Did you know.....

....that the first ever African American to serve in the U.S. Congress was a Republican?

Yes, it was 150 years ago Tuesday that Hiram R. Revels was officially appointed a U.S. Senator out of Mississippi.

In 1870, the state congress selected Revels to fill a vacant seat in the United States Senate. Debate surrounding his eligibility hinged on the 1857 Dred Scott decision, which precluded African-American citizenship. The decision was effectively reversed by the ratification of the 14th Amendment after the Civil War. Democrats argued that Revels did not meet the nine-year citizenship requirement to hold congressional office given his ineligibility for citizenship through the war years. Ultimately, Revels and his Republican allies prevailed by citing Revels's mixed-race background, and Revels became the first African American to serve in the United States Senate. His appointment was particularly symbolic in that the seat he occupied had previously belonged to Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy.

During his time in Washington, the press praised Revels for his well-crafted speeches and diplomatic approach to a tense congressional environment. His signature issue was civil rights, including the integration of schools and equal opportunities for black workers. Revels urged a moderate view on the restoration of Confederate citizenship. While the Radical Republicans in Congress called for harsh punishments to be meted out to Civil War rebels, Senator Revels took a milder view. He argued for the immediate restoration of citizenship to former Confederates, along with the secure enfranchisement, education and employment eligibility of African Americans.

Wow, was he ever ahead of his time.

Given February is Black History Month, Revels' milestone is one factoid which I am disappointed wasn't touted more. It's a shame partisan politics seeps into almost every aspect of life. Nevertheless this is further proof that of the two major political parties, the GOP was the one leading the way on equality and desegregation. It's a shame that Republicans lost their grip on that issue approximately a century later.

Thankfully, current Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker led a resolution to honor Revels this past Tuesday.

“Hiram Revels was an extraordinary Mississippian and American whose legacy extends far beyond breaking the color barrier in Congress,” Wicker said. “He used his platform to fight for equality and reconciliation in a nation divided by race and the Civil War. The broad bipartisan support for this resolution demonstrates the deep respect and appreciation Americans still have for Hiram Revels’s service.”

Regardless of what month of the year it may be, Mr. Revels' legacy is one worth celebrating at any given moment.

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YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH

There's a wise old saying largely attributed to trial lawyers: “You never ask a question to which you do not know the answer.” That essentially means lawyers will ask questions which they firmly believe will result in a retort which strengthens their case.

Over the past year or so, gun-grabbing Minnesota legislators have been touting a survey which indicated that 90% of MN voters support background checks on all firearm purchases. First, that inquiry is a straw man. Firearm purchases are already subject to such checks. And secondly, this survey is used to gin up support for House File 8, which calls for background checks on sales as well as transfers. But the survey question conveniently isn't nuanced to include that latter tidbit, otherwise there would likely be significant opposition to HF8. And it is also the hope of the DFL that voters will remain ignorant and thus not read the legislation being drafted.

Ah, been when you have an educated and boots-on-the-ground pro-gun organization like the Minnesota Gun Owners Caucus, the gun grabbers are going to receive serious pushback.

On Monday evening, the MN House DFL's Facebook page created a poll with the following phrasing:

"It's time we do something to address senseless gun violence. Do you support criminal background checks on all gun sales?" 

Their objective is clear given how they worded that question in that only a heartless gun nut would think to vote "No." But since they are bringing to the floor this week both HF8 and HF9 (Red Flag gun confiscation), we Second Amendment advocates were on to their scheme. So what happens when someone asks a question they don't know the answer to?

The same thing happened with the poll posted to Twitter, which also was eventually deleted.

With the two anti-gun bills slated to be brought to the House floor this Thursday afternoon, they will likely pass given the DFL is the majority party in that chamber. But the chanting point of "Our online polls show a majority of respondents support these measures" has been effectively shot dead......rhetorically speaking.

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A thousand skeptic hands won't keep us from the things we plan....

It's late February, so we're that much closer to spring time! Regardless, today's edition of my radio show The Closer promises to bring the heat. The 2-hour blitz gets started at 1:00 pm Central Time.

