Truth Surfer

Why Does Governor Pawlenty Support This Guy? When McCain was asked to comment on missing six consecutive weeks worth of votes: McCain deadpanned: ‘Oh my god, is that right? … It’s a nice day, the weather’s nice.’ Say, didn't Pawlenty support Bush also? Timmy has some serious flaws... Be Afraid!? It’s when I read stuff like this that I can’t sleep at night and I worry about America’s future. Before Bush I might have reassured myself with the ‘it can’t happen here’ denial, but given the last 6 years, it can and could and might and would. With scarcely a mention in the mainstream media , President Bush has ordered up a plan for responding to a catastrophic attack. Under that plan, he entrusts himself with leading the entire federal government, not just the Executive Branch. And he gives himself the responsibility “for ensuring constitutional government.” The Haircut As Edwards explained in a North Carolina Town Hall meeting , the haircut was scheduled by staff, squeezed in between ...

Yesterday Tim Walz (MN -D) voted to continue funding for the war. While Walz harshly criticizes the war, his actions spoke louder by voting to continue the war's funding. He joined the ranks of other spineless Minnesotans who decided to get their dance cards punched by Bu$h's war dance: Klobuchar, Kline, Bachman, Peterson, and Ramstad. As Senator Hagel says... What do you believe? What are you willing to support? What do you think? Why were you elected? If you wanted a safe job, go sell shoes. This is a tough business. But is it any tougher, us having to take a tough vote, express ourselves and have the courage to step up on what we’re asking our young men and women to do? Pretty it up anyway you want, this vote continues a war that drains our country, kills our citizens, and continues terrorism. Those Standing Up Betty McCollum and Keith Ellison "Enough is enough," Obama, declared, adding that President Bush should not get "a blank check to continue down this sa...

Normally I wouldn't refer to Politics in Minnesota because given the whole PIM-MDE lawsuit thingy regarding Coleen Rowley (google if you must)...But...I was amused that they gave the label ‘highly-respected’ to a bank owner! When did bank owners become that? Shouldn’t those that fight for the poor, underprivileged and down trodden be highly respected…and not the money lenders or did I miss the point of that biblical teaching. Maybe David Metzen is highly respected but by whom and for what...or again, is it just the money (aka potential PIM money) that makes him respected? Should voters in the Second Congressional District just forgo elections and crown the richest baron into office? What about addressing some issues? Was any of this considered by PIM? Naturally given the recent Metzen DWI, David won't now benefit as much from the name recognition... via PIM : David Metzen The most impressive name out of the block is U of M Regent David Metzen, brother to President of the State ...

The Disconnect of Old Math Pawlenty = VETO Bush= VETO Pawlenty + Bush = VETO Effin Unbelieveable, from Polinaut this morning: A potential GOP candidate in Minnesota's 1st Congressional District says he told DFL Rep. Tim Walz about his possible plans to run against him. He was in Washington to lobby Walz on a bill. "Excuse me Congressman. I would really like your support on this project. By the way, I would also like your job." (ba da bing!) Wolf Road Kill Wolfowitz resigned yesterday. Reaction at the World Bank Headquaters : Everyone ran into the hallways and were clapping and hugging each other," New State DFL Kids The State DFL announce it’s new communications team…two hard-working and highly respected DFLers: Kelly Schwinghammer as Communications Director and John Stiles as Associate Communications Director. Congrats to both, now get to work! Two Penquins and Airport Security A priest, a rabbi, and two penquins walk into an airport bar….The bartender says, Hey ...

Pawlenty of Vetos - What Others Are Saying I overhear at the office today ‘Traffic sucks everywhere’, and ‘This is the worse I’ ve ever seen it’… It won’t get any better with MN Governor Pawlenty ’s veto of the Transportation Bill . Expect to burn up more than 5 cents a gallon by sitting in traffic jams and wear and tear from pot holes...welcome to pawlentyland and governance by veto. Still Looking to Impeach This was a comment recently posted at Truthsurfer …I thought it needs more attention and action: I urge you and your readers to take a few minutes to look at usalone .com. It's a list of the 25 most recent comments made by real Americans participating in an online poll/letter-writing campaign concerning the impeachment charges recently filed against Vice President Cheney, which are now being evaluated by the House Judiciary Committee. Comments can be sent to elected representatives and local newspapers at your option. A Fish Like Norm Coleman I was going to blog on Norm C...

