“Say it ain’t so Joe” doesn’t begin to cover this one. Politically speaking Minnesota has long been a bit quirky. It did after all put Jesse Ventura in the Governor’s Mansion. With Gov. Tim Walz having chosen not to run for a third term (yes, in that state one can do so) the race, at least on the GOP side is wide open. (Senator Amy Klobuchar will win the Democratic primary) You might have chuckled if/when you heard the MyPillow guy was running. Well, the joke is no more. Sadly, even though you’d thought (or at least hoped) you were done with hearing from Mike Lindell he’s leading the group of contenders for the GOP nod. Really.
It all seems like a bad old school Acid/LSD flashback to Trump being treated like a joke in 2015 only to realize OMG he might actually get the nomination! Which he did. To countless Republicans and not just the sort of sane ones (with one foot or the Reality side of the fence or at least able to see the thing) in Minnesota but elsewhere this is NOT something they want. Yes, as Newsweek reports Lindell leads the race for the GOP nomination for Governor. MyPillow Mike. To you and me he’s more like MyCrappyLumpyPillow Head Mike but if you’re reading this (even Politizoom’s conservative lurkers I bet) this is batshit insane. Just like Lindell has long been. However the polling numbers are what they are:
The survey by KSTP/SurveyUSA, conducted between June 11 and 16, revealed that 27 percent of Republican respondents backed Lindell.
Meanwhile, 22 percent backed Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth; 17 percent backed Kendall Qualls, who won the GOP endorsement; and roughly 24 percent were still undecided.
Republicans with a foot still standing on the Reality side of the fence, and most who only see the fence from a distance are I suspect aghast. Yes, from time time she announced stepping away from the Senate to become Gov. of her state Klobuchar was going to be damned tough to beat. Still, GOPers had to think they had a shot.
The reason Walz isn’t running again is his own administration learned of wrongdoing that ventured into criminality and opened formal investigations. Which were moving along and bearing fruit. Since federal money was involved they of course let the feds know and welcomed their help. The second Trump administration (of course) has chosen to paint that in a very different light. To Team Trump’s and conservatives in general version Walz furiously schemed to cover up criminal behavior ‘he himself’ authorized, or at least tolerated.
That’s a load of bullshit of course but for the unforgiveable sin of running on the ticket with Harris and worse, not only saying Trump was PERFECT and he personally was both ashamed of himself for running for VP and that he’d personally be voting for Trump as far as Trump was concerned Walz had to be destroyed. Not only him but his entire state and for Republicans there too bad but at least he might acknowledge they were ‘necessary’ casualties of war. Or rather his personal vendetta.
The point is that Team Trump postured and lied their way to inflicting a lot of political damage on Walz and Minnesota Democrats in general. So naturally those who as I said have even a tenuous relationship with the real world hoped that a MAGA with some actual qualifications like relevant governing experience and the ability not to sound crazy would emerge as their nominee. Well, as the blocked out portion above suggests they might get Lindell instead. He’s not leading by a lot, but 27% at this point has to be causing a lot of heartburn both with GOP leaders and rank and file conservatives. Especially in Minnesota!
I’m sure Lindell thinks he can wipe the floor with Klobuchar on a debate stage. He’s a dumbass who doesn’t know he’s one. Hell, longtime Politizoom readers recall his meltdown about own Ursula (I think it was while talking on camera with none other than Steve Bannon) where he spent the better part of mangling her name and still couldn’t get it right. Klobuchar is a seasoned professional and former prosecutor. If it’s Lindell at the other podium she’ll take him apart piece by piece. And seem reluctant (that ‘Minnesota Nice’ she likes to brag about) while doing so. It would be like the courtroom scene where the actually reluctant to do his duty defense lawyer leaves Captain Queeg broken and babbling. Exposed.
As I said earlier Republicans wouldn’t have a very strong chance of beating Klobuchar but with Lindell running against her even hard core MAGAs will say screw it and stay home. Or vote third Party.
Friends, I know everyone begs you for money. I promise, among all those asking for spare change, we are the smallest and the hardest working. We’re a group of old, disabled people, except for one writer in his mid-50s. The rest of us are in our sixties and seventies, and this is a labor of love. All we’re asking for is the chance to keep telling the truth about Trump and help ensure democracy survives. If you can help, please do. Thank you. Ursula
