Shock and awe

You wanna know how to get Capone? They pull a knife, you pull a gun. He sends one of yours to the hospital, you send one of his to the morgue. That's the Chicago way! And that's how you get Capone. Now do you want to do that? Are you ready to do that? —Malone (played by Sean Connery) in The Untouchables (1987)

To be honest, Republicans should give their grudging respect and admiration to the DFL in both houses of the Legislature for leveraging their majorities into some kick-ass legislative productivity.

The session just started on February 5. Today is February 28, and we have already seen the first-ever override of a Pawlenty veto, and on a $6+ billion tax increase no less (while the cat was away chairing the National Governors Association meeting. The timing was brilliant; what was he going to do, come back to Saint Paul or sit at the head table in Washington, D.C. with egg on his face while Minnesota burned? Either way, he was, pardon the expression, screwed). The Senate didn't even need any Republicans to vote for the veto override due to their veto-proof majority, but they got two to stick it to "Governor No New Taxes" anyway! This achievement alone is going to jack up the enthusiasm in DFL BPOUs statewide from now until November, but the cherry on top was putting a constitutional amendment on the November ballot that puts appropriations for natural resources and the arts where they belong, safe from the inconvenient vagaries of representative government.

The pork-barrel bonding bill may top $1 billion, about equal to the anticipated budget deficit, a virtually unthinkable tab until this year. And transportation commissioner Carol Molnau will likely join Pawlenty's former education commissioner Cheri Pierson Yecke as legislative road kill, thanks to some skillful politicization (with the help of gobs of earned media in TV and newspapers) of the I-35W bridge collapse.

The DFL is showing the rest of us how to get things done in Saint Paul: get the majority, make the minority party governor irrelevant, and take care of business. "Reaching across the aisle" is for wimps. Or as Rep. Ron Erhardt (R-Edina, soon to be DFL-Edina?) so eloquently added insult to injury, "Tell the people who told you to call [to tell me to vote to uphold the Governor's veto] to go f— themselves and that they are full of s—." And if you can demoralize the Republican base for the rest of the session, you could very well keep (or expand) the majorities in November and it will start all over again in 2009 — which is a budget year!

North Star Liberty has obtained a double-secret list of DFL legislative priorities, for which the transportation bill merely paved the way. (Eat your heart out, Minnesota Democrats Exposed!) Now that's how to run a legislative majority: tell the minority to go f— themselves!

TOP SECRET DFL LEGISLATIVE PRORITIES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SESSION:

• Make tobacco a controlled substance, legalize marijuana, and repeal all statewide smoking bans
• Declare Minnesota a "sanctuary state," and grant state funding for free liability insurance to illegal aliens
• Repeal the constitutional amendment requiring a balanced biennial budget (too much of a restraint on spending)
• Replace the I-494/694 beltway with a light rail line and bike trail
• "The State of Minnesota Bans Guns Within Its Borders Act"
• Reinstate an autonomous state school board, with the president of the teachers union as its chair; require homeschooling parents to join the union
• Replace the current House and Senate with a unicameral legislature based on Senate districts (the House just gets in the way); convert the House chamber and offices into a new Minnesota Department of Peace
• Get Jason Lewis and the Northern Alliance Radio Network off the air by enacting the Fairness Doctrine for talk radio stations in the state
• Increase the minimum wage and provide free health insurance for all, funded by a "maximum gross income" tax on the "rich"
• Enact "steps and lanes" and grant tenure for legislators (think of all the money we won't be spending on campaigns and elections); index the legislative per diem to inflation
• Lobby Congress for a state government bail-out bill in the hypothetical event that some unnamed state goes bankrupt due to private industry and most citizens not receiving welfare or a government paycheck leaving the state

Off with their heads

We hear constantly from incumbent legislators about "reaching across the aisle," and "getting things done." Our DFL friends are praising the six Republican House members and two Republican Senators who voted to override Governor Pawlenty's veto of the first and largest tax increase of the nascent session (the first of many, you think it ain't?), as "thinking for themselves" — yeah right, like Sen. Joe Lieberman "thinks for himself" about the Global War on Terror.

