LWV HD 66A & 66B Candidate Forum October 11th

Posted on October 15, 2024 by Publius Jr

The League of Women Voters of St Paul Minnesota put on a forum for 2 House Districts at the same time. This is an extremely lazy practice they have done. There should be separate forums for each House District. The way they have presented it there’s really only 2 distinct viewpoints and they get repeated in the second House District.

The League of Women Voters of St Paul is putting this on with their Roseville Area Chapter.

Moderator: Susan Johnson

HD 66A Candidates:

Rep Leigh Finke (DFL incumbent), Fadil Jama (Republican)

HD 66B Candidates:

Rep Athena Hollins (DFL Incumbent), Greg Copeland (Republican)

As in previous Forum videos I’m going to put in time stamps of when from the start of the video to what questions were asked. Though when I was watching part of this live, the audio wasn’t matching the video. Candidates mouths were moving but the audio was slightly behind or ahead of the video. It was a bit like watching Kung Fu Theatre where the dubbed vocals don’t match the lips of the actors. So I’m going to mark when you “hear” a question is asked by the moderator rather than when the visuals start. Hopefully they’ll have cleaned this up from the livestream.

Also I’ll limit my comments only when the DFL incumbents spew out misinformation, or propaganda that I detected to be different from normal political rhetoric. I will point out when the Republicans say something that’s not correct to, but I suspect I won’t have to.

A note about the set up here is they have put both A & B Candidates of one party at one table and the other party at another table. One would think you would put one district together and the other at another table, or have one long table. Since the LWV have no oversight or standards to conform to, one can never expect them to do anything proper.  Maybe the incumbents are sharing the same notes as they can’t function without some help from the other.

When & What Questions Were Asked

0 to 14:40  Introductory music played until the visuals begin. It doesn’t seem like anyone is saying anything nor is the closed captions are started. (Seems as if the recording they are using keeps repeating or skipping and plays the same riff over and over again)

15:37  The camera focuses on the Moderator, but there’s no sound yet.

16:27 the first sound from the Moderator is heard. Yet the volume is low and rises and falls as if some child is playing with the sound dial. Susan reads her script about rules and how they are nonpartisan that no Republican in town believes because of past behavior and how they coddle their candidates by not asking tough questions that might give an advantage to a Republican candidate.

18:39  Rep Leigh Finke is introduced

18:45  Fadil Jama is introduced

18:51  Greg Copeland is introduced

18:55 Rep Athena Hollins is introduced

21:00 Rep Leigh Finke’s Opening Statement (HD 66A)

He mentions that he serves in the DFL House, but while the DFL may be in the majority, the Minnesota State House of Representatives is not called the “DFL House.”

A note the visuals on the recording are some seconds ahead of the audio, so as I noted above I’m time stamping when the audio is heard rather than the visuals.

23:16  Fadil Jama’s Opening Statement (HD 66A)

25:23  Greg Copeland’s Opening Statement (HD 66B)

27:38  Rep Athena Hollins Opening Statement (HD 66B)

29:45 Question 1: Education is on the mind of our audience, many studies have shown that after the pandemic our school age children are scoring historic lows in reading math competency. teacher pay is low as is teacher retention. What can the state do to improve educational outcomes for our school age children?

Continue reading →

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2024 #ProLifeSunday Happy Friends and Colleagues Day October 20, 2024

Posted on October 14, 2024 by Publius Jr

Call up your friends and thank them for being there when no one else was there for you.

Why Celebrate a day for Friends & Colleagues?

On an average day you spend a third of your day with your colleagues at work; and friends give you advice and give you some breathing space in forms of athletic outings or fun activities.  Let’s face it not everyone is married and friends are the life line for many single people.  Paul had Barnabas, and Jesus had 12 main disciples who were friends and also his colleagues.

Life would be so bland without your friends.  So why not say thank you to them for enriching your life?

