Polinaut: December 17, 2007 Archive

The Daily Digest: 12-17-06

Posted at 10:22 AM on December 17, 2007 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

Transportation leads the digest today.
The Star Tribune has a look at Highway 14 - which the paper calls a highway of horrors and the Hastings Bridge.

The Pi Press says plenty of other bridges are also waiting for a replacement.

Cities are planning for growth along the Northstar Commuter Rail line.

Central Corridor planners plan cutbacks to get the budget in line.

State Government

AP says some southern Minnesota businesses that were lost to the summer floods can't get timely aid because the counties didn't have disaster plans.

3M releases results of a PFBA study.

Exports of state goods is up more than 11% in the 3rd Quarter.

MPR profiles Secretary of State Mark Ritchie.

Former Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer appears in a radio ad for Minnesota Majority.

Hennepin County Sheriff spends $30,000 on a video documenting the counties reaction to the bridge collapse. It stars Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek. KARE-11 says Hennepin County Commissioner are questioning the video.

AP has a story saying a Minneapolis Church won't allow any marriages until the state allows all marriages.

The DNR wants public input on a state park plan on Lake Vermilion.

Congress has approved legislation that would strip President Bush's power to call up National Guard troops during terrorist attacks, natural disasters and other domestic emergencies. Pawlenty is mentioned.

City officials in Marshall worry that GOP House Minority Leader Marty Seifert could derail their sports project.

Gov. Pawlenty and the March of Dimes celebrate the state's infant screening program but some worry about privacy.

Gov. Pawlenty says former VP Al Gore is too partisan on global warming.

Congress

The Senate passed the Farm Bill. It includes provisions to boost sugar and dairy farmers. The Star Tribune says most subsidies were left in the bill.

GOP Sen. Norm Coleman and DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar both voted for the bill.

DFL Rep. Collin Peterson says the GOP will be harmed if President Bush vetoes the Farm Bill.

The Pi Press writes on the "Beyond the Yellow Ribbon" campaign.

Pilots get more years to fly. DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar is mentioned.

The Senate oks a pool drain safety bill backed by Klobuchar.

A Wayzata money manager, who hosted President Bush at his home for a fundraiser for GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann, is selling his home because of legal troubles.

2008

DFL U.S. Senate candidate Mike Ciresi is on Midday at 11 today.

There's a GOP primary scheduled for tomorrow for the Senate District 25 special election.

The Star Tribune looks at Minnesotans who are either in the ring or have ringside seats to the Iowa caucuses.

The Pi Press wonders if the Huckaboom could happen in Minnesota.

The Washington Post writes a profile about DFL U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken.

The economy has emerged as a key election issue.

KEYC-TV says MoveOn.org organizers visited the office of DFL Rep. Tim Walz (h/t Blue Stem Prairie).

2008 RNC

AP reports on an ethics rule allows lawmakers to party with lobbyists at the conventions.

2010

MinnPost speculates on whether St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman will run for governor. Coleman says he's focused on St. Paul.

Ciresi on MPR

Posted at 11:01 AM on December 17, 2007 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

DFL Senate candidate Mike Ciresi will be on MPR's Midday program today at 11. It's a part of the Meet the Candidates series. DFLers Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer and Jim Cohen have also been on the show in the last few weeks.

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Presidential Profiles

Posted at 2:13 PM on December 17, 2007 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

The Associated Press and the Washington Post just finished profiles of all of the "front runners" in the presidential race. I thought some folks would be interested in reading about the candidates so I'm providing links to the profiles below. I'm also providing links to the candidate profile pages at the New York Times.

Democratic Candidates

New York Senator Hillary Clinton
AP - Washington Post - New York Times

Former North Carolina Senator John Edwards
AP - Washington Post - New York Times

Illinois Senator Barack Obama
AP - Washington Post - New York Times

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson
AP - New York Times (NOTE - Washington Post didn't profile Richardson)

GOP Field

Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani
AP - Washington Post - New York Times

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee
AP - Washington Post - New York Times

Arizona Senator John McCain
AP - Washington Post - New York Times

Former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney
AP - Washington Post - New York Times

Former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson
AP - Washington Post - New York Times

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Ron Paul: Happy Boston Tea Party!

Posted at 5:19 PM on December 17, 2007 by Tom Scheck

As an earlier comment suggested, Ron Paul is raking in the cash again. The GOP Congressman announced that he raised $6 million on Sunday for his presidential campaign. Paul's "money bomb" came from internet contributors. The date of the fundraiser coincides with the 234th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. The Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post have stories.

Why no Huckaboom in Minnesota?

Posted at 6:00 PM on December 17, 2007 by Tom Scheck (3 Comments)

Bill Salisbury with the Pioneer Press writes a great story on Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee's meteoric rise in Iowa. One of the fascinating lines in his piece is this:

Iowa may be a must-win state for Huckabee. Unlike Romney and Giuliani, who have well-financed national campaign operations, he has little money and almost no organization outside Iowa.

That was apparent at the Minnesota Republicans' State Central Committee meeting Dec. 8 in Blaine. Romney, Giuliani, Thompson, Hunter and Paul had volunteers at tables handing out lapel stickers, posters and T-shirts to the party's 300 leading activists. The Huckabee campaign was AWOL.

Carey, the party chairman, said he couldn't even find a Huckabee contact in the state, much less get national campaign operatives to return his phone calls.

I was told by someone that former Governor Al Quie was backing Huckabee but Quie just told me that it was "strictly humor and rumor."

I checked the FEC site to see who is supporting Huckabee in Minnesota. Here's what I found:

Total number of Minnesotans who gave to Huckabee through 9/30: 12

Total contributions from Minnesota donors: $5911

Largest contribution: Peter Schoon of Orono gave at total of $1600. He's the CEO of System Support Solutions.

Smallest contribution: Larry Orth, a Calvary Church Pastor in Rochester, gave $30.

Interesting tidbit: Two Wal-Mart employees gave to Huckabee's campaign. Kimberly Little, of Maplewood, is a Wal-Mart cashier. Wendy Jones, of Bovey, is a stocker for Wal-Mart.

Of course, all of these contributions came before Huckabee started surging in the polls. Expect to see a few more Minnesota names on the updated list.

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