OK - now for my thoughts...
R:On the other hand, of course whistleblower is not the best term, I always use truthteller...and so if you can't have the image of being a truthteller it would be obviously quite the opposite of what most people see as politicians right now.
Yes Coleen - let's talk about your "truth telling"....You unfurled a sign (at last week-ends parade in Waterville) that said "Gas prices soar while Kline snores". What has the sleeping Congressman done to help the middle class deal with these high gas prices? He voted FOR exploration for oil in ANWR, he voted FOR the repeal of the law that prohibits drilling in the Gulf of Mexico, he voted FOR increased refinery capacity in the US.....how would you have voted on those issues Coleen?
R:So the threat has doubled, tripled, quadrupled perhaps - the potential threat in the world is much more elevated than it was even pre 9/11 so that no matter how good you are on defense, if the threat keeps going up you're gonna be in a bad situation. And so I think we gotta have a much more comprehensive approach to dealing with terrorism as opposed to how we are dealing with it right now.
What would that comprehensive approach be Coleen? What would you do to stop Islamofacists who want one thing and one thing only - to wipe all "infidels" off of the face of the earth! Please tell us how you would stop that?
B: What is your position on investigating mosques? How do we balance that with the obvious concern with chilling religious expression....
Did you notice how she never did answer this question?????
R:there is a law...let me think of it...it's called the Classified Information something Act where you can go into court and make these arguements to judges.
The Classified Information SOMETHING Act???? Come on Coleen - if you are going to campaign on this issue, you really should know the full name of the law you are quoting!
R: Yes - I advocate something along the lines of Murtha's position. Just to go back to what you said - you said that "most reasonable people now acknowledge that it is a mess" are you saying that my opponent is not a reasonable person because John Kline, I'm sure you have heard him speak before, he has spoken many times about the progress in Iraq and I have never heard him acknowldege that it is a mess the way that most people do...
Do you suppose, Coleen, that maybe, JUST MAYBE Congressman Kline knows a little more about what is going on in Iraq that the "reasonable person"? After all - he has only been there 4 times since the beginning of the Iraq conflict! You don't suppose maybe he is talking about progress because we are actually making progress there do you?????
R: because this was one of the pretexts that you could say that have Al Qaeda connected to Iraq even though Zarqawi had no connection to Saddam....
I think Stephen Hayes over at The Weekly Standard might have some things to say about that, as do Saddam's own documents!
I have to give Dan Barreiro credit for this comment "I think it is safe to say that the last 2 administrations have made a series of blunders when they have had opportunities to get people before...at a point where we might have had a better chance to get on top of a situation that I know is important to you. " All in all it was a typical Coleen Rowley appearance - she talked about the one thing she knew and that was it!
cross posted at Ladies Logic
Monday, June 12, 2006
Coleen Rowley on KFAN
I started listening to the Dan Barreiro program before Coleen Rowley came on. Apparently what sparked this is because Congressman Kline was on the Barreiro program a couple of weeks ago (audio here) talking about the Haditha incident. Someone from the Rowley campaign heard it and called KFAN demanding equal access which they got. Will they regret it? We will know after the commercial break.
And we're back with Coleen...
Barreiro: I would argue that an effective whistleblower has about as good a rating amoung your average citizen as anybody if the feeling is that what you are whistleblowing about is important and you're effective in doing so and you bring to light something that needs to be. The question is, the moment that you declare you're running for office and become a "politician" can you still hold on to the good stuff that is associated with the whistleblower part or does it all change in way that ultimately could be not necessarily good for you?
Rowley: Politicians of course in the current environment are viewed quite negatively, I don't know - my informal poll is 30-40% of the public right now really has a low opinion of politicians. On the other hand, of course whistleblower is not the best term, I always use truthteller...and so if you can't have the image of being a truthteller it would be obviously quite the opposite of what most people see as politicians right now. And you're right - it is very difficult - the lucky thing...I had a chance for a solid year almost to give speeches on ethics and talk to civic and church groups on two topics - civil liberties and the need to balance civil liberties in the war on terrorism and also on ethical decision making...ethical decision making because it ties in with law enforcement ethics...so I had little bit of a chance to meet people before I was cast as a politician...
B: Lets talk about your former employer and your own views on whether we are any closer to dealing with the vast bureaucracy...with the reams of information...so of it vital some if it maybe rather mundane...is it your view that we are doing any better job of sharing information?
R: Well the short answer is one step forward two steps backward. Even though you go forward on one level...there are other areas that have been under cut. For example, pre 9/11 this FISA wall that prevented sharing of intelligence with law enforcement was one of the big problems...and certainly complacency in general was a problem. I think both of those have been pretty much remedied. But on the other hand now what we have going on and this makes it even worse is we've got more recruiting of jihadists and extreme...extremists in the world. So the threat has doubled, tripled, quadrupled perhaps - the potential threat in the world is much more elevated than it was even pre 9/11 so that no matter how good you are on defense, if the threat keeps going up you're gonna be in a bad situation. And so I think we gotta have a much more comprehensive approach to dealing with terrorism as opposed to how we are dealing with it right now.
B: What is your position on investigating mosques? How do we balance that with the obvious concern with chilling religious expression....
R:Well this is my balancing civil liberties with the need for effective investigations...it is one of my subtopics that I talk about all the time. There is a problem right now, people do not understand that just collecting more data if it is not relevant does not help. And of course we can talk all day of the ethic of this, perhaps even the legality right now...I approach it from a different perspective and say - is it making us safer? When you talk about 300k on the no fly lists and the people on them are not all terrorists. When you talk about this collection of all these international calls...I'm not the only one saying this...it's the false positive problem. It's the needle in the haystack and we are adding more hay. They have a hard time sifting through the irrelavent data to find the real terrorists...
B: Let me ask you about Moussaoui ? I'm curious to get your viewpoint on how the trial played out in the stretch...How big a "fish" was he?
R:Well how big a fish is really kinda beside the point! If we had effectively investigated him at the time, he was tied in a couple of ways to the masterminds of the 9/11 attacks....I think the facts have born out that he wasn't and some of the stuff that he said was self aggrandizing. Despite all of the mistakes the investigative mistakes that our HQ was responsible for (not the agents the supervisors) HQ thwarted the case... To those that say we can't try terrorists in open court - in spite of the issues we saw a jury weigh all of the facts and come up with a verdict. So I think it shows we should rely on our criminal courts to try terrorists!
B:Do you think it can be done without compromising sensitive data?
R:Yes I do. There are cases where the sensitive techniques can be shielded but the results can be used in court. I recall in organized crime cases...a judge will not allow the placement of the listening device to be provided but the results of that device can certainly be allowed...there is a law...let me think of it...it's called the Classified Information something Act where you can go into court and make these arguments to judges. The law itself is sufficient to handle this.
B:Give us your view on Iraq - not necessarily that it is a mess (because I think most reasonable people think it is), but there is great disagreement on how we go forward. You think we need to get out as soon as possible - is that your position?
R:Yes - I advocate something along the lines of Murtha's position. Just to go back to what you said - you said that "most reasonable people now acknowledge that it is a mess" are you saying that my opponent is not a reasonable person because John Kline, I'm sure you have heard him speak before, he has spoken many times about the progress in Iraq and I have never heard him acknowledege that it is a mess the way that most people do...
B:If you want to buy the notion that we made the mess - you break it you own it? It sounds like you do not think we can do that and are we even going to be more rippable if we just walk away?
R:If we go back to that "breaking the china in the china shop" paradigm, if you go into a china shop and break it, you do not stay in the china shop and keep breaking it...you pay for it and you get out! If we are all for pushing for democracy in Iraq - why don't allow a vote? to see if they even still want us there....It is a low grade civil war and our troops are caught in the middle...and the quagmire argument I think which is "it's mess now but what do we do...it's people like Rumsfeld "well we gotta stay 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 years now"...that is his last guesstimate and he simply seems to be throwing up his hands and saying "I don't know what to do"...so we let the troops stay in this cross fire of a low grade civil war?
B:Zarqawi 's death has been met with lots of different reactions - will it turn the tide? Based on what we know - it's a good thing. Some Dems suggest that this is a distraction, this is a way for Bush to score political points.
R:I would never say that the taking out of Zarqawi was a distraction. I think actually President Bush the tone he set when he was not overly hopeful is correct here. Remember the story of Hercules killing the hydra - every time you cut off a head 2 come up...so by cutting off one head...he should have never been allowed to escape the US controlled zone when the US invaded...a lot of people are talking about the fact that Cheney - Vice President Cheney knew that Zarqawi was in the US zone but didn't want to do a lot about it....because this was one of the pretexts that you could say that have Al Qaeda connected to Iraq even though Zarqawi had no connection to Saddam....we are looking at another mistake. We can cross our fingers and hope that it is not the hydra story, but unfortunately this has really taken root and it is a bad situation...
B:I appreciate the time...I think it is safe to say that the last 2 administrations have made a series of blunders when they have had opportunities to get people before...at a point where we might have had a better chance to get on top of a situation that I know is important to you. I appreciate the time...
Rather than clutter the interview with my interjections, I will post my thoughts after this.
Cross posted at Ladies Logic
And we're back with Coleen...
Barreiro: I would argue that an effective whistleblower has about as good a rating amoung your average citizen as anybody if the feeling is that what you are whistleblowing about is important and you're effective in doing so and you bring to light something that needs to be. The question is, the moment that you declare you're running for office and become a "politician" can you still hold on to the good stuff that is associated with the whistleblower part or does it all change in way that ultimately could be not necessarily good for you?
Rowley: Politicians of course in the current environment are viewed quite negatively, I don't know - my informal poll is 30-40% of the public right now really has a low opinion of politicians. On the other hand, of course whistleblower is not the best term, I always use truthteller...and so if you can't have the image of being a truthteller it would be obviously quite the opposite of what most people see as politicians right now. And you're right - it is very difficult - the lucky thing...I had a chance for a solid year almost to give speeches on ethics and talk to civic and church groups on two topics - civil liberties and the need to balance civil liberties in the war on terrorism and also on ethical decision making...ethical decision making because it ties in with law enforcement ethics...so I had little bit of a chance to meet people before I was cast as a politician...
B: Lets talk about your former employer and your own views on whether we are any closer to dealing with the vast bureaucracy...with the reams of information...so of it vital some if it maybe rather mundane...is it your view that we are doing any better job of sharing information?
R: Well the short answer is one step forward two steps backward. Even though you go forward on one level...there are other areas that have been under cut. For example, pre 9/11 this FISA wall that prevented sharing of intelligence with law enforcement was one of the big problems...and certainly complacency in general was a problem. I think both of those have been pretty much remedied. But on the other hand now what we have going on and this makes it even worse is we've got more recruiting of jihadists and extreme...extremists in the world. So the threat has doubled, tripled, quadrupled perhaps - the potential threat in the world is much more elevated than it was even pre 9/11 so that no matter how good you are on defense, if the threat keeps going up you're gonna be in a bad situation. And so I think we gotta have a much more comprehensive approach to dealing with terrorism as opposed to how we are dealing with it right now.
B: What is your position on investigating mosques? How do we balance that with the obvious concern with chilling religious expression....
R:Well this is my balancing civil liberties with the need for effective investigations...it is one of my subtopics that I talk about all the time. There is a problem right now, people do not understand that just collecting more data if it is not relevant does not help. And of course we can talk all day of the ethic of this, perhaps even the legality right now...I approach it from a different perspective and say - is it making us safer? When you talk about 300k on the no fly lists and the people on them are not all terrorists. When you talk about this collection of all these international calls...I'm not the only one saying this...it's the false positive problem. It's the needle in the haystack and we are adding more hay. They have a hard time sifting through the irrelavent data to find the real terrorists...
B: Let me ask you about Moussaoui ? I'm curious to get your viewpoint on how the trial played out in the stretch...How big a "fish" was he?
R:Well how big a fish is really kinda beside the point! If we had effectively investigated him at the time, he was tied in a couple of ways to the masterminds of the 9/11 attacks....I think the facts have born out that he wasn't and some of the stuff that he said was self aggrandizing. Despite all of the mistakes the investigative mistakes that our HQ was responsible for (not the agents the supervisors) HQ thwarted the case... To those that say we can't try terrorists in open court - in spite of the issues we saw a jury weigh all of the facts and come up with a verdict. So I think it shows we should rely on our criminal courts to try terrorists!
B:Do you think it can be done without compromising sensitive data?
R:Yes I do. There are cases where the sensitive techniques can be shielded but the results can be used in court. I recall in organized crime cases...a judge will not allow the placement of the listening device to be provided but the results of that device can certainly be allowed...there is a law...let me think of it...it's called the Classified Information something Act where you can go into court and make these arguments to judges. The law itself is sufficient to handle this.
