The Slow Death of the Minnesota GOP Isn’t So Slow Now

Back when I was in the leadership of the Houston County Republicans, I used to lock horns with the state organization and quickly learned they did not have a clue how things were in outside of the metro areas. Initially a strong proponent of the caucus system, once I actually saw how it worked I realized that it allowed very small groups vast power over candidate selection which allows for abuse. On paper it looks wonderfully democratic, but it is not in actual execution. A much fairer process is the primary system.

Those thoughts have resurfaced ever since the precinct caucuses to bedevil and annoy me. After reading that twenty of twenty four delegates are now bound to the very liberal Ron Paul, I have zero doubts about being correct in thinking the caucus system is a failure. It is not the first time I have seen superior organization put forth an inferior candidate here and I am sure it will not be the last.

Meanwhile, the state GOP has been served with an eviction notice. Yeah, that shows how well organized the state level has been. While the new chair cannot be faulted for the financial problems, the following email I received trying to downplay it does not inspire confidence:

MNGOP Statement Regarding Party Finances

St. Paul – Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman Pat Shortridge issued the following statement regarding Party finances.

"Last Thursday, I sent the below update on party finances to local and statewide GOP leaders. In light of an exaggerated press story in a publication this morning, we wanted to make sure you were aware of it. The MNGOP is not being ‘kicked out’ of its offices. While we have successfully negotiated with our creditors in most cases, our landlord took the unfortunate step, which they are certainly within their rights to do, of bringing the matter to court. We believe we're on track to settle this matter without further legal action, and we’ll know for sure in the coming days."

Below is the information that was sent to BPOU leaders last Thursday:

In light of recent press stories, I wanted to give you an update on where we are in the process of straightening out the Party’s finances. Here’s what we’ve done:

• First and foremost, we’ve amended our Federal Election Commission (2011) and Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board reports for 2011 and 2010.

• The Financial Control and Oversight Committee, chaired very, very ably by Jeff Johnson, has looked into many of the questionable transactions from the past and will present a series of recommendations to significantly improve our processes, internal financial controls and oversight.

• We’ve continued to cut expenses, while continuing the process of restoring trust with our major donors and rebuilding our small dollar donor programs. Fundraising is improving and we’re getting things done on a shoestring. You should be VERY proud of the party staff and our many key volunteers for going above and beyond the call to get things done.

• We have negotiated with our creditors so we engage in an orderly process for paying down our debt. In 95% of the cases, that process has gone smoothly. In a couple of cases, it has not gone as well as we’d hoped despite the best efforts of Mike Vekich, Bron Scherer, and me. One in particular that I wanted to tell you about is our negotiation with our landlord.

We have a long and very expensive lease which still has twenty-one (21) months to run. As you know, we have more space than we need and our monthly lease cost is in excess of current, comparable market lease rates. When I was elected on December 31, 2011, the rent had not been paid since August 2011 and as part of our continuing financial issues and our effort to re-negotiate the lease, no lease payments have been made in 2012 to date.

Rather than continue discussions with us, the landlord chose to exercise its rights and filed a notice of eviction in Ramsey County court. We’re not going to be evicted, and at the same time, are continuing to negotiate on the back payments as well as on a lease that better fits both our space needs and our budget.

While this is a situation none of us wants, it's part of the rebuilding process. No one ever said it would be simple or easy or without bumps along the way. But I wanted you to hear about it from me rather than from any other source.

• The bottom line: We’re in better shape than we were three months ago, but not as good as we’ll be three months from now. It’s a daily process that requires hard work and common purpose.

Please let me know if you have additional thoughts or questions. I’ll see you in St Cloud, if not before.

Pat Shortridge, Chairman
Republican Party of Minnesota

I would be curious to see if Ron Paul supporters would be willing to put their money and energy into saving the headquarters. Given that I have not seen them do much for endorsed Republican candidates despite volunteering, I doubt it. While there are a small percentage who have done so and really do have intentions of reforming the GOP, most do not. They are there for the presidential race and that is it. There is too much of a cult of personality thing going with “Doctor Ron” and it reminds me too much of devoted Obama followers.

At CD1, the endorsing convention has had to be suspended to reconvene later, as the Ron Paul and Al Quist supporters tend to be one and the same. Quist has zero chance of beating Walz in November and while it will be difficult to unseat someone so flush with union money, Parry has the best chance at it. Alas, no matter what happens, we will have a repeat of the divisions that afflicted the party in the district the last two election cycles.

From what I can see, the Minnesota GOP is nearly dead, just in time for a critical election over the country’s future. Corruption, incompetence, and simply being out of touch has sunk the organization. So I sit hear typing and debating internally whether I should change to a registered independent.

I will back individual candidates, that much I am certain of. But being in the laughingstock state in American politics has me giving up on any rationality ever entering Minnesota again.

FYI: If anyone wants to know what I have against Ron Paul, start here. And here. For being the pure fiscal reformer he claims to be, he brings home a lot of earmarks.