Polinaut: October 17, 2007 Archive

A Tsongas comeback

Posted at 9:20 AM on October 17, 2007 by Bob Collins (2 Comments)

Since he's dead now, I suppose I can admit I was a big fan of Paul Tsongas, who also happened to be my congressman when I lived in Massachusetts. He also got one of my many wasted votes when he ran for higher office.

And back when I was a kid reporter in a small town radio station, I interviewed his wife, Nikki (we weren't a big enough community to get the candidate to swing through; we got the wife). At the time, that was big stuff for me.

So it's interesting to note today that Nikki Tsongas is going to Congress. I believe she becomes the first woman from Massachusetts since Peg Heckler, who also had the seat for awhile in what is, perhaps, the most gerrymandered district in Massachusetts.

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Daily Digest 10-17-07

Posted at 9:40 AM on October 17, 2007 by Mike Mulcahy
Filed under: Daily Digest

Mr. Scheck is out of town and has left me in control of the Digest. Let's start with the 35W bridge. The AP has been searching MnDOT documents and finds consultants suggested electronic monitoring of parts of the span before the old bridge collapsed.

Two ordinary Minnesotans are suing MnDOT over the winning bid on the new bridge. They happen to be represented by a lawyer who also represented some of the losing bidders on the project. Just about everyone has the story, and the Pioneer Press put it on the front page.

State

Gov. Pawlenty leaves today for a trade mission to India. Most of the other members of the state delegation don't leave until Friday or Saturday, but Pawlenty goes to China for a quick stop first. The governor holds a press conference before he goes and no doubt someone will ask him about the new unemployment numbers. As the Star Tribune and others note the state unemployment rate is now .2 percent higher than the national rate.

A new report funded by the McKnight Foundation says the federal government should be more agressive in using the Clean Water Act to protect the Mississippi River. MPR and others have the story.

The state Senate Economic Development Budget Division meets Wednesday to get an update on flood relief in southeastern Minnesota. MPR has a piece about the state requiring flood victims to apply for federal aid before they can get state help.

Congress and 2008

Rep. Michele Bachmann wants TV stations to stop running ads critical of her position on SCHIP. Do you think that will get the blogosphere humming? Check out the story from the Star Tribune.

Iowa appears headed toward a Jan. 3 date for caucuses. What about New Hampshire?

Finally

Some research done in Minnesota helped scientists conclude that drug-resistant staph infections kill more people each year than AIDS, Parkinson's, emphysema or homicide. So there's one more thing to worry about today.

Idiocy and the Constitution

Posted at 2:11 PM on October 17, 2007 by Bob Collins

If you can believe him -- and I guess I do -- Jeff Jarvis (BuzzMachine) reports he filled out his absentee ballot in New Jersey today and there was a question on it to change the language of the state's constitution, denying the right to vote to idiots (and others).

Fill in obvious punch line here.

How to ruin a good gig

Posted at 2:35 PM on October 17, 2007 by Bob Collins (4 Comments)

Pretend to be a candidate for president, and then consider seriously becoming one.

Where would someone come up with such an idea?

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