Remember Peanuts’ creator Charles Schultz was from St Paul MN

Nationally there are only 3 recognized holidays that bolster the love and admiration of the family:  Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and Grandparents Day.  We are the party of Judeo-Christian Family Values.  We want to bring attention to the parts of the family that are often forgotten.  In July we celebrated Aunts & Uncles, in August we celebrated Brothers Sisters & Cousins, and now we are celebrating our Friends and Colleagues–that other family we spend a third of our day with.

Why on the 3rd Sunday of October?

Well because we can, but to have at least a full month since Grandparents Day to get ready, also because the 2nd Sunday is closest to Columbus Day.

Colleagues are at work who share the load of a project.  They know you almost as well as your family knows you.  They challenge you to do your very best in the work you do.  They chip in your contribution for pizza on occasion when they see you are coming up short.  Work would be more stressful without good colleagues.

I, Publius Jr, want to say to all my political friends (which includes, MNGOP, DFL, Independents, Libertarians, and Christian Republicans, and those from the Veterans Party), non-political friends, Toastmaster friends & mentor, Army Buddies, High School friends, College friends (Iowa State & U of MN), the MN DAV Drivers who took me to and from the VA for Appointments, Metro Transit MN Bus drivers, and my colleagues over the years to include the local reporters from Pioneer Press, Strib, MPR, and blogs, thanks for helping me over the last year; my friends and colleagues on the Ramsey County Elections Absentee Ballot Board; and my friends who just happen to be pastors, priests, and laypersons. John O’Looney a whistleblower in Milton Keynes UK of which I trade emails with a few times during the year. The Veterans and civilians who work at the VA Hospital in Bloomington MN who I worked with in 2019, and also those doctors & nurses at the VA Clinic in Maplewood MN, and those social workers at the VA-CRRC in downtown Minneapolis. One last group I’d like to thank are the friends I haven’t met yet. You don’t know it yet but you will make my day when I feel overwhelmed and you’ll be there to share the burden with me. Thanks.  ~~ Publius Jr

 

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2024 #ProLifeSunday: Happy Grandparents Day Sept 8th

Posted on September 7, 2024 by Publius Jr

The first Sunday after Labor Day is National Grandparents Day.  Since 1978 when President Jimmy Carter proclaimed it to be celebrated, this day has not had the recognition that it should have.

It was started by Marian McQuade, a housewife in Fayette County of West Virgina, who wanted to champion the cause of the lonely elderly in nursing homes.

First Time Grandparents

I, Publius Jr, have a friend who he and his wife became Grandparents last year at this time. They hadn’t noticed the significance of the date. They have been married 35 years and this was the first time they are going to be grandparents. I suggested to record as much about themselves with their grandchild as possible because in the next 20 years of the child’s life anything could happen to them and it is beneficial to the child when they get older to be able to look back on fond memories of them.

Both sets of my grandparents were gone before I graduated high school, and I miss them.

Renew Your Connection on Grandparents Day

I’m surprised there isn’t more made of this holiday. You might hear of a variety of made up recognition days to promote some product, service, or condition, and yet Grandparents Day has been around since 1978 when President Jimmy Carter enacted the holiday.

Regardless of the lack of a hype it’s a great time to reconnect to your grandparents, or any elder who has watched you grow up, like an older neighbor. It’s time to return their interest in watching you grow up by contacting them by phone or in person. Especially on adverse weather days of excessive heat or cold, even on rainy or snowy days. Senior Citizens sometimes withdraw from society once they no longer have a paying job.

Call up your Grandparents as often as You Can

Grandparents are that life link to the past, that should never be forgotten.  This year on September 10th, try to remember that life link to the past, your Grandparents.  Call them up, they’ll be glad to hear from you even if it’s a week from now. They’ll appreciate hearing from you.

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MAGA President Donald Trump on the Shawn Ryan Show

Posted on August 26, 2024 by Publius Jr

Note to Readers: I, Publius Jr, am a US Army Veteran. I served in Peace Time under both Presidents Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush from 1987-1989. I got out about 10 months before Desert Shield/Storm. I’m a follower of Shawn Ryan on the Shawn Ryan Show on YouTube. Mainly I follow him because he will bring on his show former Special Forces Soldiers who tell their whole stories from childhood to their service to what they are doing now. Often these Veterans will talk about their Come-to-Christ moments.

