Capitol View: March 17, 2006 Archive

Your name here

Posted at 8:45 AM on March 17, 2006 by Bob Collins

I'm in a pretty much day-long meeting today. Friday's are slow in politics anyway so I may not miss much. Will try to update the universal radar during the breaks. Otherwise,I'm fine. Thanks for asking.

In the meantime, go check out Mike Mulcahy's Policast and his Capitol Letter.

The pastor speaks

Posted at 11:52 AM on March 17, 2006 by Bob Collins

The folks at Morning Edition today interviewed Pastor Brent Waldemarsen, who is the person who was running the tape recorder that caught Sen. Dean Johnson's comments on potential judicial action on the state's marriage laws.

For time reasons, it was edited down to fit the space available. They've sent a longer interview and I'm forwarding it on to you. (RealPlayer required)

(Updated 12:00) -- Sen. Dean Johnson today apologized for is comments. We'll try to post the full audio at some point this afternoon and I imagine Tom Scheck will have a story on ATC.

Johnson's apology

Posted at 2:51 PM on March 17, 2006 by Bob Collins

Here's the full audio of his session today. (RealPlayer required).

and the AP story that goes with it which will be replaced by Laura McCallum's script when it becomes available.

Who's next after Sabo?

Posted at 3:56 PM on March 17, 2006 by Bob Collins (3 Comments)

OK, let's try to sort this out.

According to the Star Tribune, Martin Sabo is retiring. I heard this rumor this afternoon after it leaked from the Strib and my first reaction was, "a good DFLer wouldn't give the rest of the field such little time to organize." Then I remembered who his chief of staff is. Mike Erlandson, who stepped down as head of the DFL Party in Minnesota last year. Theoretically, it's possible Erlandson got a heads-up, but I'd also think putting a campaign together -- especially in the DFL -- in anticipation of the announcement -- is pretty hard to do under the radar.

Given the other names that come up, makes me think the real winner in last November's city election in Minneapolis, was Peter McLaughlin, now fairly unencumbered to make a bid, whereas R.T. Rybak, who has been speculated about as a guy with higher aspirations, would have an impossible time chucking his gig for the fairly safe DFL congressional seat.

We'll see.

So, what does Larry Jacobs figure is going on? He was just on All Things Considered and I lifted a little piece for you. (RealPlayer).

And, if nothing else, at least I got a couple of TO DOs off my list today, setting up Campaign 2006 pages for Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, and Jay Pond. Something tells me I'll be working this weekend setting up more.

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