Is the Minnesota GOP responsible for Absentee Ballot confusion?

I was sitting around checking out the copies of the absentee ballots Coleman wants to count at the Startribune site.

It was interesting going through all the individual categories that these absentee ballots were piled into.

Right wing bloggers have used Secretary of State Mark Ritchie as their proverbial punching bag and have called for election reforms.

Dori and I get a lot of political mail, 99% from DFL candidates and the state party. Beyond the government paid Bachmann lit pieces we also got an interesting piece from the Minnesota State Republican Party.

It was a standard fear mongering mailing, raising fears over Barack Obama, Al Franken, and Elwyn Tinklenberg, and provided us with absentee ballot information.

It raised some serious suspicions on our part...

A. Why would the Minnesota Republican Party send absentee ballot information to people who identify as strong or moderate DFL?

B. We live in Cokato, in Wright County. The Minnesota Republican Party self addressed postcard would send our ballot request to Litchfield, in Meeker County.

While the chances Dori and I would be confused over something like this are extremely minimal, I often wondered about the elderly and those that are confused by the absentee voting process.

I recognized it as a deliberate attempt to confuse and disenfranchise voters, and I still see it that way.

While Ron Carey, Cullen Sheehan, and the right wing blogosphere take pot shots at the Secretary of State and county election officials, perhaps they should take a look in the mirror and acknowledge that their own party screwed Norm Coleman over.

How many Minnesota voters were confused and left disenfranchised by the Republican party's mailings?

Once we get back from our 4-5 day stay down here in the cities, we'll try to dig up the mailing in question and get it posted...

Public Enemy #1

Ok, maybe not this Public Enemy. I highly doubt we'll see a Senator Franken type "Flavor of Love" show on MTV.

Yahoo had a headline up that caught my eye this morning, although it's a Politico story.

"GOP sees Franken as top public enemy"

Heck, they even quoted our friend Ron Carey, Chair of the Minnesota GOP.

“I don’t know if we’ve ever had an opponent who is so disliked by Republicans as Al Franken,” said Minnesota Republican Party Chair Ron Carey, who cautioned that Coleman’s election challenge could still turn the results back his way. “It’s one thing to lose to an honorable opponent, but Al Franken is not considered an honorable opponent by Minnesota Republicans.”

Honorable opponent? Really?

Readers know that I was not the biggest Al Franken fan. He had some serious flaws in my eyes and I was 225 votes off on my unelectable stance. I was wrong and have no regrets.

Back to his notion of an "honorable opponent". I don't know how Carey does it. Spewing his rhetoric out of one side of the mouth, but then praising the likes of Brian Davis, Congressman John Kline and Congresswoman Bachmann.

Where is the honor behind the lies and deceit towards Congressman Tim Walz?

Does anyone recall the atrocious attacks by Congressman Kline and his campaign against Collen Rowley?

And what about Bachmann and her "un-American" comments?

Honor...pretty easy to claim on the losing end of a campaign. "At least I had my honor".

The 2008 US Senate race was easily the most negative race in Minnesota political history. Norm Coleman played a pretty vital role in the negative nature of the race. In fact, Coleman got so desperate that he, wink wink, "called the dogs off" late in the race and attempted to run a positive campaign.

He should have learned from Mark Kennedy...

One of our favorite State Rep's joined the fray as well.

“It’s going to be hard for Franken to be very effective with any Republicans, in terms of having any credibility with us, just because he’s been so nasty in the past,” Seifert said. “He certainly has callous and very partisan behavior in the past that is beyond the pale.”

Ok...Marty Seifert is calling another politician "callous and very partisan"?

Anyone recall Sefiert comparing to President Bush's approval rating to a STD?

Rep. Seifert expounded on a number of reasons and at some point in this list said that it didn’t help that “the President’s approval ratings are right there with gonorrhea.”

Seifert's actions against the "override six" last year are the epitome of "callous and very partisan".

As I read through the story this morning, the names of those interviewed for the story really caught my eye.

