Monthly Archive for May, 2007
Page 2 of 4
It’s pretty clear that there will be no major new revenue sources out of this session. The proposed tax increases have been scuttled due to the Governor’s unyielding devotion to the tax-payer’s league (which apparently only represents the 1% wealthiest Minnesotans because I think the average tax-payer would have loved some property tax relief). And without a new revenue source I can be pretty confident that we won’t have significant property tax relief (the DFL will get some into the budget, but not near what they wanted), no per-pupil student funding increases, no tuition caps at the state colleges, no new transportation funding, and our nursing homes won’t get the help they need. These political corpses (a long with scores of others) can be laid firmly at the Governor’s feet.
But that’s just my two cents, what does everyone think of this legislative session so far? Did we get what we bargained for when we sent overwhelming majorities to the state capitol? Did the DFLers overextend themselves when they reached for those upper-level tax increases? Or is this all just part of the regular bargain/compromise cycle that happens at the capitol?
Discuss.
Again, I am aware that they both trail Coleman by double digits. If you look past the headline and actually examine the data, however, you will understand my optimism.
MDE is quick to note that only about 55-60% of DFLers backed Franken and Ciresi in the MPR poll. Truth is, this is why the head to head match ups look so bad and also why Ciresi and Franken should not be troubled by the poll.
If Ciresi and Franken received the same level of support among Democrats that Coleman gets from Republicans, this race would be in the single digits (and Coleman would be under 50%). More to the point, neither of them will have any trouble shoring up support about DFLers. By the time 2008 rolls around, both will garner 85%+ of Democrats.
Much more important is the fact that Norm is below 50% (though just barely) among independents against both Ciresi and Franken. And this is before most voters even know who these guys are.
Take Ciresi for example. The MPR poll showed that 35% of Minnesotans don’t know who he is and another 34% don’t know enough about him to have an opinion.
So rejoice if you will, my Republican friends.
Yes, both Ciresi and Franken trail by double digits and Coleman is above 50% against both. That is bad news. But look a little deeper and you’ll see why I am optimistic after looking at this poll.
Consider what this poll says about Norm Coleman. Both Norm’s job approval number and his favorability number are below the magic 50% threshold, signaling danger for an incumbent. Perhaps more interesting, Norm’s favorability rating, 43%, is significantly lower than his job approval, 48%. That’s a little unusual and I think it speaks to a fundamental problem of Norm’s.
Norm is just not a typical Minnesota politician. He’s slick, polished and, most importantly, not genuine. Minnesotans may approve of some of the policy stands he takes (and Norm is pretty careful to stick with the prevailing mood even if it means Olympic quality gymnastics) but their never going to be completely comfortable with Norm as a person.
Later tonight, I’ll delve into the head to head numbers…
While I’m sure that every Minnesotan with a set of eyes is likely to want to read more on the smoking ban about as much as they’d like to read a dissertation on ear wax growth, I humbly ask you to indulge me for a moment. Don’t worry though, this isn’t so much about the pros and cons of banning smoking in public, indoor places statewide as it is an analysis of the implications of this kind of legislature. I think that the passage of this ban demands that we reflect on the philosophy of Government that allows such a ban to be passed and how we should or should not apply that philosophy down the road. Plus, I promise not to talk about the dang thing again after I get this one last piece out!
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Question: If a private employer finds homosexuality immoral, should he be allowed to fire a gay worker?
Thompson: I think that is left up to the individual business. I really sincerely believe that that is an issue that business people have got to make their own determination as to whether or not they should be.
Don’t worry, Gov. Thompson can explain. He didn’t hear the question correctly because the battery in his hearing aide was dead and he really had to pee.
I was just hanging on. I could not wait until the debate got off so I could go to the bathroom. I didn’t hear the question. All I was thinking about was getting off the stage.
Incontinent and deaf. Exactly what America is looking for in a President.
MPR pollsters also asked about voter perceptions of DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar. Klobuchar, who took office earlier this year, won “good” or “excellent” marks from 56 percent of the respondents. And the 9 percent who said Klobuchar is doing a “poor” job, is half of the 18 percent who gave Coleman a “poor” job performance rating.
Damn, that’s a good number. Survey USA has her in an even better position, with a 58% approval rating. Minnesotans must like her strong emphasis on congressional ethics and her work on global warming.
Having a hard time keeping track of all 10,000 GOP scandals? Between fired U.S. attorneys, deleted RNC e-mails, sexually harassed pages, outed CIA agents, and tortured Iraqi prisoners
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