Madia - 8 delegates
Bonoff - 6 delegates
Uncommitted - 3 delegates
The Bonoff campaign also believes that one of the uncommitted delegates leans strongly their way. They also note that SD 42 has 5 super-delegates and that 2 have endorsed Bonoff and 3 are uncommitted.
This is a real battle.
UPDATE:
522 people showed up to the Convention. According to the Bonoff campaign, about 230 of them were committed Madia supporters, while about 210 were committed Bonoff supporters.
Here are the actual named subcaucus results:
Madia/Franken - 4 delegates
Madia - 4 delegates
Bonoff/Franken - 4 delegates
GLBT/Education/Franken - 2 delegates
Bonoff/Clinton - 1 delegate
Jack Nelson Pallmeyer - 1 delegate
Ciresi/Health Care - 1 delegate*
*Both campaigns agree that the delegate elected from this caucus is a strong Bonoff supporter, so I have included her as one of the six above, despite the fact that this is not a named subcaucus.
2nd UPDATE:
Madia and Bonoff releases after the jump…
BONOFF SUPPORTERS COME OUT IN FORCE AT FIRST SENATE DISTRICT CONVENTION
WAYZATA – Today the delegates of Senate District 42, the first endorsing convention before the Third District Congressional Convention, came out in force for Terri Bonoff’s campaign for Congress.
Bonoff proved again she has the largest grassroots operation in this race, winning the sign war and taking home the most delegates. Delegates made it clear they are ready for a new direction in Washington caucusing for universal health care, getting out of Iraq and making education a priority again. On each of these critical issues Bonoff has led the way for change in Minnesota and in her campaign to represent the people of the Third District – and the SD 42 delegates agreed.
“I am so grateful to have the support of so many people in Eden Prairie and across this district,” Bonoff said. “Since I announced my candidacy in September, we have been laser-focused on building the kind of organization Democrats in Minnesota have come to expect and we delivered today. We are prepared to win this endorsement and take on the real opponent in this race – Erik Paulsen.”
More than 15 delegates declared sub-caucuses in their support for Bonoff, significantly more than the other two candidates in the race for this endorsement. When the final tally was given, with more than 500 delegates in attendance, more than 200 were named Bonoff supporters, with many delegates still undecided in the Congressional contest. While the final delegates are still unknown, the campaign estimates more than 7 Bonoff delegates are going on to the State Convention, out of the 22 Senate District 42 elects, and at least 2 undecided.
###
SD 42 Convention a ‘Big Victory’ For Madia
Madia Wins Majority In District Adjacent to Sen. Bonoff’s Home Bas
MAPLE GROVE—Ashwin Madia, a DFL candidate in the 3rd Congressional District, released the following statement after picking up eight (8) of the 13 named delegates at the Senate District 42 convention Saturday in Eden Prairie:
“Everywhere I go in the 3rd District, I meet people who want America to start living up to its ideals again. They’re tired of the same old cautious politics and ready to tackle the challenges facing our country with the strength and determination that make this nation great.
“Democrats are looking for a campaign willing to stand up and fight for our values and take bold positions that will generate the real change America needs. They’re not focused on the past; they’re eager to address the future. That’s what our effort has been about from Day 1.
“By making their voices heard today, delegates in Senate District 42 helped our campaign score a big victory. I’m humbled and honored that so many people have been willing to come to our events, volunteer hours of their time and make the financial contributions necessary to make this campaign a success.
“When we started in October we faced long odds. Today we proved beyond the shadow of a doubt that we can win the DFL endorsement and defeat the Republicans this fall.
“I’m excited about our prospects next week and look forward to making my case directly to delegates between now and April 12. We had a great day today and I know we’ll continue gaining strength as we move forward.”
* * * *
Madia’s victory is especially noteworthy since it comes in a district adjacent to the one Sen. Terri Bonoff represents in the Legislature and it includes portions of Minnetonka, her hometown.
After a post-convention accounting of the results, the Madia campaign is confident it has earned the support of at least one of the four uncommitted delegates—which gives Madia at least nine (9) of the 17 total delegates awarded today.
More information is available at www.madiaforcongress.com.
###
There’s another likely Madia in the mix. Possibly a Hovland.
Also, the declared # of delegates was up to 541.
Bonoff can work some more magic at the state level for another term & leave the national scene to Madia or maybe even Hovland.
Madia has the energy of youth & both Madia & Hovland are attorneys.
Probably a plus at the national level.
Looks like a tie ballgame to me.
22 total delegates from SD 42, including five super-delegates. Two of the super-delegates have endorsed Bonoff. So the numbers are:
Madia, 8
Bonoff, 8
Uncommitteds, 6
I know they’re just trying to spin, like every campaign does, but that’s a long way from the Madia campaign declaring victory because they got 8 of 13 “named” sub-caucuses.
Madia evened with Bonoff despite Eden Prairie being her back yard. Among elected delegates Madia beat her. You can spin it any which way but thats a very good start for Madia.
Go Madia! Great start to what will be an exciting endorsement campaign. It looks like its 9-7-1 for Hoveland once the “uncommitteds” are figured in according to Blue Man Red District. It at least gives him momentum going into next weeks “Super Saturday”
winning the sign war?
hilarious. they are really boasting about that? last time I checked signs don’t vote, delegates do. and they sure did.
Madia 8
Bonoff 5 (ouch.)
I highly doubt she will pick any more than one more delegate (if that)…
Question: My understanding is that all sub caucuses have to have a Presidential candidate name, is that write? So that every delegate at the state convention is either an Obama or Clinton delegate and those delegates decide amongst themselves who the national delegates for each candidate are.
Does anyone know the answer?
Ron, the subcaucuses don’t need a presidential name. It wouldn’t matter if they did. The majority of the delegates to the national convention will be selected at the congressional district conventions based on percentages of the vote from caucus night.
Bonoff declaring a tie sounds a lot like Clinton counting the superdelegates. Now in this race, just like the presidential race, superdelegates are going to play a role. Three cheers for the insiders.
Yeah, state dfl rules this year say that we don’t need to have a presidential pick, if I’m hearing right. So the votes were binding at the caucuses so that on the congressional level you can run for either candidate and the amount of delegates they each get to Colorado is based on the 2/5 totals.
I think. Maybe I’m wrong though.
Solid start for Madia. This was really an up-for-grabs area, as Eden Prairie is more of Paulsen’s backyard than anyones. Madia needs to win the northern part of the district, and Bonoff needs to win the Hwy 7 and Hwy 12 corridors.
Its an up-for-grabs, because in some past elections, I believe Ramstad ran unopposed: It was a conceded area.
And because Ramstad was almost moderate, as far as Republicans go these days. People weren’t so totally unhappy. Its also why they want to drum him out of that party. Its been fought like a WAR from the GOP! Its been a civil war from their viewpoint.
Paulson is sliver edge radical right, from my understanding.
Taking a conservative area further right? After the excesses of the Bush administration?
Even die hard right wingers may not want that. Bush has a 19% approval rating for a reason.
I meant that corner of Eden Prairie was up for grabs to Hovland, Bonoff, and Madia. Nobody owns it. I was responding to the assertion that it was Bonoff’s backyard. It isn’t. Minnetonka, Wayzata, Hopkins, and Plymouth will be.
Dan, I gather what you were saying.
Wasn’t disagreeing, so much as an extension on a chord.
This is only one area. There are a ton more to go.
Madia has the vigor of youth. He is short & sweet in his opinions - quite refreshing, but the can elaborate if called to.
Hovland has some experience in several areas & was pretty confident & hilarious at the debate out there last week. Was mistakenly identified as GOVERNOR Hovland, instead of MAYOR Hovland by the moderator in a end-of-the evening misspeak. He got up & waved to the crowd as though he’d won the election!
Bonoff’s done OK at the state level. Staying there awhile more wouldn’t be all bad.
Maybe Hovland is ready to represent DC and Madia is the one who should cut his teeth at the state level…?
This is a time to end politics as usual.
Madia does it. No jaded old party ties to have to appease, or tell him he CAN’T do a thing.
I think Hovland could do well as well, in a few other areas.
He seems to have the confidence to have a sense of humor & can roll with it.
Bonoff has some success at the state level with the transportation bill coming through during her tenure. But there were the rest of the Dems & 8 Republicans that helped despite taking personal hits by the vindictive bullying GOP.
Dan,
Interesting point.
What seems to have split the Hovland chances —
his late entry into the race and an apparent subcaucus split in this event that disagreed on other candidates.
They were stuck at far ends of the room & I’m sure that made it difficult to negotiate.
I think there was a Cerisi-Hovland bunch, a NelsonPallmeyer-Hovland bunch & a Franken-Hovland bunch that couldn’t come to terms on who they wanted for the Senate, otherwise he could have collected a couple of delegates.
If this is any judge, the senate race is owned by Franken.
The other 2 candidates didn’t even show up to make their own speeches!! Seems like this is one dance they should not have missed, if they thought it was at all important.
This is pathetic and only proves its time for a primary. Both Madia and Bonoff are disgustingly anti union while Holand’s friends make me question his single payer credentials. What a waste the “dfl” process is! Madia and his FELLOW LOSERS SHOW ITS TIME FOR A PRIMARY!!!!
Parts of Eden Prairie and Minnetonka overlap in voting districts
and Bonoff got beat there. Hats of to Madia and I predict it will only get better for him as the distance from Minnetonka increases.
Eden Prairie is to MInnestonka what MInneapolis is to St. Paul. They border, but other than that they couldn’t be more different regarding philosophy, demographic, etc. I wouldn’t say this was some kind of “upset”, but you can’t deny that it is a good start for Madia.
I live in 42 and this day belonged to Madia. Terri had tons of little kids (literally girl scouts and boy scouts - in uniforms!) putting up signs from outside the district and tons of other volunteers from outside the district. She had signs everywhere….but on the floor, where it mattered - in the delegates, there were blue Madia t-shirts.
42B is a very red house district. Madia was strong there. 42A is a purple district (voted for Hann/Ruud) and it was also strong for Madia.
I do believe Terri was very surprised yesterday at the results because she didn’t look happy at all.
Mockingbird, your comments on Hovland were interesting. I saw very little support for him anywhere yesterday. How could he have gotten “several” delegates?
To be fair to Hovland, folks, he did have support in the room — but it wasn’t enough to stand on its own. West Metro Dem may be able to confirm or refute my observations, but it looked to me like Hovland’s subcaucuses got eaten up by the Senate races, and didn’t have enough support to force a combined subcaucus to elect a solid Hovland delegate. As a result, Madia and Bonoff profited from that.
WMD? Does that fit with what you saw as well? (Wow, by the way, unfortunate acronym for your handle….)
Not true DTM. Maria Ruud is from that Minnetonka/EP area. She threw her support for Bonoff. There is an area of M/EP that even share schools.
Bonoff will win Hopkins and maybe Wayzata, but in Plymouth, Bloomington and for north and far west, she is in for a big surprise.
Joe,
I’d say that looked more like a reasonable assessment of the room yesterday to me….Hovland had support but not enough support to be viable on it’s own which meant that there were fewer than 32 delegates there for Hovland first. It wasn’t just about being the second on a list of a subcaucus - in order to gain a delegate he had to be “the” reason his supporters were there and it didn’t appear to me he had made the case. Consequently, he didn’t garner one committed delegate. That doesn’t square with mockingbird’s comments that he would have had “several” delegates. Just a difference in what we all saw in the room. It was incredibly packed. No “walking” subcaucuses….more like mosh pits attempting to garner some “separation” between each other. It may be standard for those in Minneapolis and St. Paul to deal with these issues but it’s a new phenom in the west burbs, that’s for sure. It seems to me that the DFL is outgrowing the open spaces available in the Eden Prairie/southern Minnetonka area. What a thought! Who would have ever guessed this several years ago? I remember my precinct caucus in 1988 for Dukakis with 2 of us…..this year my precinct had 204. Little bit of a difference.
I kind of like my acronym……kind of fits my personality, don’t ya think? Defintely wasn’t chosen for that, that’s for sure. Best thing to do in that situation - either change nicknames or laugh it off. I’m choosing to laugh it off……
Form what I heard off the floor — - there were 3, perhaps 4 or more Hovland-affiliated groups at the start. Which totaled more than the viability number of 31 or 32.
It was the senate races that would not differentiate.
That’s where the delegates’ first loyalties lay. There’s always another shot at the 3rd far sooner than a senate replacement for Normy.
If anyone decides that Franken is a shoe-in & moves off him, in order to address a congressional preference, then ultimately it bolsters his competitors for the nomination out of proportion with his actual support - and it gives too much false evidence for the media to kick around.
The support for Nelson-Pallmeyer, or Cerisi is a niche.
I think there may have been one sub-caucus for each if I remember right.
I gather none of the above wanted to move off their senate candidate, & ultimately merged with other groups. There were a few that were unaffiliated with a congressional choice.
Thanks, Mockingbird! It was such a huge room for this district that each person attending probably brings away a different view of the proceedings. I did see that the Ciresi group stayed intact for 1 delegate, as did the JNP group for 1 delegate. I know the Franken-GLBT subcaucus stayed uncommitted on the congressional race. I’m sure there are others.
Instant runoff voting might be a good plan…
where people can rate their preferences on a sliding scale.
Much fairer to secondary candidates.
A strong preference for one office such as senate,
appears to preclude enough expression for, oh say a congressional candidate preference, unless you happen to luck out.
So people who had strong feelings FOR or AGAINST a congressional or senate choice might not be able to express both.
— — — — — — —
From my view — it looks like it was difficult floor management because of logistics that led to a couple of people getting dropped out in the first round. I think there were enough Hovlands for easily one, perhaps two delegates in round one.
The Nelson-Pallmeyer group turned into one supergroup, I think it was, but obviously not enough to get more than one delegate.
Caucus coordinators could not even reach people at the far fringes to speak in person to novice delegates.
Couldn’t agree more. I think IRV would be an excellent effort in groups that are growing and where there are several hotly contested races.
Lost my edit to the previous post — -
I think the size of the room made it near impossible for caucus coordinators to speak with their delegates. At least the ones positioned far away from the gallery or balcony.
Based upon the congressional debate I attended, I don’t think I could have expressed my choices in order of preference in that room.
A cool moment - was when one person (apparently running for senate himself? - Stanton) got a moment to speak.
It started feeling like it was going to be a whacked out moment instead, because it looked like he wasn’t going to be allowed to.
But came out good after a delegate 2nd the motion to allow him his moment - and then he called Coleman’s office with the delegates all yelling their message to Coleman in unison.
— -
The caucus process is interesting & interactive.
Is it fair? Not so much.
Do you really think we’ll see IRV?
I suspect that it will never get there. The current system favors well-connected party insiders & enforces a stringent 2 party system with central committees having some control over outcome.
On the national scene, I think Edwards would still be viably in the running if we had national IRV.
“Not true DTM. Maria Ruud is from that Minnetonka/EP area. She threw her support for Bonoff. There is an area of M/EP that even share schools.”
I should have clarified my point. Eden Prairie has an interesting (and to some surprising) dynamic: the largest % of foreign-born population in the west and southwest metro. The % of foreign born people in EP is twice that of the district on average (much more than twice that of Minnetonka).
I’m going to make a leap here, but I’m guessing the foreign-born contingent tend to show up at DFL events vs. GOP, and given Madia’s key message of how his parents came over with $20 in their pocket (I paraphrase), I bet he does very well with that population.
Probably a more PC term than “foreign-born”, but that is the term the census uses.
I really, really think IRV or a true Primary would help Hovland immensely. Is he going to abide by the endorsement? Kind of hope he doesn’t, because while he doesn’t have great skills at organizing supporters, I think he would have superb skills for being a Congresman. And that, after all, is what this is all about, right?
DTM - When talking about immigrant voting there are multiple dynamics at play. In Eden Prairie, it is the Somali immigrants. In Plymouth, and Maple Grove it is the Indian immigrants. In Brooklyn Park and parts North it is the West Indian Immigrant.
They will not form the major voting bloc for Madia, but they will help improve the margins. Now why will they go for Madia. Because he probably asked for their support. Not none of the existing DFL crowd gave a rip to these populations, because in their local races they were not needed.
The best thing Ashwin can do is to remind these comunity members, that the DFL party hack politicians endorsed Bonoff without even meeting with him. Now that will go over real well in these communities.:):):)
I guess I wasn’t trying to analyze it that far.
I was just making the point that district 42 has among the highest proportion of immigrants voting, if not the highest in the 3rd (the highest of any district I researched but I couldn’t review them all).
Not taking anything away from Madia, but that could be part of the push he got in SD 42.
I agree this is going to be quite a race. I would characterize the candidates as this:
Madia: The ambitious campaigner
Bonoff: The experienced candidate
Hovland: Potentially the best congressman, but lacking grassroots organization
I’m not part of DFL-CD 03 politics — can someone explain to me when this will all be decided? Whats this about a “super saturday” next week?
DTM,
The CD3 Endorsing convention will be on April 12th.
The next two Saturdays a “super saturdays” because they both have 5 SD conventions at the same time.
Thanks. Should be a great couple news weeks.
Would love to have seen how a Lugar or Simon would have changed this race, but hindsight is 20/20.
To build on rm’s post….a major voting block for Madia is the veterans. The subcaucus yesterday alone in 42 had a viable subcaucus for Madia - veterans alone….over 35 vets in one SD for him. There were other vets in other subcaucuses, too.
He’s an incredible candidate for veterans with support from the DFL Veterans Caucus and VoteVets.org.
As one of the people who ditched the asterisked subcaucus, I can safely confirm that it was strong for Bonoff — that’s the reason I left.
As for spin, it was a really good day for Ashwin Madia to say the least. Bonoff’s supporters, quite often, were unable to vote, let alone see over a sign. Madia’s support came heavily from a huge youth turnout and good floor organization. It’s telling that the Franken-Madia subcaucus (which was an offshoot from the Madia subcaucus anyway) was the largest and the Madia general subcaucus was a close third.
One last interesting point: While the alternates are a different story (2 for Franken, 2 uncommitted/Ciresi), the Madia general delegates all pledged to abstain from a vote on Senate candidates at the first ballot of the State Convention. That means that a percieved lead for Franken in Senate delegates due to Madia support, though still existent, isn’t as huge as it could be.
Another thing I forgot - Who are the superdelegates in 42? If they’re party leaders, I know I saw the Chair and Associate Chairs in Madia shirts once they finished party business.
The SuperD’s in 42 are Mike Rothman (DFL State Finance Chair), Marge Hoffa (CD3 chair), Kathy Nelson (State Exec. Committee), Rick Nelson (CD3 Assoc Chair) and Rep. Maria Ruud (42A rep). Maria Ruud and Kathy Nelson have declared support for Bonoff. The others are uncommitted right now.
You’re right, paperclip, the chair and associate chair, treasurer and secretary for SD42 are all strong Madia supporters.
Hey rm:
By “DFL party hack politicians (who) endorsed Bonoff” do you mean all of the DFL state legislators in the 3rd Congressional District who spent thousands of hours knocking on doors so they could become state representatives and state senators and work 60-hour weeks for the whopping sum of $30,000 a year?
Give me a break. These DFL legislators (essentially all of the ones in the 3rd) endorsed Bonoff because they know her, they know her record and they have worked side-by-side with her.
mn3,
Those would be the ones….those who endorsed her before even bothering to meet the other candidates. How can you say someone is “the best” for a job if you don’t bother to even meet the other candidates?
Some of Madia’s strongest support in the entire 3rd CD has been in SD 42. As West Metro Dem just pointed out, the Chair, Associate Chair, Treasurer and Secretary are all strong Madia supporters. That’s four-fifths of the executive committee. Plus:
— The husband of the Associate Chair, who is running for the legislature in 42B, is a Madia supporter.
— Madia’s paid field organizer lives in SD 42 and has been working this senate district extremely hard for months.
— Supporters from SD 42 listed as supporters on Madia’s web site have been some of his most vociferous surrogates in the entire 3rd CD.
You all can spin as much as you want, but as I posted to help kick off this thread, here are the facts:
22 total delegates from SD 42, including five super-delegates. Two of the super-delegates have endorsed Bonoff. So the numbers are:
Madia, 8
Bonoff, 8
Uncommitteds, 6
If you want spin, here’s my spin: With all the support Madia had in SD 42, I would have thought he would have done better.
mn3, Interesting spin. Doesn’t work for me, but interesting. I’ve heard from others in the north that they were just hoping he’d do okay down here because his real support is up north. We’ll see, won’t we?
rm wrote:
Mar 2nd, 2008 at 1:28 pm
The best thing Ashwin can do is to remind these comunity members, that the DFL party hack politicians endorsed Bonoff without even meeting with him. Now that will go over real well in these communities.:):):)
Perhaps Bonoff’s endorsers felt no need to meet with someone who:
1.) only spent 2 or 3 years in school in the district. (Madia’s parents bought their house in Plymouth in 1993 and Madia graduated from the U in 1999.)
