mnpACT!

• DFL Guv 2010 -- End of November Rankings...

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  Note: Margaret Anderson Kelliher and R.T. Rybak will be joining mnpACT! on December 11th for our Governor Candidate Series. Instead of the short answer, 10 candidate forums we have seen, this is your chance for an in depth look at two of the top candidates for [...]
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  Posted: November 30, 2009, 7:43pm EST
  

• GOP Guv 2010: Even Pawlenty Is Looking for More

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  MPR has an interesting take on the GOP governor candidates budget proposals. And as usual, its long on promises and short on specifics.
  
  Let's take a look at each of the 4 major candidates left:
  
  Tom Emmer: Ever [...]
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  Posted: November 30, 2009, 12:54am EST
  

• Light Rail Critics Need An "All Aboard" Call

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  On November 29th the "Letter of the Day" in the Star Tribune was a critique of the NorthStar Line as a "waste" of taxpayer money.
  
  I beg to differ.
  
  His letter offered this argument:
  
  The Northstar Line cost the taxpayers $365 million. According [...]
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  Posted: November 29, 2009, 9:05pm EST
  

• Thanksgiving Thoughts....

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  It is a time to give thanks. Thanks for our blessings and thanks that we live in this great and bountiful land.
  
  But it is also a time of reflection and an examination of how we relate to our community.
  
  If I can offer [...]
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  Posted: November 26, 2009, 1:18am EST
  

• Mitch Berg: Celebrating A Suicide Verdict

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  Mitch Berg, at Shot in the Dark, regularly tries to point out the "fallacies" of left wing arguments. He enjoys "fisking" everybody -- he has even gone after me a few times.
  
  But this particular post of his warrants an examination of its own:
  
  [...]
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  Posted: November 25, 2009, 1:16pm EST
  

• Barkley's "Perfect" Candidate - Lou Dobbs?

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  I am really trying to get my hands around this Politico quote from Independence Party leader Dean Barkley:
  
  "Lou Dobbs, I think, would be a perfect candidate for us," said former Sen. Dean Barkley, the founder of the Minnesota [...]
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  Posted: November 25, 2009, 12:43am EST
  

• Seifert's Distillery Fees -- Bad, Even Though He Voted for Them

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  When Marty Seifert made his proposals for revitalizing the Minnesota economy, he made a big deal out of distilleries. Mainly, the high cost of starting one up. He went into detail about the $30,000 fee...
  
  "We had a guy in Windom who wanted to open [...]
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  Posted: November 24, 2009, 3:13pm EST
  

• Sign Joe Mauer

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  The Twins got their new stadium....the luxury boxes...the new ticket prices....and who knows what else.
  
  Now, its time for the Twins to do something for Minnesota.
  
  Sign Joe Mauer.
  
  I do not understand why they even hesitate to start negotiations. Are they hoping [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 7:30pm EST
  

• Phil Krinkie Has Siderodromophobia

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  I think we have a diagnosis.
  
  Phil Krinkie has siderodromophobia. (You can look it up)....
  
  Why else would he write this tunnel vision piece on light rail?
  
  Yes, the NorthStar line costs a lot of money. Yes, [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 5:41pm EST
  

• Talking With Dr. Maureen Hackett, DFL Candidate in CD3

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  I had the pleasure of a telephone interview with Dr. Maureen Hackett, DFL candidate for the Democratic endorsement in Congressional District 3.
  
  We covered a wide range of topics and Dr. Hackett was very gracious with her time. Let's get right to some of the' [...]
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  Posted: November 23, 2009, 12:22am EST
  

• The Global Warming Conspiracy "Exposed"

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  The right wing global warming deniers have their hearts all aflutter.
  
  Michelle Malkin:
  
  The crimes revealed in the e-mails promise to be the global warming scandal of the century — and have massive bearing on the climate change legislation being considered by our lawmakers [...]
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  Posted: November 22, 2009, 4:03pm EST
  

• On Common Sense, Kitchen Table Budgeting...

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  Our awol Governor Tim Pawlenty makes a habit of comparing government budgets with the everyday American's kitchen table budget. He says it is just common sense. Here is a sample quote from an op-ed he did for Politico going back to last December:
  
  Republicans should [...]
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  Posted: November 21, 2009, 11:17am EST
  

• Vikings Stadium Quest: Minnesota Gets Duped Again

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  Minnesota's sports franchises have a history of finding ways to back the state into a corner when it comes to stadiums.
  