B:Give us your view on Iraq - not necessarily that it is a mess (because I think most reasonable people think it is), but there is great disagreement on how we go forward. You think we need to get out as soon as possible - is that your position?
R:Yes - I advocate something along the lines of Murtha's position. Just to go back to what you said - you said that "most reasonable people now acknowledge that it is a mess" are you saying that my opponent is not a reasonable person because John Kline, I'm sure you have heard him speak before, he has spoken many times about the progress in Iraq and I have never heard him acknowledege that it is a mess the way that most people do...
B:If you want to buy the notion that we made the mess - you break it you own it? It sounds like you do not think we can do that and are we even going to be more rippable if we just walk away?
R:If we go back to that "breaking the china in the china shop" paradigm, if you go into a china shop and break it, you do not stay in the china shop and keep breaking it...you pay for it and you get out! If we are all for pushing for democracy in Iraq - why don't allow a vote? to see if they even still want us there....It is a low grade civil war and our troops are caught in the middle...and the quagmire argument I think which is "it's mess now but what do we do...it's people like Rumsfeld "well we gotta stay 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 years now"...that is his last guesstimate and he simply seems to be throwing up his hands and saying "I don't know what to do"...so we let the troops stay in this cross fire of a low grade civil war?
B:Zarqawi 's death has been met with lots of different reactions - will it turn the tide? Based on what we know - it's a good thing. Some Dems suggest that this is a distraction, this is a way for Bush to score political points.
R:I would never say that the taking out of Zarqawi was a distraction. I think actually President Bush the tone he set when he was not overly hopeful is correct here. Remember the story of Hercules killing the hydra - every time you cut off a head 2 come up...so by cutting off one head...he should have never been allowed to escape the US controlled zone when the US invaded...a lot of people are talking about the fact that Cheney - Vice President Cheney knew that Zarqawi was in the US zone but didn't want to do a lot about it....because this was one of the pretexts that you could say that have Al Qaeda connected to Iraq even though Zarqawi had no connection to Saddam....we are looking at another mistake. We can cross our fingers and hope that it is not the hydra story, but unfortunately this has really taken root and it is a bad situation...
B:I appreciate the time...I think it is safe to say that the last 2 administrations have made a series of blunders when they have had opportunities to get people before...at a point where we might have had a better chance to get on top of a situation that I know is important to you. I appreciate the time...
Rather than clutter the interview with my interjections, I will post my thoughts after this.
Cross posted at Ladies Logic
Sunday, June 11, 2006
When is enough too much?
Last Tuesday, the over taxed citizens of California over-whelmingly rejected two ballot initiatives that would have raised taxes to pay of early childhood education and libraries! According to official results, one initiative (to raise taxes on the "wealthiest few" to pay for mandatory early childhood education) only passed in 3 of Californias 48 counties!
The failure of these referendums is not lost on many, including E.J. Dionne.
"While the political world was obsessed with the Republican victory in a special election for a California congressional seat, the truly sobering news for liberals was in the statewide voting. Proposition 82, the ballot measure that would have guaranteed access to preschool for all of California's 4-year-olds, went down to a resounding defeat, 61-39 percent.Not only that -- voters also rejected a $600 million bond measure for the state's libraries. A vote against libraries? Yes, the bonds went down 53-47 percent."
While Dionne has the right idea about why these initiatives went down in flames...
"there remains a deep skepticism about government spending, even for the best purposes. On the same day that the two propositions went down, voters in five California counties rejected sales tax increases, mostly to fund transportation projects."
...he is also way off base on why these initiatives failed...
"Higher taxes on the wealthy are a logical way to finance necessary programs because the best-off Americans have been posting much larger gains in income and wealth than the rest. But the well-to-do can still fend off such tax increases by creating rational doubts about what the money will be used for."
The plain and simple answer is this....the over-burdened taxpayer is finally at the breaking point! They simply can not and will not accept another tax increase in order to fund something else for someone else, no matter how well intentioned the project! The days when we were all "Happier to pay for a better Minnesota" are long gone! The time has come for our elected officials to think of our money as if it were their own! Would they spend their own money in so reckless a fashion? I think we can all safely say that answer is a resounding NO!
We can maintain our quality of life here in Minnesota and still reduce the tax burden of it's over-taxed citizenry. We do not and should not have to work simply to turn around and hand it all over to the state government. That is something that the sages of Portland Avenue need to learn as well.
Cross posted at Ladies Logic.
The failure of these referendums is not lost on many, including E.J. Dionne.
"While the political world was obsessed with the Republican victory in a special election for a California congressional seat, the truly sobering news for liberals was in the statewide voting. Proposition 82, the ballot measure that would have guaranteed access to preschool for all of California's 4-year-olds, went down to a resounding defeat, 61-39 percent.Not only that -- voters also rejected a $600 million bond measure for the state's libraries. A vote against libraries? Yes, the bonds went down 53-47 percent."
While Dionne has the right idea about why these initiatives went down in flames...
"there remains a deep skepticism about government spending, even for the best purposes. On the same day that the two propositions went down, voters in five California counties rejected sales tax increases, mostly to fund transportation projects."
...he is also way off base on why these initiatives failed...
"Higher taxes on the wealthy are a logical way to finance necessary programs because the best-off Americans have been posting much larger gains in income and wealth than the rest. But the well-to-do can still fend off such tax increases by creating rational doubts about what the money will be used for."
The plain and simple answer is this....the over-burdened taxpayer is finally at the breaking point! They simply can not and will not accept another tax increase in order to fund something else for someone else, no matter how well intentioned the project! The days when we were all "Happier to pay for a better Minnesota" are long gone! The time has come for our elected officials to think of our money as if it were their own! Would they spend their own money in so reckless a fashion? I think we can all safely say that answer is a resounding NO!
We can maintain our quality of life here in Minnesota and still reduce the tax burden of it's over-taxed citizenry. We do not and should not have to work simply to turn around and hand it all over to the state government. That is something that the sages of Portland Avenue need to learn as well.
Cross posted at Ladies Logic.
Campaign Advice
Craig Westover's last column in the Pioneer Press is something that the Governor's staff needs to tape up someplace where the Governor can see it multiple times a day!
"Conservatives were embarrassed by the obvious semantic ploy of "fee" versus "tax." They were angered that the governor proposed the fee knowing revenue projections made it possible to increase education funding without raising taxes. He gave conservative legislators Sophie's choice with a health and human services bill that contained both the hated health impact fee and anti-abortion provisions."
Then what can the Governor do to regain the Conservatives trust and yet show the rest of the state the differences between the Republicans and the DFL?
"There is, however, another alternative for the GOP — uncovering or creating alternative constituencies that have a vested interest in free-market activities. In other words: Don't necessarily propose cutting government, but rather push structural changes that create value and reduce the demand for government.
Ripe areas include parental school choice and expanded free-market education, a market-oriented health care strategy and removing government-imposed barriers that inhibit development of innovative, private sector mass transit. Open doors for entrepreneurs by eliminating unnecessary and overly restrictive occupational licenses. Follow the model of the eminent-domain reform legislation and set criteria limiting government intervention in individual health issues; set rigid criteria for bonding proposals."
One thing that Republicans have been saying for the last 2 years is "you can't beat something with nothing" - in other words "we aren't the other guy" is not a winning platform. It didn't work for John Kerry in 2004 and it will not work for Governor Pawlenty this year. If he really wants to continue to stay in the Governor's mansion, he needs to let the people of this state know why we need to vote for him. To campaign on the fact that he is not a conservatives worst nightmare (a "big-spendin', tax-raisin', abortion-promotin', gay marriage-embracin', more welfare-without-accountability-lovin', school reform-resistin', illegal immigration-supportin' Democrats for governor who think Hillary Clinton should be president of the United States.") is not enough. He needs to run on policy - on what he will do for the state given another 4 years in office! Tell us why your vision for the state is better than Mike Hatch's vision. Then let us know how you are going to make that vision happen!
cross posted at Ladies Logic.
"Conservatives were embarrassed by the obvious semantic ploy of "fee" versus "tax." They were angered that the governor proposed the fee knowing revenue projections made it possible to increase education funding without raising taxes. He gave conservative legislators Sophie's choice with a health and human services bill that contained both the hated health impact fee and anti-abortion provisions."
Then what can the Governor do to regain the Conservatives trust and yet show the rest of the state the differences between the Republicans and the DFL?
"There is, however, another alternative for the GOP — uncovering or creating alternative constituencies that have a vested interest in free-market activities. In other words: Don't necessarily propose cutting government, but rather push structural changes that create value and reduce the demand for government.
Ripe areas include parental school choice and expanded free-market education, a market-oriented health care strategy and removing government-imposed barriers that inhibit development of innovative, private sector mass transit. Open doors for entrepreneurs by eliminating unnecessary and overly restrictive occupational licenses. Follow the model of the eminent-domain reform legislation and set criteria limiting government intervention in individual health issues; set rigid criteria for bonding proposals."
One thing that Republicans have been saying for the last 2 years is "you can't beat something with nothing" - in other words "we aren't the other guy" is not a winning platform. It didn't work for John Kerry in 2004 and it will not work for Governor Pawlenty this year. If he really wants to continue to stay in the Governor's mansion, he needs to let the people of this state know why we need to vote for him. To campaign on the fact that he is not a conservatives worst nightmare (a "big-spendin', tax-raisin', abortion-promotin', gay marriage-embracin', more welfare-without-accountability-lovin', school reform-resistin', illegal immigration-supportin' Democrats for governor who think Hillary Clinton should be president of the United States.") is not enough. He needs to run on policy - on what he will do for the state given another 4 years in office! Tell us why your vision for the state is better than Mike Hatch's vision. Then let us know how you are going to make that vision happen!
cross posted at Ladies Logic.
Friday, June 09, 2006
Who is the "real" Democrat?
That is the question being asked in the Virginia race to run against Senator George Allen. However, the sentiments being raised in this Washington Post article might sound familiar to Minnesota voters.
"At the end of the day, when we were fighting in the trenches to defeat George Bush and George Allen in 2000, you weren't just voting for them, you were publicly endorsing them," Miller said to Webb.Webb, no shrinking violet, shot back, asking Miller: "Why did you donate money to [House Speaker] Dennis Hastert? I've never given money to a Republican in my life."
You could easily substitute Mark Kennedy for George Allen, James Webb for Amy Klobuchar and Harris Miller for Ford Bell! This race to the left is leaving a lot of centrist voters in both parties left with little choice. Many support the troops and the war, but don't support the NSA actions. Many support the economic goals of the GOP - smaller govenment and less taxes but are mildly pro-life. There are many variations...but the bottom line is this, party purity and strict die hard platform are not going to win you elections. The GOP has worked hard to diversify and seek out voters who have traditionally shunned them. Their outreach has worked! Retreating to the left is not going to win elections for the DFL.
It will be interesting to see where the delegates at this week-end's DFL convention go...will they move to the hard core left or will they take a step toward the center? We will know in a couple of days.
Cross posted at Ladies Logic.
"At the end of the day, when we were fighting in the trenches to defeat George Bush and George Allen in 2000, you weren't just voting for them, you were publicly endorsing them," Miller said to Webb.Webb, no shrinking violet, shot back, asking Miller: "Why did you donate money to [House Speaker] Dennis Hastert? I've never given money to a Republican in my life."
You could easily substitute Mark Kennedy for George Allen, James Webb for Amy Klobuchar and Harris Miller for Ford Bell! This race to the left is leaving a lot of centrist voters in both parties left with little choice. Many support the troops and the war, but don't support the NSA actions. Many support the economic goals of the GOP - smaller govenment and less taxes but are mildly pro-life. There are many variations...but the bottom line is this, party purity and strict die hard platform are not going to win you elections. The GOP has worked hard to diversify and seek out voters who have traditionally shunned them. Their outreach has worked! Retreating to the left is not going to win elections for the DFL.
It will be interesting to see where the delegates at this week-end's DFL convention go...will they move to the hard core left or will they take a step toward the center? We will know in a couple of days.
Cross posted at Ladies Logic.
Where, oh where is Coleen today?
According to this article in yesterdays USA Today (HT MDE) Coleen is campaigning in Golden Valley!
"GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — Coleen Rowley is a national figure as a result of her memo about problems at the FBI before 9/11, such as superiors' refusals to authorize a search of would-be hijacker Zacarias Moussaoui's computer. But in her run for Congress, the retired FBI lawyer portrays herself as a suburban everywoman — stretched for money and a decent wardrobe.At a breakfast here sponsored by the Minnesota Women's Political Caucus, she attached a sticky note to the post-dated check she'd written to the group: Do not cash this contribution until next week. She left with a bag of stylish clothing loaned to her by a former corporate executive.Rowley's background gives weight to her contention that the government has made a series of mistakes since 9/11, from creating the unwieldy Department of Homeland Security to skirting laws in the name of fighting terrorism. "
It strikes me as ironic that Ms Rowley says that the government has "made a series of mistakes" in it's response to 9/11 and yet she still advocates that the FBI prosecute the global war on terror! Can we get a little consistency here Coleen?
"But Rep. John Kline, 58, a retired Marine colonel, won re-election by 16 percentage points in 2004. And Rowley, 51, makes no bones about her amateur status. "I'm practicing to get my answers short and focused," she told a toastmasters group.
Rowley can be rambling — but at one house party in St. Paul, her remarks were so brief that she did not discuss her signature issues of ethics and terrorism until two questioners prompted her. "
Coleen rambling???? I don't know if I would call it that....she can speak well, when she is speaking on a topic that she knows (as I posted here). However when you do get her off of that one topic, she does struggle.
"In March, her website showed Kline as Col. Klink, a Nazi character from the TV show Hogan's Heroes. She apologized, calling it "a little mistake" by a volunteer blogger. "
Coleen needs to learn that the candidate is ultimately responsible for the actions of their volunteers/staff.
"Her fans don't mind the learning curve. April Spas, a business consultant and former 3M executive, says she was moved to offer speaking advice and loans of clothing after hearing Rowley deliver a ragged speech in hand-me-downs. But she was also moved to tell friends, "You need to support Coleen Rowley, because she is the closest thing to a superhero that you'll ever have."
Superhero? Coleen???? Come on April - you have got to be kidding me! Coleen seems to be a nice enough person, but she is clueless about the issues that face our representatives in DC. You need to be more than "against the war"....you need to be able to address agriculture issues, border issues, transportation issues, immigration issues...get the drift?
THIS JUST IN - a little bird told me that Coleen with be on KFAN (local sports radio) on Monday from 4-6pm. This could be fun....expect a full report!
cross posted at Ladies Logic
"GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. — Coleen Rowley is a national figure as a result of her memo about problems at the FBI before 9/11, such as superiors' refusals to authorize a search of would-be hijacker Zacarias Moussaoui's computer. But in her run for Congress, the retired FBI lawyer portrays herself as a suburban everywoman — stretched for money and a decent wardrobe.At a breakfast here sponsored by the Minnesota Women's Political Caucus, she attached a sticky note to the post-dated check she'd written to the group: Do not cash this contribution until next week. She left with a bag of stylish clothing loaned to her by a former corporate executive.Rowley's background gives weight to her contention that the government has made a series of mistakes since 9/11, from creating the unwieldy Department of Homeland Security to skirting laws in the name of fighting terrorism. "
It strikes me as ironic that Ms Rowley says that the government has "made a series of mistakes" in it's response to 9/11 and yet she still advocates that the FBI prosecute the global war on terror! Can we get a little consistency here Coleen?
"But Rep. John Kline, 58, a retired Marine colonel, won re-election by 16 percentage points in 2004. And Rowley, 51, makes no bones about her amateur status. "I'm practicing to get my answers short and focused," she told a toastmasters group.
Rowley can be rambling — but at one house party in St. Paul, her remarks were so brief that she did not discuss her signature issues of ethics and terrorism until two questioners prompted her. "
Coleen rambling???? I don't know if I would call it that....she can speak well, when she is speaking on a topic that she knows (as I posted here). However when you do get her off of that one topic, she does struggle.
"In March, her website showed Kline as Col. Klink, a Nazi character from the TV show Hogan's Heroes. She apologized, calling it "a little mistake" by a volunteer blogger. "
Coleen needs to learn that the candidate is ultimately responsible for the actions of their volunteers/staff.
"Her fans don't mind the learning curve. April Spas, a business consultant and former 3M executive, says she was moved to offer speaking advice and loans of clothing after hearing Rowley deliver a ragged speech in hand-me-downs. But she was also moved to tell friends, "You need to support Coleen Rowley, because she is the closest thing to a superhero that you'll ever have."
Superhero? Coleen???? Come on April - you have got to be kidding me! Coleen seems to be a nice enough person, but she is clueless about the issues that face our representatives in DC. You need to be more than "against the war"....you need to be able to address agriculture issues, border issues, transportation issues, immigration issues...get the drift?
THIS JUST IN - a little bird told me that Coleen with be on KFAN (local sports radio) on Monday from 4-6pm. This could be fun....expect a full report!
cross posted at Ladies Logic
Sunday, June 04, 2006
Al Franken - in the news
Al Franken was on At Issue with Tom Hauser (KSTP TV) this morning, touting (among other things like his potential run for the Senate in 2008) his Midwest Values PAC. He talked about how he was using the PAC to promote "Midwest values". So being the rather curious blogger that I am, I went to Open Secrets and checked out their PAC page. I found it very curious that only one of the top 10 and 3 of the top 20 donors to the PAC are from the Midwest. The rest are from the East and West coasts. Some notable names....
Phil Donahue (number one individual donor!)
Nora Ephron (of when Harry met Sally fame)
James Sinegal (CEO of Costco)
Larry & Laurie David (Movie producers and longtime DNC activists)
Harvey Weinstein
Loren Michaels (of SNL Fame)
All in all, Mr. Franken's PAC has taken in over $400,000! On the other side of the ledger, he has given out a total of $11,000 to candidates all over the country including:
Francine Busby (CA)
Tammy Duckworth (IL)
Nick Lampson (TX)
Lois Murphy (PA)
Coleen Rowley (MN)
Tim Walz (MN)
Sherrod Brown (OH)
Conrad Kent (OH)
Bernie Sanders (Socialist VT)
The candidates are all far left candidates and the donors are all far left as well. I found that all to be quite interesting indeed.
Phil Donahue (number one individual donor!)
Nora Ephron (of when Harry met Sally fame)
James Sinegal (CEO of Costco)
Larry & Laurie David (Movie producers and longtime DNC activists)
Harvey Weinstein
Loren Michaels (of SNL Fame)
All in all, Mr. Franken's PAC has taken in over $400,000! On the other side of the ledger, he has given out a total of $11,000 to candidates all over the country including:
Francine Busby (CA)
Tammy Duckworth (IL)
Nick Lampson (TX)
Lois Murphy (PA)
Coleen Rowley (MN)
Tim Walz (MN)
Sherrod Brown (OH)
Conrad Kent (OH)
Bernie Sanders (Socialist VT)
The candidates are all far left candidates and the donors are all far left as well. I found that all to be quite interesting indeed.
Where in the world is Coleen Rowley?
Call me crazy, but I was on Coleen Rowley's campaign website today, looking for information on the candidate that is challenging Congressman John Kline. I took a look at her News & Media page to see if maybe there was some interview out there that I just had not seen. What I saw was interesting indeed. On 5/31, she posted something on the Huffington Post (am I really that desperate for material???), on 5/26 she did an interview with Electric Politics (they are out of Bethesda MD for those who are interested). Then, of course there is the Star Tribune Op Ed that I blogged about here. There is a March TPT interview and then there is an article in the March issue of Mother Jones Magazine. The bottom line is, there is not a whole lot of Twin Cities exposure for Candidate Rowley.
While on her site, I did some digging around, just to try to get a feel for the campaign "philosophy". Apparently their canpaign philosophy is to hang out on highway bridges and to go to house parties for the candidate. I mean if that is what she thinks will work for her....
While on her site, I did some digging around, just to try to get a feel for the campaign "philosophy". Apparently their canpaign philosophy is to hang out on highway bridges and to go to house parties for the candidate. I mean if that is what she thinks will work for her....
The Minnesota Senate Race Heats up
Gary and First Ringer both posted on this MSNBC profile of candidate Amy Klobuchar. Gary shows us that Ms. Klobuchar, who has already come out against Justices Roberts and Alito, will be perfectly happy to filibuster any judicial nominee that does not meet her standards, while Ringer notes their comments on the "Bell effect". I found a couple gems of my own that I thought were worth mention.
"Klobuchar is well within the liberal Democratic mainstream.
Her campaign has received financial backing from Sen. Hillary Clinton’s political action committee (PAC), the trial lawyers association, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid’s PAC, several labor unions, the Human Rights Campaign (the leading gay rights group), and Emily’s List, which champions Democratic women who support abortion rights."
Take a look at that list of support that Amy has - and yet as Ringer notes they call Ms. Klobuchar a "moderate" candidate (as opposed to the "far left" Ford Bell).
Then there is this quote:
“These guys told us that there were weapons of mass destruction — and there weren’t. They told us the mission was accomplished and it wasn’t,” Klobuchar told a Democratic Party picnic. "
Just who are "these guys", Ms. Klobuchar? You mean people like Madline Albright, Howard Dean, Nancy Pelosi and Bill Clinton? Is that perhaps who you are referring to, because you can not be honestly referring to the Bush Administration when (as I said here) the aforemention Democrats all said the same thing that President Bush did!
Couple this with the many instances of the Star Tribune doing their best to provide Ms. Klobuchar with "cover" and you can certainly see why the call the blog Kennedy versus the Machine. The media machine is certainly working overtime to try to make sure that the DFL holds on to "their" Senate seat.....
"Klobuchar is well within the liberal Democratic mainstream.
Her campaign has received financial backing from Sen. Hillary Clinton’s political action committee (PAC), the trial lawyers association, Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid’s PAC, several labor unions, the Human Rights Campaign (the leading gay rights group), and Emily’s List, which champions Democratic women who support abortion rights."
Take a look at that list of support that Amy has - and yet as Ringer notes they call Ms. Klobuchar a "moderate" candidate (as opposed to the "far left" Ford Bell).
Then there is this quote:
“These guys told us that there were weapons of mass destruction — and there weren’t. They told us the mission was accomplished and it wasn’t,” Klobuchar told a Democratic Party picnic. "
Just who are "these guys", Ms. Klobuchar? You mean people like Madline Albright, Howard Dean, Nancy Pelosi and Bill Clinton? Is that perhaps who you are referring to, because you can not be honestly referring to the Bush Administration when (as I said here) the aforemention Democrats all said the same thing that President Bush did!
Couple this with the many instances of the Star Tribune doing their best to provide Ms. Klobuchar with "cover" and you can certainly see why the call the blog Kennedy versus the Machine. The media machine is certainly working overtime to try to make sure that the DFL holds on to "their" Senate seat.....
WMD's still in Iraq?
I was sent this story yesterday.
"These sites are highly suspected of containing the biological and chemical weapons the Bush Administration went to great lengths to reveal to the world prior to the commencement of hostilities in Operation Iraqi Freedom on March 19, 2003. We also know as a matter of fact that despite repeated requests, begging and pleading for the past three years – none of these sites have been properly investigated since discovery – NOT ONE. Not by the Iraq Survey Group led by both David Kay and Charles Duelfer nor any team of US DoD investigators. This intolerable situation continues to this very moment despite detailed briefings, extended and repeated contact between Dave Gaubatz and Congressman Curt Weldon (R-PA) and Congressman Pete Hoekstra (R-MI), and members of their staff."
The article goes on to say that the locations in question have not been guarded by coalition forces or ING forces and for all we know may have been raided by the insurgents. Truly frightening.
Least you forget, a reminder of WHO thought that there were WMD's in Iraq, prior to our invasion in 2003...
Clinton Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, February 1998: "Iraq is a long way from [here], but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face."
Clinton National Security Adviser Sandy Berger, February 1998: "He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has 10 times since 1983."
Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, October 2003: "When [former President Bill] Clinton was here recently he told me was absolutely convinced, given his years in the White House and the access to privileged information which he had, that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction until the end of the Saddam regime."
French President Jacques Chirac, February 2003: "There is a problem -- the probable possession of weapons of mass destruction by an uncontrollable country, Iraq. The international community is right . . . in having decided Iraq should be disarmed."
President Bill Clinton, December 1998: "Other countries possess weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles. With Saddam, there is one big difference: He has used them, not once, but repeatedly -- unleashing chemical weapons against Iranian troops during a decade-long war, not only against soldiers, but against civilians; firing Scud missiles at the citizens of Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Iran. Not only against a foreign enemy, but even against his own people, gassing Kurdish civilians in Northern Iraq. . . . I have no doubt today that, left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will use these terrible weapons again. . . . "
Clinton, July 2003: " . . . [I]t is incontestable that on the day I left office, there were unaccounted for stocks of biological and chemical weapons. We might have destroyed them in '98. We tried to, but we sure as heck didn't know it because we never got to go back there."