Mike Hatch, Matt Entenza, Marty Seifert, Ron Carey, Joe Repya and Tim Penny.

Two scandal ridden Democrats, a sharp tongued Minority Leader, the GOP Party Chair, and the crazy Colonel who attempted a coup de tat of the aforementioned GOP Party Chair, and a former DFL Congressman, turned IP Party Gubernatorial candidate.

And here I thought Flavor of Love was entertaining...

Startribune: Hot Race in the 3rd

Iraq War Veteran, Ashwin Madia, Democrat

vs.

Bush Republican, Erik Paulsen

vs.

Independent David Dillion

The Startribune has a rather large story covering the race today. The racial undertones are making the race even hotter.

Meanwhile, a Paulsen surrogate, state Sen. Geoff Michel, R-Minn., took the podium at a news conference last week to question Madia's ties to the district because, among other things, he has not raised a family there or paid a mortgage or gone to a PTA meeting.

Madia, who graduated from high school in the district, is a bachelor and rents an apartment in Plymouth. He listed his parents' Plymouth address while he was in the Marines and deployed to Iraq.

State GOP chairman Ron Carey also recently urged voters to examine "the demographic standpoint" of the candidates to determine which one to vote for.

DFL Party chair Brian Melendez said Carey and Michel's use of "loaded code words" injected race into the campaign. Madia's parents emigrated from India, and Paulsen is white.

Carey denied there were any racial or ethnic undertones to his comments. "I bristle at the insinuation that that was what was trying to be said," he said. "We're simply talking résumé. Period."

Oh yeah, the often utilized demographics portion of a resume.

Video from the Carey and Michel press conferences.



It's easy to see the political courage in the race. Madia has diavowed independent ads that have attacked his opponent. Paulsen sends his surrogates to attack Madia on race, and remains silent.

Who's Worse on Veteran Issues: Hutchison or Coleman?

Ron Carey dug deep into his press release template a couple of days ago and issued a press release on Al Franken's ability to advocate for Veterans.

“Al Franken is incapable of working with those with whom he disagrees. Minnesotans will not undermine their voice in the Senate with a man who simply attacks his political opponents personally when he disagrees with them. One area where Franken’s inability to control himself will prove a liability is on issues related to Veterans. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), a senior Republican on the committee and a frequent target of Franken’s personal attacks, is just another example of someone Franken has attacked throughout his 30 year career. He’s called her a ‘hypocrite,’ ’shameless shill,’ and ‘a profile in cowardice, shamelessness, hackery.’ Franken’s past rhetoric puts his ability to get things done in jeopardy and leaves Minnesota veterans hanging out to dry.”

OK Ron...OK, we get it. You don't like Franken.

Ron, you keep putting bloggers like myself in this position. You see, I'm not a Franken supporter. But, as a Veteran who understands what service to my community means, I know that Franken will be a great supporter of our nation's Veterans.

Franken will not leave Minnesotas Veterans "hanging out to dry".

Ron, look at Senator Coleman's record on Veterans issues.

2006

Senator Coleman supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 40 percent of the time.

The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave Senator Coleman a grade of D.

Coleman sponsored or co-sponsored 29 percent of the legislation favored by the The Retired Enlisted Association in 2006.

2005

Senator Coleman supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 50 percent of the time.

2004

Senator Coleman supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 0 percent in 2004.

Senator Coleman supported the interests of the The Retired Enlisted Association 0 percent in 2004.

That is not a stellar record on Veterans issues Ron. In fact, as a Veteran, I would argue that Coleman has "hung Minnesota's Veterans out to dry".

Ron, you criticize Franken for going after Texas Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Have you even looked at her record on Veterans issues?

2006

Senator Hutchison supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 60 percent of the time.

The Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America gave Senator Hutchison a grade of D+.

Hutchison sponsored or co-sponsored 12 percent of the legislation favored by the The Retired Enlisted Association in 2006.

