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REP. EMMER QUESTIONS REP. SERTICH ON INVESTIGATION OF AG LORI SWANSON
By Michael B. Brodkorb | March 12, 2008
This is a small video clip from yesterday's floor session in the House Representatives of Representative Tom Emmer asking Representative Tony Sertich about investigating AG Lori Swanson. A smug Sertich, rudely dismisses Emmer's questions. If you want to see a Democrat covering up the bad behavior of another Democrat, please watch this video. Sertich should be embarrassed.
UPDATE: I had a technical problem with the previous video clip of this debate. I updated this video with a different version.
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43 Responses to “REP. EMMER QUESTIONS REP. SERTICH ON INVESTIGATION OF AG LORI SWANSON”
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March 13th, 2008 at 12:00 AM
Sertich didn’t look 100% on in this, but, Mike, come on, Tom Emmer is the very definition on smug. His sole purpose is to mirror that of Patrick McHenry – he’s not interested in genuine discussion, but spends his time working his oppenents into uncomfortable positions for election season.
He’s pretty damn good at it, too. He doesn’t need you to stick up for him. The Democrats should, by all means, ignore this guy whose only intent is to screw anyone in his way.
March 13th, 2008 at 1:05 AM
Sertich has always thought he’s something that he’s not. The guy is a complete tool.
March 13th, 2008 at 3:17 AM
I’ve posted a roundup of the various articles & posts about Ms. Swanson here. I’ve also sent Rep. Sertich an email to let him respond to a couple questions I have about the investigation.
March 13th, 2008 at 3:25 AM
[...] UPDATE: Michael has posted the YouTube of the exchange between Rep. Sertich & Rep. Emmer: [...]
March 13th, 2008 at 5:36 AM
Gotcha politics – the unconsciounable attempt to make Democrats choose between their extreme left-wing beliefs or keeping the promises they made to get elected.
March 13th, 2008 at 6:45 AM
That Sertich guy who dodged all the questions comes off like a little brat.
Where is that Emmer from? I like his style.
To: The Dude – what discussion could they have? That short guy Sertich apparently doesn’t want to deal with the issue. The dems are sweeping this problem under the rug? Surely you can see that.
March 13th, 2008 at 7:21 AM
What a smug little twit.
We don’t accept this kind of evasive answers from our teenagers when we ask them about that new dent in the car. We shouldn’t tolerate this juvenile behavior to cover up corruption in the highest law enforcement position in the state.
Union buster Lori orders “Find somebody….anybody… and Sue them within a weekâ€â€¦and this little twit is ok with that?..in fact beaming with pride as he delivers his “cute†little answers.
It’s all just a game to this pompous cover-up artist.
March 13th, 2008 at 7:29 AM
The dems are sweeping this problem under the rug? Surely you can see that.***
Well, if you say so.
After all, you guys have had all that experience coverin’ up for Bush The Lesser….
Especially Norm Coleman, who in his duty as Chair of the Permanent SubCommittee on Investigations, spent all of his time NOT investigating, say, overruns in Iraq, politicization of the Attorney General’s office (sound familiar?), etc etc etc.
So, hey – if you say there’s some sweepin’ stuff under the rug, I believe you!!! Who would know better about cover ups, than a republiCon?
You guys are the experts, at doin’ just that….
March 13th, 2008 at 7:31 AM
***“It’s all just a game to this pompous cover-up artist.”***
Agreed. Norm “Smokescreen” Coleman, R=Lapdog, is the consumate cover-up artist.
March 13th, 2008 at 7:41 AM
You have to love how Dems are all pro-union until one of theirs gets caught trying to bust one up….
This would make a great ad Michael….
LL
March 13th, 2008 at 7:51 AM
So, let me understand you TwoPutt…
Sertich is smugly covering up corruption in Minnesota because of what Norm Coleman is doing in Washington?
Just how twisted it that?
