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THE FIRST-EVER MINNESOTA DEMOCRATS EXPOSED “MAN NOT IN THE ARENA” AWARD GOES TO…
By Michael B. Brodkorb | January 4, 2008
Drew Emmer of the Wright County Republican. By his own admission, Drew did nothing to help out with the Republican effort in the SD 25 special election but he wasted no time this morning pointing out how everyone else stumbled.
The Minnesota Democrats Exposed Man Not In The Arena Award gets it's name from the famous speech given by Theodore Roosevelt. Speaking at the Sorbonne in 1910, Roosevelt said:
It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.
Drew, I consider you a friend and I tip my hat to you. You did nothing to help out with the SD 25 special election, yet by quickly pointing out this morning how everyone else stumbled, you win the first-ever Minnesota Democrats Exposed Man Not In The Arena Award.
Drew's prize is the opportunity to come on tomorrow's radio show and tell the listeners of NARN "The Final Word" how we all could have done a better job. The number is (651) 289-4488 and I look forward to Drew's collecting his prize anytime after 3:45 p.m. Congrats Drew!
UPDATE: My NARN colleague (and friend) Mitch Berg wins "honorable mention" by regurgitating Drew's post and adding his own "analysis" on why the Republican effort came up short in SD 25. I'll will be asking Mitch to stay in the studio tomorrow (NARN II ends right before NARN III begins) to claim his "honorable mention" award. Congrats Mitch!
Topics: Drew Emmer, Mitch Berg |
January 4th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
[...] All this was too much for the big fish of Republican bloggers - Michael Brodkorb of MDE. Brodkorb lashed out at Emmer and also slammed conservative blogger Mitch Berg. Drew, I tip my hat to you. You did nothing to help out with the SD 25 special election, yet by quickly pointing out this morning how everyone else stumbled, you win the first-ever Minnesota Democrats Exposed Man Not In The Arena Award. [...]
January 4th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Michael-
So you’re asking people to get out and work phones, put up signs door knock for someone simply because they have an “R” behind their name even if they support legislation like the DREAM act?
Just curious- how did the endorsement process work down there- was there more than one GOP candidate interested? Did the party just make sure Cox got the rubber stamp? We’ve got to start energizing people by having a debate of ideas at the endorsement level. Doesn’t seem to be happening.
We’ve got to learn from our losses- not point fingers at fellow volunteers and activists.
January 4th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Your point is taken Michael, but a bit harsh on Drew. I wonder when the divine right of political pontification was determinant on campaign activity.
While it might be fun to have a Golden Rule that would silence all those not toiling in the field, I think we both know that the arm chair experts will always outnumber the worker bees. Generally speaking my friend Drew falls into the category of the latter so go easy on him. Good to see the New Year brought out the Brodkorb charm!
Rory
January 4th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
I’d expect to also claim a bit on “Honorable Mention” and I would proudly display my award.
When you have a RINO like Cox, you have a loser in waiting. He was a member of the GOP House team that hosed Hennepin County, and I would expect that the politically-astute voters in a special election would remember that.
Also, he has supported raising the gas tax, smoking taxes (fees, according to Timmy), and is an enviro-tree-hugger.
I love ya, Mike. But you should not have bothered with this Cox clown, just based on his record alone.
January 4th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
The Republican Party of MN is long overdue for some infighting—in my opinion.
For entirely too long, voters have sat idly by and watched as candidate after candidate is endorsed and defeated—for any number of reasons.
In my view, it harkens back to the lack of definition of what it really means to be a Republican (or “Conservative,” if you prefer) in this state.
I understand the argument that says: “We endorsed him because of name recognition and his voting record tends to fit the district.”
I just don’t agree with it.
I would rather stand by conservative principles that emphasizes and funds the absolute basic functions of government.
These principles are important to many voters in this state and when they are ignored, and thrown under the bus in the name of “fitting the district,” I decide to stay home and reserve my vote and support for a candidate who best represents my views.
I was also presented with the opportunity to volunteer for Ray Cox’s campaign and I chose not to.
The reason? To be perfectly honest, I have lots of things I like to do in my spare time and volunteering for a campaign for someone who I certainly wouldn’t vote for is NOT on top of the list.
Points were raised about the SD 25 endorsing process and concerns were levied about potential conservatives that felt excluded from the process.
I wasn’t there and I couldn’t tell you what exactly is so damn compelling about Ray Cox to begin win.
**Also**
I heard that Ray Cox was quoted as saying: “Northfield is a tough place for a fiscal conservative.”
Did he really say this?
If Ray Cox had been characterizing himself as a fiscal conservative, he lost the race well before yesterday.
The very notion that there is anything genuinely “conservative” about Ray Cox is laughable at best.
January 4th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
GOP Optimist:
Bravo. But where were you, over the last couple weeks, when I was getting lashed by the GOP Kool-Aid drinkers around here?
January 4th, 2008 at 1:39 pm
You idiots don’t seem to understand what political parties do. They try to win elections. Local folks pick their candidates, as they did, and the party then lends its election aparatus to the effort. It’s not up to Drew Emmer or anyone else to pick a candidate for Northfield anymore than Drew Emmer would want Northfield picking a candidate for wherever he lives.
The general election is not the place for party infighting. That’s what primaries are for. Witness: The presidential race. Once that’s over, you have a choice. You can be a whine baby and take your ball and go home. Or, you can do the right thing and support the party, even if your guy isn’t on the ticket.