Surprise, Surprise the kid who grew up reading comic books now watches Heroes on TV. Last night was the second part of the season's finale where a final battle is coming. All the players (heroes/villains) are amassing in NY to a critical point. The show has good and bad and sometimes a morally grey (aka HRG ) , kids, moms, politicians , ups, downs, twists, endings, transformations, and above all destiny…just like the comic books and real life. I identify with both Peter and Hiro in trying to save the world even when it’s apparent the world can’t be saved. But most of all I agree with Claire that the future is not written in stone…hard clay maybe... but not stone. BTW, I can't wait to see this guy on film. All hope is not lost...KABOOM!

While soldiers are fighting and dying for Iraqi freedom, our government is busy taking more of theirs away. The sites covered by the ban are the video-sharing sites YouTube , Metacafe , IFilm , StupidVideos and FileCabi ; social networking sites MySpace , BlackPlanet and Hi5; music sites Pandora, MTV, 1. fm and live365, and the photo-sharing site Photobucket . While troops will have access to the Internet , they will have to rely mainly on private accounts. Welcome to 1984.

The story of Rudy Giuliani drug trafficking OxyContin. Ouch! “Most of all, Purdue wanted Giuliani as a front man. He set up an "astroturf" lobbying group called Rx Action Alliance . Giuliani's photo still graces the Alliance's website” Of course after too many more snubs like this , Rudy will be lucky if a taxi driver pulls over when he whistles.

Today Brian Melendez, chair of the Minnesota DFL Party, asked for the immediate return of money that Senator Coleman accepted from two Alaska oil executives that pleaded guilty to bribing legislators with hundreds of thousands of dollars in phony consulting fees as well as defrauding the IRS by funneling campaign contributions through their employees. In July 2002, Coleman accepted $1,000 each from Veco’s Bill Allen and Richard Smith. I'll go one better than Brian...I call for a full audit of all of Senator Coleman's finances along with a full accounting of what he gave in return for this dirty money. Message to Coleman: Stop the selling out of Minnesota to the highest bidders!

Finally, a breath of fresh Minnesota air! Want to smoke? No problem, do it in private so those of us who are non-smokers, don't have to ! The Freedom to Breathe Act Conference Committee came to agreement on all major differences between the MN House and MN Senate versions. Here it is... Conference Committee Report (Senate File 238) a.. All indoor public places, workplaces, bars and restaurants are smoke free b.. Very limited exemptions exist for tobacco retail shops and "over the road" truck cabs c.. The bill is silent on all outdoor air and patios d.. The language is not preemptive e.. Implementation date August 1, 2007 This bill without exemptions will go back to the Senate and House for their approval. From here the Senate and House will vote on the committee report as soon as Wednesday or Thursday. Both the Senate and House must approve the conference committee report (it is not amendable), once adopted by both bodies the legislation will go to the Governor for a sig...

Minnesota Monitor’s Jeff Fecke has an interview with local Republican Senate District 51 Chair Andy Aplikowski who now is backing away from an interview saying ‘it was all a joke’. Of course, he was lying before but not now!...…no wait..it was a joke! Really? Which time? What part? There’s nothing funny - no excuse, alibi or justification for any of the racist comments made…No-one is laughing at the imus-ish humor from the Republican Senate District Chair: I am a bit worried about your boy Obama though. He used to worship that Allah, and his middle-name is Hussein. Coincidence???? Those kind of people are nuts, and the last thing we need is anotherMuslim in DC, let alone the White house. Ellison is enough. It scares me to even think about what he is sending thru CAIR to bin Laden and Iran. I bet Obama would sign a new NATO-esque agreement with Syria and Iran and attack Europe and Israel. Anyone but a Democrat I suppose would be just dandy. Unless Shrillary could shed about 50 pound...

Save the Rich! Good news Pawlenty (government by veto) and the ‘no new tax’ posse can easily move to where taxes aren’t paid because everyone is leaving! In fact more leave than die! That’s how well a ‘no taxes’ model works… Jason Lewis is whinning at the WSJ but really, if it’s sooooooo bad, why not move back to Colorado or try a 'no taxes' country. Why? The price of an congressional endorsement? I see Betty McCollum endorsed Mike Ciresi before letting the rank and file decide...but not before she accepted almost $65,000 in contributions from the law firm that Ciresi is a partner and director . Priceless. Hmm… Never too early to start the campaigning… Mark Dayton is looking ahead to 2010 in Minnesota! A Winner Not Running… Gore is pulling STRONGLY as a top candidate, and he isn't even running yet...(or IS he?) more here and here . Envision Impeachment It’s nice to know Minnesotans can still have some creative fun while we work away at the serious stuff. Oh, Oh, Obama...

