Pro-Bush yard signs draws protests in heavily Democratic Duluth

DULUTH, Minn. (AP) It's tough being a Republican in heavily Democratic Duluth, but Robert James isn't about to hide his politics.

The Gulf War veteran said he will ignore a request from the city that he take down two large, hand-painted political signs supporting President Bush's re-election. Cindy Hall, the city zoning coordinator and the person responsible for enforcing sign ordinances, said James' signs violate an ordinance that limits the size of political signs.

It says political signs must not be larger than 6 square feet. James painted his signs on 4-by-8-foot sheets of plywood, making each of them 32 square feet."I'm not taking them down,'' James, 41, said Wednesday, standing in his yard beside the signs reading "Welcome to Bush country'' and "Four more years.''

The signs have endured flying eggs, firecrackers, spray paint and even a bashing by those who don't agree with their messages. Dried egg yolk still marks one sign. So James said the last thing to take them out will be a city bureaucrat. "It's my property. Nobody paid for the signs, no campaign funds have been used for them. They're staying right where they are,'' he said. "This is a First Amendment right of political expression.''

City Attorney Bryan Brown essentially agreed with James, saying the city's ordinance is probably obsolete, unenforceable and unconstitutional."It's very unlikely that this sign is in violation of the law of the land,'' he said. "Federal law guarantees freedom of political expression, and the federal standard is the law of the land.''

City Council President James Stauber said he was disheartened that the city even sent a letter urging James to take down his sign."Mr. James has routinely displayed a number of patriotic signs and flags over the years. I think Mr. James is probably one of the greatest patriots we have in the entire city of Duluth _ a true American,'' said Stauber, also a Republican.

Stauber said he's enjoyed James' displays, especially those supporting troops at war."I think that there is just a handful of people in town that suddenly, because of his expression, thought they should squelch anything he should say or express, and clearly that would be a violation of his First Amendment rights to do that,'' Stauber said.

Ann Peterson, 17, of Two Harbors, and her visiting friend, Naomi Hoffmeyer, 16, of Harrisonburg, Va., staged a minor protest Wednesday in front of James' house with their own signs showing support for Bush's Democratic opponent, U.S. Sen. John Kerry.

The teens and Ann's mother, Judy Peterson, said they didn't know the city had asked James to remove his signs, but they had grown weary of looking at them as they travel London Road regularly."We were just so sick of it _ we couldn't look at this crap anymore,'' Ann Peterson said.The pro-Kerry protest triggered a counterprotest across the street.

Laurie Thompson and her four children _ ages 7, 9, 10 and 12 _ held Bush signs, chanting, "Four more years.''Cars and trucks passing by seemed to be honking alternately for Kerry and for Bush.Thompson was pleased her children were showing support for the president, even though none was even close to voting age.

"I think it's good for them to learn young, so that when they are older they will know that they can have a voice in our government,'' she said.If nothing else, James' signs are achieving one thing: "It gets people thinking,'' he said.

Source: Associated Press/Duluth-News Tribune, August 26, 2004

8/28/2004 06:07:00 PM|W|P| MN Politics Guru|W|P|"Kerry supporters" vandalize signs? You have any proof of that, or are you just sharing your dreams? Using your logic, can I ascribe any vandalizing of Kerry signs to Bush supporters?9/02/2004 08:40:00 AM|W|P| Smoke Eater|W|P|I have said this before, and I apparently need to say it again. ALL GROUPS HAVE RADICAL FRINGE ELEMENTS! Yes, probably some mis-guided Bush boosters have done some things wrong to support him, JUST AS SOME KERRY BOOSTERS HAVE! No one group has a monopoly on people who are over-zealous, or just unable to control them selves! I have a SATIRICAL sticker on my truck that states "I am a right wing nut job" purchased from the people who made the "This Land" parody movie, yet I still get ugly looks and flipped off by people with KERRY STICKERS all over thier car. Do I do that to them, no! These are still Americans and we all have the right to express our political views! PEOPLE, JUST CALM DOWN AND RESPECT YOUR NEIGHBOR'S RIGHT TO DO WHAT YOU DO, EXPRESS HIS SUPPORT OF HIS CHOSEN CANDIDATE!8/25/2004 02:25:00 PM|W|P|Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|

This is the list of countries they ask you to choose from:

Iran Syria Iraq (again) Canada France

It is disgusting that the Minnesota DFL would compare peacefull democracies such as Canada and France to countries that have supported, condoned or funded terrorism.

Please visit the poll at www.dflers.org

|W|P|109346913537943848|W|P|DFL POLL ASKS "IF HE GETS A SECOND TERM, WHICH COUNTRY WILL GEORGE BUSH INVADE FIRST? |W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com8/31/2004 03:29:00 PM|W|P| MN Politics Guru|W|P|Apparently these people are completely oblivious to the real reasons behind Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Maybe you could share and enlighten us. :)

That's not the main DFL page anyway. It's just a collection of thoughts posted by certain people. You could find similar polls on the web pages of people associated with the Republican party as well. Wake me up when you find a real issue.8/25/2004 11:33:00 AM|W|P|Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|

