NEWS: Warranty auto Fha home loans. Low fee payday loan Trans union credit report Do it yourself credit repair Free credit score only Compare no load insurance life Of credit card offers Credit reporting agency com Free credit report transunion American general life insurance Florida renters insurance Transfer balance credit cards? Credit card debt facts Long term care insurance rates Credit card payment online Disability insurance rates Term life insurance price Reliable debt settlement A credit report Create your own ringtones, Aspire credit card application Real ringtone nokia Primerica life insurance Walmart credit card services. Short term disability insurance Mobile phone ringtones without internet access What is whole life insurance Instant renters insurance quotes? Credit report codes Credit card application instant: Free sprint ringtones Long term care insurance providers American life insurance House refinance? Long term health care insurance ratings A credit score. Payday advance loan new mexico Ringtones for prepaid phones Credit card debt relief Free cdma ringtones No credit check payday loans Fix my credit score Three major credit reporting California cash out refinance las vegas home mortgage loans. Home improvement loans Long term care insurance cost American home insurance company Credit score formula? Commercial construction loans Safe auto insurance: Rates on auto loans Credit reporting agency Acs student loan consolidation Bankruptcy home loans Trw credit reporting agency National credit repair Annual free credit report Home renovation loans? Fha home mortgage loan bad credit loan california refinance Insurance sexual health clinic london! Citibank credit card offer Credit consultants debt settlement company Great lakes student loans Equity hawaii home loan rate? Understanding credit reports Are credit scores. Online payday loans Purchasing renters insurance Liberty mutual auto insurance Mortgages home loans refinance mortgage rates refinancing Credit report agency canada Affordable term life insurance Best homeowners insurance Affect your credit score Credit card debt negotiation California temporary health insurance. Credit card processing companies Credit reporting for Download mosquito ringtone Consolidation debt interest loan rate? Credit reporting agencies in Stop credit card offers, Application for credit card Hi fi ringtone? com Card credit debt settlement Lower credit card debt Keypress ringtones motorola I870 nextel ringtone software Improve credit score? Credit score rating Debt settlement consolidation bankruptcy? Free sms logos ringtones Homeowners insurance nj rates Consolidation debt elimination Credit card machine eclipse Home equity loans ohio Insurance car insurance health ins life ins renters Paying credit card debt Automotive extended warranty! Illinois refinance Lower payment debt consolidation nh Siren ringtones National credit card debt Cprepaid redit card Consolidate student loans? National burial insurance company Midiringtones P800 ringtones Auto insurance usaa Home loan equity mortgage rate calculators Nextel ringtone creator Chase rewards credit card Auto warranty insurance Federal direct student loans Calculator home mortgage refinance: Burial insurance Asian ringtones Final fantasy ringtone Home refinance loan Aussie home loans Payday advance loan utah Wells fargo auto loans Low interest auto loans for people with bad credit! Auto insurance nj com, Home insurance rate Online auto loans: Used auto loans Disney chase credit card, Credit card debt death Bad credit repair attorney: Credit card internet processing Disability insurance company Equity hawaii home loan rate Dispute credit reports Free credit report experian Credit report scores mean Debt consolidation canada Free credit repair information Modular home loans Netzero credit card deal No credit check auto loans Same day payday loan: Home loans florida Accept card credit Cingular free razr ringtone Instant online credit report Credit report consumer Cell download phone ringtone Chase continental credit card Va refinance home loan. Best business credit card Mortgage refinance debt consolidation laons bad credit home Zion y lennox ringtones Erase credit card debt Payday loans Reading a credit report Raise credit scores Card credit debt finance Free i850 nextel ringtone Refinance loans Reliable debt settlement companines Raising credit score Freecreditreports Health insurance choices small business Home loan mortgage refinance mortgage Consumer debt settlement Cell free phone ringtone sprint wallpaper Home refinance loans Loan with credit score Exxon credit card application Debt consolidation financing Credit card debt relief Home loans and mortgages Citibank business credit card Average national credit score Fast cash online payday loan California home mortgage refinance home improvement loans Annual credit report Insurance auto auction Credit report consumer? Refinancing auto loan Credit reporting agencies in Refinance home loan and refinance home loans California debt consolidation Health insurance south carolina Texas renters insurance Mortgage calculators home loan refinance Visa card bad credit: California home loan refinance rate california home mortgage Credit score services Health insurance quotes california Calculator equity free home loan mortgage rate Discover credit card offer Home equity. One credit reports Debt consolidations California refinance mortgage loan bad credit home loan Low cost individual health