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
,
,
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)
Immediately after last November’s election, the Republican Party of Minnesota (“RPM”) demanded – yes, “demanded” – Minnesota’s counties make thousands and thousands and thousands of copies for the upcoming recount of the governor’s race. And the RPM demanded – yes, “demanded” – that all that copying be done immediately. Not surprisingly, payment by the RPM to MN Counties for services rendered has NOT been “immediate” nor “prompt” nor “timely.” Far from it, as has been documented over and Over and OVER and OVER – and that’s just here and on MPP. As previously noted, SallyJo at Bluestem Prairie has been all over this one, too.
As have a lot of people. Jeff Rosenberg at MnPublius , early in the month last March, (last March!!!) pointed out a quote by the Mower County Auditor/Treasurer:
“Since December, I’ve had repeated conversations about when we’ll get paid,” said Doug Groh, auditor/treasurer of Mower County. “I had no problem with the Democrats paying, but the Republicans are fudging, because they’re short of money — that’s what I was told in December.”
Since then, Groh said, he’s been told the invoice was lost; on three different occasions, he was told — literally — the check was in the mail.
So when you read the following quote – you might think it, too, has to do with Tony Sutton’s RPM stiffing Minnesota Counties on the rightfully owed Recount bills:
“Not paying vendors on a timely basis, berating them when they call for payment, and then refusing to pay interest charges owed them for services rendered in good faith.”
Yep! Sounds EXACTLY like what FEC Tony’s RPM has been doin’ lately!!!
Well, except for the interest charges; the Counties haven’t been charging interest.
But that quote’s actually from several years ago.
You see, the RPM is notorious for it’s internal financial mismanagement. And I’m calling Minnesota’s GOP party “RPM” because that’s how they’re referred to by the Federal Elections Commission- a Federal Elections Commission that’s very familiar with the RPM (“Republican Party of Minnesota”) and Tony Sutton – reasons that cause me to refer to Tony Sutton, current chair of the RPM, as “FEC Tony.”
I’ll let Spot, at The Cucking Stool, do the intro:
Friday, July 31, 2009
Where have I heard that name before?
Something that’s been percolating around my brain for a while is a question about this Tony Sutton dude. No, not whether the Mexican restaurant chain is introducing a line of chimichangas named after prominent GOP gasbags, but his new gig as Chair of the Republican Party of Minnesota. As I read about his new job, I had this sneaking suspicion that his name was not entirely new to me, that there was something in the past that he’d done.
Then it came flooding back to me. This Sutton guy was, before ascending to the throne room at the RPM, the treasurer of the RPM. He’s the one whose name is most closely associated with the horrific accounting and auditing nightmare that is the treasury of the RPM. He’s been front and center in that complaint filed with the Federal Elections Commission and he’s the one who has had rather pointed questions directed at him by the FEC here, here, here, and here. He also had to send in those humiliating letters – over and over and over again – stating that “An amended report correcting this error will be filed when the committee’s internal audit has been completed.” In short, he was apparently the doofus in charge as this mess was allowed to fester and grow into what some think will eventually lead to the largest FEC fine in history for poor bookkeeping.
For most of us, being so intimately connected with this monumental mess would be such a professional embarrassment that we’d slink off to North Dakota or something. We’d at least have the good sense to drop out of politics.
But not Mr. Sutton.
(more, here)
Indeed – not Mr. Sutton, a/k/a “FEC Tony”.
Yes, this quote – “Not paying vendors on a timely basis, berating them when they call for payment, and then refusing to pay interest charges owed them for services rendered in god faith.” – is from a RPM Staffer, back in February 2007, back when FEC Tony was RPM Treasurer.
This quote - “Since December, I’ve had repeated conversations about when we’ll get paid,” said Doug Groh, auditor/treasurer of Mower County. “I had no problem with the Democrats paying, but the Republicans are fudging, because they’re short of money — that’s what I was told in December.” – is from a RPM Vendor, this year, with FEC Tony as the RPM Chair.
