Saturday, Rep. Dan and Cathy Jo Severson opened their home for a meet and greet with Dave Thompson. A passionate debate on what the Minnesota Republican Party should stand for quickly developed. The topics discussed ranged from party principles to length of the party platform to how we reach young people to communicating a consistently conservative message to the role of state party chairman in messaging and fundraising to revamping our lists and many other topics.

Several things became apparent during the nearly 3 hour conversation. First, it’s apparent that Mr. Thompson is a conservative. Another thing that’s apparent is that he’s a great listener. When Nicole Severson, a former CR, asked Dave how he’d reach college students, Dave turned the question around. Dave wanted to know what the best way was for reaching college students from a young person.

People, that’s the definition of engaging the grassroots. It’s also extremely smart policymaking.

Several things became apparent during the nearly 3 hour conversation. First, it’s apparent that Mr. Thompson is a conservative. Another thing that’s apparent is that he’s a great listener. When Nicole Severson, a former CR, asked Dave how he’d reach college students, Dave instead asked Nicole her advice, saying that he wouldn’t pretend to be the expert. Dave wanted to get advice from the ‘experts’ rather than tell the experts his plans.

People, that’s the definition of engaging the grassroots. It’s also extremely smart policymaking.

By asking that question, Nicole was given the opportunity to offer her suggestions. She said that texting young people should be a priority and that the message should be about the mountain of debt that Team Obama is piling on them.

Capturing the youth vote is important for both the short- and long-term health of the GOP.

Another topic that was addressed was the need to keep better lists. Dave immediately mentioned King’s co-blogger Janet. He said that, by all accounts, CD-2’s lists are exceptionally accurate, thanks in large part to Janet’s system and diligence but also because of the foot soldiers’ hard work in identifying conservatives.

Further into the discussion, I said that part of the GOP’s message should focus on the Obama administration’s hyperregulation, especially focusing on TARP regulators. I said that Bill Cooper, TCF’s CEO, would be a perfect emissary to the business community. He’d be able to tell the business community that they’re oppressive control freaks. Mr. Cooper would be able to tell them that it’s time to stop sitting on the fence and start supporting pro business conservatives rather than hedging their bets with out-of-control liberals.

Another topic I brought up deals with the ‘E Factor’. Simply put, we should use odd numbered years to educate people why conservative principles are the best. Similarly, even numbered years should be used to elect as many conservatives as possible.

I said that a balanced approach should be taken in this respect: We shouldn’t demand that we retake the majority with only conservatives. If that happens, that’s great but it isn’t likely. I said I’d prefer seeing Marty Seifert with the Speaker’s gavel with 55 strong conservatives and 15 less-than-strong conservatives because the person with the gavel dictates what happens or doesn’t happen.

Dave interjected his thoughts at that point and said that we shouldn’t demand ideological purity that “leaves us with 5 legislators” nor should we pick ’stay in power’ candidates who keep us in the majority but don’t stand for anything.

The other impressive thing that I noticed about the meeting was that Dave stayed engaged throughout the discussion, kept the conversation from straying too far off on tangents, that he answered questions directly and on point and that the conversation lasted almost 3 hours.

Technorati: MNGOP, Dave Thompson, Leadership, Innovation, Technology, Communications, Activism, Voter Vault, Youth Vote, Bill Cooper, Regulation, DFL, President Obama, TARP, Oppression