Glitz vs substance. Show vs wisdom. Money vs diligence. - Trump's man vs Doug Chapin.

 Tom Emmer  - when he walks into a room people notice. Big guy. Nice hair. 

When he heaps praise on fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried because for Emmer's own reasons he touts crypto, people should notice. That is a prelude to a better man standing to take the job

Start with Doug Chapin has a mind. And you actually can stop there. No bluster. Good common sense instead.

Substance. No House GOP Whip. Just someone with elections integrity experience, and the will to do the actual job better without being a Trump's man.

That's a lot. Much to like in not being tied by any bond to failure. (Perhaps intentional failure, with Trump oil donors making out like bandits under today's crushing oil shortage and ultra high pump prices arising from a dragged out "four weeks" war). 

Thank Emmer for being a loyal man? No.

Fault Emmer for being a team player on the team tanking its chances, for whatever reasons, where whoever does okay from the war matters to Trump while the world suffers an unprecedented war related oil shortage. 

From the AJ homepage -

 

Neat news, eh? Courtesy of Mr. DJT

YES - Great news from the massive orange "free-world leader." Emmer's guy. 

One thing in Emmer's favor, he shows no Epstein contact pattern, unlike, say, DJT himself, or Biill Gates. Actually, a second thing about Emmer, he's not himself an unprecedented fraudster, just tight with one. One who thinks he can do a Roy Coen "lawsuit" job against the IRS, and have Todd Blanche lie to congress that an immunity grant is normal, where it was the IRS sued, and not some tax delinquent being sued and settling. Where the IRS collects its due, Blanche may be correct, a no-audit closing of investigations IS considered normal and appropriate to those settlements.

But DJT and offspring, being Plaintiff, how often are such things given there? If Blanche were pressed on that question he'd have to fold his hand. Yes, a miscreant pays up to the IRS, that settles the past, but this fraud on the court is not that. There is no logical connection between Trump and offspring saying pay us ten billion in damages, and then dismissing the suit in exchange for immunity from audit. The suit is not about taxes Trump and family may owe, so why give him immunity? He's squared no accounts he may owe. The immunity bonus is logical only if you presume Blanche and Trump are in cahoots; otherwise it makes no sense.

And with the overriding appearance they are in cahoots in attempted fraud on the court Crabgrass opinion is Blanche should be disbarred. But I digress. 

Cleaning house with Doug Chapin makes sense. 

Chapin's "agenda" differs from our sorry status quo. His campaign website (https://www.chapinforcongress.com/) spells out his three key aims in simple, short, and  unequivocating language -

There is an online chance to see Chapin's demeanor and his mind at work. Don't miss it. In fleshing the short goals statement out, Chapin's "Officially on the Ballot. Ready for Better." substack site one video delves into detail. An excellent example of who the man is and where he stands, in detail, this very major link.  

It is an hour long interview, where if you've a belief you lack the hour to inform yourself, you're who Tom Emmer dearly loves. No complications, just Trump and Emmer are linked names, gain and spend millions to stay seated in DC, and Trump's an effective individual, really he is. Trust me. I am Tom Emmer.

So trust the crypto tout, or listen to who Chapin is. It is worth your time.

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Also - local news exists, the Elk River - Otsego - Zimmerman Star News: 

Doug Chapin won the DFL endorsement for Minnesota’s 6th Congressional District race last Saturday, April 25.

Chapin, a former lawyer from Hanover with an extensive background in election and ethics law, won over fellow DFL candidate Anson Amberson in the first ballot, earning 90% of the votes.

[...] The 6th Congressional District DFL Party leadership expressed optimism about a possible DFL wave this election — and their chances of finally flipping the district.

DFL Chair Chair [sic] Richard Carlbom told the [DFL Convention] crowd that 37,466 people participated in DFL precinct caucuses this year, the highest turnout in the party’s history.

CD6 DFL Chair Chantal Oechsle highlighted how they had 2,902 people participate in the district’s precincts caucuses back in February, more than four times the 670 turnout in 2024 and 757 turnout in 2022. She is hopeful the turnout will be reflected in the November elections.

