Dump Michele Bachmann

Co-Author of "Madness of Michele Bachmann" Karl Bremer Reaches Settlement With The New Republic

2012-01-26T17:46:00.002-06:00

Mary Divine at the PiPress:

A case involving Stillwater Township writer and photographer Karl Bremer, who in November sued the New Republic magazine for unfair competition, was settled Thursday just before a scheduled hearing in Washington County Conciliation Court.

The case was resolved "to the mutual satisfaction of both parties," Bremer said. He said he could not disclose any details of the settlement.

Read the whole article.

Does Michele Bachmann Still Pray for "Ministry" That Justifies "Force" to Stop Abortion?

2012-01-25T08:30:00.010-06:00

UPDATE: The AP is reporting that Bachmann will run again for her no-show job (The Hill says she is backtracking). Will the local media allow her to campaign without asking her about her support for Bradlee Dean and Jake and other controversial subjects? Read on...

Bradllee Dean's sidekick recently tweeted this "Because I believe that abortion is murder, I also believe that force is justified in an attempt to stop it. Eric Rudolph". Here's the embedded tweet:

Because I believe that abortion is murder, I also believe that force is justified in an attempt to stop it.Eric Rudolph
— Jake M. MacAulay(@constitutionjm) January 19, 2012

According to the FBI, Eric Rudolph is described as a terrorist who attempted to kill and maim lots of people.

This is what Eric Rudolph did:

Eric Robert Rudolph was arrested on May 31, 2003 without incident in his hometown of Murphy, NC. He had been on the run from law enforcement officials and on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List for almost five years.

Rudolph pled guilty to the bombings at Olympic Park, a gay bar and two abortion clinics - one in Atlanta, GA, and the other in Birmingham, AL - as well as two murders resulting from these bombings. The incidents took place from 1996-1998. The Olympic Park bombing killed a woman and the Birmingham clinic bombing killed an off-duty police officer and seriously injured a nurse. Rudolph is serving life in prison.

From an IRS document titled "Suspension of Tax-Exempt Status of Organizations Identified With Terrorism"(PDF):

This announcement is a public notice of the suspension under section 501(p) of the Internal Revenue Code of the federal tax exemption of certain organizations that have been designated as supporting or engaging in terrorist activity or supporting terrorism. Contributions made to an organization during the period that the organization’s tax-exempt status is suspended are not deductible for federal tax purposes.

Will the IRS continue to grant tax-exempt status to a group that justifies the actions of a convicted terrorist, bomber, cop-killer Eric Rudolph?

Michele Bachmann has raised money and prayed for Bradlee and Jake's organization.

Reporters need to ask prominent Minnesota Republicans like Michele Bachmann, Tom Emmer if they still support Bradlee & Jake's ministry.

Here's Jake interview with Rick Santorum recently:

Poll: Michele Bachmann More Unpopular Than Ever

2012-01-24T11:01:00.004-06:00

Public Policy Polling:

Michele Bachmann and Tim Pawlenty's Presidential bids appear to have done serious damage to their future political prospects in Minnesota.

Bachmann comes home to only a 34% favorability rating, with 57% of voters seeing her negatively. Only 37% of voters statewide think she should run for reelection to her House seat, while 57% believe she should step down.

The local mainstream media coverage of Bachmann was weak before she became a presidential candidate. It's possible the negative numbers are the result of Minnesotans learning for the first time about stuff regular Dump Bachmann readers have known for years.

Bachmann overreached and dumped herself.

She's Baaaaaaaaaaack... Bachmann Speaks to Rally of Theocrats at the Capitol

2012-01-23T09:01:00.004-06:00

It looks like Bachmann is running again for her no-show job.

Short WCCO video clip of Bachmann at a theocrat rally in St. Paul:

More interesting are the comments at the WCCO web page - a sample:

Why is this a news story? Who cares? She should finish out the rest of her term in Congress and retire from public life and further embarrassment. She had her 15 minute+ of notoriety. Ad Nausea………. Enough said………..

I didn’t think she knew were MN was??

I would say who cares, but I guess I took the time to read the story. She’s an embarrassment but her brain washed supporters just love her evangelical tilt. I guess they deserve her because she hasn’t done anything for them…it’s funny when you think about it……

So Marcus & Michelle believe that you can pray away the gay. Does that mean that if we pray hard enough Marcus will go away (and take Michelle with him)

Local reporters need to stop following Bachmann around like she is a celebrity. Bachmannn is an embarrassment to this state. They need to report on her record - they can start by reading "The Madness of Michele Bachmann".

Andy Aplikowski from Residual Forces Tells Us Why Michele Bachmann May Have Some Trouble Raising Money for Reelection

2012-01-15T18:47:00.003-06:00

Andy also states he thinks Bachmann won't run for reelection. Read his analysis here.

Theocrats Decide on Rick Santorum as Their "Stop Romney" Nominee

2012-01-15T16:35:00.000-06:00

Check it out at the New York Times. The story quotes the usual suspects including the FRC's Tony Perkins, who is well known for purchasing David Duke's mailing list. The leading theocrats met in Texas to discuss stopping Romney's campaign and coming to a consensus. The theocrats were concerned about Newt Gingrich's multiple marriages and attacks on Bain Capital.

They really don't have anywhere to go, since they will all suck it up and support Mitt Romney in the general anyway as Peter LaBarbera stated in a tweet:

.@lloydletta I'd vote for #Romney. But in #gop primary we socialcon Repubs need to find a #pro-life AND pro-freedom-to-oppose-homo'y cand.
— Peter LaBarbera (@PeterLaBarbera) December 31, 2011

It would have been funny to get the results of this if Michele Bachmann were still in the race. Her campaign torpedoed even among the leviticus crowd.

Cross posted at Lloydletta's Nooz.

Will Bachmann Endorse "Vulture Capitalist" Mitt Romney?

2012-01-14T11:25:00.006-06:00

Bachmann may be out of the race for the White House, but she is still a (mostly non-voting) congress member and GOP diva. Are any candidates still in the race asking for her support? If the candidates read our book "The Madness of Michele Bachmann", they'd likely welcome a Bachmann endorsement as they would a bite from a rattlesnake.

Mitt Romney is under attack from Newt Gingrich and others for being a "vulture capitalist" as the CEO of Bain Capital. Think Progress has a video up of that criticism:

During his tenure, Bain acquired numerous companies, often through debt leveraging, then liquidated a number of them, resulting in the loss of thousands of jobs for American workers while bringing in hundreds of millions in profit for Romney and Bain’s other investors.

Bachmann has a much more serious problem - her association with Tom Petters financier Frank Vennes, who could be described as a vampire capitalist - a convicted money launderer indicted for fraud and money laundering in a $3.8 billion Ponzi scheme.

Frank Vennes is scheduled to go on trial in May. Read more about Frank Vennes in our book and keep up to date with the Vennes trial news at the Vennes Info blog.

Hilarious Video From Bachmann's Bus Tour for Her Doomed Iowa Campaign

2012-01-13T15:12:00.006-06:00

There's a post-mortem of Bachmann's doomed Iowa campaign in the Des Moines Register that leaves out the biggest reasons why Bachmann lost - she's a serial liar, she's a hypocrite and a coward, she's mean and nasty, a warmonger... and just freakin' weird as this recently posted You Tube video shows:

And what effect did the ubiquitous, flamboyant Marcus have on the campaign?

Still photo from the above video:

Will Michele Bachmann Ever Pray Again for Bradlee Dean?

2012-01-08T18:14:00.011-06:00

You'd think after Bradlee & Jake said Michele Bachmann smelled like stinky cheese, nothing could reconcile the congresswoman with the Annandale mullahs... but wait... what's this? a link on Jake's Facebook to birther-king Joseph Farah's column about Bachmann being dumped in Iowa titled "The Best Woman Lost". So maybe Bachmann and The Bradlee Bunch are planning a reunion? It's not like Bradlee and Michele Bachmann don't have a lot in common - they both have long, shiny hair and hate gay people (see Bradlee's latest WND column titled "QUEERLY BELOVED - HOMOSEXUAL MARRIAGE? NEVER IN HISTORY"

Speaking of Bradlee Dean, listen to the thug-for-Jesus threaten to "smack" a woman on his show (about 4:30 minutes into this podcast). Here's the clip and the quote:

"I know Cari wants a part - she wants to play. That's what she's doing right now. She even got a stupid look on her face and I feel like smacking it off..."

What did Tom Emmer say about The Bradlee Bunch?:

“My understanding is that it’s a Christian-based ministry that’s about family, that is about respect for yourself….I know that they’re a pro-marriage, pro-traditional marriage group,” Emmer told the Strib.

“These are nice people. Are we going to agree on everything? No….I really appreciate their passion and you know what I respect their point of view,” he said. “I respect their right to have whatever view. That’s what makes it a great country. You don’t have to agree with it.”

Yup, what better spokesman for the "sanctity of marriage" than a guy who talks about smacking women around.

Bachmann Apologist Matthew Continetti To Edit Koch-Funded Right-Wing Lie Factory

2012-01-05T10:02:00.011-06:00

After Bachmann's bizarre presidential campaign crashed and burned in a conflagration rivaling the Hindenburg disaster, there has been very little discussion in the mainstream media about how so flawed a politician could become a serious candidate for the highest office in the country. Sadly, there is no shortage of money for the mass production of lies that boost god-awful politicians like Bachmann.

Politico's Ben Smith via Think Progress:

Impressed by the effectiveness of the liberal Center for American Progress, a group of conservative journalists and operatives are preparing to engage in their own sincerest form of flattery — launching an advocacy group with a similar name and mission but very different target.

Part assault on CAP and part homage, the Center for American Freedom’s goal is to wage a well-funded assault on the Obama White House and the liberal domination of partisan online media.

And who better to edit the Koch-funded lie-factory than this weasle-faced, right-wing lickspittle liar:

Based in Washington, it will have an annual budget of “several million dollars,” according to its chairman, Michael Goldfarb, and will house a new conservative online news outlet, the Washington Free Beacon, edited by former Weekly Standard writer Matthew Continetti.

Back in 2009 or 2010, Matthew Continetti begged me for an interview about Michele Bachmann. Since Dump Bachmann is a non-partisan blog, I used to talk to anyone regardless of their party affiliation or political philosophy. After my experience with Continetti, I no longer talk to right-wing reporters. They just make shit up.

I met Continetti at a local coffee shop for a long interview in which I told him about the many skeletons in Bachmann's closet including Bradlee Dean and very likely Frank Vennes.

In 2011, Continetti wrote a sycophantic profile of Bachmann in the Weekly Standard contained a fact-free attack on this blog. This is a DB re-post from June 25, 2011:

When are reporters going to get it right about Michele Bachmann?

A few days ago, there was the controversy over Rolling Stone reporter Matt Taibbi's profile of Bachmann. Now, we have another flawed article about Bachmann from Matthew Continetti of the Weekly Standard. I just want to focus on what Continetti wrote about Dump Bachmann (on pg. 3):

“People saw that something was changing in our country,” Bachmann said. “For the first time a state supreme court, in Massachusetts, had ordered its legislature to pass a law conforming with the views of those who sat on the court.” Bachmann’s amendment never passed the legislature. But it did make her more prominent and controversial. Local columnists ridiculed her. There were calls for a boycott of Stillwater businesses. A group of Democratic activists started the “Dump Bachmann” blog. The site became the place where one could find every last Bachmann speech, letter, and article—even pictures of her car.

Things got a little weird. In April 2005, when gay rights activists rallied in front of the state capitol in St. Paul, a local photographer captured Bachmann as she seemed to be peering through some bushes at the protesters. Bachmann and those with her said she was sitting down after standing for awhile in high heels. Around the same time, Bachmann filed a report with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in which she said that two women had accosted her in the ladies’ room of a local community center after a meeting on the same-sex marriage amendment. As the anti-Bachmann bloggers began to track her closely, she removed her home address and telephone number from the state senate directory. She requested security protection.

Now, the facts:

The Dump Bachmann blog was started by Eva Young, who was at the time a Republican who attended GOP caucuses. The Dump Bachmann blog is non-partisan blog. We have interviewed candidates from the DFL, GOP and Independence parties. This blog has criticized Democrats such as Amy Klobuchar for instance for supporting MIchele Bachmann's billion dollar bridge boondoggle.

There are no pictures of Bachmann's car on this blog. We have been very respectful of Bachmann's privacy. We have not posted her address or private phone number.

This blog has always condemned any threat to Bachmann's safety and security - we condemned the recent "glitter-bombing" of Bachman, for instance. We also condemned the vandalism of her home and we still call for re-opening the investigation into that unsolved crime.

What is really annoying about this is Matthew Continetti requested an interview with me a few years back (I think it was August, 2009). He interviewed me for about an hour at a coffee shop on Nicollet Avenue. I'm sure he still has my contact info. I don't remember much about what I said, I do remember telling him about Michele Bachmann & Bradlee Dean. I'm pretty certain I told him The Weekly Standard did a profile of Bradlee Dean.

But let's take a look at Continetti's assertion that Bachmann was not hiding behind the bushes at OutFront Minnesota's 2005 JustFair Lobby Day rally. The blog that posted the pictures, "Paradise is Where I am" is no longer on the web, but still exists on the Wayback Machine.

This is the sequence of pictures from the blog (click twice to make the pictures bigger):

Michele Bachmann is a candidate for freekin' President of the United States of America... c'mon reporters and editors, fact-check your articles.

Hopefully, editors will review the way they covered Bachmann and start performing due diligence for the citizens of the United States - but I don't have any hope that anything will change.

NOTE TO READERS: Now that Bachmann has returned to her ex-home state as a failed candidate for POTUS, there will likely be less posting here until the Vennes trial in May and if Bachmann decides to run again for her no-show job in Congress. In the meantime, please read our book "The Madness of Michele Bachmann". I also recommend Abe Sauer's review of our book in The Awl and this week's City Pages cover article by Andy Mannix (illustrated by me) for additional insights into the now defunct Bachmann campaign.

Steve Sack Cartoon: Michele Bachmann Dumped

2012-01-04T21:27:00.002-06:00

Check it out at the Strib here.

Log Cabin Republicans to Michele Bachmann: Don't Let the Door Hit You on Your Way Out!

2012-01-04T21:25:00.000-06:00

From their press release:

Bachmann Goes Home As Race for the White House Gets Serious

(Washington, DC) – Log Cabin Republicans statement on Congresswoman Michele Bachmann exiting the presidential race after a dismal performance in the Iowa caucuses.

“Michele Bachmann is not and cannot be a serious contender for the presidency, and Log Cabin Republicans are happy to see her step aside. While her focus on limited government and repealing the failed policies of President Obama was a positive, her focus on divisive social issues demonstrated her lack of credibility,” said R. Clarke Cooper, Log Cabin Republicans Executive Director. “Despite holding the national spotlight, Congresswoman Bachmann was unable to stand up to national scrutiny. Her performance in Iowa last night should be a lesson to all politicians that earning a reputation for antigay extremism is a harmful distraction that ultimately leads to failure. The Republican Party needs serious candidates who will carry the banner with a focus on jobs and the economy in our goal of winning the White House.”
Date: 1/4/2012
Copyright 2012 Log Cabin Republicans

Iowa Dumps Bachmann

2012-01-03T22:48:00.009-06:00

The New York Times at 11:49 has Bachmann at five percent.