March 13th, 2008 at 8:07 AM
With respect to what The Dude said in comment #1, it seems to me that Emmer is playing the role that Matt Entenza played (and played well) when the DFL was in the minority. Entenza stayed at the majority’s heels, scrapping and biting at every chance he got.
Also, someone asked where Emmer is from. The answer is Delano.
March 13th, 2008 at 8:11 AM
..but at least Entenza investigated the Attorney General !!
Heck, he even spent a good chunk of his allowance hiring a P.I. to dig up dirt (and of course then lied about it).
March 13th, 2008 at 9:30 AM
Hey Lady Illogician–
You have to love how Rethugs are all anti-union until a Democrat is accused of trying to bust one up…. Then all of a sudden the Rethugs are big union backers, right?
March 13th, 2008 at 9:51 AM
Hey MDE Exposer,
You have to love how the Dems are all pro-union untii a Democrat is accused of trying to bust one up…Then all of a sudden the Democrats want to sweep this under the rug.
March 13th, 2008 at 9:56 AM
Nice Stonewall.
puddles is back to try and change the subject, what a surprise.
I am pretty sure the guy gets paid to come here and defend dirty democRats.
March 13th, 2008 at 10:24 AM
If and when MDE is paid:
A) He discloses it.
B) He earns every penny.
C) The Democrat Party breaks out into a sweat.
D) Every moonbat in the state checks in here to squirt their little tears into the comment threads.
Thanks for checking MDE Exposer.
March 13th, 2008 at 10:25 AM
Checking in, that is.
March 13th, 2008 at 10:27 AM
Swiftee beat me to it MDE Exposer.
I know it is hard to understand that a Republican blogger would be upfront and honest about it, not like MN Pooplius or other DFL talking points blogs who try to claim they are not bias.
March 13th, 2008 at 10:36 AM
Gotcha politics – Two words Sertich decries on a daily basis every time the other side of the aisle wants to vote on something of substance, but something the DFL uses widely during election season. Every lit piece the House DFL caucus puts out is based on “gotcha politics”. They’re the king of it until it’s used against them. Then they whine and whine and whine like little girls.
March 13th, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Jackson, I disagree. My point wasn’t that Emmer shouldn’t snipe at the Democrats. I would obviously prefer that he didn’t, but only an idiot would suggest that he wasn’t allowed to do so. Idiots, of course, abound on this site, so it’s not beyonf the realm of possibilities for me to have suggested that.
I was thinking of, for instance, during the transportation bill. Emmer personally attacked Marsha Swails and Shelley Madore on the House Floor. These two are freshmen Dems with vulnerable seats. He went after them so the Repubs would have quotes for their Fall campaign lit saying that these two were in favor of tax increases and were evil Dems etc etc. They didn’t have any ethics violations, they had done nothing wrong except be vulnerable Democrats. Entenza didn’t do stuff like that. Emmer does it on a regular basis.
My whole point was that, yeah, if I were a Dem, I would ignore him, too. This guy isn’t a very good sportsman, so why should they mess around with him?
March 13th, 2008 at 11:02 AM
I’m not saying, by the way, that Swanson isn’t crazy.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:08 AM
The Dude’s comment (#22) raises an important point.
It was Tommy Rukavina (or “Tommy the Commy” as Jason Lewis calls him) and not Entenza who for example, went after frosh GOP members when the DFL was in the minority. Perhaps it is better to say that Emmer now fills the role of minority party attack dog.
In any event, both parties had someone who regularly went after the heels of the majority when they were in the minority.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:09 AM
Oop…meant to refer to The Dude’s comment #21, not #22.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:19 AM
A lot of interesting history here……but back to the topic..
..this is simply Emmer trying to get a straight answer about investigating corruption by union-busting Attorney General Swanson…
..and that swarmy little twerp avoiding the issue.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:31 AM
Tony Sertich is, essentially, pulling a page out of the Clinton book of deniability, in attempts to deflect. “I cannot recall”, “I do not recall”, etc. The problem with this is that everyone knew the Clintons were lying. And Tony sertich is also lying.