  First the Twins had to have a dome...then it was an archaic concept...they needed to play under the sun. And always, the negotiating tool [...]
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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 3:03pm EST
  

• Vikings Stadium Quest: Minnesota Gets Duped Again

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  Minnesota's sports franchises have a history of finding ways to back the state into a corner when it comes to stadiums.
  
  First the Twins had to have a dome...then it was an archaic concept...they needed to play under the sun. And always, the negotiating tool [...]
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  Posted: November 20, 2009, 1:36am EST
  

• Congress Does More Than Just Kill A Bill

  by Alan Anderson
  
  Discussion about health care reform is getting more heated and more complicated. Debates rage about how much it will cost, if it will be effective, how it will affect the quality of care, and what it will mean for insurance companies and consumers/users. While all these [...]
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  Posted: November 19, 2009, 9:44am EST
  

• The "Right"-amorphosis of Tim Pawlenty

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  You know, strangely enough, there was a time when I classified Tim Pawlenty as a "moderate" Republican.
  
  Oh, he was always pro-life...but he didn't tattoo it on his forehead like most zealots do.
  
  A religious man who didn't need to pound the pulpit.
  
  [...]
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  Posted: November 19, 2009, 4:56am EST
  

• 2010 Governor Race: What to Look For....

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  The 2010 Gubernatorial political winds are blowing in some strange directions. A number of factors are developing that could make this a political year to remember....especially in the DFL.
  
  Labor Support Is Spread Out...
  
  So far, the major labor endorsements have not doubled up [...]
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  Posted: November 17, 2009, 7:53pm EST
  

• Rasmussen Poll: Dayton, Rybak and Yikes! Norm Coleman?

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  Very interesting Rasmussen poll is out regarding 2010 Governor's race.
  
  Rasmussen asked for preferences in both the DFL and GOP ranks. However, they did not list all the names...just what they considered the main contenders.
  
  On the DFL [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 5:38pm EST
  

• Unallotment: A Separation of Powers Issue for the Courts

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  The Minnesota House will be adding a friend of the court brief to the unallotment suit. It was a strict party line vote so the cries of politics went along with it.
  
  But there is good reason for this. This is a constitutional separation of [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 2:44pm EST
  

• Bakk & Entenza Talk About A Broad Range of Topics

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  Last Friday, mnpACT! hosted Sen. Tom Bakk and Matt Entenza for another in our series of DFL Governor Candidate Events. The night was a damp and drizzly one, and we were competing with a few local fundraisers, so attendance was very low, but it was informative [...]
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  Posted: November 16, 2009, 11:17pm EST
  

• Health Care IS About Jobs

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  Katherine Kersten's column usually requires a long treatise to refute her point by point. However, this week there really is only one issue that needs addressing. The rest is the usual made up jargon. But here is the item that [...]
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  Posted: November 15, 2009, 5:59am EST
  

• Another Potential Pawlenty Legacy: Credit Rating Downgrade

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  It's possible that Gov. Pawlenty may leave office with one other notch on his belt -- a drop in Minnesota's credit rating.
  
  The Strib is reporting a potential for a $1 billion shortfall in the current fiscal cycle due [...]
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  Posted: November 13, 2009, 7:21am EST
  

• Who Is Matt Entenza?

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  (Note: Matt Entenza and Sen. Tom Bakk join mnpACT! tomorrow night. Nov. 13th - 7pm at Open Circle Church in Burnsville)
  
  Who is the real Matt Entenza?
  
  Is he the relentless advocate for "green" jobs in the State [...]
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  Posted: November 12, 2009, 3:49am EST
  

• Norm Coleman: The Voice of Reason?

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  Looks like good ol' Norm Coleman is working his way back into the political scene. Rachel Stassen-Berger posted about Coleman's interview with David Strom on her Hot Dish Politics blog.
  
  And, gosh darn it, Coleman was almost making sense....[...]
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  Posted: November 11, 2009, 4:05am EST
  

• Sen. Tom Bakk: It's the Jobs, Stupid!

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  (A reminder: Sen. Tom Bakk and former Minority Leader Matt Entenza will be joining mnpACT! this Friday, November 13th (7pm) at Open Circle Church in Burnsville, MN)
  
  Sometimes the art of moving a campaign forward is simply having the [...]
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 7:20pm EST
  

• Bachmann Has Close To "Unsinkable" Status

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  The point is that the takeover of the Republican Party by the irrational right is no laughing matter. Something unprecedented is happening here — and it’s very bad for America.-- Paul Krugman (NY Times)
  
  Outside of Bill Prendergast at [...]
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  Posted: November 09, 2009, 11:30am EST
  

• A Hard Pill to Swallow

  by Rob Shumer
  
  Opponents of a public option in health care claim they don’t want bureaucrats to come between them and their doctor. Health care should be between a doctor and their patient. I agree.
  