And how does the GOP Faithful reward FEC Tony for his financial mismanagement – besides promoting him from the elected Treasurer to Chair?
By putting FEC Tony on the party payroll! $100,000 smackers worth! Good thing – for FEC Tony – that Tom Emmer covered the deadbeat RMP’s recount bills to the counties!
If there were any justice in this world, whey you googled “Peter Principle” a picture of FEC Tony would pop up – a picture from back during his tenure as RPM Treasurer, that is. Because as those two quotes show, the more things change, the more the fiscal mismanagement at the RPM doesn’t.
Hey – at least FEC Tony is on the RPM Payroll; the RPM Deputy Chair – Michael Brodkorb – well, the RPM stuck him on the Taxpayer’s tab.
Reasonable people have no reason to reasonably believe anything the RPM says. This whole sordid and scandalous RPM County Recount saga demonstrates once again that Republicans believe in fiscal accountability (except when they don’t) – and that Republicans are always demanding “fiscal responsibility” – of OTHERS.
* * *
(image credit: Tildology)
(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)
… are very comfortable with where we are.”
Say WHAT??!?
“Our guys, obviously, are very comfortable with where we are.” — House Speaker Kurt Zellers, R-Maple Grove — 30 June 2011, 8:30pm
Well, actually that’s true – because “their guys” are The Top 2% of wage earners; their guys are their Boardroom Base; their guys are the guys this recession hasn’t even hit.
Here’s Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton explaining last night exactly why the GOP chose to shut down the great state of Minnesota today:
“I cannot accept a Minnesota where people with disabilities lose part of the time they are cared for by personal care attendants so that millionaires do not have to pay $1 more in taxes.
I cannot accept a Minnesota where young people cannot afford the rising tuitions at the University of Minnesota or a MnSCU campus, so that millionaires do not have to pay $1 more in taxes.
I cannot accept a Minnesota where elderly widows are denied the at-home services that permit them to remain healthy and able to live in their own homes. Or a Minnesota where local governments have to further slash their firefighter and police forces. Or a Minnesota where special education is being cut, so that millionaires do not have to pay $1 more in taxes. That is not Minnesota.” – Governor Mark Dayton, 30 June 2011
GOP: “Our guys, obviously, are very comfortable with where we are.”
Governor Dayton: “I cannot accept a Minnesota where (fill in GOPer slash ‘n burn) so that millionaires do not have to pay $1 more in taxes.”
Will you stand for the GOP’s Boardroom Base, which includes “guys” like Target Corp CEO Gregg Steinhafel?
Or will you stand with the workers in the middle class?
Pick your side, Ladies and Gentlemen – pick your side.
(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)
For months and Months and MONTHS , I’ve covered the Deadbeat MnGOP’s refusal to pay their debts to Minnesota Counties for the services they demanded – DEMANDED – concerning the November 2010 Election Recount.
And that’s just here, at MPP – - SallyJo at Bluestem Prairie has been all over this scandal, too.
And just this morning, I found two, and possibly three, Counties that STILL HAVEN’T BEEN PAID – Cass, Fillmore, and Grant. There may be more; after two “No” and a “Don’t think so; will get back to you” why keep going?
The funny thing is, despite Tony Sutton claiming way back in March that the MnGOP would pay it’s bills, it took someone else to to it!
Yes, Beltrami, Chisago, and Clearwater counties told me earlier today that Tom Emmer stepped up and did what Tony Sutton’s MnGOP wouldn’t – pay some bills.
Does it really surprise anyone that a party that would stiff counties for months and Months and MONTHS would drive a state to shutdown? Because that’s exactly what the MnGOP will do this Friday – shut this state down.
Oh – and can someone call Emmer, and tell him there’s still a few more counties out there, that Tony Sutton’s MnGOP has stiffed?
