TO: Dean Barkley
cc: Names redacted
FROM: Bill Hillsman
RE: State of the Race/Closing Weekend
DATE: 10/30/08
Here’s where we believe the campaign stands entering the final weekend:
According to all the indicators we are looking at, Dean is between 22%-25% and rising. This comes from reviewing the available poll data and from key indicators like the Democratic primary vote, analysis of the Wellstone swing vote and the Ventura vote, the last two independent gubernatorial votes and Dean’s federal electoral performance.
It will be tough to win, but it’s possible if the campaign and the party pull out all the stops this weekend and on Monday-Tuesday to get out the vote and tell people why Dean is the right choice.
STATE OF THE RACE
We’ve seen this movie before. While the press and the other two campaigns seem to have concluded that Dean cannot win (and some have tried to portray him as a spoiler), independent Minnesota voters like underdogs and don’t like being told what is going to happen before any of them have cast a vote. So the reality right now is: Norm could win. Al could win. Dean could win.
Here’s why:
1. Historically, traditional polling has underrepresented independent voters in MN, especially in high turnout elections. Self-identified Independent voters approach 40% of the electorate in this state, with a baseline of at least 24%. So I wouldn’t put too much stock in any current polling, because their models have yet to reflect this reality.
2. Ten years ago, exit polls and our own analysis showed Ventura topping out in the high 20s or at 30%, maximum. But high turnout pushed him to 37%. And we know there will be not just high turnout, but incredibly high turnout this election.
Ten years ago, voters were angry at their government for what seems—in retrospect—to be no good reason. Today we have an economy in shambles, a continuing two-front war, one of the most unpopular Presidents in history, Congress with a 9% approval rating, more dysfunctional partisanship than ever, and a real demand for responsible, accountable change. There is a lot for people to be angry about.
So this is definitely a change election. Our fate rests in whether people want responsible, accountable change or if they simply decide to trade one partisan politician for another. If the candidate, the campaign, and the party can communicate that Dean represents the former, we have a solid chance at pulling off this upset despite the obscene spending deficit we are working against.
There remains a lot of elasticity in this race. Coleman, because of his ties to the Bush Administration and because of the damaged Republican brand, can’t rely on absolute solid support of much more than 28%-30%. A better Democratic candidate could count on close to 40% in these times in this state, but Franken is demonstrably not there. Al is having big problems closing the deal, and his true real core support is probably not that much higher than Skip Humphrey’s total in 1998.
There is also attack paralysis benefiting us, just as there was in Ventura’s race. One of the lessons we thought Coleman took away from 1998 is that he would attack Ventura if he had to do it all over again. In that race he was doing what he is doing now—which is to sidle up to the independent candidate and try to get rub-off from them to appeal to independent voters. That’s happening again. He will praise much of what Dean has to say, try to show how much they have in common, and then tell voters “… but Dean can’t win.”
Neither Coleman nor Franken really knows what would happen if they were to attack Dean in their ads, so they are frozen. Norm won’t attack Dean, which leads me to believe their polling shows that we have taken a lot of votes from Norm that they think they can get back late. The DSCC is attacking Dean (falsely, on Social Security privatization), and trying to tie him to Coleman and to Republican ideas, which indicates to me that their polling shows Al is getting very little support from Independents (certainly compared to Obama) and that Dean is siphoning votes from Al and continuing to do so, especially among older traditional Democrats. Al just can’t close the deal: independents and traditional outstate Democrats don’t like him or trust him. (More on the weaknesses of Franken below.
Dean has also found a message that is resonating with voters: that we have lost faith and trust in our government, our institutions, our elected officials, our economy, etc., and that it is in the hands of the people to restore that faith. Also that he is truly middle-class and most like the voters and their families.
OTHER IMPORTANT FACTORS
The debates have been important to and informative for voters.
Dean has done very well—arguably winning all of the debates to date—and we need to do well on Sunday. Coleman was much better in the Almanac debate, and Franken did not do all that well. Franken looks like he is sitting on the ball, hoping not to make a mistake in the final days, and counting on Obama’s coattails in the state and their GOTV effort to pull him through. But he is far behind both Obama and Wellstone in earning trust and winning votes among Independents and traditional Democrats; and he has looked ill-prepared for the job in many of the debates, reduced to mouthing partisan Democratic talking points. Norm knows he needs to look independent of his party to win; the same is true for Franken, but he hasn’t seemed to realize this yet. And for Dean to win, he has to continue to remind people that he is the true nonpartisan independent in the race. One of Franken’s weaknesses is that he is sharing a stage with two people who are prepared for the job—who have actually done the job—and he has been diminished in recent debates to looking more like a partisan trained seal, dodging questions and continually returning to party-approved talking points. He’s a smart guy who often comes across as too smart, so he’s been reined in, and he’s become repetitive and evasive in many of his answers. And his insistence that he will constantly “fight” for people is something that worked well for Wellstone—who had a long history of community organizing and political activism—but comes across as strained for someone who’s never been that politically active or run for office before.
The continuing onslaught of negative ads by both sides has gone far beyond the point of diminishing returns. Pulling his negative ads was a good move by the Coleman campaign, but probably too late to do him much good. Especially because the NRSC keeps hammering away at Franken, and because both the DSCC and the Franken campaign are up constantly with some of the most out-of-bounds attack ads I’ve ever seen or heard, there is strong potential for a big voter backlash. The message we have to deliver is that the only thing these two parties understand is victory: if Minnesotans never want to see this kind of campaign again, the only way to send that message is a vote for Dean Barkley.
Fear of 60. The national Republicans have moved to this messaging and it could benefit Dean’s campaign. Basically, the Republicans are arguing that if Democrats control the White House, the House, and have a filibuster-breaking 60 votes in the Senate, we will see unfettered socialism and liberals gone wild. It ignores how different many members of the Senate are, but it could be effective messaging for a desperate party in desperate times. We need to tap into this. Dean is an ideal candidate to act as the independent senator who could be a leader in bringing together the moderate, common sense centrist Senators into a bipartisan, decision-making swing vote group, and in doing so wield real power in the Senate. Senators from Maine, Arkansas, North Dakota, Nebraska, Virginia, Colorado, Montana and other states are ideal prospects. I’ve said for years that if someone could do this in the Senate, that group would control everything that goes on for at least two decades.
CRITICAL WEAKNESSES OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES
Contributing to the competitiveness of this race are the weaknesses of the other candidates:
Al Franken. It’s hard to be less authentic than Norm Coleman, but somehow Al and the Franken campaign are managing it. There is a palpable sense among independent voters and swing voters in MN that Al is not a candidate who is being true to himself—that he is being manufactured, manipulated and handled for public consumption. And the machinery is pretty visible. This is at the heart of why he is running so far behind Obama’s numbers in the state. While they can’t articulate it—and while this may seem like an odd comparison—the last time voters got sold a high-profile manufactured candidate in this way it was George W. Bush in 1999-2000. And we all know how well that turned out.
Independents and swing voters want a candidate to be himself. They prize character, individualism, and personal integrity. Al continues to try to be Paul Wellstone, and well… he’s just not. I knew Paul pretty well, especially as a candidate for office, and Al Franken is not Paul Wellstone. Paul knew how to demonstrate his independence, he knew how to resonate with traditional Democratic voters in greater Minnesota, and his swing vote (which is the independent vote in MN) would often vote for him in spite of many of his stands on the issues, just because they had a high regard for his sincerity and his personal integrity. Wellstone would be thriving in this sort of political environment; Franken continues to not get traction. Al’s a good enough guy, but Minnesotans just don’t seem to connect with him personally or trust him, certainly not in the way they did with Wellstone. He almost diminishes himself in the comparison, at least among swing voters.
We need to remind voters that Minnesota has a tradition of sending some pretty impressive people to the U.S. Senate, and for most voters, Al just doesn’t fit that mold. Minnesota deserves a Senator who is more than a performer who knows how to cry on cue or has to be told—repeatedly—when to apologize. Al hasn’t shown he can demonstrate the independent critical thinking or the good judgment that Minnesotans expect in their senators—lately he just looks like someone who is pandering to win an election, and that’s costing him with independents and older, more traditional Democratic voters.
Al is going to have to depend on the Obama coattails and a Wellstonian GOTV effort to win. If Obama came to the state, he would probably be tripping over Al trying to hold onto his coattails at every step. But I think the Obama campaign recognizes that getting too close to Franken might hold back their vote, so I wouldn’t expect to see him in the state to help Al. It’s remarkable—and confusing-- that traditional Democratic voters in this state are supporting in such great numbers an (obviously qualified) African American candidate (think Alan Page’s election) yet stiff-arming someone who has so consciously tried to remake himself as the second coming of Wellstone.
Norm Coleman. Norm is not an independent at all, and the press is letting him get away with this all too much. Some of the newspaper endorsements were nauseating in how they clung to this messaging, which is nothing more than a creation of his reelection campaign.
Norm has always come across as too slick and too personally ambitious for his own good, and independent swing voters have a good antenna for that. So voters don’t really trust him.
Where he has gotten too much of a free pass, and what we have to continually remind voters, is that he was hand-selected by the White House to run for the U.S. Senate. People forget-- and the press hasn’t really told the story enough in this campaign—that Norm really wanted to run for governor in 2002 and Tim Pawlenty was going to be the Republican U.S. Senate candidate. But Karl Rove, Dick Cheney, and George W. Bush decided otherwise, and mandated to the candidates and to the state party that they would switch positions. Coleman was given his marching orders, and he marched.
This totally undercuts his independent argument, and reinforces the notion that he does what the White House tells him to do. His “independent” votes are the usual ploys partisan incumbents use two years out from what looks like a competitive election to make themselves more palatable to the electorate, and this, too, has been grossly unreported.
One of Franken’s latest lines of attack-- that if Norm were truly independent and wanting to work in a bipartisan fashion, he wouldn’t be running for the highly partisan position of NRSC chairman—is devastatingly effective. People can’t be reminded of that too much. (That’s actually the ad they should be running against him.)
Coleman’s problem, besides the slickness and the lack of trust, is this: Minnesotans don’t like to be dictated to. The fact that we have put up for six years with two ambitious marionettes in two of our highest elected offices whose strings are being pulled by what may go down in history as the worst White House ever is something else voters can’t be reminded of too much.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO
So it may be a long shot, but enough factors are in place for another big upset. In the final days, we aren’t going to be able to count on advertising the way we could in Ventura’s race. The lack of public financing for federal races means the money just won’t be there to do the same kind of job. But this is winnable if the candidate, the campaign, and the party do everything they can to get our message out over these final 5 days. We need to continually remind everyone that the most important people in this race—the voters—haven’t been heard from yet, and we need to remind people that our candidate:
-doesn’t have to study polls or listen to political consultants to understand the middle class, he IS the middle class, and the candidate who is most like us.
-he is the one candidate who is not evasive and who is giving them the real straight talk, with realistic and common-sense answers to the big problems facing us.
-he is a candidate of change, but the candidate for people who want responsible, moderate and accountable change instead of just a different flavor of partisanship.
-he has already done the job, performed admirably, and will be much more ready to do the job than Al Franken (Dean presents a rare opportunity for voters to get change plus experience).
-he could be very effective in the Senate and could in fact wield a great deal of power by forming a centrist, common-sense bipartisan coalition of moderate Senators who truly want to make the welfare of our country more important than their political parties.
-he’s the one candidate in the race who can bring us together and start to restore faith and trust in our government, our institutions, our economy, etc.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
John Kline Exposed (Updated)
I've spent some time over the past few weeks working with folks down in CD 2 on a John Kline exposed/greatest hits post.
If you'd like to send more of his greatest hits, simply reply to this post. Otherwise, here's a quick snapshot of some of John Klines "greatest hits". Leadership and courage at its finest ladies and gentlemen.
Talking to several Veterans buddies who have tried to work with John Kline:
During the race against Colleen Rowley, Kline was overheard the finals days of the campaign saying he had the endorsement of the Diabled American Veterans. This was a bold faced lie by John Kline, DAV does not endorse candidates.
DAV sends groups to Washington to lobby members of Congress on important Veterans issues. While Kline met with Veterans in 04, 05, and o6, he blew off the Minnesota delegation in 2007, saying he was too busy to meet with the decorated Veterans.
Kline's voting record according to the DAV? Not very good, especially for a Vietnam Veteran.
In 2004 and 2005 he was rated 0. Zero!
He also only supported the interests of the Vietnam Veterans of America 50% of the time in 2003-04, but the National Retail Asscoation recieved 100% support from John Kline.
John Kline's record on Veterans issues is simply unacceptable and esspecially troubling since Kine is a Veteran himself.
Kline refuses to work in a bi-partisan manner on Veterans issues. He told the leader of a local veterans’ group, who had presented Kline with a number of bills his group wanted support for, “These are all Democrat bills, and I do not support Democrat-authored bills.”
*Update* A concerned Veteran forwarded me this video. John Kline snubs a Veterans forum. He also blew off Veterans forums in Goodhue County and at the Zumbrota VFW too.
On oil and the environment:
In response to a parade-goer in Eagan, a gentleman encouraged Kline to get out of Iraq , Kline responded, “Don’t you want oil?”
And lets recall the John Kline energy tour this past July, the one where he refused to meet with any constituents again.
Classy!
And what about Congressman Kline's lack of townhall meetings? Why won't he meet with constituents?
Probably because he got tripped up by this college student the last time he let common folk like us talk to him.
He doesn’t hold town hall meetings because he’s said they’re “too political,” and because “20 people in the district have this notion that it is my job to provide them with a venue just to protest."
He's no Jed Bartlett, that's for sure.
Kline even has a bit of time to display his "compassionate conservatism"!
He told the mother of a kid with cancer, that “hundreds of people a year try and parade their sick kids in front of me for money.”
So, while Norm Coleman uses them for political gain, John Kline just spits in their face and tells them to "move along now"
Sorry, but that's just sickening.
So, anyone else have any good John Kline stories? Post them in the comments or shoot them to me in email!
We support Steve Sarvi for many reasons and cannot afford to remain silent about John Kline's record and demeanor as a Congressman.
If you'd like to send more of his greatest hits, simply reply to this post. Otherwise, here's a quick snapshot of some of John Klines "greatest hits". Leadership and courage at its finest ladies and gentlemen.
Talking to several Veterans buddies who have tried to work with John Kline:
During the race against Colleen Rowley, Kline was overheard the finals days of the campaign saying he had the endorsement of the Diabled American Veterans. This was a bold faced lie by John Kline, DAV does not endorse candidates.
DAV sends groups to Washington to lobby members of Congress on important Veterans issues. While Kline met with Veterans in 04, 05, and o6, he blew off the Minnesota delegation in 2007, saying he was too busy to meet with the decorated Veterans.
Kline's voting record according to the DAV? Not very good, especially for a Vietnam Veteran.
In 2004 and 2005 he was rated 0. Zero!
He also only supported the interests of the Vietnam Veterans of America 50% of the time in 2003-04, but the National Retail Asscoation recieved 100% support from John Kline.
John Kline's record on Veterans issues is simply unacceptable and esspecially troubling since Kine is a Veteran himself.
Kline refuses to work in a bi-partisan manner on Veterans issues. He told the leader of a local veterans’ group, who had presented Kline with a number of bills his group wanted support for, “These are all Democrat bills, and I do not support Democrat-authored bills.”
*Update* A concerned Veteran forwarded me this video. John Kline snubs a Veterans forum. He also blew off Veterans forums in Goodhue County and at the Zumbrota VFW too.
On oil and the environment:
In response to a parade-goer in Eagan, a gentleman encouraged Kline to get out of Iraq , Kline responded, “Don’t you want oil?”
And lets recall the John Kline energy tour this past July, the one where he refused to meet with any constituents again.
Classy!
And what about Congressman Kline's lack of townhall meetings? Why won't he meet with constituents?
Probably because he got tripped up by this college student the last time he let common folk like us talk to him.
He doesn’t hold town hall meetings because he’s said they’re “too political,” and because “20 people in the district have this notion that it is my job to provide them with a venue just to protest."
He's no Jed Bartlett, that's for sure.
Kline even has a bit of time to display his "compassionate conservatism"!
He told the mother of a kid with cancer, that “hundreds of people a year try and parade their sick kids in front of me for money.”
So, while Norm Coleman uses them for political gain, John Kline just spits in their face and tells them to "move along now"
Sorry, but that's just sickening.
So, anyone else have any good John Kline stories? Post them in the comments or shoot them to me in email!
We support Steve Sarvi for many reasons and cannot afford to remain silent about John Kline's record and demeanor as a Congressman.
Barkley to release TV Ad!
If I'm not mistaken, he'll do so at a press conference at the capitol this afternoon!
We're looking forward to seeing it!
We're looking forward to seeing it!
Barkley in Waconia
From the West Central Tribune
For the next hour, Barkley talked about how to fix Social Security and the national debt – his favorite campaign topics – and fielded skeptical voters’ questions about his brief stint as a lobbyist and whether he could influence Washington when there are only two other independent senators.
“If I get there, the three of us could probably control the joint,” he said of the power they would yield.
Barkley answered all of the questions – except for the one about which presidential candidate he supports; he claims to be undecided – and made sure to take a few jabs at his opponents.
Barkley faults Coleman and other congressional incumbents for looking the other way in the lead up to the financial crisis.
“He was watching the store as this economic meltdown occurred,” Barkley said. “And he wants to go back for more.”
And Barkley has been no easier on Franken.
“Al flew in here to be our savior for the middle class,” he said of the former comedian. “He doesn’t know what it’s like to be in the middle class.”
With a laid-back, self-deprecating approach, Barkley insists he still could pull it off next Tuesday. He said he is polling only slightly lower than was Jesse Ventura at this point in the 1998 governor race.
Barkley, who led that campaign and later was appointed by Ventura to a brief Senate term after Sen. Paul Wellstone’s 2002 death, said independents are under-represented in polling.
“Ten years ago they gave Jesse a shot, and I hope they’re ready to do it again,” he said, adding that Ventura helped him raise money recently to pay for a TV ad he will begin airing today.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
A letter to the Red States
I found this one, it got me to chuckle a bit...
Dear Red States,
We've decided we're leaving. We intend to form our own country, and we're taking the other Blue States with us. In case you aren't aware, that includes Hawaii , California , Oregon , Washington , Minnesota , Wisconsin , Michigan , Illinois , New York , and all of the Northeasternstates. After this election, we'll be adding Colorado and New Mexico .
We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, especially to the people of our new country - Nuevo California . To sum up briefly: You get Texas , Oklahoma and all the slave states; we get stem cell research, the best beaches, and the best ski resorts.
We get Elliot Spitzer; you get Ken Lay. We get the Statue of Liberty; you get Dollywood. We get Intel and Microsoft; you get WorldCom. We get Stanford,Harvard, Princeton, Yale , Cal Tech, MIT and Columbia ; you get Ole' Miss.
We get 85 percent of America 's venture capital and entrepreneurs; you get Alabama . We get two-thirds of the tax revenue; you get to make the red states pay their fair share.
Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22 percent lower than that of the Christian Coalition, we get a bunch of happy families and you get a bunch of under-educated single moms.
Please be aware that Nuevo California will be pro-choice and anti-war, and we'll need all of our citizens back from Iraq at once. If you need people to fight, ask your evangelicals. They apparently have kids they're willing to send to their deaths for no purpose, and they don't mind if you don't televise their kid's caskets coming home. We do wish you success in Iraq and hope that those Weapons of Mass Destruction turn up for you, but we're not willing to spend any more of our money in Bush's Quagmire.
With the Blue States, we will control 80 percent of the country's fresh water, 90 percent of pineapple and lettuce, 92 percent of the nation's fresh fruit, 97 percent of America 's quality wines (you can serve French wines at your state dinners), 90 percent of all cheese, 90 percent of the high tech industry, most of the U.S. low-sulfur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias and condors, and all the Ivy League and Seven Sister schools.
We also get New England ,the Great Lakes and Yosemite , thank you very much.
In the Red States, you will have to cope with 88 percent of all obese Americans and their projected health care costs, 92 percent of all U.S. mosquitoes, 100 percent of tornadoes, 94 percent of hurricanes, 99 percent of Southern Baptists, virtually 100 percent of all televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, and Clemson. Additionally, in the Red States, 38 percent actually believe Jonah was swallowed by a whale; 62 percent believe life is sacred unless it involves the death penalty or semi automatic gun ownership; 44 percent claim that evolution is only a theory; 53 percent insist that Saddam Hussein was involved in 9/11; and 61 percent of you crazy bastards believe you have higher moral standards than those of us on the left.
By the way, we're taking all the good pot, too. You get that dirt weed from Mexico and Kansas ditches.
Peace out,
The Blue States
Dear Red States,
We've decided we're leaving. We intend to form our own country, and we're taking the other Blue States with us. In case you aren't aware, that includes Hawaii , California , Oregon , Washington , Minnesota , Wisconsin , Michigan , Illinois , New York , and all of the Northeasternstates. After this election, we'll be adding Colorado and New Mexico .
We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, especially to the people of our new country - Nuevo California . To sum up briefly: You get Texas , Oklahoma and all the slave states; we get stem cell research, the best beaches, and the best ski resorts.
We get Elliot Spitzer; you get Ken Lay. We get the Statue of Liberty; you get Dollywood. We get Intel and Microsoft; you get WorldCom. We get Stanford,Harvard, Princeton, Yale , Cal Tech, MIT and Columbia ; you get Ole' Miss.
We get 85 percent of America 's venture capital and entrepreneurs; you get Alabama . We get two-thirds of the tax revenue; you get to make the red states pay their fair share.
Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22 percent lower than that of the Christian Coalition, we get a bunch of happy families and you get a bunch of under-educated single moms.
Please be aware that Nuevo California will be pro-choice and anti-war, and we'll need all of our citizens back from Iraq at once. If you need people to fight, ask your evangelicals. They apparently have kids they're willing to send to their deaths for no purpose, and they don't mind if you don't televise their kid's caskets coming home. We do wish you success in Iraq and hope that those Weapons of Mass Destruction turn up for you, but we're not willing to spend any more of our money in Bush's Quagmire.
With the Blue States, we will control 80 percent of the country's fresh water, 90 percent of pineapple and lettuce, 92 percent of the nation's fresh fruit, 97 percent of America 's quality wines (you can serve French wines at your state dinners), 90 percent of all cheese, 90 percent of the high tech industry, most of the U.S. low-sulfur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias and condors, and all the Ivy League and Seven Sister schools.
We also get New England ,the Great Lakes and Yosemite , thank you very much.
In the Red States, you will have to cope with 88 percent of all obese Americans and their projected health care costs, 92 percent of all U.S. mosquitoes, 100 percent of tornadoes, 94 percent of hurricanes, 99 percent of Southern Baptists, virtually 100 percent of all televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University, and Clemson. Additionally, in the Red States, 38 percent actually believe Jonah was swallowed by a whale; 62 percent believe life is sacred unless it involves the death penalty or semi automatic gun ownership; 44 percent claim that evolution is only a theory; 53 percent insist that Saddam Hussein was involved in 9/11; and 61 percent of you crazy bastards believe you have higher moral standards than those of us on the left.
By the way, we're taking all the good pot, too. You get that dirt weed from Mexico and Kansas ditches.
Peace out,
The Blue States
Hold On! The Strib Editorial Board Didn't Even Interview Sarvi?
WTF is that all about?
Wow, incredible!
What you probably didn't know is that the editorial board probably already had its mind made up. Instead of meeting with the full editorial board, Steve met with two retirees. These retirees are brought back in during high politcal season to "help" when it gets busy. No members of the editorial board were present for Steve's screening.
Wow, incredible!
Franken takes "cowardly way" out
Barkley: Pro-Franken Ad Takes 'Cowardly Way Out'
IP Candidate Calls on Franken to Propose a Social Security Solution
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
PLYMOUTH—Dean Barkley, the Independence Party candidate for U.S. Senate, released the following statement regarding a Democratic Senate Campaign Committee advertisement on Social Security:
"This DSCC ad exposes that Al Franken and the Washington insiders orchestrating his campaign simply don't have what it takes to ensure that Social Security remains viable for future generations.
"I have suggested solutions, including means-testing for benefits, raising the retirement age, raising the Social Security tax and raising the ceiling on income taxed to provide more revenue into the Social Security trust fund.
"Al Franken, despite a Social Security trust fund filled with IOUs, has repeatedly denied we have a problem. While this kind of head-in-the-sand approach might work for politicians looking to win an election, I refuse to take the cowardly way out. If that means subjecting myself to cheap shots for leading on an important issue, that's a price I'll gladly pay.
"It's time for real solutions. That means, above all else, having the courage to admit there is a problem. Will Al Franken live up to his mantra of change and propose a solution or will he continue to hide behind the same old Washington games that got us into this mess in the first place?"
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
IP Candidate Calls on Franken to Propose a Social Security Solution
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
PLYMOUTH—Dean Barkley, the Independence Party candidate for U.S. Senate, released the following statement regarding a Democratic Senate Campaign Committee advertisement on Social Security:
"This DSCC ad exposes that Al Franken and the Washington insiders orchestrating his campaign simply don't have what it takes to ensure that Social Security remains viable for future generations.
"I have suggested solutions, including means-testing for benefits, raising the retirement age, raising the Social Security tax and raising the ceiling on income taxed to provide more revenue into the Social Security trust fund.
"Al Franken, despite a Social Security trust fund filled with IOUs, has repeatedly denied we have a problem. While this kind of head-in-the-sand approach might work for politicians looking to win an election, I refuse to take the cowardly way out. If that means subjecting myself to cheap shots for leading on an important issue, that's a price I'll gladly pay.
"It's time for real solutions. That means, above all else, having the courage to admit there is a problem. Will Al Franken live up to his mantra of change and propose a solution or will he continue to hide behind the same old Washington games that got us into this mess in the first place?"
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
ECM Endorsements for Sarvi
Check it out here!
ECM ENDORSEMENT: Sarvi's the choice in 2nd District
Friday, 24 October 2008
Second District U.S. Rep. John Kline, R-Lakeville, and challenger Steve Sarvi, D-Watertown, both served their country as members of the military.
Although they have this common experience, when it comes to the pressing issues in the 2008 campaign, that is largely where the similarities end.
Their differing opinions of the war in Iraq, rebuilding the economy, funding transportation projects and governing philosophies give voters a clear choice in this election.
We feel Sarvi has a better approach on a wide range of issues, and we endorse his candidacy.
With regard to the issue that has risen to the forefront in this election - the economy - we feel Sarvi is better equipped to make decisions in these troubling times.
We feel Sarvi's experiences as a mayor, city manager and U.S. Army sergeant in charge of rebuilding infrastructure in Iraq are the kind needed to rebuild the U.S. economy.
Sarvi has managed budgets and will champion tighter regulation of the financial markets, which didn't happen under Kline and the hands-off Republican administration.
We applaud Kline for his vote for the $700 billion bailout package, but Sarvi said more needs to be done help the middle class through incentives to lenders to help those facing foreclosure. Sarvi notes the economic collapse could have been worse if Kline had his way on privatizing Social Security by investing more retirement savings in the stock market.
With regard to the Iraq war, Sarvi's experience on the ground in Iraq will help as the United States moves forward with a plan to stabilize, reduce troop levels and rebuild the country.
