Polinaut: August 5, 2008 Archive

The next Cheney?

Posted at 7:03 AM on August 5, 2008 by Tom Scheck

The DNC released a website called The Next Cheney that takes a look at some of the possible running mates for Republican John McCain. Gov. Pawlenty is featured on the list. It features Pawlenty's quote saying he'd stand with President Bush if his approval ratings were at 2%, his 2002 campaign fine and his stance on embryonic stem cell policy. You can take a look here.

The Daily Digest: 8-5-08

Posted at 8:35 AM on August 5, 2008 by Tom Scheck
Filed under: Daily Digest

Farmfest starts today. It features the first Senate debate between GOP Sen. Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken. MPR has a preview.

The GOP drops in voting rolls in many states.

2008 Race for Senate

A DFL funded Bush impersonator will follow around GOP Sen. Norm Coleman. The Star Tribune, KARE, the Pi Press and KSTP have stories.

2008 Race for President

Barack Obama calls for tapping the nation's oil reserves.

John McCain received a boost in oil money after he supported offshore drilling.

McCain hits Sturgis.

Obama opens an office in Rochester.

Pawlenty for VP Watch

Gov. Pawlenty speaks at Farmfest today.

The DNC creates a website called The Next Cheney. Pawlenty is featured.

Eric Cantor is being vetted but that doesn't mean he's a shoo-in.

The Wall Street Journal says Pawlenty was first with the tire gauge prop.

Congress

DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar holds a news conference today to call for fixing the problems in the terrorist watch list. The Star Tribune has a preview this morning.

GOP Rep. John Kline went back to Washington to push for an offshore drilling vote. He also blogged about the experience and said it was historic.

But it's to no avail since President Bush won't call lawmakers back for a special session on energy.

President Bush keeps U.S, Highways open to Mexican trucks. DFL Rep. Jim Oberstar is mentioned.

State Government

Inflation is hammering transportation projects.

Two Minnesota National Guard units are headed to Iraq. Gov. Pawlenty and DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar attended the ceremony in Oklahoma. DFL Sen. Amy Klobuchar also attended. MPR and AP have stories.

2008 RNC

VP Dick Cheney won't appear at the RNC.

St. Paul police say they'll have plenty of security help. WCCO says 3500 cops are needed.

Rage Against the Machine will play at the Target Center during the week of the RNC. Don't know Rage Against the Machine? It's safe to say they don't like Republicans.

Finally

Robert Novak retires.

MPR to air Pawlenty's National Press Club Speech live

Posted at 12:45 PM on August 5, 2008 by Tom Scheck

MPR News will air Gov. Pawlenty's Wednesday speech to the National Press Club live at noon. Pawlenty will speak about "Sam's Club Republicans." For a preview, check out AP's story here.

Presidential debate info

Posted at 1:12 PM on August 5, 2008 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)

The National Journal has the info on the presidential debates:

First presidential debate, 9/26 The University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS Jim Lehrer, executive editor and anchor, The NewsHour, PBS

Vice presidential debate, 10/2
Washington University in St. Louis, MO
Gwen Ifill, senior correspondent, The NewsHour, and Moderator and Managing Editor, Washington Week, PBS

Second presidential debate (town meeting), 10/7
Belmont University, Nashville, TN
Tom Brokaw, special correspondent, NBC News

Third presidential debate, 10/15
Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
Bob Schieffer, CBS News chief Washington correspondent, and host, Face the Nation

Each debate will begin at 9:00 p.m. EDT.

The Commission on Presidential Debates selected the sites, format and hosts.

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Obama's birthday

Posted at 1:19 PM on August 5, 2008 by Tom Scheck

The Late Show with David Letterman has the Top Ten Things Overheard at Barack Obama's Birthday Party (yesterday was Obama's bday).

Top Ten

10) "Where is Britney?"

9) "Hillary, get me another drink"

8) "Brett Favre hasn't decided if he's coming or not"

7) "John McCain has demanded we start drilling for oil in the punch bowl"

6) "Is Senator Craig still in the men's room?"

5) "Where's Paris?"

4) "This is the Barackiest birthday party I've ever been to"

3) No number 3 - writer watching swimming doggies

2) "Mr. Gore, please put your shirt on"

1) "Spitzer's here and he brought whores!"

For those worried, Obama's birthday present has been recovered.

The Sturgis Pool Report

Posted at 1:28 PM on August 5, 2008 by Tom Scheck (2 Comments)

Not every reporter gets to attend every campaign event but many candidates allow a pool reporter to certain events in case something significant happens. The idea is that the audio/video/copy would then be shared among the entire press corps.

Most of the reports are boring but not the one from Sturgis! Here's a glimpse of what was seen and heard:

Your pool was kept company by a crew of bikers on a balcony above the temporary stores, shouting a host of things (some nice, some not). They threw a few strands of beads our way, encouraging the reporters to perform activity a lá Mardi Gras. ("Do it for Bill O'Reilly!" one person shouted.) They were joined by two scantily-clad women, one in a version of a bikini and the other in a too-small school girl uniform, who swung on poles off to the side. A larger-than-life stone sculpture stood in the middle of the large open field, depicting a woman lying horizontally over a bike in what looked like an uncomfortable position.

You can read the pool report from John McCain's Monday night speech here.

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Praying for Rain

Posted at 2:02 PM on August 5, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

An Obama critic (and a Focus on the Family member) is praying for rain at Barack Obama's Invesco Field speech.

Discuss....

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Senate Farmfest debate

Posted at 3:05 PM on August 5, 2008 by Tom Scheck (1 Comments)

MPR and AP have stories of the Farmfest debate between GOP Sen. Norm Coleman, DFLer Al Franken and I-P candidates Dean Barkley and Steve Williams.

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