Former U.S. Senator Mark Dayton opened the door to a gubernatorial run earlier this year, but according to multiple sources he jumped in with both feet tonight.
Dayton spoke at the Olmstead County DFL Dinner tonight. Also attending was Ramsey County Attorney Susan Gaertner. During his remarks, Dayton recognized Gaertner and noted that she is running for Governor in 2010. Dayton then said
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I was at the same dinner this evening when Dayton remarked that he was going to run for Governor in 2010. That would be wonderful.
Has anyone noticed that, despite the best of will, our Mr Dayton can’t string a coherent sentence together when there’s a microphone within 20 meters?
Still he might be able to ride the not-Republican wave, even by 2010.
It’s like Christmas morning. Please run Dayton, please run for governor in 2010.
yea dayton would have gotten creamed last year…..please run you snivelling idiot
I’m a Democrat and I still say N-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-!!!!!
As Pawlenty’s approval ratings go up and up (especially now with each successive veto), the DFL “talent” jumping into a potential race against him goes down and down.
First, some useless random prosecutor from Ramsey County, and now one of the worst political jokes in the history of the state of MN.
Please Governor Pawlenty, run for a third term. And please DFL, keep putting up these absolutely worthless opponents.
Yeah, I remember the last time a “useless random” county attorney from the Twin Cities ran for statewide office. How’d she end up doing by the way?
Well, the minimum wage law hasn’t gone into effect, so he doesn’t know any more than you do how its working.
In the end the 2010 race is going to have a lot of star power, a lot more than this last year did because there is no one like Hatch who seems to have the DFL nod wrapped up. And let all comers come, we’ll just have to see the fight.
Oh, and FYI, Mark Dayton would have beat Mark Kennedy. Maybe not by 20 points. But by at least 15.
Whiners. Sean
He has such a good heart, he is such a sincere, decent person. He should not run for Governor.
i’d hardly call gaertner a “useless random prosecutor.” plus - pawlenty won in ‘06 because the dfl nominated hatch, who wound up campaigning the farms in southern minnesota in a three piece suit, and even then pawlenty only clung on to win by just over 20K votes.
47% Timmy didn’t even come close to a majority.
H.Res. 6, Title II, “Adopting the Rules of the House of Representatives for the One Hundred Tenth Congress.” passed 430-1, Jan. 4th, 2007
H.Res. 6, Title IV, “Adopting the Rules of the House of Representatives for the One Hundred Tenth Congress.” passed 280-152, Jan. 5th, 2007
H.R. 1, “Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007.” passed 299-128, Jan. 9th, 2007
H.R. 2, “Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007.” passed 315-116, Jan. 10th, 2007
H.R. 3, “Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act.” passed 253-174, Jan. 11th, 2007
H.R. 4, “Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act.” passed 255-170, Jan. 12th, 2007
H.R. 5, “College Student Relief Act of 2007.” passed 356-71, Jan. 17th, 2007
H.R. 6, “Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation Act.” passed 264-163, Jan. 18th, 2007
This is all passed legislation. Which party is holding up enactment?
That’s pretty interesting news.
Also, Mark Kennedy is by far the worst state-wide candidate to run within recent memory. He should have just stayed in the 6th, where he fit in. I have no idea why the GOP thought they could run him, but I’m glad they did. Ford Bell would have destroyed him, too.
Richard,
I am not going to let you get away with blaming Republicans for holding up bills. The Senate is controlled by Democrats. All of the Committee Chairmen are Democrats. Just as the House is. They haven’t even appointed conference committees for some of these bills yet. The minimum wage bill is something the President has said he would sign and Congress can’t even get it to his desk. Oh, and I would not consider the Rules of the House to be legislation Richard and certainly not something to applaud accomplishing. Without Rules, the House would not function. Neither the Senate nor the President has anything to do with those rules either.
Chris-does your mommy and daddy know that you’re on the commputer? Someone who hasn’t had grade school math is named Chris. You need 60 votes to push bills through the Senate — so yes, the obstructionist Republicans are to blame. Please show this to your daddy. When you hit the age of reason, come back and join the blog.
My friend Rob has a comment for Chris: Do your mommy and daddy know that you are on the computer, Chris? It takes 60 votes to push bills through congress — so yes, the obstructionist Republicans are working their evil. Chris, when you finish 2nd grade math or reach the age of reason, come back and join the blog.