2005

Senator Hutchison supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 50 percent in 2005.

2004

Senator Hutchison supported the interests of the Disabled American Veterans 0 percent.

Senator Hutchison supported the interests of the The Retired Enlisted Association 0 percent.

Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison's record on Veterans issues is as abysmal as Senator Coleman's.

Franken's criticism of Hutchison's poor record is justified.

Perhaps a bit of research would have been in order before Ronnie fired up the press release template again. It would appear to me that bringing up Senator Hutchison was as smart as Ronnie and his cronies first thought.

Veterans issues are amongst the most important issues for me. I have had a good long talk with Dean Barkley about these issues as well.

It's clear to me that Barkley would work very hard to ensure that the promises made to our Nations Veterans are upheld.

On the other hand, Coleman has been a miserable failure on Veterans issues. Calling Franken out for this was pure stupidity on Carey's part...or as we say in golf, par for the course.

Ron Carey Owes Madia An Apology

Last week, Minnesota Republican Party Chairman and press release addict, Ron Carey attacked Ashwin Madia for having a position on Iran, which is more than we can say about Madia's opponent Erik Paulsen.

From MDE

Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman Ron Carey today released the
following statement regarding 3rd District DFL-endorsed candidate Ashwin Madia’s
position on Iran.

“After the second day in a row of Iran test-firing missiles and
boasting that their ‘hands are always on the trigger,’ we face a stark reminder
Iran remains a serious threat to U.S. allies and U.S. interests.

Disturbingly, Ashwin Madia appears to disagree with the consensus of so
many when he says ‘Iran is not a threat.’ This serious lack of judgment is just
one reason he lacks the qualities necessary to serve in the U.S.
Congress.”

As we all know now, the Bush Administration has followed Madia's diplomatic lead and will sit down for talks with Iran.

Carey and Republicans also overhyped the Iran missile launch mess.

According to several sources, including Drudge, the missiles Iran tested were older versions of that has a range of 750 miles, meaning Israel is out of range. Photos from the event were doctored as well.

Our government has decided on diplomacy for now.

Surely we expect Carey to issue a press release today condemning the Bush administration for their cowardice in pursuing diplomacy.

While Erik Paulsen continues to have no opinion on Iran or Iraq, no solutions, Ashwin Madia continues to lead.

Erik Paulsen on Iran

It's very similar to his Iraq policy.

A search of his website shows no mention of Iran either.

Ron Carey continues his strong of idiotic press releases with one issued yesterday. Glad to see he's following the format!

Madia speaks eloquently about Iran, his words are measured.

Iran is not a threat. It is a concern to be dealt with diplomatically.

What's wrong with that? Remember the last time we ramped things up because Iraq was a threat? More than 4,000 of our soldiers have perished in this quagmire in Iraq.

Madia has a plan. He has experience.

Paulsen can't even summon the testicular fortitude to mention either on his website.

Now that's leadership.

Bachmann, The GOP State Convention and Other Musings

Notably absent from the speakers at the Minnesota Republican Convention this weekend in Rochester, was Congresswoman Michele Bachmann. I hear she was in attendance at some point but did not address the delegates.

Erik Paulsen also did not address the delegates.

I find that to be pretty interesting. How worried are they of a You Tube moment?

It's been widely reported on right wing blogs that convention attendees were greeted with two large "Ron Carey approved" banners displaying who delegates were to vote for. A "Conservative Team" they called it.

Red Hat McCain staffers were marching across the convention floor dictating who each delegate should vote for by holding up yes and no placards.

Ah...democracy at its best! At least they have evolved to the point where they actually count votes, unlike the Meeker County Republicans failing to count votes because of their fear of the Ron Paul revolution.



AAA over at Residual Forces has a letter from the Chair of the McLeod County Republicans. Apparently, because they are upset with Norm Coleman and had threatened to not support him after he was endorsed, party leadership sought to remove BPOU's that did not support endorsed candidates.

Carey threw a temper tantrum.

