Scary Christian Running for Minnesota Supreme Court

Posted by Greg Laden on October 20, 2008
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Tim Tingelstad says: “…. I believe that justice is served when judges fear God and love the people, and as a Minnesota Supreme Court Justice, I will be impartial to the parties, while partial to the original intent of the Constitution.”

And of the Constitution, on his web site, he notes:

“We the people, of the State of Minnesota, grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty, and desiring to perpetuate its blessings, and to secure the same to ourselves and to our posterity, do hereby establish and ordain this Constitution.”
-Preamble to the Minnesota Constitution

and his motto, on the top of his web site is: “One nation, under god, indivisible, bla bla bla”

So, this is a judge that would give us a fair hearing as long as we are on board with him with respect to the god thing.

He also says, on his web site:

Justice is served when Judges fear God, and love the people. This is the reason that I have chosen to seek to become a Supreme Court Justice, serving the people of Minnesota. To serve the court with impartial justice, judges must possess great knowledge and wisdom. Judges must be God fearing men and women, because God’s Word tells us, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all knowledge.” (Proverbs 1:7) and “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom…” (Psalm 111:10)

To fear God means to love Him with all of your heart, with all of your soul, and with all of your strength. This is the greatest commandment given to man. This fear requires an awesome, reverential acknowledgement of the sovereignty of God over the affairs of man. The second greatest commandment is to love our neighbor as our selves. When we fear God, the necessary result is that we love the people. (Matthew 22:37-39)

And it goes on and on from there.

So, you see the conflict here, yes? As Mike Haubrich points out here, on his web site, it is VERY important to pay attention to the WHOLE ticket. You ‘ve got to know what is going on in the voting booth before you get there. Carry a sample ballot with you.

Here in the blogosphere, I know what Mike as well as Stephanie will suss out some of the candidates in their respective districts, and I look forward to see their opinions on the ENTIRE ballot. I’ll post mine as well. So this covers the Minnesota Fith and Third, and between us we’ll probably try to cover the Sixth as well, where Michele Bachmann is running.

Remain Vigilant!

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Comments

  1. #1 S.Scott
    October 20, 2008

    I wish I was in Minnesota so I could help you out! :-(

  2. #2 Brian Knoblock
    October 20, 2008

    I’m moving to MN early next year, and likely will land in Minnesota 6, but it’ll be too late to cast my vote against this wingnut.

    During the 2006 mid-term elections here in Gwinnett County, Georgia, I remember seeing most of the judges running uncontested. Not much of a choice there.

    “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of all wisdom.” Fear. The right wing’s best friend. Next to the Big J, of course.

  3. #3 Virgil Samms
    October 20, 2008

    grateful to God for our civil and religious liberty

    What an ironic phrase. And it does seem to be actually in the Minnesota constitution

  4. #4 Stephanie Z
    October 20, 2008

    Not only is it important not to let important issues (like judges who don’t understand the First Amendment, like creationist school board candidates) slide by you, but researching these issues offers you an opportunity to multiply your vote legally and ethically.

    This happens two ways. First, when people abstain from voting on races and issues they don’t understand, your vote counts for more. Second, if you let people know that you have researched them and how you’re voting, they’re likely to feel that they are now informed, by knowing the opinion of someone they trust if by nothing else, and to vote with you.

    This is a chance to make a difference in a way that just isn’t offered to you in the high-profile races.

  5. #5 Greg Laden
    October 20, 2008

    Virgil: We in the University are ROFLOAO. The constitution also says that the University will be free for all.

    Oh, and Stephanie, the sales tax item on the ballot this year in MN: A non-vote is a no vote.

  6. #6 Stephanie Z
    October 20, 2008

    Okay, so I haven’t done all my research yet, obviously.

  7. #7 Greg Laden
    October 20, 2008

    I have not even started my research yet.

  8. #8 Monica
    October 20, 2008

    What does “ROFLOAO” stand for?

  9. #9 S.Scott
    October 20, 2008

    Monica – Notice the “we” in the comment. I am not positive, but i believe it’s –

    Rolling on floor laughing OUR asses off! :-)

  10. #10 Strider
    October 20, 2008

    What’s with all the “Tinkel”s running in MN?! I can’t keep ‘em straight!!!

  11. #11 Ana
    October 21, 2008

    And the answer to this question is….

    PAUL ANDERSON!!!!

    Other questions on Minnesota judges can be answered here:
    http://candidates.sos.state.mn.us/CandidateFilingSearchResults.asp?x=6

  12. #12 Greg Laden
    October 21, 2008

    Ana,

    Thank you. All else being equal and in the absence of any other information, you know I would automatically vote for whomever you vote for. But I’ve sent you a question off line about the process because I’m still a bit confused about the Judge thing.

    But, what do I do about THIS one: Dan Erhart vs. Bjorn Skogquist for County Commissioner????? See this:

    http://anokacityblogs.typepad.com/anoka_city_forum/bjorn_skogquist/

    (Next I’ll as you about soil supervisor. Which, I’ll say to non-Minneostans, is actually one of the most complex election issues in the country)

    And then, actually, there are over 20 different judge-elections to vote in on my ballot!!! (Most are one candidate, but I’d rather know when to vote for no-one vs. one).

  13. #13 Mathman
    October 22, 2008

    As a new Minnesotan, moving here in July, I was researching all of the judicial candidates and after viewing Tingelstad’s website, I found the prospect of his election to be scary

  14. #14 Greg Laden
    October 22, 2008

    Mathman: Listen to my homey Ana, she knows what she is talking about. In the background, a bunch of us are researching whatever we can and we’ll post that eventually. But if anyone has any ideas or opinions on Judges, Soil guys, or other positions anywhere in Minnesota, please pass that info on and it will be assimilated an regurgitated back on to the web!

  15. #15 Stephanie Z
    November 1, 2008

    FYI: The most objectionable thing I’ve been able to turn up on Gildea is that she’s kind of a lightweight. It appears an informed vote against Hedlund shouldn’t be worrisome.