An audience member holds up bumper stickers against U.S. President George Bush during a campaign stop by Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry at the Steamfitter's Local Union 420 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, August 25, 2004. The bumper stickers question President Bush's service during the Vietnam War, as questions have been raised about Senator Kerry's service. Source: www.drudgereport.com; REUTERS/Brian Snyder US ELECTION |W|P|109345882344717978|W|P|KERRY SUPPORTERS MOCK BUSH MILITARY SERVICE AS CANDIDATE DEMANDS VIETNAM TAKEN OFF THE TABLE... |W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com8/24/2004 08:24:00 PM|W|P|Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|In a previous post, I stated that I would post the names of the people organizing the recall of St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly. David and Daniel Duddingston have been indentified as the ring-leaders of the recall of St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly (see article below). The Duddingstons own National Account Services, a collections business in Minneapolis and this seems to be their first foray into politics. I will post more information as it becomes available on the Duddingstons and other Recall Randy leaders on this blog. ## Saint Paul Pioneer Press August 20, 2004 Two start drive to recall Kelly; Twin brothers say DFL mayor's Bush endorsement a betrayal of trust By Robert Ingrassia They're identical twins who share an identical goal. David and Daniel Duddingston, a pair of self-described political novices, want to overcome extremely long odds to recall St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly. The brothers announced an effort Thursday for a petition drive that, if successful, would force Kelly to face a recall election. The Duddingstons said outrage over Kelly's recent endorsement of President Bush sparked the crusade. "Randy Kelly should be representing the city in a nonpartisan way," David Duddingston said. "He has betrayed the trust of the city by endorsing a candidate." Kelly, a former state lawmaker and a longtime member of the Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, endorsed Bush on Aug. 1, stumped the next day with Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty and introduced the president Wednesday at a rally in St. Paul.Though the possibility of a recall election is remote, the mayor's office isn't taking the effort lightly. On Thursday, Deputy Mayor Dennis Flaherity brandished a 1959 Minnesota Supreme Court decision that upheld language in the state constitution limiting recall of local officials to instances of "malfeasance" or "nonfeasance" while in office.That ruling, which pertained to a recall of a councilman in Fridley, remains the law of the land, Flaherty said. The constitution and the state Supreme Court trump the city charter, which does not dictate the conditions for recalling elected officials, he said."Going out and getting signatures is only part of the equation," Flaherty said. "Because an elected official endorsed another elected official would not under anybody's definition rise to the level of malfeasance." The Duddingstons, 36, who grew up in and attended school in Highland Park and then went to the University of Minnesota, own and operate a small credit and collections business. They said they have more than 100 volunteers ready to go door-to-door to gather signatures. They said they plan to kick-off the petition drive Saturday at Harriet Island. Under the city charter, the anti-Kelly group must submit a petition signed by registered voters equal to at least 20 percent of the number of votes cast in the most recent mayor's race, in this case, 11,972 signatures. "Nothing like this is easy," said David Duddingston, a Ramsey Hill resident. Duddingston himself doesn't qualify to sign his own petition, at least not yet. Ramsey County records show that he is not registered to vote in St. Paul. He said he recently moved to St. Paul from Minneapolis and plans to register in time to qualify as a signer. Staffers in the city clerk's office and the Ramsey County elections office, as well as longtime City Hall insiders, said they could not recall any previous recall drives. A petition would be submitted to the county elections office, which would determine whether the number was adequate and whether all were registered to vote in St. Paul, said Joe Mansky, the county elections manager.The petition would then be forwarded to the City Council. If the council finds the petition "sufficient," it would be required within 10 days to order a special election within two months. Mansky said his understanding of the charter is that his office advises the council whether a recall petition is sufficient. He said he didn't believe the council could deny an election if the petition met all the charter requirements.If voters approved the recall, the mayor's post would be considered vacant and a special election to replace Kelly would be held. Veterans of other petition drives and community organizing campaigns see a daunting, if not impossible, task ahead of the anti-Kelly group."It's a huge thing to do, even if you think most people agree with you," said Elizabeth Dickinson, co-chair of the Green Party of St. Paul. Earlier this year, the Green Party teamed with anti-stadium activists to launch a drive to force a referendum that would limit any city subsidy of a ballpark. That effort got off to an energetic start, but has since cooled, in part because the lead organizer, Patrick Hill, unexpectedly lost his job and began focusing his attention elsewhere. |W|P|109340668285255017|W|P|THE DUDDINGSTONS: THE BRAINS BEHIND THE RECALL OF MAYOR RANDY KELLY?|W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com8/24/2004 11:30:00 AM|W|P|Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|My sources deep inside the DFL tell me that Former President Bill Clinton is coming to the Xcel Center on Tuesday, August 31st. Over 15,000 supporters of President Bush attended a rally last week and the Kerry campaign must realize that they cannot produce the same numbers or crowd energy for a visit by John Kerry. John Kerry, aware that you must learn to crawl before walking, is visiting Minnesota on Thursday for an event with a seating capacity well under 1000 people. |W|P|109337330751336591|W|P|JOHN KERRY CAN'T FILL THE XCEL CENTER SO THEY ARE SENDING BILL CLINTON|W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com8/23/2004 06:57:00 PM|W|P|Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|Tonight, the DFL sent out the email below which falsely claims that President Bush refuses to denounce the recent ads by Swiftboat Vets for Truth. Earlier today, President Bush again denouced all 527 ads and called on Senator Kerry to join him getting rid of all soft money ads. ## dfl party wrote: Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2004 Subject: Bush refuses to condemn false attacks on John Kerry and his fellow Vietnam veterans George Bush and his cronies have become so desperate that they are returning to their old tricks -- whenever a campaign is going badly, they smear the record of a Vietnam veteran. They did it to John McCain in 2000, to Max Cleland in 2002, and now they are doing it to John Kerry. This question must be asked of President Bush: what do you have against Vietnam veterans? John Kerry's campaign has just released a new Internet ad called "Old Tricks" which shows John McCain asking George Bush to apologize for attacking McCain's own heroic record. View the ad by visiting: http://www.johnkerry.com/oldtricks Also, please review the articles at www.dfl.org that show that Bush's attack ads on John Kerry and his fellow veterans are totally false smears. ## Today in Crawford, TX, President Bush denounced this ad and ALL 527 ads: QUESTION: But why won't you denounce the charges that your supporters are making against Kerry? THE PRESIDENT: I'm denouncing all the stuff being on TV of the 527s. That's what I've said. I said this kind of unregulated soft money is wrong for the process. And I asked Senator Kerry to join me in getting rid of all that kind of soft money, not only on TV, but used for other purposes, as well. I, frankly, thought we'd gotten rid of that when I signed the McCain-Feingold bill. I thought we were going to, once and for all, get rid of a system where people could just pour tons of money in and not be held to account for the advertising. And so I'm disappointed with all those kinds of ads. Source: www.whitehouse.gov ## |W|P|109331470397709524|W|P|THE DFL CONTINUES TO SPREAD LIES |W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com8/23/2004 01:20:00 PM|W|P|Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|A blog dedicated to watching the Republican Party of Minnesota is now requesting people send in pictures of people protesting John Kerry. What a great idea, I wonder how they thought of it? |W|P|109329287634662358|W|P|Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. |W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com8/23/2004 12:12:00 PM|W|P|Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|

Kudos to Power Line for this posting:

Under the creative leadership of our friend Ron Eibensteiner, the Minnesota Republican Party has become one of the best-run, most effective state parties in the country. (Naturally, the Democrats, in their typically jackbooted style, have responded to Ron's effective leadership by inducing a hack DFL county attorney to criminally prosecute him on an absurdly bogus campaign finance charge.) This morning Ron unveiled a new website, When Angry Democrats Attack, devoted to exposing the hateful face of the contemporary Democratic Party. Ron says:

With no positive agenda to offer voters, Democrats have resorted to an endless chorus of shrill attacks on the President. We will use the 'When Angry Democrats Attack' website to expose the true face and nature of the Democrat Party that has become unhinged.

