Polinauttag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2009:/collections/special/columns/polinaut//492009-07-09T20:48:56ZWe explore the universe of campaigns and politics. Join us in the search for intelligent life.Movable Type 4.21-enPawlenty in Aspen, the Videotag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2009:/collections/special/columns/polinaut//49.381492009-07-09T20:05:30Z2009-07-09T20:48:56ZThe Atlantic has more of Gov. Tim Pawlenty from the Aspen Ideas Festival.Tim Nelson
MPR on Monday. The Atlantic put up a video interview with him.
He does directly address a potential presidential run. Sort of. It's at about the 7 minute mark:
"I don't know what the future holds, but I am going to try to continue to speak, both in Minnesota and nationally, about how to improve the Republican party and see if there's some support for what I propose. And we'll see where that leads. But I don't know what I'm going to be doing three years from now."
]]>
HUD Secretary in town tomorrowtag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2009:/collections/special/columns/polinaut//49.381422009-07-09T18:42:54Z2009-07-09T19:03:03ZHUD secretary to check out Minneapolis' foreclosure crisis.Tim NelsonU.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan will be in town tomorrow. He's going to "assess the foreclosure crisis in North Minneapolis and attend a groundbreaking ceremony at the Minneapolis Housing Authority's Cedars Apartments."
The project is getting stimulus money for "energy efficiency upgrades." Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak will be escorting Donovan through town.]]>
Reed has raised $230k for CD 6tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2009:/collections/special/columns/polinaut//49.381402009-07-09T18:22:05Z2009-07-09T19:36:43ZFormer IP lieutentant governor contender Maureen Reed says she's raising money at a "blistering pace" for a DFL bid against Rep. Michele Bachmann.Tim Nelson
2:30 Update: Olson says they expect to have about $213,000 cash on hand.]
"It's wonderful to have this kind of financial success and know that people are so supportive of it. It's not just the number itself, as much as it is an indication of how many people just want a change and are confident that this effort is going to be the change they want," Reed said.
She'll need the dough. Bachmann reported having $224,000 in the bank last quarter and raising money at nearly $100,000 a month in a non-election year. Her last opponent, Elwyn Tinklenberg still reports $184,000 in the bank, but raised only $120 in the first quarter.
The reports due July 15 will total money raised by a June 30 fundraising deadline.]]>
Survey: Coleman hurt by recounttag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2009:/collections/special/columns/polinaut//49.381302009-07-09T16:09:02Z2009-07-09T18:13:04ZNorm Coleman's prospects have been dimmed by the recount, Public Policy Polling says.Tim Nelson
here. It says Coleman's numbers are 38 percent positive, 52 percent negative.
Says Dean Debnam, president of PPPL "Clearly the recount saga damaged Norm Coleman's chances at being elected to office again in Minnesota. You have
to wonder how much more goodwill he would have been able to earn with voters in the
state if he had decided to take the high road and concede six months ago."
The poll also pitted R.T. Rybak, Mark Dayton and Margaret Anderson Kelliher against Coleman in a touch-tone auto survey of 1,491 voters on Tuesday and Wednesday. Rybak led 43-37, and Dayton 41-39. Kelliher trailed 34-42. No mention of other prospects, like St. Paul mayor Chris Coleman, former Rep. Matt Entenza or Ramsey Co. Attorney Susan Gaertner.
Public Policy says they'll have numbers on Barack Obama and Tim Pawlenty tomorrow.
]]>
Daily Digesttag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2009:/collections/special/columns/polinaut//49.381222009-07-09T12:11:51Z2009-07-09T14:49:51ZThe Blue Dog days of summer, Amy Klobuchar's teen crush and Bob Fletcher's reprise in today's Daily Digest.Tim Nelson
Congress
Michele Bachmann got a shout out from Politico about the role of kids in political careers. She says her five weighed in on her run. (She also has 23 foster kids - practically a winning Senate race margin right there.)
Speaking of the 6th District Republican, Politics in Minnesota says the state Senate's assistant majority leader, Tarryl Clark, of St. Cloud, may be edging from the race for governor to a Bachmann challenge.
