The results of last year’s elections were undeniably an improvement over the status quo in Minnesota.  No longer is the predominant mindset at the Capitol consumed with the entrenched belief that we “must” continue the unsustainable growth in government spending.  Instead, today, we have a legislature that is proposing and passing meaningful spending reductions to ensure a prosperous future for our state.

We, at American Majority-Minnesota, are excited to have played a minor role in contributing to this change in attitude, with several graduates of our training program now serving in the legislature.  In fact, we trained 33 Minnesota candidates, from school board to U.S. Congress, which won their races.  This number is nearly triple that of which were trained in the state by Wellstone Action, the well-established progressive training organization based in St. Paul.

So where do we go from here?  Well for starters, it is imperative that we don’t have a sense of satisfaction that we, in the conservative grassroots movement, have done our job and can move onto “other” things.  Instead, we need to build on the progress made and that all begins by electing true conservatives at the local level.

In 2011, our state has 32 municipalities (Bloomington, Minnetonka and St. Paul to name a few) that have seats up for re-election in the fall.  School board districts that will also have elections this fall include: Anoka-Hennepin, Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Edina and St. Paul.

So, does your city our school board have seats up for re-election this year?  More importantly, are they spending your taxpayer dollars wisely?

If not, and the overwhelming majority aren’t, you can do something about it and it begins by taking advantage of the trainings/resources that we provide at American Majority.  Whether you have interest in becoming a candidate or would like to be more effective at the grassroots level in electing conservatives into office, you will learn much by attending and will be glad you did.

So please consider coming to our next training at the Kelly Inn in St. Paul on February 19!  For more information and to register please click HERE.  And of course, if you have any questions don’t hesitate to contact us at 651-343-5558 or michael@americanmajority.org.

We look forward to seeing you on February 19!

Minnesota lawmakers at the State Capitol in St. Paul are wrapping up their third week in session and several pieces of legislation addressing our state’s $6.2 billion budget deficit have already been taken up by select committees.

This week, the House Tax Committee passed a proposal that would reduce the state budget by $1 billion, in part, by reducing payments that cities receive through a program known as Local Government Aid (LGA).  Such payments are based on an antiquated program derived nearly 40 years ago.  Also, included in this proposal and that passed out of committee is a bill that would end the state government’s tradition of spending what is left in an agency’s budget at the end of a budget cycle, saving approximately $200 million.

Other items brought up and passed in committee include a bill that would reduce the state’s overall workforce by 15 percent over a four-year period and another that would freeze state employees’ pay indefinitely.

Some are already crying alarm over these proposals, indicating that lawmakers supportive of these proposals are playing “tea party politics.” It goes without saying that folks making these comments are unreceptive to the idea of lowering deficits through reductions in spending.  But more amazing than that is the warped sense of reality that some liberal Minnesota lawmakers have over at the Capitol.

If they would just take the time to look outside our “frozen tundra” and check around, the realization would quickly set in: reducing spending and streamlining the government isn’t a partisan issue.

Take for instance the recent actions by the Governors of both New York and California in addressing their budget deficits.  In New York, the Governor is considering reducing the state workforce by 15,000 workers and has already called for a 20 percent reduction in the number of state agencies and departments.  In California, a similar story is taking shape, with the Governor’s budget calling for an 8-10 percent cut in pay for most state employees.  Also included would be a reduction in welfare spending by half and a 20 percent cut from the state’s university system.

So, again, I ask my Minnesota liberal friends, are we truly being honest with ourselves and most importantly with our constituencies across the state when it comes to spending?

Heck, if you didn’t know better, recent comments by Minnesota liberal lawmakers would lead you to believe that the Governors of New York and California are now actual bona fide members of the tea party movement.

Our nation was founded by ordinary citizen activists desiring a government that was accountable to the people.  Today, ordinary citizens across our nation are tired of the status quo and ready to engage for the betterment of their communities. American Majority’s political training addresses these passions by providing education and resources to help you meet your goals.

American Majority Minnesota is pleased to announce that a Candidate/Activist Training will be conducted on Saturday, February 19 in St. Paul, MN to provide citizens with the tools necessary to become effective candidates and activists.

The political training will take place at The Kelly Inn, located at 161 St. Anthony Ave, in St. Paul from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Registration opens at 8:30 am. The cost is $30 per candidate and $15 for each activist or additional person that a candidate brings.

Space is limited.  Pre-registration is strongly encouraged.

