# My idiot bumpersticker Mayor. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 20, 2004, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-idiot-bumpersticker-mayor/260724 "2004-08-20T15:02:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![stpauler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@stpauler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stpauler)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-idiot-bumpersticker-mayor/260724/1 "2004-08-20T15:02:52Z")
My idiot bumpersticker Mayor. I’m not sure if this making the national news or not but the democratic mayor of my fair city ,Saint Paul, MN has decided not to only come out and endorse Bush as his president of choice but to start fucking campaigning with him at the republican rallies across the whole state. Ok, let me go back a couple days first. July 27th, 2004. Mayor Kelly decides not to support any [candidate](http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?s_site=twincities&p_multi=PD%7C&p_product=PD&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_text_search-0=coleman%20AND%20kelly%20AND%20bush&s_dispstring=coleman%20kelly%20bush%20AND%20date(last%20180%20days)&p_field_date-0=YMD_date&p_params_date-0=date:B,E&p_text_date-0=-180qzD&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&xcal_useweights=no) > [@](#): > > St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly said Monday he isn’t planning to back anyone in the U.S. presidential race, the second time he has taken a pass on a major political contest. “My first obligation is to the citizens of St. Paul and making sure that I govern from the center and that I do not antagonize one group or the other…” Then our “democrat” mayor recollects that he saw a [BUMPER STICKER.:](http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/4905953.html) > [@](#): > > Kelly said, adding that his decision was influenced recently when he saw a bumper sticker that said “I Hate Bush.” So then on Aug 2, 2004, our “democrat” mayor gives the ulitmate bipartisan asslick by endorsing [Bush](http://www.startribune.com/stories/587/4905953.html). OK. FINE. You’re crossing party lines just like **Diamond Joe Quimby** , err, I mean NORM COLEMAN did a couple years ago before he ran (and lost) for Governor against Jesse Ventura and ran (and won) against a dead Paul Wellstone. Is there some kind of weird Exodus program that republicans are running in my city? Should I stop drinking the tap water? I can’t find the supporting article, dammit, that talks about Coleman’s mysterious and private meeting with Kelly just a couple weeks before the announcement. On August 15th, 2004, Mayor Kelly printed a full statement in the Star Tribune to [explain himself:](http://www.startribune.com/stories/562/4926887.html) He starts: > [@](#): > > My recent decision to support the president’s reelection has touched off more speculation than a Vikings quarterback controversy. Those searching for hidden motivations or backroom deals are overlooking the obvious. He’s not _denying_ the backroom deals of course. 😃 He then tries to claim that it’s the negative politics (see: bumper sticker) that are solidifying his view: > [@](#): > > Emotionally, I’m fed up with negative politics…(snip)…I’m endorsing the president because I am sure that continuity of government will produce better results than an anger-motivated transition of power. Aww, that’s puppy-cute, all he wants is love in the government. Anger-motivated transition? Yes. I don’t like our president at all. I think Kerry would make a better president. Am I motivated by anger or by the fact that Bush is incompetent? Well, it’s a bit of both really. > [@](#): > > The facts are clear that George W. Bush inherited a recession when he took office. Sure they aren’t. > [@](#): > > If we changed our president now – the symbol of our leadership and national resolve – it would both confuse our friends and encourage our enemies. That’s the unavoidable reality. Our friends tend to understand that we have a democracy. That we may bring in new leaders from time to time. That the fact that Clinton was in 4 years ago and now isn’t, is proof of it. > [@](#): > > I believe we must focus greater efforts on the deficit. And, I think he needs to resist those who want to use the issue of gay marriage as an electoral divide-and-conquer strategy. Dammit, I’m trying to pit you and then you go and say something sensible. Except for the fact that BUSH IS THE ONE BRINGING UP THE ANTI-GAY MARRIAGE AMENDMENT. Alright, deep breath. In. Out. Whew August 18th, 2004 Bush visits (how nice that he only comes over when he needs something.) and is doing a[rally downtown.](http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/9437366) > [@](#): > > When President Bush bounded onto the stage at St. Paul’s Xcel Energy Center Wednesday evening, he hugged St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly, a Minnesota Democrat standing with a Republican president. > "Our nation is at a critical crossroads, and we need a strong, stable and steady leader,’’ Kelly, a lifelong member of Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party who endorsed Bush last week, told the cheering throng of 15,000 at a campaign rally for the president. > Inside, Kelly ignited the crowd when he said, "I am proud to be voting for George W. Bush this fall to be president of the United States.’’ He said Bush "will work with me to build a great city, even better.’’ Bush=Elephant. Kelly=Peanut. August 19th, 2004 Luckily for me, the twins have had [enough.](http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/local/9446121.htm) > [@](#): > > David and Daniel Duddingston, a pair of self-described political novices, want to overcome extremely long odds to recall St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly. > > The brothers announced an effort Thursday for a petition drive that, if successful, would force Kelly to face a recall election. The Duddingstons said outrage over Kelly’s recent endorsement of President Bush sparked the crusade. > > “Randy Kelly should be representing the city in a nonpartisan way,” David Duddingston said. “He has betrayed the trust of the city by endorsing a candidate.” > > Kelly, a former state lawmaker and a longtime member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, endorsed Bush on Aug. 1, stumped the next day with Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty and introduced the president Wednesday at a rally in St. Paul. They need to get almost 12K signatures to do get this on the ballot and then there is the 1959 Minnesota Supreme court decision that only allows recalls for malfeasance or nonfeasance. I think it would be hardpressed to calls this malfeasance but I’m planning on signing that if anything to push this issue. So, all in all. Fuck you, Kelly. ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2004, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-idiot-bumpersticker-mayor/260724/2 "2004-08-20T16:36:49Z")
His reason for campaigning for Bush isn’t exactly the strongest but he is an elected official and he can campaign for the President. I’d just vote him and his uneducated reasons out of office if I lived in your city. ---
**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-idiot-bumpersticker-mayor/260724/3 "2004-08-21T04:31:47Z")
[pats St. Pauler consolingly on the hand and offers nice lefse] We visited your fair city in May and were very impressed by the way that the mayor wasn’t on display in a cage at the city limits, as many another Midwestern city has been known to do with its loony politicos. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 5:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-idiot-bumpersticker-mayor/260724/4 "2004-08-21T05:03:17Z")
Yeah, he sounds like tool. But I hardly think that endorsing a sitting president warrants a recall. He can endorse whoever he wants. ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-idiot-bumpersticker-mayor/260724/5 "2004-08-21T05:09:26Z")
_That_ sets you off about your mayor? Holy crap, come to Detroit sometime… ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 5:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-idiot-bumpersticker-mayor/260724/6 "2004-08-21T05:18:16Z")
There’s a history here though. Norm Coleman realized the only way a Republican could get to be mayor in this city is to be a Democrat. He then switched parties while in office. Now this yahoo is trying to do a shitty immitation of a rather smooth hoodwink that Coleman pulled, and acting as if it’s not a schtick we’ve seen before. I’ll sign the petition when they knock on my door, for the sole purpose of getting the Republicans out of the Democratic party. ---
**Author:** ![Abbie\_Carmichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@Abbie\_Carmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abbie_Carmichael)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 6:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-idiot-bumpersticker-mayor/260724/7 "2004-08-21T06:00:09Z")
Republicans crossing party lines to vote for Kerry = good Democrats crossing party lines to vote for Bush = bad Mayor speaking out about who he wants to win in 2000 = bad I love how free speech only applies to Kerryites. ---
**Author:** ![Blalron](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/35a633/32.png) [@Blalron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blalron)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2004, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-idiot-bumpersticker-mayor/260724/8 "2004-08-21T06:12:54Z")
> [@Abbie Carmichael](#): > > Republicans crossing party lines to vote for Kerry = good > > Democrats crossing party lines to vote for Bush = bad > > Mayor speaking out about who he wants to win in 2000 = bad > I love how free speech only applies to Kerryites. I think what we’re pitting is the wolves in sheeps clothing. The politicians that had republican beliefs but pretended to be a democrat merely to get into office.