And the Humphrey Institute's Smart Politics blog asks how blue the "Blue Dog" Democrats like Collin Peterson really are. Here's the money shot:
Meanwhile, Minnesota's lone Blue Dog Representative, Collin Peterson, voted with the President's stated position 81 percent of the time - tied for the 16th lowest percentage among House Democrats
And one we overlooked yesterday, in all the Jonas Brothers excitement: The Pioneer Press's Ross Raihala pegged U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar's teen crush as The Partridge Family's David Cassidy. "What I most remember is the album cover (1971's "Up to Date"), with all their birthdays on it," remembers the senior Senator. "I still remember David's birthday -- April 12."
Other
City Pages has the latest installment of one of Minnesota's longest running political dramas. They profile Bob Fletcher again.
The Strib is reporting that a state computer snafu has pulled more than 18,000 traffic convictions out of mothballs, and they're now catching up with drivers. Phyllis Kahn's House State Government Finance committee is also talking about a state IT audit this afternoon.]]>
Pawlenty on tourtag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2009:/collections/special/columns/polinaut//49.381152009-07-08T22:48:25Z2009-07-08T22:59:39ZGovernor Pawlenty is off to Tennessee tomorrow for the Education Commission of the States conference.Tim Nelson
agenda looks tailor-made for the retiring governor. (He is the chair of the organization, after all.) But he's on the list only for a rather generic sounding session with Jeb Bush, the former Republican governor of Florida, and Phil Bredesen, the incumbent Democrat running Tennesee. Here's the pitch:
Governors respond to challenges in meeting workforce needs including: retooling workers through increased access to training, validating skills and credentials; policies that attract and support globally competitive, state-led regional economies; leveraging and aligning federal programs to maximize impact and minimize duplication; and the role of K-12 in the states economy
]]>
Pogemiller wants equal timetag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2009:/collections/special/columns/polinaut//49.381142009-07-08T22:34:39Z2009-07-08T22:47:49ZSenate Majority Leader wants some air time to rebut the governor on WCCO.Tim Nelsonletter from Larry Pogemiller.
MPR's Toni Randolph hasn't heard back yet from 'CCO SVP Mick Anselmo, but says that Pawlenty himself pushed for equal time back during the Jesse Ventura administration.]]>
Study: Campaign refund is a national modeltag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2009:/collections/special/columns/polinaut//49.381112009-07-08T22:15:43Z2009-07-08T22:31:02ZA Campaign Finance Institute study says Minnesota should reinstate political contribution refunds.Tim Nelson
new study today.
"Minnesotans participate in the system, financially, at a much greater rate than the rest of the nation," Malbin said in an interview this afternoon. "About 5 percent of adults make a political contributions. That's really big. The more normal number around the nation is more like 1 percent."
Malbin says the Legislature ought to try to reinstate the money for the program next year. He says it will be the big year for candidate contributions, and it helps turn constitutents from "town hall meeting" observers and supplicants to active participants in the political process. "The result is, you get better representation."
He said he uses Minnesota as an example of what states can do to reform campaign finance when he speaks around the nation.
Republicans beg to differ, and deputy party chair Michael Brodkorb did exactly that this afternoon. "I don't think there is a role for the state government in terms of spending money, regardless of whether there's money in the bank or whether there is a deficit... in funding partisan campaigns. I just don't see how that could ever be a legitimate priority."
That's despite numbers from Malbin that show party contribution refunds favored the Republicans by a nearly 2-to-1 margin in 2007, the last year the study looked at.
"Our party will clearly take a hit," Brodkorb said, "but we'll just have to work harder at grassroots involvement."]]>
Brod suspends gubernatorial "exploration"tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2009:/collections/special/columns/polinaut//49.380982009-07-08T17:39:13Z2009-07-08T17:50:54ZState Rep. Laura Brod is suspending her nascent run for governor. She announced her plans with this letter on her facebook page: Friends, Over the past month, I have been talking to friends, family and activists about what it will...Tim Nelson
Friends,
Over the past month, I have been talking to friends, family and activists
about what it will take to win next year's election for Governor. I have
been truly humbled by the support and encouragement so many have given to
me. In just a few short weeks, a talented group of volunteers formed and
laid out a winning plan for 2010. As I am out and about, I am often asked
the question, "Are you going to run for Governor, Laura?" It is with this
question in mind that I write you today.