Topics* to be covered during the Training include:

• Your Campaign Plan to Win (Planning for the Time, People and Money to Win).
• Dollars and Sense (Fundraising for What You Need, Not What You Can Get).
• New Media Engagement (The New Ways to Talk to Voters and Engage Supporters).
• Grassroots Action (How Ordinary People Can Get Extraordinary Results).

Personalized communications training from the field’s finest consultants.

Interaction with individuals thoroughly involved with the issues confronting your state.

The opportunity to network with other liberty-minded candidates and activists.

A complimentary resources guidebook full of supplemental material designed to further assist candidates and activists.

Full training materials, samples and supplements will be provided to help you apply what you learn to your organization, candidate, cause or community.  A light breakfast and lunch along with refreshments will be provided.

If you have any questions or would like additional information, call Michael Yost at 651-343-5558 or e-mail at michael@americanmajority.org

American Majority is a non-profit and non-partisan political training organization whose mission is to train and equip a national network of leaders committed to individual freedom through limited government and the free market.

* Topics are subject to change.

This past month I had an opportunity to visit several countries throughout Central and Eastern Europe and experience the rich cultural history that so many of these places have to offer.  Yes, if you are a friend on Facebook, you probably saw the countless photos that I posted of my trip.  It was my best attempt to put into perspective my experiences and provide a glimpse of the historical impact that these cities have had in the past century.

However, my iPhoto descriptions can’t do justice to the actions, some heroic, most despicable, and all unforgettable, that took place in such places as Berlin, Krakow, Auschwitz and Prague.  I understand that unless you actually visit, set foot on the grounds where some of these horrific events occurred, the lasting impressions aren’t quite as overpowering as what I experienced.

As I was posting my photos and thoughts on Facebook, I could only think to myself, “what if these social media tools were available during the Holocaust, or even in the later half of the past century?”  “Would those in charge of carrying out these terrible actions be in power as long as they were?”  “Would the actions carried out by the Czech student Jan Palach, who set himself on fire (and later died) in Prague’s Wenceslas Square in an act of political protest against the Soviet Invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968, have happened?”

Yes, I dislike hypothetical questions as much as the next, and certainly understand that today’s technological innovations were but a pipe dream during this period.  But, needless to say, I think it is important that we ponder these questions, if for nothing else than to appreciate the significance that social media plays in today’s world.

We all understand that, in the world in which we live in, oppressive regimes still exist, implementing horrendous acts.  They make a point to crack down on social media usage by their citizens who attempt to speak out, doing so not because they don’t understand social media, but instead because they realize its power.

The positive impact that social media is having throughout our world is undeniable.  Let us not forget, particularly during this holiday season, that one of the things that we should be thankful for is the opportunity to express our political beliefs freely and openly through the use of social media.  We sometimes joke about it, but quite frankly, I can’t imagine our country and world without it.  It has been a force of change, all for the better.

The ability for citizens in this country to hold our government accountable is one such freedom that we take for granted and often times don’t take advantage of to the extent that we should.  Should we decide to voice our opinions, we aren’t hauled off to a prison cell, with the intent of making us disappear from the face of the earth.

This unfortunately hasn’t been the case in China, where the Chinese government has attempted to do all they can to silence political activist Liu Xiaobo.  Yet, despite the government’s efforts, Mr. Xiaobo’s message still resonates loud and clear. Thank goodness…

Yes, the Nobel Peace Prize Committee has made itself relevant again by holding a ceremony today where they placed the Prize in an empty chair designated for award winner Liu Xiaobo.  However, more importantly, Mr. Xiaobo’s actions should be a stark reminder to all of the power and lasting impression that political activists have had and will continue to hold throughout the world.

We have now had 10 days to reflect on Election Day results and an agreement can certainly be reached:  conservatives running for office throughout the country, particularly in the Midwest, did very well.   The candidates, staff and volunteers all deserve a pat on the back for a job well done.

However, to get caught up in the moment for more than a brief period of time, which has now since past, is to ignore the political realities on the ground.  As Peggy Noonan mentions in her piece in the Wall Street Journal today, conservatives didn’t win on election night because the people had fallen in love with their ideas and solutions.  Instead it was a reflection of what voters didn’t want, a continuation of a liberal agenda, where more government and spending seemed to be the answer to every problem we faced.

Yes, conservatives running for office at every level, shared similar principles they articulated on the campaign trail:  lower taxes, reducing our debt and limiting the government’s control over our everyday lives.  However, the weeks and months ahead will be critical, as conservatives, who are now in charge in Congress and throughout our state capitols, will need to implement these broadly agreed upon principles into action-oriented legislative measures.