Fox News says Bachmann's campaign manager doesn't know if Bachmann will call it quits.

UPDATE: "Doggie sunglasses"?

This is a hoot, a last -minute Bachmann ad comparing her to Tim Tebow:

The comments to the video are merciless, here's one:

So, how'd this all work out again? Not so good, right? Big shock. Being Christian only means you're good at being...whatever that is. Doesn't make you good at playing football or winning elections.

UPDATE 2: Devin Henry at MinnPost says Bachmann cancelled campaign appearances in South Carolina and will hold a 10 AM presser in Des Moines.

Update 3:

Michele Bachmann suspends campaign. She talks for 10 minutes, but makes no mention of the 6th District voters who got her to where she is now.

Madness of Michele Bachmann Gets Another Good Review

2012-01-03T20:43:00.000-06:00

This time Abe Sauer from the Awl writes:

Bachmann, who has made it a campaign point to accuse her primary opponents of being bought and paid for, has lived the lavish life for a couple weeks nearly every summer at the expense of pro-Israel lobbyists. A new book, The Madness of Michele Bachmann, notes that Bachmann and her family "enjoyed free trips to Israel in 2007, 2008 and 2009, to the tune of $44,380." In 2009, a single trip for the rep and her daughter ran $19,414.74. All compliments of the American Israel Education Foundation. (Late last spring, Bachmann began a speech: "I am convinced in my heart and in my mind, that if the United States fails to stand with Israel, that is the end of the United States.")

A collection of reporting, insight and posts from the authors behind the blogs DumpBachmann.com and Ripple in Stillwater, The Madness of Michele Bachmann paints a finger-painting of a Congresswoman who has made a career of refusing to comply with both the explicit and implicit rules of "the game" even while making herself out to be a victim when opponents and detractors do likewise.

Though it does a remarkable job keeping the sarcastic, spiteful commentary to an absolute minimum, the book, like its authors, is biased. Yet its straightforward recounting of Bachmann's lesser known boondoggles—like personal rapid transit, or the third party commercial she unblushingly shot inside the state legislative chambers—raises a journalism conundrum: Is it actually bias to just state the facts?

To say the book is a hit piece would not be a misstatement. But it's a hit piece that reflects the authors' longstanding coverage of a politician who, even by the standards of the circus of late-stage American democracy, is a clown. (The founding author of Dump Bachmann was a Republican; another is a constituent.) While a lot of Bachmann's migraine-inducing mutterings are contained in "The Quotable Bachmann," the final chapter, the book's focus is well beyond the worn media trail of "crazy eyes" that launched one- and three-dollar-a-word profiles by Rolling Stone and The New Yorker and that controversial Newsweek cover.

Read the whole thing.

Michele Bachmann at 6% in Iowa Caucus now

2012-01-03T20:26:00.000-06:00

Will she drop out and throw her support to Santorum?

Let us know what you think.

City Pages Analyses the Decline and Fall of Michele Bachmann's Presidential Campaign

2012-01-02T18:59:00.000-06:00

Here:

"I don't know how much God has to do to get the attention of the politicians," Bachmann told a crowd in Sarasota, Florida, perhaps the worst place in America to make light of a hurricane. "We've had an earthquake, we've had a hurricane. He said, 'Are you going to start listening to me here?' Listen to the American people, because the American people are roaring right now."

The implication was that the Lord was destroying Americans' homes up and down the East Coast because he was pissed about healthcare reform and the stimulus package. Bachmann's campaign later brushed off the quip as a joke, but it was at best ill-timed, coming just six months after the Japanese earthquakes that had left more than 15,000 dead.

"It shows sort of the twisted thinking that goes on in her mind," says Karl Bremer, co-author of the book The Madness of Michele Bachmann. "To me, it's like Pat Robertson blaming Katrina on the gay pride parade that weekend."

Read the whole thing.

MIchele Bachmann: "The Lord Just Convicted of Us of Our Sins"

2012-01-02T18:08:00.000-06:00

In this video, Bachmannn talks about about being a teenager and well... listen:

The Holy Spirit reached in and grabbed our hearts and literally pulled us up to the alter."

Here's the video of Bachmann telling kids a scary Halloween story for Christmas:

Is this the same story she told before?

The Cross and the Cuckoo

2011-12-31T16:39:00.003-06:00

We here at Dump Bachmann wish all our readers a happy 2012. Hopefully, the voters in the 6th District will finally vote Michele Bachmann out of office. Maybe the DOJ will indict Bachmann for writing an untruthful letter to the Pardon Attorney saying Frank Vennes was a stand-up guy. Maybe the Mayan calendar will prove correct and the universe (and this blog) will end.

Here's our special holiday treat - a video titled "A German Preacher's Thoughts on American Christians and Politics":

Thanks to Spotty at The Cucking Stool for bringing this video to our attention.

Bachmann & Her Abuse of her Franking Privilege

2011-12-30T07:34:00.003-06:00

Bluestem Prairie has a post about Bachmann's fellow traveller Allen Quist and his new cause:

Over on his website, Allen Quist has the fainting fantods over Congressional Democrat Tim Walz's use of congressional franking. Not that that condition is surprising, given that he was bewailing the lack of character of failed MNGOP leadership over on his Facebook page just before Christmas.

Read the whole thing.

Bachmann is a big abuser of franking. In 2010, she was in the top 60 of congress members sending out mailers at taxpayers' expense according to the St. Cloud Times:

Bachmann reported spending $217,197 on franked communications and made 4,102,827 contacts with constituents during 2009. That ranked her 57th in the House in terms of money spent and 12th in the number of communications sent.

While lawmakers typically spend more in the final quarter of the year, almost half of Bachmann’s total expenditures were from January through March. Records show she spent $106,088 during that period to send out 1,329,017 pieces of communication.

Here's a recent glossy mailer from this post: AWOL in Her District and in Washington, Michele Bachmann Sends Constituents a Glossy Mailer

(click on both sides of the mailer to make them bigger)

Bachmann Still Claiming Kent Sorenson Was Offered $$$ by Ron Paul

2011-12-29T17:17:00.003-06:00

UPDATE: The telltale iPhone and more from David Weigel at Slate.

Video from Mediaite.

New York Times Takes a Look at Michele Bachmann's Swanky Domicile

2011-12-29T08:57:00.003-06:00

NY Times Home and Garden section has a look at the GOP POTUS candidates homes.

The house Ms. Bachmann purchased in 2008 for $760,000 in West Lakeland Township, Minn., was one of two “Dream Homes” built for the 2007 Parade of Homes, a charity construction project organized by the Builders Association of the Twin Cities. The house was originally listed at $1.75 million. The publicity materials described it as having “European flavor.” The large stone structure looks simple from the front, but in back, a sweeping addition bursts out, with some combination of sunroom, breakfast room and great room.

The builder’s description reads like a synonym finder for nouveau suburban glory, touting the home’s arched stone entry, hand-scraped walnut plank flooring, and a fully paneled library with see-through fireplace. An entry off the three-car garage leads to a powder room, walk-in closet, walk-in pantry and resource room for organizing mail and “planning life events.”

This is what Karl Bremer wrote about Bachmann's home way back in 2008 for MnIndy:

While Michele Bachmann has been busy blaming poor people and minorities for the Wall Street meltdown and housing foreclosures, she’s also been busy dealing with her own housing crisis: how to sell her toney Stillwater home and move into her new $1.27 million manor overlooking the 18th hole of Stoneridge Golf Course in West Lakeland Township.

Bachmann and her husband, Marcus, listed their 3,200-square-foot Stillwater home this summer at $359,000. It’s still for sale. Their palatial new digs on the golf course are considerably larger, at 5,200 square feet. Built in 2005 on 3.22 acres, it carried an original price tag of $1.75 million, but was listed for as low as $949,900 this summer. Its 2008 assessed value is $1,271,800, down from $1,290,500 in 2007. The Bachmanns’ purchase price is not known.

In 2007, it was featured as a “Dream Home” in the Parade of Homes tour.

“Casual elegance defined by deep rich colors and textures is presented in a European flavor throughout this four-bedroom walkout residence,” the listing read. “The stone exterior with a grand manor roof sets the stage for this dream home overlooking the 18th hole of the Stoneridge Golf Course.

“The arched stone entry is complimented with a western red cedar distressed door with iron highlights. Once inside the foyer, iron rails and hand scraped walnut plank flooring invites you into the gallery where arched openings lead to the magnificent main floor spaces.

”Both the formal dining adjacent to the foyer and a quaint breakfast bay overlook the golf course allowing for quality entertaining or a casual living atmosphere.”

Few amenities were spared: maple kitchen with granite and limestone countertops, powder room, wine cellar, bar, exercise room, resource room, four bathrooms, spa, fully paneled library with a see-through fireplace. And, of course, a three-car garage.

With all that space for “quality entertaining,” Bachmann may not have to go to Lake Minnetonka the next time George Bush or Dick Cheney come to town to raise money for her. She can have them out to her million-dollar country chateau on the back nine at Stoneridge instead.

Not bad for someone who’s never known anything but a government paycheck.

Here's the link to view a full color photo of Bachmann's McMansion.

Totally Delusional Michele Bachmann Won't Quit: "I Will be the Commander in Chief We Need".

2011-12-29T08:41:00.005-06:00

Bachmann on Fox says she will be the nominee, not Ron Paul.

"I intend to be America's 'Iron Lady'"

With a titanium spine?

Listen:

More Rats Leaving the Sinking HMS Michele Bachmann

2011-12-28T21:17:00.006-06:00

NYT The Caucus Blog:

Kent Sorenson, a state legislator who has been at Mrs. Bachmann’s side for months, made his decision in the closing days of the Iowa caucus campaign. It was a significant blow to Mrs. Bachmann, who has struggled to regain the fleeting summertime glory of winning the Iowa Straw Poll.

Bachmann's response to the bad news was... klassy:

Kent Sorenson personally told me he was offered a large sum of money to go to work for the Paul campaign,” Mrs. Bachmann said. “Kent said to me yesterday that ‘everyone sells out in Iowa, why shouldn’t I?’ Then he told me he would stay with our campaign.”

Read the whole thing.

Phoenix Woman has Sorenson's letter at FDL.

Bachmann statement from DMR:

“It’s clear that this was a deliberate move by the Ron Paul campaign to discredit our campaign and our growing momentum. Ron Paul is in trouble in Iowa and his campaign is worried about people learning about his dangerous stance on foreign policy and how he will make America less safe.

“Kent Sorenson personally told me he was offered a large sum of money to go to work for the Paul campaign. Kent campaigned with us earlier this afternoon and went immediately afterward to a Ron Paul event and announced he is changing teams. Kent said to me yesterday that ‘everyone sells out in Iowa, why shouldn’t I,’ then he told me he would stay with our campaign. The Ron Paul campaign has to answer for its actions.

“We are almost through with our 99 county tour and have seen overwhelming support all across Iowa. This is clearly an effort on the part of the Paul campaign to throw cold water on our growing momentum.

“We are thrilled to announce that State Senator Brad Zaun is now Iowa Chairman of our campaign. He has tremendous respect across the state and he has worked tirelessly for our campaign. I am proud to have him as our State Chairman.”

UPDATE: Video:

Michele Bachmann: "President Obama Has a War on the Family" (AUDIO)

2011-12-28T13:32:00.004-06:00

Bachmann released all her flying monkeys on the "Presidential Prolife Forum".

Michele Goldberg at The Daily Beast:

Each of the candidates, who spoke separately and took a couple of questions each, took the same hard-line position. The differences were on the margins. Bachmann distinguished herself with her dishonesty, claiming at one point that Obama is “putting abortion pills for young minors, girls as young as 8 years of age or 11 years of age, on [the] bubblegum aisle.” (Obama, of course, recently overrode an FDA recommendation to make emergency contraception available over the counter for all ages, infuriating women’s-health activists.)

Audio of Bachmann begins about 4:30 into this video from Personhood USA:

Bachmann Tells a Spooky Halloween Story to a Bunch of Kids for Christmas!

2011-12-26T22:39:00.003-06:00

Run, kids run! this crazy lady is running for President!

Bachmann's Son Harrison Teaches at Afro-Centric Charter School

2011-12-25T22:43:00.010-06:00

Harrison's joined mom's campaign but won't answer questions:

And when given an opportunity to contrast his views with those of his mom, Harrison Bachmann demurred.

The Teach for America program he took part in for two years – “I loved the program and I loved my experience with it,” he said – is partially federally funded. So what does he think of his mom’s call to eliminate the federal Department of Education?

“She’s the politician, not me,” he answered. “I think it’s her views that should be the focus. I support her presidency, her run for the presidency and I’m glad to be here. “

He's an adult. If he joins her campaign, he should answer questions.

One question I'd ask is how he feels about mom's anti-muslim talk and hanging out with Islamophobic conspiracy theorist Frank Gaffney.

Harrison Bachmann teaches at the Higher Ground Academy - He's in this You Tube video (name misspelled):

Higher Ground Academy has muslim students.

Higher Ground Academy received $769,8274 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

C'mon, Harrison....

Michele Bachmann Ruins Your Christmas With a Video

2011-12-24T20:23:00.003-06:00

For more Bachmann Yuletide awfulness, read the 2003 Xmas letter the City Pages posted years ago on the Blotter.

UPDATE: Bachmann's kids featured in the above video joined her on the campaign trail. Harrison Bachmann who teaches at a charter school in St. Paul was asked a few questions about his mom:

And when given an opportunity to contrast his views with those of his mom, Harrison Bachmann demurred.

The Teach for America program he took part in for two years – “I loved the program and I loved my experience with it,” he said – is partially federally funded. So what does he think of his mom’s call to eliminate the federal Department of Education?

“She’s the politician, not me,” he answered. “I think it’s her views that should be the focus. I support her presidency, her run for the presidency and I’m glad to be here. “

Personal Rapid Transit Company Bachmann Authored Legislation for Declared "Moribund" by Shareholder

2011-12-24T16:54:00.005-06:00

National reporters have yet to ask Michele Bachmann whether she continues to support Personal Rapid Transit (for more about Bachmann's support for the pod people, read our book "The Madness of Michele Bachmann" also DB post "Will Reporters Ask Michele Bachmann Whether She Still Thinks Personal Rapid Transit is a Good Idea?"

The company that would likely have benefitted from Bachmann's bill was the Taxi 2000 Corporation (2004 MPR article).

Quote from a new article in the Fridley Patch - "Is Fridley Company the Future of Transit or 'Moribund'?"

Michael Andregg, a geneticist who teaches at the University of St. Thomas, was an early investor in Taxi 2000.

“I didn’t put money into it as an investment,” he said. “I put money into it as an investment into a visionary company.”

Andregg is still hopeful about the future of PRT, but since Taxi 2000’s founder, J. Edward Anderson, left in 2005 and the company’s new leadership sued him for retaining proprietary information, Andregg said he has seen minimal efforts on the part of the company to reach out to shareholders and he considers the company’s promise to be lost.

