Yes, Gentle Readers, the GOP-Endorsed Candidate for Eden Prairie Mayor is a “Professor of Law” – it says so here (City website) and here (Wm. Mitchell website). Well, here, too: Duckstad’s website, maintained by the local GOP.
One would expect one so learned as Professor Duckstad to have a basic grasp of basic economic concepts such as “expenditures greater than revenues = deficit spending.”
This discussion comes about because of the recent (and, unfortunately, only) Candidate Forum hosted by the League of Women voters on September 28th. You can watch it yourself by linking here.
At approximately the 51:00 minute mark, the “question to Mr. Duckstad: How do you justify deficit spending in city government?”
Mr. Duckstad’s response:
“Well, I don’t know what situation they’re talking about, but I don’t know that we’re doing any defict spending here in Eden Prairie.”
Jon Duckstad, 28 September 2010
ROFLMAO!!!
From the 17 November 2009 Budget Advisory Commission Memo to the Mayor and City Council Members (Duckstad is currently a Council Member,, so he presumably he got it):
The BAC recommends that the City plan to use less of the budget stabilization fund and bring the budget closer to balance (revenues equal to expenditures).
So, what did Professor Duckstad do on December 1st, 2009, after he presumably got that memo? Vote for a budget that was in the red by $976,084 (revenues = $35,918,229; expenditures = $36,894,313). Duckstad voted for deficit spending in FY2010, using that ol’ GOPer trick of kicking the can down the road by raiding the cookie jar (the Budget Stabilization Fund).
And the projected trip to the cookie jar for FY2011′s budget? $1,642,688!!!
Hey, spending a whopping $2,618,772 more than revenues over a 2 year period and claiming at a Candidate Forum that “I don’t know that we’re doing any defict spending here in Eden Prairie” just goes to demonstrate, once again, that ol’ saying: “numbers don’t lie, but Republicans use numbers.”
Now, I’m being charitable by saying Professor Duckstad simply flunked Econ 101. I started paying real close attention to the GOPer-led City Council during the Phil “I know I signed under penalty of perjury, but it was only sloppy bookkeeping” Young almost getting tossed into The CrowBar Hotel saga (which, BTW, isn’t over). I noticed it often seems Professor Duckstad simply isn’t paying attention – as the previous link demonstrates.
Not to worry, though, if Professor Duckstad can’t won’t pay attention it’s no problemo; the citizens can expect the local GOP Party “leadership” to tell Duckstad what to do! After all, it sure seems they tell Duckstad’s fellow GOP-Endorsed candidate for council Donna Azarian what to say….
…which, of course, begs the question: how would Professor Duckstad grade a student’s paper that exhibited such obvious plagiarism as GOPer-endorsed Donna Azarian’s cut ‘n paste to her 2010 (GOP maintained) website from GOPer-endorsed Phil Young’s 2006 (GOP maintained) website?
Stay tuned!
(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject, comments welcome there)
I’ve been saying this for years: “when it comes to Republican Congressmen, the people elect them, but the GOP Leadership directs them.” (see “The Hustler”, 29 Jan 08). This saying relates to changes made by Newt “Is My Wife Well Enough To Divorce Yet?” Gingich. Gingrich, of course, is the architect of 1994′s “Republican Contract On With America”, where in the GOPers promised to, and I quote: FOURTH, limit the terms of all committee chairs; which fundamentally changed how the House GOP Caucus operates, and directly led to the institutionalized corruption of the GOP Party – best exemplified by the infamous Jack Abramoff. Make no mistake, Gentle Readers: The Abramoff Scandal was a Republican Scandal. If a GOPer is in “denial of reality” mode (they usually are), remind them of this.
It was back in those days that I also started saying: “GOP now stands for ‘Greed Over Principles’”. For a scholarly review of what exactly that “#4″ above (and more!) did to the US House of Representatives, get a copy of Thomas Mann and Norm Ornstein’s “The Broken Branch” (Oxford University Press).
That’s background for today’s post and it’s title. (For more background, last week, we looked at some wanna-be “king makers”.) Today’s post is a quick examination of two local (Eden Prairie) “do as your told” GOPer-Endorsed politicians: the outgoing (and could/should be going to trial Mayor Phil Young and City Council Candidate Donna Azarian. More specifically, their websites; Young’s website from 2008 2006 and Azarian’s current 2010 website.
