Some weekend reading (Hoplin special)

Bill Gilles explains that with Hoplin, you need to follow the money.

Conservative Minnesota has Menze's letter against and Hoplin's letter defending.

CRNC finances

Hoplin's interference with the CR election this year.

Left in the Heartland (A lefty) gives an extensive historical post on the CRs.

An aside

I've only met Hoplin once in my life. He seemed quite personable at the time, in a slimeball sort of way. I have otherwise had very little interaction with him. My ongoing issues with the CRs were only on my own campus, and had nothing to do with the national group. But when the story came out about the RDI scandal and Hoplin's involvement, I wrote a column about it. Immediately Hoplin went into "Hush up and it will go away mode" Later, the local chapter chair of the CRs tried to reach me to shame my actions, saying that the GOP needed unity and the 11th commandment of Reagan and that nonsense. Later, that same chapter president found some courage and common sense and ran against the Hoplin endorsed candidate in Minnesota. (It's funny that Hoplin endorsed an 18 year old freshman for MNCR Party Chair that had been a CR for 4 months) That man was Tony Zammit, and his actions took guts (wow, did that statement hit me in the teeth). He lost, but a point was made. Maybe the other choices in the MNGOP race aren't as qualified or as able, but who wants an able crook running the store?

I will try to relax this weekend, I am not a delegate, so I'll be able to fish. I might even get some golf in. This Hoplin character is not good for my health. And for MNGOPers, he won't be good for theirs.