campaign Finance Report line item that begs the question: did the State GOP pay for a lawyer for a State Representative’s lawyer in a drunk driving case?
Here’s the background: endorsed GOPer 2010 candidate for Governor Tom Emmer’s campaign was getting hammered over alcohol related incidents, including a certain paid campaign staffer that happened to be Emmer’s kid. The campaign did NOT need any more alocohol-related incidents. Apparently, campaign “consultant” Mark Buesgens, state rep from district 35-B, didn’t get the memo – he got caught driving drunk with an open bottle of vodka.
Team Emmer’s Drinking Team promptly dumped Buesgens. Note the “note” at the bottom of the last entry: “final payment.”
Now, the “official story” put out by Team Emmer’s Drinking Team was: “Hey! It’s just a coincidence, but: just the day before Buesgens got caught driving drunk into the ditch, we ditched him and he went to work for the State GOP!!!”
Yeah, “right.”
Let’s take a look at the timeline, as reported on Buesgen’s court records:
September 18th, 2010 – Busgens gets caught in a ditch with an open bottle of vodka; blows a .16 blood-alcohol content.
September 24th, 2010 – Buesgens cited in Wright County
November 5th, 2010 – Guilty plea entered, case all but settled (final disposition November 23rd, 2010.
Now, remember how in the scramble to distance themselves from the guy in the ditch (with an open bottle of vodka), Team Emmer’s Drinking Team said “Hey! Buesgen’s isn’t OUR bad boy; he’s the GOP’s!!!”
Well, Buesgens does indeed show up on the State GOP’s state Campaign Finance Report for 2010:
Five days after blowing a .16, Buesgens has the good fortune of getting a check from the State GOP for $2,584.62.
Five days before his drunk driving & open bottle case is all but over, Buesgens pulls another check from FEC Tony & Co for $8, 615.38 — for a grand total of eleven grand: $11,000.00.
Coincidences? Or, do those checks look like “retainer & final payment” to defend a drunk driving & open bottle case?
At any rate, it sure looks like a sweet deal for Buesgens; he goes from about $7k a month with Emmer to $11k with the GOP!!!
I’d ask the State GOP for an explanation of why Buesgen’s $11k paydays – in about a month – was for actual work, and not just a pass-through to Buesgen’s lawyer, but: it’s not like they really like to talk to the ol’ TwoPutter. Not that I – or anyone else for that matter – would/should believe ‘em; after all: reasonable people no longer have any reason to believe anything a GOPer official – party nor elected – has to say.
The State GOP needs to prove that the $11k Buesgens got was for actual work – because it sure looks like it simply paid a defense attorney for the actual work of defending one of their own.
If I were a GOPer, I’d be mad as (heck) to think my political donations went to a defense attorney for a guy that drove drunk into the ditch with an open bottle of vodka.
As a progressive, I’m simply not surprised. After all, today’s GOP is morally bankrupt, intellectually dishonest, and institutionally corrupt.
There’s a LOT more, in the GOP’s state and federal financial reports so:
Stay tuned!
And, let’s hope some prosecutor, somewhere, is thinking: “Isn’t it about time to get a Grand Jury together, and do a little digging ourselves?”
(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)
In Part 1, we looked at how FEC Tony Sutton’s (pictured, right) MN GOP couldn’t (wouldn’t?) accurately report to the FEC how much they owed a vendor they hired to ensure accurate FEC reports. In Part 2, we noted there are now 2 citizen watchdog groups looking into the MN GOP’s Cooked Books — Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington – which nailed ‘em last time (the MN GOP got smacked with a near-record $170,000 fine), and Common Cause MN. In Part 3, we looked at how a payroll deductions “no, NO!” that got the MN GOP in trouble last time seems to be a pattern. In Part 4 we looked at the MN GOP using a strange address for one of it’s fundraisers. In Part 5 we looked at at the official FEC Complaint – filed 12 Jan 2012 – by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (“CREW”). In Part 6 we looked at the MN GOP misrepresenting their expenses.
Today in Part 7 of the continuing Cooked Books Series we’re going to take a look at how the MN GOP categorized pay for a guy that they very well may have been paying to run for state senate – Lakeville’s Dave Thompson in SD-36.