2.) Chose to live in Minneapolis rather than a suburban community in the Third when he moved back to the Twin Cities after his service
3.) Spent barely a year at a downtown law firm before bailing out and running for congress in a district where he has no real community ties
4.) Got elected Speaker at the U with the help of conservative student organizations
5.) Favors the outsourcing of public sector jobs
6.) Opposed union organzing at the U
7.) Wrote an editorial in the Daily Minnesotan praising Bob Dole and dismissing Bill Clinton
8.) Moved back home with his parents to establish residency in the district when he decided to run (a 29 year old living at home with his parents, now there’s a great image)
9.) Pretends to have combat experience (see the pictures from his Corp service that he chooses to use) and foreign policy cred because of that experience when he was a JAG Officer with at most 6-9 months in the Green Zone in Iraq.
10.) And not to put to fine a point on it; Madia was a REMF who is now pretending to be a combat vet
So perhaps there was a reason Bonoff’s endorsers chose not to spend anytime with Captain Madia, the Republican in DFL clothes.
“Those would be the ones….those who endorsed her before even bothering to meet the other candidates. ”
And can we assume that each person in a Madia t-shirt took the time to meet Bonoff and Hovland? Probably Not.
Can we assume they took the time to meet Bonoff and Hovland? I don’t know, but it is safe to say that they saw each candidate speak at least once (since all the candidates spoke at the convention yesterday) and probably multiple times (at Feb 5 caucuses, in debates, at meet the candidate events, etc). Madia prides himself on earning (i.e., actually working for) support. To do so, he encourages people to ask him the most difficult questions they can and to challenge him on any policy or issue. I bet a lot of people did so before they put their t-shirts on - I know I did. And for the record, I had met Bonoff and Hovland (before the t-shirt).
Probably not….but they’re not elected officials who owe it to their constituents to endorse responsibly…..
But you don’t endorse on behalf of your constituents, you do it on a personal basis, just like everyone in a Madia shirt or with a Hovland button.
Did VoteVets talk to Bonoff before endorsing Madia? I’m guessing not.
No clue…..I’m sure Emily’s List didn’t consider the men either since they only endorse women. I do know the DFL Veterans Caucus did screen the questionnaires of all three candidates and the endorsement was based on the answers - not on veteran status.
DTM - “Did VoteVets talk to Bonoff before endorsing Madia? I’m guessing not.”
VoteVets and Emilys List are not the DFL. The DFL is the one who is fielding a candidate. All the “hacks” I am complaining about belong to the DFL. I did not complain about the Teamsters etc.
mn3 - “Give me a break. These DFL legislators (essentially all of the ones in the 3rd) endorsed Bonoff because they know her, they know her record and they have worked side-by-side with her.”
Yes. They are hacks. When a party that claims to welcome diversity runs to endorse one of their buddies without bothering to meet an veteran who happens to be a first generation immigrant, what else do you want me to call them. “Fair and Balanced” ?
You can claim how well Bonoff “the inevitable” did. But the headline and the elected results prove for themselves. And as WMD says, the remaining results will prove for themselves.
Hey rm -
Let’s say Madia gets the endorsement, and then edges out Paulsen in a Democrat election wave this fall.
In 2010, when he is up for re-election, is he one of the “hacks” because he is in office? Is he suddenly in your crosshairs because he has experience?
Many of these legislators who backed Bonoff are solid public servants and independent thinkers. The only difference between the “hacks” and your man Madia is a year or two of actual experience.
dtm - “In 2010, when he is up for re-election, is he one of the “hacks” because he is in office? ”
If he starts endorsing his cronies of course I will call him a hack.
dtm - “Many of these legislators who backed Bonoff are solid public servants and independent thinkers.”
DTM, you got to be kidding me. You paint yourself with this great corporate persona. And now u claim there was no hackery in this endorsement. Give me a break.
http://gavinsullivan.blogspot.com/2008/02/what-endorsement-means-scheid-example.html
My hunch is that Sen. Scheid is simply doing what all of the other endorsers did, sadly including Vice President Mondale, who should know better. By their endorsement, they really mean:
‘We like Terri Bonoff. We haven’t really considered any other person in the DFL field; they’re not in our club. By endorsing Bonoff we don’t mean to suggest that she is the best candidate, since we admit we haven’t really even considered either of the others. We just want the public to know one thing: We like Terri Bonoff.’
I’m sorry you give your DFL public servants so little credit.
Responding to the DogWalker’s claims:
1. Do you really want to fault him for living where his parents lived when he was growing up and then going to one of the best colleges in the area?
2. Same thing on where he lived when he came back from 4 years in the military. Do we expect a young guy working for a downtown firm to live in the western suburbs?
3. If you’ve heard him speak, you’ve probably heard him say that he’s up at 6 and in bed at midnight or something like that, and the support he has gained is evidence that he is working very hard at this campaign. I don’t think that would be possible while working at a big law firm, so it was probably a good idea to focus on just one thing. That kind of dedication seems like a good trait for a congressperson.
4-7. I’ve read all the blog postings about all of those things, all the editorials themselves, etc. He had what has been called a “motley crew” of support when he was elected at the U: republicans, democrats, independents, etc. Plus, that was years ago. He was a moderate then and he has apparently been swinging left ever since. All of his policies now align with Democratic principles, especially his views on civil liberties. He is the only one that really talks about issues like torture, Guantanamo, FISA - very important issues. I doubt the Teamsters and UAW would endorse someone who is anti-union.
8. My understanding is that he established residency in his own place.
9 & 10. Again, I have to ask if you have heard him speak. He has never claimed combat experience. He always talks about being a lawyer in the Marines - being one of the first to defend a gay Marine against Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, etc. When speaking about his service in Iraq, he always says that he worked on the “Rule of Law Mission” and he always explains that he was working with the State Department, Iraqi lawyers and judges, etc. He said something much like that at SD42 yesterday. Check out Blue Man’s video for proof. http://buildourparty.blogspot.com/2008/03/ashwin-madia-rocks-sd-42-crowd.html
Not exactly a claim of combat experience….
I have done my research, and I wear my Madia t-shirt proudly.
dtm - “I’m sorry you give your DFL public servants so little credit.”
Even the NFL has a Rooney Rule. Its not too much to ask for a party that crows diversity
In the same post another person writes — -
“I have just finished emailing all the legislators who endorsed Bonoff and asked them the same questions….”
Yes sometimes this crony bullshit becomes too obvious. Just like u I am a well paid corp. crum. I vote DFL because i believe in something, not just my paycheck.
DogWalker - “So perhaps there was a reason Bonoff’s endorsers chose not to spend anytime with Captain Madia, the Republican in DFL clothes.”
You may want to check some of Bonoffs supporters. For Ex Paulsen (Coleman supporter), Hubbard (of Hubbard Broadcasting - aka Home of right wing radio)
At least Mr. Madia does not hide his conservative past. Terri Bonoff has openly fibbed on her resume about her “executive business experience”.
To the dog walker: do you know what the definition of a Veteran is? Have you put any time in, anywhere in the world for this country? 180 days on active duty qualifies you for Veteran status, and last I heard the Republican party declared Iraq a War Zone.
So put your fine point on it, and define your problem.
Gavins Blog “So I asked, ‘At the time you issued your endorsement of Terri Bonoff, how familiar were you with the biography and positions of Ashwin Madia?’ …”
“Rep. Nelson and Sen. Scheid admitted they knew little or nothing of the other candidates. So I tried to get them to clarify whether they thought it ethical to bestow their endorsement without any minimal effort at engaging in a fair process. I didn’t get an answer.”
http://gavinsullivan.blogspot.com/2008/02/town-hall-forum-in-brooklyn-center.html
DTM - I wonder why they did not answer the question. Truth hurts maybe ?
“Do we expect a young guy working for a downtown firm to live in the western suburbs?”
Yes, if in fact he intends to represent the people of the western suburbs in Congress!!! I’d actually say that is pretty darned important.
It is a point that he has gotten a freebie on to-date, and if he gets the endorsement there are alot of voters who won’t be able to get past it.
Hovland by far as the best track record of real results in the 3rd district. He can point to many things that would not have been done here had he not done them. Bonoff is a second, not quite to the level of Hovland. Madia a distant third in this category, barely on the radar.
Before you say “gee, doesn’t serving in Iraq count for something”. Sure it does. But not when it comes to knowing the 3rd intimately and representing us in Washington.
DTM - It is a point that he has gotten a freebie on to-date, and if he gets the endorsement there are alot of voters who won’t be able to get past it.
You mean moving away for college, serving in the marines and then coming back home. Wow!
DTM - I asked u to prove what Bonoff has accomplished. And u stated u knew a friend of a friend of a friend who could vouch for what she accomplished.
Now for being this great corporate standard bearer, you sure have set a low bar for Bonoff ?
What I stated was that Terri had a good reputation in the area for advancing Early Childhood and K-12 educational legislation in St. Paul before she ever had a Senator title. The people I refer to are those who worked directly with her on moving things like ECFE funding and the like forward. You want me to start naming names on a blog? No.
I’m really glad that you can account for Madia’s time away via law school and military service. Thanks for reminding us of that, again.
Doesn’t change the fact that most of us only know this man through his carefully crafted campaign messaging. I like to see and hear what people are like when they are doing the mundane public service work — ya know, most of the job? Are they still as affable and impressive then?
Just feels a little too “travelling salesman-ish” to me.
It will be interesting if he goes up against Paulsen. You Dems can attack Paulsens work in St. Paul and his record. We won’t be able to attack much on Madia’s background, which begs the question:
Is the lack of a background to examine a good or bad thing??
DTM - “What I stated was that Terri had a good reputation in the area for advancing Early Childhood and K-12 educational legislation in St. Paul before she ever had a Senator title”
And what may I ask did she accomplish. Yes Mr Corporate Citizen, can u prove what she accomplihsed. Or could u ask the friend of a friend of a friend.
DTM - “I’m really glad that you can account for Madia’s time away via law school and military service”
Hes given a pretty good accounting for his work in the marines…..not feel good fluff like “advancing EC and K-12”. Take time to read it or better yet ask him…
At the same time could you ask Bonoff to account for the “fibs” in her resume.
DTM - “I like to see and hear what people are like when they are doing the mundane public service work ”
I guess mundane millitary work does not count for anything…
“I guess mundane millitary work does not count for anything…”
I GET IT!!! HE SERVED IN THE MILITARY!!!
If that is the pre-requisite for being a Congressman, we have a few thousand Minnesotans to choose from.
Military or not, the only basis we have to evaluate him IN THE 3RD DISTRICT is the fact that he 1) went to high school here and is 2) delivering a well-prepared campaign message on the campaign stump.
I need more than that. I guess we’re at an impasse.
DTM - “Military or not, the only basis we have to evaluate him IN THE 3RD DISTRICT is the fact that he 1) went to high school here and is 2) delivering a well-prepared campaign message on the campaign stump.”
and 3) his ability to communicate his thoughts and ideas in debates and 4) list his accomplishments in the Marines.
Why cant you tell me what Bonoff accomplished for real. After all she claims “executive business experience” for Tonka Toys (whose management was in Rhode Island b.t.w)
rm wrote:
Mar 2nd, 2008 at 9:31 pm
DTM - It is a point that he has gotten a freebie on to-date, and if he gets the endorsement there are alot of voters who won’t be able to get past it.
You mean moving away for college, serving in the marines and then coming back home. Wow!
The point is when he came home from the Marines he chose to live in Minneapolis rather than moving back to his hometown, his school district or a nearby community. If he was thinking about public service or was concerned about his community perhaps he should have moved into Plymouth or Maple Grove.
Plus he only lived in the district for 2 or 3 years before leaving for college.
dw - “Plus he only lived in the district for 2 or 3 years before leaving for college.”
Yup, its his fault that his parents had to move around to earn a living.
dw - “The point is when he came home from the Marines he chose to live in Minneapolis rather than moving back to his hometown”
thats correct rather than take a lucrative job 6 figure job, after a top 5 law school , he served his country. And by gosh he lived close to work after taking a new job. Now thats just so disqualifying….Maybe Terri should have brought it up in the debates…..
Make all the excuses you want. The fact is that if this guy makes it to the general, talking about his parents moving alot and the fact he went off to law school is not going to be an acceptable answer for your average, non-left-wing voter.
For all the “accomplishments” of Terri Bonoff, when you can’t point to me one thing she has really acheieved, your arguments sound really hollow.
The average citizen who does not live in Edina knows exactly how life is. The average non-left wing voter voted for John Kline who moved here from Texas.
“The average citizen who does not live in Edina knows exactly how life is. The average non-left wing voter voted for John Kline who moved here from Texas.”
??????
Am i having a stroke, or does that not make a point?
DanTheMan,
You couldn’t be more wrong about voters. The general election voter will consider it a plus to have left the University of Minnesota to attend law school, going to Virginia to Quantico when joining the Marines and then being deployed to Okinawa and Baghdad before returning to accept a position as an attorney with a well known, reputable law firm here. Believe it or not many people in the burbs were not born and raised in Minnesota! Lots of people grew up elsewhere and moved here much later in life. These would be the same people who have supported Norm Coleman and will support Al Franken - both of whom have not lived in Minnesota every minute of their lives. By your standards no one who grew up in a military family would ever be allowed to run for public office……
You can make all types of arguments to support Terri Bonoff. This isn’t one of them. Support her for her positions. Don’t support her because she has lived here for her whole life.
You claim Madias residency would be a big issue to the non left-wing voter. I pointed out that John Kline moved here from Texas.
Whats so hard to understand ?
DemGirl,
No one’s faulting Madia for where he lived growing up. He’s being faulted for not moving back there when he moved back to the twin cities and moving into Minneapolis instead.
And he “moved” back to the district by moving into his parents house.
And he only lived in the district 2-3 years before leaving for college.
munchkinmom & DemGirl
No one’s questioning Madia’s veterans status. That would be tasteless. What’s being questioned is his charade of having foreign policy cred because of his service when he was in the JAG corps.
And all his service pictures and statements give the impression of combat service. Only in talks with DFL Activists and at forums does he expand on what his service actually was - an attorney serving in secured zones. He’s playing games with his service record and its offensive.
“What’s being questioned is his charade of having foreign policy cred because of his service when he was in the JAG corps.”
His answers in the debate showed that he gained a lot of experience. If that was a “charade” you should see that charade of Bonoffs’ “executive business experience”.
“And all his service pictures and statements give the impression of combat service. ”
You mean when he states that he defended a gay marine, he was talking about combat service. Wow !
rm, lots of third district voters commute into Minneapolis from towns like Plymouth. It’s just another shared experience that Madia lacks with the average suburban family out here.
To recap, Madia:
Doesn’t own a home and lives with his parents to establish residency
Isn’t married
Has no kids
Did not live in the suburbs untill he decided to run for office
Quit his job after barely holding it for a year to run for office
Now which of those traits does Madia hold in common with the average third congressional district voter?
Many of the public servants who I most admire(d) — Jim Ramstad, Paul Wellstone, Arne Carlson — were not “from” here. I don’t get hung up on that.
My hangup is with someone who hasn’t been part of the district long enough to really have a feel for the average voter. Madia’s a smart guy and can talk the talk. But does he really know the 3rd like a Hovland, Paulsen, or Bonoff?
How long does it take for one to really become grounded in a district and have a good, grassroots feel for the constituents? How long do you have to live here for people to see the real you in action, more than giving a campaign speech on a stump?
Not a lifetime. But more than the five months that Madia is been in the district as a young professional.
rm, - “lots of third district voters commute into Minneapolis from towns like Plymouth. It’s just another shared experience that Madia lacks with the average suburban family out here.”
And lots of 3rd voters have kids who move away for college, millitary etc and live in places like Chicago for a year or so and then come “home”
rm - “Doesn’t own a home and lives with his parents to establish residency
Isn’t married
Has no kids
Did not live in the suburbs untill he decided to run for office
Quit his job after barely holding it for a year to run for office”
People in the district have a far better understanding of the transition period after millitary life. Many of them themselves have kids that have undergone the same transition. Its not like he was hanging out in the Walker art galleries or those in Europe.
The funny thing is I’m not supporting Bonoff, either. But yet I find myself defending her. Don’t know why, other than that I think she has done an admirable job for the 3rd over the years.
I’ll let her campaign (or supporters) take it from there.
dtm “Don’t know why, other than that I think she has done an admirable job for the 3rd over the years. ”
except of course you can’t state what she accomplished.
dtm - “But does he really know the 3rd like a Hovland, Paulsen, or Bonoff?”
theve had what 5 debates to prove that they knew more than Madia. And some bloggers accuse Bonoff of stealing Madias ideas in debates. Wonder how much she knows about issues.
First off, Bonoff has never represented the 3rd. She represents 1/11th of the 3rd - i.e., SD43.
Madia does not have kids. It’s not a requirement for holding office as far as I know. Joe Biden didn’t have kids at 29 when he was elected to the US Senate. Joe Scarborough didn’t have kids when he was elected at 29 to the US House. I could go on.
Owning property? Not required. Many veterans who return from active duty have very rough transitions to private life. It takes a strong family to help a soldier return to civilian life. Many these days take their own lives. It’s a tragedy that we are seeing nationwide.
If someone wants to support Bonoff because of her positions, great. Let’s ask how she can be running on her long legislative experience when her latest mailing shows her son working for Obama and touts the fact that she’s not a politician and that she’s only been in the senate for 2 years. You can’t have a long legislative experience and be a newbie at the same time.
I’d much prefer to discuss issues. We can easily discuss where we disagree with Terri. It isn’t about what she did in business nor what she did in the legislature. It’s about where she stands on issues now….
A debate is a performance. Anyone can rehearse for a performance. Shame on Hovland and Bonoff for not rehearsing more.
Maybe they were busy doing.
dtm - “A debate is a performance. Anyone can rehearse for a performance. Shame on Hovland and Bonoff for not rehearsing more. ”
Next you’ll tell me a job interview is a performance.
dtm - “Maybe they were busy doing.”
In the case of Bonoff u have a problem telling me what ?
Oh, I don’t know, passing a gas tax in St. Paul? Getting enough votes to fire Molnau? Getting relevant items on the committee agendas on behalf of her district so they can be discussed this term?
Just a guess.
wmd - “It isn’t about what she did in business nor what she did in the legislature. ”
Sorry to disagree with u WMD, but this whole thing about her “business experience” is what got me checking the veractiy of her statements. Am not sure that a person whose candidacy is based on “executive business experience” should be given a pass, when the whole things turns out to be one big fib.
Dealing with the State Department and the Iraqi Government qualifies for more world foreign policy creds than a state legislator.
Those pictures show Ashwin in Uniform — he wasn’t playing dress-up! He was there for real. How do you feel about all the politician photo ops ie Bush, McCain and everyone else who use the Green Zone as showing their support of the troops?!
I too have seen Ashwin’s military pictures. I see an active duty marine, wearing the required gear in a combat zone that is supposed to help keep him safe. I don’t see any staged weaponry, bombings, or shooting making them staged combat photos. I think you arm chair quarterbacks should speak if you have the same real experience, otherwise, quit parsing the mickey mouse crap.
I ADMIRE EVERY SOLDIER WHO HAS VOLUNTEERED TO SERVE THEIR COUNTRY, KNOWING THAT THEY WOULD END UP IN A FOREIGN LAND HELPING TO RESOLVE THIS CONFLICT. THESE MEN AND WOMEN DON’T HAVE TO DO THIS- UNLIKE OTHER CONFLICTS WHERE CITIZENS WERE SUBJECT TO A DRAFT AND HAD NO CHOICE.
As for living at home, I have kids in their 20’s who still live at home. What’s wrong with that, anyway?!
Dog walker, I’m glad I don’t have such judgmental neighbors! Guess Terri’s son isn’t a Minnesotan anymore either…
dtm - “Oh, I don’t know, passing a gas tax in St. Paul? Getting enough votes to fire Molnau? Getting relevant items on the committee agendas on behalf of her district so they can be discussed this term?”
