If he had been there in person, would they have thrown shoes?

See photo caption; for full story, here. Click to enlarge and read the screenshot.

Last election he proved able to defeat a ticket of senility and unparalleled stupidity. Will he in 2012 be able to defeat a Matzah ball (six in the running - only one will float)?

Hate mongering this past week, beyond Pastor-Drummer Bradlee Dean.

Yes, Bradlee Dean got more headlines, but a more insidious effort among those intent on using hate-mongering as a GOTV tool of the GOP next election happened, downtown, with less attention than it perhaps deserved - given it was about new-to-Jesus Newt's miracle, per Ms.Newt3, and in derogation of Mr.Newt's history of marriage being between the divorce courts, one man and one woman at a time [extramarital dalliances excepted], and how to remake the image of a stone-cold conscience-challenged opportunistic rake, without changing barbers, who've always done well by Mr.Newt.

Bachmann helping, of course.

Minnesota Family Council having its ugly hand in the rebranding. But what's expected, anyway?

Read about it here.

Ms.Newt3, has her say too, about Mr.Newt's greatness, etc. Click to enlarge, read, and puke.

Allegedly, Mr.Newt has been accepted into the Catholic Church. This Google, about Martin Luther's disdain for the sale of Papal indulgences.

This Google, is relevant. While to forgive is divine, would Minnesota Family Council be as forgiving of a Democrat?

Hardly. Party trumps all else, for those gentle people.

Reader help is needed. Please comment or send an email if you know of any single instance whatsoever, in any context, where the Minnesota Family Council hate-mongered for anybody but a Republican. I am unaware of that ever happening. IP, DFL, Socialist, Flat Earth Party, never, but the GOP - it is their favorite flavor.

Half way there, Andy.

At Residual Forces, it is aptly recognized that Tim Pawlenty is raising money in Minnesota, and outsourcing the cash to other places, for political advantage, and that the GOP in Minnesota is left short of cash on other fronts.

This link.

It is true.

However, how does that differ from this, which apparently is smooth and slick, bump-free, to Andy's touch:

I know. There are people who treasure consistency. And some are willing to overlook a thing here or there. Yet it is the same GOP shortfall effect whether the siphon is held by some guy named Tim, or some woman named Shelly. And, Tim gets the big plungers intending to invest in compliant politicians to own nationwide. Shelly, she gets the mom-and-pop worried-over-fetuses little money, in droves, and ships that out. I bet those little donors would prefer their cash going to the fetus-protection-league of Minnesota, first and foremost.

I like the dilution effect each of these career politicians is pushing off onto the greedy undeserving outstretched but unsatisfied hands of Minnesota Republican political operatives.

Tim, Shelly, keep up the good work so sane ones can take back the Minnesota legislature, both houses, and so Sutton has to chase a paycheck. And not pay bills. And did I say, chase a paycheck?

_____________UPDATE_____________
CAGE on its website still lists both of the Sutton spouses as on its board; but I believe one reportedly resigned; and need for a paycheck is reported by Strib as a feature of a yet larger family issue even with the other Sutton spouse confusingly reported as remaining on the CAGE board. Go figure.

You need a fresh score card, and numbers on the players' backs to keep things straight.

_____________UPDATE________________
Half-right Andy strikes again. All over Pat Anderson for taking money to lobby for Racino; the lobbying being only a part of the objection with the remainder being that it is against the Holy Writ of the GOP platform. Something like that, see e.g. Gary Gross posting, here; and a prior Crabgrass post, here, giving links to Andy's items.

To the extent both commentators criticized Anderson's lobbying, I back them 100%. To the extent the complaint is insufficient orthodoxy in lock-step with the platform; well, I have to ask my blind eye question again about Andy, this time about Hackbarth - presuming that constructive criticism and insistence upon upholding Holy Writ GOP Platform talk begins at home as does charity, there is this Strib item, excepted where Andy, who is generally outspoken, has fallen silent:

Although there have been previous attempts to pair a new Vikings stadium with a racino -- putting slot machines at horse-racing tracks -- the latest effort appeared to be aimed at keeping both ideas alive past the Legislature's Monday adjournment. Republican leaders, who hold majorities in both the House and the Senate, dismissed the proposal, saying they remain focused on finding a way to erase the state's $5.1 billion deficit over the next three days.

