"I wonder if any one at "family friendly" @Target http://ow.ly/2zgm9 is thinking investing in Emmer's Campaign is still such a wonderful idea" — twoputttommy
Even though GOP Deputy Chair Michael Brodkorb thinks anyone afraid to take questions shouldn’t run for office (see YouTube, below the fold), Erik Paulsen continues to follow John Kline’s lead and shun Town Halls. However:
In lieu of district town hall meetings, Paulsen has opted to hold smaller forums with groups of constituents ranging from seniors to meetings with large employers and business leaders. (EdenPrairieNews.com)
Anyway, Paulsen is scheduled to pose, er, ’scuse me, “appear” on Salem Communication’s KKMS radio station today at the State Fair at 3:00 pm. KKMS’ booth is located near Clough and Judson streets. Stop by if you’re near, and if you can, ask Paulsen: “Dude – Where’s My Town Hall?”
GOP State Deputy Chair Michael Brodkorb, on Town Hall Forums:
Molly Ivins said that a definition of an honest politician in Texas is one that once bought, stays bought. Look no further than John Kline for proof of that, in a Texas politician. And Freshman GOPer Erik Paulsen sure seems to be following John Kline’s lead! Let’s look!
Yesterday, a blogpost topic was That Old GOP Double-Standard, Once Again and it dealt with the typical and usual double-standard at the somewhat local level by noted GOPer and Professor King Banaian. Last night, CrooksAndLiars.com found a great example of that old GOP Double-Standard at the national level. Let’s look!
Oh, the irony! Frank Freakin’ Luntz, the man so amoral, he actually got censured by his trade association, lecturing Democrats about right and wrong for using “misleading” poll-driven language? I think my heart’s about to seize from me laughing so hard. Republicans are such flaming hypocrites, aren’t they?
Last Monday, Dusty Trice put up video demonstrating “Hypocrisy, Thy Party Is GOP” in a big-time way. So, I wrote a blogpost that same day entitled “Hypocrisy, Thy Party Is GOP…and MudSlingerMike is the mouthpiece. Here’s the deal, and it should be of no surprise to anyone remotely familiar with why GOP now stands for GreedOverPrinciples: Dusty’s video is of State GOP Deputy Chair Michael Brodkorb ripping Rep. Colin Peterson, DFL, for not holding Town Hall Meetings, even though Bachmann and Kline, GOP don’t and it sure looks like Paulsen, GOP, won’t.
The hypocrisy was so blatant that the St. Cloud Times wrote about in an editorial.
And all week people talked about MudSlingerMike being the chief spokestool of the hypocritical GreedOverPrincipels party. Well, they talked MORE about the thuggishness of the GOP, but the GOP’s hypocrisy was a hot topic, too.
Over at a website named SCSU Scholars, Professor Banaian made a post were he scored high on etiquette. The Good Professor made some talking points for rightwingers to ask Congresspeople AND highly suggested they do so on their best behavior. Like I said, The Good Professor got high marks for that.
However, bein’ a GOPer, The Good Professor just couldn’t help doin’ the ol’ GOP Double-Standard in the comments section of the post. I sometimes wonder if it’s not only in their nature, it’s a party plank, too, but: we’ll go down that road, later. For now, let’s confine the discussion to Professor Banaian’s GOPer SNAFU.
These are to be a substitute for yelling, not a complement. I agree with those who are saying to stop the shouting matches at the town halls. It’s unhelpful, it plays into the hands of the Democrats and their love-slaves in the media. (Tapper not included.). Ask the questions, record the answers, then find a reporter and tell them what you thought of the answer. Get your opposition, if you are, in the newspaper and on the radio and TV in a way you’d be proud to show your grandchildren.
OK, ignore the stuff in the middle, that’s just The Good Professor acting like The Absent A Mind Professor. Do give credit where credit due, like I did, and score The Good Professor high for calling for civilized behavior at Town Halls.
Now, on to the comments, the first made by yours trulty, the ol’ TwoPutter:
Say, Professor? What if my congressman happens to be a Republican, and doesn’t/won’t hold town hall meetings?
