Showing posts with label Partisan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Partisan. Show all posts

Gary Gross Responds...
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4:45 PM | Posted in ,
Gary Gross has responded to my commentary (to be honest, I was a little surprised) on a recent posting he made on 'Let Freedom Ring'. Let me begin by stating that I would be the first to admit that I am an amateur in the blogging world and an even bigger amateur when it comes to politics in relation to Mr. Gross. He is on the inside of the Republican machinery in Minnesota while I am but a lowly outsider (albeit an outsider who is a rabid consumer of politics). The purpose of this blog has always been recreational observations of politics as I see it. That being said, from what I read of Mr. Gross, he is of the opinion that conservative principles are always right while liberal and even moderate viewpoints are always wrong. I will be the first to admit that I am a rabid liberal and tend to view liberal viewpoints as right minded viewpoints. However, the difference is that I am not so arrogant as to believe that my viewpoints are always the right course of action or that a more moderate or compromising stance is tantamount to defeat. This is the problem in politics today! We hold steadfast to our viewpoints at the expense of true compromise or true problem solving. We assume that if we back down, even in the slightest, that we have "lost" some battle. We use terms such as 'DINO' or 'RINO' to describe those amongst us we feel have betrayed those viewpoints and dared to compromise. The prime example of this for me is the treatment given to Joe Lieberman during the past election season. While I disagree with some of his more conservative stances I don't think he deserved to be shunned from the party. I want my party to be a big tent in which ideas and viewpoints are debated and even disagreed upon but that has an understanding that there is far more to connect us than to divide us.

So, what did Mr. Gross have to say?
Gary Gross said...

That's a sloppy bit of commentary. When I used the term "winning the battles of the regular session", I was simply saying that special sessions shouldn't be used for things that properly belong to regular sessions.

I'll stand by my statement that the DFL gets spanked in November 2008 because it isn't possible to compromise with a tax-increase hungry bunch of radical lefties.The only way to get the $5.5 billion tax increases off the table is by getting them from their agenda-setting role as the majority party in the House.

*Gary tries to downplay his rabid partisanship with a little sprinkle of attack the messenger. Yet, it is hard to hide when the next sentence is a confirmation that compromise is not his fault, but rather, the fault of "radical lefties". Isn't it convenient, Gary, that you would discount compromise by portraying people that don't agree with your particular viewpoints as a "radical"? It seems like a cop out so that you don't have to even make attempts at compromise.

You have to ask yourselves a few things about Gary:
  1. Does he believe conservatives are "right" about everything?
  2. Does he believe liberals are "wrong" about everything?
  3. Has he ever supported anything proposed by a liberal or a moderate?
  4. If he is intent upon the DFL compromising, what compromises is he willing to make?
*If he cannot find anything to support in liberal or moderate positions how can we ever have meaningful dialogue on issues facing Minnesota? If he cannot find any compromise in his own position what possible good can come out of one sided compromise?

*On a side note: I do want to thank Gary for stopping by my little blog and, at the very least, starting a discussion!
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Fisking a Fisker!
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7:54 AM | Posted in ,
Gary Gross, author of the 'Let Freedom Ring Blog', has long chastised the idea of a special session. In his newest post, however, it appears he has also displayed what is truly wrong with our politics today. His expression of events as winners and losers shows how he is not terribly interested in improving Minnesota, but rather, is concerned only with he and his party winning "battles" against their apparent enemy.

Tarryl, Let Me Explain It To You

According to this article, Tarryl Clark said that it’s difficult to figure out where Gov. Pawlenty is at with the special session. Here’s her exact quote:

“It’s been tough to figure exactly where he’s at,” she said.

If Gov. Pawlenty’s position on the special session has been difficult to figure out, it’s because the DFL leadership kept pushing for an ‘all-inclusive’ special session, one which would allow them to refight the battles that they lost last session.

*This statement is truly remarkable, in that it shows the mentality of Gross (but hopefully not of his party) that Republicans are in this game not to improve the state or the lives of its people. Rather, they exist only to "win" the game. It seems a very disheartening sign that people such as Gross are out there counting things in terms of wins and losses rather than in what ideas and measures are good for Minnesota or the country.

Gov. Pawlenty’s position was simply that he wasn’t ruling things out because he’d hoped that the DFL leadership would agree to be reasonable. That didn’t turn out to be the case. Throughout the entire thing, he held fast to the need to limit the session to emergency items only. Now the DFL leadership caved and they’re saying that they can’t figure out what Gov. Pawlenty wants. (Perhaps that’s a hint that the current leadership is clueless? Or possibly dishonest? Or both?)

*Reasonable? It is quite amusing when someone such as Gary uses the word reasonable because it does not mean reasonable in the sense that most people would use it (compromise to reach an agreement). He uses it to mean that the only way the DFL can be considered reasonable is if they do whatever the Governor wants them to do. Also, you have to love the two options he gives about the DFL leadership, both negative! Is advocating ones position either clueless or dishonest? This is part of the problem with politics today, it is no longer about positing ideas and positions, examining the ideas and positions of others, and coming to an amicable agreement using the best ideas of both sides. For Gary, and others like him, it is purely about "winning" at the expense of any compromise or the valid ideas of others.

DFLers are not looking for a gas tax increase, metro sales tax increase, nor a bonding bill, she said. Democrats look to dollars left unspent last session as a result of gubernatorial vetoes as a funding pool that can be tapped for the bridge and flood relief, Clark explained.

Clark opined that the House and Senate DFL leaders will be able to keep their caucus in line during a special session.

