Who Will FNR Endorse: Learning about Rep. Marty Seifert

I began the day early by heading out to the Miss Minnesota Workshop, and while I was driving--between interruptions from the GPS lady--I was listening to KTLK FM 100.3.

I began listening during Chris Baker's interview with Marty Seifert. I was wishing I could hear the whole thing, because it was giving me the exact information I've been looking for. I came in in the middle and had to stop before the interview ended because I had reached my destination (as the GPS lady would say).

I hadn't heard Rep. Seifert speak other than in sound bite form, so the interview was a good way to get a better idea of his personality. He came off as somewhat soft spoken, but very decisive as well. He possesses a pronounced, but not Ventura-like Minnesota accent.

While I was able to listen, he was talking mostly about his business and about the fact that he lives well outside the Twin Cities. He was also talking about the importance of relieving the burden on businesses so they will want to stay or come to Minnesota.

He told a story about a man who wanted to start a vodka distillery business in Windom, Minnesota. He had the building, the workers, the banks and everything else he needed. All he needed was a permit. He was told the permit would cost $30,000 per year, every year he would be in business. He went to Iowa and lined up the building, workers, etc., and was told his permit would be $350 per year. Where do you think this man took his business and the jobs that went with it? Seifert introduced a bill to reduce Minnesota's fee to that of our neighboring states, but it was stalled in the legislature. There are only two distillers left in Minnesota. Seifert feels strongly that it's not just taxes, but also licenses, fees, permits, regulations, and paperwork that are sending businesses fleeing for other states.

So, Marty Seifert is in favor of making it easier and more profitable for business to operate in Minnesota. Most conservatives would wholeheartedly agree.

He also spoke about how he feels Minnesota is a welfare magnet for residents of other states. People move here because we have a reputation for being a great place to live on government entitlements. Seifert would like to see regulations put in place to make that reputation disappear; for example, drug testing for new welfare applicants from other states. Again, a concept most conservatives would agree with.

He claims he is the only candidate of either party who has put out a budget; it's on his website and he's mailed it as well. "We have to be capable of doing this," he said. "It's not just rhetorical; it's got to be real."

If you want more information, visit Seifert's website and listen to the podcast of today's interview with KTLK's Chris Baker.

next: learning about Representative Tom Emmer

Who will the Friendly Neighborhood Republican endorse for the Republican gubernatorial ticket: Emmer or Seifert?

I am working on the process of rather quickly deciding who I will back for the Republican endorsement for governor. But I wanted to make something clear.

I will try as hard as possible not to degrade or put down either candidate. I think it's of the utmost importance not to do this because in the end, one of these candidates will be the Republican candidate for governor of Minnesota.

Ultimately, what is most important to me and to most conservatives, is that we don't lose the governor's office to a Democrat. If I, in my decision-making process, put down one of the Republican candidates, I'll be doing the Democrats' job for them.

No matter what happens, we conservatives are all on the same side. Whether we like the results of the endorsement at next week's convention or not, we must live with it and get behind the chosen candidate with all the strength we have, or we will not win the governor's race.

After the endorsement process is over, if each Republican camp snipes at the other instead of working with all their might for the endorsed candidate, maybe we won't deserve to win.

Who will get the Friendly Neighborhood Republican's endorsement: Emmer or Seifert?

I'm usually a very decisive person. I don't understand, for example, people who don't know what to name their baby after having nine full months to think, argue and compromise. Good Lord, isn't nine months enough?

I like to do my research, and I am usually able to come to quick conclusions about things. I have never understood the need for "undecided" in a poll. I live on very solid moral ground, and I pride myself on that.

My parenting philosophy reflects my world view. Most people, when asked, say they just want their children to be happy. I don't. Nobody ever learned anything by skipping through a field of flowers whistling a happy tune. Adversity makes us stronger. What I do want for my children is for them to be people of integrity. I want them to be able to look in the mirror and be proud of who they see. I want them to know their word means something.

I believe in moral absolutes. I believe some things are wrong just because they're wrong, and some things are right just because they are. This usually makes it easy for me to make decisions.

I'm not proud to say that I haven't made a decision yet as to who I am backing for the Republican endorsement for governor. I've been very distracted of late, and I haven't had the time to do proper research on these two candidates.

I interviewed Senator David Hann about why he is backing Marty Seifert. I know what others are saying about Emmer and Seifert. But I'm not skilled in bandwagon jumping. I need to form my own opinion based on my own beliefs, not the beliefs of others.

I'm not a delegate for the upcoming Republican convention. I'm a second alternate. I don't even know if that requires my attendance. I'd like to go, but personal issues are taking precedence right now. However, attending the convention is a goal of mine.