I wonder if they’ll do the same next year when the House is in danger of losing the veto override for real.
January 4th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Idiots? Whine like a baby? Wow- condescending much? You make an assumption that none of us posting here have worked our butts off for and/or given money to Republicans in the past.
My question was this- for SD 25 leadership- was there a formal endorsement process? Was everyone allowed in who wanted to run and then hammered with questions about their beliefs, platform and qualifications? Answer the simple question- Why are you a Republican? Provide examples of legislation would you support that adhere to our platform? Provide examples of legislation you wouldn’t support? Make them answer these questions in a very public way. Hold candidates to some principals throughout the process that stick while they’re in office. Most people respond to principals- whether they be conservative or liberal. They don’t respond to political parties.
Like I said- let’s learn from our mistakes so we can indeed WIN elections.
January 4th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Without question Ray Cox isn’t as conservative as I might prefer, but he’s a good man and was a fine state represenative. He did an excellent job representing his constituents and his district. In addition he was a loyal member of the Republican Team.
He got elected twice in an area when others couldn’t, and the fact is you don’t get to govern if you don’t win! Ray proved he could.
Instead of lounging around in your jammies and getting shrill and preachy about RINOs and litmus testing maybe some people should get out of the lazy boy and pound some pavement for the Republican Cause! I guarantee a Big Tent in the Majority is a lot more fun than a Pup Tent in the Minority. On to November!
January 4th, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Hey Loris,
The decision making process and the criteria that the MN GOP Party is using is flawed.
This flawed mechanism (or whatever they’re using) gave loyal SD 25 Republicans a candidate the voted to bypass voters in regards to the Twins stadium, co-sponsored the DREAM Act and scores lower than some DFL’rs on a legislative scorecard.
More conservative potential candidates were interested in running. I know one was from the Henderson area and he offered a far more conservative platform than Cox had.
Loris–real, honest conservative principles are important to folks in this state that have voted for conservative candidates, just as DFL voters want someone who they can count on to vote their way.
They want the candidate to vote how they’re advertising themselves, they’re not voting for the GOP party to do it themselves.
Cox decided to run as a Republican.
His voting record on economic issues like spending and capital investments is abysmal. He openly embraces Global Warming rhetoric, he voted to spend public tax dollars on a professional sports stadium and seems to believe that offering in-state tuition to children of illegal immigrants is acceptable to the conservative base that he desparately needed to turn out for him.
They didn’t. He lost. He lost badly.
If you still care to assess the “idiot” label to me—well, okay.
But. If the RNC and the MN GOP think that nominating moderate goofballs with suspect records that vote WITH Democrats around 50% of the time is the way to go in general election strategies, I will gladly stay at home.
[Believe me folks, if Guiliani can't keep one promise to at least 1 of his wives, he won't be keeping any promises to the American people.]
Principles don’t mean much if you don’t stick bythem in times of inconvenience.
So go ahead Loris and point the finger at who YOU really think deserves the blame. There are people like Brodkorb and myself who have put in our time around the Capitol and understand the B/S that is happening within the rank-and-file of the House and Senate.
The difference is:
When the music stops and everyone looks around, it won’t be folks like Berg, Emmer or I that are left standing without a chair.
Run moderates….alienate the base.
Ray Cox is the proof.
January 4th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
With his usual panache and among friends, Michael is making a fundamentally important point, similar to one I’ve made many times at truthvmachine: Our side has to get back to work.
Politics is an exercise in coalition building. Folks need to get it through their heads that this is a base expansion election, not a base motivation election. Our base has shrunk to the point where there’s not much of anyone left.
This whole “i’m too busy” “this candidate isn’t perfect” nonsense needs to end if we have any hope of winning elections and, more importantly, governing from the Right.
I ask as a general question: Who out there has actually seen a perfect candidate? Most all of ‘em have flaws, personal, philosophical, stylistic, etc. Perfect = enemy of good.
Back in the early days of our Congressional majority back in 1995, after 3 or 4 Democrats switched parties and became Republicans, the Dem Whip, David Bonior, lashed out and said something like “maybe what we need in the Democrat caucus is 175 ideologically consistent members.”
In other words, he wanted to be a pure, permanent minority party. As for me, no thanks. I’d rather have a majority with some differences.
We should all reflect on yesterday: Democrats in Iowa drew almost twice as many caucus attendees as Republicans. The Democrats now have a veto-proof majority in the MN Senate. Is this the world you want to live in? If not, what are you going to DO about it?
January 4th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
11th commandment, Michael.
The errors drew pointed out are valid, and without criticism we cannot learn. Let’s take Drew’s criticism as constructive and not let infighting ruin our march to November.
January 4th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
Who made you chair of the GOP Brodkorb? Just wondering…
January 4th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Pat,
You’re right. Perfect is the enemy of good. And I’d MUCH rather have had Ray Cox in the Senate than Dahle.
But nobody’s demanding perfect candidates; indeed, I’m too pragmatic for some of my conservative friends.
Still, for some of us, the GOP - at least in some of the districts, and at the state level - seems to be light on vision - especially a vision that’d get the non-base voter to come out for us. And unless there’s something in the party bylaws that says “peasants shall shut up and do as they’re told” (commonly called “CD4’s Unwritten First Law”), I think we’re allowed to comment on it, right?