insurance National credit reporting Disability income insurance company. California home mortgage refinance bad credit loans Home equity refinance loan mortgage rate calculator Card credit student Reliable debt settlement companines Cheap whole life insurance Credit repair Average credit score Auto insurance specialists, Free ringtones for nokia United healthcare insurance company? Health insurance program texas Card credit offer student Health insurance rate Free downloadable nokia ringtones Free credit reports online Largest credit card company My credit score is Credit repair companies Uk credit card application Florida mobile home insurance Credit score questions Company credit report Which is the best debt settlement company Home equity loan rate Terminate credit card debt Paypal accept credit card Credit repairs Master card credit application Nextel i95cl ringtones Accept card credit online! Latest hindi ringtones Disability insurance fraud Instant renters insurance quotes Caller ringtones! Texas home insurance Get free ringtones lg vx8100 by picture message. Fixed rate home equity loans Credit card machine reviews To increase credit score Consolidation debt home improvement loan mortgage refinance Percent credit card offers New construction home loans Virginia auto insurance Improve credit score free Home loan equity mortgage rate Credit card rates uk Debt credit report Ringtone motorola v60i Card credit debt forgiveness settlement Home equity loan refinance credit mortgage refinancing bad Globe life insurance Ringtones for motorola razr v3? Refinance auto loan bad credit Long term health care insurance plans, Home loan refinance rate bad credit refinance mortgage Refinance property Credit reports for Bankruptcy auto loan Lilly tomlin ringtones What is long term care insurance Automobile warranty Home insurance policy Acs student loans Free instant credit reports: Homeloans Ringtone maker Gmac auto loans Cell phone ringtone Faxless payday loan Auto insurance ratings Defaulted student loan Payday loan in canada: Citibank student credit card Chris brown ringtones Commercial loan mortgage My credit report com Crazy download free frog ringtone Refinance florida Commercial loans retail Free ringtones sent to your phone: Nokia original ringtones Home loan mortgage rate refinance Automobile refinance Short term health insurance Minimum credit score Credit reports canada Disability insurance plans Online home equity loans Home loan mortgage refinance loan refinance rate refinance Debt settlement books software. Renters insurance Credit score car loan! Commercial loan Credit repair info Debt consolidation home equity loans American home loans direct refinance rates mortgage Ringtones lg phones Free motorola t720 polyphonic ringtone, Credit repair debt consolidation Home loan refinance online refinance rate home mortgage Home equity loans and rates Automobile loans? Canadian student loan Home owner insurance coverage? Oregon long term care insurance Metropolitan life insurance company How do i convert mp3 ringtones to midi format Nj disability insurance Instant payday loans completely online Fixed home equity loan Credit card offers opinions Health insurance quotes Check credit report repair Free real ringtone sanyo sprint voice Secured credit card applications Auto warranty review Refinance florida Insurance contraception and sexual health? Massachusetts mutual life insurance company Cheap whole life insurance. Refinancement Cash advance payday loans California health insurance individuals Debt settlement attorney Phones ringtone pussycat dolls Free credit scores! Cingular ringtone coupon code Report to credit bureau Mortgage refinance online Federal long term care insurance program? Florida health insurance Loud ringtone Motorola v550 ringtones Debt consolidation home equity loans, Refinance mortgage loan home rate Bet ringtones: Oklahoma renters insurance Credit michigan report service Home equity loans questions Personal credit score repair, Of debt settlement Long term care insurance sales lead training colorado Credit score free Home loan house refinance mortgage rates in brita Online renters insurance quotes National credit reporting, Auto loan refinance Health insurance michigan Family health insurance plans Clean up credit report Home renters insurance Lowest home equity loan rate! Small business health insurance quotes Home owner insurance. Payday loan onlines Equifax credit report Insurance clinic for sexual health Debt settlement software! Poor credit score Group health insurance california, Kansas city home insurance Credit rating report! Cancer supplemental insurance Your credit score in Mp3 music nextel real ringtone Business credit report repair? Card credit debt negotiation settlement Tampa home equity loan Up credit reports Nokia ringtone: Household credit card debt Online home loans: Bad consolidation credit debt help Citi credit report Aes student loan Credit repair programs Long term care insurance business Tracfone motorola v170 single ringtone downloads 500 credit score Ringtones harry potter, How to repair bad credit Home loa loan mortgage refinance Long term care insurance providers Consolidate private student loans Maryland renters insurance Home loans for single mothers Home insurance leads Free monotone ringtones! Credit score chart Bad credit home loans mortgage refinance 2nd mortgage 2nd Student loan consolidation California health insurance? California disability insurance Long term health care