…You Still Can’t Now, And Tomorrow Won’t Be Any Different”
OK, that’s a screenshot of the MN GOP’s latest Federal Elections Commission (“FEC”) filing, signed just over a week ago (December 20th, 2011). Look at Line 10 – “Debts and Obligations Owed BY the Committee” – and the number, “$542,005.12.”
As reported to the FEC, just over a week ago.
What do we see reported today, here in the land of FEC Tony Sutton, the recently deposed Burrito Barron of the MN GOP?
Sources: State GOP debt is about $2 million
by Paul Demko and Briana Bierschbach
Published: December 29,2011An internal review of the Republican Party of Minnesota’s finances has determined that the party is responsible for about $2 million in debts, according to two sources familiar with the findings. That’s nearly twice as much as previously thought.
According to these sources, party officials will report about $1.3 million in debt when they announce the findings of the probe at a press conference on Friday. But that figure does not include a number of debts that the party reportedly plans to contest, including roughly $450,000 in legal bills stemming from the 2010 gubernatorial recount. (more, here)
Why does anybody believe ANYTHING today’s GOP says??!?
And as I write this, the MN State GOP is conducting a “debate” to replace FEC Tony (deposed for financial mismangement) — and a leading “candidate” is a (I am NOT making this up) former ENRON lobbyist??!?
You Couldn’t Trust The GOP Then, You Still Can’t Now, And Tomorrow Won’t Be Any Different
(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)
Yep! It’s a T Shirt – supporting The Green Coalition of Gay Loggers For Jesus group, out of Bozeman, Montana!!!
My nephew gave it to me; the lad clearly knows where the ol’ TwoPutter stands; clearly knows his uncle’s sense o’ humor!
Here’s the story behind it: back in 2009, when all those freeloading Teabaggers were protesting and screaming (stuff) like “get your gov’t hands off my MediCare!”, some freeloading Teabaggers planned a protest/march down the street in downtown Bozeman, Montana. Except, being typical freeloading Teabaggers, they weren’t gonna cover the costs to the taxpayers for their protest of taxpayer expenditures run amok. Cute, eh? It’s even better – they weren’t even from Bozeman, but thought the taxapayers of Bozeman should cover their costs anyway. Well, a local Bozemanian (“Bozemanite”?) … well, here’s what John Leland thought, in his own words, in a story about his group’s march, in 2010:
“Last year the irony of the Tea Party insisting on shutting down Main Street was that the closure costs were estimated at $1,100 that they would have to pay staff to close the street down for a parade to protest taxation and government spending,” said Leland. “The irony was just too much. So we formed the Coalition and raised enough money not only to offset the closure costs, but also the majority of the Tea Party’s closure costs as well.” (Bozeman Daily Chronicle).
So in the spring of 2009, when Leland heard about Teabaggers planning a July 4th, 2009 protest that was going to cost the taxpayers some dough, he decided to mock, ridicule and scorn ‘em. But, he found out he’d have to have a “group” to get a permit – so he formed the afore-mentioned “Green Coalition Of Gay Loggers For Jesus” and proceeded to fundraise – one of the ways was by selling the tee shirt so proudly worn by yours truly, above. The group then held their parade immediately before the Teabaggers!
Now, what did said Teabaggers have to say in their defense?
Organizers of the Tea Party who have said they do not oppose Leland’s march do contend that it would set a dangerous precedent to require protestors to pay for a demonstration, since it is a constitutionally protected right. (DANIEL PERSON Chronicle Staff Writer)
Too funny!!! What are the Teabaggers saying about the Occupy Wall Street movement these days??!?
The problem with Teabaggers and today’s Greed Over Principles party is they cannot be shamed, for they have no shame.
But they CAN be mocked, ridiculed, and scorned.
And they SHOULD be. Frequently. Why?
You Couldn’t Trust Them Then, You Still Can’t Now, And Tomorrow Won’t Be Any Different. Although, this week might be interesting in the Legislature. Oh – and the deeply in debt MN GOP might elect a former Enron Lobbyist as their party chair on Friday!
So I’ll wear my shirt with pride!
The “Top Ten Reasons” for buying their shirt (well, for Christmas, anyway) is below, with links to their webpage and Facebook page – enjoy!
And stay tuned for coverage of this week’s shenanigans from the Greed Over Principles party!
Find ‘em on the InnerTubz! —> Green Coalition of Gay Loggers For Jesus webpage
“Like” ‘em on Facebook! —> Green Coalition of Gay Loggers For Jesus Facebook page
(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)
Saw the tweets from MPR’s @TomScheck (and if you’re not following Tom on Twitter, you should):
Here’s the lede and a snippet:
Former top Koch staffer raised concerns about her conduct months ago
by Tom Scheck, Minnesota Public Radio,
Catharine Richert, Minnesota Public Radio
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Michel acknowledged that Sheehan’s comments contradict the comments he and three other senators made to reporters on Friday. At that time, Michel said the allegations about Koch’s behavior were first reported to them a few weeks ago. Michel said he wasn’t honest about the timeline in an attempt to protect Sheehan and other staffers.
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(more, and I suggest you read it here)
So, Michel only lied when he has to? Or, is it safe to say “Michel only lies when he has to”?