Unfortunately for you,the CD3 debates started when they were not in session !!!!!!!!!!
Just a thought.
rm -
Did Bonoff kill your puppy? Such negative emotions.
No I dream of a world were all the lying politicians are Repukes !!!! Such positive thoughts.
Four videos on YouTube from SD42 convention — quality is from a cell phone, and not close up, but the audio can be heard well enough:
Klobuchar 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSFscpFb8lU
Klobuchar 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ccsgyr6bJBY
short Franken excerpt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9lzQBuNRv4
Part of Ritchie speech, view around the room
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IroYzlbwA_s
Dog Walker:
A. Madia has his own apartment in Plymouth. It’s true that he doesn’t own property - he just rents. Do you think he shouldn’t be allowed to run for office because he doesn’t own property? Should he be allowed to vote?
B. So, I’m trying to find some basis for your claims that he’s misleading about his military service. You’ve said that he says in his speeches that he was a lawyer in the Marine Corps working to build Iraq’s justice system. So, it’s not his words, according to you, it’s the pics he uses. I’ve been to his website and seen one pic of him in his blues, one of him in his brown camoflaouge strapped into a helicopter, one of him in brown camoflauge with a few people in an office, and one of him in brown camoflaouge by himself just standing there. What pics are you talking about that you think misled you? And, the text from his website about his service says:
“Ashwin served in Iraq from September 2005 to March 2006. While stationed in Baghdad, he worked with U.S. military and civilian officials, European Union and United Nations representatives, and Iraqi judicial officers to strengthen the Iraqi criminal justice system. He also briefed top U.S. generals on the status of the rule of law in the country.”
Did that mislead you, too?
Maybe you just need help with your reading and listening skills.
Oh, one last thing, Dog Walker, his website says this about his service as a US Marine:
“After law school, Ashwin joined the U.S. Marine Corps and moved to Quantico, Virginia for 8 months of basic training. His first duty station was Okinawa, Japan, where he served as a prosecutor, defense counsel, and legal advisor to a Marine Corps commander.”
When you read “prosecutor, defense counsel, and legal advisor,” in your mind, does that actually mean “machine gunner, infantry platoon commander, and paratrooper”?
I can see how you’re confused.
Very few are questioning his military experience. It is pretty straightforward. I commend him and anyone else who served, not only in Iraq but in other conflicts or peacetime. I believe I read that Hovland has military experience and I wouuld commend him for that too.
I know that Dog Walker took issue with the military service but I think that is an isolated case.
Just want that to be clear.
Wow. Swift boating within the Democratic Party.
Dog Walker, your questions regarding Madia’s military service are not only inane, but do a great disservice to your candidate (Bonoff) and the DFL party in general.
But if you want to continue, make sure you continue to tell all undecideds about your swift-boat attacks, I’m sure that will garner Bonoff a lot of votes.
I hear she’s in trouble: http://www.gavinsullivan.com
yikes.
My current post addresses (in part) why attacking Madia won’t work.
My previous post includes this slide show on Saturday’s SD42 convention:
http://tinyurl.com/234l9w
Hovland is the scariest prospect for Republicans, and it looks like he hasn’t gained much traction yet. He is a popular public servant, successful lawyer, and may actually be more of a fiscal conservative than Ramstad. His healthcare policy is a little nutty, but other than that he would be the type of guy who can pull a bunch of moderates over.
I would venture to guess there are some moderate Republicans (like me) waiting to see if he has a chance to get the endorsement. If he doesn’t, the money I’m going to give will quickly go to Paulsen.
DTM,
Hovland hasn’t caught traction because no one in 42 could even figure out if he was running a campaign or not! Honestly! The only thing ever received from him was 1 phone call back several weeks, 2 single spaced 4 page letters asking voters to caucus for him. He might have sent a full color mailer that I might have missed here and there. He had an event at the Davnni’s last week but I only knew because I was there for another event - no invite issued. It’s like a stealth campaign which means….no traction. Hopefully he’s doing more in other districts. A candidate has to campaign if he wants it and that means inviting people to events, etc. Even at the debate there wasn’t really a presence for him…..
Let’s be clear on this shall we?
Madia only moved back into the district because he wanted to run for office and did so by moving back into his parents house. (BTW rm, since he isn’t currently employed, how is he paying for his apartment?)
Sure, lots of kids move back home for a time or two, but are they running for congress?
And if he had trouble transitioning out of service why did he move into Minneapolis when he came home, rather than to his parents house?
And by the way, munchkinmom, is the trouble transitioning line a new spin being prepared for the rumors that Madia had performance issues at his law firm and that very few (if any) of the senior partners there knew who he was?
Madia’s early message was all about him serving in Iraq, not Okinawa, not at home, not anywhere else. And his continued assertion that no one can question his patriotism? Laughable. Remember Max Cleland and John Kerry? And they saw combat.
Wait till the republican ads start running with a three tour combat vet speaking out on behalf of Paulsen. Madia will look like the inexperienced kid that he is.
Madia has been changing a lot of his message over the last two - three weeks, once people started asking questions and calling him out on his republican background and his weak ties to the district.
In no way, shape, or form does Ashwin Madia represent the democratic wing of the democratic party.
dw - “Madia only moved back into the district because he wanted to run for office and did so by moving back into his parents house. ”
And your point is. Its not like he moved into a district where he never grew up or never lived before. And of course its not some big convoluted secret.
dw - “(BTW rm, since he isn’t currently employed, how is he paying for his apartment?)”
Could it be….hmmmmmmm…let me think….savings. Or you could ask him. Maybe Enron is paying for his apartment?
dw = “And by the way, munchkinmom, is the trouble transitioning line a new spin being prepared for the rumors that Madia had performance issues at his law firm and that very few (if any) of the senior partners there knew who he was?”
The first smear by Madame Bonoff was “an attorney” who never held a job. Now this. You got to wonder why some of his fellow attorneys are supporting him ? So is that a rumor or a smear by Bonoff.
dw - “Madia’s early message was all about him serving in Iraq, not Okinawa, not at home, not anywhere else. And his continued assertion that no one can question his patriotism? Laughable. Remember Max Cleland and John Kerry? And they saw combat. ”
Madia was absolutely clear about his service in different locations. And by his debate performanaces agaisnt the incredible Ms. Bonoff and her “executive business experience”, I think it should not be a problem
dw - “Madia has been changing a lot of his message over the last two - three weeks, once people started asking questions and calling him out on his republican background and his weak ties to the district. ”
Earth to Bonoff campaign. Your push polling has not worked. Your inuendo has not worked. Everyone knows that Madia was a republican in college. As Gavin in his blog states…nothing has worked !!!!
It is interesting that instead of telling all of the great things your candidate has done to deserve my support and a job in Washington,you want to focus on swift boating another.
I wonder how many of our representatives in Washington are lifelong residents of the districts that elected them to serve?
Have you looked at the demographics of CD3 lately? If you truly believe that this is a “true blue” district, then you are not living where the rest of us reside. We will need a candidate that can appeal across demographics and bring in Republican and independent voters. A career politician of the party machine won’t cut it.
I personally prefer a person of vision, ideas, and a person who looks for what is best for the constituents of the district, as opposed to a career politician who is out for the job. Look past Bonoff’s fluff and see what is really there.
As for combat vets speaking out, there are 50 members of the DFL Veteran’s Caucus locally, and 500 members statewide who endorsed Madia and are more than happy to go toe to toe with anyone the republicans drag out of the cobwebs. How many Veterans can Bonoff brag about? She got NO SUPPORT from the DFL Veterans Caucus. Want to know why then go to their website and reade her questionnaire.
Munchkinmom and rm - If you read this thread carefully - or maybe not so carefullly, just get the general message — nobody is saying that someone needs to be a lifelong resident to run for congress. But it would be nice to have, say, two years as an adult? Is that too much to ask? I know that after a couple years in my neighborhood, there are still several neighbors who don’t know me well, don’t really know how I tick. So I’m supposed vote for my congressperson based on what — a finely crafted and rehearsed campaign message?
An ironic thing is that you’re asking us to shrug off what he said and wrote at the University of Minnesota while he was 18, 19, 20, etc., but yet we’re supposed to count his teenage years as establishing residency and credibility within the district. Can’t have it both ways.
His website has not changed. The language quoted by BlueDog has always been there. His stump speech regarding his service has not changed. He has never claimed combat experience. He got a law degree and then joined the Marine Corps.
He moved to Minneapolis when he came home because he got a job at one of the most prestigious law firms in the Twin Cities, which happens to be in downtown Minneapolis. His family remained in the district while he was in school, while he was in the Marines, and while he was working downtown, so his “ties” to the district were never severed. He moved back to the district, to his own apartment, in late 2007.
Regarding performance issues at his firm - I don’t know who your sources are, but I’m willing to wager you actually don’t have any. I have done some fund raising for Madia and he has a lot of support from the partnership at his former firm.
His message and his stance on the issues have been consistent from the beginning: He wants to get out of Iraq, but he wants to be responsible about it. He wants to balance the budget and restore pay-go principles. He wants to let the Bush tax cuts expire. He wants to encourage green technology to reverse global warming and boost our economy through manufacturing and export. He wants to improve education by using federal matching funds. He supports the Democratic presidential candidates’ platforms on health care. And he wants to restore America to its ideals by upholding the civil liberties protections provided by the Constitution.
I support Madia because he is dedicated, intelligent, well-informed, thoughtful, and articulate. Bonoff and Hovland have both adopted many of his ideas and policies (e.g., the green economy) because they are very good ones.
I support him over Bonoff because I believe he has proven that he is better equipped to perform in Congress than she is. Case in point: She said on Almanac (this is a paraphrase of course, but go check the video) that the best thing we can do to end the war in Iraq is to elect a Democratic president, because the president is Commander-in-Chief. Madia had to remind her that, in fact, we have three branches of government and that Congress has oversight responsibility.
I think Madia can take Bonoff in this endorsement race, I think he can take Paulsen in November, and I think he will be a great asset to Congress and a great representative for the 3rd.
If the reason that Madia was not in his district was because he was hanging out in the Art Museums of Europe, you probably have a point. People give great credence to folks who were away because they were in the millitary. In fact there are many laws on the books that recognize the transient nature of millitary service.
Based on your own statements you have no interest in getting a DFLer elected. So it is in your interest in pushing “the incredible ” Ms Bonoff.
Same old boring argument from both sides. I really appreciate everyone’s dedication to their candidates (except DantheMan, who’s an impartial center-right observer, not a Bonoff troll feeding campaign talking points), but this is all so tired.
Read Gavin Sullivan’s post today and tell me in the greater scheme of things how Bonoff has a chance?
Clinton moved to New York, ran and won. Kline came from Texas, ran and won. They had NO TIES that I am aware of to their new districts.
MGM -
Point taken. This really isn’t going anywhere. I for one will pledge for this to be my last post on this thread.
Adios.
Today is Ashwin Madia’s 30th birthday……maybe everyone should send him some money or click in with volunteer hours……
As a parent, I’d be damned proud of Ash if he were my son…..as a veteran who also grew up a military brat, I can attest to the “transitory” nature of military life. I went to 13 schools in 10 years. Until I moved to SD42 I’d never lived anywhere longer than 3 years and that was on a military deployment.
The 3rd CD is not a “true blue” district. It’s a purple district with a prospect of becoming blue. No “true blue” DFL’er will be elected here against Paulsen……it’s going to be Madia or Hovland. Without Hovland running a credible campaign, it’s up to Madia to win the endorsement so the DFL can win the seat.
I guess we are lower beings than the “sofistikated” analysis of Bonoff and Madia by DTM.
Apparently…….
Money sent, hours offered to Ashwin Madia! Anyone else wishing Ash a Happy Birthday today?!
Last point.
VERY interesting that Bonoff’s “new” line of attack is personal. What about the issues?
Why won’t she let the Bush Tax cuts expire?
Why doesn’t she know how much her healthcare plan could cost?
How will she pay for it?
I called Madia for Congress HQ today. Madia does not live with his parents- that is a blatant lie. He lives in an apartment in Brooklyn Center.
DTM: It is also a lie that you aren’t a Bonoff supporter. Anyone on these blogs could see that you have been from day one. I wouldn’t be surprised if you are one of her staffers.
I sent Madia money today too!
Joe Biden became a U.S. Senator at age 30. Bill Clinton was elected attorney general of Arkansas at age 30. John F. Kennedy turned 30 while serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.
I’m the one who made the error on where Ash lives. I asked a while back and that’s what I was told. Obviously it was wrong. No blatant “lie” was intended. I see nothing wrong with living in a rented apartment. I apologize for passing along something that was incorrect.
I also sent Ash some money today, too! As did friends who support him through VoteVets.org.
Joe Scarborough of MSNBC was elected to the US House when he was 29 - no elected experience previous to that either. He has an ad on every day about that in promoting his show.
This has been an interesting thread. It is clear that Madia has lots of blog readers who are very loyal to him. He must be doing something right.
My question is this, and please answer it thoughtfully and without your blind devotion to your candidate (I’m speaking to all sides):
After the endorsement, there will be a seven month campaign, one-on-one with a relatively well-known candidate who is very analytical, measured, and has a reputation for being a tireless campaigner. Which of the three Democrats can keep up with him in a marathon like that?
Is it the respected Mayor Hovland who has access to deep pockets as an established law Partner and reminds many of popular Ramstad, or is his campaign too disorganized to effectively mobilize? Is it the cheerleader Bonoff, whose past already been examined in detail and has a history of pulling the upset against Republicans in close elections? Or is her message too random and her debate presence too shaky? Is it the Iraq Vet Madia, whose youth and ability to stay on message has attracted several young voters? Or will a seven month examination cause voters to view his questionable district residency and lack of longstanding relationships in the district as too big a liability?
Truly interested in your thoughtful commentary. Your quotes may just make my blog.
blogger - “Is it the cheerleader Bonoff, whose past already been examined in detail and has a history of pulling the upset against Republicans in close elections? ”
Bonoff got a free ride so far. I beleive I am the first blogger who has examined her “business experience” and question the veracity of her resume. Now i see this on other blogs. She won a local election against an equally horrible candidate.
Good question. As a 3rd CD Dem who started watching this race when Ramstad retired I would peg Madia as the best campaigner. In 3 months he has gone from an associate in a law firm with no name recognition whatsoever to the winner of the SD 42 Convention which includes parts of the Hopkins School District (Terri’s stomping grounds). To have that much support away from his base (the North) means that he must be putting in the hours on the campaign trail. In some of his stump speeches he talks about being up at 6am and working until 2am spending his entire day trying to build his campaign. Seeing what he’s accomplished thusfar I have no question that he has been putting in those types of hours. Despite having a nameless staff (at least when compared to the heavy hitters Bonoff brought in) they have outworked the field and have hands down the most grassroots organization. Watching their team/volunteers/supporters at the debate on Wednesday was pretty impressive.
Let’s be honest. This WAS going to be a coronation for Terri Bonoff. She started out raising a ton of money, having name recognition, having the “best” campaign staff, and the support of the establishment.
Ashwin Madia is just the opposite. He started out with no name recognition, not a single dollar, no establishment support, and only the staff that a grassroots effort could afford.
In just 4 months, Ashwin Madia has obliterated Bonoff in every way possible. The fact that this became a race, and that Bonoff is now no where NEAR the ‘inevitable’ candidate shows that either Ashwin Madia is outworking, out-organizing, and simply winning the district OR that Terri Bonoff has managed to drive her entire candidacy down the drain.
Personally, I think it’s Ashwin’s candidacy. His views on the issues and his ability to connect to voters has shattered Bonoff’s ‘coronation’
Lastly, I find it HILARIOUS that Terri, and her supporters, are lashing out and attacking Ashwin on his military service.
Everyone knows that is the political strategy and the mindset of someone losing. Badly.
I would say that Ashwin Madia will be able to go toe to toe with his republican opposition. He does his homework, and has measured plans and opinions about the state of our country and our place in the world today. He does not get stumped in debates, and his words resonate. While Ash is attracting a lot of youthful voters, there are lots of us out here who have kids his age and are happy to support him.
As someone who has kids in their 20’s, I respect how hard Ashwin has worked — and as a first generation American look at what he has accomplished! I respect his level of education, I respect that he has enough patriotism to volunteer to serve his country and be willing to go into a war zone, and I respect that he loves his family and honors them with everything he does with his life.
I honestly have not seen any other candidate work as hard, put in as many hours, or dedicate themselves and their life savings so totally to the goal of winning this race as Ashwin Madia. I also respect that he has run a positive and clean campaign. I am not so sure the others can say the same.
I really like Jim Hovland and to be honest he was my first choice, but where is his campaign? He entered the race at about the same time as Ashwin, and the difference in campaigns is startling! I was also surprised to read the piece in Sunday’s Star Tribune about the troubles in Edina, and it appears that his constituents are not very happy with him at this time. Does that have anything to do with his apparent disorganization in the campaign, and how would that affect a congressional election?
As for Terri Bonoff, I think she should stay exactly where she is and continue to work for the people that just elected her. I wonder how some of them feel, knowing that she won a very close race, having lost several points the second time around against the same candidate, and that there doesn’t seem to be anyone in the wings to replace her and keep that seat blue? Wouldn’t it be a shame to gain a blue seat in 42, but lose one in 43? How does that help the party?
Ultimately, Ashwin Madia really wants to go to Washington and DO THE JOB. He has demonstrated how hard he will work, and I am betting his constituency services will be awesome. And that is what really matters, not if he owns property, or if he has a wife and kids, but how hard is he willing and able to work for the people of the 3rd!
Very thoughtful comments to my question. Thanks. I agree with you, munchkinmom, that I thought Hovland was going to be much more of a force than he has turned out to be.
Paulsen does his homework and will be prepared. He doesn’t have the style but does have alot of substance (even if you disagree with his views). I’m very intersted to see which candidate goes toe to toe with him.
It’s about time we woke up, and realized this guy is using us to carpetbag for a seat. I agree with party guy. This guy is going to have his ass handed to him, and will be an embarassment to our party. It’s kind of sad we’re willing to put him up, when we have someone who has a real shot of winning.
I’d add my 2 cents. My ranking for who could actually compete with Paulsen and win would be: Madia first (taking the foreign policy question off the table neutralizes a serious GOP talking point) as he is an excellent campaigner and knows his issues. He answers questions truthfully and in a straightforward manner. He’s very compassionate and considered in his opinions. He has strong grassroots loyalty and that will be necessary in the slog to Nov. Second would be Hovland if he could figure out how to build a campaign. I’m amazed that he’s been as poor at building a campaign as he has been! He’s a good candidate but hasn’t done a good job of getting his message out. Last of all, Bonoff. I truly don’t think she can in against Paulsen. This district hasn’t voted DFL in 50 years and a true blue DFL’er isn’t going to win now. She’s too much of a lightweight policy-wise when it comes to federal issues. Every debate she wants to talk about her legislative experience of two years. State legislative experience. Not about why she needs to move to Congress but what she’s done in the state and what needs to be done next year. She needs to stay at the state level - it’s where she does best.
The truth is that the Republicans are encouraging Ash’s candidacy. That’s why he won in Paulsen’s backyard. They know that they will detroy him in a general, just like they destroyed Tammy Duckworth. She was another carptebagger and actually had war wounds. But, she lost because of her lack of ties to the district and lack of experience. She lost in a very Democratic year. Ash will not be able to raise the money to compete, and the RCCC knows Paulsen would win by double digits.
The candidate they fear is Bonoff because of Emily’s list’s endorsement. She will raise millions in a general because of that endorsement — look at the track record of the group. Everyone from the Speaker down the line will be for her and help her. Ash is a better speaker than her and probably a better campaigner, but he lacks the enormous reasources she will bring to the race. She can beat Paulsen. Ash has almost no chance. He has a great future, but he is really hurting the party by running now. That is the word on the street in many circles in DC.
If we want to win this seat and field someone who can have the party and financial resources to compete, the choice is obvious: Bonoff.
Interesting perspective, objective observer. That’s not what I’ve heard from contacts in DC. In fact, usually Emily’s List puts out several mailings during the early endorsement cycle and it is conspicuous that they have not put anything out for Terri Bonoff. She won’t raise “millions” from Emily’s List for this race, even if she is the endorsee. Senate races raise money - house races don’t raise that much. As for being the insider choice of the DC bunch, a lot of good it did Elwyn Tinklenberg last cycle after Rahm Emmanuel touted his candidacy in DC at the DCCC meeting. I’d suggest we let Minnesotans choose our candidate - not DC. They haven’t done such a great job in the past and this looks like another looser, too.