So in the next few days, I'll be reading through the small stack of literature each candidate has mailed to me. I'll dissect their websites. I'll try to use as many resources as I can to make a decision.

I am the Friendly Neighborhood Republican. I am also a conservative columnist for Examiner.com, which reaches more people than my blog could ever dream of.

So who will the Friendly Neighborhood Republican endorse for governor of Minnesota? Tom Emmer or Marty Seifert?

We'll discover it together, because as soon as I make a decision, I'll post it here.

Feel free to send any information you think is important. I won't accept opinions without solid information to back them up. This decision is not emotional, it's cerebral. So, who will be endorsed by the Friendly Neighborhood Republican?

Who knows?

Should Rush Limbaugh and Chris Matthews be sharing a cell in federal prison?

TIME magazine columnist, Joe Klein, for all intents and purposes accused Sarah Palin and Glenn Beck of sedition during an appearance on Chris Matthews' show April 18. He said, "I did a little bit of research just before this show--it's on this little napkin here. I looked up the definition of 'sedition,' which is conduct or language inciting rebellion against the authority of the state. And a lot of these statements, especially the ones coming from people like Glenn Beck, and to a certain extent, Sarah Palin, rub right up close to being seditious."

Since we're consulting dictionaries, Merriam-Webster Online defines sedition as:

Main Entry: sedition

Pronunciation: se·di·tion

Function: noun

Date: 14th century

incitement of resistance to or insurrection against lawful authority

A visit to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary of Law shows an even more serious definition of the word:

Main Entry: sedition

Pronunciation: se·di·tion

the crime of creating a revolt, disturbance, or violence against lawful civil authority with the intent to cause its overthrow or destruction— compare CRIMINAL SYNDICALISM

Those are some serious accusations, Joe. Everything from inciting rebellion, to inciting resistance or insurrection, to a crime intended to overthrow or destroy the government.

Even so, it wasn't long before others jumped on Klein's bandwagon. John Heilemann of New York Magazine agreed with Klein and even added Rush Limbaugh to the list of the "seditious." His reason? "I'll name Rush Limbaugh, who uses this phrase constantly and talks about the Obama administration as a 'regime.' That phrase, which has connotations of tyranny."

This isn't really new. I've heard a lot of rumblings lately about how the right is stooping so low as to use the heinous word, "regime" when describing Obama's administration.

It does sound kind of wrong to accuse any American administration of being a "regime." After all, didn't we say, "Sadam Hussein's regime," before we took him out?

Chris Matthews sure doesn't like it. He said, in an on-air rant: "I've never seen language like this in the American press, referring to an elected representative government, elected in a totally fair, democratic American election... fair, free, and wonderful democracy we have in this country.... We know that word, 'regime.' It was used by George Bush, 'regime change.' You go to war with regimes. Regimes are tyrannies. They're juntas. They're military coups. The use of the word 'regime' in American political parlance is unacceptable, and someone should tell the walrus [Limbaugh] to stop using it." Matthews continued, "I never heard the word 'regime' before, have you?" he asked NBC's Chuck Todd. "I don't even think Joe McCarthy ever called this government a 'regime.'"

But it sounds so familiar. I know there are other examples...oh, yes, of course! I remember now.

The Bush Regime.

NewsBusters.com has compiled video of MSNBC staff and former staff, including Chris Matthews, using the term "Bush regime" several times.

Progressive organization Center for Media and Democracy's "Source Watch" cites a Wikepedia-like definition for the term Bush regime. The term shows up in The World Can't Wait's website 92 times. Political analyst and free-lance writer, Ted Lang, writes about "The Nazi Bush Regime" on rence.com.

If you're looking for a gift for your lefty friends, you can purchase a Bush Regime deck of cards, detailing the "52 most dangerous dignitaries." Or,

you can download a "Wanted" poster titled, "Wanted for Mass Murder: The Bush Regime," complete with "mug shots" of various Bush staffers, including Condoleezza Rice.

There are articles about the Bush Regime trying to postpone the elections; there's the Bush Regime Historical Society that was taking design ideas for a monument; Sidney Blumenthal wrote the book, How Bush Rules: Chronicals of a Radical Regime; the term was used 16 times in the New York Times and 24 times in the Washington Post.

I could go on, but there are too many references to cite.

To those progressives who clutch their pearls every time Rush Limbaugh says the words, "Obama regime," I say, "If the right is guilty of sedition, which is a federal crime, shouldn't Chris Matthews and his friends be broadcasting their rants from federal prison?"

Or maybe the left should just let this go.

Bachmann/Palin rally in Minneapolis: so this is "liberal" Minnesota?

Minnesota has a reputation for being exceedingly liberal (e.g. we were the only state to vote for Dukakis in 1988--you may pause for a moment to hang your head in shame). Despite this inclination, approximately 11,000 Minnesotans came out of their closets and showed up at the Minneapolis Convention Center today to rally for Michele Bachmann and all things conservative.