TwoPuttTommy | Homepage | 08.05.09 – 2:34 pm | #
The second comment isn’t worth reposting; rather inane blather, so who cares. It’s The Good Professor’s response to yours truly’s comment numero uno, that demonstrates the title of this post:
TPT, she doesn’t have a bill to sell. Your comedian-cum-senator does.
kb | 08.05.09 – 3:43 pm | #
Which elicited my response in the very next, and so far last, comment:
***TPT, she doesn’t have a bill to sell. Your comedian-cum-senator does.
kb | 08.05.09 – 3:43 pm | # ***
O
M
G.
Is that REALLY your position, Professor?
TwoPuttTommy | Homepage | 08.05.09 – 4:24 pm | #
And as of the time of this post, that comment of mine – last Wednesday – has gone unanswered.
Now, virtually all regular readers here will know EXACTLY why the ol’ TwoPutter wrote what I did; I’d even surmise that The Good Professor figured it out, too – even though he hasn’t commented….
….but, I’ll explain it anyway, for teh GOPers that stumble upon this post:
The Professor is taking the position that Senator Franken has a duty and responsibility to appear in public to defend and explain his support “for” health care reform, BUT (and it’s a big “BUT”) Bachmann has NO duty NOR responsiblity to appear in public to defend and explain HER OPPOSITION “against” health care reform.
Clearly, it’s that ol’ GOP Double-Standard, once again.
Spotty over at The Cucking Stool takes a long look at Professor Banaian’s post and how it fits into the scheme of things. It’s a good read.
Oh – and here’s that YouTube of MudSlingerMike, once again:
Today was the day I was going to write about how GOPer Erik Paulsen had abandoned the tradition of the accessible Jim Ramstad and is acting like the reclusive John Kline, concerning town hall meetings. However, when I logged on, I noticed on the blogwire that Gavin Sullivan beat me to it. Here’s the start to Gavin’s post, last Saturday:
Congressman Erik Paulsen’s several predecessors established a decades-old tradition of holding quarterly ‘Town Hall Forums’–in which constituents could address questions to their solon face-to-face. Upon assuming the seat, Paulsen unilaterally erased this democratic inheritance.
And Paulsen ducking out should not be a surprise to anyone. Paulsen started his campaign for congress claiming he was something he clearly is not – a moderate in the mold of Frenzel and Ramstad. Paulsen started his congressional career under a false facade; his record in congress clearly points out Paulsen is hardly a “moderate” – why would Paulsen take the chance to expose the charade in a public venue?
And what’s really not surprising is just the other day, the state GOP, led by FEC Tony and MudSlingerMike, ripped DFLer Peterson for not holding Town Halls.
Everybody got that? The state GOP’s position is:
Rip Peterson, but ignore Paulsen doin’ the same thing. Well, Kline and Bachmann, too.
Those that have received an e-mail from me may have noted I end each message with:
It’s A Great Day To Be A Veteran
It’s just before the privacy disclosure; it’s also at the bottom of my comments to others on threads at MnBlue, too.
And it came from an old saying back when I served on active duty; a saying that we repeated proudly when the duty was cold, or wet; when we were miserable, tired, hungry and hadn’t slept for God knows how long; when we were low on supplies, outmanned or outflanked, or any and all of the above – “It’s a great day to be a soldier.” It served as a motivation tool – that when the going got tough, the tough got going.
I thought of this after Erik’s “Veterans for Paulsen” rally, yesterday. In a room full of veterans, Paulsen addressed the crowd and whined:
“They’re lying about me; they’re smearing me!”
Cry me a river, Erik.
Paulsen started his campaign denying who he is – a far right extremist. Even the right-leaning Star Tribune didn’t buy that one:
“Paulsen was a fiscal and social conservative in the Legislature, voting for measures that this newspaper opposed. Why he’s casting himself as a moderate in this race is unclear. His conservative credentials are solid; he should have run on them.”(Star Tribune Editorial)
Paulsen started his campaign distorting his record:
“Paulsen launches this bid after years of working in bipartisan fashion, across the aisle, to get results in the business world and in the Minnesota legislature.”(PaulsenForCongress)
Yeah, “right.”
