Star Tribune endorses Tim Walz

Proving yet again that the Star Tribune Editorial Page should only be used for lining the bottom of bird cages or wrapping fish in, the Strib Editorial Page endorsed Tim Walz for re-election. The Strib didn't focus on Tim Walz's mistakes. Instead, they initially highlighted the difficult tasks he faced.

The Strib wrote "A little over a year into his first term, Minnesota Democrat Tim Walz, 58, drew one of the tougher assignments among U.S. governors. A lethal pandemic with no known vaccine or treatment was marching across the globe. Months later, a Minneapolis police officer murdered George Floyd by kneeling on his neck for nine long minutes as a crowd watched helplessly."

Then they continued, saying "In dealing with Floyd's death, which set off riots and protests that echoed around the world, and fighting a pandemic, Walz had a handicap few other governors faced: He was leading one of the very few states with divided government."

First, saying that Walz was "leading one of the very few states with divided government" is misleading at best. Once the budget was enacted in 2019 and the pandemic hit, Walz became an autocrat through a declaration of Minnesota's Peacetime Emergency Powers. He didn't need the legislature's votes nor did he seek their input.

Further, Tim Walz didn't start leading until rioters had burned the Minneapolis Third Precinct to the ground and decimated entire neighborhoods in Minneapolis:

This is proof that the Strib isn't capable of criticizing DFL hack politicians. Check out this BS:

In response, Walz took actions he never even contemplated as a candidate: closing schools; setting curfews; shutting down vast swaths of what had been a booming economy, and instituting mask mandates, all through emergency executive orders, as did governors in almost every other state.

Although he should have responded more quickly in the early hours of the rioting after Floyd's death, throughout his term Walz proved a steady, calming force and continued to reach out to opponents even as he signaled he would not allow prolonged gridlock to delay needed action. That tested, focused leadership has earned Walz the Star Tribune Editorial Board's endorsement for a second term.

The carjackings continue. Crime isn't slowing down whatsoever. Let's not forget the upswing in violent crime across Minnesota, either. Where's the leadership? That isn't leadership.

Notice how the Strib soft-pedaled Walz's initial response to the riots -- "he should have responded more quickly in the early hours of the rioting." Gee. Ya think. He was AWOL the first 72 hrs. of the rioting. Entire neighborhoods were decimated. That isn't "steady leadership." That's being AWOL.

On the issue of the Feeding Our Futures scandal, the Walz record is even worse:

A Star Tribune review of state and federal records shows that Minnesota officials provided federal authorities with little or no evidence that Feeding Our Future was misappropriating government funds.

The FBI had to build a case from scratch, obtaining records from "hundreds of bank accounts" and following the money to dozens of conspirators, according to search warrants filed in January. Those bank records led to indictments that laid out how millions of dollars meant to feed needy children was used to buy cars, jewelry and expensive real estate, with the perpetrators covering their tracks by submitting fake attendance sheets and phony invoices, according to court records.

The Rochester Post-Bulletin reached a different opinion:

While Gov. Tim Walz can argue that he and his administration faced unprecedented situations during his four years in office, the fact remains that in the biggest moments, Walz and his cabinet made decisions that caused or contributed to the economic hardships, anxiety, depression and lawlessness that continue to plague Minnesota.

We've seen enough. On Nov. 8, voters should fire Tim Walz and hire Dr. Scott Jensen to be Minnesota's 42nd governor.

I agree. Tim Walz spent too much time being AWOL, not enough time providing leadership.

Governors must be evaluated based on their responses to tough situations. Do they act decisively when circumstances demand it? Do they seek the advice of others — even those predisposed to disagree — when time allows? And ultimately, do their instincts serve the voters well?

We've seen enough from Tim Walz to know that we don't trust his instincts. While he has certainly learned lessons in the past four years, the next four are likely to bring new challenges, and Minnesota doesn't have time for more on-the-job training by its governor.

We have no doubt that Scott Jensen has learned from the mistakes of Minnesota's current governor and will not repeat them. Furthermore, we're convinced that he's the leader we need to expand our economy, improve our mental health and return to the time when our public schools were the envy of the nation.

I agree. It's time for Republicans and independents to fire Tim Walz. Too often, Minnesotans have seen Gov. Walz's temper get the best of him. Minnesotans need leadership, not a hothead.