Why look at Young and Azarian’s websites? Well, because they’re eerily similar. How similar? There’s lots of screenshots, so: let’s look!
From Phil Young’s 2008 2006 “Values” webpage:
Parks and Open Spaces: The park system drew my family to Eden Prairie and I am certain many other families say the same thing. Eden Prairie has an incredibly rich park system which benefits residents of all interests and ages. This must always be a priority.
OK, let’s look at Donna Azarian’s 2010 “Issues” webpage:
Parks and Open Space — The park system is one reason my family came to Eden Prairie and I am certain many other families say the same thing. Eden Prairie has an incredibly rich park system which benefits residents of all interests and ages. This must always be a priority.
Hmmm…. pretty dam close… any more? But of course!
From Phil Young’s 2008 2006 “Values” webpage:
Volunteerism: Eden Prairie is an extraordinarily blessed community. Proudly, our residents can claim that giving back has long been a community value. Lions, Rotary, PROP, ABC Foundation, Meals On Wheels, Friends of the Library, and the Eden Prairie Foundation are but a few of the many groups which strengthen our city through volunteerism. If you haven’t conributed to one of these groups, please do. (emphasis added)
From Donna Azarian’s 2010 “Issues” webpage:
Working with local organizations — Eden Prairie has many local organizations that add to our quality of life. Lions, Rotary, PROP, ABC Foundation, Meals On Wheels, Friends of the Library, and the Eden Prairie Foundation are but a few of the many groups which strengthen our city through volunteerism. (emphasis added)
Any more? But of course!!!
From Phil Young’s 2008 2006 “Values” webpage:
Efficient Government: Eden Prairie is a very-well run city. I want to make it even better….
GOPer-Endorsed Azarian, 2010 “Issues”:
Fiscal Responsibility — Eden Prairie is a very-well run city. I want to make it even better….
More? You betcha!!!
Young, 2008 2006:
…While every community should take steps to capture its past, our residents have told us that spending tax dollars on historical preservation is not a priority. The City Council should honor the community opinions which it has solicited.
Azarian, 2010:
…While every community should take steps to capture its past, our residents have told us that spending tax dollars on historical preservation is not a priority. The City Council should honor the community opinions which it has solicited.
I could go on; maybe someday I will. The question is, just who wrote that stuff??!?
Phil Young, or the local GOP “leadership”?
We know – KNOW – Donna Azarian didn’t; there are too many exact – EXACT – cut ‘n pastes for THAT to have happened. We also know (and if you didn’t, you know now) that Donna Azarian’s website was registered by Peter Bozanich, the GOP’s SD42 webmaster.
At the national level, as I’ve said before: “When it comes to Republican Congressmen, the people elect them, but the GOP Leadership directs them.”
It appears to be the same at the local level, too.
This November 2nd, on election day, the choice is clear:
a) Vote locally for someone endorsed with an “R” behind their name and you vote for someone responsible to the dictates of their endorser: the local GOP Party Leadership; or
b) Vote locally for someone without a party endorsement and you vote for someone responsible to you, the voter.
It really is that simple; a) or b).
And remember, as Young’s and Azarian’s websites demonstrate: “the more things, change, the more today’s GOP doesn’t.”
Here’s the links and screenshots of Young, 2008 2006 and Azarian, 2010, plus the “Who Is” screen shot of the registrar for Azarian’s website, Peter Bozanich – the GOP’s SD42 Webmaster.
Donna Azarian’s 2010 “Issues” webpage:
Phil Young’s 2008 2006 “Issues” webpage – hosted by the SD42 GOP:
Donna Azarian’s 2010 “Values” webpage
Phil Young’s 2008 2006 “Values” webpge (cached) – and again, hosted by the SD42 GOP:
Donna Azarian’s 2010 webpage registration, registered by Peter Bozanich — the SD42 GOP webmaster:
(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)
The League of Women Voters sponsored the Mayoral and City Council Debate last Tuesday, at the Eden Prairie City Hall. I, of coure, was there. Suffice it to say the two GOPer Endorsed Candidates – Jon Duckstad for Mayor and Donna Azarian for City Council – regurgitated RightWingNut talking points every time their mic was turned on. There were two other RightWingNuts on display, too: Dan Kitrell and Jeremiah Pilon (if Pilon has a website, I can’t find it). Video of the entire “debate” is here; we’ll bust it up for comparative YouTubes later. Now, a question asked was if political parties should endorse in local races; to no surprise GOPer endorsed Duckstad and Azarian dutifully said yes as did Kitrell (why the GOPers didn’t endorse Kitrell is beyond me; he’s got the wingnut rhetoric down pat and he’s the most articulate of the three).
