Minnesota’s typewriter-thrower and man who “places” his wife on the ground Mark Olson is not giving up:
The Secretary of State’s office says Olson has filed paperwork to have any write-in votes cast for him counted in the November general election. State law requires such a filing for the votes to count.
Okay SD 16 GOP: I know you guys are a little bit upset that your endorsed candidate was overruled by the elitists in the party but please: get over it. Alison Krueger, if she defeats the DFL challenger, will be a fantastically obedient servant to the state party leadership and your senate district should be proud.
Sure, her stances on the issues are “coming soon” and most of the lit pieces that were carpet-bombed on your district were dropped by the humorously named “Senate Victory Fund” located in Saint Paul and chaired by a guy in Rochester. What that means is that your state party really, truly cares that another rubber stamp for the GOP elite exists to make places like Mille Lacs and Sherburne counties proud to have a bought-out, corrupt minion that will vote their way for the betterment of the party and not the people they represent. The SD 16 GOP should stand behind this ”principled, dedicated and accessible” Alison Krueger, even if she doesn’t actually stand for anything other than having a general belief in transportation and beats the drums for drilling everywhere.
Maybe you have more questions, you should look back to Norm Coleman in 2002. Remember that the Bush White House came in and said (paraphrasing) “Hey, Coleman’s our guy. We’ll make sure he gets elected. We’ve made sure he’ll work for us. Everyone else get out of the race.”
That’s why we don’t have a Senator Pawlenty and that’s why the the Republicans didn’t have a serious endorsement contest. Remember how ticked off some people were about the leadership in Washington DC picking a former DFLer to be Minnesota’s Senate candidate? Remember how ticketed off some people were about the idea there may have been many better choices to represent the GOP from Minnesota in Washington? It doesn’t matter. He was hand-picked from the top and he got a ton of support from high places. Look at what we got in return!
Someone who voted almost 90% of the time with George W. Bush. Someone that could be trusted, even as a freshman Senator, to chair the powerful Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations and not do a single investigation on anything that might adversely affect war profiteering, the excessive privatization of the war (primarily to a certain company Cheney used to be the CEO of) and all the billions lost in Iraq in other ways. Someone who instantly can be wrapped up in the culture of corruption with big oil and shake out policy in the interest of those who helped him gain his seat. Coleman instantly gained a ton of friends with big pockets and they help each other over and over again. That’s success right?
Senate District 16, this is the kind of strong, obedient leadership you can expect out of Alison Krueger at the state level. She pledged that she wouldn’t even run against Olson but it doesn’t matter: when you have friends at the top, you can be pretty powerful. I see Krueger as someone that, if elected, would rise pretty quickly. Don’t you think it is a little selfish to think the Senator from SD 16 should be representing SD 16? You guys should be thankful that the elitists care enough to hand pick a soldier they can own to even be from one of your counties.
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Know what? I am a Republican. I’m no “party elitist” as you say, (not by a long shot) but my choice for the Minnesota Senate is Alison Krueger. It’s interesting how little credit you give to the voters of SD16 in implying this choice was made for us. Why do you think that grassroots people out here want to be represented by a hot-headed convicted domestic abuser? Why do you think we would want to be represented by someone who, despite years in the House, has done basically nothing for this district? Why would we want to be represented by someone who is unable to negotiate in a place where some compromises have to be made in order to be effective? Truth is, we don’t. The true elitists were the delegates at the endorsing convention who endorsed Mark Olson despite public opinion against him.
My decision to support Krueger had nothing to do with phone calls or the lit the Victory Fund sent to me. It had everything to do with wanting to have respectable, effective representation in St. Paul, the kind of representation we got from former Senator Wergin. We have seen the kind of legislator Rep. Olson was. We desire better.
Excellent post!
Alison Krueger says on her website that she’s for “drill here, drill now” legislation.
Is there any oil-drilling legislation contemplated in Minnesota?
I like your posting here, Mr Landry. I would note however that the typewriter issue turns out to be something of an urban legend. The only “record” of the event was its publication in the Red Star Tribune. It was then refuted by Steve Sviggum. I now, I was dubious that this was the case as I thought it was just a “fact” too, but there really aren’t ANY records of any sort hinting at a typewriter. No bill for damages, no complaint, no firsthand account, nothing.
Moving on to one of the comments posted by “Right-On!”:
“The true elitists were the delegates at the endorsing convention who endorsed Mark Olson despite public opinion against him.
My decision to support Krueger had nothing to do with phone calls or the lit the Victory Fund sent to me. It had everything to do with wanting to have respectable, effective representation in St. Paul, the kind of representation we got from former Senator Wergin. We have seen the kind of legislator Rep. Olson was. We desire better.”
The delegates were the furthest thing from elitists- suggesting that they were is really quite absurd. You and I both know that Landry has it right- The Senate Caucus Republicans and Norm Coleman have been the elitists in this affair. Now, as far as Betsy Wergin’s outstanding leadership, I would not be so quick to praise. Sure, Wergin worked across the isle… in fact, that’s what she spent most of her time doing. This constitutional amendment coming up this fall to raise sales taxes- I hear she was one who helped push it through before conveniently removing her name from connection with the bill. It is also interesting that Wergin signs can be seen right next to Obama and Frnaken signs in yards. My word, if you went back to any Wergin sign household and asked them to post a sign for McCain, Bachman, or some other Republican, they would drive you off the property. Betsy did an OK job, but please don’t try to make her sound like a courageous or effective legislator. She could make deals, but many of her votes looked as if a “D” should be behind her name. She worked with a liberal Senate Republican Caucus that sought to yield to the DFL’s aims. Olson has at least stood up to the corruption. Who knows if Alison would… I’d rather doubt it.
Delegates not elitists??? Thanks for the entertaining comment which I can laugh about on my drive home! Might I quote from YOUR OWN BLOG;
“And remember the benefits of the primary system: the legitimization of the use of lies as campaign tools, large pools of voters “pulling the lever” without deliberation or education, and the ability to sway voters easily with as little as a clever slogan ……”
Yup! We primary voters sure are stupid, being swayed by clever slogans and such! It sure is a good thing you party elites are there to run the show!
Take the side of an ineffective wife beater if you wish. We, the uneducated and unable to deliberate will choose someone else.
At least we know that Chris Crumpler is going to sell out the party all because he gets anal from Mark Olson.
But, that’s what happens when you get trounced when your guy is guilty of a crime.
Amboy - if you are a Krueger supporter, you are making the Krueger supporters look bad.
Oh, Chris, by the way, about your comment “Wergin signs can be seen right next to Obama and Frnaken signs in yards.”…… believe me, I put up PLENTY of signs, and I put Wergin signs right next to Bachmann AND Olson or Erickson signs. Take it from someone who actually does that work rather than the elitist BPOU officers who simply drive by and observe.
Kumpula,
Olson lost because he intended to cause his wife to fear bodily harm or death. That’s it. HIS OWN actions toward his wife that HE CHOSE to commit. As a voter, I do not want to be represented by a man that hurt his wife, or caused her to think he would hurt her. Sometimes our actions exclude us from participating in certain areas of life. Just as accidentally spilling a bottle of ink on a white shirt will ruin it for its intended use, Olson has torpedoed his political life. There may be forgiveness and restitution in the end, but that doesn’t mean that he will be fit for public office again nor should he expect it.