Throw the Bums Out

I figure if I get this out on a blog, Emily won't be have to hear my rants about the freaking state shutdown caused by the Minnesota legislature. Two quick points and then it will be off my chest.

1. I actually voted for the Green Party candidate, Ken Pentel, in the 2002 gubenatorial election. In the months that followed I wished I had supported Tim Penny more and voted for him. I could not ever imagine voting for Roger Moe, the Democrats' nominee. He seemed like an old deal maker and power broker more than anything else. He was uninspiring to say the least. But I wish I knew then what I know now.

I think we really could use Roger Moe either as governor or to take the place of that nitwit Dean Johnson. Moe would have brokered a deal long ago. I dislike Dean Johnson for the same reason I distrust Joe Lieberman. Both those guys were bought and sold by special interest years ago, but they are too self-righteous to admit it. At least with Moe, you knew what he was up to. He was going to put the heat on his fellow DFLers to vote a certain way by brokering deals with them or by flexing his muscles. We could use that now.

2. I am sick of all the blaming. Sure the GOP, DFL, and governor should all be pointing the fingers at themselves instead of at each other. But I also think we should stop blaming them and start blaming ourselves. Why the hell is it that the legislature was able to broker a last-minute bill to keep the state parks open during the shut down, but couldn't compromise on weightier issues? One reasons might be because the backlash of closing the parks the day before the July 4th weekend would have been 30 times what they are suffering right now.

"Sure it sucks that some state employees don't have jobs right now and that business of poor folks losing MinnCare stinks, but there will be hell to pay if you guys ruin my July 4th plans." I'll be honest, this is about how I feel. The rest areas being closed is the only thing that I can see affecting me by the shut down. And that's my point. Jackass voters like me don't raise hell unless the government's screw ups happen in my back yard. And I know I'm not the only one who thinks this way.

And this why we only have ourselves to blame. I have told Emily I am voting all Green and Independent party in the 2006 elections, at the state level. We'll see if my memory of this shutdown can last that long.