Recently Shawn Ryan has become a born again Christian, but only after airing about his vulnerabilities in dealing with PTSD, anxiety in crowds, I’ve posted those videos on this website. You can find them by searching using his name.

Too often Veterans get thanked almost as a knee-jerk reaction, and then we’re forgotten or screwed over. I get this often.

Because of Shawn Ryan, I am open about being diagnosed with Depression by the VA-Minneapolis, because it might help some Veteran out there to know that it’s okay to be vulnerable and to get help for whatever that ails you whether it’s physical, mental, or spiritual. Too often the last one, spiritual wounds, are omitted, I think because the Medical Industry & Big Pharma can make $ off of the physical and mental issues, but they can’t begin to heal like God, Jesus & Holy Spirit can.

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The DFL Mini-Donut Stand Location

Posted on August 23, 2024 by Publius Jr

10th Ward Rural Ramsey DFL Donut Booth is located to the Left of the Ramp into the Grandstand.

Be Wary of the DFL Mini-Donut Stand at the MN State Fair

The DFL Mini-Donut Stand is at Coordinates 44°58’51.5″N 93°10’25.0″W

DFL Mini-Donut Stand Satellite Map

If you buy products from this mini-donut stand you will be unknowingly (or knowingly if you are a DFLer) funding DFL Candidates through the Best Fair Foods Political Action Committee, what had been the 10th Ward Rural Ramsey County Political Committee, through 2020 when it was terminated to start under the new name.

Recent Recipients of the Donations from the Best Fair Foods PAC

  • Former Rep John Lesch 66B, who figuratively got caught with his hand in his campaign funds cookie jar for personal reasons, so it seemed; had received funds from this group’s former name indirectly in the past.
  • DFL Senate Districts 36, 39, 40, 44, 65, and 66. The incumbents from these districts get donations from their local party units, so they get mini-donut money indirectly from your patronage of the DFL Mini Donut Stand.
  • The above Districts might not mean anything, but the following State Senators might: Heather Gustafson (SD 36), Mary Kunesh-Podein (SD 39), John Marty (SD 40), Tou Xiong (SD 44), Sandy Pappas (SD 65), and Clare Oumou-Verbeten (SD 66).
  • These are the following DFL House District Representatives: Zack Stephenson (HD 36A), Brion Curran (HD 36B), Erin Koegel (HD 39A), Sandy Feist (HD 39B), Kelly Moller (HD 40A), Jamie Becker-Finn (HD 40B), Peter Fischer (HD 44A), Leon Lillie (HD 44B), Samakab Hussein (HD 65A), Maria Isa Perez-Vega (HD 65B), Chris “Leigh” Finke (HD 66A), Athena Hollins (HD 66B)

So it is up to you to be wary of this location.  With every purchase there you are helping DFLers defeat Republicans in Minnesota.

 

Retired Career Politician, Phyllis Kahn, DFL stands in front of the “Grandstand” Mini-Donuts.

Now these folks make a lot of money at the state fair from mini-donuts that would make the health conscious zealots cringe.  The booth is not marked as the DFL Mini Donut Stand,  there is no disclaimer on the booth as to where the money of this group goes to.

There ought to be a law that requires them to reveal who they are and where the money goes.

Rep Randy Jessup & Sen Roger Chamberlain tried to Make a Law

Almost every session of the MN State Legislature, there is a bill that Republicans put together that requires groups that raise money at the State Fair or other public events to show on a visible sign where the money goes to.  It isn’t making their operation illegal, but they want the customers to have all the information about the vendor before they make a purchase.

During the 2017 Session former Rep Randy Jessup of 42A & former Sen Roger Chamberlain SD 38 had made similar bills that were added to the Omnibus bill.  They were not signed into law by then DFL Governor Mark Dayton.

