Truth Surfer

Team USA played the Canadian Team at the Excel Center tonight. MN Governor Pawlenty came out before the game for a ceremonial dropping of the puck. Instead of being met by 'Minnesota Nice' , Pawlenty got 'Minnesota Ice' ! The very lukewarm applause for him was drowned out by spontaneously loud booing and hissing when he was announced. It seems hockey girls (and their moms) don't much care for our current Governor. This is the second slap shot in two weeks for Governor Pawlenty. Check out Minnesota Blue where Pawlenty gets failing grades at school by a similar chilly reception. In hockey terms it looks like Pawlenty is in the penalty box and close to being ejected from the game...er..Governor's office?

Since mnsky's posting on Democratic Cannibals , earlier today, I actually went to Blois Olson's New School Communication's website and found this screenshot. It says at the New School's website 'Winning is Everything' . Their website says "We make winning for our clients our only priority . Sometimes the old way needs New Thinking, New Ideas, and New Attitudes." I would offer up that those of us that are really New School as in progressive...believe 'Winning is Important' but not if you sell your soul along with other Democrats and Democratic values . Hopefully MDE is just loudly bellowing hot air because if not...New School (as in Blois Olson) cheated...and that's more like old school.

The New York Times had a full page ad from the ACLU calling for a special counsel to investigate Bush and the NSA warrantless electronic surveillance. President Bush has acknowledged giving explicit and secret authorization for warrantless electronic eavesdropping and physical searches by the National Security Administration. The actions of the president, the FBI and the JTTFs are part of a broad pattern of disregard for the rule of law in the name of national security. According to the ACLU press release, President Bush's actions are a clear violation of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). "President Nixon was not above the law and neither is President Bush," said ACLU Executive Director Anthony D. Romero. "President Bush cannot use a claim of seeking to preserve our nation to undermine the rules that serve as our foundation. The Attorney General, who may have been involved with the formulation of this policy, must appoint a special counsel to let just...

Why must we eat our own? Linking to MDE is like sucking on mud... but... he’s got a story on Politics in Minnesota co-publisher Blois Olson that shouldn't be ignored… I don’t know who I’m more pissed at, Blois Olson for trying to hoist his own petard at Coleen Rowley’s campaign expense and ultimately all Minnesotan Democrats, or the anonymous source that took the story to a rethug blog instead of any one of the fine left leaning MN blogs . Either way, Blois and anonymous source have some serious explaining to do. Oh yeah...read my lips...Democrats need to stop eating their own! From MDE: HELL HAS FROZEN OVER Later today I will have a post defending Coleen Rowley's campaign. I am not drunk, nor is a gun pointed at my head.

Well it's the dawn of a new year, and time to make resolutions. Maybe this year I'll even keep a few of them. I like making resolutions because they're a great way for me to feel like I'm becoming a better person, without having to do anything to actually be a better person. So, in no particular order, here they are: * When calling the White House comment line at 202-456-1111, I resolve to make my comments more constructive; as I know that our preznit listens to and values my opinion. That time I called claiming that I was changing my name from George Bush to something less offensive like Jeffrey Dahmer, because he'd killed fewer people? That was just mean. * When calling Norm Coleman's office at 202-224-5641, I resolve to stop calling him a Big Republican Rubber Stamp. The proper term is The Honorable Big Republican Rubber Stamp. * If I really must call the Republican National Committee at 202.863.8500, I resolve to stop asking whether GOP stands for Get ...

Minnesota DFL candidates won two elections by picking up a state Senate seat and retaining a state House seat ! Come gather 'round people Wherever you roam And admit that the waters Around you have grown And accept it that soon You'll be drenched to the bone. If your time to you Is worth savin' Then you better start swimmin' Or you'll sink like a stone For the times they are a-changin' . Two great wins for the voters in St. Cloud! Senate-elect DFLer Tarryl Clark soundly defeated Republican local personality Dan “the Ox” Ochsner in SD15 by 2,000 plus votes (55%). And, DFLer Representative-elect Larry Haws scored an overwhelming victory (70%) over Republican write-in challenger Kay Ek in HD15B. Come writers and critics Who prophesize with your pen And keep your eyes wide The chance won't come again And don't speak too soon For the wheel's still in spin And there's no tellin' who That it's namin'. For the loser now Will be later to w...

My un-imaginary friend Isaac is at it again...this time he's velling on 'libruls' ruining the holidays: Onward Christian Soldiers Well, Christmas has passed, so that must mean the librul War On Christmas (tm) is over now too. For now anyway. See, those godless libruls just can't pass up any chance to persecute the helpless people in this country that call themselves Christians. Polls show that upwards of 80% or so of people in the US profess to be Christians. Do you see what that means? It means that 20%--probably less--of this country's population has cleverly orchestrated a massive conspiracy to hold the vast majority of this country hostage. Christians just can't get a break in this country any more, and are at the mercy of the liberals, who run everything now. Librul atheists just aren't happy unless they're trying to keep people from worshiping God in the schools, force everyone to have abortions, marry a homosexual, view pornography, and (horror...