Like the looter who returns to the same store over and over again when he discovers an easy payday, the Minnesota Legislature in 2008 is going to tax and spend with impunity until they have driven every big corporation (and many of its most productive citizens) out of the state and transformed Minnesota into a New Scandanavian Socialist Utopia, bankrupting it and its citizens forever of their money and their freedom. But what beautiful trains and stadiums we will have!

Now is the time for the Governor and legislative leadership to hold accountable the six Republican House members and two Republican Senators for stepping over the Governor's line in the sand, and embarrassing him while he was out of town chairing a meeting of the National Governors Association.

But more importantly, now is the time for conservative Republicans to take back the party by getting up off the couch and showing up at the following BPOU endorsing conventions. Deny these tax-and-spenders their endorsement for reelection, and run conservative candidates in their places. In some districts, this will be a long war, so we best get started now. Check back here for updates.

BPOU	Date	Venue	Tax Raiser	Endorsed?
SD 48	Sat., March 8	Anoka City Hall Community Room, 2015 1st Ave, Anoka	Rep. Jim Abler (48B)	NO
SD 41	Sat., March 8	Southwest Middle School Auditorium, 4725 South View Lane, Edina	Rep. Ron Erhardt (41A)	NO
SD 41	Sat., March 8	Southwest Middle School Auditorium, 4725 South View Lane, Edina	Rep. Neil Peterson (41B)	NO
SD 22	TBD	TBD	Rep. Rod Hamilton (22B)	TBD
HD 13A	TBD	TBD	Rep. Bud Heidgerken (13A)	TBD
SD 49	TBD	TBD	Rep. Kathy Tingelstad (49B)	Not running for reelection
SD 21	TBD	(The Senate is up for election in 2010)	Sen. Dennis Frederickson	TBD
SD 18	TBD	(The Senate is up for election in 2010)	Sen. Steve Dille	TBD

Johnson wins Hennepin County endorsement, Koblick drops out

Note: This was going to be my Hennepin County Republican Convention liveblog, but there was no wireless network at the convention venue, so I am posting this ex post facto.

8:05 a.m. - Arrived at the Medina Entertrainment Center, there is a cashier's table to collect the registration fee, and a separate registration area. The lobby area is packed, there are easily 1000 people trying to get in for a scheduled 9:00 am start. Registration is paper-based, the volunteers are laboring mightily, but the lines are long and some are having trouble getting registered. One woman said she had to stand in line three times to get credentialed.

8:50 a.m. - There is no way that we will begin on time. Jeff Johnson has coffee and doughnuts waiting for delegates, and they were the really good, decadent kind, but I am doing so much meeting and greeting that the table is empty by the time I circle back. Johnson's continental breakfast table, delegate registration, and various candidate tables are all crammed into a small area, along with hundreds of delegates and alternates.

There is some hardball going on between the campaigns of Warren Limmer and Jeff Johnson, who are vying for the endorsement for Hennepin County Commissioner in District 7. Limmer is using campaign signs from his earlier campaign for Attorney General, a no-no. Johnson has distributed flyers with positive comments about him from conservative blogs, including North Star Liberty, Minnesota Democrats Exposed, Fraters Libertas, dreckless, and Residual Forces. Flyers tout each candidate's conservative credentials. Several copies of a poster from Limmer chronicle some back-and-forth between the candidates on the fate of Limmer's Senate seat in a special election, if he were to win.



Some of the buzz while we are waiting for things to start is around the state party's general anemic response to the DFL on the technology front. Several activists have been telling me for years that the party's statewide voter data base is chronically outdated, and various attempts to modernize have been met with resistance by the state party and some BPOUs. Activists are saying that it's going to be frustrating to volunteers to be flying blind (again) relative to the DFL, which is said to be light years ahead of the Republicans in voter ID and political micromarketing. Example: door-knockers for state Sen. Terri Bonoff, who in 2006 collected vital data from voters on PDAs. Once uploaded to the mothership, this data enables subsequent contacts — whether it is a direct mail piece, e-mail, or phone call — to be targeted to a voter who is not only leaning toward the candidate, but is also targeted to their pet campaign issue, all designed to pay off in a vote.