Gen. Wesley Clark, September 2002, testimony before the House Armed Services Committee: "There's no question that Saddam Hussein is a threat. . . . Yes, he has chemical and biological weapons. . . . He is, as far as we know, actively pursuing nuclear capabilities, though he doesn't have nuclear warheads yet. If he were to acquire nuclear weapons, I think our friends in the region would face greatly increased risks, as would we."
Vermont Gov. Howard Dean [D], September 2002: "There's no question that Saddam Hussein is a threat to the United States and to our allies."
Dean, February 2003: "I agree with President Bush -- he has said that Saddam Hussein is evil. And he is. [Hussein] is a vicious dictator and a documented deceiver. He has invaded his neighbors, used chemical arms, and failed to account for all the chemical and biological weapons he had before the Gulf War. He has murdered dissidents and refused to comply with his obligations under UN Security Council Resolutions. And he has tried to build a nuclear bomb. Anyone who believes in the importance of limiting the spread of weapons of mass killing, the value of democracy and the centrality of human rights must agree that Saddam Hussein is a menace. The world would be a better place if he were in a different place other than the seat of power in Baghdad or any other country."
Dean, March 2003: "[Iraq] is automatically an imminent threat to the countries that surround it because of the possession of these weapons."
Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., and others, in a letter to President Bush, December 2001: "There is no doubt that . . . Saddam Hussein has invigorated his weapons programs. . . . In addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies."
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., December 1998: "Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology, which is a threat to countries in the region, and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process."
Sen. John Rockefeller, D-W.Va., ranking minority Intelligence Committee member, October 2002: "There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years."
Now do we really want to say that there was nothing there?
"These sites are highly suspected of containing the biological and chemical weapons the Bush Administration went to great lengths to reveal to the world prior to the commencement of hostilities in Operation Iraqi Freedom on March 19, 2003. We also know as a matter of fact that despite repeated requests, begging and pleading for the past three years – none of these sites have been properly investigated since discovery – NOT ONE. Not by the Iraq Survey Group led by both David Kay and Charles Duelfer nor any team of US DoD investigators. This intolerable situation continues to this very moment despite detailed briefings, extended and repeated contact between Dave Gaubatz and Congressman Curt Weldon (R-PA) and Congressman Pete Hoekstra (R-MI), and members of their staff."
The article goes on to say that the locations in question have not been guarded by coalition forces or ING forces and for all we know may have been raided by the insurgents. Truly frightening.
Least you forget, a reminder of WHO thought that there were WMD's in Iraq, prior to our invasion in 2003...
Clinton Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, February 1998: "Iraq is a long way from [here], but what happens there matters a great deal here. For the risks that the leaders of a rogue state will use nuclear, chemical or biological weapons against us or our allies is the greatest security threat we face."
Clinton National Security Adviser Sandy Berger, February 1998: "He will use those weapons of mass destruction again, as he has 10 times since 1983."
Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, October 2003: "When [former President Bill] Clinton was here recently he told me was absolutely convinced, given his years in the White House and the access to privileged information which he had, that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction until the end of the Saddam regime."
French President Jacques Chirac, February 2003: "There is a problem -- the probable possession of weapons of mass destruction by an uncontrollable country, Iraq. The international community is right . . . in having decided Iraq should be disarmed."
President Bill Clinton, December 1998: "Other countries possess weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles. With Saddam, there is one big difference: He has used them, not once, but repeatedly -- unleashing chemical weapons against Iranian troops during a decade-long war, not only against soldiers, but against civilians; firing Scud missiles at the citizens of Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Iran. Not only against a foreign enemy, but even against his own people, gassing Kurdish civilians in Northern Iraq. . . . I have no doubt today that, left unchecked, Saddam Hussein will use these terrible weapons again. . . . "
Clinton, July 2003: " . . . [I]t is incontestable that on the day I left office, there were unaccounted for stocks of biological and chemical weapons. We might have destroyed them in '98. We tried to, but we sure as heck didn't know it because we never got to go back there."
Gen. Wesley Clark, September 2002, testimony before the House Armed Services Committee: "There's no question that Saddam Hussein is a threat. . . . Yes, he has chemical and biological weapons. . . . He is, as far as we know, actively pursuing nuclear capabilities, though he doesn't have nuclear warheads yet. If he were to acquire nuclear weapons, I think our friends in the region would face greatly increased risks, as would we."
Vermont Gov. Howard Dean [D], September 2002: "There's no question that Saddam Hussein is a threat to the United States and to our allies."
Dean, February 2003: "I agree with President Bush -- he has said that Saddam Hussein is evil. And he is. [Hussein] is a vicious dictator and a documented deceiver. He has invaded his neighbors, used chemical arms, and failed to account for all the chemical and biological weapons he had before the Gulf War. He has murdered dissidents and refused to comply with his obligations under UN Security Council Resolutions. And he has tried to build a nuclear bomb. Anyone who believes in the importance of limiting the spread of weapons of mass killing, the value of democracy and the centrality of human rights must agree that Saddam Hussein is a menace. The world would be a better place if he were in a different place other than the seat of power in Baghdad or any other country."
Dean, March 2003: "[Iraq] is automatically an imminent threat to the countries that surround it because of the possession of these weapons."
Sen. Bob Graham, D-Fla., and others, in a letter to President Bush, December 2001: "There is no doubt that . . . Saddam Hussein has invigorated his weapons programs. . . . In addition, Saddam continues to redefine delivery systems and is doubtless using the cover of a licit missile program to develop longer-range missiles that will threaten the United States and our allies."
Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., December 1998: "Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology, which is a threat to countries in the region, and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process."
Sen. John Rockefeller, D-W.Va., ranking minority Intelligence Committee member, October 2002: "There is unmistakable evidence that Saddam Hussein is working aggressively to develop nuclear weapons and will likely have nuclear weapons within the next five years."
Now do we really want to say that there was nothing there?
To those who think that the insurgents are "freedom fighters"
and that they are equal to our troops...I think this might change your mind....
"Iraqi police in Baghdad have found the bodies of 43 people most of them showing signs that they had been tortured before being shot. The grisly discoveries were made over the last 24 hours in Baghdad's eastern Baladiyat and Sadir City districts. In ongoing violence in the country gunmen on Wednesday morning shot and killed Nabi Ismail Mosque's main preacher, Sheik Falah al-Nummi at the Sunni cleric's home in Huseiniyah, north of the Iraqi capital. Also in Huseiniyah a carbomb blast on Tuesday night killed 22 people and wounded another 58. "
How is this, where people are tortured before being shot equal to what happened in Haditha? Where is the international outrage over this?
"Police also found eight severed heads north of Baghdad with a note indicating they were killed in retaliation for the slaying of four Shiite doctors, while a Russian diplomat was shot to death and four colleagues were abducted in the capital."
Can someone please explain to me why this is more acceptable than what our troops in Haditha did? I surely don't understand it at all.
Don't misunderstand me...if the allegations about Haditha are true (and it sounds like they are) then what happened in Haditha is equally reprehensible but I will never understand those who call our troops evil murderers and those that torture and behead and bomb innocents are excused of their atrocities!
"Iraqi police in Baghdad have found the bodies of 43 people most of them showing signs that they had been tortured before being shot. The grisly discoveries were made over the last 24 hours in Baghdad's eastern Baladiyat and Sadir City districts. In ongoing violence in the country gunmen on Wednesday morning shot and killed Nabi Ismail Mosque's main preacher, Sheik Falah al-Nummi at the Sunni cleric's home in Huseiniyah, north of the Iraqi capital. Also in Huseiniyah a carbomb blast on Tuesday night killed 22 people and wounded another 58. "
How is this, where people are tortured before being shot equal to what happened in Haditha? Where is the international outrage over this?
"Police also found eight severed heads north of Baghdad with a note indicating they were killed in retaliation for the slaying of four Shiite doctors, while a Russian diplomat was shot to death and four colleagues were abducted in the capital."
Can someone please explain to me why this is more acceptable than what our troops in Haditha did? I surely don't understand it at all.
Don't misunderstand me...if the allegations about Haditha are true (and it sounds like they are) then what happened in Haditha is equally reprehensible but I will never understand those who call our troops evil murderers and those that torture and behead and bomb innocents are excused of their atrocities!
Marriage troubles....
The DFL keeps telling us that a Marriage Amendment is not necessary. The DNC says the same, but is that really the case?
Case in point - this Dateline interview of Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau that aired last Friday night. For those of you who do not remember, Ms. Letourneau is the 6th Grade teacher who went to jail for raping Fualaau when he was 13! Ms. Letourneau violated a no contact order from the judge and sent messages to her victim while she was still in jail! Rather than tell the story of a sexual predator who got pregnant by her victim and why she engaged in such deviant behavior, Dateline glorifies their "marriage" and talks about their plans to try to have more children and her desire to get back into teaching!!!!
Can you see this interview happening if the perp had been a man and the victim a 13 year old girl? Somehow I highly doubt it...
No need for a marriage amendment???? When you have the media redefining healthy relationships at every opportunity, it is needed now, more than ever!
Case in point - this Dateline interview of Mary Kay Letourneau and Vili Fualaau that aired last Friday night. For those of you who do not remember, Ms. Letourneau is the 6th Grade teacher who went to jail for raping Fualaau when he was 13! Ms. Letourneau violated a no contact order from the judge and sent messages to her victim while she was still in jail! Rather than tell the story of a sexual predator who got pregnant by her victim and why she engaged in such deviant behavior, Dateline glorifies their "marriage" and talks about their plans to try to have more children and her desire to get back into teaching!!!!
Can you see this interview happening if the perp had been a man and the victim a 13 year old girl? Somehow I highly doubt it...
No need for a marriage amendment???? When you have the media redefining healthy relationships at every opportunity, it is needed now, more than ever!
Just whose culture of corruption is it?
Details have come to light this week that Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) had taken boxing tickets from the Nevada Athletic Commission. Remember, Senator Reid has been very vocal in his criticism of the Republicans and their ethics issues. This falls on the heels of revelations of corruption regarding Representative William Jefferson (D-LA) ethics and the probe of Representative Alan Mollohan (D-WV) for ethics violations.
Make no mistake, there are unethical politicians on both sides of the aisle! The difference is that when a Republican is caught with ill-gotten gains in HIS possession, he resigns from his House seat ("Duke" Cunningham) or from his leadership position (Tom DeLay) whereas the Democrat not only holds his seat, he has his caucus demand that his leader not remove him from his committee under threat of running a candidate against her.
Now we have a candidate for Congress that is telling supporters that you "don't need papers to vote".
The bottom line is this, the only way to cure corruption in DC is to change the culture of DC. The best way to change the culture of DC is to vote for candidates that are willing to be held accountable by the voters. This coming election season, we do have a choice! We can vote for candidates who are beholden to lobbyists and PAC's or we can elect candidates that will answer to their constituents. It's up to you!
Make no mistake, there are unethical politicians on both sides of the aisle! The difference is that when a Republican is caught with ill-gotten gains in HIS possession, he resigns from his House seat ("Duke" Cunningham) or from his leadership position (Tom DeLay) whereas the Democrat not only holds his seat, he has his caucus demand that his leader not remove him from his committee under threat of running a candidate against her.
Now we have a candidate for Congress that is telling supporters that you "don't need papers to vote".
The bottom line is this, the only way to cure corruption in DC is to change the culture of DC. The best way to change the culture of DC is to vote for candidates that are willing to be held accountable by the voters. This coming election season, we do have a choice! We can vote for candidates who are beholden to lobbyists and PAC's or we can elect candidates that will answer to their constituents. It's up to you!
NORM!!!!!! - Day 2 reflections
Senator Coleman spoke to the assembled delegates Friday afternoon and boy was it a barn burner! You would have thought he was running this year.
He started off talking about the successes of the last 4 years - hundreds of millions of dollars in Democratic tax increases stopped, confirmation of Justices Roberts and Alito ("they will protect our rights - especially the rights of the most vulnerable...the unborn - rather than rely on foreign law"), surging economy...all of the high points.
He then went on to deliniate the differences between the Republicans in the Senate and the Democrats in the Senate...calling the Democrats the "party of cynics" and reminding them that harping does not get you votes - ideas do!
He talked about how many are concerned with the "political climate", but he reminded us that as Minnesotans we don't generally worry about the "climate" at least not until the temperature gets down to 20 below zero anyway...he then said that we should not worry about the political climate - that we should just get the job done!