Quote of the Day "Let the student decide." -- Sen. John McCain (R-AZ), quoted by the Arizona Daily Star , summing up his view on the teaching of "intelligent design" along with evolution in public schools. You know school's have come a long way since I've been enrolled. Use to be you'd have to learn what was taught, not decide what was taught. What's the point? Being a pastafarian , I choose door number...er...lesson number 3.

What do you call a political party that thinks postage for a Presidential cat's fan club requires a full-on Congressional investigation, but a President who admits on national television to breaking Federal law, repeatedly, merits some committee "oversight," and spotty oversight at that? Republicans. Like Firedoglake's Jane Hamsher I had also forgotten the Clinton era "Socks-gate." Naturally, like all the Clinton related 'gates', the claim was without merit. Hmmmm...let's see: misrepresent intelligence to Congress and the American public to get us into the Iraq war; out a CIA NOC for political payback; misrepresent war costs once we are there, so that Congress has to continually appropriate millions billions; spy on the American public without warrants, violating the Fourth Amendment and the Presidential requirements of Article II of the Constitution requiring the President to faithfully follow all laws and the FISA laws as established by Congre...

Thank you Coleen for a clear concise summary regarding FISA and NSA in addition to clarifying those pundits who are using the Moussaoui case to justify Bu$h's lawlessness... Saturday, December 24, 2005; Page A15 in WashingtonPost.com This LTE, A Zeal to Defend Secrecy In their zeal to defend President Bush for ordering the National Security Agency to eavesdrop on communications of American citizens, William Kristol and Gary Schmitt got key things wrong regarding the FBI's terrorism investigation of Zacarias Moussaoui ["Vital Presidential Power," op-ed, Dec. 20]... ...That means the FISA procedures were not the reason the FBI failed to inspect Moussaoui's computer files. Rather, the FBI's failure to share and analyze intelligence sufficiently is what enabled Moussaoui to escape further investigation. This debate is carried over to Daily Kos ...--

The family decided to be 'soulful' this Holiday Season. It was a good decision...something we may continue through the year... Our souls will cast a beautiful bright light around the world so all may find their promise land. I grew up listing to the music of James Brown, Otis Redding, Jr. Walker, Wilson Picket, Jackie Wilson, Sam Cook...and like the ghost of xmas past...it's time to revisit my roots if for no other reason that to assert my faith in soulful goodness. No matter how down trotten, how mistreated, how cheated, how looked down upon, how despied or how abused... your spirit can raise above. You can be soulful... Go down to the river Jordan: I ask that all those I have offended, hurt, or wronged to forgive me for just as the Jordan has two banks on either side of where she runs, so too can hurt go both ways. Minnesota is land of hot dishes and cold snow. While reminded of past seasons in other places, we now live in the sometimes unbearable icy present of here...an...

When I saw the injustice of it ... it just hit me that someone had to do something about this," she (Kay Ek) said. Someone should explain the difference between injustice and 'not getting your way because you violated the law' to Kay Ek. I guess the apple didn't fall far from the tree when it came to ethics?

President Bu$h has continue to flaunt our constitution and U.S. laws to carry out his own personal agenda. First the lies of WMD, then the killing of civilians by the illegal use of chemicals, followed by the torture of prisoners, and now spying on US citizens within the United States. It's wrong, evil, against the law, against our constitution, against our values, and UnAmerican! Bush’s Snoopgate The president was so desperate to kill The New York Times’ eavesdropping story, he summoned the paper’s editor and publisher to the Oval Office. But it wasn’t just out of concern about national security. The oath. "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." The Lying "Now, by the way, any time you hear the United States government talking about wiretap, it requires -- a wiretap requires a court order. N...

MN DFL Chair Brian Melendez nails it. Isn't it time the GOP grows up, starts playing by the rules (and laws) while looking out for Minnesotan interests? WHEN WILL THE HYPOCRISY END? ST. PAUL (12/20/05) – "The Republican Party must take responsibility for this Ek mess," said DFL State Chair Brian Melendez. "Trying to blame Attorney General Mike Hatch and the DFL Party is laughable. Republicans from the top down somehow believe that they are above the law—first by offering up a candidate who lied about living in the district, now by whining about having to follow the law about getting on the ballot. The Republican culture of corruption that is plaguing this state and the nation is intolerable. "For the Republican Party to say that they want the voters to have a choice is hypocritical. The Republican governor set the special election for two days after Christmas to ensure low turnout. This date also disenfranchises more than 15,000 students at St. Cloud State Unive...

The Ek Family Saga has come to an end . At least for the St. Cloud Special Election on January 27. Note to self - Give Ron Carey some candidate tips...the GOP (Get Out of Prision?!) seem to be scraping the barrel...I guess it's the best you can do when your President also breaks the law !

Well now that St. Paul Sue Ek has been shot down by Minnesota Supreme Court in her bid for office in St. Cloud, enter a new GOP candidate... Kay EK ...Mother to Sue. Wonder if Sue got her values from mom? Ron Carey, MN GOP State Chair: On Monday, Republican endorsed candidate Sue Ek was removed from the ballot by decision of the Minnesota Supreme Court. While we were disappointed with the decision and the DFL's partisan game-playing, we have moved quickly to ensure the voters of St. Cloud have a choice in the special election on December 27. Republican Party activists in House District 15B and the Republican Party of Minnesota Executive Committee endorsed a replacement candidate and will run a write-in campaign for Kay Ek while also seeking to have her name placed on the ballot. Guess Ron doesn't understand why someone who misrepresentated where they live should be removed from the ballot...perhaps he along with Sue need to go back to ethics 101! Here's the no spin trut...