In the first hour I'll weigh in on mostly local issues, specifically a noteworthy gun-grabber group loses its lead demagogue. Also, Senate Republicans put together a common sense plan for the projected budget surplus ----- which means it's a non-starter for the Dem majority in the House and Gov. Walz's office.

In the second hour I will look back on the proverbial clown show that was last Wednesday's Dem debate in Nevada. Speaking of Nevada, they held their Democrat caucus yesterday, so we'll break down those results as well.


So please call (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics we plan on addressing.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 or, if you're near downtown Minneapolis/West Metro area, 107.5 FM on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link, or check us out via iheart radio as well as Amazon Alexa (just say "Alexa, play The Patriot Minneapolis"). If you're unable to tune in live, please check out my podcast page for the latest show post.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #NARNShow or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....

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Tugging on Superman's cape

Sure the Minnesota Timberwolves were utterly irrelevant (and at times downright dysfunctional) in the first seven seasons of the franchise's existence. But that's not to say there weren't some entertaining anecdotes that emerged from that period.

In this clip, the Wolves's best player in their history, Kevin Garnett, and the mercurial J.R. Rider share a tale from KG's rookie year when he trash-talked Michael Jordan.

You can probably guess how that ended up.





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Quick Hits: Volume CCXIII

- So how 'bout that Dem debate Wednesday night, huh?

As expected, septuagenarian billionaire Michael Bloomberg received most of the shrapnel, particularly from Fauxcahontas Elizabeth Warren.

WARREN: "I’d like to talk about who we’re running against. A billionaire who calls women fat broads and horse faced lesbians, and no I’m not talking about Donald Trump, I’m talking about mayor Bloomberg."#DemDebate pic.twitter.com/8ic2t7LOqS

— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) February 20, 2020

Video: Here's the moment that the Bloomberg campaign absolutely imploded on itself #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/6QT0xnNRN0

— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) February 20, 2020

Mad props to conservative radio host Steve Deace, who predicted that Warren would assume the Chris Christie 2016 role by going all kamikaze on a candidate who is deemed a threat (in the case of '16, it was Marco Rubio) to the front runner. Christie had no delusions of saving his own skin as much as providing an assist to Donald Trump. While Warren may hang around longer in 2020 than Christie in '16, her smackdown of Bloomberg won't resurrect her moribund campaign.

But I agree with Daily Wire contributor Jessica Fletcher in that the Mayor Pete-Klobee exchange was also my favorite moment of the night.

This was my favorite moment of the night #DemDebate pic.twitter.com/OxcN9LG6Ue

— Jessica Fletcher (@heckyessica) February 20, 2020

Finally Americans were able to see what has been the worst kept secret among Minnesotans: that Sen. Amy Klobuchar indeed has the kind of temperament that is not above being abusive to staff.

Oh, and in a totally unrelated matter: 

Gallup: Trump job approval moves into *positive* territory - now at 49-48. That's Trump's best approval on Gallup in his presidency.

In addition, Gallup has seen an uptick in Americans identifying as Republicans - jumping to 32% (was 28%). Democrats were just 28% of respondents. pic.twitter.com/3p0AMaPrME

— Josh Jordan (@NumbersMuncher) February 20, 2020

Sleep well, leftists.


- Speaking of proverbial clown cars:

Human Scum.

If you can name 5 or more of these folks you qualify for the hidden handshake ...

Go... pic.twitter.com/XgzBbYiSO6

— Charlie Sykes (@SykesCharlie) February 20, 2020

As a matter of fact, I can name five or more. And I can also point out multiple individuals pictured who have made a vow to vote for the Democrat nominee for President (yes, even if it's avowed socialist Bernie Sanders) this November.

I realize I may be stating the obvious here, but such a stance is neither principled nor conservative.


- Prayers up for a member of Minnesota's Congressional delegation.

Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Hagedorn announced Wednesday that he’s being treated for Stage 4 kidney cancer.

