There are two Holy Cow! moments to deal with today. The first being AFSCME’s amazing endorsement of Mark Dayton, which we’ll deal with shortly, and the amazing announcement that the local OFA organizer is planning to take on Phyllis Kahn. What makes it so amazing is that it comes in an article in the New York Times.
Mr. Griffin also has a more direct plan to keep the ball rolling. He is contemplating running for Minnesota’s Legislature — against a 19-term incumbent, Representative Phyllis Kahn. Ms. Kahn is not an obvious target for the progressives Mr. Griffin hopes to rally. A Yale-educated biophysicist, she rides a bike to work and has championed the environment and — of interest to college students — later closing hours for bars.
But to Mr. Griffin, she stands for the inertia that takes hold in local politics when incumbents are re-elected by a handful of voters and rarely face primaries. She represents the district that includes his campus and is home to thousands of students who campaigned for Mr. Obama or registered to vote in that election. So he believes he can challenge her in the Democratic primary, ride Mr. Obama’s coattails and take her by surprise….
…[H]e may face an uphill battle to get those students to turn out for a local primary. Mr. Griffin, who was asked to run by a classmate who is starting a career in political consulting, said he would pray hard and make a decision soon about whether to run.
I’ve got to think this was a neophyte candidate making a neophyte mistake, but that isn’t the place to announce ones intentions, particularly in Mike’s case.
I was formerly Representative Kahn’s campaign manager, so I’m a bit biased, but if there is going to be a challenge that knocks off Phyllis it will come out of a cohesive campaign engaging the University students. This has been attempted before, and didn’t work. While that was 10 years ago and plenty has changed one key peice will change as well, the DFL primary will be before school starts, making his road even harder.
Good thing he got such an audacious start.
So is it audacious that Mr. Griffin might decide all on his own to run without first showing unflinching party loyalty by doing his time as the pet of some already established party person? It would be hard to say he is wrong about incumbency, with a straight face anyway. Nice to hear that any successful grass roots candidates in the DFL are every bit the accidents they are in the GOP.
Is that Caray or Kahn in the photo???
That's Harry Caray in the photo for sure. As a diehard Cubs fan I recognize those horn-rimmed glasses and 'Holy Cow' being mouthed.
Sean, perhaps you would know better, but I seem to remember a couple of other primary (or at least endorsement) challenges against Khan over the years. I think this is a function less of her performance - which her constituents seem to like - and more from the fact that the district is full of ambitious 23 year olds like Griffin who are fresh out of college. Does this guy have a problem with Khan's voting record, or does he just want her job?
As is mentioned, there seems to be a lack of faith in the students of the district, which is a problem we see from the city council on up to the MN House and Senate. And how about investment in our "public" universities over the last couple of years?
The 19-year incumbent is out of touch with her constituents, her party, and whatever political ideology people think she represents. Do students not count? Should groups of people that vote in lower numbers not be represented?
I hope Mr. Griffin confronts these issues and shakes up the DFL establishment's tree. If an incumbent can't be challenged we don't have a democracy.
Imagine an African-American man in his mid-twenties representing a district that is home to the second biggest undergraduate university in the nation; who would be able to connect better, a 93 year old DFL woman, or a 20-something OFA man?
Why is Khan out of touch? The only claimed evidence that she is out of touch is her age.
“I hope Mr. Griffin confronts these issues”
Yeah, um, exactly which issues are these? Again, the only issue I see is the vague claim that Khan is out of touch.
Good Luck Sport, even thought I think it's time she retires, you dont stand a chance. These out of staters are really clueless, Kahn's history and support runs deep.
Good luck Griffin. You can't get any more left than Phyllis Kahn, and winning a DFL primary contest against the incumbent in a metro district has been done, oh, NEVER.
Dan — There have been a few challenges to Kahn through the years. The most recent, and arguably most successful one was Brian Biele in 2000, which took Phyllis to 10 ballots and I can't remember if it was no endorsement or if Kahn finally got it. He took her to the primary and was whupped there.
The biggest change that any candidate looking to engage the college students has to keep in mind will be the August primary, which I think is a major impediment to anyone who needs to use the highly mobile student body as their power base.
Sean
I think the AFSCME endorsements are going to cost Eliot Siede and Mike Buesing their jobs
Ha ha. Wut?
Dear John — Do you mean Siede and Niland?
Jim and Elliot are playing games again. Knowing how close they are to Entenza, I think this is about blocking an endorsement.
When Matt dropped out of the AG's race, Elliot went to the attorneys and, against previous agreements, tried to organize them. It was the first blow to weaken Swanson in the position in case Entenza wanted to come back.