From DownwithTyranny ...Isaac (a local MN writer) writes a 'What and Why' Re: St. Paul Mayor Randy Kelly losing 69 to 31%. It was an interesting read. Instead, he insisted that a stupid thing he did was the right thing, and in the face of evidence to the contrary, he refused to back down or admit it had been a mistake. In the end, Randy Kelly came across as a surrogate of the Bush administration, and that was a dumb association to hold onto in a solidly Democratic city. I wouldn't worry about ol' Randy though: It wouldn't surprise me to find out he has a cushy future ready and waiting in the Republican Party.

Had enough? Vote Democratic! December 18, 2005: Breaking News from ABCNEWS.com: Bush Claims U.S. Forces Are On The "Road To Victory" May 1, 2003: White House Admits 'Mission Accomplished' Banner Bush incorrectly disavows 'Mission Accomplished' banner Bush Disavows Mission Accomplished Banner White House Clarifies 'Mission Accomplished' Banner

Why do they want to trademark anything red and green?... Aha, now I get it! Merry Holiday-) Kudos to Jesus' General .

Coleen Rowley will be adding a manager shortly in her bid for office. The short list has several excellent picks but look for a ex-minnesotan now working in California who has DCCC connections. A decision and announcement by the first of the year. Teresa Daly (who ran against Kline last election and lost by 16%) will be running for Burnsville City Council. I like Teresa but she had a hard time defining herself on national issues that differ enough from Kline's stance and also resonated with the second CD voters. I look for her to continue fundraising for DFL candidates. Teresa has shown herself to be of real value and I hope the DFL is paying attention to that fact! Sharon Marko (Rep in 57) will be deciding if she's running for congress in the next few weeks. Because Sharon is politically savvy, I predict she'll stay out of it for the following reasons... Marko will have a hard time explaining her support of Randy Kelly who got soundly defeated by the voters of St. Paul. H...

Checks and Balances attended GOP St. Cloud candidate Sue Ek's hearing...He's reporting that based on the evidence and the testimony... St. Paul Ek 0 Rick Studer 1 Game over!

Shelley Madore , DFL Candidate for State Representative in MN 37A which covers western Apple Valley and the southeastern corner of Burnsville, posted this up on her website . For what it's worth, Rep. Fran Bradley did do one good thing (and probably only one!), he got Shelley Madore to run for office. According to the Star Tribune today, Rep. Fran Bradley, who won his last election by only 311 votes against DFLer Kim Norton, will not seek reelection in 2006. In the article by Dane Smith, Bradley says that "DFLers are making inroads in the Rochester area, once considered solid GOP territory." As chairperson of the Health and Human Services committee, he was a major player responsible for the 2002 state budget cuts that have hurt so many families, especially those with children with disabilities. One of his most famous remarks, one that prompted me to get back into politics, was regarding state supplemental insurance program payments. Raising TEFRA fees was a primary object...

Does the MN GOP have no honest members left willing to run for office? It seems both Republican candidates for St. Cloud's Special Election, upcoming on December 27, find themselves with legal problems. Sue Ek is being challenged (with plenty of good solid evidence ) that appears to show she 'mis-stated' her residency in order to run for office. And now it looks like Minnesota State Senate candidate Dan Ochsner (R) has broken campaign law by 'doctoring' literature . “The watchdog group raises some serious campaign violation issues,” DFL Associate Chair Donna Cassutt said. “We believe that this is an issue that deserves further investigation and look forward to Ochsner answering these charges.” MN GOP Chair Carey needs to do some recruiting among the faithful for some honest, ethical and law abiding republicans...It won't be easy. My advice: Be sure to screen and do a background check.

I've been married forever (30+ yrs). During that time I lived in states that recognize gay marriages and states that don't. But never was my own marriage endangered by gay marriages. Not once! In fact, I'd like to see one that was? Yes marriages have a tough time (there's a reason why so many fail) but I willing to bet it isn't because Paul married John. If an elected official or candidate feels that the 'sanctity of marriage is in jeopardy' 'endangered' or 'threatened', or it's 'integrity' is at risk... then start by removing the issues that cause divorces. I believe the economy would be high on the list followed by lack of services to young working families such as affordable day care and adequate education and transportation. Those are the real threats to marriages. Don't want a gay marriage? Don't have one. Remember separation of church and government? Let churches decide, but governments should treat all the same and ...

Bell posed the question of why, in a time of war, isn't President Bu$h having his picture taken and giving the funds to veterans, rather than funding someone else's campaign. "This is the first war since the Civil War where regular people are holding bakes sales and garage sales to buy the body armor and tools our military needs." I feel compelled to point out the obvious, Bu$h doesn't care. Never has, never will. That's why I see 30 percent in his future along with several indictments.