The rally featured speakers Rep. Michele Bachmann, Rep. Erik Paulsen, Republican Party of Minnesota State Chair Tony Sutton, Sarah Palin, and Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. Even FOXNews talk show host Sean Hannity was there. It was like Minnesota conservative crack.

It was surprising to note that the biggest "lift" from the crowd came when Governor Pawlenty spoke. The people really responded well to his message, and the excitement around him was palpable. He has been virtually everywhere lately, on T.V. and at events such as this around the country, and his confidence shows. He is beginning to appear as a strong leader, which will serve him well if he does, as people have predicted, run for President in 2012. His introduction and speech elicited more noise from the crowd than Palin or Bachmann.

Thank God for giant television screens. I could hardly see a thing without it because I'm only 5' 1" tall, I was on the floor, and there was a huge dais filled with camera people smack in the middle of it. About half the crowd was in front of it, and the other half behind it. Its placement wasn't popular. An elderly woman approached me and said, "They put the cameras in the middle so it only looks like half the people showed up, those a@& holes..."

It was a diverse crowd.

There were elderly people, babies, children of all ages, guys wearing baseball hats, slim women in pearls, stout women in flannel, and men in business suits and ties. One thing connected all of them: there were smiles on every face and people were polite, friendly and respectful to one another. They were there for the "cause;" the cause being: winning back our liberty and saving this country we love for our children and grandchildren. They must have thought it was important because they came out in huge numbers in the middle of a work day to stand shoulder to shoulder in a large, dim room on an absolutely gorgeous Minnesota spring day.

Michele Bachmann, looking fantastic in yellow, was as energized as I have ever seen her. She seems as comfortable on stage talking to thousands of people as she would be having coffee with friends. She possesses the rare quality of being able to appear caring and gentle while simultaneously coming off as strong, tough and true. It seems uncontrived and natural, and while I don't know Rep. Bachmann personally, I believe it to be her genuine personality. Those are the qualities we need in Washington: a woman who cares enough about her country to fight for it.

FOXNews personality, Sean Hannity, began taping his show live from the Minneapolis Convention Center almost immediately after the "rally" portion of the event was over. He was tossing toy footballs into the crowd, as he does on his nightly FOX show. I was almost able to catch two of them, if I had been tall. And a man.

There were lots of conservative vendors working this event. I didn't get a chance to visit them all, but some that got my attention were:

AM1280 The Patriot was there selling patriotic T-shirts.

Cool Conservative was there with its newest additions to its growing conservative fashion and accessories line.

Space Case Jase was selling hats, T-shirts, and bumper stickers.

Sons of Liberty from AM1280 The Patriot were selling books, inspirational CDs, and pink "virtue" T-Shirts.

There were also various button vendors, who were doing very well for themselves, judging from the crowds around them.

It was a fun, inspiring event. I hope everyone who attended came out of it energized and ready to work to show America that Minnesota isn't just for liberals anymore.

Left says only "fringe" groups want ObamaCare repealed

A CBS poll was released Wednesday in which participants were asked, "Should Republicans continue to challenge the health care bill?" A whopping 62 percent of participants answered "yes," and 33 percent answered no.

That's nearly two in three Americans who want Republicans to continue to fight against this horror Obama just signed into law.

Lefty bloggers have overwhelmingly been referring to those who oppose health care "reform" or who want the new law repealed, as "fringe" groups, or the "fringe" of the Republican party.

Rasmussen's health care poll shows 55 percent of those polled in favor of repealing health care reform, with nearly 60 percent of senior citizens polled in favor of a repeal. Furthermore, the Rasmussen poll shows 60 percent of Americans think the new health care law will increase the federal deficit.

Fringe, huh?

I'd like to see a rug made out of those kinds of ratios. It would look something like this:

You can't have a rug made out of two thirds fringe. Pretty soon, it's no longer a rug, it's just a bunch of fringe. I'd like to see Nancy Pelosi try to wipe her dirty pumps on that.

It's time for them to face the fact that the people they have tried so hard to label the lunatic fringe are fast becoming mainstream America.

The "Stupak Swindle"

Obama is applauded after signing the health care bill, Tuesday, March 23, 2010. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

In a move I have christened the "Stupak Swindle," President Obama signed the health care bill into law today, knowing full well it still included all of the pro-abortion funding language.

What he didn't sign was the Executive Order he promised to Representative Bart Stupak, a Democrat from Michigan, which Obama ensured would deny funding for abortions through the new health care legislation.

Stupak is a pro-life Democrat who, along with a dozen or so other pro-life Democrats, held up the passing of this legislation for quite some time. He and his followers relented and voted for the bill after meeting with President Obama and being promised by Obama an Executive Order that would eliminate the abortion funding.

