Power and the powerful...

"We all remember that old adage, 'Absolute power corrupts absolutely'. Well amen to that brother!"

So far, this has really be some election season. Seen some very odd and disturbing things. Once again, when all the chips are on the table, the party which I am stuck with supporting seems to trip over untied shoes right out of the starting gate. Yesterday, I addressed how people who ignore the ENDORSEMENT process make a mockery out of our grassroots process. Today, I will share my ideas on the "why".

We all remember that old adage, "Absolute power corrupts absolutely". Well amen to that brother! To be fair and square this morning, I am going to have to step of some toes on both sides of the line. Sorry - just trying to take what I think is a principled stand on this issue. So lets just go through a few names who seem to have this "thing" about getting and keeping power.

• Phyllis Kahn - Our version of Bernie Sanders has been in the state legislature for 40 years. That is a lifetime. During that period, the demographics of her district has changed quite a bit. It now is home to a large Somali population. Her primary opponent is Somali. One would think that Phyllis would step aside and let the new generation of leaders in her district emerge. Nope. She loves the power.
• Jim Abeler - One of the true RINOs in the House, he let his seat go to a young "up and comer". That was the right thing to do. Abeler then ran for the US Senate endorsement. Again, that was his right to do. However, when that did not pan out, he had his eye set on the now vacant SD35 Senate seat. SD35 had an endorsing convention and Abeler lost. Against the wishes of many in his BPOU, he went to primary and won. For the power he loves, he lost the support and respect of many in his BPOU.
• Tom Hackbarth - After over 20 years in the Minnesota House, many in his BPOU (my BPOU) felt it was time for Hackbarth to pass the torch. So there was an ENDORSING convention. Hackbarth agreed to abide by the results of the contest. And then Hackbarth lost and he reneged. Why? The power of being powerful. Citizen legislature be damned. His name is now toxic in his BPOU and the executive committee has issued Hackbarth a letter of censure.  
• Kurt Daudt - The most powerful Republican in the state really stepped in it during the ENDORSING process. Rather than staying neutral, he backed Tom Hackbarth. Then once Hackbarth decided to go back on his word, the Speaker is now sponsoring a fund raiser for this un-ENDORSED person. As a leader in the party, he of all people needs to follow the prescribed ENDORSEMENT process. Heck, we ENDORSED the Speaker at the convention.

Now comes the part where I need to step on more toes. The Speaker, who is ENDORSED by his BPOU has a recently surfaced primary challenger. A man I have never met. Many have never met. To be fair to the system, and if this man really would like to challenge the Speaker, wait until 2018 and do it the right way - using the ENDORSING process.

Finally our Congressman, Tom Emmer. Two years ago, he won the ENDORSMENT on the first ballot at the district convention. His challenger went on to primary him anyhow. This year, Emmer again won the ENDORSMENT on the first ballot. Again, this year's challenger wants to primary him. WHAT A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY!!!

Both in 2014 as well as 2016, once the ENDORSMENT process is over, it is time to coalesce around the victor. Get ready for the general. No wonder this party is so screwed up and continues to lose elections!

There. I got it off my chest once again. If I stepped on your toes, I am sorry. But I stand by everything I just wrote. Follow the damn system, or scrap it and come up with a new one. Until a new one is found, I am sticking with what we have.