Six Redux

It was an interesting weekend. Either the world came to an end, or we're on the brink of something great.

Big stuff, for a little GOP district convention.

The Sixth District GOP endorsed Michele Bachmann to run for Congress in the Sixth District.

Bachmann was a polarizing figure when she stepped onto the scene with the Maple River Education Coalition, over a decade ago - and nothing's changed.

I don't live in the Sixth, so there's no point in my "endorsing" anyone. I'm a fiscal conservative above all else, so I thought Krinkie was the candidate I wanted most to see in Congress. Someone who lives in the Sixth wrote me last week to try to set me straight:

...My impression was that Phil Krinkie's sole appeal was as a fiscal conservative. As you said, we certainly need more fiscal conservatives in Washington, moreso in the Senate. The trouble with the fiscal conservative message was that all 4 candidates could make that claim. If that's your only issue, it's hard to see that resonating with delegates.

I got the impression at the precinct caucus & at the Benton County Convention that people liked him but that they just weren't that excited about him. I'd lump Jim Knoblach into that category. That contrasts greatly with the energy Esmay's & Bachmann's supporters showed.

There's something to that, of course. Conventions aren't about vision (not to say that Bachmann and Esmay don't have any), they're about blocking and tackling.

Let me explain why I supported Michelle Bachmann. When she visited our church, I was impressed with her speaking ability & in her direct approach in answering our questions. We've all heard politicians give long, winding, seemingly going nowhere answers to questions. Michelle's answers started off on point & ended that way.

I also liked how steadfast she was in her positions. They were obviously well thought out & logical. It's obvious that she doesn't stick her wetted finger in the air to decide which side of an issue she'll come down on. (I love that quality in GWB's approach to the GWOT, too.)

Gotta say that about Bachmann; she seems to mince few words.

It's been my observation that GOP congressmen & senators generally believe in the right things but have difficulty explaining why they believe what they believe. That's where Michelle's strength lies. I also think that Jay Esmay is capable of making that same appeal. I hope he runs for Minnesota state senate to replace Tarryl Clark, who, unfortunately, 'represents' me in the Minnesota senate. If he ran there, he'd beat her badly.

Allow me to throw my full support behind that idea. Jay, have your people call our people.

So - Bachmann is a straight shooter, says my emailer.

Tony Garcia - of Always Right, Usually Correct and Race To The Right - would beg to differ.

This woman is far from the model of morality that she and her lemming followers want you to believe. She is a nasty, black-hearted woman. Behind the scenes she even worse. She is a compulsive liar who will say ANYTHING to get what she needs...truth and facts be damned...Seriously, this woman is so bad for the state and the country that I see less danger in electing Patty Wetterling than in electing Michele Bachmann. And expect that to be something I repeat often during the election cycle.

Fair enough.

Then expect me to repeat this often, as well: While I know Tony (and, from the sound of things, many other people in the Sixth) have their reservations with Bachmann, they need to think outside their district for a bit.

We're at war. We're also nursing a strong, vibrant economic recovery. Both of them can and will go straight to hell if the Democrats and their "happy to pay for a better _____" take over the House. For all their caterwauling about Bush's deficits, a Democrat Congress (and we're not talking Clinton/Lieberman/DLC Demcrats, these days - remember that!) would drag us back to the glory days of Tip O'Neill faster than you can say "national malaise".

So unless you have photos of Michele Bachmann clubbing baby seals - that is to say, unless your complaints about Bachmann rise well above the level of standard political bickering, the kind of inside-baseball wonkery that will not matter in 100 years - then do what you need to to fix your district. But keep your eye on the big picture - which is what Congress is supposed to be about.

Because while Patty Wetterling herself might not plunge the Middle East into chaos and shiv the economic recovery in the groin, the Democrat majority of which she'd be a part most definitely would.

And if that's not enough for you, ye who live in right-leaning districts with platoons of great GOP candidates in reserve and a long history of voting Republican, at least pay a thought to those of us who are battling it out in the Godforsaken wastes of the Fourth and Fifth Districts, who keep plugging away if only to draw DFL resources away from your races, which are normally considered "safe" enough for us to not have to spend too much on. We can't get a GOP rep in Congress; you have to do it for us.

Don't blow it.

Posted by Mitch at May 8, 2006 05:41 AM | TrackBack