Rambling from the North

Tim Pawlenty has started traveling the state all at Tax payer money in order to campaign:

ST. PAUL (7/3106) – Republican candidate for governor Tim Pawlenty travels the state again today at taxpayers’ expense to announce a campaign-year health-care initiative. Minnesota DFL Chair Brian Melendez released the following statement:

“Tim Pawlenty has filed as a candidate for governor. He is making campaign stops today in five Minnesota cities, but he’s making the taxpayers foot the bill. Sometimes it’s legitimate for a sitting governor to travel the state at public cost, but a whistle-stop tour isn’t a legitimate government expense. Tim Pawlenty is making an election-year proposal that he could easily make from the governor’s office at the State Capitol – where the legislature that would have to pass any of these proposals actually meets. Instead, he’s once again gallivanting around the state for his own political benefit, and he’s sticking Minnesota taxpayers with the bill.

“This tour is not the first time Pawlenty has used official resources for campaign-style travel. His conduct is raising serious concerns that need to be addressed.”

###

The irony here is that the right wing bloggers have been touting Hatch's use of AG letterhead. Leterhead! Come on, this is way worse, where's the coverage on Pawlenty? Oh, wait, double standards continue and hypocracy reigns on the other side of the aisle.

Yes, I too was shocked when I learned there was something the two of them actually agree on. I was even more dissapointed when I learned what exactly it was that they agreed on.

DFLer Patty Wetterling and Republican Michele Bachmann, who disagree on everything from taxes to abortion to the war in Iraq, completely agree that Israel's military action in Lebanon is justified and that President Bush is right not to pressure Israel for an immediate cease-fire.

Yes, thats right. DFL Candidate Patty Wetterling thinks Israel is completely justified. This saddens me for a number of reasons. Now, let me just say, that I believe Israel does have a right to exist. But--I also think the Palestinians have a right to live. I also believe that Lebanon has a right to exist. Moreover I think there is a significant issue with one sovereign country going into another, especially on the auspice of two kidnapped troops.

What dissapoints me is that Patty should know better. She shouldn't be endorsing Any of president Bush's activities, and even more importantly she shouldn't be condoning the violence that continually rakes the middle east. Bad Patty

A vote has come down in the senate attempting to once again curtail women's rights. This time they are attacking the few rights minors still have.

With SR 403 passed, anyone who transports a minor across state lines to have an abortion is committing a crime and is eligible for up to a year in jail.

CNN reports,

The 65-34 vote gave the Senate's approval to the bill, which would make taking a pregnant girl to another state for the purposes of evading parental notification laws punishable by fines and up to a year in jail.

The girl and her parents would be exempt from prosecution, and the bill contains an exception for cases when there is a threat to the mother's life.

So, this is now attacking not just the woman, but anyone from her grandparents, her boyfriend, her brother, godparent, or even church leader. Girls no longer have confidants they can turn to, because they will now go to jail. How nice is that?

On a side note, I ask everyone to contact Senator Norm Coleman on this issue and rail at him for his yea vote on this. Our state has been one of the most pro-choice states in the union for some time, and for him to ignore his constituents in favor of the radical right agenda is ridiculous.

On a further side note I was even more shocked to see one of Lieberman's rare Democratic votes, where he voted nay. At least he's not completely a republican yet... But far too many democrats crossed the line on this one to vote with the Republicans.

These democrats are: Evan Bayh of Indiana (Saddens me, I really like him), Byrd of West Virginia (Shocker!), Carper of Delaware, Conrad of North Dakota, Dorgan of North Dakota (Why is ND always a problem?), Inouye of Hawaii, Johnson of South Dakota (again with the Dakotas!), Landrieu of Louisiana, Nelson of Florida, Nelson of Nebraska, Pryor of Arkansas, Reid of Nevada (Next year, new majority leader will be needed... do we want someone who can't toe the party line?), and Salazar of Colorado.

All of these democrats should be contacted, especially ones who are planning presidential runs like Bayh and be taken to task on votes of this kind. These senators, who should know better, especially Bayh and Reid, should be taken to task by the party. If we're going after Lieberman, we should go after these guys as well.

Sean Olson, CDM Secretary, in the background is his lovely girlfriend Daniella


This is the infamous Chris Yard, Chairman of University of Minnesota, Morris
This is CDM Treasurer Andrew Navratil looking suave after a long day of conventioning

This is DNC Chairman Howard Dean giving us the opening address

Two students just chilling, while Chris Yard jumps in between them to get in the picture.

This is the entire Minnesota Delegation happy to be together.

So-
My posting has been down this weekend because I'm at the 2006 College Democrats National Convention in St. Louis, MO.