Then he launched into the UN....saying that Kofi Annan had "no legitamacy" and that he needs to resign! His best applause lines were when he talked about UN reform - he even got 2 standing ovations and this was only a small portion of the speech!
He then went on to tout our slate of candidates - saying that he could not wait to have a Senator to work with, rather than one to "cancel out" and how he could not WAIT to see Michelle Bachman hit the House floor - getting loud cheers from the 6th District delegates!
Then he went on to talk about what he would like to see done to make our kids the smartest kids in the world, unshackle the job creators...he said that Americans didn't want bigger government, more taxes and God taken out of the pledge! He talked about the Democrats complain about the deficits, and yet they proposed $3 trillion in spending that did not make it through the Senate!
There were many great quotes in the speech but the ones that I thought were the best were these:
"Everything begins and ends with human dignity - even before birth!"
"This is not a war we started, but it is one that we must finish."
"Border control is the first principle of national security."
and finally - this from the closing...
"Let's look for freedoms agenda - at home and abroad!"
I can hardly wait until I can call that man "the distinguished senior Senator from the great state of Minnesota".
The video is not yet posted at Residual Forces, but Triple A assures me that he will get it posted and as soon as he does, I will be linking to it.
UPDATE AND BUMP! Triple A got the video posted late last night/early this morning here.
He started off talking about the successes of the last 4 years - hundreds of millions of dollars in Democratic tax increases stopped, confirmation of Justices Roberts and Alito ("they will protect our rights - especially the rights of the most vulnerable...the unborn - rather than rely on foreign law"), surging economy...all of the high points.
He then went on to deliniate the differences between the Republicans in the Senate and the Democrats in the Senate...calling the Democrats the "party of cynics" and reminding them that harping does not get you votes - ideas do!
He talked about how many are concerned with the "political climate", but he reminded us that as Minnesotans we don't generally worry about the "climate" at least not until the temperature gets down to 20 below zero anyway...he then said that we should not worry about the political climate - that we should just get the job done!
Then he launched into the UN....saying that Kofi Annan had "no legitamacy" and that he needs to resign! His best applause lines were when he talked about UN reform - he even got 2 standing ovations and this was only a small portion of the speech!
He then went on to tout our slate of candidates - saying that he could not wait to have a Senator to work with, rather than one to "cancel out" and how he could not WAIT to see Michelle Bachman hit the House floor - getting loud cheers from the 6th District delegates!
Then he went on to talk about what he would like to see done to make our kids the smartest kids in the world, unshackle the job creators...he said that Americans didn't want bigger government, more taxes and God taken out of the pledge! He talked about the Democrats complain about the deficits, and yet they proposed $3 trillion in spending that did not make it through the Senate!
There were many great quotes in the speech but the ones that I thought were the best were these:
"Everything begins and ends with human dignity - even before birth!"
"This is not a war we started, but it is one that we must finish."
"Border control is the first principle of national security."
and finally - this from the closing...
"Let's look for freedoms agenda - at home and abroad!"
I can hardly wait until I can call that man "the distinguished senior Senator from the great state of Minnesota".
The video is not yet posted at Residual Forces, but Triple A assures me that he will get it posted and as soon as he does, I will be linking to it.
UPDATE AND BUMP! Triple A got the video posted late last night/early this morning here.
Amendment X for President...the response
My philosophy, absolutely yes. The philosopher, ABSOLUTELY NOT!
I'd love to find out who the lone voter was. Suspicions abound. But perhaps ignorance is bliss. But sharing the dias with Secretary Rice and Ric Santorum inflates my ego. Noticing Penn Jillette on that same platform rapidly brings me back to reality (I like their act, but watched as they once won $10,000 in a celebrity charity event. And their charity? The ACLU. Adios respect, comedy magicians).
I've been asked many times over the past two decades if I'd consider running for public office. My stock reply is "What may I have said in the last 5-10 minutes that would have led you to believe that I'd like to one: run for public office and/or, two: scrub my knuckles with a steel brush?"
I'd love to find out who the lone voter was. Suspicions abound. But perhaps ignorance is bliss. But sharing the dias with Secretary Rice and Ric Santorum inflates my ego. Noticing Penn Jillette on that same platform rapidly brings me back to reality (I like their act, but watched as they once won $10,000 in a celebrity charity event. And their charity? The ACLU. Adios respect, comedy magicians).
I've been asked many times over the past two decades if I'd consider running for public office. My stock reply is "What may I have said in the last 5-10 minutes that would have led you to believe that I'd like to one: run for public office and/or, two: scrub my knuckles with a steel brush?"
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Amendment X for President
You heard it here first.
He was only 10 votes away from winning the NARN Presidential Straw Poll.
Amendment X in 2008.
He was only 10 votes away from winning the NARN Presidential Straw Poll.
Amendment X in 2008.
Priceless!
Live blogging the 3 day Minnesota GOP convention - $50.00 (and no sleep for 2 days)...
A good steak at Manny's with your blogging buds - $50.00 (depending on the number of adult beverages consumed)...
Cost of getting your picture taken with a major leftie (and potential DFL candidate) at the hospitality suite of his potential rival......
PRICELESS!!!!!
You must check out Triple A with Al Franken!!! It is a scream (you have to give Al credit for being such a good sport!)
A good steak at Manny's with your blogging buds - $50.00 (depending on the number of adult beverages consumed)...
Cost of getting your picture taken with a major leftie (and potential DFL candidate) at the hospitality suite of his potential rival......
PRICELESS!!!!!
You must check out Triple A with Al Franken!!! It is a scream (you have to give Al credit for being such a good sport!)
Day 2 - the man of the hour
Governor Pawlenty's nomination was supposed to have taken place today, however, it had to be moved so that the Governor could attend the funeral of one of our fallen heros.
He started off with the DFL barber joke (if you have heard the Governor speak lately you know the joke, if you haven't....here is the readers digest version - a guy goes to his barber (a DFLer) and told him about his pending Italian vacation and the barber told him "oh you shouldn't go...it's too expensive, it's too far away, the people aren't friendly etc" and when the client gets back he tells the barber it was the best vacation of his life, that he got an audience with the Pope and that the Pope commented on his horrible haircut!) The gist of it is that "people who are good at complaining are good at little else".
He went on to remind the delegates of all the good things that have happened in the last 4 years - Profiles of Learning abolished, $4billion deficit turned to a surplus, Women's Right to Know passed, government more accountable and a better value for the taxpayers dollars, conceal carry reform passed, 100k new jobs, welfare reform and eminent domaine reform passed! He reminded us that the last 12 months do not fully represent the entire term.
He "bragged" about how incarceration has gone up in his administration, saying that "crime is not a societal disease to be understood, but an evil to be confronted!" YOW!!!!!
He pulled out a timely piece from the Star Tribune that showed that our tax ranking had tumbled (in the Strib's point of view) to 16th place in the highest taxed rankings (we were number 4) and reminded us that the DFL had intentions during the last session of making us the highest taxed state in the Union (something I wrote about here) and that the heart and soul of the DFL agenda was tax increases! He also went on to address those that say that property taxes went up under his administration by reminding them that property taxes are controlled by the cities and the counties and that the cities and counties need to practice the same kind of fiscal restraint that the state is practicing rather than just pass the price on to the users! He also reminded us that the increases in property taxes was much higher than the cuts in Local Government Aid were! He said that the solution to that was to cities and counties just as accountable to the taxpayers as the state and the federal governments are or to cap property tax increases!
He went on to lay out the path that he wants to lead the state down with this Ronald Reagan quote (everyone quoted Reagan this weekend!) "If you're afraid of the future...if you're afraid of the future, get out of the way. Move aside for the people are ready to move again'...the people of Minnesota are ready to move again!"
He said we need to protect the traditional family - that the breakdown of the traditional family is the root cause of a lot of our social ills. "Government programs can not replace family." School reform and accountability needs to continue moving forward. "Nothing damages our children more than setting low expectations for them."
He took on immigration reform next, stating that it must be "legal & reasonable". He called our current system chaotic and unacceptable - that sanctuary laws (such as in Minneapolis and St. Paul) needed to be struck down, that non-citizens should not be eligible for in state tuition in our colleges and that employers need to be held accountable once we have an untamperable federal ID card.
He said that there were areas where government does supply a need - maintaining roads and infrastructure, but we need to hold government accountable to the defined mission and that it needs to be paid for hitting it's goals!
He then quoted JFK's (a tax cutting, pro-life, pro-military Democrat) comments that values are one generation away from extinction - that kids need to be taught the values that we need to better our state and our society.
He closed by reaching out to the base that is very upset with him because of the stadium deals and the tobacco tax/fee. He said "I know I have not done everything perfectly - that I have disappointed some of you, but we are making progress and we simply can not go back to where we came from."
All in all, it was the speech that he absolutely needed to give to the base - the one that will help him get re-elected in November.
Video at Residual Forces.
He started off with the DFL barber joke (if you have heard the Governor speak lately you know the joke, if you haven't....here is the readers digest version - a guy goes to his barber (a DFLer) and told him about his pending Italian vacation and the barber told him "oh you shouldn't go...it's too expensive, it's too far away, the people aren't friendly etc" and when the client gets back he tells the barber it was the best vacation of his life, that he got an audience with the Pope and that the Pope commented on his horrible haircut!) The gist of it is that "people who are good at complaining are good at little else".
He went on to remind the delegates of all the good things that have happened in the last 4 years - Profiles of Learning abolished, $4billion deficit turned to a surplus, Women's Right to Know passed, government more accountable and a better value for the taxpayers dollars, conceal carry reform passed, 100k new jobs, welfare reform and eminent domaine reform passed! He reminded us that the last 12 months do not fully represent the entire term.
He "bragged" about how incarceration has gone up in his administration, saying that "crime is not a societal disease to be understood, but an evil to be confronted!" YOW!!!!!
He pulled out a timely piece from the Star Tribune that showed that our tax ranking had tumbled (in the Strib's point of view) to 16th place in the highest taxed rankings (we were number 4) and reminded us that the DFL had intentions during the last session of making us the highest taxed state in the Union (something I wrote about here) and that the heart and soul of the DFL agenda was tax increases! He also went on to address those that say that property taxes went up under his administration by reminding them that property taxes are controlled by the cities and the counties and that the cities and counties need to practice the same kind of fiscal restraint that the state is practicing rather than just pass the price on to the users! He also reminded us that the increases in property taxes was much higher than the cuts in Local Government Aid were! He said that the solution to that was to cities and counties just as accountable to the taxpayers as the state and the federal governments are or to cap property tax increases!
He went on to lay out the path that he wants to lead the state down with this Ronald Reagan quote (everyone quoted Reagan this weekend!) "If you're afraid of the future...if you're afraid of the future, get out of the way. Move aside for the people are ready to move again'...the people of Minnesota are ready to move again!"
He said we need to protect the traditional family - that the breakdown of the traditional family is the root cause of a lot of our social ills. "Government programs can not replace family." School reform and accountability needs to continue moving forward. "Nothing damages our children more than setting low expectations for them."
He took on immigration reform next, stating that it must be "legal & reasonable". He called our current system chaotic and unacceptable - that sanctuary laws (such as in Minneapolis and St. Paul) needed to be struck down, that non-citizens should not be eligible for in state tuition in our colleges and that employers need to be held accountable once we have an untamperable federal ID card.
He said that there were areas where government does supply a need - maintaining roads and infrastructure, but we need to hold government accountable to the defined mission and that it needs to be paid for hitting it's goals!
He then quoted JFK's (a tax cutting, pro-life, pro-military Democrat) comments that values are one generation away from extinction - that kids need to be taught the values that we need to better our state and our society.
He closed by reaching out to the base that is very upset with him because of the stadium deals and the tobacco tax/fee. He said "I know I have not done everything perfectly - that I have disappointed some of you, but we are making progress and we simply can not go back to where we came from."
All in all, it was the speech that he absolutely needed to give to the base - the one that will help him get re-elected in November.
Video at Residual Forces.
First night reflections - Mark Kennedy
During the nomination for Mark Kennedy, the campaign played a video that you know will be cut into numerous 30 and 60 second commercials. A very slick, well produced touchy feely spot, guaranteed to resonate with the soccer moms and anyone who ever grew up on or near a farm! His acceptance speech was short and sweet (maybe 5 minutes maximum) with a couple of memorable moments.
He said that we need to bring Minnesota values and common sense to Washington DC. He also said that the next 160 days were crucial to determine whether we sent another "do nothing Senator or one that will do what needs to be done". The line that got the biggest applause was "A Senate seat is a terrible thing to waste" an obvious dig at the legacy that is Mark Dayton!
