Minnesota's in the Middle

All things Minnesota politics

Wednesday, January 31, 2007

Al Franken is in

It appears Al Franken is now officially a candidate for Norm Colemans US Senate seat. Not mcuh of a shocker, but it's a the most significant announcment we've seen thus far including those announcing for president. This will trigger a few things first of all a lot of qualified DFLers will now decide not to run, and this will motivate the more DFL like Independence party candidates to jump in. Hell it may even draw a moderate DFLer in with the Independence Party similar to Tammy Lee who no doubt will work her connections to try to find a candidate. And while I stated yesterday I don't see Tammy Lee running in this race Frankens pressence in the race might make her and others to think longer and harder about running.

One things for certain like him or hate him Al Franken is no Jesse Ventura. And no matter what the national media and late night shows say we will not treat Al Franken anywhere near the same as we treated Jesse Ventura both in the early positive days, and the later negative days.

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

Tammy Lee for Senate?

Theirs a lot of speculation that Tammy Lee might be the Independence Party candidate for Norm Colemans US Senate seat. As far as I know Tammy Lee has no desire to run for anything in 08. She is the ideal candidate at this point and theirs always a chance, but I would put that chance at slim.

If we don't see a newcomer run, the best bets are either Tim Penny or Jim Gibson. I wouldn't be the least bit shocked to see Tammy Lee as the Independence party candidate for US Senate in either 2012 or 2014, but it's not going to happen in 2008.

Thursday, January 25, 2007

I don't get it?

While I suppose Democrats actually do like Hillary Clinton, I can't for the life of me figure out why they wouldn't be promoting Bill Richardson for president. They chased the fundraising champion two years ago in John Kerry, and in large part Democrats are blaming Kerry for that loss, but reality was someone with Kerry's background was never going to become president.

Hillary Clinton is a step up from Kerry, but she still represents the least electeble end of the Democrat party, the elitist. And while she shares the Clinton name (no more so then Richardson shares the Bill name) with her husband, the political connection ends there. Forget for a moment that George W. Bush followed his father to the White House and ask yourself this question, is Hillary Clinton as politically gifted as her husband?

History tells us that Governors make better candidates then Senators. No matter how easy it is to explain a voting record the flip flop tag will always stick, and you can't spend time in Washington without voting on both sides of several issues attached to bills related to other issues. Richardson is the closest thing to Bill Clinton the Democrats have, Hillary Clinton is the closest thing they have to John Kerry. The 2006 election might have Democrats convinced they can win no matter what, but if that's the case they should reach to the left.

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Arnold the independent???

While theres no good reason for him to cut ties with the Republican party, I think it is now safe to say that the governor of California is an independent. Policy alone makes him as good as an independent, but he is starting to go much beyond that, in fact even endorsing the idea of Michael Bloomberg as president this morning on ABC.

He also said in the next 20 years the independent parties will surpass both the Democrats and Republicans if current trends stay the same.

These are the sorts of things John McCain should have been saying for years, it's to bad a guy who can't run for president has to be the first national politician to say these sorts of things.

Sunday, January 07, 2007

Twins stadium in trouble?

When I first heard that there were issues with acquiring the land for the Twins Stadium, I thought no big deal worst case scenario they easily work something out, best case scenario they decide to put the ballpark at a site that can actually fit a baseball park. As more and more information comes out it is clear that this is another case of poorly crafted legislation, that may require the Twins stadium bill be voted on again this legislative session to iron out the details, and while there is no indication it would fail the possibility does exist.

To me this would be no big deal except for the fact that the most significant legislation of 2003 and 2005 also faced a similar fate. The conceal Carry legislation needed to be adjusted simply to become constitutionally legal, and while the tobacco fee/tax was ultimately allowed by the courts it ran into similar trouble.

Our political process amounts, to which side of issues like conceal carry, fees and taxes, and stadiums a candidate is on, but the voters have either very little concern or ability to judge the competenence of prospective legislators. The election of 2006 was simply about electing those that oppose Bush and the Republican agenda. Other then those who said despite the fact Peter Hutchinson is more competent they would vote for Mike Hatch to stick it to the Republicans I didn't once hear about the ability to legislate as a factor in how people voted in November. Nor does it appear that happened in the primary process, as we saw Lori Swanson and Keith Ellison defeat more qualified opponents. It also didn't happen at the party conventions as Patty Wetterling and Matt Entenza were sent forward despite clear and serious flaws.

Thursday, January 04, 2007

Democrats are partisan?

Shocking to see that the Democrat majorities are shutting out Republicans in areas they disagree isn't it? Didn't they run on the idea of compramise and getting along? We've tried Democrats over and over again and we always get the same results, it's to bad the hatred of Bush was converted into votes for Democrats, rather then real change.

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

Is it just me?

Or does it feel like Tim Pawlenty has completely converted himself into Peter Hutchinson? When Pawlenty used some of Hutchinson's lines on the campaign trail I figured he was just stealing a some good material, but now he continues to use that same Hutchinson style today, and seems to only be concerned with the issues Peter Hutchinson discussed.

We shall see if he and the DLF can work together, for Pawlenty he has little power so he might as well act like an effective Governor, as opposed to an ineffective partisan.

By the way good to see Mike Hatch addiction to taxpayer paychecks will continue. I was convinced I did my part to fire him, unfortunately I didn't realize how weak minded Lori Swanson is. Maybe Glen Mason could follow Hatch's lead and become an assistant coach for the Gophers too.