Sarvi and Kline do not favor a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq, relying on conditions on the ground to dictate when to reduce troop levels. Sarvi adds that it is urgent to stabilize Iraq as soon as possible, so it is no longer a financial drain on U.S. spending. He's also been vocal in saying that the Iraq war diverted the nation's attention from post-9/11 target Osama bin Laden, whose continued presence is causing more concerns in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
We acknowledge Kline's support of an increase in troop levels that has helped reduce violence in Iraq, but we feel he, as a member of the Armed Services Committee, should have been more critical of the Bush administration's handling of the war for much of the past five years.
In communicating with the people of the 2nd District, Kline has been criticized for his lack of public availability and was pressed to hold a "town hall" style forum in 2007 after constituents repeatedly asked for it as opposition for the Iraq war mounted.
We don't foresee Sarvi having such communication problems. He has a leadership style that relies more on coalition building, as demonstrated by his grassroots campaign, which has drawn the Independence Party endorsement and focused on communicating with voters in person, by e-mail and through his Web site.
Sarvi has a wealth of information on his Web site, where people can find his views on a range of issues and ideas for improving education, health care and veterans' benefits. Kline doesn't provide this depth of information on his Web site, relying more on his endorsements to speak for him.
Sarvi has proposed good ideas to reform veterans' medical benefits by changing eligibility requirements, reducing deductibles and changing the priority-care model.
ome local officials have criticized Kline's refusal to accept earmark spending, and we don't feel it is a responsible way to serve the 2nd District by neglecting constituents for Kline's principled stand against earmarks.
Although the earmark system may be flawed, we feel it currently provides needed projects to the 2nd District, like the ones Kline touted he returned to the district in 2005. The projects, totaling $16 million, included the design and construction of the Cedar Avenue Busway in Dakota County and a contribution toward reconstruction of the intersection at County Road 5 and Highway 13 in Burnsville.
Kline, who has served in Congress since 2003 and missed fewer than 1 percent of votes during that time, is an apparent good fit for the Republican-leaning 2nd District. He has gained re-election in 2004 and 2006 with 57 and 56 percent of the vote, respectively.
We applaud his service, but we feel it is time for new ideas and a new approach on behalf of constituents in the 2nd District. This editorial is a product of the ECM Editorial Board.
ECM ENDORSEMENT: Sarvi's the choice in 2nd District
Friday, 24 October 2008
Second District U.S. Rep. John Kline, R-Lakeville, and challenger Steve Sarvi, D-Watertown, both served their country as members of the military.
Although they have this common experience, when it comes to the pressing issues in the 2008 campaign, that is largely where the similarities end.
Their differing opinions of the war in Iraq, rebuilding the economy, funding transportation projects and governing philosophies give voters a clear choice in this election.
We feel Sarvi has a better approach on a wide range of issues, and we endorse his candidacy.
With regard to the issue that has risen to the forefront in this election - the economy - we feel Sarvi is better equipped to make decisions in these troubling times.
We feel Sarvi's experiences as a mayor, city manager and U.S. Army sergeant in charge of rebuilding infrastructure in Iraq are the kind needed to rebuild the U.S. economy.
Sarvi has managed budgets and will champion tighter regulation of the financial markets, which didn't happen under Kline and the hands-off Republican administration.
We applaud Kline for his vote for the $700 billion bailout package, but Sarvi said more needs to be done help the middle class through incentives to lenders to help those facing foreclosure. Sarvi notes the economic collapse could have been worse if Kline had his way on privatizing Social Security by investing more retirement savings in the stock market.
With regard to the Iraq war, Sarvi's experience on the ground in Iraq will help as the United States moves forward with a plan to stabilize, reduce troop levels and rebuild the country.
Sarvi and Kline do not favor a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq, relying on conditions on the ground to dictate when to reduce troop levels. Sarvi adds that it is urgent to stabilize Iraq as soon as possible, so it is no longer a financial drain on U.S. spending. He's also been vocal in saying that the Iraq war diverted the nation's attention from post-9/11 target Osama bin Laden, whose continued presence is causing more concerns in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
We acknowledge Kline's support of an increase in troop levels that has helped reduce violence in Iraq, but we feel he, as a member of the Armed Services Committee, should have been more critical of the Bush administration's handling of the war for much of the past five years.
In communicating with the people of the 2nd District, Kline has been criticized for his lack of public availability and was pressed to hold a "town hall" style forum in 2007 after constituents repeatedly asked for it as opposition for the Iraq war mounted.
We don't foresee Sarvi having such communication problems. He has a leadership style that relies more on coalition building, as demonstrated by his grassroots campaign, which has drawn the Independence Party endorsement and focused on communicating with voters in person, by e-mail and through his Web site.
Sarvi has a wealth of information on his Web site, where people can find his views on a range of issues and ideas for improving education, health care and veterans' benefits. Kline doesn't provide this depth of information on his Web site, relying more on his endorsements to speak for him.
Sarvi has proposed good ideas to reform veterans' medical benefits by changing eligibility requirements, reducing deductibles and changing the priority-care model.
ome local officials have criticized Kline's refusal to accept earmark spending, and we don't feel it is a responsible way to serve the 2nd District by neglecting constituents for Kline's principled stand against earmarks.
Although the earmark system may be flawed, we feel it currently provides needed projects to the 2nd District, like the ones Kline touted he returned to the district in 2005. The projects, totaling $16 million, included the design and construction of the Cedar Avenue Busway in Dakota County and a contribution toward reconstruction of the intersection at County Road 5 and Highway 13 in Burnsville.
Kline, who has served in Congress since 2003 and missed fewer than 1 percent of votes during that time, is an apparent good fit for the Republican-leaning 2nd District. He has gained re-election in 2004 and 2006 with 57 and 56 percent of the vote, respectively.
We applaud his service, but we feel it is time for new ideas and a new approach on behalf of constituents in the 2nd District. This editorial is a product of the ECM Editorial Board.
John Kline inconsistent on earmarks
At the Same Time, He’s Still Celebrating the “Corrupt” Funding He Sought in the Past and Misrepresenting the Process
EAGAN, Minn. – You’ve seen the ad: Rep. John Kline (R-Lakeville) walks and talks to viewers in front of giant screens representing some of the congressional high priority projects – or earmarks – he finds most egregious. His voice dripping with exasperation, he decries money that has gone to “fruit fly research in France.”
What viewers might not know is that this is a national GOP talking point: Vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin also has been talking about it. And because of the attention afforded Mrs. Palin, we now know the truth about fruit fly research: It isn’t research about fruit flies; it’s research on fruit flies for the benefit of human beings – namely, human beings with brain function abnormalities.
Scientists use fruit flies (Drosophila) for many types of research because humans share important genes with them. Due to research on fruit flies, scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill showed that a protein called neurexin is required for nerve cell connections to form and function correctly. The discovery may lead to better understanding of autism spectrum disorders, as human neurexins have been identified as a genetic risk factor for autism.
The irony is that like Palin, Mr. Kline also is talking about fruit fly research alongside a call to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Mr. Kline began talking about the need to fully fund special education – which has been under-funded since 1982 – during his first debate with DFL opponent Steve Sarvi. Unfortunately, the very research he and Mrs. Palin are belittling could help eliminate one of the disabilities that put children in special education in the first place.
Also like Palin, Mr. Kline is counting on people not to make the connection between the two. But MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann did on Oct. 24.
A Continuation of John Kline’s Confused and Confusing Position on Earmarks
Mr. Kline’s position against all member high priority projects, which he calls “corrupt and corrupting," has been called “shocking and disturbing” and recently, by the Star Tribune, “absolutist” and “a concern.”
It’s also hypocritical. Before 2007, John Kline sought and accepted funds for high priority projects in his district. When he decided to stop accepting them, one might have expected him also to stop celebrating them. But he hasn’t.
In August, the Star Tribune reported that Kline attended the ribbon cutting for County Road 21 in Scott County, a road for which he secured $2.1 million in federal funds in 2004 and 2005. Kline said he saw no hypocrisy in his presence at the opening.
Just yesterday, Kline attended the opening of the Northwood Parkway Bridge, now connecting Central Parkway and Northwood Parkway/Denmark Avenue over Interstate 35E in Eagan. During the opening ceremony, Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire called Mr. Kline a “first-dollar investor” in the project (video available), which is also referred to as the Ring Road. Kline worked with Sen. Norm Coleman to secure $984,000 in funding for the bridge.
“John Kline appears to take whatever position is convenient for him,” said Bridget Cusick, deputy campaign manager, Steve Sarvi for Congress. “This proves that all his squawking about earmarks is politically driven. The good news is that it doesn’t take voters long to figure out this kind of thing. We believe given everything that’s going on in their lives that John Kline isn’t talking about – like the effects of a sour economy and skyrocketing health care costs – they’ll vote for change next week by voting for Steve Sarvi.”
Kline Misrepresents Process for Securing Transportation Funds
For months, we’ve been hearing John Kline talk about how the process for securing money for high priority projects is “corrupt and corrupting” because, as he tells it, it’s entirely based on seniority, party, and back-room dealing.
Prior to 2007, many agreed that the process for securing these funds needed reform, as the number of earmarks had skyrocketed during 12 years of
Republican congressional leadership. So, as part of the new Democratic Congress’s “100 hours agenda,” rules changes were enacted that have resulted in a drastic reduction in the number of requests. John Kline voted against this rules change.
On Fri., Oct. 24, at a joint press conference with Steve Sarvi, Rep. Jim Oberstar, chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, called out Mr. Kline on his characterization of the process by which member high priority transportation projects are allocated funding. He pointed out that to secure funding in his committee, members must complete a 20-point interview or form in which they argue the merits of their request. Among other things, they must demonstrate the project has local backing from citizens and/or community groups and discuss why the project can’t be fully financed at the state or local level.
“John Kline has decided not to serve the 2nd Congressional District,” said Steve Sarvi. “No one said being in Congress was easy. Part of the job is
helping secure federal funds for critical projects back home. The process isn’t perfect, but Mr. Kline could both advocate for reform and work for his district. Doing anything else is abdication of responsibility.
“For too long, the 2nd Congressional District has been represented by someone who isn’t representing us; instead, he has served the president, his party, and big corporate interests. It’s time to change course.”
About Steve Sarvi
Sarvi, the DFL- and Independence Party-endorsed candidate for Congress in Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District, is running for Congress because he believes our nation needs to change course and that the people of Minnesota’s 2nd District deserve a representative who will serve the people – not the president, not their party, not big corporate interests. Sarvi is a decorated veteran of the U.S. Army and National Guard who served in both Kosovo and Iraq. He’s a former three-term mayor of Watertown, Minn., who managed local governments for more than 13 years. For more about Sarvi and his vision for changing our country’s course, visit www.stevesarvi.org.
###
EAGAN, Minn. – You’ve seen the ad: Rep. John Kline (R-Lakeville) walks and talks to viewers in front of giant screens representing some of the congressional high priority projects – or earmarks – he finds most egregious. His voice dripping with exasperation, he decries money that has gone to “fruit fly research in France.”
What viewers might not know is that this is a national GOP talking point: Vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin also has been talking about it. And because of the attention afforded Mrs. Palin, we now know the truth about fruit fly research: It isn’t research about fruit flies; it’s research on fruit flies for the benefit of human beings – namely, human beings with brain function abnormalities.
Scientists use fruit flies (Drosophila) for many types of research because humans share important genes with them. Due to research on fruit flies, scientists at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill showed that a protein called neurexin is required for nerve cell connections to form and function correctly. The discovery may lead to better understanding of autism spectrum disorders, as human neurexins have been identified as a genetic risk factor for autism.
The irony is that like Palin, Mr. Kline also is talking about fruit fly research alongside a call to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Mr. Kline began talking about the need to fully fund special education – which has been under-funded since 1982 – during his first debate with DFL opponent Steve Sarvi. Unfortunately, the very research he and Mrs. Palin are belittling could help eliminate one of the disabilities that put children in special education in the first place.
Also like Palin, Mr. Kline is counting on people not to make the connection between the two. But MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann did on Oct. 24.
A Continuation of John Kline’s Confused and Confusing Position on Earmarks
Mr. Kline’s position against all member high priority projects, which he calls “corrupt and corrupting," has been called “shocking and disturbing” and recently, by the Star Tribune, “absolutist” and “a concern.”
It’s also hypocritical. Before 2007, John Kline sought and accepted funds for high priority projects in his district. When he decided to stop accepting them, one might have expected him also to stop celebrating them. But he hasn’t.
In August, the Star Tribune reported that Kline attended the ribbon cutting for County Road 21 in Scott County, a road for which he secured $2.1 million in federal funds in 2004 and 2005. Kline said he saw no hypocrisy in his presence at the opening.
Just yesterday, Kline attended the opening of the Northwood Parkway Bridge, now connecting Central Parkway and Northwood Parkway/Denmark Avenue over Interstate 35E in Eagan. During the opening ceremony, Eagan Mayor Mike Maguire called Mr. Kline a “first-dollar investor” in the project (video available), which is also referred to as the Ring Road. Kline worked with Sen. Norm Coleman to secure $984,000 in funding for the bridge.
“John Kline appears to take whatever position is convenient for him,” said Bridget Cusick, deputy campaign manager, Steve Sarvi for Congress. “This proves that all his squawking about earmarks is politically driven. The good news is that it doesn’t take voters long to figure out this kind of thing. We believe given everything that’s going on in their lives that John Kline isn’t talking about – like the effects of a sour economy and skyrocketing health care costs – they’ll vote for change next week by voting for Steve Sarvi.”
Kline Misrepresents Process for Securing Transportation Funds
For months, we’ve been hearing John Kline talk about how the process for securing money for high priority projects is “corrupt and corrupting” because, as he tells it, it’s entirely based on seniority, party, and back-room dealing.
Prior to 2007, many agreed that the process for securing these funds needed reform, as the number of earmarks had skyrocketed during 12 years of
Republican congressional leadership. So, as part of the new Democratic Congress’s “100 hours agenda,” rules changes were enacted that have resulted in a drastic reduction in the number of requests. John Kline voted against this rules change.
On Fri., Oct. 24, at a joint press conference with Steve Sarvi, Rep. Jim Oberstar, chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure, called out Mr. Kline on his characterization of the process by which member high priority transportation projects are allocated funding. He pointed out that to secure funding in his committee, members must complete a 20-point interview or form in which they argue the merits of their request. Among other things, they must demonstrate the project has local backing from citizens and/or community groups and discuss why the project can’t be fully financed at the state or local level.
“John Kline has decided not to serve the 2nd Congressional District,” said Steve Sarvi. “No one said being in Congress was easy. Part of the job is
helping secure federal funds for critical projects back home. The process isn’t perfect, but Mr. Kline could both advocate for reform and work for his district. Doing anything else is abdication of responsibility.
“For too long, the 2nd Congressional District has been represented by someone who isn’t representing us; instead, he has served the president, his party, and big corporate interests. It’s time to change course.”
About Steve Sarvi
Sarvi, the DFL- and Independence Party-endorsed candidate for Congress in Minnesota’s 2nd Congressional District, is running for Congress because he believes our nation needs to change course and that the people of Minnesota’s 2nd District deserve a representative who will serve the people – not the president, not their party, not big corporate interests. Sarvi is a decorated veteran of the U.S. Army and National Guard who served in both Kosovo and Iraq. He’s a former three-term mayor of Watertown, Minn., who managed local governments for more than 13 years. For more about Sarvi and his vision for changing our country’s course, visit www.stevesarvi.org.
###
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Send Dean Barkley Money!
Word on the street is that Dean Barkley raised a good amount of money yesterday.
Help Dean out, send him some campaign funds today! I'd love to see a Barkley commercial on TV soon!
Click here too to send money!
Help Dean out, send him some campaign funds today! I'd love to see a Barkley commercial on TV soon!
Click here too to send money!
Tinklenberg Endorsed by Strib
Not much of a surprise there really, especially after Bachmann's Hardball 6 minutes of shame.
Bachmann has little to show for her two years in office — three minor bills, one of which recognized the state’s 150th birthday. The incident earlier this month when she went on MSNBC’s “Hardball” and accused Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama of possibly harboring “anti-America” beliefs and calling for the media to investigate her colleagues to see who was “pro-America or anti-America” just adds to the list of bizarre incidents and statements that undercut her credibility as a political leader.
Bachmann is a culture warrior for the far-right; clearly, that’s been her priority. This north-suburban district is hard hit by foreclosures and the economic downturn. It deserves a U.S. House representative who’s practical, focused and results-oriented: Elwyn Tinklenberg.
Monday, October 27, 2008
Barkley Campaign Responds to SC Times Endorsement
Dean Barkley Endorsed By St. Cloud Times
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
PLYMOUTH—The St. Cloud Times has endorsed Independence Party candidate Dean Barkley for the U.S. Senate.
Excerpts from the Times endorsement (click here to read the entire editorial):
Our view: Barkley represents the middle class best
"In Minnesota's U.S. Senate race, incumbent Republican Norm Coleman touts the importance of finding common ground while Democratic challenger Al Franken promises to represent the middle class.
"And then there is Independence candidate Dean Barkley. His is the middle class and his positions already are common ground. Voters should elect him."
…
"That's why his stands on many issues, while far from shocking, invoke a sense of realism and moderation missing from the Coleman and Franken campaigns.
"For example, he supports capping federal spending the next four years to put America on track toward reducing the federal debt.
"Similarly, he notes that the solution to fixing programs such as Social Security and Medicare rest in one basic principle: either increase revenues or decrease benefits. He's open to ideas such as indexing benefits to life expectancy, means-testing benefits, raising the tax, reforming the health care system to reduce costs, or adopting a combination of these fixes.
"Yet would the special interests connected to either of his challengers let them examine any or all those options? It's a fair question considering Coleman's voting record the past six years and Franken's penchant for proposing new programs that lack details of how to pay for them."
Click here to read the entire editorial.
Barkley was endorsed by the Minnesota Daily last week.
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
PLYMOUTH—The St. Cloud Times has endorsed Independence Party candidate Dean Barkley for the U.S. Senate.
Excerpts from the Times endorsement (click here to read the entire editorial):
Our view: Barkley represents the middle class best
"In Minnesota's U.S. Senate race, incumbent Republican Norm Coleman touts the importance of finding common ground while Democratic challenger Al Franken promises to represent the middle class.
"And then there is Independence candidate Dean Barkley. His is the middle class and his positions already are common ground. Voters should elect him."
…
"That's why his stands on many issues, while far from shocking, invoke a sense of realism and moderation missing from the Coleman and Franken campaigns.
"For example, he supports capping federal spending the next four years to put America on track toward reducing the federal debt.
"Similarly, he notes that the solution to fixing programs such as Social Security and Medicare rest in one basic principle: either increase revenues or decrease benefits. He's open to ideas such as indexing benefits to life expectancy, means-testing benefits, raising the tax, reforming the health care system to reduce costs, or adopting a combination of these fixes.
"Yet would the special interests connected to either of his challengers let them examine any or all those options? It's a fair question considering Coleman's voting record the past six years and Franken's penchant for proposing new programs that lack details of how to pay for them."
Click here to read the entire editorial.
Barkley was endorsed by the Minnesota Daily last week.
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
Barkley Endorsed by SC Times
Barkley represents middle class best.
Finally, there may be concerns that supporting Barkley wastes a vote and potentially limits Minnesota’s voice in the highly partisan Senate. On the former, the tones of the Coleman and Franken campaigns speak volumes about what’s being wasted. And on the latter, unless the Senate tilts strongly one way, which we doubt, a moderate, middle-class Minnesotan could hold substantially more power than any traditional party-line politician.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Tinklenberg Endorsed by SC Times
But it's the editorial comments on Michele Bachmann that caught my eye and deserve being echoed.
Incumbent Rep. Michele Bachmann has simply made too many serious errors in judgment to deserve a second term.
Look no further than the Stillwater Republican’s recent appearance on MSNBC’s “Hardball.” Even if you side with her statement that she was trapped and didn’t know the “Hardball” environment (despite 23 appearances on similar shows since elected), it should not have taken her almost four days to appear in the district and offer an explanation/apology.
And then there was the debacle she created with comments made in February of 2007 in a Times Media podcast. In that case she clearly claimed, based on classified briefings, she knew of a plan to split Iraq and turn half of it into a “terrorist haven” to launch attacks in the Middle East. When pressed for details, she failed to fully explain herself and tried to blame her words on others.
As for her positions, those even seem to be changing of late. When we asked Tuesday about what should happen next in the financial crisis, she talked of providing stricter oversight. That sounds very contradictory to her comments early this month about “hyper-regulation” as a cause of the crisis and statements alluding to less, not more, oversight.
We asked about Iraq. She said she sees the U.S. role concluding there soon now that Iraq has a stable government and cash reserves. That is almost the polar opposite of her position since elected.
Saturday, October 25, 2008
DSCC / Franken Fear Mongering on Social Security
The DSCC released an ad yesterday attacking both Coleman and Barkley on Social Security and Higher Education.
Let's remember Al Franken at the Golden Valley KARE 11 debate.
Dean Barkley offered solutions.
Barkley confronted Franken on the Social Security ad and Franken's inconsistency last night on Almanac.
Franken's political courage on Social Security is similar to the political courage he exuded on the bailout bill, opposing it only after it was passed. Coleman slammed Franken for it last night as well.
The DSCC as is misleading and works to spread fear amongst seniors while our nation faces a great financial crisis. It's fear mongering at its finest.
The truth is that Al Franken has had an unclear position on Social Security. He wants to fix it one day, thinks it's fine for his first six year Senate term the next day.
Coleman supports the Bush privatization plan and wants another commission to study it.
Recall Barkley's discussion of Social Security:
Noting that Barkley, in Saturday night's debate at the Breck School, outlined four clear options for ensuring the program's solvency, the Minnesota Daily editors wrote:"Franken talked about his commitment to fix the situation, but said 'eventually we would have to have a solution for this,' noting that he wouldn't want to invest it into the stock market like some politicians have suggested.
Coleman attacked Franken about not stating an actual solution, but didn't seem to offer a clear solution either and then stated his absolute commitment to young people and the obligation to fund social security.
"Since Barkley outlined his four ideas for social security, we call on Franken and Coleman to clearly address the funding of social security and their plans for a solution."
On Sunday, Barkley reiterated his commitment to Social Security, which can be preserved for future generations by either:
• Implementing means-testing to determine eligibility for Social Security benefits;
• Raising the retirement age;
• Raising the tax workers pay into the program; or
• Raising the ceiling on income taxed for contribution to the Social Security trust fund.
"The solutions are only difficult if your top priorities are simply serving the AARP or getting reelected," Barkley said. "But if we accept the hard truths about entitlements and their funding, there's no reason in the world we can't save these programs. We don't need another 'Blue Ribbon Commission' to study this issue again."
In Saturday night's debate, Franken argued Social Security is solvent for decades to come, despite the concerns of many young people that the program won't be there when it's time for their retirement.
"Congress has been robbing the Social Security trust fund dry for the past six years," Barkley said. "In 2000, Al Gore talked about implementing a 'lock box' policy, but the real trouble is that too many people today have keys to the lock box."
We need solutions, not blatant fear mongering.
Narrator: Three candidates for Senate, but only one has consistently opposed privatizing Social Security and cutting benefits.
Visual: Opposed privatizing social security and cutting benefits
Narrator: Al Franken.
He won’t let Wall Street gamble your retirement.
Narrator: Al Franken. The only choice for change.Visual: Al Franken. The only choice for change.
Narrator: Three candidates for Senate, but only one will give families a $5,000 tuition tax credit.Visual: Give Minnesota families a $5000 college tuition tax credit.
Narrator: Al Franken. He’ll make college more affordable.Narrator: Al Franken. The only choice for change.
Visual: Al Franken. The only choice for change.
Let's remember Al Franken at the Golden Valley KARE 11 debate.
Franken told reporters Monday that he did not think anything needed to be done with Social Security in the six-year term the Minnesota senator would serve.
Dean Barkley offered solutions.
Barkley, at a debate Saturday in Golden Valley, said solutions are available but people have to have the political will to enact them. He said the tax can be raised, the retirement age can be raised, the cap of how much the government taxes can be raised or the benefits can be means-tested.
“But if we accept the hard truths about entitlements and their funding, there’s no reason in the world we can’t save these programs. We don’t need another ‘Blue Ribbon Commission’ to study this issue again,” Barkley said in a statement issued Monday.
Barkley confronted Franken on the Social Security ad and Franken's inconsistency last night on Almanac.
Barkley faulted a Democratic ad suggesting he favors privatization of Social Security, but Franken said he had no control over that ad.
An exchange over Social Security followed, with Coleman calling for a special commission to be the architect of reform, while Franken insisted that the retirement program's problems are far in the future. That brought a rebuke from Barkley.
"It's IOUs in the [Social Security] Trust Fund," he said, adding that the real problem was the refusal to talk candidly about Social Security. "We can fix it," he said. "Let's just be honest and do it."
Franken's political courage on Social Security is similar to the political courage he exuded on the bailout bill, opposing it only after it was passed. Coleman slammed Franken for it last night as well.
"I'm going to exercise my independent judgment as senator, and I think Minnesotans expect that ... just like Paul Wellstone did," Franken said.
"Paul Wellstone never would have waited until after the vote to tell you what he thought," Coleman said.
The DSCC as is misleading and works to spread fear amongst seniors while our nation faces a great financial crisis. It's fear mongering at its finest.
The truth is that Al Franken has had an unclear position on Social Security. He wants to fix it one day, thinks it's fine for his first six year Senate term the next day.
Coleman supports the Bush privatization plan and wants another commission to study it.
Recall Barkley's discussion of Social Security:
Noting that Barkley, in Saturday night's debate at the Breck School, outlined four clear options for ensuring the program's solvency, the Minnesota Daily editors wrote:"Franken talked about his commitment to fix the situation, but said 'eventually we would have to have a solution for this,' noting that he wouldn't want to invest it into the stock market like some politicians have suggested.
Coleman attacked Franken about not stating an actual solution, but didn't seem to offer a clear solution either and then stated his absolute commitment to young people and the obligation to fund social security.
"Since Barkley outlined his four ideas for social security, we call on Franken and Coleman to clearly address the funding of social security and their plans for a solution."
On Sunday, Barkley reiterated his commitment to Social Security, which can be preserved for future generations by either:
• Implementing means-testing to determine eligibility for Social Security benefits;
• Raising the retirement age;
• Raising the tax workers pay into the program; or
• Raising the ceiling on income taxed for contribution to the Social Security trust fund.
"The solutions are only difficult if your top priorities are simply serving the AARP or getting reelected," Barkley said. "But if we accept the hard truths about entitlements and their funding, there's no reason in the world we can't save these programs. We don't need another 'Blue Ribbon Commission' to study this issue again."
In Saturday night's debate, Franken argued Social Security is solvent for decades to come, despite the concerns of many young people that the program won't be there when it's time for their retirement.
"Congress has been robbing the Social Security trust fund dry for the past six years," Barkley said. "In 2000, Al Gore talked about implementing a 'lock box' policy, but the real trouble is that too many people today have keys to the lock box."
We need solutions, not blatant fear mongering.
Barkley Campaign Responds After Almanac
Straight-Forward Dean Barkley Continues to Gain Support
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
SAINT PAUL—The Dean Barkley for U.S. Senate campaign released the following statement after Friday night's debate on Twin Cities Public Television's "Almanac" program:
"Our country faces serious challenges that we can't solve with more of the same Washington games that got us into this mess in the first place," said campaign chairman Jim Moore. "Minnesotans are looking for a senator willing to level with them and offer honest solutions, not political spin and catchphrases. That's why Dean Barkley continues to earn new supporters everyday."