I'm sick and tired of hearing things from uptight, short-sighted, narrow-minded hypocritics All I want is the truth Just gimme some truth October 9, 1940 - December 8, 1980 Imagine.... Happy Xmas (War is Over) John Lennon, Yoko Ono (Happy Xmas Kyoko Happy Xmas Julian) So this is Xmas And what have you done Another year over And a new one just begun And so this is Xmas I hope you have fun The near and the dear one The old and the young A very Merry Xmas And a happy New Year Let's hope it's a good one Without any fear And so this is Xmas For weak and for strong For rich and the poor ones The world is so wrong And so happy Xmas For black and for white For yellow and red ones Let's stop all the fight A very Merry Xmas And a happy New Year Let's hope it's a good one Without any fear And so this is Xmas And what have we done Another year over A new one just begun And so happy Xmas We hope you have fun The near and the dear one The old and the young A very Merry Xmas A...

The Minnesota Supreme Court prepares next week to decide whether one of the candidates, Sue Ek, should be removed from the ballot. Attorney Alan Weinblatt filed a lawsuit Friday on behalf of St. Cloud resident , DFL volunteer and Progressive Caucus Chair Rick Studer. The suit maintains that Sue Ek's name is wrongfully included on the ballot as a candidate for House seat in 15B as Ms. Ek doesn't meet the residency requirements. According to Lloydletta's Nooz and Comments ,the lawsuit has several pieces of information that list her home address in St. Paul. Clever Sponge has a screen shot from a cache file showing Ek as vice chair in District 4 as of November 2005. I like his analyst: By no means do we think this is a conspiracy, but surely the folks in the 4th Congressional District Republican group would have told the MN GOP that...well, Mrs. Ek wasn't exactly a St. Cloud resident. Stupidity is much more fun than conspiracy. This is fairly open and shut...The fat lady i...

Eugene McCarthy's political career was launched using the mimeograph machine at the College of St. Thomas in Saint Paul MN, where he was a professor of economics and sociology. He won what most said was an unwinnable race, and was elected to the House of Rep. in 1949. He was the first member of Congress willing to stand up and debate the anti-Communist Irish bully, Joe McCarthy. Through the years, he took on many bullies not the least of which was the vietnam war. He was quiet, thoughtful, and purposeful, speaking out with heart on causes like healthcare and welfare. America is far better today because Eugene McCarthy took his ideas to the people in open debate, campaigning and speaking. To paraphrase his famous 1960 nominating speech of Adlai Stevenson, McCarthy was a favorite son not of any state, but of many states of mind; not of any one short-term campaign, but of the longterm campaign for rationality, responsiveness, and dedication by government to raise the living standards ...

In the 60's and 70's, anything Richard Pryor did seemed to support an irreverence that poked itself in the eyes of the establishment... Especially Nixon and bible thumpers. He was willing to laugh at what he was and how others framed him. For weeks after he released a new routine, everyone would mimic it. His art both provoking and entertaining but often edgy just beyond acceptable...Still, Richard had a little boy's charm that made us forget what went before. Yes I know he was self destructive, hot tempered, a brawler, homemaker, drug, boozer...All of which made him and his comedy more shocking, more tragic, more real. Richard just recently (Oct) got the Mark Twain Prize. He had trouble and others present had to accept and talk for him, but he knew and commended "It's nice to be regarded on a par with a great white man -- now that's funny!" Toward the end of "Richard Pryor: Here and Now" he does a bit about Hell. "Had so much fun they kicke...

Will America ever be completely out of Iraq? I was just watching TODAY and they were talking about the Iraq war and the administration. Chris Mathews (from Hardball) was asked about the President's upswing in the polls. Chris said that since 9/11 Bush's ratings have gone down every month. This is the first time that it has gone up. He said that it wouldn't be a trend. Here's the real interesting part - when asked what the problem was for the President. Chris said Iraq. He said that he's been in contact with numerous people from the administration and the interesting thing about all of his conversations is that no one has ever mentioned a time when we would be out of Iraq. "We will be the military presence in the middle east for ever". He followed with a question: "The question is will America ever be completely out of Iraq?" So the question for the day is: Will America ever be completely out of Iraq? Another questions: Is it the administration...

Bill O'Reilly steps up for Christmas: I am not going to let oppressive, totalitarian, anti-Christian forces in this country diminish and denigrate the holiday and the celebration. I am not going to let it happen. I'm gonna use all the power that I have on radio and television to bring horror into the world of people who are trying to do that. And we have succeeded. You know we've succeeded. They are on the run in corporations, in the media, everywhere. They are on the run, because I will put their face and their name on television, and I will talk about them on the radio if they do it. There is no reason on this earth that all of us cannot celebrate a public holiday devoted to generosity, peace, and love together. There is no reason on the earth that we can't do that. So we are going to do it. And anyone who tries to stop us from doing it is gonna face me. Adaptive version: If I don't see a little generosity, peace, and love from you assholes, I'm going ...

Tasty tidbits from the St. Cloud Time has Sue Ek living in St. Paul 12 days after the deadline to establish residency in St. Cloud. Minnesota law requires legislative candidates to establish residency in the district(15B) at least six months before the election. For this election, the deadline was June 27. However Sue Ek signed an affidavit on July 9 that reads: "I, Susanne Ek, the undersigned, certify that I reside (as a renter) in the dwelling located at 1258 Niles Avenue in St. Paul. I would like to establish a nonprofit/home office type of business at the aforementioned address. I understand and agree to comply with the conditions stipulated for home occupation. When questioned Thursday Ek said she didn't exactly mean that and it shouldn't make her ineligible as a candidate. ???!?!??!wtf...so she signs off on living there to qualify for being a home business but in fact she doesn't???? Either way she's lying then or lying now. Under Minnesota law, only if ...