Michael,
See you tomorrow - especially if the award comes with a cash honorarium.
MNPublius Fratboys:
It’s not a “circular firing squad”, it’s grownups discussing a disagreement. We do that in our party. Don’t let it confuse or frighten you.
January 4th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
Instead of your award why don’t we just stand in a line and slap them in the face until they start doing some Republicans some good?
January 4th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
THe MNGOP doesn’t nominate local candidates. Local voters do. They said they wanted Cox.
Pat is right. We can either pursue ideological purity and see ourselves mired in political irrelevancy (aka Senate Republicans in St. Paul) or accept that we may not agree on everything, but it’s still a lot better than being mired in political irrelevancy.
Like Rory said, you can’t govern if you don’t win. Stick with the our way or the highway attitude and you’re going to see what it’s like to not be able to govern in 2009, when you have 30 house Republicans.
January 4th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
This Emmer guy sounds like a real dink. Let’s go beat him up. He obviously hasn’t done boo for the republican party or for the conservative movement. Teddy Roosevelt would smack him down something fierce.
January 4th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
I don’t use the word RINO and I’m not looking for purists, I’m looking for the best fit for a seat that adheres to the major principals of the Republican platform.
You have to have an open formalized endorsement process- get rid of the fear of change and try to find as many qualified candidates to chose from. Welcome new people, welcome their supporters, have a fair and honest process and then all come together and support the winner. I thought that was how it was supposed to work.
I am not seeing this happen on a local level and that could be improved with some guidance from the top level, but I don’t see that happening either. Chicken/Egg
2008 not looking good- but we will always win with our ideas in the long run.
January 4th, 2008 at 3:28 pm
I got the call from the MNRNC HQ to make phone calls for Cox. So I looked up Cox and did some research, what I found was another Norm Coleman and Jim Ramstad. It was the holidays so I had better things to do than make phone calls for another RINO.
The poster above is correct Brodkorb, you are too willing to prostitute yourself for anyone with an (R) behind their name. Your fawning all over Norm Coleman is nauseating, man, have some principles. And I normally agree with you! But I liked Drew’s possession of principles.
January 4th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Let’s all take a deep breath.
I will support anyone who’s with me on 80% of the issues, give or take. I don’t *like* the term RINO, but I use it, because it’s nice ‘n convenient.
From what I’ve read, Cox rated about a 26/100 from the Taxpayers League. I’m not looking for purity - I mean, I support Pawlenty and Coleman and might even give McCain another look, here - but I AM looking for basic agreement on the things that separate the Good Guys from the Bad Guys (of both parties): spending, security, smaller government. Did Cox stack up?
Also - whomever said the people of the district chose him; are you sure? I mean, I get the impression that the District leadership anointed Cox over the protests of people who wanted someone further to the right. I wasn’t there (that’s right, its’ true), but that is identical to the complaint I have about the CD4GOP - the arena I AM in.
As to the “man in the arena” bit, Michael - that’s perilously close to the “chicken hawk” slur that we all get from lesser minds. Tread lightly. I wasn’t “the man in the area” on the Titanic, but I get to say I woulda taken a different boat.
January 4th, 2008 at 3:55 pm
We have a strong team and we sure don’t need to beat up on our best people. We need to go back to the platform. For example Marty Siefert the House minority leader took the lead on healthcare borrowing from Drew’s research at
minnesotamajority.org. That’s all good. But the state Democrats are truly rudderless - some want single payer some don’t; some want to go it alone some insist national healthcare reform is the only way. Few Republicans are even noting
this rift between labor, big government socialists and others in the MN DFL. It is
a tremendous Republican advantage and opportunity to expound on free enterprise,
private sector (as my Greek brother in law pointed out it is called laissez faire
in europe) healthcare and win over people.
January 4th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Mitch, the “man in the arena” award is no bit. It is an apt description of people like yourself and Drew who did nothing to help out with the Republican effort in SD 25, yet you have time today to point out how the people who were actually in the arena helping out with the effort stumbled.
I suggest you “tread lightly” next time you decided to poo-poo the efforts of harding working Republicans who spent time out in the cold helping out your party.
You got time to complain, but you don’t have time to help with the effort? I say next time you complain AND help out.
I’m spot on with my “man in the arena” award. Spot on.
January 4th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
I’ve done mroe than I care to admit to on behalf of Republican candidates. Some were less conservative than I like, some more. I don’t care that much, though, because I know I’ll take any of them over the alternative. It’s better to me to have a Ray Cox on my side 26/100 times than Kevin Dahle 0/100.
January 4th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Someone above wrote that Ray Cox won in a House district where other Republicans could not get elected. This isn’t entirely accurate. The House district was controlled by Republicans for six terms.
Although there had been some boundary changes caused by redistricting, Republican John Tuma had held that area from 1995 before retiring in 2002; Cox then served two terms.
January 4th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
It almost seems as if Drew had his post written well before the election was over. It’d be nice for once — just once — if Drew, Mitch, and the rest of the political geniuses would offer some insight into to how to win elections rather than simply bitch about losing them.
Better yet, I wish people like Drew and Mitch would shut their silly blogs and do some actual work to get Republicans elected rather than just complain about those who are doing the work. The problem with that idea is that they would actually have to put their sad, little reputations on the line, which they’re too cowardly and lazy to do.