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
Last month Barkley was polling at 8 percent. Recent polls conducted by KSTP-Survey USA and the Star Tribune have placed him at 14 and 13 percent, respectively.
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
SAINT PAUL—The Dean Barkley for U.S. Senate campaign released the following statement after Friday night's debate on Twin Cities Public Television's "Almanac" program:
"Our country faces serious challenges that we can't solve with more of the same Washington games that got us into this mess in the first place," said campaign chairman Jim Moore. "Minnesotans are looking for a senator willing to level with them and offer honest solutions, not political spin and catchphrases. That's why Dean Barkley continues to earn new supporters everyday."
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
Last month Barkley was polling at 8 percent. Recent polls conducted by KSTP-Survey USA and the Star Tribune have placed him at 14 and 13 percent, respectively.
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
Barkley is an Agent of Change
Another SC Times LTE:
While Norm Coleman and Al Franken throw dirt at each other from their senatorial sandboxes, Minnesotans can walk away from the quibbling. We can vote for Independence Party candidate Dean Barkley.
He believes in fiscal responsibility, ending the war and term limits. He doesn’t have the money from, or the allegiance to, special interests. He is free to work for the citizens of Minnesota.
Voting for the Independence Party and Dean Barkley is not throwing away your vote any more than voting for Jesse Ventura was in 1998.
Let’s “shock the world” again. Dean Barkley doesn’t have the flash and drama of a Ventura, but by electing him we can create change.
Join me in sending an independent citizen, Dean Barkley, not a career politician, to represent us in the U.S. Senate.
Bruno S. Gad
Clear Lake
While Norm Coleman and Al Franken throw dirt at each other from their senatorial sandboxes, Minnesotans can walk away from the quibbling. We can vote for Independence Party candidate Dean Barkley.
He believes in fiscal responsibility, ending the war and term limits. He doesn’t have the money from, or the allegiance to, special interests. He is free to work for the citizens of Minnesota.
Voting for the Independence Party and Dean Barkley is not throwing away your vote any more than voting for Jesse Ventura was in 1998.
Let’s “shock the world” again. Dean Barkley doesn’t have the flash and drama of a Ventura, but by electing him we can create change.
Join me in sending an independent citizen, Dean Barkley, not a career politician, to represent us in the U.S. Senate.
Bruno S. Gad
Clear Lake
Barkley: Candidate With Character
From a St Cloud Times LTE:
As an involved citizen who favors candidates who fit into the “Sensible Center,” I urge my peers, who also claim their political independence, to vote for Sen. John McCain for president, Dean Barkley for U.S. Senate and Elwyn Tinklenberg for Congress.
When given the opportunity, we must vote for the candidates who have demonstrated extraordinary character. After all, most candidates soon forget their promises once the polls close.
These candidates offer an extreme dose of character. We must choose candidates who, regardless of which party you may lean toward, will work with the opposition to find solutions. With allegiance split nearly evenly between the Democrats and Republicans, half of the population is in the other camp and gridlock is equally devastating to both sides.
These three candidates would rather do without the lustful, pervasive and gluttonous special interest money. It is important that our elected officials don’t have IOUs out to the various special interests, and have just our best interests in mind.
This time “for real” the nation finds itself at a crossroads. Please don’t waste your vote on charisma or unsubstantiated idealism, but rather spend your vote for substance. Our future and our children’s futures will depend on the leaders who will take office in January 2009.
Mike Landy
St. Cloud
As an involved citizen who favors candidates who fit into the “Sensible Center,” I urge my peers, who also claim their political independence, to vote for Sen. John McCain for president, Dean Barkley for U.S. Senate and Elwyn Tinklenberg for Congress.
When given the opportunity, we must vote for the candidates who have demonstrated extraordinary character. After all, most candidates soon forget their promises once the polls close.
These candidates offer an extreme dose of character. We must choose candidates who, regardless of which party you may lean toward, will work with the opposition to find solutions. With allegiance split nearly evenly between the Democrats and Republicans, half of the population is in the other camp and gridlock is equally devastating to both sides.
These three candidates would rather do without the lustful, pervasive and gluttonous special interest money. It is important that our elected officials don’t have IOUs out to the various special interests, and have just our best interests in mind.
This time “for real” the nation finds itself at a crossroads. Please don’t waste your vote on charisma or unsubstantiated idealism, but rather spend your vote for substance. Our future and our children’s futures will depend on the leaders who will take office in January 2009.
Mike Landy
St. Cloud
Friday, October 24, 2008
Barkley Fundraiser Saturday!
Where: Barkley's Campaign HQ
11255 Highway 55, Suite 50, Plymouth, MN 55441
When: 5-8 pm Saturday, October 25th!
$25 for wine and pasta!
RSVP to melissaanddaisy@aol.com
11255 Highway 55, Suite 50, Plymouth, MN 55441
When: 5-8 pm Saturday, October 25th!
$25 for wine and pasta!
RSVP to melissaanddaisy@aol.com
Dean Barkley Endorsed by Minnesota Daily
A Senate swing-vote
PUBLISHED: 10/23/2008
Disgusted with the ever-present negative ads, predictable partisan unoriginality, well-polished pandering and meaninglessness of much of the political discourse, apathy besets voters leading up to the election — who cynically march into the voting booth on Election Day to fulfill their duty to check off the lesser of two evils.
Tragically, the very political archetypes for which citizens clamor routinely receive little support. But there is one candidate out there who threatens to break that mold this year: the Independence Party’s nominee — and one of its founders — for U.S. Senate, Dean Barkley.
The Barkley campaign strives to be “issues-based” and runs only positive ads. Among other principled ascetics vowed by Barkley is a refusal to pander. He countered Franken’s $5,000 college student tax credit proposal with discipline: “I’m not going to … promise tax credits and new programs because we’re basically $11 trillion in debt.”
Moreover, Barkley would contribute a necessary swing vote to a Senate hindering on a Democratic takeover. Checks and balances absent within government’s branches is as dangerous of a concept as checks and balances absent between government’s branches.
Barkley stresses ethics reform and proposes criminalizing campaign contributions to congressional leaders serving on related committees. His realization that the Bush administration misled the nation on the war in Iraq and it should shift focuses to Afghanistan is as precise as his view that the equal protections clause applies to everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Barkley, furthermore, correctly argues drug use won’t be quelled by waging a war and that because 18 year olds can die in war and vote, they should certainly be able to consume alcohol.
We urge readers to consider sending a refreshing and independent voice to a chamber utterly lacking those qualities.
PUBLISHED: 10/23/2008
Disgusted with the ever-present negative ads, predictable partisan unoriginality, well-polished pandering and meaninglessness of much of the political discourse, apathy besets voters leading up to the election — who cynically march into the voting booth on Election Day to fulfill their duty to check off the lesser of two evils.
Tragically, the very political archetypes for which citizens clamor routinely receive little support. But there is one candidate out there who threatens to break that mold this year: the Independence Party’s nominee — and one of its founders — for U.S. Senate, Dean Barkley.
The Barkley campaign strives to be “issues-based” and runs only positive ads. Among other principled ascetics vowed by Barkley is a refusal to pander. He countered Franken’s $5,000 college student tax credit proposal with discipline: “I’m not going to … promise tax credits and new programs because we’re basically $11 trillion in debt.”
Moreover, Barkley would contribute a necessary swing vote to a Senate hindering on a Democratic takeover. Checks and balances absent within government’s branches is as dangerous of a concept as checks and balances absent between government’s branches.
Barkley stresses ethics reform and proposes criminalizing campaign contributions to congressional leaders serving on related committees. His realization that the Bush administration misled the nation on the war in Iraq and it should shift focuses to Afghanistan is as precise as his view that the equal protections clause applies to everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation.
Barkley, furthermore, correctly argues drug use won’t be quelled by waging a war and that because 18 year olds can die in war and vote, they should certainly be able to consume alcohol.
We urge readers to consider sending a refreshing and independent voice to a chamber utterly lacking those qualities.
Tinklenberg Leads Bachmann in the 6th
47-44 per a KSTP / Survey USA poll.
It's great news, but having seen the blogosphere discredit the methodology of KSTP / Survey USA polls in the past, I'll call this guarded optimism.
It's great news, but having seen the blogosphere discredit the methodology of KSTP / Survey USA polls in the past, I'll call this guarded optimism.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Brian Davis Disses Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans: Shameless
Just when I thought Brian Davis could not be any more foolish, he manages establish new levels of foolishness. Seriously, the ridiculous bar for Brian Davis is so low right now, I think he dig a ditch in order to get under it...but he still manages.
As we all know, Brian Davis sucks on Veterans issues. Our 1st installment. The 2nd installment.
We also know, via our site meter through the beauty of IP addresses, that Brian Davis spends more time reading about himself on the Internet than he does researching Veterans issues.
Ollie has the scoop from the Fighting First.
Davis scrapes the bottom of the barrel...again.
Ok, I'm a bit hypersenstive about Veterans issues. When I left the Army 7 years ago, I struggled to obtain my GI Bill Education benefits. I also struggled with the VA medical center in St Cloud and some serious service related knee problems. It took more than 6 months to get my education benefits and was eventually denied help after the VA reevaluated my knees.
Fine, I was more concerned about a former soldier who had lost an eye and had his disability rating changed from 50% to 20%, and soldiers who lost limbs who had their ratings substantially changed as well, after all, how much is your right eye worth?
It's not easy. I'm pretty fortunate in the grand scheme of things. For some veterans, the VA is about all they have.
I had a friend who served in the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles during the first Iraq War. He was many miles inside Iraq when many in his unit began to suffer the effects of a mild nerve agent, Sarin Gas. The Air Force didn't coordinate things very well with the Army as they bombed a weapons bunker near Ah Nassariah in 1991. These soldiers were only a couple of miles away when these bunkers were destroyed, with chemical weapons intact.
The guys in the unit were lethargic and had a mysterious flu. They were shipped out within a day or two and they never really thought much of it.
My friend then got a letter (5-6 years after the fact) from the Department of Defense saying he may have been exposed to Sarin Gas in 1991 and to report to the nearest military or VA hospital for assessment. Chris had been long suffering from PTSD at the time and began what ended up being about an 8 year process to figure out what happened to him.
I met Chris in 2001 at St Cloud State. He was a social work major and we worked together on Veterans issues at SCSU. It was easy to see the stress of working with the VA on his mental and physical health issues, but keeping true to the Warrior Spirit, he kept pushing.
Eventually, he got the care he needed, but the struggle to obtain the benefits he rightfully earned and to get the help he so desperately needed, but it took some considerable time and effort.
It should never be that hard.
Brian Davis' sheer ignorance on Veterans issues and is lack of respect for renowned Veterans organizations is appalling to me. I spoke to a few friends today, guys I served with, people with diverse political views (dude is voting for Gordon Smith in Oregon).
We agree. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is a great advocacy organization for Veterans. IAVA fights for soldiers like our friend David Chatham.
For a candidate of Davis' profile to reject the advocacy work of IAVA is yet another reason voters in the Figthing First need to reject him.
Congressman Walz has been an outstanding advocate for Veterans and our servicemen and women. Walz earned every bit of praise from Veterans groups like the VFW and IAVA.
While Walz does not represent me up here in the 6th, I am truly proud that Sergeant Major Walz represents me and other Veterans in Congress.
As we all know, Brian Davis sucks on Veterans issues. Our 1st installment. The 2nd installment.
I can’t identify any specific areas where we would improve the educational or healthcare methods for veterans. I know there was a recent bill passed that is doing just that.
We also know, via our site meter through the beauty of IP addresses, that Brian Davis spends more time reading about himself on the Internet than he does researching Veterans issues.
Ollie has the scoop from the Fighting First.
In Walz Gets 'A' Rating from Iraq and Afghanistan Vets Group, KEYC-TV paraphrased as Davis saying:
Walz received the A plus rating from a partisan organization.
That's news to several Iraq War vets we talked to last night, who thought the group was like the VFW, "except focused on 21st century wars," as one former soldier put it. (The VFW PAC, btw, endorsed Walz a while back).
Even more, Davis's opinion will probably be news to Norm Coleman. Like Harry Reid, whom Davis denounced to KEYC-TV, Coleman received an "A" from the group. On his official senate site, Coleman said of the group:
". . .I appreciate IAVA’s recognition and I look forward to working with them in the future as I continue to fight for our nation’s veterans.”
The KEYC-TV report said that Davis will be issuing a statement responding to a
letter Veterans for Walz sent to him asking about vets issues. The vets letter was written after Davis repeatedly said he couldn't think of any way that medical or educational benefits could be improved for our nation's vets.
Perhaps the out-of-touch doc can also explain why Coleman was ranked high by a "partisan" vets group. Somehow, we doubt Coleman will beginning scorning the high grade and encouraging Davis to carry on this way in joint public appearances.
Readers should visit the IAVA's web site to decide for themselves how "partisan" the IAVA's agenda is. We've emailed the group to ask for a response to Davis's statements.
Davis scrapes the bottom of the barrel...again.
Ok, I'm a bit hypersenstive about Veterans issues. When I left the Army 7 years ago, I struggled to obtain my GI Bill Education benefits. I also struggled with the VA medical center in St Cloud and some serious service related knee problems. It took more than 6 months to get my education benefits and was eventually denied help after the VA reevaluated my knees.
Fine, I was more concerned about a former soldier who had lost an eye and had his disability rating changed from 50% to 20%, and soldiers who lost limbs who had their ratings substantially changed as well, after all, how much is your right eye worth?
It's not easy. I'm pretty fortunate in the grand scheme of things. For some veterans, the VA is about all they have.
I had a friend who served in the 101st Airborne Screaming Eagles during the first Iraq War. He was many miles inside Iraq when many in his unit began to suffer the effects of a mild nerve agent, Sarin Gas. The Air Force didn't coordinate things very well with the Army as they bombed a weapons bunker near Ah Nassariah in 1991. These soldiers were only a couple of miles away when these bunkers were destroyed, with chemical weapons intact.
The guys in the unit were lethargic and had a mysterious flu. They were shipped out within a day or two and they never really thought much of it.
My friend then got a letter (5-6 years after the fact) from the Department of Defense saying he may have been exposed to Sarin Gas in 1991 and to report to the nearest military or VA hospital for assessment. Chris had been long suffering from PTSD at the time and began what ended up being about an 8 year process to figure out what happened to him.
I met Chris in 2001 at St Cloud State. He was a social work major and we worked together on Veterans issues at SCSU. It was easy to see the stress of working with the VA on his mental and physical health issues, but keeping true to the Warrior Spirit, he kept pushing.
Eventually, he got the care he needed, but the struggle to obtain the benefits he rightfully earned and to get the help he so desperately needed, but it took some considerable time and effort.
It should never be that hard.
Brian Davis' sheer ignorance on Veterans issues and is lack of respect for renowned Veterans organizations is appalling to me. I spoke to a few friends today, guys I served with, people with diverse political views (dude is voting for Gordon Smith in Oregon).
We agree. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America is a great advocacy organization for Veterans. IAVA fights for soldiers like our friend David Chatham.
Staff Sgt. David Chatham, 34, won a Silver Star for continuing to command his Bradley Fighting Vehicle to protect pinned- down U.S. troops after a rocket- propelled grenade shredded his lower left leg near Fallujah a year ago.
He has been laboring to get back on duty ever since doctors amputated the limb. "The whole disability thing is a maze," he said by telephone from Fort Lewis, Wash. "Unless you get to the very end of the process, there's no way to know all the answers."
Chatham's goal is to stay on active duty, perhaps to teach combat infantry tactics, until he can retire with a pension in four years. But he fears he will be forcibly retired.
When a physical evaluation board saw Chatham on Monday, its task was only to judge whether he is fit to resume his job as a combat infantryman -- not whether he would make a good teacher in another Army job.
He expects to hear its verdict in a few weeks. "You can't imagine how stressful it is," Chatham said.
For a candidate of Davis' profile to reject the advocacy work of IAVA is yet another reason voters in the Figthing First need to reject him.
Congressman Walz has been an outstanding advocate for Veterans and our servicemen and women. Walz earned every bit of praise from Veterans groups like the VFW and IAVA.
While Walz does not represent me up here in the 6th, I am truly proud that Sergeant Major Walz represents me and other Veterans in Congress.
Bachmann: "I’m desperate for help right now or else I lose."
Bachmann did it again yesterday, on Hugh Hewitt and Mike Gallagher's radio shows.
Shameless, absolutely shameless.
She's desperate, it's going to get really ugly the last 12 days.
Shameless, absolutely shameless.
She's desperate, it's going to get really ugly the last 12 days.
Is a vote for a third party candidate a wasted vote?
A letter in the Worthington Daily Globe
Someone's paying attention, Dennis gets a gold star!
In the recent Senatorial debate on KARE11, the question was asked — what would you do to fix the coming crisis in funding for Social Security? Senator Coleman said that he would form a study group to seek the answer. Mr. Franken said that social security was OK for a while, and he wouldn’t change anything.
Senator Barkley said that we had already had enough studies, including one Congressman Tim Penny participated in, which came up with a few workable but tough solutions. We need to raise Social Security taxes, increase the eligible age, limit the amount of Social Security a wealthy person would receive, or a combination of these ideas.
I think the next Congress should have the courage to fix this problem, and that Dean Barkley is the best person to face the difficult problems that face our country — especially as he doesn’t have to “toe the party line” and can truly do what is best for our country. So yes, let’s really vote for a change in Washington by returning Sen. Barkley to the Senate. Also, a vote for Barkley says no to all the ads that both the other parties have run and show that outside money can’t buy a Minnesota Senate seat.
Someone's paying attention, Dennis gets a gold star!
KARE 11 Profile on Dean Barkley
From KARE 11
Dean Barkley found himself in familiar territory that afternoon in July when he walked into the Minnesota Secretary of State's office and filed to run for a seat in the US Senate under the Independence Party banner.
It's his fourth run as a third party candidate, dating back to 1992. And once again he's playing the role of the outspoken outsider, the under funded underdog fighting both his rivals and the two-party system itself.
"Ross Perot got me motivated, guilted me into doing something," Barkley recalls of his first foray into elected politics, "So I ran for Congress in 1992."
The ultimate deficit hawk adds, "And back then the debt was only 2.5 trillion! The sad thing is I could use the same campaign literature I did in 1992, only with more zeroes added!"
That year Perot's Reform Party movement tapped into voter frustration with the two-party system and Washington's gridlock games. Barkley, a Plymouth attorney and small businessman, looked to the same in Minnesota's Sixth Congressional District.
Appalled by the growing influence of political action committees, or PACs, Barkley began showing reporters pages from dictionaries as he compared what those organizations do with bribery.
"You go to Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, 2nd Edition, and it defines 'bribe' as the giving of money or something of value to someone in power with the expectation of influencing their decision-making."
In 1992 Barkley won the endorsement of both of the Twin Cities major metropolitan newspapers, but still finished behind incumbent Democrat Jerry Sikorski and that year's victor Republican Rod Grams.
Two years later Barkley was back in the mix, again rejecting PAC money and living without the vital TV time it can buy a politician. That year he also experience difficulty being included in officially sanctioned debates.
"The other candidates all say they welcome me," Barkley told KARE 11 in 1994 as he stood outside a debate in Saint Paul, "But privately they've gone behind my back and told every debate sponsor if I'm invited they will boycott."
Major Party Status
Barkley lost again to Rod Grams that year, but he accomplished something that put the third party movement on the map again in Minnesota. He grabbed five percent of the vote, giving his Reform Party "major party" status in Minnesota.
That comes an automatic spot on statewide ballots, assuming the party fields a candidate, and qualifies the party for state subsidies.
In 1996 Barkley would fill that spot again, going against incumbent Democrat Paul Wellstone and former Republican Senator Rudy Boschwitz
His standard line at debates that year?
"Hi, I'm Dean Barkley, the other guy in the race for US Senate,"
He finished third again that year, but won enough votes to retain major party status for his party, which paved the way for his biggest success in 1998.
That's the year he managed Jesse Ventura's shocking victory in the governor's race.
"You know we don't need a gun to have a revolution in this country," Barkley remarked, "It's called a vote. You can use your vote as your weapon of choice."
Senator Barkley
Barkley was also at the center of Governor Jesse Ventura's final shocker, four years later. A day before the 2002 election, and 10 days after Senator Wellstone died in a plane crash, Ventura named Barkley as an interim senator to finish Wellstone's term.
It was already as tumultuous time, with former Vice President Walter Mondale suddenly stepping into Wellstone's shoes on the campaign trail. And many -- including former Congressman Tim Penny -- urged Ventura to wait until after the election and appoint the winner to fill Wellstone's spot.
But Ventura, already upset by the partisan tone of the Wellstone Memorial Service, was frustrated when he learned that his party's candidate Jim Moore would not be included in an election eve debate between Mondale and Republican Norm Coleman.
"I only had an hour's notice he was naming me to the Senate," Barkley recalls, "And it took me 40 minutes to drive there."
He got to the Governor's office only five minutes before Ventura's news conference announcing his appointment.
"Jesse sticks his head into the office, and these were his exact words, 'Ha Barkley! Now you're going to know what it's like to be me!' And out he went."
"That was my prep."
By then the Minnesota Reform Party changed to its current name, the Independence Party. And Senator Dean Barkley arrived in Washington with an "IP -Minnesota" next to title.
His time on Capitol Hill was brief but action packed. Barkley held the tie-breaking vote on the Homeland Security Bill, and used it as a bargaining chip to save Minnesota's unique public assistance program.
"I had been in Ventura's administration, so I knew it would cost us hundreds of millions of dollars if we lost our TANF waiver," Barkley explained.
Minnesota at the time had a waiver from the rules that went with the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, known as TANF. That waiver allowed the state more flexibility with its welfare-to-work program, but Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson wanted to end that waiver.
"One half hour before the Homeland Security bill was up for a vote I got the call from Air Force One, we made the deal with Tommy Thompson, we got the waiver, and I voted the way I was always going to, but they figured out they needed my vote, so I played the game.
Before the "game" ended, Barkley had also helped secure $10 million to build the Paul and Sheila Wellstone Center in Saint Paul, which also serves as the home to the Neighborhood House resettlement center.
The Other Guy's Back
As the 2008 Senate race began to shape up as a two-way battle between incumbent Republican Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken, Barkley and other Independence Party activists began to ponder offering voters a third choice.
Robert Fitzgerald carried the party's banner in the 2006 Senate race, but couldn't make a huge dent in the contest between Republican Mark Kennedy and Democrat Amy Klobuchar.
At a book signing at the Mall of America, Jesse Ventura seemed to flirt with the idea of jumping into the fray. He carried the suspense until the eve of the filing deadline, ultimately announcing on CNN's Larry King Live that he would not run.
The next day Dean Barkley filed, and in September won the Independence Party primary. He returned to the theme of out of control deficit spending.
"I have not heard Al Franken or Norm Coleman talk about the debt or the deficit once," Barkley told KARE, "Not one word out of their mouth, like it doesn't exist. It's the big gorilla in the room that they're pretending is not there."
Barkley, who has a 19-year-old daughter and a 22-year-old son, has often called the federal government's excessive borrowing "financial child abuse."
"Now we've moved beyond saddling our children with that debt," he complained, "We're mortgaging our grandchildren's future and beyond."
"Whether it's a $9.65 trillion dollar debt, about to go to $11.3 trillion if this bailout works, I mean how are we ever able going to pay that back?"
He said most people would be shocked to learn that China and Russia are helping fund our debt spending by buying US Treasury bills.
"How sad, that our economy depends on the good will of China and Russia!"
Barkley's prescription would require sacrifice, and a new pay-as-you-go way of looking at the world in the Beltway. New taxes would be a last resort.
"My first bill would be a four-year spending freeze," Barkley pledged, "And once we prove we can control our spending I might open up to the idea of targeted tax increases."
Health Care and Iraq
On the issue of health care he said universal health care is almost inevitable, "unless the private sector does something to control costs."
He would open up the Medicare program to people of any age willing to buy their way into it and pay a premium.
"Private insurance companies could then compete head to head with Medicare, and we'd get to see which insurance plan is more cost effective."
He would insist, however, that Medicare be allowed to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for lower drug prices. Congress barred the government from doing that when it passed the Medicare Part D prescription benefit.
"That's the most ludicrous thing in the world that we prevent them from lowering cost," Barkley argued, "We PREVENT them! That is absolutely insane!"
On the question of Iraq, he would ask the commanders to help set a timetable, and then make it stick.
"You set a time and at that time there's no more money and they have to get out," Barkley asserted, "That's how you do it. Congress has to have the guts to do something."
He admits it may take "guts" for some voters to go with the third party choice, and send him to a Senate loaded with Democrats and Republicans. But to Barkley's way of thinking, the only truly wasted vote is the vote for more of the same.
"Who's actually going to be able to deliver change?" Barkley asked rhetorically, "If you want to send a message to Washington that you don't like what they're doing, what kind of message are you going to send by sending Al or Norm there?"
Bailout Blues
At the time of our interview for this Extra, lawmakers in Washington were still grappling with the financial system rescue plan.
In a recent debate, Barkley said he hopes for the sake of everyone that the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act works as planned.
He laid the blame for the crisis at the feet of both of the parties in power in Washington.
"The Democrats let it happen because they wanted everyone in this country to have a house," Barkley said, "Republicans looked the other way because all their rich friends on Wall Street were getting richer."
Dean Barkley found himself in familiar territory that afternoon in July when he walked into the Minnesota Secretary of State's office and filed to run for a seat in the US Senate under the Independence Party banner.
It's his fourth run as a third party candidate, dating back to 1992. And once again he's playing the role of the outspoken outsider, the under funded underdog fighting both his rivals and the two-party system itself.
"Ross Perot got me motivated, guilted me into doing something," Barkley recalls of his first foray into elected politics, "So I ran for Congress in 1992."
The ultimate deficit hawk adds, "And back then the debt was only 2.5 trillion! The sad thing is I could use the same campaign literature I did in 1992, only with more zeroes added!"
That year Perot's Reform Party movement tapped into voter frustration with the two-party system and Washington's gridlock games. Barkley, a Plymouth attorney and small businessman, looked to the same in Minnesota's Sixth Congressional District.
Appalled by the growing influence of political action committees, or PACs, Barkley began showing reporters pages from dictionaries as he compared what those organizations do with bribery.
"You go to Webster's New Collegiate Dictionary, 2nd Edition, and it defines 'bribe' as the giving of money or something of value to someone in power with the expectation of influencing their decision-making."
In 1992 Barkley won the endorsement of both of the Twin Cities major metropolitan newspapers, but still finished behind incumbent Democrat Jerry Sikorski and that year's victor Republican Rod Grams.
Two years later Barkley was back in the mix, again rejecting PAC money and living without the vital TV time it can buy a politician. That year he also experience difficulty being included in officially sanctioned debates.
"The other candidates all say they welcome me," Barkley told KARE 11 in 1994 as he stood outside a debate in Saint Paul, "But privately they've gone behind my back and told every debate sponsor if I'm invited they will boycott."
Major Party Status
Barkley lost again to Rod Grams that year, but he accomplished something that put the third party movement on the map again in Minnesota. He grabbed five percent of the vote, giving his Reform Party "major party" status in Minnesota.