She estimated first-time participants represented about 50% of the district’s caucus-goers this year, reflecting the party’s statewide trend and ranging from 30% of turnout in Sherburne County and the St. Cloud area to 70% of turnout in Carver County.

Additionally, 9% of the caucus-goers were Republican voters and 20% were Independent voters who switches parties this year.

“The energy here is insane....I think we may have a surprise in November,” Chantal said. “I think there are a lot of people who were Republican or more disengaged in the political process who, after the 2024 election, they are are very unhappy with what is happening...We’re just trying to make space for everyone to come in.”

DFL delegates selected 116 delegates and 54 alternates for the upcoming DFL state convention in Rochester on May 29 through May 31.

Endorsement

“I’m running for Congress because when something is broken, you need to find the right person to fix it,” Chapin said. “When your government is broken, you hire an election nerd. I am that nerd!”

Chapin claims to have founded the nation’s first online certification program for election administration during his decade working with the the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey School of Public Affairs. He also spent over a decade leading the The Pew Charitable Trusts’ elections team, focusing on improving voter registration systems and access to voting information.

He also served as elections counsel to Democrats on the U.S. Senate Rules Committee. Lastly, he founded electionline.org early in his career.

He cites Pres. Donald Trump’s pardon of individuals convicted in connection with the Jan. 6 insurrection as motivating him to run for elected office.

Expanding healthcare access, including implementing a single-payer healthcare system, and passing laws to protect protect Social Security, Medicare and reproductive rights are some of his campaign priorities. He also wants to force the federal government to comply with the U.S. Constitution.

He called the endorsement race a “long road.”

“I’m just excited to finally be at the starting line,” Chapin said.

He plans to focus on voter outreach to Republican voters and independent voters.

“We need to stress that there are a lot of pocket book issues that are not partisan. Republicans want affordable healthcare, Republicans want good jobs with good wages and Republicans farmers concerns about the cost of diesel and fertilizers...affected by the new tariffs,” Chapin said. “Right now, the record is pretty clear that the current administration is not doing what people that they would do....I think we can persuade them to cast a ballot for us.”

He criticized Emmer as being disconnected from his district and “too cozy in Washington.” He also criticized Emmer’s rhetoric against Somali residents and anti-ICE protesters.

“We’re going to make a big issue of the need to elect somebody that represents the whole district,” Chapin said. “I think the tailwind we’re seeing (in favor) of Democrats is a referendum on rule of law and the rule of Congress. And I think Mr. Emmer is particularly vulnerable.”

Chapin thinks his biggest challenge will be “persuading people that this race is very winnable” to encourage them to back the campaign.

Chapin noted his campaign has raised $239,000 already, the highest total raised by a DFL challenger since Emmer was first elected.

Emmer has raised $8.3 million for his main campaign fundraising account by leverage his position as House Majority Whip. He has also raised additional funds through his leadership PACs.

Following the endorsement going to Chapin, Amberson expressed his gratitude for all the people who supported his campaign. He doesn’t have any future plans yet and will be focusing on spending more time with his family.

“It has an honor to be part of this process. It was a wonderful opportunity see all the diversity in this district,” Amberson said.

HometownSource

Note those numbers. Chapin is raising record funds already for a DFL challenger to Emmer. But Emmer is relying on buying ongoing incumbency with an eight million dollar war chest, funded in part - to the tune of around a million over time - by representatives of a war-criminal-led nation which has been and could be better:  https://www.trackaipac.com/states/minnesota/?emmer

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 Chapin is making himself known while Emmer is dodging Town Halls. Chapin in comparison to Emmer has held a June 2 town hall session in Ramsey, MN - where I live - with about 25,000 to 30,000 people - not a metropolis. Yet Chapin shows up. He talks, he answers questions, he meets people. Like Emmer used to do (but no more). 

Emmer views it, what, as being too important to show up in a tiny town in district and answer hard questions, which under Trump abound beyond question levels in a normal administration. 