insurance states reserves Repair credit New york city renters insurance Payday loan company 24 hour payday loan Credit repair free letter Mortgage rates home loans refinance Bad credit payday loans Refinance houses What is term life insurance Alternative credit card processing California life insurance company Auto insurance cost Sony ringtones Quick payday advance loan Disneyc redit card Addams family ringtone Home loan house refinance mortgage rates us Mortgage rates home loans refinance Cheap credit reports Payday quick loan: Cheaper credit card uk Clean credit report Foamy the squirrel ringtones Free polyphonic ringtone s56 siemens New york auto insurance Nevada payday loan Business credit card offer Excellent credit score Sample credit report Understanding credit report score, Hawk nelson ringtones Health insurance mississippi Capital one redit card Instant payday loans Best credit card deal Are debt settlement companies scams Long term health care insurance states reserves Commercial loan wholesale John hancock long term care insurance Improve credit score fast Aflac cancer insurance claim forms Totally free credit reports! Credit card application with Does your credit score Free ringtone for nextel boost Trw free credit report? Mortgage refinance home loan interest rates America card credit debt Refinance best banking home mortgage rates First occurance cancer insurance policies In credit reports Cheap home insurance: Prepaid credit card Payday loan uk New mexico payday loan Miami online home loans Credit scores good Application card credit student Check credit score anonymously Credit reporting codes Download free motorola ringtone Low auto loan rates Transunion credit reporting agency Canadian student loans Total credit card debt Credit reporting system Health insurance premium Free sprint ringtones Health insurance online quote Emerge credit card services, Home insurance quote Credit card debt consolidators! No medical exam life insurance Free naruto ringtones? Free eminem ringtones Refinance loan No down home loans The three credit reporting Home equity rates Free ploy ringtones for a motorola v60i Off my credit report Health insurance plan Homeowners insurance quotations Gmac auto loan Mortgage loans interest rates refinance real estate home Auto loan refinance Interest credit card offers Home equity loans bad credit loans california mortgage Credit repair program Free credit report transunion Texas refinance mortgage Motorola t720 keypress ringtone: Credit report annual Credit reporting services California refinance fha home mortgage loan california debt Compare life insurance rate. Homeowner insurance quote Tool ringtones Free cell ringtones Canada credit report? Exclusive life insurance leads Fix credit report Good credit rating score Godfather ringtones Calculator car cheap finance home insurance loan mortgage Mortgage loan home mortgage rates mortgage refinance rates Same day payday loans Keypress ringtones? Absolutely free credit reports My free credit report, Credit card bad debt Long term care insurance policies Auto loans online California refinance second mortgage california home loan: Good credit score range Free credit score? Washington mutual home loans Check credit report Free fall out boy ringtones Improving credit scores legally Equifax credit report Home loan loveland mortgage refinance, Sony credit card offer Bell cell phones real ringtones Home equity loans online Free ringtones for lg vx6100 cell phone Texas renters insurance Refinance student loan! Nextel i730 ringtone software Emergency payday loan Advance cash loan payday quick Visa business credit card, Free hifi ringtones Goodyear credit card services Loan calculator auto Life insurance and annuity? Transunion credit reporting Used auto loans Health insurance for self employed Ohio auto insurance, Consolidate credit card debts San diego refinance? Debt consolidation new york Your credit score 100 home equity loan Lincoln long term care insurance Home loan refinance online Illinois auto insurance Excellent credit score Georgia free credit report Credit repair business Wamu secured credit card! Acs student loan Automobile title loans Bad credit home loans mortgage refinance interest only Home equity lines of credit Nextel ringtone New york refinance Nokia 6030 ringtones Debt settlement how to get out Auto warranty companies Life insurance sales lead Loan til payday Credit card apply online. Cancer survivor insurance California health care insurance Refinancing home equity loans california refinance mortgage Commercial bridge loans Unsecured credit card debt settlement strategy Disputing credit reports Commercial property loan Free verizon audiovox ringtones Long term disability insurance coverage In credit reports Corporate credit card application Life insurance quotes for adult children! Refinance mortgage rates henry county ohio Credit score rankings Ez payday loan Online renters insurance quotes Insurance perspectives on sexual and reproductive health Best home equity loans! Debt settlement strategies No fax payday loan? Mbna uk credit card Group disability income insurance Homeowners insurance nj rates Credit card consolidation loans! Ringtones for alltel phones Check your credit report No cost refinance Check my credit score San diego home equity loan Credit score repair Credit report instant Alaska student loan! Netzero credit card deal 1 credit reports Bad credit student loans Credit card debt Credit repair sample letters Free