I posted yestarday that while Ek is claiming to be a 'life long' resident of St. Cloud, MPR had an interview (last April) where Ek stated she lived in St. Paul. Now she's flip flopping to say 'she may have misspoken." Ms. Ek also finds breaking the law “... kind of funny …to me it's a non-issue. Home is St. Cloud.” The rest of us find it not so funny and want some answers. Ek has either broken the law regarding the residency requirements in her run for office in St. Cloud or...She broke the law by stating St. Paul is her residence and voting there. Which is it? One way or another...the law appears to have been broken. “Ms. Ek has painted herself into a corner,” said DFL Communications Director David Ruth. “She either broke laws regarding residency or, as it’s been our contention all along, she has recently been living in St. Paul breaking state law by running for office in St. Cloud. Her St. Paul neighbors are the ones who reported this to us. They say Ek ...

The Republican candidate for St Cloud representative, Sue Ek might not be a resident of St Cloud. Checks and Balances posted about this earlier. NPR last night had an old interview from last year with Ms. Ek where she claimed to live in St. Paul but now she says she's always lived in St. Cloud...perhaps there's two of her. Off CD2 listserver: Page 16 of the MN Election Judge guide, "People can only vote in the precinct where they live......If someone lives in more than one place, he or she must decide which place is his or her principal residence for voting"..."A person can have only one residence"..... On page 17, Voter Registration Application, number 15: "Be sure to tell voters to read the oath on the card and sign it only if all parts apply to them. By signing, they affirm that all the statements on the card are true and correct and that they meet the requirements.... Giving false information to register to vote is a felony punishable by up to 5...

If you haven't already, please take a moment and vote for CD2 MN candidate Coleen Rowley as Senator Russ Feingold's "Pick a Progressive Patriot" The results so far (Dec 6, 945PM) have Coleen tied for first place. Tell your friends! Whichever candidate has the most votes at midnight on December 14th will be awarded a $5000 contribution from the Progressive Patriots Fund. Click to vote.

In a newly released unscientific survey where mnpACT! collected data from those most likely to be delegates in CD2 (loosely based on how they answered),,, This was an invitation survey to 3 activist groups: (1) mnpACT core group (2) CD2 Listserv (3) MN Progressive caucus Listserv We opened this survey for 24 hours on November 26th and received 143 responses. The results are here but it appears that CD2 likes Coleen Rowley and think a lot of Amy Klobuchar. The other candidate matchups were closer but still showed some interesting results.

Senator Feingold's leadership PAC, the Progressive Patriots Fund, is conducting an online voting event from December 5 through December 14. The candidate receiving the most votes wins a $5,000 contribution. Coleen Rowley is one of 11 candidates identified in the Senator's Feingold's group. Please help her win by casting a vote at here ! Money is one of the ways we can elect our own...so go vote Coleen Rowley! !

"Rarely do we do activism here at The Agonist . In 2006 we may adopt 1 or 2 candidates, tops. Coleen Rowley will be one of them so I ought to explain why. Anyone who stood up to the President, John Ashcroft and the Director of the FBI for reasons of pure, unadulturated patriotism, deserves my support and yours. Coleen is not a politician . She doesn't talk like one, she doesn't act like one but, there is no question in my mind that if she is elected (and she'll probably be running against a Tom DeLay crony, from Texas to boot!) she will become the conscience of the Congress. We need that. So, if you have a few shekels, will you please toss them her way. Her campaign is a worthy cause so please donate HERE. This won't be the last pitch on her behalf you hear from me but I promise you I will keep them to a minimum. Sometimes we have to support those who exemplify our ideals. And Coleen does that, she's Agonist approved." In case you couldn't tell, Cole...

Pioneer Press Reporter Rachel E. Stassen-Berger gets an ‘F’ minus for her story on congressional candidate Coleen Rowley (D-MN-CD2). Rachel quotes in her recent article on Coleen Rowley “Her fundraising has been disappointing, some say.” Hmmmmmmm… the number one DFL congressional fundraiser in Minnesota during the last reporting cycle and sixth nation wide…give me a break…if that’s disappointing what qualifies in ‘some’s’ book? And just what other DFL candidate want2b in CD2 will be able to even match that, let alone exceed it? Rachel stated "Daly lost by sixteen votes" ...hmmmmm.. 16 votes plus another 158,000+++ votes. It’s about as close to the truth as anything else she writes in her article. When did reporters go from reporting facts to innuendo, gossip, and unsubstantiated ‘comments’ based on unnamed sources like ‘some’, ‘some analyst’, ‘and my personal favorite ‘money watchers’ . Shouldn’t they ask for at least the resemblance of unbiased, fair and truthful report...

