Republicans are, by nature, a fairly good-tempered lot. Especially in Saint Paul. You have to be, living in a city where one of your key government figures thinks – and says, in friendly surroundings – that you, the Republican, are a drunken lout.

But eventually, even we can be pushed too far. I got this email from a source in the know about these things:

After Thune’s comments two major players in the bar/restaurant scene lost huge contracts. One was a $50,000 dinner and another was a $800,000 party…Minneapolis was happy to have them and their lobbyists, puking or not.

$850,000 at Saint Paul’s 7.5% Sales Tax rate comes to $59,500.