Now Dayton is no idiot. So he will either make them work on his behalf, or expose the bs games these staffers have played.
If AFSCME wanted to scare the hell out of Lori Swanson (and Hatch by proxy), they would throw a bunch of money at Chris Coleman and get his to run for AG.
If AFSCME was trying to help Entenza, wouldn't a more straightforward way have been to just…endorse Entenza? Seide said that he's prepared to put his organization up against the DFL-endorsed candidate, and since both Entenza and Dayton are heading for a primary, doing some convoluted triple bankshot doesn't make a lot of sense.
From what I saw, it was Buesing's 30 minute lecture on the virtues of a Dayton endorsement that will be his undoing. Siede is the messenger, the Council folks will be wondering why Siede didn't do more to derail this.
I wouldn't count Griffin out quite yet. It's not like his campaign platform is based around this feature article, and it certainly helps to be introduced by The New York Times.
Oh yeah, and it only says that he's "contemplating" running. Phyliss Kahn's support "runs deep?" That's laughable.
Jon - Head over to the historical society and read their Summoer 2008 magazine issue. Kahn was a pioneer in the gender equality movement, that's what I mean about deep. I wouldnt count out Griffin, but I do think he will come across as a carpet bagger.
What is laughable is that some 23 year old assclown got a story in the NYT because he is going to run against Khan.
Haha yeah. Oh wait, did you even read the story? They've been following him for over a year. This "23 year old assclown" was part of a movement that got Barack Obama elected President. I'm sorry if you didn't have the gusto to drop everything in your life so you could work towards electing our nation's first black President when few people even thought he was a serious contender, but don't take it out on the people that did. He didn't get the story because he is contemplating a run against Kahn, he got the story because he's out there working to pass progressive social change.
Looks like Griffin is shaking stuff up out there — Let the man run, who cares? Its a democracy! I will be waiting for Griffins actual platform.
It is funny how Sean Broom ignored the fact that Ryan made a legitimate comment about the story being about his experience over the last 2 years, and not about running against Kahn. Broom you only committed on his accusation that Dan didn't "quit his job and work on the campaign." You didnt even mention that Dan called Griffin an "assclown." You are truely starting to show your favoritism! We know you are Kahns former campaign manager — but hey, lets have some integrity Sean.
How about you wait until Griffin actually announces and gives his platforms and the reasons why you should vote for him? My understanding is that Griffin is thinking about it. Stop being so negative!
An I am interested to what Sean Broom considers a "real job". Organizing for a presidential campaign isnt a real job? You should probably watch the wording you use. As you told Ryan never to say that he didnt "drop everything and run". You could also offend people by saying that a campaign job. Isnt a "real job"
Sean Broom, did you want to wait to PK retires, and have the normal DFL practice of having the retiring representative basically hand pick the next person to sit in office until they are seventy? Could she want to pick her former campaign manager? YOU!
Let Griffin Run!
Well, the trolls are out now.
Just to be clear on something, I am not enamored by Kahn. I don't live in her district, and I think she sees the world a little differently than most of Minnesota. I was Kahn for Holloween one year, high water pants, wool socks, sandles, horn-rimmed glasses, grey wig, and bike maps in every pocket. I won the costume contest at the party. This year I am going to be Marty Seifert, I just picked up my comb over wig, and I will be carrying several teabags.
Heh. Fabrice Benoit. Funny. Well so the first thing Fabrice, repeatedly using another persons *real* name while you hide behind a veil of anonymity is cowardice. I wonder why you aren't willing to use your name? As C+C Music Factory said, things that make you go hmmmm.
"Sean Broom ignored the fact that Ryan made a legitimate comment about the story being about his experience over the last 2 years" — Fabrice
I didn't ignore it, I could just care less. Because really the article doesn't end up being about his experience over the last two years, it ends up being about the trial balloon Griffin floated in the article, no matter what he 'intended' for it to be.
"You didnt even mention that Dan called Griffin an "assclown.""
If I had to correct Dan every time he was an asshole on this website, my wife would divorce me, I'd have to drop out of school, and I wouldn't get much else done otherwise. But what I can say about Dan, that I can't say about you is that Dan is a regular member of this community who stands behind what he says and also provides a real email address.
And finally name calling happens on the internet, you might want to accept that.
"but hey, lets have some integrity Sean."
The glorious irony of some anonymous internet astroturfer saying this to me is so awesome it is like the light of a thousand suns exploding, or some such thing. But thanks for reminding me Fabrice!
