WHY ARE GOP BLOGGERS SILENT?

 

 

Michael Brodkorb had his attorneys request that the judge in his lawsuit drop the gage order so that he could speak to the media. He immediately launched a strike at the Minnesota Republican Party and the Marriage Amendment. Although he claims he is still a Republican, his behavior borders on pure narcissism and self promotion. Brodkorb, climbed to political prominence through his thuggish behavior on his previous blog site, Minnesota Democrats Exposed.  

 

 

It is my belief that Brodkorb is trying to use what ever leverage he believes he has to force the Minnesota Senate to settle his law suit before the November 6, 2012 election. He realizes that even if he goes to court after the election that two years is enough time for anyone he slanders to recover politically. Frankly, Brodkorb's threats to expose law makers in St. Paul who he claims have or have been previously involved in sexual relations with staff members or lobbyists is likely short on evidence that would hold up in court. Rumor and innuendo is only a receipt for libel lawsuits against Brodkorb himself.

 

 

What is the most interesting development of Brodkorb's public assassination of the Minnesota Republican Party is that Brodkorb's fellow GOP bloggers are silent. The same group of bloggers who never hesitated to attack me as "disloyal" for trying to get the GOP leadership to account for the millions that party bosses squandered, or violated GOP principles with their actions, or hold those who misused funds accountable are eerily quiet over the Brodkorb issue. What is apparent is that former party boss Tony Sutton and Michael Brodkorb have paved the way for a cataclysmic disaster in November for the MN GOP to lose control of the Minnesota House and Senate.

 

 

It is just my opinion that the reason we hear crickets chirping from GOP Bloggers is that they are scared to death of "Darth Brodkorb"! I have discovered that some GOP Bloggers have little to no integrity so I guess I shouldn't be overly surprised. Some bloggers, especially some of the founders of True North, have for many years been so afraid of Brodkorb that they silenced anyone who tried to expose him for what he truly was. Now that he is back, un-gaged and on TV, in the press and with a new blog they are  soiling their underwear in fear of challenging him. Sadly, cowardice within the GOP blogger ranks seems to be a common trait.

 

 

Well, as the British orator Edmund Burke said in 1795: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil - Is for good men to do nothing" My guess is that I will receive more attacks for calling out these silent enabler's then any postings we will see taking Michael Brodkorb to tack for his attacks against the MN GOP. After all, many of them remained silent and allowed Brodkorb to climb the ranks of the MN GOP while knowing just how little character he possessed.



Yes, It Sure Smells Like a Cover Up!

On July 23, 2012 I posted a commentary piece on the Star Tribune for Minnesota Republicans for Financial Accountability and Justice LLC. This group of Republican activists had formed earlier in the month over the lack of transparency and accountability the Minnesota Republican Party was displaying over their debt scandal. The group included some noted GOP leaders who asked me to take the lead for the group which offer to pay for a forensic audit of the party books. They felt since I had been a voice for reform and change in the party since 2007 and had been often personally attacked by what has proven to be corrupt leadership within the party I could best handle the situation. Many expressed fear that if they did not remain anonymous they too would reap the ire of the party bosses. It appears that the disastrous legacy of former party leaders like Ron Carey, Tony Sutton & Michael Brodkorb have left may fearful of retribution.

Great effort was made by the LLC and our attorneys to establish a organization that met all legal requirements to solicit and conduct the audit. We prepared a Advisory Opinion Request for the State's Campaign Finance & Disclosure Board to make sure that no one could claim our efforts were any type of contribution to the Minnesota GOP. We considered the response to be near over whelming in numbers, donations and pledges of support. We met our financial goals within two weeks of the publishing of the article. Three different legal/accounting firms offered their services for the audit. We ruled one out because of their political affiliation.

Unfortunately the leadership of the Republican Party of Minnesota and Republican legislator's ignored our request and so did most of the major news outlets in Minnesota. What we feared all along, that the MN GOP was engaged in a cover up to hide the extent of their financial misappropriations and mismanagement appears to be correct. We now believe that because of the dyer financial situation of the party, likely future Federal Election Commission fines and the lack of financial donations by MN GOP donors it will likely take many election cycles to again be a viable political party. We also believe that the party will refuse to hold those who had feduciary responsibility accountable for their actions. 

We have dissolved the LLC and will continue to keep our membership confidential to protect them from retaliation by the party. It is now up to the voters of Minnesota to pass their judgement in November as to whether the MN GOP deserves to continue to control the Minnesota House and Senate. With the MN GOP's track record of financial mismanagement, violations of election laws, sex scandals and lack of transparency one would think that it will be a very bad November for the Republican Party of Minnesota.

