Polinaut: August 9, 2006 Archive

Source: Bill Luther will not attend endorsing convention

Posted at 5:12 AM on August 9, 2006 by Tom Scheck (4 Comments)

A source close to DFL Congressman Bill Luther says Luther will not attend the DFL Party's endorsing convention for attorney general on Saturday. Party delegates are meeting in Sauk Rapids on Saturday with the hopes of endorsing a candidate for attorney general. Luther, Minnesota State Senator Steve Kelley and Minnesota Solicitor General Lori Swanson are all running in the DFL primary this September.

The three candidates got into the race after State Representative Matt Entenza dropped his candidacy on the last filing day. Luther is planning on meeting with reporters later today to discuss his decision and candidacy.

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Fitzgerald gets there oily

Posted at 8:33 AM on August 9, 2006 by Mike Mulcahy

We here in the MSM have been getting a few complaints that we aren't paying enough attention to the IP endorsed candidate for U.S. Senate Robert Fitzgerald. He's having an event today and here's the release:

Independence Party endorsed U.S. Senate candidate Robert Fitzgerald will pay Minnesota excise tax due on the vegetable oil fuel that the Fitzgerald campaign uses in their campaign bus at a press conference at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 9th.

St. Paul, Minnesota, August 7, 2006 -- Robert Fitzgerald of Rothsay, MN, Independence Party endorsed candidate for U.S. Senate, converted his campaign bus to run on 100% pure vegetable oil last year. Waste restaurant fryer oil has been the main source of vegetable oil fuel. The waste vegetable oil is collected, filtered, and then added to a second tank in the campaign bus.

Restaurant owners have had to pay for the removal of their waste fryer oil in the past. Fitzgerald has been able to collect the oil at no cost, thereby dramatically reducing the campaigns fuel costs. Instead of paying over three dollars a gallon for diesel, the campaign's fuel cost are well under a dollar a gallon (including excise taxes). This is one of the creative, cost-effective solutions the campaign is implementing to compete in a race where the other major party candidates will be spending tens of millions of dollars.

Since vegetable oil is thicker than diesel fuel, a heated tank fuel pickup and fuel line heat exchanger has been added to the vehicle in order to thin the vegetable oil. The bus is equipped with a fuel switch so it can run on diesel, bio-diesel, or vegetable oil.

Fitzgerald said that he doesn't expect Minnesotans to go "dumpster diving and hump grease in back alleys." At the same time, he said, "I don't expect Minnesotans to pay over three dollars a gallon for fuel!"

Fitzgerald supports energy independence and believes the United States is fully capable of meeting its energy consumption needs.

Now, as an aside, Fitzgerald's campaign also put this out:

Speaking of vegetable oil: If you know of someone who owns or manages a restaurant that uses vegetable oil in their fryers, please make contact with them, and see if they would be willing to save their oil for us. They get their oil in 35 pound cubes (plastic containers with a cardboard outside shell). You can ask them to place the used oil back in these cubes, and then pick it up for us. We can then come and collect it from you. Contact johnvinje@votefitzgerald.org for more information or to pass on leads.

This will allow us to continue to operate Gus the BIG Red Bus for less than a dollar a gallon as we travel around the state on the campaign trail.

It's all about supply and demand.

The Daily Digest: 8-9-06

Posted at 9:45 AM on August 9, 2006 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

3 incumbents losing in 3 different states leads the digest today. Democratic Senator Joe Lieberman of Connnecticut, Georgia Democratic Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney and Michigan Republican Congressman Joe Schwarz all lose primary battles. Any incumbent, Republican or Democrat, better watch their back this year.

The West Central Tribune says the Kandiyohi County DFL chairman wants Michael Cruze, the candidate challenging Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson in the DFL Primary, to withdrawal his name from the ballot. Some are speculating that Cruze is actually a Republican:

“As a local party chair, I have a responsibility to fight for a fair and honest campaign. Mr. Cruze’s candidacy is neither,” Nelson said in the release.