download cell phone ringtones Mortgage loan refinance home loan All 3 credit reports Home renters insurance Credit card score, Credit repair agencies Mobile credit card processing Card debt settlement Credit reports no credit, Trans union credit reports Home loans company idaho. California cash out refinance california home loan mortgage Refinance home mortgage loans bad credit ok Credit score test Sample credit repair letter, Cellular free phone ringtone screensaver Home improvement loans mortgage refinance california Self employed health insurance Ohio debt consolidation 3 credit report agencies Best debt consolidation loan Find my credit score Nextel ringtone maker Best apr credit cards Sears credit card application: Life insurance agent Application aspen card credit Debt settlement services And credit score Hsbc redit card Auto refinance Renters insurance texas Canadian credit score reports Scooby doo ringtone Automobile warranty companies Health long term care insurance Home improvement loans Credit card special offers Bad credit home mortgage refinance loan Free online renters insurance quote Ff7 ringtone Mercury home insurance Just credit score? Refinance debt consolidation Credit card debt reduction Long term health care insurance coverage International auto insurance Aarp homeowners insurance $500 payday loan qualifications Fido ringtones Refinance loan home mortgage rate calculator Annuity insurance software Government student loan consolidation Fix credit score Best secured credit card Insurance sexual health clinic in John cena ringtones! Alltel download ringtone Will my credit score Health insurance individual Transfer credit card offers: Free credit score online Best home insurance Insurance sexual health program Mortgage credit score Construction loans for homes Southern california commercial loans Free monophonic ringtones Ing life insurance and annuity company. Audiovox ringtone One credit report Largest credit card company California debt consolidation loan? Free polyphonic ringtone s56 siemens Free ringtones for samsung phones Understanding credit score Consolidate loan student. Free music pcs ringtone sprint Free cingular wireless ringtone, Company credit reports Car insurance health ins life ins renters ins Equity hawaii home rate Home construction loans, Insurance abbys sexual health com Credit report bureaus First colony life insurance Uk credit card application. Alaska student loan Credit score check Home equity loans california refinance mortgage loan Refinance houses michigan Obtain a credit report Application for credit cards Nationwide renters insurance Refinance Homeowners insurance in texas Credit card offer comparison? Card consolidation credit debt California payday loan Transfer balance credit cards Compare renters insurance Online credit reporting Home loan mortgage rate refinance xxasdf, Do i need long term care insurance California health insurance quote, Negotiating credit card debt settlements Whole life insurance online quote Card credit interest low Order credit reports. Credit score auto loan Is credit score! California health insurance quote Creditreports Illinois renters insurance Cheap credit report Debt consolidation non profit organization Free ringtones for my cell phone jason alden Consilidation debt settlement Us cellular ringtones Credit reporting law Tax relief for tax debts Ctu ringtone 24 Equifax free credit report Commercial loan calculator Refinance properties Long term care insurance policy Credit card debt advice, Free instant credit reports Free phone polyphonic ringtone sprint, Balance transfer credit cards Cowboy bebop ringtones, Credit report letters Credit card offer Equifax credit reporting Small business credit card Hsbc credit card usa Students credit card debt Free blackberry ringtone for nextel Credit card offers opinions, Home insurance ratings Cardinal principle of homeowner personal loans Lower student loan payment Auto loan calculator amortization Best equity home loans Repair credit report Georgia home owner insurance Auto title loans My humps ringtone Free ringtones motorola Debt consolidation lender Home equity loan rates Guide to long term care insurance Of credit scores Credit bureau reports Do credit scores mean Auto insurance quotation Long term care insurance company! disability insurance Insurance sexual health clinic toronto Cell lg phone ringtone Payday loan kansas Card credit debt student First time home loans Commercial equity loans 5600 free ringtone sanyo sprint Free mp3 ringtone download Credit report score chart? Free gospel ringtones Mobile home insurance Autoloans Free polyphonic ringtones for sprint sanyo phones! Mortgage credit score Ringtones for samsung Disney ringtones for nextel Auto insurance quotes Fico credit scores Settlement agreement for debt collections. Loan till payday Health insurance connecticut Debt settlement how to get out Fha home mortgage loan bad credit loan california refinance: Credit report sample New home purchase loans Credit report rating 800 credit card debt Career in long term health care insurance Student loan bankruptcy, Cancer insurance Card credit debt program settlement My annual credit report Dentist disability insurance occupation own Home owners insurance florida Credit reporting burea, Alaska refinance mortgage loans Credit repair debt consolidation Home equity loan in california Out my credit score Credit score loan Ringtone upload Annuity investor life insurance Debt settlement and credit repair