Judging by the convention registration process, somebody dropped the ball on getting delegate info organized after the overwhelmingly attended precinct caucuses on Super Tuesday, February 5. The registration volunteers were working off hardcopy printouts. There are no preprinted nametags, no laptops on a wireless LAN to help ID delegates or direct them to their BPOU and precinct, just stacks of paper.

Overheard from one volunteer later after the rush is over: "Every time I do registration, I remember how much I hate doing registration."

I'm sure that some first-time delegates are unimpressed, and this could have a negative effect later on when we call on these people to do a lit-drop, door knock a neighborhood, or take a shift at the phone bank.

Others are incredulous that the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce endorsed the tax increase bill that was vetoed by the governor last week. One furious business owner told me that the Republicans should not stop the DFL-led veto override, to let the Chamber feel their buyer's remorse (it could still happen).

9:52 a.m. - The convention is finally called to order, almost an hour late. Some of the tables are not clearly marked, so some of the delegates are unsure of where they should be seated. Yes, there is a map, but you have to cross-reference your BPOU and precinct from an Excel spreadsheet to a four-digit table number, then find the table number on the map. Some of the delegates are still in line to get credentialed.

After the Pledge of Allegiance, Pastor Jim McLeish gives the invocation. Tom Tipton sings a powerful Gospel-inspired rendition of the National Anthem, to loud applause.

One of the first orders of business is credentials, that is, reconciling the number of delegates and alternates with the number of each who actually showed up. We cannot vote to endorse until the credentials report is final.


10:20 am - Linda Koblick formally announces that she will not run for reelection for Hennepin County Commissioner in District 6, citing personal reasons. Koblick gave a heartfelt and eloquent farewell address, thanking her family and the grassroots, and emphasizing the need for suburban representation on the county board. She thanked District 7 delegates for the honor of representing them. Koblick's district voted to not endorse today, and to call another endorsing convention in a month.

Always a forceful and articulate advocate for suburban interests, Koblick (with Commissioners Penny Steele and Gail Dorfman) endured by all accounts a horrific fight against the public subsidy for the billionaire owners of a team of millionaire baseball players without the referendum required by law. Koblick will be sorely missed by Hennepin County conservatives, but she has surely earned an early retirement from her service.

10:43 am - Someone is giving a real stemwinder in support of John McCain for President, and he is not connecting with the audience or doing Sen. McCain much justice in his speech.

11:05 am - They are still going through the credentials process. During this time, for each precinct, the number of alternates and delegates is announced, along with the number seated. In past years, each precinct would usually seat fewer delegates than their allotment. This year, most precincts seemed to be full, with some announced as "over," something I have rarely if ever heard in five years of going to these conventions.

11:08 am - Erik Paulsen gives a lively speech.

11:14 am - Robert Morgan from the Ron Paul campaign speaks, to some enthusiastic but not crazy applause and cheers. He was certainly better than the McCain speaker. Morgan is a recent transplant from California, eager to learn about caucuses (California is a primary state), and happy to be here despite the winter weather.

11:17 - We are still waiting for the credentials report.

11:34 - There are over 1000 delegates and alternates registered. The credentials report is still not final. People are getting restless. I am getting dehydrated and hungry for lunch. The convention suspends the rules to allow the candidates to speak before the credentials report is final. Without a suspension of the rules, this would be out of order.

Randy Johnson is endorsed for Hennepin County Commissioner District 6.


11:50 - Jeff Johnson speaks. He emphasizes accomplishing conservative reforms as commissioner, referred to his record in the Minnesota House, pledged to out-campaign his eventual opponent in the general election.

Credentials report is finally final. Of the 681 delegates seated in District 7, 409 (60 percent) will be needed to endorse.

