Monthly Archive for January, 2008
Page 2 of 6
Check out the lede on the Star Tribune’s story about Erik Paulsen’s announcement.
Declaring himself an heir to the common-sense political tradition of Jim Ramstad and Bill Frenzel, GOP state Rep. Erik Paulsen officially announced his candidacy Sunday for the Third Congressional District seat held by the two Republicans for nearly 40 years.
Bah! Paulsen a moderate? Don’t be silly.
How is Erik Paulsen an out-of-the-mainstream conservative? Let me count the ways:
- In 2003, while House Majority Leader (so this would be before he lost to Marty Siefert), Paulsen led the effort to make what the Pioneer Press called the “Deepest cuts in state history”. These cuts eliminated health coverage for 68,000 Minnesotans and cut child care assistance by $87 million.
- In 2005, Paulsen continued in his dastardly ways and voted to eliminate coverage for 24,000 Minnesotans.
- In the words of one state legislator I spoke to, Paulsen “led the charge” in favor of a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.
- During this last session (so after he lost to Seifert and was no longer Republican Leader) he was one of only 43 members (out of 134) to oppose the bipartisan transportation plan when it was initially passed by the House.
I could go on and on (and over the next few months I will, trust me). The point is this: Paulsen is not a moderate. Never has been, never will be. Belatedly trying to seize the mantle of centrist politics didn’t work for Mark Kennedy in 2006 and it won’t work for Erik Paulsen in 2008.
*Please note that I do not know Jim Ramstad personally, nor would I consider him a friend per se, but I did take a picture with him once and he seemed like a nice guy.
This is absolutely another wonderful opportunity to enter public service at a different level, focusing on issues like globalization and issues that I think that I genuinely care about and I think have learned a lot about some expertise on now and try to carry that to a new level as we do try to educate our kids for a global economy,” he said. “So that’s something in the back of my mind that definitely interests me and the opportunity, and I think I would do a good job.
Yes, for our children.
Just kidding Rep. Paulsen, welcome to the race!
In honor of this giant win I present you with the FUNKY PRESIDENT!
Barack Obama 54%
Hillary Clinton 27%
John Edwards 19%
(it’s no good to count your chickens before they hatch, but winning always feels good)
- Vice President Walter Mondale
- State Auditor Rebecca Otto
- Former Secretary of State Joan Growe
- Former State Auditor Judi Dutcher
- Former State Senate Majority Leader Roger Moe
- Former State Senator Steve Kelley
- Former State Senator Ted Mondale
- Buck Humphrey
- Andy Luger
In addition, she lists 14 State Senators (on top of the seven that already endorsed her), giving her a veto-proof majority of our veto-proof DFL majority in the Senate. Pretty impressive.
I’m supporting Barack Obama for President. I’m happy to tell one and all why I think he’s the right guy for America. But, while I’d be unhappy if he lost I could console myself with the knowledge that Hillary Clinton would be a spectacular President (as would John Edwards, but he’s still falling into the ‘also-ran’ category).
The New York Times endorsed Hillary this morning. This is not unsurprising as they’ve endorsed her twice before as she ran for Senator.
Mrs. Clinton sometimes overstates the importance of résumé. Hearing her talk about the presidency, her policies and answers for America’s big problems, we are hugely impressed by the depth of her knowledge, by the force of her intellect and by the breadth of, yes, her experience.
It is unfair, especially after seven years of Mr. Bush’s inept leadership, but any Democrat will face tougher questioning about his or her fitness to be commander in chief. Mrs. Clinton has more than cleared that bar….
Domestically, Mrs. Clinton has tackled complex policy issues, sometimes failing. She has shown a willingness to learn and change.
What’s exceptional is that they didn’t endorse Rudy Giuliani, this is surprising as they endorsed him twice before when he was running for Mayor of NYC.
Why, as a New York-based paper, are we not backing Rudolph Giuliani? Why not choose the man we endorsed for re-election in 1997 after a first term in which he showed that a dirty, dangerous, supposedly ungovernable city could become clean, safe and orderly? What about the man who stood fast on Sept. 11, when others, including President Bush, went AWOL?
That man is not running for president.
The real Mr. Giuliani, whom many New Yorkers came to know and mistrust, is a narrow, obsessively secretive, vindictive man who saw no need to limit police power. Racial polarization was as much a legacy of his tenure as the rebirth of Times Square.
