Showing posts with label Mary Kiffmeyer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mary Kiffmeyer. Show all posts

Wherefore Art Thou, St. Cloud Times?
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6:05 PM | Posted in ,
In the Sunday issue of the St. Cloud Times there appeared an article about an Otsego man who took the government for $53,000 by filing fraudulent tax returns.

Roland Chapaye Pour, 35, plead guilty Oct. 19. Pour, a tax preparer, filed 13 false U.S. Individual Income Tax returns between Jan. 24 and March 9, 2005, according to a U.S. Department of Justice news release.

What you didn't find in the St. Cloud Times either that day or since that day was the story of a local legislator who owns a bank, sits on the board of directors for said bank, and who took the government for $28 million by running that bank into the ground and forcing the federal government to bail it out. So, while some insist on slamming the Star Tribune for running the story but then subtracting mention of Kiffmeyer (apparently because there isn't enough space on the internet for the word Kiffmeyer), just realize that the regional newspaper near her district chose not to publish anything at all.
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Kiffmeyer Bank Shut Down
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11:08 AM | Posted in ,

Yesterday, it was reported that the bank has now been shut down:

Riverview Community Bank, an Otsego firm that attracted national media attention several years ago for espousing prayer in the workplace, has been shut down by state regulators.

The six-year-old bank, which has $108 million in assets and branches in Otsego and Anoka, was an aggressive real estate lender, once boasting the fourth-highest concentration of real estate loans-to-capital among community banks in the state. The bank was hard hit by the wave of foreclosures that began hitting Wright County in mid-2007.

As with the April reporting, what is not mentioned is that former Secretary of State and current Representative from District 16B, Mary Kiffmeyer, has an ownership stake in this bank. The importance of this connection is due in no small part to the ideology Kiffmeyer represents. An ideology that decries government involvement in nearly every aspect of our economic lives. Now we the taxpayer's are on the hook for $20 million to bail out her bank?


So apparently, limited government help and involvement really only extends to those OTHER people. You have to wonder if THIS is the type of conservatism we really want running our government...
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Faith Banking And Mary Kiffmeyer
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8:49 PM | Posted in ,
H/T Blue Man

Did you ever wonder what would happen if Jesus ran a bank? Forget for a moment the whole strange convergence of the son of God and money which, from my understanding of the Bible, he kinda shunned. One would think that a Jesus endorsed bank would be highly successful in all of its dealings. A bank in Otsego decided to put the two together but is now having some trouble:

The six-year-old bank, which has branches in Otsego and Anoka and $127 million in assets, was ordered to increase its capital after allegedly engaging in "unsafe or unsound banking practices," including operating with inadequate reserves and excessive loan losses, according to an order issued by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. on April 7 and made public Friday.

There is no word yet on whether this is an official divine rebuke...

What the article doesn't mention, however, is that this bank is owned by state representative Mary Kiffmeyer. After hearing a lot during the last election about how "integrity counts", it now appears as though there are some random conditions to that whole integrity thing.










As people enter their polling place next year in House District 16B or perhaps Senate District 16 or heaven help us all across the state to elect the fiscally conservative candidate, will an image run through their mind of Kiffmeyer giving out so much money that even the dreaded government has to step in and tell her to stop?
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Recount News... NO, NOT THAT RECOUNT!
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The St. Cloud Times is reporting that after initial recounts in both the SD16 and HD16A races, both Lisa Fobbe (DFL) and Gail Kulick-Jackson (DFL) have come away victorious.

Fobbe, a Princeton school board member, saw her final margin narrow by one vote over Big Lake Republican Alison Krueger, to 84 votes in a Senate District 16 special election to replace Betsy Wergin.Kulick Jackson, a Milaca attorney, saw her final margin narrow by five votes over Rep. Sondra Erickson, R-Princeton, to an identical 84 votes in their House District 16A race.Once certified, the results would cement a 40-seat DFL majority in the House of Representatives and a 25-seat DFL supermajority in the Senate.

These are particularly gratifying pick-ups given that the area that they now represent is notably conservative. So conservative, in fact, that the Republican Party in the area was willing to turn a blind eye to spousal abuse in order to get their two time endorsed candidate. Their task now will be to govern in a manner centrist enough to keep the seats from quickly returning to the conservative column.

