There is a speech on YouTube of Tinklenberg saying he wants to be on the transportation committee. He is a transportation lobbyist. I just don't see what is ethical about that. On top of that, he's not federally registered. He is pushing taconite on roads which may contain dangerous asbestos, but hasn't been thoroughly tested.
And also. he's pro-life AND he supports Roe v. Wade (and government funded abortions.)
He supports a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and civil unions, AND he supports same sex civil partnerships with full benefits (and government paid for sexual reassignment)
He lobbies federal officials AND he's not a federal lobbyist.
He said he is not going to run AND he is running.
He is pro-gun AND pro-gun control.
He is running for federal office because the bridge fell AND the problem is at the state level, not the federal level, and he was part of that problem with tax rebates and cutting license tab fees and sending turning away federal funds.
I probably agree with him on many issues, when he is consistent. I just don't know how to evaluate him.
The email implies, Tinklenberg, he's here, he's there, he's everywhere. Flavor of the day. Agreeing with friends. Here's a thought experiment, but first, a picture for Michele Bachmann.
That's right Charles Darwin.
Bachmann will admit he existed, but otherwise appears to dispute almost all else he thought and stood for. Creationism is fine with her, especially when tarted up as Slade Gorton's Intelligent Design merry-go-round, see here for a dramatis personae, and here, here and here. Charles, nice beard and all, but the Bible is the inerrant word of you-know-who, he chose me to run for congress, that guy -- and there's the seven days of Genesis that the Wells Lutherans belive in literally, and Noah and the big boat, forty days and nights, and the three days Marcus and I fasted, for to attain a reservation confirmation message, and Charles, that scientific thought of yours does not cut it, whoever did YOU choose to run and what was the vote count then, Michele Bachmann. That one. That Michele Bachmann.
Now, a picture for El Tinklenberg.
That's right, Darwin's house.
Huh, you say? "I don't get it."
Darwin's house? Why Darwin's house?
Well, El, he sees that driveway, and thinks, sure it's in England, but still for a few cousulting dollars, and as with Albertville, we are like the interchangeable parts at Eli Whitney's civil war musket factory, at Tinklenberg Group, the head Tink goes to Washington, and there will be Tinklenberger clones to keep the grant flow flowing if the cash flow is uninterrupted. Jim Oberstar and I can get you, Charles, a much better grade of driveway, bigger lanes, drainage, best effort at least that way, federal funding - funding at all levels is important, I always make that point - and locally Charles a few bucks out-of-pocket, Elk River, Ramsey, East Bethel, all had to show some bona fides; and while not lobbying [I am not a lobbyist, depending, of course on how you define "lobby"] I do frequently talk to my friends so that I can know a little, enough, to agree with them. And, your name and grant needs just might come up, cross-wise in a conversation. And, Charles, understand it is nothing personal, my barber could get you better coiffured, look at my hair; and Charles, again nothing personal but just to keep a foot in each camp, that new spiffy driveway - Rev. T. will assure it is intelligently designed. Uh, are you still there Charles. I think he hung up - I think he mumbled something about Olson ---
Here, Guardian has its online Darwin memorabilia. Here, Tinklenberg has his online campaign memorabilia, and do note the hair. And the engaging smile. Sincere as you could want.
Darwin - a man for the centuries. Tinklenberg - a man for all seasons, liking winter, summer, spring and fall, each in its own time and context. An agreeable man.
_____________UPDATE_______________
Tinklenberg, at the State level but not the Federal level, did register as a lobbyist for two special interest operations - Northstar promotion out of Anoka County and a development highway-interchange thing, on the other side of the river. Both registrations were terminated Dec. 20, 2007. At least once last year Tinklenberg was late filing a lobbyist disbursement report. Processing of the disbursement reports due Jan. 15, 2008 for lobbying in the second half of 2007 by the regulators apparently is done alphabetically and as of Sat. Feb. 9, they have not gotten past "P" so we have yet to see if Tinklenberg was on time, this time. Also, I could not find any way to get the disbursement or other required reports for Tinklenberg, online. A public data request would, under state law, have to be met, but I will not be filing such a request. It seems to me a lobbyist like Tinklenberg, running for Congress, would want to make such stuff publicly available to dispel doubt, unless there's something under the rock he'd rather hide. However, the GOP-Bachmann people probably already have every piece of lobbyist public data on the man, and are getting ready to make what they can of it if he gets the DFL endorsement.
Now, back to Darwin's house, would Tinklenberg want to offer him an interchange? It sure seems he was willing to go the extra mile - to DC actually and that's several extra miles - if Champlin-Dayton Press reporting that Blue Man noted is accurate. Blue Man excerpted the Tinklenberg-related part of the press item, and, well, if Darwin were here to pay a fee, would Tinklenber be ready to lobby for a Darwin interchange, like the Brockton-I/94 thing, where, last February - about a year ago - "The Tinklenberg Group would lead the next step as it represents the project to federal legislators." I like the idea of a big humongo interchange next to that buccolic Darwin home - the equivalent of what's being done to Ramsey where I live, and Schaddenfreude motivates me that way. Share the sorrow.
Perhaps I could market a Tinklenberg weathervane. It would pivot its positions to fit the changing winds, while all the while the small cast-iron Tinklenberg image atop would have hair in place and not wind-blown. Would it sell? It, and best-efforts lobbying could be bundled into a package deal the Tinklenberg Group might wish to market to municipalities around the state, especially the north metro, using late night TV. Buy now, don't wait, and get completely free of charge this authentic Tinklenberg weathervane, that separately purchased would cost a dollar three eighty. But supplies are limited. Don't wait and be the last town on the highway to move and end up without the weathervanes all the other towns have at town hall.
Perhaps not. There are ways to approach selling "consulting services" and perhaps the vegematic/ginzu knife approach might be a bit too - direct? Do the vegematic/ginzu knife people have to register with anyone? They are not lobbying, so probably not. Closing questions - Is Steve Goodman on the Tinklenberg campaign bandwaggon along with the ATV lobbying crowd? Can you say, "Vroom, vroom, tear up a trail - the muddier the merrier?" It looks as if Tinklenberg can. But stay tuned. His position may change. However, some lobbyist-to-lobbyist ties are stronger than others.
I know the marketing of Tinklenberg can be quite direct. At caucus, Dan Erhart's brother shows up in our precinct group, pitching Tink. The Ramsey mayor is there, and Dan asks him to confirm that Tink's a great choice. Town Center Tom agreed with Dan's brother - they both favor Tinklenberg. And that's a fact. They are flocking together with him.