Mr. Giuliani’s arrogance and bad judgment are breathtaking. When he claims fiscal prudence, we remember how he ran through surpluses without a thought to the inevitable downturn and bequeathed huge deficits to his successor. He fired Police Commissioner William Bratton, the architect of the drop in crime, because he couldn’t share the limelight. He later gave the job to Bernard Kerik, who has now been indicted on fraud and corruption charges.
The Rudolph Giuliani of 2008 first shamelessly turned the horror of 9/11 into a lucrative business, with a secret client list, then exploited his city’s and the country’s nightmare to promote his presidential campaign.
What I content myself with, is if either Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton are the nominee we (Democrats) will destroy Mike Huckabee, but feel bad about it, because he’s such a nice guy. We will destroy Mitt Romney, but not feel bad about it, because he’s more than a little skeezy. And if Rudy Giuliani is the nominee? I will dance on battered carcass of his hopes and ambitions, singing a happy tune as he’s sent off to political oblivion. And John McCain? If the race is against John McCain, I think it’ll be about as good for the country as is possible.
Sean’s edit: Correction, they just endorsed him in 1997
I’m State Senator Terri Bonoff. I’m running for Congress because your voices are not being heard. Career politicians are giving in to special interests, not making the tough choices. I’m not like that. We want change; we want it now.
As a lifelong Democrat, I’ve spent decades working in this community to bring about change. That’s what I’ll do in Congress.
Please caucus for me on February 5th. Visit TerriBonoff.com to find out more. I’m Terri Bonoff and I approve this message.
I said earlier that Madia was first on the air, but I honestly don’t know which of these two ads was on the radio first. I just heard about the Madia ad first (and it was only a matter of hours).
The proposed passenger rail line from Minneapolis to Duluth is expected to help generate nearly $2 billion in development around five Minnesota stations, including almost $1 billion around the Minneapolis station at the Twins’ new ballpark, according to a study presented Tuesday.
A line supporting eight daily trains capable of speeds up to 110 miles per hour would generate 13,833 jobs throughout the corridor, the Minneapolis Transportation & Public Works Committee and Anoka County board were told in separate presentations.
With a slowing economy, this proposal looks even more attractive. The cost of the line is projected to be $400 million. That’s cost effective on face, but when you factor in the 70 or 80 percent the feds contribute, all of the sudden Minnesota is investing $80 million to get a $2 billion payout. Not bad for government work.
Remember, you gotta spend money to make money. This one is a no-brainer.
Speaking Tuesday afternoon before a predominantly Hispanic audience of more than 2,000 people here, where she accepted the endorsement of Cesar Chavez’s United Farm Workers union, Mrs. Clinton repeatedly heard the crowd chant “Si se puede” — a signature political phrase at Hispanic rallies that translates to “Yes, It Can Be Done!”
Politicians usually join in, but Mrs. Clinton refrained from doing so on one, two, and then three occasions; she simply nodded and smiled and said nothing.
Finally, as the crowd began shouting the phrase again, Mrs. Clinton bellowed into her microphone, “Si se pueda is right!”
Ouch. Especially bad because the gaffe was in front of the union that popularized “Si se puede” as a rally chant.
My name is Ashwin Madia, I’m a Marine Corp and Iraq War veteran, running for U.S. Congress to represent Minnesota’s 3rd district. I’m running for Congress because it’s time for our nation to live up to its ideals again and lead the world not through our size and our strength but because of what we stand for. We don’t need torture, secret prisons, and warrentless wiretapping in order to be safe. We can protect ourselves and protect our values at the same time. I believe that the United States must responsibly withdraw from Iraq so we don’t leave a disaster behind. Global Warming is a planetary emergency that our nation must lead the world in addressing and within this crisis there is great opportunity through new green technology to reinvigorate our economy. Finally I want to lead our party, the Democratic Party in standing up, showing courage and fighting for what we believe in, not shrinking from oversight duties during wartime. My name is Ashwin Madia and I would be honored to have your support at caucuses on February 5th. Visit madiaforcongress.com, M-A-D-I-A-F-O-R-congress.com, prepared and paid for by Madia for Congress. I’m Ashwin Madia and I approve this message.
This isn’t a huge buy (its only on Air America) but is does give you a sense of how MAdia frames his candidacy.
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