Some big stuff has happened, but you can read some other blogs about those- let me tell you what has happened here.
We've met with several 2006 presidential hopefuls including Evan Bayh and Governor Vilsack. We recieved a personal address from Governor Howard Dean who all but endorsed Ned Lamont in CT.

We have had well put together training sessions, events, speeches, and parties. This has been a fun convention. Congratulations to the newly elected chair and vice chair- Lauren Wolfe and Awais Khaleel, who will hopefully take the college democrats organization forward.

The biggest rivalry in the state has of course proven to be Minnesota v. Wisconsin. There is no surprise there. Trading jabs back and fourth during speeches including references to women smelling like cheese, and winning best goat at 4H conventions.

All in all, this was good for a CDA Convention. I am proud of the organizing that went on and I hope in the future we can do even better, bringing even more college students to the table, and moving this coutry forward.

Filing has officially ended and the results are in- The following have filed to run as Democrats for Attorney General:

Jennifer Mattson
Lori Swanson
Patrick Kotter
Bill Luther
Steve Kelley

I have never heard of Patrick Kotter. I'm not ready to make an endorsement at this point in the game but I am leaning towards Steve Kelley. He did such an amazing job running for Governor, he's still got the man power, and could come out on top here very easily.

Bill Luther has just filed. Check out Publius for a nice picture of him filing. No sign of Kelley with only half an hour to go!

MnPublius is saying they have exclusive information that Kelley is filing for AG. Here's hoping!

So, for those of you who haven't heard, apparently Amy Klobuchar will be facing a primary opponent after all! Perennial candidate Darryl Stanton has decided to run for the US Senate. He paid for an ad at the DFL Convention, but never showed up.
I just found a link to his website and I figured everyone needed a laugh today after the seriousness of the events with Matt Entenza, so here- Enjoy!

PS- Apparently the names of David Liliehaug and Steve Kelley are being touted for AG. We're at less then two hours now before filing closes. What will happen?!

Rumors are now swirling if Matt Entenza will end up running for his old house seat or not. If he does, it could prove an interesting disaster in 64A.

I can't believe this news- Matt Entenza just announced he is withdrawing from the Race for Attorney General.
I'm stunned. Shocked. Sadended.

Who might get in:
Current rumors- Mike Freeman, Mattson(already in), Bill Luther.
My theories- Mike Erlandson (Why not?), Ted Mondale, Kelley Doran, Ford Bell, Christian Sande (Not a shot in hell of getting him to run, but I'd love to have him be on the ballot!), Ramsey County Atty Susan Gaertner, Lori Swanson
More Serious ones- In my opinion one of the people most likely that should run is Phil Carruthers- High name recognition, Head Prosecutor of Ramsey County, Former Speaker of the house, he'd be an optimal choice around the state, and he's not currently entrenched in a campaign like many of the others are.

I will post more on this later as the story develops.

I don't know if this has been covered in the news at all or not, but this blogger learned that Democratic State Senator Sandy Pappas has two children living currently in Northern Israel, and five grandchildren there as well.

I certainly hope her children, their spouses, and her grandchildren are safe during the ensuing conflict. I hope you'll all join me in supporting her through what I imagine must be a difficult time.

In a letter to the editor, whch was covered by DFLers.org first (gotta give props) i had to cover it as well.

I commend the July 11 letter writer who encouraged Minnesotans to acquire the "Support Our Troops" license plates. Disabled American Veterans rates our elected representatives in Washington based on their support for veterans' issues. Their ratings for 2005 are as follows:

• Rep. Jim Oberstar: 100

• Rep. Betty McCollum: 100

• Rep. Martin Sabo: 100

• Sen. Mark Dayton 92

• Rep. Collin Peterson: 60

• Sen. Norm Coleman 50

• Rep. Gil Gutknecht: 20

• Rep. Jim Ramstad: 20

• Rep. Mark Kennedy: 20

• Rep. John Kline: 0

Want to make a real difference? Vote for representatives who support the troops!

JOHN COLE, PLYMOUTH

This letter shows the ranks by Disabled American Veterans of Minnesota legislators. I found this letter interesting, especilly with John Kline having been a veteran, yet at the very bottom of the list. He's voting probably against some of his own personal friends! What kind of monster is he?

I happen to have friends who are part of Disabled American Veterans, because of injuries they suffered in Iraq. Thats right. Iraq. This time around. One of my friends had half his face blown off by a land mine. And what are the republicans in the state doing for him? Absolutely nothing.
This needs to be blasted out. Supporting our troops isn't sending them off to war, its funding them all the way through- funding training, funding armor, and funding them AFTER the war. John Kline and the rest of these guys should be ashamed of themselves.

Well Israel and Lebanon have entered a war. We're witnessing the beginning of what could be a protracted and deadly war, for all sides. I just hope the US isn't stupid enough to get involved... or it could be real bad for all involved.