We can all agree that those in the center of the political spectrum, as they always are, were the decisive factors in this year’s races.  Yet, the key to making conservative’s “temporary” victory an ultimate success and getting those in the center firmly behind conservative solutions is through the art of persuasion, not compromise.   As Noonan points out, “But to win and hold the center you have to make your case, you have to show you’re philosophically serious, you have to show your logic, and connect it to a philosophy. You don’t sit around saying, “I like centrists so I compromise,” you say, “Here’s what we believe, here’s how we think and why.”

As we move into the next legislative cycle and calendar year throughout this country, conservatives need to step it up a notch.  They need to get past the campaign mode and into the legislative mode.   The American people are looking for leadership, they are looking for real solutions and if they don’t like what they see and hear, well, we know what happens next.

Survey after survey has shown that conservatives have the momentum in the upcoming midterms, now less than one week away.  However, is this passion, energy and excitement being put to good use?  I, for one, can’t answer that question, but you can.  How, you may ask?  Well, what are you doing after you attend a campaign rally for your candidate of choice?  Going straight home?  Running a few errands?  Picking up a couple extra campaign buttons or bumper stickers?  That is fine, but more can and should be done at this stage in the game.  Yeah, I’m not letting you off the hook on this one folks.

If you truly want to be a difference maker in this election than you NEED to sign up for one or multiple get-out-the-vote (GOTV) shifts that SHOULD be readily available at the campaign rallies you are attending.  Even though momentum is on the side of conservatives, races across the country at every level will go down to the wire.  Reaching as many undecided or leaning voters through personal phone calls or door-knocking is of the utmost importance at this critical juncture for campaigns.

Believe it or not, history has proven time and time again that a large percentage of voters don’t make up their mind until the last three days before an election, and Midwest voters are certainly no exception to this rule.  With well-coordinated GOTV efforts in place, campaigns have historically been able to make up two to three percentage point gaps in polls.  Just think, that one last personal touch that targeted voters receive through a call or knock at their door may be the deciding factor in their voting decision and could very well put your campaign on top on election night.

We all have given up weekends and countless hours during the weekday attending rallies/events of various sorts throughout the past two years.  I applaud you for doing this, yet I urge you to spend a few more hours in the coming week participating in GOTV activities.  Given the current political environment and your dedication to the conservative movement, I don’t think this is too much to ask and nor should you.

Come November 3^rd, conservative candidates will either become one of two things: a former candidate, or candidate-elect.  I kinda like the ring to the latter and think that you do too.  So make it happen people, we can do this, get on the phones, and knock on those doors!

Let’s all take a well-deserved break after Election Day knowing that we did everything we could to take a step in the right direction toward bringing back the principles of accountability, limited government and economic freedom to our country.

To my political friends who don’t understand or appreciate the Tea Party movement for what it is, take a second and read this terrific piece by Peggy Noonan in today’s Wall Street Journal: Tea Party to the Rescue.

Still have friends/colleagues that believe candidates running on conservative principles across the country represent the “fringe” and are unelectable?  Well, have them check out this piece by Josh Kraushaar in Hotline entitled “Revenge of the Right.”

Race after race shows conservatives doing far better than moderates, even in areas of the country that haven’t had a track record of electing conservatives to office.

For further proof, and as Mr. Kraushaar points out, a recent ABC News/Yahoo survey shows that 55 percent of Americans believe that the tea party can bring about effective change within government.  Also, as cited by Mr. Kraushaar, a Gallup poll this month suggests that 54 percent of likely midterm voters identify themselves as conservative – 14 points higher that the 1994 elections.

Some might be surprised by these numbers and choose to ignore them, particularly my friends on the left.  However, in doing so, they are refusing to acknowledge what has become crystal clear in the minds of voters.  That this election, more so than in any in recent memory, will be one driven by the issues and not a popularity contest between parties.

Simply put, this is NOT a “what have you done for me lately” election.  More government being the solution to every issue that comes up doesn’t make sense to voters.

Some candidates think they can impress voters by rattling off government-related acronyms related to their past experiences within elected office.  However, what they are failing to realize is that, in doing so, they are endorsing a “more of the same” prescription for how they would govern and vote, something that doesn’t fly with the majority of voters.

Voters want a fresh attitude and principled leadership from our elected leaders.  Conservative candidates within Minnesota and across the country are offering this vision, providing clear and attractive choices for voters to make 13 days from now.

As posted by Craig Gilbert in the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, a recent statewide Marist survey shows us that the majority of likely Wisconsin voters are identifying themselves as conservatives, rather than as liberals or even moderates.  Specifically, the numbers break down as follows:  47 percent conservative, 33 percent as moderate and 20 percent as liberals.  Mr. Gilbert also notes the stark contrast to just two years ago where exit polls in 2008 suggested that Wisconsinites broke down as follows:  31 percent conservative, 47 percent moderate, and 23 percent liberal.

