Category: Minnesota Politics

by Dave Mindeman

I spent the evening in Eagan attending a town hall forum by Republican Representative Lynn Wardlow of District 38B. He brought in a lot of reenforcements --

Mary Liz Holberg, District 36A Lakeville
Pat Garafolo, District 36B Farmington
Dennis Ozment, District 37B Rosemount
Joyce Peppin, District 32A, Rogers

and House Minority Leader Marty Seifert.

Seifert still loves his visual aids. He "impressed" everyone with his list of DFL potential taxes and his ever amazing flow chart of the various committees and sub-committees that the House majority "wastes" our time and money on.

But it was the audience that kind of scared me. These people have swallowed the no tax line right into their gut.

We had a nurse who worked in Hennepin County who is seriously convinced that illegal immigrants are eating up all the health care dollars. She even brought up the old--"the welfare people flock to our state to get free health care" argument. (Are there no prisons.. are there no workhouses -- no, she didn't say that... I guess Dickens has dibs).

A smartly dressed gentleman gave a passionate rendition of the old "school vouchers" lingo -- convinced that abortion and public education are the main state evils.

Another character disparaged the need for "another" school levy when they keep utilizing all these unnecessary counselors and therapists and behaviorists. Education money was simply being wasted on all these projects. I'm still not sure he realizes that this special eduation help is mandated by the Federal government but not funded by the Federal government.

I'll have to give the Republican representatives a little credit. They didn't try to pander to this rhetoric...at least not much. They let them rant and then usually moved to the next topic.

Rep. Garafolo had a curious hand out. He had a nice little pie chart (I am sure Seifert loved it). One side represented the 2006-07 biennium. It circled Education and its 42.4% share of the total budget. He labeled it before. The other side had the 2008-09 fiscal budget and education was again circled with a 39.8% total. He labeled it After. He then blamed the House DFL for reducing education spending (as a % of the overall budget) to below 40%. Somehow, the House Majority was "shortchanging" K-12 by increasing dollars but reducing its share of the budget.

With all the ensuing vetos and the demagoguery on the tax bills, Garafolo has the nerve to criticize the DFL for "underspending" even though in actual dollars there was a 2% gain.

He didn't mention that debt service went up from 2.4% of the budget to 2.6%. A rising number in that area is a danger sign. Not only is that a number that locks out revenue from any other use, but it can also start to affect our bond rating. Yet, the House Republicans still want to patch transportation with bonding only.

If the rhetoric is any indication of their position, we are in for another session of stonewalling and obstruction from the House. Minnesota used to be a state of big ideas.....it was hard to find anything of substance at this gathering.

Category: Minnesota Politics

by Dave Mindeman

What is it with the Twin Cities airport? That place isn't dangerous beause of any terror threats....it more dangerous because of the insane policies of its departments and customs.

Today's news about the treatment of the Finnish musicians is the latest in a series of incidents not exactly corroborating the "Minnesota Nice" tradition.

Of course, it is hard to forget the detention of the 6 Muslim Immams from last year.

Then of course we have the Larry Craig incident. Outside of the stupidity of Senator Craig, why are the airport police focusing on bathrooms and not on passenger safety?

Other incidents keep popping up. A Somali woman employee at the airport was fired because she refused to wear pants.

An Asian gentleman was detained and his laptap searched for over 4 hours because of suspected posession of "child pornography" even though he explained that his job was in technology and routinely did general searches which often brought in questionable material.

Then there is the jet fuel leaks a couple years ago, the airport noise controversy, and the dispute with the Muslim cab drivers.

If you are planning a trip through our wonderful airport... make sure you are white and anglo saxon, driving your own vehicle, have no carry on baggage, are not religious, and have good bladder control.

If you qualify, have a nice trip!

Oh, by the way.....let's hope the plane doesn't crash.

Category: Presidential Politics

by Dave Mindeman

It has been interesting to watch the Democratic and Republican establishment lock into a candidate scenario involving Senator Clinton and Rudy Giuliani....its like the vote has been pre-ordained.

I have nothing against Hillary and I still think logically, that she will be the nominee; but if you let yourself daydream a little.......

DATELINE: Ames, Iowa -- January 4th, 2008

In a stunning upset, Barak Obama rode a late surge of Iowa caucus supporters and defeated Hillary Clinton 41% to 30%. John Edwards was a distant 3rd with 19%. On the Republican side, Mitt Romney was victorious as expected with 39% of caucus goers; but Mike Huckabee came in with a surprising 2nd place finish, getting 21%, narrowly edging out Rudy Giuliani with 20%. John McCain came away with a disappointing 9%.

In his victory speech, Obama claimed his upset as a vindication of his ideas for a new politics in America. An obviously disappointed Clinton spoke of renewing the fight in New Hampshire, and her husband Bill vowed she would be the "comeback gal".

However, late afternoon polling in New Hampshire indicated that Obama's surge was rising in the Granite State, too. The numbers took on a similar reversal with Obama capturing 42% in the new poll with Clinton falling back to 29%. Indications were being noted across the state that Independent voters were flocking to the Obama camp.

The same seemed to be holding true in new South Carolina numbers. Democratic Black voters, intrigued with the notion of a real and viable Obama candidacy, were staging their own surge and the Obama numbers in South Carolina were pushing the mid-40's.

Meanwhile, the Republicans were assessing their own campaigns. Huckabee's strong showing put a damper on the Giuliani camp's enthusiasm. But staffers for Rudy seemed to be talking more about the Obama upset. One was quoted as saying..."Hey, our whole focus has been on a "deathmatch" with Hillary Clinton. When we saw the Obama numbers we all looked at each other and said, "Hey, we got nothing...."

Republican campaigns were thrown into a frenzy as the idea of a frontrunner seemed to be out the window. One New Hampshire voter gave his opinion in this way, "Everyone has been assuming we would have to find a way to beat Clinton.... and Rudy was making that his entire campaign. With an Obama candidacy looming now... well, I think its wide open; I know I'm going to take a second look."

Yes, it looks like everybody is taking that second look. Iowa caucused and the earth moved.

Hey, its just a daydream -- don't take it seriously.