“They exist but they’re kind of moribund in Fridley,” he said. “I don’t pay any attention to Taxi 2000.”

This "moribund" company tried to get local, state and federal money for a testing facility in 2010 in Winona.

The PRT-promoting Advanced Transit Association (ATRA) has a newly revamped website that does not list Taxi 2000 as a vendor

Taxi 2000 does appear in a lesser category "testing" on another page.

Other recent posts about Taxi 2000:

Taxi 2000 Corporation Spent Nearly $80K Since 2004 Lobbying in Minnesota

Bachmann's Pal Pod Lobbyist Edwin Cain Lobbied for Shady Veterans Charity

3 Proposed PRT Projects, 6 PRT Companies and 2 PRT Lobbyists in Minnesota

Another Crooked Crony Capitalist Donated $$$ to Bachmann

2011-12-22T14:08:00.007-06:00

Add another name to the list of charged and/or convicted crooked crony capitalists who have contributed boatloads of $$$ to MIchele Bachmann...

From the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission press release about the Bixby Energy Systems clean coal scam:

The second complaint filed by the SEC alleges that from at least 2001 to 2010, a large network of unregistered brokers, including DeSender, sold over $21.7 million in Bixby securities to at least 560 investors. The complaint alleges that Gary A. Collyard, Collyard Group LLC, Paul D. Crawford, Crawford Capital Corp., Ronald Musich, Joshua J. Singer, Christopher C. Weides, Michael B. Spadino and his corporation, Marketing Concepts Inc., acted as unregistered brokers in violation of Section 15(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. As compensation for their sale of Bixby securities, the unregistered brokers were paid a total of at least $4.9 million in transaction-based cash commissions. In addition, they also received warrants to purchase over 900,000 shares of Bixby common stock.

The complaint (PDF) alleges the following about Gary A. Collyard:

Gary A. Collyard, age 61, resides in Delano, Minnesota. Collyard pled guilty to misdemeanor tax fraud in 1998. In August 2011, he was charged by the State of Minnesota with five counts of felony tax fraud. During the relevant period, he was not registered as a broker or associated with a registered broker-dealer. Collyard twice failed to appear for testimony pursuant to a Commission investigative subpoena.

The Collyard Group, LLC is a Minnesota limited liability company owned and controlled by Collyard, with its principal place of business in Minnetonka, Minnesota. The Collyard Group, LLC has never been a registered broker-dealer. In a 2006 filing with the Commission, Bixby identified the Collyard Group LLC as an entity that “has been or will be paid or given, directly or indirectly, any commission or similar remuneration for solicitation of purchasers in connection with sales of securities in the offering.”

Strib story about Collyard.

Gary Collyard gave $2,100 to Bachmann in 2006. and $500 in 2007.

UPDATE: Valeri Lennon, Collyard's wife gave $2100 to Bachmann in 2006.

Other contributions:

Michele Bachmann: "I am the Biblical Worldview Candidate in this Race" (VIDEO)

2011-12-22T06:50:00.004-06:00

Battling with Santorum, Gingrich and Perry for the batsh*t basement, Bachmann has signed up for the “Presidential Pro-Life Forum”. Right Wing Watch:

Republican presidential candidiates Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum have signed on for a “Presidential Pro-Life Forum” hosted by Personhood USA and moderated by Iowa conservative radio personality Steve Deace. The three candidates along with Rick Perry have already announced their support for personhood laws.

Personhood USA wants abortion and even common forms of birth control banned without exception, and personhood laws may even outlaw in-vitro fertilization and the treatment of problem pregnancies. The group launched unsuccessful referendums in Colorado and Mississippi, and has characterized President Obama as the “Angel of Death” and likened opponents to Nazis.

Read the whole thing. Here's Bachmann in a video posted Wednesday saying "I am the biblical wordview candidate in this race":

Michele Bachmann: "I am the Biblical Worldview Candidate in this Race" (VIDEO) bit.ly/vkcrXD #iacaucus #stribpol
— Ken Avidor (@Avidor) December 22, 2011

Michele Bachmann Appears in Bradlee Dean Video

2011-12-21T22:40:00.005-06:00

Bachmann appears about 2:30 in this Bradlee Dean video titled "Public Schools are Teaching What???".

Bachmann and Bradlee used to be pals before Bradlee said "Lady, you stink!"

A Personal Note.

2011-12-21T14:15:00.003-06:00

Ripple in Stillwater:

Ripple in Stillwater was never meant to be a personal blog, but I need to steer into that territory for a moment.

Three weeks ago, I was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Tomorrow I start chemotherapy to try to destroy it. I’ve fought a lot of battles in my life and beaten some long odds. None of them have ever been life-threatening, though, so at this point, they all seem rather inconsequential.

This one’s for real, and I’m going to need all the energy I can muster to beat it. Consequently, you may see a little reduction in flow here at Ripple in Stillwater. I’ll be recycling some old material to keep you entertained in the meantime.

Thanks for your understanding as we work our way through these troubled waters.

Our thoughts and hopes are with Karl as he and his physicians battle the Big C.

Minnesota Theocrats Fail to Condemn Leviticus Lawbreaking in the MInnesota GOP

2011-12-21T13:15:00.006-06:00

Leviticus 20:10;

And the man that commits adultery with another man's wife, even he that commits adultery with his neighbor's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

Hello Michele Bachannn, Hello Tom Pritchard, Helloooooo Bradlee Dean.... Senator Amy Koch is reported to have had an "inappropriate relationship" with a staffer. What are we hearing from the Leviticus crowd?

[crickets]

Scott Wooledge says in a HuffPo post titled "Let's Vote on Minnesota Senate Republican Leader Amy Koch's Marriage! (POLL)" that there is a law on the books about doing the hank-panky... yep, it's a crime:

Adultery.

Subdivision 1. Acts constituting. When a married woman has sexual intercourse with a man other than her husband, whether married or not, both are guilty of adultery and may be sentenced to imprisonment for not more than one year or to payment of a fine of not more than $3,000, or both.

Wooledge goes on to say that this law could have been removed if not for the intervention of Tom Pritchard:

Democratic Senator Ellen Anderson thought policing the private sex lives of citizens was perhaps not in the state's best interest and made an effort to repeal the law in 2010.

But the usual staunch defenders of marriage objected. Tom Pritchard and his organization, the Minnesota Family Council (MFC), have long been out front and center trying to protect marriage from the gays. (Pritchard also famously suggested that kids bullied to death were asking for it.)

In 2010 USA Today reported Pritchard was not only opposing repeal of the adultery law but calling for it to be strengthened: "Tom Prichard, MFC's president, said these laws are essential because 'they send a message. ... When you are dealing with a marriage, it's not just a private activity or a private institution. It's a very public institution. It has enormous consequences for the rest of society.'"

Yeah, the same Bachmann fellow travellers want Sodomy laws enforced too. Reporters should ask her if the same Biblical laws that apply to gays also apply to heterosexuals.

Remember what these Minnesota Mullahs always say to back up their bigoted bullying - "IT'S GOD'S LAW!"

City Pages:

The anti-sodomy laws in 36 states and Washington, D.C., were either struck down in court or legislated out of existence by 2003. Minnesota's anti-sodomy law was ruled unconstitutional in 2001 in Doe v. Ventura.

If they won't condemn philandering Republicans, then they should cut out the Leviticussing of gays.

Family Leader's Bob Vander Plaats Throws Bachmann Under the Bus

2011-12-20T18:14:00.004-06:00

Politico:

DES MOINES – Iowa evangelical leader Bob Vander Plaats called Michele Bachmann and urged her to drop out of the race and endorse Rick Santorum, a source with knowledge of the conversation told POLITICO Tuesday.

The Iowa Republican:

If Vander Plaats can convince less than half of his supporters to back Santorum, he could win Iowa.

Speaking of Bachmann and bus... (click to make the pic bigger):

Interview With Karl Bremer in Greek Newspaper

2011-12-20T08:21:00.003-06:00

To Vima:

VIDEO: Fabulous Future "First Gentleman" Marcus Bachmann Talking About Gay Marriage

2011-12-19T16:11:00.006-06:00

FABULOUS!!!:

Doesn't he sound and look like Divine?

Even as Minnesota GOP Legislators Reel From Scandal Bachmann Takes Credit for Arm-Twisting Them on 2012 Anti-Marriage Amendment

2011-12-19T16:01:00.004-06:00

Uploaded by TEApublican on Dec 19, 2011:

"I carried the Marriage Amendment in the state of Minnesota... even when I left the the Minnesota State Senate, I worked with my successors and we actually got it through this Spring..."

Hilarious Video of Bachmann Waving From Her Bus

2011-12-19T15:57:00.002-06:00

The Celebritician:

H/T "Ghost"

Even as Ponzi $$$ is Being Clawed Back from Her Campaign, Bachmann Demands Newt Gingrich Give Back Fees

2011-12-19T14:29:00.005-06:00

Des Moines Register Juice:

Presidential candidate Michele Bachmann continued a verbal barrage against GOP rival Newt Gingrich on Sunday, calling for him to return consulting fees received from mortgage lender Freddie Mac.

Gingrich, the former U.S. House speaker and current presidential race front-runner, has come under fire from several Republican opponents for taking $1.6 million from the government-sponsored lender over a period of years.

“I call on former Speaker Newt Gingrich to give that money back to the American people,” Bachmann said in a news conference following a church service in Fort Dodge. “This was during the time of the economic meltdown. While the rest of the country was dealing with the economic meltdown, he was pocketing $1.6 million.”

What CHOOTZPAH!

Reporters need to ask Bachmannn whether she will return boatloads of dirty money from the family and associates of convicted felon and accused fraudster, money launderer Frank Vennes.

See Vennes Info post titled "Breaking: Clawbacks in Palm Beach Finance Bankruptcy Snare Bachmann Campaign Also Vennes Family & Associates" and Ripple in Stillwater post "Petters Ponzi clawback targets Bachmann-Vennes connection" for more info on latest developments.

Video: Marcus and Michele Bachmann Say Alfred Kinsey Was Wrong

2011-12-19T12:39:00.003-06:00

CNN via Alan Colmes:

... at her stop at a north central Iowa Pizza Ranch restaurant, she and her husband Marcus were met with a woman wearing a Bachmann sticker who was holding a sign that read: "Gay-friendly Iowan."

"I was wondering if you would sign my sign?" the woman wearing the sticker, who identified herself as Kathy Schnell, asked.

"Gay-friendly Iowan?" Bachmann asked with a small laugh as she signed her name.

Schnell thanked her and followed it with a question that, in reality, was more of a comment.

"I wonder if you're aware that 10% of the population is gay. And if you have 28 children, then 2.8 of those kids are very likely gay."

The congresswoman, within definite earshot as she hovered over Schnell, at first seemed to avoid the question, trying to say "hello" to someone new.

Schnell turned to her friend and said, "She's not listening to me."

Bachmann must have heard that because she then turned back.

"Well, that's according to the Kinsey Report," the candidate replied.

Dr. Alfred Kinsey is best known for conducting interviews with thousands of individuals and publishing his findings in books on human sexual behavior during the 1940s and '50s.

Bachmann's husband, who runs a clinic in their district in Minnesota that has long been accused of conducting "reparative therapy" by trying to help gay individuals become straight, then chimed in.

"Your facts are wrong," he said.

"That's not valid?" Schnell asked back.

"No it isn't," Michele Bachmann said. Her husband added, "No, it's not at all. It's been a myth for many years."

Reporters need to ask the Bachmanns for a source for their claim. I'm guessing it's Dr. Judith Reisman - see September 19, 2010 DB post titled "Bachmann's Pal Bradlee Dean Claims Local Police, FBI, DOJ Covering Up Crimes Against Children Including Jacob Wetterling Kidnapping".

Des Moines Register Endorses Romney, Not Bachmann

2011-12-17T22:27:00.002-06:00

DMR gave this brief "impression" of Bachmann:

Michele Bachmann virtually sprinted through the newsroom and talked at an equally rapid clip. She unapologetically reeled off a litany of tea party ideals, including abolishing Great Society programs, shrinking government and eliminating the entire federal tax code (though she wants even poor people to pay taxes). Overall impression: An impressive fireball who can absorb and regurgitate tons of information, even if some of it turns out to be inaccurate.

Yep, that's Bachmann alright.

Bradlee Dean Pal Cindy Pugh Helping Bachmann in Iowa

2011-12-17T15:28:00.005-06:00

Watch the video that Bradlee Dean's pal Cindy Pugh posted on the Southwest Metro Tea Party Twitter

For more laffs watch Mark Skogerboe, The Freedom Poet talk about how he gave Bachmann a "crystal eagle freedom award".

SC GOPers Allege Bachmann Campaign Shenanigans

2011-12-17T14:31:00.003-06:00

I'm too busy to make sense out of this Palmetto state teabagger kerfuffle, more here. Josh Painter at The Conservatives for Newt blog says:

Many people were scratching their heads when Bachmann announced in June, wondering why a four-year Congresswoman with no committe chairmanships and few achievements would run for president. It seems her original purpose was to try to keep Sarah Palin from getting into the race so Mitt Romney wouldn't have to worry about competition from the Wasilla Warrior. Mission accomplished. Bachmann then turned her attention to Newt Gingrich when the former speaker began his recent rise in the polls. Bachmann continues to run interference for her quarterback, Mitt Romney. She seems to relish her role as a downfield blocker who hits Romney's opponents in the back and below the waist.

--snip--

Newt Gingrich and his campaign have chosen to take the high road and won't put Bachmann on the spot for her dirty tricks. But I'm not part of the Speaker's official campaign, and as a Palin supporter who is also a Gingrich supporter, I cannot sit here in silence while Bachmann continues to hit good people below the belt, all the while wearing her Christianity on her sleeve. What she is doing is utterly reprehensible, and she deserves to be called out on it.

Josh, you really need to read "The Madness of Michele Bachmann". Buy a copy from your local bookstore or order a copy from our publisher.

Ron Paul on Bachmann:"“She doesn’t like Muslims. She hates Muslims. She hates them. She wants to go get them.”

2011-12-17T08:33:00.002-06:00

Remember when Ron Paul used to be Bachmann's pal?

Video from the Daily Caller:

It would be interesting to poll GOP voters in Bachmann's district to see how many of them would vote for Bachmann vs Ron Paul for POTUS.

Back in 2009, we reported that Ron Paul supporters were gaining strength in the MN GOP.

When Ron Paul was in MInnesota upstaging Bachmannn in her own district last November he told the Annandale mullahs I'm a strong opponent to theocracy."

Amy Koch Resigns - Michele Bachmann Loses Another Family Values Endorsement

2011-12-16T17:38:00.004-06:00

Fox 9 News - "Senate Maj. Leader Amy Koch Resigned Over Alleged 'Inappropriate Relationship'

ST. PAUL, Minn. - Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch resigned Thursday and said she wouldn’t seek re-election in 2012, while on Friday her fellow Republicans dealt with shocking allegations that led to her decision.