The word on the street, well according to my right wing nemesis Gary Gross, is that Mary Kiffmeyer will challenge Fobbe for the state senate seat. If she decides to do this will she also try to install Alison Krueger in the 16B seat? How will Mark Olson and his write in warriors react to this continued Kiffmeyer coup d'etat? Will Mark Olson run again regardless? So many questions remain about the future of that kooky conservative team in Senate District 16...

If you are a write in warrior or a member of the Olson intelligentsia I encourage you to send me an email about what is next for the Olson machine. Inquiring minds want to know...

Finally, I am hoping to have some interviews with the two new representatives from SD16 and will bring them to you as soon as possible.
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An Open Message To Steve Andrews...
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8:26 PM | Posted in , ,
Some 10 months ago I traveled out to House District 16B to attend a house party for a DFL candidate by the name of Steve Andrews. The man I found there was both insightful and honest and wanting to run a campaign based upon the foundations of what makes Minnesota a great place to live.
As your representative, I pledge to you that I will work tirelessly to ensure that all of our children have the opportunity to succeed. It’s called protecting what we have.

Together we can rebuild this State we call home!

Together we can accomplish the great things that were once handed down to us by people like my parents and yours.

Together we can protect the investment and legacy that our forefathers worked so hard to hand down to us.
Sometimes, a candidate loses election not because of anything they have done wrong or because they are the lesser candidate. Sometimes, a candidate loses simply because the dynamics of their district set them up to lose. This is the case in the district of Steve Andrews.

NO Democrat could or will win in 16B unless a major shift occurs. This is the heart of evangelical Minnesota where people vote almost solely upon social issues and the Democratic Party is seen as Michele Bachmann would describe it, a bunch of anti-American baby killers who are hell bent on destroying their religion and their "way of life".

Andrews almost had a chance that few thought was possible with what looked like a three way race between Andrews, Mark Olson, and Mary Kiffmeyer. Unfortunately, it didn't work out that well and he was stuck in a two way race with a more well known figure who has impeccable kooky evangelical conservative ideals.

Other inside the campaign issues hurt the Andrews campaign as one of its greatest assets was essentially driven out of both the campaign and the party.

While I tried to help Mr. Andrews in a variety of ways, I have to be honest that I did not put in as much effort as I could have or probably should have. To Andrews I must apologize for those things I said I would do but didn't and those things I should have done but failed to make a priority.

Good luck, Steve, and keep in touch...
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Right Wing Blog Urging People To PUNISH Krueger AND Kiffmeyer
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A few days ago I wondered aloud whether the virulent anti-Krueger crowd would connect the dots and also punish Mary Kiffmeyer who swept in to take the Olson seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives and then installed a crony to take the Minnesota Senate seat.

Olson supporters are mobilizing against Alison Krueger with an aggressive write-in campaign. Yet, in his old House District, the Kiffmeyer Campaign has not drawn the same ire from the Olson people. Shouldn't Olson and his minions go to the root of their problems which is Mary Kiffmeyer who pushed them out of the district and forced him into this new fight for the Senate?

Today that question appears to have been answered as a blogger from the district is spreading the word to not only write in Olson for the Senate seat but also for the House seat.

I am endorsing and supporting Mark Olson to be my write in candidate for both the 16 CD Senate Candidate but also for the 16b House of Rep. Candidate.

I will let Mark choose which position he wants!

I am suggesting that members of my district to do the same!

I refuse to have this Senate Victory Fund choose my representation in my own Backyard!

Mary Kiffmeyer and Alison Kreuger, you both should be ashamed of yourselves for selling out!

You are selling out me and your fellow Republicans!


The question remains, how much influence does this particular blogger have within the district and can he muster enough write in votes to take down both Krueger and Kiffmeyer? If he is able to muster a dual write in campaign, how much could that help my good friend, Steve Andrews, as he tries to become the DFL Representative from District 16B?
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Will The Olson Supporters Also Punish Kiffmeyer...
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Olson supporters are mobilizing against Alison Krueger with an aggressive write-in campaign. Yet, in his old House District, the Kiffmeyer Campaign has not drawn the same ire from the Olson people. Shouldn't Olson and his minions go to the root of their problems which is Mary Kiffmeyer who pushed them out of the district and forced him into this new fight for the Senate?