* * *
Previous MPP Posts:
“Deadbeat MnGOP Still Owes Omsted County” – 13 April 2011
“Deadbeat MnGOP Still Owes Martin, Nicollet, And Sibley Counties, or…” “…GOPers are always demanding “fiscal responsibility” – of OTHERS.” — 25 April 2011
“Today’s Example Of Why Reasonable People Cannot Reasonably Believe What GOPers Say: Recount” — 07 June 2011
(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)
Ever since Target decided to wade in on the MN-GOV election last year with a big check for notoriously anti-gay Tom Emmer, I haven’t shopped there. And I’m hardly the only one; for instance, check out the YouTube below.
Why Target’s CEO – Greg Steinhafel – hasn’t been fired is beyond me. And it’s not that Steinhafel – personally – is a big donor to the Mn GOP and GOP candidates – it’s his money, and it’s his right to donate to who he wants. It’s that Steinhafel is the guy who apparently has “The Buck Stops THERE!!!” sign on his desk. Steinhafel has given me no reason to once again shop at Target; if anything, his actions make me more determined that until Steinfels goes, I don’t go to Target.
Steinfel’s latest Mea Nota Culpa? From CityPages.com:
Now, CEO Gregg Steinhafel is telling Target shareholders that the company isn’t taking a position on the gay marriage ban campaign now getting cranked up ahead of the 2012 elections.
“We are going to be neutral on that particular issue, as we would be on other social issues that have polarizing points of view,” Steinhafel says.
So, why is that a complete BS? From the Strib:
(Steinhafel) said Target will stay politically neutral when it comes to social issues such as gay marriage but wants “a seat at the table” when it comes to business issues such as credit-card swipe fees, health care, tax and trade issues.
“…business issues…”? “…BUSINESS ISSUES..”??!?
Apparently, in the cruel and cold-hearted conservative world Steinhafel lives, the happiness and well-being of employees that happen to love someone of the same sex and want the same right to wed as everyone else isn’t a “business issue.”
Maybe Steinhafel thinks The Bradlee Dean Anti-Marriage Amendment is a “social issue” – I think not. It’s a human rights issue.
If Steinhafel wants Target Corp’s Corporate Treasury donating to candidates based on their business beliefs, he better be sending Target dough to help defeat The Bradlee Dean Anti-Marriage Amendment.
Or he’d better not be sending anything from Target Corp’s Corporate Treasury to anybody.
Once Steinhafel quits these flip-flopping “contortions” (that’s what CityPages calls ‘em; go on over there for their take AND links to some coverage City Pages has given Steinhafel’s FUBAR) he might just mend a few fences and regain a few customers.
Of course, if Target Corp simply decided to (stuff)-can Steinhafel, and replace him with someone that isn’t the cold-hearted conservative Steinhafel is, they might regain a lot.
(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)
… numbers don’t lie, but GOPers use numbers.
Well, it could also be: …those that forget the lessons of history tend to vote GOP.
Actually, it’s “both” and it has to do with Pawlenty in 2009 doing something with the budget process that the State Supreme Court, in 2010, said he couldn’t, and recent claims by the Minnesota GOPers that – surprisingly – bring Pawlenty’s unallotment actions up at, coincidentally, the same time Pawlenty officially announces his presidential run.
Here’s the deal – in January of 2010, I wrote a post titled “The Minnesota Budget Crisis, By The Numbers”. The post was about how Minnesota got into Governor TBag’s Unallotment mess. Suffice it to say, GOPers were makin’ (stuff) up about THAT deal, too.
In a nutshell, here’s what happened during the 2009 Legislative Session: the February 2009 Forecast predicted revenues of $31.1 Billion (rounded). Knowing that number, Gov. TBag proceeded to sign Spending Bills of $33.8 Billion (rounded) anyway.
This created a deficit of $2.7 Billion (rounded) from Governor-approved spending — remember, when TBag signed those spending bills, they were now law). A bill to balance that deficit, HF-2323, was passed and presented to Gov. TBag to sign. Except, TBag didn’t sign that revenue bill to balance the budget; he vetoed it.
