Capitol View: March 23, 2006 Archive

And then there were... like... a lot

Posted at 8:56 AM on March 23, 2006 by Bob Collins

Ember Reichgott Junge is officially in. It'll be easier to list who's not, at this point, perhaps.

Today I confirm that I am a candidate for the Fifth District Congressional Seat. A formal announcement will be made shortly.

I want to re-ignite the agenda that hasn’t been heard: access to health care, affordable child care, investment in youngest children, good-paying jobs, protecting human rights. Bringing peace to Iraq and rebuilding U.S. credibility around the world.

For more information about my current bio, and a current picture, go to www.womenonthemove.us.

I assume she gives up the radio gig.

Briefing - Thursday March 23, 2006

Posted at 11:35 AM on March 23, 2006 by Bob Collins

I probably won't be posting a lot today because I'm working on a Flash multimedia project to go along with a piece that Mark Zdechlik is putting together for tomorrow night's All Things Considered. It's a year in the life of a Minnesota National Guard soldier in Baghdad.

But there's a few things to get off my desk before I go immerse myself (the payoff at the end of the work day is the Roomful of Blues concert at the Fitz!).

* * *

First, I'm late getting to this but a week or so ago I talked about Select A Candidate and some folks commented on the "boxed-in questions." I'll deal with that later but admit that a flaw in Select A Candidate is that it mirrors the campaign. If they ain't talking about the issue, the issue ain't gonna show up on Select A Candidate.

So how to get them talking about what you want them to talk about? Right here, my friend. This is part of MPR's Public Insight Journalism effort; something else I should write about one of these days.

* * *

On Midday, the whole same-sex thing is getting aired out again.

Michele Bachmann and Scott Dibble are the guests.

And Tom Scheck snapped this to prove that a Republican and DFLer really can sit down at the same table... sort of.

* * *

Oh, and this. The Diet Sprite! Where's the Diet Sprite!

* * *

Off to tween now.

(Update 5:45 p.m.) - OK, I'm done. And because you know the secret handshake, you get to see it a full day before it appears on the Web site.

And now this important announcement...

Posted at 4:17 PM on March 23, 2006 by Bob Collins (1 Comments)

Someone is not running for Martin Sabo's seat.

Statement from Julie Sabo

I will not be a candidate for the United States House of Representatives. While it is an honor to be included in the list of people who are considered to follow in the footsteps of my father, Martin Sabo, this is simply not the right time for me to take this on.

I have had the great privilege of serving the Minnesota State Senate and as a Minneapolis public school teacher. I greatly enjoy my role as mother to Jakob and Oskar.

And I must say that I am very proud to be the daughter of Martin Sabo. His decades of service to the people of Minnesota are an inspiration to anyone who values the life we enjoy in Minnesota and in the United States of America. He is genuinely a hero to me.

Furthermore, we are fortunate to have an excellent candidate who, I believe, will be Minnesota’s next great progressive Congressman.
In urge my fellow 5th District DFLers to support Mike Erlandson for the DFL Endorsement.

Mike is the strongest candidate because he will bring to the office a 20 year record of supporting DFL values in the United States House of Representatives.

As Chair of the Minnesota DFL and as my father’s Chief of Staff for the past 13 years, Mike has demonstrated his values and his effectiveness.

Mike is committed to the things we value in our government –honesty, integrity, fiscal responsibility, and protecting our basic rights and opportunities – The very values that are being systematically attacked and undermined every day by the Bush Administration and Republicans in Congress.

And he has the skills, knowledge and relationships to do something about them immediately.

I will be on that convention floor working to earn the DFL endorsement for Mike Erlandson.

Comment on this post

Just thinking

Posted at 7:14 PM on March 23, 2006 by Bob Collins

So the rumor du jour is that Kelly Doran is going to drop out of the governor's race. I thought he seemed like a decent sort. Not at all a politician and his ideas had some meat to them. He hurt himself, of course, when he switched from the Senate race to the governor's race, but he was such a longshot, you can't really say it was a fatal decision.

Still, lots of folks who are, well, politicians, run by saying they're not politicians. But in almost every case, they are. There are even some people running in this state for high office this year who are already in office, who have actually said in the last few months, "I'm not a career politician." Because, I guess being a politician makes it tougher for you to win elections.

Really? On what planet?

Just wondering: is it possible for a non-politician to run for statewide office and win? Sure, Jesse Ventura did it, but that was a talk show promo that got out of hand.

I mean, serious candidate. Someone who doesn't -- and never has -- made a living running for office, but works in the real world.

Can it be done? Lots of people talk about how government needs to be run more like a business. And lots of people nod their heads when they hear people say it. So how come businesspeople can't even register a small seismic reading when they run for office?

* * *

As for Doran's running mate, Sheila Kiscaden, she really can't hop onto another campaign at this point; it just wouldn't look... right. So presumably she tries to keep her seat and that sets up a really sweet looking battle... potentially a three-way.