  I recently had a situation that suggests our private system is already placing [...]
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  Posted: November 08, 2009, 12:46pm EST
  

• Freedom is Just Another Word...

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  I get very tired of Michele Bachmann denigrating the word freedom. She has pretty much lost sight of the real power behind that word.
  
  If she really believes that passing a Health Care Reform bill is equated to governmental tyranny, then she has led [...]
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  Posted: November 08, 2009, 12:05pm EST
  

• Kersten Confuses Definition of Marriage with Family

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  Katherin Kersten writes a very informative column. She is helping me understand why so many people are afraid of gay marriage. Or at least she is helping me understand why people interpret their feelings as fear.
  
  One thing is [...]
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  Posted: November 08, 2009, 10:37am EST
  

• I-35 Bridge: Roller Bearings an NTSB Oversight?

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  In late July, I posted about an MPR piece that discussed a report from an engineering firm hired by the attorneys involved in the I-35 Bridge lawsuits. This report was entitled:
  
  Attorney: NTSB [...]
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  Posted: November 07, 2009, 12:17pm EST
  

• What a "NO" Vote on Health Care Means

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  The House is nearing its crucial vote on Health Care Reform. You can forget the Republicans...they have already cast their lot with the insurance companies. It is the undecided Democrats that are the issue. For some misguided reason they think that by voting NO on the [...]
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  Posted: November 07, 2009, 9:52am EST
  

• Pawlenty's "Destroy Minnesota Amendment"

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  Is he gone yet?
  
  Seriously, is Pawlenty gone yet? I am beginning to believe that "Lame Duck" Pawlenty is even more dangerous than the "No New Taxes" Pawlenty that has been wrecking Minnesota for the past 7 years.
  
  Now, he wants to leave [...]
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  Posted: November 05, 2009, 5:49pm EST
  

• Cong. Kline: Enemy of the Working Man and Woman

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  Back in 2006, Congressman John Kline easily won re-election. He pulled in 56.2% of the vote, getting 163,269 2nd District constituents to pull the lever his way. Nobody questions that. That is the way elections are supposed to work.
  
  But the 2nd District's total number [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 3:56pm EST
  

• Looking for A November Message

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  I realize that GOP is trying very hard to make yesterday's election results (at least the GOP victories) as some kind of referendum on Obama. And politics being what it is, that's understandable. If the roles were reversed, the Democrats would be doing the same thing.
  [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 11:38am EST
  

• GOP Manages A Right Wing Mess Up in NY-23

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  OK...let's talk about the national election numbers. Democratic candidates in New Jersey and Virginia got beat. Pure and simple. But oddly enough, the Democrat won in the controversial NY-23 District.
  
  What does that tell us?
  
  OK, let's look at this from a couple [...]
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  Posted: November 04, 2009, 11:56pm EST
  

• End of October DFL GUV -- The Line Stays the Same

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  The only real news on the DFL Governor front was that Chris Coleman ended any speculation about the exploratory end of a potential run for governor sometime in the future. Who's a candidate can be complicated you know.
  
  Nothing else has really moved any positions [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 4:42pm EST
  

• Pat Anderson: The "Pro-Market" Republican

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  Former State Auditor Pat Anderson "officially" announced her candidacy for Governor yesterday. And strangley enough, she said a few things that I support.
  
  Anderson also called for extending the sales tax to clothing purchases and services, and for lowering [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 4:13am EST
  

• GINO Pawlenty is New (Ulm) in Town

  Guest Post by Mac Hall
  
  Cross posted at Minnesota Central
  
  Like the movie character Lucy Hill who was seeking career advancement, Tim Pawlenty came to New Ulm to talk business. In the film, New In Town [...]
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  Posted: November 03, 2009, 3:47am EST
  

• GOP -- End of October GUV (Really Down to Four)

  by Dave Mindeman
  
  OK, its the end of October and time for a look at the MN GOP Governor rankings. But this time let's cut to the chase.
  
  Paul Kohls has dropped out. Mike Jungbauer probably will fairly soon (when the only publicity you get comes from an [...]
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  Posted: November 01, 2009, 12:56pm EST