2006 June archive at MNpublius.com

Archive for June, 2006

It begins with the words “for immediate release.”

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1 year, 10 months ago in Amy Klobuchar, MN 2006: Senate and MN GOP and Mark Kennedy. 0 Comments

Eric Black of The Star Tribune’s Blog, The Big Question has a good post this morning on the GOP’s response to Makeover Mark’s website de-Bushification and the ensuing ‘kerfluffle’. Black admits that the Star Tribune was less than fair in its coverage of Scrubgate:

Utilizing the highly-evolved techniques of scientific journalism, my esteemed colleague Conrad deFiebre crammed into those 12 inches the basic back-and-forth over the kerfluffle, quoted from the DFL and GOP chairmen’s press releases, and actually endorsed the pro-Kennedy spin that:

“the claims by MN Publius, picked up by national blogs Hotlineblog, Politicalwire and Dailykos, that Kennedy’s site had been “scrubbed” practically clean of the president appear to be exaggerated.”

Here is where we deviated from fairness and balance. We failed to label another apparent exaggeration, namely the GOP line that only a Democratic stooge could suggest that the website was de-Bushified at all.

Black deserves some kudos for admitting that his paper made a mistake, and addressing it openly and fairly. Additionally, it seems the Star Tribune is not too pleased with being taken to the woodshed in a fundraising letter by Enron-lobbyist-turned-Kennedy-Campaign-Manager Pat Shortridge about running the story at all [12 inches on page B4] AFTER Ron Carey issued a press release that was a direct response to the story….our story. Seems like Pat and our good friend Ron Carey need to get in sync, as Carey’s release, that’s right, began with the words “for immediate release.”

What did they expect the Star Tribune to do?

Not run with a press release from a State Party Chairman?

An Open Letter to the Mark Kennedy Campaign

Published by

Matt

1 year, 10 months ago in Mark Kennedy. 0 Comments

In the past 24 hours we have heard the shrieks and howls from the rightwing machine claiming that you are not running away from President Bush. This in spite of the fact that you had your official Congressional web page changed to edit out some references to the President and had photos of you and the President replaced. We, of course, want to believe your surrogates. So, we propose a simple way to put the entire matter to rest:

Please post one of the numerous photos of you and President Bush on the front page of either your official site or your campaign site, your choice. That will put to rest all those who say you are embarrassed to be seen with him or that you are worried his 30 percent approval rating will increase Amy Klobuchar’s lead over you in the polls.

Show the world that you are not afraid of your record and embrace President Bush. Here are a few pictures of you and the President, just in case you’ve misplaced yours:

P.S. I believe Pat Kessler includes a few photos of you and President in case you are looking for video.

Technorati Tags: Mark Kennedy

Doubting Gil; Maybe he Should Take a Vacation

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Matt

1 year, 10 months ago in MN DC House. 0 Comments

Fy05Markup4031104 A very credible source sent MN Publius the following information:

“Was talking to a Canadian MP last night, who said that he met Gutknecht last week at some conference, and that Gil told him, ‘I have a real fight on my hands right now, I might not be seeing you at this time next year…’”

Hopefully, Representative Gil Gutknecht’s predication will come true, and if the strength of Tim Walz’s campaign is any indication, Gil is probably right.

In a year defined by ethics scandals, Gil might do a little better by himself if he just turned down a few of those free trips the lobbyists offer him. The total value of the free trips Gil’s office has accepted is among the highest in Congress and first among MN Representatives at a whopping $110,000. And let’s not forget the developing DM&E Affair…

Tim Walz, on the other hand, has developed firm positions that stand in opposition to Gil’s hand-greasing practices and a base of support in the 1st CD that any challenger would be envious of. Yes, Gil should be scared of his situation. And, if you want to make him more fearful, you can help out: Help Tim reach his end of the quarter fundraising goal, march with Tim and Al Franken in the St. Peter 4th of July parade, volunteer, contribute, do whatever you can. This district is ours to take, let’s not let Minnesota down.

Technorati Tags: Gil Gutknecht, Tim Walz

Makeover Mark’s Website Scrubs President Bush : Part Deux

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Jon-David

1 year, 10 months ago in Blog. 0 Comments

I want to make it clear, again, that MNPublius never made the claim that Kennedy had removed ALL references to President Bush from his site. I know some national bloggers, pundits, and mSm picked up the story and took that to be my meaning, but they are simply taking the story too far. That being said, as I previously mentioned in my response to Ron Carey, our interns did some research, and found another scrub:

Result #7 in Ron Carey’s favorite search:
The URL: http://markkennedy.house.gov/kennedycontents/news/photos/archive.shtml
The Page: Kennedy’s Site, Explore and Learn - Photo Archive
‘Bush’ does not appear in the live version of this page. But it does in the cached version the google search Ron Carey helpfully pointed me to go and try: Google Cache tells us the reason:

G o o g l e’s cache is the snapshot that we took of the page as we crawled the web.
The page may have changed since that time.
These terms only appear in links pointing to this page: bush
Congressman Mark Kennedy Photo Archive Kennedy Presents Check for …
The MN Delegation Welcomes President Bush, John Kline Minnesota members were happy to welcome President Bush to Minnesota. Here, Congressmen Kennedy and markkennedy.house.gov/kennedycontents/news/photos/archive.shtml
58k - Supplemental Result - Cached - Similar pages

So there used to be a picture in Mark’s Photo Archive of the Minnesota Delegation welcoming President Bush to our great state. Kennedy was evidently presenting a check - to whom and for what we have no idea. Thank You Google Cache!

So, there are plenty of references to Bush still on the site: duplicate versions of press releases, articles other people wrote that Kennedy posted, Kennedy quotes that are critical of Bush, PDFs that are no longer active links on his site, orphaned pages, and results like the Photo Archive Google Cache find I mention above. There are VERY, VERY few positive mentions of the President Kennedy voted with over 95% of the time.

Want examples of Kennedy being critical of Bush as part of his makeover? 5 more after the jump.

Let’s recap! Scrubbed completely clean? No. Scrubbed: Definitely.

Did his site get a Makeover along with his public image? Absolutely.

And by the way, KvM: quit crediting Matt with my writing, he doesn’t deserve that kind of awful treatment. He’s a far more talented wordsmith than I. There are 3 authors of MNPublius nowadays, not two.
Continue reading ‘Makeover Mark’s Website Scrubs President Bush : Part Deux’

Digg US!!

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Matt

1 year, 10 months ago in Blog. 0 Comments

This is shameless, but if we got on Digg’s front page my life would be closer to completion.

Just click here and you’ll see a number to the left of the title, under that number is a button that says “digg it” CLICK THAT. Either way, Digg is an awesome site and you’ll be a better person for going there regularly.

MN Publius Plays Hardball

Published by

Matt

1 year, 10 months ago in Mark Kennedy. 0 Comments

Wow, just wow. MN Publius cracked into national television today when Chris Matthews referenced a Publius story during his interview with political consultants Shrum and Rogers on MSNBC’s Hardball. The story, which originated here, was about Mark Kennedy’s attempt to run from his record of George Bush’s most loyal supporter in the House. You can check out the video here (click on “Video: Shrum, Rogers weigh in” in the center column), but here’s the Publius inspired exchange:

MATTHEWS: Let’s get to the heart of the question. Will the President help your party and why is this guy Kennedy, the Senate Kennedy out in Minnesota yanking the President’s face off his website this week?

ROGERS: Having the President of the United States as the incumbent party is a big net plus politically. If for no other reason,[sic] he can raise money and give resources to the campaigns that will be local elections

MATTHEWS: But what about his face? Why is this guy taking his face off his election machinery?

ROGERS: I don’t know about that specific incident.

I just want to thank Ron Carrey again. Without Canny Carey’s defensive Press Release this never would have blown up into a national TV sized story. We’re just glad more and more people are learning of Mark Kennedy and George Bush’s close relationship.

Oh, and here are two other prominent sources that cited the story today, add them to the list: Salon and Bloomberg.

Technorati Tags: George Bush, Mark Kennedy, Ron Carey

BREAKING: McCain Endorses Kennedy, Mondale Endorses Klobuchar

Published by

Matt

1 year, 10 months ago in MN 2006: Senate. 0 Comments

In some mid-day drama both Minnesota Senate candidates have announced some major endorsements, MN Publius has learned from a reliable source. Mark Kennedy will announce his being endorsed by Senator John McCain, probably the most important endorsement of his campaign. Amy Klobuchar, as if saying “I’ll see your Senator and raise you a former Vice President” will announce Walter Mondale’s endorsement of her Senate campaign.

Interesting endorsements and both weighty ones in their own right. More analysis to come soon…

Technorati Tags: Amy Klobuchar, Mark Kennedy

Mark Kennedy: Trying to Run from His Record

Published by

Matt

1 year, 10 months ago in Mark Kennedy. 0 Comments

Mark Kennedy is in a tough position. He’s voted with the president 95% of the time over his career in the House and the President’s not too popular these days, a fact that may hurt his chances at that Senate seat he’s running for. So, Mark’s going through an election year Makeover.

The Star Tribune released a story yesterday about Mark removing some of the references to Bush from his website (a story which originated here). But by the most definitive coverage to date was Pat Kessler’s segment “Reality Check” about Mark Kennedy’s fake to the middle. I suggest watching the segment, it’s great reporting, or reading the transcript (complete with sources), but if you can’t, here’s my favorite part:

The strategy is keeping distance from an unpopular president without a perception of a political “cut and run”.