Ruthie,
You are either stupid or ignorant. I think you’re probably both. Republicans are not filibustering any legislation in the Senate. As I had mentioned, Harry Reid has not even appointed conferees (do you even know what a Conference Committee is?) on some of the bills. Maybe you need to go back and get that GED so you can learn enough about civics you don’t make an ass out of yourself.
Oh and tell your friend Rob to shove it.
I set you up and you responded exactly like I knew you would: Like a ranting, sniveling child. Speaking of minimum wage…you wouldn’t even be making THAT if the Republicans had their way. You can thank the Democrates for creating the lifestyle you enjoy.
Ruthie,
The only ranting sniveling person here is you. Better get that GED or you’ll need the minimum wage.
P.S.
Notice I didn’t call you a child Ruthie. That’s because the children I know act more civilized than you do on this blog and I would not impugn those children by comparing them to you.
You would envy my education and salary…I think YOU are working on a GED — you mention it enough!! You do realize the Republicans want us all living on plantations, don’t ya? Hopefully I’m getting you to finally THINK…when you see the light, our big ‘ol tent will welcome you!!!
Really Ruthie that’s pretty funny. What is your education level? I bet you dollars to donuts I am more educated than you are.
WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — The Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly approved an increase in the nation’s minimum wage to $7.25 an hour and a package of tax sweeteners for small businesses.
The bill, approved on a 94-3 vote in the late afternoon, would increase the minimum wage from the current $5.15 in three steps over two years, but it also includes tax breaks for small businesses that weren’t part of the minimum-wage bill approved last month by the House. The bill would also raise taxes on executive deferred compensation over $1 million a year.
The minimum wage hasn’t been increased for 10 years. “Passing this wage hike represents a small but necessary step to help lift America’s working poor out of the ditches of poverty and onto the road toward economic prosperity,” said Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., chief sponsor of the bill.
The two versions of the bill must be reconciled before it’s enacted into law. Both chambers must approve identical language.
This took about 10 minutes to track down so there’s either a lack of understanding or a lack of ambition to find out. I’m guessing the latter. It’s much easier to listen to right wing propagandists.
Richard,
You are just as gullible as Ruthie. Haven’t you heard of a Conference Committee? Do you not know what conferees are? The minimum wage bill has not passed a conference committee because the Senate hasn’t appointed conferees yet. Do you not understand how legislation is passed???
The failure of Congress to pass a minimum wage bill has nothing to do with the Republicans in Congress or the President. The comments by Richard and Ruthie show the incompetence of Congress to even pass a bill and put it on the President’s desk.
I was hoping for an exchange of witicisms with you, but it’s obvious you can’t carry my water. You are starting to bore me… Oh, and the invitation to our big tent is still open…”a born again Dem” is always better than a Republican Neocon.
Ruthie,
Your mother should have held her water and drowned you. How is that for witty? By the way, I have a doctorate degree. What is your highest level of education completed?
Wow, it’s gotten classy in here.
Per the topic, Mark Dayton running for governor:
It’s an interesting candidacy. He’s got a high profile state-wide, and he’s still well liked by a lot of the DFL, despite the railing he gets. It’s probably the type of job he’s better suited for, running the state, than being a modern Senator, so I’m not sure his recent job says that much about his candidacy, really.
He’s a poor public speaker and isn’t particularly inspirational. he’s not good on camera.
But he is very smart, and immensely dedicated. he’s got the personality of a manager and pretty good skills for it. he’s not good at a lot of the political wheeling and dealing.
I could see him being a very good Governor for the state, with a DFL majority in the legislature. It’d be a cooperative relationship, and I think the state would be effectively managed.
But it’s way too early to make any calls on the 2010 Governor’s race, IMHO, no matter who’s declared their candidacy. It’s so early than no announcement will have any real effect on the race (which hasn’t even started yet, and won’t until after the 2008 election). So if Mark wants to look around at it and see what happens, why shouldn’t he?
The personal attacks on Dayton are a bit pathetic. he’s been a dedicated public servant for most of his life; it’s sad that that gets swept under the rug because he doesn’t have a rock star personality and has made a few political errors. On the policy end of the world, he was right a hell of a lot more than most; he certainly knew from the start that Bush’s War was a big damn mistake. Maybe that’s one of the reasons the usual sycophants can’t stand him…
You are confusing wit for hate — they are not the same. BUT, it is what Republicans do best. When you people get outsmarted, you get very, very ugly. Just like Cheney on the Senate floor to Leahy…you define the UGLY AMERICAN very well. What is your PHD in? Fascism?