This is proof positive that the DFL caved on a special session. I can’t believe that their activists are happy with the ‘returns’ they’re getting for their hard work. Let’s put this in perspective. These activists were rejoicing on Election Night. Since then, they’ve seen Larry Pogemiller, Steve Murphy, Tarryl Clark, Speaker Kelliher, Phyllis Khan and Tony Sertich get spanked by Gov. Pawlenty, Marty Seifert and the House GOP in the regular session, then watch them get whipped over the special session, too.

*Again, the idea that compromise equates to losing comes through loud and clear in the writings of Mr. Gross. That the DFL is simply trying to come to an amicable agreement so that a special session can occur, even if that means throwing some wishes aside, is unfathomable to him because "winning" is the only purpose.

Larry Pogemiller was rumored to be walking on eggshells towards the end of the regular session. After this embarrassing defeat, he’s gotta be thinking that he’s walking on thin ice. It isn’t a stretch to think that his political career is circling the drain as we speak.

*A defeat? How can the practice of representative government ever be considered a defeat unless one is so blinded by partisanship that they simply cannot see the value in working together to improve our state.

This year has been a good year for the GOP in Minnesota. More importantly, it’s been a good year for Minnesota’s taxpayers, who’ve been spared the additional burden of billions of dollars of tax increases, thanks to the steadfastness of our goalie, the House Republicans and GOP activists statewide.

I’d venture a guess that we wouldn’t be talking about the great string of achievements if the groundwork hadn’t fallen into place early in the regular session.

*Amazingly, this is the only instance in which Gary shows the slightest interest for the people of Minnesota over the myopic interests of his party. Whether I agree with his stance on the outcome of the regular session is irrelevant. I would much rather Gary focus on his ideas about taxes and their cost or benefit to Minnesotans than this constant win/loss partisan message. However, it becomes increasingly difficult to solve big problems when more and more people such as Gary refuse to see the value in compromise and see the world only in terms of their ideas even when presented with evidence to the contrary.

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The Circular Logic of a Partisan!
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Over the past SEVEN days we have seen a consistent theme in the Editorial Page of the St. Cloud Times. A Bachmann supporter or detractor has been published on their pages each and every day. The theme has prompted me to wonder if there is such thing as Bachmann Over Exposure Syndrome (The symptoms being a nauseating disgust at having to read either another glowing report of the do nothing representative or another insanely inept choice in her voting record. Please, consult your Doctor if you begin to exhibit any of these signs).

Here is a run down of the week:

8/13/07: Letter: Rep. Bachmann nowhere to be found in 6th district
8/14/07: Letter: Don't be so swift with criticism of politicians
8/15/07: Letter: Bachmann sided with polluters on key issue
8/16/07: Times Writers Group: Lean times call for a watchful eye
8/17/07: Letter: Bachmann did not make right choice on energy
8/18/07: Letter: Bachmann's votes don't represent area interests
8/19/07: Letter: Columnist leaned on politics, not religion

Today was no different as the streak stays alive with a Letter from Leo Pusateri:

Letter: Bachmann got it right when opposing energy bill
By Leo Pusateri St. Cloud

Published: August 20. 2007 12:30AM

Marcus Aurelius once wisely stated, "The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."

Interestingly, an honest interpretation of this quote would lead one to believe that Leo is telling people not to follow the crowd and to make decisions as an individual or you will find yourself amongst an insane group of mindless majority. However, it appears at second glance that really the majority Leo wants to avoid is a Liberal or Democratic one but would be more than happy with a Conservative or Republican one. Take one glance at the Blog Mr. Pusateri operates and you will find him to be a rabid Conservative partisan. Don't get me wrong, I have nothing against being partisan but I certainly wouldn't go around touting a quote demanding we think for ourselves when Leo does nothing more than shill for his Conservative ideolog


This statement is more than appropriate to those who would oppose the calling of a special session and knee-jerk gas tax hike in response to the admittedly tragic collapse of the I-35W bridge — especially given that the cause of the collapse will not be known until at least August 2008.

Leo, would that be the same bridge that Michele voted to delay funding to by trying to adjourn the House of Representatives EARLY?

Another Marcus Aurelius award can be given to our 6th District congressional representative, Michele Bachmann, who wisely voted against the recently passed bill in the U.S. House that imposes a standard of 15 percent renewable electric energy by 2020.

The author of an Aug. 17 letter in the Times stated "In the future I hope Bachmann, can stand up to big business and represent her constituents in a manner that shows the character of St. Cloud and the greater 6th District with a more forward-looking and practical vote."

The irony of that statement is that with regard to this measure, Bachmann did indeed place "a forward-looking and practical vote." Rather than imposing an arbitrary standard, the cost of which the market (and ultimately, Minnesota consumers) would find difficult, if not impossible to bear, Bachmann wisely thought it better to allow the market, in its own time, to produce viable solutions.

Oh those wonderful markets! So trustworthy, so benevolent, so ready to consider alternative forms of energy! They never have people corrupting them (Ken Lay) or over inflating them (Sub Prime Mortgage) in an effort to simply make profit! No, those markets are almost God like (perhaps that is why our "Fool for Christ" loves them so very much).

The saying, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions" has been proven to be embodied in arbitrarily imposed government restrictions and standards that have no relationship to market forces. Often, these restrictions have resulted in inflated consumer prices, and have presented themselves as more problematic than the problems they were supposed to address. It bodes well that we in the 6th have a legislator who recognizes this. Thank you, Michele Bachmann!

You are so right, I mean in the early 20th Century the markets didn't need any cajoling to clean up their abysmal health and safety standards!


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