Posted on 05/18/2012 7:39:45 PM PDT by Clintonfatigued
In lightning speed for a political convention, Rosemount economics teacher Kurt Bills was endorsed Friday as the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate on the second ballot at the Minnesota Republican convention in St. Cloud.
Bills, a first-term state representative, prevailed with 64 percent of the vote of 2,100 delegates.
Within minutes after thanking his supporters, his family and his competitors, Bills was telling reporters of his plan for the days ahead. “I’m going to show up Monday morning for my advanced economics class,” he said. “After that we are going to riding this bus that will be touring around the state.” His theme, he said, is to bring “econ 101” to Washington.
U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar’s campaign responded briefly to the news. "Amy has always put Minnesota first and has a strong record of standing up for our state and getting things done. That's what she will continue to do," the campaign said in a statement.
Bills’ victory over former state Rep. Dan Severson and war veteran Pete Hegseth was also a victory for the Ron Paul campaign in Minnesota. They organized from precincts to the convention platform to elect delegates who supported Paul for president and Bills for Senate.
Those delegates were rewarded not only with Bills’ quick and decisive win but also with a visit from Paul himself. In his address to the convention Friday, he offered the delegates a choice selection of Ron Paul red meat.
“There’s plenty of people here who would like to see us end a few wars,” he told the delegates, who received him with the highest level of enthusiasm of the day. “It’s time to get busy, make a plan, get out of there.”
The Paul mantras of personal liberties, limited government and reforming the Federal Reserve drew appreciative hoots.
(Excerpt) Read more at minnpost.com ...
Kurt Bills is an unconventional candidate and a wild card. Will he play well in Minnesota? No telling. If he can tap into Ron Paul’s fundraising and grass network, he could make a race of it.
The Paulistinians took over the MN convention and nominated Bills instead of Hegseth. Hegseth should have demanded a primary (as was his right under party rules)—the GOP Senate nominee should be decided by MN Republican voters, not by shenanigans by Ron Paul cultists at a convention. But unlike those sharptoothed Paulites, Hegseth is Minnesota Nice, so we’ll have an unelectable nominee who doesn’t even believe in conservative Republican principles (otherwise he wouldn’t support the pro-heroin, pro-Islamist, anti-Israel, pro-gay agenda Ron Paul over actual conservative Republicans) and six more years of Amy Klobuchar.
Yes, unfortunately as soon as I heard the anti-Israel rhetoric, I was turned off. It’s going to be painted as anti-Semitic by the media (despite the fact they have no problems with it as long as it comes from Democrats).
An economist vs one of the stupidest human beings of all time. Who will Michigan voters choose?
Oops. Wrong state.
It’s time to adopt the primary system in Minnesota. If we had done this before 2010, we probably would have a Republican governor now - one that was just as conservative as the eventual 2010 Republican gubernatorial nominee.
Agree 100%. This state desperately needs what Tom Emmer would have brought to the table as governor. Instead, we (fraudulantly) got a DFL retread with one foot barely out of the nut house. Let’s hope the stadium issue will be his undoing...wake up Minnesota!
My point was that I don’t think that Emmer could have won the primary. If he had, we would still have a DFL retread as governor. Emmer had his chance against Dayton and he lost.
Wonderful. Getting sick of these paulbots.
What did he say about Israel?
Who would have won? Seifert? He would have been a stronger candidate?
I’ve never read of Bills talking about Israel. I think they were referring to Ron Paul.
One source claimed Bills took a Paulite position on providing aid to Israel (as in not). Another source claims he’s not taking the Paulite position and wants to emphasize economic over foreign policy (a comment that came off as patronizing saying essentially, “Yeah, it’s important they’re an ally... BUT...”). I’m always wary when certain subjects are downplayed, and the Paulbots don’t have much credibility on the broad issue of defense/foreign policy (as Paleos/Libertarians).
I believe Seifert would have won. He didn’t have the DWI baggage that Emmer had. Also, he has less of a tendency to shoot himself in the foot like Emmer did with the tip tax proposal.
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