Rep Jessup did say there is a limit on the number of bags of donuts one can purchase–4 bags.  Any more than 4 you purchase they will have to make a record of it being a contribution.

This article is just to identify where the DFL Mini-Donut Stand is.  If you don’t want to give money to the DFL to defeat Republican candidates then you can find another Donut Stand, or to Sweet Martha’s Cookies which is nearby.  If you are a DFLer and you want to fundraise then that is up to you to.  It is just unethical of a party sympathizer to not be open about where their excess money goes.  This article was originally published by me on August 26, 2017. I’ve updated it with 2024 information. ~~ Publius Jr.

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VA Minneapolis Veteran Food Pantry 3rd Tuesday of Each Month

Posted on August 20, 2024 by Publius Jr

VA Minneapolis, or VA Medical Center located at 1 Veterans Drive Bloomington MN 55417 holds a Food Pantry once a month

What:  VA Minneapolis Veteran Food Pantry

When:  3rd Tuesday of Each Month 10 am to 2 pm (while supplies last) 

Where: VA Minneapolis, 1 Veteran Drive, Minneapolis, MN 55417, Map Auditorium next to Flag Atrium

Dates:

  • April 15
  • May 20
  • June 17
  • July 15
  • August 19
  • September 16
  • October 21
  • November 18
  • December 16

This is held once a month. Veterans who express a need for Food who can show they are a Veteran can get a box of assorted food. A Veteran need not be enrolled in the VA Medical Center. Family Members and Caregivers may have access to it.

The following notice was taken from the VA News first posted on May 10, 2024 “Veteran Food Pantry-Monthly.”

I, Publius Jr, am a US Army Veteran with a non-physical disability. All my healthcare needs come from the VA-Minneapolis. Saintpaulrepublicans.us was not compensated for posting this notice.

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2024 #ProLifeSundays: Happy Brothers, Sisters & Cousins Day August 11th

Posted on August 10, 2024 by Publius Jr

Call up your brothers, sisters & cousins and thank them for being who they are.

We are continuing the celebration of the family by recognizing where Brothers, Sisters, and Cousins fit into the family. Every part of a family is an important piece of the total picture of happiness and prosperity that God wants for us.

Sometimes things don’t go swimmingly well and usually it stems from sibling rivalries, sibling jealousies, and sibling covetousness of each other. In these cases the parents and other elders of the family have to smooth things out. If they don’t these rumblings turn into deep divides between Brothers & Sisters that drive them away from each other when they become adults.

So that’s why families need to bring in God’s teachings to make sure siblings get along. Brothers & Sisters living in harmony helps to make their adult life that much more happy and prosperous.

I, Publius Jr, am the youngest in my family. I was blessed with 2 brothers and 2 sisters and 4 cousins on my mom’s side and 5 cousins on my dad’s side of the family. Those numbers are before their spouses and their children.

Growing up I learned from the lessons, trials and errors learned of my sisters and brothers.  I also got a lot of my brothers’ hand-me-downs and as they were older than me my fashion was a few years behind the times.

All of my cousins are older than me. It isn’t until you get to the first cousins once removed (my cousins’ kids) that I become older than them. On my mom’s side of the family only one 1st cousin once removed is younger–Kyle of Sacramento. I wasn’t too close to any of my cousins because they are all older than me. My oldest first cousin Marianne is 34 years older and Susan the youngest is 8 years older than me.  So it’s really hard to relate to them. They grew up at a different time and some were married before I got to Junior High School.

My brothers, sisters, and cousins have different and interesting professions. Cousin Lawrence Karnow is a weather forecaster for a San Francisco Bay Area TV station (KRON4), a brother of mine is a Master Electrician, Cousin Bruce is a cook, a brother-in-law is a Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Singer, Cousin Ellen is a retired US Air Force Veteran who played for the US Air Force Band, Cousin Lynn is a retired Mechanical Engineer who helps raise Black Labradors with Cousin Marianne.  All of them give an insight into these and other professions.

