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.

Comments (1)

I don't think I agree that yesterday was about an anti-incumbent attitude.

Lieberman was defeated more over Iraq, not out of an attitude that he had served long enough.

McKinney is a nutball, and her bizarre antics got her kicked out.

In Michigan Schwarz was a RINO who was defeated by a conservative. In the 2004 primary, the conservative vote was split among 5 candidates (Walberg among them). Here, Walberg was the lone conservative, and the vote went to him, and he won.

I think the advantages of being an incumbent are still intact.

Posted by Jeff | August 9, 2006 10:56 AM

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