“Right” now, Michel is only the “Interim Senate Majority Leader.” Smart money should wager despite Michel’s role in this whole sordid affair, he’ll be endorsed for re-election in the Greed Over Principles Party anyway. Of course, if that happens, he might simply be the “Interim Senator from Edina.”
What Michel really is, is today’s example of what GOPer Michael Steele said back then: “you have absolutely no reason – none – to trust our words or actions at this point”.
True then, true now, and tomorrow won’t be any different. Nixon would be proud.
(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)
Zappadan commemorates the late composer/producer/musician Frank Zappa; it runs from December 4th – the day of Frank’s death in 1993 – through tomorrow, December 21st – the day of Frank’s birth in 1940. Zappadan is the blogger festival featuring all things Zappa. Frank took great delight in skewering hypocritical republiCons. Therefore, in his honor, today’s commemoration is the “Pew d’Etat” post! Recent hypocritical activities by certain members of Minnesota’s State Senate – GOPers, all of ‘em – have shown, once again, that the Party flying the “Family Values” flag believes in the sanctity of marriage (except when they don’t).
So today’s song choice, for the next to last day of Zappadan 2011, has to be “Dirty Love!” Now, Frank always had a “secret word” at his concerts, for fun and entertainment. With the sordid and scandalous behavior by drop trou GOPers at the Minnesota Senate, I picked this song cause there’s a secret word in it, too! Well, phrase, to be exact: “The poodle bites – c’mon Frenchy!” If what I’m hearing is correct, the significance of that “secret word” will become very apparent in just a pew, er, ‘scuse me, “few” days!
Which is why I added the “Pew d’Etat” to the title, there’s a new crew taking advantage and taking over the GOPer side o’ the aisle in the Minnesota State Senate! While past performance doesn’t guarantee future results, smart money is betting after their Pew d’Etate that it’ll just be SSDD….
Without any further ado – “Dirty Love!”
Frank Zappa tribute with ex-band members and many guests, recorded in November 1991 in New York City. Frank was too ill at this time, so he couldn´t attend.
Hope you enjoyed that; I’m sure Frank would be having a field day writing new songs based on the antics of Today’s GOP: Morally Bankrupt, Intellectually Dishonest, and Institutionally Corrupt.
***
Previous posts on MPP, referencing Frank Zappa:
“Zappadan 2011, Day 11″ by TPT on Wednesday December 14th
“Zappadan 2011, Day 6″ by TPT on Friday December 9th, 2011
“Zappadan 2011, Day 4″ by TPT on Wednesday December 7th, 2011
“Zappadan 2011, Day 2″ by TPT on Monday December 5th, 2011
“That’s right folks, don’t touch that dial!” by TPT on Saturday November 19th, 2011
“One Year Later – Who Opposes HCR? Or…a picture says a thousand words.” by TPT, Thursday March 24th, 2011
“Watermellon In Easter Hay – May 17th, 1988, Barcelona, Spain” by TPT, Friday August 21st, 2009
“Progressive Nation 2009 Concert Tour” by TPT, Wednesday June 17th, 2009
***
Where I get my Zappa music: The Electric Fetus
(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)
Last July we looked at the continuing fiscal mismanagement of the MN GOP – “Today’s Examples Of Republicans Believe In Fiscal Accountability (Except When They Don’t)” – we looked at their seemingly Enronesque accounting methods and the way the deadbeats were stiffing Counties over their recount debts for the 2010 Governor’s race (among other things).
For instance, Doug Groh, auditor/treasurer of Mower County, was told on three different occasions that – literally – “the check was in the mail.”
The check, of course, was not.
And we asked: “how does the GOP Faithful reward FEC Tony for his financial mismanagement – besides promoting him from the elected Treasurer to Chair?”
We answered: “By putting FEC Tony on the party payroll! $100,000 smackers worth! Good thing – for FEC Tony – that Tom Emmer covered the deadbeat RPM’s recount bills to the counties!”
This was before the Federal Elections Commission smacked the MN GOP with one of their largest fines ever — $170,000.00 smackers, to be exact. FEC Tony was MN GOP Treasurer when those shenanigans occurred.
So I wasn’t surprised to see this story, in today’s Strib:
State GOP faces $533,000 in debt
Article by: Baird Helgeson, Star Tribune
October 27, 2011
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Sutton said he made a calculated gamble to spend heavily on the 2010 elections and that it paid off politically. Republicans won control of the Legislature for the first time in a generation and then were able to block DFL Gov. Mark Dayton’s proposed income tax increases.“It was totally worth it to not raise taxes,” Sutton said.(empasis added)
But it left the party deeply in debt. Sutton took the helm of the state GOP in 2009 with more than $1 million in the bank and by January of this year the party owed creditors $750,000.
(more, here)
So it’s “totally worth it” to go into debt to avoid raising taxes in FEC Tony’s world??!?
Remember that, the next tome some pompous jack@ss GOPer spews the “you can’t spend more than in the check book” tripe they always do.
Of course, they actually believe that — YOU can’t (but THEY can).
The simple fact is that GOPers believe in “fiscal accountability” — except when they don’t. GOPers are always demanding “fiscal responsibility” – of OTHERS.
Reasonable people have no reason to reasonably believe anything GOPers say.
(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)
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(crossposted at MnProgressiveProject.com)