11:55 am - Warren Limmer is up. Congresswoman Michele Bachmann endorses Limmer via recorded audio (Bachmann and Limmer were colleagues in the Minnesota Senate Republican caucus). Outgoing District 7 Hennepin County Commissioner Penny Steele steps to the microphone. She receives enthusiastic appaluse, and delivers an emotional farewell, before a strong seconding endorsement. She says that Limmer will be a strong campaigner. She emotionally announced that her husband's job was recently outsourced, and that she considered running for re-election, but decided instead that should Limmer win, she will run for his state Senate seat.

Limmer himself gives an impassioned speech, saying that he would not form coalitions, he is looking to fight the liberals on the county board.

12:08 pm - The convention votes to endorse in District 7. Ballots are being passed out.

12:15 pm - The first ballot is underway.

12:52 pm - Still no word from the tellers on the first ballot.

First ballot: Johnson 374 (54%), Limmer 310 (46%). 60% needed to win.

Johnson and Limmer address the delegates. Some of the veterans in the "power alley" of the SD 43 delegate area are recalling the 2002 Pawlenty-Sullivan endorsement battle, which went overnight, umpteen ballots until about 3 am.

1:55 pm - The chair announced "no endorsement," meaning a third ballot, then asked everyone to stand by for a recount, meaning maybe there is an endorsement after all.

2:13 pm - Recount:

Second ballot: Johnson 377, 58.6%
Limmer 261.5, 40.6%

A total of 388 needed to endorse. The number of votes needed to endorse decreases along with the number of ballots cast as delegates gradually filter out of the convention to resume their real lives. Many, including me, thought we would be out of here by noon.

The two candidates address the delegates. Limmer emphasizes his electability, Johnson emphasizes his core principles. Limmer and Johnson leave the stage together, smiling.

2:30 pm - Ron Carey, chair of the Republican Party of Minnesota, addresses the convention. Interestingly, Carey announces that computerized voter ID will be a major effort this year by the party. He announced, to much applause, that he spoke against the endorsement of one of the Republicans who voted with the DFL to pass the transit tax bill, and he or she was denied endorsement. He asked for a show of hands from first-time caucus attendees, and it looked like almost half of the convention raised their hands.

2:40 pm - I leave to go vacuum the house, since I am in District 2, which is not up for reelection. Other male delegates report their wives calling regarding their honey-do lists: bathroom remodeling, a new refrigerator that needs to be moved to the basement.

On the way home, I hear from Mitch Berg on the Northern Alliance Radio Network that Jeff Johnson has won the endorsement on the third ballot, with 61% of the vote.


A post script: SD 43 had a reunion of sorts of what I called the Gaither A-Team, the group of campaign operators that helped to get David Gaither elected as the conservative senator from the "new" (after redistricting) SD 43 in 2002. It was great telling some of the old war stories and getting reacquainted. It remains to be seen whether we can get our groove back in 2008. All we need is a candidate for House District 43B. Stay tuned for the SD 43 BPOU convention on Saturday, March 8 at Wayzata East Middle School.

$un New$paper shills for tax increase

Everyone rightfully gives the old Red Star the beans for its liberal agenda, but let's not forget our local community newspapers.

In this week's west metro editions, the Sun-Sailor shilled for the largest tax increase in Minnesota history, passed by the House and Senate Thursday and vetoed by Governor Tim Pawlenty today. In this week's issue alone, it ran these pro-tax increase articles:

"Time to end deadlock on transportation funding," a letter to the editor from Rep. John Benson (DFL-Minnetonka).

"Lets [sic] get together to pass transportation bill," an op-ed piece by Joe Kieser, Community Editor, Minnetonka Sun-Sailor.

"TwinWest lobbies legislators for more transportation funding," a news story by Joe Keiser.

Not one article or letter to the editor was included that opposed tax increases or favored economy-friendly alternatives such as offsetting any increase in the gasoline tax with an income tax cut.

Jeff Johnson would change business as usual in Hennepin County

The headline writer in me couldn't resist using The Platitude of the Year ("Change"), but it points out how Jeff Johnson would represent more than "same chairs, different names" on the Hennepin County Board.