As to the GOP encouraging Ash’s candidacy. That’s ridiculous. How many GOP’ers have you spoken to? I’d suggest you find a few more.
Someone who goes to high school in a district, attends college in a district and moves back after serving in Iraq to the same city and lives in that district is not a carpetbagger. A carpetbagger is someone who moves into a district to run…like Hillary Clinton to New York….or John Kline to CD2….
Unfortunately the one who is delusional is Terri. The other two can win the seat. She is the only one who can’t.
oo - “The candidate they fear is Bonoff because of Emily’s list’s endorsement. ”
Yup thats correct. Go to Anoka County and claim you have Emilys list endorsement. All those union folks will be lining up to vote for Bonoff !!!
Bonoff can’t convince DFLers in her own backyard in Edina to vote for her. Much less any one else. She is the most phony candidate i’ve come across in a while.
In fact, back to Emily’s List…in Milwaukee several years ago there was a primary race with 9 candidates. Gwen Moore was the bottom of the totem pole in name recognition and fundraising. Emily’s List came in, helped her run her campaign, raise the money to compete and win the primary and go on to win the seat. We’re definitely NOT seeing that type of support for Bonoff. If she’s so special, why isn’t she getting the attention of Chris Van Hollem or Emily’s List? Emily’s List and the DCCC send mailings out to their donor list weekly….never seen Bonoff’s name come across in one yet.
To everyone who says that Ashwin will get beat by Paulsen:
Why is he destroying Bonoff?
As for the threat of Erik Paulsen, I think it is very interesting that when the republican party had the chance to endorse him they didn’t. They spent 3 months begging Ramstad not to retire, and even now they are waiting until their convention to endorse in that race.
My impression is that they blame Erik for losing the majority on his watch, and that if any better candidate stepped up Erik would be told to stay in StPaul.
While I agree that Erik will be a formidable candidate, I think a former Marine that is fiscally responsible, offers a measured plan for Iraq and is intelligent when it comes to issues like healthcare, education and the environment will resonate with unhappy republicans and independents.
I agree with WMD — a true blue dem is not going to win the 3rd. I also agree that I don’t see anything from Emily’s list- and I am a card carrying member — and I don’t see anything from DCCC about Terri. Amy Klobuchar had constant support from both groups, and Terri gets none. I know her campaign wants people to think that Emily’s List will come through once Terri wins the endorsement, but that is not true. If Emily’s List thought she was a truly viable candidate, they sould be advertising her and fundraising for her like crazy.
Sometimes the best candidate to carry women’s issues forward happens to be a MAN. In this case, it is — Ashwin Madia.
And the people in Washington know it…
Hey MakeitBlue did you ask them:
1.) Where Ashwin caucused on caucus night?
2.) When he moved into the apartment in Brooklyn Center? Ahem, signed his lease, and is there a signed leased that can be shown upon request?
3.) Where is Ashwin registered to vote?
And the big one:
4.) Where was Ashwin living last September when Ramstad announced his retirement?
I’m actually undecided in this race. I have a little over a week to decide. I have concerns about everyone.
Madia - Ambitious, yes. To a fault? I get the feeling that his next move would be to Duluth, because Oberstar may be the next to retire.
Bonoff - I’m a fan. I’ve dealt with her at the capitol and she follows through and has a very responsive office. But can she hold her own against Paulson?
Hovland - How serious is he about this run? Will he bring the same lack of focus to the general?
Madia obviously has supporters hitting this blog hard. Great organization. But this is a future Congressperson we’re deciding on. Heavy stuff.
Two more thoughts:
Bonoff has the suburban Mom appeal. How much do you think that will all play in the general? After all, voters in the general aren’t like voters in the primary. They form opinions on oimited snippets, and that may be a selling point.
Does anyone know where I can research Madia without it coming from his own campaign (or a blog that learned about him through his campaign)? I hesitate to draw conclusions based purely on what a campaign is feeding me. I can learn alot about HOvland and Bonoff through Google, but not Madia.
Emily’s List has been supporting Teri Bonoff. Go to their website, and see their take on the race. I guarantee that Terri will have a strong fundraising showing in quarter 1. Much of that will be due to Emily’s List. If she doesn’t, then I stand corrected.
It’s not that I dislike Ashwin. I actually think he’s fantastic. I’m just saying that the word in Republican circles is he’d be the easiest to beat. He will raise far less money than Bonoff. Let’s look at the fundraising filings on March 31 when they come out. If he is within 50K of her total raised, I’ll stand corrected. My guess is she would have raised well over 500K by then while he’ll be below that mark significantly. Also, let’s not forget that ethnicity may be a slight issue. It was in Duckworth’s race — probably cost her a couple points. The fact is that Ashwin will be portrayed as a carpetbagger. I have talked to several folks at the RCCC who think that Ashwin would be a fantastic candidate to go up against.
Ashwin is running a clever race for activist delegates. But, that is much different than running a real election with voters. In any case, perhaps there will be no endorsement, and the primary voters can decide. I agree that DC should not pick our nominee. But, neither should a number of activist delegates who are FAR to the left of the mainstream voter.
Bonoff has been disappointing in many respects. But, she’s still our best shot at this district because of her fundraising advantage, advantage with longevity in the district, track record, stronger party national support, soccer mom appeal, and experience.
Consider that there are many state senate women who make the leap to Congress. There are very few minority candidates who do that without prior elective experience. Picking Ashwin would be rolling the dice. He should run for state senate (Bonoff’s seat) or state rep and then run for Congress a few years from now with more experience.
Objective Observer: The truth is that the Republicans are encouraging Ash’s candidacy. That’s why he won in Paulsen’s backyard.
Can you expand on this a little bit? Seems to me if there really was a strong contingent of staunch republicans that went to the Feb 5th caucuses, became delegates and sub-caucused for Ashwin last Saturday somebody might have caught on. Did this happen throughout the district? Can we expect more wins for Ashwin with the assistance of other Erik Paulsen Republicans who went through the DFL Caucus system to support Ashwin? Just looking for a little clarification on this one.
No, I don’t think it will happen throughout the district, but it did happen in Paulsen’s backyard. I also am not proposing that there is a conspiracy for Republicans to caucus for Ashwin. I just know that they are keen on his winning, and on tearing down Bonoff. Just look at MDE, the Republican blogs, or talk to Republicans in the district or with the RCCC. They all attack Bonoff, but say nice things about Ashwin. That makes me very suspicious. The reason is they know they will likely crush Ashwin.
This is going to be a very close election. With Mccain on the top of the ticket, and especially if our Governor is picked as VP or is active in the campaign. Anyone who thinks we are going to beat Paulsen by more than 3-4 points in this district is delusional.
So, the question is who can do that. Well, first we need someone who can compete financially. We should pick the person who is the best fundraiser. Having the establishment support of people like Mondale is not good for votes but will help with fundraising…
Second, we need someone who can appeal to centrist votes, not just the far left like Madia has been trying to do.
Third, we don’t want race to be an issue. It could cost a point or two at the margins.
Fourth, the swing demographic is women. Bonoff will capture them.
Fifth, we need someone who voters can trust at the end of the day. If this were a rural district or small state, sure let’s run a 30 year old. But, this is one of the richest and most sophisticated electorates in the country. Voters here are going to want experience. Look at the people elected to Congress from Minnesota. Almost all including Ellison had elected experience. Tell me of one minority candidate in the country who has won for Congress without prior elected experience.
Sixth, Madia is not vetted. There are rumors of skeletons in his closet which I don’t want to print because they are unsubstantiated.
I hope that we don’t blow this opportunity by selecting Madia as the nominee. It would be one of the dumbest things the DFL would have done in the history of this state.
As a resident of the third district I must say that Bonoff will be absolutely murdered come November. An establishment DFL candidate has never won in the 3rd, why would you think Bonoff would be able to? Madia or Hovland both have better shots than Bonoff. As far as fund raising goes, Madia has come close to matching Bonoff and he doesn’t have Emily’s list (obviously).
This is from Emily’s List website. They are committed to raising 2.7 million for her in the general. It’s publicly on the site. Tell me how is Ashwin going to raise anywhere close to that kind of money.
http://www.emilyslist.org/candidates/terri_bonoff/
Republicans are already sharpening their knives against Bonoff, making it clear that they would prefer to run against a different Democrat. GOP operatives are following her on the campaign trail and critiquing her performance on the Internet. This is just the beginning of a long, ugly brawl for this open swing seat. The stakes are particularly high in Minnesota, a presidential battleground state which also has a high-profile U.S. Senate race in 2008. Bonoff will need at least $2.7 million to prevail in the Democratic primary, fend off fierce GOP attacks, and move this seat into the Democratic column.
I think Bonoff has been running one of the worst campaigns in state history, and I’m baffled that people think she has what it takes to beat - or even be competitive with - Paulsen.
So, let me get the facts straight. She’s a sitting state senator with all kinds of name recognition. She’s the first one in this race and raises $80K in 10 days or whatever in the last part of the 3d quarter. She gets every state legislator and their mother to endorse her, including VP Mondale. She gets Emily’s List and AFSCME.
Her only competition is a 30 year old that’s never run for office before, with no fundraising base, no endorsements, and that noone’s ever heard of before.
And after 4 months … she’s losing?!?! How terrible a campaign can she be running - to have started with every conceivable advantage in an election and now to be losing this race? Objective Observer, money only talks if it’s got something to say. And I’m not sure Bonoff is compelling at all, whether she’s got $2.7M or $2.7 billion.
If she can’t beat a 30 year old no name in these circumstances, there’s no way she has what it takes to campaign against Paulsen.
Alternatively, if Madia can storm out of nowhere like this and take down a sitting state senator backed by the entire Minnesota DFL political establishment, then I think Paulsen et al. will have their hands full.
Did Emily’s list commit to raising $2.7 million for Ember Reichgott Junge in 2006?
Remember Ember from November? [Observer?] I didn’t think so . . .
I recall Ember getting about 10 grand from Emily’s list when she was running for MN5.
And remember Mike Erlandson? His endorsements from Martin Sabo and prominent others helped him ring up big fund raising numbers, including PACs that normally only support incumbents. But did Mike and Ember ring up votes in the September Primary when they challenged Keith Ellison? Obviously not.
And did Ellison’s race cost him votes? Not enough to lose to Ember or Mike.
Minnesota a ‘Big State?’ I guess 8 House members is big when compared with our western neighbors, who only have 1 each.
And now, to bark at the walker of Canine with this whimper on the Marine Corps service of Ashwin Madia:
“No one’s questioning Madia’s veterans [sic] status. That would be tasteless. What’s being questioned is his charade of having foreign policy cred because of his service when he was in the JAG corps.”
Are you implying foreign policy credibility comes from being with infantry or artillery, and not from practicing international law?
“And all his service pictures and statements give the impression of combat service. Only in talks with DFL Activists and at forums does he expand on what his service actually was - an attorney serving in secured zones. He’s playing games with his service record and its [sic] offensive.”
Perhaps Walker needs to be educated on military duties and uniforms. Military lawyers do not wear suits and silk ties. They may wear dress uniforms in courtrooms, like Tom Cruise did in ‘A Few Good Men,’ but when in a Combat Zone, they wear combat uniforms like every other military person in a combat zone. Even Navy people in the combat zone wear the desert camouflage uniforms and helmets. Do you think Ashwin Madia never left the Green Zone? Why don’t you ask him?
Walker, maybe you’d like to serve your country in a military uniform. You could go into the Military Police and be a K-9 handler. Then we could play games with your service record when you come home from a combat zone.
And here’s a question for Observer: Was Tammy Duckworth who ‘actually had war wounds’ a more worthy Congressional candidate than Ashwin Madia, who apparently came home from the combat zone untouched by the wounds of war?
dw - “And the big one:
4.) Where was Ashwin living last September when Ramstad announced his retirement?”
Earth to Bonoff. Aswhin was living in Minneapolis after coming back from the military. Everyone knows that. It does not matter one hoot, because his family is now well established in that District.
I believe some of his family members are teachers in that community. So lets see one is a teacher, one is a millitary vet. and the Bonoff campaign calls them carpetbaggers.
oo - My guess is she would have raised well over 500K by then while he’ll be below that mark significantly.
500K proves nothing. She is running a “Hillary Clinton” campaign. She needs a high paid campaign manager, whose fiancee’ is another a high paid communications director, a high paid pollsters from Washington.
What does all this prove. She cannot run a campaign to turn out the vote. She has no appeal other than the whine and cheese crowd
oo - Also, let’s not forget that ethnicity may be a slight issue.
Now the proverbial “kitchen sink” from the Bonoffs. The last time i checked Bonoff got her rear handed to her in Eden Prairie. Not exactly “multi-cultural” central. I predict she will get her rear handed to her in Plymouth and all points north and west.
Yes ethnicity may be a issue. A big issue. All those kids in Plymouth, Wayzata, Minnetonka, Coon Rapids etc will remind their parents that Indian-American immigrants do quite well in school. Those parents will relate better to the Madias than Bonoffs “Whine and Cheese” crowd.
oo - “They know that they will detroy him in a general, just like they destroyed Tammy Duckworth. ”
Unfortunately with Bonoffs performances in her speeches and debates and especially with her lack of knowledge on Iraq, lack of any Federal knowledge, she is the one who will be destroyed.
Tammy Duckworth ran for Henry Hydes district, in DuPage county IL. DuPage County is a very very conservative district. If the Republicans run a “maccaca” campaign in CD-03 I will guarantee Aswhin a victory.
oo - “The candidate they fear is Bonoff because of Emily’s list’s endorsement. She will raise millions in a general because of that endorsement –look at the track record of the group. Everyone from the Speaker down the line will be for her and help her.”
The whole “endorse your buddy” DFL gang was in full force in Eden Prairie. Gavins blog has pictures of Judi Dutcher, Maria Ruud, Mark Ritichie, you name it. They were all there. I’m sure Maria Ruud pulled out all the stops for Bonoff.
Guess what? She lost.
oo - “Having the establishment support of people like Mondale is not good for votes but will help with fundraising…”
Bonoff has raised money only in Minnesota from the usual suspects, the Kaplans, the Hubbards and all the wealthy lawyers in town. But as noted in other blogs, it has been disappointing. Why ? Because she brought in no “new” money. In other words she has the Hillary Clinton problem. The same set of maxed out donors.
Ashwin never got the support of the DFL, but still raised a lot of “new money”. The last time i checked 30% of Doctors in Minnesota and Nationwide are Indian-American. 30%-40% of high tech entreprenuers in Silicon Valley are Indian-American. That is all “new money”
oo - “Second, we need someone who can appeal to centrist votes, not just the far left like Madia has been trying to do.”
You mean the vets who endorsed Madia are lefties.
oo - “Third, we don’t want race to be an issue. It could cost a point or two at the margins.”
I don’t want incompetance to be an issue. That will cost us 10 points in the center.
None of the suburban communities will be able to relate to Terri Bonoff. She is one of those “whine and cheese” crowd who will have a list of 2000 committees with her name of it. But nothing to show for in terms of results.
oo - “Sixth, Madia is not vetted. There are rumors of skeletons in his closet which I don’t want to print because they are unsubstantiated.”
You already tried some. And it did not catch on. You try one more “rumour” and i am sure people will unload on Terri Bonoff. Starting with claims of “lifelong resident of the district”?
I have questioned only her “executive business record”. I have never questioned her personal life.
oo - “Tell me of one minority candidate in the country who has won for Congress without prior elected experience.”
Bobby Jindal, Indian-American, Rhodes Scholar, 36 years old, who won Congress at 32, now the Governor of Louisiana. One of the youngest ever Governors. He won as a Republican in Louisiana. And guess what he is dark skinned (gasp!)
The whole Republicans encouraging Madia is very interesting. Truly the only people I caucused with on Saturday were Dems…..hundreds of Dems. Only one man said that someone he recognized had been a Republican and he chatted with him to find that the gentleman had become a Dem in 2000. So, where was the “encouraging”? It didn’t matter if Republicans called, gave money or anything else. They couldn’t help Ash get the endorsement unless they went to precinct caucuses, became delegates and caucused on Saturday. Didn’t see it. Did see lots of other local people we all know and see at every event we have plus many more new friends who have all promised to become active in the party. Ash energizes people. His energy, his speeches, his dedication, his passion and his vision - all worthy of support.
Note: Mark Ritchie was at SD42 to speak on behalf of the Secretary of State office - about coming out for elections - not on behalf of Terri. Same with Amy Klobuchar. Spoke about needing a new senator to replace Normie.
Rep. Ruud and Judi Dutcher caucused for Bonoff. Former Congressman Bill Luther caucused for Ash Madia. I live in Maria’s district. Who she endorses has absolutely no effect on me whatsoever. She does a good job in the state house. That’s what I voted for her to do.
This Saturday is going to be interesting.
Five SD Conventions - simultaneously fought.
While past performance doesn’t gauarantee future results, Captain Madia’s Marauders are lookin’ good, now. I can’t wait to see the results on Saturday night.
It will be interesting indeed. I’m looking forward to the next couple weekends, and for that matter the next eight months!
So, Republicans are backing Madia. It couldn’t be that Dems in the south side of the senate district have been running campaigns against Paulsen for years and know who he is and how he campaigns and chose the candidate they felt was best able to beat him in November?
In 2004, a woman candidate with substantially stronger education credentials than Bonoff couldn’t dent Paulsen’s armor. Awards from the legislature Bonoff talks about won’t stand up to what Paulsen can trot out after 12 years there.
We also dealt with phone calls from the candidate where the message was constantly in flux. She’d tell someone something, it wouldn’t fly well. The campaign script must have had the same message because phone calls from someone other than the candidate came with the same message. When it didn’t fly, she was being “swift boated”. No ownership for behavior doesn’t fly well with me and many others I’ve spoken with. And Paulsen will use every misstatement to the max. He’s smooth in public speaking settings, something Bonoff, while improving, isn’t strong at.
And, we had a letter to the editor in our local paper that was extremely distasteful in it’s personal attack on Madia. Here’s a link: http://edenprairienews.com/feb-21-letters-editor-4410
At the convention, we had problems with Bonoff volunteers bullying delegates … even the senate district staff. Definitely not nice people to be around. And, after the convention, their stuff was left everyone while the other campaigns helped clean. In picking up children at the high school that evening, there were still lots of Bonoff signs outside the school.
WMD - Could u tells us about the delegates in the convnetion. Were there lot of new faces ? Were there people/communities u never see there before?
I would also add, who would be better to help pick the democratic nominee than the district that Erik Paulsen comes from — SD 42? Who would know better than anyone else who could go up against Erik than the people who have been stuck with him for the past 12 years?
SD 42 put up a great candidate against Paulsen in 2004. Bomben has years of experience in Education, been elected to school boards, chaired school boards, currently on the state school board, and Erik TOOK AWAY THE ISSUE OF EDUCATION FROM HER.
Out here in 42, we know what it wil take to beat Erk, and it won’t be Bonoff! He will make mincemeat of the fact that she hasn’t held a job since 1999, and previous jobs were procured by Daddy and exhusband. She claims to be the education candidate, but her only education experience is with the Hopkins LAC. I know she is on those committees at the Senate, but so are a lot of people!
The big ticket issues today are going to be the economy, the wars and healthcare. Ashwin knows the most on these issues and will debate well against Paulsen this fall.
The Secretary of State does not endorse any candidate in any race in Minnesota since he oversees the election process.
I don’t know that Senator Klobuchar has yet come out with any endorsements for any candidate either.
I see their presence at a SD convention as supporting the Democratic Process and the members of the Party, not any particular candidate(s).
Look I have no bone to pick with Ashwin. I think he’s great, and honor his service. I think he’ll be in Congress one day. My point is just that he’s pissing off a lot of people in the DCCC, and in the Minnesota Democratic party because he is hurting our chance for an easy pick up. Bonoff has the support of the national and state party, and that means a lot in a contested, competitive district where you have to raise nearly $2 million for a general to win.
I am sympathetic to the argument of new money. If Ash can outraise Bonoff or even come within 20-30K of her by March 31, then he is worthy of consideration. But, if he is getting blown out by 50K or 100K by that deadline, then he should do what’s right for the party and get behind Terri Bonoff. He will reap huge dividends and good will. Remember, Abraham Lincoln stepped aside twice for candidates for Senate and Congress, both times thinking it was his last shot to run. But, his doing so earned him the respect of folks who knew he put the country and cause ahead of himself.