"How about you wait until Griffin actually announces"
So, when will Griffin be announcing? Will he work for OFA until he announces? Will he announce as soon as he decides? These are the problems that present themselves when working for the Democratic party, after you've publicly admitted you're thinking about seeking office against an incumbent, DFL endorsed candidate.
"You should probably watch the wording you use." You could also offend people by saying that a campaign job. Isnt a "real job" — Fabrice (I wonder when Rob is going to chime in)
Awww, thanks anonymous internet guy. I'll remember you told me to watch the words I use. And no, I don't consider campaign jobs real jobs, for any variety of reasons. I'll even explain why, but I don't think you care. It's not to say they aren't stressful, or demanding just that they're about as far removed from regular employment as I can imagine.
"Sean Broom, did you want to wait to PK retires, and have the normal DFL practice of having the retiring representative basically hand pick the next person to sit in office until they are seventy? Could she want to pick her former campaign manager?" — Sarah
You know, for all the people on the internet who talk shit about her, I get the strange feeling very few have ever met Phyllis. If you did know Phyllis Sarah, you'd know that she is an old school battle hardened feminist, and although I've never discussed it with her, I could only venture to guess she'd want to be replaced by a young woman who could continue her nearly 40 year fight for equality.
And more than that I have no desire to run for Phyllis' seat. I don't have the temperament or the passion to be a candidate. I will not be running for Phyllis' seat this term, or the next term, or any term in the foreseeable future. I bet you weren't expecting that were you?
Funny thing Sean — I am using my real name. I am a Haitian American (part French) You think that you are a lot smarter then what you actually are. Lets call a spade a spade — you are the former campaign manager for Phyllis Kahn, and you are writing a blog complaining that Griffin hasnt announced yet. What are you so afraid of? Your placement in the House, in jeopardy?
If these people are Griffin's friends, the guy must really be an assclown.
As soon as "assclown" came into this thread of comments, all bets were off on any productive discussion.
Let's just wait and see.
The bets were off on productive discussion when some 23 year old kid said he was thinking about running against Kahn and people took him seriously. The sad part is that Griffin thinks he is continuing the work he did for Obama with a primary run against a progressive legislator in a year where we have an important Governor's race and the Democrats are going to be playing defense. Sadder yet is that this arrogant jerk thinks that the fact that a legislator is old makes them out of touch. Pretending that Griffin isn't an assclown wouldn't make the discussion any more productive.
Is this America?? Why is everyone so afraid of a Griffin run? If he is going to lose Dan, as you say — -why would you care if he runs? It seems that Griffin has got the democratic establishment worried. He hasnt even announced yet, and Dan/ Broom are getting their panties in a bunch.
LOL. You may be as clueless as Griffen. Believe me, no one is the least bit worried about Kahn losing to this guy. Mostly its just sad that a guy who worked hard for Obama is so shallow that he thinks someone is out of touch because they are old, and that he thinks he is accomplishing something useful by running against a progressive incumbent when there are so many other important races. That's why he's an assclown.
Griffin has not said that he was running, and he hasnt given any reasons why he would be better then Kahn. I think you should wait until Griffin says what he is for — and what he would do differently. You shouldnt assume that the only reason he is running is because Kahn in old. He might have legitimate concerns.
Dan, Ryan is right, he isn't an assclown, he's just not very bright or realistic. If I were running Kahn's campaign I would call him a carpet bagger. Remember, Kahn's district is whiter and richer than people think, old liberals dont jump ship easily.
Ryan, I'm not sure that's a very compelling argument, or one you should repeat.
"I'm sorry if you didn't have the gusto to drop everything in your life so you could work towards electing our nation's first black President when few people even thought he was a serious contender,"
you not so sure Dan wasn't one of those people who, I dunno, donated lots of money to Obama's campaign to keep people like Griffin employed? You not so sure that Dan doesn't have kids, or a real job, or responsibilities that make it very hard to 'have the gusto to drop everything in [his] life" ?
Griffin should be applauded for the work he did on behalf of the Obama campaign, but it doesn't put him above criticism, and the work he did on the campaign is no qualification for elected office. If the voters of the district are presented with their legislator who is "out of touch" or some guy running on "Change" and the fact he was a field organizer for the Obama campaign and OFA, they will pick their legislator every single time.
I applaud Griffin's work on behalf of Obama. And I am not "taking it out" on Griffin because of that work. Rather, my criticism of Griffin is based on his proposed run against Khan. Putting aside the fact that he has no chance whatsoever of getting elected, I don't know how running against one of the most progressive legislators in Minnesota furthers the work he did for Obama last year.