While digging around the IGN, I found out about Johnson's law- Apparently, the Star Tribune did as well. Johnson gives them a slightly different quote, but similar context none the less:

Jeff Johnson, a Republican representative from Plymouth who's running for state attorney general, was the primary sponsor of the bill in the House.

"I don't think we'll ever see a kid fined for this," Johnson said. "The purpose was to get people's attention, particularly parents' attention, and to discourage kids a little bit. Maybe it will make them a little bit less interested and a little scared of trying it."

Johnson continues to tout his useless law, but continues to ignore the importance of upholding the law as Attorney General. This kind of poor behavir, not only from a legisltor, but from a candidate for Attorney General just reeks of using his office as a representative to create laws for his race, and then not enforce them.
What other laws will Johnson chose not to enforce? Certain theft laws because one of his friends or siblings is accused of it?

More likly Johnson will not enforce laws against companies. One of the biggest flaws with this bill is that it oesn't actually fine the store, who didn't bother to check the kids ID, to prove whether they were 17 or up, but rather, the consumer. Stores like Best Buy have been carding kids for years- their policy has been not to sell to someone under the age of 17 M rated games, but why suddenly the law?

The Mankato Free Press thinks its an odd thing too:

Recently, in Illinois, Michigan and California, laws that tried to criminalize minors’ access to video games have been found unconstitutional.

Supporters of the laws argue that there is a causal link between the sex- and violence-filled games and psychological or other harm to children. Federal courts have repeatedly dismissed any evidence of such a link and correctly called the laws an unconstitutional limit on the First Amendment, as well as being overly broad and vague.

Whether it’s trying to pull objectionable books from school library shelves or keeping video games from minors, the government is inherently ill-prepared to deal with it. Government invariably oversteps constitutional protections of speech and expression.

Ths bill is getting to be high profile right before Johnson, someone who has less then what, 25%? maybe 30% name recognition runs for higher office? A little fishy don't you think? Especially after its been struck down in other states? Dirty politics at its worst- and its targeting those who can't fight back, people under 17 who don't vote. Shame Shame Shame.

Representative and AG candidate Jeff Johnson helped pass a bill called the, "inappropriate video games" act. Which will fine minors (17 and under) who rent or buy Mature rated video games.

This bill is seen as a pandering bill to any of us under the age of fourty, because honestly, we grew up buying "M" rated games and it hasn't affected us too much. But... Then I came across this interview with him in one of the best Video Game Magazies- IGN.

A specific quote stood out plainly to me. This one:


AMN: How will enforcement of the law work?

Rep. Jeff Johnson: Frankly, it will seldom if ever occur. A retailer who sells or rents to someone under 17 would probably have to call the county or city attorney and seek to have the civil penalty enforced. Our point was not to fine kids, but to get the attention of parents and kids regarding the nature of M-rated games.

Now... if you ask me... this looks like Johnson did in fact agree that he made this bill unnecessarily complicated and unenforcable. But--to increase that, Johnson is running for Attorney General. Is this the kind of behavior we can expect from him as Attorney General? To have laws but not enforce them? I'm betting it is, and I'm betting he'll pick and chose which laws to uphold, seems like thats exactly what he's saying here!

Ford Bell is scheduled to have a press conference at the capital today at 3:30. Rumor has it that he is dropping out of the race.

I for one will be glad he's gone. Not because he didn't raise some good points, but because its time to unite. I hope his staff and volunteers will get welcomed and ushered into the Klobuchar camp quickly so they can take advantage of Bell's resources.

This was in the Strib- I thought it needed to be pointed out to people

Political brouhaha enlivens July 4th picnic in Edina
As political brouhahas go, the one in Edina this week was minor -- and over before the ketchup flowed onto hotdogs at a picnic for veterans. Still, it made the suburb's July 4th celebration spicier than usual.
Two weeks ago, the city of Edina invited 60 military veterans to a picnic that was to follow the community's parade.

The event in question, however, was the "Republican July 4th BBQ Picnic," according to the flier sent at the suggestion of Senate District 41 Republicans.

Though the invitation was mailed by the city without incident last year, one of this year's recipients, Andrew Borene, cried foul. He is an Iraq war veteran who happens to be the DFL-endorsed candidate for the District 41 Senate seat. It prompted the city to acknowledge the mistake in a letter of apology to veterans last week.

"Although we had good intentions in sending this invitation to you, it is now clear that the city should not have been involved in this correspondence," wrote Susie Miller, the city's recreation supervisor. "We take pride in maintaining a nonpartisan and nonpolitical position in everything we do -- especially the Fourth of July Parade."

