My Two Least Favorite Days Of The Year…

…are: “Property Taxes Payable – 1st Half” and “Property Taxes Payable – 2nd Half”.

And yesterday was the one of those two least favorite days of the year. I don’t escrow, so twice a year I see – and feel the pain – of Gov. T-Bag’s “stewardship” of the great state of Minnesota. In 2001, I paid $2,316 in property taxes; as a result of the Property Tax Reform Bill enacted in 2001, and signed by then-Gov. Jesse Ventura, I paid $1,845. Under now-Gov. T-Bag, I paid $3,451 in property taxes this year.

The State House Research Department prepared an eleven page slide show in January of 2007 explaining what the 2001 Property Tax Reform Bill was supposed to accomplish; it’s available here.

According to the House Research Department, the goals of that 2001 Reform were:

Realign the state-local fiscal relationship:

• • Increase state’s role in funding state priorities (education, courts, transit)

• • Decrease state’s role in financing municipal services to give residents more direct responsibility for municipal service decisions

The bottom line, is Gov T-Bag accomplished the latter, while ignoring the former. While researching this post, I noted that MN2020.org has a new report out; published just this morning by Jeff Van Wychen. From it:

Since 2002, Minnesota property taxes, in general, and homeowner property taxes, in particular, have increased rapidly. The cause of the statewide growth in property taxes is not growth in local government budgets. These property tax hikes are the result of state policies that require more public costs to be borne by property taxpayers and a larger share of total property taxes to be borne by homeowners.

Yep – since 2002, my property taxes have increased rapidly; from $1,845 in 2002 to $3,451 in 2009 – dam near doubling during the reign of T-Bag The Terrible (a/k/a, “Worst. Governor. EVER.”).

Go to MN2020.org to find out why.

(crossposted and comments welcomed at MnProgressiveProject)

TPT And Dusty Trice – On Your Radio, Today!

There was a lot – a LOT! – going on last weekend, and yours truly – the ol’ TwoPutter – and Dusty Trice will be talking about it today 5 to 6 pm on AM-950 Radio, “The Voice Of Minnesota!”

We’ll again be guest hosting for Mike McIntee’s “Quick on the Uptake” show. Dusty was in St. Cloud on Saturday covering Bachmann MotorMouth Overdrive’s “Town Hall” and subsequent T-Bag Event – I look forward to talking with Dusty about what happened. Feel free to call in and ask Dusty a question yourself! For a sample of what Dusty saw, click on the YouTube, below!

Plus, one lucky caller will win a copy of Bill’s exceptional comic book: False Witness! The Michele Bachmann Story (Part 1). The AM-950 call-in number is (952) 946-6205! Well, maybe two callers will win – ya never know!!!

So, tune in your radio today to AM-950, The Voice of Minnesota!

Or, link here to listen to it via computer!

Well, as long as we’re watching one of Dusty’s YouTubes, and as long as the subject is Michele Bachmann, let’s watch another!!!

(originally published at MnProgressiveProject.com)

"The federal government has run every entitlement program they have essentially into the ground."

Dusty Trice caught the hypocrisy of Gov. T-Bag’s appearance on Faux News yesterday; about how Gov. T-Bag cancelled an appearance at Harvard University when there was a potential for a Swine Flu outbreak but had Pawlenty of time to chat away about teabagger bull(stuff) on Faux News while Minneapolis was cleaning up after yesterday’s tornados. It’s all about the priorities, doncha know?

So I’m watching Gov. T-Bag, and I spit coffee on the keyboard when Gov. T-Bag said this:

The federal government has run every entitlement program they have essentially into the ground Medicare is broke. Medicaid is broke Social Security is broke they’ve running every program they have them — that nature into the ground why would we give them another one to run and manage into the ground.”

O
M
G.

Just exactly who – WHO – has “run the government” over the last, say, 40 years?

Nixon – 1969 to 1974; Ford 1974 to 1977 (GOP 8, Dems 0)

Carter, 1977 to 1981 (GOP 8, Dems 4)

Reagan 1981 to 1989 (GOP 16, Dems 4)

Bush The Elder, 1989 to 1993 (GOP 20, Dems 4)

Clinton 1993 to 2001 (GOP 20, Dems 12)

Bush The Lesser, 2001 to 2009 (GOP 28, Dems 12)

Over the last 40 years, the GOP has run the federal government, and it’s entitlement programs, for 28 of the last 40 years.

