The Savage Republican

I received the following e-mail today from one of my fellow central committee delegates...

Dear Fellow Republican,

I had to laugh when I read the letter I received today from Representatives Hoppe and Finstad in support of Eibensteiner’s re-election (paid for by Eibensteiner).

The piece said, “In the few months since we took over the campaign committee, we have been impressed with the level of cooperation and the commitment coming out of the Republican Party of Minnesota. On every level, from finances to communication to grassroots organizing, it is clear that the state party is ready to work with us and ready to win.”

Really? Hoppe and Finstad obviously didn’t attend Eibensteiner’s “Feedback Forum” on April 16th in Bloomington.

I did. And I listened to Eibensteiner harshly criticize and blame the Republican House Caucus for losing 13 seats. Eibensteiner said the party wasn’t remotely involved in the 2004 rep races because Speaker Sviggum and the house caucus assured him that everything was under control and not to worry.

Eibensteiner took no responsibility whatsoever for our losses and proceeded to specifically blame Speaker Sviggum, Majority Leader Eric Paulson, Representative Jeff Johnson and Gregg Peppin.

Surely, Speaker Sviggum turned Eibensteiner down for a letter of support.

Now, I don’t know much about Representatives Hoppe and Finstad other than neither one of them are State Central Delegates and Hoppe and Finstad have been vocal supporters of publicly-funded sports stadiums for millionaires.

Hoppe and Finstad should sit down with Eibensteiner and read our party’s platform instead of telling me who to vote for.

I have made up my own mind and it certainly isn’t Eibensteiner.

Now I did not attend the Chairman's feedback forum either, however, I was a member of a small group of people who met with both the Chairman and his challenger (Bill Pulkrabek). During the course of discussions with the Chairman we heard the same assignment of blame described above. The chairman is a venture capital fundraiser in his full time job and I wonder how that attitude (it wasn't my fault that the project failed it was Johnny's fault) would go over. I know that in my job, if I am project lead all successes and failures would fall at my feet. The Chairman has one job - get Republican candidates elected. When the Party succeeds, the Chairman is a hero and when Party fails the Chairman needs to be accountable. Chairman Eibensteiner needs to "own the problem" just like he owned the successes of 2000 and 2002. Blaming the House and Senate Caucus is not going to endear him to the people he needs to most - the grass roots activists.

The problem, Mr. Chairman, was a failure to communicate. I really don't care who started the problem, your job was to fix so that all of our hard work was focused into a successful effort. That is what project leaders do. You did not do that Mr. Chairman and now you must face your employers (the State Central Committee) and try to save your job.