That comes an automatic spot on statewide ballots, assuming the party fields a candidate, and qualifies the party for state subsidies.
In 1996 Barkley would fill that spot again, going against incumbent Democrat Paul Wellstone and former Republican Senator Rudy Boschwitz
His standard line at debates that year?
"Hi, I'm Dean Barkley, the other guy in the race for US Senate,"
He finished third again that year, but won enough votes to retain major party status for his party, which paved the way for his biggest success in 1998.
That's the year he managed Jesse Ventura's shocking victory in the governor's race.
"You know we don't need a gun to have a revolution in this country," Barkley remarked, "It's called a vote. You can use your vote as your weapon of choice."
Senator Barkley
Barkley was also at the center of Governor Jesse Ventura's final shocker, four years later. A day before the 2002 election, and 10 days after Senator Wellstone died in a plane crash, Ventura named Barkley as an interim senator to finish Wellstone's term.
It was already as tumultuous time, with former Vice President Walter Mondale suddenly stepping into Wellstone's shoes on the campaign trail. And many -- including former Congressman Tim Penny -- urged Ventura to wait until after the election and appoint the winner to fill Wellstone's spot.
But Ventura, already upset by the partisan tone of the Wellstone Memorial Service, was frustrated when he learned that his party's candidate Jim Moore would not be included in an election eve debate between Mondale and Republican Norm Coleman.
"I only had an hour's notice he was naming me to the Senate," Barkley recalls, "And it took me 40 minutes to drive there."
He got to the Governor's office only five minutes before Ventura's news conference announcing his appointment.
"Jesse sticks his head into the office, and these were his exact words, 'Ha Barkley! Now you're going to know what it's like to be me!' And out he went."
"That was my prep."
By then the Minnesota Reform Party changed to its current name, the Independence Party. And Senator Dean Barkley arrived in Washington with an "IP -Minnesota" next to title.
His time on Capitol Hill was brief but action packed. Barkley held the tie-breaking vote on the Homeland Security Bill, and used it as a bargaining chip to save Minnesota's unique public assistance program.
"I had been in Ventura's administration, so I knew it would cost us hundreds of millions of dollars if we lost our TANF waiver," Barkley explained.
Minnesota at the time had a waiver from the rules that went with the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, known as TANF. That waiver allowed the state more flexibility with its welfare-to-work program, but Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson wanted to end that waiver.
"One half hour before the Homeland Security bill was up for a vote I got the call from Air Force One, we made the deal with Tommy Thompson, we got the waiver, and I voted the way I was always going to, but they figured out they needed my vote, so I played the game.
Before the "game" ended, Barkley had also helped secure $10 million to build the Paul and Sheila Wellstone Center in Saint Paul, which also serves as the home to the Neighborhood House resettlement center.
The Other Guy's Back
As the 2008 Senate race began to shape up as a two-way battle between incumbent Republican Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken, Barkley and other Independence Party activists began to ponder offering voters a third choice.
Robert Fitzgerald carried the party's banner in the 2006 Senate race, but couldn't make a huge dent in the contest between Republican Mark Kennedy and Democrat Amy Klobuchar.
At a book signing at the Mall of America, Jesse Ventura seemed to flirt with the idea of jumping into the fray. He carried the suspense until the eve of the filing deadline, ultimately announcing on CNN's Larry King Live that he would not run.
The next day Dean Barkley filed, and in September won the Independence Party primary. He returned to the theme of out of control deficit spending.
"I have not heard Al Franken or Norm Coleman talk about the debt or the deficit once," Barkley told KARE, "Not one word out of their mouth, like it doesn't exist. It's the big gorilla in the room that they're pretending is not there."
Barkley, who has a 19-year-old daughter and a 22-year-old son, has often called the federal government's excessive borrowing "financial child abuse."
"Now we've moved beyond saddling our children with that debt," he complained, "We're mortgaging our grandchildren's future and beyond."
"Whether it's a $9.65 trillion dollar debt, about to go to $11.3 trillion if this bailout works, I mean how are we ever able going to pay that back?"
He said most people would be shocked to learn that China and Russia are helping fund our debt spending by buying US Treasury bills.
"How sad, that our economy depends on the good will of China and Russia!"
Barkley's prescription would require sacrifice, and a new pay-as-you-go way of looking at the world in the Beltway. New taxes would be a last resort.
"My first bill would be a four-year spending freeze," Barkley pledged, "And once we prove we can control our spending I might open up to the idea of targeted tax increases."
Health Care and Iraq
On the issue of health care he said universal health care is almost inevitable, "unless the private sector does something to control costs."
He would open up the Medicare program to people of any age willing to buy their way into it and pay a premium.
"Private insurance companies could then compete head to head with Medicare, and we'd get to see which insurance plan is more cost effective."
He would insist, however, that Medicare be allowed to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for lower drug prices. Congress barred the government from doing that when it passed the Medicare Part D prescription benefit.
"That's the most ludicrous thing in the world that we prevent them from lowering cost," Barkley argued, "We PREVENT them! That is absolutely insane!"
On the question of Iraq, he would ask the commanders to help set a timetable, and then make it stick.
"You set a time and at that time there's no more money and they have to get out," Barkley asserted, "That's how you do it. Congress has to have the guts to do something."
He admits it may take "guts" for some voters to go with the third party choice, and send him to a Senate loaded with Democrats and Republicans. But to Barkley's way of thinking, the only truly wasted vote is the vote for more of the same.
"Who's actually going to be able to deliver change?" Barkley asked rhetorically, "If you want to send a message to Washington that you don't like what they're doing, what kind of message are you going to send by sending Al or Norm there?"
Bailout Blues
At the time of our interview for this Extra, lawmakers in Washington were still grappling with the financial system rescue plan.
In a recent debate, Barkley said he hopes for the sake of everyone that the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act works as planned.
He laid the blame for the crisis at the feet of both of the parties in power in Washington.
"The Democrats let it happen because they wanted everyone in this country to have a house," Barkley said, "Republicans looked the other way because all their rich friends on Wall Street were getting richer."
Barkley, Franken, and the 2nd Amendment
Barkley Campaign: 'It's Time for Al Franken to Clarify His Position on 2nd Amendment Rights'
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
PLYMOUTH—The Dean Barkley for Senate campaign called on DFLer Al Franken to finally clarify his position on the 2nd Amendment:
"We're all looking forward to Nov. 4, but Nov. 8 is also a big day for tens of thousands of Minnesotans because it marks the opening of deer hunting season.
"Given that we're less than three weeks away from the start of this great Minnesota tradition, it's time for Al Franken to finally clarify his position on 2nd Amendment rights. At best, it's confusing.[1] At worst, it's misleading.[2] Is he promoting New York City values or defending Minnesota's proud legacy?"
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
[1] "Todd Palin talks the Second Amendment" (Star Tribune, Oct. 16, 2008): http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/president/31125154.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUX
[2] Republican Party of Minnesota press release (via Minnesota Democrats Exposed, June 26, 2008): http://www.minnesotademocratsexposed.com/2008/06/26/mn-gop-press-release-franken-wrong-for-minnesota-gun-owners/
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
PLYMOUTH—The Dean Barkley for Senate campaign called on DFLer Al Franken to finally clarify his position on the 2nd Amendment:
"We're all looking forward to Nov. 4, but Nov. 8 is also a big day for tens of thousands of Minnesotans because it marks the opening of deer hunting season.
"Given that we're less than three weeks away from the start of this great Minnesota tradition, it's time for Al Franken to finally clarify his position on 2nd Amendment rights. At best, it's confusing.[1] At worst, it's misleading.[2] Is he promoting New York City values or defending Minnesota's proud legacy?"
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
[1] "Todd Palin talks the Second Amendment" (Star Tribune, Oct. 16, 2008): http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/president/31125154.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUX
[2] Republican Party of Minnesota press release (via Minnesota Democrats Exposed, June 26, 2008): http://www.minnesotademocratsexposed.com/2008/06/26/mn-gop-press-release-franken-wrong-for-minnesota-gun-owners/
Bachmann Focal Point of SC Times Opinon Page Outrage
And now the letters have hit. I'm not sure I've seen so many on the SC Times website.
Let's Hope We Fit Patriot Definition
It's Time To Remove Bachmann From Post
We need to choose competent leaders
Bachmann's words show intolerance
Tinklenberg will be better fit for district
Lets hope district will vote Bachmann out
Comments damaging, lacking dignity
Bachmann is too extreme for district
We can fix mistake by electing Tinklenberg
Bachmann can't escape accountability
Bachmann using false attacks on Obama
There was one pro-Bachmann LTE, countered by 11 anti-Bachmann letters.
Let's Hope We Fit Patriot Definition
It's Time To Remove Bachmann From Post
We need to choose competent leaders
Bachmann's words show intolerance
Tinklenberg will be better fit for district
Lets hope district will vote Bachmann out
Comments damaging, lacking dignity
Bachmann is too extreme for district
We can fix mistake by electing Tinklenberg
Bachmann can't escape accountability
Bachmann using false attacks on Obama
There was one pro-Bachmann LTE, countered by 11 anti-Bachmann letters.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Barkley Bloomberg Story
Ventura Haunts Minnesota Senate Race as Barkley Taps Voter Ire
Oct. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Minnesota has seen this movie.
Ten years ago, a gregarious professional wrestler, Jesse Ventura, won the race for governor by tapping into voter anger and running as a third-party candidate.
This year, Dean Barkley, Ventura's former campaign manager, is trying to produce a sequel by vying for a U.S. Senate seat. While one of the major-party candidates is favored to win the race, high economic anxiety and Congress' record-low approval ratings have given Barkley a lift in state polls.
``Something's got to be done and I don't think Republicans or Democrats can do it,'' Gary Lilya, a 64-year-old Democrat said after meeting Barkley at a diner in Rochester.
The race already had developed into one of the most closely watched in the country, with comedian Al Franken, a Democrat, challenging Republican incumbent, Norm Coleman.
Democrats had counted on Franken, 57, benefiting from the anti-Washington climate fueled by economic hard times. Enter into the race Barkley, who has a paid staff of two and $75,000 in campaign funds. He briefly served as a U.S. senator once already when Ventura appointed him to serve the final two months of Paul Wellstone's term after the Democrat died in a plane crash in 2002.
Dead Heat
Barkley, 58, has changed the dynamic by turning the race into a dead heat. In a survey conducted by Quinnipiac University Oct. 8-12, Franken was ahead of Coleman by 2 percentage points, within the poll's 3-point margin of error. Barkley, running this year on the Independence Party of Minnesota ticket, polled 18 percent, drawing almost equally from Democrats and Republicans.
``The impact of Barkley on the race is very unpredictable,'' said Lawrence Jacobs, the director of the center for the study of politics and governance at the University of Minnesota.
Over a roast beef dinner at Grandma's Kitchen in Rochester on Oct. 14, Barkley said voters are ``sick and tired of Congress'' and that creates an even greater opportunity for an independent than existed when he managed Ventura's surprise victory.
``Ten years ago, the economy was good, everyone was happy, we didn't have a war,'' Barkley said. Now, ``the stars are in alignment much more now than ever before.''
Third-Party Tradition
Barkley said his candidacy is being helped by Minnesota's long tradition of third parties. The Democratic Party in the state is a combination of the Democrat-Farmer-Labor parties that fielded separate candidates until a merger 64 years ago. Barkley ran for the U.S. House of Representatives as an independent in 1992, and won 16 percent of the vote. This year, he is being included in all five candidate debates.
``There is kind of an acceptability, credibility, legitimacy for third-party candidates,'' Jacobs said. ``You look at some states, it's hard for them to be taken seriously. Not so in Minnesota.''
The two major-party candidates have had their stumbles, though Coleman has been battered by the plunging popularity of President George W. Bush and the crisis in the financial markets.
After Coleman, 59, voted Oct. 2 to back a $700 billion financial rescue package, his 9-point lead in a Minnesota Public Radio survey became a 4-point deficit.
Bailout Vote
``I may lose an election over that vote,'' Coleman said after speaking to supporters in Winona on Oct. 15. ``But I have no doubt that sitting by and doing nothing would have fed into the destruction of our economic system.''
Franken has had troubles, too; in April came news that he had been forced to pay $70,000 in back taxes and penalties in 17 states where he had made paid appearances from 2003 to 2006. He blamed an accountant's mistake for the problem.
And in May he had to apologize for off-color jokes about rape he made 13 years ago while discussing a skit for NBC's ``Saturday Night Live,'' and a humor article he wrote in 2000 in Playboy magazine about sex with robots.
Neither Coleman nor Franken said they were concerned about a third candidate siphoning off their support.
During a debate in Duluth on Oct. 16, Barkley said both political parties were ``equally guilty'' of causing the current financial crisis and that Americans have ``lost faith'' in their government.
`Wake-Up Call'
``Sadly, the only thing Republicans and Democrats seem to care about is power,'' Barkley said. ``Washington will get a real wake-up call if you send me to the Senate.''
Some of the sharpest clashes during the 90-minute debate were over the Iraq War. Franken, who like Barkley has called for troop-withdrawal timetables, said he was ``astounded'' that Coleman hasn't admitted the war is a mistake.
``I'm not going to tell the parents of any kid who died in Iraq that they died for a mistake,'' Coleman replied.
Even if Barkley doesn't win the race, he almost certainly will shape it. The Democrats calculate that if Obama wins the state by 10 points or more -- a Quinnipiac University/Wall Street Journal poll Oct. 14 gave him an 11-point lead -- he will carry Franken along with him.
Jacobs, however, said the Barkley factor may work to the Republicans' advantage.
``The Republicans tend to come back home more than the Democrats,'' Jacobs said.
Barkley said he remembers the 1998 movie starring Ventura. He said Ventura never polled higher than 27 percent in his successful campaign and if he can break the 20 percentage-point level this year, ``People start to think: `My God, maybe he can win.'''
Oct. 20 (Bloomberg) -- Minnesota has seen this movie.
Ten years ago, a gregarious professional wrestler, Jesse Ventura, won the race for governor by tapping into voter anger and running as a third-party candidate.
This year, Dean Barkley, Ventura's former campaign manager, is trying to produce a sequel by vying for a U.S. Senate seat. While one of the major-party candidates is favored to win the race, high economic anxiety and Congress' record-low approval ratings have given Barkley a lift in state polls.
``Something's got to be done and I don't think Republicans or Democrats can do it,'' Gary Lilya, a 64-year-old Democrat said after meeting Barkley at a diner in Rochester.
The race already had developed into one of the most closely watched in the country, with comedian Al Franken, a Democrat, challenging Republican incumbent, Norm Coleman.
Democrats had counted on Franken, 57, benefiting from the anti-Washington climate fueled by economic hard times. Enter into the race Barkley, who has a paid staff of two and $75,000 in campaign funds. He briefly served as a U.S. senator once already when Ventura appointed him to serve the final two months of Paul Wellstone's term after the Democrat died in a plane crash in 2002.
Dead Heat
Barkley, 58, has changed the dynamic by turning the race into a dead heat. In a survey conducted by Quinnipiac University Oct. 8-12, Franken was ahead of Coleman by 2 percentage points, within the poll's 3-point margin of error. Barkley, running this year on the Independence Party of Minnesota ticket, polled 18 percent, drawing almost equally from Democrats and Republicans.
``The impact of Barkley on the race is very unpredictable,'' said Lawrence Jacobs, the director of the center for the study of politics and governance at the University of Minnesota.
Over a roast beef dinner at Grandma's Kitchen in Rochester on Oct. 14, Barkley said voters are ``sick and tired of Congress'' and that creates an even greater opportunity for an independent than existed when he managed Ventura's surprise victory.
``Ten years ago, the economy was good, everyone was happy, we didn't have a war,'' Barkley said. Now, ``the stars are in alignment much more now than ever before.''
Third-Party Tradition
Barkley said his candidacy is being helped by Minnesota's long tradition of third parties. The Democratic Party in the state is a combination of the Democrat-Farmer-Labor parties that fielded separate candidates until a merger 64 years ago. Barkley ran for the U.S. House of Representatives as an independent in 1992, and won 16 percent of the vote. This year, he is being included in all five candidate debates.
``There is kind of an acceptability, credibility, legitimacy for third-party candidates,'' Jacobs said. ``You look at some states, it's hard for them to be taken seriously. Not so in Minnesota.''
The two major-party candidates have had their stumbles, though Coleman has been battered by the plunging popularity of President George W. Bush and the crisis in the financial markets.
After Coleman, 59, voted Oct. 2 to back a $700 billion financial rescue package, his 9-point lead in a Minnesota Public Radio survey became a 4-point deficit.
Bailout Vote
``I may lose an election over that vote,'' Coleman said after speaking to supporters in Winona on Oct. 15. ``But I have no doubt that sitting by and doing nothing would have fed into the destruction of our economic system.''
Franken has had troubles, too; in April came news that he had been forced to pay $70,000 in back taxes and penalties in 17 states where he had made paid appearances from 2003 to 2006. He blamed an accountant's mistake for the problem.
And in May he had to apologize for off-color jokes about rape he made 13 years ago while discussing a skit for NBC's ``Saturday Night Live,'' and a humor article he wrote in 2000 in Playboy magazine about sex with robots.
Neither Coleman nor Franken said they were concerned about a third candidate siphoning off their support.
During a debate in Duluth on Oct. 16, Barkley said both political parties were ``equally guilty'' of causing the current financial crisis and that Americans have ``lost faith'' in their government.
`Wake-Up Call'
``Sadly, the only thing Republicans and Democrats seem to care about is power,'' Barkley said. ``Washington will get a real wake-up call if you send me to the Senate.''
Some of the sharpest clashes during the 90-minute debate were over the Iraq War. Franken, who like Barkley has called for troop-withdrawal timetables, said he was ``astounded'' that Coleman hasn't admitted the war is a mistake.
``I'm not going to tell the parents of any kid who died in Iraq that they died for a mistake,'' Coleman replied.
Even if Barkley doesn't win the race, he almost certainly will shape it. The Democrats calculate that if Obama wins the state by 10 points or more -- a Quinnipiac University/Wall Street Journal poll Oct. 14 gave him an 11-point lead -- he will carry Franken along with him.
Jacobs, however, said the Barkley factor may work to the Republicans' advantage.
``The Republicans tend to come back home more than the Democrats,'' Jacobs said.
Barkley said he remembers the 1998 movie starring Ventura. He said Ventura never polled higher than 27 percent in his successful campaign and if he can break the 20 percentage-point level this year, ``People start to think: `My God, maybe he can win.'''
Barkley in Agri News
I'll skip the bio...
Dean Barkley is waging an uphill battle in his quest to represent Minnesota in the U.S. Senate.
Barkley is competing against two well-funded opponents, yet he is polling in the double digits.
He gets plenty of people who say a vote for a third party candidate is a wasted vote, but Barkley says, "don't waste your vote on voting for more of the same."
He adds a quote from Ben Franklin to back it up.
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."
In debates, Barkley is the candidate who most often mentions the federal debt, which has passed $10 trillion dollars. The national debt is crushing the nation's economy, Barkley says.
He's optimistic about the new farm bill.
"I think the most exciting thing about the farm bill is the new ACRE program," Barkley said.
The Average Crop Revenue Election program will be available starting with the 2009 crop year. It is based on changes in crop revenue.
Health care
Congress can remove the handcuffs from Medicare and allow it to negotiate lower drug costs.
The nation needs to break the string that the drug industry has to Congress and start lowering costs. The Medicare system should also be opened to any American who wants to buy it and Medicare should be allowed to compete with private sector insurance providers.
Renewable energy
There needs to be a loan program for individual farmers to give them the opportunity to actually buy and own wind generation. If more wind turbines are installed, the nation will need to build more transmission lines, which is not an easy thing to do, Barkley said.
"We have to quit talking about it and do it," he said.
Renewable energy tax credits are also essential, Barkley said. Congress needs to take the tax credits from oil companies and put those into renewable energy.
"Exxon Mobil doesn't need any more tax breaks from us, the taxpayers," he said.
Conservation
The Conservation Reserve Program is an excellent program, Barkley said. During the Ventura administration, the state's share was fully funded.
He said there should be more flexibility in how the land is used.
Transportation
When it comes to paying for needed repairs and upgrades to our nation's roads, Barkley doesn't sugarcoat his answer.
"There is no easy way of paying for it," he said. "If we want better roads and bridges, we have to raise the gas tax."
The federal gas tax hasn't been increased in 20 years, Barkley said.
Barkley also supports the expansion of the DM&E Railroad.
Dean Barkley is waging an uphill battle in his quest to represent Minnesota in the U.S. Senate.
Barkley is competing against two well-funded opponents, yet he is polling in the double digits.
He gets plenty of people who say a vote for a third party candidate is a wasted vote, but Barkley says, "don't waste your vote on voting for more of the same."
He adds a quote from Ben Franklin to back it up.
"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results."
In debates, Barkley is the candidate who most often mentions the federal debt, which has passed $10 trillion dollars. The national debt is crushing the nation's economy, Barkley says.
He's optimistic about the new farm bill.
"I think the most exciting thing about the farm bill is the new ACRE program," Barkley said.
The Average Crop Revenue Election program will be available starting with the 2009 crop year. It is based on changes in crop revenue.
Health care
Congress can remove the handcuffs from Medicare and allow it to negotiate lower drug costs.
The nation needs to break the string that the drug industry has to Congress and start lowering costs. The Medicare system should also be opened to any American who wants to buy it and Medicare should be allowed to compete with private sector insurance providers.
Renewable energy
There needs to be a loan program for individual farmers to give them the opportunity to actually buy and own wind generation. If more wind turbines are installed, the nation will need to build more transmission lines, which is not an easy thing to do, Barkley said.
"We have to quit talking about it and do it," he said.
Renewable energy tax credits are also essential, Barkley said. Congress needs to take the tax credits from oil companies and put those into renewable energy.
"Exxon Mobil doesn't need any more tax breaks from us, the taxpayers," he said.
Conservation
The Conservation Reserve Program is an excellent program, Barkley said. During the Ventura administration, the state's share was fully funded.
He said there should be more flexibility in how the land is used.
Transportation
When it comes to paying for needed repairs and upgrades to our nation's roads, Barkley doesn't sugarcoat his answer.
"There is no easy way of paying for it," he said. "If we want better roads and bridges, we have to raise the gas tax."
The federal gas tax hasn't been increased in 20 years, Barkley said.
Barkley also supports the expansion of the DM&E Railroad.
Blog Name Change? Wasted Vote?
Apparently, since I do not support Al Franken, some commenter's believe I ought to change my blog name to Red Man in a Red District.
It's a good way to push a relatively strong party guy right out of the DFL. Nice work jleuze. I don't support one "Democrat" therefore my blog ought to be Red Man in a Red District? You and Michele Bachmann ought to have a little chat about how you frame issues, you could learn a lot from each other.
Franken has never done it for me. I have seen him speak in numerous places, he's boring. It feels like he thinks he's entitled to this seat and that really bothers me. He evokes the name of Paul Wellstone yet does not understand how Wellstone legislated. He was a fiery liberal, but truly was able to work across the aisle to get things done. Franken is a hot head.
A vote for Dean Barkley is not a wasted vote. Franken has been dinged in at least 2 of the last 3 debates on how he's going to pay for all his initiatives. Franken's answers on Social Security leaves little to be desired as well.
I've spent some time lobbying Norm Coleman on higher education issues. While I spend a lot of time beating up Senator Coleman, I have found him to be very receptive of the college students of Minnesota, and aside from his vote in Budget Reconciliation in 2005, he's been a strong supporter of higher education. Despite that, I cannot bring myself to vote for Norm.
I've found Barkley to be an honorable, common sense, straight forward kind of guy. In conversations I have had with Coleman, Franken, and Barkley, I get a sense that Barkley is not telling me what I want to hear, but rather what I need to hear, some straight talk.
A wasted vote is voting for someone who will maintain status quo. A wasted vote is voting for someone you do not believe in. I've never wasted a vote, every candidate I have ever voted for has earned a vote from Blueman.
Candidates have to earn my vote, you don't just get it because you have a D, R, or an I behind your name on the ballot. Franken has done nothing to earn that vote. I don't like his former career as a "satirist" and think voting for this loser is a wasted vote, which I have been vocal about for about a year. Tax problems, Playboy issues, and I have to be honest, I am waiting for the other shoe to drop here.
Every local candidate is distancing themselves from Franken. It's a complete 180 from 2 years ago when Klobuchar and Wetterling had strong coat tails. No one wants to be associated with Franken. I hope you contact Rep Hosch about his comments on Al Franken being "toxic", since we apparently have to support EVERY Democrat in order to be a Democrat.
There will be at least 5 Democrats on my ballot on November 4th. I am choosing to not vote for one because I don't think Franken will make an honorable US Senator. Because of that, I should now be Red Man in a Red District?
Maybe I'll just be an Independent now, since it's quite clear that if I don't vote for Franken, I can't be a Democrat.
I'd argue that because I am not voting for Franken, I am a strong principled Democrat...but to each their own.
It's a good way to push a relatively strong party guy right out of the DFL. Nice work jleuze. I don't support one "Democrat" therefore my blog ought to be Red Man in a Red District? You and Michele Bachmann ought to have a little chat about how you frame issues, you could learn a lot from each other.
Franken has never done it for me. I have seen him speak in numerous places, he's boring. It feels like he thinks he's entitled to this seat and that really bothers me. He evokes the name of Paul Wellstone yet does not understand how Wellstone legislated. He was a fiery liberal, but truly was able to work across the aisle to get things done. Franken is a hot head.
A vote for Dean Barkley is not a wasted vote. Franken has been dinged in at least 2 of the last 3 debates on how he's going to pay for all his initiatives. Franken's answers on Social Security leaves little to be desired as well.
I've spent some time lobbying Norm Coleman on higher education issues. While I spend a lot of time beating up Senator Coleman, I have found him to be very receptive of the college students of Minnesota, and aside from his vote in Budget Reconciliation in 2005, he's been a strong supporter of higher education. Despite that, I cannot bring myself to vote for Norm.
I've found Barkley to be an honorable, common sense, straight forward kind of guy. In conversations I have had with Coleman, Franken, and Barkley, I get a sense that Barkley is not telling me what I want to hear, but rather what I need to hear, some straight talk.
A wasted vote is voting for someone who will maintain status quo. A wasted vote is voting for someone you do not believe in. I've never wasted a vote, every candidate I have ever voted for has earned a vote from Blueman.
Candidates have to earn my vote, you don't just get it because you have a D, R, or an I behind your name on the ballot. Franken has done nothing to earn that vote. I don't like his former career as a "satirist" and think voting for this loser is a wasted vote, which I have been vocal about for about a year. Tax problems, Playboy issues, and I have to be honest, I am waiting for the other shoe to drop here.
Every local candidate is distancing themselves from Franken. It's a complete 180 from 2 years ago when Klobuchar and Wetterling had strong coat tails. No one wants to be associated with Franken. I hope you contact Rep Hosch about his comments on Al Franken being "toxic", since we apparently have to support EVERY Democrat in order to be a Democrat.
There will be at least 5 Democrats on my ballot on November 4th. I am choosing to not vote for one because I don't think Franken will make an honorable US Senator. Because of that, I should now be Red Man in a Red District?
Maybe I'll just be an Independent now, since it's quite clear that if I don't vote for Franken, I can't be a Democrat.