The worst thing that could happen to people like Drew and Mitch would be if Republicans won. Then they’d have nothing to complain about and no “insight” to offer. They have no purpose in life if they can’t try to sound smarter than everyone else and say “I told you so.”
The Party is in need of volunteers, not bloggers. If Drew and Mitch don’t have time to do both then I wish they’d quit blogging and start doing some real work to get Republicans elected.
January 4th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Come on Brodkorb. You spent half a day down there doorknocking and, all of a sudden, anyone who you didn’t see down there is the downfall of the Republican Party? I’m betting the pair you’re criticizing is active in the Party, they probably make monetary donations to the Party and to candidates, and support many, many Party endorsed candidates. They have every right to criticize implementation in the field. Or maybe it’s just that, as someone in the field, the comments hit a little close to home…
January 4th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
You all talk about how we can only get behind real conservatives but look at who the Mn Senate lost in 2006 - all the real conservatives. What was left with the exception of a few was a very moderate to liberal group.
January 4th, 2008 at 5:24 pm
I spoke to several people who were at the endorsing convention for SD 25. Cox was endorsed on the first ballot — can anyone here tell me how the endorsement was unfair?
Glen Gruenhagen (sp?) was the other candidate and he has little support. If the locals were so upset with Ray, they should have rallied around Glen or another candidate.
As far as I know, the convention calls were sent out in plenty of time, procedures were followed, etc.
Please fill us in as to what exactly was unfair about the endorsement?
January 4th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Please people, learn to lose with some grace.
January 4th, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Okay folks we’re having a few interesting things going on in this debate.
One, if we endorse conservative candidates we have an obligation to support them all out and help them win. No one will stick their necks out like Michelle Bachmann has to run let alone vote our way. Part of our problem is that we didn’t have a Bachmann like candidate worth investing in this race.
Two, we as Republicans have to start explaining why our policies are different and an improvement. I was having a running debate with HCDFL about taxes and spending on another post. He was trying to show that he and hence Democrats were morally supperior because he wanted to give student aide along with a bunch of other spending. The thought of maybe trying to hold the universities accountable for controlling their costs to keep tuition down apparently doesn’t have to apply. If you force the state unversities to control their costs maybe tuition can be cut instead of being increased.
Three, if a leader seems to be differing on an issue which you care about you have to try to point them in the right direction. Just being silent won’t work. Yes I voted for Tim, but I don’t like him trying to govern like Al Gore when it comes to the envirornment. I finally broke down and complained. If we complain to them loud we get results. Look at what happened with Harriet Miers. It looked like she might be a shaky vote on the Supreme Court. We complained and got Harriet to voluntary withdrew her nomination. Our reward was we got a rock solid conservative Justice for the Supreme Court. Now if we can get just one more.
Four, lets be greatful this happened before the precient cacuses. I think we now know we have to try reclaim the party with conservative values.
I think this is a start. Does anybody else in this running debate have ideas what we can do to look to the future and reclaim our party.
One reason the Democrats are flushed with money and confidence right now is that they have gotten their candidates to be running on their values (get of Iraq, national health care, etc) and they understand they need a Democrat to be President to get their values implemented.
What do you think folks?
Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN
January 4th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
I wish people like Drew and Mitch would shut their silly blogs and do some actual work to get Republicans elected rather than just complain
Right on gld and right on Brodkorb, and the man-not-in-the-arena slam is apt. These do-nothings who sit on their loathsome behinds furitively typing out their whiny woes while never attempting to actually help out in any pragmatic way are contemptible. And no Berg, telling people to tune in to your half-assed radio show doesn’t count as “doing something.” Lead, fight or get out of the way, but if all you can do is bitch about those in the trenches then put a sock in it.
January 4th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
Shozzy and Mini Moderate….not only did SD25 follow LEGAL endorsing proceedures, there was a PRIMARY ELECTION on December 18. Glen had two opportunities to try to “unseat” Ray and was unsuccessfull both times. Anyone who says that this was “unfair” or done “in secret” does not know what they are talking about.
LL
January 4th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
God, I love this. You people are like sharks with too much much chum in the water. One of you shows a perceived weakness, and you eat your own.
How about becoming Americans rather than republicans or democrats? How about thinking outside your party line to work for a better country rather than what’s best for your putrid little country club?
You’re all going down this year….every last one of you. It’s a new day, thank God!
January 4th, 2008 at 7:39 pm
TWilliams - I do not know Mitch, but I can tell you Drew has done a tremendous job helping Republicans. I think his comments were excellent and right on.
January 4th, 2008 at 9:00 pm
What I find amusing is that people reading this blog believe issues or ideas win elections.
January 4th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
I suggest you “tread lightly” next time you decided to poo-poo the efforts of harding working Republicans
Objection. Statement relies on facts not in evidence.
I’m not “poo-poo”ing anyone’s efforts. Far from it. Let’s try to stay on subject, shall we? As someone who votes for even lame Republicans on principle, and who works within the district that I ahem, live in (because I don’t do politics for a living, and have to mix it with a day job and raising a couple of kids), and has his own arenas to be in, your statement is highly inapt.
Unless you going to change your blog’s name to “Eagan Democrats Exposed?”
And I’m not saying that Cox was nominated unfairly. I AM saying that I worry that the GOP currently isn’t focusing on a message that resonates outside of Republican circles. I’ve criticized my own district (state and congressional) over this.