At a Capitol news conference Friday, Sen. Geoff Michel (R-Edina) said Senate staff recently brought up allegations of an “inappropriate relationship between Majority Leader Koch and a Senate staffer.”

The Bachmann campaign October 28, 2011 press release on Amy Koch's endorsement:

Minnesota Senate & House Majority Leaders Endorse Bachmann

Urbandale, Iowa – The Bachmann for President campaign announced today receiving the endorsements of Minnesota Senate Majority Leader Amy Koch and House Majority Leader Matt Dean.

“Amy and Matt are strong and true leaders who have worked hard in the state of Minnesota to create positive change for citizens all across the state. They understand that, now more than ever, we need a president who will create a better tomorrow for all Americans,” Bachmann said. “Amy and Matt recognize that I am the only candidate in the race that has the skills and the plan necessary to move our country forward. I’m thrilled to welcome their support as we press on to make Barack Obama a one-term president.”

Senate Majority Leader Koch is a fourth generation resident of Wright County in Minnesota, and is a former Russian Linguist from the U.S. Air Force. During her time in the state legislature, Sen. Koch has developed a solid reputation of advancing job creation and pro-growth policies. She serves on the Rules and Administration committee as chair, and on the Energy, Utilities and Telecom Budget and Policy committee as the ranking majority member.

“From serving as a state senator to her terms in the United States Congress, as well as owning and operating her family business, Michele has demonstrated she has what it takes to stand up against big government and put forth the necessary policies to create a pro-growth economy that our country so desperately needs right now,” said Sen. Koch. “She has it right on boosting job creation, she has it right on cutting government spending, she has it right on investing in innovation. I can’t think of another candidate in this race that would be more equipped to turnaround the economy than Michele. That’s why she has my endorsement.”

It's so unfair, Michele Bachmann's old pal Rep Mark Olson ABUSED his staffer and got to keep his job.

Future "First Spouse" Marcus Bachmann Will Be A "Message Giver"

2011-12-16T13:03:00.002-06:00

The NYT Caucus blog:

But if Michele Bachmann becomes president, her husband, Marcus, said Friday that he would use his time as first spouse to wage a pro-marriage, pro-family and pro-life campaign.

“I’ve decided my cause is not going to be happy meals,” he said during a stop at the Family Table Restaurant here, apparently a dig at Mrs. Obama.

“We are going to be the message-givers,” said Mr. Bachmann, who runs a Christian counseling service that has been accused of trying to “heal” gays by persuading them to become heterosexual.

“We are going to get this message across,” he said. “Marriage is between one man and one woman. We are going to promote families.”

And "dad-dates"?

Serial Liar Michele Bachmann Lies About Being a Liar

2011-12-16T09:04:00.004-06:00

Politifact:

During the Dec. 15, 2011, Republican presidential debate in Sioux City, Iowa, Rep. Michele Bachmann made a claim that jolted us out of our seats.

"After the debates that we had last week, PolitiFact came out and said that everything that I said was true," she said.

Skip to the rulling:

During the Sioux City debate, Bachmann said that "after the debate that we had last week, PolitiFact came out and said that everything I said was true." That’s simply not the case. We rated two statements by Bachmann from that debate and ruled one of them Mostly True and the other one Pants on Fire. So for claiming she had a perfect record, she earns another Pants on Fire.

Also read Polifact's checking of Bachmann's fear-mongering about Iran and nukes:

But we’re focusing on Bachmann’s actual statement during the Nov. 22 debate. She paraphrased Ahmadinejad as saying, "He has said that if he has a nuclear weapon he will use it to wipe Israel off the face of the Earth. He will use it against the United States of America."

Ahmadinejad has said some tough things about the United States and Israel, but we find no evidence that he has said he would use a nuclear weapon against either country. In fact, he has maintained Iran has no interest in building one. We rate this claim False.

Listen to Bachmann rattling the sabre in the video on this DB post - "Video: Michele Bachmann Says Iran is Close to Having and Using Nuclear Weapons on Israel & The U.S."

Ron Paul & Michele Bachmann talking about Iran last night:

Daily Caller Reporters: Staff Threatened to Have Reporters Arrested for Asking Bachmann Questions

2011-12-15T07:31:00.002-06:00

Bachmann's staff has a history of thuggish behavior toward reporters. Even the conservative Daily Caller's reporters have encountered the nastiness of Bachmann's staff:

At a Dec. 7 forum held by the Republican Jewish Coalition in Washington, D.C., Daily Caller reporters asked Minnesota Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann if she had any comments about a video that recently went viral, showing a child asking her a question.

Bachmann had the event organizers threaten to have TheDC’s reporters removed from the premises and arrested if Bachmann continued to remain unhappy.

Watch:

Video: Michele Bachmann Says Iran is Close to Having and Using Nuclear Weapons on Israel & The U.S.

2011-12-14T12:42:00.007-06:00

Bachmann missed another key vote in Congress - the Tax Cut bill. Bachmann is too busy with her fantasy campaign to become POTUS to bother with, y'know working at the cushy government job with all the bennies she has right now. While she was in Arizona Sunday, Bachmann said everyone, rich or poor has to pay Federal income tax that will help pay her salary for the cushy government job with all the bennies.

Bachmann also claimed (about 12 minutes into the video below) that Iran will soon have nukes and is itching to use them on us:

"We recently received a report from the International Atomic Energy Agency that said this; Iran is this close to having a nuclear weapon. Why do we care? We care because a madman has said over and over and over again once they have the nuclear weapon they will use it to eradicate Israel off the face of the Earth. And they will use it against the United States of America"

Listen:

Hilarious Photo From 2005 of Michele Bachmann Vacuuming in Her High Heels

2011-12-14T08:33:00.006-06:00

The old photo cropped up in a photo gallery at the Washington Post with this caption:

December 27, 2004 - Stillwater, MN - Sen. Michele Bachmann vacuums her bedroom, Monday, at her home in Stillwater. "Cleaning and goofing around is pretty much all we do around here," Bachmann said. (Renee Jones/Star Tribune)

This is what Sarah Janecek said in CJ's Start Tribune gossip column in 2005:

"The Star Tribune [did] a nice puff piece on her last summer. There was a photograph of her vacuuming in high heels, which I thought was kind of odd. As a woman, I never think about vacuuming in my high heels. The reason she said she was sitting down is that her feet hurt. But if you vacuum in high heels, why do you need to sit down at the State Capitol behind the bushes?"

Here's a detail from the photo (Renee Jones / Minneapolis Star Tribune):

Shopkeepers in India Are Fasting in Protest Against the Personal Rapid Transit Boondoggle

2011-12-13T11:45:00.011-06:00

Yesterday, I posted about the pods of Fridley. Bachmann authored legislation for and promoted Personal Rapid Transit back in 2004. As the pod hucksters have pissed off one city after another in Europe and America, the would-be vendors of pods are exporting their phony flim-flam to Asia. The following photo and article is from the India Tribune:

The traders fear that the 20-feet high track of magnetic pods will adversely affect their business. The traders sat on a dharna and raised slogans against the government’s decision, which they alleged is aimed at gaining cheap publicity.

Sukhbir Singh Badal denied any opposition to the project as the local authorities had invited views from all quarters before finalising the project. The traders resent that with the introduction of magnetic pods, their clientele will have direct access to the Golden Temple without halting at the market to shop. This will affect hundreds of shops in the area.

“The tourists are our main clientele. Now, they will move directly to the Golden Temple and will not get a chance to feel the true essence of the trade practices in city. This mode of transport will defy the basic character of the city,” said Nirmal Singh, a trader.

IBN:

Sukhbir lays foundation stone of Pod system amidst protest

Amidst protest, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday laid the foundation stone of Rs 300 crore Personal Rapid Transport (PRT) Pod car transportation system in Amritsar, which once completed, would make the Holy City only the second in the world after London to have such transport facility.

Actually, the pod system is at an airport since September and with only two stops and no elevated stations, it can hardly called a working PRT system. No PRT system has successfully operated in revenue service anywhere. The battery-powered, glorified golf carts have not been tested in an extremely hot or cold climate and yet it's been proposed for India and Minnesota,

Shopkeepers apprehend that the system would adversely hit their business.

The foundation stone was laid outside the Hall Gate where shopkeepers raised anti-government slogans and staged dharnas.

A dharna is "a fast held at the door of an offender in India as an appeal for justice."

Not the first time, pRT has provoked a mass protest, read; "Pod Off! Residents oppose Daventry PRT scheme".

This pod project will, no doubt fail to materialize like scores of other doomed pod projects. If it did, it would be a hideous visual scar on the historic city:

Shopkeepers in India Are Fasting in Protest Against Personal Rapid Transit Boondoggle bit.ly/vub2O8 #bachmann #mnleg #stribpol
— Ken Avidor (@Avidor) December 13, 2011

Michele Bachmann's Anti-Gay Pals Show Up at Anoka-Hennepin Hearing

2011-12-13T06:43:00.008-06:00

UPDATE 2: Beth Hawkins has more about the hearing at MinnPost:

Others accused board members Heidemann, John Hoffman and Marci Anderson of breaking a campaign promise "to not back down under pressure from the homosexual lobby."

The controversial-topics policy is confusing, agreed Barb Anderson, a researcher for the religious right Minnesota Family Council and head of the Parents Action League, which has kept the heat on the state's largest school district.

And she agreed it does single out one set of people: "There is no other group that continually seeks to infiltrate the classroom. They call it queering the curriculum."

Read the whole thing.

UPDATE: The Colu.mn has more of Bachmann crony Barb Anderson's screed:

Barb Anderson has taken the lead on opposing an LGBT-inclusive climate in the district. She’s a researcher for the Minnesota Family Council, an affiliate of the SPLC-certified hate group, the Family Research Council, and a leader in the Parents Action League, a group set up to oppose LGBT issues in the district.

She spoke at Monday night’s board meeting.

“Without the SOCP, we will see more homosexual propaganda flooding the classroom,” she said. “There is no other group that continually seeks to force their way into the school curriculum in every subject matter and every grade level to normalize their unhealthy and unnatural behavior. Gay activists describe this in their own words as ‘queering the curriculum,’ going subject by subject, grade by grade to include materials from sexually radical gay activist organizations like GLSEN.”

...and...

Boynes gave her testimony of being an ex-lesbian.

“I do have a ministry here in the Twin Cities to help men and woman come out of homosexuality,” she said. “I believe without a shadow of a doubt that change is possible because I am a living example.”

Read the whole thing.

Article at the Strib. Bachmann donor and theocratic fellow traveler Barb Anderson:

Some speakers warned against the proposed policy, which would allow broader discussion of "controversial issues." Community member Barb Anderson predicted that the new plan would result in "more homosexual propaganda flooding the classroom."

There's a photo of Janet Boynes testifying. No quote from Boynes - did she testify again about "gay bowel syndrome"?

The Return of Taxi 2000 - Michele Bachmann's Personal Rapid Transit Boondoggle

2011-12-12T21:19:00.007-06:00

Reporters really need to ask Bachmann why she authored legislation for the pods.

Even as the pod people are at war with one another, the Fridley Patch posted this hilarious video ~~(below)~~ of "CEO" Mike Lester showing off the nearly ten-year-old "prototype", a silly track model and an ancient model of the Skyloop pod project that totally bombed in Cincinnati back in 2001. The goofy model is described in this Cincinnati history blog post:

"And finally, of course, we can't forget about the most notorious transportation proposal which was actually considered by our regional transportation initiative (OKI), the Skyloop - a monorail-like personal rapid transit system"

In the video, Lester says "all of our funding comes from private investment". Lester also says they get funding from "feasibility studies". If he is talking about the studies done by New York, New Jersey, Ithaca, that is definitely NOT private money.

There's supposed be a article in the Fridley Patch later this week about Taxi 2000. Will it mention the Taxi 2000 lawsuit? Zimmermann? Mark Olson? Stay tuned...

For the latest pod boondoggle news go to the PRT Boondoggle blog.

Michele Bachmann Reaffirms Her Support for Bizarre Terrorist Cult Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK)

2011-12-12T18:24:00.005-06:00

From Michele Bachmann's Congressional website:

Washington, Dec 12 - On Dec. 10, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (MN-06) wrote President Obama prior to his meeting in Washington with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. She asked the President to urge the Iraqi Prime Minister not to close Camp Ashraf on Dec. 31 out of her concern for its current residents who oppose Iran.

“Located in Iraq, Camp Ashraf is the home to 3,400 members of the Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK), an entity that opposes the current regime in Iran and promotes its replacement with a democratic system of government,” Bachmann wrote in the letter. “This opposition to the status quo in Iran places the residents of Camp Ashraf in constant danger. With growing Iranian influence in Iraq, Mr. Maliki has made it clear that he has no interest in protecting these residents.”

This is what the Mujahedin-e-Khalq do in Camp Ashraf:

Camp Ashraf is closed to most outsiders, but in 2005 Human Rights Watch released a report describing the "mass divorce" that was imposed on Banisadr and all other members and "abuses ranging from detention and persecution of ordinary members wishing to leave" to "lengthy solitary confinements, severe beatings, and torture of dissident members". The former MEK members interviewed also reported "two cases of deaths under interrogation".

Read about the big lobbying effort to delist the MEK:

Meanwhile, though, vast sums of money have reportedly been paid out to speakers at pro-MEK events. Among the recipients is Howard Dean, who has written in support of the organization and has been a paid speaker at MEK-related events since January 2011. He says that he was hired via the New York-based Harry Walker Agency to appear at events "sponsored by groups in the Iranian American community, not the MEK." MEK supporters and event organizers stress that their advocacy is bankrolled by the "Iranian American community." But what remains a mystery is exactly where the funding that fuels these costly MEK lobbying operations comes from, or what central entity, if any, coordinates the effort.

For more about Bachmann's strange support for this group read:

"Pro-Marriage" Bachmann Supports Leftist, Terrorist Organization That Promoted "Compulsory Divorce"

....and...

Larry Klayman, Bradlee Dean's Lawyer Appeared With Michele Bachmann at Presser in Support of Terrorist Group

Click on the letter to make it bigger:

Michele Bachmann Reaffirms Her Support for Bizarre Terrorist Cult Mujahedin-e-Khalq (MEK) bit.ly/t8co6Z #stribpol #iacaucus
— Ken Avidor (@Avidor) December 13, 2011

Vote on Bachmann's Boondoggle Bridge Unlikely This Year

2011-12-12T16:06:00.005-06:00

MPR:

According to House leadership, GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann's bill to authorize a new river crossing isn't on the agenda.

Once again, a reminder...

This is the scenic beauty of the Saint Croix river viewed from Stillwater:

This is what MnDOT wants to do to the river:

This is what MnDot wants to do to the river with some additional finishing touches... a few nukes and other crap favored by Bachmann:

Author event at Drinking Liberally on December 15th

2011-12-11T23:13:00.002-06:00

The Cucking Stool:

The Minneapolis - St. Paul chapter of Drinking Liberally will close out its guest programming for the year next Thursday, December 15, 2011 with an appearance by the authors of the recently published book, The Madness of Michele Bachmann: a Broad-Minded Survey of a Small-Minded Candidate (Wiley & Sons, New York).