Long story, short: for over 7 years, Thompson was a RWNJ Shock-Jock on AM radio in the Twin Cities. Looking for a better gig, he decided to run in 2009 against FEC Tony (pictured above) for state GOP Party Chair. Thompson lost; as best as I remember it, it really came down to this: Thompson wanted the $100k (+/-) that came with the job; ol’ FEC Tony would do the gig for free. Why would FEC Tony do the gig for free? That, gentle readers, is a story for a later day! At any rate, FEC Tony beats Thmpson for party Chair. Here’s where it gets interesting….
According to media reports, shortly after winning, FEC Tony & Dave Thompson agreed to a contract wherein Thompson would do consulting for GOP candidates. All told, the number being reported is Thompson has taken home a cool $70k.
Here’s the kicker: that $70k being reported, is being reported as coming from FEC reports. Because, the MN GOP hasn’t reported any dough being sent Thompson’s way on their State Campaign Finance Reports.
Which means for the MN GOP to NOT have any more FEC problems than they already have, ALL of the dough better have been spent for Thompson “consulting” for Federal Candidates only.
Stay tuned!
(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)
In Part 1, we looked at how FEC Tony’s (pictured, right) MN GOP couldn’t (wouldn’t?) accurately report to the FEC how much they owed a vendor to ensure accurate FEC reports. In Part 2, we noted there are now 2 citizen watchdog groups looking into the MN GOP’s Cooked Books — Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington – which nailed ‘em last time (the MN GOP got smacked with a near-record $170,000 fine), and Common Cause MN. In Part 3, we looked at how a payroll deductions “no, NO!” that got the MN GOP in trouble last time seems to be a pattern. No surprise there!
Today in Part 4 of the continuing Cooked Books Series we’re going to take a look at how a reasonable person has no reason to believe anything a Republican says a vendor and what appears to be a fake address. While perusing the December 20th, 2011 MN GOP Federal Elections Commission (“FEC”) filing – covering the month of November 2011 – the following stuck out. Why? Because there simply isn’t an address in Minneapolis that has a street number of “7705.” Let’s look!
OK, to recap so far: we know that you can’t believe what Republicans say, ESPECIALLY in FEC reports – after all, on December 20th, 2011 the MN GOP reported they only owed $542,005 when the real number was double that — and possibly closer to a cool $2 million. And, of course, there’s that $170,000 fine theFEC smacked ‘em with just a few months ago…
So when an address shows up with a street number that can’t possibly be in the city they say, well – that bears some digging into. And a simple mapquest search shows that that address is NOT in Minneapolis!
We’ll start with the company – “Fundraising Associates” – first. If you go to the Minnesota Secretary Of State’s office, you’ll find that “Fundraising Associates is in fact a bona fide company. Except, as noted in the preceeding link, it’s NOT at “7705 Tanglewood Court” – it’s registered at “4035 W 65th Street #427, Edina MN 55435.” And it’s registered to a “Zandra Wolcott.”
What type of building is “4035 W 65th Street”? It’s an apartment building. OK, no big deal there; a lot of people work out of their homes these days. But, what is “7705 Tanglewood Court”? It’s a duplex, smack dab in the middle of a residential area in Edina.
So, why would the MN GOP have a “Payee address” for a company that’s registered and apparently working out of an apartment listed to a duplex some other place? Hmmm….
… Better check the property tax records! Here’s what they show:
Owner Name: Golden Valley Microwave FDS
Taxpayer Name & Address: Norman M Gabrick, 4910 Malibu Drive, Edina 55346
Homestead Status: Non-Homestead
Who is “Golden Valley Microwave FDS”? A quick googlesearch indicates that it’s now a subsidiary of ConAgra Foods.
ConAgra Foods??!? Why is a vendor’s check going to a duplex owned by ConAgra Foods??!?
It’s not like “Fundraising Associates” hasn’t been listed on FEC Reports before… let’s look!
Yep – in 2010, in a “Minnesota-Bachmann Victory Committee” FEC Report, Zandra Wolcott was reported as receiving $25,000 — at the address registered with the MN Secretary Of State.
But now, a year later and now a MN GOP vendor, her checks are being sent to a “non-homestead” (read=”rental”) duplex a couple of miles away from her apartment/registered business address?
Why? Is that duplex just a sham address? Or is the MN GOP claiming that the money went to Wolcott, but it was really sent to someone else?
Those questions (and more!) I didn’t get to ask Zandra Wolcott. Here’s the only question I got to ask:
“When you gave your bills to the MN GOP, did you use your business address or an address for a duplex a few miles away from your office?”