IN FACT, until this campaign year, Kennedy’s voting record was among the most loyal to President Bush.

In 2002, 2003 and 2004, Congressional Quarterly reports Kennedy voted with the president 97 percent of the time.

In 2005, after deciding to run for Senate, Kennedy’s voting patterns changed –- supporting the president only 87 percent of the time.

That’s reality check!

Technorati Tags: George Bush, Mark Kennedy

Thanks Ron Carey!

Published by

Matt

1 year, 10 months ago in MN GOP. 0 Comments

I just wanted to send out an emphatic thank you to Minnesota GOP Chairman Ron Carey for taking a modest blog post and getting it into the mainstream media! I mean, the mentions in Daily Kos, The Hotline, Political Wire, The New Republic, Reedit, CQ Politics, City Pages, and tons of blogs were great, but without your brash defensive Press Release we would have never cracked into the MSM.

Really though Ron, great work from a seasoned political player. It’s great to have your help in getting out the word that Mark Kennedy is running from his record of voting with President Bush over 95% of the time. We try our best with the whole “Makeover Mark” schtick and calling him a rubber-stamp (and let’s be honest, he is), but it’s great to have the help of the MN GOP. Some people in your position might have let sleeping dogs lie and keep the story down, but you’re such a promoter! You saw the story, just had to have your word, and that brash response got it in the Star Tribune. That’s why you’re #1 Ron, don’t let anyone tell you differently.

Technorati Tags: Mark Kennedy, Ron Carey

Since When Did the Strib Become Ron Carey’s Loudspeaker?

Published by

Matt

1 year, 10 months ago in Blog. 0 Comments

Well, we had the dubious honor of being featured in our first actual Star Tribune story tonight (not counting all those blog house mentions) and while we’re flattered, they need to do some better investigative reporting. I would have expected them to contact us for comment or, at the very least, confirmation of their facts but, alas, they didn’t seem to think it worth their time. Oh well, the egg’s on their face, not ours.

Instead of figuring out the facts, they seemed to have just opted for Ron Carey’s talking points (which, as Jon-David has shown below, are severely flawed). In fact, the article uses the very same adjective that Carey does to characterize our claims: “exaggerated.” And I have to admit, the claim that all the references to Bush have been erased would have been very exaggerated, but then again, we never made that claim. Let me make that clear: we never claimed that all references to President Bush were removed from Representative Kennedy’s website. Funny thing is, the first person who said that we did was, you guessed it, Ron Carey.

But it doesn’t stop there folks, no siree bob. The article then quotes Carey’s remarks from the same press release, cites his number of 72 mentions (which Jon-David has shown to be an “exaggeration“), and then ends on a mention of the Kennedy campaign’s response (who they apparently felt the need to contact, but not us).

And then the little things like not linking us or even putting our actual url in, but what’re ya gonna do? The Strib got their facts dead wrong, so I’ll just sit back and wait for the apology and correction that we’re owed.

Response to MN-GOP Chairman Ron Carey’s Press Release

Published by

Jon-David

1 year, 10 months ago in Amy Klobuchar, Blog, MN 2006: Senate and MN GOP and Mark Kennedy. 0 Comments

Chairman Carey,

First off, I want to express my sincerest thanks to you for reading MNPublius.com. While our readership has expanded quite a bit over the past few months, I don’t think any of us ever expected to bring in the likes of a State Party Chairman. Your press release today was so insightful and hard-hitting! It was simply dripping with thick, gooey Truthiness. So much so, I feel compelled to respond.

With today’s false attack on Mark Kennedy, it’s clear the Klobuchar attack machine has once again fallen for the blogosphere’s misinformation hook, line and sinker. After falsely accusing Mark Kennedy of doctoring a photograph of a fish, Team Klobuchar now falsely accuses of him of ’scrubbing’ his website.

Klobuchar Attack Machine? Are we a part of this and if so, is it comprised of significant amounts of lasers, spinning saw blades, ninjas, or compensation?

Second, sweet…sweet…sweet fishing metaphor. Hook line and sinker! You, sir, have undoubtedly mastered the subtle ‘ins and outs’ of press release composition. Everyone in Minnesota can relate to that shiny, sparkling word gold man. Word Gold. On the real though, I can’t take all the credit for that story, as I didn’t even write our profoundly apologetic retraction. So if you could not lump my brilliant, provocative post with that dead fish I would really appreciate it. I swear, we correct ourselves when things aren’t true or didn’t happen or whatever. Man, like this one time at the State Convention, I called the Dutcher announcement like 5 times and I was so wrong and everything…ohh that’s right you were there…remember! You were sitting just down the row from me, behind MDE/Michael Brodkorb! Remember?