The Madness of Michele Bachmann

"The Madness of Michele Bachmann" authors will talk about her crooked crony capitalist pal Frank Vennes 12/15 bit.ly/tT9h8H #stribpol
— Ken Avidor (@Avidor) December 12, 2011

Podcast Interviews With the Authors of "The Madness of Michele Bachmann"

2011-12-11T10:35:00.004-06:00

Friday's interview with all the authors on the Nancy Nelson Show on AM 950 - Podcast HERE.

Later, I was interviewed on the Shannon Files - Podcast HERE

UPDATE: Thanks to everyone who came to our book signing at Common Good Books yesterday. More photos at the Facebook page for "The Madness of Michele Bachmann".

Michele Bachmann Condemns Undue Influence of "Cronyism Capitalism" in Politics (Again)

2011-12-09T09:40:00.007-06:00

In a speech to the Republican Jewish Coalition Forum Bachmann said:

“A vocal minority, called Occupy Wall Street, otherwise known as the Obama re-election team, believes that the economic problems we face are capitalism or free markets. They’re not. The problem is government doing what both the constitution and decent morality prohibit, that is cronyism capitalism, or forcefully taking your money for the purpose of paying off a politician’s political friends. The problem is one set of standards for individual Americans and another set of standards for those who make political

It's an old Rovian tactic, attack your political opponents on the issues on which YOU are most vulnerable.

Reporters need to ask Bachmann why she accepted boatloads of money for her 2006 campaign from convicted fraudster Frank Vennes, his family and associates. Was there a quid pro quo for her subsequent support for a Presidential pardon?

Read the latest in our investigations into Vennes Pardon saga:

Was Frank Vennes' Son a White House Intern at the Same Time His Father Sought a Presidential Pardon?

Petters Ponzi clawback targets Bachmann-Vennes connection

Also, in the No Good Deed Goes Unpunished Department - Richard Cordray, the Ohio Attorney General who went after Bobby Thompson, another one of Bachman's crooked donors is having a tough time (from GOPers) getting appointed to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau:

“This makes no sense,” Obama declared. “Consumers across the country understand part of the reason we got into the financial mess we did is because regulators are not doing their jobs.”

It makes perfect sense - Republicans are probably sore that Cordray posted photos of Bobby Thompson hanging out with prominent Republican politicos like George Bush, Rudy Guiliani and Karl Rove.

Hey, I'm not the only one saying that - Dan Casey at the Roanoke Times:

The Republicans say they won’t confirm Cordray until the law (which isn’t strong enough) is significantly weakened some more, so we can have another Wall Street crash or something.

But I think there may be another more subtle reason: The GOP dislikes Cordray intensely because as Ohio Attorney General he went after the con man Bobby Thompson and the fraudulent U.S. Navy Veterans Association Thompson created.

Flim-flam man and GOP contributor Bobby Thompson

Thompson, whose whereabouts are unknown, stole as much as $100 million via that scam outfit, and for years he was a reliable money machine for conservative candidates.

One of those was Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, to whom Thompson gave $55,500 after Cuccinelli personally pleaded for campaign cash. (Cuccinelli, who ended up giving that tainted money away, still has been able to find a crime to charge Thompson with).

Cordray remains the only only elected official in the land who had the cojones to indict Thompson and convict one of his cohorts.

Check out Dan Casey's gallery of Republican bigwigs and Bobby Thompson - LINK.

Real Reason Can't Get Confirmed? - Cordray Indicted Fraudster, #GOP contributor Bobby Thompson - bit.ly/uoVxUF #iacaucus #stribpol
— Ken Avidor (@Avidor) December9, 2011

Does Bachmann Have Anything to Say About the "Suicide Contagion Area" in Her District?

2011-12-08T17:09:00.004-06:00

Beth Hawkins has another great article about the Anoka-Hennepin School District's shameful treatment of LGBT kids. Here's a part that mentions Bachmann and the groups she has close ties with:

Much of the area falls within the district of Rep. Michele Bachmann, who graduated from Anoka High School in 1974. She and her husband, who runs a clinic that purports to cure homosexuality, have strong ties to the groups that regularly pack school board meetings. Student suicides, those groups maintain, are not the result of anti-gay bullying, but of "homosexual indoctrination." If schools offer any information about sexual orientation, they would like it to be about Bachmann-style reparative therapy.

Over the last two decades the district has been the site of debates over teaching creationism, AIDS prevention, and white supremacy. But the roots of the current controversy can be traced to 2008, when the mother of a high school student in the district complained to the state Department of Human Rights that two teachers had harassed her son, who they perceived as gay.

Perhaps the best article I've read about Anoka Hennepin. Read the whole thing.

This is what Bachmann said at a committee hearing in 2006:

I think for all us our experience in public schools is there have always been bullies, always have been, always will be.

i just don't know how we're ever going to get to point of zero tolerance and what does it mean?

I guess, several questions that was comment, one question would be
what would be our definition of bullying?

will it get to the point where we are completely stifling free speech and expression?

will it mean that what form of behavior will there be, will we be expecting boys to be girls

what is it exactly that we're asking for?

i don't say that as a sexist comment but there are just differences with boys and girls when they're on the playground, when they're in the classroom.

None of us like inappropriate behavior, none of us like sassy children, but there's just a fact of life that as we grow up, we're kind of little barbarians when we're two and our process as mothers and fathers is to civilize our children.

I just don't know how we can realistically expect a zero tolerance of bullying behavior.

Reporters need to ask Bachmann if she believes teen suicide is "just a fact of life ".

Michele Bachmann's Book is Not a Best Seller

2011-12-08T08:31:00.005-06:00

MPR:

WASHINGTON - Michele Bachmann's weak poll numbers may be showing up in slow sales of her memoir, Core of Conviction. In the two weeks since the book was released, it's sold just 3,000 copies despite a media blitz and numerous book-signing events by Bachmann.

Well, duh!

Who would go out and waste their hard-earned cash on the boring, ghost-written memoirs of a serial liar?

Heck, if you want to curl up with a book about the real Michele Bachmann, go to your local bookstore and pick up a copy of "The Madness of Michele Bachmann" You can also order the book via this link at our publisher's website - Wiley.com.

I will be on the Shannon Files Friday 9PM to talk about our latest scoop in our investigation of Bachmann's Pardongate.

We will be talking about our book on the Nancy Nelson Show on AM 950 Friday at 5 PM.

And don't forget our book signing 2 PM on Saturday at Common Good Books.

For more news, go to the Facebook page for the "Madness of Michele Bachmann".

Was Frank Vennes' Son a White House Intern at the Same Time His Father Sought a Presidential Pardon?

2011-12-07T11:17:00.001-06:00

New evidence has surfaced that sheds some light on the roles of Denley and Colby Vennes in their father Frank's quest for a presidential pardon. A schedule of payouts to the two from the bankrupt Palm Beach Funds suggests that money from the Petters Ponzi may have been the source of political contributions made by the Vennes brothers when they were both students. And it appears Denley even spent some time inside the White House itself as an intern in 2004 while Frank was in hot pursuit of a pardon from President George W. Bush.

Denley Vennes, "LiquidElk" on the Deviant Art website has a portfolio of photos which includes a photo with this caption:

Election Day 2004. Marine One just landed on the south lawn of the White House. A Marine exits the chopper before the President.

Another Deviant Art member asked how he was able to take the picture, Denley Vennes replied:

Thanks! I was interning at the White House at the time so I had the privilege of being there with the press.

We checked around and found this photo from the George W. Bush White House archives:

Just behind President Bush and VP Dick Cheney is an intern that looks remarkably like the photo of Denley Vennes on his Deviant Art page.

We've created this side-by-side comparison using a higher resolution version of the intern photo - what do you think?

If Denley Vennes was an intern in 2004, that would put him close to the very man who could wipe his father's record clean of the felony convictions that kept him from raising more money for the Petters Ponzi scheme (for more about this, read Karl Bremer's three-part series on the effort to win a pardon for Frank Vennes including a timeline of donations and events relating to the Vennes request for a pardon Parts One, Two & Three).

In a search warrant issued in 2009, a U.S. Postal Inspector sought access to two email accounts used by both Frank Vennes and his son Denley. According to the affidavit, Frank Vennes allegedly used the Yahoo accounts to send information to investors (see Strib article). Frank Vennes is currently under indictment for his role as financier of the Petters Ponzi scam, The Vennes trial is scheduled for May of next year.

It should also be noted that Denley Vennes contributed $2,000 to the Bush/Cheney campaign in 2003 (brother Colby also donated $2K). In 2004, Denely Vennes donated $2,000 to the campaign of Patrice Bataglia, a Republican candidate who ran against Betty McCollum in the 3rd Congressional District. In both years, Denley Vennes lists his occupation as student. In 2004, Denley said he was a student at Northwestern Bible College. Denley's father Frank was on the board of Northwestern and donated thousands of dollars to the college. The trustee for the Palm Beach Finance bankruptcy is currently clawing back the Vennes contributions to Northwestern. For more about Northwestern and Frank Vennes, read "Northwestern College Trustee Fracas" at the Petters Info blog.

According to a complaint filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Florida November 23rd. Denley Vennes apparently received more than four hundred thousand dollars of his father's allegedly purloined largesse and the Palm Beach Finance trustee is clawing that back too (additional clawback complaints go after other Vennes family members and associates who have sprinkled campaign contributions along the Frank Vennes pardon trail - see interactive timeline at Dipity).

Since the trustee filed a clawback for Ponzi money donated to Bachmann, it is possible some of the following contributions might be clawed back as well:

George Bush/Dick Cheney Presidential Campaign (2003, 2004):

COLBY VENNES - $2000
DENLEY VENNES - $2000

NORMA VENNES - $2000
GREGORY VENNES - $2000
STEPHANIE VENNES - $2000
KIMBERLY VENNES - $2000

Minnesota Republican Party (2003):

COLBY VENNES - $1500

Patrice Bataglia Campaign (MN3CD) (2004):

DENLEY VENNES - $2000
COLBY VENNES - $2000

(Karl Bremer helped research and write this article)

Two Reviews for "Madness of Michele Bachmann"

2011-12-06T23:28:00.002-06:00

Beth Hawkins at MinnPost and Bill Salisbury at the PiPress review our book.

We will be talking about our book on the Nancy Nelson Show on AM 950 Friday at 5 PM.

And don't forget our book signing 2 PM on Saturday at Common Good Books.

For more news, go to the Facebook page for the "Madness of Michele Bachmann".

Will Michele Bachmann Take Responsibility for Allowing Frank Vennes to Wreak Havoc on Christian Non-Profits?

2011-12-05T19:14:00.005-06:00

When Bachmann wrote her letter to the Pardon Attorney supporting a pardon for Frank Vennes, she not only vouched for his character, but for his business:

“Mr. Vennes is seeking a pardon so that he may be further used to help others. As I know from personal experience, Mr. Vennes has used his business position and success to fund hundreds of nonprofit organizations dedicated to helping the neediest in our society.”

Assuming she told the truth about knowing " from personal experience" the sort of business Vennes was engaged in, she would have known that Mr. Vennes was a broker in promissory notes which the SEC warns is fraught with fraud:

While promissory notes can be legitimate investments, those that are marketed broadly to individual investors often turn out to be scams. The SEC and state securities regulators across the nation have joined forces to combat the fraudulent sale of promissory notes to investors. But we can't stop every fraud.

Of course, it is possible Bachmann lied to the Pardon Attorney about knowing about the business of Frank Vennes, in which case she would be lying to a federal law enforcement agent (the Pardon Attorney is an Assistant U.S Attorney) - making false statements to a federal agent is a criminal offense. If Bachmann has any information about the business of Frank Vennes, I hope she has divulged that information with Federal law enforcement officers, court-appointed receivers and bankruptcy trustees.

At the very least, Bachmann failed to perform the due diligence needed to ascertain whether Frank Vennes deserved a pardon. If she had taken a good look, she would have seen many red flags. If Bachmann had blown the whistle on Frank Vennes instead of attempting to clear his record, she could have saved many non-profit Christian ministries and charities from having thousands even millions of dollars clawed back by the Palm Beach Finance bankruptcy trustee.

Here's a partial list of non-profits that received fraudulent transfers of money from Vennes and the entire amounts being clawed back by the attorneys for the trustee:

Metro Hope Ministries - $130,000.00

Masterworks - $115,000.00

T-Net International - $132,000.00

New Life Family Services - $160,00.00

Great Commission Foundation - $240,000.00

Northwestern College - $294,500.00

Wheaton College - $200, 000.00

Williston Assembly of God - $640,000.73

Inter Ministerial Fellowship - 102,122.26

City Sites - $135,000.00

Crown Financial Ministries - $730,000.00

Desiring God Ministries - 150,000.00

Kids First - $575,484.00

Minnesota Teen Challenge - $5,790,606.51

North Dakota Teen Challenge: $1,671,315.00

Prison Fellowship - $180,000.00

Seg-Way Ministries - $335,033.01

Smithtown Gospel Tabernacle - $254,325.00

Trinity Christian School - $1,403,402.88

(H/T Karl Bremer of Ripple in Stillwater for contributing research for this post)

WaPo Picks Up Vennes/Bachmann Pardon Saga

2011-12-05T07:48:00.010-06:00

The mainstream media is finally catching up to a story we have been reporting for years.

The Washinton Post has an article (part of a Pro Publica series on presidential pardons) about the Bachmann connection to Ponzi financier Frank Vennes.

See Karl Bremer's three-part series on the effort to win a pardon for Frank Vennes including a timeline of donations and events relating to the Vennes request for a pardon Parts One, Two & Three.

Read the latest about the bankruptcy clawback filed against Bachmann in this Dump Bachmann post and Ripple in Stillwater.

Also read about Frank's brother Greg (another Bachmann donor) and the lawsuit that charged him with fraud and misrepresentation.

See also our interactive timeline at Dipity showing the trail of the Frank Vennes request for a pardon sprinkled with contributions from Frank and his family.

We will have more this week on the Vennes/Bachmann connection - stay tuned!

UPDATE: Pro Publica posted a redacted version of Bachmann's pardon letter. Here's Bachmann's letter without the redactions:

Frank's arrest warrant:

Bachmann Flogging Her Book on CNN SOTU Disses Occupy

2011-12-04T10:00:00.004-06:00

Bachmannn claims she is the "consistent conservative" and still the "Tea Party" choice. Really? Reporters should ask Missouri & AZ Tea Partiers. Reporters also need to take a look at the moribund Tea Party movement in Minnesota whose dwindling numbers count among its leaders Bradlee Dean.

Bachmann had this to say about the far more popular Occupy movement:

"If you go to the essence of what Occupy Wall Street stands for, it's having other people pay for their stuff."

And who pays Bachmann for her no-show job while she crisscrosses Iowa on her doomed campaign to become POTUS?

Will Michele Bachmann Have Anything to Say About The Resignation of Tony Sutton?

2011-12-03T10:09:00.011-06:00

There seems to be a great deal of tumult and musical chairs going on in the wake of the news of Tony Sutton's sudden departure.