On Wednesday, Borene said he thought the city acted nobly. Republicans, on the other hand, he said, should've known better than to ask for the assistance.

Linda Presthus, the Republican Party's district co-chair, did not return phone calls for comment. But Miller, asked whether she believed the party was trying to give veterans the impression that it was -- in Borene's words -- "in good with the city," said: "Absolutely not."

The invitations were sent, she added, because many of the veterans who had been expected to participate in that day's parade would later return to the Edina Community Center, where the picnic was held. The barbecue would be a "nice touch" for all involved, Miller said.

Both this year and last, she said, Senate District 41 Republicans have reimbursed the city for the cost of postage and envelopes.

Presthus also is a member of the community's parade committee, which led Borene to say there should be outreach efforts to other political party members, as well. Said Miller, "We've never turned away a [prospective] committee member."

I was reading up on this post from the American Sausage when something caught my eye. The phrase, "The American way" resonates throughout the post, about Superman.

Sausage argues Superman is really international and we shouldn't be too concerned about that. But then I got to thinking more deeply--What exactly is the American way?

We have, a constitution that is unlike any other in the world. We have a Presidential system, which is unlike any other in the world. We have a bicameral legislature that only 4 other countries in the world share- and none with the unequal representation as in the Senate.

Our country has a lot of undemocratic issues revolving within its framework. What exactly does this mean? Is the American way to be different? Maybe?

I said I would continue my commentary about America in my Fourth of July post, so now I'll continue it here. Why is America the best? Why do we have an American way? More importantly- Why is it, that no other country that has adopted Democracy in the last 150-230 years, adopted a system like ours? Why are most of the stable democracies parliamentary? Surely our version of Democracy is good right?

James Madison, in Federalist Number 10 said that our system was the best way to prevent factionalization (yes, I'm summing up the big Number 10). But have we really prevented that?
I look at America, and I look at England, Germany, France, Japan, Costa Rica, Israel, and a number of other democracies throughout the world and I wonder, are they as factionalized as us? Madison writes that the reason we want a Federal system is to prevent drastic factions from taking control of the government. But isn't that precisely what we have?

Submitted for discussion (Not that anyone will respond...) I have to ask- would the United States be better off with a parliament system? More political parties but less 50/50 division? Would we be better off fixing the factionalization within our own country? Getting rid of PACs, Parties, 501(c)3s? Everything else that causes this factualization--which is so deeply rooted in our American Constitution? I don't know, do you?

Apparently, Ken Lay died today of a heart attack- I had to share how I discovered this- I wish that I had a screen shot of this but there was a TV in the Minneapolis skyway system on closed captioning turned to CNN.

In big letters it said- Enron Founder Ken Lay dies of Heart Attack- At the very moment I looked up the closed captioning displayed, "Thats funny, I didn't know he still had one."

The 230th birthday of the United States of America was celebrated with a lot of fireworks. NASA decided to successfully launch a large one to a group of spectators. North Korea as well decided to celebrate with a large firework as well.

But today is not the day to be considering or contemplating these other events. Today we should pause, and take a look back at the events of 230 years ago, and why they matter, are even more relevant today.

Below is the entire text of the declaration of independence. How many of you have actually read it? I hope most, but I doubt it. I hope most of you read this post, and take a look back at our history, consider what it means to you, what it means to the democrats, what it means to the republicans. Post comments bellow. I will be continuing my Founding Father theme tomorrow with excerpts from their letters, and commenting on how relevant things are today.

IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America
hen in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.
He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their Public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected, whereby the Legislative Powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary Powers.
He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harass our people and eat out their substance.
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil Power.
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:
For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefit of Trial by Jury:
For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies
For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.
He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & Perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.
In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred. to disavow these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.
We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.
— John Hancock
New Hampshire:
Josiah Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew Thornton
Massachusetts:
John Hancock, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat Paine, Elbridge Gerry
Rhode Island:
Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery
Connecticut:
Roger Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William Williams, Oliver Wolcott
New York:
William Floyd, Philip Livingston, Francis Lewis, Lewis Morris
New Jersey:
Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hopkinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark
Pennsylvania:
Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James Wilson, George Ross
Delaware:
Caesar Rodney, George Read, Thomas McKean
Maryland:
Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles Carroll of Carrollton
Virginia:
George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Harrison, Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter Braxton
North Carolina:
William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn
South Carolina:
Edward Rutledge, Thomas Heyward, Jr., Thomas Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton
Georgia:
Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton

Apparently Lieberman is not going to give up. Thats very dissapointing honestly. I wish he would. He's just republican lite. If he loses the primary, he should bow out gracefully. ah well, thats all for now. Nothing else big is going on in the wide world of politics.
I'll write a fourth of July post later tonight or early tomorrow morning.