Carney said:

• he would support "independent minded" Legislative candidates of all parties, or of no party

• he will run in the primary

Carney will be at the Legislature today (Tuesday, 2/23/10), and possibly Thursday

A video of Carney's speech is on-line at youtube.com and republicancontract.com

Pawlenty v. Perry -- who is the true conservative?

Contact: Bob Carney Jr. -- (612)-824-4479 (home and business) -- bob@republicancontract.com

For immediate release                                                                              

Minneapolis, MN, February 23, 2010 -- Minneapolis Moderate Progressive Republican candidate for Governor Bob Carney Jr. told his Republican Senate District Convention last Saturday that he is calling for Legislative hearings to prepare for the possible impeachment of Governor Pawlenty for "corrupt conduct in office".

This call came at the end of Carney's speech on behalf of his candidacy for Governor.  A video of the speech is online at republicancontract.com. Carney said:

"I need to tell you one other thing, too, even at the risk of going over on time. I'm very strongly opposed to what's going on on unallotment. I believe that the Governor was illegal in that, and that what he's doing is unconstitutional. And I want you to know that I am trying to get the Legislature to have hearings on what the meaning of the phrase 'corrupt conduct in office' is, regarding impeachment, if Governor Pawlenty and the Legislature do not reverse what was done at the end of the last session and the beginning of the current biennium. I'm running for delegate, to be a state a delegate, and I want you to know, just as a matter of fairness, that that's my position. So if you vote for me, that's what you're voting for. Thank you."

Carney's remarks were received with polite, "Minnesota Nice" applause.  However, the Convention did not elect Carney as a State Delegate or Alternate.  Carney was "elected" as an Alternate to the Fifth Congressional District Convention -- but everyone on the ballot for that Delegate position was elected as either a Delegate or an Alternate.

As Carney headed to the podium, Convention Chairman and former Hennepin County Attorney Gary Flakne appeared to anticipate Carney might raise the issue of impeachment.  Carney has previously called for hearings on the meaning of "corrupt conduct in office" in testimony before the House Rules Committee, and in a Commentary published on the Star Tribune's op-ed page January 13, 2010.  Chairman Flakne introduced Carney with remarks that may have been admonitory:

"...Mr. Bob Carney, who is a Moderate Progressive Republican according to his card, Mr. Carney, if you'd like to come forward and talk to the group, other than as a proponent of an issue, but certainly as a proponent of Carney for Governor..."

In response to Carney's question as to whether there was any restriction, Chairman Flakne told him: "You do whatever you want to do, sir."

Carney also told the SD60 Convention he would run in the primary, and that he would support "independent minded" Legislative candidates "of all parties, or of no party." 

Carney will seek to speak at Republican District and County Conventions, as the endorsement process moves toward the State Convention.  Carney will seek to videotape his speeches, and plans to tell the other Conventions what he told the SD60 Convention.  Carney also talked at the SD60 Convention with Republican State Party Chairman Tony Sutton.  "I told Tony I would be contacting him regarding a list of State Delegate e-mails, so I can campaign for endorsement by e-mail.  I haven't had a chance to call Tony yet," Carney said.

Convention waived the "poll tax"; debate and discussion was polite, thoughtful

Carney refused to pay a $10 cost charged at the door of the SD60 Convention.  He was told (paraphrasing):  "Everyone else paid -- if you feel comfortable not paying, you can not pay." 

"In my judgment, this is a poll tax," Carney said. "Because ballot access is dominated by political parties, I believe there is a Constitutional issue in imposing any cost on anyone who serves as a delegate or an alternate at any level.  Some people think this is the 'land of the fee and the home of the knave' -- I don't.  I felt comfy, and everyone was nice about it," Carney said.  The 2006 Republican State Convention charged a $50 "registration fee". Since Carney was not elected a state Delegate or Alternate, he will not be able to refuse to pay that.

Before speaking, Carney told a Convention official that he planned to run in the Republican primary, and had not spoken at a Republican Convention a week earlier due to a rule that candidate speakers must agree to abide by the endorsement process.  He was told the SD60 Convention did not have such a rule, and that he could videotape his speech.

"I'm happy to report that the Convention process was open, and debate and discussion of resolutions was polite and thoughtful throughout.  In my experience, this is typical of Minnesota Republican Conventions," Carney said.  "I have said before that the Republican party is the 'party of ideas'.  Nothing at the SD60 Convention gave me any reason to alter that view.  Of course, being allowed to state an idea is one thing, whether anyone else agrees is a separate question," Carney said.

Pawlenty v. Perry -- who's the conservative?

Texas Governor Rick Perry appears poised to win the Texas Republican primary for Governor -- although there may be a runoff. 

According to a 2/21/10 New York Times article:

"At times, Mr. Perry seems to be laying the groundwork for a presidential run in 2012, though he firmly denies it."

“'It’s not going to be me,' he said in an interview on Thursday. 'I have no interest in going to Washington.' He adds, 'What I’m really interested in doing is continuing Texas on this path and letting it be a blueprint, a road map for other states to be successful.'”

The New York Times article also reports Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison claims she, not Perry, is the true conservative in the race:

"Finally, [Hutchison] has argued that he is a faux fiscal conservative because taxes and spending rose more than inflation during his tenure."

“'He’s not a conservative,' she said. 'I’m the conservative in this race.'”

During Pawlenty's four biennial budgets, Minnesota General Fund spending increased an average of 2% per year -- about half a point below inflation.

"If a Presidential faceoff develops with the Texas Stars (formerly North Stars), our Wild, nine-iron-high-sticking Golf Bagger Governor may emerge as the true conservative," Carney said.  "He's kept spending below inflation, while Governor Perry has allowed it to increase faster than inflation.  In this GeoFiscal race to the bottom, it appears Governor Pawlenty may be repositioning Minnesota somewhere below Texas," Carney added.

"I agree that for decades -- 1960 to 2000 -- the 10% average annual growth in Minnesota's state and local government  was unsustainable.  But an 8% annual downshift -- half a point below inflation -- is a huge shock to any system.  Unfortunately, looking ahead to the next biennium, we face the consequences of having drained all reserves of all kinds.  We will have to prepare for across the board cuts, including pay cuts throughout the public sector, and probably the non-profit sector as well.  However, this is best done by the Legislature -- 201 people, each with extensive knowledge and links to the people and organizations that will be affected.  The next few years will be very difficult," Carney said.

Carney thinks every state is unique, and chose one of his slogans -- "No New Texas!" -- as a kind of preemptive strike against Governor Perry's idea of Texas as a kind of "model state". Texas in particular has benefited from oil, which brings money into the state, and which has built a strong base for private philanthropy.  Alaska is an even more extreme example regarding oil resources.  "It's easier for Sarah Palin to be a 'rugged individualist' when the per capita value of oil reserves in Alaska is $600,000.  H.W. was born on third base, maybe when he moved to Texas, W was born at home -- or something like that.  Unique circumstances do not make for good theories," Carney said. 

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