This, Mark Ritchie, and the Transportation Bill will all be reasons why the Democrats will lose a bunch of seats this next election.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:42 AM
It would be so refreshing if Sertich was just honest instead of being evasive like a nine year-old..
…to just come out and tell the truth: “No, Rep, Emmer I will NOT investigate corruption by Minnesota’s top law enforcement official !”…
…why is it soooooo hard for these guys to answer simple questions and simply tell the truth?
March 13th, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Fact: The House voted 129-0 in favor of a motion to launch an investigation and hold hearings on allegations against Attorney General Lori Swanson.
Fact: Later that same session, The House again voted 129-0 in favor of a motion to launch an investigation and hold hearings on allegations against Attorney General Lori Swanson.
Fact: No investigation. No hearings. No answer to simple questions that the citizens of Minnesota deserve to know.
The motions were referred to the black hole known as the Rules Committee chaired by Majority Leader Tony Sertich.
But there is good news. Tom’s attepts to get answers from the DFL leadership in the House were a professional courtesy. We don’t need the DFL leadership in either House or Senate to bring this matter forward and get answers.
If Lori Swanson had nothing to hide she would have been leading the process of disclosure.
The fact that no media outlet has raised an eyebrow about this issue is a testimony to their complicity in this obvious cover-up.
And Dude’s comment “…ignore this guy whose only intent is to screw anyone in his way.” reveals that he obviously has no idea who “this guy” is.
March 13th, 2008 at 1:00 PM
Two Putt Tommy
This really has nothing to do with Bush or Norm Coleman, and you probably would agree with that.
Keep in mind that this is the same legislature that wanted to spend thousands to investigate the 35W bridge collapse, even though that was the feds’ job.
I’m just surprised that the Star and Tribune has picked up on the Attorney General story. Steve Murphy must have been gone the day the Star and Tribune reporter needed a quote.
March 13th, 2008 at 1:09 PM
“This really has nothing to do with Bush or Norm Coleman, and you probably would agree with that.”
Newton – I knew you wouldn’t get the irony.
“Keep in mind that this is the same legislature that wanted to spend thousands to investigate the 35W bridge collapse, even though that was the feds’ job.”
And it surprises you that state Dems don’t trust GOP Feds?
“I’m just surprised that the Star and Tribune has picked up on the Attorney General story. Steve Murphy must have been gone the day the Star and Tribune reporter needed a quote.”
See, here’s an are that we kind of are in agreement, although for different reasons.
GOPers see “conspriacy” at the “RedStar”; many Democrats – myself included – recognize it as ioncompetence.
Eithere way, they surely are doin’ a terrible job.
These days, they aren’t “reporters”, they’re “repeaters”. And there’s nothing they love more than a good press release they can re-write to meet deadline….
March 13th, 2008 at 1:11 PM
He he. Sertich reminds me of co-workers in department meetings who get caught not doing their job, don’t know how to do their job, or just plain refuse to do their job: Say as little as possible and be as vague as possible. Then hide.
He’s been taking pointers from Scott Adams (Dilbert).
March 13th, 2008 at 1:44 PM
This is refering to the Dude’s comment on #21. Emmer did what any smart politician would do. Go after the weak. Madore hid behind the bridge falling for her reason to vote. That alone will cost her, her seat next year. It was a fluke she was elected in the first place. It was all because uneducated folks thought that if they elect every democrat they can, the troops will leave Iraq. This Novemeber democRats won’t be so fortunate.
March 13th, 2008 at 1:45 PM
“He’s been taking pointers from Scott Adams (Dilbert).”
Not to mention ‘Berto Gonzoles….well, OK!
I’ll mention ‘Berto Gonzoles!