So, when Gov. T-Bag says the “government has run everything into the ground” – that’s HIS party he’s talking about.

And in a way, T-Bag is “right” – we should NOT give the GOP another chance to run government; they break EVERYTHING.

(crossposted from MnProgressiveProject)

The More Things Change, The More They Stay The Same, or…

…how Zellers’ election demonstrates – once again – that GOP still stands for GreedOverPrinciples.

GOPers are always claiming to be “the party of fiscal responsibilty.” Are they? Let’s take a quick look!

First up, Governor T-Bag:

I’d always heard that Governor T-Bag racked up the largest fines of any Minnesota politician, EVER. Well, I don’t know if that’s true or not, but a quick google search – a REAL quick Google search (tim + pawlenty + campaign + finance + violations) – turned up this one, in second place on the first page!

In the Matter of the (Tim) Pawlenty for Governor Committee, 15475

Hmmm…. second spot, first page….website of the Campaign Finance Board….let’s look!

NOW, THEREFORE, for and in consideration of the mutual covenants contained herein, and other good and valuable consideration, the parties agree as follows:

1. The Pawlenty Committee agrees to pay a civil penalty of $100,000.00 to be paid to the Campaign Board and deposited in the General Fund of the State. The Campaign Board acknowledges receipt of the fine from the Pawlenty Committee. It is agreed that the civil penalty is deemed a noncampaign expenditure and shall not be assessed against Tim Pawlenty individually. (emphasis added) (Mn Campaign Finance Board)

WOW!!! T-Bag got smacked for a hunnerd-thousand smackers in fines, and T-Bag AGREED to it!!!!

And who knows? That might not be the biggest fine T-Bag paid….that was just the second hit on the first page!!!

OK, now let’s take a look at the newly elected Chair of Minnesota’s GreedOverPrinciples Party, Tony “Lost Credibility” Sutton!

From Mr. Lost Credibility’s website:

Dear Fellow Republicans,

Like many of you, I am not happy about the direction our Republican Party has taken the last few election cycles. I have been frustrated by the philosophical and ideology drift our party has experienced in recent years.

What was the party of fiscal responsibility doing? Spending money like drunken sailors in Washington.

O
M
G
!

Here you got Mr. Lost Accountability* rippin’ on the folks in D.C. when this guy was the Secretary And Treasurer of the State Party while it was leading the nation – yes, leading the nation – in screwed up FEC Reports! While them republiCons were “spending” money like drunken sailors in D.C., Tony an’ the gang were “typing” FEC reports like drunken sailors here at home!!! As noted last May at Mn Blue:

“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 they STILL don’t make sense; just last month they had to amend their 2008 Year End FEC Filing. Tony “Lost Credibility” Sutton was Secretary/Treasurer when that was written; Tony “Lost Credibility” Sutton has been involved with the State GOP going back a long ways – he became Executive Director way back when, in 1998. And, one might wonder, what happened way back when, when Tony was Executive Director?

Well, fines! Yep – $16,000 of ’em!

So, what is one reason not to be surprised that Kurt Zeller was just elected by the GreedOverPrinciples party?

Fines!

Yep – “right” after Zeller was elected, I saw the tweet from Dusty Trice:

4. The parties agree that the Volunteers for Kurt Zellers Committee accepted excessive contributions from special sources resulting in an inadvertent violation of Minn. Stat. §10A. 27, subd. 11, in calendar year 2004.

Thanks for the tweet, Dusty! I’m sure the new Minority Leader appreciates it!!!

Now, what I found interesting, while googling to verify Dusty’s “fine” find, was this!

Click to access Zellers_Kurt_060127.pdf

IOW – the “fine” find Dusty found, was NOT the only fine!

So, it seems the “Party Of Fiscal unAccountability”, by electing Zellers to a leadership position, is merely continuing the legacy of T-Bag and Sutton. Oh – it also ensures that GOP continues to stand for GreedOverPrinciples.

