The Eagle's Nest Blog

Anti-War RNC Demonstrations to be Militant!

What many of us bloggers have been saying, and what the Saint Paul police spokesman has been denying, is that the anti - war crowd is planning to illegally disrupt the RNC convention. For all practical purposes they now openly admit it (here) in this Star Tribune article.

All anyone needs to do is to surf the web to see how many groups are planning lawless attacks to disrupt the RNC. They will put up road blocks, they will stop traffic, they will attack those attending the RNC and they will openly riot if allowed the chance. Look what they did in Seattle at the World Trade Meeting or in Anoka just a few weeks ago at a war materials plant. Someone better start listening and planning for the worse. The idea that these anarchists are going to play "Minnesota Nice" is a pipe dream.

We don't have enough police hired to do the job in Saint Paul or Minneapolis for that matter. It's going to look really bad for the Minnesota and the RNC when Governor Tim Pawlenty is forced to bring out the National Guard to stop the riots the police were not prepared to handle.

In the military we are taught it is always better to be over prepared then under prepared. Wake up Mayor Coleman before you have a disaster on your hands.

Veterans for John McCain

This morning in Minnesota and other states around the country the McCain Campaign rolled out Veterans for McCain news conferences. I gladly attended the one at our Capitol in Saint Paul at the request of my long time friend Brigadier General (USAF - Retired) Dennis Schulstad. The guest speaker was a former 6 year POW in Hanoi, North Vietnam with John McCain, Lieutenant Colonel (USAF - Retired) Leo K. Thorsness. Colonel Thorsness was awarded the Medal of Honor from combat action in Vietnam in 1967 and is a Minnesota native from Walnut Grove.

My good friend Ed Morrissey from Hot Air has a great post with video (here).The event was covered by all four Twin Cities television stations. It was an honor to meet a true hero, Colonel Thorsness, Minnesota's only living Medal of Honor recipient.

Jesse - Jesse - Jesse!

Well Jesse, you just cost us bloggers four months of great political sound-bite fodder by not running for the US Senate. Thanks for nothing!

The Democrats may have lost their best chance to win the Senate seat by endorsing far left Al Franken over more moderate Mike Ciresi. The Democrats only hope now is the "Obama Factor" (read coat-tails), which may still capture the prize for them. Norm Coleman is far too slick a professional politician to screw up this race before November.

On the Independent Party side, now that Jesse has bolted, Dean Barkley will run instead and have no noticeable effect on the race. Still the poll released last night by ABC's KSTP shows how unhappy both Republicans and Democrats are with their choices. So Mike Ciresi, if you are listening, you have until 5:00 p.m. to register and save the DFL and give us bloggers something to write about.

Frivolous and Stupid Go Hand and Hand!

As if the local court system isn't already over burdened, you have Ed Felien, a former Minneapolis City Council member and anti-Bush activist, wasting the courts time with this kind of junk (here). No wonder the people of Minneapolis voted this guy out of office.

Felien wants President Bush tried for war crimes alleging: Bush is a murderer for the death of US troops in Iraq, Bush conspired with the leaders of Saudi Arabia to raise oil prices for his personal gain, and that Bush conspired to distribute opium from Afghanistan. Thankfully, Hennepin County District Judge Gary Larson (No - not the "The Far Side" cartoonist) issued an order that the Minnesota state constitution's separation of powers doctrine would be violated if the court arrested the President.

Not to be one to take a no lightly, Felien said he may file a similar request in Ramsey County. A perfect example of the need for Tort reform in America. This wing nut should be a "The Far Side" cartoon strip! Stupid is as stupid does!

UPDATE: I received the following e-mail from Mr. Felien this afternoon:

Name-calling or discussion?

I read your comments on your blog.  I would welcome a serious discussion of
George W. Bush's crimes against the people in my (and your) county and
community.

You know that Bush's family has for four generations made profits from war.
You know that Prescott Bush was one of a half dozen men responsible for
rearming Germany.  You've read Kevin Phillips' book, American Dynasty, in
which he details how the Bush businesses were shut down for trading with the
enemy.  You know that Halliburton is owned by the Bush family.

Please, if you would like to know my arguments, read my Appeal to Hennepin
County Attorney Mike Freeman, my Writ of Mandamus, their response and my
answer and the judge's order at www.southsidepride.com

When you fought to take the Eagle's Nest, both the guns you were using and
the guns used against you were supplied by the Bush family.

I am not your enemy.  You are not my enemy.  George W. Bush is our enemy!