I got to ask it, but: no answer. In an exceedingly short phone conversation, Ms. Wolcott referred me to Pat Shortridge at the MN GOP — and her attorney, Tony Trimble.
Yes, Tony “Recount” Trimble – the MN GOP lawyer, who’s recount bills the MN GOP may try to weasel out of paying.
Say, there’s a plan! Ask questions about a fishy FEC transaction to a former ENRON lobbyist – now running the MN GOP – and a lawyer that the MN GOP probably owes big bucks to! One can easily assume a response along the lines of “not intended to be a factual statement”, or, perhaps, “I only lied because I had to”…
What we know, is there’s (stuff) in the MN GOP’s campaign finance reports that’s simply not true.
What we don’t know is who put down what appears to be a fake address on an FEC report – the vendor, or the MN GOP? And why?
And how many OTHER fake addresses has the MN GOP reported to the FEC?
In digging into this one, I’ve been hearing allegations of shell LLC’s and other sham addresses, etc that the MN GOP has been reporting.
So stay tuned — the best is yet to come!!!
(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)
In Part 1, we looked at how FEC Tony’s (pictured, right) MN GOP couldn’t (wouldn’t?) accurately report to the FEC how much they owed a vendor to ensure accurate FEC reports. In Part 2, we noted there are now 2 citizen watchdog groups looking into the MN GOP’s Cooked Books — Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington – which nailed ‘em last time (the MN GOP got smacked with a near-record $170,000 fine), and Common Cause MN.
Today in Part 3 of the continuing Cooked Books Series, we’re going to take a quick look at one thing that got the MN GOP into trouble last time, and how it sure looks like it’ll keep them in trouble this time. As CREW’s Melanie Sloan noted on Minnesota Public Radio just the other day:
“We seem to be seeing a repeat of the same kind of problems with the Republican Party’s finances,” said Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington D.C. (More, at MPR.org)
Back in February 2007, long time MN GOP employee Dwight Tostenson sent a memo to the GOP’s Executive Committee outling what he thought were – to paraphrase – real bad accounting. REAL bad. One thing Tostenson noted was the Party was taking employee payroll deductions for retirement accounts — but NOT depositing the deductions into the employee’s retirement accounts! That, Ladies and Gentlemen, is a HUGE “no no”! At that time, MN GOP employee retirement accounts were being administered by American Express Financial. American Express Financial was later spun off to become “Ameriprise Financial”.
On the December (covering the preceeding month,November) RPM (“Republican Party of Minnesota”) FEC Filing, Schedule D lists a debt owed to Ameriprise Financial Services in the amount of $7,636.64. “Nature of Debt” was listed as “Administrative/Salary/Overhead FEA Empl” — here it is:
This interested me, because in The Tostenson Memo, prepared by former MN GOP Staffer Dwight Tostenson, one of his allegations was that the MN GOP was taking payroll deductions for employee retirement purposes, and not depositing said withholdings into the employee’s retirement accounts – administered by Ameriprise American Express.
So I looked in the MN GOP FEC Schedule B Filings – Disbursements – for the month, and found no disbursements to Ameriprise.
Nor was there a disbursement in the preceeding months of October (Filing #753549), September #750371, August #745520, July #742600, June #737692, May #731962, nor April #729605.
But I noticed a funny thing, as I worked back to April – until April’s FEC Filing, the debt to Ameriprise never changed – always $7,636.64 on Schedule D (Debts and Obligations)
In April, the MN GOP’s Schedule D reported Ameriprise twice – the first time, $3133.85 – same “Nature of Debt” as above.
The second listing for Ameriprise, in the amount of $1,000.62, has “Standard Transfer: FEA Employees IRA Con” as the “Nature of Debt.”
Now, I’m not saying that the debt to Ameriprise Financial reported all those months in 2011 ($7,636.64) is in fact payroll deductions for deposits into employee retirement accounts – I’m not saying that at all.
But I will repeat what Mealanie Sloan of CREW said, above:
“We seem to be seeing a repeat of the same kind of problems with the Republican Party’s finances,” said Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington D.C. (More, at MPR.org)
Yep! Sure seems to be a repeat!
And a willful one at that.
I’m going to continue to dig into the financial disaster brought about by the alleged “Party of Fiscal Responsibility” – that’s becoming known as the MN GOP’s Cooked Books Scandal.