Stay tuned!

* “Going forward we must be unashamed and unabashed liberty-loving conservatives – we must have confidence in our ideas and agenda and promote them loudly and boldly. Only then will we regain the confidence of the voters with whom we have lost credibility over the last few years.” — Tony “Lost Credibility” Sutton, State Chair of Minnesota’s GreedOverPrinciples Party.

(crossposted from MnProgressiveProject)

Hey, KSTP – Where's My Hat-Tip, Dude?

On Friday, June 5th, I published a blogpost entitled “So – How Serious Are They??!?”; on Friday, June 12th, KSTP TV ran a piece called “Who’s In For Governor?. Both pieces discussed the issue of domain names.

On June 5th, I posted:

What’s needed, is analysis! And fortunately, I’m here to help!!! So, let’s take a look at domain names – taken and available and related to those considered “potential candidates” by those from the party that bows to the guy with the big cigar….

On June 12th, from KSTP:

But to get an idea of who might be thinking of running, it’s helpful to check the purchase of Internet domain names.

A little less wordy, but: same-same, yes?

Let’s take a look at what I posted, on June 5th:

Seifert2010.com – taken!
SeifertForGovernor.com – taken!!!

OK, that explains the presser, less than 24 hours after T-Bag bolted for Iowa….but:

What explains this?

MartySeifert2010.com – available!
MartySeifertForGovernor.com – available!!!

KSTP reported, on June 12th:

House Minority Leader Marty Seifert also bought a domain, SeifertforGovernor.com, the same day of Pawlenty’s announcement.

If KSTP viewers had read MN Progressive Project, they’d have known a full week earlier about what KSTP reported on, and a whole lot more – like who owns the domain names http://www.SteveSviggum.com and http://www.Sviggum2010.com and http://www.SviggumForGovernor.com

So, keep reading this blog – even if we don’t get the hat-tips we ought to….

(crossposted from /a>MnProgressiveProject)

So – How Serious ARE They??!?

T-Bag announces he’s out; which obviously means there’s a whole buncha republiCons in. Well, even some Republicans, too. Which begs the question: how serious are they?

It’s easy to go to various blogs and find out what various rightwingers are postulating; it’s even easier to check in with the (almost)official rightwing site (although, many bona fide RightWingNuts haven’t weighed in yet.)

It’s important to note: what you might find, might simply be “opinions.” Well, “opinions” if – and I mean “if” – the following “commentary” is considered “opinion”:

D Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 11:27 am
Laura Brod was one of the chief proponents of the “Rape the Taxpayers of Hennepin County to the delight of multi-billionaire Carl Pohlad”.

Nobody, I mean NOBODY, in the Hennepin County GOP has forgotten her vote and defense of ripping our right to vote by referendum on the Twins stadium.

And I will take great joy in reminding my state delegate friends of this woman. (MinnesotaDemocratsExposed)

Gotta love them RightWingNuts, “right”?

“Right.” Even when they got opinions such as this:

J Says:
June 4th, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Aside from her tax issue which will be huge, Brod will have to answer for her personal behavior if she runs. She’s – ahem – played the field. A lot.(MinnesotaDemocratsExposed)

Doncha just love “blogs” “written” and “moderated” by “gentlemen” considered “candidates” for “positions” of “authority” in today’s “Family Values” party?

But, I digress. What’s “written” is just “opinion.”

What’s needed, is analysis! And fortunately, I’m here to help!!! So, let’s take a look at domain names – taken and available and related to those considered “potential candidates” by those from the party that bows to the guy with the big cigar….

…taken:

LauraBrodForGovernor.com – taken
BrodForGovernor.com – taken
Brod2010.com – taken
LauraBrod2010.com – taken

OK, every indication is Laura “Screw Hennepin County” Brod is in!

But, what domains did her “brain(dead) trust” miss?

Well, by my unofficial and quick reconoitering:

BrodForGovernor2010.com – available!
LauraBrodforGovernor.com – available!!
Brod4governor – available!!!

Dam – what were THEY thinking??!?

Plus, they missed these:

DumpBrod.com – available!
DumpLauraBrod.com – available!!!