Archive for August, 2005

Law Profs at the U are liberals

From the Star Tribune:

U of M law professors reacted Wednesday to the study, conducted by the Georgetown University Law Journal and reported last weekend by the New York Times. It analyzed 11 years of federal campaign contributions by professors at 21 top law schools. It found that on average nearly one-third of the professors at the schools contributed to campaigns, and 81 percent of those contributors gave wholly or mostly to Democrats.

The U of M ranked eighth out of 18 law schools where 15 percent or more of the professors made contributions of some kind. Of those U of M professors who contributed, 85 percent gave mostly or exclusively to Democrats.

Some U of M law professors who have given money over the years to Democrats and Republicans — for federal or state races — also doubted that the findings reflect a liberal bias that shapes student attitudes.

I don’t buy into this notion that college professors are somehow indoctrinating today’s youth with their liberal bias. My college has six professors in its Political Science Department; three are liberal and three are conservative. Not one of them grades on ideology and all of them encourage debate and discussion in the classroom. My friends at other schools report similar experiences. I think the whole argument is just an anti-intellectual front, designed to discredit academia without having to confront the ideas and concepts they propose.

GOP Finally Getting its Comeuppance


A new ABC news poll sheds new light on the train-wreck that is the GOP under the Bush Administration. From The Washington Post:

Rising gas prices and ongoing bloodshed in Iraq continue to take their toll on President Bush, whose standing with the public has sunk to an all-time low, according to the latest Washington Post-ABC News poll.

The survey found Bush’s job approval rating at 45 percent, down seven points since January and the lowest ever recorded for the president in Post-ABC surveys. Fifty-three percent disapproved of the job Bush is doing.

The war has been a drag on Bush’s presidency for many months, but his Iraq approval ratings in the new poll were little changed from two months ago, despite widespread violence, a rash of U.S. casualties, antiwar protests outside the president’s Texas ranch and a growing debate about reducing U.S. troop levels.

It was only a matter of time before the self-destructive policies coming out of Crawford backfired. We on the progressive side just hoped that they would have shown themselves prior to November 2004. I have been saying for a long time, and this poll illustrates this reality, that the policies that the Bush Administration and its GOP underlings have been pursuing only provide temporary patches that weaken the country in the end. From Bush’s energy plan to his war in Iraq, we need to demand more competent and constructive policy making from this Administration.

But the Prez isn’t the only one that is feeling the pain (the poll continues):

Dissatisfaction is not limited to the president. Fewer than four in 10 Americans — 37 percent — approve of the way the Republican-controlled Congress is doing its job, the lowest rating for lawmakers in nearly eight years.

The survey also provided bad news for Democratic leaders, who are judged as offering Bush only tepid opposition. Slightly more than half of those surveyed expressed

dissatisfaction with congressional Democrats for not opposing Bush more aggressively.
There are three important implications that come out of this poll: 1) Democrats have more freedom in opposing the Republicans than they previously thought and can stop worrying about the Daschle “obstructionist” label. 2) Democratic mid-term challengers absolutely have to be aggressive in their stances. 3) Mid-term elections are ripe for Dem victories across the country.

Technorati Tags: ,

MN Govs love to gamble

First One Term Timmy Pawlenty tries to balance the budget on the backs on gambling addicts, now our former Governor is a shill for an offshore betting company. Maybe our Guvs need to enroll in Gamblers Anonymous.

Fred Barnes to New Orleans: Tough Luck

Let me preface this by saying that I do not even come close to believing that Fred Barnes (executive editor of The Weekly Standard) speaks for the conservatives of America. That being said, however, it is absolutely unconscionable that comments like these are entertained on a national television channel and, moreover, one that claims to be a “news” channel. Fox News, you’ve sunk to a new low.

