Polinaut: April 27, 2006 Archive

Maybe she meant baseballs

Posted at 7:53 AM on April 27, 2006 by Bob Collins (4 Comments)

We deal with big weighty issues here at the "desk;" none bigger than yesterday's, which was: what to do with this from Sue Jeffers?

We elected Tim Pawlenty to vote against publicly-funded stadiums. Do you think he has the balls to veto that? I don't think so.

But what about the radio piece that Laura McCallum did? Can you say "balls" on the radio? Should we have bleeped it?

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Ruth resigns

Posted at 10:08 AM on April 27, 2006 by Bob Collins

I've never met DFL communications boss David Ruth. In fact, I don't think I've ever met any of the current DFL honchos. But I've seen people post good things about his work on various blogs, so here's the deal: he's quitting.

DFL Communications Director David Ruth today announced his resignation, effective in mid-May. “I'm looking to devote more of my attention to family matters and personal interests," said Ruth, who is exploring a career opportunity that is not yet public. "During my tenure with the DFL Party, we have won special elections, held the Republicans accountable for their failed policies and promoted our positive DFL message statewide. I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the DFL Party, and I look forward to watching them achieve all their goals in upcoming elections."

As a casual observer, that job must have a high burnout factor because this seems like the gazillionth DFL communications director since I moved to Minnesota. The GOP seems to spin through 'em fairly regularly too.

Can't be an easy job.

Maps Maps Maps

Posted at 10:25 AM on April 27, 2006 by Bob Collins (1 Comments)

I talked briefly last night -- late last night (don't you just love when the Legislature's in session?)-- about the idea I had for Votetracker 3.0 to automatically draw maps.

David Kirchner at the Analyst has done it, proving once again the superiority of the talent of the blogosphere. It cannot be denied.

You know, I don't know if it would be helpful or not, but maybe we should consider exporting the Votetracker database to a public XML file or something for people to come up with applications for it. OK, now I know the folks in the MPR I.T. department just spit their coffee when they read that. But I'm just thinking out loud. And there's a whole room with my old ideas anyway.

Anyway, back to David's maps, boy, there's a whole lot of Republicans who have warmed to taxes, eh?

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How to dismantle a crisis

Posted at 11:39 AM on April 27, 2006 by Bob Collins

I've commented a number of times here about how politicians get themselves into trouble when they do contortions to admit messing up; something that the people -- who really aren't stupid -- can accept. We saw it from the GOP Party in the same-sex marriage CD story, which would've gone away in an hour if they had said, "whoops, we messed up." And we saw it in the Dean Johnson controversy, which similarly would've disappeared a lot quicker for the guy if he'd ignored the instincts of politicians to shift to damage control.

Need proof? Check the City Pages blotter, where Steve Perry does a mea culpa on the "satirical" comment that meth is the Twin Cities Best Cheap Thrill. A comment that politicians were quick to make hay out of yesterday.