Hopefully, some one in the law enforcement persuasion will, too.
Because really: Does anyone expect the newly elected MN GOP Chair “ENRON Pat” Shortridge to?
Stay tuned!
(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)
In last week’s post, “By The Numbers: The MN GOP’s Cooked Books, we took a quick look at just one part o’ the cooked books: how the GOP owed a whole bunch o’ dough to a vendor it hired to help it comply with it’s FEC troubles.
And seriously, you can’t make this up! The MN GOP was in trouble with the Federal Elections Comission; argued to the FEC that the FEC should be lenient because it wanted to clean up it’s mess and would hire a vendor to do just that – and then ends up owing the vendor more than they reported to the FEC!!!
Link here to read The Tostenson Memo (Tostenson is a former MN GOP Employee) that is the basis of CREW’s FEC Complaint – a complaint which was filed in 2007.
Today’s bombshells (again) are reported via MPR’s Tom Scheck:
Government watchdog groups say MNGOP should face fines
By Tom Scheck, Minnesota Public RadioTwo government watchdog groups are calling on state and federal regulators to fine the Minnesota Republican Party for violating campaign finance laws.
Republican Party officials had hoped that their financial problems would be put to rest once they disclosed their troubled finances last week. That disclosure prompted more questioning from a government watchdog group that already won legal victories against the party.
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“We seem to be seeing a repeat of the same kind of problems with the Republican Party’s finances,” said Melanie Sloan, executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington D.C.
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“It’s a black and white issue,” Sloan said. “The FEC will have no question but that the Minnesota GOP has violated the conciliation agreement. The only question is what exactly will the FEC do about it and how seriously will they take it.”Republicans also have problems at the state level. Mike Dean with Common Cause Minnesota says he filed a complaint to the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board on Thursday asking them to look into several alleged campaign finance violations. Dean said the Republican Party of Minnesota conspired to circumvent the state’s disclosure laws. He said the party didn’t disclose that they were helping manage a fund aimed to finance the 2010 recount.
(More, at MPR.org)
“.seem to be seeing a repeat…”
Gee – why is that?
Well, I’d suggest it’s because of what I often say: Today’s GOP is morally bankrupt, intellectually dishonest, and institutionally corrupt.
As has been pointed out before, one person pointing that out was then-RNC Chair Michael Steele: “You have absolutely no reason – none – to trust our words or our actions at this point.”.
And here’s why the MN GOP is not going to get away with sweeping this one under the rug: there’s two groups going after ‘em for their corruption now: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington – which again, nailed ‘em last time, and Common Cause MN.
The GOP’s financial problems are not going away.
Stay tuned!
(Graphic by Tildology)
(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)
Yesterday, we posted a screenshot of what the MN GOP reported to the Federal Elections Commission (“FEC”) on December 20th – and the number on line 10 (“Debts and Obligations Owed BY the Committee”") stood out: $542,005.12.
Why?
Because that number is pure BS.
Cue MPR’s Tom Scheck!
Republican official: MN GOP’s debt load ‘some ugly stuff’
by Tom Scheck, Minnesota Public Radio
December 30, 2011St. Paul, Minn. — The Republican Party of Minnesota is heading into the 2012 elections with massive debt that could be as high as $2 million, party officials disclosed Friday.
A day before Republican delegates were to elect a new chairman, party officials conceded that the obligations include some debts the GOP had not disclosed. That could prompt additional fines from state and federal regulators. (more, here)
“…additional fines…” – Say, like the recent and near-record $170,000 fine the MN GOP was smacked with?
Yep!
Now, let’s take a look at just one recently (December 20th, 2011) reported debt:
OK, it’s a little small. Here’s what that December 20th, 2011 debt reads:
Cardinals FEC Compliance Services — $42,915
But, what did the MN GOP tell the media, and and what did MPR report, about the MN GOP’s updated debts? Let’s look!
Cardinals FEC Compliance Services — $89,997
Ladies and Gentlemen, the MN GOP misreported to the FEC how much they owed the vendor they contracted with to ensure FEC reporting compliance!!!
And this is the party – the GOP – that’s always lecturing other people about fiscal responsibility?
Yep!
Because, Republicans are always demanding fiscal responsibility – of OTHERS.
