Rambling from the North

Finally we have a conviction! Representative Cunningham of California has resigned from the House, as well as having been convicted for accepting bribes.

SAN DIEGO, California (AP) -- Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy and tax charges and tearfully resigned from office, admitting he took $2.4 million in bribes to steer defense contracts to conspirators.

Cunningham, an eight-term Republican congressman, had already announced in July that he would not seek re-election next year.
House Ethics rules say that any lawmaker convicted of a felony no longer should vote or participate in committee work. Under Republican caucus rules, Cunningham also would have lost his chairmanship of the House Intelligence subcommittee on terrorism and human intelligence.

You know, there are safeguards in our system to prvent this, its just such a shame that it keeps happening anyways.. All this does is reinforce the sterotype that republicans are liars and cheaters... oh wait. Thats a sterotype?

The 2nd CD DFL has put out a poster about the special elections, boy is it true.

In case you don't know, the special elections are scheduled for December 27th. If there isn't a way to do all you can to stop voter participation, its pull a stunt like this--lets analyze this shall we?

First--People will be out of town, its the holidays, c'mon! People go to grandma's house, they don't go voting. Do you want people to not go see grandma Tim? I think he's just Anti-family.

Second-People are just damned busy around the holidays, attending parties, events, get-to-gethers, and seeing people they don't normally see during the year. This proves Pawlenty is anti-friends!

Third-College students are home. The biggest spot is going to be a Saint Cloud State for voting. Their representative is up for election, oh, but they will all be home without enough time now to register for an absentee ballot. This isn't even a masked ploy but an all out declaration of war aganst college students! Pawelenty is anti-student!

So to sum up, Pawlenty is anti-friends, anti-family, and anti-student--is this man pro anything besides partisanship? why doesn't he just establish a poll tax too while he's at it?

"You're a monster, Mr. Grinch.
Your heart's an empty hole.
Your brain is full of spiders,
You've got garlic in your soul.
Mr. Grinch."

Republican Blogger Minnesota Democrats Exposed has been sued by Inside Minnesota Politics.

The law suit is rediculous--No monetary damages have been proved by IMP and even to top that off- I think its about time we start establishing a SLAPP precedent.

For those of you who don't know, SLAPP means Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation- They are used to intimidate people into stop speaking on a specific subject. You seem celebrities using them all the time to silence people who are insulting them publicly. The recent south park on it was just beautiful.

While I don't support a word MDE has ever said, I support his right to say it. In that I have provided teh link up top and ask you to donate to his defense fund or at least write a letter to Inside Minnesota Politics and ask them to drop this silliness.

I stand in solidarity with my fellow bloggers in the support of MDE.

Senate District 43 (MInnetonka-Plymouth)

Precincts Reporting: 90.63% (29 of 32)
Democratic-Farmer-Labor TERRI BONOFF - 55.16%
Republican JUDY JOHNSON - 44.79%

Bout Damn time! we're winning the suburbs! Go DFL!

A friend of mine that works in the Senate called me today to inform me that Senator Josef Biden (D-DE) has been meeting with the top senate brass a lot lately- he also told me the word always on Senator Biden's lips these past few days has been fillibuster.

For those of you who live in a cave- a filibuster is a tactical manuever, usually used by a minority member where that member or a team of members continues to speak indefinately or until they yield the floor, or cloture is invoked.

What this means is that they are finally getting serious with this nomination. Up until now it had been assumed he would pass. He has the judicial record, he's not as extremist as others, though Scalito is pretty extreme, it could be worse, like Rush Limbaugh or Pat Robertson.

I don't think they'll do it but I'll keep getting updates from my friend, and posting them here, until its over.

So, I'm going to rant.

I haven't done this often on this blog, I've tried to keep my personal feelings and such hidden except for analysis and opinions on political candidates- but now I need to rant on something different.

I am so sick of hearing from democrats that bush is evil. Whenever I run into a "lay democrat" one who isn't immersed or working in the political scene, all I hear whenever i strike up a conversation with these people is how evil bush is.

Now don't get me wrong- I disagree with pretty much all of his policies, actions, and beliefs-- but i just don't care to hear that he is evil from these people anymore.

Friend's parents, random people, and other aquaintances of mine, know how politically involved I am-always seem to feel they need to re-inform me of just how evil bush is. Well I'll be damned- bush is evil, thanks for the news flash. I wish I could just have a normal conversation with these people once without hearing that phrase.

I do have other interests! I swear it! Beyond that there are just better ways to talk about policy and politics then saying bush is evil-- and then going through his deeds and telling me that this means he's equal.

Seriously people, at least find a new phrase.

Today Becky Lourey made her campaign kick off announcment.

Becky has always impressed me, especially with the strength she's shown since she lost her son. However, i think she is too left for Minnesota. She has good strong traits, but she is definately not the center candidate. She has consistently stood up and fought, but I just don't think this is the right election for her. But maybe I'll change my tune next time I hear her speak. Heres her speech.