Ash should do what is right for the party. If he goes toe to toe with Bonoff on bringing in “new money” he deserves consideration, even though he has no state or national party support. But, if he is short on resources, he should bow out gracefully.
Ash is no Bobby Jindal. He could be one day. But, Bobby had served as Assistant Secretary at the federal level and a Cabinet Secretary in Louisiana. Nice try. Name me one minority who has won without significant elected/appointed experience. Nothing against Ash, but it’s just not the way American politics works.
I’ve lived in this district for 20 years, and I am tired of Republican rule. I want someone who can win — and Terri Bonoff (while far from perfect) is our best bet.
I’ve followed other blogg posts about this race and have been impressed by the rapid response by the rabid supporters of both candidates. Usually every question is responded to with the immediacy of a general election campaign.
But this morning I was catching up on the past couple days of comments and saw an interesting question.
“where did Madia caucus from on feb 5?”
RM was quick to answer some of the questions from that post but what about that one?
It’s almost sad to watch the Bonoff campaign’s flunkies throw everything they’ve got at Madia. Sorry, folks- it’s not going to work, since your charges are total nonsense.
“He had performance issues at work”- Total nonsense- ask anyone who worked with him- and look at his campaign finance report to see that his former associates and superiors have given thousands of dollars to his campaign. They’re savvy attorneys- they wouldn’t throw their money away on someone who had “performance issues.”
“He’s inflating his combat service.” Total nonsense. Madia has gone to great lengths on his website, his mailings, and his in-person speeches to emphasize that he was a lawyer, not a combat Marine. Listen to his stories- he defended a gay Marine- he worked with Iraqi judges- they have nothing to do with combat.
“He’s a carpetbagger.” Total nonsense. He went to high school in the district, for goodness sake. He doesn’t make a secret of the fact that once he finished his military service, he lived in Minneapolis to be close to his job. Then the opportunity arose to represent his home on the issues he cares about, so he moved to his own apartment in the District.
“He can’t raise the money.” Total nonsense. He has raised the money, and at a faster pace than Bonoff- remember, Madia didn’t announce until late October 2007 and still raised more than $160,000 in 2007.
I’m sure they’ll dream up more stuff to throw at him since they’re so dumbfounded that he’s beating Bonoff.
On another note, how dumb do the Bonoff people think we are? In their press releases, they’re now calling their superdelegates “autodelegates” since everyone knows that superdelegates are just a way for insiders to keep out new voices.
Since Bonoff claims to be such a big Obama supporter, I’ll expect her to share his position on superdelegates: that they should reflect the will of the people. And so far, the will of the people is that Madia should win the endorsement.
Hopefully this isn’t about race or gender. I hope people look at all candidates based on how they would do the job in Washington. I would hate for anyone to not give Madia the chance because of his ethinicity, Bonoff because of her gender, Hovland because he is the rich guy from Edina.
Heck, I also hope a housewife wouldn’t vote for Bonoff just because she is a Mom, or that an Indian or immigrant wouldn’t vote for Madia just because he is 1st generation.
When I hear of Indian physician donors going to Madia, I actually cringe. Should your basis for support be that someone has the same ethnicity as you? I hope not. That is the same reason I’m not a big fan of Emily’s List. You could have a great, proven, thoughtful, ethical male candidate, but he wouldn’t get consideration. That loses credibility for me.
So…..let’s discuss your contacts in the DCCC. I have quite a few as well as staffers in DC….I’m not hearing this at all. Ash should do what is right for the party - let the voters decide and work through the process. The initial process (abiding by the endorsement) culminates on April 12th. In fact, I’m hearing exactly the opposite. Requests for information have come in for more info from several offices in DC already since Saturday. Not pissed off. Interested and wanting more info. It isn’t about only money. The GOP isn’t doing well this year raising money. Paulsen isn’t going to be flush. He’s doing exactly what Terri tried to do - frontload his campaign and make him look inevitable. This isn’t a huge tv ad market anyway….how much does it cost to run a ton of spotrunners? Not much. Ash will easily be able to raise the money to run this race and win. Remember…VoteVets is also a huge national organization and they are backing him.
There were many people at the SD42 convention who are Dems and have been around for years - see them at 4th of July, see them at the Fall Feast, see them at the Raspberry Festival, etc. - but not at caucuses or conventions. It was good to have more people participating. There were new people, too. Interestingly enough though, the subcaucus of new voters was not large…..possibly 1 delegate subsumed by another caucus for viability.
As to “how politics works”…..wrong. New blood wins. Ask Tim Walz, ask Jim Webb, ask Heath Shuler, ask Joe Scarborough, ask Joe Biden (he was 29 when elected to the senate). Ask Kristen Gillibrand…..newly elected congresswoman - attorney.
Minority? Iraq war veteran takes that off the table. We proved it on Saturday. It’s time to dump the old style politics. Let’s elect people for who they are and what they can do - not the color of their skin or their ethnic background.
I want someone who can win the race - not just the true blue DFL’ers…..that’s not Bonoff…. Unfortunately, Hovland has taken himself out of the running since he’s really not running a campaign that anyone can tell. Luckily we have an excellent candidate in Ash Madia.
oo - Ash is no Bobby Jindal.
You asked for a name of a minority candidate who won to Congress without elected experience. I gave u one. Don’t change the goal posts on your questions.
ff - “where did Madia caucus from on feb 5?”
ff - RM was quick to answer some of the questions from that post but what about that one?
Sorry, i’m not part of his campaign. So i don’t know the answer.
Good question. I live in Sd42. He lives in Plymouth. You’d have to email his campaign and they could tell you.
Observer: “Name me one minority who has won without significant elected/appointed experience.”
Well, I guess it depends on your definition of ‘Minority,’
How about former Senator Tom Daschle of South Dakota as an example. His ethnicity is ‘Germans from Russia.’ Does that make him an ethnic minority?
Daschle was elected to the House in 1978 after serving five years as an aide to South Dakota Senator James Abourezk. [Just before Daschle’s 31st birthday.]
1969-1972, Daschle served in the United States Air Force.
Congressman Tim Walz (MN1) was elected to Congress with no prior service in elective office, and no experience on the staff of a member of Congress. So what’s his ethnicity? Might be the same as Daschle’s. Like Daschle, Walz had military service. Notice any patterns here?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tom_Daschle
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Walz
And speaking of Daschle, he’s scheduled to be in town next week [Wednesday 12 March, Minneapolis Club] for an event for Steve Sarvi, candidate for Congress in MN2. Sarvi is a National Guard veteran with elective office experience as mayor of his Minnesota town of Watertown.
Event details: http://www.stevesarvi.org/node/139
Daschle serves as national co-chair of the presidential campaign of Senator Barack Obama, and has a new book on health care hot off the press. [Title: Critical] Find it at your favorite locally owned bookstore.
Book details: http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/15907762.html
oo - if Terri’s gettin’ beat in the delegate count next Saturday nite, SHE is the one that needs to be planning a graceful exit.
It was said before, but it bears sayin’ again: for Captain Madia to put together a team that’s winning, at this stage, is testament to his electability AND a big question about Senator Bonoff’s.
oo- “Ash should do what is right for the party. If he goes toe to toe with Bonoff on bringing in “new money” he deserves consideration, even though he has no state or national party support. But, if he is short on resources, he should bow out gracefully”
If Ashwin wins the nomination he will get national party support. The DNC has not committed anything to either party.
Now the Bonoff campaign will use money as the goal post. The last time i checked it was voting that actually counted. She agreed to abide by the endorsement. Am i smelling a back track here.
If Bonoff does not win the endorsement she should exit. Will she?
Look at Bonoffs campaign cash burn rate. If she needs all this money to win a primary against a newcomer. Even $5 million will not be enough for her in the general.
She needs a higly paid Campaign Manager, a higly paid Communications Director a highly paid pollster and god knows how many more…to win a primary.
oo- “Ash is no Bobby Jindal. He could be one day. But, Bobby had served as Assistant Secretary at the federal level and a Cabinet Secretary in Louisiana. Nice try. Name me one minority who has won without significant elected/appointed experience. Nothing against Ash, but it’s just not the way American politics works.”
Nice try.
Bobby Jindal was chosen based on his brilliance. Not his family connections to the good old boys in the party. And when given the opportunity he ran with it.
Ashwin Madia is being chosen based on his brilliance. Not his family connection to the good old boys in the party. And when give the opportunity he will run with it.
Terri Bonoff wants to be the “chosen one”.
I agree that Bonoff should abide by the endorsement. If Ash beats her there, he deserves the nomination. And it would be disastrous for the party for this to go to a primary. I’m not pro-Bonoff. I’m just trying to suggest what is our best chance for picking up this seat.
But I doubt that with the “superdelegates” Ash will be able to assemble the 60% needed before the convention. My guess is they will both go in tied, and then the question will be who is more likely to win.
I think that either there will be no endorsement (unlikely and bad), or delegates will look to who can raise more money and get more national support to break the tie.
Don’t count out Ash’s fundraising. I’ve heard he’s going to break 500K. If he genuinely tops her in fundraising, a distinct possibility — then he deserves the nomination. If he’s far behind (more than 50K), the delegates will go with her, as will the national party.
My sense is that counting superdelegates they will probably be tied after next Saturday…
Or will Bonoff play some of the dirty tricks I have been hearing and try to manuever at the 3rd CD convention for a “no endorsement” and a forced primary in September? If she does that, she proves to all of us that she really only cares about herself, and cares nothing about the DFL, or the party’s ability to gain a congressional seat for the first time in almost 50 years.
Dirty politics will not win in April, and will not win in November.
If Team Bonoff forces “No Endorsement”, Mayor Hovland is suddenly back in it.
And I wouldn’t be surprised if he won that one.
oo - “My sense is that counting superdelegates they will probably be tied after next Saturday…”
which translates to, she is getting whooped in the popular vote. and i beleive if that replicates itself accross districts the supers will bail on her because it will become to embarassing
Objective Observer, you can’t even keep your negative attacks straight! Below, your conflicting efforts to drive up expectations for Madia’s fundraising:
“If he is within 50K of her total raised, I’ll stand corrected. My guess is [Bonoff] would have raised well over 500K by then while he’ll be below that mark significantly.” -Mar 4th, 2008 at 12:17 am
“If Ash can outraise Bonoff or even come within 20-30K of her by March 31, then he is worthy of consideration. But, if he is getting blown out by 50K or 100K by that deadline, then he should do what’s right for the party and get behind Terri Bonoff.” -Mar 4th, 2008 at 11:09 am
“Don’t count out Ash’s fundraising. I’ve heard he’s going to break 500K. If he genuinely tops her in fundraising, a distinct possibility –then he deserves the nomination. If he’s far behind (more than 50K), the delegates will go with her, as will the national party.” -Mar 4th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Bonoff will always outraise Madia- she has the establishment money locked up. But Madia will raise enough to be competitive, and will win the endorsement because he has the better message, is the better messenger, and built a better grassroots organization in the 3rd while Bonoff was out courting endorsements from every big-name DFLer in St. Paul.
OO is the Bonoff campaign.
The supers will not bail on her because the power establishment of the party is threatened by Ash. You got to give him credit. He’s a maverick, challenger whose win would destroy the establishment of the party for a long time. It would make the Walter Mondale’s and state legislators and AFSCME look powerless. They will not give up without a fight. Anyone would be naive to think so.
But that part of me really wants Ash to win. He’d basically be showing that the establishment has no real power, and he won’t be beholden to any of them.
But, I am sure he has a strategy to win this without counting on superdelegates flipping. They will never do that. He needs to amass over 60% in the pop vote which he can.
I still maintain though that Bonoff would be the stronger general election nominee.
But I take nothing away from Ash.
“Congressman Tim Walz (MN1) was elected to Congress with no prior service in elective office, and no experience on the staff of a member of Congress. So what’s his ethnicity? Might be the same as Daschle’s. Like Daschle, Walz had military service. Notice any patterns here?
Yes. Both Walz and Daschle had been selfless contributors to their community prior to thier respective runs for congress, and had earned the trust of the people whom they would serve by building a solid reputation over the course of years. People knew the good and the bad, and backed them anyway.
With Madia, we would for the first time observe the good and bad about him while he is trying to represent us in Washington. That makes no sense.
Sorry, couldn’t resist. I’ll shut back up.
oo - “It would make the Walter Mondale’s and state legislators and AFSCME look powerless. They will not give up without a fight. Anyone would be naive to think so.”
Mark my words. If Ashwin beats her in the pop. vote, there will be a switch. Because the DFL (especially Al Frankens Senate campaign) is aware of a possible backlash if this is a back room deal.
dtm - “selfless contributors to their community ”
Serving in the millitary is not?
Al Franken will need heavy support from Hennepin County to win. Good luck with that if there is a back room deal in CD3.
rm - I don’t think that’s what DTM was saying at all.
And as a veteran, I’m especially attuned to slams at the military.
DTM, you can correct me, if I’m wrong….
I guess selfless contributor to the defense of our country doesn’t count in some books. He should have stayed home and run for the local school board or city council to be a “selfless contributor to his community.” Good grief! This is one reason why it is hard as hell to get veterans to take the DFL seriously. The GOP immediately recognizes the service to our country and gives it the due it deserves. The DFL insiders seem to value some weird stuff. I wonder what percentage of people in the 3rd have lived here all their lives and can actually make that claim…… I can’t. Most I know can’t. Interesting yardstick for a candidate, eh?
To be fair DTM has always supported Ashs millitary service. I just don’t understand how he does not see it as an extension of “community service”
My point exactly. His parents and family were still living here…while Ash was in the service. Service to our country is highly valued and will be seen as such in the GE by the GOP. This seat will not be won with just DFL votes. The nominee must be able to draw indies and GOP’s. The GOP values service to country above all else.
Thanks, TPT. You are right, I was not trying to belittle military experience. Anyone who has served has done something I myself was not willing to do. I would never knock them.
My “selfless” comment refers to, for example, Walz toiling away as a teacher (a very good one) for years and helping build the community through grassroots contributions. Only then did he seek high office. The same can be said for other Dems like Ellison or Republicans like, yes, Normy Coleman, being in the local AG office for years before attempting to represent his neighbors.
This is all personal preference. In my judgment process, military experience augments community service. But it does not replace it. If this was an election for a representive to the joint Chiefs of Staff committee or something, I’d have a different view. But this is for the person who will speak on behalf of the 3rd district of Mn. I want someone who has spent time in the 3rd district of Mn.
DTM you forgot John Kline and his “selfless service” in CD5
If John Kline is villified for his ascent in CD5, then you are essentially making the case against Madia, right?
And I don’t have the facts in front of me, but Kline spent at least 5 years of his adult life in CD5 prior to being elected, if I am not miataken.
a) I did not villify him
b) And Kline spent the entire part of 5 years running for office. He did not win on the first attempt
Could it be that by his 3rd attempt, the successful one, the people of the 5th felt they had gotten to know him, his personality, his quirks, well enough to be comfortable with him?
Maybe it took that long.
My bad. That is the 2nd CD, right?
5th is Mpls.
The people of MN5 did not send John Kline to Congress; he was elected by the people of the newly Gerry-mandered MN2.
MN5 elected Keith Ellison to Congress in 2006. He was not the ‘establishment’ candidate with endorsements from all the old-time DFLers; I think Mike Erlandson had more ‘establishment’ endorsements.
Did Ellison’s election cause the DFL to collapse, or the influence of established DFLers to erode?
It must not have, if candidates are still seeking their endorsement, and staying with the party.
The 5th CD mentality will not be successful in the 3rd district. The 5th CD DFL nominating convention was essentially the selection of the future congressperson, not a candidate.
Couldn’t agree more, DTM. The nominee must be able to run in the GE against a far right GOP’er. It’s going to take someone who can speak with passion, outwork, energize and excite people from all across the spectrum to win the seat.
I just got the weirdest piece of campaign lit. I thought it was for Barak Obama - there is a picture of Barak at the top with what looks like a young eager staffer. Then when you read the bold heading you see “Joe Bonoff Paulsen is Working For Barack Obama In his National Campaign Headquarters In Chicago.
This material fills about 1/3 of the 8x10” mailing. Then there is another picture of Joe Bonoff Paulsen and then text primarily about Obama “Dear DFL Delegate: 2008 is going to be an incredible year for our country and my family. I have been working for Barack Obama throughout the country since last June. Like many, I was struck by Senator Obama’s message of change and his unique ability to inspire people to come together and bring about change.”
Only after you read this do you come to material on Bonoff - ther is a paragraph - followed by are you ready the following
“Let me be clear, when it comes to public speaking, my mom is nothing like Barack Obama”
The other side has the mailing info space and a fuzzy photo of Terri with Joe Bonoff Paulsen …it too is a weird photo - while the son is in focus the candidate is not.
This mailing as well as another “Paid for by Terri Bonoff for Congress Commitee” that focused on Obama baffles me. Who knew you can establish a campaign, fundraise, and then use funds to plug another race? Perhaps this is a technique the McCain campaign can use….
Ah, demure one….it’s the “pre-convention lit piece” apparently. I got it last week before SD42 and it truly is the weirdest piece of lit I’ve ever seen. It follows on the heels of that one with the lyrics to a song in it.
It’s the strangest campaign I’ve ever seen….
Those who have endorsed Terri will stick with her 100% as long as she’s close in elected delegates and has a substantial fundraising advantage. The key to this race will be fundraising, fundraising, fundraising. If Ashwin is within 50K of Bonoff, and has a lead of more than 15 elected delegates going in, he has a shot. Otherwise, he won’t win.
Terri has been preparing for this for years. She won’t give up without a fight. But I do like what Ashwin has been doing. He’s certainly been the most succesful anti-establishment candidate in recent MN history
Hmmmm…..Terri doesn’t admit she’s been “preparing for this for years”. According to her she just decided to run when Ramstad retired. Right.
You should read gavinsullivan.com where he’s been asking questions about Terri’s claims that they just decided to run when Ramstad retired but that they bought the domain name when it was offered…..interesting questions.
My concern is that with her son on Barak’s campaign - there is obviously a connection of sorts…how closely can campaigns work? This kind of thing makes me nervous…you donate to one person’s political race and it ends up helping another person’s race. What am I missing here? Don’t campaign finance laws restrict this kind of thing? Will the Barak people then return the favor later in the game?
Hopefully someone will come along and answer that…..sure would make the Clinton/Bonoff subcaucus people pretty unhappy, eh?
It certainly seems a little weird to me…..
There are campaign finance laws, and that’s why the DFL has the Combined Campaign, so sort out all that stuff. Joint events can get very complicated.
The lit piece sounds like an interesting creation - especially if it came from the new high caliber Comms Director that’s supposed to be such a catch.
Unless it states Approved by Barack Obama, there is no connection. This is just her latest scheme to glam onto the Obama craze.
oo - “The key to this race will be fundraising, fundraising, fundraising.”
if you are not winning delegates, i guess the only thing you can harp on is your money. I guess they need all that money to because they have all kinds of high-priced consultants on the payroll. Ashwin just has to raise a decent amount to fund a primary, because the return on his funds is what 3-1.
folks watch for the cash burn rate of the bonoff campaign.
oo - “He’s certainly been the most succesful anti-establishment candidate in recent MN history”
Ashwin is not an anti-establishment candidate. His views are main stream. He is simply the best candidate we have seen in a long time
“Unless it states Approved by Barack Obama, there is no connection.” Wow….here’s hoping the guy your backing doesn’t dismiss concerns so easily…this is issue merits some attention.
Oops…that should be “you’re”…
Baracks campaign cannot fund it, without stating that on the lit. I guess Bonoff got approval to use his image.
When a delegate who is inspired by Barack gets this, do you think they will be inspired by Terri or Madia. This is money wasted. Period.
Did Bonoff get approval to use Obama’s picture on her lit?!
Wonder if this is like the lit piece with the photo of the guy in his SEIU jacket without that endorsement…..possibly or like that photo of her with the DFL logo on the lectern that implies she is the endorsed candidate when she isn’t….or the ones that imply endorsement of Sen. Amy Klobuchar when she hasn’t been. If her previous lit pieces are any indication, probably no approval. The rules don’t seem to bother her too much.
and what if Clinton gets the endorsement? pretty stupid in my book to tie to a candidate who is fighting for the endorsement right now.
And, on the preconvention lit piece, her son is sporting a Klobuchar button.
Sen. Klobuchar was at the SD42 convention, and specifically stated she wasn’t endorsing any candidate.
More dirty politics…
How about the subliminal Amy Klobuchar on the photo of her yakking on the microphone on the gold lit piece?