Ed Felien, Editor/Publisher

My response was as follows:

Dear Mr. Felien,

Thank you for reading my "The Eagle's Nest Blog" entry about your obsession with President Bush and from the tone of your e-mail his family as well. In my opinion it is unfortunate that your hatred for Bush has impaired your judgement to this degree. Likewise, discussion on this subject would be a total waste of my time.

I strongly believe as Sir Winston Spencer Churchill once said: "A fanatic is one who can't change his mind and won't change the subject."

Best of luck in your pursuits in Ramsey County Court.

Respectfully,
Joe Repya

Edina 4th of July Parade of Political Change

We drove our 1942 Ford GPW (General Purpose Wheeled) Jeep in the Edina Parade on Friday, July 4th. Edina honored about 75 veterans from World War II, Korea, Vietnam to today. There were about 20 military vehicles loaded with veterans leading the parade. Most spectators rose and clapped as they went past as a wonderful gesture of respect.

Like all parades this one had a political element as well. I couldn't help but notice how much Edina has changed politically. Once a strong bastion of Republican voting strength, Edina has now changed. It's Mayor Jim Hovland has bolted the GOP for the DFL. Edina voted in 2004 for John Kerry for President and 2006 for Amy Klobuchar for US Senate. As a result of the Minnesota GOP's inept leadership and failure to produce a winning message in 2004 & 2006, Edina is drifting into becoming a Democrat stronghold like Eagan and other first tier suburbs.

That was evident in the adults in the crowd wearing DFL t-shirts, "Proud to be DFL" stickers, and holding DFL candidates signs. Ashwin Madia signs out numbered Eric Paulsen signs by an estimated 80%. The DFL seems energized in Edina and poised to win the Minnesota House seat of formerly endorsed Republican Ron Erhardt of "Over Ride Six" fame. I believe Erhardt is running as an Independent since losing the GOP endorsement. The DFL is counting on a split of the GOP vote to let them win the Edina seat.

From the looks of the crowd on Friday, they might just win it straight out!

The Ron Paul Movement

Last night Texas Republican Congressman Ron Paul abandoned his presidential campaign. I was not a supporter of Congressman Paul. However I believe he exemplified the growing unhappiness of conservative and libertarian members of the national Republican Party. Although I wish he would have endorsed the GOP presumptive nominee Arizona Senator John McCain, as many of the other presidential candidates have, I can understand why he did not.

The test now before the GOP is can they graciously bring back into the fold for the 2008 election a portion of those energized and mobilized Paul supporters. I believe this is a movement that we have not heard the last from. Had they been treated with a little less ambivalence and a little respect, they could have proved to be an asset this November.    

On to More Important Matters!

The DFL is gathering in Rochester to endorse a US Senate candidate this weekend. It's likely to be Al Franken, who may just be the DFL's worse decision since running Mike Hatch in 2006. Although there is talk of Mike Ciresi returning to the race as an alternative, and a darn good one, it will be interesting to see if the DFL delegates realize that Franken is mortally wounded. A Ciresi or a Betty McCollum (Mee Moua would be the likely replacement) candidacy would turn the tables on Senator Norm Coleman and likely guarantee his defeat in November.

As I have posted before, endorse Franken and the election will be about Franken. Any other endorsed candidate will make the election about Norm Coleman's record. If the DFL wants a victory and support from moderates, Independents and unhappy Republicans, they should get smart and endorse Ciresi or McCollum. Many political insiders have told me that this is Obama's year in Minnesota and the opportunity to retake the seat that was held by Paul Wellstone may never be better. Let's see if the DFL unites behind a winnable candidate this weekend. I bet they wont!

Bait and Switch - The Old Smokescreen Trick!

UPDATE #2, Ryan Flugaur, Deputy Chair of SD38 has resigned over the planting of internal BPOU business and private e-mails on a DFL web blog to attack a fellow Republican activist. Although I have been supplied his letter of resignation, I will honor his request not to post it. Ryan did everything humanly possible to get the chair of SD38 to release the tapes and deserves much credit for doing "the right thing." He is the second executive committee member of SD38 to resign over this unconscionable act.

UPDATE #1, I plan this to be my last post on the subject raised on MNPublius.com regarding the internal actions in GOP SD38. This afternoon another DFL blogger called me confirming they were also approached by the "well known GOP blogger" (I'll spare you his name) and asked to plant the story he was peddling.

What amazes me is that a GOP blogger would go to DFL bloggers to plant a story, complete with private e-mail traffic, that would be not only damaging to a fellow Republican but impact negatively on his own MN House candidate. I fully admit that I threatened to blog on my site about the incident to force my BPOU chair to do the "right thing" and help other SD's, but here is the catch.....I didn't! I promised my MN House candidate that as long as no further attacks were made on me or my wife, the matter was settled.