This is a must read from Josh at Curly Tales of War Pigs: The smugness of bloviating, blow dryed, blowhards

Here are some highlights from what was said on Fox News:

“FRED BARNES, EXECUTIVE EDITOR, “THE WEEKLY STANDARD”: But my problem with it is that, in some of these areas, like a below- sea-level city like New Orleans, they’re not — they want the rest of us to insure their risk. As people who live on the San Andreas Fault in California, where they know there are going to be earthquakes, people who live along the Mississippi River in these low farmland areas…

KRAUTHAMMER: It’s a bit unseemly to talk about cutting off aid to these people while the hurricane is still roaring through Mississippi. But let’s give it a try.
(LAUGHTER)

I demand nothing short of a written apology from Fred Barnes and Brit Hume to be submitted to the people of New Orleans; after which, everyone will gather in a long single file line and drop-trow so that Brit and Fred can walk the line and kiss the asses of every resident of New Orleans to beg for forgiveness.

What assholes!

Makeover Mark’s Painful Humor

This is Mark Kennedy’s booth at the State Fair:

Yes, that’s right, it is a log cabin complete with fishing gear adorning it… *cough*douche bag*cough*

This is about the corniest thing I have ever seen and it gets worse when you couple it with this excerpt from the Pioneer Press:

Republican Senate candidate Mark Kennedy said he’s pretty pleased with his booth’s spot at Judson Avenue and Nelson Street, near the Department of Natural Resources display. His booth, built like a wood cabin and decked out with photos of the congressman fishing, has an up-north-at-the-lake fishing theme.

It’s a reference to his Minnesota roots — he has worked in a bait shop and at a resort — and, he said in an almost painful pun, a reminder for voters to “cast their vote for Kennedy.

Mark, Mark, Mark… if only elections were won based on the worst pun, you could win! Even the Pioneer Press admits that Makeover-Mark’s attempts at humor are “painful.”

Although Makeover Mark’s only fishing outings in the last 10 years were planned in a campaign office and accompanied by a staff of photographers, at least the man is from Minnesota. Norm Coleman, on the other hand, can’t make that claim.

Yes, as if the Kennedy log cabin motif wasn’t hard enough to swallow, Smilin’ Norm has also erected a cabin on the fairgrounds to promote his love of fishing. Maybe he did all his fishing in his earlier days in NYC, or maybe he did it all while he was at that tennis tournament in the Hamptons, no, he probably went once when he had all that free time pretending to be a Democrat before that was no longer politically convenient. Oh Norm, you are such a fraud, but at least your wife has a nice young boyfriend out at her home in L.A.!


Oh Mrs. Coleman, you are simultaneously a serious hottie and a representation of Senator Coleman’s disingenuous sham of a life (that’s why I love you so much). I hope you and your L.A. boyfriend are having fun!

Robertson Broke the Law

Clever Peasantry goes after Pat Robertson a little more thoroughly than the rest of us by citing the relevant US code that Pat broke when he called for the assassination of Hugo Chavez. It’s the best kind of post: simultaneously funny and interesting.

Although, just for the record, even I don’t think that Robertson’s stupid comment was a truly credible threat.

Technorati Tags:

Bye Bye!!!

Yecke

It is about damn time this idiot found a one-way trip out of town. From the Star Tribune:

Cheri Pierson Yecke, a lightning rod for liberal critics and conservative supporters during her short tenure as Minnesota education commissioner, abandoned her campaign for the Sixth District U.S. House seat Monday to take a job overseeing Florida schools.

Yecke’s withdrawal leaves four candidates seeking the Republican endorsement for the congressional seat. Veteran political observers said her departure would probably be a plus for Sen. Michele Bachmann, R-Stillwater, who won’t have to compete with Yecke for the votes of social-conservative Republicans.
“It’s going to help her in the battle for the Republican endorsement because of the tides of social conservatives and the Republican Party sway under social conservatives,” said Lawrence Jacobs, a University of Minnesota political scientist.

This is a double-win. First of all, Cheri Yecke won’t be plaguing Minnesota with her presence anymore and secondly, her absence increases Bachmann’s share of the whacko vote. I can’t tell you how good of a thing it would be for Michelle Bachmann to get the nomination in the 6th! She is so far out of the conservative mainstream that it would be incredibly easy for a DFLer to take her out in a congressional race. Imagine a Wetterling vs. Bachmann race! Sure, Bachmann would play incredibly dirty and we all now how incompetently Patty handled attacks last time around, but it would be Minnesota’s Mom vs. Minnesota’s Witch.

Although Minnesota comes out a winner in this deal, there are millions of losers: the people of Florida.