"Nobody likes me, Everybody hates me, I'm gonna to eat some worms!" Hey what's not to like about Madam Mary Kiffmeyer (R), Minnesota's Secretary of State? Just because... She won't do anything unless forced by law , She can’t interact with others fairly , Likes scaring Minnesota voters by exploiting terror fears , Well, I could go on but why when City Pages says it all: Ten Million Kiffmeyer Critics Can’t Be Wrong

Wilkerson said that Cheney must have sincerely believed that Iraq could be a spawning ground for new terror assaults, because "otherwise I have to declare him a moron, an idiot or a nefarious bastard." I'd go with letter D. - all of the above Interesting story - who's really running the country? "Ex-Powell aide: Bush 'too aloof'"

''It was an epiphany.'' exclaimed Rumsfeld while smirking like a chimp. Meaning: A comprehension or perception of reality by means of a sudden intuitive realization. Rumsfeld is so close…and in a small way he’s half right, almost right, well he's extremely too 'right' (if you know what I mean). 'They can’t be called insurgents' because they are part of the legitimate Iraqi government ! So in 7 years, Rumsfeld has come to being half wrong! That's not really considered an epiphany...but given how dense he is…I expect it will come on judgement day while on his way to hell .

In their Cheers & Jeers article in Saturday's edition of the Faribault Daily News - they Jeer Tim Pawlenty. Here's what they said (taken from the Faribault Daily News, November 26, 2005 edition): "Jeers to Gov. Tim Pawlenty and his administration for taking no responsibility for rising property taxes around the state. The state Department of Revenue reported that property taxes will jump an average of 10.2 percent next year thanks to school levies and hikes in city and county taxes. It's true local governments set property taxes, but many local governments are increasing taxes to offset burdens passed down from the state in one way or another. Taxes are the result of many factors, including decisions made by state leaders, and the Pawlenty administration cannot absolve itself of all responsibility like they are trying to do." Can you say trickle down taxation? Ironically, on the same page was a letter to the editor from our State Auditor - Pat Anderson talking...

If Republicans love Democracy so much, why are they limiting voter participation? Below is from Senate Majority Leader Dean E. Johnson November 22, 2005 The Governor who stole Christmas Senate Majority Leader questions special election decision Senate Majority Leader Dean E. Johnson questioned Gov. Tim Pawlenty's decision to call a special election on Dec. 27- two days after Christmas. Pawlenty issued the order to fill the vacancies of Dave Kleis in the Senate and Joe Opatz in the House of Representatives. "It's clear from the governor's actions that his highest priority when considering special elections is low voter turnout. It is difficult to understand someone who claims they believe in democracy and then makes decisions that ensure the fewest number of people participate in the process," Sen. Johnson said. The 2006 Legislative Session convenes March 1. Thus, the governor could have chosen any date before mid-February which would have not coincided with the...

"Congress helped itself to a $3,100 pay raise on Friday, then postponed decisions on bills to curb spending on social programs and reduce taxes in favor of a two-week vacation." - Star Tribune, Saturday, November 19, 2005 So let me get this straight... Congressmen Mark Kennedy, Gutknecht and John Kline voted to cut funds that help the poor and children - in Mark Kennedy's words "It’s never easy to restrain the growth of spending, even modestly." Well, no I guess not - I wish I could give myself a raise. Maybe the Congress and Senate should put a freeze on all of their pay raises until the war in Iraq is over! If they want to support this war they should lead by example by putting their pay raises towards paying down the deficit, that has been created in large part by the war. That would be fair! Wouldn't it?

Pressured by best friend George W. Bu$h, Congressman Mark Kennedy votes against the poor, and students! In a tie breaking vote on Friday, Congressman Kennedy voted to cut $14 billion to student loan programs and voted to cut $12 billion in Medicaid funding (Medicaid is the health care program for the poor and disabled). What does Mark have to say? “Washington shouldn’t have a blank check, and as a CPA and businessman I’m happy to see us act to reduce our federal deficit. This bill reduces spending in a way that reflects our Minnesota values and sets priorities. We owe it to our children to lower the deficit." (from Mark Kennedy's campaign website ) So we can give the President a blank check for an unwarranted war? And instead of rolling back the tax breaks to the richest Americans, we'll reduce the deficit on the backs of the poor and our children??? THOSE MOST CERTAINLY ARE NOT MINNESOTA VALUES!!! They sound more like the Bu$h Republican's (DeLay, Bush, Cheney, Fris...

It's that time of year again! The annual staging with completely new scripting of the 'Fake Turkey Photo Op' in Iraq Day! Will we see a repeat of the ‘fake turkey’ in Iraq? Will it be the same shallow plastic unreal turkey ? Will there be new turkeys also attending? My advise, not that anyone asked, is this: Bu$h, Kennedy and Kline have been basted enough... Stick a fork in ‘em… they’re done George

Let's see.... The illegal war in Iraq, torture, using banned weapons, lies, corruption, cronyism, no-bid contracts, the deficit and borrowing more foreign money than the previous 42 presidents combined, secret prison camps, chemical warfare, conspiracy with big oil to deceive congress, fake intelligence, obstruction of an investigation into pre-war intelligence, media manipulation, chief of staff indicted for covering up his role in outing a CIA operative for political revenge, secret energy meetings with big corporations.... Yeah so what was it Cheney said about Democrats and war critics? Oh yeah... we're "dishonest," "reprehensible," "irresponsible" "opportunists". Umph, yep it's official, Cheney lies.

