The Model T

If elected, Tinklenberg proposes to make, "Sensible, progressive increases in CAFE fleet standards for fuel usage of automobiles and trucks. Henry Ford's Model-T got better gas mileage than most cars on the road today. America can do better!"

Is that really true that our vehicles are less efficient than the Model T, Mr. Tinklenberg?

The 99 inch wheelbase Model T had a fuel economy of 13 to 21 mpg. It weighed 1,200 pounds.

Let’s compare it to the Ford Focus with a 102.9 inch wheelbase and a weight of 2,617 pounds. With more than double the weight, it gets significantly better mileage than the Model T—24-35 mpg.

Even a Crown Victoria, at 4,057 pounds and 114.7 inch wheelbase, gets 17-25 mpg. With more than three times the weight of the Model T, the Crown Victoria gets better gas mileage than it did.

Tell me again, why would anyone who looks at the numbers ever want to vote for Tinklenberg?

Tax and Spend, Tax and Spend

So what are Tinklenberg’s solutions to the non-problem?

• Give tax breaks to conserve energy. (Somebody has to pay for those tax breaks.)
• Create a carbon tax on carbon-based fuels.
• Tax to encourage development of alternative and sustainable fuels.
• Increase fuel standards for vehicles (Congress has already done that).
• Increase taxes to fund more light rail.
• Pass a windfall profit tax on Big Oil.

That ought to do it. Just tax us to death so we can’t use any more oil. What other solution is there for a Democrat? Government must do it all and you must pay for it.

Liberal Gibberish

Having declared without proof that ". . . global climate change is real . . . ," Elwyn Tinklenberg declared, "We need to reduce America's dependence on the coal and petroleum products that are the primary causes of global warming."

This liberal mantra is so accepted among the elite that they do not even bother explaining the connection between the energy source and global warming. To them it does not need any more explanation than it gets warm in the summer. Indeed, you accept it by faith, faith in Tinklenberg.

When the effect (climate change) is accepted without any evidence offered and the cause (coal and oil) is accepted without proof, we are truly in trouble. This man claims he has the solution to a problem that no one can prove even exists and in the face of significant evidence that it does not exist.

A doctor may prescribe a cure for an ill patient that is temporarily worse than the disease in an effort to bring healing. But a prescription for a debilitating cure for a healthy person would be deadly.

Such is Tinklenberg, only he is worse. Tinklenberg is an opportunist. Put him in office precisely because he has prescribed the cure for the non-existent problem that is ". . .the biggest long-term challenge our nation and world face." This man is not a leader, a statesman, a public servant; he is a messiah. He offers himself as the savior of the world. But read on. In the end, this messiah has a non-cure for a non-problem.

Tinklenberg subtly moves from the alarmism of global warming to the more palpable alarmism of national security in the face of dependence on foreign oil and squandering our wealth to make foreigners rich. He writes, "These problems [companions to the big non-problem] are long-range and complex. No immediate or simple remedies are available that will correct the current situation, but prompt action by our nation is essential." Get that?! ". . .[N]o immediate or simple remedies are available that will correct the current situation . . . "

But not having any ". . . immediate or simple remedies . . . " available, he insists ". . . prompt action by our nation is essential." Now that is a real problem solver and leader!

Typical of liberals, he thinks something has caused a problem, when he doesn’t know there is not a problem. He doesn’t know there is not a need for a solution. He hypes two things (national security and loss of wealth) he regards as problems that exist totally apart from his imaginary problem. Then he tells us he has the solution. And then tells us there is not any solution. But we must act! We must do it for our kids and grand kids!

Get that? This man knows where he has been, where he is and where he is going. Follow him over the cliff. He is the blind leading the blind. This man gave us light rail.

Political Pundit Tinklenberg Speaks!

Elwyn Tinklenberg, who is running against Rep. Michele Bachmann, declares:

The evidence is in and speaks overwhelmingly — global climate change is real.

I guess that settles it. While global warming may not be real, global climate change is. When the Pundit speaks, we should listen. Even though he says, "The evidence is in," he does not give us the evidence. We just need to trust him. Daddy knows best. We can rely on him.

Perhaps he thinks we are incapable of examining the evidence. No, more importantly, he writes as if we don’t need to evaluate the evidence. He writes as if he has examined the evidence and drawn the infallible conclusion that he wants us to accept. Trust the Pundit. Then you don’t have to trust the evidence. Just blindly follow the cult leader on this one because he will provide the answers that solve the problem of climate change.

Give your mind over to the cult leader. Drink his Kool-Aid. Don’t think. Do what he says. It will be good for you.

No reputable authority on any subject would ask you to check your mind at the door, ignore the evidence and just accept an assertion on his authority. Reputable authorities gain their authority from a judicious study of the evidence. Reputable authorities know that examined evidence is what allows them to draw conclusions and then speak with authority on a subject. Reputable authorities then share that evidence with us for us to examine to draw our own conclusions.

Such an approach respects the dignity of the individual to make a free and educated choice.

Tinklenberg treats his readers as mindless sheep and regards himself as a cultic guru. What an insult to the personhood of each of his readers!

Part of the Problem, not the Solution

The former state transportation commissioner said the I-35W bridge collapse changed his mind about the race and inspired him to run again for his party's nod.
By Bob Von Sternberg

Saying Sixth District U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann has "built her career around divisive issues and a partisan approach," former state Transportation Commissioner Elwyn Tinklenberg launched his second bid for the seat on Monday.

He said his decision was wholly prompted by the collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge on Aug. 1: "I knew at that moment I couldn't sit by and allow this inattentiveness to continue."

Read the rest of the story in the Star Tribune.

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So Tinklenberg knows he must run for office because the I-35W bridge collapsed. Rep. Bachmann isn’t attentive, but he will be.

Say Mr. Tinklenberg, what were you doing back when Jesse Ventura was governor? Weren’t you Transportation Commissioner? What did you do back then to ensure the maintenance of that bridge? Oh, I remember. You were part of the group pushing light rail and diverting huge dollars to it. You are part of the problem the state is in.

Tinklenberg is just like Congressman Jim Oberstar, a long time transportation chair, who has known about the need for bridge repair for decades and done little or nothing to provide money for that mundane work, but lavishes dollars on pork barrel projects.

These Dems have no shame, no embarrassment, no recollection of history. While promising to solve the bridge problems, these men have not been part of the solution.

It’s time for Minnesotans to reject those who have been the problem.