Norwegianity Vents

**language warning**

Well, it’s pretty clear that Norwegianity doesn’t like Randy Kelly:

St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly must be paying people to run his re-election phone banks. I just got a call from some high school kid telling me what a great guy Kelly is. When he got done he asked me if they could count on my support September 13, and when I replied “no way, I remember how that bastard supported Bush,” the kid laughed long and hard. Not exactly the response of a true believer.

Randy Kelly didn’t just support George Bush, he endorsed him over a senior US Senator from his own party, a decorated war hero and the overwhelming choice of Democratic primary voters and caucus goers. Randy Kelly pissed on the Democratic party, and Randy Kelly can go fuck himself on September 13.

Technorati Tags:

Americans Stick Together

In the face of such a terrible disaster I can never find the words to express my sorrow and hope for the people whose lives have been irreversibly changed. It is my sincere hope that the people of New Orleans will find their way to safety and return shortly to their homes and loved ones. The damage that Hurricane Katrina has wrought has been terrible and the process of repair will be costly. Now is a time to show the type of unity that has been absent from national politics. We are all Americans; show your support in whatever way you can:

Victims Needing Assistance:

> Please call 1-800-SAL-ARMY.

Connect with Loved Ones:
> SATERN - The Salvation Army’s Team Emergency Radio Network has been activated. Click here to send a health and welfare request regarding family and friends you otherwise are unable to locate…

How You Can Help:
1. Financial Donations:

Financial contributions are greatly needed, and provide The Salvation Army with the funds to purchase what storm victims need. They also allow The Salvation Army to assess the unique needs of individuals and families, as well as put money back into the economy of those communities affected by the disaster.

> Click here to donate online…

> To donate by phone, call 1-800-SAL-ARMY..

> To donate by mail, send checks, earmarked ‘disaster relief,’ to PO BOX 4857 JACKSON, MS 39296-4857.

2. In - Kind Donations:

Due to the uncertainty of specific needs and a desire for The Salvation Army to meet as many of those needs as possible, we are not accepting in kind donations at this time. Please take all donations of clothing to your local thrift store to assist them in continued service to your community. Corporations wishing to make in kind donations may contact 1-888-363-2769.

3. Volunteers:

> Click here to fill out a Salvation Army volunteer form or call 1-800-SAL-ARMY. You will be contacted as the need arises.

4. Prayer:

> Please pray for the victims of Hurricane Katrina and for the rescue and response workers as they all begin to weed through the destruction.

Kelly in Bed With Xcel?

<—garbage

I think there are some serious conflicts of interest with this arangement in the Kelly campaign:

St. Paul mayoral candidate Elizabeth Dickinson questioned Monday whether Mayor Randy Kelly could legally allow a top Xcel Energy executive to raise money for his campaign while at the same time the city is negotiating a new franchise agreement with the energy company. Kelly’s office and campaign strongly denied any wrongdoing.

Dickinson, the Green Party candidate, stopped short of accusing the mayor of breaking any laws, but said: “I think that a lot of people looking at this would say it may not pass the smell test.”

Look, it’s is probably the case that Kelly isn’t breaking any laws by accepting the money from the Xcel exec, but it is a little sleazy. There is not doubt that the Executive’s donation will influence the negotiations, such is human nature. Maybe it is unreasonable to ask a candidate conduct his campaign in a manner that considers more than just what is illegal, but the application of some of the simple rules of business ethics would be welcomed.

Technorati Tags:

Greetings from Galesburg

Well, I’m back in the ‘burg…exiled from the paradise that is Minnesota. I wasn’t going to post tonight (busy “gettin’ settled” if you know what I mean), but this post over at Clever Peasantry is too good to ignore.

Anyway, enjoy your evening, lord knows that I am.

GoogleNet?

Yes, I know that it is not exactly political news, but this little rumor was too good not to comment on (Business 2.0 article here):

What if Google (GOOG) wanted to give Wi-Fi access to everyone in America? And what if it had technology capable of targeting advertising to a user’s precise location? The gatekeeper of the world’s information could become one of the globe’s biggest Internet providers and one of its most powerful ad sellers, basically supplanting telecoms in one fell swoop. Sounds crazy, but how might Google go about it?

