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The Daily Digest: 1-30-07

Posted at 8:15 AM on January 30, 2007 by Tom Scheck (9 Comments)
Filed under: Daily Digest

Governor Pawlenty will be leading a trade mission to India later this year. He'll announce the details at a morning news conference. MPR has the story.

The announcement comes on the same day that the Washington Post focuses on an Eden Prairie company that is benefiting from free trade.

Pawlenty will also sign the first bill of the year into law today. It matches the state tax code with the federal tax code. The Minnesota Daily has the story.

There are several committee chairs hoping for a big splash today. There is a large hearing in the House chamber that will focus on global warming. Another two committees will hold a hearing in North Minneapolis that will focus on the education achievement gap.

The Star Tribune says the debate on whether to start school before or after Labor Day begins again.

The Star Tribune and Forum Communications say a lawmaker is asking for ideas on property taxes.

The Pi Press reports that another made her committee take a test.

The Star Tribune has a story saying the Legislative Auditor thinks 15 counties are falling behind in helping the needy.

Minnesota's court system gets hit with a virus (the computers not those who work in the courts).

The Pi Press has a story saying veterans will get more health care choices.

Pawlenty tells a news radio station that he's wary of a troop surge.

Forum Communications and DNR officials are worried about invasive species.

Congress

Iraq war vets criticize Coleman. MPR, AP and WCCO have stories.

Coleman is also one of several members of Minnesota's congressional delegation to tell Forum Communications that it's time for a change on global warming.

The Hill also says Coleman forgot his tie.

A Minnesota guardsman asks President Bush a question through NPR.

KARE-11 has a story saying GOP Congressman Jim Ramstad calls a marine's death "a wake up call for America."

Reuters quotes DFL Congressman Collin Peterson in a story on Doha trade talks.

2008

The Star Tribune says Al Franken promises a valentine on his last day on Air America.

The Hill says Franken is giving a senate run "serious consideration." As I reported earlier, he's reaching out to state lawmakers to talk about "his future."

The Rothenberg Political Report calls a quote by DFL Party Chair Brian Melendez "absurd."

DFL Senator Amy Klobuchar is quoted in a CQ story that focuses on whether the gender gap at the ballot box helps Senator Clinton's bid for president.

Comments (9)

My God what a hideous blog!

Absolutely no content at all, nothing, nada, no commentary or opinion. Just random schizoid sentences tossed together without the slightest after thought on how they relate to each other. Nor is there any attempt to place them into any kind of context or try to say what they might mean.

Does ANY one read this Tom? Doesn't look like it. Even fewer can be bothered to take the time to comment. But by all means, keep digging. I mean, there has to be a pony in here somewhere doesn't there? Really Tom, you should get out and take a look at a real blog. See what they look like and try to do that. Real blogs are written by writers who have opinions and are passionately supported by their readers/commentators. I don't see either of those here.

BTW, before you go get your feelings hurt, try to remember that I'm doing you a favor. In the blogosphere it's the readers who train the blogers how to do their job. Trust me (and the thousands not visiting this blog) on this, this stuff is crap. You're better off chucking the whole thing and starting over.

Try picking a subject that you actually give a sh*t about and write about that. Over time, you might even pick up a reader or two. It's either that or you can keep pounding out this corporate swill. It can't possibly fill your heart with pride reading this mind numbing drivel can it? I didn't think so.

You can thank me later.

Posted by noen | January 30, 2007 11:20 PM

we have plenty of readers but thanks for your input. As far as commentary, I'll leave that to others.

But I'd love to hear your suggestions on "good blogs."

And for the record, your comments don't even come close to hurting my feelings.