Currently serving in Iraq is a National Guard Brigade of Minnesotans which by the time of their deployment back to the states (Aug. 1, 2007) will have become the longest-serving National Guard unit (22 months) in the Iraq war. Long tours are related to rising stress levels and eroding morale and mental health of those serving in Iraq. It is an excruciatingly long time to be away from one’s spouse and children and also interfers with the need for both rest and training among the troops. Studies also show that misconduct occurs more frequently as stress levels increase. But the problems don't end there...Bu$h is using our military to the point of exhaustion while compromising homeland security and safety back home in America. The State of Kansas is recovering from a series of disasters from tornadoes to flooding. There have been a dozen deaths and many are now homeless and without resources. In the past, the national guard’s personnel and equipment would be called up to assist wit...

The long dark nightmare is coming to an end ...

Seven is the number of spots on a common ladybug, the number of dwafts in Snow White, and the number of Democrats it took to end a different direction for the Iraq war... The attempt to override Bu$h's veto of the Iraq funding bill needed a two-thirds majority in each house. As expected the vote was 222 to override and 203 voting to sustain. The 7 Democrats who voted for Bush's and Cheney's war without end were: John Barrow (GA) Dan Boren (OK) Lincoln Davis (TN) Jim Marshall (GA) Jim Matheson (UT) Michael McNulty (NY) Gene Taylor (MS) Hopefully it won't be 7 more years of an endless illegal war...

Minnesotans are getting 'pawlenty of partisan politics' these days. Personally I'd much rather see my governor be a state leader instead of a simplist slogan pen collector ! The issues facing our state are servere and can't (nor should they) be brought down to a moronic slogan level. For those of you not paying attention the Republicans spent nearly five hours speaking against the tax bill, but then they offered no amendments to change it ! If that isn't partisan politics WHAT IS? Governor Pawlenty needs to take his job responsibilities to Minnesota more seriously. Gone is the rubber stamp and voter mandate for his 'do nothing for Minnesota but save the wealthy' policies! Do the wealthy really need you to save them? And next time you hear that you pay too much in taxes, ask them if they've ever been to Mexico where you pay hardly any taxes. Do you really want Minnesota to become like that? Call your representatives and tell them what you want. Let them k...

My husband watched U.S. AG Gonzales during the hearings last week. He told me that he had heard how bright Alberto was and wanted to see some fireworks but also some high level back on forth among the politicos and this smart attorney. After watching several hours, my husband was at a lost for why/how the Attorney General of the United States could be such a idiot. The reason is pretty obvious now, Alberto Gonzales was put in office precisely because he's a stupid tool of Mr. Karl Rove. Howie at Down with Tyranny has the story: Yesterday the National Journal published a must-read story by Murray Waas that lays bare the real Alberto Gonzales/Karl Rove/George Bush story. It really is horrifying. You might expect it in 1930s Germany. But in our country?As Newshoggers explains, "The reason Gonzales has come across as a know-nothing rubberstamper is because... he was a know-nothing rubberstamper. Someone(s) at the White House had decided that they were going to control all appoi...

The DFL controlled legislature have resolved to send a spending bill that is honest both in method and intent. Instead of slashing programs until they hurt Minnesota, they determined to control costs but to preserve education, human services, transportation needs, and public safety. Instead of borrow against future revenues (and paying interest), the DFL has decided to tax those wealthiest among us who haven't been paying their fair share. In exchange, Minnesotas will see a lowering in their property taxes, and the funding of needed, critical services by budgeting instead of by chance through the GOP's 'pawlenty of fees'. The bill will boost Minnesota's economy and provide for it's continued finacial health including the state reserve. I expect Pawlenty to veto it in the name of partisan politics. Business as usual for the GOP! Billboard on I94: 'Liberalism 101 - Tax, tax, tax, spend, spend, spend' Per Alan Olson in Minneapolis: 'Conservatism 101...