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said he would hold onto the bill temporarily rather than sending it immediately to the House while Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and other House leaders decide what they want to do next.
Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., acknowledged that House Democrats would suffer some “heartburn” because it’s going to be either a higher minimum wage with the tax breaks or no bill at all.
Note Enzi’s comment minimum wage increase only if tied to further tax breaks. How many tax breaks have there been for business’s in the same ten years that there has been no increase to minimum wage. And how are the Republicans going to pay for further tax breaks? Why they aren’t, that’ll be the job for our children and our children’s children.
Absolutely spot on Josh.
Ruthie,
You’re a typical liberal. You spew hate all day long at Republicans and then wonder why they aren’t nice to you after the fact. I guess I proved you wrong, I am more educated than you are. And no, I don’t have a PhD. I have a J.D.
Richard,
You just proved me correct that Reid is holding up the minimum wage bill. What is it about the legislative process that do you not understand Reid is responsible for not passing the minimum wage bill and getting it to the President for signature?
Oh and Ruthie,
I may be an UGLY AMERICAN. You’re just plain (well, you can fill in the blank)…
Chris, Ruthie and everyone else on the blog like you: In the words of Jon Stewart, “Please stop.” It’s not enlightening, it’s not entertaining to read, and neither one of you are convincing anyone to join your cause. Chris - you continuously start out with a topic on subject and then in 4 entries turn it into a flame war of the worst kind. (Lest you think I’m only oing this as a “liberal” keep reading) Ruthie, you’re not any better. If you truly are a liberal, I probably agree with a lot of your political views, but PLEASE stop posting the mess in your responses. Speaking as a liberal - go to bed, will you please!
OK - that’s all.
A Different Chris,
I appreciate where you are coming from and your admonition of Ruthie especially. My problem is that when I post a thoughful and reasoned objection to something someone says here (like Richard’s ill informed comments that Republicans were holding up the minimum wage bill in the Senate), the next post I am called an idiot, childish, a fascist or worse. I’m not going to just sit here and take such bullying from the likes of Ruthie and her boyfriend Rob or whomever it might be. You and I have had plenty of thoughtful discussions and I will continue those. But believe me when some idiot challenges my intellect or integrity, I will not back down.
Last off topic post on this thread.
Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo., acknowledged that House Democrats would suffer some “heartburn” because it’s going to be either a higher minimum wage with the tax breaks or no bill at all.
Reid is holding out to work out a compromise deal. Trying to get the “true believers” from both parties to mellow out just a bit. More tax breaks aren’t needed and if that’s the only way minimum wage increase is going to fly, then what will the GOP cut to make up for the lost revenue? So, yes the GOP is holding this up, as they knew would happen, by insisting on tax breaks to be attached.
Richard,
You cherry pick one comment from a Republican like he is in charge of the Senate. By the way, you didn’t source your comment either. This is from Congressional Quarterly dated March 28, 2007:
Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., has said he hopes that bolstering the Senate tax proposal will increase his leverage for negotiating a larger package in conference. The House-passed version of the spending bill includes at least $1.3 billion in small-business tax breaks along with the minimum wage increase.
“When you negotiate, you usually settle pretty much in the middle,” Baucus said recently.
This is from Congressional Quarterly dated March 9, 2007:
Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, chairman of the House Democratic Caucus, said today that Democratic leaders have pushed to include the minimum wage and small business tax breaks on the supplemental to help break a stalemate with the Senate. Senate Finance Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., and his ally, Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, the panel’s ranking Republican, have argued for combining a larger Senate-passed $8.3 billion package of business tax breaks with a similar proposal (HR 2) to raise the minimum wage by $2.10 over two years to $7.25.
Again, Richard, I ask you who is to blame for the minimum wage stalemate: Republicans who are in the minority in both Houses of Congress or Democrats who control all legislation? It’s pretty clear the Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee does not agree with the House on this bill and wants those tax breaks you lament.
P.S.