  

August 16, 2012

IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE

 

FROM:

MINNESOTA REPUBLICANS

FOR FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY AND JUSTICE, LLC

 On July 23, 2012, Minnesota Republicans for Financial Accountability and Justice, LLC made a legitimate, legal and generous offer to conduct a forensic audit of the Republican Party of Minnesota’s (RPM) financial books at no expense to the RPM. The sole objective of the Minnesota Republicans for Financial Accountability and Justice, LLC was to restore fiscal honesty and transparency to the RPM and hold those who had fiduciary responsibility for party finances accountable. Unfortunately the RPM has refused to discuss our offer or provide their financials for an audit.

Effective immediately, Minnesota Republicans for Financial Accountability and Justice, LLC has withdrawn its offer to audit the RPM financial books.

We regret the action of the Republican Party of Minnesota. We have been told by confidential sources in the RPM that a small number of major donors were afraid that a forensic audit would possibly uncover additional misappropriations of party funds and thus cause additional embarrassment to the party image prior to the November 2012 elections. One must conclude that the RPM believes it has more scandals to hide from the public. We fear their actions will result in the voters of Minnesota holding all Republican candidates accountable in November.

All donations to Minnesota Republicans for Financial Accountability and Justice, LLC will be returned to the appropriate donors. As a result of the overwhelming volume of donations by Minnesota voters we anticipate it will take three to four weeks to return those funds. We thank the voters of Minnesota for their kind support.

VOTE TODAY!

Today is primary election day in Minnesota. Please exercise your patriotic right to vote for the candidate of your choice. 

Is the Middle East Moving Closer to War?

Within the last few days the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called for world forces to annihilate Israel. His words echo the memory of Adolf Hitler in the 1930's who called for the annihilation of the Jewish people. Many people in Europe and the USA said he was just speaking to his political base and really wasn't a threat. It took the death of 60 million people in World War II, 12 million in German death camps including 6 million Jews to prove them wrong. Now people are saying the same thing about Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

My investigation into Iran indicates that they are indeed in the middle of a nuclear weapons development program. Iran has been the world's leading terrorist nation since 1979. Once they possess nuclear weapons it will be too late to put the genie back in the bottle. Iran is a Shite nation surrounded by Sunni Muslim nations. Shiite's represent about 20% of the Muslim faith. Unfortunately between these two sects hate runs deep. Is there any doubt that a culture that willingly trades death (martyrdom) for virgins in heaven will use those weapons against Israel, the "Great Satin" USA and their Sunni neighbors? 

The people of Israel need to understand that they are truly on their own. Europe still clings to too much anti-Semitic leanings and the USA under this current administration in my opinion, is the most anti-Israeli in our history.

Israel has conducted a number of military rehearsals to launch an attack against the Iranian nuclear plants and the Iranian missile centers. An attack could set back the Iranian program by perhaps 5 years. There will be wide spread attacks across the world by Iran and their surrogate's like Hezbollah and Hamas. Iran is a divided nation with many people wanting to throw off the yoke of religious fanaticism. Over time, after an Israeli attack there is a good chance that the people of Iran will over throw the leadership in Iran and pursue a new course of global behavior.

The clock is ticking for Israel.



What is the MN GOP Hiding?

Yesterday, Sunday July 29, Pat Shortridge, MN GOP Chair was on a radio program on AM 1130 to discuss the state of the MN GOP. Prior to the Shortridge segment the station teased that they would be discussing the July 23, 2012 commentary in the Minneapolis Star Tribune about the group Minnesota Republicans for Financial Accountability and Justice, LLC, offering to conduct a free forensic audit of the MN GOP Party financial books: http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentaries/163241416.html

Once Shortridge was on the air nothing was mentioned about the audit article. Two sources contacted me to say they called into the program and asked to speak on the radio. When the call screener asked their question for Shortridge they said they wanted to discuss the audit article in the Star Tribune. Both callers were placed on hold and within minutes they were both disconnected.

Most likely Shortridge told the station he would not address the audit commentary which then begs the question, what else is the MN GOP hiding from the voters of Minnesota?

