Quick Hits: Volume CXXIII

- It's been rumored for about a year now that MN state senator Dave Thompson (R-Lakeville) would not seek reelection in 2016. Last month I strongly suspected he was giving the vibe of an elected official who had decided to move on.

It was made official Tuesday.

In a statement, Thompson said he was moving to Charlotte, N.C., at the end of his current term, where he will open a new office for Renters Warehouse. He is currently vice president and general counsel for the company.

“Serving in the Minnesota Senate has been an honor and a privilege,” he said in the statement. “I was in awe the day I entered the Capitol to take my oath of office for the first time, and I have never taken for granted the faith and trust placed in me by my constituents."

The fetching Mrs. Carlson and I had the privilege of getting to know Dave over the past couple years, due in large part to our strongly supporting his 2014 gubernatorial candidacy. Unfortunately, Thompson did not even attain the endorsement of MN GOP delegates at the May 2014 endorsing convention. He chose not run in the primary election, abiding by the party endorsement.

With Thompson not being elected governor in 2014 and now moving out of Minnesota in 2016, my home state is a two-time loser.


- Upon conveying a new set of executive orders in an attempt to "curb gun violence," President Barack Obama teared up when thinking of the children (particularly that youngsters killed December 2012 at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, CT) whose lives were taken via gun crimes.

Look, I'm not going to pretend I know whether or not Obama's emotions were genuine. Heck, I'll even grant that his sorrow was legitimate. But it marks a stark contrast to the demeanor he gives off when American citizens are killed as a result of jihadist terror or when border agents are murdered with guns the feds allowed to get into the hands of smugglers.

Just sayin'.....


- Of the 67 state senate districts within Minnesota, I would venture a guess that the district where I reside (SD35, comprised of Anoka, Ramsey, Andover and northern Coon Rapids) has to be in the top 10 if one were to rank from most conservative (1) to least (67).

With a special election coming up to replace resigning state senator Branden Petersen, the Star Tribune weighed in on whom they'd like to see prevail in the GOP primary this coming Tuesday the 12th. Former House member Jim Abeler, whose voting record reads more like that of a pro life Democrat, has been given the Strib's blessing over my friend (and Republican endorsed candidate) Andy Aplikowski. Not really a surprise at all give that it's....well.....the Star Tribune.

It's pretty clear what the Strib is insinuating here:

With no party registration or loyalty pledge as an impediment, any qualified District 35 voter can cast a primary ballot.

Translation: Abeler is as close to a Democrat as you'll get in SD35. Here's your chance to make it happen, DFLers.

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