And Chapin's facebook page has more. 

The appearance - Trump and Emmer, each thinking himself indispensable. Each serving the other. with reform begging for both to be unseated.

The status quo? Trump has lame duck years to go - but Emmer can be deposed this year. Before Christmas. As a Christmas gift to good government.

Earlier exit for Emmer thus becomes a first goal, leading to the second. Your vote matters! 

Chapin welcomes voters young and old.

Ramsey Ward 3 Council Seat is on the November ballot. Victor Jumah is running, with a belief, "Community First Leadership begins with listening to residents and ensuring their voices shape city decisions. We strengthen Ramsey by investing in families, youth programs, parks, and opportunities that build long-term community success." Divisiveness seems to have no place in his running. His approach is not one of partisan bias. He'll listen, to foster community cohesiveness.

The headline quote is from Jumah's campaign website, https://www.victorforramsey.com/

The Jumah website home page is telling us who he is, and why he'd improve the council, if winning. The headline quote is home page content. Partisan divisiveness would cut against community cohesiveness, and might indicate an agenda beyond "best for Ramsey." Jumah disavows that, up front.

Which brings to mind the three unfortunately partisan resolutions the mayor and others put, last minute, onto a council meeting agenda.  

 

Clicking images will enlarge them to read. The Minutes from May 12, 2026, (above) show three items removed from the agenda by a 4 - 3 vote. The mayor and Councilmember Specht were in the minority, wanting the flag scapegoatoing resolution, (put onto the agenda by the mayor and Specht),and the other two scapgoating Gov. Walz (put onto the agenda by the mayor and Olson) . Partisan stuff, well above the pay grade. Clearly so, both as to partisanship, and inappropriateness for city action. And, diverting from what city action can do, and should be. Simply complaints about somethings the mayor and his two confederates have no power to influence. There to gin up community division.

Specht is quick to point out his Republican partinship, to brag of it as defining in part who he is and how he sees himself as fit to represent Ward 3 of Ramsey:

Over the past few years, I have volunteered for the local winning campaigns of Abigail Whelan, John Heinrich and Jim Abeler.  We are members of The Edge Christian Fellowship church.

Specht has freedom of religion, but does he have to be so in your face about it? Whether that church, or a Buddhist, or Rastafarian, is irrelevant to what council business entails; roads, development proposals not overextending load on the aquifer Ramsey and other communities rely upon, taxing, spending. 

Crabgrass values freedom from religion, i.e., not considering it relevant to official duties of town councilmembers. Or to going beyond duties, to politics, as those three odious resolution proposals stand, wisely struck down by four correct minds on council. Minds of a type Jumah might join and help. 

Then, there is this, on Rumble - which is noteworthy, pushing again an in your face religious thing. Again, not city business, but futzing around the Capitol.

Crabgrass, in endorsing Jumah, hopes his mind is such that he would, as his website says, stick to city business, and help run the city competently. Again -

https://www.victorforramsey.com/

Crabgrass simply sees Jumah as level minded to stick to the city business, not selling a political party or a faith, but doing the actual job competently and without loading on inappropriate opinion; e.g., not being a part of divisive resolution mongering of no help whatsoever to cohesiveness of the Ramsey community. 

What is not real city business is for a place other than formal council meetings of record. Resolutions about road paving, fine, resolutions dumping a load on Governor Walz, well beyond decent, focused, town business. Pushing a flag thing when no subunit of Minnesota government is required to fly the actual official flag of the State of Minnesota, is overloading a meeting with idiocy beyond the call of duty.

Spect and the mayor and Olson had their bias handed back to them by four good souls.

Jamah would make a fifth. 

And in fairness, this is not saying the mayor, Olson or Specht are off base when doing city business, or grossly incompetent or untrustworthy, it is saying they err inexcusably when not keeping to city business while entrusted to sit at the council table as representatives of city mood and values and cohesion. They are not there for politicking, or faith instruction. They are there, ultimately, to both tax and spend, wisely, and without intentionally ginning up community unrest or division over things outside of city business. There are other places than the council dais while on QCTV broadcast, for other things not within the scope of cogent unencumbered management of the city.