Phoenix Woman has a good review of Tony's career as head of the MInnesota GOP.

One has to wonder if part of the money woes of the MNGOP is a possible bankruptcy clawback relating to the Vennes/Petters Ponzi scheme - as we reported on Thursday, Michele Bachman's campaign has been hit with a clawback... is the MNGOP next? As Karl Bremer reported yesterday at Ripple in Stillwater:

In addition to Bachmann, Vennes and his family were major campaign contributors to former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty, former U.S. Senator Norm Coleman, and state Republican Party entities. Vennes and his family also contributed to Sen. Amy Klobuchar and former State Sen. Ted Mondale, who now chairs the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission.

There is a slender, but intriguing thread leading from the former MNGOP Chair to the shady world of the Ponzi Pirates of Lake Minnetonka - is Sutton's ties to Citizens Against Gambling Expansion (CAGE) which caused some controversy back in 2009. The lobbyist and Executive Director of Citizens Against Gambling Expansion is Jake Grassel who recently joined Howse & Thompson. Craig Howse was (is?) Frank Vennes' personal attorney, lobbyist and Fidelis board chairman. Craig Howse was involved in the Hope Commons debacle.

A few weeks ago, Jake Grassel's Twitter went private.... hmmmmm... as Mike (MDE) Brodkorb used to say: "DEVELOPING".

PHOTO: Andy Parrish, Brodkorb and Sutton thanking volunteers for Bachmann in the final days of the 2010 campaign:

Michele Bachmann Won't Talk About Pray Away The Gay at the Bachmann Clinic

2011-12-02T23:27:00.004-06:00

Listen to Bachmann squirm as Alan Colmes asks some pretty tough questions about her farm subsidies and reparative therapy at the Bachmann clinic:

Bachmann Tells Young Lesbian that Gays Can Marry Member of Opposite Sex

2011-12-02T20:11:00.000-06:00

Minnesota Progressive Project has the story. This is similar to the points Bachmann and Joyce Harley made to me, when I debated Bachmann on the marriage amendment in 2005.

Virginia Attorney General Cuccinelli to Grill Michele Bachmann

2011-12-02T16:10:00.003-06:00

HamptonRoads.com:

Having confirmed his plan to run for governor, Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli will pivot from state to national politics this weekend when he questions Republican presidential candidates during a televised forum.

Cuccinelli and two fellow attorneys general -- Florida's Pam Bondi and Scott Pruitt of Oklahoma -- will serve as panelists on a FOX News Forum hosted Saturday evening by former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee. The broadcast begins at 8 p.m.

The GOP hopefuls scheduled to participate in that event are Minnesota U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich; Texas U.S. Rep. Ron Paul; Texas Gov. Rick Perry; former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney; and former Pennsylvania U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum.

It's pretty certain AG Cuccinelli won't ask Bachmann about the money being clawed back donated to her campaign by her crooked-crony-capitalist-pardon-pal Frank Vennes.

And it's for damn sure Cuccinelli won't be asking her about the money she got from fugitive fraudster Bobby Thompson because Cuccinelli got five times more money from Thompson than Bachmann got.

EXCLUSIVE! Bankruptcy Clawback Complaint Filed Against Bachmann Campaign

2011-12-01T11:33:00.009-06:00

Breaking News: An "adversary" case was filed November 29th against Michele Bachmann, Bachmann for Congress, and Bachmann Minnesota Victory Committee. The court action [not confirmed] is most likely in relation to contributions from Frank Vennes, family and associates. Other recent, related clawback cases have been filed against Vennes family members and associates of Frank Vennes. Some of the parties mentioned in the complaints contributed heavily to political candidates including Michele Bachmann [see Karl Bremer's three-part series on the effort to win a pardon for Frank Vennes including a timeline of donations and events relating to the Vennes request for a pardon Parts One, Two & Three].

This action is a part of the effort to clawback assets by the bankruptcy trustee for Palm Beach Finance Partners one of the feeder funds for the Petters Ponzi scheme. The two Palm Beach funds managers David W. Harrold, Bruce F. Prevost, associates of Frank Vennes were indicted April 20, 2011 along with Vennes for fraud. Harrold and Prevost pled guilty April 21st.

Other clawback actions include business associates of Vennes including Darrel Amiot who is mentioned in a lecture by Frank Vennes [listen to an Amiot sermon here] Another case was filed against Larry Greely, an associate of Amiot.

Another action goes after the Fidlelis Foundation. Vennes sat on the board of Fidelis Foundation has its office next to the law office of Howse and Thompson.

Another complaint was filed against CitySites Urban Media, Inc., North Dakota Teen Challenge, Inc., Minnesota Teen Challenge, Inc., KidsFirst Scholarship Fund of Minnesota, Desiring God Ministries, Prison Fellowship, Trinity Christian School, Crown Financial Ministries, Inc., Great Commission Foundation, Inc., New Life Family Services, Northwestern College, Masterworks of Minneapolis, Inc., Metro Hope Ministries, Inc., Smithtown Gospel Tabernacle, Inc., T-Net International, Wheaton College, Billy Graham Center, Seg-Way Ministries, International Ministerial Fellowship, Williston Assembly of God.

Some of these institutions have close connections to Frank Vennes. Vennes served on the boards of Minnesota Teen Challenge and Northwestern College. Some of these institutions, like the Desiring God ministry (whose Pastor John Piper wrote about an anti-homosexual-tornado) and Minnesota Teen Challenge were involved in the strange saga of Hope Commons.

Another complaint was filed the 23rd against Grace Consulting of Southeast, Inc. run by Frank Vennes brother and Bachmann donor Gregory Vennes who was sued by investors in 2008 for alleged seven counts of fraud and misrepresentation (the suit was settled).

Complaints were also filed against family members Norma Vennes, Colby Vennes and Denley Vennes seeking funds that are alleged to have been fraudulently transferred from Metro Gem, one of several feeder funds for the Petters Ponzi scheme managed by Frank Vennes.

This is a developing story - stay tuned for updates.

UPDATE 1: Karl Bremer has more at Ripple in Stillwater:

The long arm of the Tom Petters Ponzi scheme clawback has reached out for Congresswoman Michele Bachmann in an effort to recover $27,600 in contributions to her congressional campaign from Petters associate and Bachmann friend, convicted money launderer Frank Vennes Jr.

The move came in an "adversary case" complaint filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court proceedings in the Southern District of Florida for the Palm Beach Funds. These were Palm Beach, FL- and offshore-based hedge funds allegedly used by Vennes to steer billions of dollars into the Petters Ponzi.

Barry E. Mukamal, liquidating trustee for the bankrupt Palm Beach Funds, filed the action November 29 against Michele Bachmann, Bachmann for Congress, and Bachmann Minnesota Victory Committee. It identifies seven contributions to Bachmann’s congressional campaigns made between December 2005 and June 2008 that it seeks to recover for the Palm Beach Fund creditors. Based on Federal Election Commission records, those contributions were made by Frank Vennes Jr. and his wife, Kimberly.

Read the whole thing.

This report is a joint investigation by Ken Avidor and Karl Bremer. For more information on Bachmann and Vennes go to the Ripple in Stillwater blog and the Vennes Info blog. Read about Bachmann's relationship to Frank Vennes in the new book "The Madness of Michele Bachmann".

Homeskoolers Mad at Bachmann for Allegedly Using List Without Permission

2011-12-01T10:55:00.002-06:00

The Iowa Republican:

The Network of Iowa Christian Home Educators (NICHE) has sent out an email to its members that says Michele Bachmann’s campaign uploaded the group’s email list into their campaign database without permission.

This is nothing compared to... well... stay tuned!

Michele Bachmann's Advice to Americans - Stock Up on "Food, Water, and the Basics needed for Survival"

2011-11-30T10:56:00.004-06:00

UPDATE: This post needed a graphic:

Some people may speculate that Bachmann is angling to be Romney's VP, but Glenn Beck is TOTALLY supporting Bachmann for POTUS and repeated his endorsement on on the Glenn Beck Program last night. Bachmann warns Americans to go all survivalist in preparation for global economic collapse - stocking up on food, guns etc:

“What would you say to the American people about preparing their own house?” Glenn asked Bachmann.

“I would tell them that EU economic collapse could mean U.S. recession,” Bachmann started, qualifying that she would “urge people to not give into that form of panic but think about their own resources” like food, water, and the basics needed for survival.

Bachmann noted that every home in Switzerland is required to have a bomb shelter, food, water and a firearm, suggesting the European country is a potential model for the U.S..

Listen:

Bachmann & Santorum Battle for the Batsh*t Basement in Iowa

2011-11-29T09:05:00.006-06:00

Right-Wing radio jock Steve Deace's last question and answer he gave to "eleven uncommitted or soft-committed Iowa caucus-goers" Monday night:

Final question 14: Who do you think will win the Iowa caucuses—but who do you want to win?

Most believe Newt Gingrich will win, but most want either Michele Bachmann or Rick Santorum to win.

Two hilarious comments:

Michele Bachmann has the momentum right now!!! She will be the last surge before Iowa! GO MICHELE!!!!!!

Michele Bachmann is the one. She has demonstrated her integrity, conservative values, and true leadership. She does mean what she says and says what she means. Bold uncompromising leadership is what we will get with Michele Bachmann. No hidden ghosts in the closet...

"No hidden ghosts in the closet"? Maybe not ghosts, but skeletons? You bet there's skeletons and we got 'em here and also in our book.

Bachmann flogging her book:

AWOL in Her District and in Washington, Michele Bachmann Sends Constituents a Glossy Mailer

2011-11-28T17:12:00.007-06:00

According to the Quad-Cities Times, Bachmann won't be spending much time in her district any time soon:

With the field set, Nahigian predicted Iowa caucusgoers will recommit to Bachmann.

“They love her,” he said gesturing to more than 100 people lined up to buy the U.S. House Tea Party Caucus founder’s book in Cedar Rapids.

“They’ve had a chance to look at all the others,” he continued. “Now they’re coming back to Bachmann, to the one that sounds like them.”

He expects Bachmann to be in Iowa a lot – “Every day except for the debates.”

There are a couple of visits coming up: the Des Moines Register/ABC News/Yahoo!/Republican Party of Iowa debate, Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. at Drake University and the Fox News/ Republican Party of Iowa live presidential debate Dec. 15 in Sioux City.

Bachmann, who Nahigian said has no equal in retail politics, has a strategic advantage over her rivals in the precinct caucuses.

“She’s home,” he explained. “They’re visiting.”

You hear that, Sixth District? Bachmann's home is Iowa (unless she loses).

Perhaps anticipating that she will have to crawl back to Minnesota after being defeated, Bachmann sent out this franked, glossy mailer sent to us by a reader. For more about Bachmann's habitual abuse of her franking privilege read Karl Bremer's "Michele Bachmann uses freedom of the (taxpayer-paid) press to promote herself"

(click on both sides of the mailer to make them bigger)

Michele Bachmann Transportation Boondoggle Update

2011-11-28T16:28:00.005-06:00

The latest from the Strib on Bachmann's $700 milliion-plus boondoggle bridge needed to handle ~~increasing traffic~~:

Traffic crossing the Stillwater Lift Bridge has declined after years of growth.

Call the Governor and tell him it's time to pull the plug on his support for Bachmann's megabridge idea and support the sensible bridge concept instead.

The latest on Bachmann's other transportation boondoggle: seven years after Bachmann sponsored legislation for Personal Rapid Transit, PRT promoters still can't define what the heck PRT is.

Call the Governor and tell him MnDOT has wasted too much money on Bachmann's PRT boondoggle and MnDOT should not waste $1.4 million more on a bogus PRT "study".

Only 15 People Showed Up For Michele Bachmann's Book Signing Saturday

2011-11-27T17:14:00.004-06:00

WQAD:

The Minnesota Congresswoman was at the Radisson Hotel in Davenport signing copies of her new book, Core of Conviction: My Story.

Only about 15 people showed up to the event, which Bachmann's publicist blames on a "communications mishap."

The communications mishap may have been this news about Bachmann's MOA Black Friday book signing reported by Bill Salisbury yesterday in the PiPress :

Bachmann foes and fans alike were subject to bag searches and pat-downs before entering.

We will not be subjecting anyone to a searches or pat-downs at our book-signing for "The Madness of Michele Bachmann".

Where: COMMON GOOD BOOKS
165 Western Avenue North
Saint Paul, MN
When: Saturday, December 10, 2011, 2:00 PM

Bachmann Evades Answering Questions in Interview With Evangelical Magazine

2011-11-27T10:43:00.005-06:00

From Frederick Clarkson's article "Michele Bachmann Dodges Question about Dominionism from Christianity Today" in the Carapace blog:

In the wake of the Bachmann profiles and analogous articles about Rick Perry and his relationship to the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR), we witnessed a deluge of punditry and major media reporting seeking to downplay or deny the role of dominionism in the personal and political lives of Perry and Bachmann. Writers were smeared individually, and by implication, all of us who have written about this general subject. The campaign had its desired effect, and the reporting on this dimension of the background, backers, and beliefs of candidates Bachmann and Perry has pretty much stopped outside of the web sites that routinely report on the Religious Right.

But what then, does Bachmann really believe? In what ways or to what extent does Bachmann share the "Biblical worldview" of Eidsmoe, Rushdoony, and Schaeffer? These men’s views are not monolithic of course, but all are dominionist and have been in the mix of significant influences on Bachmann’s thinking as well as that of her other teachers. These relationships raise fair and important, if unexplored questions about this Republican presidential contender.

Clarkson links to an interview with Bachmann at Christianity Today that asks Bachmann a few questions about Bachmann's extremist religious beliefs that she (as usual) refuses to answer in any meaningful way.

Clarkson wryly observes:

We owe CT a debt of gratitude for committing an act of journalism by asking Bachmann about dominionism, even though Bachmann didn’t answer the question and even though the pack has apparently moved on.

Forget Jesse James, Read About Michele Bachmann's Own Connection to Criminals

2011-11-26T08:54:00.009-06:00

Chris Rodda at Truthout looks into one of the claims in Bachmann's new book:

But, while Bachmann at least had an obvious reason for inventing and/or distorting the "facts" in her original story -- to sound more Iowan when campaigning in Iowa -- nothing can explain why this woman would take a chance on making up the addition to her story that appears in her new book, Core of Conviction: My Story -- that her great-great-grandfather, Halvor Munson, won a farm in Kansas from Jesse James in a poker game!

Read the whole thing.

Why reach so far back for a (dubious) tale about notorious criminals? For honest, true tales of Michele Bachmann's connections to colorful con artists and crooks read "The Madness of Michele Bachmann" (e-book available now).

Cooking Up a Post-Thanksgiving Feast on The Shannon Files Tonight

2011-11-25T12:54:00.006-06:00

I'll be talking about our new book on The Shannon Files tonight (9PM Central Time):

Scheduled: Blogger and co-author of "The Madness of Michele Bachmann," Ken Avidor joins me to talk about his book.

Giving away a signed copy of the book on December 2nd. Tweet @TheShannonFiles #BachmannIsMadness to enter.

