"We anticipate filing some amendments"

(Editor’s note: TwoPuttTommy is on vacation; this post was originally published on May 27th, 2008 at MnBlue. While TPT discusses then-Party Chairman Ron Carey, Current Party Chairman Tony Sutton was Party Treasurer.)

Ladies and Gentlemen,

“And we anticipate filing some amendments…”

…is an exact quote from a July 20th, 2007 letter from the Republican Party of Minnesota to the Federal Elections Commission.

“SOME” amendments?

How about SEVENTY amendments!!!

One for each month of 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and the months of January through November of 2007.

Is that “some”?

Ladies and Gentlemen, under Ron Carey’s “stewardship” in leadership roles, the RepubliCan Party of Minnesota has been paying fines to the FEC, going back to 2001 and a fine of $16,000. Since 2002, the FEC has repeatedly and continually asked for clarification of those monthly reports because, well, they simply don’t add up nor make sense.

And since Ron Carey began criticizing Al Franken’s bookkeeping problems, demanding Franken answer questions, republiCon Ron began ducking questions and re-filing amended monthly reports to the FEC for a period covering almost SIX YEARS. And who knows? There may be even more amended returns coming up. After all, what’s republiCon Ron gonna say about the latest batch of amended returns – “Well, sure, we’ve amended a bunch of previously amended reports, but THIS time, we got ‘em “right”!!!”

Hey – if they didn’t get ‘em “right” the first time, nor the second, why would anyone believe republiCon Ron got ‘em “right”, this time?

Think about that – since 2002, the Republican Party of Minnesota has not gotten a single month’s report done correctly. Not a single one.

How’s THAT, for a track record?

Now, one thing to remember, is this: the whole time republiCon Ron was in front of a microphone, piously criticizing Franken’s paperwork, he KNEW that those seventy amendments to the previously amended reports were going to be filed.

He KNEW.

Yet he hypocritically ripped Franken anyway.

Why?

Unfortunately, that’s a question that can’t be asked, because although republiCon Ron is fond of demanding Franken answer questions, answering questions isn’t something Ron likes to do, himself.

Meet The New Boss: "FEC" Tony!

The Party Faithful have spoken, and it’s a new day for the state GOP. Tony Sutton takes the reins, and is faced with the formidable task of cleaning up the mess left by the last administration that ran the Republican Party of Minnesota. Especially the mess left by the last Treasurer, who – not coincidentally – was Tony Sutton!

And just how big of a mess did Treasurer Tony Sutton leave for Chairman Tony Sutton? A quick check of FEC Records show that on January 15th of this year, Chairman Ron Carey and Treasurer Tony filed an amended report for September and October 2008. On January 16, they filed an amended pre-General Election report. On January 20th, they filed an amended post-General Election Report.

All in all, those amended reports are another pathetic example of the incompetence and failure of the Ron Carey Regime, which “featured” Tony Sutton as Treasurer. But have no fear; it gets worse.

On March 16th, 2009, Carey and Sutton re-re-filed an amended report of the previously amended October 2009 report.

Got that? They couldn’t get it “right” the first time; they tried and failed to get it “right” the second – and didn’t. But have no fear; it gets worse.

Worse? Yes, because on the same day they had to amend a previously amended report – October 2008 – they also had to amend the previously amended pre-General Election Report. But have no fear, it gets worse.

Worse? Yep! Surely, you’re not surprised? After all, this IS republiCon Ron and FEC Tony we’re talkin’ ’bout… and on March 19th, 2009, they had to re-re-file an amended report of the previously amended August 2009 report! But have no fear, it gets worse!

A little over a month ago, on May 22nd, 2009, RepubliCon Ron and FEC Tony had to amend the pre-General Election for the third – THIRD – time! Same day, same clowns had to amend the post-Election Report for the second time! And just to show that when it comes to incompetence the unDynamic Duo of republiCon Ron and FEC Tony has no peer, they also re-amended the 2008 Year End Report.

Folks, this level of pathetic incompetence is beyond bizarre. And it bears looking into. So, stay tuned, and have no fear – it gets worse.

(crossposted from <a href="http://www.mnprogressiveproject.com/diary/3509/meet-the-new-boss-fec-tony"MnProgressiveProject)