Across the Forum Communications chain newspapers, Don Davis' stenography for the Republican Party of Minnesota's roll out of its faux-flowchart infographics and link farms that constitute its "Solution Center" gets touted as a "new rural agenda."
It's a re-branding rollout. The same old product has been re-packaged as "rural." Senate Majority Leader Bakk (DFL-Cook) providing an assist, or so it seems from what we read in Republicans prepare new rural agenda as they retake control of the Minnesota House.
Judging from the reading material in the link farms at the end of each section, the solutions look like the same materials cooked up in urban conservative think tanks that we've been reading for years.
But there's one category that's radically different for now.
Under construction: Safety and Security
Looking through the Solution Center, we discovered that the Grand Old Party is offering nothing under the "Safety and Security" rubric, as well as no reading material. We've posted the current infographic at the top of this entry.
Here's a screenshot of the bottom of the graphic as it now resides on the MNGOP website (the time and date are in the lower right hand corner of the image):
The main Solution Center page text for the section outlines the party's goals:
Republican Solutions will focus on ensuring government’s core duty to defend America, protect citizens and their property, and secure safe and peaceful communities without violating individual rights.
That text is accompanied by this image:
The image of a beautiful sleeping African American child over a blank slate of solutions "under construction" may be the most honest part of the entire rebranding exercise.
We'll wait eagerly to see what the Grand Old Party has to offer.
Bakk's Senate Solution Center
And then there's the most puzzling part of the roll-out, from what we read in Republicans prepare new rural agenda as they retake control of the Minnesota House: Senator Bakk's implicit rip on his Democratic colleagues, who simply don't understand the extent of the problems facing rural Minnesota.
We're reminded of Bakk's statement last week when he talked about "DFL" attempts to raid the IRRRB's Douglas Johnson Funds, when the public record and Nexis database clearly indicate those raids were planning by Republicans: former Governor Pawlenty and the 2011 Republican-controlled state legislature, as well as the fantasy administration outlined in Tom Emmer's 2010 gubernatorial campaign. (Check it out in Range Trust? Baffling Senate Majority Leader Bakk blames IRRRB fund threats on Democrats).
Given the way that the State DFL scolds party activists who dare criticize sitting Democratic legislators, we're puzzled just how Bakk has wiggled himself into having a waiver on that party rule.
Graphics: From the GOP Solutions Center.
If you appreciate Bluestem Prairie, you can mail contributions (payable to Sally Jo Sorensen P.O. Box 108, Maynard MN 56260) or use the paypal button below:
Email subscribers can contribute via this link to paypal; use email sally.jo.sorensen at gmail.com as recipient.
Comments