One would think those around “The Card Check Girl” woulda checked what’s happened up in the 6th, what with the Dump Bachmann stuff…..

Then again, has anyone ever accused Brod of bein’ “brighter than Bachmann”?

Not likely….

Anyway, on to the next contestent “contestant”, in the “Small Tent” Party!

SullivanForGovernor.com – taken
Sullivan2010.com – taken

Well, I guess that’s not surprising; there’s a lot of “Sullivans” in these fifty states. Let’s look a little closer:

BrianSullivan2010.com – Available!
BrianSullivanForGovernor.com – Available!!!

Gee – is Brain “Brian” – a GOP National Committeeman – so out of touch that he didn’t register his domains, before T-Bag headed for the Des Moines Register??!?

How ’bout Marty – who couldn’t wait 24 hours to dance on T-Bag’s grave “legacy”?

Seifert2010.com – taken!
SeifertForGovernor.com – taken!!!

OK, that explains the presser, less than 24 hours after T-Bag bolted for Iowa….but:

What explains this?

MartySeifert2010.com – available!
MartySeifertForGovernor.com – available!!!

Could it be, that after spendin’ all them years in the GreedOverPrinciples party, that Marty got a case of the cheaps?

You tell me.

And tell me – is Pat in?

PatAndersonForGovernor.com – available!
PatAnderson2010.com – available!!!

And all of the Rammer’s are available; then again: did anyone really think Rammer could get a state-wide GOPer endorsement, anyway?

Now, here’s the deal: Steve Sviggum is a really nice guy. Horrible policies, but: truely a nice guy.

A genuinely nice guy. Again, horrible policies, but…. I noted “Sviggum.com” was taken. So, when I found that “SteveSviggum.com” was open, I took it.

Well, I took “Sviggum2010.com” and “SviggumForGovernor.com” too, but: that’s a tangent.

I took “SteveSviggum.com” ’cause I wanted to make sure no one took it and play games with such a nice guy.

Well, “no one would play MOST games with such a nice guy.”

One never knows, eh? OTO….

…that “DumpBrod.com”?

I got a funny feeling that one would go for a right might bit more….

(crossposted from <a href="http://www.mnprogressiveproject.com/diary/3355/so-how-serious-are-they"<mnProgressiveProject)

Not Content To Simply Slime Sonia, RightWingNuts Go For A New Low

What do rightwingnuts call a non-profit that’s backed by a whole bunch o’ corporate sponsors, from Allstate Insurance, American Airlines, and AT&T to UPS, Verizon and Wall-Mart?

“La Raza, the militant, left-wing, Hispanic hate group. La Raza is essentially the Ku Klux Klan of Hispanics.”

Yep – “The Admiral” over at Lake Minnetonka Liberty said that, just yesterday, in a post that tried to trash not only Sonia Sotomayer, but an established and respected civil rights organization, too.

To be fair, and so as to not take “The Admiral” out of context, he followed that up with:

I know the loony left will be jumping all over this one. I’m not comparing them with the Klan of old, but with todays Klan. The 1950’s and ’60’s are over with, that’s not what we are talking about here. Let’s not make me point out the chaos they caused a few years ago with the stated purpose of disruption of commerce, looting, etc… which by the way, they accomplished.

Yeah, “right.”

Now, keep in mind Sonia Sotomayor was first appointed to the federal bench by Bush The Elder – and confirmed by the Senate; she was subsequently promoted to the Appellate Court by Bill Clinton, and AGAIN confirmed by Senate vote. And her membership in La Raza was well-known, back then.

Yesterday, “The Admiral” asked: Does anybody think she’s not biased? Anybody think she’s not a racist? Anybody think she doesn’t have an agenda?

Yes, but unlike “The Admiral”, they live on Terra Firma.

Oh – and they also aren’t the bedrock of today’s GreedOverPrinciples party. Sadly, “The Admiral” appears to be “mainstream” – “mainstream” that is, in today’s republiCon party.