The proposal was noteworthy because it was co-authored by Sen. Julie Rosen, R-Fairmont, chief Senate author of legislation to help build a new Vikings stadium. She was joined by Rep. Tom Hackbarth, R-Cedar, who said his goal was to have racino "stay in the mix" as legislators search for money to help solve the deficit and build the stadium.

"I think everybody knows that we're going to go to a special session," said Hackbarth. But "you have to have something there to start the discussion" when legislators reconvene.

Under the new proposal, racino gambling would be permitted only at Canterbury Park in Shakopee and part of the proceeds would go into a "multi-stadium revenue fund" that would help build not only a $1 billion Vikings stadium but also a new $50 million ballpark for the St. Paul Saints in downtown St. Paul. Hackbarth said that, after the two stadiums were funded, the money might be used to build other large infrastructure projects in Minnesota.

Racino proponents had earlier estimated that the expanded gambling would raise $125 million a year, but Dick Day, a former state senator-turned-lobbyist for the group Racino Now, said Friday that his organization had not pushed the latest plan.

[emphasis added]. Gunman Tom is saying nothing different than Pat Anderson said, earning castigating disapproval within her own party's big tent. Gunman Tom probably is poised to shoot down any constructive criticism, if not the critics, so that might explain there being none.

What's up?

Tony and spouse Sutton, in CAGE, Tony only resigning, and only days ago. Expansion of gambling in Minnesota opposed by the GOP platform; with gambling presumably thus positioned to remain a tribal monopoly; and the Sutton spouses having CAGE ties (and cash flow) when the platform was authored. The 8th District GOP jumping Anderson, when this comment on Gary's blog weighs in with yet another name and theory with regard to the CD8 censure effort against Anderson:

Would that be the same CD8 that has Justin Krych as Deputy Chair.

The same Justin who sits on the board of the organization bought and paid for by Minnesota Indian Gaming Association.

Wow just took me 2 seconds to see where this supposed stand came from.

When I see folks like Justin resign then maybe this will have some meaning, otherwise it needs to have the “The Message Paid for by Indian Gaming Interests”

Strangely, Andy makes a big point about Tony Sutton's CAGE resignation, as if the other spouse's situation was somehow irrelevant.

And I thought the GOP was big on family issues.

Instead, rugged individualism holds sway, cashflow wise, or whatever.

Reader help request: Am I wrong, does CAGE not pay director fees, or only insubstantial token amounts?

____________FURTHER UPDATE____________
Now I don't pretend to be big on connecting the dots, others have a better grasp of that skill than I do, but I see a link between this and this. Who exactly formulated that no new taxes AND no new revenue policy when, and why was Gunman Tom Hackbarth not informed about Racino being "new revenue."

Two dots always are easier to connect than many, where the number of possible linkages become vast quickly.

Moonlighting, thy name is GOP. But how do the outside gigs affect the day jobs? Any reader insight?

Final thought: What about Racino at Pastor Bradlee Dean's "church," and at Pastor Mac Hammond's Flying Circus, aka, prosperity gospel warehouse? They could operate it 24/7, and not only during services. And a step beyond Racino, sports betting at the new Viking Stadium, what about that? Zygi could finance a bigger share of the cost if allowed to make book. The GOP is so creative, so, I wonder why I have to invent their "next logical step" ideas for them.

David Jeffrey Benefit.

Click the image to enlarge and read. Dave's battle with Cancer, and resigning from the Ramsey City Council has been noted on Crabgrass; with a definitive report published by Sakry, of ABC Newspapers; this link; source of the above image.

Again:

Sunday, June 5
1 to 5 p.m.
The Fountains of Ramsey
7533 Sunwood Drive, Ramsey

Cost: $20

For more information, contact Trish Osborn at 763-242-7921.

