Bluestem is lighting candles for the possibility that state senator and former radio talker Dave Thompson runs for governor. There's nothing quite like being able to blog about the adventures along the campaign trail of a self-assured political twit who lacks the slightest bit of reflectiveness or compassion.
Reporting for the Sun newspapers, Laura Adelmann writes in Sen. Dave Thompson considers run for governor:
Thompson, assistant Senate minority leader, said he has been encouraged to challenge DFL Gov. Mark Dayton in 2014 by many business leaders and constituents.
“I have talked to my family about it,” Thompson said. “I am serious, but I’m not ready to make a decision yet.”
Thompson has been a rising star in Republican leadership since winning the Senate seat vacated by Sen. Pat Pariseau, R-Farmington, in 2010 with 63 percent of the vote. The former conservative radio talk show host was re-elected in District 58 in 2012.
A married father of two, Thompson said education would be a top priority in a potential campaign for governor.
“We have a significant gap in the quality of education available depending on the location you are in,” he said. “I’d like to correct that.”
Thompson said the state also needs to create an environment that would encourage the economy to grow. . . .
Bluestem fancies that the business leaders encouraging Thompson are probably folks like GOP deep-pockets West Metro One Percenter Bob Cummins and the Freedom Club.
Thompson earned their fealty by introducing an anti-union amendment in the last session. In January 2012, Star Tribune staff writer Jim Ragsdale reported in State Republicans launch right-to-work amendment drive:
Legislative Republicans announced another controversial constitutional amendment drive on Thursday.
Rep. Steve Drazkowski, R-Mazeppa, and Sen. Dave Thompson, R-Lakeville, proposed an amendment that is known as the "right to work" and the "employee freedom" amendment. In essence, it allows workers in unionized workplaces to decide whether or not to remain outside the union, and to avoid paying dues. . . .
DFL legislators said the long-term effect of "right to work" legislation is to weaken the hand of unions and drive down wages. Sen. Ken Kelash, DFL-Minneapolis, who is a retired union carpenter who also worked as an agent for the carpenters' union. He said most traditional right-to-work states have a higher percentage of poverty, a worse education system and more citizens on public assistance.
"It's another attack on working folks to help the rich folks,'' Kelash said.
The proposal didn't make it to a floor vote in either chamber. Cummins' anger led to a rash decision, the Strib's Rachel Stassen-Berger reported in Top donor to Minnesota GOP calling a timeout:
Bob Cummins, who has donated more than $3.5 million to Minnesota Republican causes, is telling allies he has had it with Republicans in the Minnesota Legislature and will not give their campaigns any cash this year, according to multiple sources.
Cummins, CEO of Plymouth-based Primera Technology, is reportedly frustrated over legislators' failure to approve a "right-to-work" constitutional amendment that would limit union power. At least 21 states have such restrictions.
A pillar of GOP financing in years past, Cummins' support could be especially critical for Republicans, who have seen contributions drop off as their money troubles mount.
Senate Majority Leader Dave Senjem, R-Rochester, said he has not talked personally with Cummins recently but would not be surprised if he withheld contributions. "He was pretty tied in to the right-to-work issue, and I think that was his main legislative priority. I don't think I would expect a lot of help out of him given that we didn't advance that," Senjem said.
A Thompson candidacy would serve to rally labor's foot soldiers in a non-presidential election and help highlight one of the negatives recently identified by a Republican Party self-study: that this is a party of guys who really don't care about struggling Americans.
And then there's the payments the party made to Thompson while he campaigned, as Bluestem was first to notice, with the June 1, 2011 post, From the fascinating FEC reports of the Republican Party of Minnesota: of counties, committees, and candidates.
This narrative thread had a shelf life, as the November 2012 post, Hacks & flacks: reports reveal Sutton stiffed Thompson along with other MNGOP creditors demonstrates.
We can't wait.
Photo: Dave Thompson, from the party of Grumpy Cats. via Worthington Globe.
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