Daily Digest 8-30-07

By now it's becoming painfully clear we won't have a Twins playoff run to divert our attention from more serious stories...like the travails of Sen. Larry Craig. So we'd better start the digest there again.

2008

You've probably already heard that Sen. Norm Coleman was one of the first Republican senators to call for Craig to resign. The Washington Post reports he's also returned some campaign money Craig gave him.

But Coleman isn't the only 2008 Senate candidate from Minnesota who's returning campaign contributions. You can see that Democrat Al Franken is too when you read this NY Times piece about a donor who gave Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign $23,000.

And back in Sen. Craig's home state, a report that conservatives were already upset with him.

Iraq

With about two weeks to go before the White House is due to weigh in with its progress report on Iraq, a draft of a GAO report has leaked, and it's not looking good.

Yet the NY Times reports that the Bush administration believes it's gaining the upper hand in the debate over the troop surge.

Minnesota

Gov. Pawlenty now says he'll support a nickel per gallon gas tax increase, but he still wants it to be temporary and at least partially offset by an income tax cut. The Pioneer Press interprets some of Pawlenty's remarks as meaning he doesn't necessarily want a special session.

And as the Twins hold a ceremonial groundbreaking for their new stadium today, the Vikings have backed off a plan to buy some downtown Minneapolis real estate from the Star Tribune's new owner. The Strib, Pioneer Press and AP have stories.

MPR has a piece about the U of M getting ready for bridge collapse-related transportation problems when school starts next week.

Finally

As if the (unofficial) end of summer this weekend wasn't bad enough, now we have a new mosquito to contend with. I guess a drought, a flood and a bridge collapse just weren't enough this year! Enjoy your picnic this weekend and bring the DEET.