County will lose voice in Senate on Owatonna

By: MNBear on 12/30/09
"[I]t seems a little odd the most populated geographic region in the current legislative district will not be the home of its state senator."

What?

While I, too, lament the fact that Steele County couldn't field an attractive candidate, the fact is that Steele County (and Owatonna in particular) is NOT the most populated geographic region in the district. In case no one noticed, District 26 also includes Waseca AND Faribault - their combined populations exceed that of Owatonna's by a fair margin (Faribault has just as many people as Owatonna), and the fact is that Rice County has twice the population of Steele County. So, let's not make up stories where there isn't one. If someone was chosen to run and they were from Owatonna, you don't think that the Faribault or Waseca papers would lament their being shut out? Of course they would. Instead of boo-hoo'ing for Steele County, why not ask about the lack of attractive candidates from the area? Where are they?

Grow up, OPP - this kind of parochialism doesn't serve anyone's interests.

By: igor74 on 12/30/09
This editorial fits the definition of "boneheaded".

How much more smug and elitist can it get?

Every county has issues and concerns near and dear to them. Why are those in Steele county any more, or less, important than any others?

I agree with MNBear, this editorial smacks of crying in the beer because Steele county won't have an edge in St. Paul anymore. Not that it ever should have in the first place.

It just points up what's going wrong with politics now. Self serving agendas that must take precedent over the larger picture. Grab what can be grabbed when it can and to hell with anyone else. I got mine, screw you, because our agenda is more important than yours.

And the wonks on the editorial board are helping push that sad behavior.

By: pookah on 12/31/09
I know I am not "attractive", but really MNBear, that's a bogus statement.

Parry and myself carried the same type of delegate. He's a proven commodity with plenty of money and organzation already. What we had at the convention was a dozen missing delegates from my base and a split in the Owatonna vote down the middle. Underdahl refused to back down and so that meant I couldn't draw from Parry since he carried my seconds.

MNBear - Stop the smearing and start waking up. Maybe you should run, but really the only thing you can do is run your mouth on this forum, nothing more.

Get rid of the RINOs and this thing changes dramatically. Owatonna and their RINOs and immature delegates need to either buck up or leave the party. There's no other way around it, and that's not for me, that's for the rest of the good people who get screwed over by these people. It's a travesty and reaks of pure greed.

By: MNBear on 12/31/09
Sorry, pookah, but it wasn't a bogus statement. If you were such an "attractive" candidate, then you would have had a far better showing at the "convention." If you're so convinced that you are so attractive and so electable, they why even submit yourself to the convention process in the first place? Why not file, force a primary, and make your case directly to the voters? Because you needed (and wanted) the party's machine, right? The party's money, right? The fact is that the party process is deeply flawed and fundamentally corrupt. Yet, people line up time and again to gain the dollars and machinery that comes with a party "endorsement." I agree that it's a travesty and pure greed, but you went to the convention seeking the endorsement just like all the rest, so your complaints about it being unfair smack as a little false, don't you think? Also, why on earth didn't you drag your alleged dozen missing delegates to the meeting? Were they too busy watching television? Besides, my comment was focused on the lack of MORE attractive candidates from OWATONNA, and you know it. I've "smeared" no one - you're simply angry that you came in at the end of the pack trying to grab onto the party's money trough. The endorsed candidate is a party man, just like the DFL candidate. The IP candidate will have nothing in the way of money, support, or "machine" from the IP, so he's on his own.

By: pookah on 12/31/09
Sorry, MNBear. You are wrong. If that's the case, then why is there good chatter on my candidacy to get the nomination against Kath.

Second, why did we carry the same delegates? Add the two together and you have a super majority win.

I came in late, he was very organized and had commitments early. If you followed this stuff right away, you would understand it. However, you don't. Your preconceived notions are way off the mark.

By: pookah on 12/31/09
Oh... and btw... I agreed to abide. That's the way to do it in Minnesota. You cannot get around it because if you run in a primary and win, you are out of the loop just like Dick was.

Aye aye aye...

By: igor74 on 12/31/09
The preceding exchange just goes to prove that elections are staged and voters are simply given hand picked options, not a choice, when they vote.

Conform to the party process or you can't play in our sandbox. That means that any deviation from the party line guarantees a person has no chance of endorsement. It means that an independent thinker has absolutely no chance in this system.

So, if nothing is ever allowed to change, how does anything get better in the political arena? Answer: It doesn't.

Politics as we know it is simply going to one day collapse under the weight of its own stagnation.

That's the fundamental reason that the general public is getting fed up with politics and politicians. Why should the general public take interest in a process that is so obviously rigged?

By: EDDY on 12/31/09
Sounds to me like you want them to agree with you 100% or get out, is that it pookah? Not everyone agrees on all issues but it maybe one major issue that brings someone to a party or many small issues. To claim RINOs base their decisions on NOTHING is small minded and baseless, no wonder you were not elected.

By: pookah on 12/31/09
You didn't read my comments correctly.

1. I was happy with the overall result.

2. The local RINOs base their decisions on nothing less than 100% conformity to them.

3. I had plenty of support with delegates and non-delegates alike. Furthermore, I always ask everyone to debate to form consensus on moving forward. The local RINOs don't do that at all.

4. I am helping the winning candidate with their campaign as an advisor.

5. I don't believe I will run again in this area. I can do it, but is it worth all of this?

Clear now?