Kiffmeyer, on her website, slams Olson by referring to herself as the "trusted conservative" and stating that "integrity counts".

The only message to be gleaned here is that Kiffmeyer believes that Olson has no integrity (I cannot believe I agree with Mary Kiffmeyer on something!) and that he is not to be trusted.

For the Olson supporter there has to be a serious conflict of interest in voting for both him and Kiffmeyer who holds a very low opinion of Olson, is to blame for Olson losing his House District seat, and who put in place the woman that won the primary for the Senate District seat. Shouldn't you be actively trying to take down Kiffmeyer as well? Hopefully, someone in the Olson column will help explain this one to me...
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The State Of Things In Senate District 16 (Update)
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This election year is getting more and more interesting in Senate District 16. Over in House District 16B you have what is potentially a three way race that may split this very conservative district enough to hand the seat to moderate DFLer, Steve Andrews. I learned today from a relatively reliable source that Mark Olson WILL be running as an "independent" against Republican endorsed, Mary Kiffmeyer, and DFL endorsed, Steve Andrews.

To top things off, Betsy Wergin was recently appointed to the Public Utilities Commission by Tim Pawlenty opening the Senate seat for a special election tied in with the general election in November.

Will Mary Kiffmeyer get out of 16B and move over to the Senate race?

Will Mark Olson try for the Senate seat?

Tim Budig at the Hometown Source Political Pulse Blog is speculating that Olson may wait until the July 31st deadline and run for the State Senate seat being vacated by Wergin.

As of noon today (July 15) Rep. Mark Olson, R-Big Lake, has not filed for office. Olson is at the Capitol, holed up in his office at last check.

One question is whether Olson, who would face former secretary of state Mary Kiffmeyer if he elects to seek his old district seat, will do that or attempt to win a seat in the Minnesota Senate.

Also, it is interesting to note that a reporter saw Olson at the Capitol yesterday and asked him about filing for the 16B seat. I have to wonder what time that was at given that Olson was scheduled to be at an Education Minnesota candidate screening and called to cancel because of a "meeting".

As of noon today (July 14) Olson, who lost his district endorsement to former secretary of state Mary Kiffmeyer, hadn’t filed for office.

When a reporter saw Olson at a cash machine at the Capitol today and asked about his political plans, Olson refused to comment.

Pressed whether he had made up his mind one way or the other on running, Olson replied that he was “working at it.”

Olson’s office late last week indicated the lawmaker would release a press release tomorrow — last day of filing.



Will both of them, without the knowledge of the other, drop out of 16B and find themselves competing again at the Senate level?

Who will the DFL choose to run for the State Senate seat? I nominated former House District 16B candidate, Jim Huhtala, for the position but he promptly told me that he was no longer interested and preferred to do lawn maintenance (he has a really big lawn folks!) rather than run another election.

If Kiffmeyer abandons the 16B seat can Republicans, in good conscience, vote for a man convicted of assaulting his wife?

So, let's turn this into a prediction thread. Leave your predicitions in the comment section.
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The State Of Things In Senate District 16
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This election year is getting more and more interesting in Senate District 16. Over in House District 16B you have what is potentially a three way race that may split this very conservative district enough to hand the seat to moderate DFLer, Steve Andrews. I learned today from a relatively reliable source that Mark Olson WILL be running as an "independent" against Republican endorsed, Mary Kiffmeyer, and DFL endorsed, Steve Andrews.

To top things off, Betsy Wergin was recently appointed to the Public Utilities Commission by Tim Pawlenty opening the Senate seat for a special election tied in with the general election in November.

Will Mary Kiffmeyer get out of 16B and move over to the Senate race?

Will Mark Olson try for the Senate seat?

Will both of them, without the knowledge of the other, drop out of 16B and find themselves competing again at the Senate level?

Who will the DFL choose to run for the State Senate seat? I nominated former House District 16B candidate, Jim Huhtala, for the position but he promptly told me that he was no longer interested and preferred to do lawn maintenance (he has a really big lawn folks!) rather than run another election.

If Kiffmeyer abandons the 16B seat can Republicans, in good conscience, vote for a man convicted of assaulting his wife?

