{"id":35136,"date":"2024-06-22T21:34:49","date_gmt":"2024-06-23T02:34:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lincolndemocrat.com\/?p=35136"},"modified":"2024-06-23T11:06:09","modified_gmt":"2024-06-23T16:06:09","slug":"52-days-grandmas-race-day-afterthoughts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lincolndemocrat.com\/?p=35136","title":{"rendered":"52 days – Grandma’s race day afterthoughts"},"content":{"rendered":"

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My messaging, as limited as it has been, passed on to 3000 of Duluth 30,000 homes seems to resonate based on the enthusiasm I got when people along the race route realized who I was. That was the work of 170 “mugshot” (my wife’s description of them) lawnsigns. It didn\u2019t wallop my three young helpers, all neophytes to politics and passing out political stuff, If I’d put my face on them it might have. They included my grandson who found kids to help me. He also took the pic of a runner so pleased to see me she asked to take a selfie of us together. I\u2019ll submit my grandson’s pic to the Tribune which just asked me for a 600-word piece about my congressional campaign. They wanted a pic of me campaigning.<\/p>\n

My take on the level of enthusiasm in a year when 65% of Americans fear, rightfully, for our nation’s democracy and their inclination toward massive dissatisfaction with political parties, rightfully, is simple. If I could get my message out Pete Stauber who is violently disliked by a massive number of Duluth locals would be crushed if Dems came out to vote for me. If this happened, and it is still only a remote possibility, it would make this election two things. 1 a massive opportunity to show Republicans that primarying moderates can be a two way street if Democrats get involved. 2. It would make a Trump repudiation in the Red 8th Congressional District major national news.<\/p>\n

In turn this would flood my campaign with money. BUT ONLY AFTER THE WIN<\/p>\n

I would have a new campaign based on being the angelic bad boy in a circus of Trumplican America destroyers\/nativist zealots\/grifters. the list goes on and on. I have the scar tissue from my Duluth School Board years and years in the GOP wilderness to take this sorry collection of Republicans in stride as the press eats out of my hand while the M Tayor Greenes\u2019 seethe and turn green.<\/p>\n

But until the Aug 13 primary I don\u2019t need millions. I Do need tens of thousands of dollars to get my name out beyond Duluth. Duluth will need reminders that I\u2019m campaigning but my name is close to 90% known by Duluth voters who have lived in town for the past 4 election cycles and even better known by those who have seen me campaign for closer to 25 election cycles either for myself or for others. <\/p>\n

And that is a problem. I can drive to other cities and put up signs while calling local leaders OR I can organize mailings and book sales. I can\u2019t quite do both in the 52 days left before the primary BY MYSELF. At least its hard to see how I can do it but that won’t stop me. A heart attack might<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Passing out signs a couple days ago I felt an odd weakening of some muscle tissue in my arms and possibly my chest. It was verrrrrrrry modest. But that night as I thought about it I realized I\u2019d stopped carrying my tiny brown bottle of nitroglycerin tablets with me. I couldn’t find it anywhere. I can\u2019t remember when I last put them in my pocket. Should I have a second heart attack I\u2019d be up poop creek. My wife says I\u2019ve been under stress\u2026\u2026.No Kidding. I\u2019m doing five men\u2019s work, been doing it for months. I don\u2019t feel stressed but its there. My nightly sleeps have thinned out starting about three weeks ago.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m resolved to keep up this level of effort and creative enterprise until the the primary. If I win I will be showered with eager people to help the little red hen bake her bread. They will have to help if they want a bite.<\/p>\n

I do want to keep writing but the preparations for today\u2019s Grandmas put writing on hold. It didn\u2019t stop my brain from thinking about things to write. I have jotted down many ideas and emailed them to myself.<\/p>\n

One recurring thought in need of propounding is the spinelessness of Pete Stauber who is hiding from me even after I’ve called him out for treason. I\u2019ve been doing that for months and I keep upping the ante. When I was on the School Board I would never stand mute before attacks of a far more modest nature than calling a Congressman a traitor. I always explained myself. The coward just hopes nobody reads what I write. An accusation like mine left to rot stinks Pete up badly. If someone hasn’t handed him the bookmark that I\u2019ve given 3 thousand of his constituents Pete\u2019s not just got shite for brains<\/em> he\u2019s got shite for campaign staff.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll call him out on this cowardice probably in my Duluth Trib op ed. Its due July 5th. I\u2019m used to Congressmen hiding from me. In 1992 (when I told the Republicans they would some day be the party of Trump) a much bigger congressman, Jim Oberstar, promised to debate both me and the Republican party\u2019s nominee, Phil Herwig. WDIO TV was furious when Oberstar chickened out and refused to debate. Hell. Oberstar was scared of an inexperienced Republican and me, a candidate running on independent president candidate Ross Perot\u2019s coattails. However, had I called Oberstar a traitor he\u2019d have showed up. He\u2019d have had no choice but debate because in his case he wasn\u2019t. Its too vile an accusation to igore…..like Pete is. I guess real traitors are more sensitive about appearing in public to deny the obvious. <\/p>\n

I\u2019ll end here with a picture my grandson took of me as the first Grandma’s runner breezed past me on London Road. I’m putting it at the beginning of the post.<\/p>\n

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