More?
I beleive People like Terri Bonoff have this sense of entitlement. They got the money and the connections and beleive that the world owes them a nomination.
She was almost successfull, until she ran into Mr. Madia. A first generation immigrant who knows there ain’t no inheritance, trust fund or country club.
And sadly for her, she does not know how to deal with it. If it were a local election, a few calls to the editor of the Sun Sailor would have taken care of business. Now the “peasants” are actually challenging the “princes”.
“He’s certainly been the most succesful anti-establishment candidate in recent MN history”
I would consider Ellison anti-establishment. I think Erlandson was clearly the establishment guy in that race.
Can’t comment on the campaign lit. for some reason, I’m not on the DFL mailing list
Why was Ellison anti-establishment candidate ? Because he is black ?
Well, DTM, come on over from the dark side (or at least the moderate middle) and you too could get some interesting lit!
Oh rm…Ellison was considered the anti-establishment candidate because party insiders held Erlandson up as the heir apparent…Erlandson was Sabo’s assistant, the one in line to take the seat. Erlandson ignored party endorsement and soon after the endorsement convention all these slimy stories about Ellison came out in the papers. But in the end Ellison, the people’s candidate, or anti-establishment candidate won.
You’re kind of quick on the trigger there…
No you are misreading my intent. There was Ember, Erlandson, Ostrow, Ellison. Were Ember, Ostrow the anti-establishment candidates also.
rm,
Only in the sense that they didn’t want to “get in line” and hand the coronation to the “chosen one”…..
Kind of like Bonoff assumes everyone was going to do for her in CD3.
rm you are so binary!
So was Bonoff supposed to not accept money and reject Mondale’s endorsement? That is a political playbook that most people would incorporate if they could.
There I go defending Bonoff again, but geez you guys really have something against her. If she gets the nomination, you’ve all done more to defeat her in the general than Paulsen will have.
Wait a minute folks. Not fair!.
If Ellison was anti-establishment, because he ran despite Erlandsons “annointment”, then what do you call the other 3, who also ran despite Erlandsons “annointment” ?
DTM,
She had to ask for Mondale’s endorsement….he doesn’t go around foisting it off on people.
It’s the decision that she made to run a “party endorsement” campaign and expect the voters to fall in line that is “establishment”.
I also said the others were anti-establishment because they, too, went against the “chosen one” attitude….
Your assessment, DTM, that we really have something against her is right. We’ll leave it at that for right now….
dtm - So was Bonoff supposed to not accept money and reject Mondale’s endorsement?
Most of us took time for a sec from bitching about to Bonoff, to bitch about Mondale.
dtm - If she gets the nomination, you’ve all done more to defeat her in the general than Paulsen will have.
Anyone who watches her debates would have asked the question. Was she really this “executive business executive” ? I just took the next step and did some digging
Let’s assume that a thread like this isn’t representative of a typical General Election voter. Pretty fair assumption, I think.
I’m guessing that the average person showing up at the polling place on their way to work next November takes note of a Walter Mondale endorsement. It certainly shouldn’t be viewed as a liability. That is my point. She did run a party endorsement campaign, but did she really expect voters to “fall in line”? Do you have access to her thoughts and intentions?
I’m going to assume that Paulsen gets the endorsement from Ramstad. The only way there would be any question, IMO, is if Hovland somehow got the nomination.
I certainly wouldn’t see the endorsement from a 65% well-respected Congressman in this district to be a liability. Huge asset, IMO.
Are there any good sources of information on Madia, other than what is filtered through his campaign? I do Google searches, and all I find is stuff from his time at the UofM which I read on this site should not be considered.
I’d really like to learn something more about his Marine experience and professional law experience, but all I get is stuff from his campaign lit. I prefer to do more independent validation.
Any input is appreciated. Looks like a race.
go and talk to him.
“independent validation”, but thanks anyway.
Wellstonian - I’ve been trying to get a bit more info as well, but it is hard to come by. I’m guessing much of the Marine info is classified, and I don’t think he was at the law firm long enough to have much to go on there.
You can ask for his DD214 from his separation of service but it won’t give you much information other than what he has already released….duty station, time in station, training, etc. What someone actually does on active duty is not public information.
You can write to Robins, Kaplan, Ciresi if you wish to know precisely which cases he assisted on I would assume. Unless you are a partner or primary attorney in a firm much information isn’t available on young attorneys either.
If we are to take Terri Bonoff at her word on what she did in business, why shouldn’t we take Ash Madia at his on what he did in the military? It seems that we have to take much of what many people say on their word.
Frankly, my DD214 is pretty darn vague, too and yes, much of what is done in the military is only available if you file Freedom of Information Act release requests. I’m not even sure you would be able to sue for those papers to be released on him right now anyway since the Iraq war is still underway. Usually the State Department and Pentagon hold those things until the situation is resolved and Iraq is far from resolved.
You keep discounting fundraising in a general, but it will matter. Trust me, the delegates will factor that. The reason people are upset with Madia is that this is money that should have been going to a General. Bonoff now will have to spend money to first beat Madia before getting to the general.
The only way Madia has any shot at this at the end is if he is neck and neck with her in fundraising. If I were him, I’d go around the country and hit the 500K mark. If he says he can bring in new money to be competitive let him prove it.
Paulsen is already sitting on 400K and likely will have well over 500K by the next filing.
If he doesn’t hit the 500K threshold, this whole thing is big waste and just using party resources.
oo - “You keep discounting fundraising in a general, but it will matter. Trust me, the delegates will factor that.”
Delegates are plenty happy with the money he has raised to fight the primary.
oo - “The reason people are upset with Madia is that this is money that should have been going to a General.”
Absolutely, the “whine and cheese” crowd is furious. The peasants have put up a candidate.
oo - “The only way Madia has any shot at this at the end is if he is neck and neck with her in fundraising.”
You sound like Mark Penn. You mean getting her rear handed to her in her backyard did not count for anything.
oo - “If he doesn’t hit the 500K threshold, this whole thing is big waste and just using party resources.”
Lets be fair. The delegate count is only going to get worse for Bonoff. So now it is onto the second set of dirty tricks. Too bad for you that push poll did not work.
Al Franken, who has scored an impressive series of union endorsements in his campaign for the Senate, probably didn’t mention a little issue he had going on while he was still living and working and enjoying his life as a New York resident. Of course, mentioning this problem while screening with Minnesota’s labor unions probably wasn’t a good strategy for Team Franken.
That is, the $25,000 judgment against him for absolutely, positively refusing to pay workers compensation insurance.
According to public court documents, the State of New York Workers’ Compensation Board filed a $25,000 judgment in the Supreme Court of the State of New York against Alan Franken Inc, for “Failure to Carry Workers’ Comp Ins 6/29/2002-03/28/2005.”
Public records from the state of New York, list Al Franken as “Chairman or Chief Executive Officer” of Alan Franken Inc.
The $25,000 judgment filed against Alan Franken Inc., was filed on May 29, 2007 - over four months after Franken announced he was running for the U.S. Senate in Minnesota.
Franken had time to resolve this matter before the judgement was filed, as on August 8, 2006, Alan Franken Inc was issued a “Final Notice” from the State of New York Workers’ Compensation Board for “Failure to Carry Workers’ Comp Ins 6/29/2002-03/28/2005.” Public records indicate that no payment was made.
What is with the “whine and cheese” comment? Are you biased against people who live in Minnetonka? Recall what Gavin Sullivan wrote after attending the holiday part for both Bonoff and Madia.
“Terri Bonoff comes across as being down-to-earth, friendly and middle-of-the-road. She took charge of the event from the get-go, shaking hands and saying hello to every attendee.”
“I attended Ashwin Madia’s holiday party at his parents’ spacious house in Plymouth this afternoon. It looked to me like 75-100 people; the Madias were delightful, gracious hosts. People mingled….”
Doesn’t sound like Bonoff has an air of “the chosen one” as you try to point out, and it also doesn’t sound like we should be calling Madia the peasant.
This is not dirty tricks. I think Ashwin is capable of raising 500K and he has publicly said he will at a number of events. If he does that he will be the nominee. If he has Barack Obama like grassroots appeal, he should be getting tons of donations. If he doesn’t compete financially, he won’t win the endorsement and this was a waste of the party’s resources. I am not rooting for either Ash or Bonoff. I just want to go with a winner who will be able to raise the millions required to beat Paulsen.
Madia will not raise even close to what Bonoff will, but that will not matter. He will get the endorsement because the majority knows he is the best candidate.
So at what point does he become the establishment candidate? Upon endorsement? Election? Re-election? When he is endorsed by future President Clinton?
Madia has never said he’s going to raise 500K. Clearly “objective observer” is another Bonoff staffer trying to set up high expectations for his fund raising. Madia will not come anywhere near that number, but again- it will not matter.
Guys, it is clear that you’re upset that Bonoff got rocked in Eden Prairie, but let’s be truthful here. “… he has publicly said he will at a number of events” That’s a lie- he never said that.
“Objective Observer”:
Madia has never said that he would raise 500k this quarter. He’s too politically savvy to set high expectations for his own fundraising. You’re either misinformed or lying.
In the course of the day, you went from saying, “My guess is [Bonoff] would have raised well over 500K by then while he’ll be below that mark significantly.” (Mar 4th, 2008 at 12:17 am)
to saying
“I think Ashwin is capable of raising 500K and he has publicly said he will at a number of events.” (Mar 4th, 2008 at 9:39 pm)
Part of me is annoyed with you because you’re so clearly a Bonoff troll posing as an “Objective Observer.”
But the other part just laughs because you’re so inept. You’d better call the Bonoff campaign office and get clearer talking points for tomorrow.
could someone please tell us where madia caucused? I find it curious that rm can answer every question as if he’s ashwin’s brother but is silent on this point. Seriously; do I have to contact the DFL for this or can someone tell me?
I don’t know what to make of the $500K figure, but it would be naive to think money won’t be a major factor in the general. Paulsen will have it. The DFL nominee will need it as well.
While the caucus vote can be obtained through stump speeches at local meetings, in-home meet ‘n greets, and word of mouth, that isn’t how the General Election vote is earned in 2008.
rm - “I find it curious that rm can answer every question as if he’s ashwin’s brother but is silent on this point. ”
dear bonoff campaign member, find me a statement that i posted that is not hypothetical or not public knowledge.
ff - “bonoff campaign member, find me a statement that i posted that is not hypothetical or not public knowledge.”
ok so maybe you’re his sister… either way one of you marauders can share this information.
dtm - “Doesn’t sound like Bonoff has an air of “the chosen one” as you try to point out, and ”
You mean i invented the “inevitability” spiel
dtm - “it also doesn’t sound like we should be calling Madia the peasant.”
“Now the “peasants” are actually challenging the “princes”.”
“The peasants have put up a candidate.”
Read the above statements reeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaallly sloooooooowwwwwwwllllllllly and carefully Dan.
“If he has Barack Obama like grassroots appeal, he should be getting tons of donations. ”
If she really had grassroots appeal she would not get beat in her own backyard. His initial fundraising has been generally accepted by outsiders as adequated to fund a primary.
See he does not need high paid hacks to prop up a failing candidacy. And he has proven that time and again.
“If he doesn’t compete financially, he won’t win the endorsement and this was a waste of the party’s resources.”
Au contraire’, Bonoffs performance has and continues to be an embarrassment to the party. A supposed “business executive” who fumbled her way thru every debate, push polls and needs all this high paid help just to run a campaign within her own party !!!!!!
mv - “Part of me is annoyed with you because you’re so clearly a Bonoff troll posing as an “Objective Observer.””
mv - “But the other part just laughs because you’re so inept. You’d better call the Bonoff campaign office and get clearer talking points for tomorrow.”
Could it be that she is the high paid “talking point” !!!!!!!!!. I think so.
ff - “ok so maybe you’re his sister… either way one of you marauders can share this information.”
dear ff (a.k.a Bonoff Campaign member), if you read all my posts as you claim to have, you would have noticed that i have repeatedly asked the publishers of this blog, if they wish to figure out if i am a Madia (former or present).
Now could you ask Terri how she could be an “executive” at Tonka Toys, when the management of Tonka Toys was in Rhode Island.
hey brother (or sister). I share your frustrations. seems like this whole thing is based on half truths and out right lies. honesty is not winning the day, which is all of our loss and why i don’t vote.
ff - hey brother (or sister). I share your frustrations. seems like this whole thing is based on half truths and out right lies. honesty is not winning the day, which is all of our loss and why i don’t vote.
dear ff (a.k.a Bonoff Campaign member). Absolutely. I have been complaining about Bonoffs fibs and half truths for a long time.
I hope your would really take the time and initiative to ask Terri about her “executive business experience”
I don’t know why you have to make this personal. I am not going to vote for Bonoff. I may support Ash. My point is Ash has said he will raise 500,000K and he has a shot at doing that. I don’t think he will. That is because he has not done so up to this point, and hasn’t focused energy on it. But, if he truly wants to be our nominee, he should focus on that so that we can win.
People who say that we won’t need a person capable of raising millions to win the general are being naive.
Again, I think Ash has run a phenomenal campaign, and admire what he has accomplished. But I fear if he doesn’t hit the 500K threshold, and she does, that he stands no chance, and this would be a waste.
It’s not unreasonable to ask that someone taking on Paulsen’s money machine raise the resources to be competitive.
The delegates and party will look at that if it’s a close race.
oo - “My point is Ash has said he will raise 500,000K and he has a shot at doing that.”
since you have all sources to all these “rumours” and statements, could you point when and where he stated that.
oo - “But I fear if he doesn’t hit the 500K threshold, and she does, that he stands no chance, and this would be a waste.”
for a supposedly “neutral” and well sourced person, you seem oblivious to the fact that Bonoffs cash burn rate is at least 2-3 times Madias campaign. nothing personal. He seems to articulate his positions and run his campaign without the high priced help that Bonoff needs at every step.
Now what do you think of all that high priced help of Bonoff. Especially after she did so poorly in debates and in the EP convention. YOu said you were “nuetral”. So what do you think?
rm -
Regardless of who you really are, you do come across as someone very, very close to the Madia campaign. It is a fact.
dtm - “Regardless of who you really are, you do come across as someone very, very close to the Madia campaign. It is a fact.”
Wanna bet 10K or even 20K Dan ?
I agree that Bonoff’s high priced help is pathetic, and it should give us pause for concern. I agree that Ash is probably better disciplined with his funds. I agree that Ash has run a better campaign thus far than Bonoff.
But, that doesn’t erode my biggest point which is that Ash needs to clear 500K to have a shot. The financial resources are going to matter, in a general much so than in a caucus. You can run a CAUCUS endorsement campaign on a shoestring budget. We’re not going to win a Republican seat that has been so for 50 years on a shoestring budget.
The candidate in a general who spends the most wins over 75% of the time. You need high priced consultants in a general.
Anyway, instead of criticizing me, if you care so much about Ash’s campaign, give him money. Organize fundraisers for him. He can hit the 500K threshold and as a savvy politician would not have talked about that if he could not.
And you should not attack me
I am truly undecided. I like Ash, I just think Bonoff has a better chance to win b/c of money and party support.
If you can convince me otherwise, he’d have my support.
oo - “My point is Ash has said he will raise 500,000K and he has a shot at doing that.”
Once again. when and where ? Else your supposedly neutrality sounds as phony as , ummmmm, Terri Bonoff !!!!
oo - Anyway, instead of criticizing me
I hope you don’t mind me pointing out your “rumours” and “has said”.
oo - “I just think Bonoff has a better chance to win b/c of money and party support”
She can’t win in her own back yard.
dtm - “Regardless of who you really are, you do come across as someone very, very close to the Madia campaign. ”
I believe i have caused a difference for the Madia campaign. And i am darn proud. I stayed my distance, so that they cannot ask me to stop, because they do not know who i am.
All these supposed high powered blogs and their high powered connections, and not one of them put 2-2 together to figure out Bonoffs fibs on her “executive business experience”.
Every statement i have posted on this blog is based on my opinions or publicly available information. Dare to disprove it, Dan the Republican Man ?
I’m not in the business of speaking for Bonoff. I’ll let her campaign do that.
But, I do have to say, what kind of answer are you looking for? That has been unclear this entire time. She was a VP at a public firm. That would have made her an executive.
You are hung up on the fact that the parent company was based elsewhere. Happens all the time. Heck, the Minnesota Vikings are owned by a company in New Jersey. I still consider the local team VP’s to be executives.
Not saying I have answers — just unclear what you are driving at.
hmmm..”rm”….. I know the “m” stands for “madia” — what would the “r” stand for?
Wow. this is all really ridiculous. anyway. As soon as Ashwin gets the endorsement money will come flooding in from every conceivable democratic source. There are dozens of money generating orgs that haven’t endorsed. Notably, Education MN, amongst many, many others.
Secondly, everyone keeps talking about how tough of an opponent Paulsen is and how Bonoff is the only one who can beat him…
Ummm…last time I checked Bonoff was BLEEDING money to win an endorsement race that she started out as the ‘inevitable’ candidate. If she is having this difficult of a time securing the DFL endorsement, how in the world will she be able to beat Paulsen?
And on the flip side, if Ashwin can beat every establishment obstacle known to politics, and continue to garner wide-spread support, isn’t he the best fit to beat Paulsen?
Ashwin raised over $160,000 in just three months. As a first-time, and completely unknown candidate, he set a record in the state of Minnesota.
dtm -“I’m not in the business of speaking for Bonoff. I’ll let her campaign do that.”
you’ve done plenty. u have two goal posts. an moving one for Madia and an invisible one for Bonoff
DTM - “You are hung up on the fact that the parent company was based elsewhere. Happens all the time. ”
You claim you are this super duper rational corp. type. Yet when someone claims “executive business experience” and there is no record of that for a PUBLICLY TRADED COMPANY LIKE HASBRO you seem to be as confused as say …….Terri Bonoff
DTM - “Heck, the Minnesota Vikings are owned by a company in New Jersey. I still consider the local team VP’s to be executives.”
And if it were a publicly traded company like Hasbro(Tonka Toys) there are SEC filings and other public forms and materials disclosing executive management.
dtm - “hmmm..”rm”….. I know the “m” stands for “madia” — what would the “r” stand for?”
Common Dan take th 20K challenge. I know for a straight jacket Repub. type like u, it is hard to see an immigrant son run for office. He should be quashed. Go Bonoff Go.
Join the DFL, we will try to help u deal with the little people.
There are two types of activists
DFL Activists - Stickin’ up for the little guy.
RP Activist - Stickin’ it to the little guy.
Gosh DTM I’m having a hard time figuring where u belong.
oo - “The reason people are upset with Madia is that this is money that should have been going to a General. Bonoff now will have to spend money to first beat Madia before getting to the general.”
Gee, you’re “right” everyone should anyone give up their constitutional right to run for congress, when an annointed one is already in place…
“I know for a straight jacket Repub. type like u, it is hard to see an immigrant son run for office”
That is uncalled for, rm. You took it too far. My posts have never been about that.
I’m going to sign off on this debate (again). Low blows like rm’s make this all unproductive. Debate me on the points I’m making, rm. Don’t try to paint me as anti-immigrant.
I hope you aren’t representative of the typical Democrat, or this will be a very unproductive dialogue in the 3rd over the next seven months.
dtm - That is uncalled for, rm. You took it too far. My posts have never been about that.
your insinuations about my posts have been plenty. So next time before u throw stones, remember the other side can insinuate too.
dtm - “hmmm..”rm”….. I know the “m” stands for “madia” — what would the “r” stand for?”
you seem to be way too worried who trolls for Madia. Why is it that anyone who trolls for Madia is a family member. What is the basis of your generalizations when it comes to Madia.
dtm - “Debate me on the points I’m making, rm. Don’t try to paint me as anti-immigrant.”
You mean asking me if i was a Madia relative was a talking point. Is there some hidden rule that those who troll for Bonoff are not her relatives.
I regret making that post (implying that you were a famly member). Out of dozens of posts on this board, it was done once. I shouldn’t and and will not again. I was tagging along with what someone else wrote, but that doesn’t make it right.
To All - personally, I think it’s encouraging that it took over 250 posts before it’s starting to get personal!!!
Sorry DTM.
I have stated atleast 5 times in this blog. If Zack or someone else wants to contact me to determine who I am, they are welcome. As long as they keep it confidential. What more can i do ?
On the same line, fair warning to Bonoff trolls. You start posting “rumours” about Madia or his family. All bets are off.