The change in political philosophy can be attributed to the dominant topic on voter’s minds throughout the Upper Midwest, the lack of fiscal discipline by our current elected leaders.  If you go to Washington D.C., the state capitol or the city hall promising to change the way government works and you fail to do so, you haven’t done our job, you don’t deserve to be re-elected.

This brings me to an article published in MinnPost yesterday inferring that social issues and not fiscal issues are controlling the political discussion this election cycle.  With all due respect, I find myself a bit perplexed by this train of thought.

I have listened to well over 50 debates this election cycle throughout the Upper Midwest and elsewhere, including the countless number held in our Governor’s race in Minnesota.  Sure, there were noticeable differences: the candidates, the offices sought, and of course positions on issues.

Yet, the one constant in these debates was that they ALL focused on spending and tax-related issues, fiscal-oriented issues.  Why, you ask?  Well, because these are the issues that lawmakers have the most control over, the greatest ability to reform in the immediate future, and the most impact on citizen’s everyday lives.

Yes, social issues are important and will certainly remain so for elections to come.  However, like it or not, these issues aren’t the focal point of the upcoming election.  If you don’t believe me, then ask the candidates, even ask the media covering these races, they will tell you the same thing.

So, before you cast your ballot, ask yourself a few questions:  Of the candidates out there, whose overall policies best represent the values and principles that you hold and practice on a daily basis?  If you want to make certain that government lives within its means, just as your family does, which candidates hold these same positions?  What candidates are the TRUE fiscal conservatives?

I’m confident that voters will make wise decisions.  I just wish that more of our politicians would have too.  But heck, that’s why we have elections, right?

According to the latest ABC News/Yahoo! Survey, 85 percent of Americans are either angry or at least dissatisfied with the economy.  Last week an ABC News/Washington Post poll showed that 71 percent of Americans share the same level of frustration with the way our federal government is working.  This of course has made current office-holders, who have told us that more government spending is the solution to our economic woes, quite uncomfortable, and as well they should be.

Take for example a piece penned in today’s Wall Street Journal detailing an overlooked Congressional Budget Office (CBO) document noting the fiscal year 2010 spending by Congress.  The numbers speak for themselves:  spending rose to $3.616 trillion for FY2010, an increase of 21 percent from the FY2008 total of $2.978 trillion.

What do we have to show for this dramatic increase in spending?  Not much, unless one feels as though an unemployment rate of 9.6 percent and a forecasted economic growth rate of 1.7 percent is something to brag about.

With an election three weeks away, the American people clearly aren’t buying the notion that more government is the solution to our problems.  Simply put, unlike many career politicians, they get it.  The voting public believes that a change is needed, a change for the better, a change in their best interest and the country at large.  Now just go and vote on November 2.

So Wisconsinites, why spend an entire Saturday with American Majority this close to Election Day?  Well, the answer is simple, because it will make a difference.  Attending this workshop matters if you are serious about reshaping the political environmental for not only the short-term, but more importantly, for the long-term.

Yes, elections are immensely important, but if you are only focused on Election Day and not in a position to continue to capture the energy found within the conservative grassroots movement, than the results on November 2 will be all for naught.  Leaders and activists must think past November and be in a position hold newly elected leaders accountable and focus on upcoming elected positions in 2011 and 2012 that need a change in leadership.

If you haven’t already, please consider attending our Wisconsin Post Party Summit in Oconomowoc this Saturday, October 9.  The event will be at the Olympia Resort and Conference Center from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, with registration starting at 8:15 pm.  Tickets are just $20/person, which includes lunch and training materials.  Topics covered include:  Holding Elected Officials Accountable, Building Coalitions, New Media, Micro-targeting and Get-Out-The-Vote (GOTV).

Sound interesting and worth your time?  We certainly think so as do the nearly 40 conservative organizations across Wisconsin that are cosponsoring the event.   So come, you will gain a wealth of knowledge and will definitely enjoy the time spent at our workshop.  For more information and to reserve a seat please simply click HERE.  If you prefer you can also contact Michael Yost at 651-343-5558 or michael@americanmajority.org.

We can’t wait to see everyone on Saturday!

For many candidates the debate season has been in full swing for a couple of months now.  Take our instance our governor’s race in Minnesota where there have been over a dozen debates so far and several yet to come.  While this certainly is an outlier, what should be recognized is that candidates need to take advantage of opportunities to debate their opponent if they haven’t done so already.  This particularly goes for those running at the local level, from school board to county commissioner, and certainly those running against incumbents.

