Frankly, I’m no fan of this guy and Michael Brodkorb’s effort to run for MN GOP Deputy is laughable.
Brodkorb is perhaps one of the most angry, abrasive, and divisive individuals in Minnesota’s political process. His thuggish and bullying behavior has caused many GOP grassroots activists in Eagan to be so turned off by his antics that they lost interest in participating in the political process. Eagan is now a solid DFL stronghold. He is one of the reasons that the MN GOP has lost so much ground the last three elections.
The current MN GOP Deputy, Dorothy Fleming is a far better candidate and a uniter not divider.
That’s Joe Repya, prominent Republican activist and past (and perhaps future) candidate for MN GOP Chair, discussing Michael Brodkorb, proprietor of Minnesota Democrats Exposed and Communications Director for the Senate Republican Caucus. It would seem that some among the GOP’s activist base are not too pleased with Michael’s scorched earth tactics.
Of course, Repya’s feud with Brodkorb is nothing new. Brodkorb managed Ron Carey’s re-election campaign for party chair two years ago. Repya was Carey’s opponent. What is new, however, is this blog: (which I hadn’t discovered until I read Repya’s post) Dump Brodkorb. Its apparently an effort to prevent Michael from being elected MN GOP Deputy Chair. One would think that Repya would be sympathetic with this blog, but Joe smells foul play:
As of this morning no one has stepped forward to admit ownership of the web site.
This has led many of us to deduce that the owner of the web site might actually be Michael Brodkorb.
Why? It fits his pattern of despicable political shenanigans. Set up a web site against himself, so he can play the victim card and say that mystical forces or his political enemies are trying to keep him from office because they fear his effectiveness.
Dump Brodkorb has no real content yet, but I’ve added it my to my RSS and I’m looking forward to see what they come up with.
UPDATE: I wrote above that Repya might be a future candidate for MN GOP Chair. Well, Repya just announced that he will not run and will instead support former Senator Rod Grams for the position. I don’t think that the GOP will elect Grams Chair. There is just no way that the DFL could be that lucky.
Ummm, we should be very thankful for people like Brodkorb, William Kristol, and Karl Rove. They have helped to usher in a permanent Democratic majority. They are also so stubborn they refuse to be self critical and realize their mistakes, which works in our favor too.
There is no better representative of the Minnesota GOP than Michael Brodkorb. He not only should be the communications head but possibly looked at for State Chair. I think this website is completely missing how Mr. Brodkorb works so hard supporting Republican ideals. If you ask him Jesus is for Brodkorb!
Alec is right, 100%.
The GOP is at quite a fork in the road. They can either determine which candidates and leaders will appeal to the citizens for the next 20 years, or they can recoil and take on an even more no-tax, socially-conservative platform. That approach will make for good conventions where everyone agrees, but miserable election nights.
The most amazing thing to me is that the answer is staring them right in the face. Tim Pawlenty. A youthful, charismatic leader who won two elections, one in a tough GOP year, by being firm on some issues but willing to adapt on others. But many purists don’t want to admit that entertaining moderate policy is the way to go.
DTM, yes Tim won two elections but never with more than 47% of the vote. He will always need a liberal third party candidate to split the vote for him to win.
The third party refrain gets tired. If a certain candidate is so good that he/she deserves a strong majority, then why does the voting public give 10-20% of their votes to a 3rd party candidate? Because they are sick of the Democrat and the Republican.
Even the late, great Paul Wellstone, who I admire, never pulled 51% in an election.
LTC (Retired) Joe Repya is an authentic American hero; he’s served on battlefields in Viet Nam and Iraq; in Iraq during both wars.
He’s also principled - you might not agree with Colonel Repya, but you can have honest and open and thoughtful discussions with the man. I know; I have. While we disagree on many issues, I have great respect for him. He simply is not a disagreeable man.
And Colonel Repya cares deeply about our country and our state, and about his party. Quite frankly, dialogue between parties would be much better off if Colonel Repya was successful in his challenge of Ron Carey for Chair of the state GOP.
And Colonel Repya’s “rewards” for challenging Ron Carey for the party chair? Current party leadership trashed him:
http://www.mnblue.com/node/1488
Yep - they trashed him; they tossed Colonel Repya under the bus in order to cover up their “stewardship” of the state GOP’s finances.
Don’t be surprised if they start another round of “trash Joe!” again….
Sorry but Tim 47% Pawlenty will never be in the same high class of public servants as Wellstone. That is, unless Tim suddenly has an epiphany and begins to consider the long term benefit of the citizens of the state rather than his personal political future.
attilla -
I respected Paul Wellstone and I respect Tim Pawlenty. While I disagree with many (in some years, most) of Wellstone’s positions, I did respect him.
If election margin is the litmus test for one’s public service, then Amy Klobuchar is far and away more of a legend in this state than Paul Wellstone. And I have a feeling that isn’t the case, at least not for another decade or two.
It is a very freeing feeling to be able to admire public servants from either side of the aisle. Try it sometime.
DTM,
FYI, I voted for and admire Arne Carlson for being a fiscally responsible Republican (without the social conservative baggage) and for putting the long term best interests of the citizens of the state above his personal ambitions. I actually voted for Pawlenty the first time, but I have regretted that vote and been very disappointed with his idealogical inflexibility and his clear personal ambitions which have harmed the state. Does that help you?
Oh and getting back to the topic of the post, Brodkorb is the gift that keeps on giving…for Democrats. I really hope he gets the nod and drives the current MN GOP further into angry drooling oblivion. Maybe one day after they hit bottom will the MN GOP come to its senses and begin to honestly address issues which effect us all rather than the hate-mongering divisive Rovian politics that Brodkorb can’t see past.
That guy is something else. His website is a joke of sensationalism with a bunch chimps all chirping at once on his discussion threads. The undercover work he posted when he was eating Perkins and just happened to have a video camera could win him Peabody.
Does anyone legit in the GOP take him seriously?
How dare you people attack this fine upstanding example of virile Republican manhood. Mr. Brodkorb has convincingly protected his vital bodily fluids from being stained by loose women, liberals and fluoride. He is a white man who closely resembles the majority of Minnesotans and has little contact with those more pigmented and less important citizens. He is a perfect reflection of the GOP in Minnesota and knows that the only purpose of government is to cut taxes for the wealthy. We should be supporting him in his effort to become a more important figure within the Republican Party.
I for one will donate money to the GOP if they put Mr. Brodkorb in a higher position of power. It would certainly help the political climate of our great state.
Oh please pick Rod Grams. With his experience of scraping up a 49% plurality in a GOP blowout like 1994, and then losing in a neutral political year to a weak candidate like Mark Dayton, the Minnesota Republicans will be on track to continue their brilliant winning streak under Grams’ steady hand. That is, if he isn’t too busy cheating on his second wife with his receptionist. Grams, Norm Coleman, Jon Grunseth and Mark Olson could form a Family Values bloc at this summer’s GOP convention. Caucus meetings to be held in the MSP Airport men’s room.