Upon creating an unbalanced budget, rather than call a Special Session, TBag immediately claimed unilateral power to fix the problem he created, and then hit the campaign trail. As to TBag’s actions creating an anticipated budget problem, then using powers to deal with unanticipated budget problems? The Court was not amused.
The only reason GOPers today can use that “$32 Billion” number, is because in 2009 Pawlenty did something the Supreme Court ruled he couldn’t.
The reality is that the “$34 Billion” compromise number the Kochzellerstan crowd is crowing about today, is really the same “$33.8 Billion” number that Pawlenty signed into law, before he went all Nixonian by utilizing excessive - and illegal – Unitary Executive Power (Nixon would be so proud!)
The bottom line is that in 2009, GOPer Governor Tim Pawlenty took state budgeting into unchartered waters; waters the Supreme Court eventually found illegal. In 2011, GOPer Majorities in both the State House and State Senate are again taking the state into unchartered waters – by refusing to negotiate and submit budget bills Governor Dayton would be willing to sign.
The fact that they are making (stuff) up by claiming to have “compromised” to a number Pawlenty already was at 2 years ago only goes to show, once again, that numbers don’t lie, but GOPers use numbers.
And, of course, anybody that falls for the BS GOPer line that they compromised to $34B also goes to show, once again, that those that forget the lessons of history tend to vote GOP.
***
That picture, above? I found it via a tweet by GOPer Freshman State Rep Kurt Daudt:
(crossposted at MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)
GOPers are always demanding “fiscal responsibility” – of OTHERS.
Last November’s election result for Governor looked like it was headed towards recount. The crack legal beagles on the GOPer side sprung into action, and demanded all 87 counties make copies of election related materials – and pronto. The GOPer attorneys threatened legal action if these documents weren’t received fast enough; one such county so threatened was Nicollet County – the same county the GOP has since stiffed for payment.
On March 27th, Bluestem Prairie reported FEC Tony’s Republican Party of Minnesota still – STILL – owed Olmsted County money from bills they incurred from the pathetic Emmer Recount.
Here’s what FEC Tony Sutton said, towards the end of March:
“The checks … are going out before the end of next week,” Sutton said. “By the end of the month (March), they’ll have their payment.”
Following up on FEC Tony’s promise was worth a phone call, so on April 13th I made one, to Olmsted County. No surprise by the response; read: “Deadbeat MNGOP Still Owes Olmsted County”.
Also no surprise was Sally Jo at Bluestem Prairie digging deeper, the very next day she wrote: Failed burrito baron and party boss Tony Sutton stiffs counties, looks to MNGOP to stuff tortilla.
One might think all of this negative publicity might shame FEC Tony into paying the bills; alas – today’s GOPer has no shame. Just last Friday, The Mankato Free Press reported:
April 22, 2011
Counties awaiting Republican payments
By Brian Ojanpa The Free PressSome area counties continue to wait for money owed them by the Republican Party of Minnesota for document-copying costs following November’s gubernatorial election.
Martin County is still owed $350, Nicollet County is owed $1,300 and Sibley County is waiting on $1,623.
Now, keep in mind since FEC Tony said that the GOP is broke and can’t pay their bills in a timely manner back in late March, the GOP had their State Central Committee Meeting at the Ramada by the Mall of America on April 16th, and today are doing a statewide flyaround.
Some people might nitpick, and say “yeah, but – that’s the legislative GOPers spending dough, NOT the party.”
Yeah, “right.” Remember how the party stuck their party’s Deputy Chair – ol’ MudSlingerMike – onto the taxpayer’s back?
The State GOP – and FEC Tony in particular – have a long and sordid history of playing fast and loose with finances; for those not familiar with it, I’d highly recommend you link to read the Tostenson Memo, the Strib’s story on it by Dan Browning and Pat Doyle, and “A Key Element Of The Tostenson Memo” by yours truly.