I'd argue that because I am not voting for Franken, I am a strong principled Democrat...but to each their own.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Bachmann Makes Excuses
Inside military joke here:
What's the maximum effective range of an excuse?
Zero!
First Sergeant Smalls used to say this to soldiers young and old all the time and reading Bachmann's op ed excuse today in the Pioneer Press made me think of some of those good ol' lines.
Apparently, Chris Matthews ambushed her, the liberal blogs are to blame, we misconstrued her comments (AGAIN?), and the dog ate her homework.
MinnPost already commented on the placement of Bachmann op ed piece today.
A couple of Bachmann excuses caught my eye.
What's the maximum effective range of an excuse?
Zero!
First Sergeant Smalls used to say this to soldiers young and old all the time and reading Bachmann's op ed excuse today in the Pioneer Press made me think of some of those good ol' lines.
Apparently, Chris Matthews ambushed her, the liberal blogs are to blame, we misconstrued her comments (AGAIN?), and the dog ate her homework.
MinnPost already commented on the placement of Bachmann op ed piece today.
A couple of Bachmann excuses caught my eye.
In a matter of 48 hours after I participated in an interview with Chris Matthews on MSNBC's "Hardball," more than $640,000 from donors across the country flooded into my opponent's campaign. Almost to a one, these are people who never would have considered voting for me if they lived in Minnesota. In fact, most of them have probably never voted for a Republican. These are strong supporters of Barack Obama who want to see more liberal policies enacted in Washington.
Where does Bachmann's money come from? Do Bachmann contributors consider
voting for a Democrat?
According to Open Secrets, about 20% 0f Bachmann's funding has come from outside the State of Minnesota. Interestingly enough, of the Top 10 zip codes for Bachmann contributors, only one of them is in the 6th Congressional District.
Zip Codes
55391 (Wayzata, MN) $102,350
55331 (Excelsior, MN) $45,150
55110 (Saint Paul, MN) $43,250
55347 (Eden Prairie, MN) $36,250
55436 (Minneapolis, MN) $29,650
55356 (Long Lake, MN) $28,400
55305 (Hopkins, MN) $22,200
55439 (Minneapolis, MN) $19,650
56301 (Saint Cloud, MN) $18,500
55125 (Saint Paul, MN) $17,300
So for Team Americ...Bachmann, your arguments about where the money for Tinklenberg's campaign, after Bachmann herself opened Pandora's Box are irrelevant. The vast majority of those who send Bachmann money cannot vote for her, no matter how many times Pastor Mac Hammond endorses her from the pulpit and says he's voting for her (I can't, he lives in the 3rd).
It's like a political version of the children's game of telephone. I make a
statement in an interview. Chris Matthews distorts it — as he is paid so well to
do. The liberal blogs contort it even more. The speaker of the House and other
Democrat leaders utter absolute lies about what was said in the interview. Then
the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee picks it up and runs with it,
buying $1 million for negative ads so that they don't have to talk about the
issues.
We're not buying it, not at all. Mathews did not distort Bachmann's remarks, he pushed her to say what she really wanted to say and it came out. Bachmann has long since been the Conservative poster child, sending her to media events because she is attractive and speaks well (her GOP talking points). Sometimes, she can create controversy. Her ego loves the national press. She's obsessed.
Bachmann went one time too many and got burned, maybe Mathews set her up? Who knows, Bachmann fell for it, that much is certain.
So don't blame Matthews, bloggers, our inability to understand your comments, or the dog eating the assignment. Your excuses do nothing except slip you into a deeper state of denial. Quite frankly, the excuses are pathetic.
And it's the issues that the voters in Minnesota's 6th District want to talk about. Everywhere I go, people ask about the $700 billion Wall Street bailout, and they want to know why we're saddling taxpayers with generations of debt to pay for risky decisions by Wall Street financiers. There's a clear distinction between my position on this bailout — I opposed it both times it came before the House — and that of my opponent, who says he would have supported it.
The Democrats don't want to talk about the pocketbook issues that are really on the minds of Minnesotans. Those voters were concerned about how much it cost to fill their tank with gas this summer, but that pales in comparison to how much it might cost to heat their homes this winter. They want to know how they're going to pay their mortgage and their grocery bills. Again, my record and my opponent's are clearly different when it comes to the family budget. I've always stood up for lowertaxes and against wasteful government spending.
But when you can't win on the issues, you steal the election with a couple of lies and $1 million worth of mud. And the media reports and Democrat responses to my interview on "Hardball" have been echoing the outright lies of the liberal blogs. Is it really any wonder people are so cynical about politics?
Maybe were cynical because we have a Congresswoman who would rather take 15 minutes of fame on Larry King or Hardball, but neglect her constituents.
Maybe were cynical because the Congresswoman has attended a very select few forums and debates across the 6th CD.
Or maybe were cynical because our Congresswoman embarrassed us once again. First, the Presidential groping, the I know how Iraq will be segmented fun from last summer, and now this.
Congresswoman Bachmann, no one is stealing this election. In fact, it was your 6 minutes of stupidity last week have cost you this election. Really, a simply apology would have made a big difference. Instead, Bachmann comes up with one excuse upon another.
And that's failing.
The maximum effective range of your excuse Congresswoman Bachmann...is ZERO. Knock it off and apologize.
*Update* First she says she didn't use the term "anti-American" and now she says she did and apologizes for it?
New Bachmann Campaign Video
Vulgar language warning!
Definately Pro-America for Team Ameri...Bachmann
Definately Pro-America for Team Ameri...Bachmann
Barkley Outlines US Senate Agenda
Dean Barkley Outlines His Agenda for the U.S. Senate
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
MOORHEAD—Dean Barkley, the Independence Party candidate for U.S. Senate, said today that real change in Washington won't come from simply changing the parties in power, but instead by finally delivering the real results the American people are demanding.
"We're not going to get America back on track with more of the same," Barkley said at a press conference at the Moorhead City Hall. "We've spent the past few years and past few decades talking about problems. Now it's time to solve them."
Barkley, who served in the Senate following the death of Paul Wellstone in 2002, said as Minnesota's next senator he will work to do the following:
· End the Iraq War, which has cost our country more than 4,100 lives and hundreds of billions of dollars. "We've done our part," Barkley said. "Now it's up to Iraqis to determine their own destiny."
· Balance the federal budget and pay down the $10-trillion national debt. "We can't spend our way out of problems anymore," Barkley said. "That's how we got into this situation in the first place."
· Achieve energy independence. "We've been talking about this for 30 years," Barkley said. "But we're still pumping billions and billions of dollars a year into places like Saudi Arabia and Venezuela."
· Enact real ethics reform by banning members of Congress from taking money from industries they regulate. "Ask people why they don't trust Washington and this is it," Barkley said. "We can't tell people to 'trust us' and then go and fly off to a Wall Street fundraiser."
"Travel across Minnesota and you hear about the same issues from everyone—regardless of party affiliation," Barkley said. "But until we change the culture in Congress we're not going to get the results we deserve. Liberals, conservatives and moderates can all be a part of the solution, but not if we continue to buy into the same old Washington games that put being a party man ahead of being a patriot."
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
MOORHEAD—Dean Barkley, the Independence Party candidate for U.S. Senate, said today that real change in Washington won't come from simply changing the parties in power, but instead by finally delivering the real results the American people are demanding.
"We're not going to get America back on track with more of the same," Barkley said at a press conference at the Moorhead City Hall. "We've spent the past few years and past few decades talking about problems. Now it's time to solve them."
Barkley, who served in the Senate following the death of Paul Wellstone in 2002, said as Minnesota's next senator he will work to do the following:
· End the Iraq War, which has cost our country more than 4,100 lives and hundreds of billions of dollars. "We've done our part," Barkley said. "Now it's up to Iraqis to determine their own destiny."
· Balance the federal budget and pay down the $10-trillion national debt. "We can't spend our way out of problems anymore," Barkley said. "That's how we got into this situation in the first place."
· Achieve energy independence. "We've been talking about this for 30 years," Barkley said. "But we're still pumping billions and billions of dollars a year into places like Saudi Arabia and Venezuela."
· Enact real ethics reform by banning members of Congress from taking money from industries they regulate. "Ask people why they don't trust Washington and this is it," Barkley said. "We can't tell people to 'trust us' and then go and fly off to a Wall Street fundraiser."
"Travel across Minnesota and you hear about the same issues from everyone—regardless of party affiliation," Barkley said. "But until we change the culture in Congress we're not going to get the results we deserve. Liberals, conservatives and moderates can all be a part of the solution, but not if we continue to buy into the same old Washington games that put being a party man ahead of being a patriot."
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
Barkley in Moorhead
From the Fargo Forum:
U.S. Senate candidate Dean Barkley said during a campaign stop Monday in Moorhead that things won’t change in Congress if Americans keep voting for Democrats and Republicans.
“We aren’t going to get America back on track with more of the same,” said Barkley, the Independence Party candidate running for the Minnesota Senate seat now held by Republican Norm Coleman.
“My goal is to give Minnesotans a choice,” said Barkley, who emphasized that unlike his opponents – Coleman and Democratic candidate Al Franken – he has accepted no money from political action committees.
Barkley said people tell him they are fed up with the negative tone of the Senate race.
“People have had it with what they’re seeing. The question is, are they going to do anything about it?” said Barkley, who said polls show him with about 20 percent of the vote, a number he expects will grow when new polls come out today.
“I’m in position where I think I can win this,” said Barkley, who briefly served in the Senate in 2002 when then-Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura appointed him to fill out the remaining two months of the late Paul Wellstone’s term.
Barkley outlined several of his top priorities, including:
- Ending the Iraq war.
- Balancing the federal budget.
- Achieving energy independence.
- Enacting ethics reform in Congress.
“I think we’ve done enough,” Barkley said, referring to U.S. efforts in Iraq. “It’s now for Iraq to determine its own future,” he said.
On the federal debt, Barkley said that with the debt nearing $11 trillion, the United States can no longer spend its way out of trouble.
On the goal of energy independence, he said if Brazil could achieve it in five years, “we can, too.”
Barkley said ethics reform should start with new rules prohibiting members of Congress from taking money from industries they regulate based on committees they serve on.
Barkley said the current financial crisis is the result of the biggest malfeasance on the part of the federal government in the nation’s history.
“What would Thomas Jefferson think with our country being in such a precarious state?” Barkley asked.
U.S. Senate candidate Dean Barkley said during a campaign stop Monday in Moorhead that things won’t change in Congress if Americans keep voting for Democrats and Republicans.
“We aren’t going to get America back on track with more of the same,” said Barkley, the Independence Party candidate running for the Minnesota Senate seat now held by Republican Norm Coleman.
“My goal is to give Minnesotans a choice,” said Barkley, who emphasized that unlike his opponents – Coleman and Democratic candidate Al Franken – he has accepted no money from political action committees.
Barkley said people tell him they are fed up with the negative tone of the Senate race.
“People have had it with what they’re seeing. The question is, are they going to do anything about it?” said Barkley, who said polls show him with about 20 percent of the vote, a number he expects will grow when new polls come out today.
“I’m in position where I think I can win this,” said Barkley, who briefly served in the Senate in 2002 when then-Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura appointed him to fill out the remaining two months of the late Paul Wellstone’s term.
Barkley outlined several of his top priorities, including:
- Ending the Iraq war.
- Balancing the federal budget.
- Achieving energy independence.
- Enacting ethics reform in Congress.
“I think we’ve done enough,” Barkley said, referring to U.S. efforts in Iraq. “It’s now for Iraq to determine its own future,” he said.
On the federal debt, Barkley said that with the debt nearing $11 trillion, the United States can no longer spend its way out of trouble.
On the goal of energy independence, he said if Brazil could achieve it in five years, “we can, too.”
Barkley said ethics reform should start with new rules prohibiting members of Congress from taking money from industries they regulate based on committees they serve on.
Barkley said the current financial crisis is the result of the biggest malfeasance on the part of the federal government in the nation’s history.
“What would Thomas Jefferson think with our country being in such a precarious state?” Barkley asked.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Brian Davis Still Sucks on Veterans Issues
Flipping between Game 7 of the ALCS and the CD 1 debate on Channel 17, I caught Congressman Walz asking Brian Davis about Veterans issues.
It was really incredible.
For Davis to stumble once...ah, it can happen. Candidates get caught off guard on stuff all the time.
Nearly 2 weeks ago, Davis was asked what he would do to provide better educational methods and health care to Veterans. Davis had no answer.
Last night, Congressman Walz asked Brian Davis the same question. Now, at a time in which our nation has soldiers deployed fighting a war on terrorism on two fronts and record numbers of servicemen and women are utilizing their benefits, you'd think Davis would have came up with a coherent answer in two weeks.
Boy, I was wrong.
Davis had that deer in the headlights look. He thanked Walz for his honorable service, talked about his dad serving in World War II, and said that due to the historic new GI Bill, that he could not think of anything he could do on Veterans issues.
Davis was clueless...again. I could not believe it.
Brian Davis does not care about Veterans. It's that simple. He'll spend hours on end reading blogs like this, checking to see what people say about him, but can't spend 5 minutes at Disabled American Veterans looking at their legislative agenda, or a letter to Congress outlining some key Veterans issues that still need to be addressed.
He could have checked out what the Veterans of Foreign Wars thinks.
But instead, Brian Davis could not think of one thing he could do for Veterans in Congress, not one.
Congressman Tim Walz has been simply amazing on Veterans issues. He gets the complexity behind the struggle to obtain benefits and the unique military culture that keeps many Veterans from asking for help.
While there was a lot more to the Tim Walz domination of Brian Davis at the League of Women Voters debate, broadcast last night, it was Brian Davis's inability to answer a simple question on Veterans issues that defined the inept nature of his campaign.
It was really incredible.
For Davis to stumble once...ah, it can happen. Candidates get caught off guard on stuff all the time.
Nearly 2 weeks ago, Davis was asked what he would do to provide better educational methods and health care to Veterans. Davis had no answer.
What action would you take to provide better educational methods and health care to our veterans?
Uh let me say that my father is a retired WWII veteran and he has received some of his health care Veterans administration. As a physician part of my training in a VA hospital and I’ll tell you very good basic health care that occurs at a VA hospital. We have to respect that when people have worked there. And for the tens of millions of veterans who receive their care there.
(We?)(Who?) are always looking for improvements. I can’t identify any specific areas where we would improve the educational or healthcare methods for veterans. I know there was a recent bill passed that is doing just that.
I tell with my background, my interests, my respect for veterans. As a representative of the next congressman of this district I take this issue very seriously and will always be on the look out to make sure it is as high quality it possibly can be.
Last night, Congressman Walz asked Brian Davis the same question. Now, at a time in which our nation has soldiers deployed fighting a war on terrorism on two fronts and record numbers of servicemen and women are utilizing their benefits, you'd think Davis would have came up with a coherent answer in two weeks.
Boy, I was wrong.
Davis had that deer in the headlights look. He thanked Walz for his honorable service, talked about his dad serving in World War II, and said that due to the historic new GI Bill, that he could not think of anything he could do on Veterans issues.
Davis was clueless...again. I could not believe it.
Brian Davis does not care about Veterans. It's that simple. He'll spend hours on end reading blogs like this, checking to see what people say about him, but can't spend 5 minutes at Disabled American Veterans looking at their legislative agenda, or a letter to Congress outlining some key Veterans issues that still need to be addressed.
He could have checked out what the Veterans of Foreign Wars thinks.
But instead, Brian Davis could not think of one thing he could do for Veterans in Congress, not one.
Congressman Tim Walz has been simply amazing on Veterans issues. He gets the complexity behind the struggle to obtain benefits and the unique military culture that keeps many Veterans from asking for help.
While there was a lot more to the Tim Walz domination of Brian Davis at the League of Women Voters debate, broadcast last night, it was Brian Davis's inability to answer a simple question on Veterans issues that defined the inept nature of his campaign.
A New Race in CD 6
I'll be the first to admit that I didn't think Elwyn Tinklenberg had a very good shot at defeating Congresswoman Michele Bachmann this fall. Even though he had raised a million dollars this election year, he had a very significant cash on hand deficit and Bachmann had been targeted by the NRCC to be saved.
Then, Congresswoman Bachmann opened her mouth. Her six minutes of shame last Friday have done more to change the political landscape in the 6th then anything else over the past year.
It's pretty easy to see that Bachmann decided to lay low, dodging Elwyn at numerous forums across the district and spending her time being a media darling. Her obsession with hearing her own voice on television will bring about her downfall.
Before Michele Bachmann appeared on Hardball last week, she had a $1 million cash on hand advantage over Elwyn Tinklenberg, with about 17 days to go.
We're now nearly 2 weeks out and after raising at least $700,000 over the weekend, Tinklenberg has closed the cash on hand advantage of the incumbent Bachmann.
That's just simply incredible, but its more than the money.
With two weeks to go, people are even more energized, people are volunteering and going door to door to make the case against Bachmann.
I've seen the polls. One had Elwyn 15 points back a couple of months ago. A recent Bachmann poll had her up by 11. A recent DCCC poll has Bachmann only up by 4.
This was all before Bachmann started talking again.
Her six minutes of stupidity have erased her cash on hand advantage and will produce another surge in the polls for Tinklenberg.
Thanks Michele, we certainly won't miss you!
Then, Congresswoman Bachmann opened her mouth. Her six minutes of shame last Friday have done more to change the political landscape in the 6th then anything else over the past year.
It's pretty easy to see that Bachmann decided to lay low, dodging Elwyn at numerous forums across the district and spending her time being a media darling. Her obsession with hearing her own voice on television will bring about her downfall.
Before Michele Bachmann appeared on Hardball last week, she had a $1 million cash on hand advantage over Elwyn Tinklenberg, with about 17 days to go.
We're now nearly 2 weeks out and after raising at least $700,000 over the weekend, Tinklenberg has closed the cash on hand advantage of the incumbent Bachmann.
That's just simply incredible, but its more than the money.
With two weeks to go, people are even more energized, people are volunteering and going door to door to make the case against Bachmann.
I've seen the polls. One had Elwyn 15 points back a couple of months ago. A recent Bachmann poll had her up by 11. A recent DCCC poll has Bachmann only up by 4.
This was all before Bachmann started talking again.
Her six minutes of stupidity have erased her cash on hand advantage and will produce another surge in the polls for Tinklenberg.
Thanks Michele, we certainly won't miss you!
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Barkley Participates in KSTP Town Hall; Franken and Coleman Skip Event
Barkley Participates in KSTP Town Hall; Franken and Coleman Skip Event
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
ST. PAUL—The Barkley for Senate campaign released the following statement Sunday evening following a KSTP town hall forum at Metropolitan State University:
"This was a great opportunity for Sen. Barkley to share his straight-forward message with people all over Minnesota," said campaign spokesman Christopher Truscott. "It's sad that Al Franken and Norm Coleman decided instead to hide behind their special interest money and focus-group tested commercials."
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
ST. PAUL—The Barkley for Senate campaign released the following statement Sunday evening following a KSTP town hall forum at Metropolitan State University:
"This was a great opportunity for Sen. Barkley to share his straight-forward message with people all over Minnesota," said campaign spokesman Christopher Truscott. "It's sad that Al Franken and Norm Coleman decided instead to hide behind their special interest money and focus-group tested commercials."
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
Coleman and Franken Skip KSTP Townhall Forum
Dean Barkley is on right now and has done very well so far.
We're hoping to get video up later, but Barkley has been impressive.
We're hoping to get video up later, but Barkley has been impressive.
SC Times LTE: Barkley will give us change we need
A short SC Times LTE on Senator Dean Barkley
I don't necessarily agree with everything stated by the author, but I do believe that Dean Barkley is the candidate best positioned to bring about change in our US Senate race.
We have finally got what we elected.
Do you remember the hot topic a couple of year ago — term limits? Well it has come home to roost for not following up!
Whether you are Democrat, Republican or Independent you better look very closely at whom you have been electing. Funding for campaigns has poisoned the system. We must start with a $100 public voucher to be used by citizens to choose who the citizen supports. Absolutely no fundraising from outside resources! This is the only sure remedy for this cancer on the system.
When will you look at what has happened in a few weeks, will you not stop supporting this system? Will the collapse of the money system not do it for you?
Recent events are very large concern to me! House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she wanted to nationalize the oil companies and the government could run them! Shocked?
Well the government wants to nationalize the banking system by investing into private business! How about now? These are the same ideologies of socialism and Marxism.
Are you scared? It happening and you sit silent! It is time to start a revolution! Not with guns, but with your vote while it still has value! That is why I am supporting Sen. Dean Barkley, my lifelong friend and a man with real hopes for change. It is a vote for hope!
I don't necessarily agree with everything stated by the author, but I do believe that Dean Barkley is the candidate best positioned to bring about change in our US Senate race.
Coleman Runs Away From Bachmann Comments
Interesting, I bet he made his decision after they had a poll...typical Coleman courage.
Esme Murphy interviewed Norm this morning.
No word on whether Brian Davis, John Kline and Erik Paulsen endorse Bachmann's hateful anti-American commentary.
Esme Murphy interviewed Norm this morning.
No word on whether Brian Davis, John Kline and Erik Paulsen endorse Bachmann's hateful anti-American commentary.
Barkley and Coleman on Ethics
Fact Check: Dean Barkley and Norm Coleman on Ethics
As a lobbyist, Barkley made no financial contributions to Minnesota state legislators; Norm Coleman, meanwhile, accepts cash from lobbyists and PACs
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
PLYMOUTH—The Dean Barkley for Senate campaign released the following statement following an attack by a leading Web-based supporter of Republican Sen. Norm Coleman:[1]
"If Sen. Coleman and his friends spent a little less time manufacturing outrage and a little more doing what's right for our country, this election would be no contest.
"It is true that in 2003, 2004 and 2005, Dean Barkley lobbied the Minnesota Legislature. He launched that career after entering the job market following his tenure in the U.S. Senate.
"As a lobbyist, Sen. Barkley never made a financial contribution to a member of the Legislature and he has not accepted any contributions from lobbyists or PACs as a candidate for the U.S. Senate.
"Meanwhile, Norm Coleman has taken more than $5.1 million from PACs[2] and about $60,000 from individual lobbyists.[3] It's also worth noting that in this election cycle alone he has accepted more than $58,000 from the gaming industry[4] and another $15,000 from the tobacco industry.[5]
"Given Norm Coleman's checkered history, there's something bizarre about his supporters picking a fight when it comes to ethics."
—Christopher Truscott, Barkley campaign spokesman
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] Minnesota Democrats Exposed: http://www.minnesotademocratsexposed.com/2008/10/18/dean-barkley-he-was-a-tobacco-lobbyist-and-he-is-a-hypocrite/
[2] Opensecrets.org (Norm Coleman Career Profile page): http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00013870&cycle=Career
[3] Opensecrets.org (Lobbyists/Norm Coleman/Recipient Detail page): http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/contribs_detail.php?type=r&lname=Norm+Coleman+%28R-Minn%29
[4] Opensecrets.org (Casinos/Gambling: Money to Congress page): http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?ind=N07&cycle=2008&recipdetail=S&mem=Y
[5] Opensecrets.org (Tobacco: Money to Congress page): http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?ind=A02&cycle=2008&recipdetail=S&mem=
As a lobbyist, Barkley made no financial contributions to Minnesota state legislators; Norm Coleman, meanwhile, accepts cash from lobbyists and PACs
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
PLYMOUTH—The Dean Barkley for Senate campaign released the following statement following an attack by a leading Web-based supporter of Republican Sen. Norm Coleman:[1]
"If Sen. Coleman and his friends spent a little less time manufacturing outrage and a little more doing what's right for our country, this election would be no contest.
"It is true that in 2003, 2004 and 2005, Dean Barkley lobbied the Minnesota Legislature. He launched that career after entering the job market following his tenure in the U.S. Senate.
"As a lobbyist, Sen. Barkley never made a financial contribution to a member of the Legislature and he has not accepted any contributions from lobbyists or PACs as a candidate for the U.S. Senate.
"Meanwhile, Norm Coleman has taken more than $5.1 million from PACs[2] and about $60,000 from individual lobbyists.[3] It's also worth noting that in this election cycle alone he has accepted more than $58,000 from the gaming industry[4] and another $15,000 from the tobacco industry.[5]
"Given Norm Coleman's checkered history, there's something bizarre about his supporters picking a fight when it comes to ethics."
—Christopher Truscott, Barkley campaign spokesman
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[1] Minnesota Democrats Exposed: http://www.minnesotademocratsexposed.com/2008/10/18/dean-barkley-he-was-a-tobacco-lobbyist-and-he-is-a-hypocrite/
[2] Opensecrets.org (Norm Coleman Career Profile page): http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/summary.php?cid=N00013870&cycle=Career
[3] Opensecrets.org (Lobbyists/Norm Coleman/Recipient Detail page): http://www.opensecrets.org/lobby/contribs_detail.php?type=r&lname=Norm+Coleman+%28R-Minn%29
[4] Opensecrets.org (Casinos/Gambling: Money to Congress page): http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?ind=N07&cycle=2008&recipdetail=S&mem=Y
[5] Opensecrets.org (Tobacco: Money to Congress page): http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?ind=A02&cycle=2008&recipdetail=S&mem=
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Tinklenberg Still Hauling in $$$
About $120,000 on Act Blue, and its been what, 18 hours?
He may raise more in a couple days because of Bachmann's greatest campaign mistake than he did in some FEC reporting quarters.
Just incredible.
I've read a few right wing bloggers defending Bachmann's statement.
If what Bachmann said was appropriate, when will John Kline, Erik Paulsen, Norm Coleman, and Brian Davis issue statements in support of Congresswoman Bachmann?
He may raise more in a couple days because of Bachmann's greatest campaign mistake than he did in some FEC reporting quarters.
Just incredible.
I've read a few right wing bloggers defending Bachmann's statement.
If what Bachmann said was appropriate, when will John Kline, Erik Paulsen, Norm Coleman, and Brian Davis issue statements in support of Congresswoman Bachmann?
Bachmann Stuff at Wonkette
Check it out!
I think two of my favorite comments are...
Q: What's the difference between Michele Bachmann and Joseph McCarthy?
A: Lipstick
and
Does she get an “ice cream headache” when the cold Minnesota wind blows through that empty skull of hers?
I think two of my favorite comments are...
Q: What's the difference between Michele Bachmann and Joseph McCarthy?
A: Lipstick
and
Does she get an “ice cream headache” when the cold Minnesota wind blows through that empty skull of hers?
Censure Bachmann!
I don't normally do online petitions...
With that said, what happened yesterday is not normal.
Go here and sign the petition!
With that said, what happened yesterday is not normal.
Go here and sign the petition!
Coleman and Bachmann: Frontpage Think Progress
Norm Coleman made the front page for his most recent ad.
Bachmann for her...well you know...anti-American Joseph McCarthy BS.
The Republican brand in Minnesota is severely tainted right now!
Bachmann for her...well you know...anti-American Joseph McCarthy BS.
The Republican brand in Minnesota is severely tainted right now!
Do Erik Paulsen, John Kline and Brian Davis Agree with Michele Bachmann?
Michele Bachmann has been the poster woman for conservatism in Minnesota.
Her insane comments on Hardball and Larry King are ignited a progressive groundswell in Minnesota.
We need to ask some of Bachmann's closest friends where they stand on this.
I hope the press and voters begin to ask Norm Coleman, Erik Paulsen, Brian Davis, and John Kline what they think of Congresswoman Bachmann's comments.