First it would build a national broadband network — let’s call it the GoogleNet — massive enough to rival even the country’s biggest Internet service providers. Business 2.0 has learned from telecom insiders that Google is already building such a network, though ostensibly for many reasons. For the past year, it has quietly been shopping for miles and miles of “dark,” or unused, fiber-optic cable across the country from wholesalers such as New York’s AboveNet. It’s also acquiring superfast connections from Cogent Communications and WilTel, among others, between East Coast cities including Atlanta, Miami, and New York. Such large-scale purchases are unprecedented for an Internet company, but Google’s timing is impeccable. The rash of telecom bankruptcies has freed up a ton of bargain-priced capacity, which Google needs as it prepares to unleash a flood of new, bandwidth-hungry applications. These offerings could include everything from a digital-video database to on-demand television programming.

Dark fiber-optic, global network, market takeover… sounds like a good book. Well, if I have to be the subject of an international information monopoly, I’d pick Google over anyone else anyway.

Katherine Kersten: Nut Job

Kersten Id2.L
<— Whacko

Clever Sponge over at Clever Peasantry lets the Star Tribune columnist Katherine Kersten have it over her column today. It’s pretty entertaining for a variety of reasons but mostly because Kersten sucks and deserves a beat down every once in a while. Check it out here: Happy Kate Finds God

P.S. Has anyone noticed the naming madness that is CP? 1st there’s the name, Clever Peasantry, then the alias, Clever Sponge, and then the blogspot URL is clevermonkey… Not a critique, just puzzled commentary.

I’m sold, RT for Mayor

I’ve been avoiding the Minneapolis Mayors race as much as possible. Its a nasty race between two progressive DFLers; not much fun to watch from my perspective. Early on, I leaned Rybak; he’s been a good Mayor as far as I can see and he supported Howard Dean for President. Early this summer, as I talked with a few of my friends involved in the Minneapolis DFL, I started to lean more towards McLaughlin, persuaded by their argument that Rybak was “all flash and no substance”. Lately, however, I’ve had second thoughts. I just couldn’t figure out why Rybak should be “fired”. Well, Lynnell Mickelsen’s op-ed closed the deal, I endorse R.T. Rybak for a second term. From the piece:

Call me a wacko idealist. But if Minneapolis voters must suffer through a long, nasty mayoral campaign between two progressive DFLers, could it puhleeze be about something bigger than who butted in line four years ago?

Yet a grudge match seems to be what’s driving the race between Mayor R.T. Rybak and his main challenger, Hennepin County Commissioner Peter McLaughlin. Because according to the old DFL guard who have been running the party (cough, into the ground, cough) for lo these many years, the last mayoral election was supposed to turn out like this:

Sharon Sayles Belton would stay mayor for as long as she wanted or until President Al Gore brought her to Washington. At which point, the old guard would anoint McLaughlin because Peter had been standing in line to be mayor for a long time.

Standing in line, of course, is the time-honored DFL way of choosing candidates. And it’s led to all those winning endorsements of Roger Moe, Skip Humphrey, Warren Spannaus and a host of others who later went down in flames.

Like Peter McLaughlin, they were all decent, dull DFLers with little or no charisma and not much vision beyond the standard party cliches. But they had loyally waited their turn. And by party insider standards, upholding the line of succession is far more important than actually winning the race.

I was a delegate at the DFL Convention that endorsed Roger Moe and it was an absolutely infuriating experience. Everyone knew that Dutcher and Lourey were better candidates but we went with Moe because it was his turn. I don’t play that game. I didn’t then, and I won’t now.

Peter McLaughlin is a great public servant and a good man. But R.T. has been a good Mayor, and no matter how hard I try, I cannot justify McLaughlin’s candidacy.

Agreed

Sometimes we all get a little too caught up in the blame game and for once the Star Tribune provides some perspective:

Minnesota campaign law erects a solid wall between public and corporate resources on one hand and political activity on the other. Yet it remains murky whether any of the recently alleged infractions would rise to the level of even misdemeanor charges or civil penalties.

State campaign watchdogs, for example, don’t count an activist’s use of a home computer as an in-kind contribution to candidates or parties. And use of any computer to draft a document would likely fall well below the $20 value threshold for reporting political contributions, said Jeanne Olson, executive director of the state Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board.

In addition, there would be no wrongdoing at all if a public or corporate entity was paid whatever value is attached to the use of its computer for a political purpose.
Some campaign law experts suggest that any issues raised by the recent spate of revelations are between employees and employers, rather than a concern for the public interest at large.

Maybe MDE will figure out that nobody really gives a #$%! if somebody slipped up for a sec and used a public computer for a campaign document… but I suspect they’ll keep up their ego masturbation by labeling such revelations as news.