Brothers, Sisters and Cousins still are interested in you because you have a shared history together. You’ve learned about life together years apart or in the backseat of a Chevy Suburban going to California on a summer vacation.  They sent letters and cookies to you when you were at summer camp or when you were in the military (thanks Mary). They beat up a bully at school for you (thanks Dave), or taught you to bowl at the college union (thanks Ann), or taught you to play pool in the basement of the Masonic lodge before you learned to read (thanks Rob).  They did a victory dance when the Packers won the Super Bowl (Thanks Cousin Dan) or sent some great Christmas cards over the years (thanks Cousins Susan, Bruce, Barton, Ellen, Ruth, Marianne, Barbara, and Debbie).

If you’re unsure of where you stand with your Brothers, Sisters, and Cousins, call them up this Sunday or some time during the week to get back on better terms with them.  Go on, they’ll be glad you were thinking of them.

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Endorsed MNGOP US Senate Candidate Royce White v Joe Fraser Debate July 18, 2024

Posted on August 2, 2024 by Publius Jr

Alpha News MN streamed this debate between the Endorsed MNGOP US Senate Candidate Royce White and Primary Challenger Joe Fraser on July 18, 2024. Kelly Jahner-Byrne the President of the Minnesota Federation of Republican Women moderating the Debate (starts after a countdown and an introduction by the moderator at 17:45 minute mark).

After Opening Statements led by Joe Fraser & Royce White these are the questions asked, with the time stamps of when asked. You can listen to each candidate’s replies after the questions are asked.

(22:30) Question 1: What specifically will you do to convince Minnesota Voters if you are selected in the Primary to Elect you over Amy Klobuchar? What’s your plan?

(26:17) Question 2: Specific to Royce White: There’s questions about your past run-ins with law enforcement and just some of the things that have happened in your life. How do you plan to move that forward, use it to your advantage or not? Royce asks to clarify and be specific. Child Support Issues.

(28:31) Question 3: Specific to Joe Fraser: There was an endorsement process and you had said you would uphold the endorsement. Do you believe in endorsements and do they matter? Why or Why not? And if not how do you plan to garner trust?

(30:40) Question 4: What is the greatest challenge in your opinion in America today and what do you plan to do to help solve that problem?

(34:50) Question 5: In America we seem to have lost our way, we seem to have really lost our way against law & order. What do you propose to help us regain and respect for our police our law enforcement and for those in authority?

(39:22) Question 6: Antisemitism is on the rise in America. What are some solutions that you could offer?

(43:30) Question 7: Is Trump a positive or negative for your campaign? Will you run as a MAGA Republican or will you distance yourself from Trump fans? 

(44:05) Royce asks for a rebuttal to Joe Fraser. He wants to answer this question: What do I mean by the Jewish Identity being used to stifle America First or restore American Citizenship?

(46:00) Question 7 to Joe Fraser: Is Trump a positive or negative for your campaign? Will you run as a MAGA Republican or will you distance yourself from Trump fans?

(47:30) Question 8: In order to win statewide you need to win Anoka County by at least 10,000 votes and pretty much tie in Hennepin County. Anoka has been okay for Republicans in recent elections but Republicans have lost Hennepin County by tens of thousands of votes. That where Amy Klobuchar has been a judge [sic, Klobuchar was not a judge but the Hennepin County Attorney]. So what’s your plan how do we make up for those Twin Cities? [sic. The Twin Cities are St Paul & Minneapolis. St Paul makes up most of the voters in Ramsey County, and Minneapolis in Hennepin County. Anoka County is not part of the Twin Cities but are mostly the suburbs of Minneapolis]

(52:25) Question 9: Congress has not balanced the Federal Budget in a quarter century. During that time our crushing national debt has quadrupled. How high of a priority is balancing the budget every single year and what are you personally prepared to do to realize this urgent vital task?

Rapid fire questions 1 minute responses

(56:30) Question 10: We’re a Women’s Organization [MNFRW] and some people seem to be confused as to what the definition of what a woman is. It seems our government wants to unravel every good thing that has been done for women. What is your plan?