(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)
I often say that today’s GOP Party is morally bankrupt, intellectually dishonest, and institutionally corrupt. But that’s only because it is. Last Friday morning, at 6:00 am, I posted in “Where There Is Smoke There Is Usually Fire”:
Here’s a time line of what we know:
1 – GOP Deputy Chair Michael Brodkorb resigns: 12 October 2011
2 – Senate GOP Majority Chief of Staff Cullen Sheehan resigns: 09 November 2011
3 – GOP Chair Tony Sutton resigns: 02 December 2011
4 – GOP Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch resigns Majority Leader position: 15 December 2011That’s four – FOUR – major resignations in two months.
Well, now the tally is five – FIVE – major positions going vacant in two months because ol’ “Mud Slinger Mike” Brodkorb is no longer spinnin’ tales of lies and deceit as GOP State Senate Communications Director. While there is no official explanation of why Brodkorb is out, speculation and smart money is betting it has to do with whom the ousted GOP Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch was with whilst hikin’ the ol’ Appalachian Trail.
Last Friday morning, when I asked these questions about “takin’ a hike,” I wasn’t expecting a sex scandal:
There’s a LOT of smoke here. Why would an operative like Brodkorb leave a spring-board job like the “unpaid” State Deputy Chair position, to a “volunteer adviser” position on the quixotic campaign of gaffe-prone GOPer Mike Parry? And why would the former staffer of Norm “4th Most-Corrupt Senator” Coleman (not to mention, YouTube Sensation) Cullen Sheehan pack it in? We know that, essentially, ol’ “FEC Tony” Sutton was, essentially, shoved out the door; they just let him call it a “resignation for family reasons” or whatever tripe it was that Tony spewed.
But Koch’s decision to take a hike? Well, Brodkorb is/was Koch’s “executive assistant”… but, still. Why take the hike, now?
I was expecting a breaking story about the GOP’s continuing financial scandal.
And I’m still expecting that story to break. Amy Koch’s sordid scandal is a convenient diversion for the GOP; gives the base something else to look at.
In the years since The Tostenson Memo came to light, GOP State Party Officials hardly had an epiphany. If only half of what is being talked about is true, it makes pre-Tostenson activities look like Choir Boy antics.
That’s where the GOP Base should be looking, and looking to hold those accountable accountable – but a sordid sex scandal is a convenient diversion for those that dug the GOP so deeply into debt.
But I won’t be surprised if that story is kept swept under the rug; if it is it’ll just be another pathetic example of today’s GOP Party being morally bankrupt, intellectually dishonest, and institutionally corrupt.
(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)
Here’s a time line of what we know:
1 – GOP Deputy Chair Michael Brodkorb resigns: 12 October 2011
2 – Senate GOP Majority Chief of Staff Cullen Sheehan resigns: 09 November 2011
3 – GOP Chair Tony Sutton resigns: 02 December 2011
4 – GOP Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch resigns Majority Leader position: 15 December 2011
That’s four – FOUR – major resignations in two months.
Here’s what else we know: a committee of GOP Party Insiders, led by RNC Member Jeff Johnson, has been taking a real hard look into party finances. We also know Interim GOP Chair Kelly Fenton just added Mike Vekich as an “advisor” to the cooked books stinkin’ up the offices at MN GOP HQ.
There’s a reason the FEC nailed the MN GOP with “one of the largest fines” in FEC history.
Here’s what hasn’t been confirmed by multiple sources: said GOPer investigation (led by RNC Jeff Johnson) included a review of Brodkorb’s expense accounting. Remember, when Brodkorb said he wouldn’t take a salary for being GOPer Deputy Chair, he didn’t say he wouldn’t be claiming expenses.
There’s a LOT of smoke here. Why would an operative like Brodkorb leave a spring-board job like the “unpaid” State Deputy Chair position, to a “volunteer adviser” position on the quixotic campaign of gaffe-prone GOPer Mike Parry? And why would the former staffer of Norm “4th Most-Corrupt Senator” Coleman (not to mention, YouTube Sensation) Cullen Sheehan pack it in? We know that, essentially, ol’ “FEC Tony” Sutton was, essentially, shoved out the door; they just let him call it a “resignation for family reasons” or whatever tripe it was that Tony spewed.
But Koch’s decision to take a hike? Well, Brodkorb is/was Koch’s “executive assistant”… but, still. Why take the hike, now?
Gotta wonder, ’cause where there is smoke – especially from cooked books – there’s usually fire.