The acceptance speech was more of what was expected. He came out with the "Senator Kennedy you can be proud of line" (those of us who have heard Congressman Kennedy speak prior to this are well versed with this line) early in the speech. He talked about how he learned the value of work from his parents, that he was the first boy in their family to go to college, he gave the obligatory mentions to his wife and children.
Then he got into the meat of the speech. He talked about "two paths....one forward and one backward" and how he would work hard to get us going down the forward moving path. He said that politicized special investigations and partisan impeachment proceedings would not move the country forward. He got a big cheer from the crowd when he talked about how the tax code needed to be changed and that the tax code was "seven times larger than the Bible" and that there was no good news in the tax code!
He hit on tax cuts, job growth, earmark reform and line item vetos - all red meat issues for Republicans. He reminded the faithful that the economy was growing (5% last quarter, 5 million new jobs added, unemployment under 5% and home ownership at an all time high) and reminded them that it took leadership and action to get there and it will take leadership and action to stay there!
He hit a sour note with some delegates when he boasted that he voted against the No Child Left Behind act (a cornerstone of the first 4 years of the Bush Administration). However, he made up for it with his remarks on "universal health care" when he said "The government already hasn't controlled our borders and didn't respond promptly to a major disaster, and now they think it should be in charge of every single aspect of healthcare in America? What color is the sky in their world? Their ideas are backwards."
Hugh Hewitt must have inspired this line - "I will vote to confirm judges who are ethical, qualified, and faithful to our Constitution. No ifs, ands, or buts. No more partisan obstruction!"
Then he took this swipe at his presumed opponent, Amy Klobuchar - "A revolving door justice system doesn't work any better stopping illegal immigration along the border than it does stopping crime in Minneapolis. " Given what is going on in Minneapolis, it was a well deserved swipe, but that won't stop the DFL from complaining loudly!
I personally loved this line (when talking about the Global War on Terror) "Mistakes have been made, so have corrections, but the fundamental fact remains that John F. Kennedy's words have never been more true: "If men and women are in chains anywhere in the world, then freedom is endangered everywhere." He then said "cutting and running is one path....it is the wrong path."
All in all it was an excellent speech....a speech that you can hear over at KvM.
He said that we need to bring Minnesota values and common sense to Washington DC. He also said that the next 160 days were crucial to determine whether we sent another "do nothing Senator or one that will do what needs to be done". The line that got the biggest applause was "A Senate seat is a terrible thing to waste" an obvious dig at the legacy that is Mark Dayton!
The acceptance speech was more of what was expected. He came out with the "Senator Kennedy you can be proud of line" (those of us who have heard Congressman Kennedy speak prior to this are well versed with this line) early in the speech. He talked about how he learned the value of work from his parents, that he was the first boy in their family to go to college, he gave the obligatory mentions to his wife and children.
Then he got into the meat of the speech. He talked about "two paths....one forward and one backward" and how he would work hard to get us going down the forward moving path. He said that politicized special investigations and partisan impeachment proceedings would not move the country forward. He got a big cheer from the crowd when he talked about how the tax code needed to be changed and that the tax code was "seven times larger than the Bible" and that there was no good news in the tax code!
He hit on tax cuts, job growth, earmark reform and line item vetos - all red meat issues for Republicans. He reminded the faithful that the economy was growing (5% last quarter, 5 million new jobs added, unemployment under 5% and home ownership at an all time high) and reminded them that it took leadership and action to get there and it will take leadership and action to stay there!
He hit a sour note with some delegates when he boasted that he voted against the No Child Left Behind act (a cornerstone of the first 4 years of the Bush Administration). However, he made up for it with his remarks on "universal health care" when he said "The government already hasn't controlled our borders and didn't respond promptly to a major disaster, and now they think it should be in charge of every single aspect of healthcare in America? What color is the sky in their world? Their ideas are backwards."
Hugh Hewitt must have inspired this line - "I will vote to confirm judges who are ethical, qualified, and faithful to our Constitution. No ifs, ands, or buts. No more partisan obstruction!"
Then he took this swipe at his presumed opponent, Amy Klobuchar - "A revolving door justice system doesn't work any better stopping illegal immigration along the border than it does stopping crime in Minneapolis. " Given what is going on in Minneapolis, it was a well deserved swipe, but that won't stop the DFL from complaining loudly!
I personally loved this line (when talking about the Global War on Terror) "Mistakes have been made, so have corrections, but the fundamental fact remains that John F. Kennedy's words have never been more true: "If men and women are in chains anywhere in the world, then freedom is endangered everywhere." He then said "cutting and running is one path....it is the wrong path."
All in all it was an excellent speech....a speech that you can hear over at KvM.
First night reflections - Harold Shudlick
The convention rules state that each candidate has 30 minutes for their nomination, seconding and acceptance speeches. Congressman Kennedy (more on him later) barely used 10 of his allotted 30 minutes. The Shudlick campaign, on the other hand, used every minute available to him. The nominating and seconding speeches probably only went 5-7 minutes, so the candidate got the rest - and it was needed.
Mr. Shudlick started off dedicating the message to the delegates, those of us who took time on a lovely early summer evening to come to do the party's business. You can hear the entire speech over at Residual Forces (Triple A video taped ALL of the speeches and loaded them to his site - what a trooper!) Rather than quote him word for word, I am going to pull out a few things that struck me as important.
Mr. Shudlick spent a lot of time talking about his Viet Nam service (he mentioned his Bronze Star and Combat Infantry Badge at least 3 times during the speech), his ordination as a pastor and his work as an Army Reserve Chaplain. He spent the majority of the speech talking about these "credentials" for the Senate as if this was all a Senator needed. About halfway through the speech I had this weird sense of deja vu. I had heard this speech before, but where???? It was nice to get an idea of where he came from but here is a memo to the all candidates.....service in the military, while very noble, is not the SOLE qualification for election to serve in Washington DC!!!! You need to have solutions to the issues facing the country.
When he finally DID get to issues he did hit some the right notes:
On immigration - we need to close the borders and hold people who employ illegals responsible for violating the law (a common theme this weekend). He was not for amnesty of any kind or for allowing illegals to "confiscate" our benefits (a clear reference to free health care and social security benefits). He said that entering the country illegally showed a disrespect for the country because they did not "respect our laws" (I really liked that line). He stressed that we needed to enforce our laws!
On Marriage and Abortion - He is pro-marriage amendment and against public funding of abortion! Not much to add there....the delegation ate that up! It was well needed red meat!
On Iraq - we should seek out the insurgents and find out what they are fighting for (HUH?????). He then said that we should let the Iraqi government set the timetable for withdrawal but that we should not leave until the job is done (again...HUH?????)
On Energy - we should allow energy companies to direct their "excess" profits toward drilling and refinery and to the development hydro-electric power.
By and large, he started getting the delegation on his side, I have to admit I was starting to think he had a shot, and then he started attacking Mark Kennedy. The line that lost it for him though was when he accused Congressman Kennedy of "hiding under a Bush" for the last 6 years. You could hear the air coming out of his support with that ill-advised line! The Logical Husband spoke to a couple of Shudlick supporters after the speech and even they knew he was on a roll until he made that remark. They all cringed when they heard the "Bush" crack.
I would say that he probably lost at least 100 votes in the last 5 minutes of the speech, which is a bad thing. There are many in the grass roots, like myself and the Logical Husband, who would have loved to have put a little fear of the base, back into the candidates so that they remember just who it is that put them in office in the first place!
Mr. Shudlick started off dedicating the message to the delegates, those of us who took time on a lovely early summer evening to come to do the party's business. You can hear the entire speech over at Residual Forces (Triple A video taped ALL of the speeches and loaded them to his site - what a trooper!) Rather than quote him word for word, I am going to pull out a few things that struck me as important.
Mr. Shudlick spent a lot of time talking about his Viet Nam service (he mentioned his Bronze Star and Combat Infantry Badge at least 3 times during the speech), his ordination as a pastor and his work as an Army Reserve Chaplain. He spent the majority of the speech talking about these "credentials" for the Senate as if this was all a Senator needed. About halfway through the speech I had this weird sense of deja vu. I had heard this speech before, but where???? It was nice to get an idea of where he came from but here is a memo to the all candidates.....service in the military, while very noble, is not the SOLE qualification for election to serve in Washington DC!!!! You need to have solutions to the issues facing the country.
When he finally DID get to issues he did hit some the right notes:
On immigration - we need to close the borders and hold people who employ illegals responsible for violating the law (a common theme this weekend). He was not for amnesty of any kind or for allowing illegals to "confiscate" our benefits (a clear reference to free health care and social security benefits). He said that entering the country illegally showed a disrespect for the country because they did not "respect our laws" (I really liked that line). He stressed that we needed to enforce our laws!
On Marriage and Abortion - He is pro-marriage amendment and against public funding of abortion! Not much to add there....the delegation ate that up! It was well needed red meat!
On Iraq - we should seek out the insurgents and find out what they are fighting for (HUH?????). He then said that we should let the Iraqi government set the timetable for withdrawal but that we should not leave until the job is done (again...HUH?????)
On Energy - we should allow energy companies to direct their "excess" profits toward drilling and refinery and to the development hydro-electric power.
By and large, he started getting the delegation on his side, I have to admit I was starting to think he had a shot, and then he started attacking Mark Kennedy. The line that lost it for him though was when he accused Congressman Kennedy of "hiding under a Bush" for the last 6 years. You could hear the air coming out of his support with that ill-advised line! The Logical Husband spoke to a couple of Shudlick supporters after the speech and even they knew he was on a roll until he made that remark. They all cringed when they heard the "Bush" crack.
I would say that he probably lost at least 100 votes in the last 5 minutes of the speech, which is a bad thing. There are many in the grass roots, like myself and the Logical Husband, who would have loved to have put a little fear of the base, back into the candidates so that they remember just who it is that put them in office in the first place!
Post Convention thoughts
While my mates, Savage Republican and Amendment X, were live-blogging the final morning of the convention, I was catching up on some family time (the Junior Logician had a thriller of a baseball game and the house is in dire need of attention...a womans work is truly never done...). Now that I have a few minutes to breath, I thought I would share some of my reflections of the previous 2 days of the convention.
It was a thrill to see Triple A (of KvM, Residual Forces AND BachmanvWetterling), the ever charming Michael (from MDE) and Doug and Gary (also from KvM) again and to meet Chief from Freedom Dogs! Sadly I did not get a chance to touch base with Jerry from SD63, but the campaign season is still young. I'm sure we will touch base again soon enough!
I will be posting (from my notes - I went old school this weekend) some of my thoughts about the various speeches. The guys who live blogged the weekend did a wonderful job covering the speeches in their own right, but I have a few thoughts of my own to throw out at you as well.
It was a thrill to see Triple A (of KvM, Residual Forces AND BachmanvWetterling), the ever charming Michael (from MDE) and Doug and Gary (also from KvM) again and to meet Chief from Freedom Dogs! Sadly I did not get a chance to touch base with Jerry from SD63, but the campaign season is still young. I'm sure we will touch base again soon enough!
I will be posting (from my notes - I went old school this weekend) some of my thoughts about the various speeches. The guys who live blogged the weekend did a wonderful job covering the speeches in their own right, but I have a few thoughts of my own to throw out at you as well.
The Finale...
And hard working Rachel Horn, underpaid Republican Field Staff, easily worth twice as much for half the work.
11:27 a.m.-Balloons aplenty, all endorsed candidates on stage, except Governor Pawlenty who is attending the funeral of a fallen Minnesota Hero.
Pat Anderson, the people's pitbull and introducing "Gus" THE Bulldog, not lapdog
No MS Dutcher who switched her party affiliation after being elected, Pat is dogged in making sure that integrity is maintained, no matter where her investigation leads.
Your representatives at the MNGOP Convention-
Mike Beard, R-35A, doing the work also of a delegate to the convention as he tries to out do the Savage Republican in sartorial splender.
Endorsing II
Jeff Johnson wants to be the first Republican Attorney General in 40 years. He's read Exodus and Leviticus and knows about wandering in the wilderness for 40 years.
Hey, what about an AG that doesn't want to grab headlines to get publicity to become governor and worsening our anti-business climate by suing any and all corporations?
Johnson says he wants to protect us from criminals! Not protect his poll lead. HEY, there's a concept.
Brian Sullivan introduced Jeff to thunderous applause.
Jeff thinks the greatest news is that his opponent is Matt Entenza. Hopefully it will be a bare knuckles fight.
Jeff's hope is that Entenza will spend his his campaign money as recklessly as he's spent your money from the Legislature.
Endorsing....