(59:30) Rebuttal by Royce White: (1:00:05) Response Joe Fraser

Closing Statements by Joe Fraser then Royce White

(1:01:12) Joe Fraser Closing Remarks (1:02:12) Royce White Closing Remarks

(1:03:40) Kelly Jahner-Byrne Talks briefly about the Minnesota Federation of Republican Women

I, Publius Jr, put in notes that correct the moderator in the brackets [ ].

This post was not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee, the MNGOP, any PAC, nor by Alpha News MN, MN Federation of Republican Women. We’re posting this for the benefit of Republican & Independent voters who plan to vote in the August 13th Primary.

We wish that Joe Fraser had agreed to debate Royce White prior to the State Convention. Royce was ready and Joe seemed to take it for granted that he would win at the State Convention which had been priced to keep the grassroots delegates away. ~~ Publius Jr

If you like these articles that I, Publius Jr, post feel free to give a tip at buymeacoffee.com/stpcitygop, or purchase a Patriotic Coffee 2GO Cozy at the following link. It goes towards the upkeep of the website. buymeacoffee.com/stpcitygop/e/277683

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2024 #ProLifeSunday Happy Aunts & Uncles Day July 14th

Posted on July 11, 2024 by Publius Jr

Since 2004, I, Publius Jr, have celebrated Aunts & Uncles Day.  I first put it on the 2nd Sunday in July in 2005.  My late-Dad passed away in July of 2003.  My aunts and uncles were so supportive of me and my family that they helped me through the bereavement process.  I wanted to thank them in a big way so I started up Aunts & Uncles Day.

Okay, I’m an uncle to 5 lovely nieces, and 2 handsome nephews, and I wanted a day to get some swag too.  You see some men and women like me are not yet parents, but being an aunt or uncle is important to ones family structure.  As an uncle I’ve taught things to my nieces and nephews their parents forgot…like how to eat cold cereal.  One of them ate the dry cereal first then drank from a glass of milk.  I showed them you pour milk into cereal then drink the left over milk up.

It is important to show your nephews and nieces their parents were once in their shoes.  It’s a loving bridge between generations.

I also noticed we only celebrate Moms, Dads, and Grandparents but not anyone else in the Family.  So I added Brothers, Sisters & Cousins Day in August 2005, and recently I added Friends & Colleagues Day in October.

If we Americans want to have a rich fulfilling life we need to reclaim the extended family.  I admire immigrants who honor the extended family and 1st or 2nd generation families who still give homage and respect to their elders.

So go call your Aunts & Uncles up today and let them know how much they mean to you.

Happy Aunts & Uncles Day!

Next Month #ProLifeSunday Brothers Sisters & Cousins Day August 11th

This year I can not tell my last surviving Uncle how much he has meant to me because he passed away during the last week of 2023 in December. He was 91. He was my favorite uncle too. He was the youngest of my dad’s brothers. He was one of the reasons why I’m a Green Bay Packers Fan and Shareholder (I’ve never lived in Wisconsin). He held Season tickets since 1957, and many of the players from the first 2 Super Bowl teams the Packers won went to his church in Green Bay. He knew Bart Starr personally. I’ll miss him. ~~ Publius Jr.

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The First Presidential Debate Between President Donald Trump & Joe Biden June 27, 2024

Posted on June 27, 2024 by Publius Jr

The First Debate between the presumptive Presidential Candidates, President Donald J Trump, and the questionable President Joe R Biden.

A third party candidate who is on the Minnesota General Election Ballot is Robert F Kennedy Jr (RFK Jr) was excluded from this debate. Guessing this was because Joe Biden would be losing votes largely because the Democratic Party Presidential Primaries were rigged for Hillary in 2016 & Biden in 2020 as well as this year. RFK Jr is a lifelong Democrat. For fairness and for the sake of the Democrats in St Paul & Minneapolis we will post RFK Jr’s Debate video separately.

This post was not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee, the MNGOP, CD4 GOP, nor any PAC. ~~ Publius Jr.

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