Either ex CIA Director or Bush Administration VP Cheney is lying ... "I am embarrassed that the USA has a vice president for torture. I think it is just reprehensible. He (Mr Cheney) advocates torture, what else is it? I just don't understand how a man in that position can take such a stance." click here to see who! **warning** picture in browser may be closer to an indictment than it looks.

Quick Quiz: So why wouldn't John Kline join with 87 other members of Congress in signing a petition asking North West Airlines to put a stop to outsourcing thousands of jobs? Answer: John Kline who is on a first name bases with NWA CEO has taken $2500 from Northwest Airlines this cycle alone. more at Dump John Kline Blog

Ah...Obama, I love it when you talk liberal to me! "I know there are Democrats who don't want to give up spending, Republicans who don't want to give up any tax breaks for the wealthy and members of both parties who don't want to give up pet projects back home, but now is a time for shared sacrifice. Americans want members of both parties to put all options on the table to start solving this problem. I believe that we can quickly find $100 billion for Gulf Coast reconstruction with a balanced approach that finds half the money in spending cuts and half the money in the delay and repeal of tax breaks, primarily for millionaires. To cut $50 billion in spending, we could put a two-year moratorium on all pet projects and other local spending. We could defer projects such as the $10 billion mission to Mars or eliminate unnecessary business subsidies. We could drop funding that gives private companies extra incentives to participate in the new Medicare drug program--as the S...

President Bush defended his policy regarding American held prisoners this week by stating ""We do not torture". Again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again .... he lies.

Bush is coming . Do I buy the eggs now or wait? Ahhhhhhh, guess I better get them now... Imagine the run on eggs as we get closer to his royal ass appearing in Minneapolis. Local egg vendors could really make a killing by raising their prices. On second thought, given recent polls , they probably will give the eggs out! It's exciting to have the Bush come to Minneapolis to show that his lack of ethics extends to Mark Kennedy et al.

Veterans Day Outrage: Conservatives End 55-Year-Old Practice of Hearings for Vet Groups From Think Progress: "On Tuesday - three days before Veterans Day - House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Steve Buyer (R-IN) announced that for the first time in at least 55 years, 'veterans service organizations will no longer have the opportunity to present testimony before a joint hearing of the House and Senate Veterans' Affairs Committees.' " more

A Veteran Speaks to President Bush on Veterans Day Bob Geiger writes: "President Bush, As our nation celebrates the contributions and sacrifices of America's Veterans today, I thought I would take the time to let you know how one Veteran feels about your commitment to our military and your true level of patriotism. After all, the Republican party smears anyone they oppose by questioning their support of the troops and their national loyalty so that's all fair game, right?" more

This fall, when we set our clocks back an hour, Kansas got confused and kept going back...into the dark ages. It's understandable, afterlife they're not real good with scientific facts. What did Dorothy say when her government grade school taught her that marriage and the family were outdated social constructs of privilege that Jesus had two mommies? "Well Toto, it looks like we're not in Kansas anymore!" What is happening in Kansas? For starts, science has been undermined by the narrow view of the religious right. Proponents of ID (intelligent design) believe and want taught a version of creationism but without it having any bases in facts or having it proven in scientific terms. Like all religion, 'ID' is based in faith. Supporters say 'you must believe because...Well, because! Or else!' And framing is everything, down to even the naming...ID? Intelligent? It should be called My God is better than your Science . Naturally if you don't believe...

story here On Friday, November 11, Americans will observe Veteran's Day. This is a day set aside to honor our war veterans. I cannot think of a more worthy purpose for a holiday. Now let me guess: this Veteran's Day, George W. Bush will strut his way into a specially choreographed photo opportunity and smirk and say some carefully crafted yet predictable and hollow-sounding words about how the American people appreciate the sacrifices that our veterans have made in the noble quest to defend freedom and democracy. And he will be right. We the people do appreciate the sacrifices that our veterans have made. After all, our brave veterans made those sacrifices while Dubya's congressman dad pulled enough strings to get his boy out of harm's way and into the elite Texas Air National Guard to avoid Vietnam. Our brave veterans made those sacrifices while Dick Cheney arranged for five separate deferrals because he had "other priorities." Our brave veterans made those s...

Veterans account for nearly one-third of all homeless men in America, even though the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs says they comprise only 13 percent of adult males in the general population. Veterans are twice as likely as other people to be chronically homeless... One in five of those who live at or below the poverty line are veterans or widows of veterans. In addition to the complex set of factors affecting all homelessness … extreme shortage of affordable housing, livable income, and access to health care … a large number of displaced and at-risk veterans live with lingering effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and substance abuse, compounded by a lack of family and social support networks. Minnesota FACT : 42 funded beds for 1,961 homeless Minnesotan Veterans! What can you do? Determine the need in your community. Visit with homeless veteran providers. Contact your local mayor’s office for a list of providers. Involve others. If you are not already part of an organizat...

Thirty-two months and 2,000+ American deaths into Bu$h's illegal and immoral war -- is possibly the first published image of a U.S. military fatality to appear in the MSM. Has the NY Times published the first picture of a dead US soldier in Iraq of any corporate media outlet? Is anyone paying attention? This just isn't right.