BTW, El Tinklenberg has raised nearly $100,000 at Act Blue since this story broke!
Incredible.
Her insane comments on Hardball and Larry King are ignited a progressive groundswell in Minnesota.
We need to ask some of Bachmann's closest friends where they stand on this.
I hope the press and voters begin to ask Norm Coleman, Erik Paulsen, Brian Davis, and John Kline what they think of Congresswoman Bachmann's comments.
BTW, El Tinklenberg has raised nearly $100,000 at Act Blue since this story broke!
Incredible.
Friday, October 17, 2008
Bachmann Stupidity = Tinklenberg Cash Cow
Of all of Congresswoman Bachmann's problems in the past, her remarks on Hardball today may be the straw that broke the camel's back.
As of 10:45, El Tinklenberg has raised over $70,000 on Act Blue tonight. I sat here for 5 mintues just waiting, refreshed the page and another $1,300 came in!
This is absolutely incredible.
Go to Act Blue and contribute now!
So, with the NRCC putting all its eggs in the CD 6 basket, will they pull there money out of the 6th now? Put money into Kline so they could possibly save 1 Congressional seat in Minnesota?
Bachmann's steep cash on hand advantage may soon be gone, because of what may go down as the most idiotic commentary in Minnesota political history.
Bachmann became too big for her own good. It appears she became enamored with the spotlight on Lary King, Hardball, and other cable outlets.
State Representative Tom Emmer was right...Michele Bachmann is diminutive in character!
As of 10:45, El Tinklenberg has raised over $70,000 on Act Blue tonight. I sat here for 5 mintues just waiting, refreshed the page and another $1,300 came in!
This is absolutely incredible.
Go to Act Blue and contribute now!
So, with the NRCC putting all its eggs in the CD 6 basket, will they pull there money out of the 6th now? Put money into Kline so they could possibly save 1 Congressional seat in Minnesota?
Bachmann's steep cash on hand advantage may soon be gone, because of what may go down as the most idiotic commentary in Minnesota political history.
Bachmann became too big for her own good. It appears she became enamored with the spotlight on Lary King, Hardball, and other cable outlets.
State Representative Tom Emmer was right...Michele Bachmann is diminutive in character!
Is Childress Running Bachmann's Campaign?
This is just unbelieveable.
Who in the hell is running the Bachmann campaign?
Clearly they are in Brad Childress Vikings mode, just trying to do just enough to not lose.
You look at the lack of constituent outreach.
You look at the lack of any campaign presence whatsoever, although she was in Cokato yesterday, her "tour" was unannounced.
You look at the Congresswoman ducking debates with Elywn Tinklenberg.
And now this.
Does Bachmann want to get re-elected? It's just another unbelieveable moment in Michele Bachmann's legislative history. Her commentary today crossed a line.
Openly questioning the patrotism and integrity of not only Barack Obama and virtually every Democrat in Congress? Shameless!
If we, the people of the 6th Congressional District, reelect Congresswoman Bachmann, we deserve the consequences of our actions.
Who in the hell is running the Bachmann campaign?
Clearly they are in Brad Childress Vikings mode, just trying to do just enough to not lose.
You look at the lack of constituent outreach.
You look at the lack of any campaign presence whatsoever, although she was in Cokato yesterday, her "tour" was unannounced.
You look at the Congresswoman ducking debates with Elywn Tinklenberg.
And now this.
Does Bachmann want to get re-elected? It's just another unbelieveable moment in Michele Bachmann's legislative history. Her commentary today crossed a line.
Openly questioning the patrotism and integrity of not only Barack Obama and virtually every Democrat in Congress? Shameless!
If we, the people of the 6th Congressional District, reelect Congresswoman Bachmann, we deserve the consequences of our actions.
Madia Dominates KSTP Debate
Flipping back and forth between the SCSU hockey game and the debate, Ashwin is on his A game tonight, Paulsen just avoided the question on oil company tax breaks.
Barkley Takes Off the Gloves!
Last night was Dean Barkley's most dominating performance at any of the US Senate debates to date.
So is Coleman referring that any of us not a sitting member of Congress sits in the cheap seats now? We're all in the cheap seats Coleman. It's from these cheap seats that I worry about the economy, I worry about the company I work for and my job, I worry about stubborn leaders who keep sending my brothers and sisters in arms in harms way, without a plan to get them home and without the proper care once they return.
Senator Coleman, perhaps you should spend a day in the cheap seats and see what this is really like.
Coleman is bipartisan?
In 2003 he voted with President Bush 98% of the time.
2004: 92%
2005: 84%
2006: 88%
2007: 68%.
His final years he may have began to reach across the aisle, knowing he would be up for a tough election fight.
Norm Coleman is not bipartisan, he supported the Bush agenda at nearly a 90% clip.
On campaign finance reform:
Coleman responded by stating that the people would not want their money spent on all these negative tv ads.
First of all, we already pay for those ads, one way or another, through increased costs to goods and services. Tell me that the $136,000,000 given from the financial services industry this year alone hasn't come back on the user.
Secondly, if you're stupid enough to use public voucher money on negative campaign ads, it shows the candidate's lack of intelligence and fiscal discipline.
Independence Party candidate Barkley, in particular, went bare-knuckled at his better-financed, big-party rivals, saying their campaigns have been corrupted by special interest money and negativity. He reserved some of his sharpest criticism for incumbent Coleman for, among other things, not doing more to stop the economic meltdown affecting the nation and world.
“Norm, on your watch we had the greatest malfeasance in economic history. If you were in Enron, right now you’d probably be under indictment, not running for reelection.”
Coleman responded that “It’s easy from the cheap seats to throw shots,” and said that Barkley and Franken lack his experience and his understanding of what it takes to forge deals in the hard-ball partisan atmosphere of Washington.
So is Coleman referring that any of us not a sitting member of Congress sits in the cheap seats now? We're all in the cheap seats Coleman. It's from these cheap seats that I worry about the economy, I worry about the company I work for and my job, I worry about stubborn leaders who keep sending my brothers and sisters in arms in harms way, without a plan to get them home and without the proper care once they return.
Senator Coleman, perhaps you should spend a day in the cheap seats and see what this is really like.
Coleman is bipartisan?
In 2003 he voted with President Bush 98% of the time.
2004: 92%
2005: 84%
2006: 88%
2007: 68%.
His final years he may have began to reach across the aisle, knowing he would be up for a tough election fight.
Norm Coleman is not bipartisan, he supported the Bush agenda at nearly a 90% clip.
On campaign finance reform:
Barkley told Coleman, “I’d love to hear an apology for you putting Minnesotans for the last 10 months of these negative ads.” He said public financing of campaigns would help ease cynicism over campaigning and special interests, with each voter getting vouchers to give to the campaign of their choice.
Coleman responded by stating that the people would not want their money spent on all these negative tv ads.
First of all, we already pay for those ads, one way or another, through increased costs to goods and services. Tell me that the $136,000,000 given from the financial services industry this year alone hasn't come back on the user.
Secondly, if you're stupid enough to use public voucher money on negative campaign ads, it shows the candidate's lack of intelligence and fiscal discipline.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Blueman Exclusive: Footage of Post Duluth Debate Scrap Between Al and Norm
It's a good thing I know people in Duluth!
ECM Covers Barkley
Another good story on Senator Dean Barkley.
But while sharing political views, Ventura and he separated on personality traits, Barkley explained. “Our styles are completely opposite — I wish I could get people excited as quickly as Jesse Ventura,” he said. But that’s just not my personality. I’m more of a quiet, conciliatory, work behind the scenes, gets things done type of person,” said Barkley.
Still Barkley, 58, is hardly colorless.
He styled one of his comebacks during a recent U.S. Senate debate as hitting Coleman between the gonads and recharged himself the day after the debate by lighting up a cigar and taking a walk around Medicine Lake. Barkley referred to the North Metro as the “Ventura Bible Belt.” “It’s just not the northern suburbans, but that’s a huge part of it,” said Barkley who views the independent heartland as girdling the Twin Cities.
People there worry about jobs, about getting their kids through college, about having enough left at the end of the week for a six-pack, opined Barkley.
From belt of normal people
“That’s where I grew up — Annandale,” said Barkley. “I’m from that belt of normal people,” he said. It’s critical to his success, Barkley explained.
Ventura appointed Barkley to the U.S. Senate after the death of Sen. Paul Wellstone in October of 2002 and he served out the closing months of the Wellstone term.
Barkley views his brief tenure as successful. And symbolic.
Barkley Shines in 3rd Debate!
Barkley Campaign Chair: 'Real People and Real Issues' Will Decide Election's Outcome
IP Candidate Shines in Third Senate Debate
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
DULUTH—The Dean Barkley for Senate campaign released the following statement after Thursday night's debate on the campus of the University of Minnesota-Duluth:
"This election is about real people and real issues and that's why Dean Barkley did so well tonight," said campaign chairman Jim Moore. "Minnesotans aren't interested in the political inside baseball we've heard so much about in recent weeks. They're looking for a real choice—someone willing to speak candidly about the economy, Iraq, the $10-trillion national debt and the great challenges facing our country. That's why our campaign continues to gain strength everyday."
Barkley will participate in a KSTP-sponsored town hall forum at 6 p.m., Sunday night at Metropolitan State University.
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
IP Candidate Shines in Third Senate Debate
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
DULUTH—The Dean Barkley for Senate campaign released the following statement after Thursday night's debate on the campus of the University of Minnesota-Duluth:
"This election is about real people and real issues and that's why Dean Barkley did so well tonight," said campaign chairman Jim Moore. "Minnesotans aren't interested in the political inside baseball we've heard so much about in recent weeks. They're looking for a real choice—someone willing to speak candidly about the economy, Iraq, the $10-trillion national debt and the great challenges facing our country. That's why our campaign continues to gain strength everyday."
Barkley will participate in a KSTP-sponsored town hall forum at 6 p.m., Sunday night at Metropolitan State University.
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
Erik Paulsen is a Chickenhawk
Vote Vets came out to defend Ashwin Madia, in the meantime, they took Congressman John Kline and Chickenhawk Erik Paulsen down a few notches.
IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN VETS BLAST ERIK PAULSEN FOR ATTACKS ON MADIA
WASHINGTON – The largest group of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, VoteVets.org, today blasted Erik Paulsen for hiding behind a Congressman to launch smears against Marine and war veteran Ashwin Madia.
This week, Congressman John Kline hurled a smear – accusing Madia of “exploiting” Marines in a new campaign ad, which uses widely available stock footage of Marines to visually reinforce Madia’s service. Kline is from another Congressional district, while Madia’s opponent, Paulsen, never served in the military.
“Shame on Erik Paulsen for using others to hurl baseless smears against an honorable war veteran, and not having the guts to do it on his own,” said Jon Soltz, Iraq War Veteran and Chairman of VoteVets.org. “Ashwin has every right to be proud of his service to the Marines, and hold that experience close to his heart. And, he has every right to highlight for voters how that experience has shaped his views and values.”
“If Erik Paulsen has a problem with Ashwin’s service to the Marines and to America, then he should be man enough to say it himself. And, if he can’t do that, people need to ask whether or not Erik Paulsen is strong enough to talk straight with his constituents,” Soltz added.
VoteVets.org PAC’s primary goal is to help elect those Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans running for public office, and defeat those whose views and records are not in line with the best interest of veterans and troops. The group has endorsed Ashwin Madia for Congress.
IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN VETS BLAST ERIK PAULSEN FOR ATTACKS ON MADIA
WASHINGTON – The largest group of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, VoteVets.org, today blasted Erik Paulsen for hiding behind a Congressman to launch smears against Marine and war veteran Ashwin Madia.
This week, Congressman John Kline hurled a smear – accusing Madia of “exploiting” Marines in a new campaign ad, which uses widely available stock footage of Marines to visually reinforce Madia’s service. Kline is from another Congressional district, while Madia’s opponent, Paulsen, never served in the military.
“Shame on Erik Paulsen for using others to hurl baseless smears against an honorable war veteran, and not having the guts to do it on his own,” said Jon Soltz, Iraq War Veteran and Chairman of VoteVets.org. “Ashwin has every right to be proud of his service to the Marines, and hold that experience close to his heart. And, he has every right to highlight for voters how that experience has shaped his views and values.”
“If Erik Paulsen has a problem with Ashwin’s service to the Marines and to America, then he should be man enough to say it himself. And, if he can’t do that, people need to ask whether or not Erik Paulsen is strong enough to talk straight with his constituents,” Soltz added.
VoteVets.org PAC’s primary goal is to help elect those Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans running for public office, and defeat those whose views and records are not in line with the best interest of veterans and troops. The group has endorsed Ashwin Madia for Congress.
Barkley Unveils ‘Voter Empowerment’ Campaign Finance, Ethics Reform Proposal
The line of the press conference? I didn't have to fly in from New York to save the middle class.
Barkley Unveils 'Voter Empowerment' Campaign Finance, Ethics Reform Proposal
Big Interests Expect 'Something in Return' for Their Contributions
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
ST. PAUL (Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008)—Dean Barkley, the Independence Party candidate for U.S. Senate, unveiled a new plan today to make elections funding more transparent and reduce the influence of special interest groups.
Dubbed the "Voter Empowerment Act," Barkley's plan would bar incumbent representatives and senators from taking money from industries they regulate and would give each registered voter a $100 voucher to be put toward the federal candidate(s) of his/her choosing.
"Political contributions can represent a huge conflict of interest for elected officials," Barkley said at a press conference at the State Capitol. "My goal is to simply remove this conflict by returning the power directly to the people."
Barkley, who served in the Senate following the death of Paul Wellstone in 2002, acknowledged his plan won't initially win him a lot of new friends on Capitol Hill.
"It's more important to do the right thing," Barkley said. "I don't imagine Amy Klobuchar was the most popular person in the Senate for introducing legislation to ban privately funded travel, but it's time for us to get our priorities in order. That's what I've been hearing over and over from people across the state."
Special interest contributions come at a high cost to American taxpayers. The recent Wall Street bailout, with a price tag of $700 billion, came after a decade in which both parties failed to exercise responsible oversight.
Finance, insurance, and real estate employees and political action committees have contributed more than $241 million to House and Senate candidates in this election cycle, including more than $180 million to incumbents.[1]
"This is exactly why the American people don't trust Congress," Barkley said. "These groups don't just give money out of the goodness of their hearts; they expect something in return."
In the Minnesota Senate race, Norm Coleman has received $3 million from finance, insurance, and real estate interests[2] and Al Franken has taken in $473,000 from these groups.[3]
"These large contributions send the wrong message to voters," Barkley said. "How can we trust these guys to provide effective oversight when they are being funded by the very industries they are supposed to regulate? We must do better than that if we're going to restore people's confidence in government."
[1] Opensecrets.org (Finance/Insurance/Real Estate: Money to Congress page): http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=2008&ind=F
[2] Opensecrets.org (Contributions by Industry page): http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/industries.php?cid=N00013870&cycle=2008 Note: Includes PAC and individual contributions.
[3] Opensecrets.org (Contributions by Industry page): http://www.opensecrets.org/races/indus.php?cycle=2008&id=MNS1
Barkley Unveils 'Voter Empowerment' Campaign Finance, Ethics Reform Proposal
Big Interests Expect 'Something in Return' for Their Contributions
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
ST. PAUL (Wednesday, Oct. 15, 2008)—Dean Barkley, the Independence Party candidate for U.S. Senate, unveiled a new plan today to make elections funding more transparent and reduce the influence of special interest groups.
Dubbed the "Voter Empowerment Act," Barkley's plan would bar incumbent representatives and senators from taking money from industries they regulate and would give each registered voter a $100 voucher to be put toward the federal candidate(s) of his/her choosing.
"Political contributions can represent a huge conflict of interest for elected officials," Barkley said at a press conference at the State Capitol. "My goal is to simply remove this conflict by returning the power directly to the people."
Barkley, who served in the Senate following the death of Paul Wellstone in 2002, acknowledged his plan won't initially win him a lot of new friends on Capitol Hill.
"It's more important to do the right thing," Barkley said. "I don't imagine Amy Klobuchar was the most popular person in the Senate for introducing legislation to ban privately funded travel, but it's time for us to get our priorities in order. That's what I've been hearing over and over from people across the state."
Special interest contributions come at a high cost to American taxpayers. The recent Wall Street bailout, with a price tag of $700 billion, came after a decade in which both parties failed to exercise responsible oversight.
Finance, insurance, and real estate employees and political action committees have contributed more than $241 million to House and Senate candidates in this election cycle, including more than $180 million to incumbents.[1]
"This is exactly why the American people don't trust Congress," Barkley said. "These groups don't just give money out of the goodness of their hearts; they expect something in return."
In the Minnesota Senate race, Norm Coleman has received $3 million from finance, insurance, and real estate interests[2] and Al Franken has taken in $473,000 from these groups.[3]
"These large contributions send the wrong message to voters," Barkley said. "How can we trust these guys to provide effective oversight when they are being funded by the very industries they are supposed to regulate? We must do better than that if we're going to restore people's confidence in government."
[1] Opensecrets.org (Finance/Insurance/Real Estate: Money to Congress page): http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/summary.php?cycle=2008&ind=F
[2] Opensecrets.org (Contributions by Industry page): http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/industries.php?cid=N00013870&cycle=2008 Note: Includes PAC and individual contributions.
[3] Opensecrets.org (Contributions by Industry page): http://www.opensecrets.org/races/indus.php?cycle=2008&id=MNS1
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
$30 million on ads...and counting!
MPR has a neat little tool to see who is spending how much on political advertising here in the Twin Cities.
It's interesting to note that Erik Paulsen has put up nearly twice as many ads as Ashwin Madia and has outspent him by nearly $600,000 on these ads...and he's still losing!
Now John Kline is fighting for him too!
It's going to be an interesting final 3 weeks.
It's interesting to note that Erik Paulsen has put up nearly twice as many ads as Ashwin Madia and has outspent him by nearly $600,000 on these ads...and he's still losing!
Now John Kline is fighting for him too!
It's going to be an interesting final 3 weeks.
Urdahl and Shimanski: Back on New New Taxes Pledge
Larry Schumacher has a post up about the pledge.
Looking at the website, "Live Within Our Means", local Reps Urdahl, Shimanski, and Emmer have signed onto the pledge.
I hope everyone remembers what happened the last time our beloved local officials took the vow to not raise taxes! Big cuts to higher education, health and human services, and other vital areas had an adverse impact on working and middle class Minnesotans.
Looking at the website, "Live Within Our Means", local Reps Urdahl, Shimanski, and Emmer have signed onto the pledge.
I hope everyone remembers what happened the last time our beloved local officials took the vow to not raise taxes! Big cuts to higher education, health and human services, and other vital areas had an adverse impact on working and middle class Minnesotans.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
John Kline's In Over His Head...
Congressman John Kline came out earlier today, in a pathetic effort to save Erik Paulsen, and attacked Ashwin Madia's use footage of a Marine Corp ceremonial unit in his ad "Discipline".
First of all, I don't see a problem with it. Madia is a Marine. He served his nation honorably in Iraq. Paulsen can't compete with Madia on the issues, so he and his surrogates have to attack him.
But what makes this more interesting, is that Kline used military "props" in one of his ads too!
OMG! John Kline showed the nuclear football in a political ad? Al Queda knows what the nuclear football looks like! OMG, talk about conduct unbecoming of an officer!
Yeah...um, John Kline needs to remove the stick from his ass and get over this...quickly enough to continue being outworked by Steve Sarvi.
Just a thought...from a Veteran!
First of all, I don't see a problem with it. Madia is a Marine. He served his nation honorably in Iraq. Paulsen can't compete with Madia on the issues, so he and his surrogates have to attack him.
But what makes this more interesting, is that Kline used military "props" in one of his ads too!
OMG! John Kline showed the nuclear football in a political ad? Al Queda knows what the nuclear football looks like! OMG, talk about conduct unbecoming of an officer!
Yeah...um, John Kline needs to remove the stick from his ass and get over this...quickly enough to continue being outworked by Steve Sarvi.
Just a thought...from a Veteran!
Franken Clueless on Social Security
Both Franken and Senator Coleman dodged the question in Saturday's debate.
Coleman wants another bi-partisan commission...
Franken doesn't think there needs to be anything done during his six year term as Senator...
Now that's political courage! We don't need to work on it during my term, we'll let future Senators work on it!
Barkley offered solutions.
Coleman wants another bi-partisan commission...
Franken doesn't think there needs to be anything done during his six year term as Senator...
Franken told reporters Monday that he did not think anything needed to be done with Social Security in the six-year term the Minnesota senator would serve.
Now that's political courage! We don't need to work on it during my term, we'll let future Senators work on it!
Barkley offered solutions.
Barkley, at a debate Saturday in Golden Valley, said solutions are available but people have to have the political will to enact them. He said the tax can be raised, the retirement age can be raised, the cap of how much the government taxes can be raised or the benefits can be means-tested.
“But if we accept the hard truths about entitlements and their funding, there’s no reason in the world we can’t save these programs. We don’t need another ‘Blue Ribbon Commission’ to study this issue again,” Barkley said in a statement issued Monday.
Obama Leads in North Dakota!
Wow, North Dakota has not gone Democrat in the Presidential election since 1964!
John McCain is in serious trouble...
John McCain is in serious trouble...
Monday, October 13, 2008
Paulsen on FOX 9: He Distorts Truth Again
This morning, Erik Paulsen played the Norm Coleman card, and spent a majority of his 5 minute interview talking about the need for bi-partisanship.
He also called out Ashwin Madia for taking large amounts of PAC money.
Paulsen left out the fact that he's taken more PAC money than anyone in CD 3.
According to Open Secrets, Paulsen has raised over $414,000 in special interest PAC money. Madia has raised just over $368,000.
Paulsen exaggerating once again? Shocking, I know.
The FOX 9 interviews will continue tomorrow with David Dillion and Ashwin Madia on Friday.
He also called out Ashwin Madia for taking large amounts of PAC money.
Paulsen left out the fact that he's taken more PAC money than anyone in CD 3.
According to Open Secrets, Paulsen has raised over $414,000 in special interest PAC money. Madia has raised just over $368,000.
Paulsen exaggerating once again? Shocking, I know.
The FOX 9 interviews will continue tomorrow with David Dillion and Ashwin Madia on Friday.
MInnesota Daily: Barkley Has Answers, Coleman and Franken in Texas Two Step
Student Newspaper Calls on Franken and Coleman to Propose Social Security Fixes
Minnesota Daily: Time for GOP and DFL Candidates to 'Clearly Address' Issue
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
PLYMOUTH—In its Sunday editorial, the student newspaper at the University of Minnesota called on Republican Sen. Norm Coleman and DFLer Al Franken to "clearly address the funding of Social Security and their plans for a solution."[1]
Noting that Barkley, in Saturday night's debate at the Breck School, outlined four clear options for ensuring the program's solvency, the Minnesota Daily editors wrote:
"Franken talked about his commitment to fix the situation, but said 'eventually we would have to have a solution for this,' noting that he wouldn't want to invest it into the stock market like some politicians have suggested. Coleman attacked Franken about not stating an actual solution, but didn't seem to offer a clear solution either and then stated his absolute commitment to young people and the obligation to fund social security.
"Since Barkley outlined his four ideas for social security, we call on Franken and Coleman to clearly address the funding of social security and their plans for a solution."
On Sunday, Barkley reiterated his commitment to Social Security, which can be preserved for future generations by either:
· Implementing means-testing to determine eligibility for Social Security benefits;
· Raising the retirement age;
· Raising the tax workers pay into the program; or
· Raising the ceiling on income taxed for contribution to the Social Security trust fund.
"The solutions are only difficult if your top priorities are simply serving the AARP or getting reelected," Barkley said. "But if we accept the hard truths about entitlements and their funding, there's no reason in the world we can't save these programs. We don't need another 'Blue Ribbon Commission' to study this issue again."
In Saturday night's debate, Franken argued Social Security is solvent for decades to come, despite the concerns of many young people that the program won't be there when it's time for their retirement.
"Congress has been robbing the Social Security trust fund dry for the past six years," Barkley said. "In 2000, Al Gore talked about implementing a 'lock box' policy, but the real trouble is that too many people today have keys to the lock box."
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
[1]"Senate debate, round two" available online at http://www.mndaily.com/2008/10/11/senate-debate-round-two
Minnesota Daily: Time for GOP and DFL Candidates to 'Clearly Address' Issue
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
PLYMOUTH—In its Sunday editorial, the student newspaper at the University of Minnesota called on Republican Sen. Norm Coleman and DFLer Al Franken to "clearly address the funding of Social Security and their plans for a solution."[1]
Noting that Barkley, in Saturday night's debate at the Breck School, outlined four clear options for ensuring the program's solvency, the Minnesota Daily editors wrote:
"Franken talked about his commitment to fix the situation, but said 'eventually we would have to have a solution for this,' noting that he wouldn't want to invest it into the stock market like some politicians have suggested. Coleman attacked Franken about not stating an actual solution, but didn't seem to offer a clear solution either and then stated his absolute commitment to young people and the obligation to fund social security.
"Since Barkley outlined his four ideas for social security, we call on Franken and Coleman to clearly address the funding of social security and their plans for a solution."
On Sunday, Barkley reiterated his commitment to Social Security, which can be preserved for future generations by either:
· Implementing means-testing to determine eligibility for Social Security benefits;
· Raising the retirement age;
· Raising the tax workers pay into the program; or
· Raising the ceiling on income taxed for contribution to the Social Security trust fund.
"The solutions are only difficult if your top priorities are simply serving the AARP or getting reelected," Barkley said. "But if we accept the hard truths about entitlements and their funding, there's no reason in the world we can't save these programs. We don't need another 'Blue Ribbon Commission' to study this issue again."
In Saturday night's debate, Franken argued Social Security is solvent for decades to come, despite the concerns of many young people that the program won't be there when it's time for their retirement.
"Congress has been robbing the Social Security trust fund dry for the past six years," Barkley said. "In 2000, Al Gore talked about implementing a 'lock box' policy, but the real trouble is that too many people today have keys to the lock box."
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
[1]"Senate debate, round two" available online at http://www.mndaily.com/2008/10/11/senate-debate-round-two
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Barkley Gaining Momentum
A great story in the Mankato Free Press today.
Former Sen. Dean Barkley says there’s political change coming. And if things go the way he thinks they will, that change won’t look like a donkey or an elephant.
At a small gathering of Independence Party supporters at the Happy Chef Restaurant Saturday Barkley, who served as senator for two months when Sen. Paul Wellstone died in a plane crash — said he senses something in the air similar to that of 1998, when Minnesotans elected a professional wrestler as governor.
Neither the Republicans (elephants) or Democrats (donkeys) offer voters the kind of special-interest-free accountability that he offers, and he says the people he talks to are ready to kick both major parties to the curb.
“People are angry. People are upset,” he said. “This is probably the worst governance our country has ever seen.”
Barkley’s stock appears to be rising. In two recent non-partisan polls he’s gotten closer each time to 20 percent. And he’s quick to remind people there is a large group of undecided voters, and that he offers them an alternative to the status quo.
The latest financial crisis, Barkley said, shows how abysmal our current lawmakers are — from both sides of the two-party aisle.
He said financial experts had been predicting the mortgage fallout for years, but few in Washington took it seriously.