Posted by tom scheck | January 31, 2007 7:06 AM

noen,

Its actually better than it used to be. Last fall it hit its nadir, mainly due to Bob Collins. Thankfully, BC has been removed and we are now spared his uninsightful, boorish blather. If you think it sucks now, you should look back in the archives to Sept and Oct. Now THAT sucked. Personally, as I news aggregator, I think Tom does a decent job. Remember, MPR is trying to be fair and balanced ... they're trying not to piss off the Republicans too much ... despite the fact that the neoclowns hate public radio and would cut off its funding in a sec if they could. Or in other words, opinion = bad, ergo no opinions.

Posted by The Big E | January 31, 2007 8:37 AM

"Remember, MPR is trying to be fair and balanced ... they're trying not to piss off the Republicans too much ... ... Or in other words, opinion = bad, ergo no opinions."

Yeah, it's exactly that attitude that wins us so many elections and earns us so much respect, huh? And MPR is hardly "fair and balanced" any more. They have swung far to the right and are busy carrying water for total nutcases like D'sousa, Kristol and others. Publishing their fascist wet dreams free of rebuttal while ignoring people like Bill Moyers or other voices from the left critical of the media. I'm not seeing the balance so maybe you could point me to the shows here on MPR that serve the poor, the blacks and the hispancs? Could you point out to me where in MPR it is not selling crap to upper middle class white housewives?

"we have plenty of readers but thanks for your input."

A hit is not a reader.

Posted by noen | January 31, 2007 11:32 AM

So someone is reading Tom's blog, then comments that it sucks and that's why nobody is reading it. And then another pipes in to talk about how much it sucked before?

C'mon, folks. If you're going to be a troll, at least DISGUISE it.

Look, a blog is whatever its writer wants it to be. The arrogance of those who pretend to speak for the blogosphere is the same arrogance that they accuse mainstream media of.

A blog can also be a place for conversation with commenters, if they so choose, offering their own insights; assuming they have some . And by way of definition, I don't consider insight to be "yo, you suck."

It's a big world, and a big blogosphere, whose beauty is there are no rules. Everyone is free to stay, or move along to the next tollbooth.

Posted by Bob Collins | January 31, 2007 2:36 PM

Goodness. I am always renewed by finding the best of humanity online.

I always appreciate your roundups, Tom.

Posted by Jeff | January 31, 2007 4:47 PM

Bob,

Once again I would just like to say how glad I am you are no longer posting on polinaut. Call neon what you want and call me whatever you want, but the arrogance, sir, is clearly on your part (and pretty much always has been). I cannot speak for neon, but I was giving my opinion. I am not a troll, but a regular reader. I speak for nobody but myself. I think neon has a legitimate beef with MPR/NPR. There has been a rightward trend in its reporting. MPR/NPR has been carrying the right wing storylines more often than before and without the critical analysis that used to be why I liked MPR/NPR so much. There is nothing wrong with holding institutions in which you are a member to higher standards.

Furthermore, sir, I was insulting you and polinaut when you were involved it. It is so much better in your absence. I don't think that is trolling ... its actually called 'FLAMING'.

The Big E

Posted by The Big E | February 1, 2007 9:01 AM

The question is whether people avail themselves of the opportunities to intelligently expand upon ideas that may be put forward by a blog writer, or even participate in intelligent discourse. Or whether they are, instead, infatuated and self-satisfied merely with the opportunity to pout out loud.

Tom is a reporter, a political reporter, for MPR. Demanding his commentary or opinion may not be a good fit while he's in the middle of covering the Capitol as a reporter. Nonetheless, he provides an opportunity by way of these comments, for people who do have an opinion or a commentary on the political issues he outlines on the Daily Digest to do so.

It's also an opportunity to ask him a question about what's going on at the Capitol. But to do that, one must first make at least a cursory attempt at civility.

Posted by Bob Collins | February 1, 2007 3:57 PM

Bob and Tom,

Not that I try especially to be civil, but you both do a fine job.

Of course, anyone who thinks MPR has swung to the right has bitten his own credibility in the jugular. Two words for you; Bob Garfield.

MBerg

Posted by mitch | February 15, 2007 3:44 PM

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