Here’s the thing though Ron, can I call you Ron? Ron, when I wrote, ‘The reference that remains has an interesting addition as well’, I was way off base. What I should have written was, A reference that remains has an interesting addition as well’. So you see, I understand how some people misunderstood and thought that I meant to imply that the reference I was speaking about was the last one - my bad.

“The fact is Mark Kennedy’s website includes 72 mentions of the word ‘Bush.’ With her hostile work environment, ineffective record, praise of ‘hero’ Mark Dayton, and hypocritical attacks on lobbyists, the only candidate in this race whose record needs a good ’scrubbing’ is Amy Klobuchar.”

Listen Ron, I was talking about Mark’s website! Not Mark the actual person. I mean, I appreciate you would like to give Amy a good scrubbin’. She’s an intelligent, classy woman. But seriously, I don’t ever want to scrub Mark Kennedy. Ever. Ew.
—————————————————————————————–

The full response and Intern research after the jump….it’s a lot.
Continue reading ‘Response to MN-GOP Chairman Ron Carey’s Press Release’

Update on the Way

Published by

Matt

1 year, 10 months ago in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Yes, we know that Ron Carey sent out a Press Release about our Kennedy story (we knew before MDE even posted). Yes, we know that the Strib put up a story about this whole hub-bub (we heard rumor of the story before it went up). We’re just carefully crafting our response. Don’t worry, it’ll be up shortly.

How is Mark’s Makeover Going?

Published by

Matt

1 year, 10 months ago in Mark Kennedy. 0 Comments

When you’re an incumbent in a Congress that has approval ratings hovering down below 30 percent (a 12-year low), a voting record that clearly ignores the interests of Minnesota, friends like Tom Delay, a close alignment with a massively unpopular President (by voting with him 97% of the time the past 3 years), and you’re running for Senate, what do you do? GET A MAKEOVER!!!

Yes, Representative Mark Kennedy (R-WH) is on an election year effort to re-brand himself an independent and it’s going to take a lot of make up… Click below the fold to see how it’s going (with a photo representation of the makeover so far)!

Technorati Tags: Mark Kennedy

Continue reading ‘How is Mark’s Makeover Going?’

MyDFL Site Redesign

Published by

Jon-David

1 year, 10 months ago in Blog. 0 Comments

Minnesota Young DFLers launched a new site recently. While they still have some content work to do ;-), go check it out and join if you’re a DFLer under the age of 36. And while I’m at it, MNPublius would like to formally thank MyDFL for providing us with a place to crash during the 2006 DFL State Convention. Gracias Mr. Broom!
Continue reading ‘MyDFL Site Redesign’

OneTermTimmy Pawlenty on Education. Panderiffic!

Published by

Jon-David

1 year, 10 months ago in MN 2006: Gov. 0 Comments

OneTermTimmy Pawlenty thinks that schools need reforming. He calls DFLers [using very poor grammar I might add]:

“…big spendin’, tax raisin’, abortion promotin’, gay marriage embracin’, more-welfare-without-accountability lovin’, school-reform resistin’, illegal-immigration supportin’ Democrats for governor who think Hillary Clinton should be president of the United States.”

Then why is OneTermTimmy proposing performance-based free tuition? Because Mike Hatch is incredibly strong on education.

High school students who graduate in the top fourth of their class would get free tuition at any state college or university, under a plan proposed by Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Tuesday.

Tim Pawlenty has done nothing but cut state funding to education in Minnesota, resulting in catastrophic rises in property taxes to make up for the shortfalls. He wants to make tuition free? No wonder, as tuition at the University of Minnesota has gone from about $5500/year to over $8000 under OneTermTimmy’s leadership on education.

Tim Pawlenty climbed the ladder of public education in Minnesota. Now that he’s reached the top, he’s done his best to kick the very same ladder out for the next generation. What a great way to say thank you to dedicated educators and administrators and move education forward in Minnesota.

Want more? K-12 school fees have skyrocketed under OneTermTimmy, increased over 45% from $46,800 in 2002 to over $67,800 in 2006.

Comments from Education Minnesota, after the jump….
Continue reading ‘OneTermTimmy Pawlenty on Education. Panderiffic!’

Archive for June, 2006

It begins with the words “for immediate release.”

An Open Letter to the Mark Kennedy Campaign

Doubting Gil; Maybe he Should Take a Vacation

Makeover Mark’s Website Scrubs President Bush : Part Deux

Digg US!!

MN Publius Plays Hardball

BREAKING: McCain Endorses Kennedy, Mondale Endorses Klobuchar

Mark Kennedy: Trying to Run from His Record

Thanks Ron Carey!

Since When Did the Strib Become Ron Carey’s Loudspeaker?

Response to MN-GOP Chairman Ron Carey’s Press Release

Update on the Way

How is Mark’s Makeover Going?

MyDFL Site Redesign

OneTermTimmy Pawlenty on Education. Panderiffic!

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