My Party, Right or Wrong?
The Kool Aid Report has long been one of my favorite MOB blogs (and it's hard to pick favorites - so many of them are excellent).
But there's a thread going on there now that makes me a little nervous. Part of me wants to chalk it up to the KAR's audience - but after three years of running a blog, I know better than that.
As much as certain chuzzlewits try to paint it otherwise, we NARN bloggers (and most MOB bloggers, really) are pretty independent of the party.
You can be in the party, and not agree with everything the party says or does. I've sat on the floor and fulminated with other delegates as it seemed the central committee (in the Fourth and at State) hijacked the proceedings. I've groused as the party put forth hamsters like Arne Carlson. And I've pointed my finger at the Fourth District leadership and wondered why they continually gave up on everything south of Larpenteur Avenue.
That last is an issue close to my heart, of course; I'm "represented" by Betty "I'm A Teacher's Union Robot!" McCollum, a woman every bit as dumb as Barbara Boxer but with a much lower profile.
So I wish I, as a GOP activist, had the choices they have up north in the Sixth District, where Phil Krinkie, Cherie Pierson Yecke, Chuck Jim Knoblach and Michele Bachmann are duking it out for the nomination to replace Mark Kennedy. All four of them are great candidates; I've met all of them except Knoblach at least half a dozen times each, and I'd be happy to have any of them as my representative at any level (says the guy who's "represented" by Alice "The Phantom" Hausman in the State House, Ellen "Womenandtheirchildren" Anderson in the State Senate, and McCollum).
"The Head of Alfredo Garcia" wrote earlier this week, criticizing his choice of GOP candidates:
I'm a Republican. I have been all my life. I vote straight ticket. Why be a wimp? But I live in the Sixth Congressional District, and I have to tell you, I'm dreading this next race.
We have a race of total clowns running in this district!
What are our choices? Phil Krinkie. Sounds like an elf. He's a policy wonk. Not bad, but for Congress?
Cheri Pierson Yecke. A one trick pony if there ever was one. All education, all the time. I just dont' see it...And my one-time front runner (for my vote anyway), Michele Bachmann. I have to admit, I used to support her, big-time.
But some of the stuff about her lately kind of distrubs me. Sure, she's more of a social conservative than I'd want in a perfect world. But she seems almost erratic lately.
Like the scene where she was spying on the gay rally at the capitol? Too weird. Like, why? It just doesn't make sense to me.
Of course I disagree: Phil Krinkie and Cheri Yecke are both amply qualified to serve in Congress, I don't know much about Knoblach but I'm told he's good, and I think Michele Bachmann has come up on the wrong end of a pack of slavering zealots who genuinely detest social conservatism in all ways, shapes and forms. Who would I vote for if I were attending the CD6 Convention? I don't know - it'd be a very tough call. But only until the gavel rang down - because I'd vote for
any of them over
any DFLer,
any "moderate" Republican (read: Stealth DFLer), any "Independence Party" drone (read: DFL Lite) -
anyone!
So what's the response? A purge?
To avoid this from getting too personal, I'll submit my delemma to our readers. Should The Head of Alfredo Garcia get booted from KAR?
Nah.
The party's got to be able to question itself.
If the Party can't withstand questioning from within, how will it ever withstand questioning from the enemy?
However, "Head" - I have to ask; if you guys in the Sixth feel you have too many candidates, please, please - send us a couple down in the Fourth.
Even one would be nice.
Posted by Mitch at
August 9, 2005 12:44 PM
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Whoa, there pallie. Wasn't stiffling the Head's questioning of the party. I think that the Head was waaaaaaaay off in his breakdown. What the hell is he looking for? Another Reagan? You have a good slate up there in the sixth that range in ideology from moderate (which I'm guessing the Head abhors) to at least two bona fide conservatives: Yeckie and Bachmann.
I probably wouldn't have even brought it up if the Head wasn't buying into the lying propagandistic crap that the Dump Bachmann crowd has been spewing.
Time will prove me (not to mention V-Toed Bill and Dementee) right.
LF
Posted by: LearnedFoot at August 9, 2005 12:53 PMit was one of only a very few rare things i've seen on that site that made any sense.
Posted by: Melanie at August 9, 2005 01:18 PMCome on Mitch ""I'm "represented" by Betty "I'm A Teacher's Union Robot!" McCollum, a woman every bit as dumb as Barbara Boxer but with a much lower profile.""
You can attack her policy, and disagree with her politics, but this is simply pathetic. Betty is a top notch, grade A human being. Just because she is on the wrong side of the fence doesn't mean you have to resort to this pathetic attack. Same goes for Alice and Ellen. I've called you on it before, and I will call you on it every chance I get. When you have to resort to off base personal attacks, it dillutes any argument you may have, regardless of how valid they may be.
You're beter then that, Mitch!
Flash
Posted by: Flash at August 9, 2005 02:42 PMI have interviewed Yecke and Bachmann, and both would be capable legislators. We will be interviewing all the candidates on the Race to the Right radio show.
Mitch is right, all of these candidates are quite qualified and excellent. As someone who is represented by some "low watt" bulbs I'd love to have that kind of choice as well.