“All the evidence supports the fact that he is a certified Republican.”

The Star Tribune’s Eric Black examines how a news release from the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee stretches the governor’s “weenie comments” (those are words I never thought I’d write).

USAToday says Congress is considering cuts to the Center for war-related brain injuries:

"I find it basically unpardonable that Congress is not going to provide funds to take care of our soldiers and sailors who put their lives on the line for their country," says Martin Foil, a member of the center's board of directors. "It blows my imagination."

The Brain Injury Center, devoted to treating and understanding war-related brain injuries, has received more money each year of the war from $6.5 million in fiscal 2001 to $14 million last year.

Former Senator John Edwards, who was the Democrat’s Vice Presidential candidate in 2004, will hold a rally for Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar on Thursday.

Edwards will also host a fundraiser for Patty Wetterling, who is running in Minnesota’s Sixth Congressional District, at a later date. Wetterling is running against Republican Michele Bachmann who is also getting a fundraising visit from President Bush later this month.

Folks at the Duluth Chamber aren’t happy that Klobuchar and Republican Congressman Mark Kennedy can’t fit a Duluth debate into their schedule.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, of Tennessee, will stump for Mark Kennedy at the end of the month.

I know I’m a little late on this one but I’m posting it because I consider it an issue this campaign. This Week has a story on Scott Newman’s judicial campaign. Newman, a former state representative, sought the GOP endorsement for the post:

Former state representative and Hutchinson attorney Scott Newman is campaigning for judge in the 1st Judicial District as no one has done for at least three decades: fundraising, seeking endorsements and expressing opinions on issues before the court.

An Appeals Court ruling allows the political actions, but some lawyers and judges are concerned, claiming election activity politicizes courtrooms.

Governor Pawlenty is seeking drought aid from the federal government.

The Los Angeles Times has an interesting story on the lengths researchers have to go when it comes to embryonic stem cells. It focuses on the University of Minnesota lab:

For biologist Meri Firpo, the controversy over human embryonic stem cells boils down to pens.

In one of her laboratories -- the one that gets government money to study federally approved stem cells -- researchers are required to use Paper Mate Flexgrips.

Just across the hall is a nearly identical laboratory set up with private funds so she can study new embryonic stem cell lines that do not have President Bush's seal of approval. Firpo requires lab workers there to use Uni-balls to make sure no federally funded pen finds its way into forbidden territory.

It's an admittedly peculiar situation, but Firpo, a professor at the University of Minnesota, said she was not taking any chances. A willful violation of federal policy could make her liable for criminal and civil penalties. Even a mistake might imperil federal grants for her lab -- and for the rest of the university.

Bush's embryonic stem cell policy, which now restricts federal support to research involving about 20 cell lines, has created a logistical nightmare for science.

The Wall Street Journal has a story (subscription required) wondering whether President Bush is doing enough in his push for renewable energy (Norm Coleman is mentioned in the story):

Whether Mr. Bush is moving rapidly enough to promote alternative energy is a subject of debate. Critics believe that by shying away from major new federal initiatives, he won't be able to achieve the goals he talks about. But supporters say things have gone well since the Jan. 31 address. They say that by giving ethanol a high-profile boost, Mr. Bush has begun to create a new national consensus on alternative fuels. At the same time, they say, the administration's new research spending will ensure an adequate long-term supply.

MPR's Laura McCallum looks at the health care proposals of the gubernatorial candidates.

Mike Hatch details his health care plan at the U of M's Humphrey School later today.

Governor Pawlenty and Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt pushed consumer driven health care at an event hosted by the Minnesota Chamber yesterday.

Martiga Lohn with the Associated Press has a story on an opinion by Attorney General Mike Hatch. The story says the opinion could restrict access to information about candidates, city council members and others:

The 2005 law designated the following information on local and appointed candidates as public data: name, city of residence, education and training, employment history, volunteer work, awards and honors, and prior government service or experience. Left off the list? Home addresses and the results of background checks sometimes done on applicants for public positions.