This is important, because up until the GOP started spouting off that “Permanent Republican Majority” bull(chips), Eden Prairie had never had party endorsements at the local level (to this day, the DFL doesn’t). But, the local GOP “leadership” wanted to be “King Makers” – so they started endorsing. The GOP wanting to be the ones anointing is no surprise; the GOP has always – ALWAYS – been a top-down, get-your-(butt)-in-line organization. Just look at Erik Paulsen, who ran unopposed for the GOP Endorsement to replace retiring Congressman Jim Ramstad. Is anyone seriously going to say that there wasn’t one other up ‘n coming and seriously ambitious GOPer in the 3rd CD that wanted to replace Ramstad when no one – NO ONE – tossed the ol’ hat into the ring to do just that?
However, all that is a digression from the title o’ the post; there are OTHER wanna-be “King Makers” in Eden Prairie, the so-called “Eden Prairie Taxpayers Aliance” – presumably led by the notorious tobacco lobbyist, Tom Briant.
Go below the fold, and read the questions this group – presumably – emailed to all eight candidates; my questions to this “group” after the ol’ TwoPutter was anonymously forwarded said email; and then the response from Paul Wendorf, one o’ the group who wrote this:
“They know who Tom (Briant) and I (Paul Wendorf) are.”
Indeed, we do. And now, gentle readers, so shall you!
The original email, forwarded to me:
From: barney uhlig barney.uhlig@us.army.mil
Date: Fri, Sep 24, 2010 at 9:08 PM
Subject: Questions for all candidatesTo: jonduckstad@xxx.com, nancytyralukens@xxx.com, dazarian1@xxx.net, sherrybutcherwickstrom@xxxl.com, kitrell4EP@xxx.com, kathynelsonforedenprairie@xxx.com, jpilon@xxxl.com, scott.pollino@xxx.com
Cc: Thomas Briant abriant@sprynet.com, Paul Wendorff paulwendorff@attglobal.net, Dan Jorgenson dmjorg@hotmail.com, Brent Halweg bhalweg@comcast.net, Joe Lupo joel@winsted.com, Bob Johnson robert.dakota@yahoo.com, Mike Fahning mfahning@comcast.net
We are a group of neighbors who want to know specific intentions of a city council candidate rather than just the usual clichés. We would like to know how you stand on the following issues. Our votes will be based on your answers, or lack thereof.
Will you commit to introduce legislation, actively work for its passage, and finally vote for irt which would:1. Bring the city’s top salaries and fringe befits in line with state government or business of similar size? Why does the public works director e.g., having about 20% of the responsibility of the state commissioner of transportation, gets a compensation higher than that of the governor?
2. Review the multiple layers of city management to see if all positions are really necessary.
3. Eliminate the office, including the position of public works director. E.P. is not that big that the city engineer, etc. cannot report directly to the city manager.
4. Eliminate the city public relations department, whatever its name. The city has no business publishing its own news paper or its own TV channel The only task to be continued is the broadcast of council and committee meetings (a part time position).
5. Eliminate any city involvement in the advising of immigrants. This is already done by federal, state, and county offices as well as 49 NGOs.
6. Eliminate the city being a property owner except when such property is directly for the city’s use. The city has no business owning a house leased to a coffee shop.
7. Discontinue the city acquiring, owning and operating buildings for small special interest groups, such as an observatory, an arts center, a bow/arrow range, etc. These facilities should be turned over to the special interest groups and taken off city books.
8. Require the city managers to present three annual budget proposals which shall not reduce public safety, but which otherwise reduce spending by a.) 3%, b.) one that spends the same as last year, and c.) one that contains increases similar to those of the CPI. That would enable the council members to make real choices.
9. Eliminate the city requirement that home owners have to plow city owned side walks.
10. Eliminate the “no-plow zone” which allows the city not to plow at all certain public park and street walkways.
11. Eliminate the upcharges for water usage beyond an amount that the city considers ‘excessive”.
12. With state legislation if necessary, increase water supply from wells or the river to eliminate the permanent water “emergency”.
13. Refund the approx. 100 property owners in the Hillcrest area the $6,000 which the city assessed for street maintenance. The city hadn’t touched these roads in 30 years, and then claimed that they were so deteriorated that an assessment was required.
