New Thinking-Grassroots Movements-Minnesota-Bob Davis Podcast 786

New Thinking-Grassroots Movements-Minnesota-Bob Davis Podcast 786

These days people often say, “Politicians never do what they say”. Time to focus on a new way of thinking about politics in New Thinking-Grassroots Movements-Minnesota-Bob Davis Podcast 786.

Focus On Minnesota

First of all, let’s focus on Minnesota in New Thinking-Grassroots Movements-Minnesota-Bob Davis Podcast 786.

All States Are The Same. Right?

Seems like we think all states are the same. Every state has McDonald’s right? We eat the same foods. Watch the same shows.

Different Settlers

Especially relevant all the states were settled at different times. Different kinds of people settled them. Consequently the politics of all the states are different.

Minnesota Quirk

Furthermore political scientists say Minnesota is most noteworthy for its political quirks. Minnesota can produce a Walter Mondale and a Jesse Ventura. Therefore for history on Minnesota’s unique progressive history, go here.

Ranching Versus Farming – Oil versus Taconite

In addition one of the common refrains of Minnesota Republicans is, “Why can’t we be more like Texas?“. It’s as simple as when the states were settled and who settled them. The difference between ranching and farming. Or, between oil and mining.

Passive Aggressive Behavior or Minnesota Ice

Truth is when it comes to politics in the land of ten thousand lakes, passive aggressive behavior rules the roost.

Political Movements Going Nowhere

Moreover republican homegrown political movements are reactive and scattershot. So, they aren’t very effective.

Special Interests Are Choking All Minnesotans

Finally, special interests and money have a choke hold on Minnesota’s politics. Public private partnerships. Chambers of Commerce. Insurance Companies. Non-Profits. Seven rich guys in Minnetonka. One-Issue-Charlie religious contributors. Certainly a grassroots movement has to be strong enough to overpower these interests.

Above all nothing will change until the advent of a dynamic and powerful grassroots movement. Even more a movement that can deliver votes and money.

No More Self Serving Republican Reptiles

Great movements don’t start with self serving pols seeking glory and fame. In conclusion and by definition is starts with the people.

Sponsored by Water Butler Water Purification Systems and the Citizens Council For Health Freedom

New Thinking-Grassroots Movements-Minnesota-Bob Davis Podcast 786

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Republican Revolt-Breakaway-Minnesota Style-Bob Davis Podcast 785

Republican Revolt-Breakaway-Minnesota Style-Bob Davis Podcast 785

Four Minnesota State Representatives have revolted.

Learn more in Republican Revolt-Breakaway-Minnesota Style-Bob Davis Podcast 785.

The New House Republican Caucus

Steve Drazkowski of Mazepa, Cal Bahr of East Bethel, Tim Miller of Prinsburg and Jeremy Munson of Lake Crystal will soon be meeting as The New House Republican Caucus.

Straight Talk

First of all, the Minnesota Legislature is as confusing as it is frustrating. Getting a straight answer from politicians is never easy. Straight talk from a Minnesota Legislator is truly a rare thing.

The Swamp Of Republican Political Philosophy

Especially relevant is the swamp you’ll wade through when you talk to Minnesota Republicans. They are foggy on the ideas behind terms like freedom, smaller government and conservatism. According to one of the new caucus members, republican leadership isn’t for freedom and smaller government at all. So much for principles.

Bullying By Republican Leadership

Most noteworthy is the ongoing bullying of members by leadership alleged by representative Steve Drazkowski. ‘Draz’ joins me on this podcast.

Republican Debacle In 2018 Leads To 2020 Concern

Moreover republican house members are touchy when it comes to the reasons behind the stinging defeat in the 2018 election. The new caucus blames former Speaker and current House Minority Leader Kurt Daudt.

It’s a Farm Thing

Since The New Republican House Caucus hails from rural districts, news reports suggest this is a rural thing. It almost goes without saying that farm country is more ‘republican’ than the cities. Drazkowski says it’s the cities that aren’t ‘conservative’ enough.