____________UPDATE___________

Specht has a facebook page with a host of photos. None show the State of Minnesota flags, neither the current version, nor prior ones. An unexpected thing, from having, along with the mayor, put a flag resolution into a city agenda. Motive from that circumstance, together with Specht's political party preference and conduct in other jurisdictions suggesting the flag thing was more politics than heartfelt Angst.

Crabgrass has downloaded a full page screen capture of those facebook photos, as of the time of this posting. Perhaps some flag images may be added in the future. But none are there now. That said, without tedious image scrutiny. Just, did not see a single flag image, except for the federal flag, on at least four images.

Just, don't engender discord, from the council table. It's demeaning. Stick to business.

 

Election choice, this November, two candidates for Minnesota House District 31A.

 It is where I live. Where I vote. Where a rep from here goes to the Minnesota legislature

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Brian Walker. To volunteer - https://www.walkerforward.com/volunteer 

Harry Niska. To volunteer - https://www.harryniska.com/jointeam

Donate Walker - https://www.walkerforward.com/donate

Donate Niska -  https://secure.winred.com/niska-for-minnesota-house/donate-today

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To Crabgrass, a key constituent issue is education. Public Schools

Walker

Public Schools

Our kids deserve fully funded public schools. Every child, not just those whose families can choose otherwise.

My opponent may not have the same opinion. We need someone to fight for stable and adequate funding of our public schools, not give up on them and pivot to privatization. We need competitive teacher pay and safe learning environments for every kid in the district.

Niska (bolding in orignnal)

 Education: Parental involvement should be celebrated, not demonized. I will fight for school choice, educational options including charter schools, and curriculum transparency.

========================================================== 

 Beyond that one major issue, the links to campaign websites above are there to be explored. 

Crabgrass has a favorite, but that defines one vote. Define your own vote, but be sure to vote early, or at your designated polling place on election day. Crabgrass votes early, getting a ballot at County Hall or at the Ramsey city hall reception desk within days of when early voting starts. Early voting escapes possibly long lines and bad weather. 

And if ICE or border agents  might lurk around polls on election day, with masks, handguns, tear gas canisters,  pepper spray and all, you don't have to look at them or suffer their looking at you if voting early. Some may like the Greg Bovino authoritarian body language and hostile demeanor; but that's for them, not me. 

I'd not want to be shot dead like Renee and Alex, who won't have a ballot and choice.

Primary voting: Of course the House 31A district lines appear drawn without any primary challenges. Or that is how it looks today, but with filing deadlines allowing for possible challengers to the two 31A people. 

In statewide contests, primary elections will most certainly matter. So, do not forget, vote both the primary, and the general election. Consider it a right and a duty.

Mark Kelly is an interesting person. He has a background of public service in the military and astronautics, is a current Senator, and just looks honest as well as wise.

Video link. If there is a Democratic politician more promising as a potential future president, name one.

 UPDATE: AOC is mentioned as a candidate. She'd handle the job, but Kelly is more likely to be elected.

That's a guess. But Gavin Whoever, forget him. Kelly is steps ahead. As an accomplished multi-dimensional human.

Bernie. Having to keep coming back to Bernie is in one sense sad, but in a larger sense necessary if we are to be allowed a dignified non-traumatic life where we can feel confident in our nation's policies, and not in threat of ruin in a moment's bad luck or misfortune.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3Bd2mcvUjA

In Maine. Speaking for reform candidates. Ones who will be a step in a correct way, against corruption and greed. These are things we each have heard before. It is a personal responsibility for each of us to act toward that goal, with passion, and knowledge we are right and the dissemblers and dividers are not.

Power to the people has long stood as a clear thing. We must make it a real thing. We owe each other that effort. 

And Thomas Massie, a conservative Kentucky politician, now says he will read Epstien file names into the Congressional record. He lost his seat to millions of dollars and to Trump vengence. He has until January 20 of next year to work to unseat those who spent him into a vengence of his own.