Britt Robson, with City Pages, profiles Ember Reichgott Junge, who’s running for Congress in Minnesota’s 5th Congressional District.

The Star Tribune’s Rochelle Olson also has a story on Reichgott Junge’s ads and news confernce calling for the firing of Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld.

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Luther is asking the DFL Central Committee to not endorse a candidate this weekend

Posted at 10:48 AM on August 9, 2006 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

Former Congressman Bill Luther just told the Capitol press corps that he's not planning to go to this weekend's endorsing convention and is asking the DFL Central committee to not endorse a candidate for attorney general. Luther, state Sen. Steve Kelley and Minnesota Solicitor General Lori Swanson are all running in the DFL primary this September.

Luther says rank and file Democrats should have a chance to weigh in on the race. He also said there isn't much time for the candidates to campaign before the DFL Primary.

"I just think under the unique circumstances this year that going back to the rank-and-file Democratic voters and including them in the process, and asking them for their decision in the primary, is the way to go."

The three candidates got into the race after Matt Entenza, the DFL endorsed candidate, dropped out of the race just hours before the filing deadline.

We'll have Luther's interview on the website soon.

You can listen to the audio here.

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Ellison compares Bush to Nixon

Posted at 12:27 PM on August 9, 2006 by Mike Mulcahy (5 Comments)

MPR's Tim Pugmire went to a Keith Ellison press conference today and filed this:

Fifth District DFL congressional candidate Keith Ellison says he wants Watergate-style hearings into activities of the Bush administration.

Ellison marked this week's 32nd anniversary of President Richard Nixon's resignation to call for the congressional investigation. He accuses the White House of what he calls "imperial excesses" and the expansion of executive authority.

"I think it's important we have to develop the body of evidence. But I think that the indications are there have been impeachable offenses committed. But I think that the most important thing is to begin the investigative process, begin the inquiry into these things."

Ellison, who's a state representative from Minneapolis, introduced a resolution in the Minnesota House earlier this year calling for the impeachment of President Bush. The measure was defeated. A Minnesota Republican Party spokesman says Ellison is a far-left candidate who's out of touch with most Minnesotans.

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Call for lit pieces/fundraising letters

Posted at 2:18 PM on August 9, 2006 by Tom Scheck

As the election draws closer, the lit pieces/campaign materials/fundraising letters will start arriving in mailboxes across Minnesota. So, MPR is wondering if you'd keep the materials and send us a note on what they say (we can keep it anonymous if you prefer) or fax the materials to us (we can keep that anonymous as well).

We plan on using the information for blog entries, story ideas and other yet to be named things. You can fax the materials to us at 651 227 5238 or e-mail the materials to tscheck@mpr.org.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Lori Swanson won't attend DFL endorsing convention

Posted at 2:35 PM on August 9, 2006 by Tom Scheck

Minnesota Solicitor General Lori Swanson just told MPR she isn't going to the DFL State Central Committee meeting this Saturday. The delegates are scheduled to endorse a candidate for attorney general.

Swanson said she made the decision because she'll be on the September primary ballot regardless of what happens at the Central Committee meeting. Swanson says there wasn't enough time in a seven week campaign to lobby the delegates and meet with rank and file voters.

Swanson is running in the DFL primary against former Congressman Bill Luther and state Senator Steve Kelley. Luther says he won't go to the convention and is urging the delegates to not endorse a candidate. Kelley is seeking the endorsement and is encouraging his supporters to attend.

The three DFLers all got into the race on the final filing day after Representative Matt Entenza dropped out. We'll have Swanson's audio up soon. Here's the audio.

You have the controls, Mr. Mulcahy

Posted at 5:01 PM on August 9, 2006 by Tom Scheck

I'm taking some much needed time off. Mike Mulcahy is on his own until Tuesday. Have a nice weekend.