Dear Panicky Republicans

OK, so it was a rough week.

It’s July. Four months ’til the election. The DFL doesn’t have a candidate yet – and when they do, it’ll be Time magazine’s “The Worst Senator In America“, 2005 edition. Half of Minnesota doesn’t even know who Tom Emmer is – yet. And the DFL’s “third party” gambit, Tom Horner, has backfired, drawing three DFLers for every two Republicans – and that’ll get worse as the realization sinks in that Mark Freaking Dayton might be governor.

Issues, you say? We’ve got immigration; we’ve got job creation; we’ve got economic growth and resposible government; we’ve got education reform and school choice and Local Government Aid reform and the DFL’s deep, enthusiastic links to everything that sucks about Barack Obama’s administration. They’ve got lies and contrived controversies that’ll be forgotten on August 11.

So if you’re one of those lily-livered GOPers who’ve spent the last week wringing their hands over the denouement of “TipCreditGate”, stop. Sack up, people; the real race doesn’t even start for a month, and media stunts like the faux outrage over the tip credit is the best they’ve got.

Bag the panic, folks. This is when the fun part begins.

Posted

July 15, 2010

Campaign ’10, MNGOP

Mitch Berg

Tags:

Emmer

Comments

5 responses to “Dear Panicky Republicans”

Dog Gone

July 15, 2010

Do you whistle in the dark when you walk past cemeteries too, Mitch?

Rah Rah! Get out the pom poms? At least some of the local press is calling this the defining moment of the Emmer campaign. You can have those early as easily as late.

Where I think Emmer went most wrong, in the tipgyp mess is where he failed to answer with details when asked questions by unhappy waiters.

Supporters don’t mind having requests for details blown-off; they’re not questioning all that closely. They’ve already decided without the details.

But the people who showed up yesterday who were not supporters – and nice job on your part trying to stack THAT deck by advising supporters to get their early — those unhappy people came to talk. They came to listen. They didn’t come there to be told wait for me to answer you in September, October or later.

If those people had to take off work to show up, or pay a sitter, or arrange for someone to cover a shift, they were making an effort that was not simply killing time with nothing better to do. I don’t think anyone who does that is going to be satisfied with “I’m not telling” when they ask a question.

I’m not satisfied that Emmer is now claiming he doesn’t want to lower wages. Last week he said as governor he would sign and support changing the minimum wage to a lower one if the state passed the legislation. Tip credit most often means that tips count towards that minimum wage, not on top of it. He apparently wouldn’t say if that was what he meant. In the shoes of those people, my reaction would have been a hearty ‘up yours’ too — or as polite an equivalent as I could manage.

I don’t think this will affect just Emmer. I think any candidate in this political and economic environment who tries to skate by questions with generalities instead of details is going to meet with hostility. The scope for platitutdes and vague answers to satisfy people, especially opposition or undecided people, is disappearing.

Conventional wisdom may not be correct this time. Something to consider.
Chad The Elder

July 15, 2010

I hope DG is right as I look forward to the details that Mark Dayton is ready to provide when people ask him exactly who the “rich” are and what exactly their “fair share” of taxes should be.

Emmer should have pulled back from the Tip Credit issue early on instead of trying to double down. The upside was minimal and the downside–as we learned–pretty large. It’s only a skirmish in the bigger campaign and as long as he learns the right lessons, it shouldn’t be that big of deal.

Don’t underestimate the possibility of Minnesotans electing Mark Freakin’ Dayton as the next governor. For reference, see Jesse Freakin’ Ventura and Al Freakin’ Franken.
Mitch Berg

July 15, 2010

Rah Rah! Get out the pom poms?

So what? I am an Emmer supporter, and have found no reason to even think about changing. Damn right, rah rah.

At least some of the local press is calling this the defining moment of the Emmer campaign. You can have those early as easily as late.

Let me edit that for accuracy: “At least some of the local press is exercising wishful thinking and their DFL leanings to try to manufacture a definitive moment”.

Wishful thinking – from “Avalanches of violence” to tempests in Saint Paul bars – seems to be the biggest part of the Tic narrative.

Where I think Emmer went most wrong, in the tipgyp mess is where he failed to answer with details when asked questions by unhappy waiters.

What details? He doesn’t advocate cutting the minimum wage, and perhaps cutting state taxes on tips. What else do people need?

Supporters don’t mind having requests for details blown-off; they’re not questioning all that closely.

Well, to be fair, either are the detractors, who are merely repeating the chanting points the DFL tells them to (directly or otherwise).

But the people who showed up yesterday who were not supporters – and nice job on your part trying to stack THAT deck by advising supporters to get their early

The First Amendment applies to us too, by your leave.

If those people had to take off work to show up, or pay a sitter, or arrange for someone to cover a shift, they were making an effort that was not simply killing time with nothing better to do.

That is true – in fantasy world.

The fact is that Emmer scheduled the town hall at 3PM BECAUSE it’s the time of day when servers are least likely to be working; after the lunch rush, before dinner.

Compare that to the DFL’s record of pusillanimity in scheduling hearings on tax and second amendment issues (actually constantly rescheduling them, to keep outstate people from attending), or avoiding open town halls at all (Hello, Betty McCollum? Where IS Keith Ellison?)

Comparison is obvious; Emmer has the guts to face his detractors; DFLers scamper like scared kittens when faced with dissent.

I’m not satisfied that Emmer is now claiming he doesn’t want to lower wages. Last week he said as governor he would sign and support changing the minimum wage to a lower one if the state passed the legislation.

Citation, please?

Tip credit most often means that tips count towards that minimum wage, not on top of it.

Never worked in a restaurant, have you?

Tip credit means tips are credited against the minimum wage – ONLY for time spent waiting tables/tending bar (NOT for barbacking, prep, stocking…). There is only one definition.

In the shoes of those people, my reaction would have been a hearty ‘up yours’ too — or as polite an equivalent as I could manage.

Well, you go ahead and do that!

Of course, now that ‘trons cost bars and restaurants $6.25/hour against the bottom line, there are a LOT fewer server jobs out there.

I don’t think this will affect just Emmer. I think any candidate in this political and economic environment who tries to skate by questions with generalities instead of details is going to meet with hostility.

Well, yes – but not in the way you think. The media fanned this flap against Emmer, because they are in the bag for the DFL.

Now that we have a conservative underground media – blogs and talk radio – to outflank the majors, yes – it might actually be a two-way thing.

Thank God.

thescope for platitutdes and vague answers to satisfy people, especially opposition or undecided people, is disappearing.

Someone tell Mark Dayton!

Conventional wisdom may not be correct this time. Something to consider.

Of course it’s possible.

You’ve just shown me no reason to believe it applies in this situation.
Terry

July 15, 2010

Emmer better learn to do a better job of controlling the narrative or he’ll be toast.
Kermit

July 16, 2010

Where IS Keith Ellison?
I heard he was my CD5 Rep. I’ve never seen the man in person. At least Martin Sabo went through the motions.
Never overestimate the DFL voting bloc.