Melanie Phillips Takes On The Global Warming "Consensus"

Click on the title to this post to read Melanie Phillips address the latest PR attempt to insist there is a global warming consensus. There's not much left of the warmers by the time she is finished.

The New Republic Makes Nice Over David Frum

Apparently David Frum is to The New Republic what David Brooks is to the New York Times: its idea of what a conservative is. Click on the title of this post to be taken to the TNR story. The tone of the piece is alternatingly snarky (lime green tie?) and patronizing (Frum is a courtly man in his late 40's--and how over is that?). David is patted on his rather too-well self-regarded head for trashing Sarah Palin (he regarded her as a threat to national security; no, really). Seriously, how else could he have cocktails with Brooks and the late* Peggy Noonan if he said anything civil about Palin?

Conservatives must be on guard against being marginalized by some in their own Party. Frum is a perfect example. By all means let him run a vigorous website and throw out ideas as they come to him. But conservatives are perfectly within their rights to decline being characterized by those who wish there were rather fewer of us or, if we must be around, haven't worked our way up a corrupt party system to run, say, oh, a large energy rich state. And when someone like Frum suggests that obesity has implications for national policy (Nanny State Alert!) we can be excused for leaving the conversation before he brings up global warming.

*On the Sue Jeffers show 11/08/08 after the election I declared Peggy Noonan dead to me, hence the tag "the late Peggy Noonan."

A Suggestion From Rep. Mark Buesgens

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

Recently I was asked by the editor of a local weekly to provide my wish
when it comes to the federal spending plan. Below is my response in its
entirety:
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Editor,

Thank you for the chance to share my "What if" wish! What if every
elected official in Scott County banded together to send the following
message to Washington:

"Dear Mr. President and Members of Congress:
While we here in Scott County, Minnesota appreciate the well
intentions behind this spending package, we respectfully ask that you
reduce the amount of your planned debt by the amount proposed for our
area.
You see, we believe in individual liberty which means that we
believe in personal responsibility. Yes, we are facing some tough times
now, but we are committed to making the tough decisions today so as to
ensure a prosperous tomorrow. Saddling our children and grand-children
with a crushing debt because we were too timid to do the right thing now
would be an awful legacy that we as elected representatives of a
wonderful people will not participate in.
And so, we respectfully ask you to keep your borrowed money and
pork spending and we will keep our pride, honor and dignity.”

Sending this letter would help us regain our collective character and
help bring good from these trying times.
Mark Buesgens
State Representative
E-mail: rep.mark.buesgens@house.mn

MC On The Sue Jeffers Show: Should We Bronze Her?

Barbara and John were on for the full two hours tonight. Click on the title of this post to get the podcasts of the program. Sue Jeffers is indispensible to the conservative cause in Minnesota.

Steele Cleans Out The RNC

Chairman Steele has requested the resignation of everyone on the staff of the Republican National Committee. MC has been flooded with emails and phone calls from various activists applauding this move. Indeed, in one fell swoop Steele has lifted all of our spirits, at least those spirits who know that the entrenched, hidebound party establishment is a large part of our current problems.

As for Minnesota? Will Tony Sutton or Brandon Sawalich clean house? Ask them.

Budget Hawks At Trocadero's

We attended the Budget Hawks blowout at Trocadero's last night in Minneapolis. Congratulations to the organizing groups for an unqualified success. People from an array of conservative groups were there, exchanging ideas, networking and simply enjoying each other's company. Click on the title to this post to go to Minnesota Budget Solutions to see what you can do to become involved in setting responsible budget goals and priorities. It's your money. No, really.

The End Of Conservatism?

Go here for links to Sam Tanenhaus's recent article on the end of conservatism as well as smart rejoinders by a number of conservative writers. Good stuff here. Via the irreplaceable Ross Douthat. (Click on the title of this post to go to Douthat's blog at The Atlantic)

MN Conservatives On The Sue Jeffers Show Feb. 7th!

Join us this Saturday, Feb. 7th on the Sue Jeffers radio show from 5 to 7 on KTLK FM 100.3 Sue wants to discuss the state of the senate race in the first hour. In the second she plans to ask about Minnesota Conservatives, who we are and what we want to accomplish. No doubt there will be plenty of discussion about the state of the Republican party in Minnesota and how best to fix it's many problems. If you can't listen live you can go to the station's website (click the title of this post to do so) and listen to Sue's podcast of the program. Thanks Sue!

Oral Argument @ MN Supreme Court Re: Senate Race

We attended the oral argument today before the Minnesota Supreme Court, sitting in its old ceremonial courtroom at the state capitol due to the election contest ongoing in its usual chambers. Team Franken is asking the Court to require the Secretary of State and the Governor to issue and sign a certificate of election in Al's favor. Team Coleman's response is that such is not allowed by Minnesota law.

Any reasonable legal observer would conclude that the Court is unlikely to grant the petition to force the issuance of the certificate. Team Franken was arguing against rather clear statutory language and the claim that somehow Minnesota has "opted out" of the federal system by only having one senator at the present time was unpersuasive at best. Team Coleman did well, both in its briefing and at oral argument. Look for the petition to be denied and the contest to continue unabated and, quite likely, for many weeks.

Rod Grams Out. Now It Is Sutton Or Sawalich

Rod Grams withdrew late this afternoon from the race for the Chair of the Republican Party of Minnesota. What do you think about this development? If you supported Senator Grams previously, who are you leaning toward now and why? Let us know in your comments.