That’s OK, right, Michael? I mean, SD66 and CD4 is my “arena”, so by your leave I may speak, m’lord?
January 4th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
You’re all going down this year…
Who let Larry Craig in?
January 4th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
Mitch, I’ll explain it again.
The “man in the arena” is an apt description of people like yourself and Drew who did nothing to help out with the Republican effort in SD 25, yet you have time today to point out how the people who were actually in the arena (in SD 25) helping out with the effort stumbled.
The arena = SD 25.
January 4th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
I thought that I logged into MDE, but suddenly I’m reading interesting commentary about state politics instead of Franken, Coleman, Coleman, Franken, Coleman, Franken, Franken, Franken, Franken, Coleman, Franken, Coleman.
January 4th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
Emmer was dead-on accurate. We are going to continue to get our asses handed to us if we don’t stop being STUPID. Look at the returns in that district over the years. When have we ever lost by THIRTEEN F*ING points there? If this is a trend, we are in very deep shit come November.
January 4th, 2008 at 10:59 pm
As a base-Republican that lives in the sixth CD the last person I want to read a lecture from about conservatives values is AAA/Andy Aplikowski.
Remember this?
“Oh my. You are kidding. That may win over the Zombies in this room, (6th District Republican Delegates and Alternates) but swing voters it will not.“ Andy Aplikowski, Residual Forces
I’m not a zombie. But according to AAA, I am. This guy has some nerve to claim he’s a conservative voice on anything.
January 5th, 2008 at 12:57 am
Interesting debate. I’m torn. On one hand you can’t run the poster child platform conservative candidate for every race. Christ, we are already basically locked out of too many races across the state.(major cities, iron range, college towns etc.) Running Seifert, Emmer, Krinkie types in some districts would be a total waste. Like it or not the liberal kool aid factory has a mass distribution machine that’s been in place for so long alot of people march like those kids in the Pink Floyd video who turn into hamburger on their way to the polls. Vote D… even if it’s a snowman some kid is building as I enter the booth… No amount of common sense can break into the fog they currently have in some areas. The only thing we can do in those areas is keep pointing out what they are voting for. IE, Chris Coleman and the Communist City Council in St. Paul’s recent public hearing on taxes. In areas that are in play, we need to put up the best available option for victory. I’m not saying Cox was it but who am I to say he wasn’t?
On the other hand, you really can’t blame Republican supporters for not getting overly excited over Republicans who don’t act like Republicans. Mike Huckabee just won Iowa caucus. I don’t like the Huckster. I like Chuck Norris jokes, but not enough to change my mind. To me he is a democrat who happens to be pro-life. When push comes to shove, I’d hold my nose and vote for his losing cause if he gets the nom. But I wouldn’t be happy about it.
As for all this debate, MDE is right to call out Berg and Drew and others for sitting on the sidelines and then criticizing something people took the time and effort in. We need foot soldiers. Even for those Rs who are moderate. But I’m not about to go hating on people who share the same vision the foot soldiers have and I sure as hell am not going to criticize them for helping us get conservative voices out there on blogs and radio. That’s crazy!
If there is anything we lack it is the ability to break through the fog that the Dems have created. We have to get through to the people who just don’t really like or care or pay attention to politics but still vote. The ones who listen to the buzz lines. “Oh, this Democrat wants to give my kid a thousand dollars at birth or this democrat wants to give a billion dollars to education or this democrat who is going to save us from the plague of global warming… Obviously the money will get results… Sounds nice, I’ll pick that one…” We actually have to work at it. It’s hard to break through to the unengaged voter when we deal with common sense and the other side deals with emotional appeal and empty rhetoric.
Here is the Dem game plan: Tell people how horrible everything is, promise to spend money to solve it, spend it, and repeat. We need to do a better job highlighing the “horrible” part, because it’s never as bad as they say it is. And then we need to highlight the “solve it” part. Because it’s never solved… You would think our state would have produced a fleet of Einsteins by now the way Edu spending has gone up. Nonetheless, many voters still think our schools are $hit… It doesn’t add up. Too many voters don’t pay attention. We need to break through the fog.
We need foot soldiers knocking on doors as much as we need bloggers trying to break through the fog. We need the best candidates we can get who can appeal to both us politico junkies and those who might read a headline here and there but still vote. We might have to hold our noses sometimes. People need to get off their high horses though and stop thinking litmus test Republicans should be candidates or bust. That would only hurt us. It would be nice but it’s not realistic.
I’ve said entirely too much and I’m only faking that I care. But tell me how I’m not RIGHT!
January 5th, 2008 at 1:21 am
The shoe fits for these awards, Michael. I can’t imagine Cox’s opponent doing better - since he lost badly in the primary. I think the candidate could have been working harder than he did. All the volunteers in the world don’t help if the candidate isn’t working his or her hardest for the seat - when it’s a contested seat.
January 5th, 2008 at 1:46 am
I think the problem is that our messengers are lacking the ability to effectively communicate “The Message”. We need to change our delivery and the way we frame the debate, rather than change our positions/beliefs. And look no further than Michele Bachmann. She’s conservative and proudly proclaims it! How can we work for candidates if were not proud of them???