When I was done speaking, Ron Carey slammed his chair back, ran to the microphone, and spoke out of order to direct a personal attack against me. In essence, he said that I was a dishonest BPOU chair who took too long getting his delegate lists to the party. (Funny thing, I thought it was Carey who wouldn’t share his lists with the Huckabee or Paul campaigns. Either I was misinformed or there’s a double standard.) He made it clear that the amendment would have been used against my county, and probably against McLeod. Fortunately, it failed by a vote of 66% to 33%.

Wow, and the righty bloggers say Al Franken has a temper! How many delegates did Carey do this in front of? This guy is still the Republican Party leader in Minnesota?

BTW, it's been 26 days since several progressive bloggers have called for the Ron Carey Gag Order to be lifted...nothing yet...

Mr. Carey, can you please remove the gag order on Michele Bachmann while you're at it?

Ron Carey meddles with GOP delegate elections

From a ticked off 6th CD GOP delegate.

So at the 3rd and 7th district conventions Ron Carey, state party chairman stepped in front of the conventions to call Ron Paul supporters a bunch of libertarian infiltrators who are going to destroy the party, neglecting to mention that many are long time party members. He then denounced us for running slates, which he waved around, and proceeded to order the delegates to vote for HIS slate if they didn't want to lose in November.

I wonder if Ron Baert knows Meeker County didn't even count their votes during precinct caucuses because...GASP...Ron Paul won Meeker County!

I questioned what was going on in Meeker County. When I checked the Secretary of State site this morning, the only precinct that reported numbers was Cedar Mills, where Ron Paul beat Mike Huckabee 83-67. Romney finished with 55 votes, McCain 43, and Alan Keyes 7.

It remains the only precinct in Meeker County to have results posted at the SOS site.

Interesting. Ron Paul won Meeker County and the "Republican Leadership" in Meeker County decided to not send in the proper election results? They reported zero's to their party and to the Secretary of State!

It's been said that "the revolution will not be televised". The "Ron Paul Revolution" swept through Meeker County Tuesday night yet the votes weren't even reported properly.

Granted, we know Ron Carey addressed these delegates long before the "Ron Carey Gag Order" was issued, the one where he cannot talk about the sorry state of the Minnesota Republican Party's finances.

It's been 4 days since the "Ron Carey Gag Order" was exposed. When will Carey actually talk to Minnesotans about the waste, fraud, and abuse with GOP finances?

We already know they cannot count votes, at least in Meeker County.

Ron Carey: The Hypocrite Edition

Ron Carey, Chair of the Minnesota Republican Party, has called on Al Franken to "lift the gag order on his CPA".

Today's Startribune featured a story on the financial miscues of the Minnesota Republican Party, under the leadership of Ron Carey.

A left-leaning blogger tried to ask Carey about the party’s FEC reports at a news conference the GOP called last week to highlight Franken’s problems. Carey dismissed him, saying the press briefing “is something for our credentialed media here.”

Carey did not respond this week to Star Tribune requests for an interview about the FEC filings.

When will the Ron Carey "gag order" be lifted?

This seems to be the status quo for the Minnesota GOP right now. Bachmann refused to comment post CD 6 endorsement. Kline refused comment after CD 2.

For the sake of fairness, we call on the Minnesota Republican Party to lift the "gag order" on Ron Carey.

On the Congressional races

Ollie at Bluestem posts Roll Call stories on key races in the Midwest, focusing on Minnesota.

CD 3: Toss-up

CD1: Likely DFL

CD 6: Likely GOP

On the heels of Ollie posting this, it seems the race in the 1st just got a lot tougher for Brian Davis and Dick Day. It was already going to be tough enough to unseat Walz, without some significant help from the NRCC, it will be exponentially more difficult for them.

And in a closed-door session at the Capitol, National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.) told members that the NRCC doesn’t have enough cash to “save them” in November if they don’t raise enough money or run strong campaigns themselves.

