Hundreds Of Rumbles
By Mitch Berg
Tomorrow is caucus night in Minnesota.
Republicans will gather at hundreds of community centers, schools, city halls, auditoriums and libraries around the state to vote for resolutions, local party leadership, and – most importantly – delegates to go to their House District (called “BPOU”, in curious MNGOP parlance) conventions, there to begin a process of delegate selections and candidate endorsements that will end at the State Convention from April 29 through May 1; each round of conventions will, in turn, endorse state legislators and representatives, Congressional candidates, and candidates for Governor as well as the other constitutional offices, and any local races in play.
And if you have a vision for the Minnesota Republican Party, now’s the time to speak up.
I’ll be going, of course; I’m the convener for my precinct in the Midway. I’m hoping we continue the fantastic turnout from the 2008 cycle; that year, the hordes of energetic Ron Paul supporters stormed the gates, and in so doing energized the party, motivating it to actions that had eluded it for many years.
This year, the Tea Party movement – a cousin of the Paul campaign, but broader and not focused on any personalities or, indeed, any parties – will no doubt dominate the discussion at the conventions. While the Tea Party movements are, in fact, non-partisan, there is just no room for that sort of populist-libertarian philosophy in the DFL, and the Independence Party is a joke that will likely lose major-party status this election. (And yes, I have friends in the IP, so I know this’ll lead to an argument or two – but it’s the truth; the “Independence” Party, AKA “DFL Lite”, without Jesse Ventura, is just another self-marginalizing third party, existing only as a spoiler; even Minnesotans, as flighty as they are, are getting tired of the joke. Any party that can consider Dean Barkley a serious candidate deserves to fade, and quickly).
Who’s doing to be the winner?
We won’t know for sure until we get to each level of endorsing convention, of course. But the big ‘tater is obviously the Minnesota Governor race, along with the various Constitutional Office races (Secretary of State, State Auditor and Attorney General).
For governor, it’s a tough call this year. There are three great conservatives running for the nomination this year; Dave Hann, Tom Emmer and Marty Seifert. Each of them has a fairly impeccable conservative record (tempered by, yes, a few of the compromises that politicians always wind up making in a deliberative body like the legislature; the only people who can manage pure and uncompromising in their political records are those who have no political record at all).
The real question for me? Which is the conservative who will do the best job of going to “independents”, and convince them to move to “the right?”
That’s the thing I’ve gotta figure out by tomorrow night.
What’s everyone’s sense this time around? Leave a comment, and vote in the poll…
I’ll be taking votes through Tuesday. Who’s the frontrunner?
February 1st, 2010 at 10:32 am
I prefer Emmer, but Marty Seifert would be acceptable. I like Hann but he doesn’t seem to be getting any traction; not sure why that is.
I saw that Laura Brod endorsed Emmer — that’s significant in my mind.
February 1st, 2010 at 10:33 am
Why do I have to “caucus for/delegate for” anybody at all? Yes, I have to vote in the straw poll, but I might just leave it blank– there are THREE good candidates, after all, and the State Convention that has to pick one isn’t for months. Can’t I go because I’m interested in helping the Party in all sorts of ways, regardless of who the candidate turns out to be?
February 1st, 2010 at 10:57 am
“Can’t I go because I’m interested in helping the Party in all sorts of ways, regardless of who the candidate turns out to be?”
Sure, but there will be people there for the sole purpose of getting their delegates elected. Many of these people will never be seen again till the next caucus.
February 1st, 2010 at 12:50 pm
ok, who is the idiot who voted for Leslie Davis?
February 1st, 2010 at 1:25 pm
Didn’t you guys here, Emmer was anointed last week. Now gather your wagons like good drones and abandon all principle like good GOPers and rally around your “chosen for you” candidate.
Resistance is futile, prepare to be assimilated.
LOLOL
Flash
February 1st, 2010 at 1:26 pm
See what Ben said, see what happens if someone goes off the anointed path, you are called names and ridiculed. You don’t want that to happen. Emmer, Emmer, Emmer . . . .
February 1st, 2010 at 1:41 pm
Flash, it looks like you forgot to vote for Emperor Zog. Better get over to the online poll and make sure you’ve staked your claim for responsible governance, or whatever the heck you guys are calling it these days.
February 1st, 2010 at 1:42 pm
“ok, who is the idiot who voted for Leslie Davis?”
You needed to ask?
Emmer got anointed by Brod’s endoresment? Are you kidding? I like both of them, but Laura’s no king maker.
Seifert’s up 2 to 1 in fundraising. Emmer’s supporters need to find some fiat money and mail it in to him.
February 1st, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Flash,
How many moons orbit the world you’re on? Seifert’s been the front runner with the party establishment all along. He’s won all the official party straw polls (the one at Central Committee, among others) of actual party people.
Emmer has *never* been the “establishment” Republican for the MNGOP. Brod and Molnau aren’t exactly 900 pound gorillas when it comes to dictating to the party. If Republicans really were the mindless drones
DFLers areyou paint us to be, Seifert would be the only guy in the race.You should try substituting “paying attention” for “repeating things until you believe they’re true”. (And responding with “I know you are, but what am I, while a momentary upper, loses its effectiveness eventually). You might stay up with the conversation (And responding with “I know you do, but what do I, again, isn’t really going to win you any points).