January 5th, 2008 at 1:51 am
Also,
I agree with Brodkorp on principle, in that we should be involved in the arena First and criticize from the arm chairs Second. I did send Cox a contribution but like other fellow conservatives, I probably could have done more to help his candidacy. This can be a lesson learned for both schools of thought!
January 5th, 2008 at 1:55 am
Right is RIGHT is right on. 50% of the state biennium for education may not be equalled by any other state. That’s why they’re all coming HERE to MN. It’s the welfare principle.
Instead of rising crime the result is a baseline yuppy self-righteous nimcompoopism. The people in MN who moved here for the education have HIGH expectations and contribute to the fog that covers and hinders governance.
Walter Hanson
I agree on 1 2 and 3.
We will never get another Bachmann. That was a God-send.
I like your argument on education. Please post more.
Dumbster
“What I find amusing is that people reading this blog believe issues or ideas win elections.”
A candidate needs legwork but I want to talk about strategy and how Republicans use Drew’s work.
Let me drive home my point from above if it’s not clear. The following criticism may not have been a factor in the SD25 race but we should all
recognize the game is now changed with the veto-proof senate and I suggest the following is appropriate at this time.
Republicans CAN highlight and criticize Democrats in a way that progresses DEMOCRAT’s own thinking on a topic sometimes (identifying their rifts for them etc). Why? Because undecided voters see that and may give Republicans credit for it.
In healthcare and perhaps other complex topics that students typically tackle we can risk engaging in a bit of dialogue with Democrats even if it helps them define their ideas more, because we are ultimately in the right.
Drew Emmer is spot on on healthcare.
Drew knows the art of constructively criticizing Democrats which makes Republicans look good while perhaps helping only the more intelligent Democrats refine their thinking. This is not giving the opposition ammo. It is where the process works for the good of all.
Ultimately the Democrats may decide on single payer and bring in all the Democrats that Republicans were able to soften on the topic up to now. But even if that happens we can still trust the voters will reject the big government socialist high tax idea that is single payer, even if it is articulated well by the Democrats thanks to some Republicans. Perhaps we can more depend on the Single Payer big government idea going down in flames if it IS articulated well by the Democrats. Meanwhile let’s stake out the free market position, define the small government argument as our own (Republican), and let voters know why making a principled, seemingly hostile (to some Democrats), stand on this important issue benefits everybody.
All this doesn’t detract from MDE or from the time and effort of grass roots volunteers.
Their work is to be commended and had nothing to do with the SD25 defeat. There were many factors, mostly with the candidate.
January 5th, 2008 at 9:30 am
My starting point, in this debate, is Emmer’s post.
His headline is “Outsmarted, Outflanked, Outfought.” Let’s take each one seratim. (That’s one at a time for those of you out in Rio Linda.)
“Outsmarted”: Emmer’s point, as I read it, is that the DFL’s current campaign tactics are “smarter” than the GOP’s. Prior to the 2006 election, DFLers had bemoaned that the GOP was superior in its get-out-the-vote efforts. Emmer’s point, as I read it, is that the DFL appeared to learn from that and is now using better, “smarter” campaign tactics. Can MDE dispute that? Moreover, even if Emmer had spent every waking minute in Northfield last week, he would have been using the less smart, for lack of a better term, GOP tactics. Kind of like Polish soldiers on horseback going against German tanks. Can MDE dispute that?
“Outflanked”: I’m not sure I get Emmer’s point on this one. Does he mean that the DFL candidate ran to the right of Cox and picked up votes that Cox should have got? As for his contention that the conservative base did not come up for Cox, I’ll leave that to the stat wonks out there to analyze that question.
“Outfought”: I’m a BPOU chair. I got a call to help from the state party to help out on that campaign. I didn’t help out, thinking (wrongly at that) Cox was a sure winner. In my case, that prove’s Emmer point.
My ending point is this: Emmer is right for the most part. Even if he had, as I said, worked night and day for Cox, the results would have been the same. The DFL, right now, has the better campaign (read “smarter”) tactics. The question, then, is whether the GOP is going to use our 2002 playbook or audible at the line to meet what the DFL is now coming up with.
January 5th, 2008 at 9:32 am
Oops….
Let me clarify that I’m not a BPOU chair in that district, but in the metro area instead.
January 5th, 2008 at 10:13 am
Walter:
Your right why should educators be paid for what they contribute back to society, CEO’s, deserve their millions, after all they have created a record number of jobs, created an affordable health care system, keep gas prices low, NOT.
You just don’t seem to understand or care that corporations have stayed true to their mantra profits first and worker benefit from what’s left.
After labor’s share of GDP reached a peak in 2001 ( I know and remember 9/11, and even if I would forget Rudy reminds me with every stump speech), labors share of GDP has fallen 4% the lowest level since 1966, and corporate profits have increase 4% of GDP, their highest since 1947.
If you believe that corporations are going to put your welfare and concerns ahead of their profits, back away from the koolaid.
Walter, how have your wages and real income increased in the last seven years?
In reality, the “average” Minnesotan has little left after, food, housing, gas, and insurance. But HCDFL you say, we still buying things, so the “average Minnesotan must have some extra money, right .
Sorry Walter, that is incorrect, in reality they are deficit spending (credit cards) just like Bush and the Republicans.
In history when America was at war, Americans were told to sacrifice, conserve our resources and the jobs that were created paid workers a living wage. (side note this is right before the time when health insurance became tied to wages)
In Bush’s folly we are told to go about our normal routine, keep spending, don’t question Bush and the Republican’s policy and to be real safe buy duct tape or the terrorist win..