Donations can also be made to The David Jeffrey Benefit Account at Village Bank, 7125 Riverdale Drive, Ramsey, MN 55303.

Legislative prayer-giver and self-anointed pastor-drummer, drums up support regarding minority civil rights, as he believes Jesus would want it.

Pastor Dean, living as Jesus would want. Photo credit, Minn Indy.       .

Not that anyone has published of it to my knowledge, but he's probably an untalented exhibitionist-only off-key musician too. Do any readers have knowledge, is he worth attention, as a drummer?

Anyway, this Google News listing, for reporting.

Reuters.

Salon.

Residual Forces.

Colorado Independent.

Marshall Minn. Independent, news reporting, (via the AP's feed on Pastor-Drummer Dean and his legislative stylistic chops).

Pharyngula, editorial.

Mankato Free Press.

MPR.

MDE (so far no coverage, hence no link).

letfreedomringblog.com (so far no coverage).

Rochester Post Bulletin.

Duluth News Tribune.

Crabgrass piling on? Sure. Why not? Is it in any way undeserving of piling on, even at Resudual Forces?

This stunt, so far seems to have gone cross-wise of what the GOP leadership wanted, anticipated, foresaw, and, what -- prayed for?

Bless them all, each down to their little flag-lapel-pin (made in China). Each down to their red power tie and well-tailored conservatively-dark power suit. Bless those who barber and style their hair, do their nails, do their bidding. They are the GOP. And, in closing, which of the two Koch brothers do you think would say Bradlee Dean went too far? Any thoughts?

_____________UPDATE____________
That leading photo, do you think the chain link fencing behind Pastor Dean is to protect Pastor Dean from music lovers and their possible critical activity as he drums away at, what, sin or presidential manners? Pastor Dean is a part of the new Minnesota GOP. The part of the GOP that all manner of wannabes court carefully:

(Hum, blue power ties too, it appears.)

_____________FURTHER UPDATE_____________
Mother Jones, here; a May 17 background piece with two-pages of reporting, each with multiple supporting links (but from before Pastor-Drummer Dean's legislative gig). Here, May 20, about the legislative appearance.

Extensive Pastor Dean background reporting, Ripple in Stillwater. (Hat tip due Karl Bremer, the Rippler, on the professional journalism society's recent award. The man calling himself Bradlee Dean, the man calling himself Bobby Thompson, who next? Have a look - Ripple in Stillwater.)

More on the Pastor, The Awl, here; and Dump Bachmann, here. The reflections of disbelief coming from some in the GOP seem quaint, given the boost and bravado of other GOP luminaries, as the Dump Bachmann item documents by a correspondence paper trail, not at all historically opposed to the good Pastor or his manners. This guy IS mainstream to that part of the GOP, and not any "Oh my, my bad" mistake by GOP leadership, now doing cut and fill relandscaping after the fan loaded - or more precisely after the good Pastor loaded it up because he is who he is, and proud of it, being himself on that St. Paul hilltop in the morning.

Do read The Awl, analyzing how the good Pastor has a war, (a personal one but one he is more than ready to push out the door to anyone receptive toward it); with coverage at The Awl proving those who learn nothing from history vote GOP. If you care to see who was chosen for a legislative prayer session, the good Pastor-Drummer and his war, then try your hand at the "seventeen statements" challenge midway through the post at The Awl.

May the good Pastor and his ties to like-minded Republicans prosper in the sunshine of general press and public attention and reflection. Sunshine is the best disinfectant.

_______________FURTHER UPDATE________________
This report is greatly offensive to my sense of rule of law and of decent respect for treasured national norms. Thomas Jefferson must be spinning in his grave over this abusive situation where school money is given to this jackass show.

Separation of church and state is a norm everyone but bigots should treasure. It is grounded on the vast bloodshed of Western history and culture, and it should not be breached especially by those given the high responsibility of educating future generations of leaders and voters.