Johnson outlined the top three reforms he would pursue if elected Hennepin County Commissioner:

1. Zero-based budgeting. "Every spending program should be coupled with criteria by which its success will be measured," said Johnson. "If, after a year, the program is shown to be unsuccessful, it shouldn't be funded again." Hmmm. If we had this at the Legislature, maybe Hennepin County businesses like Target or UHC would be Minnesota's top employer — rather than the State of Minnesota. What a different place this was when we had more people actually producing something, rather than figuring out new ways to tax major employers like Northwest Airlines right out of Hennepin County and the state!

2. Seriously consider privatization, in part or in whole, of HCMC. Johnson believes, as do most conservatives, that the market is generally better able to provide health care (and just about everything else except redistribution of wealth and social engineering) than government. What a great way to put the health care debate front and center, and perhaps even lead the nation toward a market-based solution.

3. Require welfare recipients in Hennepin County to show they are in the United States legally in order to receive benefits. "Hennepin County residents have a long history of generosity to those in need," says Johnson, "but that generosity must not be abused by political correctness run amok." Common sense tells us: we don't have to deport millions of illegals, just enforce existing laws and they'll leave on their own.

Ronald Reagan said in his first inaugural address, "In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem, government is the problem." By bringing change to Hennepin County, Jeff Johnson would at the very least make the problem smaller. That's why I will be supporting him at the Hennepin County endorsing convention on Saturday.

Johnson has a head start in Hennepin County

Former state Representative Jeff Johnson (R-Plymouth), who is running for the Republican endorsement for Hennepin County Commissioner in the northwest suburban District Seven, is building a strong case for a winning candidacy.

For example, Johnson's campaign recently reported his campaign finance numbers to the county:

• 2008 Year-to-date revenues: $10,309.00
• Year-to-date expenses: $2,090.26
• Cash balance: $8,218.74

Johnson's rival for the Republican endorsement, state Sen. Warren Limmer (R-Maple Grove) reported these totals for the same period:

• 2008 Year-to-date revenues: $2,862.65
• Year-to-date expenses: $664.82
• Cash balance: $2,197.83

Fundraising is one way to measure a candidate's early support: when people vote through their wallets. And big money will be needed to reach voters through the hoopla of other high-profile races this year, from Congress to the White House.

Johnson is a veteran of the 2006 statewide campaign for Minnesota Attorney General. The television ads and lawn signs of this campaign, and his previous six years of service in House District 43A (northern Plymouth), established Johnson's name recognition throughout District Seven. In spite of the general "tough year for Republicans," and the fact that the state has had a Democrat in the Attorney General's office since 1970, Johnson says that he beat Lori Swanson by 10 percent in the district.

With a healthy campaign account and positive name recognition across Hennepin County, Johnson is already off to a good start in his race.

Lincoln's brthday

Abraham Lincoln, sixteenth President of the United States, was born on this day in 1809 in a log cabin in Kentucky. He went on to become the preserver of the Union, the Great Emancipator, and one of the greatest Presidents in history. Lincoln delivered the following address on the battlefield at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. At one time in this country, all schoolchildren were required to memorize this precious piece of our heritage. Although we are engaged in a different kind of war in 2008 than we were in 1863, Lincoln's words remind us that there are still some wars that we must fight and we must win.

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate—we can not consecrate—we can not hallow—this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

Jeff Johnson's accomplishments show ability to lead

Most people like Jeff Johnson, currently running for the Republican endorsement in the nonpartisan Hennepin County Commissioner race in District 7. He's a family man, was a respected legislator in the Minnesota House, and has an easy manner and sense of humor — the latter of which is apparent in Johnson's recollections of his 2006 run for attorney general in the current issue of Minnesota Law & Politics (the perspective of time reveals just how bizaare that campaign really was — anyone remember Matt Entenza?).

But does Johnson have what it takes to stand up for conservative values, or even work for conservative reforms, on the Hennnepin County board?

