Matt Birk joins Scott Jensen ticket

I'm a little late with my opinion on the news that Dr. Scott Jensen picked former Viking Matt Birk as his running mate. Let's start by noting that the 2 frontrunners on the GOP side this year, Dr. Jensen and Kendall Qualls, are exciting candidates worthy of GOP and independent votes. Next, let's notice that Birk graduated from Harvard with a degree in economics. That puts him lightyears ahead of any elected DFL politician. Most elected DFL politicians are socialists economically.

In his introductory statement, Birk said all the right things. For instance, he said "After decades of one-party complacency, our schools are not better, our top producers are leaving the state, crime is out of control, and we have a cultural and economic malaise which is impacting our spirit. But I believe we can make a comeback and become the best place to live and do business in America."

Minnesota has a major crime problem. EdMinn, aka the teachers' union, runs the schools (and the DFL). The Chamber of Commerce runs the economy on a what's-in-it-for-me? basis. Taxes are too high, which leads to capital flight from Minnesota. Minnesota has the highest marginal income tax rates in the MidWest. Simply put, we aren't competitive with the Dakotas and Iowa from a business climate standpoint. Minnesota has become a status quo state under DFL governors and/or DFL legislative majorities.

Here's a little of Birk's history:

Birk was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota, attended Cretin-Derham Hall, and graduated from Harvard University with a degree in economics. He was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in 1998 and spent most of his career with the team before winning a Super Bowl with the Baltimore Ravens.

He was the recipient of the 2011 Walter Payton Man of the Year award. Since retiring from football, Birk has served as the CEO of Matt Birk and Company and started a Catholic school in Burnsville called Unity High School.

In presidential politics, 2 things stand out. The first thing is whether you can picture that candidate as the commander-in-chief. It's known colloquially as the Commander-in-Chief Test. Jensen and Birk pass the state version of that test, whatever it's called. The next test that a presidential candidate faces is who he/she picks as his/her running mate. When Tim Walz picked Peggie Flanagan as his running mate, he didn't pick a person of gravitas. He picked a candidate to help cement the far-left vote. That's as far as her credentials stretch.

This is a snippet of Birk's speech:

Tim Walz isn't a leader. He's someone who pops up from time-to-time, then disappears for lengthy stretches of time. Birk understands free market economics. Scott Jensen understands health care inside and out because he's a doctor. If anyone is needed at this point in Minnesota's history, it's a pair of leaders who can navigate the economy and COVID.

After years of having to choose between establishment nobodies, we have a choice this year between 2 charismatic candidates. Finally, Minnesota Republicans have a real choice.

We've had DFL governors with a DFL majority in the House or Senate. We've had unified DFL government (2013-14). We've had DFL governors with GOP House and/or Senate. We've never had unified GOP government. It's time to give that a try.