Please read my Minneapolis Star Tribune Commentary for today

http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentaries/163241416.html

Let’s take a look at the truth. In 2008, the RPM under Chairman Ron Carey said that an audit of the books only showed that a small clerical error was to blame for some Federal Election Commission (FEC) reporting errors. Under questioning the party lawyer admitted the errors were 7 digits big. The FEC fined the RPM $170,000 in 2011 for their financial mismanagement from 2006 to 2008. On May 7, 2012, the RPM released a report that review of 11 items in their books showed no illegality, but a month later the Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board fined the RPM $33,000 and turned over documentation of alleged criminal activity to the Ramsey County Attorney. Their report stated evidence that FEC reports were falsified by former party boss Tony Sutton. Is there anyone out there how would like to guess how much the RPM will be fined by the FEC for those actions?

All through this process the RPM has said there is nothing to indicate wrong doing and time after time they have been proven to have not told the truth to the people of Minnesota. I left the RPM in 2009 after Tony Sutton was elected chairman warning that the Carey, Sutton & Michael Brodkorb team would destroy a once great and respected party and they did Only after December 2, 2011, when Sutton resigned did I return to the RPM. I have been called the “conscience of the RPM” because of my efforts to reform and re-establish trust, truthfulness, honesty and transparency of the Party. That is one title I will gladly wear.

Sorry I was Off Line

Finally back from an extended vacation. Fishing was so - so but had a good time up north away from computers and cell phones. I did manage to catch a couple of Twins games last week. Now I'll finally have time to prepare another Commentary piece for the local papers for later this month.

Is it Time to Build that Ark?

I will be writin more next week. Sorry that this week my writing is sparse but we are in the middle of a major landscaping project at our home and it has taken up most of my time. 

Republican Unity? Not from this Convention!

Now that the MN GOP 2012 Convention is over I thought I would share some of my observations. Please let me first state that I did not attend the convention or the state central meeting that followed since I’m not a delegate or alternate. Although there were numerous false reports of sightings of me at the convention and hotels in St. Cloud I can assure you all that I was not there. Friday I had numerous contractors at my home and Saturday we attended a wedding in Shakopee, MN.

I would like to compliment Marianne Stebbins on the masterful job that she accomplished after the harsh and disrespectful treatment by the RPM in 2008. She and others mobilized a grassroots army that resulted in the takeover of the RPM this year. Although I disagree on some of Dr. Ron Paul’s positions, I have always believed that the RPM leadership made a tragic decision in 2008 to bar him from addressing the state convention in Rochester.

Now that the RPM is essentially the Ron Paul Party I have heard from many of the “Old Guard Faithful” who have told me that after witnessing the jeers and boos each time Mitt Romney’s name was mentioned by speakers including the former Governor Tim Pawlenty that their activism within the party is over. Many of these folks were the grassroots workers who over the last 20 years+ could be counted on to stuff envelopes, do lit drops, march in parades and man the phone banks.

The RPM with all its troubles: sex scandals, alleged cover-up of past financial mismanagement, lack of fund raising and now deep division within its grassroots support base one must wonder the outcome of the November elections.

As I have written previously, I believe a takeover of the Minnesota House and Senate by the DFL is very possible. Confidence and trust of the RPM is at an all-time low within the state. Current GOP office holders have been silent about the failure of the RPM to do a proper forensic audit. RPM leadership refuses to investigate and hold past leaders accountable for their financial mismanagement which has many asking is the corruption deeper then we have imagined?  Now many within the base are sitting out this election. The ramifications for all listed above could be a massive backlash against the MN GOP and their candidates this November.

For now it appears that there is little unity and in many cases hope for the Minnesota Republican Party.

RPM At-Large Delegate Battle is Joined

Minnesota GOP Convention about to vote on National At-Large Delegates. Here is the list I was sent last night. According to press reports Chairman Pat Shortridge is on the Liberty (Ron Paul) slate.

National Delegate and National Alternate Conservative Unity Slates.

Conservative Unity National Delegate Slate:1) Michele Bachmann
2) Chris Barden
3) Ken Cobb
4) Keith Downey
5) Kelly Fenton
6) David FitzSimmons
7) Marjorie Holsten
8) Mark Kennedy
9) Jen Niska
10) Branden Petersen
11) Bron Scherer
12) Chris Teideman
13) Michael Vekich


Conservative Unity National Alternate Slate:1) Becky Alery
2) David Asp
3) Sheri Auclair
4) Chuck Bradford
5) Terry Flower
6) Mandy Heffron
7) Luke Hellier
8) Barbara Malzacher
9) Mark Miller
10) Monique Morton
11) Darrel Trulson
12) Ellen Wade
13) Joe Westrup

So Much To Do But So Little Time!

