Burning Down the Barn

Up until a week ago, Sharon Sund and Brian Barnes were fighting it out for the preliminary DFL endorsement for US House.  It was a dispiriting, boring contest--and Barnes won the nod on the first ballot.

I'm challenging Barnes in the primary--and have already delineated a number of areas in which our ideas differ.  Barnes is a strong supporter of unions (an enthusiastic Education Minnesota groveller); I am somewhat tepid.  I support lifting federal anti-marijuana laws, Barnes doesn't.  I support using economic leverage to end Israel's occupation of the West Bank; Barnes doesn't.  I want to reduce America's military spending to 1.5% of GDP; Barnes doesn't.

The conventional wisdom says that my candidacy cannot be considered, as I lack Barnes' electability.

Checking on the FEC's website:  As of 3/31/12 Erik Paulsen has $1,292,913 cash on hand.  Barnes for Congress has $30,841.  I have $300.  The financial difference separating Barnes and me amounts to a rounding error, when compared to the incumbent, in other words.

Let us pause for a moment of frankness:  Brian Barnes electability is close to zero.  He has almost no money--and has no history of expressing any interesting viewpoint on the issues.  (I've tried mightily--and can't locate a Barnes supporter who disagrees with me on this point.)  He has never uttered a courageous public statement--and is an effusive flatterer, genuflecting before every DFL special interest group.

By contrast, I am an independent-minded person; I am not beholden to Barnes' sclerotic paleolib pabulum.

Please consider voting for me on August 14, 2012.