Becky Lourey, DFL state senator from Kerrick, announced Tuesday she is a candidate for Governor of Minnesota in 2006. The campaign kick off came in Bruno where her family business, Nemadji Research Corp., develops specialized software. Due to forecasted weather conditions, a State Capitol news conference in St. Paul was scheduled later in the day.
“We know Minnesota can do better, and I feel strongly that it is my duty to work with all the citizens of this state to make Minnesota more competitive again.” Lourey said. She offered a vision for a Minnesota where every family has a living wage job in safe community, with excellent education -- not only in K-12 schools -- but early childhood and affordable post-secondary options, as well as quality, affordable health care for all.
Lourey outlined sharply contrasting public policy views and style differences with incumbent Tim Pawlenty. “ As Governor, I will bring Minnesota back to a high rank in education investments, not 46th in the nation,”
Lourey said. “Our nationally admired state partnership with local government is dissolving, replaced by crumbling streets and sky-high property taxes. Our Governor’s idea of shared sacrifice is a pledge to cut taxes for his wealthiest friends while the rest of us are paying higher taxes and so-called fees.”

As a small business owner and 15-year lawmaker specializing in health care policy, Lourey said, as Governor, she will seek more efficient health care delivery with the goal of universal coverage.“I know the struggles facing so many employers due to skyrocketing health carecosts. For so many small businesses around this state, offering good health care to workers is an impossible task because the costs are rising so fast, and so far the state has failed to respond to the problem,” Lourey said. "Our small businesses are looking for state leadership as the affordability of health are coverage keeps slipping away.”Lourey stressed that making smart investments ultimately pays off in a competitive, prosperous economy for Minnesota. “We are falling short on our goals for a 21st century competitive economy in Minnesota and our workforce is not fully prepared to compete effectively,” Lourey said. “To compete globally, we must make smarter investments in a failing infrastructure, encourage technological innovation and open up higher education opportunities.” Touting her energy and enthusiasm, Lourey said she expects to run a strong grassroots campaign based on policy differences. “A sharp contrast between the candidates will help voters recognize that Minnesotans simply will not accept more of the same bankrupt policies coming out of Washington and St. Paul.” Lourey is a Gold Star mother who in May lost her son, Matthew, while he was piloting a U.S. Army helicopter on mission in Iraq. “We all know that our Minnesota Guard was always intended primarily for in-state activities, but that is no longer the case,” Lourey said. In my administration, we will work to bring our state Guard home to their families and communities where they belong.”
Use this link http://www.beckylourey.org/images/AnnouncementSpeech.pdf for
a copy of her full speech

She makes some good points- I especially like her comments about state and local government. There was a major break down between partnerships and funding these last 8 years, its about time we get back to local governance.

Never before has veteran's day held so much meaning for me. Many of my close friends have just returned from their first or second tours in Iraq, we still have many troops fighting over seas, and as I read more personal accounts of soldiers from one of my class, I am coming to understand the importance of honoring our troops.

Democrat or Republican we should all extend our thanks to the men and women who stood up and fought for our country, whether by volunteer or draft, good war or bad, we need these soldiers, and I'm glad so many of my friends have, dispite numerous requests to no join from me, joined and fought for their country.

A DFL press release provides some good words for our veterans from DFL Party Chairman Brian Melendez--

“We Americans owe our freedom to the men and women who have bravely served our nation in uniform. The Bible reminds us that ‘no one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.’ [John 15:13] On this Veterans Day, let us remember and honor our courageous fellow citizens who have laid their lives on the line so that we can all enjoy the blessings of liberty.”

These are good kind words- Today I end with a poem, probably the first and last time I will ever do this in my blog- but it is actually an important day with a lot on my mind...

Today is election day, as I have already stated- a day about equality, fairness, and opportunity for all. Unfortunetly, not everyone is given these three traits. I recieved this today--

I began this campaign as an ordinary citizen to run for US Congress to speak up for the interests of everyday people. Unfortunately, we have not generated enough contributions and support to continue. I now formally withdraw from the 6th District Congressional race. These 2006 elections are critical for Democrats to take every possible seat in order to regain control of one, or both houses of Congress to force Republicans to begin to deal honestly with the American people. I feel I can best help the Democratic Party by stepping aside now. In the coming weeks and months, I will be contemplating how I can best help effect political change in our state and nation. I wish to thank all those who have helped and contributed to my campaign. One of the best things that has come out of this is all the wonderful friends I have gained throughout the campaign, and that alone has made it worth it.
Sincerely,

Scott Mortensen

This saddens me, not because I supported or even knew who Scott mortensen was other then having met him once or twice, but because I know he was basically pushed out. The 6th Congressional district had already picked El Tinklenberg to be their candidate, the DCCC had already endorsed and worked for El... all over 8 months before the election, effectively shutting out his would be opponent. The democrats may be the inclusive party- but they sure seem to be employing more and more republican tactics, that make this blogger sad.

# posted by Northern Debater @ 7:21 PM 0 Comments