I think Stupak was the only one who actually bought this. It seems every other pro-lifer in America knew President Obama would find some way not to keep his word to Stupak once his vote was purchased for the health care bill.

A Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life (MCCL) Blog post written yesterday, Abortion-expansion health care bill will become law, explains how the Executive Order was essentially meaningless anyway, and provides excellent links, such as the National Right to Life's March 19 letter to the House of Representatives, which very thoroughly explaines all the pro-abortion language included in the bill, now the law of the land.

Pro-lifers will continue to fight against what the MCCL President Leo LaLonde called, "the greatest expansion of abortion since Roe vs. Wade."

Democrats walk in lockstep to House floor prior to health care vote in disgusting display of self-perceived superiority

(AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke) Pelosi and friends begin their public lockstep journey
to the House vote on health care reform.

Prior to the beginning of health care debate, House Democratic leaders walked in lockstep outdoors -- the long route to the House floor -- to convey their unity of mind in passing the historic bill." So say many articles on the web.

I think this is beyond scary, and I've been looking for images of this for a while.

I found them. As the old cliché says, "A picture is worth a thousand words." Here are "3,000 words" summing up the health care debate as represented by Speaker Pelosi and her ilk.

(link will bring you to the rest of this article on Examiner.com)

On Flags and Health Care "Reform"

If this health care reform monstrosity passes (I hear they may try to do it as early as tomorrow), I will fly my flag at half mast.

Rules about such things say only the Governor of a state or the President of the United States can order flags flown at half mast and only for certain reasons, such as the death of a former president, etc.

Who will have died?

Liberty.

Who will have ordered the flag's lowering?

Me.

If they can do this to my country and to my family and to me, then I can declare whatever I want about my own flag. Because I will feel very separate from the government. I almost just wrote "my" government. But it won't be mine anymore if they do this awful thing to us, if they get away with what they are trying to do to our beautiful country.

Because it will still be my country. It will still be my flag. But Obama won't be my president anymore.

I have always said, even if I disagree with a president or if he has shamed our country (Clinton), he's still my president. I don't feel that way anymore. This is too much. It's too underhanded. Nancy Pelosi has the power of a Queen back when Queens had power, and Obama will sign this thing into law, complete with provisions that it can't be overturned. This is not how it's supposed to be.

This spring I will travel to Arlington, VA to bury the ashes of a wonderful man. He was a Marine Captain in World War II in the Pacific theater. He was in charge of all the marines on the U.S.S. Missouri, where the peace treaty with the Japanese was signed, ending the war.

He will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. I dearly loved this man. He fought for our freedom, our liberty, our flag.

So my flag is mine to do with what I will because I am an American and this lovely man fought for my freedom. You may decide what you wish to do with your own flags, if you have them. You can join me in this expression of grief, or you can find your own way to express yourself. I will lower my flag if these people get away with this abomination on my country and the death of its liberty.

If you think I've gone too far, then you don't know what is really in this bill.

This is just my way. And at least for a while, I will still be free to express myself however I choose.

Obama to appear on FOX News with Bret Baier tonight

President Obama, in a move that has many on both sides of the isle confused, has done an interview with Bret Baier, host of FOX News Special Report, which will air tonight on FOX at 5 p.m. Central time.

This interview is unprecidented because the White House attempted to impose a ban on FOX news from their press pool early in Obama's administration. They didn't even want FOX in the press pool during press conferences, let alone granting interviews to them.

Preview: Obama on 'Special Report'

So why is Obama doing this? From the looks of the preview (above), he's going to strong-arm Baier into being unable to ask relevant questions, which will transform it from an interview into a propaganda lecture. I think that's the reason: to bring the Obama propaganda to a new audience.

----------------------------

In two interviews with FOX Reporter Meghan Kelly, Bart Stupak says he is still prepared to vote "no" on this bill because it includes federal funding for abortions.

Stupak was adamant that he will still guarantee a "no" vote until that language is changed. He has several other Democrats who are prepared to vote "no" as well, though that number has varied in news reports from a dozen to five.

Stupak said in his interview with Kelly that he was prepared to continue his "no" vote, and he was sure that media reports about which members of the original "Stupak 12" have changed their minds are incorrect.

He says it's clear that in page 2070 of the bill that abortion is covered, and that he is just reflecting the will of his constituents and the American people who overwhelmingly oppose federal funding for abortions.

Stupak says, "There is no doubt in my mind that the Democratic majority would like to see public funding for abortion."

Watch the interview for yourself. It's really quite compelling and gives you a peek into the window of the House of Representatives, if we can really call it that anymore.

Rep. Bart Stupak Will Vote No on Reform