So, let's turn this into a prediction thread. Leave your predicitions in the comment section.
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Shhh. Don't tell anyone!
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1:20 PM | Posted in ,




The Republicans are at it again with yet another secret endorsement convention.

The Republicans from 16B will meet in secret this Saturday at in Becker. At stake is the GOP endorsement where 9 term incumbent and anti all things science champion and convicted wife threatener Mark Olson will face the ethically challenged former Secretary of State and the spouse of the author of the now famous anti dildo bill: Mary Kiffmeyer. There are 2 others running for the seat but neither are nuts enough to receive the GOP nod at this convention. I understand that Olson is pledging not to get beaten by a woman this year.
Kiffmeyer and Olson agree on almost everything although Olson is more of a return to the 1600's guy while Kiffmeyer is more of an 11th century girl. "The 5 most dangerous words in the English language" Kiffmeyer points out is "separation of church and State". She can expect the endorsement of the President of Iran and many middle east terrorists who agree 100% with this view.

The main issue dividing these two titans of the extreme right is if you should use an overhand or underhanded motion to hurl bibles at your spouse and how much millage can you claim for reimbursement from Big Lake to the State capital. Olson thinks it’s about 50 miles and Kiffmeyer thinks it’s “a world away”. Both believe the only answer to climate change is praying, drilling for more oil and lower taxes.


Naturally whenever you have so many kooks in on room representing a political party the smartest thing for the adults to do is try every means at their disposal to keep any word uttered from reaching the general public. Therefore the press and any sane people will not be allowed into the convention. The meeting is not listed on the GOP website. The Party would not even confirm that the convention was on and would not answer ANY questions about it. The only thing the general public (you and me) will see is an after the fact press release.

The Republicans really had little to worry about, the only press that covers this area is the west Sherburne Tribune and the “Citizen”. Both are owned by the same person and he seldom has a disparaging word to say and little interest in the goings on at the State Capital.


Big Lake has almost 400 homes in foreclosure. It’s school district is almost last in per pupil funding and is laying off teachers in spite of a growing student population. It’s police force is in disarray, Becker is about to undergo tremendous change now the power plant will be paying far less in property taxes.


We may never know if these are the things the Republicans will be talking about this Saturday but I doubt it.
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Mary Kiffmeyer & MN Majority: 9/11 Truthers?
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9:29 PM | Posted in , ,
A hot tip from a loyal reader led me to the youtube page of MN Majority and an interesting question: Are Minnesota Majority and Mary Kiffmeyer "9/11 Truthers"?

If you scroll down to the favorites section of the Minnesota Majority youtube page you will find nine videos from a user named UPRsupport. This user describes himself as a Ron Paul supporter (despite being from Poland) and believes that 9/11 was "clearly an inside job". While it wouldn't raise an eyebrow if MN Majority had one or maybe even two videos from this user but when you have NINE videos from a user it indicates some pretty heavy support of the views of that user.

With the heavy support that Ron Paul is receiving here in the 6th District, would it really be that surprising if Kiffmeyer and her pet project were front groups for the "Revolution"? There is still the lingering pain amongst 6th District Republicans over the loss of their delegates (which secretly might include the likes of Michele Bachmann) to Ron Paul supporters and it appears as though Kiffmeyer is capitalizing on that.













Cross Posted on St. Cloud Times
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Why Was Kiffmeyer Still Running After She Lost?
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9:05 PM | Posted in ,
I recently received some interesting material about Mary Kiffmeyer, who is seeking the Republican endorsement to run in House District 16B and unseat Mark Olson (A campaign that can only be described as who can out religious extremism whom).

Kiffmeyer submitted a report for receipts and expenditures from the Kiffmeyer for Secretary of State Committee. To my knowledge, this would indicate one of two things. Either Kiffmeyer planned to run again for Secretary of State or she didn't realize the campaign was over and continued campaigning anyway.


That, however, is not the most important piece of the puzzle. What is even more interesting is that the Kiffmeyer Campaign spent over $400 on a trip to Washington DC in February of 2007. I have yet to determine whether any of this is illegal as the state campaign finance laws I have searched through say little about the subject of post election expenditures (perhaps I am looking in the wrong place), but it seems odd that a defunct Secretary of State Campaign in the state of Minnesota would need to pay its candidate to travel all the way to Washington DC.


This story is still developing...
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