14. Eliminate the so-called “development fund” or whatever it is called into which revenues from the liquor stores and other city income flows. Every expenditure of the city should go thru the regular budget process. The only possible legitimate purpose for that fund is a “rainy day” source of money, but only to supplement the general fund in a (defined) genuine emergency and not for a project.
15. Instill in, and demand from the city bureaucracy a “miser” mentality as it pertains to spending tax dollars, and base any bonus payments on that. Most top bureaucrats are neither Democrat nor Republican – they are empire builders and indiscriminate spenders unless the council keeps them under control. Tearing out perfectly good asphalt of the Round Lake pedestrian path, replacing it with new, two feet wider asphalt, and then painting lane dividers on this walkway (!) – is an example of a bureaucracy gone wild and swimming in money. The ThreeRrivePark walkways in Minnetonka are quite adequate crushed rock – nothing wrong with that. Why did we need to replace entirely satisfactory wooden city park and building signs with glitzy glass and aluminum signs? Last year, when a number of E.P. home owners had to watch the foreclosure on their homes, the city had no better use for tax money than to tear out the quite serviceable tennis complex at Round Lake park and
replace it completely, base, colored asphalt, and 12’ high fence? We spent more than $100,000 to develop and produce new city, police and fire logos. Why? The examples could go on and on. We need more common sense in city hall.
:-
Barney U Uhlig, LTC, SF, USAR Ret# # #
My questions for this “group of neighbors”
From: Two Putt Tommy
To: barney.uhlig@us.army.mil
Cc: jonduckstad@xxx.com, nancytyralukens@xxx.com, dazarian1@xxx.net, sherrybutcherwickstrom@xxxl.com, kitrell4EP@xxx.com, kathynelsonforedenprairie@xxx.com, jpilon@xxxl.com, scott.pollino@xxx.com abriant@sprynet.com ; paulwendorff@attglobal.net ; dmjorg@hotmail.com ; bhalweg@comcast.net ; joel@winsted.com ; robert.dakota@yahoo.com ; mfahning@comcast.net ; editor@edenprairienews.com ; editor@acnpapers.com
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2010 7:35 PMDear Mr. Ullig,
My name is Tommy Johnson; I’m a blogger at www.MnPrgressiveProject.com and a radio personality at Am-950 Radio
I was forwarded the following, and am wondering who – EXACTLY – the “group of neighbors” are? Is it strictly limited to the group in the “cc:” field below, or are there more?
I note that in the “cc:” field is a person identified as “Thomas Briant” – is this the same “Thomas Briant” listed on the Minnesota Campaign Finance Board as a lobbyist?
In your email, below, you state: “Our votes will be based on your answers, or lack thereof.” Did you plan on publicizing the results of the following questionnaire; and if so, how?
Thank you for your prompt reply; based on your response, I may have additional questions.
Sincerely,
Tommy Johnson
And, here’s the email from Paul Wendorf that was the inspiration for this post:
From: paulwendorff@attglobal.net
To: twoputttommy@hotmail.com
CC: abriant@sprynet.com
Subject: Re:
Date: Wed, 29 Sep 2010 20:04:33 -0500Barney,
Don’t communicate with this “ass”, he is NO good and you’ll get no-where.
A suggestion for you – I would just leave two putt alone. No communication.
And don’t know about Tom Briant, but keep my email address out of it, these dems will send all kinds of crap my way. They know who Tom and I are. (emphasis added)
Paul
Yes, Paul – we know who you are.
And for those reading this far, that want just a little bit more of what these wanna-be king makers think, link here – and read the comments.
I printed one o’ Briant’s emails (verbatim, of course) in those comments; read how “Tobacco Lobbyist Tom” really, Really, REALLY seems to believe in that old adage from Texas:
The definition of an “honest politician” is “once bought, stays bought”.
You can hashtag any tweets about Briant or Wendorf or anyone else from the so-called “Eden Prairie Taxpayers Aliance” as:
#GreedOverPrinciples
(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)
I’ve been following and commenting on GOPer Mayor Phil Young’s legal problems since mid-May, when the story first broke in the Strib; link for Part 1 and Part 2 and Part 3 and Part 4 and Part 5 and Part 6. Plus, there’s “What I’ll Be Saying Tonight”. The Strib has done follow up stories (h/t to Laurie Blake) as events unfolded, and GOPer Young recently ended up the subject of a Strib Editorial.
