Polinaut: February 10, 2006 Archive

Briefing - Friday February 10, 2006

Posted at 8:29 AM on February 10, 2006 by Bob Collins

Larry Sabato's article on Townhall.com (turn the pop-up blocker on!) turns his crystal ball back on and sees a 5 to 10 seat gain in the U.S. House in November. The only mention of Minnesota is an acknowledgement that Coleen Rowley is "stumbling."

...but with continued momentum and new openings brought about by the wildcard of scandal, today's minority would quickly be within reach of "running the table" Pittsburgh-style all the way to a paper-thin majority. Such a consequential "six-year itch" outcome would certainly prove a giant rash for the Bush Administration's final two years.

You've probably (or maybe not) seen the AP story on this site regarding the money flowing into the campaign regarding the definition of marriage debate in Minnesota. The Minnesota Daily also has a related article on the subject today. The debate hasn't generated anywhere near enough consideration in analyzing November. Does it make it on the ballot? Does it become an issue anyway? In 2004, it certainly seemed to trail only Iraq in the "emotion" factor. Odd, too, that the bill in Congress hasn't gotten any juice in the attention market. But steroids in baseball -- not a campaign issue in 2004 -- did.

According to the AP, "good-government groups are using the Internet and interactive mapping technology to chart how mass media affect elections — using Peru's rugged, village-dotted countryside as a testing ground." Whew. Thank goodness that could never happen here.

Chuckles

"President Bush unveiled his new $2.2 trillion budget. The president settled on $2 trillion after being told that $2 bazillion was not a real number."

--- Conan O'Brien

It's quiet out there today. Too quiet.

Mondays with Barry

Posted at 11:28 AM on February 10, 2006 by Bob Collins (1 Comments)

The day is off to a pleasant start. Barry Casselman called. Sure, I know you political gurus already know who Barry Casselman is, but while I've seen his columns -- more of late than before Polinaut -- I had never heard of him locally. This is, I gather, a reflection on me rather than him. I don't get out much.

Sounds to me like he's worth a story. Gary Miller says he's the person Michael Barone goes to (although Barry says that's a "generous" assessment)and he's frequently on the road with the Broders of the world.

He's from Erie, Pennsylvania originally; grew up just down the road from former Gov. Tom Ridge and, although they're about the same age, didn't know him growing up.

And he also used to be at MPR. He doesn't belong to a political party and describes himself as a "centrist."

I'm thinking there's good fodder for a little profile, so we're having lunch on Monday. I'll buy. Should be good insight. I already have his assessment of the Wetterling campaign, but there's a bigger political universe out there to explore.

Oh, by the way, he'd never heard of me either. He's in good company.

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Budget talk

Posted at 5:38 PM on February 10, 2006 by Bob Collins

MPR's Tom Crann has been talking about President Bush's proposed budget with members of the Minnesota delegation. There are two expanded interviews available. RealPlayer is required.

Mark Kennedy

Betty McCollum

A journalism manifesto

Posted at 5:43 PM on February 10, 2006 by Bob Collins

Good reading.

Mainstream journalists are being torn apart. Conservatives long have accused reporters and editors for big newspapers, magazines and television of having liberal biases. More recently, liberals have hounded journalists for pandering to conservatives and America's social elite. Both conservatives and liberals depict journalists as craven careerists, more concerned with maintaining their own privilege than getting stories right or serving the national interest.