For the record, this incident should never have been made public, let alone provided to the DFL, throwing the GOP House candidate under the bus!

It appears that it was decided by party officials that an attack on my character and an attempt to disgrace me was far more important then winning back a House seat in Eagan. Shameful to say the least! 

Yesterday, a well known GOP blogger planted a story with MNPublius.com about the SD38 GOP executive committee passing a condemnation resolution for my attempts to get their SD Chair to share important video. Last night I found out that this blogger had shopped the story to no less then three blog sites. The other two declined wanting validation from both sides. Only the blog willing to run the story first and ask for confirmation after was given the story and some hand picked e-mails

I think many people are missing the point. Yes, it is a personal attack on me, but why? I believe it is the old bait and switch. The MN GOP has been embarrassed by their horrible performance at their state convention and state central meeting last weekend in Rochester, so they need to change the focus. By attacking someone critical of their lack of proper leadership, people will focus on a unimportant story and the real story of Republican disunity, incompetence and growing financial irregularities will fade into the distance.

My story is just a smokescreen. No more and no less. The MN GOP is in sad shape it is because it's leadership pits Republican against Republican in an attempt to remain in power. You can't unify that way.

My hopes are that perhaps the focus can be redirected to the financial practices of the MN GOP. Remember bloggers, follow the money! "Simple clerical errors made by staff" over a 6 year period? Nondisclosure of nonfederal disbursements paid for out of state Republican's federal accounts of seven digits? Follow the money. Where there is smoke you are bound to find fire!

The Minnesota GOP Attack Machine in Action!

The Minnesota GOP attack machine has me zeroed in their sights. Having lost the chairman's race last year I have been a vocal critic of the current leadership, or lack there of, of MN GOP Chair Ron Carey. As a result, I have over the course of the last year been the target of retribution from the party.

The latest came today when MNPublius.com (here) posted a leaked story that I had been condemned by my BPOU SD 38 for "threatening, coercive and abusive behavior." After speaking with one of the SD 38 executive board members I was informed that this action took place at a hostility called meeting May 22 and was the work of Justin Countryman and Michael Brodkorb (Ron Carey's former campaign manager and who is believed to have leak the story). I was also told that the SD 38 executive board agreed to keep the condemnation private until the release could be made at a "more optimum time."

The bottom line is that this was a personal attack to discredit my party standing as a RNC National Delegate and a possible future candidate for party chair in 2009. Unfortunately, they left out many important details.

The following information is all true and I have an extensive e-mail paper trail to prove what I'm about to disclose.

On February 18, I met with Ben Golnik at the request of Marty Seifert. I was asked to step forward and run for the Minnesota House SD 38A endorsement. I was told that there was little confidence in the two candidates that had announced their intentions to run at the SD 38 BPOU Convention in early March. On February 22, I sent Golnik and Seifert my response that I would not run and supported Diane Anderson in her bid for that endorsement. This is important because of what would happen later.

On April 19, I attended a Town Hall meeting in Burnsville put on by three DFL freshman House members: Sandra Masin SD 38A, Shelly Madore SD 37A and Will Morgan SD 40A. The following week I had a letter to the editor in ThisWeek Eagan stating my concern about some of the statements made by these three legislators. The following week I receive two phone calls asking me for my notes from two other GOP BPOUs (37A & 40A). I told them they didn't need my notes because SD 38's Deputy Chair was their and video taped the event. I gave them Justin Countryman's phone number, since he is SD 38 Chair.

On May 9, I received a call from one of the other BPOUs Vice Chairs saying they have had no response from Countryman or the Deputy Chair of SD 38 after numerous phone calls and e-mails. I call Countryman and got his voice mail. I said I wasn't sure what the problem was that he had not returned call or e-mails, but that I would be happy to pick up the tape and make copies for the other BPOUs. I would return him the original the same day. I received no answer, so I called again on May 10, again getting the voice mail and again leaving my message.

On Monday, May 12, I e-mailed Countryman to please contact me as soon as possible. I then received a disturbing phone call from the Deputy Chair of SD 38 who tells me he was ordered not to e-mail or return the phone calls from the two BPOUs. I then sent off an e-mail to Countryman asking for an explanation. Later that evening Countryman fired off a terse e-mail accusing me of "maliciously accusing" him of not doing what was best for the cause.He stated the following:

"The word got out that we had footage of this event which also contained comments from Morgan and Madore. I was contacted by two BPOU chairman in the last few weeks who asked for the tapes. I have ignored them and have instructed (my Deputy Chair) to do the same.