Yesterday, the Sun Newspaper published the closest look (so far). Read it, and it’s obvious the reporter, Chris Olwell, takes his craft as a journalist seriously. Here’s how it starts:
Eden Prairie Mayor
By Chris Olwell – - Sun Newspapers
Published: Thursday, July 22, 2010 2:15 PM CDTOn April 15, Eden Prairie Mayor Phil Young went to the Plymouth Police Department. He sat down with two detectives in a conference room in the lobby. He was there to answer questions about an investigation into allegations of theft of public funds.
According to police reports, Young arrived confident, composed, making strong eye contact and answering questions. As the detectives laid out the evidence against him, he began to slouch in his seat. He leaned his elbows against the table and hid his face in his hands. By the end of the interview, Young sat silently with his head on the table between his folded arms.
I’ll have some thoughts on this sordid saga on Monday.
(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)
Ladies and Gentlemen, yours truly – the ol’ TwoPutter – is Guest Hosting this afternoon’s Friday Edition of “Quick On The UpTake” from 5:00 to 6:00pm on AM-950 KTNF, The Voice of Minnesota. Mike McIntee is taking some well-earned time time off. I’ll be joined in studio by the intrepid political analyst, Dusty Trice!
In addition to talking about important news, we’ll have a call-in conversation with one of Minnesota’s Citizen-Soldiers – which we feel is fitting as a tribute to those who have worn the uniform this Memorial Day weekend.
And as usual on Fridays, we’ll also be getting a call from Dane Smith from GrowthAndJustice.org.
One topic sure to be discussed is Eden Prairie’s WORST. MAYOR. EVER. – Phil Young.
We’ll also be giving away a pair of tickets to the Ed Schultz Town Hall meeting, which will be held next Friday, June 4th!
So tune in your radio today to AM-950, or listen live on your computer, here!
And have a great Memorial Day Weekend!!!
(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject; comments welcome there)
Sheila Kihne is currently the Vice Chair of the GOP’s 3rd CD; she has a seat on the Executive Committee. She also runs a blog – “The Activist Next Door” – where she’s taken shots at the DFL Endorsed Candidate for State Senate (Ron Case) – first here and then here.
Now, first I’d like to say that I’ve met Sheila; and I find her to be a very bright, intelligent, and passionate individual devoted to her cause: “conservatism.” And this is not – NOT – an attempt to smear nor discredit Sheila as a person; as a person, I happen to like her.
That said, this is simply another example of pointing out, once again:
“Hypocrisy, Thy Party Is GOP”
OK, first with the “then”:
Sheila is highly active in GOP SD42 politics. SD42 is the home to GOP endorsed Mayor Phil Young and Council Member Brad Aho (well, Council Member Jon Duckstad too, but Duckstand doesn’t have a candidate website that I can find).
And if you go to those old candidate websites, of those two GOPers, you’ll see (and I took screenshots of ‘em, in case they scrub – or dump – those old websites) a few pictures of those then-candidates posing for pictures in and/or in front of government (read=taxpayer paid) facilities.
In other words, back then, GOPers posed, and used, taxpayer paid facilities for PUBLIC gain – to win elections. Now, astute readers will note “public” is capitalized; with what elected officials put in their pockets for doing their elected duties, no one can claim elected officials are doing it for PERSONAL gain; there simply isn’t enough in the check to compensate for the time spent our elected officials spend.
OK, does anybody really expect that Sheila Kihne objected to those GOPers doing that, then?
Of course not.
Fast forward to “now” – and Sheila going off on DFL Candidate Ron Case:
Here’s part of Sheila’s blogpost:
A couple weeks back, I mentioned that DFL State Senate Candidate Ron Case was campaigning for office in his Oak Point classroom on the local “Democratic Visions” cable-TV show.
After a concerned citizen asked EP Schools to look into the matter, the Principal of Oak Point acknowledged that Mr. Case was indeed using his classroom for “political activity for personal gain” and has taken “corrective action” against Mr. Case. (TheActivistNextDoor)
Then: GOPers Young and Aho using gov’t facilities for public gain = no problemo.
Now: DLFer Case using go’vt facilites for public gain = BIG PROBLEMO.
Let’s look once again at Sheila’s blogpost, referenced just above:
From putting up his campaign signs in his classroom….(TheActivistNextDoor)
Without watching the YouTube, the casual reader is easily misled by that statement.
