Hope with a plan attached...

"This year, every vote counts folks. Every dollar will count for Jeff to continue to spread his message of hope throughout Minnesota. If you want to help and be a part of the "doers" which support Jeff, the welcome mat is out. And trust me, you will be welcomed with open arms." 

This will be a year which will go down in Minnesota history. It is shaping up to be the year which very few give a flying fig about any established representative process we have in selecting candidates. Just check out the mess in the DFL. Nope, it will be on your mark, ready, sprint towards the Primary! That is step one. The next step will be for everyone to file as an independent in future years, so they can go straight to the general. The state might become like Minneapolis in the way they just selected a Mayor - sixteen people running for Governor and then forced rank voting to determine the winner.

However, we still do have some very stubborn rule followers. Jeff Johnson, who is running for Governor is one of them. While Tim Pawlenty was absent from the political scene the past eight years, living the good life on Wall Street, Jeff was cobbling together a grass roots team of "doers". These are conservative folks, who like Jeff, think that Minnesota has been short changed way too long. They believe in Jeff's message -  we can all do better. In fact, we can get more for less. That is, if the state is run the right way. 

However, Tim Pawlenty has no real message. Sorry, it is true. I have heard his stump speech. I have read his literature. Nothing new under the sun. All he wants is his third term. However, the boy does have money. Oodles and oodles of cash. Where in he world did he get all that jack? The donor class. And who are they? They are the polar opposites of the "doer" class. They are the well healed, who usually look out for only number one. Whereas the "doers" are concerned with building a better Minnesota for their kids and grand kids, the donors are into the here and now. In short - this is the Minnesota swamp. 

The Pawlenty hoard is convinced that money will be the magic elixir which will buy a November victory. The Johnson team however is saying, "not so fast!" You see, the Johnson team has a message of not "pomp and circumstance" like the donor's message, Jeff's message is that of real hope.

Jeff loves to tell the story of running into a young single mother at a store. She recognized Jeff right away. She told him, "You and I may not agree on everything, but I am voting for you." Why, you might wonder? "You give me hope. That my daughter will have a better life than I". 

If you listen to Jeff's message carefully, it is filled with hope. Not empty hope, hope with a plan attached. Every part of it. From finally fixing our unfair taxation of Social Security (which is driving our seniors away), to fixing our way too high business tax (which is costing us business opportunities), to fixing our sky high state tax (which is driving away wealth creators), Jeff''s message offers hope with a plan. 

Some wonder if Jeff is tough enough. Trust me, he his. He is plenty tough to protect what he believes in. Others say Jeff is too nice. Every time I hear that I chuckle. First off, Jeff is nice. But what makes me laugh is how many of us would like to have that said about us. I know I would!

No, Jeff is nice and tough at the same time. And he is plenty smart to boot. As the expression goes, he is "wicked smart". Smart and methodical, he knows how to walk and chew gum at the same time. Jeff knows exactly what needs to be done, and how to do it the day he is sworn in.

This year, the Governor's race will almost be a caricature of itself. The "fat cat" vs. the man of the people. Or, as I like to call it, the money vs. the message. After eight long and torturous years of mumbled garbage, Minnesotans are clearly ready for a real message. And no - they will not be cowed by a ton of New York, Florida and Minnesota donor money. 

This year, every vote counts folks. Every dollar will count for Jeff to continue to spread his message of hope throughout Minnesota. If you want to help and be a part of the "doers" which support Jeff, the welcome mat is out. And trust me, you will be welcomed with open arms.