Keep in mind, The Tostenson Memo was written by a party insider; here’s the lede from the Strib story:
At least two staff members have left the Minnesota Republican Party since February after they complained that the party misused employee retirement money, improperly reported its finances and ignored or retaliated against staff who reported the problems.
The departures included former finance director and GOP stalwart Dwight Tostenson. He wrote in a Feb. 15 confidential memo that state GOP chairman Ron Carey fired him after he repeatedly pressed the chairman to address what Tostenson regarded as serious financial problems in the state GOP office.
Keep in mind FEC Tony was Party Treasurer during that time.
So it’s understandable that the GOP can spend dough for the re-coronation of Sutton as Party Chair – and Brodkorb as Deputy Chair – and do a statewide flyaround (“The Cooked Books Tour”), all the while still owing money to counties for work requested by the Party many months ago – GOPers are always demanding “fiscal responsibility” – of OTHERS.
(Graphic, at the top, courtesy of Tildology.com)
(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)
On March 27th, Bluestem Prairie reported FEC Tony’s Republican Party of Minnesota still – STILL – owed Olmsted County money from bills they incurred from the pathetic Emmer Recount:
Mar 27, 2011
Recount: MNGOP promises to pay Olmsted County $3,050 and Mower County $2,424 soon
The Rochester Post Bulletin reports in Recount costs to be paid soon, Republicans say:
Unpaid bills owed to Olmsted and Mower counties from last year’s governor’s race recount are set to be paid soon, state Republican Party chairman Tony Sutton said.
“The checks … are going out before the end of next week,” Sutton said. “By the end of the month, they’ll have their payment.”
I just got off the phone with Pam Fuller of Olmsted County, and – no surprise here – they have NOT gotten a check for the money the GOPers owe (email to Mower County hasn’t been returned).
I guess it could be worse – they could have received a check written in the style of Bounced Checks Berg…
(crossposted at MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)
I got the Media Advisory from the DFL: DFL Chair to Discuss Irregularities in GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Tom Emmer’s Finances. I figured it had to do with Emmer’s campaign finances, so I figured I’d attend. After all, GOPers are notorious for their finances; for instance, take a look at The Tostenson Memo pointing out highly irregular and exceedingly questionable “reporting” – and after all, the now-GOP State Chair was then- GOP State Treasurer: FEC Tony.
So I figured this was just gonna be another case of a GOPer campaign demonstrating, once again, that old adage: “Numbers Don’t Lie (but Republicans use numbers)”.
Especially with Emmer’s… well, how shall I say this? OK, I’ll say this: with Emmer’s documented aversion to telling the truth on the campaign trail.
So, I was a little surprised when I got there and the topic o’ the presser wasn’t Emmer’s “campaign” finances, but his “personal” finances – specifically, according to the media handout, “Tom Emmer’s Mortgage History” (image below the fold).
And I got a background in real estate; as does a family member. And when I saw that handout, I immediately thought:
If you don’t know what “Liar Loans” are, google it (or, just click on the previous link).
Now, I’m not sayin’ Emmer did “Liar Loans” personally; what I’m saying is that those 7 mortgages in 8 years (on just one property) listed by the “Prepared by the Minnesota DFL Party. Printed in house. Labor donated.” handout sure raises the ol’ red flag up the flagpole!
And DFL Chair Melendez didn’t “say” Emmer was doin’ the ol’ Liar Loan Shuffle; Melendez was simply saying Emmer needs to come clean about his mortgage financing record.
IMNSHO, I agree. An appraiser pal did some quick research into some easy-to-understand background on Liar Loans for me – and for you, the Gentle Reader! Let’s look!!!
From Slate.com, good description of liar loans in the marketplace:
Inside the Liar’s Loan
How the mortgage industry nurtured deceit.
By Mark Gimein
Posted Thursday, April 24, 2008
.
