Category: Presidential Politics

by Dave Mindeman

I don't know if this is a "smoking gun" on the latest Coleman/Kazeminy connection, but Politico's The Crypt blog has a pretty interesting piece of information on this whole affair:

A lawyer for Paul McKim -- who is accusing Coleman pal Nasser Kazeminy of funneling cash to the Laurie Coleman -- handed over internal accounting sheets to the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

They show a Kazeminy-controlled oil-rig servicing company paid "service fees" to the Mrs. Coleman's employer, the Hays Companies. McKim served as the company's CEO until last Friday.

The actual invoice for a $25,000 payment is included in new documents:

The documents, intended to bolster a lawsuit McKim filed Monday against Kazeminy over the latter's handling of the company's finances, includes an invoice for an April 2007 payment of $25,000 to the Hays company and a wire transfer showing the payout.

But here is the real kicker;

But the most interesting exhibit in an apprent ledger of "past due" payments to vendors that includes a $25,000 Hays payment -- circled in pen, with the handwritten instruction: "Please pull this detail and delete... 8/19/08"

Will a story from the Strib be forthcoming? How about it Strib editors? What's the deal?

Category: Al Franken

by Dave Mindeman

OK...let's go over this one more time. We have a Senate race in Minnesota -- 3 candidates -- clear choices.

We have a Democratic Presidential nominee doing very well in Minnesota and seems poised to capture an historic election to become President of the United States.

The bottom line question...what else can Minnesota's Democratic voters do to contribute to the Presidency of Barack Obama?

Answer: Elect Al Franken.

Judging by all the polling out there, Al Franken can beat Norm Coleman simply by increasing the number of Democrats who will vote for him. So, let's look at this a little bit deeper.

Democrats have been suckered into this absurd opinion that Al Franken is somehow a very bad person. Where does that come from? From the Republican attack machine. Why, in heavens name, would you accept the word of Republican operatives about your own candidate? Especially when the real record says otherwise.

Let's look at Franken's real record: Al Franken has been happily married to his wife, Franni, for 33 years. He has written a lot of edgy things and all of it fictional. He has been an articulate spokesperson for progressive causes for a long, long time. He supported and gave money to many different Democratic candidates and was an instrumental factor in the heavy Democratic House majority in the legislature for 2006. He is a smart, outside the box thinker on policy issues. And, above all else, he will be a solid vote in favor of the Obama agenda.

If you want real change....you want Obama as your President. If you want Barack Obama to be a successful President, you will need to send Al Franken to Washington with him.

As President Bill Clinton said last night, "It's not complicated."

I know there are some of you out there who think you would have to "hold your nose" to push the Franken lever....well, if that's how you do it, then get out the clothespin, slap it over your nostrils, and "get 'er done".

This isn't just about electing Al Franken or getting rid of Norm Coleman. This is about enacting a progressive policy agenda over the next 4 years...8 years...and beyond.

Al Franken promotes that. Norm Coleman obstructs that.

And a word about Dean Barkley. Dean is a nice guy. His heart is right. He would be an OK Senator. But he won't win. His numbers have peaked at 17-18%. The support Barkley had coming from the Republicans is already peeling off. Democratic support hasn't yet...and if it doesn't, Coleman wins again.

I don't want to sit there on election night like we did in 2006 with the Governor's race. A third party candidate gave Pawlenty a second term and gave the Republicans a crumb to rally around... as well as a means to obstruct an agenda.

Don't let it happen again. Democrats, you can truly have an historic election this year. But you have to do one simple thing. Support the Democratic candidate...Al Franken.

Norm Coleman has managed to squirm and weasel his way through a number of revolving political scams. He has gotten away with it, time after time after time.

But not this time. Not if Democrats are serious about real change.

This time...make it happen. Vote Barack Obama. Vote Al Franken.

Category: Minnesota Politics

by Dave Mindeman

Margaret Anderson Kelliher, speaker the Minnesota House, would like nothing better than to get over that magic 90 member figure to provide "veto" insurance. Making that number would change the course of direction in Minnesota for the next 2 years.

It will be very, very hard. It requires holding onto all the seats the Democrats won with very narrow margins in 2006 and gaining 5 more seats in areas that have strong GOP traditions.

But aside from the difficulties, I have been struck by the inability of the Republican House caucus to recruit top quality candidates. If I can use a baseball analogy....it's like all the experienced players got traded off and now, they have promoted the farm team, -- whether they are ready for the big leagues or not.

Maybe you have seen this report (with video) in the Minnesota Independent about a public forum for District 56B. Rep. Marsha Swails' opponent Lee Bohlsen had an embarrassing time trying to answer some basic policy questions. It really is painful to watch and you have to empathize with her plight. The Republican party has clearly put her in a position she is not ready for.

In District 37, my home district, there are two new Republican candidates. In 37A, Democrat Shelley Madore is the incumbent who won a very narrow victory in 2006. This year her opponent is a young 24 year old named Tara Mack. Mack works for the Republican House caucus...a convenient place to recruit. But judging by the few public appearances she has made, she is a long, long way from someone with policy expertise. When answering questions at an education forum, she would drone on with the same talking points over and over. Nothing specific. Nothing new. No substance. Her website has absolutely no policy discussion. Three issues with bullet points; that's it.

MPR's website had an article that discussed the battle for the House and they featured Mack and Madore. The article talked about Mack meeting a voter out on the doorknocking circuit:

"One reason I'm voting for you, and I think it's you, is that you're not opposed to guns," Swanson said. "That's correct, I'm not opposed to guns," Mack replied. "I'm endorsed by the NRA."

Pretty ringing (?) endorsement (emphasis mine) from that voter. And, in the response, yet another vague answer from Mack -- what does "I'm not opposed to guns" mean? Guns under any condition? Guns for everybody? Well, Mack said the magic words ..."I'm endorsed by the NRA". That is what the GOP is counting on once again...those single issue voters. Guns, God, and Good ol' tax cuts.

The district is being flooded with mailers from outside Republican friendly interest groups. They make simplistic comparisons between the Democrat and Republican -- mostly about taxes. I have little doubt that these fliers are found in many close districts throughout the state. The message is the same, the printer is just instructed to "insert Republican candidate photo here".

In 37B, the candidate is Judy Lindsay... a hard core social conservative who reminds everybody of Michele Bachmann. She "terrorized" the local school board a few years ago trying to save the district from turning all its pupils gay. The retiring representative, Dennis Ozment, tried to deny her the nomination but, again, the "bench" was weak and Lindsay rolled to endorsement.

Now, despite the obvious "flaws" in these Republican candidates, they could very well win. Outside money is pouring in and the districts have a strong right leaning bent.

But, if all things were equal, and the voters of the districts judged these particular candidates strictly on ability and policy expertise, these districts would most assuredly be Democratic.