The website shows Democrats in action, protesting various campaign appearances by President Bush and others in their inimitable, obscene style. Check it out, but be warned; viewing Democrats gone mad is not for the faint of heart, or for those who are used to decent language and rational discourse. |W|P|109328864134993786|W|P|When Angry Democrats Attack|W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com8/23/2004 07:16:00 AM|W|P|Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|In a previous post, I wrote about Patty Wetterling's inability to answer any questions about her positions on the issues facing the voters of the 6th congressional district. Now Wetterling has decided to back out of all the debates that were scheduled. I can't imagine why after her wonderful performance at Farmfest. ## Wetterling to miss debates this week By Lawrence Schumacher One candidate's decision to back out of scheduled debates this week is raising questions about whether voters will get to see candidates for the 6th Congressional District go head-to-head on the issues this fall. Patty Wetterling last week announced she won't participate in debates her campaign agreed to attend Tuesday in St. Cloud and Wednesday in Forest Lake. She cited a scheduling conflict with her daughter's wedding this weekend. The St. Joseph DFLer's campaign immediately issued a news release inviting her opponent, incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy, to join her for five debates in September and October. Kennedy's campaign and the Minnesota Republican Party quickly accused her of avoiding a discussion of the issues. Yet Kennedy's staff made no promises that he will attend future debates. This raised ghosts of the 2002 Congressional race, in which Kennedy and his then-opponent Janet Robert debated each other only once before the election. Wetterling and Kennedy shared the stage for the first time at Farmfest 2004 near Redwood Falls earlier this month in a candidate forum that, by Wetterling's own admission, caught her off-guard. The 6th Congressional District includes all or most of Anoka, Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, Washington and Wright counties, including the St. Cloud area. Family conflict Wetterling backed out of a St. Cloud Chamber of Commerce forum scheduled for Tuesday and a debate Wednesday at the Forest Lake VFW, though they have been scheduled for six weeks. Campaign spokesman John Schadl chalked it up to a staff scheduling error, saying Wetterling never intended to do any campaigning the week before her daughter's wedding. "It was very important to Patty to spend that time with her daughter, who is moving out of the country a few weeks after the wedding," he said. "We really messed up. We're also canceling five fund-raisers that week." Schadl said he hoped the debates could be rescheduled for another date. Wetterling's decision is a disappointment to Chamber members, who looked forward to a lively discussion of taxation, health care, transportation and the war in Iraq, said Teresa Bohnen, president of the St. Cloud Area Chamber of Commerce. "It's frustrating," she said. "But we're going to go ahead as scheduled and have it be a question-and-answer session with (Kennedy)." Political hay Wetterling's announcement drew swift criticism from her opponent. "There's no question Congressman Kennedy looks forward to engaging in a frank and open discussion of the issues," said Ryan Christian, Kennedy spokesman. "We committed to four debates, three this week and Farmfest. We've had one, but the Wetterling campaign decided we shouldn't have the others." Republicans suggested her performance at Farmfest, where she pleaded ignorance on several topics, has scared her off. "Patty Wetterling either doesn't know the issues or doesn't want voters to know what her positions are on issues that matter," said Randy Wanke, communications director for the Republican Party of Minnesota. Wanke said Wetterling also bowed out of a Minnesota Transportation Alliance forum scheduled for Thursday, but Schadl said the campaign never agreed to participate in that forum. A spokesman for the Transportation Alliance was not available Friday. Other debates? Wetterling suggested both candidates participate in five more debates in September and October ‹ on the PBS television show "Almanac," on a KSTP Channel 5 televised debate, at an AARP forum, at a St. Cloud State University Women's Center forum and at the League of Women Voters/St. Cloud Times Voter's Choice Forum. "If we were running scared, I don't think there would be other debates we're offering to do," Schadl said. Kennedy has not committed to those events, which are scheduled for after Congress is back in session in Washington. People expect Kennedy to be doing his job in Washington during the session, Christian said. "After Labor Day, we go back into session in Washington and that can prove difficult for scheduling purposes," he said. In 2002, Kennedy missed several debates that were scheduled for the same period. Robert typically canceled when she learned that Kennedy would not attend. The two finally met at the St. Cloud Chamber forum days before the general election. Debating the debates Debates are useful tools for voters, but backing out of untelevised forums this early in the campaign probably won't have any impact on Wetterling's campaign, said Stephen Frank, political science professor at St. Cloud State University. "I think most people could care less, honestly," he said. "It's not fall yet, despite how it feels outside. It's too early." Challengers usually want more debates because it raises their profile, said Kay Wolsborn, professor of political science at the College of St. Benedict/St. John's University. Incumbents don't feel the need to debate as much because they have a record and are better known. Wetterling's high profile in the state may change that equation somewhat, but she needs to prove herself on the issues, Wolsborn said. "I think she needs to debate, and I think she knows that," she said. "The question is how much and how soon." |W|P|109327259102185163|W|P|WETTERLING DROPS OUT OF DEBATES!|W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com8/23/2004 06:40:00 AM|W|P|Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|This is from today's Pioneer Press: Recall shmecall The layers of absurdity just keep piling on a petition drive to recall St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly. Under state law, a public official may be recalled for malfeasance or non-feasance — in other words, doing something illegal or not performing his or her job. Endorsing a presidential candidate of the opposite political party — the basis for this recall drive — hardly qualifies. And the cherry on top of this sundae? One of the organizers of the petition drive, who recently moved to St. Paul from Minneapolis, can't even sign his own petition because he isn't a registered voter in St. Paul. You can cut the irony with a dull knife…. |W|P|109326859091005324|W|P|Recall Coward Can't Sign Own Petition|W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com8/22/2004 04:46:00 PM|W|P|Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|

Blogs for Bush has a great post on the Kerry connections to various 527s: John Kerry decries the attenuated connections between the Swift Boat Veterans and Republican interests. Well, Kerry's campaign has numerous DIRECT connections to the far better funded and truth-eluding 527s supporting his candidacy. Check out the above graphic that diagrams it explicitly. ## A Minnesota blog has a post about how the Republican Party of Minnesota is involved in the "dishonest And dishonorable" smear campaign against John Kerry. This post would be listed on our fantasy or fiction section if we had one. |W|P|109321837392611104|W|P|Kerry's Konnections |W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com8/22/2004 04:17:00 PM|W|P|Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|Power line has a great reponse to the Star Tribune's Jim Boyd's article on John Kerry's Christmas spent in Cambodia. |W|P|109321687166006002|W|P||W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com8/21/2004 09:53:00 AM|W|P|Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|The rascals organizing a recall of St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly are meeting today (my thanks to a fellow blogger who sent me this). If you attend, please send me the names of the people organizing the recall. I have found some names in the newspapers and I will be posting them later today. ## Thank you for your support and interest in the petition to get Randy Kelly recalled from office. We will be having the first of our official meet-ups at the Harriet Island Gateway (on Water Street) tomorrow, Saturday, August 21st. There will be people available to take signatures from 10:00 AM until 2:00 PM. Directions are available on our website: www.recallrandy.org. We realize that this is very short notice. If you are unable to attend tomorrow but are still interested in signing, please check our website for updates: we will announce future opportunities to sign soon. If you can please send us an email once you have signed the petition, we can remove your email address from the mailing list; otherwise, you will continue to receive updates.There has been some confusion about voter registration cards. You do not need to present a registration card in order to sign, but if you are not yet registered to vote in Saint Paul, you cannot sign the petition. There are links to websites on www.recallrandy.org that will help you register or change your address.We have received a tremendous response from people in all parts of the city, but we do have a lot of work ahead of us, so any amount of help you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Thank you and please spread the word!-RecallRandy.org |W|P|109310758210043891|W|P|Recall Randy meeting today in St. Paul|W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com8/22/2004 12:14:00 AM|W|P| The King|W|P|I hope they go door to door. I have a few choice words to tell them. Of course with the Bush sign out front they probably wouldn't stop.8/21/2004 09:38:00 AM|W|P|Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|Wow, my previous post must have hit nerve. Good Times said... hey there, douche face, you don't have your name on your blog. who the fuck are you to mock others? post your own name first, i'll be calling you on election night to tell you to fuck right off. ## Two quick points: 1. I am not trying to recall the Mayor of St. Paul or anyone else. Nor will I spread gossip or lies about people on this blog, therefore I feel no responsibility to post my name and contact information. 2. I was trying to have a profanity free blog, but forget it, I get a kick out of these responses. Remember: "sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me." |W|P|109310705012410434|W|P|Somebody is very sensitive. |W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com8/20/2004 09:29:00 AM|W|P|Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|Let me say this for the record: I do not think Saint Paul Mayor Randy Kelly should be recalled for endorsing President Bush. The DFLers in St. Paul who are organizing the recall effort are potentially the dumbest political operatives currently working in Minnesota. As I have said in a previous post, this recall effort will help President Bush in St. Paul more than Kelly's actual endorsement. I also find it interesting that if you visit www.recallrandy.org, the only contact information for this group is an anonymous email address. If you going to recall the mayor of the second largest city in Minnesota for purely political purposes, at least have the guts to list your name(s) on your website so that the public you claim is being hurt by Kelly's public decision to support President Bush can benefit from a public discussion on your activities. PLEASE CHECK BACK FOR DAILY "RECALL RANDY" UPDATES AND ANALYSIS! Remember, we let the truth speak for itself! |W|P|109301060022442589|W|P|Minnesota Democrats Exposed: Your source for information on the recall of Saint Paul Mayor Randy Kelly|W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com8/19/2004 05:04:00 PM|W|P|Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|

Bra stuffer and undercover Bush proster Teresa Mock (far right). Source: Minnesota Daily

This post lacked a picture of Teresa Mock (far right). I now understand how Teresa and her friend hid over 400 cards in their bras.

My thanks to the person who sent me this picture.

##

From Associated Press

Teresa Mock, a 21-year-old student at the University of Minnesota, got tickets and went with a friend to Xcel about 3 p.m., their bras loaded with small cards carrying anti-Bush sayings like ``Bush Out Now.''

"We put them throughout all the bathrooms,'' she said.

Then, when Bush started speaking, they threw the rest of the 300 to 400 cards over the crowd and left. She wasn't ever asked her party affiliation or hassled, but she said she felt uncomfortable.

|W|P|109296029584836266|W|P|UPDATE ON A NEW LOW: DEMOCRATS SNEAK INTO XCEL; HIDE ANTI-BUSH MATERIALS IN BRAS|W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com8/19/2004 12:22:00 PM|W|P|Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|My compliments to the Minnesota Daily for uncovering this dirty little secret. I never would have guessed this about the U of M employees. ## August 18, 2004 U employees give more to Dems By John Vomhof Jr. Presidential hopeful Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., might want to schedule a fund-raising dinner on the University campus. With the presidential election less than three months away, University employees have contributed nearly 30 times more money to Kerry than they have to President George W. Bush, according to the latest campaign finance records. University employees have donated $63,510 to Kerry’s campaign and $2,150 to Bush’s re-election bid through June, according to data compiled for The Minnesota Daily by the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan research group based in Washington. Campaign finance records show a national trend of increased contributions from universities compared to previous years. In 2000, Bush received more than his Democratic opponent, former Vice President Al Gore, but this year, Kerry has garnered more than two times more money from universities than Bush, nationally. The figures are based on employer information stated by donors of $200 or more and do not reflect giving by the universities themselves. Because of the close presidential race,some University employees said they are donating more this year in an effort to influence the outcome. History professor Lisa Norling said she contributed the maximum allowed donation of $2,000 to Kerry because she opposes almost all of Bush’s policies. “I think President Bush has taken this country in exactly the wrong direction in practically every area,” Norling said. “I think the last four years have been a disaster in terms of both domestic and foreign policy.” Physics professor Allen Goldman, who also gave $2,000 to Kerry, said he has contributed to other campaigns in the past, but not on this scale. “I can’t find anything (Bush) has done that I think will lead to good things in the long run,” Goldman said. “The economy, the war, anything having to do with science is totally negative. “I think he needs to be replaced. Period,” Goldman said. History professor Jim Tracy contributed $800 to Bush’s re-election campaign — the most of any University employee. Tracy said he supports Bush’s policy of tax cuts to stimulate the economy, and he thinks the war in Iraq will bring democracy to the country and help improve relations in the Middle East. “I think in terms of everything that has happened since Sept. 11 a few years ago, the best defense is a good offense,” he said. “And I think the Bush administration has handled that fairly well.” But Tracy said he knows his support for Bush is the minority opinion among University employees. “I think it’s pretty well known that there’s an overwhelming difference in the number of university faculty who support Democratic candidates as opposed to Republican candidates, and I don’t think things are any different here,” he said. A national trend Support for Kerry from higher-education employees in this year’s campaign is a trend that stretches far beyond the University campus. In fact, Kerry has garnered historic support from university employees across the country. Steven Weiss, communications director for the Center for Responsive Politics, said donations from university employees are up dramatically nationwide this year. In fact, education ranks third among major industries — behind lawyers/law firms and retired people — in dollars given to the Kerry campaign, he said. In the 2004 election cycle, Kerry has received $3.8 million from university employees, while Bush has received $1.6 million. The strong Democratic support represents a significant change from the 2000 election cycle, when Bush received $1.1 million to Vice President Al Gore’s $938,000, Weiss said. University of California employees have given more to Kerry than any other group, and Harvard University employees follow in second place. No major presidential candidate has ever had universities rank as his top two contributors, Weiss said. Education often ranks among the top 20 industries in Democratic contributions, but it is rare to see it rank so high, and even rarer to have individual institutions high on the list, Weiss said. Contributions are probably up this year because the maximum individual contribution doubled from $1,000 to $2,000 since the 2000 election, Weiss said. Higher-education employees also tend to be more politically active, he said, and in a close election such as this year’s, those who are most active tend to become even more active. University contributions can become even more noteworthy at the local level. While the $63,510 University of Minnesota employees have donated to Kerry pales in comparison to the $363,175 given by University of California employees, Minnesota has far fewer employees. The University of Minnesota employs about 17,000, compared with 160,000 at the University of California. Five universities rank among Kerry’s top 20 donors, compared with none in Bush’s top 20. Among Big Ten universities, the University of Michigan has contributed the most to Kerry’s campaign with $110,000. Michigan ranks 17th overall among Kerry donors. Meanwhile, University of Illinois employees are some of the strongest supporters of Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio. Illinois employees have given $5,250 to his campaign, ranking fourth among his contributors. Even also-ran Democratic candidates have done well among university employees. Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean drew the most donations from higher education employees. After he withdrew from the race, Kerry began receiving more donations, Weiss said. “What it does indicate is that the enthusiasm for Howard Dean among education employees quickly became enthusiasm for John Kerry once Dean dropped out,” Weiss said. At the University of Minnesota, Dean received more than $8,000 from employees. Wesley Clark, D-Mo., and Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., also received more money than Bush from employees giving $200 or more. University General Counsel Mark Rotenberg contributed $2,000 to Lieberman’s campaign. Regent Frank Berman contributed $2,000 to the Bush campaign. His donation does not count toward the total given by University employees, because regents are not actually employees, but rather serve in a volunteer capacity. Making an impact Kerry’s advantage in the higher-education industry comes in stark contrast to overall donations at both the state and federal levels. In Minnesota, Bush has outpaced Kerry approximately $2.1 million to $1.7 million. Nationally, Bush leads roughly $228.7 million to $189.6 million. Because the education industry has been Kerry’s largest base of support, it could play a significant role in Kerry’s overall success. David Schultz, a professor in the Graduate School of Public Administration and Management at Hamline University, said University of Minnesota contributions alone would not make a major difference in the election, but when combined with donations from other universities, they could. That money will provide valuable advertising dollars and voter-drive resources, Schultz said. The large gap in political contributions also indicates Kerry might target university campuses for get-out-the-vote efforts, he said. “The money is important,” Schultz said. “But more importantly, it is telling us a base of support that can very well be mobilized for Election Day.” Candidates cannot receive money from individual donors once they accept their party’s nomination, so Kerry’s stream of contributions has stopped. Meanwhile, Bush can continue to solicit donations, including those from university employees, until he accepts the Republican nomination at the party’s convention in New York from Aug. 30 to Sept. 2. But Weiss said he does not expect Bush to close the contribution gap before then. “I don’t expect it to narrow very much,” Weiss said. “University employees tend to be politically active, and it’s likely they’ve been paying attention to the presidential race for some time. Therefore, it is not very likely that they will be suddenly motivated to contribute as a result of the convention.” Liberal bias on campus The gap in political contributions has caused some to question whether there is a liberal bias on university campuses. Schultz said educators and teachers unions have historically supported Democrats. He said he does not believe there is an ideological bias in university hiring, but rather liberals are simply more likely to enter the education industry. Liberals are less likely to be concerned with financial gain than conservatives are, Schultz said. Therefore, liberals are more likely to enter a career in education, while conservatives are more likely to enter the private sector, he said. University political science professor Samantha Luks agreed. “It could be that the type of personality that would be willing to take a pay cut to do a certain type of work he or she deems important may be more likely to vote Democratic,” Luks said. Sara Dogan, national campus director for Students for Academic Freedom, said she thinks the reason for the liberal leaning on university campuses goes deeper than a self-selection process. “I’ve heard that liberals are just more attracted to teaching,” Dogan said. “It’s possible, but that wouldn’t account for the immense discrepancy that there is … I definitely think there is some discrimination in the hiring process.” Tracy said conservatives looking for an academic career would be “very stupid” to reveal their political beliefs, where as liberals commonly let their beliefs be known. “I think people understand that there’s a certain political tilt in the academic culture and that if you don’t participate in that tilt yourself, it is simply a matter of prudence that you kind of keep that to yourself,” he said. Luks, who taught political science at the University of California-Berkeley before coming to Minnesota, said she thinks the University of Minnesota actually tends to be more liberal than Berkeley. She said Minnesota faculty members also tend to be more liberal than their Berkeley counterparts. Berkeley has more employees, so they are more likely to encompass a wider array of political views, she said. Vice President and Associate Provost Tom Sullivan said the University of Minnesota does not consider political ideology when hiring employees. “When we hire faculty, or promote faculty, one’s political leanings or opinions are not relevant,” Sullivan said. Source: Minnesota Daily, August 18, 2004 |W|P|109294426549190556|W|P|It can't be true: U employees give more to Democrats|W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com8/18/2004 08:23:00 PM|W|P|Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|From the Associated Press: Teresa Mock, a 21-year-old student at the University of Minnesota, got tickets and went with a friend to Xcel about 3 p.m., their bras loaded with small cards carrying anti-Bush sayings like ``Bush Out Now.'' "We put them throughout all the bathrooms,'' she said. Then, when Bush started speaking, they threw the rest of the 300 to 400 cards over the crowd and left. She wasn't ever asked her party affiliation or hassled, but she said she felt uncomfortable. |W|P|109288671833002074|W|P|A NEW LOW: DEMOCRATS SNEAK INTO XCEL; HIDE ANTI-BUSH MATERIALS IN BRAS |W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com8/18/2004 08:52:00 PM|W|P| The King|W|P|I hope I wasn't the one who gave her tickets. Great blog you have here.8/18/2004 09:38:00 PM|W|P| Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|The fault lies with Teresa. It seems her parents never taught her to respect the President of the United States.

Thanks for your comments and stop back!8/19/2004 04:13:00 PM|W|P| The King|W|P|Here is her information from the U:

Teresa P Mock
College: Lib Arts-TC
College Campus: Twin Cities
Last Registered: Fall 2004
E-mail Address: mock0025@umn.edu
Internet ID: mock0025
Phone: +1 612-339-4018

Don't you just love what you can find online these days.8/18/2004 07:15:00 PM|W|P|Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|

You really have to feel sorry for this guy.

I was sent this picture from a fellow Republican. It was taken today during a protest of President Bush's visit to St. Paul. The DFL has to start learning that the signs are easier to read if they're right-side up.

Another protester had this same problem during a previous protest.

I encourage you to email me your photos.

|W|P|109288173406071380|W|P|Dummy: A stupid person; a dolt. |W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com8/18/2004 09:43:00 PM|W|P| Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.8/18/2004 09:47:00 PM|W|P| Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|It's like having the circus in town. They're loud, smelly, and wear funny clothes.

Thanks for your comments!8/18/2004 12:24:00 PM|W|P|Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|After reading my previous posts, a fellow blogger sent me this quote from Lawrence Jacobs about the Minnesota DFL: "It may be the most inept Democratic Party in the northern half of the country. It's really poorly organized, makes a lot of bad decisions." University of Minnesota political science professor Lawrence Jacobs. Source: LA Times, April 14, 2004 |W|P|109285743761185824|W|P||W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com8/18/2004 09:42:00 AM|W|P|Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) has a great story about how political parties (actually, it's just one political party) are using new technological gadgets for grassroots activities in Minnesota. The Republican Party of Minnesota is highlighted, but there is no mention of the DFL Party in the story. Instead of the DFL, MPR spoke with respresentatives from America Coming Together (ACT). In a previous post, I wrote about a Star Tribune article that detailed how the DFL is falling behind on grassroots and coalition development in Minnesota. If you are keeping track of improvements for the DFL, please add technology to the list. ### The tight race for president is forcing each political party to rely on grass roots campaigning to turn out every vote they can this fall. It's common for activists to campaign door to door. But this year, they're armed with some new technological tools. They're using the Internet and Palm Pilots to identify likely voters and ask them for money and other support. On a sunny, humid evening, Joel Irish and Emily Casey with the progressive group known as America Coming Together or ACT, are swatting mosquitoes and knocking on doors in a northeast Minneapolis neighborhood. Door-knockers such as Irish and Casey used to have to carry page after page of information about potential voters gathered at the Secretary of State's office. Now, the two carry Palm Pilots that store such information. With one click, Irish and Casey can shuffle through the eligible voters in the neighborhood. When he finds a voter, Irish doesn't hesitate to ask questions. "In the election for president, who would you vote for?" Irish asks. The unidentified voter answers, "John Kerry." ACT has 1,300 volunteers going door to door nationwide with these Palm Pilots. Once they get back from a night of canvassing, the information is immediately downloaded into ACT's voter database. ACT's Meighan Stone says the new technology helps them reach out to voters more quickly and with better information. "It's almost like the election where the 24-hour news cycle first hit. Now this is the first election where technology has become fully in use," Stone says. "It's changed things radically. It's completely impacted how we talk to voters and how we use that information." Campaigns hope to use the information to send specific e-mail messages and literature to undecided voters. The messages can be timely and targeted to appeal to those voters on issues of interest to them. It's a cheaper, more efficient and much more targeted way to convince voters to support a particular candidate. The Minnesota Republican Party is taking technology one step further, according to spokesman Joel Cary. Cary says the party wants its most eager activists to tell them about voters who live in their nighborhoods. Here's how it works. Activists log on to the party's Web site and are given a list of their neighbors. Cary says the activist is then expected to find out the party affiliation of each neighbor on the list, and what issues they care about. Once that information is gathered, it goes directly into the Republican database. "What we're asking our activists to do is go identify them," Cary says. "You probably know them. For sure you know the addresses, because it's within a block or two of where you live." The Republican Party's Randy Wanke says the system, known as Webvoter, is a more efficient way than door-knocking and phone-calling to identify party faithful and undecided voters. What it means for voters is more personalized pitches. Once a political campaign knows the party affiliation and issues a voter cares about, they can follow up with pro-Bush literature and phone calls. Wanke says it will also save time and money by weeding out confirmed Democrats early on. "One of the tools in communication is to know your audience," Wanke says. "This is the first step to identify folks and find out where they're at, so we can more effectively talk to them about the things that they're concerned about." Wanke says Webvoter isn't meant to replace traditional forms of voter identification, but to complement them. Technology has changed one other aspect of politics -- fundraising. Michael Cornfield, with the Pew Internet and American Life Project in Washington, says one out of every three dollars raised by Democratic candidate John Kerry is through e-mail and the Internet. "The intensity of this election -- being ratcheted up by the (Iraq) war -- has produced a huge rush of tens of millions of dollars, first to the Dean campaign and now to the Kerry campaign," Cornfield says. "The Bush campaign has a big Internet network as well, but they haven't relied on it as much for fundraising." It's ironic that much of the money raised through the new technology is being spent on old technology, mainly TV and radio ads. But analysts say the targeted e-mail messages are effective at communicating with small groups of voters. And with an election that's expected to be close, it may be small groups that make the |W|P|109284865602693184|W|P|Maybe the DFL is still using an IBM PCjr?|W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com8/17/2004 06:17:00 PM|W|P|Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|

John Edwards at a front porch event in Belle Plaine. Source: Star Tribune

My previous post about the DFL complaining about scripted events in an invite for a scripted fueled my desire to find more examples of event scripting by the DFL. The picture above is from John Edwards' event in Belle Plaine last Saturday which was held on Marian Fogerty's porch. We were told that the Kerry-Edwards campaign picked Fogerty because she orders her prescription drugs from Canada and that she is concerned about rising health care costs. With Edwards wanting to discuss health care during his visit to Minnesota, this was a perfect match. But could the real reason be why Fogarty was picked have more to do with her picture-perfect front porch than with Edwards' concern for her health care cost? Read the great article below from the New York Times and decide for yourself. The New York Times August 17, 2004 Front-Porch Chat: Birth of a Kerry Campaign. For every porch picked, there are those passed over. On Friday morning here in this quintessential suburban neighborhood, such was the plight of Shannon Imponen, who was eager to share her struggle to pay for emergency post-partum health care with Senator John Kerry, the Democratic presidential nominee. Ms. Imponen, 24, had instantly agreed when Mr. Kerry's aides knocked late Wednesday afternoon asking to borrow her backyard for an event just 40 hours in the future; she even said they could chop down a couple of trees to improve the view. But after asking how the sun falls and canvassing Ms. Imponen's neighbors on A Street, a campaign worker called Thursday morning to say no thanks. ''She said there were too many registered Republicans,'' sighed the would-have-been hostess. That left Claire Kronser frantically weeding at 6 a.m. a few blocks away on the E Street cul-de-sac. Having just returned from a camping trip, the Kronsers still had sleeping bags on the front railing when the panicked call came Wednesday afternoon from a woman who sits on the local labor council with Ms. Kronser's husband, Jeff, who is president of the local firefighters union.'' She's like, 'They're coming and they need a front porch and they need one in Springfield' -- she was stressed out about finding someone so last-minute,'' recalled Ms. Kronser, an art teacher. ''She was giving me this list of requirements and I just started giggling because it was describing our house perfectly.'' So goes the back story of the Kerry campaign's newest signature, the ''front porch visit'' -- though the porch is optional. Mr. Kerry and his running mate, Senator John Edwards of North Carolina, have held 10 such homespun events, in middle-class neighborhoods across Iowa, Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and here in Oregon since stumbling across the form in mid-June. The low-key, invitation-only events, where perhaps 100 people sit around red-checked picnic tables, raising hands with questions rather than waving signs with slogans, mimic the town-hall style campaigning for the Iowa caucuses at which both Mr. Kerry and Mr. Edwards excelled. For Mr. Kerry, porch visits follow the chili feeds he held at firehouses all over New Hampshire and Iowa.The first one happened almost by accident. Before a rally at a park in Columbus, Ohio, Mr. Kerry's aides sent him to the home of Loretta Farmer, thinking it would be a good image for them to walk together to the event. They chatted on Ms. Farmer's porch, and a gimmick was born. Situated mainly in swing states, the visits are intended to emphasize the Democrats' kitchen-table economic appeal -- light on partisanship, laden with ''we're here for you.'' ''It came from the idea that middle-class families really are at the heart of the campaign,'' explained Tad Devine, a senior strategist for the Kerry campaign. ''It's a real-life setting, and families can gather there and allow Edwards and Kerry to talk to them about real-life issues. We want to get close to where people really are.'' Bill Carrick, a Democratic consultant unaffiliated with the Kerry campaign, said the folksy setting helped the presidential contender compensate for his blueblood background.''They're doing a good job at putting settings that do not portray him as an elitist,'' Mr. Carrick observed. ''These front-porch settings give people a sense of traditional values. They have a nostalgic feel to them.'' Stephanie Cutter, communications director for the campaign, said that campaign workers in individual states identify appropriate neighborhoods and then, talking to community leaders, scour the streets for compelling stories. Ms. Imponen, for example, was nominated by Gloria Griffith, who works in the Springfield school system and got a call Monday night saying the campaign was seeking sympathetic families.Matthew Ruesch, the advance man who Ms. Imponen and Ms. Kronser said identified their homes, did not answer several telephone messages. Despite what Ms. Imponen said she was told about what disqualified her, Ms. Cutter said, ''We don't vet the neighborhood.'' In Columbus, last month, the campaign chose a cul-de-sac seemingly assembled to appeal to its constituency -- a Hispanic family living next to a single mother next to a black couple next to a military veteran next to a laid-off worker, with a foreclosed home in between.Janet Aikens, the hostess of that event, was painting her front door fire-engine red when her husband, who had been cutting low branches off a tree, beckoned her to see what the two men who had been sitting at the foot of the street in a black van wanted.''He thought they were trying to sell him something,'' said Ms. Aikens, 57, who works in a nursing home and has lived on the block for 18 years. Instead, they were Kerry campaign workers. One of them, Ms. Aikens recalled, ''said, 'I like the way your house sits.' He just liked the neatness of the house.'' So Ms. Aikens applied polyurethane to the front door, set out some artificial flowers to replace the begonias eaten by a caterpillar, hung a flag on the mailbox and, a few days later, held a block party on national television. ''Now I know how people feel when they win the Lotto,'' she said. Not all these events go off as smoothly. Mr. Edwards, who has visited the front porches of the mayor of Raleigh, N.C., and of hog farmers in Belle Plaine, Minn., found himself on Friday on a lawn chair in front of a porchless house in Flint, Mich., leading a discussion that could barely be heard over the makeshift sound system. He was learning about the problems the house's occupant, Philip Oliver Phelps, was having paying for college and about the troubles of his laid-off neighbors, but a light drizzle began before Mr. Edwards could say how he would help.''Give me two more minutes,'' Mr. Edwards pleaded as the rain grew strong. ''Y'all aren't too wet yet.'' Here in Springfield, Ms. Kronser hung up the phone Wednesday afternoon and ran to pull the 10 tallest weeds from her front yard, sending her children, Natalie, 9, and Andrew, 8, to grab the musty sleeping bags from the porch. Four or five Kerry workers showed up within the hour, asking neighbors' names so the Secret Service could run background checks, Ms. Kronser said. On Thursday, a security guard stayed overnight to watch the trucks loaded with sound equipment. On Friday, Ms. Kronser rose at 4:30 a.m., shortly before the sound-checks. ''It was like the day before Christmas when you're a kid,'' she said. ''You can't sleep and you can't explain it.'' When Jeff said he would be wearing his gold ''Firefighters for Kerry'' T-shirt, Ms. Kronser put on white and went to the neighbors to borrow yellow clothing for the children, then ironed it all. ''I wanted to have the matching little American family thing,'' she said.The campaign's technology expert used the Kronsers' cable modem to turn the cul-de-sac into a wireless Internet hotspot. The next-door neighbor loaned her driveway and, later, her bathroom to the traveling press throng. The picture-perfect porch went unused because it is blocked by a dogwood. Instead, Mr. Kerry strode around the cul-de-sac. But this was not the usual block party; the entire event was shown live on the local news.''Thank you for coming,'' Mr. Kerry said when he arrived, about a half-hour late. ''This is not your normal, what is it, 9:30-in-the-morning gathering at the Kronsers. |W|P|109279182909282006|W|P|If you want a visit from the Kerry-Edwards campaign, add a front porch to your house.|W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com8/17/2004 01:40:00 PM|W|P|Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|In an invite to attend a scripted protest against President Bush, the DFL complains about President Bush organizing scripted campaign events. That may sound confusing, but please read this annoucement and note that they tell people what to write on their signs. ## ATTEND THE "ASK GEORGE BUSH" RALLY IN ST. PAUL TOMORROW In response to George Bush's stop in St. Paul tomorrow, Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Chairman Mike Erlandson and Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak will join Kerry-Edwards supporters at a Wednesday 3:00 p.m. rally across from the Xcel Energy Center. PLEASE JOIN US and ASK GEORGE BUSH the important questions not likely to be asked during his reportedly scripted and tightly controlled campaign stops. Who: Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Chair Mike Erlandson Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak Kerry-Edwards Supporters What: Rally of Kerry-Edwards Supporters When: Wednesday, August 18, 2004 at 3:00 p.m.Erlandson and Rybak will address rally at 3:30 p.m. Where: Parking Lot on Corner of 7th St. and Kellogg Avenue in St. Paul*immediately across 7th Street from the Xcel Energy Center Sign Suggestions: "Kerry-Edwards Have a Plan for a Stronger America" and "Ask Bush - Where's Your Plan for America?" The DFL is making my job very easy. |W|P|109277641585240027|W|P|DFL complains about scripted events in invite announcing scripted event |W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com8/17/2004 05:53:00 AM|W|P|Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|It's 7:30 a.m. and I noticed the DFL is already spinning faster today than Ian Thorpe swam the 200-meter freestyle in yesterday's Olympic competition. (For those non-Olympic watchers, he swam it world record time.) Read this quote: DFL Party Chairman Mike Erlandson, who will address the AFL-CIO on Wednesday, said Reed's presence is evidence "that Republicans have to shore up their field operations, even in Rochester," which generally votes Republican. "I'm convinced they know they're in trouble in Minnesota," Erlandson said, adding that the DFL Party has opened up 20 local offices around the state for field operations, in communities as small as North Branch (population 9,500), just north of the Twin Cities. Source: Star Tribune, August 17, 2004 ## O.K., Erlandson's logic is that Republicans opening a field office in Rochester proves that we are convinced we're in trouble in Minnesota. What then should Republicans then say about the DFL opening a field office in Minneapolis? Tomorrow night at 6:00 p.m., Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak and State Representative Keith Ellison will host a grand opening celebration of the DFL Victory 2004 coordinated campaign office in Minneapolis. I guess this proves the DFL thinks they're in trouble in Minnesota. Thanks Mike for helping us make our point. |W|P|109274918304554115|W|P|DFL spinning in world record time|W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com8/16/2004 07:07:00 PM|W|P|Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|

I was sent this picture from a fellow blogger. It was taken in Mankato during President Bush's visit on August 4. The wealth of John Kerry and John Edwards makes this picture so damn funny and the person who is driving it around so stupid. The New York Post had a great story examining the finances of John Kerry and John Edwards: Presidential hopefuls John Kerry and John Edwards are both filthy rich, but how they obtained their millions - and how they spend them - set the two Democrats apart. Kerry is the richest senator, with family wealth estimated at $600 million. Edwards is in the top 10, with a fortune of $12 million to $60 million amassed during his legendary career as a trial lawyer in North Carolina. Forbes magazine estimates that Kerry would be the third wealthiest president in history - behind George Washington and John F. Kennedy. While Edwards, son of a small-town mill worker, built his fortune in the courtroom, Kerry got his by saying "I do" - marrying Teresa Heinz, heiress to the ketchup empire. She'd been married to Kerry's colleague, the late Sen. John Heinz (R-Pa.). Kerry can be seen cruising around Nantucket Sound at the helm of his own 42-foot powerboat called The Scaramouche, named after his favorite boyhood movie, an old tale of a French swashbuckler. His Scaramouche, his $16,000 Harley-Davidson (which replaced a string of European motorcycles), his sailboard, snowboard, salon-style haircuts, Turnbull & Asser shirts - all display his deep wealth and refined tastes. Kerry, a descendant of the Boston Brahmin Winthrop and Forbes clans, has pricier pads than his rival: a $4 million mansion in D.C.'s posh Georgetown, a $5.8 million house in Boston's Beacon Hill, a $5.8 million summer home in Nantucket, a $4.9 million ski getaway in Sun Valley, and a $3.1 million Heinz estate in Pittsburgh. The Boston and Washington homes are owned 50-50 by Kerry and his wife, but it's not clear how much of a stake he has in the other properties. Edwards lives somewhat less ostentatiously. He bought and renovated a $3.8 million house in Georgetown. He also has a $1 million beach house in North Carolina and a $1 million home in Raleigh. Mostly, the Edwardses' lives - off the campaign trail - revolve around sports and activities involving their three children: Cate, 21; Emma, 5; and Jack, 3. Another son, Wade, died at age 16 in a 1996 car accident. Tale of the Tape Net worth: Kerry - $600 million Edwards - $12-$60 million Estates: Kerry - $4 million mansion in D.C's posh Georgetown section, $5.8 million house in Boston's Beacon Hill, $5.8 million summer home in Nantucket, $4.9 million ski getaway in Sun Valley, Idaho, and a $3.1 million Heinz estate in Pittsburgh. Edwards - $3.8 million house in Georgetown, $1 million spread in Country Club Hills neighborhood of Raleigh, N.C., $1 million beach house on exclusive Figure Eight Island near Wrightsville Beach, N.C. How they got rich: Kerry - Married ketchup heiress Teresa Heinz Edwards - Became N.C.'s most successful trial lawyer Silver spoon: Kerry - Of the Forbes/Winthrop lineage, attended St. Paul prep school in Concord, N.H., boarding school in Europe, Yale and as a teenager sailed with John F. Kennedy Edwards - Son of a textile-mill worker, attended public schools in Robbins, N.C., became first in family to go to college, N.C. State for college, University of North Carolina for law school Rich tastes: Kerry - Turnbull and Asser shirts, 42-foot powerboat in Nantucket, haircuts at Salon Cristophe, European motorcycles (replaced with Harley Davidson two years ago) Edwards - Haircuts from Ian McWilliams of Bravado Hair Design in D.C. Regular-guy reminder: Kerry - Outdoor hockey games Edwards - Eats at McDonalds and Cracker Barrel chains, jogs, wears same suit repeatedly Source: The New York Post, February 23, 2004 |W|P|109270843534413245|W|P|Another picture of a stupid protester |W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com