Recently I went in to the doctor for a yearly check up, and unfortunately,
found that I had some results from routine diagnostic tests which were
concerning. Last week, a second opinion confirmed what I originally learned
and set forth a treatment plan, after which I am certain I will get a clean
bill of health. Over the holiday weekend, my family and I decided right now
is not the right time to begin a campaign for the Governor so we are
suspending the conversations I have been having related to the potential of
my candidacy so we can focus our energy where it needs to be and will
evaluate where things are at in late summer.
For us, as Republicans and more importantly, for our state, the stakes could
not be higher. The outcome to the Governor's race will shape Minnesota's
direction for a generation as well as the national landscape as we redraw
our Congressional districts following the 2010 Census. Anyone who seeks the
Governor's office must understand that wanting to "be" Governor isn't
enough. The person must have a well-defined plan that goes beyond just
talking points for what they want to "do" as Governor. The candidate who
deserves our Republican endorsement for Governor will be the one who leads a
spirited discussion about bold ideas and real solutions. No matter who ends
up getting in the large field of candidates for Governor, I look forward to
that discussion.
Over the next several weeks, I will be sharing my ideas for solutions and
asking you for your input about where we need to go as a state to address
the challenges that Minnesota faces now and into the future. We need all
hands on deck to pull together our best ideas for how we can persuade
Minnesotans that we have better solutions to positively impact their
families in both the short and long term and get our state back on track. I
believe this is the ultimate path to victory in November 2010; it is how we
can win and chart a positive course for the future of Minnesota. One
delegate I spoke with put it best: "When we act like them, they win. When
we act like us, we win!
I look forward to seeing you along the way.
Warm regards,
Laura Brod
]]>
"You don't have to carry a card to be a member."tag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2009:/collections/special/columns/polinaut//49.380952009-07-08T16:48:46Z2009-07-08T22:15:32ZGen. Colin Powell seems to have fully made the transition from Cold Warrior to diplomat. He was in Minneapolis this morning to speak to the 92nd annual Lions Club International convention. He had a brief press availability before his speech....Tim NelsonGen. Colin Powell seems to have fully made the transition from Cold Warrior to diplomat. He was in Minneapolis this morning to speak to the 92nd annual Lions Club International convention.
He had a brief press availability before his speech. The political questions came fast.
First: "Would you be willing to go on with Rush Limbaugh to talk about the Republican Party, since he seems to think you're not really a member any more?"
Powell responded: "Well, I am a member. And you don't have to carry a card to be a member. And I don't need to go on with Mr. Limbaugh. He understands my position and I understand his."
Well, then. That's that. Powell did, however note that he is on a man-to-man footing with the Democratic chief executive. "I have regular conversations with Mr. Obama and his staff," Powell noted, when asked about his recent knock on the administration for "amassing a huge, huge national debt."]]>
Daily Digesttag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2009:/collections/special/columns/polinaut//49.380842009-07-08T12:28:32Z2009-07-08T18:35:51ZThe Franken saga's denouement, Seifert gets on the bus and Minnesota's district-ectomy in today's digest.Tim Nelson2010
Former House Minority Leader Marty Seifert officially got on the gubernatorial bus yesterday. MPR, the Strib and the Pioneer Press were all there at the beginning. MPR's Phil Picardi just had a newscast item calling Seifert the most prominent Republican so far to officially enter the race.
2012
It's never too early to start thinking about redistricting. The Swing State Project has opened an interesting exercise on Minnesota's potential loss of a Congressional seat after the 2010 census. The lines presume the DFL breaks its gubernatorial drought and pits Republicans John Kline and Michele Bachmann against each other. But it's a Collin Peterson/Bachmann matchup in the comments. The consolation prize? Keith Ellison's new St. Paul constituents, as shown in the backend link.