“Democrats looked the other way because they wanted everyone to own a house whether they could afford it or not,” he said. “And Republicans looked the other way because they wanted all their Wall Street buddies to get rich.
“I love this country, but I can’t stand what the two-party system has done to it,” he said.
Saturday morning’s talk — involving both Barkley and Greg Mikkelson, Independence Party candidate for the Congress — was open to the public but included mostly party members.
One of Barkley’s principles is that he won’t accept money from special interest groups. He equates the special interest method of giving money in exchange for a candidate’s favorable vote on particular issues to bribery.
He’s OK with lobbyists. After all, he used to be one. But when there’s money exchanged, it’s no longer clean.
Last week, he got his first check from a special interest: $500 from Concerned Citizens for Rochester.
“I sent it back,” he said.
Mikkelson also had something to say about the nation’s finances.
“This national debt is a terrible legacy to be passing on to our children,” Mikkelson said.
But Mikkelson differed with Barkley on the $700 billion bail out recently passed in Washington.
Barkley said he’d have voted for it. Mikkelson said he wouldn’t vote for a bill that solves the problem by giving money to Wall Street corporations.
“I can’t really find anybody that’s for the bail out,” Mikkelson said.
Tim Penny arrived midway through the two-hour event and spoke on Barkley’s behalf. He recalled Independence Party’s infancy, long before the party had ever heard of Jesse Ventura, Barkley was the lone champion and lone candidate.
It was because of Barkley’s early success that the party was able to get enough momentum to become an established third party, Penny said.
“He is the father of our party like no one else,” Penny said.
There’s an anger in the air, Penny said. And he thinks it might just be ripe enough for the Independence Party to shock the world again.
Said Penny, “People are going to say ‘Enough is enough.’”
Former Sen. Dean Barkley says there’s political change coming. And if things go the way he thinks they will, that change won’t look like a donkey or an elephant.
At a small gathering of Independence Party supporters at the Happy Chef Restaurant Saturday Barkley, who served as senator for two months when Sen. Paul Wellstone died in a plane crash — said he senses something in the air similar to that of 1998, when Minnesotans elected a professional wrestler as governor.
Neither the Republicans (elephants) or Democrats (donkeys) offer voters the kind of special-interest-free accountability that he offers, and he says the people he talks to are ready to kick both major parties to the curb.
“People are angry. People are upset,” he said. “This is probably the worst governance our country has ever seen.”
Barkley’s stock appears to be rising. In two recent non-partisan polls he’s gotten closer each time to 20 percent. And he’s quick to remind people there is a large group of undecided voters, and that he offers them an alternative to the status quo.
The latest financial crisis, Barkley said, shows how abysmal our current lawmakers are — from both sides of the two-party aisle.
He said financial experts had been predicting the mortgage fallout for years, but few in Washington took it seriously.
“Democrats looked the other way because they wanted everyone to own a house whether they could afford it or not,” he said. “And Republicans looked the other way because they wanted all their Wall Street buddies to get rich.
“I love this country, but I can’t stand what the two-party system has done to it,” he said.
Saturday morning’s talk — involving both Barkley and Greg Mikkelson, Independence Party candidate for the Congress — was open to the public but included mostly party members.
One of Barkley’s principles is that he won’t accept money from special interest groups. He equates the special interest method of giving money in exchange for a candidate’s favorable vote on particular issues to bribery.
He’s OK with lobbyists. After all, he used to be one. But when there’s money exchanged, it’s no longer clean.
Last week, he got his first check from a special interest: $500 from Concerned Citizens for Rochester.
“I sent it back,” he said.
Mikkelson also had something to say about the nation’s finances.
“This national debt is a terrible legacy to be passing on to our children,” Mikkelson said.
But Mikkelson differed with Barkley on the $700 billion bail out recently passed in Washington.
Barkley said he’d have voted for it. Mikkelson said he wouldn’t vote for a bill that solves the problem by giving money to Wall Street corporations.
“I can’t really find anybody that’s for the bail out,” Mikkelson said.
Tim Penny arrived midway through the two-hour event and spoke on Barkley’s behalf. He recalled Independence Party’s infancy, long before the party had ever heard of Jesse Ventura, Barkley was the lone champion and lone candidate.
It was because of Barkley’s early success that the party was able to get enough momentum to become an established third party, Penny said.
“He is the father of our party like no one else,” Penny said.
There’s an anger in the air, Penny said. And he thinks it might just be ripe enough for the Independence Party to shock the world again.
Said Penny, “People are going to say ‘Enough is enough.’”
Barkley Win Second Debate
Honest Answers and Real Solutions Carry Barkley to Debate Victory
IP Candidate Continues to Rise above Partisan Games
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
GOLDEN VALLEY Dean Barkley, the Independence Party candidate for U.S.Senate, came out of Saturday night's debate at Breck School with a clear victory.
While his rivals, Republican Sen. Norm Coleman and DFLer Al Franken, spent most of the evening playing political games, Barkley kept the focus on the issues, highlighting his plans for the economy and Iraq, as well as his long-held goals of breaking the partisan gridlock in Washington and building a Congress that will produce real results for the American people.
"Given the events of recent weeks, Minnesotans are looking for honest answers and real solutions now more than ever," said campaign spokesman Christopher Truscott. "That's why Dean Barkley won tonight's debate and why he continues to gain support across the state."
* * * * *
Barkley, 58, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available at www.senatorbarkley.com.
IP Candidate Continues to Rise above Partisan Games
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
GOLDEN VALLEY Dean Barkley, the Independence Party candidate for U.S.Senate, came out of Saturday night's debate at Breck School with a clear victory.
While his rivals, Republican Sen. Norm Coleman and DFLer Al Franken, spent most of the evening playing political games, Barkley kept the focus on the issues, highlighting his plans for the economy and Iraq, as well as his long-held goals of breaking the partisan gridlock in Washington and building a Congress that will produce real results for the American people.
"Given the events of recent weeks, Minnesotans are looking for honest answers and real solutions now more than ever," said campaign spokesman Christopher Truscott. "That's why Dean Barkley won tonight's debate and why he continues to gain support across the state."
* * * * *
Barkley, 58, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available at www.senatorbarkley.com.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Fact Check: Norm Coleman and Porker commentary
Fact Check: Norm Coleman and Fiscal Responsibility
Barkley Campaign: Coleman Playing 'Hide-the-Ball with the Facts'
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
PLYMOUTH—While campaigning yesterday (Monday) in Brainerd, Sen. Norm Coleman noted that Dean Barkley was named "porker of the month" by Citizens Against Government Waste and that Gov. Jesse Ventura left office with the state facing a $4.5 billion budget shortfall.
Here's the full story:
In November 2002, Citizens Against Government Waste named Barkley the "porker of the month" based on a comment he made about securing long-overdue funding for Minnesota transportation projects shortly after he was appointed to fill out the remainder of the late-Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.[1]
Ultimately, however, Barkley did not have a chance to work on transportation funding during the lame-duck session, but did distinguish himself by helping pass legislation that created the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, securing congressional support for the construction of the Paul and Shelia Wellstone Center in St. Paul and getting a waiver from the Bush Administration so Minnesota could continue its successful Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program free from new federal regulations.
In January 2003, Gov. Ventura left office with the state facing a $4.5 billion budget shortfall. But in 2002, Ventura did propose substantive budget fixes that were nixed by DFLer Roger Moe and Republican Tim Pawlenty, both legislative leaders of their respective parties and 2002 gubernatorial hopefuls. Ventura then vetoed the Legislature's budget because it drew down budget reserves without replenishing them, but his veto was overridden.[2]
* * * * *
Barkley Campaign Statement:
"It's clear Norm Coleman is trying to play hide-the-ball with the facts because the truth hurts," said Barkley campaign spokesman Christopher Truscott. "Under Sen. Coleman's watch the national debt has increased by trillions, in large part due to his willingness to give the Bush Administration a blank check on Iraq and his unwillingness to responsibly oversee Wall Street's actions. If Sen. Coleman spent as much time doing his job as he does obscuring his own record he'd be one of the most effective senators in Washington."
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
[1] Available online at: http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=news_porkerofthemonth_Nov02.
[2] Available online at: http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200202/27_mccalluml_budget/ and http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200202/28_mccalluml_budget/index.shtml
Barkley Campaign: Coleman Playing 'Hide-the-Ball with the Facts'
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
PLYMOUTH—While campaigning yesterday (Monday) in Brainerd, Sen. Norm Coleman noted that Dean Barkley was named "porker of the month" by Citizens Against Government Waste and that Gov. Jesse Ventura left office with the state facing a $4.5 billion budget shortfall.
Here's the full story:
In November 2002, Citizens Against Government Waste named Barkley the "porker of the month" based on a comment he made about securing long-overdue funding for Minnesota transportation projects shortly after he was appointed to fill out the remainder of the late-Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.[1]
Ultimately, however, Barkley did not have a chance to work on transportation funding during the lame-duck session, but did distinguish himself by helping pass legislation that created the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, securing congressional support for the construction of the Paul and Shelia Wellstone Center in St. Paul and getting a waiver from the Bush Administration so Minnesota could continue its successful Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program free from new federal regulations.
In January 2003, Gov. Ventura left office with the state facing a $4.5 billion budget shortfall. But in 2002, Ventura did propose substantive budget fixes that were nixed by DFLer Roger Moe and Republican Tim Pawlenty, both legislative leaders of their respective parties and 2002 gubernatorial hopefuls. Ventura then vetoed the Legislature's budget because it drew down budget reserves without replenishing them, but his veto was overridden.[2]
* * * * *
Barkley Campaign Statement:
"It's clear Norm Coleman is trying to play hide-the-ball with the facts because the truth hurts," said Barkley campaign spokesman Christopher Truscott. "Under Sen. Coleman's watch the national debt has increased by trillions, in large part due to his willingness to give the Bush Administration a blank check on Iraq and his unwillingness to responsibly oversee Wall Street's actions. If Sen. Coleman spent as much time doing his job as he does obscuring his own record he'd be one of the most effective senators in Washington."
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
[1] Available online at: http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=news_porkerofthemonth_Nov02.
[2] Available online at: http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200202/27_mccalluml_budget/ and http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200202/28_mccalluml_budget/index.shtml
Tim and Marcus Penny Op-Ed
It's an interesting op ed.
Congressman Penny supports John McCain. His son Marcus supports Obama. Both support Dean Barkley and Tim Walz.
Congressman Penny supports John McCain. His son Marcus supports Obama. Both support Dean Barkley and Tim Walz.
For the past few months, our front lawn right here in the middle of Waseca has probably left passersby a bit confused. Side by side stand two opposing signs: one for Barack Obama, the other for John McCain. While the debate might be heating up on cable news, in campaign commercials and in the blogosphere, things have stayed relatively cool in our home.
Yes, we view the Presidential candidates differently. One of us (guess who?) went to Congress with John McCain in 1982, has worked with McCain on budget issues, and respects McCain’s genuine ability to be a maverick who works across the political aisle to get things done. One of us is excited about the promise of an historic Obama presidency — believing that it represents a forward looking agenda and a break from the disastrous Bush foreign and economic policies.
Every day, we discuss the campaign, the polls, and the latest tactics being employed by the candidates. We can agree that McCain is a true patriot who served our country with honor in the military and in the Senate. We can agree that Obama represents a new generation of leadership who inspires many (including young Americans) with his hopeful message of change. We can agree that McCain clearly has the strongest record of bi-partisanship. And, we can agree that Obama made the stronger choice for a vice-presidential running mate. In all, on the presidential race, when we don’t agree, we have managed to disagree without being disagreeable.
That is possible, in part, because we don’t disagree on everything. Our ballots on November 4th might look different at the top, but there are other candidates who will be receiving our undivided support.
We both support the Independent candidate for the U. S. Senate, Dean Barkley. Especially as the other two candidates increase the volume and the ferocity of their attack ads, it seems ever more important to send a message that “enough is enough!” Barkley served a mere two months in the Senate after the untimely death of Senator Paul Wellstone. But in that time, he cast a vote for an important trade bill, weighed-in on legislation creating the Department of Homeland Security, negotiated a waiver from the federal government so that Minnesota could continue its successful welfare to work program, and secured funding for the Wellstone Community Center in Saint Paul. Not too shabby. We believe he looks pretty good in comparison to the other candidates.
We also endorse the same candidate for Congress, incumbent Tim Walz. One of us (guess who?) worked as an intern for the Congressman for six months and saw firsthand the idealism, enthusiasm, and energy that Walz brought to the office. Both of us have been impressed with Walz’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and “pay-as-you-go” budget rules. We have watched as he led his fellow freshmen in re-establishing much-needed strict ethics policies for Congress. We applauded his recent efforts to build bi-partisan support for ambitious energy policies that will lead to energy independence for our nation. His record reflects common sense and good judgment. We both believe he has represented southern Minnesota well and deserves a second term.
So, that is the view from our house - just in case you haven’t yet noticed the signs in our yard.
Tim Penny is a Waseca resident and regular Community Perspectives columnist. His son Marcus is 23 years old and studies political science at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
Tinklenberg Takes a Page From Wellstone!
Pretty good ad! Bachmann has been AWOL. I hope the voters hold her accountable.
Dean Barkley in the Duluth Budgeteer
It's longer than most stories posted, but very good.
Dean Barkley founded the Independence Party in Minnesota in 1992, when the federal debt reached $2.5 trillion.
On Thursday, it crossed the $10 trillion mark.
Once again the Independence Party candidate for U.S. Senate, Barkley talks about the debt with concern and disgust.
“I hope this crisis will wake up my two opponents,” he said, referring to the “Every wonderful Al Franken idea, ask him, How will he pay for that. Every Norm Coleman proposal to cut taxes, ask, How will he pay for that?”
On the subject of his opponents — Democrat Farmer Labor candidate Al Franken and Republican Party candidate Norm Coleman — Barkley says he has them to thank for his increasing poll numbers. (Two recent polls put Barkley at 14 percent.)
“It’s been the most negative campaign in the history of Minnesota,” he said. “I have to thank them. But I also have to give the people a positive reason to vote for me.”
Barkley, who is running as a fiscal conservative and a social moderate, which means he believes the government should stay out of a person’s private life as long as that person isn’t hurting others.
At a press conference in Duluth Oct. 2, Barkley said if he is elected, he will introduce legislation that will cap federal spending at current levels.
“We have to stop the bleeding of our federal budget,” he said. “That doesn’t mean there’s no role for government to play in society, but I think we can all agree that the nearly $3 trillion annual budget provides plenty of money for us to do some good things. It’s simply a matter of setting responsible priorities and having the discipline to stick to them. ... We won’t start turning this nation around until Congress starts being fiscally responsible, until they say no to earmarks.”
If he wins, it will be the second time Barkley represents Minnesota at the U.S. Senate. He was appointed by Gov. Jesse Ventura to fill the last two months of the term of the late Paul Wellstone in 1992. Of that two months, Barkley was in session eight days.
Barkley told a story about his time at the Senate to illustrate bad the partisanship is at the Capitol.
“The one thing that struck me, when I went into the private Senate dining room — where only Senators can go — the first thing I notice — there was a Republican room and a Democrat room,” he said. “They would not even eat together. That’s how bad partisanship had gotten.
“So you know what I did? I pulled a table halfway between the two rooms, and that was my table. Guess what happened? Democrats, Republicans would come up and have lunch with me.
We’d start talking, start building coalitions. ... We’ve got to start sending people (to Washington) who will be Americans first and politicians second. Then I think we can actually start solving our nation’s problems, get our priorities straight.”
Barkley had lots more to say on that Duluth visit.
Barkley on running for Senate (again):
“Last time I ran was in 1996 and I never thought I’d do it again. I’d done it three times to get us to where we had major party status; I recruited Ventura, got him elected and I thought, good, I don’t have to do this again. I never planned on doing this again.
But when the latest numbers came out about where the debt was going, this war in Iraq, the gridlock in Congress, how bad it got in Congress, I urged Jesse to do it, so I didn’t have to do it. He wouldn’t. So I reluctantly got into this, if not him then who — who else could do this?
I decided I was going to give it one more shot, to see if we could bring some sanity back to politics. I’ve been at it 16 years and this will be my last shot. Maybe Minnesotans will accept me this time, maybe they’ll accept me as an alternative.
I’ve got a good track record. They can see what I did when I was there. In eight days in session, I was a key player in Homeland Security, to help get that bill passed ... and I got the Wellstone Center built, all in eight days. You don’t have to be a Democrat or Republican to be effective. I think I showed that. Maybe they’ll give me another chance to go there and start solving problems and not participate in this food fight that goes on and on and on.”
Barkley on the Iraq War:
“Everyone wants us out except (President) Bush, even the Iraqis. I think we could safely get out in six months. We’ve built that country, now they have decide if they want to become a civilized country or (they favor) tribal warfare. It was a bad decision to get into war in Iraq, but the decision was made.
What we need is more money and troops in Afghanistan. That’s the war we should have been fighting. We’ll have to finish that war. We can’t just let the terrorists sit there and regroup and attack us again — because they will do that.”
On health care:
“Congress just passed a drug bill for Medicare, but they banned Medicare from negotiating discounts. The VA can do it, why not Medicare? We know why, because the drug lobby has both sides bought and paid for.
I’ve come up with a plan: Open up Medicare to anyone who wants to buy it and let them compete with the privates. And lift the ban for negotiating drug costs. ... When consumers have real choices — and not a monopoly dominated by a few big companies — prices will go down.”
On fund raising:
I did not go to K street and line my pockets with special interest money — that’s what’s wrong with politics. Both sides are bought out by the same special interests, so I won’t do that. So that limits me to Minnesotans who care enough about their country to give me a shot. I’ve been on the phones every day, every hour that I can, trying to raise money. I’ve raised a little over $53,000. It’s not what I wanted, but that’s gonna pay for my statewide radio campaign. I’m gonna keep asking people, if I get to 20 percent (in the polls) maybe I’ll raise another couple $100,000. I’ll do what I can.
If it’s all about money, I lose, I have no shot. But I think money can’t vote yet in this state, and as long as money can’t vote, I have a shot.
Obviously the big difference between my race and Ventura’s race is he got a check for $400,000 of state money at the end of October. I don’t get that help. ... The reason it’s more difficult raising money in the Federal race is because it’s still up to the highest bidder. But I firmly believe this is doable. I think there’s a shot.
I haven’t deluded myself. If I lose, that’s fine, I’ll go back to driving a bus and my law business and my life will go on. It’s not the end of the world.
Where are you drawing from, which party’s base?
I think I’m drawing more from Coleman’s base. One poll had me at around 15-16 percent. 10 percent of that came from Coleman; 6 percent from Franken. I think fiscal conservatives are realizing that Norm is not a fiscal conservative. He doesn’t have a fiscal conservative bone in his body. ... At the State Fair I had probably two conservatives come up to me for every Democrat and say that they were going to support me. What I’m saying is that I think I’m doing more harm to Coleman than Franken. That may change.
I hope to do enough damage to both of them to win, that’s my goal.
On gay rights
As long as people are not harming someone else, why does the government care?
What have you been doing to since you helped Jesse Ventura's win the governor’s race in 1998, worked as director of the Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning for Ventura and served in the Senate?
I was not able to land a large law firm job. So I started up my own law practice again and I lobbied — to pay the mortgage — I mean, I had to do something. There were a couple clients and said they wanted me to represent them at the Legislature and I did. One was the new horse track in Forest Lake ... I did Metro Mobility, the bus company that I was recently driving part-time for. I had Lorillard Tobacco Company, I’m a cigar smoker so I was representing the tobacco companies — defending your right to be stupid — and I had a private prison company. So I did some lobbying, I had my law practice I was building up again, and then in 2005 Kinky Friedman lured me down to Texas ... So for a year and a half I was down in Texas trying to get Kinky Friedman elected governor I came back to Minnesota and since then I’ve been practicing law part-time and driving a Metro Mobility bus part-time until I decided to run for the Senate.
What similarities do you see between this Senate race and the 1998 governor’s race, which Jesse Ventura finally won, beating out Republican Norm Coleman and the DFL’s Hubert H. “Skip” Humphrey III:
I think there are similarities in the two candidates that are basically stuck in political speak — of saying a lot and saying nothing, of attacking each other.
The biggest difference is the mood of the American public. The American public is at an all time high of disgust with both political parties: a 9 percent approval rating of Congress. Only Congress can have a lower approval rating than George Bush. I think people are looking. The University of Minnesota poll that came out about a month ago asked people if they’d be willing to vote for an independent or third-party candidate and 77 percent said they would. All I need to do is get half of them and I win. So I think it’s easier now than it was 10 years ago because of the mood of the public.
Where do you think Minnesotans are leaning politically?
I think it’s up in the air right now. I don’t think labels mean anything now. The one thing I think you can say that Minnesotans are right now is they’re angry. They do not like what they’re seeing in this financial mess we’ve been dealing with. They don’t know who to blame and I just say, blame ‘em both. They created it. They’re the ones who can’t talk to each other anymore or come to any consensus, whether it’s Social Security, whether it’s Medicare, whether it’s heath care, whether it’s alternative energy. You name it, they’re stuck .. with a big debt.
What do you like to do in Duluth?
I used to love to come to Duluth to play rugby. We had some great parties. And I went skiing at Spirit Mountain my whole life — I love Spirit Mountain. I’ve been to Duluth a lot. It’s a fun town; it’s a fun city; you’ve got a lot to offer. And you don’t have congestion.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell the Budgeteer readers?
My message to them is that: You don’t like what you have in Congress, I know that. You have a choice between sending more of the same back — I don’t care which one it is, Norm or Al, they’re both gonna fit in or sending the country a message: If you don’t change your ways you’re gonna do something. You might be next. They will do more to shake Washington up than anything they could, maybe in their lifetime, by sending me there. Because they (the Washington elite) will get that message. But it’s (Minnesota’s) choice — all I can do is give them the option. Unfortunately they won’t see my talking fish or my bowlers on TV. But listen to the radio, they’ll hear me on the radio.
Dean Barkley founded the Independence Party in Minnesota in 1992, when the federal debt reached $2.5 trillion.
On Thursday, it crossed the $10 trillion mark.
Once again the Independence Party candidate for U.S. Senate, Barkley talks about the debt with concern and disgust.
“I hope this crisis will wake up my two opponents,” he said, referring to the “Every wonderful Al Franken idea, ask him, How will he pay for that. Every Norm Coleman proposal to cut taxes, ask, How will he pay for that?”
On the subject of his opponents — Democrat Farmer Labor candidate Al Franken and Republican Party candidate Norm Coleman — Barkley says he has them to thank for his increasing poll numbers. (Two recent polls put Barkley at 14 percent.)
“It’s been the most negative campaign in the history of Minnesota,” he said. “I have to thank them. But I also have to give the people a positive reason to vote for me.”
Barkley, who is running as a fiscal conservative and a social moderate, which means he believes the government should stay out of a person’s private life as long as that person isn’t hurting others.
At a press conference in Duluth Oct. 2, Barkley said if he is elected, he will introduce legislation that will cap federal spending at current levels.
“We have to stop the bleeding of our federal budget,” he said. “That doesn’t mean there’s no role for government to play in society, but I think we can all agree that the nearly $3 trillion annual budget provides plenty of money for us to do some good things. It’s simply a matter of setting responsible priorities and having the discipline to stick to them. ... We won’t start turning this nation around until Congress starts being fiscally responsible, until they say no to earmarks.”
If he wins, it will be the second time Barkley represents Minnesota at the U.S. Senate. He was appointed by Gov. Jesse Ventura to fill the last two months of the term of the late Paul Wellstone in 1992. Of that two months, Barkley was in session eight days.
Barkley told a story about his time at the Senate to illustrate bad the partisanship is at the Capitol.
“The one thing that struck me, when I went into the private Senate dining room — where only Senators can go — the first thing I notice — there was a Republican room and a Democrat room,” he said. “They would not even eat together. That’s how bad partisanship had gotten.
“So you know what I did? I pulled a table halfway between the two rooms, and that was my table. Guess what happened? Democrats, Republicans would come up and have lunch with me.
We’d start talking, start building coalitions. ... We’ve got to start sending people (to Washington) who will be Americans first and politicians second. Then I think we can actually start solving our nation’s problems, get our priorities straight.”
Barkley had lots more to say on that Duluth visit.
Barkley on running for Senate (again):
“Last time I ran was in 1996 and I never thought I’d do it again. I’d done it three times to get us to where we had major party status; I recruited Ventura, got him elected and I thought, good, I don’t have to do this again. I never planned on doing this again.
But when the latest numbers came out about where the debt was going, this war in Iraq, the gridlock in Congress, how bad it got in Congress, I urged Jesse to do it, so I didn’t have to do it. He wouldn’t. So I reluctantly got into this, if not him then who — who else could do this?
I decided I was going to give it one more shot, to see if we could bring some sanity back to politics. I’ve been at it 16 years and this will be my last shot. Maybe Minnesotans will accept me this time, maybe they’ll accept me as an alternative.
I’ve got a good track record. They can see what I did when I was there. In eight days in session, I was a key player in Homeland Security, to help get that bill passed ... and I got the Wellstone Center built, all in eight days. You don’t have to be a Democrat or Republican to be effective. I think I showed that. Maybe they’ll give me another chance to go there and start solving problems and not participate in this food fight that goes on and on and on.”
Barkley on the Iraq War:
“Everyone wants us out except (President) Bush, even the Iraqis. I think we could safely get out in six months. We’ve built that country, now they have decide if they want to become a civilized country or (they favor) tribal warfare. It was a bad decision to get into war in Iraq, but the decision was made.
What we need is more money and troops in Afghanistan. That’s the war we should have been fighting. We’ll have to finish that war. We can’t just let the terrorists sit there and regroup and attack us again — because they will do that.”
On health care:
“Congress just passed a drug bill for Medicare, but they banned Medicare from negotiating discounts. The VA can do it, why not Medicare? We know why, because the drug lobby has both sides bought and paid for.
I’ve come up with a plan: Open up Medicare to anyone who wants to buy it and let them compete with the privates. And lift the ban for negotiating drug costs. ... When consumers have real choices — and not a monopoly dominated by a few big companies — prices will go down.”
On fund raising:
I did not go to K street and line my pockets with special interest money — that’s what’s wrong with politics. Both sides are bought out by the same special interests, so I won’t do that. So that limits me to Minnesotans who care enough about their country to give me a shot. I’ve been on the phones every day, every hour that I can, trying to raise money. I’ve raised a little over $53,000. It’s not what I wanted, but that’s gonna pay for my statewide radio campaign. I’m gonna keep asking people, if I get to 20 percent (in the polls) maybe I’ll raise another couple $100,000. I’ll do what I can.
If it’s all about money, I lose, I have no shot. But I think money can’t vote yet in this state, and as long as money can’t vote, I have a shot.
Obviously the big difference between my race and Ventura’s race is he got a check for $400,000 of state money at the end of October. I don’t get that help. ... The reason it’s more difficult raising money in the Federal race is because it’s still up to the highest bidder. But I firmly believe this is doable. I think there’s a shot.
I haven’t deluded myself. If I lose, that’s fine, I’ll go back to driving a bus and my law business and my life will go on. It’s not the end of the world.
Where are you drawing from, which party’s base?