In Brief: Lonsdale Mayor Re-elected. One City Council Member Re-elected. New City Council Member elected. Here's how the numbers break down: In the Mayor's Race Tim Rud won re-election with 477 votes against mayorial candidate Roz Carson who received 123 votes. Blaine Smith recieved the most votes in the City Council race with 306 votes and in second was Fritz Duban with 238 votes. *** It is apparent that a majority of those who voted are concerned over public safety with electing Blaine Smith. Smith ran on his experience as a current Rice County Deputy Sheriff and his wealth of Law Enforcement knowledge. From Smith's flyer: "As this town continues to grow, I for one want to know that we can depend on Lonsdale to keep our kids, homes, schools and streets safe... At election time, vote for me to be your voice on quality of life and public safety concerns." ***

There's just not end to their arrogance and abuse of power. Ask yourself, if the roles were reverse, how would you be treated... from Raw Story : Due to a problem with Electronic Voting Machines in Los Angeles County, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger was told he had already voted when he showed up at the polls today to cast his ballot in the Special Election that he himself declared for California today! He was told he'd have to use a provisional ballot, but unlike most American voters, he was eventually allowed to use a regular ballot anyway. Los Angeles County Registrar, Conny McCormack (a huge fan of Diebold machines, and a very good friend of their sales rep here in Southern California) is trying to mitigate the damage...big time...Though she admits that someone "breached protocol in advance of the election" It should be further noted, that the Governator was attempting to vote in Sacramento! Not in Los Angeles County! So the "breach" which would have kept a n...

There's a posting at Daily Kos on Coleen Rowley (CD2 Congressional Candidate), saying Coleen is the 'Real' thing . Maureen Dowd did an OpEd , in the NY Times. She was relating women she thought were heros. On the list was Minnesotan Coleen Rowley . Coleen risked a twenty year career at the FBI to do what she thought was ethically correct. She was in Time as 'Women of the Year' for 2002. And not satisfied to leave it at that, Ms. Rowley running as a Democrat for congressional office in Minnesota's second district. She's going up against GOP John Kline who has sullied his name by voting straight bush/delay agenda. Judging from all the GOP party hacks that have lined up to take a shot at Coleen in recent weeks, they must be worried she'll win! Even the ever poisenous Ann Coulter has chimed in and taken a swipe at Rowley for being 'too right' (there's just no winning with these folks!)....fortunately for those of us in the second district, Cole...

I, as most of the world, watched in horror as Katrina hit the Gulf Coast. What was uncovered was something worse than the storm. It was the conditions that most of the victims of Katrina were in... the conditions before the storm. Those mostly affected by Katrina's wrath were the poor. Those living in poverty, right here in the United States of America. I was glued to the television reports on Katrina. I could not believe what I was seeing. I became mad at various people and then latter in that week rage set in. Outrage and anger combined in me. I don't ever remember being so outraged and angered in my entire life. The thing was, I didn't know what I was angrier about - that there were so many people living here in America - the richest country in the world, who were poor and forgotten or that our government failed these individuals on so many levels. Outrage and anger can destroy you, or if you use them in your efforts to create change - they can end up helping people. I h...

Michael Brown quit as Federal Emergency Management chief, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina - he should have been FIRED!!! There's something deeply and morally wrong with this picture. In a recent story on CNN.com, e-mails that Brown made during Katrina have been made public. Brown's lack of leadership and lack of a moral compass have been exposed through his e-mails. In one e-mail he asks 'Can I quit now?' - Don't believe it? Here's the article: 'Can I quit now?' FEMA chief wrote as Katrina raged I don't know what is worst: 1. Brown's lack of leadership 2. Brown's e-mails 3. President Bush's lack of Leadership (Why he didn't react faster to Katrina? Why he didn't fire Brown?) - or - 4. That Brown is still being paid by the American people!!! To me, it all equals a morally deficient administration. Take action NOW - write your Senator, and Congress Person! Let them know that it is not OK for us to be paying a person who has failed...

"Simply put, we want to bring out the wackos to vote against something and make sure the rest of the public lets the whole thing slip past them." DeLay aide Mike Scanlon, in a memo read aloud at the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. SOBs...every damn one of 'em. Did you get that folks? They don't care about you. Even if they count on you, THEY DON'T CARE!!! They really don't care. Hat tip to VirginiaDem at Kos.

...A 'Moral Disaster of Monumental Proportion Reconciliation Act' Just two days after Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) forced a closed session to highlight an alleged lack of progress into a probe of pre-Iraq war intelligence, Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) staged another act of political disobedience today. Lautenberg filed an amendment to change the official name of the " Deficit Reduction Omnibus Reconciliation Act 2005" to the "Moral Disaster of Monumental Proportion Reconciliation Act." (Click for PDF screenshot ) "Let's call this bill what it is -- a moral disaster," explained Lautenberg. "This bill would close the door of opportunity and cut critical services to the poor, elderly, sick and hungry. This bill... Medicaid is cut by $9.5 billion over the next five years, $7.4 billion of which will fall directly on low-income Americans in the form of increased co-payments and premiums, so-called "flexibility" that w...