Capitol View: February 16, 2006 Archive

Briefing - Thursday February 16, 2006

Posted at 8:44 AM on February 16, 2006 by Bob Collins

I'm late getting to the briefing this morning because I had to renew my Norton anti-virus subscription. I thought if I just deleted the program and re-installed it, I'd get another year "free" (hey, this use to work!). That took a half hour. Didn't work. Then I had to actually buy a renewal. And I couldn't get those news stories about the occasional firefighter who's arrested for arson out of my head as I did so. Now then....

It's been a quiet weeek on planet politics. I think we've been spoiled by January; if that's possible. I was intrigued by the Rasmussen headline today: 27% Say Cheney Hunting Accident Raises Serious Questions. Fifty-seven percent say it doesn't. Most have an unfavorable view of Cheney anyway which, I guess, means that they had their questions already answered.

Rasmussen notes that Sonny Perdue, Georgia's Republican governor, has a commanding lead over challengers. I'm not that interested in the race, but, man, do I ever love the name: Sonny Perdue. Always have. Offhand, I can't think of a better name in politics. Sonny Perdue. You?

I mentioned yesterday that I've put up the audio of the Senate forum in Virginia. While listening yesterday, I found that the way to say Klobuchar (KLO boo shar) on the Iron Range actually is klo-BUTCHER. Klobuchar, however you say it, by the way, has taken to telling the story of her county prosecutor race in which her opponent is said to have said on Almanac, "you're nothing but a streetfighter," and she is said to have said, "thank-you." So Ford Bell turned that around in an interesting way -- anticipating, no doubt that this would be a theme -- and used the Norm Coleman strategy ("it's about the tone.") of gridlock and said "when you send a fighter to Washington, you have fights and nothing gets done." Over to you, Ms. Klobuchar.

I haven't put the gov's forum audio up yet but I did find Kelly Doran's emphasis interesting. He's stressing his ties to the business community (he's a real estate developer), saying no DFLer can get elected governor in Minnesota without the support of business. He says Roger Moe told him that was a significant reason why he lost in '02.

City Hall Scoop has a good write-up of being invited to Al Franken's housewarming upon his return to Minnesota, apparently to lay the groundwork for a Senate run in '08. Politics aside, and admitting that I'm not from here (I'm from another planet, actually), can I just say that I've never found Minnesota comics, well, funny. That includes Louie Anderson. The exception is Mitch Hedberg. And he's dead.

Tim Walz, minvolved says, is making his candidacy official on Sunday for the 1st District seat. Sunday is usually a pretty good day for these sorts of things because newswise, it's usually pretty dead, thus guaranteeing some real estate in the papers on Monday morning.

Poll burp: Most think GOP, Democrats lack vision

Commentary: Faith, Power & Bush's American Way

You get your money where you can find it

Posted at 4:28 PM on February 16, 2006 by Bob Collins

Gov. Pawlenty is attending a fundraiser tonight in Naples, FL. His campaign spokesperson says he's taking some personal time but is attending a fundraiser. He wouldn't say who is hosting it.

NaplesNews.com doesn't offer any clues. But it's worth going there just to read the weather forecast.

DFL gubernatorial candidate forum - Virginia

Posted at 5:17 PM on February 16, 2006 by Bob Collins

I've finally gotten the audio encoded on the weekend DFL gubernatorial candidate forum in Virginia. Here it is (RealAudio required).

Eventually I'll get it sliced up and put on the individual candidate pages on the Campaign 2006 site.

Money in the Senate race

Posted at 6:12 PM on February 16, 2006 by Bob Collins

AP's Fred Frommer has a story out this evening looking at who's tossing in the big bucks in the Minnesota Senate race.

AP provides some of Kennedy's backers:

The following are Senate Republicans who have made the maximum $10,000 PAC donation to Republican candidate Mark Kennedy. Democratic candidate Amy Klobuchar has not yet picked up money from Senate Democrats.

-Northstar Leadership PAC, Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn.
-Friends of the Big Sky, Sen. Conrad Burn, R-Mont.
-Senate Victory Fund, Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss.
-New Republican Majority Fund, Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss.
-Leadership Circle PAC, Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C.
-Bluegrass Committee, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
-Heartland Values PAC, Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.
-Defend America PAC, Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala.
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Source: Congressional campaign records analyzed by The
Associated Press