10:14 We are now set to endorse Mary Kiffmeyer as Secretary of State. I've talked to Secretary Kiffmeyer a number of times. And she has done so much to ensure and insure the integrity of the vote here in Minnesota. And she is GREAT supporter of our veterans!
Go Mary!
FIRST EVER!!!!! The digital pioneers of Scott County
Here we are, Savage Republican and your humble fighting patriot Amendment X, blogging live from the MN State Republican Party from the lovely Convention Center in overtaxed Minneapolis. (And I miss the old Minneapolis Auditorium, Shrine Circus and all).
We'll have more comments from the floor, your representatives and party officals.
And thanks to Savage Republican for the picture of your trooper for liberty.
10:10- Chairman Ron Carey, surviving on 3.1 hours of sleep and massive amounts of caffein, has given the opening speech of the day, reminding us that a single vote is always important. He believes that in 2008, Minnesota may be the Ohio of 2004, be a serious swing state (remembering that a recent Prairie Pravda poll shows that Minnesota now considers itself Republican rather than those other people).
Friday, June 02, 2006
When diversity is actually a good thing!
While I was at the convention this past weekend, one of my discussion groups had an interesting series of exchanges (all paraphrased and no names used to protect the innocent)...
Writer A: We must contact our legislators about the upcoming vote on the marriage amendment.
Writer B: Well we must not let up on them on immigration....
Writer C: Radical Islam needs to be our immediate concern...
Writer D: No we must be on top of the degradation of the culture.....
In Minnesota, we have been having our own version of these conversations. Some feel that the stadium issue should be the defining issue of the Minnesota election, others feel the cigarette fee/tax should be "it", others marriage...you see where this is going right?
One of the great strengths of the Republican Party is it's activists and we ALL (yes I include myself in this generalization) have our pet issues that we are most passionate about. What we need to do, instead of letting these issues divide us this election season, is to use these differences to help the party succeed! If we all take our individual areas of passion and expertise and combine them, we will have a stronger party, a stronger messege and a much stronger chance of gaining seats, both in St Paul and in DC come November! Let's make sure that all ideas that mesh with the platform are given a fair hearing in the arena of ideas this campaign season!
Writer A: We must contact our legislators about the upcoming vote on the marriage amendment.
Writer B: Well we must not let up on them on immigration....
Writer C: Radical Islam needs to be our immediate concern...
Writer D: No we must be on top of the degradation of the culture.....
In Minnesota, we have been having our own version of these conversations. Some feel that the stadium issue should be the defining issue of the Minnesota election, others feel the cigarette fee/tax should be "it", others marriage...you see where this is going right?
One of the great strengths of the Republican Party is it's activists and we ALL (yes I include myself in this generalization) have our pet issues that we are most passionate about. What we need to do, instead of letting these issues divide us this election season, is to use these differences to help the party succeed! If we all take our individual areas of passion and expertise and combine them, we will have a stronger party, a stronger messege and a much stronger chance of gaining seats, both in St Paul and in DC come November! Let's make sure that all ideas that mesh with the platform are given a fair hearing in the arena of ideas this campaign season!
Presidential Straw Poll
During the convention yesterday, a Presidential Preference Straw Poll for 2008 was held. The results were as follows:
Newt Gingrich 40.7% (220 votes)
George Allen 14.6% (79 votes)
John McCain 10.1% (55 votes)
Jeb Bush 5.9% (32 votes)
Mitt Romney 5.3% (29 votes)
Condi Rice 5.2% (28 votes)
Rudy Giuliani 3.5% (19 votes)
Tom Tancredo 2.4% (13 votes)
Sam Brownback 1.7% (9 votes)
Others with less than 1% a piece 10.3% (56 votes)
Now I was not around for the straw poll - I had family obligations, but I was quite interested in seeing how this turned out. There was a "Draft Newt" group that apparently did it's job. However, I was glad to see that Senator Allen finished in second place in a state that has (according to people I know) no clue as to who he is. The fact that Senator McCain finished a very distant third in a very purple state was even more encouraging!
On a side note, in the final hour of the Northern Alliance Radio Program today, they did their own straw poll and Senator Allen won going away, with our own Amendment X garnering one vote!
Newt Gingrich 40.7% (220 votes)
George Allen 14.6% (79 votes)
John McCain 10.1% (55 votes)
Jeb Bush 5.9% (32 votes)
Mitt Romney 5.3% (29 votes)
Condi Rice 5.2% (28 votes)
Rudy Giuliani 3.5% (19 votes)
Tom Tancredo 2.4% (13 votes)
Sam Brownback 1.7% (9 votes)
Others with less than 1% a piece 10.3% (56 votes)
Now I was not around for the straw poll - I had family obligations, but I was quite interested in seeing how this turned out. There was a "Draft Newt" group that apparently did it's job. However, I was glad to see that Senator Allen finished in second place in a state that has (according to people I know) no clue as to who he is. The fact that Senator McCain finished a very distant third in a very purple state was even more encouraging!
On a side note, in the final hour of the Northern Alliance Radio Program today, they did their own straw poll and Senator Allen won going away, with our own Amendment X garnering one vote!
Customers and the public
As much as I loathe correcting Prairie Pravda, seems that they have difficulty distinguishing between the public sector and the private (though I'm not surprised).
In their article about another failed alternative energy program, they state that "the public" paid for idling these ghastly looking wind generators. Well, no they didn't. At least as far as the article is concerned. The headline for the article is "Public paid for idled wind farms" and then state in the first sentence in the article "Xcel Energy electricity customers have paid millions of dollars for wind energy that was never produced, according to documents filed with state regulators." Well kids, customers of a private corporation are not "the public". They are private customers. They pay for the failures of the private corporation, though one heavily regulated. Now, when the government FORCES you to pay for say, pork or corn or wheat or barley NOT produced by farm set asides or subsidies, that's the PUBLIC paying for something not produced.
The Twins stadium is the PUBLIC being forced to pay for something they don't consume. Now, if the Twins don't produce a World Series Championship, well then, the PUBLIC is being forced to pay for something not produced. If the consumers of the Twins, namely the fans, paid for the stadium, then they, the consumers of the Twins pay for it all.
Wait a minute, isn't that kind of a definition for liberty and freedom? Those that use it pay for it? Those who don't use it aren't forced to pay for it?
Yah. It is.
Now, go to MN Tea Party and do something for liberty.
In their article about another failed alternative energy program, they state that "the public" paid for idling these ghastly looking wind generators. Well, no they didn't. At least as far as the article is concerned. The headline for the article is "Public paid for idled wind farms" and then state in the first sentence in the article "Xcel Energy electricity customers have paid millions of dollars for wind energy that was never produced, according to documents filed with state regulators." Well kids, customers of a private corporation are not "the public". They are private customers. They pay for the failures of the private corporation, though one heavily regulated. Now, when the government FORCES you to pay for say, pork or corn or wheat or barley NOT produced by farm set asides or subsidies, that's the PUBLIC paying for something not produced.
The Twins stadium is the PUBLIC being forced to pay for something they don't consume. Now, if the Twins don't produce a World Series Championship, well then, the PUBLIC is being forced to pay for something not produced. If the consumers of the Twins, namely the fans, paid for the stadium, then they, the consumers of the Twins pay for it all.
Wait a minute, isn't that kind of a definition for liberty and freedom? Those that use it pay for it? Those who don't use it aren't forced to pay for it?
Yah. It is.
Now, go to MN Tea Party and do something for liberty.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Reap & sow, free markets, illegals
Ann Coulter has another great column today talking about how GWB's and the Senate's illegal immigration program is really amnesty. Read her comments and see how the illegals get breaks on illegals' actions that would put you and me in jail. There is one sentence that struck me: "...but illegal aliens don't require their employers to comply with OSHA regulations, overtime and minimum wage laws, unemployment insurance, disability laws, the Family and Medical Leave Act, a slew of oppressive environmental regulations, and 4 million other ways the government has developed to make it extremely expensive to hire legal employees. Instead of creating a separate class of citizens who are immune from oppressive government rules, how about relieving all of us even us shiftless Americans from the cost of government? "
She reminds me of the quote I heard a few years back "The black market is the free market asserting itself." So, here we have an example of employers voting with their money. With illegals they are freed from all that Ann talks about in that one paragraph. No OSHA, no EEOC, no FTC, no sexual harassment lawsuits, and on and on and on.No endless forms and worries about what regulation may be being broken and will result in a lengthy trial and/or fine or fines and/or jail time.
Now, do I support the hiring of illegals? Not at all. But so many people are looking at symptoms, not causes. Why do the illegals come here? Because there are jobs. Why are there jobs? Because employers are willing to take the risk to hire illegals because it's cheaper to hire them. And not just the actual cost of wages, but the perceived total cost of employment including meeting all those 4,000,000 regulations that Ann talks about.
The same thought process is involved with the shift of jobs overseas. Why go overseas? Because it's cheaper. Again, no OSHA, EEOC, sexual harassment... And my lefty buddy's solution? Fine every employer who exports a job. The Republican's idea? Some incentive or tax credit program for certain "government approved" activities.
Have you ever heard any Senator, any House member, any President (save Reagan) ever say "We need to get out of the way of business!" Nope. We have "The Competiveness Initiative" from GWB. As my friend Son of Liberty states over at MNTeaParty that the way it works best is when the government is out of the way, the way the Founding Fathers envisioneded America. That if fraud and/or force isn't used (by either individuals OR the government-especially the government) the free market works really well.
So, instead of making easier to hire employees, Congress and GWB have another "program".
How about the "Federal Register Reduction Program"? Or "Let's Get Out of Their Way" Program? And strangely enough,we already have one.
It's called the 10th Amendment. Or Amendment X.
All we need to have happen is to have all Congress and the President keep their oath of office.
Maybe I'm being over optimistic.
She reminds me of the quote I heard a few years back "The black market is the free market asserting itself." So, here we have an example of employers voting with their money. With illegals they are freed from all that Ann talks about in that one paragraph. No OSHA, no EEOC, no FTC, no sexual harassment lawsuits, and on and on and on.No endless forms and worries about what regulation may be being broken and will result in a lengthy trial and/or fine or fines and/or jail time.
Now, do I support the hiring of illegals? Not at all. But so many people are looking at symptoms, not causes. Why do the illegals come here? Because there are jobs. Why are there jobs? Because employers are willing to take the risk to hire illegals because it's cheaper to hire them. And not just the actual cost of wages, but the perceived total cost of employment including meeting all those 4,000,000 regulations that Ann talks about.
The same thought process is involved with the shift of jobs overseas. Why go overseas? Because it's cheaper. Again, no OSHA, EEOC, sexual harassment... And my lefty buddy's solution? Fine every employer who exports a job. The Republican's idea? Some incentive or tax credit program for certain "government approved" activities.
Have you ever heard any Senator, any House member, any President (save Reagan) ever say "We need to get out of the way of business!" Nope. We have "The Competiveness Initiative" from GWB. As my friend Son of Liberty states over at MNTeaParty that the way it works best is when the government is out of the way, the way the Founding Fathers envisioneded America. That if fraud and/or force isn't used (by either individuals OR the government-especially the government) the free market works really well.
So, instead of making easier to hire employees, Congress and GWB have another "program".
How about the "Federal Register Reduction Program"? Or "Let's Get Out of Their Way" Program? And strangely enough,we already have one.
It's called the 10th Amendment. Or Amendment X.
All we need to have happen is to have all Congress and the President keep their oath of office.
Maybe I'm being over optimistic.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Countdown
Well fellow Minnesotans, the Republican Party of Minnesota Endorsing Convention starts in a little under 23 hours. I have still not gotten a response to my multiple requests for information from the Shudlick Campaign. From the Shudlick website - here are the issues the candidate finds to be important.
"Shudlick for Senate '06About the Issues
Issues to Embrace
• More freedom for American Citizens
• Lower taxes
• Safer Streets
• Protect American jobs
• Pursue energy independence
• Secure borders
• Less government
• When it comes to trade issues, protect state and national sovereignty
• Traditional American Values
• English as official U.S. Language
• Work to defeat Terrorist, Insurgents, and Islamo-facists
• Stronger Laws to reduce voter fraud and identity theft
• Protect farmers, laborers, and business
• Unfunded suggestions
• Better management of foreign interactions & aid
• Control Illegal Immigration/Asylum
• Support Affordable Healthcare"
Based on this, I sent the candidate the following questions:
Do you support President Bush's comprehensive immigration reform or do you support a "wall" at the border to stem the flow of illegal immigrants?
Do you support the President's so called "wiretapping" of suspected al Qaeda terrorists? If not, why?
Do you support a Canadian style "universal health care"? Why or why not? If not, what type of health care reform would you support?