Since American Majority is focused on local candidates, below are a few points that these candidates should take into consideration when arranging and prepping for debates.

First of all, local candidates need to realize that just because they might not be running in a high profile race it doesn’t mean that people aren’t interested.  To get them engaged, you just need to raise the visibility of the race.  One of the ways to do this is provide outreach to various organizations and entities that might have an interest in hosting a debate.  A great place to start is with your local newspaper or chamber of commerce.   The more localized the better.

Secondly, candidates should reach out to other like-minded candidates running for similar positions in their city or county.  Often entities will host a debate for a number of local candidates at one time.  For example, if several city council candidates express interest to their local newspaper about hosting a debate, the likelihood of a debate being arranged will significantly improve.

Thirdly, once a debate has been confirmed candidates need to make certain that you get all the information they can about the particular debate format.  Organizations will usually give you the issues to be discussed beforehand, sometimes even providing you with questions in advance.  Getting all the information available will put candidates in a position to excel during the debate.

Finally, candidates should think about doing some mock debate sessions with their advisors or key volunteers based on the information attained from the organization arranging the debate.  Having staff pose questions to candidates in a debate-style format will make them that much more prepared for the real deal.

As much attention as the upcoming 2010 election cycle has received through the variety of polls being conducted across the country, a demographic that has largely been under the radar are young voters.  Yes, the 18-29 age group historically hasn’t been as reliable and others in turning out on election day.  However, as we have seen in past cycles, most notably in 2008, voter enthusiasm does play a significant role in determining voter turnout.

Just last week a Rock the Vote poll was released showing that young Republicans hold a 9 percentage point lead, 60 percent to 51 percent, over young Democrats likely to vote.  Furthermore, among young voters identifying themselves as Republicans, 20 percent of them are paying close attention to this election, compared to 15 percent of young Democratic voters.

Surprised by these numbers?  Well, you shouldn’t be.  A new trend is occurring among this age group and it can, in large part, be explained through the growing strength of the conservative movement within the Republican Party.

Conservatives running for office are showing a commitment to the principles of personal responsibility, independence and flexibility of choice within the marketplace.  Ideals that are also held by young voters and are represented in the choices they make in their everyday lives.

Whether you are Republican, Democrat or “other,” most young voters could care less.  However what they do care about is the hope that their political leaders will make a difference for the betterment of their generation.  It is clear that this “hope” no longer rests solely with one political party.  Young voters are willing to give conservatives a chance, an opportunity.  What was once considered by many to be just a pipe dream is now becoming a reality.

Attention candidates who don’t regularly update their Facebook page or who simply don’t have one, social media matters!  Yeah, you might have heard this before, but seriously folks, you need to integrate social media into your campaign.  Just look at this recent CNN article highlighting the candidates who won in Tuesday’s primary.  Each candidate, from Christine O’Donnell and Vince Gray to Carl Paladino and Kelly Ayotte had more Facebook fans than their opponent.

Now that I’ve hopefully sold you, I’m guessing that you might have a few questions about how to effectively use Facebook on the campaign trail.  Don’t fret, as I’ve put together a few pointers below that should come in handy.

1.)  Have someone on your campaign designated to solely handle Facebook activities.  As in scheduling events, this should NOT be the candidate.  Instead find a volunteer or someone on your staff who is comfortable with social media and can take charge in setting up your account and keeping it regularly updated.

2.)  Get a contact within Facebook.  The person handling your Facebook account should establish a contact inside the company for any immediate support that your campaign will need.  For example, if you see fake fan pages or accounts, you can immediately contact the Facebook team and ask them to delete these pages and move fans over to the official page.

3.)  Plan strategic updates for supporters.  Frequently campaigns will have a Facebook page but don’t have a plan for drawing in new supporters/fans and worst yet, never post new materials. If you are holding events and talking about the issues on the campaign trail, supporters should be made aware of these activities on your Facebook page.

4.)  Monitor your page.  Facebook pages have discussion tabs that allow followers to post comments about your campaign.  This is a great way to engage your supporters, however, you should monitor these comments on a daily basis.  For example, if hate messages appear, someone should delete them.

5.)  Consider purchasing Facebook ads.  A great way to target and increase the numbers of fans on Facebook is by purchasing ads.  If you have the resources available on your campaign to do this, I’d highly recommend it.  Facebook ads allow you to focus on a variety of aspects such as age, location, gender, interests and connections (pages).  In order to save advertising costs, tighten your targeting.