Polinaut: September 24, 2007 Archive

The Daily Digest: 9-24-07

Posted at 11:05 AM on September 24, 2007 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

The suburbs lead the digest. The Star Tribune and the Pi Press say the suburbs are turning purple. They use GOP Rep. Jim Ramstad's retirement as the hook.

The Star Tribune takes a look at GOP Rep. Jim Ramstad.

State Government

Forum Communications does a setup of the statewide smoking ban which starts on October 1st.

The state is using more E-85.

Gov. Pawlenty gives the silver star to a soldier.

There was a Friday hearing on cameras in the courtroom. Forum Communications and AP have stories.

Pawlenty will be speaking at an Eden Prairie church in October.

I-35W bridge

MnDOT says some metro area transportation projects could get shelved in order to float money to pay for the I-35W bridge. The Star Tribune and MPR have stories.

MPR profiles Flatiron.

Congress

GOP Sen. Norm Coleman doesn't like the politics going on regarding the Iraq war.

DFL Rep. Tim Walz will attend a field hearing on the backlog at the VA.

GOP Rep. John Kline is making his fifth trip to Iraq since the '03 invasion.

Some moderates go to dinner to try to bridge the partisan divide. The meals may get a little bit lonelier now the GOP Rep. Jim Ramstad is retiring (he's mentioned in the story).

Ramstad is also mentioned in the New York Times on the departure of veteran Republicans.

Dakota County Commissioner are frustrated with the "gamesmanship" regarding St. Paul's bulk mail relocation plans. Coleman, Kline and DFL Rep. Betty McCollum is mentioned.

Forum Communications says the Farm Bill isn't just for farmers.

DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar says Mayo presents the case against DM and E.

2008

CNN says the numbers give Democrats an edge in the 2008 senate races. GOP Sen. Norm Coleman is mentioned.

Johnson: GOP can win the 3rd

Posted at 11:47 AM on September 24, 2007 by Bob Collins (2 Comments)

Required reading -- for both Republicans and Democrats -- comes today from Jeff Johnson, the former state representative from Plymouth, defeated candidate for attorney general in 2006, and now a candidate for Hennepin County Commissioner.

Johnson, writing in the Star Tribune on the 3rd District race has words of advice and caution for Republicans who may be fretting that the district is unwinnable for conservative Republicans.

Taking a few shots at those who think the only way the seat can be held is if Republicans nominate a moderate, Johnson contends a true conservative can energize a base that needs energizing.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not a Republican who believes that we should drive moderates out of the GOP. I believe our party should be broad and deep, welcoming those who support many of our core beliefs even while disagreeing with parts of our platform. I just don't think that those of us who are conservatives in the Third have to choose a candidate who is much more liberal than we are in order to win next year.

If Johnson's treatise sounds familiar, it's close to the one the Republicans used to great success in the election of 2002, as delivered then by Ron Eibensteiner in 2002 (i.e. "Talk about the issue that the voters cares most about, and keep your mouth shut about everything else.")

Eibensteiner, you'll recall, was forced out of his job for straying from the principles embraced by some of the most influential party members.

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