Do you support making President Bush's tax cuts permanent? Why or why not?
Given that the per gallon cost of gasoline is hovering right around $3.00 a gallon, what would you suggest the federal government do to help reduce the price? Would you support building more refineries? Drilling in ANWR? Repealing the ban on off-shore drilling? If not, why?
I didn't even ask about Iran and I should have...
Given that these are just a few of the very pressing issues that the future Junior Senator from Minnesota will have to face in Washington DC, it is only fair that the people of Minnesota know what they are voting for. If Mr. Shudlick expects the delegates to vote for him, he has to give them more of a reason to vote for him than "sticking it to the party kingmakers".
"Shudlick for Senate '06About the Issues
Issues to Embrace
• More freedom for American Citizens
• Lower taxes
• Safer Streets
• Protect American jobs
• Pursue energy independence
• Secure borders
• Less government
• When it comes to trade issues, protect state and national sovereignty
• Traditional American Values
• English as official U.S. Language
• Work to defeat Terrorist, Insurgents, and Islamo-facists
• Stronger Laws to reduce voter fraud and identity theft
• Protect farmers, laborers, and business
• Unfunded suggestions
• Better management of foreign interactions & aid
• Control Illegal Immigration/Asylum
• Support Affordable Healthcare"
Based on this, I sent the candidate the following questions:
Do you support President Bush's comprehensive immigration reform or do you support a "wall" at the border to stem the flow of illegal immigrants?
Do you support the President's so called "wiretapping" of suspected al Qaeda terrorists? If not, why?
Do you support a Canadian style "universal health care"? Why or why not? If not, what type of health care reform would you support?
Do you support making President Bush's tax cuts permanent? Why or why not?
Given that the per gallon cost of gasoline is hovering right around $3.00 a gallon, what would you suggest the federal government do to help reduce the price? Would you support building more refineries? Drilling in ANWR? Repealing the ban on off-shore drilling? If not, why?
I didn't even ask about Iran and I should have...
Given that these are just a few of the very pressing issues that the future Junior Senator from Minnesota will have to face in Washington DC, it is only fair that the people of Minnesota know what they are voting for. If Mr. Shudlick expects the delegates to vote for him, he has to give them more of a reason to vote for him than "sticking it to the party kingmakers".
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Gubernatorial maneuvering
I got the attached email from a delegate to the State Convention this week.
" Dear 2006 Republican Friend,
You may have heard that a rogue candidate of a different political party will seek to use our convention as a platform to stage a publicity stunt to kick start her failing campaign for governor.
Like you, I hold our convention process in high regard and don’t wish to have any B-rate candidate, be it a Democrat, Green, or Libertarian, turn our party’s convention into a side show.
The non-Republican I am referring to is Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Sue Jeffers. There will be an effort later this week by her and her campaign to crash our convention, borrow our stage, and spew her platform. Before she plays her silly games, let me tell you a little more about this candidate from a competing political party.
Over the next few days, I will be communicating with delegates and alternates to our convention about Ms. Jeffers. But as prominent leaders of the Republican Party of Minnesota, I wanted to ensure you had an advance copy of my materials.
I have attached my letter and a handout detailing the differences between Ms. Jeffers' Libertarian Party and the Republican Party of Minnesota. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Finally, my apologies if you received this email more than once. "
The letter was sent by Michael Brodkorb of MDE fame. The delegate who sent the letter to me, said the following regarding Ms. Jeffers:
"While I don't subcribe to alot of Ms. Jeffers opinions or stances on the issues I think she should be afforded a chance to speak at the convention. I feel Gov. Pawlenty has been in need of a serious butt-kicking for some time now. I hope he wins in November and will work for his reelection but I have been extremely displeased with most of the upper ranks of this party this last year and trying to out DFL the democrats is not a platform I want to support. I want these people nervous because the wake-up call is long over-due. So count me out of your business as usual style of politics. I think pretending that our guys are doing just swell is the road to major defeat in November and I will not support or condone that position."
I happen to agree with the delegate in question when he states that our candidates are trying to "out DFL the Democrats". They ARE. Whether it be rewarding law breakers (the President's "Comprehensive Immigration Reform") to blocking off shore oil drilling, to voting to reward illegal behavior, or adding stealth tax increases to fund stadiums for professional sports teams, our elected Republicans are acting more and more like Democrats every day. This is something that Amendment X has railed about here, here, here, here and here!
I agree with Michael that Sue Jeffers should not be our Gubernatorial candidate, but not for the reasons that he states. I think her "poor me - the party is picking on me" attititude is a loser! If she thinks the tactics of the RPM are bad, just wait until she has to run against the meatgrinder that will be Mike Hatch's campaign!
My advise to Ms. Jeffers.....if you can't take the knock down drag out rumble that is partisan politics, stay home! Politics is a rough business and your personal life is dragged through the mud. You need to be able to ignore the push back, stand your ground and defend your issues. If you can do that, you don't need to play the victim card...the "they won't let me in to play" card.
" Dear 2006 Republican Friend,
You may have heard that a rogue candidate of a different political party will seek to use our convention as a platform to stage a publicity stunt to kick start her failing campaign for governor.
Like you, I hold our convention process in high regard and don’t wish to have any B-rate candidate, be it a Democrat, Green, or Libertarian, turn our party’s convention into a side show.
The non-Republican I am referring to is Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Sue Jeffers. There will be an effort later this week by her and her campaign to crash our convention, borrow our stage, and spew her platform. Before she plays her silly games, let me tell you a little more about this candidate from a competing political party.
Over the next few days, I will be communicating with delegates and alternates to our convention about Ms. Jeffers. But as prominent leaders of the Republican Party of Minnesota, I wanted to ensure you had an advance copy of my materials.
I have attached my letter and a handout detailing the differences between Ms. Jeffers' Libertarian Party and the Republican Party of Minnesota. Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns.
Finally, my apologies if you received this email more than once. "
The letter was sent by Michael Brodkorb of MDE fame. The delegate who sent the letter to me, said the following regarding Ms. Jeffers:
"While I don't subcribe to alot of Ms. Jeffers opinions or stances on the issues I think she should be afforded a chance to speak at the convention. I feel Gov. Pawlenty has been in need of a serious butt-kicking for some time now. I hope he wins in November and will work for his reelection but I have been extremely displeased with most of the upper ranks of this party this last year and trying to out DFL the democrats is not a platform I want to support. I want these people nervous because the wake-up call is long over-due. So count me out of your business as usual style of politics. I think pretending that our guys are doing just swell is the road to major defeat in November and I will not support or condone that position."
I happen to agree with the delegate in question when he states that our candidates are trying to "out DFL the Democrats". They ARE. Whether it be rewarding law breakers (the President's "Comprehensive Immigration Reform") to blocking off shore oil drilling, to voting to reward illegal behavior, or adding stealth tax increases to fund stadiums for professional sports teams, our elected Republicans are acting more and more like Democrats every day. This is something that Amendment X has railed about here, here, here, here and here!
I agree with Michael that Sue Jeffers should not be our Gubernatorial candidate, but not for the reasons that he states. I think her "poor me - the party is picking on me" attititude is a loser! If she thinks the tactics of the RPM are bad, just wait until she has to run against the meatgrinder that will be Mike Hatch's campaign!
My advise to Ms. Jeffers.....if you can't take the knock down drag out rumble that is partisan politics, stay home! Politics is a rough business and your personal life is dragged through the mud. You need to be able to ignore the push back, stand your ground and defend your issues. If you can do that, you don't need to play the victim card...the "they won't let me in to play" card.
The problem with boys
The Star Tribune ran a pair of point, counter-point articles about "The Trouble with Boys". The first article talks about the American "Boy Crisis" and the other takes the boy crisis "myth" to task.
First let's take a look at a few basic statistics:
• Receive the majority of D and F grades, as high as 70 percent.
• Create 80 percent of classroom discipline problems.
• Account for 80 percent of high school dropouts.
• Represent 70 percent of children diagnosed with learning disabilities and 80 percent of those diagnosed with behavioral disorders.
• Are an average of a year to a year-and-a-half behind girls in reading and writing skills.
• Represent 80 percent of children on Ritalin or other meds used to treat ADHD.
• Make up less than 44 percent of America's college population.
• Are diagnosed with a special education disability twice as much as girls; are suspended 2.5 times more than girls and are expelled at three times the rate of girls.
And yet according to the ladies who wrote the counter-point article, this is an "overblown backlash against the women's movement"! As the mother of a son, I would like to take these ladies to task for their complete and utter ignorance of what a boy goes through in our public schools and the hoops that an engaged parent (such as myself) has to go through just to get some help for his/her son. My son IS the prototypical boy - interested in sports, video games and TV. More likely to play with role playing games or wrestle with his dog than to read a book (much to his mother's chagrin - I love to read). We have gone from one teaching extreme (you are not allowed to leave your chair until your work is done) to another (as long as you get your work done before the end of the hour and don't disturb the class you can get up) and nothing seems to make that much of a difference. When we ask the school to work with us to help develop a scheme to help him enjoy reading more we are met with blank stares. When we had issues with a school bully it took 3 years of meeting with the principal and a "I hate school I never want to go back" self evaluation to finally get the school to do something about the situation. Prior to the "I hate school I never want to go back" self evaluation, the school kept using the same "just ignore it and it will go away" platitude that eventually lead to the Columbine massacre in Colorado 6 years ago!
No ladies, this is not an "overblown backlash". The women's rights movement swung the pendulum past equal treatment and is now over to "superior" treatment for girls. It is well past time to bring the pendulum back to equal treatment and leave it there.
First let's take a look at a few basic statistics:
• Receive the majority of D and F grades, as high as 70 percent.
• Create 80 percent of classroom discipline problems.
• Account for 80 percent of high school dropouts.
• Represent 70 percent of children diagnosed with learning disabilities and 80 percent of those diagnosed with behavioral disorders.
• Are an average of a year to a year-and-a-half behind girls in reading and writing skills.
• Represent 80 percent of children on Ritalin or other meds used to treat ADHD.
• Make up less than 44 percent of America's college population.
• Are diagnosed with a special education disability twice as much as girls; are suspended 2.5 times more than girls and are expelled at three times the rate of girls.
And yet according to the ladies who wrote the counter-point article, this is an "overblown backlash against the women's movement"! As the mother of a son, I would like to take these ladies to task for their complete and utter ignorance of what a boy goes through in our public schools and the hoops that an engaged parent (such as myself) has to go through just to get some help for his/her son. My son IS the prototypical boy - interested in sports, video games and TV. More likely to play with role playing games or wrestle with his dog than to read a book (much to his mother's chagrin - I love to read). We have gone from one teaching extreme (you are not allowed to leave your chair until your work is done) to another (as long as you get your work done before the end of the hour and don't disturb the class you can get up) and nothing seems to make that much of a difference. When we ask the school to work with us to help develop a scheme to help him enjoy reading more we are met with blank stares. When we had issues with a school bully it took 3 years of meeting with the principal and a "I hate school I never want to go back" self evaluation to finally get the school to do something about the situation. Prior to the "I hate school I never want to go back" self evaluation, the school kept using the same "just ignore it and it will go away" platitude that eventually lead to the Columbine massacre in Colorado 6 years ago!
No ladies, this is not an "overblown backlash". The women's rights movement swung the pendulum past equal treatment and is now over to "superior" treatment for girls. It is well past time to bring the pendulum back to equal treatment and leave it there.
Update - Shudlick for Senate
A couple of weeks ago, I posted here about my intent to send the Harold Shudlick campaign a list of questions for the candidate on where he stood on several important issues. To date, I have no answer and the State Convention starts the day after tomorrow! I am sending a follow up request today.
Monday, May 29, 2006
And to those left behind...
A friend sent this to me. It's a wonderful speech from Ben Stein to those who are left behind when a hero goes to his rest.
I thought it was an appropriate way to end Memorial Day.
I thought it was an appropriate way to end Memorial Day.
Eternal Father Strong to Save
As much as I tried to find an online version of the Naval hymn "Eternal Father Strong to Save" that compared to the men's voices singing "Mansions of the Lord" there was nothing.
So please accept this musical version. Also, as it was brought to my attention, notice how the four stanzas are constructed: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Trinity, from John1 and Genesis 1
Lyrics:
So please accept this musical version. Also, as it was brought to my attention, notice how the four stanzas are constructed: Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Trinity, from John1 and Genesis 1
Lyrics:
Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who biddest the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who biddest the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy Word,
Who walked on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
Most Holy Spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
O Trinity of love and power!
Our family shield in danger’s hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect us wheresoever we go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.
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