But don’t be surprised if there’s that ol’ GOPer Cover-Up.
Remember, the GOP has been saying for years – until the FEC smacked ‘em – that there was “nothing to see, here!” despite what was in “The Tostenson Memo” – and that”s really the root cause of the GOP’s cooked books, today. Maybe now that the FEC has taken a look at those cooked books, it’s time for a prosecutor to do so too.
(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com‘ comments welcome there)
Saw the tweet:
Checked google: Nothing. Nada. Zip.
Checked Repya’s Facebook – BINGO!!!
Dear Friends,
I would like to thank everyone who called and wrote me telling me that my predictions in 2007 of fiscal irresponsibility by the leadership within the MN GOP had come true. Many have asked me to run for the vacant MN GOP Chairman’s position and clean up the mess for the good of the party. You confidence in my ability to make the MN GOP once again a viable and respectable political party was very heart warming. Three factors played heavy in my decision not to run for MN GOP Party Chair.
First, many of you do not know that I’m recovering from major cervical disk surgery of four weeks ago. I’m fused from C4 to T1 because of numerous issues relating back to my thirty years of service to our nation military. It appears that my recovery will take at least another six weeks. Although the surgery was successful, it takes time to fully recover and rest is the best medicine.
Second, the commitment would be more then I could handle at this time. From speaking with party faithful and current leaders it appears the extent of the damage the previous leadership has inflicted on a once trusted party is very significant and perhaps well beyond the figure of 1.2 million dollars discussed in the press. I’m told it will take the external audit months to determine the alleged depths of the fiscal mismanagement, graft, kickbacks, corruption and possible financial theft and fraud perpetrated by those who were in charge. I’m confident that the State Executive Board will be totally transparent to the people of Minnesota and insure that no hint of a “cover up” will take place. They promise to take the necessary actions to reform the party so that this type of behavior never occurs again.
Lastly, it would place a burden on my family that I do not wish to put on their shoulders at this time. At this point in my life I believe it would be better to sit back and see if the new leadership will hold those responsible and accountable and that the reforms that are promised do actually take place. Only then will the voters of Minnesota trust the MN GOP to be the party of personal responsibility, financial accountability, and free of corruption.
Analysis? Tomorrow!
Stay tuned!!!
(cross postd from MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)
If one were to base GOPer support in the race to replace deposed former Chair FEC Tony (pictured, right) by twitter traffic, one would suppose there was widespread support for GOPer Brandon Sawalich. Mr. Sawalich released a letter announcing his run for GOP State Party Chair; he listed a 5 Point Plan for “The Way Forward” – and we’ll look at just one of ‘em, bulleted “Financial integrity and transparency” – with pictures!
Before we get to ‘em, I’d like to point out what I said earlier today, when I updated the original “The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same, or… how Zellers’ election demonstrates – once again – that GOP still stands for GreedOverPrinciples.”, posted back in June of ’09:
There’s a fight in the MN GOP for the Chair position – and it’s roots go back to “The Tostenson Memo” and the 2008 MN GOP State Convention in Rochester. And it’s coming to a boil. Why? Because GOPers covered up their mess back then; and some of those same GOPers are doin’ their best to KEEP it covered up. (more, here)
And indeed it does go back to the GOP State Convention in Rochester MN, back in 2008! For a quick trip back to what happened then, here’s what I wrote back then! It’s called “Fear And Loathing In Rochester”. From it:
What everyone needs to remember is that the fact the Republican Party Of Minnesota’s financial problems have been under discussion for a year is a) the result of Republicans airing their own financial problems, and b) republiCon Ron refusing to face the problem publicly. Indeed, not only is republiCon Ron is still trying to hide this problem, he refuses to answer questions about it.
Yep – way back in 2008, financial mismanagement by the State GOP was a topic of conversation for a year! And, 4 years later, it still is!
OK, so who was GOPer Party Treasurer in 2008, before Tony Sutton took the Party Chair position in 2009?
Yep! FEC Tony was GOPer Treasurer, before he was GOPer Chair!
Above, in “Fear And Loathing In Rochester” we touched on the GOPer Party Establishment refusing to deal with the financial reformers at the 2008 Rochester Convention; but there was another dynamic at work – Ron Paul’s 2008 bid for the GOP Nomination! There were a bunch of Ron Paul supporters there; and the Party Establishment was none-too-happy to see them – or, even Ron Paul! In fact, GOPer Leadership refused to let Ron Paul address the GOP Convention.