Posted by: Marty Andrade at August 9, 2005 03:20 PM“The party's got to be able to question itself.
If the Party can't withstand questioning from within, how will it ever withstand questioning from the enemy?”
I agree with those statements but I do not agree that they apply in this context. When you hold yourself out as a member of a political party and decide to publicly criticize or question the likely candidates, you have an obligation IMO to make sure that your criticism is CONSTRUCTIVE. Comments like “[s]ounds like an elf” or regurgitating propaganda from “Dump Bachman” hardly qualifies.
Posted by: Thorley Winston at August 9, 2005 03:29 PMOff topic:
Anyone else notice that the Air(head) America-Minnesota website has an "updated" schedule listing of their "shows"?
NOOOOOOO monkeyboy! Nicky is GONE!
Wow...what did it take for him to be axed? 60 days?
Posted by: Dave at August 9, 2005 03:31 PMDon't pick on the elf.
Krinkie is consistently one of the only true conservatives in the MN. House.
Posted by: marcus aurelius at August 9, 2005 04:06 PMWe'd be happy to take any one of these candidates in the 5th as well. Maybe I should start sending the candidates real estate listings.
Posted by: Nordeaster at August 9, 2005 04:07 PMFlash,
"You can attack her policy, and disagree with her politics, but this is simply pathetic. Betty is a top notch, grade A human being."
Well, perhaps I was a tad over the top - although I think she's a terrible representative. But you're right - so far.
"Same goes for Alice and Ellen. "
Whoa, Charger. I didn't say anything personal about either of them. I call Hausman "The Phantom" because she was the worst constituent response of any elected representative I've ever tried to contact; in 11 years in her district, I have yet to receive a call, email or non-form, non-franked back from her (although to be fair, I gave up trying four years ago).
And I call Anderson "womenandtheirchildren" for purely policy reasons; she is behind a lot of the pro-female, discriminatory legislation on the books.
Posted by: mitch at August 9, 2005 04:07 PMThey’re saying that Coleman’s on parental leave:
http://www.airamericaminnesota.com/pages/nickleave.php
Posted by: Thorley Winston at August 9, 2005 04:14 PM“Krinkie is consistently one of the only true conservatives in the MN. House.”
Posted by: Thorley Winston at August 9, 2005 04:24 PMI think you’re right about this. Representative Phil Krinkie does have some of the best credentials as a fiscal conservative of anyone in our State and frankly they’re in short supply in Congress at the moment.
Personally, I think the commenter "Nata" at this post: http://www.shotinthedark.info/archives/005732.html
. . . was particularly enlightening.
Posted by: Ryan at August 9, 2005 04:28 PM
Posted by: B. Lamb at August 9, 2005 04:48 PMWatch Betty McCollum next time she's on CSPAN during a committee hearing. The experience is sobering, in the "OMG, THIS is a government official!" sort of way. And it supports Mitch's original contention 100%. Which doesn't mean she's not Grade A, top sirloin, or whatever "Flash" is trying to say. But the long form unedited video presentation doesn't lie.
Good for you, Mitch. I don't agree with what the Head said about Krinkie either.
That being said, if the blog belongs to Learned Foot, he has the right to include whoever he wants among the contributors.
Flash is right about your attack on all the DFL legislators.
Posted by: Eva Young at August 9, 2005 07:52 PMIt's laughable when you say "the party" supported Arne Carlson. When did the Republican Party endorse or support Carlson?
Posted by: Eva Young at August 9, 2005 07:53 PMActually Mitch - my observation is King Banaian is the most independent of party - a principled fiscal conservative. Hindrocket parrots talking GOP talking points - and is "my party, right or wrong". Look at his recent oped defending Pawlenty for an example. You appear to be in the middle.
Posted by: Eva Young at August 9, 2005 07:58 PMThe GOP supported Carlson both times he ran for Governor, and he was the endorsed candidate for Auditor as far back as I can remember. It hasn't been that long, Eva. Yeah, they went with Grunseth the first time and only backed him when Grunseth went down in flames, but they did support him. I was in the trenches at the time and remember it quite clearly.
Posted by: Kevin at August 10, 2005 06:52 AMFor those still following this, Learned Foot just admitted that they staged the whole thing:
http://koolaidreport.blogspot.com/2005/08/message-from-managing-editor-of-kar.html
Apparently this is just a lure to get people to read their site.
Posted by: Thorley Winston at August 10, 2005 01:18 PMThorley,
Er, no.
It was a "practical joke"
Posted by: LearnedFoot at August 10, 2005 01:54 PMIt's got to be Phil Krinkie. Congress needs about 250 Dr. No types right now after that bloated transportation bill.
I'm off...to ride a $25 million bike trail, hope I help relieve congestion!
Posted by: Kevin at August 12, 2005 09:08 AMThe GOP never supported Carlson. Recall that in 1994, the party endorsed Quist against sitting governor Carlson, then Carlson won the primary anyway.
1990 was a very odd race. The GOP endorsed Grunseth and Grunseth won the GOP primary - but then the swimming pool scandal came out and the rest is history.
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