February 1st, 2010 at 3:37 pm
Marty Seifert’s got party establishment (and money) behind him: I saw an ad on Drudge Report today – and when you Google Tom Emmer, you’ll see a Seifert ad on the right.
Tomorrow should be fun. It was tough to pick between the top three – but since I’ve heard of some shenanigans by Seifert’s campaign team, I’m down to choosing from two. I called his campaign office on a recent email request that would confuse caucus goers. Don’t tell them to go as “Seifert Precinct Leaders” – they will be told that Precinct Leaders represent the BPOU for two years, not their candidate for two months.
I want party grassroots to choose our candidate, not those sitting in the box suite. And I’d really like precinct leaders to follow through on their commitment when their candidate doesn’t get endorsed. I hope more J. Ewing types sign up in that respect.
/rant
February 1st, 2010 at 4:11 pm
“I want party grassroots to choose our candidate, not those sitting in the box suite. And I’d really like precinct leaders to follow through on their commitment when their candidate doesn’t get endorsed. ”
wholeheartedly agree,
Additionally, we expect delegates to do more than just attend the nominating convention. Most don’t.
February 1st, 2010 at 4:48 pm
taking bets on who flash really is…
a) TiminStPaul
b) Penigma
c) RickDFL
voting begins now!
February 1st, 2010 at 4:57 pm
See what Ben said, see what happens if someone goes off the anointed path, you are called names and ridiculed. You don’t want that to happen.
You must not have been at that debate on wednesday “flash” because Davis is one crazy dude. Yeah so you saw on my link that I endorsed Emmer today, bfd. And what planet do you live on, Emmer is still by far an underdog to Siefert and if this blog is any indicator the straw poll result might be very surprising come tomorrow night. The good thing is we will, no matter what, have a candidate by May 1st. DFLers won’t have one until September 9 (maybe August) thanks to your parties inability to show, ahem, unity and Mark Dayton’s general assholishness. At the rate you crazy mofos are going your going to be stuck with Mark “trustfund, jackass” Dayton as your candidate. If that happens the IP gov candidate might have a better showing than the DFL in the governors race. Enjoy the carnage, I know I will. And get over the centrist label, your liberal/progressive, embrace it.
February 1st, 2010 at 5:18 pm
I think I’m beginning to like Emmer. I am looking forward to the discussion at the caucus before I start pledging any money. My preference is for giving money to individual candidates rather than the Republican Party as a whole.
February 1st, 2010 at 5:42 pm
Give your local BPOU a few dollars to help with the cost of hosting the caucus.
Liberty ain’t free……
February 1st, 2010 at 7:39 pm
I would take Rex the Wonder Dog over Moby Anderson-Keliher or John Marty. Seriously.
February 1st, 2010 at 7:43 pm
[…] Shot in the Dark » Blog Archive » Hundreds Of Rumbles […]
February 1st, 2010 at 9:42 pm
The droning inanity of his echo chamber has liquefied the 1/4 of the brain matter the party of Scrubs left him with to tie his shoelaces….he’s just about prime to run for the asswipe lefty endorsement himself.
February 1st, 2010 at 9:45 pm
I work really long hours so can’t go tomorrow. Will someone vote for Seifert for me? I mean, assuming you aren’t offended by his work ethic. If you are kind of lazy, Al Franken (aka Krusty the Clown) is always looking for supporters.
February 1st, 2010 at 9:47 pm
Has everyone seen the BigMak campaign’s commercial yet?
February 1st, 2010 at 11:09 pm
taking bets on who flash really is…
a) TiminStPaul
b) Penigma
c) RickDFL
Ha, ha, thanks for thinking of me, uh, “Ben.” I don’t really give a rat’s ass about this dumb poll but since Emmer seems to be the go-to guy for the local wingnut blog scene, it’s safe to assume there will be plenty of news footage of him waving teabags and birth certificates and standing in prayer circles with Rep. Bachmann, AKA Mrs. Jesus Christ.
February 2nd, 2010 at 1:07 am
why do you lefties hate Bachmann so much? And the fact that you are already slandering Emmer means you must view him as a threat. Have fun having Mark Dayton be the democrat nominee for governor. Final point, I once again refer to Berg’s 7th law of the above post. And Tim could you please define wingnut? Is it someone who has this crazy notion that the Constitution actually should govern the way the country is run and not the way progressives want it to be run? Or the idea that the government shouldn’t run up massive deficits or bail out companies?
February 2nd, 2010 at 5:58 am
a) TiminStPaul
Nah. I happen to know Flash has a brain.
Ha, ha, thanks for thinking of me, uh, “Ben.” I don’t really give a rat’s ass about this dumb poll…
…but, uh, here you are anyway.
but since Emmer seems to be the go-to guy for the local wingnut blog scene, it’s safe to assume there will be plenty of news footage of him waving teabags and birth certificates
Which proves that TiSP really is motivated by nothing more than his bigotry. Emmer set the stage for his “social conservative” agenda when asked at the state fair about gay marriage. His response?
“Who cares?”
It’s not the Governor’s job to natter about such things. Emmer has never said two words about birth certificates (and the tea party happens to be absolutely correct).
and standing in prayer circles with Rep. Bachmann, AKA Mrs. Jesus Christ
Again with the bigotry.
February 2nd, 2010 at 5:59 am
Ben,
Don’t bother with TiSP. Unlike most of the other lefties on this forum, he’s just a crank. (The exception being Angryclown, and at least he’s a funny crank).