.
.
The term is mortgage-industry slang for what’s more formally called a “stated income” mortgage—a mortgage that a lender gives without checking tax returns, employment history, or pretty much anything else. Many of the loans that are in trouble now, or will be in trouble soon, fall into this category. But the term gives only the barest hint of the pervasive failure involved.The original idea of the stated income mortgage was that it would benefit salespeople who work on commission, people who own their own businesses, and others for whom predicting next year’s income isn’t just a matter of looking at last year’s.
At the height of the mortgage boom, however, especially in pricey markets, the liar’s loan became a routine way of doing business; for some lenders—both smaller ones like IndyMac and WMC as well as big ones like Countrywide and Washington Mutual—it was the main way. In 2006 in some parts of the country, these loans made up as much as half of new mortgages, for both subprime borrowers and for homebuyers with high credit scores.
From 2005, RealtyTimes.com, before the fraudfest became widely known:
New Report: Housing Boom Stimulating Mortgage Application Fraud Boom
by Kenneth R. HarneyThe national housing boom is producing a companion boom — one that you don’t read about as much: Dishonesty and outright fraud by home buyers and mortgage and realty industry professionals on loan applications has exploded in the past two years.
A newly-released national study by a research group says fraud-related cases on mortgage applications reported to the FBI more than doubled between 2003 and 2004.
The Mortgage Asset Research Institute (MARI), which pools fraud information supplied by hundreds of mortgage lenders, says loan fraud is worst in Georgia, South Carolina, Florida, Utah and North Carolina. Individual cities with high fraud rates — based on “serious early delinquencies” on home loans closed during 2004 — include Atlanta, Dallas, Denver, Orlando, Charlotte, Memphis and Scranton.
From PBS.org – and this one should just make you plain sick because it is completely dead-on:
April 3, 2009
The financial industry brought the economy to its knees, but how did they get away with it? With the nation wondering how to hold the bankers accountable, Bill Moyers sits down with William K. Black, the former senior regulator who cracked down on banks during the savings and loan crisis of the 1980s. Black offers his analysis of what went wrong and his critique of the bailout.
Now, this type of fraud – “Liar Loans” – isn’t new; Appraisers have been trying – TRYING – to raise Holy (Heck) about it for a long, Long, LONG time. For instance, here’s a petition started by Appraisers back in December, Y2K:
“The ASC’s mission is to ensure that real estate appraisers, who perform appraisals in real estate transactions that could expose the United States government to financial loss, are sufficiently trained and tested to assure competency and independent judgment according to uniform high professional standards and ethics.” From the ASC website.
The concern of this petition has to do with our “independent judgment” in performing real estate appraisals. We, the undersigned, represent a large number of licensed and certified real estate appraisers in the United States, who seek your assistance in solving a problem facing us on a daily basis. Lenders (meaning any and all of the following: banks, savings and loans, mortgage brokers, credit unions and loan officers in general; not to mention real estate agents) have individuals within their ranks, who, as a normal course of business, apply pressure on appraisers to hit or exceed a predetermined value
.
Now, again – I’m NOT sayin’ Tom Emmer was involved in Liar Loans; I am – AM – saying Melendez is correct: it’s time Emmer opened up his finances; the same way the State GOP demanded an accounting from Horner:
“In the face of mounting public pressure, Tom Horner has dug in his heels by repeatedly refusing to release his client list,” read a MN GOP statement. “Horner likes to talk about having ‘honest conversations’ with Minnesotans, but he won’t be honest with them about how he’s lined his pockets over the years with special interest money. It’s past time for Horner to come clean and release his client list.” (MinnesotaIndependent.com)
Take the above and take a look at the following list (prepared by the DFL) and it’s clear:
Tom Emmer, you got some ‘splainin’ to do!