Here’s ‘Berto, in a little compendium entitled “Total Recall”…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IBvZlRqOTw
March 13th, 2008 at 3:58 PM
Two Putt Tommy
We do agree – the Star and Tribune is suffering from incompetence. Maybe incontinence too, I don’t know. But their problems have been well documented.
But don’t you honestly think that Sertisch (sp?) looks childish in the video clip here?
March 13th, 2008 at 4:07 PM
Newton, of course.
But, no more than Emmer, who knew dammed well that’s what was going to happen.
It’s really a shame with the games played, on both sides of the aisle.
March 13th, 2008 at 6:10 PM
I watched the video and came away with one conclusion: Sertich is covering up. Only someone covering up would offer up such evasive non-answers.
Simple questions, a refusal to offer a direct answer.
Time for the DFL to stop covering up their CULTURE OF CORRUPTION.
March 13th, 2008 at 8:02 PM
TPT
You’re right about the gamesmanship.
But what other recourse does the GOP have, except to bring the issue up in public and hope that the press takes it from there?
And yes, before you write it, I bet the republicans would do the same thing if they were in control of things.
See folks? We can agree to disagree without calling each other names!
March 13th, 2008 at 9:23 PM
Here’s the really sad story….
Why wasn’t the state GOP organization more effective at helping 2006 candidates for the constitutional offices?
It seems like all of the attention went to Michele Bachmann (who probably didn’t need the help), and the hapless, hopeless Mark Kennedy.
Instead, a great incumbent state auditor, Pat Anderson, lost to a windmill.
And Jeff Johnson was a good candidate for AG – and he lost to this Mike Hatch leftover.
Maybe the GOP should stare at itself, and figure out why they didn’t win the elections in the first place, especially with candidates who were legit.
March 13th, 2008 at 11:09 PM
Wow! you democrats real suck at doing anything right –tooo funny!!
Oh and dud you are right – Swails
is going down -the big liar -going to help the families who voted for her- by raising there taxes -real nice- Just remember the nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’
March 14th, 2008 at 1:12 AM
Soy del gobierno. Estoy aqui ayudar.
You can economize from nine (9) words using the English language, to six (6) words using the Spanish language.
[Perhaps the aforementioned (plus accompanying explanation in English) may be been some of the most terrifying words that Bill & U.S. Representative Michele Bachman hears.]
March 14th, 2008 at 1:15 PM
First Sertich is not a short man, he’s six feet tall or so.
Next, he thinks he’s exactly what he is, the Majority Leader in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Emmer is not. Pawlenty used to be.
And last, he is an Iron Ranger with a 100% voting record and support from labor. His credibility with labor goes beyond this one issue and this one issue won’t break that 100% rating from labor. Emmer, however has about 17% from labor and falling. Emmer has none, zero and zilch credibility on labor issues.
If the republican were serious, they would get one of their members with some of the highest ratings from labor (like 40%), instead of one of the tools.
March 14th, 2008 at 2:04 PM
He may be tall…but as this shows…he is a very little man…
The topic is Sertich’s refusal to investigate corruption by Lori Swanson despite two 129 – 0 votes that he do so.
The fact that Swanson is anti-union is secondary..
March 16th, 2008 at 3:10 PM
On another concurrent MDE post, Sakaki claims that there are about 156 Asians, at least some of whom are “up in arms,” and that they [the 156] are going to vote for Republican(s).
[156 Asians - 129 Legislators = 27 left over]
Former Attorney General (AG) Alberto Gonzalez (also AG) said that it wasn’t “clear” if his grandparents came to the United States legally or illegally [had documents or did not have documents].
Anyway, GWB stated that Brownie was doing a heck of a job, H. Rap Brown was black, Alberto Gonzales could be called brown, Obama’s mother is white, but Obama is supposed to get the black vote.
Sakaki’s comments may have triggered an Andy Rooney-type Syndrome that sometimes faintly emerges on a Sunday afternoon, a short time before the television program, 60 Minutes.