Afternoon addendum: Whoops. Missed the new Rasmussen survey on GOP contenders for 2012. Minnesota's Tim Pawlenty's 1% rankes 5 full points behind "anybody else" for preference among Republicans nationwide, along with Haley Barbour. It's Mitt Romney 25%, Sarah Palin 24%, and Mike Huckabee 22%. Newt Gingrich is 14%
Franken
Al Franken finally took the oath of office. He got Paul Wellstone's bible, but the Pioneer Press's Political Animal said he'll have to settle for Norm Coleman's desk. MPR, the Pioneer Press, the Strib and everyone else managed to get stories done between acts during the Michael Jackson memorial. Politico noted that Franken cast his first vote bucking the Obama administration.
Other
The embattled Metro Gang Strike Force got a look at its new digs and new cops at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension offices in St. Paul yesterday. The Strib has a story, as does the PP. MPR had a Q&A with state public safety chief Michael Campion.
The same day Congressman Jim Oberstar says Minnesota is getting more than $50 million in stimulus money for weatherization projects, one of President Obama's Economic Advisory Board members says another dose of economic medicine may be required.
Addendum
Whoops. Missed the new Rasmussen survey on GOP contenders for 2012. Minnesota's Tim Pawlenty rankes 5 full points behind "anybody else" among Republicans nationwide, along with Haley Barbour.]]>
Daily Digesttag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2009:/collections/special/columns/polinaut//49.380542009-07-07T12:49:42Z2009-07-07T13:29:39ZThe Republican field for governor for 2010 continues to grow, and Al Franken finally loses the "elect" appended to his U.S. Senate title.Tim Nelson
Franken
The U.S. Senator-elect becomes the U.S. Senator today. MPR, the Pioneer Press and the Strib all have stories.
2010
Third term Delano Republican Tom Emmer joins the field to succeed Tim Pawlenty, say the Strib and Pioneer Press. Former House minority leader Marty Seifert
will formally announce his bid this morning.
The budget mess
Despite decrying taxes on businesses, Pawlenty decides to hang on to their capital equipment sales tax proceeds a little longer, according to the AP.
Bemidji's loss in LGA is expected to total near $750,000 in the next two years.
Other
Governor Tim Pawlenty is attending the funeral of the father of former U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad and tax court judge Sheryl Ramstad this morning.
The BCA is hosting the Gang Strike Force's governing board at 10 a.m., to show them their new digs and talk about who's going to participate in the embattled gang unit.
An oft-excoriated part of the state veterans home in Minneapolis is being taken down, starting today, to be replaced with an updated building.]]>
The Countdowntag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2009:/collections/special/columns/polinaut//49.380402009-07-06T19:23:35Z2009-07-06T19:59:59ZAl Franken is scheduled to be sworn in at 11:15 a.m. tomorrow, Minnesota time.Tim Nelson]]>
Harry Reid: Hat tip to Vin Webertag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2009:/collections/special/columns/polinaut//49.380382009-07-06T18:50:21Z2009-07-06T18:58:27ZSenate majority leader Harry Reid kicked off Al Franken's Washington, D.C., debut with, of all things, a nod to Republican commentary on the Senator-elect. He opened this morning's press conference with a bit of Vin Weber's observation of Franken. Weber...Tim Nelson
A comedian and showman with a little bit off color history to him, but I think he will change that perception pretty quickly... I know that Al Franken is a very smart guy. He was a very serious candidate.
The question now: will the bipartisan comity actually last until tomorrow's swearing in? Or any longer than that?
]]>
Daily Digesttag:minnesota.publicradio.org,2009:/collections/special/columns/polinaut//49.380222009-07-06T12:10:25Z2009-07-06T12:23:49ZFranken Al Franken did a star turn on the Iron Range ahead of his swearing in tomorrow. The Strib and PiPress had stories. Politico weighs on in the Senate's Franken effect. Congress CQ Politics says Minnesota's 3rd District may see...Tim Nelson
Franken
Al Franken did a star turn on the Iron Range ahead of his swearing in tomorrow.
The Strib and PiPress had stories.
Politico weighs on in the Senate's Franken effect.
Congress
CQ Politics says Minnesota's 3rd District may see another "Brawl around the Mall" for 2010.
Keith Ellison was at the ribbon cutting for a "new large mosque" in...Boston. Arab News cites him as the only Muslim in Congress.
