Polinaut: August 18, 2006 Archive

On this point Hatch is right

Posted at 7:26 AM on August 18, 2006 by Mike Mulcahy (1 Comments)

State Republican Party Chair Ron Carey called a press conference Thursday to criticize Mike Hatch for his dust up with Ramsey County Judge William Leary. Carey said the news reports raised a series of questions, and he said a few nasty things about Hatch.

MPR called Hatch for a response. He said there's a hearing on the Leary case next week, and he didn't want to comment on the specifics. And he called Carey a paid political operative and said he would not respond to any of his statements.

Hatch has taken that position on Carey before, and I think he's right not to respond.

Don't get me wrong. I've known Ron Carey a long time, and he's a good spokesman for the Republican Party. And I'm not making any comment on the specifics of Hatch's interaction with Leary.

But what was Carey's point yesterday? That Hatch's dealings with a Ramsey County judge should be an issue in the gubenatorial campaign? If so, why doesn't Tim Pawlenty raise it? If Pawlenty wants to stay above the fray how about sending Carol Molnau out? At least she's on the ballot. Ron Carey isn't. And when was the last time we heard from Molnau?

Now before you accuse me of being partisan I think the same thing is true of DFL chair Brian Melendez. The other day he called a press conference to complain about Mark Kennedy's new TV ad. OK, now let's hear what Amy Klobuchar thinks.

Enough of the surrogates. Let the candidates stand up and make their own attacks.

By the way, Hatch will be on Midmorning today with Kerri Miller at 9 and Sue Jeffers will be Midday with Mr. Eichten at 10.

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Rowley won't dismiss aide

Posted at 9:30 AM on August 18, 2006 by Mike Mulcahy

The DFL candidate in the 2nd responds to Rep. John Kline's mailer. Here's her statement:

“John Kline may want to run against David Bailey, but he's not. He's running against Coleen Rowley, and if his attack mailers are any indication, he's running scared right now. He's also running away from his record of support for the disastrous debacle in Iraq, for the Medicare Part D program which is dropping at-risk seniors down the 'donut hole', and for privatizing Social Security,” said Rowley.

“David Bailey has made valuable contributions to the campaign, and he will continue to do so. I welcome input and advice from people with a variety of views. This necessarily means I will disagree with both my supporters and staff on certain issues at certain times. But at the end of the day, Coleen Rowley decides what Coleen Rowley stands for, period. And as a 24-year FBI agent who fought organized crime, I emphatically and unequivocally oppose legalization of all drugs, especially methamphetamine, heroin, and crack cocaine,” said Rowley

“Now that I have had to answer the ridiculous, scurrilous charge that John Kline indirectly leveled against me, I would like some answers from him. Does he agree with yesterday's ruling that Bush's surveillance of innocent Americans without oversight is unconstitutional? If he is in Congress in 2007, will he push as hard for Social Security privatization as he did in 2005? What does he say to seniors who are falling into the Medicare Part D 'donut hole' and are now responsible for 100% of their prescription drug costs? And finally, what is his plan for bringing the American occupation of Iraq to a successful conclusion? Please be specific,” said Rowley.

“When I’m in Congress, I won't hide from questions, even hard questions from my opponents. My track record shows I stand up for what I believe is right, even in the face of overwhelming adversity. And one thing I pledge right now and for as long as I'm in politics: I will never stoop to smearing an unpaid staffer on my opponent's campaign --- or anyone else --- for political gain,” said Rowley.

The Daily Digest: 8-18-06

Posted at 10:28 AM on August 18, 2006 by Tom Scheck

The conventions lead the digest this morning.

The Star Tribune's Nick Coleman wrote a column telling Twin Cities leaders to be careful what they wish for. Congressional Quarterly handicaps the Twin Cities in the DNC and RNC horse race.

Attorney general Mike Hatch was on MPR's Midmorning. You can listen to it here.

The Pi Press has a story on Governor Pawlenty's efforts to invest in hybrid electric buses.

DFLer Becky Lourey, who is challenging Hatch in the primary, emphasized the war in Iraq as a campaign issue.

There are a few stories on some of the lesser known gubernatorial candidates. The Star Tribune has a story on Sue Jeffers, who is challenging Pawlenty in the primary. The Bemidji Pioneer has a story on Green Party candidate Ken Pentel.

Republican senate candidate Mark Kennedy continues his statewide tour with stops in the Twin Cities. Here's a story from the St. Cloud Times.

The Washington Post's "The Fix" is dropping the ranking for Minnesota's senate race three spots:

9. While we don't believe that Amy Klobuchar (D) is ahead of Rep. Mark Kennedy (R) by 18 or 19 points, we do think the Democrat has a margin either in the high single or low double digits. Now that Kennedy is on television (with several terrific spots courtesy of media consultant Scott Howell) we would expect that margin to narrow somewhat, but even Republicans admit that this is a difficult race. We are beginning to suspect that our initial read on this race was right: In a matchup between a traditional Republican and a traditional Democrat in a Democratic-leaning state in a year in which the political wind is blowing at the Democrat's back, it's likely the Democrat will win. Republicans believe Kennedy's quirkiness will be a major asset in the fall and help him avoid being labeled as just another rubber stamp for President Bush. Maybe, but this race seems to be a longer shot than it was at the start of the cycle. (Previous ranking: 6)

Bloomberg also has a story on Kennedy:

Kare-11 examines Kennedy's gas ad.

The Star Tribune has a story on Kennedy's DFL opponent, Amy Klobuchar, and her proposal on Homeland Security.

Forbes ranks Minnesota as the 14th best state to do business.

Some voting experts say they expect voter turnout to be high.

The Washington Post says the GOP is losing "security moms."

And finally, American tourism in Canada is down.

Just because it's Friday...

Posted at 10:52 AM on August 18, 2006 by Mike Mulcahy

LONDON (AP) - A naked performance artist who says she experienced fantasies of "interspecies metamorphoses" while working with dead pigs has angered British animal rights activists.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals criticized an exhibition where artist Kira O'Reilly sits naked for hours with a dead pig, planned for Friday evening at the Newlyn Art Gallery in Penzance, southwest England.

"As Miss O'Reilly seems to have to depend on the shock value of using a murdered pig as a prop, perhaps lacking the talent to make it as a proper artist, may we suggest she take up a day job instead to pay the bills?" PETA said Friday in a statement. "Cruelty is not entertainment."

The exhibition is called "Inthewrongplaceness" and is described on the Tract Live Art Web site as a "slow crushing dance with a pig for one person at a time." About two dozen people have booked to see the exhibition - people watch the performance alone, for a maximum of 10 minutes - gallery director James Green said.

There had been no complaints from the public, and it has been performed before without problems, he said.

Senator Dallas Sams fighting cancer for second time

Posted at 12:40 PM on August 18, 2006 by Tom Scheck

Senate Media Services sent out a news release saying Sen. Dallas Sams (DFL-Staples) is again battling a malignant tumor. Sams successfully battled a brain tumor in 2005. He says his doctors have found a new growth and are working for a new treatment protocol.

Sams is seeking is sixth term in the Minnesota Senate and says he has no plans to suspend his campaign.