If anyone knows someone that thinks Erik Paulsen rose within Republican ranks to the role of Majority Leader in the State Legislatute during this decade by “…working in bipartisan fashion, across the aisle…” send ‘em my way – I got some swampland “waterfront property” I’d like to sell ‘em.
All this, and more, yet Paulsen has the nerve to run a TV ad, whining “My opponent is LYING about me!”??!?
Seems like Paulsen’s been doing some lying himself, about himself.
Not just content to distorting who he is and what his record is, Paulsen reached a new low with a recent ad: according to an October 29th Twin Cities Public Television (”TPT”) press release, Paulsen’s campaign was using TPT copywrited video footage in a different campaign ad. TPT reports they twice asked the Paulsen campaign to essentially cease and desist; the campaign didn’t – which necessitated the press release. From that release:
As a non-partisan public television station, tpt has never consented to use of our copyrighted materials by any political candidate or party. In previous campaigns, we have requested that candidates – Democrats, Independents and Republicans – cease use of similar material, and all have complied.
Twin Cities Public Television has sent two formal requests to the Paulsen campaign to remove all tpt footage from their ad; as of today, that request has not been honored.
We are therefore issuing this statement, taking appropriate legal action, and would like to alert all stations broadcasting the ad that it represents a clear copyright violation. We furthermore request that broadcasters cease airing the spot until our proprietary footage has been removed.
We would show you the ad, but TPT’s tenacity has paid off. After notifying YouTube of the copyright violation, the website pulled down the ad. “Since the Paulsen site was using an embedded version from YouTube, the ad was effectively removed from their site as well,” says TPT spokesman Stephen Usery.
And I’m not going to bother to detail the disgusting spectacle of Republican Party Chair Ron Carey’s nor Republican Geoff Michell’s thinly vieled bigotry concerning Paulsen’s opponent, the honorably discharged Marine, Ashwin Media. Suffice it to say Paulsen didn’t have the spine, nor guts, to do the despicable himself; he hid behind others doing his dirty work.
It’s no secret I’m not a fan of Erik Paulsen, but that’s only because I’ve followed his political career since he first doorknocked me in 1994. For fourteen years I’ve watched Paulsen and followed his record, so I’m not surprised at the shenanigans he’s pulled this during this election cycle.
But I was surprised to see and hear him whine in front of veterans. When the going gets tough, the tough get going.
“We’re never been stay the course, George.” — George W. Bush, attempting to distance himself from what has been his core strategy in Iraq for the last three years, interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, October 22nd, 2006
I picked this Bushism for a very special reason. Just as Boy Blunder tried to distance himself from who he is and what he believes, “right” here in Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District there’s a Republican candidate for Congress that’s tried to pull the same stuff concerning who he is, what he’s done, and what he believes – Erik Paulsen.
Let’s go back, and look at what part of what I wrote concerning Erik Paulsen’s campaign announcement, in January:
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).
On that day, January 29th of this year, I asked “Just who does Erik Paulsen think he’s kidding?
Well, who Erik Paulsen didn’t fool, was the Candidate Endorsement Committee at The Star Tribune:
“Paulsen was a fiscal and social conservative in the Legislature, voting for measures that this newspaper opposed. Why he’s casting himself as a moderate in this race is unclear. (emphasis added) His conservative credentials are solid; he should have run on them.”(Star Tribune)
Hmmm….sounds familiar: “We’re never been stay the course” and “I’m a moderate in the mold of Frenzel and Ramstad.”
Simply not credible; simply not believable. Paulsen has run his entire campaign on a house of cards – trying to portray himself as something he clearly is not. It was noted immediately after his campaign announcement, and it was cemented in today’s Star Tribune non-endorsement.