Rumor has it, long time co-host, Roger Shaver will join into the conversation.

Time allowing, I will get into the crane manufacturer that refuses to hire until President Obama is out of office.

We go live, Friday at 10pm ET - 7pm PT

Stuffed with facts and true tales:

Minnesota Tea Party Founder Causes Furor With Conspiracy Theories About Jews and The Holocaust

2011-11-25T00:27:00.007-06:00

Earlier today, I posted a link to the Kool Aid Report blog where Learned Foot declared the Minnesota Organization of Bloggers "dead"

The MOB has achieved a critical mass of crackpots and kooks. It's time to bail.

Why is Mr. Foot bailing? Apparently there's been discussion on the MOB Facebook page that had something to do with... well... see for yourself. Needless to say, it was enough for Mr. Foot to declare he was starting the a new blogger "alliance" that would specifically exclude bloggers who had certain beliefs:

I am now accepting applications for this new blog alliance. You're blog is guaranteed acceptance if you meet the following three requirements: 1) You don't believe that America is run by a cabal of Jewish bankers bent on world domination; B) You are otherwise free from paranoid delusions; and 4) you can construct a coherent sentence with passable grammar and most of the words spelled correctly (sorry Teh Andee). You can apply in the comments to this post or on the Facebook page.

Meanwhile, over at the Minnesota Issues forum, there's a post titled "Is the Minnesota Tea Party Anti-semitic"

Now I would ordinarily just let a post like this go, but it turns out that Antoinette Backdahl aka Toni Capasso is the founder and head of the Minnesota Tea Party.

http://www.facebook.com/toninobologny

Her post raises serious questions of whether the Minnesota Tea Party or Ms. Backdahl is Anti-semtic. The stuff she writes, but Israeli dual citizenship,"other brotherhood" and "padded Holocaust", I ordinarily only see on White Supremacist and neo-Nazi groups.

Meanwhile, over at the Facebook page for 'Antoinette Capasso-Backdahl (Toni Capasso), there's a big discussion similar to the one on the MOB FB page about... well... better to let Antoinette Backdahl's words speak for themselves:

['Antoinette Capasso-Backdahl] YY, it is the Judeo influence and their protection of the INTEREST of the banksters over the people. So, since Muslims experience USURY free products and services, its no wonder they are recruiting at an alarming rate. I am considering reverting myself! The other is the Judeo propaganda machines that have infiltrated the Christians into thinking that Blacks and Muslims are cursed and the children of SATAN himself! Ridiculous!

Here's some screenshots that indicate Mr. Foot has reason to be concerned:

... and...

Bachmann recently attended the Zionist Organization of America dinner in New York where she proclaimed her support for Israel. Is it possible that the Tea Party she claims to lead in Minnesota is not following her lead supporting Israel? Maybe instead of signing her memoirs at the Mall of America and have good look at what's going on in her own backyard. At the very least she should find out whether this comment on the Liberty Broadcasting Network webpage is true:

[Antoinette Capasso-Backdahl] Michele Bachmann staffer referred to this as "Babylonian Talmud is Sharia Law"

What a Turkey! Minnesota GOP Activist Sheila Kihne Claims Michele Bachmann is an Expert on the Constitution

2011-11-24T10:32:00.009-06:00

This Thanksgiving, I am thankful for the huge number of turkeys among Michele Bachmann's fans.

GOP CD 3 Vice Chair, right-wing Eden Prairie blogger and Bachmann ~~supporter~~ apologist Sheila Kihne recently tweeted the following:

Sheila is also an expert... with a book!

Sheila is also tweeting her non-support for the University of Minnesota:

Speaking of the Minnesota right-wing blogosphere, one local blogger has declared the M.O.B. (Minnesota Organization of Bloggers) to be "dead" after it "achieved a critical mass of crackpots and kooks."

Will this mean no M.O.B.sters picnicking on the front lawn of the White House after Bachmann is elected POTUS?

Did Michele "Loose Lips" Bachmann Reveal Classified Info at CNN Debate?

2011-11-23T08:58:00.007-06:00

Mediaite via Think Progress:

Bachmann’s response was a high-point for her in the debate, showing detailed fluency on a sometimes confusing topic of identifying and supporting allies in a region that is also home to many extremist, many of whom have, at least rhetorically, stated goals of doing harm to the United States. But her specific detail raised the eyebrows of many who play close attention to the region when she revealed that Pakistan apparently is home to 15 nuclear sites, and that six attempts have already been made on nuclear sites by what she called nuclear sites jihadists. Claiming that this was more than an “existential threat” she ended with perhaps the best line of the night, saying that Pakistan was “too nuclear to fail.”

However! Turns out the details of Pakistan’s nuclear capability (and perhaps the number of failed attacks as well) was information that was previously unpublished.

Mediaite goes on to speculate that Bachmann either revealed classified info or was just making stuff up (remember Bachmannistan?).

Video from Mediaite:

Another Debate Tonight

2011-11-22T18:02:00.001-06:00

CNN's GOP national security debate.

Anything interesting? Leave a comment.

Karl Bremer Sues The New Republic

2011-11-22T15:31:00.003-06:00

Mary Divine in the PiPress:

Stillwater Township writer and photographer Karl Bremer is suing the New Republic magazine for "unfair competition," claiming they used a photograph he took of Frank Vennes Jr. on their cover without his permission.

Bremer, who writes the Ripple in Stillwater blog, has sued the Washington, D.C.-based magazine in Washington County District Court. He is asking for $5,000 in damages.

Vennes was linked to the Tom Petters' Ponzi scheme, accused of using false documents to entice investors to invest money with Petters and his various companies.

Bremer, one of the authors of "The Madness of Michele Bachmann: A Broad-Minded Survey of a Small-Minded Candidate," claims the magazine stole his Vennes photograph from his website and "used it on the cover of their national magazine without my permission to unfairly compete against me in the literary marketplace," according to the lawsuit.

Read the whole thing.

Dump Bachmannn reported on this back in October - read "Attention National Reporters: Please Stop Plagiarizing Our Work".

Michele Bachmann's Book - Rotten to the Core

2011-11-22T10:59:00.005-06:00

You can read Chapter 1 of Bachmann's book at MSNBC's Today website. Lots of reviews on the web of Bachmann's book. I recommend two - Tim Murphy fact-checks Bachmann's tome at Mother Jones:

There's enough to dispute within the first 13 pages that by the time she announces, on page 14, that she was born in Waterloo, Iowa, you almost want to ask for a birth certificate.

Also read David Graham's "Six Juiciest Bits From Michele Bachmann's New Book" at the Daily Beast with this nice shout-out to this blog:

Bachmann has been criticized for stretching the truth in the past, and she won’t escape such charges in the book. The first instance comes right at the start. Bachmann opens by explaining how her political career began after she decided to attend the district Republican convention on a whim. When a group of activists decided they needed to run a candidate against the increasingly moderate incumbent state senator (his name was Gary Laidig; oddly, she never names him), she was chosen, despite her lack of political experience and the jeans she was wearing. To her surprise, she won—setting the stage for her career in the state senate, the U.S. House, and eventually for a presidential run. Every successful candidate needs a compelling foundational myth, and this surely fits the bill. The only problem? It’s more myth than foundation. As various commentators have pointed out—starting with the doggedly adversarial blog Dump Bachmann—she already was a political activist by that April day.

Read the whole thing.

Bachmann will have only days to enjoy the post-publication glow - I have received word that our book titled "The Madness of Michele Bachmann" is hot off the press and review copies may be available as early as next week.

Glenn Beck Endorses Michele Bachmann?

2011-11-22T10:45:00.003-06:00

So claims Joshua Pundit:

On his radio show this morning. Claims he likes many of the candidates, but only Rep. Bachmann has the ability to really bring about change in Washington, has the exceptional strength of character to be a president along the lines of Washington or Lincoln and understands the Constitution like he does.

Not surprising considering how well the bats in their respective belfries get along - listen to this recent video of Bachmann and Beck.

Bachmann's Iowa Campaign Chair Says Same-Sex Marriage Could Lead to a Woman Marrying the Eiffel Tower

2011-11-22T10:24:00.003-06:00

Right Wing Watch:

A candidate with a long and ferocious anti-gay record as Michele Bachmann needs a campaign chairman with a similar history of activism against gay rights. Last week, Bachmann’s campaign announced that Tamara Scott will serve as her Iowa Co-Chair, with campaign manager Eric Woolson announcing, “We are proud to have the support of an honorable conservative leader like Tamara.”

Tamara Scott seems to be obsessed with polyamory and the notion of women getting it on with inanimate objects... big objects...

While speaking with Bob Vander Plaats, the head of The Family Leader, Scott warned that gay rights will lead to people marrying objects like the Eiffel Tower.

Listen:

Bachmann: "The Table has been Set for a Worldwide Nuclear War Against Israel"

2011-11-21T22:00:00.007-06:00

Bachmann lets all her flying monkeys loose on Glenn Beck's radio show:

UPDATE: After all the apocalyptic gloom and doom talk with Glenn Beck, Bachmannn went on the Jimmy Fallon show (video here) and she was all happy, skippy while promoting her book.

Speaking of happy, skippy, Bachmann told the Sunshine State News that she predicts an "upset" victory in Iowa.

UPDATE: Jimmy Fallon's house band made a musical comment about Bachmann that she (nor I) got (Spin):

The Roots have famously underscored a few choice Late Night With Jimmy Fallon guest appearances with clever walk-on music. When Ashlee Simpson appeared on the show, they played Milli Vanilli's "Girl You Know It's True." "What made this classic was the fact we did the VH1 Behind the Music version of the song in which Vanilli explained that the broken loop kept going "Girl, you know it's ... girl, you know it's ..." when they got busted for lip-synching in concert — and that is how we did it verbatim," ?uestlove once told Rolling Stone. Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt strode onstage to the sounds of Beck's "Loser" ("They were none the wiser," ?uest chuckled). And last night they added a gem to their repertoire, welcoming Republican rep Michele Bachmann with Fisbone's "Lyin' Ass Bitch." She, too, was none the wiser.

What everyone missed at the Family Leader debate

2011-11-21T06:58:00.002-06:00

Bachmann proving that waterboarding is not torture:

... a few moments later:

Bachmann saying she hasn't made a gaffe

2011-11-20T22:20:00.004-06:00

Crooks and Liars video via Greg Laden who has a pretty good list of Bachmann's gaffes.

Waterboarding Supporter Michele Bachmann Pours Water for Rival Candidates

2011-11-20T12:21:00.002-06:00

For people who enjoy root canal without anesthetic, here's the complete Family Leader Debate:

At 24:00 listen to Bachmann claim that the greatest amount of censorship today is "in the pulpits".

"We have a law that limits pastors for what they can say about politics... "

I know Bachmann barely worked at her IRS job, but geez....

It is important to understand that this prohibition does not mean that religious organizations and their officers are cannot speak out on any political, social, or moral issues. This is a common misconception which some have capitalized on for political purposes, but it is absolutely incorrect.

By not taxing churches, the government is prevented from directly interfering with how those churches operate. By the same token, those churches are also prevented from directly interfering with how the government operates in that they cannot endorse any political candidates, they cannot campaign on behalf of any candidates, and they cannot attack any political candidate such that the effectively endorse that person’s opponent.

Our first book signing for "The Madness of Michele Bachmann"

2011-11-18T22:52:00.002-06:00

Where: COMMON GOOD BOOKS
165 Western Avenue North
Saint Paul, MN
When: Saturday, December 10, 2011, 2:00 PM

Michele Bachmann and her book Get Promoted by Birther Joseph Farah and Wingnut Daily

2011-11-18T10:54:00.002-06:00

This came in my inbox today:

Can Bachmann's manifesto push to 1st tier?
Cain's book lifted him to front-runner status

Dear WND friends,

No matter how you plan to vote, Michele Bachmann's new book, CORE OF CONVICTION, is one you'll enjoy and appreciate. Congresswoman Bachmann is one of the country's leading voices for limited government and traditional values.Regardless of who wins the Republican nomination, we need to continue to support Michele Bachmann's ongoing fight for personal liberty, smaller government, and pro-family social policies. And one of the best ways to do that is to order a copy of CORE OF CONVICTION.

Thank you for helping us spread the word about this important new book.

Sincerely,

Joseph Farah

For Herman Cain, the release of a book about his "journey to the White House" helped propel him to frontrunner status in the GOP presidential primary race.

Now Michele Bachmann, who lost some of her early thunder to Cain, is about to release her new manifesto hoping for the same results.

Bachmann's book is called "Core of Conviction: My Story." Simple. Straightforward. To the point. Much like her approach to running for president, the key to Bachmann's success is to portray her candidacy as politically and ideologically and spiritually pure.

She lies to say, "I'm the whole package."

No accusations from members of the opposite or same sex. No flipflopping charges. No gaffes. No spin. What you see is what you get.

That's what makes Bachmann, love her or hate her, one of the most compelling leaders in America. But despite all the magazine covers and cable television stories, most people don't know who she really is, where she comes from, or what she believes. So she decided to tell her own story and let the reader decide.

As you'll learn in this fascinating memoir, Bachmann wasn't the type of kid who started dreaming about the White House in elementary school. She grew up in Iowa and Minnesota as a typical midwestern girl, grounded by her family and her faith. She was raised to believe in the American dream: that anyone could succeed if they worked hard and took advantage of this country's boundless opportunities.

She followed her dreams to college and law school, pursued a career as a federal tax attorney, started a successful business with her loving husband, raised five great kids and (over time) 23 (ye, that's not a typo) foster children. By her early 40s she was very happy as a full-time mom and homemaker and was a leading education reform advocate in Minnesota.

Then she became what she calls "an accidental politician."

Can she become the "accidental president"?

A lot is riding on this book.

It could become a battle of the books – "This Is Herman Cain" vs. "Core of Conviction."

The real battle of the books will be "Core of Conviction" vs "The Madness of Michele Bachmann". Order your copy of the Madness of Michele Bachmann from your favorite bookseller.

UPDATE (Avidor): The message peddling Bachmann's book is also on the WND website. The book is also listed at the WND Superstore.

After Throwing His Old Pal Bachmann Under The Santorum Bus, Is Bradlee Dean Going to Raise Cain in Orlando?

2011-11-18T08:37:00.008-06:00

Is Bachmann still praying for Bradlee Dean's Ministry of Hate? Reporters need to ask Bachmann. Until then, Dump Bachmann will continue to report on the theocratic Ministry of Hate's meddling in presidential politics (hello, IRS?). Recently, we were the first to report that Bradlee interviewed Rick Santorum and threw Bachmann under the bus for smelling like rancid cheese.

Now, Bachmann may have to endure another insult from her old theocratic fellow traveller as Bradlee tweets he will be visiting Orlando tomorrow. Bradlee could be visiting Disneyworld, but we also noticed another politico is tweeting his whereabouts in Florida - Herman Cain.

As Michael Brodcorb used to say on MDE - developing (or not).

