Polinaut: December 21, 2006 Archive

Wisconsin governor backs off Festivus

Posted at 11:32 AM on December 21, 2006 by Mike Mulcahy

If you want to air some grievances, send them to the Wisconson governor's office:

MILWAUKEE (AP) - If you want to celebrate Festivus in style this year, you have two more days to order your Festivus pole from its Milwaukee manufacturer.

Festivus is the wacky holiday made popular by a 1997 episode of "Seinfeld." Character Frank Costanza invents it to protest the commercialism of Christmas.

Festivus - "for the rest of us" - is celebrated on December 23rd. It features airing of grievances, feats of strength and an unadorned aluminum pole.

Last year The Wagner Companies in Milwaukee decided on a lark to sell Festivus poles. It sold about 250 last year and is on pace to sell about 600 this year.

A six-foot Festivus pole costs 38 dollars and a two-foot-eight-inch tabletop model is 30 dollars.

Governor Jim Doyle - a self-professed "Seinfeld" fanatic - displayed one last year in the governor's mansion. But he donated it to the Wisconsin Historical Society in Madison after "Seinfeld" co-star Michael Richards used racial slurs during a standup comedy routine last month.

The Daily Digest: 12-21-06

Posted at 12:07 PM on December 21, 2006 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

Let's get cooking. I have a story to do and I'm on vacation for a while.

The Star Tribune takes a look at the others who contributed to the Anti-Hatch fund.

The Marshall Independent says GOP House Minority Leader Marty Seifert is busy.

The Pi Press reports on a proposal that would direct more money to caregiving.

ECM Publishers say the school administrators have an expensive wish list.

The Isanti County News wonders if Cambridge will welcome light rail transit.

Congress

GOP Senator Norm Coleman says he doesn't support a troop increase in Iraq but supports a troop increase overall. The Marshall Independent and the AP have stories.

Coleman also mentioned in this Australian oil for food scandal story.

Mostly because the U.S. cracks down on AWB.

The Bemidji Pioneer says DFL Senator-elect Amy Klobuchar will focus on ethics.

The Pi Press reports that DFL Congressman Jim Oberstar supports United's China bid and Northwest Airlines ain't happy.

The Delta Farm Press wonders what Santa will bring farmers in '07 (DFL Congressman Collin Peterson mentioned).

Other

The National Journal picks up on a George Will column that says bloggers are not the Thomas Paine's of the here and now.

AP, the NY Times, the Star Tribune and the Washington Post look at the Virginia Congressman's criticism of Ellison.

Chuck Todd writes about the fifty lessons of 2006 (one for each state).

2008
CQ does a good job of detailing the major '08 presidential players.

Other

We find out where Governor Pawlenty likes his Thai Food. Try the garlic chicken. It's yummy!

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

Uncovered news

Posted at 1:09 PM on December 21, 2006 by Bob Collins (1 Comments)

Polinaut turned one year old yesterday.

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Fantasy Legislature -- Call for entries

Posted at 3:30 PM on December 21, 2006 by Bob Collins (11 Comments)

OK, we're ready to go. No artwork or fancy stuff yet, but the form is available online to sign up and the rules are posted.

Go here. But go quickly because I have to draft the teams next Thursday.

Tell your friends!

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Who is Bob Perry?

Posted at 5:50 PM on December 21, 2006 by Tom Scheck

I just finished up my story on Bob Perry, who donated $500,000 to "A Stronger America-Minnesota." That's the group that ran those ads criticizing Mike Hatch. You can read the story here.

I also wanted to link to Perry's contributions to 527 groups and other groups in the last campaign cycle on the story page. It didn't make it on the page so you can read it below. I linked to the final IRS report that Perry donated to. You can sort through 527 organizations here.

Perry contributions to 527s in the 2006 election cycle

Americans for Honesty on Issues - $3 million

Economic Freedom Fund - $5 million

Free Enterprise Committee - $400,000

Republican Governors Association - 2.05 million

The Club for Growth - $150,000 (according to the Center for Responsive Politics)

A Stronger America-Minnesota - $500,000

Political Money Line says Perry gave $10.8 million to federal candidates, political action committees and 527s in the 2006 election cycle.

Texans for Public Justice says he spent $16 million on Texas candidates for state office and federal candidates in '06.

I'm off until the New Year. I hope you have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful Holiday season.

The Daily Digest #2: 12-21-06

Posted at 6:07 PM on December 21, 2006 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

A task force releases its findings on the timber industry. AP has the story.

MPR wonders "Who is Bob Perry?"

Stateline reports that Governor Pawlenty isn't sending out Christmas cards this year and receives the wrath of Wonkette.

Attorney General-elect Lori Swanson proposes help for veterans. AP has the story.

Members have been named to committees in the Minnesota House. Hopefully, you'll be able to link to it here at some point.

Congress

CQ calls Tim Walz "everyman" and writes about his comings and goings after he won his election.

The Daily Journal in Fergus Falls talks to the locals (including soldiers and their families) about the war in Iraq.

Virginia Congressman Virgil Goode who warned of more Muslims in the U.S. defends his statements and won't retract them. He made the comments because DFL Congressman-elect Keith Ellison says he will swear on the Quran when he takes the oath of office. The Muslim American Society sends Goode a Quran.

Farmweek says DFL Congressman Collin Peterson supports permanent disaster relief for farmers.

Finally, Keith Ellison's send off is January 2nd. You can find out the details here.

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