Five at 8 - 4/14/09

Meanwhile, the National Center for Health Statistics, using 2004 data, says the state's suicide rate ranks 13th with 10.1 suicides per 100,000 people. It says the state is 6th best in rates of depression.

Where it gets more interesting, however, is on the money spent on mental health. Smart Politics reports no other Midwest state spends more on mental health than Minnesota. But 5.9% of Minnesotans report they have unmet needs for mental health treatment and counseling. That's worse than Iowa, Illinois, North Dakota, and South Dakota, and that's the same percentage as Wisconsin.

Contrary to the assertion, however, suicide prevention efforts in Minnesota are not rolling in dough.

WHAT WE'RE DOING

Midmorning - In the first hour, Kerri Miller and her guests discuss whether the nation's airlines have long-term viability. In the second hour, long-time civil liberties advocate Nadine Strossen also talks about why she continues to fight for free speech.

Midday - House Speaker Margaret Kelliher and Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller join Gary Eichten for a discussion about the legislative session and why we're heading for a last minute showdown with the governor again.

Talk of the Nation - A new approach at some universities will require that your degree reflect a defined set of skills, rather than that you passed a defined set of courses.

All Things Considered - The news business' obsession with the future of newspapers focuses today on the loss of arts critics. At some point, some of these stories are going to have to acknowledge that few people are reading newspapers. If a critic's review falls in a forest...

Comments (11)

pardon my ignorance.... what does "taking one for the team" mean?

I was a big Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer supporter, and I am choosing to look at this whole tedious recount/appeals thing as a really twisted economic stimulus package....

Posted by betty tisel | April 14, 2009 8:31 AM

It means he's doing the Republican Party a favor while destroying his own political future -- at least as a candidate.

Posted by Bob Collins | April 14, 2009 9:08 AM

Thanks, Bob. Why would Norm "take one for the team" - what's in it for him? I just don't get it.

I do think though that were the roles reversed Franken would appeal as well. It's almost like they are each playing a role that either could fill -- (not that they are the same, but each is capable of playing this part). I'm ready for the denouement.

Posted by betty t | April 14, 2009 10:31 AM

I'm not necessarily accepting Lambert's premise but for the sake of argument what would be in it for him would be positions in a non-candidate setting -- chairman of the Republican Party, for example.

Political parties take care of the good soldiers and Coleman is being a good soldier.

Posted by Bob Collins | April 14, 2009 10:49 AM

I vaguely recall Coleman being very vocal (almost to the point of issuing a public shaming) against Franken for pursuing the automatic recount, stating that (not an exact quote) "...it would be a waste of taxpayer time and money." Does this sound familiar to anyone else?

Posted by Devin | April 14, 2009 1:27 PM

Yeah, that video is floating around YouTube. I believe, however, that Coleman said he made a mistake saying that some days later and said he was wrong. That part gets left off of the story.

Posted by Bob Collins | April 14, 2009 1:38 PM

Thank you Bob - I did not know he issued a retraction. Curious what the context/motivation was... foresight perhaps?

Regardless of who wins, you have to admit that Coleman will be living with a less than ideal election history. First, there was the whole Wellstone "accident" (while I don't buy into the conspiracy theory, I can't imagine how it must feel to win an election by means of death default, so to speak), and now he's going to deal with a bitter defeat (most likely), or a very bitter victory.

Posted by Devin | April 14, 2009 2:30 PM

Politically, I don't think it's a complete stretch to suggest he's pretty well done in Minnesota. But that doesn't mean he's done politically, of course.

BTW, I don't think Coleman won by a "death default." That was going to be a close race even if Wellstone had lived.

He won because of the memorial service/pep rally.

Posted by Bob Collins | April 14, 2009 2:34 PM

Ah yes, the rally... that was certainly bordering on the line of shameless, wasn't it. That was also my first experience in Minneasota:)

P.s. News Cut is great. Just noticed the Five at 8 section - very cool - good distraction at work too.

Posted by Devin | April 14, 2009 2:46 PM

Devin writes
"Regardless of who wins, you have to admit that Coleman will be living with a less than ideal election history."

You have to go further still to fully recount the curious electoral history of Norm Coleman. In 1998, for instance, he ran for governor, and lost to Jesse Ventura, of all people. Prior to that episode, he was elected Mayor of St Paul, twice, once for each party.

Posted by bsimon | April 14, 2009 3:13 PM

Like Betty, I was a big Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer supporter. In a way, I still am. I feel like this whole ugly process has born out what the JNP supporters were saying a year ago...that Franken wasn't a particularly good candidate for Minnesota. At this point, I am quite a few months past even caring which of those two mediocre candidates wins.

Posted by Charley Underwood | April 14, 2009 9:03 PM