Corporations, with help from Bush ( in the last six years)and the Republicans(the last 40 years), have gotten all there is to get from this country’s workers
The work force of today compared to the work force of 40 years ago now includes women who must work, workers that are working two more weeks a year, and workers who are in debt.
Corporations love workers who are in debt because they are easy to control, they need their job and in most cases need another job, so they don’t rock to the boat (organize).
Every penny the “average” Minnesotan has earned in wage increases has just keep up with inflation, so wages since 2001 have been flat.
By the way Walter, how have Bush’s tax cuts improved your life?
Hey, Minnesota “How has Norm Coleman made your life better?’
That’ll do sheeple, that’ll do
January 5th, 2008 at 11:11 am
it is time to purge the GOp of all of its RINOS..RINOs have no soul, no substance, no true beliefs, we do not need them, let the DFL have their victories, they will not be able to govern, opening the door to true conservatives, not free trade neo cons, SD25 should be a lesson for all the GOP, BTW HCDFL, wha tdoes the GOP have to do wit hhigh gas prices??? NOTHING, it is speculators around the world bidding the price of oil up, you need economics lessons
January 5th, 2008 at 11:35 am
At this critical time, the number one priority for Republicans across the state should be winning seats, even if they are with “RINO” Republicans. As a case in point, even the RINOs protected the Transportation veto override last year.
With that being said, I think the debate is over what duty conservative Republicans have to a RINO candidate. As the lesser of two evils, they probably deserve a vote. But do they deserve your cash or your volunteer time? Should you just roll over and give your full support to a candidate that you are not happy with? That is the question.
BTW, A few years ago, I heard about Ray Cox for the first time. I did a quick google search to find out what Party he represented, and the first thing brought up was his blog. I clicked on the link, and the first thing I saw was a picture of DFL darling Melissa Hortman speaking at one of his recent events. That is pretty much all I needed to know. Tingelstad, Abeler, Earhart, Cox, Hortman. Not much difference at all.
January 5th, 2008 at 11:37 am
I waited a day to post a serious response to Michael’s “Man Not In The Arena” post. I was initially unsure if he was serious. Now that I know he is serious kindly indulge me a few points of clarification.
My intent in posting “Outsmarted, outflanked and outworked in SD25″ on http://www.wrightrepublican.blogspot.com was not to criticize GOP foot soldiers. As a perenial GOP foot soldier I appreciate any effort that anyone puts out for the GOP cause. If any foot soldiers were offended by my comments I sincerely apologize. That includes Michael.
The real intent of my post was to express my opinion that the grassroots mechanism exercised by the left appears to be superior to the grassroots mechanism exercised on the right. It appears to me that the left has worked hard over a lengthy period (of more or less republican dominance) to develop extensive voter ID, issue ID, list management, volunteer recruitment and community building. I have deep concern that the left is doing what appears to be an excellent job of identifying, educating, motivating, cultivating, validating, recognizing, and equipping their troops to succeed. That’s the long and short of my post.
And to digress slightly, I’m not talking about the DFL when I refer to the left. I don’t think their cause is so much a result of DFL party proficiency as it is possibly the effectiveness of third party entities doing the work for them (i.e. MoveOn, Emily’s List, 2020, …etc.)
Ok back to Michael’s robust criticism of me:
I was intrigued that a site dedicated to exposing democrats became the platform for Michael to attack me personally. That’s not been my experience with Michael in the past. We have occasionally disagreed. But to this point he has always graciously opted for a phone call to set me straight. Why he chose to marginalize me personally on his blog while certainly his prerogative is nonetheless surprising.
I did not attack anyone personally in my post. No where did I say anything unkind or disrespectful about Ray Cox. My post was for the most part about the performance of the left. Frankly, I was flabbergasted when I read that Ray had lost. I had no idea. I do not recall any polling about that seat. I am as disappointed as anyone that we lost the seat. Had I known I would have done something to help, although with two full-time jobs I doubt it would have been anything beyond GOTV phoning.
With Michael’s usual panache he reiterates my point that I did not actively participate in the SD25 campaign. He then leaves the lingering stink of sloth in the air to defame my character as an active member of our party. Technically, Michael is as almost always “spot on” about the fact that I was not involved in SD25. In that narrow frame I am humbled to now be considered an award winning blogger, albeit with the cynical insult that MDE intended. I suspect Teddy might be somewhat plussed that his words were used to denigrate one of our own.
Folks who know me personally know both the principles I try to live by and my commitment to contributing to our cause. Michael was careful not to criticize me in that frame although he is welcome to do so publicly or privately if he thinks it could help us keep from getting our asses handed to us again in November.
I’ll be on NARN today with my fellow “award-winning” blogger Mitch Berg at 1:30 or thereabouts. At Michael’s request I will hang around to receive whatever it is that he is so motivated to bestow upon me.
I am hopeful that this experience causes all of us to raise our sights about the job ahead of us for 2008. My experience is that when we talk about how much progress we are going to make we typically find our selves disappointed (2004, 2006, last Thursday).
We are engaged in a grassroots battle with a new level of leftist campaign sophistication. While our ideas are a key ingredient to our prospects for success, there is no excuse for failing to evolve our process to try and meet the abilities of our foe.