Here’s what GOPer Blogger Martin Andrade wrote about the convention, back then:
At the MNGOP State Convention
Posted on May 30, 2008 by Marty AndradeNotes and Thoughts from the Convention Floor:
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-There are two different factions, the establishment faction called “Minnesota Conservative Delegate Team” and among the notable people on this list are Norm Coleman and Tim Pawlenty. The other faction, from what I can tell, is called “The Conservative Conscience Coalition” and these are partly Ron Paul supporters.
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-On that contention, I will say I think the process was unfair this year. Ron Paul people were kept off the ballot, there were no nominations from the floor allowed, people were forced to vote for a certain number of people and there was some behind the scenes stuff I didn’t see. It is this attempt to silence dissent which upset me.
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-Unfortunately, a great portion of the Ron Paul people were not allowed to speak nor were they on the ballot.
So, who was that “Minnesota Conservative Delegate Team” that dissed the Ron Paul people? Let’s look!
That’s their FEC Statement Of Organization, signed 5-27-2008 and received by the FEC on June 5th, 2008 – AFTER the convention closed. Hmmm….
So, where did the “Minnesota Conservative Delegate Team” get their dough? Let’s look!
Hmmm… from OpenSecrets.org, a project of the Center for Responsive Politics – a list of “major donors ($200+)” to the Minnesota Conservative Delegate Team… hmmm….
Brandon Salawich, 5-22-08: $3,000
Michael Vekich, 5-22-08: $1,000
Michael Brodkorb, 7-2-08: $500
I recognize those names!
As a matter o’ fact, Vekich just made the news, earlier today! From Minnesota Public Radio:
Vekich will advise state GOP on finances
Posted at 12:57 PM on December 12, 2011 by Tim PugmireThe Republican Party of Minnesota has turned to businessman and accountant Mike Vekich to help clean up its financial problems.
The party’s acting chairwoman Kelly Fenton announced today that Vekich, who is CEO of Vekich Associates, will provide voluntary assistance until Dec. 31. That’s when the party’s state central committee is scheduled to elect a new chair.
In a news release, Fenton said Vekich may enlist others in his evaluation of party finances, if necessary. (more, here)
OK, so what did this “Minnesota Conservative Delegate Team” do? Well, let’s go to RonPaul.com and get their take, o’ what was done unto them!!!
Minnesota GOP: “Vote for McCain and Shut Up!”
20 Responses
by RonPaul.com on May 28, 2008
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In Minnesota, John McCain got only 22% of the vote in the state’s caucuses on February 5, compared with Ron Paul’s 16%. The Minnesota party establishment is concerned enough to send out an unsigned letter to GOP members, signed only as “Friends of the Minnesota Conservative Delegate Team”.In a chilling attack on free speech and open discussion among Republicans, the missive exhorts GOP members to attend the State Convention this Friday and assist the party establishment in stifling the growing number of dissenting voices:
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And RonPaul.com goes on to reprint the “misive” sent out to GOPers. Want to read it? Go here.
Want to find out who produced it? Go to the FEC reports!!!
Well, based on the sketchy FEC Reports, it has to be these folks:
OK, let’s review: the 2008 GOP State Convention in Rochester was notable for 2 reasons – Chair Carey and Treasurer Sutton shouted down those that dared question Party Finances that ultimately resulted in a #170,000 FEC fine, and they shut out the Ron Paul Supporters.
Prior to, and at that Convention, Establishment GOPers passed out lit dissing Ron Paul supporters (at that time, many “establishment” GOPers were dissing those same Ron Paul supporters as “PaulBots” and “Ronulans”). Current Candidate for GOPer Chair, Brandon Sawalich, tossed down $3k to the group that prepared the lit before the convention, AND BEFORE THE GROUP filed their FEC paperwork.
And with a hat tip to deposed GOP Chair Tony Sutton, apparently the “Minnesota Ceonservative Delegate Team” didn’t bother paying off the bill to the prepareruntil months later.
And a few years later, Sawalich is running on a platform with a key bullet point, and I quote:
“Financial integrity and transparency”
Yeah, “right.” Only if “integrity” means “sweep it” and “transparency” means “under a rug.”
In Minnesota’s Greed Over Principles party, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)
