Polinaut: August 23, 2006 Archive

GOP candidate for attorney general to file complaint against Mike Hatch

Posted at 11:56 AM on August 23, 2006 by Tom Scheck

Republican Attorney General Candidate Jeff Johnson has scheduled a news conference for this afternoon where he'll announce an ethics complaint against Attorney General Mike Hatch. An official with Johnson's campaign says the MN Republican Party is filing the complaint against Hatch. Hatch, the DFL endorsed candidate for governor, is involved in a dispute with a Ramsey County District Court Judge.

Here's the Johnson release:

Jeff Johnson to Discuss Ethics Complaint Being Filed Against Attorney General Mike Hatch

Who: Republican Attorney General Candidate Jeff Johnson
What: Johnson will discuss ethics complaint to be filed with the Office of Lawyer’s Professional Responsibility against Attorney General Mike Hatch
When: 2:15pm, Wednesday August 23rd, 2006
Where: State Office Building Room 181

The Daily Digest: 8-23-06

Posted at 12:01 PM on August 23, 2006 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)

President Bush's visit to Minnesota leads the digest.

MPR, the Star Tribune, the Pi Press and the St. Cloud Times have stories.

The Star Tribune's Nick Coleman has a column saying some GOP faithful aren't that faithful this year.

One reason may be the war in Iraq. The New York Times has a story saying polling suggests Americans are shifting their thinking about the global war on terror and the war in Iraq. The story says a majority aren't linking the two.

But The National Review says the GOP may be getting back some momentum.

Attorney General Mike Hatch's dispute with a Ramsey County District Court Judge is in the news again. The Pi Press has a story saying the judge disputes Hatch's characterization that they had a "brief" call. Republicans are getting into the fray as well. Republican AG candidate Jeff Johnson will announce an ethics complaint against Hatch at 2:15. Hatch is the DFL endorsed candidate for governor.

Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty's campaign distributed "Pawlenty facts on a stick" to the press corps today. The fans feature a photo of a relaxed Pawlenty on the front and some facts on the back. They mention Pawlenty's job balancing the budget, the passage of a crime bill and 100,000 new jobs in the state. I wonder if we'll see the fans at The MN State Fair.

Pawlenty is also mentioned in a USA Today story on how states are listing meth offenders on a website.

Craig Westover wonders where the big issues are in the MN Senate race.

MPR has a story on the hearing regarding the tax for a new Twins ballpark.

The progressive group, Take Action Minnesota, endorsed Keith Ellison for Congress. By the way, Ellison, Ember Reichgott Junge, Mike Erlandson and Paul Ostrow will debate the issues at the MPR booth at the MN State Fair on Thursday at noon.

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The Minnesota State Fair

Posted at 7:13 PM on August 23, 2006 by Tom Scheck

The 2006 Minnesota State Fair is just hours away from opening. Since I live 8 blocks from the event, I have a love/hate relationship with the event. I hate that people throw garbage in my yard. I love that so many different people make the fair an annual trip and event.

Everyone knows that pronto pups and politics go hand in hand at the fair. The Fair is the official start of the 2006 campaign since it's when the average voter starts paying attention.

This year you can pick up a "Pawlenty Facts on a Stick," fan to cool yourself off, page through the "2006 Minnesota Piglet Book" (The Taxpayer's League book on wasteful spending in Minnesota which will be released on Saturday) or vote for the worst road in Minnesota (from a group that supports dedicating all of the Motor Vehicle Excise Tax to transportation).

The Minnesota Senate (nonpartisan) will also conduct an unofficial State Fair Poll that asks if liquor stores should be open on Sundays, if a half cent 7 county sales tax should be created to fund transit projects and if a statewide smoking ban should be enacted.

You also won't be able to throw a cheese curd without hitting a candidate. Governor Pawlenty will be in a "knowledge bowl event" at 8:30 at the MN Department of Education booth on Thursday morning and will speak at the Eco Experience Grant Opening at 10:30. Republican Congressman Mark Kennedy says he'll be at the Fair almost every day. The DFL Party says their endorsed Senate candidate, Amy Klobuchar, will be at the DFL booth at 5 o'clock on Thursday, August 24th. The DFL party's endorsed candidate for governor, Mike Hatch, will be at the booth on Thursday, August 31st at 6PM.

MPR is also hosting two debates. Four of the DFLers running for Congress in Minnesota's 5th Congressional District will debate the issues on Midday at noon on Thursday, August 24th. It will be at the MPR booth.

The Major Party endorsed candidates for the U.S. Senate will debate the issues on September first at 11 AM in Carousel Park. MPR also had a debate for governor scheduled but it was canceled after Governor Pawlenty and Mike Hatch declined the invitation. Sigh.

Let us know of any other candidate appearances, interesting fair events (political only please) or if you just want to share your favorite Minnesota State Fair experience (political only unless it's a really, REALLY good story).