The 57-year-old congressman, who represents southern Minnesota’s First District, said he received the diagnosis in February 2019 and has been undergoing immunotherapy at Rochester’s Mayo Clinic over the past year.

The diagnosis will not affect his re-election campaign, he said. Hagedorn faces a tough re-election fight against Democrat Dan Feehan, whom he narrowly defeated by about 1,300 votes in 2018.

“This disease has not and will not deter me,” Hagedorn said in a statement. “Exactly two months after marrying my wife … and just six weeks into my job as the First District’s congressman, I was given unexpected and rather shocking news. Just like millions of other Americans, I was told by my doctor: You have cancer. After prayers and long talks with those closest to me, I was determined to fight it like hell.”

Hagedorn is married to Jennifer Carnahan, the chairwoman of Minnesota’s Republican Party. She issued her own statement Wednesday, saying that although “the past year hasn’t been easy … we both remain committed to one another, our jobs, our state and our country.”

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Brad Carlson (@brad_carlson) on Apr 8, 2018 at 1:04pm PDT

When battling an insidious disease such as cancer, half the battle is maintaining the proper mindset and attitude when approaching the beast. It appears both Rep. Hagedorn and wife Jennifer are committed to doing whatever it takes to win this battle.

Continued prayers to them.

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I don't have a bucket list.....

....but if I did, meeting pop star Huey Lewis would easily make my top 3.

A little less than two years ago Huey announced he had been diagnosed with Meniere's disease, which is a disorder of the inner ear that can lead to dizzy spells and hearing loss. As a lead singer in a band, such an ailment is less than optimal given Huey is unable to hear clearly any music nor is he able to sing in the proper pitch.

Last month he and two of his band mates appeared on the CBS program Sunday Morning to preview their first new album in nearly twenty years as well as give an update of Huey's condition.





I have literally been a fan of Huey Lewis and the News since the early 1980s. In fact, I still have their first six albums (plus the Back to the Future soundtrack which contains two HLN tunes) on cassette.

Given that Huey's touring days are likely behind him, I feel a burn more than ever to meet him in person. Y'know......I happen to know the location of the sprawling western Montana estate where he spends most of his time these days. Alas, I imagine that it would come off as downright creepy if I just showed up one day. Heck, the process I enacted to learn of the location would probably strike you as a bit stalk-ery.

Regardless, I hope that by some minor miracle Huey will one day be well enough to tour again. As such, springing for backstage passes would seem the more sensible (and less creepy) route.

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Intolerance in the self-anointed haven of tolerance

It doesn't snow often in San Francisco so it's hard to fathom how there's been an accumulation of so many snowflakes.

The San Francisco Giants said Monday that they won't invite Aubrey Huff to a reunion of the 2010 World Series-winning team this summer because of "unacceptable" comments made by Huff on social media.

"Earlier this month, we reached out to Aubrey Huff to let him know that he will not be included in the upcoming 2010 World Series Championship reunion. Aubrey has made multiple comments on social media that are unacceptable and run counter to the values of our organization," the Giants said in a statement. "While we appreciate the many contributions that Aubrey made to the 2010 championship season, we stand by our decision."

Look, I'm all for freedom of association. As a private enterprise, the Giants organization is free to associate and disassociate with whomever they desire. But it's a pretty poor reflection on the organization itself when they can't put differences aside to celebrate the franchise's first ever World Series title since moving to San Francisco in the late 1950s.What, were they worried that Huff, an avowed supporter of President Donald Trump, was gonna yell "MAGA, bitches!!!!!!!!!!" if he were given an opportunity to speak? Lest we forget, Huff finished 7th in National League MVP voting in 2010, so he was a significant reason why the Giants had the success they did (he led the team in home runs and RBIs).

Never one to shy away from a verbal spat, Huff put out a statement addressing the controversy.

My response to @SFGiants

@mlb @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/tDs8L8kGNi

— Aubrey Huff (@aubrey_huff) February 18, 2020

In this day and age, statements deemed as "unacceptable comments" are condemned more harshly than, say, leaving your own feces or dirty drug needles lying on the sidewalk.

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