The Republican Party of Minnesota’s governing body, the State Central Delegates, hold their State Convention in Saint Cloud, MN today. They will endorse candidates, select RNC delegates and discuss the state of the party’s finances. With the elections less than six months away will the RPM be able to overcome their financial scandals, a torrid sex scandal, and the virtual take over by the Ron Paul movement. The RPM Convention over the next two days could spell victory or defeat in the November 2012 elections for RPM candidates.

As a Republican activist who has spoken out since 2007 against the mismanagement of the party’s finances I fear the worst will come from the convention. Many RPM Executive Board members have been asking for a forensic audit of the party’s financial books dating back to 2007, when Tony Sutton became Party Treasurer and then Chairman in 2009. Upon his resignation December 2, 2011, Sutton left the party some two+ million dollars in debt.

The RPM under new leadership investigated into the financial problem and on May 7, 2012 issued a 20 page report to the press by the RPM Budget, Financial Controls & Oversight Committee. Throughout the report the committee went to great lengths to point out that although calls were made for a forensic audit, no audit of any kind was completed, but rather a review of 11 specific transactions was undertaken.

After a thorough reading of the report I see little chance that Minnesota voters will be satisfied with the conclusion that gross financial mismanagement occurred but no alleged criminal or civil wrong doing took place. Their conclusion admits that former Chairman Tony Sutton lied about the party’s finances to the RPM Executive Board Members, filed false Federal Election Commission reports, and that former RPM Executive Director, Ryan Griffin could not be located by the committee to discuss his involvement in large amounts of the debt. How is that possible?

The May 7, report runs counter to any logic. If nothing else the report screams for a forensic audit to prove to the voters of Minnesota that the RPM is not engaged in a cover-up. As politicians throughout history have learned, it is always the cover-up that provides the greatest punishment to a wrong doing. For that reason alone, RPM elected political figures and party activists should be demanding a forensic audit at the state convention today.

The new RPM Chairman Pat Shortridge has taken the position or some say excuse that the party is financially broke and can’t afford a forensic audit. That is a very good point since the RPM hasn’t paid their headquarters rent for over 11 months. However, as many contend the RPM can’t afford not to have a forensic audit. The simple solution is to establish an independent team to raise the money and conduct a transparent forensic audit. I’ll gladly volunteer to head that team.

I’m convinced this is the only path to getting the voters of Minnesota to once again trust the RPM with their money. Minnesota needs a two party system for checking and balancing policies and budgets. One political party dominating state politics often spells economic disaster. The DFL will claim a more sinister reason that a forensic audit will implicate major GOP politicians both past and present. You can't counter that argument without a forensic audit.

In the words of former RPM Chair Ron Carey in 2008; "At the end of the day, those that are criticizing us are to be shamed - because the truth will get out and the truth shall set us free."

Well the truth has set us free and it proved that those of us who were calling for an investigation were correct. Financial mismanagement by the party of fiscal responsibility may cause an enormous voter backlash unless immediate action isn’t taken. Will the RPM prove it has nothing to hide and launch the investigation necessary to prove it?

Some People Can't Read and Obviously Don't Know History!

The Eagle Nest 2/506 Blog is dedicated to the 2d Battalion, 506 Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. This battalion and its E Company were made famous by Stephen E. Ambrose’s book Band of Brothers and immortalized by Steven A. Spielberg's HBO series about World War II by the same name. I served in the 2/506 in Vietnam as a combat infantry rifle platoon leader in 1970. Today, men and women from the 2/506 are fighting in Afghanistan. To honor them by naming this blog after one of their crowning achievements simply pays our respects to all who have served our great nation. This blog originally ran from 2008 to 2009 and many former readers have requested that I bring it back.

There was one person yesterday who wanted to question the name of the blog and somehow say that it is ‘weird’ to name a blog after Hitler’s mountain retreat. Obviously he can’t read because it clearly points out on the cover page of the blog that it is dedicated to the men of the 2/506 PIR, 101^stAirborne. But again this ridiculous comment came from a childish political foe, failed politician and fired congressional staff member.

With the impending implosion of the Republican Party of Minnesota in this November’s election because of their party’s cover-up of financial mismanagement and sex scandals, this blog will speak fact and reason to those who because of their lemming behavior caused the destruction of the RPM. The backlash by the voters of Minnesota will be clear: “if you are going to talk the talk, you better walk the walk.” Clearly the RPM has failed miserably to live up to the principles they claim: personal & fiscal responsibility, family values, and open & transparent government. As a Republican activist who has raised large amounts for the party and twice served as Republican National Convention Delegate (2004 & 2008) I will continue my quest to reform this once great party.