And he is a clear Conservative Republican who got fucked over by his confederated peers and enemies, ememies because he did not bend enough to be seen as a roadblock to be dealth with harshly.

It is real what is needed, and there will be a strong fight back. We have numbers. The People outnumber the 1% that is setting the rules to keep them driving the car, and us watching it pass us by. That's wrong.

 

LA Times has a helpful article on the "Iran deal" which seems to see a practical reality that more fighting/destruction is a path of ignorance, piled upon the ignorance of starting the crap and not just letting Israel go it alone.

Bibi's neo-nazi government is not worth two shits. Trump and earlier political weaklings captured by the Israel lobby are/were weak and mean. It does not have to be that way. That's Crabgrass opinion, apart from the featured LAT item: News Analysis: Trump’s framework deal with Iran includes few details, prompts fury on the right

In late February, when he launched massive airstrikes against Iran, Trump said his aims were to eliminate Iran’s nuclear program, destroy Tehran’s ballistic missiles, end its ability to threaten its neighbors and, with luck, bring about “regime change.” More bluntly, in his words, he sought “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.”

Weeks of U.S. and Israeli attacks succeeded in destroying Iran’s air force and navy and reduced its arsenal of ballistic missiles, although the degree of damage to the missile force has been debated.

[...] The result was a stalemate followed by a ceasefire and weeks of negotiations that produced a “framework agreement”: a deal to end the war, reopen the strait and begin longer negotiations that would limit Iran’s nuclear program in return for relaxed U.S. economic sanctions.

It was a long way from unconditional surrender.

“The deal is deeply flawed,” wrote Danny Citrinowicz, a former Iran analyst at Israel’s defense intelligence agency. “But given the options President Trump actually had, it was probably the least bad choice. … Trump was forced to accept Iran’s terms because the alternatives were even worse.”

Iran hawks in Washington reacted with fury.

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, a former Trump appointee, charged that the deal being described would “pay the [Iranian regime] to build a WMD program and terrorize the world.”

 “Not remotely America First,” he complained.

“If a deal is struck to end the Iranian conflict because it is believed that the Strait of Hormuz cannot be protected against Iranian terrorism … then Iran will be perceived as being a dominant force,” warned Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). “It makes one wonder why the war started.”

Mark Dubowitz, a leading critic of past agreements with Iran, said the terms of the deal that have been described so far sounded like “a foolish agreement” under which “Iran would get real money, but they could continue to close the strait any time they wanted simply by making threats.” He said he hopes the final terms of the deal will turn out to be tougher.

It seemed telling that Trump and his aides, who declared weeks ago that the United States had won the war by every measure, made no claims of victory this time.

Instead, the president reacted to his conservative critics with irritation. “Don’t listen to the losers,” he wrote on his social media site. “[The deal] isn’t even fully negotiated yet.”

[...] “The net result of this war is significant damage to U.S. strategic interests,” wrote Daniel B. Shapiro, who served as U.S. ambassador to Israel under President Obama. “That said, since the war was a mistake from the beginning, we can at least be thankful it appears President Trump is moving belatedly to end it.”

But Robert Kagan, a conservative foreign policy scholar at the Brookings Institution, wrote that a deal to reopen the strait while deferring the nuclear issue would amount to a U.S. “surrender.”

“On the present trajectory, Iran will emerge from the conflict many times stronger and more influential than it was before the war,” Kagan wrote in the Atlantic.

Despite the apparent progress toward a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the gaps between the two countries on other issues — Iran’s nuclear program, and the U.S. sanctions that have crippled its economy — remain large.

When the war began, Trump’s goals included completely eliminating the vestiges of Iran’s nuclear program, [...]  Instead of banning Iranian nuclear activities completely, the recent talks have focused on narrower, more achievable goals: a “suspension” of nuclear enrichment for 20 years or less and removal or destruction of Iran’s highly enriched uranium, the essential ingredient for a nuclear weapon.