I think the individuals behind booking this guy's act in schools should have already been fired. Never mind firing them now, hindsight being 20/20.

Sack 'em.

Keeping them on payroll another minute longer is a minute too long.

CUTLETS: "My pork is better than your pork," rings hollow. Why is neither guy saying, curb present spending to see IF ridership growth on the "as-is" line can reach a level sanely justifying expansion - i.e., prove NEED, before warring over wants?

photo: Met Council profile images

Presently, Ramsey has an express commuter bus service, subsidized in some fashion I believe, fares not being sufficient to break-even or provide net government income.

In a neutrally worded balanced review, Paul Levy of Strib reports, here; this point-counterpoint excerpt:

The new chairman of the Northstar Corridor Development Authority wants the Anoka County Board to drop its "vindictive" attitude and become more realistic about ridership projections for a possible Ramsey station along the commuter rail line.

The new vice chairman, a member of the Anoka County Board, wants the counties along the corridor "to play nice together," but "something is more dysfunctional in this relationship than common sense should allow."

Chairman Leigh Lenzmeier, a Stearns County commissioner, wants Northstar to extend to St. Cloud and thinks a new station in Ramsey will do little to add ridership.

[...] "Their attitude of 'we got ours, the hell with you' is causing problems for Sherburne and Stearns County," Lenzmeier said recently.

"Anoka County makes the case that they pay 54 percent of the cost of Northstar, and that's accurate," Lenzmeier said. "But we need a team approach. There seems to be an element of vindictiveness with this new [Anoka County] Board that could make things difficult."

The Anoka County Board that nurtured and kept Northstar on track for more than a decade before the line debuted in November 2009 is no more. Anoka County voters elected three new commissioners to the seven-member board last fall, changing the makeup dramatically. Dan Erhart, who drove Northstar, is still there, but he lost the chairmanship of the Anoka County Regional Rail Authority. New board chairwoman Rhonda Sivarajah, a political foe, did not appoint Erhart to the county's rail committee.

---------snip----------

"This is going to take time," Look said. "It's true that [Sherburne County stations in] Big Lake and Elk River have the highest [North Star] ridership, but those cities are further from downtown Minneapolis. The train may be a more attractive option the further away you live.

"Regardless of the efforts to get Northstar to St. Cloud, Ramsey's gonna happen," Look said. He added that the only residue from resistance from Sherburne or Stearns county "is a harmful relationship" with Anoka County.

Northstar's founders envisioned a line that would run from Minneapolis to beyond St. Cloud, all the way to Rice, in west-central Minnesota.

But as the project drowned in a political quagmire, the route was cut in half. The $317 million, 41-mile line runs from Target Field in Minneapolis to Big Lake, 30 miles east of St. Cloud.

"St. Cloud is our emphasis," Lenzmeier said. "Our friction point is we're not enthusiastic about adding stations to the existing system.

"The more stations you add on, the more you compromise the ride."

Look disagrees.

My thought is the school yard fight over who has the better bag of marbles should stop.

Neither guy says freeze spending for now, save money.

And the Met Council is not quoted, yet if there were a stop at the Foley Ave. park-and-ride, think of all the boosted Northstar ridership that would yield, while Met Council could, gasp!, save money.

Cutting a host of higher polluting costlier commuter bus runs from that park-and-ride, and allowing Northstar to absorb the load seems like a win-win thing, especially with Met Council now having the crying towel out over budget cuts.

It's the savings, stupid. It need not be a palace at Foley park-and-ride, not initially, but enough to work. And with that, Northstar would have a much greater chance of approaching something vaguely akin to a break-even point before pork mongers overreach further.

So, one thing about a stop at Foley -- It makes sense.

Politics being at play, that counts against it.

Saving thousands of words.

Depending on the density of the chicken stock, the matzo balls will either drop to the bottom or float. A watery, thin stock will allow the matzo balls to sink and enables the traditional method of telling when a matzo ball is done cooking - when it floats to the surface. Since I like my stock with a lot of gelatin, my matzo balls will always float.

______________________
credits, here and here