Especially considering FEC Tony’s recent quote in story in MinnPost:
“This gets to a core issue. You can’t hold yourself to a different standard than you hold everyone else.” — MN GOP Chair Tony Sutton
(cross posted from MnProgresiveProject.com; comments welcome there)
Earlier today, the “macro” was looked at, pointing out the pathetic GOPer machine and the tragic campaign of the extreme rightwingnut the GOPers endorsed for Governor, Tom “I cannot tell the truth” Emmer. I didn’t get into Tenther Tom’s radical and illogical picking and choosing which parts of the Constitution he’d ignore; that bizarre legal “reasoning” has been analyzed at lenght by the experts over at The Cucking Stool. I did cover Emmer calling Democrats un-American, and the Facebook pictures Tom Emmer wishes you hadn’t seen.
Oh – and GOP State Party Chair Tony Sutton’s “quislings” comment, too.
Now it’s time to look at the why there isn’t an incumbent for the Mayor’s Office in Eden Prairie. The Mayor’s seat is empty due to the decision not to run by the should have been nearly indicted for felony – yes, FELONY – prosecution, incumbent (and GOPer-endorsed) Mayor Phil Young. The sordid saga became public last spring, and as it played out, local GOPers – including GOP SD 42 Vice Chair Kevin Schultz (Schultz claimed he was speaking only for himself; yeah, “right”) – defending the indefensible: GOPer Phil Young falsifying reimbursement forms by filling out for meetings he never attended. Under penalty of perjury. Well, mileage reimbursements, too. For meetings he never attended.
But, has anyone heard anyone from GOPer “leadership” speak out about Young’s behavior, behavior that almost landed lawyer Young on the wrong side of a felony prosecution?
Of course not.
After all, what’s a little perjury among GOPer pals?
A point that’s been raised, but never addressed or even acknowledged by the local GOPer “leadership” is that similar behavior by a City of Eden Prairie employee would have resulted in immediate dismissal. Do not pass go; do not collect Golden Parachute – clean your desk/locker out and get out. NOW.
But, GOPers always seem to tolerate behavior among themselves that is NOT tolerated by the working stiffs, the middle class, the lunch-bucket crowd. All too often, GOPers believe rules simply doesn’t apply to them.
So, the taxpayers of Eden Prairie are stuck with GOPer Young until the end of December, when the next mayor will be sworn in. For the closest look at GOPer Young’s objectionable activities, link here.
From it:
(Plymouth Police Detective) Hultgren filed his final report July 12.
That report shows that for 20 consecutive months, the mayor of Eden Prairie filed claims for reimbursement, $35 each time, for attending meetings of the Regional Conference of Mayors, including three meetings that hadn’t occurred at all. He attended, by his own admission according to the transcripts, “two or three.”
At the end of the report, Hultgren notes that he had heard further allegations that the mayor may not have attended meetings of the Eden Prairie Foundation for which he was reimbursed. “Due to the reasons given by both the County and City attorney for declining to prosecute, these allegations were not investigated. Finding a few more meetings not attended by the Mayor would not change the basic facts of the case thus it would not result in a different finding by the County and City attorney.”
The mayor’s seat is vacant because disgraced GOPer endorsed Mayor Phil Young isn’t running for re-election.
And the local GOP “leadership” has been awfully quiet about it.
And they’ve also been mighty quiet about the cut ‘n pastes from disgraced GOPer Phil Young’s 2006 campaign website to the GOPer-endorsed for City Council Donna Azarian website .
Over the next few days, I’ll take a look at the races for Mayor and City Council.
The point for now, is that the last candidate for mayor the GOPers gave the citizens of Eden Prairie hasn’t worked out so well.
And the local GOPer “leadership” hasn’t said squat about it.
In February 2009, Republican National Party Chair Michael Steele said “You have absolutely no reason – none – to trust our words or actions at this point.”
It was true then; it’s true today, and tomorrow won’t be any different until good and decent Republicans toss today’s GOP “leadership” out.
And two weeks from today, on November 2nd at the ballot box, is a good place to start.
(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)