In 83 days, January 20th 2009 will mark The End Of An Error. In one week, Americans go to the polls. Just as George W. Bush’s political career will be over, hopefully career politician Erik Paulsen’s political career will be over, too.
Well, it seems that John Kline is outraged – OUTRAGED! – that a candidate is taking footage of Marines in uniform, and using said Marines in an ad. And he’s outraged. Here’s what Blogger Michael Broadkorb is reporting Congressman Kline said, over on M.D.E.:
I am outraged that Ashwin Madia would exploit uniformed Marines to advance his political ambitions. … He should immediately pull down the ad and issue an apology to the drill team and the brave men and women of the U.S. Marine Corps.” (M.D.E.)
Well, one would think, by Congressman Kline’s outrage, that he, himself, would never have used the military, or military veterans, to further HIS “political ambitions”, wouldn’t one? Or, if he HAD used the military, or military veterans, to further HIS “political ambitions”, Congressman Kline would have apologized, right?
Yeah, “right.”
Let’s take a look at a John Kline incident, from just two years ago.
On August 12th, 2006, John Kline attended an event with the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), in St. Paul. Randy Pleva, National President of the PVA, sent Congressman Kline a letter on August 28th, thanking Kline for showing up.
Now, it’s important to remember, that the PVA is a 501(c)3 not for profit.
So, what did Congressman Kline do, with that letter, from a not for profit Veterans Organization?
If you guessed Congressman Kline shamelessly used that letter to further Kline’s political career, you would be correct.
Here’s the entire verbage from the SECOND letter the PVA sent to Congressman Kline, dated 31 October 2006:
Dear Congressman Kline,
I write to you regarding a recent campaign flyer distributed by the Kline for Congress campaign (copy attached) that implies my endorsement, as President of Paralyzed Veterans of America, of your reelection. As a 501(c)3 not for profit organization we are precluded by law from endorsing or opposing any candidate for office. Not only was this language taken out of context and used without our knowledge, the fact is that this may put or organization’s good standing in jeopardy.
The language contained in the flyer comes from a letter (attached I sent you August 28, 2006 thanking you for your attendance at a fund raising event conducted by PVA’s Outdoor Recreation Heritage Fund. I find the selective editing for use in the flyer disingenuous at best.
I would appreciate that you and the campaign cease using this implied endorsement.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Randy L. Pleva, Sr.
National President
cc: Federal Election Commission, Office of General Counsel
Here’s the first letter, that John Kline disingenously took out of context:
Here’s the second letter, that the PVA essentially said “cease and desist”:
Now, fastforward to yesterday, and remember Kline demanding someone else issue an apology. Ask yourself this: do you think John Kline ever apologized to the PVA, for shamelessly and disengenuously using Paralyzed American Veterans to shamelessly advance Kline’s career?
If you think Kline did NOT apologize, you would be correct; I know – because I called Randy Pleva, National President, and asked.
John Kline – as usual – is acting like the shameless and disengenuous hypocrite that has caused “GOP” to now stand for GreedOverPrinciples.
Yesterday, Paulsen told the Associated Press he wasn’t sure if he’d accept an invitation make a speech at the Republican National Convention; today he tells the Associated Press he will.
Now, with as much time as Paulsen’s spent running from the republiCon brand, stepping in front of a microphone at the RNC is a big step for Paulsen.
I just checked Paulsen’s website, and used the search feature for the term “Republican.” On Paulsen’s website, the term “Republican” exists exactly 7 times. Not on the home page; not on any of the sub-pages; but buried in 4 stories (three of which were about GOP endorsement conventions) and 3 documents.
After a political career that includes Majority Leader for the Republican Party, Paulsen is certainly hiding the brand. It’s not on his campaign signage, nor literature, either.
But there’s a lot of things Paulsen doesn’t like to talk about; his being a republiCon is only one. Erik Paulsen, Republican-Endorsed candidate, has no position on Iraq. His website is pretty much bereft of any content, and has been since I posted this way back in January. Then, as is now, this picture is worth a thousand words:
