Kevin from Minneapolis|W|P|Perhaps a school or anyone could raise some money for her to go on ABC's Extreme Makeover. She could use it. Kevin from Minneapolis|W|P|Actually, the first time I met Mark Kennedy back in 2000 I though Oh my! Could this guy be any more of a nerd? Let's face it, Tim Pawlenty aside, Minnesota does not exactly put forth the most attractive politicians. Kevin from Minneapolis|W|P|Have you seen a Minnesota politician get the job done lately? I haven't, unless you count Dean Johnson trying for force gridlock.I think McLaughlin has beat John Marty's record for the number of campaign managers that were hired, fired, or quit.
##
New manager joins McLaughlin campaign
Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin has hired a new campaign manager -- his sixth by some counts -- only weeks before the Minneapolis mayoral election.
McLaughlin put a brave face on the switch. "We're still moving forward; there hasn't even been a pause," he said Thursday.
He said he has had four campaign managers since he entered the race last year. The discrepancy arises out of whether the interim campaign managers are counted.
Darin Broton, who had been running McLaughlin's campaign, said that he had agreed to stay through the September primary and that he then would assess what he wanted to do. But he decided to move on.
Broton leaves only six weeks before the Nov. 8 election and a couple of weeks after Mayor R.T. Rybak outpolled McLaughlin in the primary, 44 percent to 35 percent. Both are DFLers.
Frequent turnover in campaign staffs is not uncommon, especially early in campaign seasons. Shuffles in the top staff close to an election, however, are another matter.
"Changing staff is one of the things candidates do when they're struggling. It's Campaigning 101," said Prof. Larry Jacobs of the University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs.
McLaughlin said it's not a problem: "It's a sign of people work hard and get burned out."
He hired McKinley Neighborhood activist Nancy Beals to lead his campaign to the general election. She has run two countywide campaigns but never a citywide campaign. Beals took a leave of absence from her part-time job as a psychiatric nurse at Hennepin County Medical Center.
"I am getting my feet on the ground for one thing and learning who everybody is and learning what's been done so far," Beals said Thursday, her first day on the job. "We're going to be doing a lot of phone banking and lawn signs, some radio stuff probably."
She also downplayed the notion of trouble. "I can't really speak to what happened before me," she said. "But that was the understanding with Darin all along that he would stay until after the primary. I guess that's not unusual."
But at this point, a staff should be coalescing and not reconfiguring, Jacobs said, "This is the playoffs; this is the big moment. To change staff suggests something's not working right," he said. "This is a sprint and you're coming down the home stretch."
He added: "The challenge for McLaughlin is to ignite a campaign that's going to work. They hit Rybak very hard on the law and order stuff, and that didn't seem to work."
By contrast, Rybak is on his second campaign manager, John Blackshaw, who came aboard after a disappointing showing at the DFL city convention last spring when delegates did not endorse either candidate. Source: Star Tribune, September 30, 2005
##
Darin Broton has been a favorite target of mine since his days running Teresa Daly's campaign.
|W|P|112808679284644915|W|P|MCLAUGHLIN HIRES 6TH CAMPAIGN MANAGER|W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com
Emily's List, which helps female Democratic candidates who support abortion rights, called Klobuchar the best opportunity to keep the seat in Democratic hands.
Klobuchar, the Hennepin County Attorney, is running against children's safety advocate Patty Wetterling and Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation President Ford Bell in the DFL primary. U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy is running without any major challenger in the Republican primary.
The incumbent senator, Democrat Mark Dayton, is not seeking re-election. Source: Associated Press, September 29, 2005 |W|P|112802389501175232|W|P|UPDATE: MDE EXCLUSIVE: EMILY'S LIST TO ENDORSE KLOBUCHAR?|W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|hmm...Mayor Randy Kelly's announcement could shake-up the race in St. Paul.
##
Kelly to make 'major address' on mayoral campaign
St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly piqued the interest of friends and foes alike on Wednesday, saying he would "make a major address on the status of the St. Paul mayor's race" this afternoon.
Kelly's campaign said he would "offer an assessment of the remainder of the race, the challenges he faces and the odds of his success in the November election."
Kelly's son and campaign manager, Ryan Kelly, was tight-lipped about the nature of the announcement, which will take place at 3:15 p.m. at campaign headquarters in Bandana Square.
Despite being a well-funded incumbent, Kelly has been painted by his campaign more and more as the underdog. But political observers say it would be a mistake to assume that Kelly's lopsided primary loss to former City Council Member Chris Coleman means that will carry over to the general election.
The University of Minnesota's Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs is tracking the mayoral races in St. Paul and Minneapolis. Director Larry Jacobs posted an online missive Wednesday suggesting that the small voter turnout in St. Paul's primary, about 15 percent, means Kelly can make up a lot of ground between now and the Nov. 8 general election.
In the Sept. 13 primary, Coleman won 52 percent of the votes to Kelly's 27 percent, making Kelly the first sitting mayor in St. Paul to lose a primary election in more than three decades. Coleman and Kelly, as the top two vote-getters, then advanced to the general election.
About three times as many voters are likely to turn out for the November election, Jacobs predicted, particularly because the race has become so competitive and because the Kelly campaign likely will raise at least $1 million.
Jacobs said turnout may reach its highest level in a dozen years. Turnout has been dropping since 1993, when about 43 percent cast ballots. In 1997, about 42 percent of registered voters showed up. And in 2001, about 40 percent turned out. Source: Star Tribune, September 29, 2005
##
Anyone have ideas on what Kelly will say?
|W|P|112801124594920643|W|P|WHAT WILL KELLY SAY?|W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com
Duluth dismissal fires up critics
DULUTH -- Tacky as a Post-it note breakup.
That's a fair summary of the reaction in Duluth on Wednesday to the news that the city's top administrator had literally been Scotch-taped out of a job.
Mayor Herb Bergson fired Duluth's chief administrative officer, Mark Winson, during the hectic height of budget season by taping a letter to Winson's office door during Monday night's City Council meeting.
Then Bergson left town on city business.
While a red-eyed Winson cleaned out his desk Tuesday and Wednesday as instructed and accepted hugs and handshakes from flabbergasted former co-workers, Bergson issued a statement from San Diego saying ,"my action was justified," but giving no specifics.
Requests for interviews went unanswered Wednesday. But when a television station caught up with Bergson in San Diego, where he participated in decommissioning ceremonies for the USS Duluth, he expressed regret about how he handled the firing.
"It was wrong, it was inconsiderate, and I owe him and the citizens an apology," Bergson said in the interview, broadcast Wednesday night by WDIO-TV in Duluth.
"I have considered you an effective manager, but our philosophical differences are apparently insurmountable," Bergson wrote in the letter relieving Winson of his duties, for which he was paid more than $105,000 a year -- the highest salary on the city payroll.
Winson said that during the early part of Monday's meeting, he and Bergson sat next to each other in their usual chairs and that Bergson said nothing to foreshadow what was to come.
The meeting unfolds
After listening to some council discussion, Bergson left. Later, Winson went to his office to retrieve some papers and found Bergson's letter taped to his door.
"It is with a great deal of regret that I inform you that you will be relieved of your duties," the letter began.
"I was shocked," said Winson, who'd held Duluth's top administrative job for more than five years and previously was director of public works and acting city administrator in Columbia Heights.
He said that while he and Bergson occasionally have disagreed in their approaches to the city's finances and other issues, "it was nothing that would rise to this level." He declined to give specifics of their disagreements, saying he'd leave that up to the mayor.
In a statement released through his office, Bergson said: "Anyone who knows me knows my tolerance level. I am very easy to get along with and I don't expect anything I am unwilling to give in return. My action was not unprovoked and did not come without warning."
Bergson was a popular police detective and mayor in Superior, Wis., before moving to Duluth and being elected mayor there in 2003. Decidedly more liberal on social issues than his predecessor, Gary Doty, who hired Winson, Bergson has taken strong stands for the city's poor and for gay rights.
He's also maintained an unpopular hiring freeze as the city struggles with how to pay for skyrocketing retiree health care -- a problem requiring a close and effective working relationship with his chief administrative officer.
Winson, 51, said he thought they had that relationship.
After learning he'd been fired, he returned to the council chamber, beckoned council President Donny Ness into the hall and informed him.
"I said, 'You've got to be kidding me!' " Ness said. "I said that I couldn't believe Herb would do that."
Ness said he told Winson that he was under no obligation to finish the meeting. But Winson said he'd stay and answer the council's budget questions. Ness said they chose not to announce Winson's termination to the others.
"He knew there were several important initiatives on the agenda and that he had the information we needed to make the right decisions," Ness said.
"He'd just been fired, but he stayed and answered all the questions as if nothing had happened. His professionalism was awe-inspiring."
Newspaper critical
Ness said he stayed up until 2 a.m. Tuesday, trying unsuccessfully to get through to Bergson on his cell phone, in the hopes that he could get him to change his mind about firing Winson, or at least stay in town and defend his decision.
Ness said he was afraid that Winson's firing would hurt the city's ability to conduct business at a crucial time and could hurt Bergson politically because of how it was done.
"I've been a friend and supporter of Herb's for a long time," Ness said. "I think it's important we get his side of the story. But he does need to account for this, and I can tell you that view is pretty widely shared throughout the community.
"It's shocking because Herb is a people person. This is so out of character."
The Duluth News Tribune's editorial board weighed in Wednesday, calling Bergson's handling of the matter "unprofessional" and "unorthodox."
"It's a rarity in business and government when the person being fired has been performing well and isn't the subject of any known scandal," the editorial said.
It added that the way Winson was fired "flies in the face of the city's civility efforts. Bergson knows better and should have behaved accordingly." Source: Star Tribune, September 29, 2005
|W|P|112800950185348043|W|P|CLASSY MOVE: DULUTH MAYOR FIRES STAFFER BY POSTING NOTE ON OFFICE DOOR|W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com John Jordan|W|P|I don't think this would come as a surprise, would it? North Star Politics|W|P|She's saying she has a connection to the Iron Range. What's wrong with that? Nowhere does she say she was born anywhere but Plymouth. Perhaps her birthplace, in itself, is not particularly important to her. This is a shot in the dark, but I'm glad to see it. If this is the best you can find to use against future Sen. Klobuchar, it'll be a great election season.
MC|W|P|That's right, I have roots in Pennsylvania, where my family is from, but I wasn't born there nor raised there. This is really hard-hitting stuff you got there.
Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|Did you click on the link? It takes you to a website where the person received a phone call from Klobuchar. North Star Politics|W|P|So somebody - not even a Klobuchar volunteer - was wrong in a post on a message board. So what? Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|Thanks Lucy N, I am glad you are on my side. MC|W|P|Yeah, and I'm sure that Jay Esmay knows because of a deep-down feeling... So, come October 9, when PW does announce her U.S. Senate candidacy, where does that leave the credibility of MDE? It seemed like he had full faith in his source, otherwise why would he post it?
Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|It's not just Jay Esmay. If you read the article you would learn that Leo Foley thinks Wetterling may switch races. Micah, you would love to hang MDE's credibility on this one post titled "Someting from the rumor mill."
But only someone wanting to tarnish MDE's shining reputation would do that.
The media knows there is doubt about the life of Wetterling's candidacy for the U.S. Senate, that is why they did the article.
My post raised serious doubt about the life of Wetterling's U.S. Senate candidacy.
John Jordan|W|P|has pondered whether Wetterling might forego the U.S. Senate race for the governor’s raceWhat in her background qualifies this woman to run a state - Minnesota, Louisiana or Alaska?
She runs her very small non-profit from a tiny space in downtown St. Joseph with a staff of what, 2-3 people? That's hardly similar to running a State.
I just don't understand what is told to people like this that makes them think they are qualified for such positions. Start with the City Council of St. Joseph - get to understand how gov't works. Then maybe the County Board.
But to go from running a tiny, mostly insigificant non-profit that's totally unrelated to gov't related, into thinking she can run a state. Anyone remember Jesse Ventura? (And he's my former mayor!)
MC|W|P|1) Hate to break it to you, but just because something gets written in the ECM Post Review doesn't mean that it isn't still just speculation. 2) I'm sorry, but "rumor mill" may be in the title of an article that calls your source "unimpeachable." For me, that word means unquestionable and beyond doubt. Maybe if you had been a little more forward and said that your source, probably in the DFL, said there was talk of this possibly happening, then I'd give you some wiggle room. Either your source ain't “in the know”, or he/she is kinda gullible and so are you. If you are willing to post unsubstantiated rumors from DFLers, please, let me know where to sign up!
Minnesota Democrats Exposed will exposed every DSCC and DFL dirty trick they try in 2006.
##
Kennedy fears Democratic 'dirty tricks'
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Rep. Mark Kennedy, the leading Republican U.S. Senate candidate from Minnesota, said Tuesday that he fears he might be the target of a "dirty tricks" campaign and challenged Democrats to disclose whether they have illegally obtained personal data about him.
In a letter to the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), Kennedy's campaign cited reports that two Democratic researchers illegally obtained a personal credit report on Maryland Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, also a Republican Senate candidate.
The letter notes that Kennedy is ranked "the number one Republican pick-up opportunity in the country" by the National Journal.
As such, he said in an interview, "if they're doing dirty tricks on the No. 2 prospect (Steele), the fear that I have that they're also illegally going after my personal information is something that needs to be put to bed."
DSCC spokesman Phil Singer said the Steele incident was an isolated case. "As the DSCC has repeatedly stated, this was a single incident that was reported immediately to the U.S. attorney and no other candidate's report was accessed," he said. Source: Star Tribune, September 28, 2005
|W|P|112791899802373344|W|P|DID THE DSCC OBTAIN ILLEGAL PERSONAL DATA ON KENNEDY?|W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com MC|W|P|I sense a vast left-wing conspiracy...I like how MDE's "truthful" manifesto involves GOP candidates making blind accusations in an attempt to help his lack-luster campaign.
MC|W|P|I wonder what MK thinks of his newly exiled Majority Leader... Why doesn't he come out and defend DeLay if these charges are baseless? Let's get him on the record with this matter. North Star Politics|W|P|Except that you misspelled "tirade." Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|damn you North Star Politics, damn you. lloydletta|W|P|Using those italics for the whole email makes it hard to read. I'd suggest using the blockquote tag to separate quoted material from your comments. It's easy enough to subscribe to the Mortensen for Congress yahoogroup. Your source isn't getting any "inside info" that's not publically available.
John Jordan|W|P|And now the Democratic party in Minnesota is being hijacked by anti-choice, discriminatory religious fanatics.So what this guy is admitting to is being religious bigot, a christophobic, anti-Christian bigot who is intolerant of anyone holding beliefs different than his own.
Sounds like a fun guy, doesn't he?
John Jordan|W|P|He sounds like exactly the kind of DFL'er I want on the ballots next year. He's great for Republicans because moderate Democrats, and there are many, see him, Rowley and others like them as wackos they can't support.
|W|P|"As a middle aged white male, I can tell you deep racism, and discrimination is alive and well in Minnesota. I cannot tell you how many times I hear racist, and discriminatory remarks when white men feel they are only surrounded by white men."I believe this is a 100% accurate account of what Mortensen experiences among his Democrat peers.
In fact, I wouldn't be surprised in the least to find that many DFL get-togethers resemble KKK rally's sans the burning cross of course (that might insult the athiest community).
On Friday Christian Sande, one of the two DFL candidates for Secretary of State, will detail his plan for a campaign code of ethics to de-politicize campaigning.
I hope his plan will include him not having anymore press conferences where he falsely attacks Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer.
So the guy who throws mud Kiffmeyer now has a plan for a campaign code of ethics? What will they think of next.
|W|P|112784068350011599|W|P|SANDE SHOULD START WITH HIS CAMPAIGN|W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com
MC|W|P|clearly their arguement is not sound because of an inversion of letters!hahahaha! Republicans never have typos.
|W|P|Someone should tell that young moonbat in the foreground that her Chairman Mao jacket is supposed to be buttoned to the collar.That and wearing a Mao jacket that is too large is bourgeois and reactionary!
I guess mother moonbat should be denounced ASAP as well.
|W|P|Or is that Daddy moonbat? I'll be damned if I can tell. North Star Politics|W|P|How do you know the U wouldn't sponsor a talk on your book? And why do you think this event is unusual? The U of M sponsors events from all over the political spectrum. Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|Name one single Republican-oriented event that the school of journalism has ever sponsored. Or, any that any subdivision of the University has ever sponsored.
And, more specifically, a Republican-oriented event that specifically attacks Democrats and doesn't just promote Republicans.
Kevin from Minneapolis|W|P|So they sponsor this for journalism students and STILL have the audacity to claim there is no liberal bias in the media? Outrageous!It is a good thing we have places like Powerline, check them out today for info on the "crime" in New Orleans.
North Star Politics|W|P|I will find a specific example later. I don't have the time right now. All I'll say is this: if the U is hosting this event and doesn't host (and HASN'T hosted) right-leaning events, don't you think that state Republicans would be screaming and crying, and would have been for some time? Robin|W|P|"Or, any that any subdivision of the University has ever sponsored."http://www.maclaurin.org/lectures.php
Robin|W|P|He said subdivision. I took that to mean group that is part of the overall university. I believe the Maclaurin applies. If not, I apologize... Carson|W|P|I just graduated fromt he J school at the U. I believe they hosted Ken Starr. I am sure there were others I don't remember as well. S.Crane|W|P|Ken Starrhttp://www.law.umn.edu/lawreview/symposium.html
Also, I'd imagine that the reason the School of Journalism doesn't mind holding Mooney's book signing is because he's a journalist and his book is factual.
I'd make a bet that your book, "The Democrat War on Unborn Children," would be more screed and less journalism.
Why don't you spend your time addressing the concerns Mooney has raised in his book rather than whining about his presence.
lloydletta|W|P|Yup, those are misspelled - and were not created by me. One of the people coming to the meetups created the bumper stickers - and they are showing up on some cars in the 6th District. Michele's staff misspelled Michele's name when they posted on her behalf over on Mitch Berg's blog a while ago.
lloydletta|W|P|btw, thanks for the plug.... ;-) |W|P|Pffft, this post will provide the dumpster divers with three months worth of material..just wait and see!Hahahaha!
Hey Eva, I've had it on very good advice that Michele is using Crest toothpaste these days. Makes you wonder if Proctor & Gamble agree with Michele on PRT doesn't it?
Looks like a sleuthing job for a pro such as yourself...get right on that won't you?
lloydletta|W|P|Well the Vikings Stadium is a boondoggle - whether the Vikings win or lose. Kevin from Minneapolis|W|P|NO STADIUM FOR THE VIKINGS - RENNOVATE THE METRODOME INSTEAD Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|it has been done! |W|P|A recent Washington Post survey showed that 47% of liberals are queer. Ryan Anderson|W|P|I completely agree. The web is not like paper, where black words on a light background are the most readable, the opposite is true (in my not-so-humble opinion). I couldn't help but use the same template for my new blog http://anokacountywatch.blogspot.com. Jerry Plagge, Jr.|W|P|MDE is so wise to listen to me. Jerry Plagge, Jr.|W|P|Oh yeah I forgot, go away Eva! How dare you support you point with research. Just do as I say MDE! lloydletta|W|P|Interesting that my post got deleted. Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|Not just your comments. I just f***ing lost four complete posts and a bunch of comments.I am trying to fix the problem and will try to repost.
Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|your comments are up on other posts. please repost your "comments" lloydletta|W|P|Ok... I suggested you check on the research on what is readable. In my opinion the black background with white is more difficult to read than white background with black text. MC|W|P|Well, I can see that all the GOPers that want to build a bridge back to the 1950s love the old way that does not play well with RSS readers. I to get my dose of MDE that way (I use Safari's RSS reader, it is quite nice), but the yellow text really does not work well with the otherwise plain formatted text. Maybe consider using red for the yellow comments and red (and underlined) for the old red ones... Just a suggestion. lloydletta|W|P|Oh the Koolaid boys again... The guys who fake comments.....Heard this?
Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|Be careful. Heard the one about someone posting under other person's name? Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|? W.B. Picklesworth|W|P|What is this world coming to? I thought for sure that he would vote for a qualified conservative candidate. After all, Mark Dayton's prior record suggests that he is a principled and courageious politician. ummmm On second thought, I'm not surprised. John Jordan|W|P|He said Roberts was "unsuitable for chief justice or any justice for the Supreme Court."So it's not enough to say he doesn't want to vote for a conservative, he has to personally insult him.
"I am deeply concerned that he and President Bush's next nominee will shift the Supreme Court close to the extreme right for many years to come,'' Dayton added.
Elections mean things. Those elected to POTUS get to place their nominees on the Court. He ran saying he'd nominate conservative justices.
Apparently Dayton doesn't like our form of government or our Constitution. I have to suggest that the real "extremist" here is the one who rejects nominees, not because they're unqualified, but for purely political reasons.
lloydletta|W|P|I think Dayton should have voted to confirm Roberts. That being said, he has nothing to lose by voting against Roberts - and he can play to the base because he's not running for reelection.
Mark Hanson from Log Cabin Republicans of MN PAC wrote Amy Klobuchar asking her how she would vote on this one. No answer.
Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|fair point Kevin from Minneapolis|W|P|How does this paper expect to be taken seriously when they can't correctly spell the name of a major political figure? lloydletta|W|P|Did you mean poor Democrat Randy Kelly?At 1:30 p.m., Senator Mark Dayton will announce on the steps of the State Capitol how he'll vote on the confirmation of Chief Justice nominee John Roberts.
I wish Dayton was running for re-election.
|W|P|112748698826398720|W|P|MDE BREAKING NEWS: HOW WILL DAYTON VOTE?|W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com Ryan Anderson|W|P|I'm excited about his announcement, aren't you kids? Like we're supposed to be interested in how a lame-duck senator is going to vote on a nomination that is already a foregone conclusion for the nominee. That he's scheduling an announcement for this is actually pretty sad.
John Jordan|W|P|I can't hardly stand the wait. I feel like a little kid in a car on a trip "are we there yet?"This could be life-altering.
(He's going to say he won't support him. Duh.)
John Jordan|W|P|Mark Dayton is as predictable as the sun coming up every morning. lloydletta|W|P|I'm not surprised Feingold is supporting Roberts. It will be real interesting to see what happens with the next appointment.
MC|W|P|I missed this, mind filling us in on what actually happened? Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|Someone falsely posted on Minnesota Democrats Exposed under the identity of an actual person. I was contacted by the real person, informed of the post and I removed it.Boy, do I wish he was running. ## Dayton backs peace campaign
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In what peace activists call a milestone, Sen. Mark Dayton, D-Minn., introduced legislation Thursday backing a long-shot citizen lobbying effort to create a U.S. Department of Peace and Nonviolence.
He is the first and, so far, only member of the U.S. Senate to publicly endorse the plan.
A remnant of the quixotic 2004 presidential candidacy of Rep. Dennis Kucinich, D-Ohio, the idea of a "Peace Department" has been derided by critics as utopian and naïve, while supporters say it is an idea whose time has come.
Almost half of Minnesota's congressional delegation -- all the Democrats but one -- have lined up in support of the campaign, which calls for a cabinet-level secretary to develop an array of policies from international conflict-resolution to reducing domestic abuse and violence against animals.
Nobody gives the plan much of a chance in a Republican Congress. But backers in Minnesota -- where Kucinich turned in one of his best performances -- say their support is intended as a political statement.
"It sends the right message," said Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn. "It's about promoting justice, expanding human rights and preventing conflict."
Besides McCollum, Minnesota Democrats Martin Sabo and Jim Oberstar are cosponsoring Dayton's bill.
Minnesota is one of 12 states whose Democratic Party has endorsed the plan.
"It underscores Minnesota's forward-looking approach to government," Kucinich said. "That's what Minnesota is about. It's the one state where new ideas are welcomed."
The Minnesota Republican Party, however, is adamantly opposed, having chastised Democratic congressional candidate Coleen Rowley, who spoke at a Department of Peace conference in Washington on Sept. 11.
"Money would be taken away from the Department of Defense to fund programs such as a Peace Academy and prisoner rehabilitation," said a statement issued last week by Minnesota GOP Executive Director Bill Walsh. "The creation of a Department of Peace is a naïve and unreasonable approach to dealing with the problems of the 21st Century, including international terrorism."
Detractors say that a new peace bureaucracy, along with its proposed $8 billion a year price tag -- pegged at 2 percent of the Pentagon budget -- is just another big government idea that will never happen. But Minnesota voters are likely to hear more about it in the coming election year.
The Minnesota GOP highlighted the Peace Department proposal to attack Rowley for joining forces with "liberal extremists." Rowley, who became a national figure for blowing the whistle on FBI shortcomings before the Sept. 11 attacks, is now challenging Rep. John Kline, R-Minn, a former Marine colonel with strong ties to the Pentagon.
Rowley dismissed the GOP's extremist tag, saying "that's their tactic. Everything they don't want to do, they call you a name." Source: Star Tribune, September 23, 2005
|W|P|112743767194821891|W|P|I WISH DAYTON WAS RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION|W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|??? Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|it's coming. W.B. Picklesworth|W|P|To be charitable, the idea of a Department of Peace is assinine. More realistically it is dangerous. Draining funds from our military to fund an expedition to Utopia is unconscionable. MC|W|P|Doran is a moderate, not an ideologue. I know that MDE would never be caught dead ever supporting a DFLer (Randy Kelly is NOT a DFLer), but not everyone is so partisan. Brent|W|P|Yeah...he's got the moves, buy who's going to get the ball to him?By the way…did you hear that the Edina police have announced that someone was trying to egg Mike Tice’s home? I guess they found 3-4 eggs had gone over Tice’s house and hit his neighbor’s back door, 2 actually hit Tice's house, and the rest were scattered around the street. Police have decided, based on the evidence, to put a warrant out to Dante Culpepper.
Kevin from Minneapolis|W|P|LOL, I'd like to see them do this for other sports. Can you imagine the King coming out to hit Kirk Gibson's homerun from the 88 World Series, or the King dropping Tiger Woods' chip at this year's Masters? Kevin from Minneapolis|W|P|Well there you go, the idea that Mike Tice is an idiot has bipartisan backing. Who says we can't find consensus! Robin|W|P|to be fair, the team didn't start sucking until after Tice gave President Bush the jersey...(oh, come on, someone had to say it)
This email is unbelievable. She doesn't say "Katrina", but she gets damn close.
##
Dear Friends,
Recent events have proven that Americans are at their best in times of crisis - joining together, opening their hearts, and giving of their time and resources in an amazingly generous fashion. I know you've shared my pride in our fellow citizens, but I suspect you might have also shared my frustration with the way Washington politicians have responded (or in some instances, failed to respond to this crisis).
While people all across America have pitched in, too many politicians have chosen to point fingers, rather than lifting their fingers to help. Others in Washington have gone into spin overdrive, shirking responsibility and shifting blame, instead of rolling up their sleeves and getting to work.
I am more convinced now than ever that it is time for a new kind of leadership in Washington, DC. Leadership that is compassionate and forward-thinking. Leaders that bring a commonsense approach to solving problems and fulfilling their promises to work for a better America.
I will be that kind of leader in the United States Senate, but I need your help to get there. The deadline for our federal fundraising report is less than 10 days away, and it is important that I have the strongest showing possible. Please donate $35, $50, $100, $500, $1,000, or whatever you can afford today.
http://www.pattywetterling.com/donate/
There are serious issues at stake and we need someone who is not afraid to tell the truth and demand that things can get better.
Together, we can make a difference in how our government represents us.
Thank you,
Patty Wetterling
P.S. The deadline for our fundraising is less than 10 days away! It is critical that we file a healthy report, and be able to have the resources needed to run a winning campaign. It matters who we have as elected officials. I want to bring my values and work ethic into the U.S. Senate, and be an effective voice for the people of Minnesota. Please give what you can today.
Do not reply to this message. Please contact us by using our online contact form at http://www.pattywetterling.com/contact/
|W|P|112734048900631352|W|P|IS WETTERLING USING HURRICANE KATRINA TO RAISE MONEY?|W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com
North Star Politics|W|P|Images, however, take a little more time. John Jordan|W|P|Doran - a very nice guy - is a candidate looking for an office to run for. He's really got nothing different to add to any process. He's a typical DFL'er. Probably not as wacko left as some others, but he's still a left-wing DFL'er trying to look different. He couldn't get any traction in the Senate race and saw an opportunity in the Governors race. Not because Pawlenty is vulnerable, but because Hatch hasn't entered the race. Bottom line, he's an opportunist and voters will see through that. Brent|W|P|Andy, you might want to know who you are cocking off to here. John Jordan is a former state representative from Brooklyn Park and has been involved in politics since 1997…which would have made you about 5 years old at the time. Not only has he been interested in politics probably longer than you’ve been alive, he knows MANY of these candidates personally. John also said that he ISN’T probably as left as others, meaning he is a more moderate/conservative democrat.I am sure I didn't report this first, but I had to be close.
##
Doran may switch to governor's race
WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Kelly Doran is dropping out of the Minnesota Senate race to run for governor, a high-ranking Democrat told the Associated Press on Tuesday.
Doran, a DFLer, planned a news conference in St. Paul today. The campaign would only say that he planned "an announcement regarding the future of his campaign for Minnesota." Spokeswoman Tonya Tennessen declined to comment Tuesday.
But AP's source said Doran had told him he will announce the run for governor without specifying the reason. He spoke on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the official announcement wasn't scheduled until today. Doran did not immediately return a phone message left at his home in Eden Prairie Tuesday.
In the governor's race, Doran joins a DFL field that already includes state Sen. Steve Kelley, nonprofit founder Bud Philbrook and, probably, Attorney General Mike Hatch. They'll fight for the right to take on Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty next year.
As of June 30, Doran, a wealthy real estate developer, had contributed $250,000 to his Senate campaign, while raising an additional $57,000 from individuals. He finished the reporting period, the last one on file, with $22,000, his Federal Election Commission report shows.
The move would leave the Senate DFL race with three candidates: Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar, children's safety advocate Patty Wetterling and Ford Bell, president of the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation. Source: Associated Press, September 21, 2005
|W|P|112728476855426281|W|P|RACE FOR GOVERNOR GETS A NEW CANDIDATE|W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com lloydletta|W|P|Pawlenty pushed McElroy out - I've got the story (from a well placed capitol source) here.MDE - are you the person who posted as Michael Nelson using a hotmail account on the St Paul Issues list last spring?
My guess is your real name is Michael.
John Jordan|W|P|I spoke with Dan later in the same day this happened. Unless he was lying to me - which I doubt very much - he wasn't "pushed out" and it didn't happen the way that other web site claims. I think Dan was just burned out from the 80 hour weeks and it literally was a mutual decision. Kevin from Minneapolis|W|P|You don't think McElroy would lie to protect Pawlenty? Are you familiar with this thing called politics? John Jordan|W|P|Do your friends lie to you? lloydletta|W|P|Hi John - noticed your blog started in June. You aluded to a site you had prior to the blog. What's the link to that site. The thing that supports the rumor being true is that notice of the press conference didn't go out from the Governor's Office until after the press conference started. The conference was scheduled to start at 10:00 AM - and the media advisary didn't go out until 10:07.
lloydletta|W|P|Shawn Towles had that on Checks and Balances also. DHW|W|P|I'm just wondering...what Democrat is being exposed here? Has Pawlenty switched parties?
CHRIS COLEMAN'S CAMPAIGN AND SUPPORTERS BUCK ST. PAUL CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS
St. Paul DFL Hasn't Filed Campaign Reports In Seven Years; "Recall Randy" In Over One Year
St. Paul - After learning that the St. Paul DFL Party has not properly filed campaign finance reports with Ramsey County for more than seven years and that the St. Paul DFL is paying for and producing lawn signs that are potentially illegally coordinated with mayoral candidate Chris Coleman's campaign, the Campaign for St. Paul's Future today demanded an investigation by local authorities and asked the Coleman campaign to disclose and return all contributions received from the St. Paul DFL.
According to public information available at Ramsey County's election office and confirmed with County staff, the St. Paul DFL has not filed the legally required campaign finance disclosure reports in over seven years. The St. Paul DFL last filed their reports with the Ramsey County election office on February 2, 1998, which covered the period of January 1 to December 31, 1997.
"St. Paul voters should be alarmed that the DFL and Chris Coleman are flaunting campaign finance laws," said Campaign for St. Paul's Future spokesman Michael Brodkorb. "By going nearly seven years without properly reporting to voters how they are raising and spending campaign funds, the St. Paul DFL has violated the spirit of good government. By coordinating with groups like this, Chris Coleman has disappointed voters who really care about reforming the behind-close-doors, good ol' boy political process," added Brodkorb.
Chris Coleman was endorsed by the St. Paul DFL on April 30, 2005. Since receiving their endorsement, Coleman's campaign has been coordinating campaign expenditures such as lawn-signs with the St. Paul DFL. Because the St. Paul DFL did not file the legally required Pre-Primary Report due on September 2, 2005, it is impossible to determine if the St. Paul DFL has exceeded the contribution limit to Coleman’s campaign.
Also, Committee 2 Recall Randy.org has not filed the legally required campaign finance disclosure reports in over one year according to public information provided by the Ramsey County election office and confirmed with County staff. This committee maintains a website (www.recallrandy.org), accepts online-contributions, and distributes "Republican Randy" lawn-signs, yet the committee has never filed a campaign finance report listing the committee's contributors and expenditures.
In fact, the organizers of Committee 2 Recall Randy.org have purchased 1000 "Republican Randy" lawn-signs:
"The Duddingstons said that they've given out about 200 of their 1,000 'Republican Randy' signs and that they're getting inquiries about obtaining large quantities of the signs and hinted they're happy to get more.” (Source: City Hall Scoop; "Recalling Recall Randy"; August 18, 2005; accessed at www.cityhallscoop.com on September 20, 2005)
Chris Coleman attended a fundraiser at the home of David Duddingston on August 25, 2005 (Source: City Hall Scoop; "Chris Coleman speech: 'This is greatest city in the world'"; August 30, 2005; accessed at www.cityhallscoop.com on September 20, 2005). David's brother Daniel Duddingston is chair of the Committee 2 Recall Randy.org.
"The Committee to Recall Randy.org should spend less time reminding people about 'Republican Randy' and spend more time remembering to file the legally required campaign finance disclosure forms," said Brodkorb.
"In all fairness, maybe Chris doesn't know the background of the groups he's been taking money from and coordinating with, but we are hopeful that he will condemn their illegal campaign behavior and bring this race back to higher ethical ground," added Brodkorb.
The Campaign for St. Paul's Future is reviewing all legal option available to force Chris Coleman's campaign, the St. Paul DFL, and the Committee 2 Recall Randy.org, to abide by St. Paul's campaign finance and election laws.
"Just because there is a statue of Chris Coleman's father inside the State Capitol, doesn't mean he or his campaign allies can operate with a total disregard for St. Paul's campaign finance and election laws," said Brodkorb. "If candidate Chris Coleman thinks he can ignore the law now, imagine how Mayor Chris Coleman will govern St. Paul if he is elected," concluded Brodkorb.
###
|W|P|112724302366846080|W|P|WHAT IS THE ST. PAUL DFL HIDING?|W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com |W|P|Nice catch MDE, I'm all over this one as well.Saint Paul City hall moonbat league Vice-Chairman shoots the messenger, but fails to address the facts:
Is this Campaign for Saint Paul Future group the one financed by BruceLarson?
"North End entrepreneur Bruce Larson has funded a 'Campaign for St.Paul's Future,' and independent organization that, according tospokesman Michael Brodkorb, will be 'focusing on Chris Coleman's recordas a City Council member and the positions he's taken as a mayoral candidate.' Source: Pioneer Press Sept. 15, 2005
The same Bruce Larson who paid for full page ads for the Mayor's StreetBeats? The same Bruce Larson who put up Kelly Campaign Signs on several buildings including the North End Law Enforcement Center? The same Bruce Larson who hosted several events/fundraisers for RandyKelly Hmmm... let's see the full financial disclosure.
Lee Helgen
Councilmember - Ward 5
Yes Lee, the same Bruce Larson who will appear on Randy's campaign finance disclosures...you know the same disclosures that your party doesn't bother with.
What was that about stop digging...?
Kevin from Minneapolis|W|P|Where does Coleman's dad have a statue in the Capitol? woyzeck|W|P|Huh... This seems a bit duplicitive as they already have to file with the state.After taking a look at the ordinance, it seems to only apply to ramsey county offices. The St. Paul DFL most likely needed to report due to the fact that they more than likely gave to county candidates, however, this really should have no impact on the Coleman Campaign as he is not running for a county office.
woyzeck|W|P|This comment has been removed by a blog administrator. woyzeck|W|P|After look a bit closer, I am even more confused. The Ramsey County Ordinance on Campaign Finance requires filings for county offices, however it is silent on city offices. The city of St. Paul also has a campaign finance ordinance that requires candidates to file with the city clerk not with the Ramsey County Elections Office, however, the Ramsey County Elections Offices has a document on their site stating that the mayoral candidates must file with the county.Can anyone explain? Has the county notified the committees? Is their and investigation?
North Star Politics|W|P|Yes, making the point that Steve Kelly doesn't always work with Republicans and, gasp, often disagrees with Republicans will obviously make your point that he NEVER works with Republicans! lloydletta|W|P|Yup, this must be Janet Robert. Janet is rather obsessed about the abortion issue. It's hard to imagine the Tinklenberg campaign being stupid enough to send stuff to an anonymous blog - especially something like this.
Remember that Janet Robert - who supports criminalizing abortion lost to Kennedy - big time 65-35 (30 points).
When it was Kennedy v Wetterling it was 55-45 - 10 points.
Wetterling opposed criminalizing abortion.
Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|You seem rather confident without having any first-hand knowledge. lloydletta|W|P|I don't have first hand knowledge. As I say - if it's Janet Robert - the Tinklenberg campaign can distance themselves saying she's doing all this on her own. If this is from the Tinklenberg campaign, it suggests very bad judgement on the part of that campaign. North Star Politics|W|P|Nice work outing your source. lloydletta|W|P|NK - are sources from the Tinklenberg campaign denying they are leaking to MDE? lloydletta|W|P|Republican Minnesota - what should we do about abortion then? Criminalize it? What penalties should the woman face?This quote is complete bulls***:
"Minnesotans are looking for leadership that can bring people together and I've demonstrated that I can work with democrats and republicans to get a consensus on how to solve Minnesota's challenges and come up with solutions to move us forward."
I want examples of Kelley working with Republicans.
##
State Sen. Steve Kelley stumping for Governor
Growing up in the 1960s Sen. Steve Kelley heard one statement over and over: If you don't like the way things are you should work to change them.For 13 years, Kelley (DFL-District 44) has been doing just that in state government and in June he announced his intention to run for governor.
"I have a passion for public service and I can see the enormous potential Minnesota has," Kelley said. "The governor has been wrong on a number of policies that will lead to holding Minnesota back.
"I thought he was wrong in 2003 when he decided to cut funding on early childhood education and state colleges and universities, and then this year he proposed to cut 30,000 people from MinnesotaCare in order to finance schools," he said. "Minnesota doesn't have to make that choice. In the end we didn't have to cut those people in order to fund education. (It shows) the
governor's vision for Minnesota is too short sighted and wrong for the state."
Kelley was in Albert Lea Friday for the Freeborn County DFL Annual Spaghetti Supper at the Union Center.
Elected to the House of Representatives in 1992, Kelley spent four years there before he was elected to the Senate. He is chair of the Senate Education Committee and vice chair of the Senate Telecommunications Subcommittee. In 2000 he ran for U.S. Senate.
"During that time I have had an opportunity to work on education and I've come to see that as the most important issue for Minnesota's future prosperity," he said. "Thinking about those issues made me realize the governor has the strongest influence on the future of education in
the state."
He wants to improve the quality of childcare and early childcare education because, "it is still the best investment we can make."
He also wants to set a goal for all students to graduate from high school and to better prepare them to be successful in college.
Kelley said finding a solution to rising healthcare costs was another issue important for the state. Kelley's solution is to create a healthcare plan that would cover all of Minnesota in an affordable way.
"As governor I'd be working with Minnesota's doctors and healthcare institutes to work out the details," he said. "It could provide opportunities for businesses to have their own additional coverage and it would be good for employers if they need help with health care costs if they are competing around the globe."
This is Kelley's first time running for governor and he said he felt confident about his campaigning strategies for the next year.
"We have to be thoughtful on how to structure the campaign but one of the things I learned at the state fair is there is a lot of dissatisfaction across the state," he said. "It is time to have a majority governor. We haven't had that in the last two elections."
For more information on Kelley go to www.stevekelley.org.
"Minnesotans are looking for leadership that can bring people together and I've demonstrated that I can work with democrats and republicans to get a consensus on how to solve Minnesota's challenges and come up with solutions to move us forward." Source: Albert Lea Tribune, September 18, 2005
|W|P|112707026223731589|W|P|KELLEY WORKS WITH REPUBLICANS? NICE TRY STEVE|W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com lloydletta|W|P|He probably has worked with folks like Ron Erhardt, Dan Dornan, Ray Cox and other moderates. Kevin from Minneapolis|W|P|Aside from being an incredibly misshapen man, Steve Kelley is not nonpartisan. I was at the press conference this year where he announced his "education plan" a.k.a. Steve's chance to get on TV for bashing the governor.The one thing he would have in his corner to protect this boldfaced lie is that he is a fairly nice fellow.
R-Five|W|P|These appeals to "work across the aisle" and "bring us together again" annoy me almost as much as the MSM repeating them mindlessly. They never stop to ask: how did all that reaching across the aisle for President George W. Bush? And just who's doing all this dividing? Brent|W|P|"Minnesotans are looking for leadership that can bring people together …”"It is time to have a majority governor. We haven't had that in the last two elections."
In other words, a fully Democratic Minnesota government can SAY that they are reaching across the isle, but are REALLY just pushing their own agenda through because they can.
If this happens, everyone had better keep one hand of his or her wallets at all times!
lloydletta|W|P|Any update on the Entenza-Hatch rumor? It seems that there's been no press coverage of this - so this must be another rumor that you've posted with no good backup. lloydletta|W|P|What happened with these stock transactions?
Brent|W|P|Man! I sure hope we have a lot of people who moved up from Tennessee to the Socialist Republic of Minnesota, and that they read this letter! Rick Mons|W|P|Out of curiosity, what is the inaccurate information in Hatch's letter? Not trying to be argumentative (yet, at least) but always think if the allegation of "inaccurate" is used, there should be some offering of specific(s). Kevin from Minneapolis|W|P|When will people learn to make annonymous Hotmail accounts before sending threats? I don't know, probably around the same time inner city minority communities will realize that the Democratic party takes their votes for granted and is ruining their culture. Brent|W|P|TPO said...When will people learn to make annonymous Hotmail accounts before sending threats?
They DON'T learn...they are democrats!
Brent|W|P|ReaganBlows said... yep those darn Democrats ruining "their" culture... why don't they wake up and realize tax cuts for the rich are a great idea and are more important then funding head start. when will they realize that they don't deserve health insurance or a chance to go to college...
There is that entitlement mentality!
Kevin from Minneapolis|W|P|Reaganblows,Democrats have run our inner cities for how long now? 40 years? Since the surbaban exodus began in the 1950s? Since Goldwater?
You would think that after such a long time these great liberal policies would be producing fantastic results.
Been to north Minneapolis lately?
Maybe after all these decades of urban decay it's time we give the other side a try. Let's re-emphasize the importance of family; help put these kids in a good school where they can get the tools they need to go to college, get a job and advance; encourage ownership of homes and businesses, because if you own something and you earned the money you bought it with you are more likely to stand up to the drug dealers, the murderers and the gang bangers that threaten your neighborhood. Let's give them real rolemodels - fathers, teachers, preachers, businessmen/women - who set an example of how to succeed and maximize America rather than the rap stars and thugs they emulate now.
Or, we could just keep handing them everything they need and continue to stand by and watch another generation of urban youth get sucked into the endless circles of poverty, crime and gangs. We could keep holding those oh-so-effective peace vigils every time someone gets killed. We could keep preaching about having to fight against the man and all that other 1960s-era, Black Panther bullshit.
We could, brace yoursevles here, GIVE THEM MORE THAN JUST ENOUGH TO ENSURE THEY RE-ELECT US.
It's a noble thought. I hope you liberals can handle it.
By the way, I think I'll change my handle to "wellstonefucksgoats" to keep with the tone of respect offered by the left.
Brent|W|P|ReaganBlows said... If the Republicans would drop the stereotypes and actually give a rat's ass about poor people you maybe would get some votes there... but hey it's their own damn fault they are poor and they don't vote for us anyhow, so why bother?
If the Democrats would stop taxing the shit out of my HARD EARNED MONEY, then I would be more than happy to give more money to the poor. The problem with you tax and spend liberals is that you don't understand that the goverment is the LEAST productive method by which to distribute things.
Kevin from Minneapolis|W|P|sharkbait is right. Whenver you take from one person and give to another, the person getting taken from will resent the person receiving what gets taken. I would also confront the notion that Republicans hold "stereotypes." When I grew up in rural America, I certainly had stereotypes about what the inner city was like. Now that I live in it, I find my stereotypes have largely proven true. I envisioned people walking down the street rapping or speaking a form of English I don't understand, wearing shitty clothes and on and on. Well, come to find out that's exactly how it is in lots of places!
I wish it would change, I hate seeing some of these people who you can just see in their eyes they have no hope for a better tomorrow. So many decades of left-wing domination and neglect have sucked the last breath right out of the American dream for so many people. People they claim to care about.
Mark my words, someday there will come a person who recognizes the fraud propelgated by the left and this person will be too credible within the community for you to make your assinine, hateful claims. The person will be taken seriously and everyone who has manipulated the inner city for their own political gain for so long will be left wondering "what the hell happened, when did everything go so wrong, how did we lose our power, WHEN DID THESE PEOPLE GET SO SMART?"
For the people I see, I hope that person comes soon.
Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|I was just reminded that Coleen Rowley is a former FBI agent.Does that concern me? Nope.
Brent|W|P|Minnesota Democrat Exposer said... I was just reminded that Coleen Rowley is a former FBI agent.
Does that concern me? Nope.
She would be STUPID to use her FBI contacts to "expose" you, then an argument could be made about her abusing resources for political gain and REALLY raise into question her ability to represent us.
Tony Garcia|W|P|Rowley's campaign needs to stop playing super-sleuth and start working on a message.BTW, there are not many in the FBI that would help her...so that is not a concern.
Kevin from Minneapolis|W|P|As someone who would love to see the Entenzas go down in a figuritive ball of fire, I am breathlessly waiting for what you have. I hope it's good! And true! Kevin from Minneapolis|W|P|Exposing Minnesota Democrats is one thing and very interesting. But repeating the bashes of others, which seems to be a lot of what is done on this site lately, is boring. I already heard what the Police had to say about Rybak, why do you need to repeat it? If you don't have anything original to post, don't post. John Jordan|W|P|If you don't have anything original to post, don't post.If I were MDE, I'd say to you - "get your own damn web site". Or "don't like it, don't let the virtual door hit you on the way out."
Jeez, Louise. It's one thing to post opinions on issues. It's quite another to whine about something like this.
Related to Rybak, sadly, the MPD is accurate. I've known R.T. for perhaps ten years, used to work him him in fact before politics, so I like him a lot. But he's not been a friend to police or crime prevention. I really thought he'd do a better job in this area.
Kevin from Minneapolis|W|P|My point was that we come here looking for unique and genuine information, but it seems like this is increasingly more of a re-posting of information already available in several other places. There is nothing unique about this site that will draw visitors here if the information is available from so many other sources.
Brent|W|P|the party opposite said... There is nothing unique about this site that will draw visitors here if the information is available from so many other sources.
Then, like Mr jordan said...don't let the virtual door hit your ass on the way out!
And, Sean...
In a solid three way race Rybak trounced Mclaughlin by almost 10 points...
I wouldn't say that 15% of the eligible voters showing up is a trouncing.
John Jordan|W|P|My point was that we come here looking for unique and genuine information, but it seems like this is increasingly more of a re-posting of information already available in several other places. I understand the point. But if that were an issue, Associated Press couldn't exist.
MDE might post information available elsewhere, but it's the often unique perspective, or inside information he/she can add later that makes that information relevent to this web site.
To me it just came off as someone whining because they didn't get some daily fix.
lloydletta|W|P|Problem is McLaughlin won't win. I'd like to see Rybak get defeated but I don't think the choice of McLaughlin is any better. I also think that the Police Federation is on par with the teachers unions. They represent their members - and this includes the bad apples.
Delmonico is especially pathetic.
- On September 11, 2005, Coleen Rowley spoke at the Department of Peace Conference in Washington, DC with such liberal luminaries as Representatives John Conyers and Dennis Kucinich.
- The Department of Peace Conference convened to support legislation creating a cabinet-level agency called the Department of Peace.
- The bill, introduced by Rep. Dennis Kucinich, proposes taking at least two percent of the Department of Defense budget to create an additional federal bureaucracy.
- The Department of Peace would take away money used to defend the United States from terrorists, and use it to create another bureaucratic office.
- Money would be taken away from the Department of Defense to fund programs such as a Peace Academy and prisoner rehabilitation.
- The creation of a Department of Peace is a naïve and unreasonable approach to dealing with the problems of the 21st Century including international terrorism.
Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|I am an honest and truthful "exposer" of Democrats. The Republican Party of Minnesota sent out a great press release on Coleen Rowley and it would be foolish for me not to post it. I did source the information as coming from a Republican Party of Minnesota press release.I also get information from the DFL and I post it on a regular basis.
Earlier this week I was called a "tool" for the DFL, so I must be doing something right if now you are complaining about me posting a press release from the Republican Party.
MDE
MC|W|P|I agree, this isn't a news story with quotations from semi-objective, credible sources; it's a press release from the GOP that seems to be pretty scared of the Rowley campaign... David Bailey|W|P|M.D.E.:While I applaud your integrity for explicitly identifying the Republican Party as the source of this information, I question your judgement in posting uncritically, and in fact emphasizing the most misleading points in it.
If you had followed the links you provide to the text of Dennis Kucinich's legislation, you would discover that the bill would not take any money from the Department of Defense, but rather that the Department of Peace budget would be set at an amount no less than 2% of the Pentagon's. Unless you believe that all non-defense spending comes out of the Pentagon's budget, the third, fourth and fifth bullets are misleading at best, and outright falsehoods at worst.
If you think a Department of Peace is a bad idea, that's fine, but I would expect one who claims to be 'honest and truthful' to be a bit more careful about promoting partisan falsehoods on one's site.
John Jordan|W|P|What's BS is the complaint. Typical John Marty non-sense. Brent|W|P|DFL Governor, you are WAY off base.As a former employee of Polaris Industries, I have attended MANY rides that the company promotes. Each and EVERY ride that I have attended was what is refereed to as a WAY OUT ride. It is an opportunity for the general public to try out machines the for themselves.
The machine was not given to Pawlenty…
When John Q Public damages a machine, they are NEVER charged for the damage…
So…Pawlenty never got anything special out of the deal. So, the only think that is BS is the whining that you are doing about this NON-issue.
John Jordan|W|P|What is interesting though is we now know that Timmy can't ride an ATV, can't hunt (Mr. Stumpslayer), and can't throw (Channel 4 Dunk Booth)... He better stick to Mini-golfHave you ever seen John Marty attempt to do any of those things? He makes "Timmy" look like a professional athlete.
Jerry Plagge, Jr.|W|P|Let's put T-Paw and Marty on the ice rice together. The could be funny. MC|W|P|For once I agree with you. Kelly is a GOP candidate that calls himself a DFLer. He isn't hard-core conservative, but being endorsed by Normy, endorsing Bush (and did he also endorse TimPa?) is a call for help. I don't know if he plans to switch parties like Normy so he can jump the queue to run as a GOPer for a state-wide office or if he is just an idiot. There really is no way he could possibly be re-elected as a DFLer. Not that his chances would be that much better as a GOP candidate, though. |W|P|"There really is no way he could possibly be re-elected as a DFLer."Heh, that's been pretty much the story for "true-blue" DFLers for the past 15 years or so too.
North Star Politics|W|P|Who knows, Kelly's chances might well be hurt by running as a GOP candidate. We're talking about St. Paul here. It would certainly make the distinction between Coleman and Kelly all the clearer. Kevin from Minneapolis|W|P|I wouldn't count on the Republican Party of Minnesota for anything. They don't give a damn about anyone but themselves. Witness their utter lack of support for the state House candidates last year. lloydletta|W|P|Kelly lost big time - and there's no spinning this one. Kelly might well have been able to get away with switching parties and endorsing Bush (similar to Norm Coleman), but running as a Democrat and endorsing Bush is problematic. Norm Coleman won reelection in St Paul - but when he ran for Governor, he came in 3rd in St Paul.
I have a hard time believing it's just the Bush endorsement that hurt Kelly. My guess is that his money stream being so heavily from outside St Paul also hurts him - especially if he's not spending time campaigning directly to the people of St Paul.
Independent expenditures by the GOP (or associated groups) in Minneapolis generally hurt republican candidates. Cases in point - a hit piece by the state party going after Gail Dorfman backfired and hurt Peter Bell's campaign. Push polling calls for Stenglein backfired and hurt his Mayoral candidacy. Not to mention Mark Stenglein made the monumental mistake of hiring Brian McClung as his campaign manager.
Brent|W|P|Good personal friend of mine, and the rest of the Ramsey County SWAT team, left today for New Orleans.If they had to shoot, their orders were to shoot to kill.
Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|I have no problem with Ramsey County/St. Paul law enforcement going to New Orleans to help. Minneapolis needs their officers. MC|W|P|Yeah, because the crime rate in Minneapolis is about on par with the problems in New Orleans... Brent|W|P|Micah said... Yeah, because the crime rate in Minneapolis is about on par with the problems in New Orleans...
Maybe not, but I think that we should follow some of the dem talking points and take care of business in our own backyard before we start sending out resources elsewhere!
ReaganBlows said...
Yeah, heaven forbid we help these people in New Orleans, it's their own damn fault, right?
In some cases, yes, it is their own fault. It's been a little over a week since Hurricane Katrina, and already people have forgotten!
From today’s Star Tribune
Hurricane Ophelia slouches toward landfall, but some shrug off danger
NAGS HEAD, N.C. — Hurricane Ophelia edged toward North Carolina early today, but many in the storm's path shrugged at the threat of flooding rain and wind even as officials urged them to evacuate.
MC|W|P|My point is that our crime problem pales in comparison to all the problems they have down there. Should we not try to help the hungry in the third world until every stomach is filled here? 21 officers is symbolic of Minneapolis' commitment to helping other cities that need it. We aren't sending them all there and we aren't going to see a crime spree as a result. They aren't gone for good. I don't know what part of Minneapolis you live in, but your perception of crime in the city seems to be a bit dramatic.
Brent|W|P|micah said...21 officers is symbolic of Minneapolis' commitment to helping other cities that need it. We aren't sending them all there and we aren't going to see a crime spree as a result. They aren't gone for good. I don't know what part of Minneapolis you live in, but your perception of crime in the city seems to be a bit dramatic.
You are correct, it is symbolic...but I also have to question Rybak’s motives. After a 44% to 35% win over McLaughlin, one has to wonder if this isn’t a political move for the polls sake because the remaining 21% out there is now up for grabs.
You are correct, we are not sending our full force, but time will tell if crime increases…I sure hope you are right though!
And you are also right, they aren’t gone for good, unless they get shot and killed or pick up some disease while they are down there…but we also don’t know when they will be back…again, I sure hope you are right that crime doesn’t pick up.
And, I DON’T live in Minneapolis, too dangerous for me to raise my family…I DID however live in Minneapolis, and work in Minneapolis for quite a few years to know that I don’t EVER want to live or work there again. I never had my car broken into before I lived there, nor have I since I moved out of there…but while I lived there, it was broken into 3 times in one year.
Maybe my attitude seems dramatic to you, but I don’t appreciate the things that I have worked so hard for to be just taken from me…be it theft out of my car or government’s hand in my wallet.
MC|W|P|Your car getting broken into was not because there were 21 fewer cops in the city than there should be, that is a hazard of living in any major city, one just needs to take better precautions. Anyway, I highly doubt this is Rybak's grab for higher numbers since every other city in the country is doing the same thing.There are only two or three neighborhoods in the city that I would consider "dangerous" enough to not want to raise a family there. The rest of the city is fantastic. How's the culture out in White Bear Lake?
Brent|W|P|Don't live in White Bear Lake...never have, so I couldn't tell you. But, I can tell you that the culture in Rogers is GREATLY different than MANY of the places I've lived inside the 494/694 beltway. One of the ways you can tell this is by the way we voted in 2004.
Another way you can tell the culture is different is that the City still encourages it's citizens to use common sense and doesn't legislate every last detail.
Wanna dig a fire pit, go right ahead...cannot be any bigger that 3x3x3 without a burning permit...how close to a free standing structure? Use your common sense.
Try to find that in Minneapolis, or elsewhere inside the 494/694 loop.
Brent|W|P|1) Sean...are you trying to tell me that your apartment life in the Tower Hill Neighborhood of Prospect Park is indicative of what life is like in the rest of Minneapolis? If you are, then you and Mark Gisleson from Norwegianity have been smoking too much weed together, and I would suggest you quit immediately!I had a car stereo, with it’s face removed, attempted to be stole…so I removed it and put back in the stock stereo which was then successfully stolen almost 2 weeks later. (I suspect it was the same person who didn’t realize that I switched out my stereo.) And then, I had someone break in my car; pop the steering column, but didn’t get my car started, and left it.
This was a Ford Probe…the stereo theft was in a parking ramp, during the day, in downtown Minneapolis and the attempted car theft was done in off street parking in Uptown.
2) You’re damn right I shelter my 2 ½ year old, and I will continue until he is old enough to make his own intelligent decissions. I FULLY expect him to be liberal in his youth, and as long as he has reasons to back that up, I’m fine with it. But, in the imortal words of Winston Churchhill, “Any 20 year-old who isn't a liberal doesn't have a heart, and any 40 year-old who isn't a conservative doesn't have a brain
Minneapolis, and Minnesota in general, are wonderful places, and while I will certainly take my children to as many different corners of it, does not mean that they are suitable places for them to be raised. I have traveled all over the world and feel that it is extremely important for my children to do the same…so don’t think that my sheltering now is any indication of what the future may bring.
And, last, but certainly not least..
” And do you always have to use the politics of fear to try and get people to vote?”
Hello? Kettle, this is pot…your’re black!
The DFL is always yelling that the sky is falling!
-Oh, we can’t let people have permit to carry concealed weapons! They’ll shoot their eye out!
-We need more than $0.46 out of every $1.00 collected by the state to go to public education because it just isn’t enough! THINK OF THE CHILDREN!
-If you elect George Bush, then your sons and daughters will be forced to go to fight an “unjust” war!
Liberalism, the haunting fear someone, somewhere, can help themselves.
MC|W|P|Rogers, Minnesota. I think I've been there twice, all I know is that they have cheap hotel rooms there; good place to take your girlfriend when you're in high school, if I seem to recall...Of course you need regulations for fire pits in Minneapolis! I understand that way out there it isn't exactly dense like it is in Minneapolis. Rural areas always have fewer regulations.
Brent|W|P|I wouldn't exactly call Rogers rural...at least not so much any more...But, you are correct...the higher the population, and the higher the density the population, the more regulations.
I do have to say, having grown up in Maple Grove, that when I was told to use my common sense, I was rather shocked...but in a plesent way.
Kevin from Minneapolis|W|P|Hell, I can't even keep my grill on my porch in Minneapolis. City code prevents operating a grill w/in 25 (or perhaps 50) feet of a building entrance. Brent|W|P|So, now that you're my internet stalker baby, you want me to send you my phone number? Don't use Google people search, use 411.com...and I've got your phone number...don't worry, don't plan on calling or visiting. Do you know why? Believe it or not, I value your opinion. While I may not agree with where you stand or all of what you say, but I do value what you have to say.
When I listed where you live, I could have certainly included your address and phone number, but I didn't. I just thought it was an important part of the debate for people to know where you were coming from when you said that Minneapolis was safe. You happen to live in a little corner of Minneapolis that is VERY nice…but the vast majority of people in Minneapolis cannot say that. I feel that your reply put you in the minority.
You will have to check you email for the rest…
Kevin from Minneapolis|W|P|As my old roommate used to day, "Dudes, we all in the wrong business." MC|W|P|Hate to rain on your parade, but in Minnesota, just like in federal elections, you can only spend your own money on elections. Unless that stock was jointly held, his wife can only donate as much to his potential campaign as anybody else. Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|I am aware of the law and this didn't stop him from donating over $300,000 in 2004. Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|I am aware of the law and this didn't stop him from donating over $300,000 in 2004. Kevin from Minneapolis|W|P|This slimeball gets around election laws by donating the money to PACs and 527s which then mysteriously spend tremendous amounts of money helping Minnesota House candidates. Because of Minnesota's weak disclosure laws, it is nearly impossible to know his spending habits until after the election. And then, if buying himself the speaker's chair isn't sick enough, he joins with his DFL co-conspirators in the Senate to kill a bill in 2005 that, while it wouldn't have prevented Entenza-sized donations, would at least tighten the disclosure rules so voters would know who is paying the people knocking on their doors.
Most DFL legislators are nice people, as are most of the GOP. But there are a few on each side that are real assholes. Matt Entenza tops that list.
MC|W|P|She would then need to pay capital gains tax on her realized gains.This is small potatoes compared to Kelly Doran selling a $30 million shopping center to free up cash for his campaign.
Honestly, which is worse, Entenza financing his campaign with his family's money, or someone like Mark Kennedy who’ll have to go from boardroom to boardroom hustling for $4,200 checks?
lloydletta|W|P|Was this from the Tinklenberg campaign? Janet Robert? Was your original 2nd district source Bill Luther? lloydletta|W|P|It shows the Tinklenberg campaign is getting worried by Mortensen. Perhaps this is the reason: http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/9/12/11313/1388
Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|Nice try, but I will not disclose the identity of my source. lloydletta|W|P|One possibility: Luther = CD 2 stuff/ Robert CD 6 stuff.Tinklenberg has been overheard heard telling people that Scott Mortensen hasn't been voting much.
Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|I didn't ask that question. Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|I didn't do the research. The information was sent to me in an emai. Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|exposing Democrats Exposed Exposer: I like your name. Kevin from Minneapolis|W|P|Isn't there a concern that you will just be a tool of the DFL for its own ends? Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|The name of my blog is "Minnesota Democrats Exposed." I expose Democrats and I don't care where I get the information. lloydletta|W|P|Yup, you are being a tool for the DFL. they want Tinklenberg to be the candidate - and they want to stop the Mortensen campaign from getting off the ground. Minnesota Democrats Exposed|W|P|I run a blog called "Minnesota Democrats Exposed", yet I am a tool for the DFL?Come on.
lloydletta|W|P|Why do you have DFL sources? They are using you for their own ends. Think about it. Kevin from Minneapolis|W|P|Next they'll be making crap up and sending it to you and when you publish and it turns out to be false they will say you have no credibility, which you won't (and actually really don't). Brent|W|P|the party opposite said... Next they'll be making crap up and sending it to you and when you publish and it turns out to be false they will say you have no credibility, which you won't (and actually really don't).
That is when he reveals his source, along with the actual email he received, and then points out that dems are so shady that they lie like sieves even about their own party, so how can you trust them?
If the dems are willing to leak info to try to ruin each others campaign, then so be it…all the better for the Grand Old Party!
Calling MDE a “tool” is just proving to those who read this blog that you and your party are REALLY short sighted!
Amy Klobuchar may be the only person in Minnesota who thinks the crime rate in Minneapolis is something to brag about. If Klobuchar is bragging about lowering Hennepin County's serious crime rate, than she must think Minneapolis' crime rate (the largest city in Hennepin County) is acceptable.
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Klobuchar's Iron Range roots run deep Democratic U.S. Senate candidate's columnist father was from Ely
VIRGINIA - U.S. Senate Democratic candidate Amy Klobuchar doesn't have to worry about name identification - at the least on the Iron Range.
She knows the area well, and many in the area know the Klobuchar name well. Her father, former StarTribune columnist and author of many books, Jim Klobuchar, is an Ely native who retold many Iron Range stories in the column he wrote for about 30 years for the Twin Cities' largest newspaper.
But Amy Klobuchar has made a name for herself in recent years as Hennepin County attorney. Now she wants the Klobuchar name to have U.S. Sen. before it.
"I have a good feeling about support up here. There are a lot of relatives and a lot of friends. Over the Fourth of July, I made seven parades and the support was really nice. People are not happy with what's going on," said Klobuchar during a recent visit to Virginia.
Klobuchar is one of four Democrats seeking the party's nomination for the 2006 Senate election. Current Democratic Sen. Mark Dayton announced several months ago that he would not seek re-election. Klobuchar, missing children's advocate Patty Wetterling and longtime party activist Ford Bell have all said they would abide by the DFL Party endorsement. Twin Cities businessman Kelly Doran, however, has said he will run in the primary if he doesn't receive the endorsement.
Klobuchar has strong credentials on many core DFL issues that find favor with the liberal party activists who will be in the majority at the convention and will ultimately decide who will win the endorsement. But she is quick to point out that her campaign is not about the political extremes of liberal and conservative that often frame the two parties and many of their candidates.
She is pro-choice on the abortion issue, while also stressing the need to reduce the number of abortions and promote more adoptions. She is a strong advocate for labor and unions, while also pointing out that job creation is linked to ensuring that businesses have a fair playing field, especially in competition with other nations globally. She is a solid environmentalist, but also emphasizes that new technology and one of the nation's oldest resources - coal - can work well together on such projects as the Excelsior Energy coal gasification enterprise for the Iron Range, which she supports. She says the Iraq war was mismanaged from the start by the President George W. Bush Administration, but also says that while an exact date for withdrawal should not be announced at some point, now is not the time.
"I will not let this election campaign be about what's right and what's left. It is going to be about what's right and what's wrong," she said.
The best campaign promise she can make, Klobuchar says, is that she will always be trustworthy. "I believe that when you make promises you keep them; that when you tell someone something you are saying exactly what you mean and you are sincere about it."
Klobuchar points to her record as county attorney - an office she was elected to in 1998 and then re-elected in 2002 without opposition - as evidence that she follows through on what she says. Her campaign Web site offers specifics.
"As the County Attorney, my priorities have always been clear and upfront:
- We've targeted career criminals and violent offenders for aggressive prosecution.
- We've kept predatory sex offenders off the streets both by criminal prosecution and civil commitment.
- We've focused on white-collar financial crimes and crimes committed against seniors and vulnerable adults.
- We've worked more closely with schools to make sure kids are safe and to help them stay in the classroom and out of the courtroom."
Klobuchar says that focus has helped to lower the serious crime rate in the county by 20 percent since she took office.
Klobuchar lives with her husband, John, and 9-year-old daughter, Abigail, in the Twin Cities suburb of Plymouth. But her family's Iron Range roots run deep.
She said that once following a courtroom debate with another attorney, the lawyer told her she was "... nothing but a street fighter from the Iron Range. I took that as quite a compliment," she said.
And she also feels how her father introduces himself to groups where he speaks during the campaign is indeed another compliment.
"He now tells people, 'Hi, I'm Jim Klobuchar, Amy's dad,'" she said. Source: Mesabi Daily News, September 12, 2005
|W|P|112653804485922526|W|P|IS KLOBUCHAR CLUELESS?|W|P|minnesotademocratsexposed@hotmail.com Brent|W|P|Unreal...The rapid decrease in the crime rate of the late 1990’s has tapered off.
Crime has decreased in Hennepin County over the past 12 years by one-third, with a notable portion of the decrease taking place between 1997 and 2000. Hennepin County's crime rate is higher than the national average, but in recent years the difference has diminished. Source: Hennepin County Community Indicators Report, updated August 2004
It's wonderful that crime has dropped 20% since she has taken ofice, but it's still higher than the national average...get us below the average before you start to celebrate, Amy!.
Brent|W|P|Republican Minnesota said... Is there anyone that has the stats on Hennepin County's crime rates in the last ten years?
http://www.co.hennepin.mn.us/vgn/images/portal/cit_100003616/24/58/1127627292003CrimeFactSheet.pdf
1994-2003...best I could do on such short notice...
MC|W|P|Well MDE, where are your figures on Minneapolis' serious crime rate since 1998? Brent|W|P|This is also interesting:A value of 200 means that the city has twice the crime rate as the average city. A value of 50 means that the city has half the crime rate of the average city. Minneapolis has a Relocation Crime Lab Index of 271 which is a higher crime rate than the national average.
Kevin from Minneapolis|W|P|Could Canada maybe annex the range or something? I'm tired of having to hear all the liberal blownuts that come down from there. They're nuts. Witness Tom Rukavina. What other legislator could get a DWI and still keep his job? Well, okay any urban liberal, but you get the point.But I did meet a really hot girl from up there once, but that's cool cause I wouldn't care if she was Canadian.
Kevin from Minneapolis|W|P|Another favorite of mine is "The road to hell is paved with Republicans."If you want to see a lot of these, walk 27th street from isles parkway to hennepin. You'll be surprised, but you' ll understand why Mpls is so messed up.
Jerry Plagge, Jr.|W|P|Boy can I feel the love and compassion! sequel|W|P|That is an evil Jeep, gas guzzling planet destoying SUV! MC|W|P|These beat those stupid "Truth" fish eating the Darwin fish any day.