Republican Leaders Aren’t Conservative

Finally what about republican’s loss of the Minnesota house and all statewide races? Is it because the suburbs around Minneapolis and Saint Paul did not support Trump? Furthermore Daudt and other leaders supported non endorsed candidates? Did they weaken the grassroots?

Saint Paul Shenanigans Lead To Tame Revolt.

Shenanigans in Saint Paul are legendary. We’ve all heard the rumors about pecking order orientations. We know staffers appointed by leadership tattle on members. Leaders bullying members on votes. Above all rumors of bullying more ‘conservative’ members are normal.

In conclusion Representative Drazkowski says in this podcast that the special interests are only in it for themselves. Due to this reality money and power have a chokehold on politics in this state. Consequently, it ought to be chilling to republicans.

Sponsored by The Citizens Council For Health Freedom and The Water Butler Water Purification Systems

Republican Revolt-Breakaway-Minnesota Style-Bob Davis Podcast 785

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Minnesota Road Trip-Progressives-History-Politics-Duluth 2018-Podcast 727

Minnesota Road Trip-Progressives-History-Politics-Duluth 2018-Podcast 727

These days one of the things you learn on a road trip is how big the United States is. Then, how big individual states are. Finally the traveler discovers how each state is different. In Minnesota Road Trip-Progressives-History-Politics-Duluth 2018-Podcast 727.

Get Off The Interstate

Most noteworthy is what happens when you get off the Interstate and onto the back roads. That’s when you really see how it is.

Covering Politics In 2018

2018 is an election year. I said I would cover the Minnesota political scene this year. The first stop is the Minnesota State Republican Convention. Duluth. On the shores of Lake Superior.

Minnesota History

Furthermore some of the state’s old hands don’t know Minnesota’s unique social and political history. We’ll discover it together in Minnesota Road Trip-Progressives-History-Politics-Duluth 2018-Podcast 727.

Town Hall Is In Our Blood

Sure, we know our pioneer history. Especially relevant is the unique history of political grass roots and town hall style representation.

Minnesota’s first settlers were New Englanders and New Yorkers. They brought town halls with them. Later immigrants from Scandinavia, Germany and Ireland formed the bedrock of so called ‘progressive‘ politics in the state. Therefore, those ideas are still with us.

Yes Republicans Were Progressives and Populists Too

In addition while some people assume progressive politics these days is only the political left, republicans too have a long history of progressivism. Find out in Minnesota Road Trip-Progressives-History-Politics-Duluth 2018-Podcast 727.

Tim Pawlenty Tries To Derail Caucus Process

Will the grassroots system survive in Minnesota? Former republican Governor Tim Pawlenty isn’t attending because he’ll be clinking crystal with rich guys at the Minneapolis Club. Pawlenty’s operatives will push the convention to refuse to endorse a candidate for governor. This is the main issue in Duluth this weekend.

Do We Really Want To Dump The Town Hall?

Moreover populists and progressives go back to the roots of Minnesota Republicans and democrats. Probably a big part of that process has been town hall style politics in the caucus system. Most of all do we really want to get rid of it?

Surprises In This Podcast

In conclusion as I researched this podcast I learned a few surprising facts. I think you will too.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: Two things. First, it’s not 35W heading to Duluth, it’s just 35 North. Being a Twin Citiean, I have to get on 35W before 35 North. Second, for some reason I thought the State DFL convention – the democrats – was being held in Rochester, Minnesota the week after the Republican Convention in Duluth. Once again those sneaky democrats have managed to slip out of my grasp. It’s in the 40’s in Duluth and the 80’s in Rochester. Given the quality of the speeches in Duluth this weekend, I wish I had gone to Rochester!)

Sponsored by Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul

Minnesota Road Trip-Progressives-History-Politics-Duluth 2018-Podcast 727

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