I have kept my posts to her public life and her campaign.
And her intentions, motives, and speculation on how she got previous jobs.
Her business experience is her public life. The underpinning of her campaign is her “executive business experience”
I’m fairly intrigued by this race — not least of which because I remember Madia from being in the dorms at Middlebrook Hall at the U with him. He was always a stand up guy back then. And bottom line — a hard fought race, assuming money doesn’t end up being a question, can only help publicize the fact that there are still some burbs that don’t always tilt Republican.
And even where money is an issue, I’ve got to agree with a few of the posters here that getting frustrated because a party’s annointed candidate is being drained of funds by a surprisingly competitive primary is a ridiculous complaint. That’s the democratic process — deal with it.
I agree, Rich. There are three candidates who each have unique things they would bring to the general.
I’d love to see this one go to a primary. A true primary. But just as party politics made Bonoff the early favorite, I have a feeling some partisans wouldn’t want that to happen. It would give Hovland a very good chance, and I get the sense there is a sizable faction in the party who are not sold on him.
Um rm, not all “executives” or people with executive experience in public companies are listed in proxy filings or annual reports. Read the SEC regs sometime regarding what’s required to be reported and disclosed.
A Marketing Director or VP responsible for a product line or an entire division with a multi million dollar P&L and multiple direct reports sure counts as someone with executive experience. Same goes for a plant manager running a $10M plant and overseeing 30 or 40 direct reports.
None of those people have to be reported or disclosed. The compensation only has to be aggregated as part of the company’s overall expenses. Same goes with employee status its simply rolled up by reporting unit until you get to the company-wide income statement.
I’m still waiting to find out where:
Madia caucused on Feb 5
Where Madia is registered to vote
Whether Madia lives in Plymouth or Brooklyn Center
When he signed his lease for his apartment and whether he is willing to make it publicly available
Dog Walker,
Have you contacted his campaign? I’d say that information would be available from them directly.
My only problem with a primary is the cost.
dw - “Um rm, not all “executives” or people with executive experience in public companies are listed in proxy filings or annual reports. Read the SEC regs sometime regarding what’s required to be reported and disclosed. ”
There is absolutely no public record of Terri Bonoff in any form of “Executive Management” at Tonka Toys/Hasbro. One such place to look is SEC filing, press releases, industry journals. Not One iota of proof.
Her own ex-husband posited on this blog that she joined her future company Navarre PR/IR section. Not any Executive position by far.
rm, you miss my point. Not all executives and senior managers have to be disclosed to the SEC. Not being published in or interviewed by a trade journal is not a sign of not having held a position with significant responsibility.
Folks leading a PR and IR department are often essential parts of a companys’ leadership team. What area she worked in doesn’t matter. And wasn’t she promoted several times there?
WMD, why doesn’t one of Madia’s Minions post the information here or someplace else publicly for all to see.
Everyone knows that Hovland lives in Edina and that Bonoff lives in Minnetonka. It’s part of their open and transparent bios. What about Madia?
dw - “rm, you miss my point. Not all executives and senior managers have to be disclosed to the SEC. Not being published in or interviewed by a trade journal is not a sign of not having held a position with significant responsibility. ”
I dont miss your point. She claims this “executive business experience” for a Fortune 500 ? company and there is no proof. Nada.
There is a big difference between an executive and a working stiff.
dw - “Folks leading a PR and IR department are often essential parts of a companys’ leadership team. ”
Sorry she joined as a PR person. Not exactly a lateral move for an “executive”.
A few things.
1. Madia lives in Plymouth.
2. I’m pretty sure that RM is not related to Madia if the information he is including with his comments is accurate.
3. I guess you both haven’t realized this yet but these silly internet attacks don’t make either of the candidates you are supporting look any better. In fact many of your comments could shine poorly on your candidates. I think we could all be happy with representation from Madia, Bonoff or Hovland, so how about you talk about why you’re candidate is the best and keep on message?
So hows about we keep it above the belt hmmmm?
Sean
Dog Walker……I’m not involved in his campaign and don’t know any minions personally to ask to do so. I don’t know that his minions read blogs, quite frankly. Just not my purview.
I’m not personally interested in the questions. If they are personally of interest to you, I’d think you’d call over and ask. It wouldn’t be private info, I’d think….just something that hadn’t been asked here before.
I wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t caucus in his precinct, frankly. My rep didn’t. She was there shaking hands out in the common area but never made it to her precinct caucus…….just thinking….
Without going below the belt, I’m guessing the question of where Madia lived in September (the time this seat opened up) and when he became an official resident of the 3rd district will clearly be raised sooner or later, presuming he gets the endorsement.
Might as well get the answer now.
And that is a fair question. One that I think is easily handled by his honesty — that yes he lived in Minneapolis in Sept. (IIRC) and that he has strong ties to the 3rd from growing up there, and finally it’s answered by the constitution which says “It doesn’t matter.”
Sean
Fair enough, Sean. From there, it is up to each voter to decide if it is a relevant point to them or not.
My opinion, too, frankly. It’s not like anyone is hiding anything. I don’t think anyone who cares has asked yet. If someone cares, they should call the office and ask. Since it doesn’t bother me, I won’t.
Madia is much better than Bonoff. She’s lied about her job experience. She’s run push polls against him. She’s inconsistent on being pro-choice. She’s taken money from developers. She is incoherent, and he has schooled her in every debate. He’s a hundred times more intelligent than her, and he knows it. He has a degree from NYU law school, and she doesn’t have that kind of education.
This shouldn’t even be a race. Anyone with half a brain would vote for Madia. Sometimes, when you see him debating Bonoff, you know he’s wondering why is this really a close competition. I should be destroying her.
The reality is that Madia is just better. He’s a better speaker. A better politician. A better leader. She’s not in his league, and she should recognize that.
“I should be destroying her.”
?????
Sean
What is above the belt and below the belt in a DFL primary.
When the “DFL crony elite” are busy endorsing each other, is me questioning that above or below”
When a candidate has fibbed on her resume, is me questing that above or below.
I don’t hang around coffee shops and policy forums at the Humphrey institute. We are professional parents who have actually fought for and want real progress from elected politicians. Not for my kids but for others.
Look at towns like St. Louis Park, Hopkins. There is no progress. Poor and minority kids are actively sidelined. They have the most segregated schools in SLP. So what exactly does the DFL stand for ?
Is it not cruel irony that a black Minnesota teacher of the year teaches in an almost all white school (98%) in a district that is 30% minority.
Why is that. Because f’in rags like Sun Sailor are no better than Pravda. Full of crony bullshit. This is why we get politicians like Teddy Mondale, Steve Kelley who cannot win outside their crony kingdom.
Enter Terri Bonoff. This blog has been the best thing for the CD3 election. I have actively questioned Terri Bonoffs resume where no one else has. Not you guys or any other blog, not the Star Tribune and lastly not the DFL.
My exposing Terri Bonoff, I am giving another candidate an equal chance. Something the DFL crony politicians have a huge problem doing.
http://gavinsullivan.blogspot.com/
Gavin “I consider it likely that some superdelegates’ have reevaluated the political landscape and have anew handicapped the predicted performance of Madia and Bonoff as DFL nominees. Much water has flowed under the bridge — and Ashwin Madia’s political stature has risen relative to Terri Bonoff’s — the relevant question being how much? I think it likely that some superdelegates might now wish to reassess their endorsement of Bonoff — had they not gone public earlier with their commitment. At least some superdelegates likely view their commitment to Bonoff as applying to the first ballot only. (Pure speculation, admittedly, though plausible.)”
http://gavinsullivan.blogspot.com/
Gavin - “For this reason, I believe that Ashwin Madia is the likelier victor on April 12. In my crystal ball, Ashwin only needs to prevent a Bonoff victory on the first ballot at the CD3 Convention. So long as Bonoff doesn’t get >60% on the first ballot, the endorsement will ultimately go to Madia. We will likely have a very strong sense as to which way the wind is blowing by the end of the day on March 8. One blogger’s opinion — nothing more.”
In less than 6 months, a young and competent candidate, without any significant endorsements, has performed an absolute and complete take down of one of the supposed “DFL Stars”.
This exposes the system of “affirmative action” for your buddies in the DFL elite.
This exposes the rotten “crony system of endorsements” by the DFL elite.
This exposes a party leadership that crows “diversity” for being the biggest bunch of cronies for whom diversity is only to round up the coloreds when they print the party calendar.
“A better leader.”
How do you know he is a better leader than any of the other candidates? Where have you witnessed him leading?
Leadership is more than perfecting a stump speech.
Terri Bonoff has taken money from the Hubbards of Hubbard Broadcasting, the mother ship of right wing radio. What next a donation from Rush Limbaugh ?
Union Members and their families, line up and elect her guys, she really will “fight for you”. Just like she “fought” for your interests in the Hopkins schools.
When it comes to Ashwin Madia, the goal post is never far enough, always being moved.
When it comes to Terri Bonoff, there is no goal post. Period.
It is alot easier to scrutinize a track record than try to examine one that doesn’t exist.
Sean - These posts always start with some reason and end with RM’s rants and lies. I have investigated Terri’s business background and am satisfied that she is not lying. I would appreciate if you would do the same and post your results so we can put an end to this line of smears and keep these conversations on track.
If you have examined Terri Bonoffs “business background” could you post any proof that she was an “executive” with Tonka Toys ?
Why is that so hard ?
So when you mean keeping “conversations on track” you mean you want this blog to be like the Sun Sailor, where every politicians cronies would post letters to the editor.
A virtual “track record” in public life that crumbles on the first touch of public scrutiny is not exactly a track record. It is a bunch of puffed up phony claims.
Why is so hard for a person who has such an extensive “track record” to actually prove that they are who they are and prove what exactly they accomplished. Why, because it is a virtual “track record”.
Yes, “voter” it is time for censorship. This was supposed to be a coronation and peasants are causing trouble. Life was so good with a Sun Sailor only election.
I’ve posted this before. This is the Navarre announcement on Bonoff. Includes her background. I assume they screened her prior to hiring her. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1996_Oct_7/ai_18743845
“This was supposed to be a coronation and peasants are causing trouble.”
Who are the peasants? Based on fundraising and union and veteran endorsements, Hovland is the underdog in this race. Hovland the populist. Bonoff and Madia have the heavy hitters behing them.
I remember three short years ago when Bonoff was the underdog, with no formal public office title running against an established Mayor in a republican district.
Perceptions change so quickly.
rm - http://gavinsullivan.blogspot.com/
“Ashwin Madia…resides in an apartment in Maple Grove. Madia attended high school in Osseo and his parents reside in Plymouth;”
If this is true. Why did J A Madia Caucus at his parent’s (your?) home in Plymouth.
Madia’s campaign has been one small lie after another. I guess he will fit in well with all the other members of Congress. Too bad Tom Delay is not longer there. People like Jigar learned a lot from him.
Wow, ff! I’m sure you’re be horribly upset with lots of families. There is nothing wrong with people caucusing at their official family residence! My kids did, too. Maybe you should consider the real issues in this race instead of manufacturing something…..
I was at Eden Prairie as a volunteer and observer. As a lifetime democrat and former Wellstone Delegate, I have never seen more Republican like tactics than I did from (Jigar) Ashwin Madia and his campaign at Eden Prairie. The convention started very nicely. I was there early to help with signs. The Terri Bonoff campaign came better prepared and early. They had signs ready to go and followed the rules laid out by district 42. The Madia campaign got there later and started to put signs outside in front of the Bonoff signs already posted and were asked to move them as they did. The front entry area was rearranged by the request of the Eden Prairie officials and no one had any problem with this. I do believe they asked for balance and each campaign was allowed the same number of signs at the door. I was standing there myself when the discussion took place and witnessed many campaigns talking friendly about doing it fair. It is true the Bonoff campaign had more signs and were better organized. No rules were broken by Bonoff people. The only negative activity with signs was Madia people placing their signs over Bonoff’s.
Later when the convention started. Several women in Madia shirts came by Senator Terri Bonoff’s table and stood there and chatted. After they spoke for several minutes, they grabbed food laid out by Bonoff’s campaign for the public. They came by several times and grabbed coffee cups with Bonoff stickers on them to fill with crackers. Now if these Madia supporters were hungry, we welcome them to eat our food! I have to wonder though when they had a back room closed to the public with tables full of food, why they were hanging out in front of Terri’s table. Again, if these ladies wish to eat our food, we are the party of caring and helping out those in need and we welcome your need.
This was just silliness, but what happened later was beyond belief.
I was standing in the back near the campaign tables when the sub-caucusing was going on and observing. I watched as Congressional Candidate (Jigar) Ashwin Madia quickly walked past with his campaign manager Cam and another man. Curious to see what the rush was I followed them. I watched the three of them enter the Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer sub-caucus and speak to several delegates in the sub-caucus who were wearing Madia tee-shirts. I grabbed someone else and we took Madia and the other men out of the sub-caucus. I told them they were breaking the Rules and they should know better. They acted as though they did not know the Rules.
(Jigar) Ashwin Madia has a law degree. He is running for Congress. He knows the Rules! Cam proceeded to insult me for calling them on their infraction. I told him face to face, that I objected to his insults and that he needed to obey the Rules. I told him if Bonoff entered a sub-caucus I would remove her the same way. She was about 30 feet away and unaware of what Madia was doing. If Cam wants to deny this, he can do so to my face and I will call him on it publicly! They not only broke the Rules but the Madia people were insulting. Madia himself acted innocent and apologetic, like he just didn’t know better.
Later, Cam went up the stairs to the upper level and came down on the JNP sub-caucus on the stairway. He proceeded to point and gesture to the people down below in the sub-caucus. I again grabbed someone to talk to the Madia campaign about communicating with the sub-caucuses. Cam came down and was insulting to me again and I was not going to listen to his insults. When someone got him off the stairs, he said to me, yah well I saw you smiling at that lady! Like my smiling was comparable to what they were doing. A lady smiled at me and I smiled back.. .how dare I.
During the entire sub-caucus, there were at least 6-9 Madia people within one step of the JNP sub-caucus. I stood there to be sure no one entered. I wanted to leave and pick up my daughter but I wasn’t able to.
In the end, the JNP sub-caucus voted for a leaning Hovland delegate and uncommitted alternate. I spoke to a man who was there for Jack afterward. I told him I felt horrible about what happened and hoped they got a strong delegate who supported their candidate. That is what sub-caucusing is about! He had blonde hair facial hair and really believed in Jack. Find him and ask him.
We talked about Wellstone and the DFL, the importance of getting rid of Norm Coleman and winning the 3rd District seat for Congress. We need to fight the republicans not get into dirty politics like this. If the elected delegate in the JNP sub-caucus supports Hovland, GREAT!
What we need to do is stop insulting each other and play fair!
Stop insulting each other and instead just insult a huge group of people by describing dirty tactics “Republican”. If you actually believe that you have zero grasp of history. While it is great to see the Democrats make some sort of effort to keep their own process clean, despite the unmitigated disaster that is their presidential race, but the bigotry involved in using a term that represents a huge population as a euphemism for corruption won’t help your cause.
I’ve caucused at multiple levels with both parties over the years and have seen no discernible difference between the behavior in the two groups.
weellstone - “Now if these Madia supporters were hungry, we welcome them to eat our food! ”
For half the story you claim you were a caucus official. And then you indicate above you were with Bonoff.
How can an active Bonoff supporter in a caucus be a caucus official.
voter - “I’ve posted this before. This is the Navarre announcement on Bonoff. Includes her background. I assume they screened her prior to hiring her. ”
As I’ve stated repeatedly, Terri Bonoffs’ own ex posted on this blog that she started in PR and “worked her way up”
There is only one reason why Bonoff cannot prove she was in “executive management” and Tonka Toys is because she never was.
ff - “Madia’s campaign has been one small lie after another”
I wonder what law/rule did Madia break by caucusing where u claimed he caucussed.
At least we all know that Bonoff has the patent on the bigger lies.
Wellstone forever,
Unfortunately you don’t know the whole story about the convention in SD42. What you obviously don’t know is that the Bonoff campaign did break the sign rules. They knew there was an error on the original rules that stated 5:30 am. They were called by the convention organizer - the campaign manager directly - who was informed that it was an error and the corrected time was given. The manager said he understood and it was okay. Unfortunately the Bonoff people arrived at 5:30 and plastered everything they could with signs. The Madia people and other campaigns asked what to do. They followed the correct rules that said no signs until 7:30 outside and nothing inside until 8:30 am with limits on signs on the doors. They were told to put their signs up where they were allowed to. Following the rules goes both ways. It isn’t only for those you choose to follow. It’s for all campaigns to follow the rules. Bonoff’s campaign left absolutely no space for any other campaign and they were so proud of themselves and literally yelled at the convention organizer and the senate district chair when they tried to solve the problem.
Rude is just the beginning of the words that could be used to describe Bonoff’s campaign bunch. I’m sure that she didn’t know herself or she would have been horribly embarrassed by her campaign worker’s behavior. She’s not like that, quite frankly.
It is very interesting to me that SD43 has set signage rules for “equality” at their upcoming convention. Guess they are afraid that other campaigns might do to them what they just did to EVERY OTHER CAMPAIGN that participated in the SD42 convention!
Anyone who wants to know what went on at SD42 need only look at the many pictures posted all over the web. All the other campaigns, and I include senate as well as congressional had to deal with the unholy sign war that the Bonoff camp played, the in your face behavior and the total disdain for anyone representing other candidates. There were quite a few people both in my precinct and my subcaucus that chose Madia BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE BONOFF SUPPORTERS BEHAVED.
Heck, you can see it on Bonoff’s own video right down to the “sign hanger” up on the concrete beams! We are just lucky he did not fall down and kill himself! Don’t think Terri would have been very happy to have to deal with that, and no, she was not there to see the bad behavior. Maybe she should have been because I think she would have stopped it.
By the way “Wellstone Forever in My Heart” I do not think this is the way Paul would have behaved or campaigned. Shame on you.
Jigar (rm) - so nice to hear back from you. Judging by how long it took you, you must have been busy at work today. Oh wait, you don’t have a job.
I have heard you’re an expert on patent law (although your firm thought your work was garbage) and you should know much better than I that you hold the patent on lies for this campaign.
When you lose this endorsement, I hope you will join McCain MN. You worked so hard for him in 2000, here’s your chance to take him to victory this time.
You know, feline fiend, your behavior leaves a lot to be desired. I, for one, will never disparage former Republicans. My mother is currently one and she found it in her heart to vote for Hillary.
I wonder just how you think this district will be won if you don’t have to draw from the GOP and Indies? Do you really think a true blue DFL’er will actually be able to draw enough people to actually compete in a district that has voted GOP for close to 50 years? I’d submit that you are delusional.
I do note that you only spew your hatred of Madia yet you save your scorn from Hovland. Could it be a personal grudge you have or is it fear that he will soon beat your chosen candidate? If you don’t remember, Hovland was just recently a Republican….not a recovering one….a very recent one - like 2007. Why is it acceptable to you to heap scorn on someone who changed parties years ago yet not to comment on one who just recently changed?
I would submit that you should cease and desist. Also, your decision to use Ashwin’s first name is rather unnecessary. Are you trying to pull the same crap the GOP does by using Obama’s middle name? If so, it’s not working. People choose their names. Many people change how they are called as they mature.
Your condescension and rascism is showing. You might try living by the DFL principles. We’d all appreciate it.
Alright wmd. I’ll give it a rest. after all, how can I pick on a kid who still lives at home.
BTW - Jigar was the name your candidate used while he was in college, so within the past few years he changed his name. Obama has never used a first name other than Barack. Your comparison is weak at best.
Actually Ashwin, or Jigar (or Jiggie as his mother calls him still), lives in an apartment like many other people his age. Interestingly my husband doesn’t go by the same name he did when he was in college, nor do I. Several of my friends have also chosen to change their names. A name that was cute or common at 21 doesn’t necessarily fit into a career at 30. He’s never made a secret of his first name so I just don’t see why it’s a big deal.
I suggest we all discuss things that really matter…issues, how to win this seat against Erik Paulsen, how to change the R .5 index of the district in the short few months we have. Whichever candidate wins the DFL endorsement, I’ll happily work for. We can each have our preferences on which candidate wins, but we should all be willing to work for the Dem over the GOP.
Here Here! I hope to work all summer for the endorsed candidate when I am home on break. Maybe I can stay at [whatever he wants to be called now}’s apartment while I’m there. Downtown Minneapolis in the summer would ROCK!