Take a look at that YouTube, provided below, and pay attention at ALL of the signs, pausing at the 4:35 mark:
“Hann” – GOPer candidate. “Kutina” – then-supporter of GOPer candidate Jenifer Loon. “TBag and Molnau” – ’nuff said.
OK, hit the “play button! Pause again, at 4:37 – and, what do we see? “Bush Cheney 04″ – oh, the HORROR!!!!
At 4:40? “Hann” “Loon” “Paulsen” and… oops! “Amy Klobuchar” – just how the (cheney) did the obviously that biased and partisan and “liberal/leftist/socialist/French Fry eating/HighTaxGuy” teacher, Ron Case, let THAT one get in there??!?
It’s really rather pathetic, how the GOPers these days tell the partial truth, and nothing but the partial truth. Well, when they’re not completely just LYING THROUGH THEIR TEETH.
So, there you have it:
Today’s Example Of GOP Hypocrisy – Sheila Kihne, GOP CD-03 ViceChair
(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)
I listen to Rush Limbaugh. Not because I like it; but I want to know what he’s saying because bootlicking ditto-heads parrot him religiously. Now, most people have seen or heard Rush calling former Senator John Edwards “The Breck Girl”, and remember that Rush called a teenage girl, Chelsea Clinton, “the White House Dog.” Women that believe in equality before the law are “femi-nazi’s.” The list goes on. Rush Limbaugh likes to slur and smear people – it’s his shtick. What bothers me most about Rush Limbaugh is not what he says; it’s that people actually take him seriously.
If you think about it, how can a guy who dodged Vietnam because of a pimple on his backside be taken seriously as a war promoter? How can he be taken seriously, when at first Rush proclaimed that anyone abusing prescription drugs illegally should be locked up, until he illegally abused prescription drugs and got off on a technicality? How can a guy that’s been divorced THREE TIMES, and celebrated his third divorce by loading up with Viagra and heading to an island infamous for is prostitution, be seen as a paragon of “Family Values”?
I guess to some, Rush is an expert on families, because he’s had three of them. Well, three wives, but no kids. Guess that makes him an expert on education, to some.
As demonstrated above, Rush Limbaugh loves to call names. So on a discussion board I’ve been posting at for years, I respond to his bootlicking ditto-heads by calling Rush “El Druggo”, in reference to his hillbilly-heroin habit. Well, “The Maja Viagra” too, due to how he “celebrated” his third divorce. “Drug Limpstick”, in reference to both. Oh, and “The Round Mound Of Hate Sound”, due to the name calling he does.
And to no surprise, the bootlickers on that site go ballistic, accusing the ol’ TwoPutter of bein’ a name caller. The point they miss, is they love it when El Druggo calls names, but hate it when what they do, is done to them. Kinda like bullies, don’t you think? Which gets me to what The Maja Viagra said, just a couple of months ago.
Last November 19th, Rush Limbaugh was talking about the November ’08 election, and he proclaimed (and I quote):
Yes, Rush Limbaugh is proclaiming he’s excited that dirty politics are in the future. Meanwhile, here in Eden Prairie, republiCon Party LEADERSHIP practicing dirty politics has never really stopped. We can look back and see when the local republiCon website was distorting letters to the editor on their website, or when candidate Phil Young tried to claim the local republiCon party wouldn’t be helping him, even when it was. And, of course, there was that dirty rumor they started about me being an alcoholic. When someone has the audacity to point out the emperor (local GOP leadership) has no clothes, those folks get uglier than normal.
Recently, Mayor Phil Young tried to claim that the former city council, comprised of 5 republicans, was “left of center.” Today, the local republiCon website says, and I quote:
Now, most reasonable people would assume that an all-Republican council that earned an AAA rating from Moody’s, could be reasonably called “fiscally responsible.”
Folks, I have to tell you: the local republiCon party leadership, and its local elected officials, cannot be called “reasonable.” These people are the epitome of intolerance, and the epitome of why GOP now stands for GreedOverPriniciples. Those Republicans that don’t bootlick to their dictates, are called RINO and worse. It’s a mighty small tent these people own, and if you don’t agree with it, you’re not welcome.
But, no worries, for the local republiCon Party Leadership: – Rush Limbaugh is excited, and will help keep it interesting.
(this blog entry originally published Sunday January 6th, 2007 at The Eden Prairie News)