“The fact that we’re talking about a suspension of all enrichment, and the question is whether it will be five years, 20 years or halfway in between — that’s important,” said Nate Swanson, an Iran expert who worked at the National Security Council under President Biden and Trump. [...] Swanson said other issues, including Iran’s long-term nuclear research and its advanced ballistic missiles, haven’t been addressed and will remain points of contention between the two sides.

“An interim deal to buy time [is] probably where we end up,” he said. “Buying time is not a bad thing. Ending a war is not a bad thing. But it’s not a comprehensive solution.”

Absent from the analysis - "regime change." Bibi was hot to trot on that, and it splatted all over him.

The Republican Guard - military was largely in charge before, and is more firmly in charge now, in Iran.

That, a rigid military dictatorship, is not necessarily bad. The Arabs across the Persian Gulf from Iran are not beacons of good statehood either. Sunni, Shia and China got them talking to one another before Bibi with Trump in tow moved to scuttle that. China is interesting. Since Mao's Cultural Revolution, they've not warred with anyone, and built infrastructure and quality electric automobiles. TSMC on the island makes chips for Nvidia and others, so the Chinese mind, both sides of the earlier civil war, needs respect.

Let Iran and the Arabs pump and ship oil in competition with the Brazilians, Mexicans, and Nigerians; and whoever else can do it cheaper than fracked US stuff, the Norwegians - a market that existed already, and tell the Trump oil oligarchs to just fuck off. That's policy, of a better kind than Trump - Rubio empire lust and such. Just get along. We've already, the US of A, lost too many wars, divided Korea, onward.

Try peace for a change. As Whats-his-name campaigned in the 2024 election. The guy sitting with somebody else's Nobel Prize. You know who I mean. The one with the Greenland fetish.

UPDATE: Apology for meaning to mention it sooner, letting it slip. Pompeo. That Christian Nationalist asshole - even Trump 47 gave him the cold shoulder after Trump 45. Trump showing a learning curve is not an entirely bad thing. But Trump only switched Christian Nationalists, Pompeo out, Hegseth in. Both vomit-worthy sicko sociopaths. (Opinions may differ. But really should not.)

 

Gary, the Republican "barometer" blogger in Minnesota uses the "T word."

 

 Gary's headline - Donald Trump, TACO, appears again -- May 24, 2026

Unfortunately, Donald Trump is no President Reagan or Lady Thatcher. While I agree with his economic and homeland security policies, I've never been a fan of his national security policies. For instance, Russia's war with Ukraine continues with no end in sight. Our was with Iran continues with no end in sight. In both instances, all I see are endless negotiations. I get it that we don't want endless wars. Still, what's the upside of endless negotiations? High gas prices for longer times isn't an upside. No certainty in the world's most volatile region isn't an upside, either.

When asked by a reporter what his strategy was towards the Soviets, President Reagan replied "Simple. We win. They lose." President Reagan understood that there'd be a time for negotiations. President Reagan also understood that he wouldn't negotiate with Gorbachev until he'd scared the daylights out of Gorbachev. You can't scare the daylights out of the IRGC. They're messianic. They dream of meeting their 72 virgins.

According to this Fox News article, [...] TRANSLATION: More Trump happy talk. When will Iran surrender their enriched uranium? When will the IRGC surrender? Without those questions answered, we're nowhere. [...]

I'll be clear. I HOPE I'm wrong. It's just that I've seen the IRGC play President Trump for the fool too often. I'll believe it when the last I is dotted and the last T is crossed on the surrender/exile agreement is finished. Until then, I'll be skeptical of President Trump.

UPDATE: oilprice.com --- here and here. Bibi and Trump really fucked things up masterfully. Also, here.

FURTHER: Cargill is headquartered in Minnesota, but worldwide in operation. Storage is a question, how much and how good, in the light of Strait-based ag uncertainty; see, e.g., here. 

FURTHER: Yesterday, CNN coverage of the surrender/deal - https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/25/politics/trump-iran-war-deal-analysis -- Either it drags on, Iran wins with this "deal." or the sides reengage; that last option being what the warhawks want.