Personal Responsibility and the Tea Party

http://www.kttc.com - Click on Steve Conlin Speaks Out for a video of his denial of responsibility

Here is Southern Minnesota, like many places, fiscal responsibility and personal responsibility go hand in hand at election time. In the small town of nearby Saint Charles they've got a Council Candidate running for office that by day runs a barber shop. By night, if a recent bust would be believed, he runs a large pot operation.

Story goes it has been going on for years. He's been running a campaign of honesty in government and fiscal responsibility. Seems the city spends too dang much money, employees are overpaid, and his utilities are too high. (!) He also runs on a claim that government is not honest with the people.

When his home and businesses were raided last weekend the take was 17.5 pounds of manicured and packaged pot. Seven plants were growing in his basement and 61 plants were drying in a shed near the home. Cash was found around the home ($1,100) and two unregistered handguns were confiscated. The street value (which of course is over-inflated horse shit coptalk) is estimated at $85k or something like $5K a lb.

"Stephen Thomas Conlin, 52, was charged with one count of third-degree controlled substance crime for the sale of 5 kilos or more of marijuana and one count of fifth-degree possession of controlled substances. He was arraigned on the charges Monday. Unconditional bail is set at $25,000 with conditional bail at $5,000. An evidentiary hearing has been set for Dec. 1."
http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=56&a=476368

Where it gets interesting, if you are still with me, is that this guy who is tea-partyish in his government beliefs cops out in the personal responsibility department. He continues to run an active campaign and deny his guilt. Fine, I'm down with that. However, because one of the elected city officials is also a law enforcement officer he is claiming he was framed. Framed, I tells ya.

Watch the video. He claims he was set up. 18 pounds of weed, Plants growing at home and at work, plants drying in sheds. I predict a strong future for this guy in TeaPublican party. I'm first in line to say weed should be legalized. I am a little dismayed that it seems to have made this guy a little stupid, or, at least, made an unethical and otherwise dishonest Tea Partier (!) cognizant of reality.

No integrity. Soooo typical. Probably collecting some kind of government handout, too, like the rest of the whiney republicon slackers...

5K for a lb of pot? Not even the BEST stuff costs that much.

"two unregistered handguns were confiscated"...Minnesota does not have a law requiring the registration of handguns, so why make an note of something LEGAL?


Now, don't get me wrong. This guy is obviously in violation of the law and a 1st rate hypocrite and liar, and he needs to go to jail, but there is not reason to fabricate or misrepresent the facts. None, none at all.

Also somewhat surprised that guns were mentioned in all media articles, but also I admit I did write that into the post on my own. This is Minnesota; most homes have a gun or three. You are correct that registration isn't mandatory.

The guy is a piece of work and is all too typical of the grifters and the bags of crap that this election cycle has drawn out.