Bachmann, holding a 10-1 COH advantage on Tinklenberg as of the latest FEC reports, would have to be at the top of the NRCC list, if they were able to gain enough cash.

Regardless, this is not good news for Minnesota Republicans. Recall the 06 election cycle. While the party put a lot of money into Bachmann's race, many local House races suffered as a result. With the NRCC short of funds, it will stretch an already troubled Minnesota Republican Party's finances.

A left-leaning blogger tried to ask Carey about the party’s FEC reports at a news conference the GOP called last week to highlight Franken’s problems. Carey dismissed him, saying the press briefing “is something for our credentialed media here.”

Carey did not respond this week to Star Tribune requests for an interview about the FEC filings.

The "left-leaning blogger" was Two Putt Tommy!

The Ron Carey Press Release Template

So easy, even a right wing blogger can use it! Here are the secrets that we'll divulge for you, only if you purchase a Senator Coleman endorsed Blo and Go!

For the low everyday price of $29.99, you'll get the blow dryer of the stars AND the knowledge to write your own Ron Carey Press Release.

Too good to be true you might say?

These press release templates enabled the Minnesota Republican Party to lose a winnable US Senate seat and one Congressional seat in 2006. The templates used to lose 20 GOP seats in the Minnesota House and allow the DFL to obtain a veto proof majority in the Minnesota Senate! Let's not talk about the money/tax scandals though...

With results like this, the Blo and Go pays for itself!

Ron Carey Press Release Template

A. Call the DFL endorsed candidate a "far left liberal who is out of touch with _____ district".

Regardless of fact, you must start off the press release with this phrase. See recent Elwyn Tinklenberg and Ashwin Madia press releases.

Prediction: Ron Carey will issue a press release on Saturday afternoon, "Steve Sarvi, a far left liberal, is out of touch with the voters of the 2nd Congressional District.

While factually incorrect, the Ron Carey Press Release Template cannot be tainted by fact. Just write it an move on to more important aspects of the release.

B. Reiterate that candidate x is far too liberal for _____ district. Congressperson Y will be reelected because they are a strong and effective leader.

Again, do not expand upon this statement. Do not talk about their voting record or legislative accomplishments. Just use vague language to describe the GOP incumbent/candidate.

Example: Tinklenberg is too liberal for the Sixth District. No matter how much mud Tinklenberg and his left-wing allies throw in this campaign, I am confident Representative Bachmann will be reelected because she has been a strong and effective leader."

C. If you have a chance, slide a reference to Ronald Reagan in the press release.

D. Was our far too left out of touch liberal wearing a flag lapel pin? Point that out.

E. Write about the largest tax increases in the nations history, even if it's factually incorrect. Pin them on out of touch liberals. Sponsor gas station ads that are also factually incorrect.

F. Send courtesy copies of the release out to Brodkorb, Emmer and the rest of the right wing Minnesota spin machine so the distorted message can be amplified.

Example:

St. Paul- Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman Ron Carey issued the following statement after 42nd Congressional District Democrats endorsed Billy Smith for Congress.

Billy Smith is a far left liberal who is out of touch with the voters of the 42nd District. Smith, a far too left liberal economist from Bovey Minnesota, is a tax and spend liberal. No matter how many times Smith attacks Congresswoman Jones, leadership remains confident that freedom will win, Congresswoman Jones will be reelected because she is a strong and effective leader.

Smith, who was 6 when the Reagan tax cuts took effect, opposed them. In a debate with Alex P Keaton, Smith actually made him cry. Footage indicates that Mr. Smith was not wearing a flag lapel pin, therefore, Smith hates freedom and America.

Congresswoman Jones has been awarded the "Friend of the Taxpayer award" for her persistence on Taypayer Bill of Rights legislation. Smith staunchly opposes this legislation and supports raising your gas tax 43% this year.

Iran, Iran, Iran

Immigration, Immigration, Immigration

Taxes, Taxes, Taxes

CC: Right wing blogosphere

It's that easy!