Local-bad-boy-gone-good David Carr took a long, loving look at Minnesota's recent politics, with an emphasis on Fraken, in the New York Times this weekend.
2012
Tim Pawlenty was a portrait of measured reaction to the resignation of Sarah Palin. MPR caught up with him in Aspen.
OtherDirt begins to turn for the Central Corridor. Sort of. MPR and the Strib acknowledge.
]]>
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan will be in town tomorrow. He's going to "assess the foreclosure crisis in North Minneapolis and attend a groundbreaking ceremony at the Minneapolis Housing Authority's Cedars Apartments."
The project is getting stimulus money for "energy efficiency upgrades." Minneapolis mayor R.T. Rybak will be escorting Donovan through town.]]>
Michele Bachmann got a shout out from Politico about the role of kids in political careers. She says her five weighed in on her run. (She also has 23 foster kids - practically a winning Senate race margin right there.)
Speaking of the 6th District Republican, Politics in Minnesota says the state Senate's assistant majority leader, Tarryl Clark, of St. Cloud, may be edging from the race for governor to a Bachmann challenge.
And the Humphrey Institute's Smart Politics blog asks how blue the "Blue Dog" Democrats like Collin Peterson really are. Here's the money shot:
Gen. Colin Powell seems to have fully made the transition from Cold Warrior to diplomat. He was in Minneapolis this morning to speak to the 92nd annual Lions Club International convention.
He had a brief press availability before his speech. The political questions came fast.
First: "Would you be willing to go on with Rush Limbaugh to talk about the Republican Party, since he seems to think you're not really a member any more?"
Powell responded: "Well, I am a member. And you don't have to carry a card to be a member. And I don't need to go on with Mr. Limbaugh. He understands my position and I understand his."
Well, then. That's that. Powell did, however note that he is on a man-to-man footing with the Democratic chief executive. "I have regular conversations with Mr. Obama and his staff," Powell noted, when asked about his recent knock on the administration for "amassing a huge, huge national debt."]]>
2010
Former House Minority Leader Marty Seifert officially got on the gubernatorial bus yesterday. MPR, the Strib and the Pioneer Press were all there at the beginning. MPR's Phil Picardi just had a newscast item calling Seifert the most prominent Republican so far to officially enter the race.
2012
It's never too early to start thinking about redistricting. The Swing State Project has opened an interesting exercise on Minnesota's potential loss of a Congressional seat after the 2010 census. The lines presume the DFL breaks its gubernatorial drought and pits Republicans John Kline and Michele Bachmann against each other. But it's a Collin Peterson/Bachmann matchup in the comments. The consolation prize? Keith Ellison's new St. Paul constituents, as shown in the backend link.
Afternoon addendum: Whoops. Missed the new Rasmussen survey on GOP contenders for 2012. Minnesota's Tim Pawlenty's 1% rankes 5 full points behind "anybody else" for preference among Republicans nationwide, along with Haley Barbour. It's Mitt Romney 25%, Sarah Palin 24%, and Mike Huckabee 22%. Newt Gingrich is 14%
Franken
Al Franken finally took the oath of office. He got Paul Wellstone's bible, but the Pioneer Press's Political Animal said he'll have to settle for Norm Coleman's desk. MPR, the Pioneer Press, the Strib and everyone else managed to get stories done between acts during the Michael Jackson memorial. Politico noted that Franken cast his first vote bucking the Obama administration.
Other
The embattled Metro Gang Strike Force got a look at its new digs and new cops at the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension offices in St. Paul yesterday. The Strib has a story, as does the PP. MPR had a Q&A with state public safety chief Michael Campion.
The same day Congressman Jim Oberstar says Minnesota is getting more than $50 million in stimulus money for weatherization projects, one of President Obama's Economic Advisory Board members says another dose of economic medicine may be required.
Addendum
Whoops. Missed the new Rasmussen survey on GOP contenders for 2012. Minnesota's Tim Pawlenty rankes 5 full points behind "anybody else" among Republicans nationwide, along with Haley Barbour.]]>
]]>
Dirt begins to turn for the Central Corridor. Sort of. MPR and the Strib acknowledge.
]]>