***
(h/t to Spotty, over at The Cucking Stool; h/t to Daily Kos for the following YouTube)
***

(crossposted from MnProgressiveProject.com)

Pawlenty Of Balls

I was at the Grand Opening for The Quarry golf course, at Giants Ridge. Hey, it was a lousy job, but: someone had to do it!
For those of you that play, you KNOW Giants Ridge is spectacular golf. For those of you that don’t, you’re just gonna have to trust me on this one. The night before ribbon cutting, the 19th Hole was packed. I’m standing with a buddy that grew up in Grand Rapids and Tom Rukavina, and we’re havin’ a great time; and we’re swappin’ jokes. Especially Jesse “The Mind” jokes. Now, before this night, I’d never met Tom Rukavina, but we’re all in a really good mood, so I tell him: “Say, Tom, I don’t want you to take this the wrong way, but I listen to Jason Lewis and Garage Logic, and I have to tell you, you’re not nearly as big an asshole as they say you are!!!”

Now, those of you who have met Mr. Rukavina understand the joke; those that don’t, well, let’s just say Mr. Rukavina is “vertically challenged.”

Mr. Rukavina got the joke, and he laughed, ’cause it was a good joke!

Anyway, there was a LOT of laughin’ and joke tellin’ at the 19th, that night.

And the Governor was there, to cut the ribbon the next day, for the Grand Opening. After all, this course was financed by a state agency, the Iron Range Resource and Rehabilitation Board.

So, before cuttin’ the ribbon, T-Paw grabs the mic, and warms up the crowd. And he tells a joke, as T—Paw is wont to do! After all, he IS a funny guy. I didn’t tape this joke; never thought there’d be a need to. Couldn’t find it via google, either – apparently nobody else saw the need to. So, I’ll paraphrase:

“So, I’m getting’ ready this morning, to come play here. My aide says to me, ‘Hey, Governor, you ready to play? Got your clubs? A glove? Shoes? Balls – do you have enough balls?’ Let me tell all of you here, today – I’m a Republican, standin’ tall up here on the range: I got PLENTY of balls!!!”

 

Now, I don’t care who ya are; that’s a FUNNY joke! People were laughin’ their asses off!!!

Now, some might be goin’, right ‘round now: “Hey – sure that’s a good joke, but: what’s the ol’ TwoPutter’s point?”

Well, there’s two of ‘em! Here’s the first point: IT WAS A (CHENEY)IN’ JOKE.

Of course, with T-Paw, it also had the added benefit of being true. Because as everyone who has ever had to deal with the Governor knows, T-Paw owns a set. For instance, remember how T-Paw stood up to Bush The Lesser over pharmaceutical reimportation?

Just like IT WAS A (CHENEY)IN’ JOKE that the guy told at the Franken event.

And like T-Paw’s joke, Larry David’s joke also had the added benefit of being true: As I’ve often inferred, the “Smokescreen”, Norm Coleman, is NOT the proud owner of a set. Which is why I refer to him as ‘Norm “Smokescreen” Coleman, R=Lapdog’.

Here’s point numero dos: The second joke – based on the fact Smokescreen lacks a pair – has caused those wusses over at the GOP to get their panties in a wad. They’re wonderin’ just how the (cheney) a joke about “balls” could be funny. Not surprisingly, Brodkorb is weighin’ in, too; rippin’ Al Franken for laughin’ at the joke; a joke told at a private event. .

I wonder what GOPer Ron Carey’s response would be, if some reporter actually asked him for his opinion of T-Paw’s joke?

Would Carey have the balls to issue a press release, paraphrasing the one he just released?

###

“At a ritzy golf outing, funded by taxpayers, republiCon Governor Tim Pawlenty personally told a joke in language offensive to all Minnesotans. Pawlenty promised he would run a “Family Values” administration, but his coarse and vulgar language again shows why he lacks the maturity, temperament and judgment necessary to be the Governor of the Great State of Minnesota.”

###

 

Either the bootlickers are unaware T-Paw told a ballsy joke – probably told on the taxpayer’s dime! or – more likely – they’re doin’ the ol’ republiCon Shuffle, where they’re consistently inconsistent by ignoring it when THEY do it, but castin’ stones when democrats do it.

Either way, it doesn’t change the fact that Norm “Smokescreen” Coleman, R=Lapdog, doesn’t have a set of stones.

 

(originally published at MnBlue.com – http://www.mnblue.com/node/968 )