Meet the Star Tribune’s “Deep Throat” Andy Aplikowski 

Andy Aplikowski seems obsessed with attacking me over the years because: It is long been my belief that Andy Aplikowski was the source of the June 3, 2007, leak of the Star Tribune article about Dwight Tostenson’s internal GOP party memo.

In the past Andy has claimed that I was the reason he drank too much and smoked too much and was ostracized from the MN GOP because he supported my run for party chair in 2007. Andy’s position and reputation within the MN GOP was destroyed long before he was a minor player involved with my 2007 chair campaign. Others have well documented Andy’s displays of public drunkenness at official MN GOP functions and his unsubstantiated attacks on less radical GOP officials and candidates he did not agree, especially former Chairman Ron Carey.

In his latest, Andy Aplikowski blogs that I alone am to blame for the LateDabate radio talk show being removed from Hope FM 95.9 radio. He rants about a letter I sent to the station manager complaining about the host Jack Tomczak harassing me on social media and guests on the talk show telling outright lies. He rails that I had a date incorrect in the letter. He conveniently fails to mention that all inaccuracies were corrected when the station manager called me and discussed the matter and I sent a second follow up letter to the station. All this happened before Jack Tomczak and the station management met to discuss numerous complaints about his program and his personal attacks on people he disagrees with. Tomczak admitted the station would have allowed him to continue broadcasting but required the show to be pre-recorded so that station management could review the content. The decision to take the show off the air was Jack Tomczak’s!

The truth is Andy is a very sad and troubled young man who often flies off the handle and tells lies, throws bombs and misrepresents facts in his attempt to get noticed by someone or anyone. Andy is an immature pathetic cry baby who refuses to accept responsibility for his own actions. He claims to be a capitalist conservative purest while having to work for his Mother business. Just look at his blog attacks on Dr. Ron Paul and the members of Ron Paul's team in Minnesota and you understand how unglued Andy is.

Although I can’t definitively prove my suspicions on the Dwight Tostenson’s internal GOP party memo here is what I can state as fact.

I ran in 2007 against Ron Carey for the chair of the MN GOP. Andy would show up occasionally to our home to help in mailings. Andy was never an official member of the campaign staff or kitchen cabinet, only an occasional volunteer. One evening in mid May 2007, Andy showed up at our home during a letter stuffing event that was attended by a number of my neighbors, their children and some of my campaign staff. Andy pulled out of his pocket a number of printed pages and declared he had an internal MN GOP document that he was going to release to the Star Tribune that would put an end to Ron Carey’s domination over the MN GOP. He implied that he got the document from Michael Barrett, a former candidate for Congress in the 7th CD. The document was an internal memo, dated February 15, 2007, and written to members of the MN GOP Executive Board by Dwight Tostenson, a former worker at state party headquarters.

Aplikowski handed me the papers and I read the front page. I handed them back to him and told them that, “I believed that this document is a fake and likely planted by the Carey/Brodkorb camp. That no one was that stupid to violate the laws pertaining to employee pension payments.” I have witnesses/neighbors who will testify that this is exactly what happened. I told him I would not have anything to do with the document. Tim Wilkin, who was part of the campaign inner circle was there and also read the document. Andy left shortly there after but e-mailed me the document a few days or weeks later followed by a phone call saying he had verified the truthfulness of the document. I told him again that I would not have anything to do with it. In June 2007 the document appeared in the Star Tribune, and from the detailed investigation by the Star Tribune reporters and the admission by Dwight Tostenson in the article it appears the document was in fact true.

A firestorm resulted. Carey labeled me as an enemy of the MN GOP and my campaign as the source of the leaking of the memo to the Star Tribune. The reporters from the Star Tribune admitted to me that they had met with Aplikowski before the story broke but would not verify my suspicions that Andy provided the memo to them. Still it’s funny that Andy seems to be the Star Tribune’s go too guy for quotes and information dealing with the current upheaval in the MN GOP.

Some people never grow up and accept their responsibilities for their actions. Andy’s blog postings mostly remain personal attacks against people he does not like or politicians who do not meet his hypocritical standard of Republican Party purity. I’ll stake my character and reputation against Andy Aplikowski’s any day.