Hypocrite Bachmann Blast Others for Doing Favors for "Crony Capitalists"

2011-11-17T21:11:00.009-06:00

Lynn Campbell at IowaPolitics.com caught Bachmmann making this howler today at Drake University:

“This is a scandal,” Bachmann said. “This is your money, and this is called crony capitalism. It happens all the time in Washington, D.C., and it makes me sick. It’s the idea that people can be bought and in exchange, they use your money to pay off the political debts.”

In contrast, Bachmann said donors to her presidential campaign are from “real people.” She said she had 97,000 donations in the third quarter of this year, and the average donation was $42.

“It’s real people that are giving to my campaign, not rich people,” she said.

Listen:

Bachmann decries favors for donors? What is writing a letter in support of a pardon for non-constituent donor Frank Vennes?

Rich people haven't given money to Bachmann?

What Choootzpah!

UPDATE: Reader Dog Gone notes:

I seem to recall plenty of donors who were wealthy donating to Bachmann.

She may have not attended that $10,000 a ticket fundraiser that Cravaack went to along with Paulsen, but she did charge $10,000 a pop for a photo op when she did her little fundraiser with Sarah Palin [LINK]

Yesterday's Minnesota Independent reported Bachmann second only to Al Franken in wealth. Bachmann is using politics to get wealthy herself. With pushing her book, look for her to follow in Palin's footsteps to become similarly wealthy if she can. I would bet she next goes to Fox Not-News instead of another run at a Congressional term. I think she's maxed out any hope of that if CD6 is redistricted. To make her own fortune grow, I see Bachmann being happy to do favors for the wealthy, and anyone otther than the 1%, or her cronies be damned.

The woman is an idiot, but she is a greedy idiot.

And anyone remember a few of her fund raiser dinners for the wealthy?

When: April 06, 2010
What: Reception and Dinner
Where: Hilton Hotel
Beneficiaries: Michele Bachmann
Contributions: $10,000; $5,000; $500
Make Checks Payable To: Minnesota-Bachmann Victory Committee

There are a whole lot of other fund raisers.listed here [LINK].

Now we know where she is when she isn't on Fox News, and of course, NOT in Congress either. Maybe that isn't entirely a bad thing, her deplorably bad attendance in Congress. It means she isn't being effective on behalf of her capitalist cronies who donate to her campaigns and PACs and SuperPACs....

Right, Dog Gone.

And some of her donors were not exactly wealthy - they just seemed to have a lot of money - like Bachmann's Ponzi pal Frank Vennes:

Bachmann Donor Greg Vennes 2008 Lawsuit Complaint Alleged "Fraud" and "Misrepresentations"

2011-11-17T05:40:00.009-06:00

Gregory Vennes and his wife Stephanie donated thousands of dollars to Michele Bachmann and other politicians. (see Lawyers Guns & Money, Pt. 2 at Ripple in Stillwater). Until now, Greg Vennes was as much a mystery man to me as his brother Frank.

In a complaint filed in the December 10th, 2008, lawyers for two plaintiffs alleged seven counts of fraud and misrepresentation. The counts included allegations of violations of securities laws. According to the complaint, Greg Vennes acted as a go-between for his brother's hedge fund Metro Gem and two wealthy investors.The complaint alleges Greg received a commission for the transaction. Greg Vennes was not a registered securities broker. The complaint sought damages in excess of $5,500,000.

In a separate document, Greg Vennes, through his attorney admitted he received payment from Metro Gem, but denied having an arrangement. Vennes also admitted not having a license to sell securities.

In a January 7, 2009 affidavit seeking a protective order and a stay of discovery, Greg Vennes told his side of the story beginning in 2000 when he moved back to Minnesota with his family. Greg had worked in the U.S. Postal Service for 19 years prior to his arrival on the swanky shores of Lake Minnetonka. Greg befriended two elderly neighbors and they swapped investment tips. Greg told the old gents that he had a company called Grace Consulting Services Inc. (remember that name). Greg also said his company invested in notes from a company owned by brother Frank, Metro Gem Inc. Frank said his investment in Metro Gem was "proving successful", however Greg claimed he did not speak for his brother and had no idea how Metro Gem operated. The Grace Consulting investments were reinvested at a higher rate in Metro Gem.

According to Greg's affidavit, in 2003, the first distinguished representative of the Minnetonka gentry Greg had befriended invested in Metro Gem and saw his investment grow (on paper) to $3.5 million, earning 12% annually. In 2003, the other old gent plopped down $2 million for Grace Consulting Inc. notes. Later in 2007, the second fellow transferred his investment from Grace Consulting to Metro Gem. According to Greg, he had a quarrel with his brother in February, 2008 over the care of their elderly parents and Greg took Grace Consulting's money out of Metro Gem. About six months later, the FBI raided brother Frank's homes along with Tom Petters' homes and business. The two elderly gents saw their investments swirling down the Petters Ponzi crapper along with billions of other investors' dollars.

One of the old gents died in May, 2009 (according to his Strib obituary, he " suffered from dementia for the past few years") and The lawsuit was settled by the end of 2009. The other fellow was listed among the creditors seeking relief in Frank's Work-Out Plan. No trial, no verdict, end of story.

But… here's something interesting - remember that company Grace Consulting Services Inc.? There's another company called Grace Consulting of Southeast Inc. registered in Florida. Incidentally, Greg's wife Stephanie donated $4,200 to Michele Bachmann in 2005 and she was just a secretary - how freaking' successful does a company have to be to have its secretaries throwing thousands of dollars at politicians!

Anyways, back in 2008, before Grace Consulting of Southeast Inc. changed its address, the company's registered address was 752 S.W. Squire Johns Lane Palm City, FL 34990.

Google that address and you get all kinds of links to stuff having to do with a guy called Jason Bo-Alan Beckman. Who he?

Strib:

Jason Bo-Alan Beckman, a brash Wayzata money manager who has claimed to be among the top financial advisers in the nation, was civilly charged Monday with participating in an elaborate $194 million investment fraud.

Beckman, 41, was an associate of Trevor Cook, an Apple Valley man who pleaded guilty last year to bilking about 1,000 investors in the $194 million Ponzi scheme. Cook, 38, was sentenced in August to 25 years in prison.

Lawyers for the Securities and Exchange Commission said Beckman raised at least $47.3 million from 143 individuals, of which only $8.2 million was returned to investors.

The government complaint says Beckman and his wife personally received $7.8 million from the illegal operation and used the funds to pay for "million dollar homes, luxury cars, foreign travel, country club expenses, a suite at professional hockey games and other trappings of a high-end lifestyle."

Holy cow, what an awesome coincidence! The house had two owners… BOTH linked to Ponzi schemes in Minnesota!

For more fun, read Patrick Pretty's 3/26/11 article on the property where the following pic of the Ponzi palazzo is from:

Here's the docs - click to make them bigger:

(Crossposted at Vennes Info blog)

TWO Demands That Bachmann Stops Petty and Vindictive Threats Over $150 Fraudulent ‘Therapy’ Bill

2011-11-16T20:54:00.001-06:00

UPDATE: Jessica Lussenhop interviews Marcus about his bill collecting gig in the City Pages Blotter.

The saga continues......

TWO Demands That Bachmann Stops Petty and Vindictive Threats Over $150 Fraudulent ‘Therapy’ Bill

Burlington, Vt – Truth Wins Out expressed surprise today that Marcus Bachmann personally called the organization demanding $150 for cancelled July sessions of “ex-gay” therapy with a counselor at his office. He threatened that if TWO did not pay him by Friday he would turn the phony bill over to a collection agency.

In July, Truth Wins Out went undercover and exposed Bachmann & Associates for practicing a form of discredited “pray away the gay” therapy. The revelation rocked Michele Bachmann’s presidential campaign. After TWO’s John Becker, who went undercover, had enough videotape evidence to prove that “ex-gay” therapy occurred at Bachmann’s clinic, he called the clinic and cancelled his remaining appointments. Despite widespread circulation of TWO’s video footage, Marcus denied the therapy had taken place.

“I cancelled my remaining appointments in compliance with Bachmann & Associates’ stated procedure,” said John Becker, TWO’s Director of Communications and Development, “yet Marcus Bachmann himself called me and threatened to send the fraudulent $150 ‘bill’ to a collection agency by Friday. I find it odd that Bachmann handled this matter personally rather than through his billing department. This is certainly an unorthodox way of doing business, much like the unethical ‘ex-gay’ therapy offered at his clinic.”

“We call on Marcus Bachmann to immediately stop his petty and vindictive campaign of harassment and threats against our organization,” said TWO’s Executive Director Wayne Besen. “Perhaps, now that Michele’s campaign is foundering, the Bachmanns are frustrated and looking for scapegoats to explain her failure. Truth Wins Out refuses to be intimidated or blackmailed by Bachmann. This bogus bill will not be paid.”

Becker was surprised when he received a voicemail from Bachmann on Monday demanding payment for cancelled sessions which never took place. On Tuesday, he returned Bachmann’s call and spoke with him for nearly seven minutes in the presence of a reporter from the local ABC/FOX affiliate in Burlington. The video of the tense exchange can be viewed at Truth Wins Out’s website.

“We saw firsthand that the ‘ex-gay’ therapy practiced by Bachmann & Associates is unethical and unhealthy for clients,” said Becker. “What goes on in that clinic is rejected by every respected medical and mental health organization in America.”

Truth Wins Out is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to create a world where LGBT individuals can live openly, honestly and true to themselves. TWO fights anti-LGBT religious extremism, monitors anti-LGBT organizations, documents their lies and exposes their leaders. TWO specializes in turning information into action by organizing, advocating and fighting for LGBT equality.

Contact: Wayne Besen, Executive Director
Phone: 917-691-5118
E-Mail: wbesen@truthwinsout.org

Contact: John Becker, Director of Communications & Development
Phone: 920-265-6023
E-mail: john@truthwinsout.org

– 30 –

Betty McCollum and Keith Ellison Battle Bachmann's Zombified DFLers Over the Boondoggle Bridge

2011-11-16T19:18:00.003-06:00

Mary Devine at the PiPress:

U.S. Reps. Betty McCollum and Keith Ellison want to cap the amount of money that can be spent on a new St. Croix River bridge.

McCollum and Ellison, both Democrats, introduced legislation today that would prohibit the use of federal funds for the construction of any bridge project costing more than $574 million.

The legislation - dubbed the "Fiscally Responsible St. Croix River Crossing Authorization Act" - could stop the four-lane bridge that has been proposed. The bridge planned by the Minnesota Department of Transportation and supported by U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., and Sen. Amy Klobuchar, DFL-Minn., is expected to cost $574 million to $690 million.

McCollum has said that bridge would be too big and too expensive and violates the National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. She supports a smaller three-lane bridge that is being proposed by a group called the Sensible Stillwater Bridge Partnership. Partnership officials said last week that their bridge alternative would cost about $394 million - about $180 million to $296 million less than the current proposal.

Here's Betty McCollum's statement:

Washington, DC – Two Minnesota Members of Congress, Rep. Betty McCollum (MN04-DFL) and Rep. Keith Ellison (MN05-DFL), will introduce legislation tomorrow called the Fiscally Responsible St. Croix River Crossing Authorization Act to allow for a less expensive and appropriately scaled bridge to be constructed to replace the Stillwater Lift Bridge. The legislation includes environmental mitigation, a limitation on federal funding, and allows for an accelerated project timeline for construction.

Most importantly, the McCollum-Ellison bill will protect taxpayers from the exotic $700 million "extradosed" mega-bridge (carrying only 18,000 cars daily), which is proposed in H.R. 850/S. 1134. The McCollum-Ellison legislation prohibits the use of federal funds for the construction of any bridge project exceeding $574 million in total cost.

At a time of state and federal budget cuts and with 1,149 structurally deficient bridges in Minnesota, according to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, this legislation addresses a concern that the proposed $700 million St. Croix bridge is simply too expensive and will leave hundreds of Minnesota bridges in need of repair or replacement for years to come.

"Building the biggest, most exotic and expensive bridge possible makes no sense when we have tremendous unmet transportation needs and taxpayers expect responsible investments. This legislation will be a compromise that allows an appropriately-scaled bridge to be built, not a gold-plated interstate bridge," McCollum said.

McCollum and Ellison plan on introducing their legislation tomorrow prior to a meeting with Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, and members of the Minnesota and Wisconsin Congressional delegations to discuss the St. Croix River crossing project.

I called Congresssman Ellison's office to let him know I support his opposition to the boondoggle.

I also contacted Senator Al Franken, a Bachmann boondoggle bridge booster and he sent me this zombified reply:

Dear Ken,

Thank you for contacting me about the bridge over the St. Croix River in Stillwater. I appreciate you taking the time to share your thoughts with me on this important issue for Minnesota.

The current bridge in Stillwater crossing the St. Croix River to Wisconsin needs to be replaced. It was built in 1931 and cannot accommodate the 16,000 vehicles that now cross the bridge each day. However, building a new bridge is complicated by the fact that the St. Croix River is federally protected by the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. The Wild and Scenic Rivers Act was passed in 1968, and created a system of rivers that are deemed to "possess outstandingly remarkable scenic, recreational, geologic, fish and wildlife, historic, cultural or other similar values," and are worthy of federal protection.

In 1996, the National Park Service (NPS) ruled that a plan for the construction of a new, four-lane bridge south of Stillwater would violate the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Then, in 2005, NPS reversed their decision and ruled to allow the bridge to be built. After a lawsuit, Judge Michael Davis ruled that the National Parks Service's 2005 evaluation was "arbitrary and capricious" because they didn't explain why they suddenly reversed their opinion. On October 15, 2010, the National Park Service announced that they would not write a new plan, and would not allow the bridge to be built.

Senator Klobuchar introduced S. 1134, which would allow the bridge to be built under a process that was included in the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to exempt certain projects. I joined S. 1134 as a cosponsor because, while I don't think the proposed four-lane bridge is a perfect bridge by any means, the people of Stillwater and the St. Croix Valley need a new bridge and one that can be built without further years of delay. I would have preferred a less expensive option but this is the bridge that's been chosen through a decades-long process, and I fully support its construction.

Thank you again for contacting me, and I look forward to hearing from you in the future on this or any other matter of concern to you.

Sincerely,

Al Franken

What's wrong with Amy and Al? Were they always this zombified?

Livecast of Des Moines Register interview with Bachmann

2011-11-16T16:20:00.005-06:00

~~Now.~~

Follow the political columnist Kathie Obradovich on Twitter.

Bradlee Dean Posts Alleged Spiked Talking Points Memo Interview on His Blog

2011-11-16T09:33:00.006-06:00

Bradlee Dean is shopping himself to the media as an expert on the child abuse scandal at Penn State. The Ministry of Hate proudly lists two radio stations that interviewed Bradlee.

Even more remarkable is Talking Points Memo interviewed Bradlee Dean and according to Bradlee's blog spiked the interview:

One media source that has followed me is the Talking Points Memo. They sent me interview questions on the Penn State scandal, which I answered. However, after seeing my answers to their questions, they decided not to post the interview. Why? Could it be because it did not fit their agenda? Well, that’s the only conclusion there is!

Bradlee posts the interview questions and answers. It would be interesting to know why TPM contacted The Bradlee Bunch on this issue and if they decided to spike the interview, why they did so.