In an endorsement letter, Sen. Gen Olson (R-Minnetrista) highlighted Johnson's signature accomplishments as a Representative in the Minnesota House:

Jeff was a conservative leader in the legislature. He set out early in his legislative career to accomplish some big things and then did so. His victories included successfully leading the fight against the Trial Lawyers’ Association on major lawsuit reform, significantly limiting the power of government to take private property through eminent domain and protecting kids from extremely violent and sexually explicit video games and Internet pornography.

"I cannot think of anyone better to be our next Hennepin County Commissioner," added Olson.

Johnson told me that he also has the support of legislators that include Rep. John Berns (R-Wayzata), Rep. Sarah Anderson (R-Plymouth), Rep. Steve Smith (R-Mound), and former Rep. Bill Haas (R-Champlin).

Republican activist Larry Colson, Maple Grove, said,

"Despite Jeff's friendly demeanor, he's a pretty tough guy. In the Minnesota House, he led fights against groups like the Trial Lawyers' Association, Education Minnesota, the League of Minnesota Cities and the national video game industry — and won. Jeff's living proof that civility and effectiveness in politics don't have to be mutually exclusive."

What a night!

I thought I would show up early to my SD 43 caucus tonight to get a good parking spot, so I arrived there, at Wayzata Central Middle School, around 6:30 pm for a 7:00 pm start.

The parking lot was full. I had to park across the street in the neighborhood. I have never seen attendance so high in several years of caucus-going. Supporting candidates and helping to direct traffic in the crowded entrance hall were former Plymouth mayor and state Senate candidate Judy Johnson and her daughter, and former BPOU co-chair John Knight, among several others.

The caucus began with everyone in the lunchroom, which was even more full than the parking lot. The speakers had to stand on a table just to be seen. A surrogate (campaign staffer) spoke on behalf of Congressional candidate Erik Paulsen. Dave Johnson, unsuccessful candidate for House District 43B, called for a candidate to step forward to challenge the incumbent DFLer in that race, John Benson. Former U.S. Senator Rudy Boschwitz gave a pep talk.



Hennepin County Commissioner Linda Koblick asked for continued delegate support. Candidates for outgoing Commissioner Penny Steele's seat, Jeff Johnson and Warren Limmer, who are both seeking the Republican endorsement, were also in the crowd at various points during the night. The Hennepin County endorsing convention is Saturday, February 23.

When I reached my precinct meeting room, late due to the heavy hallway traffic, there were so many people there, I thought I was in the wrong room. At over 60 persons, there was the equivalent of several years worth of attendance there tonight. Amazing. For the first time in my several years of experience, we had more persons run for convention delegates (sixteen) than our allocation (seven delegates and seven alternates). Our BPOU convention is Saturday, March 8.

In the presidential straw poll, our precinct, BPOU, and state went to Mitt. I am pleased by Mitt's support within our precinct's delegation.


Our precinct's resolution session was long, with over a dozen resolutions presented, debated, and vote on. Unfortuately, some of the resolutions were hastily written, and the presenters were ill-prepared to support them. On the other hand, debates were lively and respectful. We passed several resolutions from EdWatch, one that would repeal mandatory ethanol content in vehicle fuels, and one that would remove the incumbent designations on judicial ballots, among others. We defeated resolutions on mandatory national service, and several others. (Since I was one of the tellers counting delegate ballots, I wasn't able to participate much in the resolution discussions.)

On the way out around 10 pm, I got to shake hands with another one of our more well-known residents of SD 43, former Governor Al Quie. It was a great night for our senate district and for conservative Republicans statewide.

FredHeads unite -- for Mitt

Speaking as a FredHead myself, it's time for us to pick ourselves up, thank God there's still a viable conservative in the race, and support Mitt Romney for president on Super Tuesday.

Romney looked great at that rally in Edina over the weekend, and he continues to pick up conservative national endorsements (Rick Santorum, Vin Weber, Laura Ingraham, Sean Hannity, Hugh Hewitt,  Ed Morrissey), while John McCain racks up endorsements from the Republican center-left.

This could be the last stand for conservatives to remain a factor in the 2008 presidential election. It's time for conservatives to come together for Mitt, right now, at the caucuses tomorrow night. Go to True North for caucus how-to information.