So it’s not racist when you write Jigar?
No need to respond. I’m done here.
You’d be surprised since Ash lives in Plymouth in his own apartment. I’m not so sure you’d consider it very close to downtown for the summer.
No, it’s not rascist to call Ashwin, Ash or Jigar…only to use a name in a derogatory manner like you did earlier. It would be different if he didn’t sign himself J. Ashwin Madia. But, he does.
So, the reasons I should vote for Terri Bonoff are:
1. Madia is a deadbeat who doesn’t have a job.
2. Madia is a carpet bagger.
3. Madia was a Republican in college, and he used his first name.
4. Madia was a lawyer in the Marines, not in the infantry.
I’m surprised Bonoff is losing this thing. Her positive and uplifting message should be enough to inspire anyone.
Wow, Blue Dog. I’m really surprised by your post.
Discuss the issues. Not sling mud.
Do you eve know the definition of a carpetbagger? It isn’t someone who moves to a district where he or she was raised and only left to attend college and join the Marines.
Being a lawyer in the Marines rather than the infantry? What’s this about? Have you ever served? I can’t imagine such a stupid comment, frankly.
Choosing to change which name you go by disqualifies someone from running for Congress? Amazing. I’d be out then. Quite a few people I know would be, too. My own kids would be! Names they went by when they went to high school and college just didn’t fit their post-college careers. I guess you don’t allow people to change their minds.
Madia being a Republican in college. Hovland was a Republican last year. So? This district has voted Republican for almost 50 years. What’s the issue? I fail to see it.
Being a “deadbeat” because someone is running for Congress…..Terri doesn’t have a job either. Is she a deadbeat? According to you, the answer would be yes.
I’m not surprised Bonoff is loosing this thing. I haven’t heard this “positive and uplifting message” of which you speak. I’ve only heard her speak about 10 times this year. Not very impressive, frankly.
Very sad post by you. Nothing on the issues? Just slime. Sad. Unfortunately, very typical of the Bonoff people that post here.
feline fiend-
hilarious. your candidate is getting beat. badly. deal with it.
You know all of this inspired me to go to Madia’s website. It is impressive with the changing photos and all. But when I read the biography section I was frustrated. It is incredibly vague. When you run for US Congress that’s a big deal and people should be able to find out more specifics, more dates, accomplishments, projects, organizations…
I’m not seeing any of that.
WMD:
I was being sarcastic about being inspired by Bonoff’s uplifting message - everything her supporters say is just negative stuff about Madia.
If you’re looking for ‘specifics’, perhaps LTC Kline would be the standard: http://kline.house.gov/
Of course, if you were looking for ‘specifics’, perhaps LTC Kline wouldn’t be the standard.
Feline Friend,
Click on the link to see how wrong you are.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/1/18/181128/082
ff- “Jigar (rm) - so nice to hear back from you. Judging by how long it took you, you must have been busy at work today. Oh wait, you don’t have a job.”
Yes, its been busy, I’ve actually been busy, because people are actually listening to my message. I consider running for Congress a serious task not a coronation.
You think your husband is going to get you this job also. Like the rest of your “executive business experience” which is all phony.
ff - I have heard you’re an expert on patent law (although your firm thought your work was garbage) and you should know much better than I that you hold the patent on lies for this campaign.
Gee Terri, its nice u can actually read something about patent law.
Or wait just like your campaign, did your husband have to read it for you and translate it into little sentences.
Because the last time i checked Terri (ff) you did not know that Asia and Europe were not countries
ff - When you lose this endorsement, I hope you will join McCain MN. You worked so hard for him in 2000, here’s your chance to take him to victory this time.
After I worked for John Mcain, I served in the Marines, went to law school and actually saw the world. I’ve changed my opinions since then. What did u do Terri ? Hang out at the Art Institure ?
How about you Terri, MANY OF YOUR CURRENT DONORS ARE RAPID REPUBLICANS.
Paulsen of Navarre, THE GUY WHOM THE STARTRIBUNE HAD QUESTIONS OF HIS HONESTY PUBLICLY, keeps donating to Norm Coleman.
Hubbard of Hubbard Broadcasting, THE BIRTH PLACE OF RIGHT WING RADIO
ff - Alright wmd. I’ll give it a rest. after all, how can I pick on a kid who still lives at home.
Compare to what. Bonoff ? a woman who has phonied every aspect of her resume to a guy who went to a top 5 law school, served his country and now came home. Wow if that is what living it at home is , I’ll take it for my kid.
Go to Camp Pendleton and call a marine a Kid. You”ll discover new body parts.
ff - Here Here! I hope to work all summer for the endorsed candidate when I am home on break. Maybe I can stay at [whatever he wants to be called now}’s apartment while I’m there. Downtown Minneapolis in the summer would ROCK!
To be sure if its Ashwin you will not have to coach him on Iraq, Economic policy, Foreign policy.
But if it is Terri, you will be really busy. Because she bumbles her way thru a debate on Iraq and next day realeases this really long “speech”.
She then claimed that it was some “speech” she gave before a group of veterans. Unfortunately no local veteran ever heard that “speech”.
So if it is Terri you will be really busy writing her “speeches” along with say Andrew Borene. You may then have to write her other “speeches” also on economic policy etc.
Then you may have to muscle people with video cameras to the ground because she once started screeching for a camera to be turned off.
ff if it is Terri, you may be in for a really busy summer. But of course you will get to attend all those “whine and cheese parties”. SO good luck
A NEW DEFINITION OF HYPOCRISY TERRI BONOFF STYLE
http://gavinsullivan.blogspot.com/
“Ashwin Madia, who Bonoff supporters occasionally accuse of district-shopping, resides in an apartment in Maple Grove. Madia attended high school in Osseo and his parents reside in Plymouth; his biographical connection to CD3 is 1,000 times stronger than Wendy Wilde’s, who Terri Bonoff supported at the 2006 CD3 convention, where Bonoff was a superdelegate. If Wendy Wilde’s transparent district-shopping two years ago prompted not the slightest concern in someone, I’m willing to label their current concerns about Ashwin Madia’s residency crocodile tears.”
Terri Bonoff, openly and personally endorsed Wendy Wilde. Wendy Wilde never grew up in CD3. Wildes parents never lived in CD3. Wilde never worked in CD3.
Terri Bonoff was personally effusive in her praise of Wendy Wilde.
Now, ff, what is the difference. Do only certain kind of people have “hometown connections” ? Are first generation immigrant families excluded from such classifications ?
Oh, and don’t forget, Wendy Wilde is her stage name. She changed her name for her radio talk show because her “real’ name didn’t fit with the persona she was presenting and it insulated her kids. It was smart and it is fully acceptable. Why a double standard from the Bonoff people? Terri didn’t have a problem with it. Is it because there’s no real dirt to sling?
A great fundraiser: sell tickets to watch some snot nosed person call a Marine a kid….. worth the price of admission.
I was raised in the US Army, I served myself and I wasn’t a Marine. They’re not called the proud, the few for no reason.
You know, this calling a 30 year old a “kid” is really insulting. Much of our country is run by “kids” this age and younger. The majority of those fighting for our country in Iraq and Afghanistan are much younger. If someone is responsible enough to hand them a weapon, send them to Iraq and ask them to lay their lives on the line for us, they should be given the respect they have rightfully earned to speak their mind when they return. I’d trust what Ash says about Iraq 100 times more than anything any armchair quarterback says.
Further than that Wendy Wilde or whatever her name is, was one of the featured guests at Terris Senate District get together along with Al Franken.
Boy they never had a problem with Wendy or Als residency. But now someone called Ashwin comes along….hmmmmmmm…………
I would note, too, that Wendy is supporting Jim Hovland - not Terri. True about Al, too. People who have a cow over Ash are perfectly fine with Al Franken or the fact that Wendy announced her campaign and then went apartment shopping in Edina! Time to drop the garbage. If someone has an issue they disagree with, fair enough. Let’s discuss it. Otherwise, dump the crap.
I’ve been as big a skeptic of Madia as anyone. But my reasons have been more objective, in my opinion. He has no track record of working with people in the 3rd — all we know of him is what his campaign chooses to tell us. That is a little too filtered for me. And I don’t like the fact that he only moved to the district after the seat opened up.
But I’ll say this: I’ll call a man or woman by whatever name they ask me to (in this case, Ashwin). And even though he is virtually a trainee at the law firm, he has a job. Law Firms are not cush places to work.
With that said, after sitting back and reading the late stages of this thread, I’ll make this statement:
Hovland’s campaign is the only one coming out of this smelling like roses.
“Boy they never had a problem with Wendy or Als residency. But now someone called Ashwin comes along….hmmmmmmm…………”
Many of us do have a problem with Franken and Wilde’s residency. Many.
DTM,
I was referring to the Bonoff people who happily featured Al and Wendy at their get together for her SD.,…
I know Gavin Sullivan didn’t like Wendy’s residency issues last time. I understood that. I guess I’ve been transient enough in my life that it doesn’t bother me but understand why it does others.
I have to say I wish Hovland had run a better campaign. It’s unfortunate that he hasn’t because he’s a very nice man, a good candidate, has good positions and is electable in this district. He didn’t run for the DFL endorsement, really, though. While I don’t agree with him as much as I do Ash, I could vote for him easily were he to get the endorsement.
Hovland might come out of this smelling like roses and the question remains….exactly where is his campaign? Almost non-existent, frankly.
Couldn’t agree more with your paragraph on Hovland. Very electable in the general, but hasn’t been running for the endorsement. You nailed it.
Unfortunately he agreed to abide by it. If you agree to abide by it then you need to run for it……seems a contradiction to me if he really wanted to win.
Hovland is a decent guy. In pictures, he and Madia appear to have become really good friends.
As my wife (who is not interested in politics) pointed out, the worst thing that can happen to the Al Franken campaign is for Madia to get screwed out of the nomination by party insiders. Because Madia will bring out voters who will not show up otherwise.
If the standard by which we elect is “community involvement”, the Roger Moe would have been Governor for life.
Community involvement means Wellstone like involvement. An ordinary guy/gal black or white went to him with concerns he or his office would do something. That is why people would get up and vote for him.
The West Metro is full of “community involvement” Dems who can’t get an ordinary Joe to get up in the morning to vote for them. Why because the ordinary guy sees no connection to the high fallutin stuff these people spout. Steve Kelley ran for Gov, Attorney General and cannot win. Why ?
“community involvement”
I would say that using that as a criteria has resulted in us electing some great public servants. In fact, I think it helps us choose the right servant way, way, way more often than not.
As far as the ordinary Joe argument — Bonoff was a political unknown just a few years ago. Hovland is a North Dakota kid made good in the twin cities. This isn’t exactly the Kennedy clan we’re talking about.
What are people’s predictions for Saturday? Does anyone think that Madia will not have a significant lead in elected delegates after Saturday. I think he’ll be up at least 10 elected delegates after Saturday, and Bonoff will try to claim a tie with superdelegates. Anyone disagree?
I think it will be neck and neck.
I think Madia will have to split some of the “anti-Bonoff” vote with Hovland.
Read Gavin’s post. He says Madia will win 2-1 in SD 32. Madia is projected to win 70% in SD 46 and 47. Is Gavin biased, or will this really be a blowout?
Gavin is not biased. But like any blogger, his methods are less-than-scientific.
West Metro Dem or should I just say all the Madia bloggers on here:
I am a volunteer. There were many people there who were volunteers. I support many people running. Jigar Ashwin Madia and Cam know who I am if you have questions ask either of them. I am sure if you are as close to the campaign as you all sound, you know who I am and if you have not met me have been told how to find me.
Like I said in the other blog, I will publicly call Madia and his campaign on my statements! Should Madia have an open debate sometime yet, with a question and answer period, I would welcome the opportunity to ask him to deny it. If he does, he better hope there are no photos in someones cell-phone to show what a lier he is! haha
You see. I love being a DFLer and this kind of thing makes me upset. We got rid of the republicans in congress, not just because of the war, but because they acted badly.
Scandal after scandal… and we do not need DFL candidates from MN pulling this stuff. I really do not like being insulted and the Madia people have insulted me multiple times. There are many in the campaign and family who speak rudely. I really do not understand why they would leave the republican party and join the democratic party, just to insult people who have worked to get DFLers elected for decades.
Like I say, I was a Wellstone Delegate. Worked for him and knocked on doors on election day to get people to the polls.
Tell me all you Madia lovers, what have you done for the party in the past? How many hours have you spent volunteering for campaigns? Who else have you given your time to? What past candidates have you been involved in?
WFE, you nothing more than a Bonoff troll. There is nothing wrong with that. I am a Madia troll.
You conveniently ignore all other complaints about team Bonoffs behaviour at the EP convention. So you are not some nuetral dude speaking for the greater good of the party..
You talk about “rules” but you are busy breaking the rules of this blog by posting the same text in every thread. It comes off as nothing more than feigned outrage. So give it up.
rm:
Roger Moe called me at home a few times when I was a delegate to the state convention when he was running for governor. He asked me for my support. He also spoke to me at the state convention. I told him my problem was he was dull. He said he could not help himself because he was Norwegian. I said, that is no excuse, I am Norwegian too and I am not dull.
I have met Roger Moe, and rm Senator Terri Bonoff is No Roger Moe!!!
Maybe you and West Metro Dem need a real job! How much does the Madia campaign pay you to do this? Whatever they pay you is too much!!
Give me specifics on what Bonoff did? Details! I only saw Madia people trying to stir things up.
WFE - Exactly as my point states, you are a troll for Bonoff. And we all know that at this stage Bonoff will try anything, including some pity me story from trolls like you.
They dont pay me anything. I’m sure Bonoff’s paying you pretty good. If not go and ask, because they really got some high priced help trying to save that floating milk carton of a campaign
Yeah let’s belittle DFL newcomers. Quite possibly the best strategy for winning this fall.
I am a Bonoff troll… haha… I am far from a troll!
That has to be the funniest thing I have heard in a long time!!!!
I do believe it is Madia that has been spreading lies…
wfe - I am a Bonoff troll… haha… I am far from a troll!
Just like every other Bonoff troll you get tripped up on your own baloney. In your own original post you stated u were with the Bonoff campaign. Now you are trying to deny it. At some point the clueless trolls in that campaign should get their stories straight.
WF,
Believe it or not some of us who support Madia are volunteers, have volunteered for political campaigns for over 30 years and have absolutely NO paid position with any of them.
Actually, for whatever “lies” you think Madia is spreading, it would be interesting to hear as I have never heard him mention his opponent by name. He never discusses their positions. He never comments on anything they do. He talks about his positions, how he wants to do something, why things matter.
Unfortunately for you, the meme that you are spreading that it’s Madia spreading lies is false because he never mentions Bonoff at all.
Care to try another line?
I personally welcome all to the party. You see, I truly do believe in the big tent…..
I asked you to come out with specifics. Give me details as to what Senator Terri Bonoff or her people did. Nothing! Because there is nothing. If you tell specifics and people know it is a lie then you failed your posting. I was very specific. Jigar Ashwin Madia and Cam his campaign manager entered the jack Nelson-Pallmeyer Sub-caucus and spoke to delegates while the floor was frozen. Several officials spoke to Jigar Ashwin Madia about breaking the Rules and he acted like he did not know the Rules. His brother and father are on the Rules committee in SD43. I am sure they know the Rules!
I have volunteered for several candidates I feel strongly about and helped to get Senator Terri Bonoff elected Senator of District 43. At the same time I dropped literature for many candidates. I have been active in the DFL for 30 years! I have attended several State Conventions as a delegate. You can’t insult me, as I tell the truth and as Jack would say, “You can’t handle the Truth!”
You professional bloggers are a joke. You make statements that have no validity. All you have to do is call up your boss, either Cam or Jigar Ashwin Madia and tell them a troll said they pulled you out of a sub-caucus in Eden Prairie and they will tell you who I am.
I have to say again… it is the funniest thing a person could call me! A Troll!!! that is ridiculous!!!! Even Ashwin senior and Virat and Jigar and buddy Cam might like to insult people but try to get some name to call me that I can identify with!
Why are the Madia people insistent on making enemies with long-time DFLers? How do they expect to get elected now or ever in the future? Playing these dirty tricks to get nominated is not going to get him elected.
People like me are whistler blowers. I take pleasure in speaking out for the joy or exposing the liars of the world. I dislike people who are two-faced. The Madia campaign is full of two-faced liars. Probably because they are deep down still republicans.
http://www.mndaily.com/articles/1996/11/04/1935
Does Jigar Ashwin Madia really want to be elected to Congress or is he just trying to pad his short resume? Perhaps if he had been able to keep his job, he would not be so desperate now. Didn’t McCain want him back either?
Exactly what has he accomplished to give him the skills and ability to be our congressman? Sitting behind a desk in Iraq for 5 months does not make him a great candidate.
Let’s have some specifics and facts?
wellstone forever in my heart,
you are just jealous because the writing is on the wall. Bonoff is going to lose, and lose big. Madia is projected to shut her out 15-0 in SD 32. He is going to be competitive in SD 43, and he’ll beat her in 46 and 47.
Will Bonoff do the graceful thing and pull out at that point? This race is over tomorrow?
Are you so vindictive that you will not get behind Madia once he’s our nominee. He won this fair and square, and we should get behind him so he beats Paulsen?
Instead of insulting Madia, and hurling invectives, perhaps you can explain if there is any path to victory for Bonoff. If not, what is she doing still in this race!
The candidate needs 60% for endorsement and Jigar Ashwin Madia will never get it. He doesn’t have enough family members living in CD3 to slate every sub-caucus…. and once people find out what a liar he is and the games he is playing they will not vote for him. If Bonoff doesn’t get the 60 % at convention because all of Madia’s delegates are family members.. if… then we go to a primary where Bonoff will win. easily.
The only reason why a primary would bother me is the money. It would cost too much and mean we have less money to run against the republican Erik Paulsen.
Senator Terri Bonoff can get the people of the western suburbs to vote for her. She has proven that twice.
Madia is a spoiler. He is unelectable. An unemployed lawyer who has no political experience.
WF,
The comments you have posted are beneath any response. How condescending and rascist can you be? Terri has not proven that the people of the western suburbs will vote for her. She has proven she can win a race in Plymouth/Minnetonka. That’s not the 3rd CD. It’s one SD of the 11. I would question why she lost votes in her re-election race over the percentage of votes she won in her special election if she’s so wonderful…..
Madia is exactly who can win in this district. It’s Bonoff who is too left wing to win in the GE. This district has been red for almost 50 years. You’re telling me that an Iraq war veteran, US Marine and attorney is unelectable? You’re delusional.
wfe - “People like me are whistler blowers.”
The only whistle u are blowing will be past the freshly dug grave of Bonoffs campaign.
Honestly wfe, i think Wellstone would be ashamed of u, working for Bonoffs campaign. If i were u i would quit before the results come out tomorrow.
With all your baiting of Madias origin and people of his national origin, what part of Wellstone are u chanelling. I think u remind me of the worst republican rather than Wellstone.
Don’t worry about a primay. Bonoff will be done way before that. Just make sure u cash your check before that campaign folds.
“Terri got her job at Navarre due to her previous success at Tonka Corp. and later at Dreamworks (a company started by the former president of Tonka). Terri started at Navarre in PR and later was promoted to General Manager.
Terri earned her way up the corporate ladder by working hard, building alliances, problem solving and overall outstanding performance in her job. Her nickname at Tonka was “can do”, because the top executives recognized early on that Terri “got things done”.
Now, how do I know all this? Well, because my name is Brian Paulsen and I am Terri’s ex-husband. I am also a very enthusiastic supporter of Terri and her campaign for Congress. She and I are still the best of friends.(How many divorced couples can claim that?) We also co-parented two outstanding sons.”
These are Terri Bonoffs ex-husbands own words that Terri was never this high powered executive when she joined Navarre. She was a PR gal.
The Bonoff campaign and their well paid trolls have tried to smear and insinuate their way out of this. Let the facts speak for themselves. Terri Bonoff was no “business executive” at Tonka Toys. She fibbed on her resume and got caught. Period.
I have hearrd both of these candidates and both seemed great, until I took a short look into Ash Madias past. Little known to many delegates, he was a strong republican in college and railed against GLBT rights and education. Furthermore he helped John McCain in Florida and has not told anyone who he supports in the presidential race. I know that the campaign has a response to this about how he was young and foolish, but when I was eighteen, I was already smart enough to be a Democrat. I like where he stands now, but his past does matter. LOOK INTO IT.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashwin_Madia