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GOP endorses underdogs for governor, U.S. Senate

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If you're the type of person who enjoys cheering for the underdog, you would've enjoyed this weekend's MNGOP Convention. You would've enjoyed the convention, held at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center, aka the DECC, because Adam Schwarze was considered the underdog vs. Michele Tafoya for the open U.S. Senate seat endorsement. You would've loved this weekend's MNGOP Convention because, according to the 'experts', Kendall Qualls trailed Lisa Demuth in the endorsement fight for governor and the right to challenge Sen. Klobuchar. According to WCCO-TV's reporting , "Republican delegates endorsed Qualls at their state convention in Duluth. Qualls upset frontrunner Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth for the endorsement. The Minnesota Star Tribune said she pledged to drop out of the governor's race if she wasn't endorsed, but that it isn't clear if 'she will still abide by her pledge' or run in August's primary....

DFL endorses Amy Klobuchar for governor

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Actually, that headline is misleading. In endorsing Sen. Klobuchar for the DFL choice for governor , the DFL endorsed Sen. Klobuchar to be their gubernatorial figurehead. By that, I DON'T MEAN a Bidenesque figurehead. When Sen. Klobuchar picked Ben Schierer as her Lt. Gov. running mate, she picked him as the person who will handle day-to-day duties for the first budget year. Sen. Klobuchar's literally been in Washington, DC for the past 20 years. Democrats think of her as politically gifted and definitely risk-averse. The Democrats' joke about Sen. Klobuchar is that she's invisible 5 out-of-the 6 years of her term but that she's everywhere when it's time for re-election. The statement issued by the DFL says "Senator Klobuchar has a proven track record of bringing Minnesotans together to deliver on the issues that matter most to them. It is no surprise to see our convention delegates come together to stand alongside her as she lays out her vision for the f...

MNGOP State Convention summary

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Friday was an eventful first day of the MnGOP State Convention of 2026. First, Republicans got all of their constitutional officers endorsed. Nest, Republicans endorsed Adam Schwarze for U.S. Senate. Schwarze surprisingly defeated Michele Tafoya, largely on the life issue. Schwarze and Royce White each focused one of their speeches on the life issue. While that used to be a potent political topic at the national level, the Dobbs decision has largelly rendered that issue moot. Abortion rights are now either handled at the legislative level or at the Supreme court. U.S. senators have little say in the matter. With that dynamic changing, it's time for Schwarze to determine whether he's a team player or whether he's in it for himself. While the Schwarze-Tafoya outcome was the highest-profile surprise, it wasn't the only surprise. Accordding to Alpha News's Convention live blog, "Only Braham Mayor Nate George and former State Sen. Scott Jensen’s names were put forw...

Passing the 'Ronald Reagan test'

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Contained in this collection of some of Ronald Reagan's greatest quotes is one that I'd never heard before. President Reagan said that, starting when he was California's governor, he gave his staff specific instructions. Then-Gov. Reagan, followed by then-President Reagan instructed his staff "I believe that any issue that comes before me to both Cabinet members and staff they are not to bring up any of the political ramifications that might surround the issue. I don't want to hear them. I only want to hear arguments about whether it is good or bad for the people. Is it morally right? And on that basis, and on that basis alone, we'd make a decision on that issue." That's a firm foundation from which to make decisions. That isn’t the only thing that factored into President Reagan’s decision-making but it was obviously the heart of President Reagan’s decision-making. The underlying principles behind President Reagan’s policies were straightforward, too....

Highlighting St. Cloud voter fraud?

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It's past time Republicans learned how to highlight and fight voter fraud. Jake Judd's article for KNSI Radio should be memorized by every GOP activist in Minnesota. We should officially title it 'The Blueprint.' It's laid out that perfectly. Things started off innocently enough according to Judd's article when he wrote "According to the Sherburne County investigative report filed October 21st, 2024, on October 4th, 2024, staff at the Sherburne County Auditor/Treasurer’s Office in Elk River discovered that two absentee ballot envelopes had been submitted, both in the same name, Hani Farah Gure , a 26-year-old woman from St. Cloud. Sherburne County Auditor/Treasurer Loraine Rupp made the discovery and immediately contacted the Sherburne County Attorney’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office was then asked to investigate. Sergeant Austin Turner was assigned to the case on October 7th, 2024." After that, things got interesting. In fact, things kept getting more ...

Ramblin' Rose Writes again, Part II

The Truth in Funding Minnesota Schools/Learners, Plus a Proposal for $7K for Parents to Invest...at NO Cost to Taxpayers, Part Two by Ramblin’ Rose Minnesotans are understandably concerned about the potential for fraud, especially with adding another level of bureaucracy to the behemoth in St. Paul that has allowed yet-to-be-determined billions of taxpayer dollars in yet-to-be-determined number of fraud cases. Each state (of the 26 listed in Part One) determines its own protocols and policies. Catrin Wigfall, former educator and current Policy Fellow at Center of the American Experiment, addressed those concerns and Minnesota’s proposal to eradicate them. The key SAFEGAURDS that Minnesota is initiating to secure the program are: Program overseen by the Department of Revenue (not the Department of Education) Eligible students receive ESA debit card, pre-approved for educational expenses Commissioner required to use merchant category classification (MCC) codes or a similar system to iden...

Ramblin' Rose writes again, Part I

The Truth in Funding Minnesota Schools/Learners, Plus a Proposal for $7K for Parents to Invest...at NO Cost to Taxpayers, Part I by Ramblin’ Rose This post is about Minnesota’s ESA (Education Savings Plan), not the federal program of ECCA (Educational Choice for Children Act). While both advocate for education and fund special ways for parents and children to make better choices for learning, they are very different. This article focuses on an approximate $7,000 savings account for students who are NOT enrolled in traditionally funded public schools. ESAs are NOT vouchers, even if some politicians misuse the term. Educated citizens were vital for our fledgling nation. Consequently, education was a priority as the USA began. The first public school opened in 1635 in Boston. Support for education and an educated citizenry continues. For decades, Minnesota was championed as a leader in education, but now half of our students cannot read nor do math at grade level, dropping Minnesota to ...