There are already tax breaks attached in the House version of the bill ($1.3 billion worth) just not enough to satisfy Democrat Chairman Sen. Max Baucus, who urges $8.3 billion in tax breaks. Again, you can play cute with the facts to your Kool Aid drinking friends. But you can’t fool the thinking people who actually follow what is happening in Washington, D.C.
well this conversation has spun out of control, from Dayton running to Min. Wage increase…..hmm…. well in my opinion it is the process of washington that is holding up this legislation, you can blame the democrats for it, be it the timing they want the bill to be signed or their intentions to compromise between the houses, or you can blame the republicans, who are very able and willing to hold up this kind of legislation as a minority (the dems have done it) and hardly accomplished anything in the years when they were in control. My advice is stop with the personal attacks, it solves nothing, and debate the merits of the proposals. I am tired of people like the ones here that argue and argue, with no compromise or cooperation in sight or even a part of the goal, its these people that turn people away from politics and make the population sick, myself included. my philosophy is you CANNOT B!t@h unless your are willing to come to the table with a solution. But hey…thats just me, what do you guys think?
Terrorist attacks are coming, close down the Twins stadium and the mall of America and run to your basements and hide for a week.
I am very excited to have Mark Dayton run for governor. I feel he knows his way around our state offices. We need to get our state back on track. Top priority should be education, health care, environmental issues, lower property taxes. Our state has been overrun with fee increases and new fees, example child care licensing fees are as much as $250.00 a year in some counties. I feel that having Mark Dayton as a state leader will help our state once again become a leader in education, health care etc.
Deb,
I think if you look honestly at what the DFL wants to do this session you shouldn’t talk about fee increases. The tax package that will be sent to Pawlenty will have many times more fees than what the Governor has promoted in the past. They are attempting to hiding this with a new income tax tier but the increase costs to drivers through gas tax, license tabs increases along with others would out pace the increased income tax to make the entire tax system more regressive.
The big kicker is that the property tax reduction the DFL talks about is a sham. It is really just increased LGA which local governments have no obligation to use for property tax reductions. I can’t see most local government bodies reducing taxes and not just taking the extra money. I’d be happy to be wrong here though.
Also, since when did the Governor determine county day-care fees? My gut reaction is your post is not just that of an interested blogger. You wouldn’t happen to know Dayton, one of his staff or some other DFL management type would you?
Kerosene Hat
I have never met Mark Dayton, nor do I know anyone on his staff. I am a Minnesotan who is concerned about the future of Minnesota and the United States. I also have never posted anything before.
When state government is not funding the counties needs for education, health care, transportation ect. than the county governments in turn raise taxes, such as property taxes to try keep up the quality of living in their communities. Counties have become very creative in creating fees to help fund their needs. Such as child care licensing fees. Some counties charge as much as $250.00a and some as little as $50.00 per year and some don’t charge.
The DFL does not have all the answers. In my opinion they can be a beginning to help Minnesota be a leader in the quality of life for our citizens
Deb,
I asked the question because your points were very much in line with the talking points DLF officials are handed by leadership at the time of any important announcement.
It is not the states responsibility to take care of the counties needs. If it were we might as well just eliminate the county level of government and hand those duties to the state. I could maybe be talked into this given about 1 out of 3 employed people work for the government at some level and it might reduce this to about 2 in 5.
I agree that the state needs to do a better job of handling it’s responsibilities but don’t think the DFL is really even making an effort and Dayton is not the kind of leader to change that. To make real and important changes a leader needs to have the best ideas and the ability to present them. I question Dayton’s ideas and have no doubt he has zero ability to present them.
Keroaene Hat,
I feel that Dayton has the ability.
States receive funding from the federal government, in turn counties do receive funding from the state government and so on. Much of the funding has been cut.
The DFL is not having a easy time. The DFL does not have enough House or Senate seats to override a veto. I am hoping that the Governor and the House and Senate can work out a compromise. I want to see Minnesota have the ability to have quality education for all, from our youngest citizens up. To have good affordable health care for all. To work on and look for ways to clean up our environment. To have a good and energy saving transportation system. This is just what I think is most important. I know that this well not happen in one legislative session, but I have hope for our future.
None of this can happen if we do not raise taxes. I don’t like taxes. I often feel that I pay to much, but than I look around and see our state losing ground in all these areas.
Deb,
I’d just like to know why you think we are losing ground. Spending under Pawlenty has gone up 30%. We spend more each biennium than we did the biennium before. In fact, Pawlenty’s budget includes a 9% increase in spending. At what point is enough enough? And why is the reaction by the left to always raise taxes instead of doing things smarter, cheaper and more efficient?