January 5th, 2008 at 11:49 am
Those who say they are “willing to stand in the way of anyone with a liberal agenda” but then sit back and allow a liberal to win an election and thereby empowering Larry Pogemiller and the rest of the DFL legislature via a veto-proof Senate, well, they aren’t willing to stand very tall.
When/if any tax increase get passed and overridden this year, people like that will be as much to blame as anyone.
January 5th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
To Mberg:
These are the facts about the endorsement. Seven days before the endorsement convention held on Dec. 5th I got a phone call from a conservative friend that there was an open seat in SD25.
Since I am BPOU chairwoman for one of the 4 counties in this district this friend asked if I knew anyone who would be a good candidate (I was not notified by the state party until they contacted me for my Sibley County delegate lists 6 days before the convention). This friend told me that Ray Cox had already formed a committee and had announced his plan to run. I found this odd since it had just been announced on the radio the night before that Tom Neuville had been appointed to a judicial seat. Cox obviously had already been notified well in advance that this was to happen. It appeared he was the “annointed” candidate, for what ever reason. Maybe it was his name recognition or location (since he lives in Northfield), but at any rate there was not any real delegate input nor was there much time for anyone else to challenge him.
With the urging of a few conservative friends and leaders in the party, my husband Glenn Gruenhagen, decided to consider challenging Ray. We spent a couple of days researching his voting record and the more we studied it the more concerned we became. Ray has a career record with the LEA of about 33%, Taxpayers League at 26%, Minnesota Family Council at 50%. He clearly does not support many important planks in the Republican platform and Glenn felt compelled to hold him accountable by challenging him.
The day before the endorsement we officially decided to go for it. We knew we were at a disadvantage because we live in the least populated North West portion of the district but also knew we could not allow Ray to go unchallenged. This did not give us much time to contact delegates and in addition, the delegate lists that I got from the state party did not include phone numbers for the delegates.
In the end Glenn got 15 of the 47 delegate votes and we felt it was worth it to raise our concerns and give the delegates a choice.
Keep in mind that this all took place over the busy holidays and we run our own business. It was difficult to find time or energy to help out with the Cox campaign. It is even more difficult to do so when you feel less-than-excited about the candidate. I have tried to express this to Chairman Carey and other party leaders in the past. We need good platform candidates to run in order to really energize volunteers to work. Nevertheless, Glenn and I made lots of phone calls and put up signs for Ray (for both the primary and the election). I also went door to door on the day of the election trying to get folks to the polls.
All in all, I agree with Drew; we were outflanked and outsmarted and we need to learn our lessons or we will continue to be in the minority. We also need to run real platform Republicans and hold our legislators accountable. This idea that a candidate needs to “fit the district” is hogwash. Real leaders stand on principle. They are persuasive and know how to bring others on board by educating them in the principloes that made our nation great.
January 5th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Drew wrote:
“With Michael’s usual panache he reiterates my point that I did not actively participate in the SD25 campaign. He then leaves the lingering stink of sloth in the air to defame my character as an active member of our party. Technically, Michael is as almost always “spot on” about the fact that I was not involved in SD25. In that narrow frame I am humbled to now be considered an award winning blogger, albeit with the cynical insult that MDE intended. I suspect Teddy might be somewhat plussed that his words were used to denigrate one of our own.”
——
I’m happy to see that you now get Brodkorb’s Modus Operandi.
This is not just you Drew. Its the same steps when he “exposes” Democrats. You know, the 1000 posts that he previously printed you were cheering him on and lending support and testimony too?
You are now in the great company of Entenza, Hatch, Ritchie, Pfielsticker, Dietrich and many other Democrats who have been ‘exposed’ on here.
Drew Emmer, your phony, part-time, Republicanism, has been Exposed.
One day you guys will see that we’re at a point where you have to get the numbers THEN work out the agenda. Cox or whomever would have been in the minority with the only job of preventing the DFL from a veto over-riding super majority. Now, Pawlenty will have to negotiate and capitulate even more. You shot yourselves in your own foot with your purity test.
Thank You.
January 5th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
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January 5th, 2008 at 1:08 pm
HCDFL:
Your post here shows the problem with the DFL thinking.
Lets talk about education first. The problem with education isn’t that we’re not committing the money, but how it’s being spent. This was my actual encounter with a Minneapolis School Board member a few years ago when a member of the school board was asking groups to support a tax levy to maintain 16 students per class room.
Question by me: is the average amount of money were spending on a student $10,000 per year
School board member puzzled looks at aide who came with them. The aide nods yes.
Question by me: at the moment the average salary of a teacher with benefits is what $50,000.
School board member with another puzzled looks at the aide. More like $60,000 the aide says.
Question by me: so we’re spending $60,000 on the teacher in the class why do we need to increase taxes to maintain 16 students per class room when you have $100,000 that are being used on administration and waste that can be used
to maintain the sixteen student class room.
The school board member who didn’t understand the concept I showed with just three questions proceeds to claim that there is no waste and that the money was badly needed.
I was arguing with you that to increase education performance lets spend the money better. We had in this $100,000 being spent on adminstration and just $60,000 on the teacher teaching the kids. Can’t we decrease that $100,000 from adminstration to maybe hire a teaching aide or maybe a couple of more teachers?
Wouldn’t that increase the performance of the kids which HCDFL I assume that is who you really care