Let me be clear about this whole situation. The people of SD38 have busted their butts working on getting opposition footage. I am not going to hand over our hard work to other BPOUs with whom I have no previous relationship with just because they or you demand it. If they want footage they can do it themselves and then they can own it and do whatever they want with it."

I immediately suspected that because Countryman's wife Gina worked at party headquarters that my request ( not demand) was the real reason for the stone walling of the other BPOUs. I immediately sent an e-mail to Marty Seifert and Ben Golnik asking them to intervene and settle the matter. I also asked Tim Wilkin to step in and settle the problem They all declined.

I then sent Countryman a stronger worded request on May 13, stating I would be glad to post his comments on my blog. That was met the that afternoon with an e-mail saying I was threatening him and he would not be blackmailed. That he intended to take the matter to the SD 38 executive committee, which my wife was a Vice Chair and member.

The two day later we notified Diane Anderson that although some 300 invitations had gone out we were canceling the fund raiser scheduled at our home from May 22, because of this matter. My wife announced her intentions to resign from the SD 38 BPOU Vice Chair position. We also canceled a fund raiser date for Congressman John Kline and have resigned as the prescient Eagan 12 captain and vice captain positions.

My wife and I have been loyal Republican volunteers who have worked hard and raised tens of thousands of dollars for GOP candidates in the past. We have worked hard for many GOP candidates including Governor Pawlenty, Senator Coleman, Congressman Kline and many local candidates. I have served on the finance committee's of John Kline and Norm Coleman, and we have been invited to the White House because of our activism. To stand by and watch this type of behavior towards other BPOUs, to receive this kind of response by our own BPOU officials, these actions have left us with no other recourse but to pull back our support and watch from the sidelines.   

Now, for party operatives to attack us with distorted facts to discredit us because of our questioning of the party leadership is just unacceptable. We will no longer remain silent.

As of last weekend I was told that no tapes had been given to the other BPOUs.

Little wonder the DFL blogs claim the have a secret weapon this year to use against the GOP - Ron Carey!

UPDATE #1, Earlier today I had to clear my good name from the attacks leveled against me by SD38 Chair Justin Countryman and the SD38 executive committee members by leaking a condemnation of me to the DFL blog MNPublius.com with the above post.

I e-mailed to Zack Stephenson at MNPublius all e-mail traffic pertinent to the incident. Let the people decide if this was a conjured up attack against me or not. I believe that a dispassionate mind will conclude that this was a setup to create embarrassment and to damage my good reputation amongst the Republican rank and file. J Repya

Is Minnesota a Swing State?

Like John McCain, maybe it's a military trait, I'm more of a straight talker. There has been a fair amount of talk that Minnesota is going to be a player in the November election. If anyone has any doubt whether Minnesota will be in play as a possible swing state in November, let them look at the Saint Paul Xcel Center. Massive crowds have been forming since early this morning to greet Barack Obama. Even the most die-hard spin doctors for the Minnesota GOP are going to be at a loss for words to explain the drama playing out in the very location that the National GOP will come to endorse John McCain in September.

Look at the ages and passion that those in the crowd waiting for Obama. They demonstrate just how energized their side feels for their candidate. Where in the MN GOP do we see that sort of passion and excitement? Oh wait, we saw that in the Ron Paul people. Youthful exuberance and passionate dedication to work hard for a candidate, but "these people" were not welcome last weekend at Rochester. Now granted there are some weird people associated with the Paulite's, but I could say the same thing about some of the establishment GOP folks as well. Every candidate had an extreme element or two. That went for the Democrats also.

The big difference is that the MN GOP did everything they could to deamonize the Paulite's and make them enemy number one. That seems to be the mode of operandi for the MN GOP lately. They have to have an enemy to belittle and marginalize to keep their power base frightened like heck so they will do the establishments bidding.

Every poll I've seen has Obama many percentage points ahead of McCain. I have said for sometime now that Minnesota is going to experience a "nightmare" scenario where Obama energizes the DFL base and hundreds of thousands of first time voters to paint Minnesota solid "BLUE." I've warned party leaders that the GOP will likely lose 4 to 10 MN House seats, 1 or 2 Congressional seats and the GOP Senate seat.

Ad to the mix the inept MN GOP leadership and less then stellar candidates and you can figure which way this story is going to end. Fasten your seat belts MN GOP, your train wreck is quickly approaching and you have know one to blame but yourself!

UPDATE #1: Wow! 32,000 greet Obama (17,000 in the Xcel plus 15,000 outside). Did you see the crowd? Did you see all the bright young faces demanding change?

The question of the day is: Can the MN GOP leadership or their candidates inspire this kind of enthusiasm?