I think I’m drawing more from Coleman’s base. One poll had me at around 15-16 percent. 10 percent of that came from Coleman; 6 percent from Franken. I think fiscal conservatives are realizing that Norm is not a fiscal conservative. He doesn’t have a fiscal conservative bone in his body. ... At the State Fair I had probably two conservatives come up to me for every Democrat and say that they were going to support me. What I’m saying is that I think I’m doing more harm to Coleman than Franken. That may change.
I hope to do enough damage to both of them to win, that’s my goal.
On gay rights
As long as people are not harming someone else, why does the government care?
What have you been doing to since you helped Jesse Ventura's win the governor’s race in 1998, worked as director of the Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning for Ventura and served in the Senate?
I was not able to land a large law firm job. So I started up my own law practice again and I lobbied — to pay the mortgage — I mean, I had to do something. There were a couple clients and said they wanted me to represent them at the Legislature and I did. One was the new horse track in Forest Lake ... I did Metro Mobility, the bus company that I was recently driving part-time for. I had Lorillard Tobacco Company, I’m a cigar smoker so I was representing the tobacco companies — defending your right to be stupid — and I had a private prison company. So I did some lobbying, I had my law practice I was building up again, and then in 2005 Kinky Friedman lured me down to Texas ... So for a year and a half I was down in Texas trying to get Kinky Friedman elected governor I came back to Minnesota and since then I’ve been practicing law part-time and driving a Metro Mobility bus part-time until I decided to run for the Senate.
What similarities do you see between this Senate race and the 1998 governor’s race, which Jesse Ventura finally won, beating out Republican Norm Coleman and the DFL’s Hubert H. “Skip” Humphrey III:
I think there are similarities in the two candidates that are basically stuck in political speak — of saying a lot and saying nothing, of attacking each other.
The biggest difference is the mood of the American public. The American public is at an all time high of disgust with both political parties: a 9 percent approval rating of Congress. Only Congress can have a lower approval rating than George Bush. I think people are looking. The University of Minnesota poll that came out about a month ago asked people if they’d be willing to vote for an independent or third-party candidate and 77 percent said they would. All I need to do is get half of them and I win. So I think it’s easier now than it was 10 years ago because of the mood of the public.
Where do you think Minnesotans are leaning politically?
I think it’s up in the air right now. I don’t think labels mean anything now. The one thing I think you can say that Minnesotans are right now is they’re angry. They do not like what they’re seeing in this financial mess we’ve been dealing with. They don’t know who to blame and I just say, blame ‘em both. They created it. They’re the ones who can’t talk to each other anymore or come to any consensus, whether it’s Social Security, whether it’s Medicare, whether it’s heath care, whether it’s alternative energy. You name it, they’re stuck .. with a big debt.
What do you like to do in Duluth?
I used to love to come to Duluth to play rugby. We had some great parties. And I went skiing at Spirit Mountain my whole life — I love Spirit Mountain. I’ve been to Duluth a lot. It’s a fun town; it’s a fun city; you’ve got a lot to offer. And you don’t have congestion.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell the Budgeteer readers?
My message to them is that: You don’t like what you have in Congress, I know that. You have a choice between sending more of the same back — I don’t care which one it is, Norm or Al, they’re both gonna fit in or sending the country a message: If you don’t change your ways you’re gonna do something. You might be next. They will do more to shake Washington up than anything they could, maybe in their lifetime, by sending me there. Because they (the Washington elite) will get that message. But it’s (Minnesota’s) choice — all I can do is give them the option. Unfortunately they won’t see my talking fish or my bowlers on TV. But listen to the radio, they’ll hear me on the radio.
Thursday, October 09, 2008
Coleman Answers Questions? Really?
We've all heard the rumors of Senator Coleman's "unconventional marriage". Recall that it was actually Mitch Berg that confirmed what many of us had wondered for years.
MinnPost had a brief story up today linking to Mary Lahammer and her interview with Senator Coleman.
Go check out the interview over at Almanac, take a gander for yourself. In my humble opinion, it looked like Coleman was trying to avoid the question. Only after Lahammer pressed Coleman further did he state he had been true to his wife, but not before great hesitation.
Just an observation...
MinnPost had a brief story up today linking to Mary Lahammer and her interview with Senator Coleman.
Go check out the interview over at Almanac, take a gander for yourself. In my humble opinion, it looked like Coleman was trying to avoid the question. Only after Lahammer pressed Coleman further did he state he had been true to his wife, but not before great hesitation.
Just an observation...
Barkley: National Debt Reaches Sad Milestone
Barkley: National Debt Hits a 'Sad Milestone'
As Debt Soars Past $10 Trillion, Debt Clock Runs Out of Digits
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
PLYMOUTH—Dean Barkley, the Independence Party candidate for U.S. Senate, said the national debt has reached a "sad milestone" as the debt clock in New York has run out of digits.
"Unbelievable," Barkley said. "Who ever would have imagined $10 trillion wasn't a high enough number?"
According to an Associated Press report, the Durst Organization will add two digits to the clock next year, making it capable of measuring up to a quadrillion dollars.
"I hope it never comes to that," Barkley said. "But with the spending habits we've seen in Washington they might want to consider adding three digits—just in case."
Barkley has placed balancing the budget and paying down the debt at the forefront of his surging campaign. He challenged DFLer Al Franken and Republican Sen. Norm Coleman to do the same.
"This is about more than just numbers," Barkley said. "It's about our country. This crushing debt is strangling our economy and hamstringing our future."
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
As Debt Soars Past $10 Trillion, Debt Clock Runs Out of Digits
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
PLYMOUTH—Dean Barkley, the Independence Party candidate for U.S. Senate, said the national debt has reached a "sad milestone" as the debt clock in New York has run out of digits.
"Unbelievable," Barkley said. "Who ever would have imagined $10 trillion wasn't a high enough number?"
According to an Associated Press report, the Durst Organization will add two digits to the clock next year, making it capable of measuring up to a quadrillion dollars.
"I hope it never comes to that," Barkley said. "But with the spending habits we've seen in Washington they might want to consider adding three digits—just in case."
Barkley has placed balancing the budget and paying down the debt at the forefront of his surging campaign. He challenged DFLer Al Franken and Republican Sen. Norm Coleman to do the same.
"This is about more than just numbers," Barkley said. "It's about our country. This crushing debt is strangling our economy and hamstringing our future."
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
Barkley Responds to Recent Poll
Barkley Campaign Statement on MPR/Humphrey Institute Poll
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
PLYMOUTH—The Dean Barkley for Senate campaign issued the following statement in response to the Minnesota Public Radio/Humphrey Institute poll released today:
"When you factor in the margin of error, this poll is consistent with the results of last week's Star Tribune and KSTP-Survey USA polls," said campaign spokesman Christopher Truscott. "With four debates yet to come and our radio ads just going on the air, we're excited about where we are right now.
"Minnesotans are clearly giving this important race serious consideration and Sen. Barkley looks forward to making his case directly to voters over the next 27 days."
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
PLYMOUTH—The Dean Barkley for Senate campaign issued the following statement in response to the Minnesota Public Radio/Humphrey Institute poll released today:
"When you factor in the margin of error, this poll is consistent with the results of last week's Star Tribune and KSTP-Survey USA polls," said campaign spokesman Christopher Truscott. "With four debates yet to come and our radio ads just going on the air, we're excited about where we are right now.
"Minnesotans are clearly giving this important race serious consideration and Sen. Barkley looks forward to making his case directly to voters over the next 27 days."
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
Norm Coleman and Suitgate!
Wow, this is just incredible. Two Putt Tommy has the scoop.
Apparently Cullen Sheehan doesn't want to talk to bloggers about the Senator's laundy list of problems, but has no problem putting his talking points out to righty bloggers. He loves to have it both ways...
The transcript from the event. It's pretty freakin amazing, Sheehan dodges the question 12 times, getting him a nomination into the American Dodgeball Assocation of America Hall of Fame.
REPORTER: On a different subject is there a reason that the Senator won’t say whether or not someone else bought some suits for him?
CULLEN SHEEHAN: Rachel, the Senator has reported every gift he has ever received.
REPORTER: That wasn’t my question, Cullen.
CULLEN SHEEHAN: The Senator has reported every gift he has ever received. We are not going to respond to unnamed sources on a blog.
REPORTER: So Senator Coleman’s friend has not bought these suits for him? Is that correct?
CULLEN SHEEHAN: The Senator has reported every gift he has ever received.
REPORTER: Why would say that? Why wouldn’t you give us an answer, “yes” or “no” on that?
CULLEN SHEEHAN: He’s recorded every gift he has ever received.
REPORTER: We haven’t asked whether he has recorded every gift he has ever received and I will take his word that he has recorded every gift he has received. Has he ever received a gift of suits?
CULLEN SHEEHAN: He’s reported every gift he has ever received.
REPORTER: If the answer is “no,” then why don’t you say “no”?
CULLEN SHEEHAN: He has reported every gift he has ever received, Rachel.
TwoPuttTommy: Cullen, who’s name is on Senator Coleman’s utility bill in DC?
CULLEN SHEEHAN: Is there any other questions from the Capitol press corps?
REPORTER: What about his, uh, Laurie, Mrs. Coleman’s job at Hays Company? Do you know what she did there?
CULLEN SHEEHAN: Again, they have disclosed everything they need to disclose on the Senate ethics forms.
REPORTER: So the Senator will only go according to the Senate ethics laws, rather, rules rather than answer questions?
CULLEN SHEEHAN: He has done everything that he is required to do, Rachel.
REPORTER: But that is not my question, Cullen.
CULLEN SHEEHAN: But that is my response.
REPORTER: Senator Coleman has talked a lot about campaign finance and transparency. He’ll repeat that: “transparency, transparency, that’s what you need to have.” If there are questions about whether he was a recipient of some very expensive suits and whether those were gifted to him in an appropriate way, why not just clear it all up? Because it is very unclear to us.
CULLEN SHEEHAN: He does that every year as a United States Senator on his Senate disclosure forms.
REPORTER: And will we find information about clothing on those forms?
CULLEN SHEEHAN: If it exceeds a gift limit, yes.
REPORTER: So is it possible that he received these suits and it was below gift limit?
CULLEN SHEEHAN: Uh, the Senator has reported every gift he has ever received.
REPORTER: It’s a little puzzling Cullen, why you won’t say whether or not he received these gifts and I understand that you don’t have respond to everything on blogs but you are getting questions from reporters and I don’t see why you aren’t answering that. Can you explain that a little to me?
CULLEN SHEEHAN: Yeah Rachel, we are not going to respond to unnamed sources on blogs. That is what we are going to do every day from now until election is over. The Senator has disclosed everything that he is required to disclose and recorded everything that he is required to report.
REPORTER: But Cullen if the Senator did nothing wrong here and that is what you are saying then just tell us that and the issue will go away.
CULLEN SHEEHAN: The Senator has reported every gift he’s ever received.
REPORTER: Did the Senator do anything wrong here?
CULLEN SHEEHAN: The Senator has done nothing wrong and reported every gift he’s ever received.
REPORTER: And you don’t know what Mrs. Coleman did for Hays Companies?
CULLEN SHEEHAN: And again whatever has been required to be disclosed about her income and what she does has been disclosed.
The video
Apparently Cullen Sheehan doesn't want to talk to bloggers about the Senator's laundy list of problems, but has no problem putting his talking points out to righty bloggers. He loves to have it both ways...
The transcript from the event. It's pretty freakin amazing, Sheehan dodges the question 12 times, getting him a nomination into the American Dodgeball Assocation of America Hall of Fame.
REPORTER: On a different subject is there a reason that the Senator won’t say whether or not someone else bought some suits for him?
CULLEN SHEEHAN: Rachel, the Senator has reported every gift he has ever received.
REPORTER: That wasn’t my question, Cullen.
CULLEN SHEEHAN: The Senator has reported every gift he has ever received. We are not going to respond to unnamed sources on a blog.
REPORTER: So Senator Coleman’s friend has not bought these suits for him? Is that correct?
CULLEN SHEEHAN: The Senator has reported every gift he has ever received.
REPORTER: Why would say that? Why wouldn’t you give us an answer, “yes” or “no” on that?
CULLEN SHEEHAN: He’s recorded every gift he has ever received.
REPORTER: We haven’t asked whether he has recorded every gift he has ever received and I will take his word that he has recorded every gift he has received. Has he ever received a gift of suits?
CULLEN SHEEHAN: He’s reported every gift he has ever received.
REPORTER: If the answer is “no,” then why don’t you say “no”?
CULLEN SHEEHAN: He has reported every gift he has ever received, Rachel.
TwoPuttTommy: Cullen, who’s name is on Senator Coleman’s utility bill in DC?
CULLEN SHEEHAN: Is there any other questions from the Capitol press corps?
REPORTER: What about his, uh, Laurie, Mrs. Coleman’s job at Hays Company? Do you know what she did there?
CULLEN SHEEHAN: Again, they have disclosed everything they need to disclose on the Senate ethics forms.
REPORTER: So the Senator will only go according to the Senate ethics laws, rather, rules rather than answer questions?
CULLEN SHEEHAN: He has done everything that he is required to do, Rachel.
REPORTER: But that is not my question, Cullen.
CULLEN SHEEHAN: But that is my response.
REPORTER: Senator Coleman has talked a lot about campaign finance and transparency. He’ll repeat that: “transparency, transparency, that’s what you need to have.” If there are questions about whether he was a recipient of some very expensive suits and whether those were gifted to him in an appropriate way, why not just clear it all up? Because it is very unclear to us.
CULLEN SHEEHAN: He does that every year as a United States Senator on his Senate disclosure forms.
REPORTER: And will we find information about clothing on those forms?
CULLEN SHEEHAN: If it exceeds a gift limit, yes.
REPORTER: So is it possible that he received these suits and it was below gift limit?
CULLEN SHEEHAN: Uh, the Senator has reported every gift he has ever received.
REPORTER: It’s a little puzzling Cullen, why you won’t say whether or not he received these gifts and I understand that you don’t have respond to everything on blogs but you are getting questions from reporters and I don’t see why you aren’t answering that. Can you explain that a little to me?
CULLEN SHEEHAN: Yeah Rachel, we are not going to respond to unnamed sources on blogs. That is what we are going to do every day from now until election is over. The Senator has disclosed everything that he is required to disclose and recorded everything that he is required to report.
REPORTER: But Cullen if the Senator did nothing wrong here and that is what you are saying then just tell us that and the issue will go away.
CULLEN SHEEHAN: The Senator has reported every gift he’s ever received.
REPORTER: Did the Senator do anything wrong here?
CULLEN SHEEHAN: The Senator has done nothing wrong and reported every gift he’s ever received.
REPORTER: And you don’t know what Mrs. Coleman did for Hays Companies?
CULLEN SHEEHAN: And again whatever has been required to be disclosed about her income and what she does has been disclosed.
The video
Fact Check: The Brian Davis Misleading Ad on Congressman Walz
Ollie has the scoop, as well as 4 pages of documentation showing how desperate Brian Davis is getting.
Sad...
Sad...
Brian Davis Sucks On Veterans Issues
Holy crap this guy is clueless. Anyone who would vote for Brian Davis for Congress, well...
Brian Davis on Veterans Issues:
I can't identify any specific areas where we would improve the educational or healthcare methods for veterans?
Seriously? Congressman Walz was endorsed by VFW PAC. Brian Davis can't identify ONE area in which he would improve Veterans benefits.
Incredible. Brian Davis needs to stop taking debate lessons from Miss South Carolina...
Brian Davis on Veterans Issues:
What action would you take to provide better educational methods and health care to our veterans?
Uh let me say that my father is a retired WWII veteran and he has received some of his health care Veterans administration. As a physician part of my training in a VA hospital and I’ll tell you very good basic health care that occurs at a VA hospital. We have to respect that when people have worked there. And for the tens of millions of veterans who receive their care there.
(We?)(Who?) are always looking for improvements. I can’t identify any specific areas where we would improve the educational or healthcare methods for veterans. I know there was a recent bill passed that is doing just that.
I tell with my background, my interests, my respect for veterans. As a representative of the next congressman of this district I take this issue very seriously and will always be on the look out to make sure it is as high quality it possibly can be.
I can't identify any specific areas where we would improve the educational or healthcare methods for veterans?
Seriously? Congressman Walz was endorsed by VFW PAC. Brian Davis can't identify ONE area in which he would improve Veterans benefits.
Incredible. Brian Davis needs to stop taking debate lessons from Miss South Carolina...
Tuesday, October 07, 2008
McCain knows how to get Bin Laden?
Well then what the hell is he waiting for?
I fully expect Johnnie Mc to suspend his campaign, fly back to Washington, and get this done.
Country First!
PS: He keeps calling me "my friend" but I can't add him on Facebook?
I fully expect Johnnie Mc to suspend his campaign, fly back to Washington, and get this done.
Country First!
PS: He keeps calling me "my friend" but I can't add him on Facebook?
Fact Check: Norm Coleman and Fiscal Responsibility
Fact Check: Norm Coleman and Fiscal Responsibility
Barkley Campaign: Coleman Playing 'Hide-the-Ball with the Facts'
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
PLYMOUTH—While campaigning yesterday (Monday) in Brainerd, Sen. Norm Coleman noted that Dean Barkley was named "porker of the month" by Citizens Against Government Waste and that Gov. Jesse Ventura left office with the state facing a $4.5 billion budget shortfall.
Here's the full story:
In November 2002, Citizens Against Government Waste named Barkley the "porker of the month" based on a comment he made about securing long-overdue funding for Minnesota transportation projects shortly after he was appointed to fill out the remainder of the late-Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.[1]
Ultimately, however, Barkley did not have a chance to work on transportation funding during the lame-duck session, but did distinguish himself by helping pass legislation that created the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, securing congressional support for the construction of the Paul and Shelia Wellstone Center in St. Paul and getting a waiver from the Bush Administration so Minnesota could continue its successful Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program free from new federal regulations.
In January 2003, Gov. Ventura left office with the state facing a $4.5 billion budget shortfall. But in 2002, Ventura did propose substantive budget fixes that were nixed by DFLer Roger Moe and Republican Tim Pawlenty, both legislative leaders of their respective parties and 2002 gubernatorial hopefuls. Ventura then vetoed the Legislature's budget because it drew down budget reserves without replenishing them, but his veto was overridden.[2]
* * * * *
Barkley Campaign Statement:
"It's clear Norm Coleman is trying to play hide-the-ball with the facts because the truth hurts," said Barkley campaign spokesman Christopher Truscott. "Under Sen. Coleman's watch the national debt has increased by trillions, in large part due to his willingness to give the Bush Administration a blank check on Iraq and his unwillingness to responsibly oversee Wall Street's actions. If Sen. Coleman spent as much time doing his job as he does obscuring his own record he'd be one of the most effective senators in Washington."
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
[1] Available online at: http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=news_porkerofthemonth_Nov02.
[2] Available online at: http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200202/27_mccalluml_budget/ and http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200202/28_mccalluml_budget/index.shtml
Barkley Campaign: Coleman Playing 'Hide-the-Ball with the Facts'
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
PLYMOUTH—While campaigning yesterday (Monday) in Brainerd, Sen. Norm Coleman noted that Dean Barkley was named "porker of the month" by Citizens Against Government Waste and that Gov. Jesse Ventura left office with the state facing a $4.5 billion budget shortfall.
Here's the full story:
In November 2002, Citizens Against Government Waste named Barkley the "porker of the month" based on a comment he made about securing long-overdue funding for Minnesota transportation projects shortly after he was appointed to fill out the remainder of the late-Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.[1]
Ultimately, however, Barkley did not have a chance to work on transportation funding during the lame-duck session, but did distinguish himself by helping pass legislation that created the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, securing congressional support for the construction of the Paul and Shelia Wellstone Center in St. Paul and getting a waiver from the Bush Administration so Minnesota could continue its successful Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program free from new federal regulations.
In January 2003, Gov. Ventura left office with the state facing a $4.5 billion budget shortfall. But in 2002, Ventura did propose substantive budget fixes that were nixed by DFLer Roger Moe and Republican Tim Pawlenty, both legislative leaders of their respective parties and 2002 gubernatorial hopefuls. Ventura then vetoed the Legislature's budget because it drew down budget reserves without replenishing them, but his veto was overridden.[2]
* * * * *
Barkley Campaign Statement:
"It's clear Norm Coleman is trying to play hide-the-ball with the facts because the truth hurts," said Barkley campaign spokesman Christopher Truscott. "Under Sen. Coleman's watch the national debt has increased by trillions, in large part due to his willingness to give the Bush Administration a blank check on Iraq and his unwillingness to responsibly oversee Wall Street's actions. If Sen. Coleman spent as much time doing his job as he does obscuring his own record he'd be one of the most effective senators in Washington."
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
[1] Available online at: http://www.cagw.org/site/PageServer?pagename=news_porkerofthemonth_Nov02.
[2] Available online at: http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200202/27_mccalluml_budget/ and http://news.minnesota.publicradio.org/features/200202/28_mccalluml_budget/index.shtml
Monday, October 06, 2008
Madia Leads Paulsen
From the DCCC:
While within the margin of error, it's great news for Ashwin and Team Madia!
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee today released a Bennett Petts & Normington survey of 400 likely voters in Minnesota’s third Congressional district found Iraq war veteran Ashwin Madia with a solid lead over Republican politician Erik Paulsen. The head to head shows Madia with 44 percent of the vote to Paulsen’s 39 percent, while Independence candidate David Dillon takes 8 percent— 9 percent remain undecided. The survey was conducted September 29 - 30 and has a 4.9 percent margin of error.
While within the margin of error, it's great news for Ashwin and Team Madia!
AP Story on the Debate
The AP captured the line of the debate as well!
I wonder if anyone else will start to ask that question?
Franken questioned Coleman's continued support for it. Barkley said going into Iraq made the region more unstable and has drained the U.S. budget.
"That was his first-trillion dollar mistake," Barkley said of Coleman. "The second was his failure to watch over the financial industry. That's your second-trillion dollar mistake. How many more trillion-dollar mistakes do we have to put up with?"
I wonder if anyone else will start to ask that question?
Sunday, October 05, 2008
Barkley Highlights First Debate Victory
Highlights: Barkley Wins First Senate Debate
Coleman, Franken Spar; Barkley Highlights Issues, Accomplishments
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
ROCHESTER—Dean Barkley, the Independence Party candidate for U.S. Senate, scored a clear victory in Sunday evening's Senate debate.
While incumbent Republican Sen. Norm Coleman and DFL nominee Al Franken engaged in business-as-usual Washington politics, Barkley remained focused on breaking the partisan gridlock so Congress can finally produce the results the American people have been demanding for so long.
Highlights from the debate, which was held at the University Center in Rochester:
Dean Barkley on the Economic Stabilization Act:
"I didn't like it. (The plan is) better than it was and I think we have to get over that and stop playing the (blame) game and make sure it doesn't happen again."
"If we did not do this, Main Street could've been devastated and I did not want that to happen."
Dean Barkley on Renewable Energy:
"It's a shame it took $4 gas to get Congress to finally start doing something it should've been doing for the last 30 years."
Dean Barkley on Iraq/Military Issues:
"(The war) was (Coleman's) first trillion-dollar mistake and the second was failing to watch over the financial industry."
"I learned from history. … I don't forget what it was like to be lied to (during Vietnam) and all the pain that it caused."
"We've done enough. It's time for Iraq to either sink or swim—become a civilized country that can govern itself or go back to warring tribes."
"The best thing we can do for our troops is bring them home. That's the best thing we can do for them."
"Al-Qaeda came to Iraq after we invaded, not before."
Dean Barkley on Negative Campaigns:
"I've had to take a look at the same talking fish and bowling ads you all have watched."
"This has been an embarrassing campaign … I think Minnesotans should not have been put through this. They both sign-off on these ads."
Dean Barkley on the National Debt:
"The solutions aren't hard, they're just painful and you have to offend some people to do it."
(Barkley supports a four-year spending cap.)
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
Coleman, Franken Spar; Barkley Highlights Issues, Accomplishments
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
ROCHESTER—Dean Barkley, the Independence Party candidate for U.S. Senate, scored a clear victory in Sunday evening's Senate debate.
While incumbent Republican Sen. Norm Coleman and DFL nominee Al Franken engaged in business-as-usual Washington politics, Barkley remained focused on breaking the partisan gridlock so Congress can finally produce the results the American people have been demanding for so long.
Highlights from the debate, which was held at the University Center in Rochester:
Dean Barkley on the Economic Stabilization Act:
"I didn't like it. (The plan is) better than it was and I think we have to get over that and stop playing the (blame) game and make sure it doesn't happen again."
"If we did not do this, Main Street could've been devastated and I did not want that to happen."
Dean Barkley on Renewable Energy:
"It's a shame it took $4 gas to get Congress to finally start doing something it should've been doing for the last 30 years."
Dean Barkley on Iraq/Military Issues:
"(The war) was (Coleman's) first trillion-dollar mistake and the second was failing to watch over the financial industry."
"I learned from history. … I don't forget what it was like to be lied to (during Vietnam) and all the pain that it caused."
"We've done enough. It's time for Iraq to either sink or swim—become a civilized country that can govern itself or go back to warring tribes."
"The best thing we can do for our troops is bring them home. That's the best thing we can do for them."
"Al-Qaeda came to Iraq after we invaded, not before."
Dean Barkley on Negative Campaigns:
"I've had to take a look at the same talking fish and bowling ads you all have watched."
"This has been an embarrassing campaign … I think Minnesotans should not have been put through this. They both sign-off on these ads."
Dean Barkley on the National Debt:
"The solutions aren't hard, they're just painful and you have to offend some people to do it."
(Barkley supports a four-year spending cap.)
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
Barkley Post Debate Statement
Barkley Campaign Post-Debate Statement
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
ROCHESTER—The Dean Barkley for Senate campaign released the following statement after Sunday night's debate in Rochester:
"There's no doubt that Norm Coleman is an excellent politician and Al Franken is a top-flight performer, but Minnesotans are looking for substance and straight talk. That's why Dean Barkley won tonight and why his campaign is gaining momentum everyday."
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
ROCHESTER—The Dean Barkley for Senate campaign released the following statement after Sunday night's debate in Rochester:
"There's no doubt that Norm Coleman is an excellent politician and Al Franken is a top-flight performer, but Minnesotans are looking for substance and straight talk. That's why Dean Barkley won tonight and why his campaign is gaining momentum everyday."
Barkley: Budget Deficit
Budget Deficit:
Right up my alley. Campaign lit from 1994 and added more zeros.
Solutions are painful.
1st Bill: 4 year spending cap. No new spending. New fiscal reality, what else would we have to do to close the gap.
Right up my alley. Campaign lit from 1994 and added more zeros.
Solutions are painful.
1st Bill: 4 year spending cap. No new spending. New fiscal reality, what else would we have to do to close the gap.
On Negative Ads
Franken: We've run negative ads because well, Norm's record is negative.
Brought some humor!
Barkley: Same talking fish and bowling ads...
Perhaps they will start to attack me now that I am near 20%. It's an embarassing campaign. I am holding both of them accountable on this. I have to thank them, I have been the beneficiiary of these negative ads.
Coleman: We're facing some major challenges. Mr Franken's record is his career. Is temperment important?
No record of service to Minnesotans.
Brought some humor!
Barkley: Same talking fish and bowling ads...
Perhaps they will start to attack me now that I am near 20%. It's an embarassing campaign. I am holding both of them accountable on this. I have to thank them, I have been the beneficiiary of these negative ads.
Coleman: We're facing some major challenges. Mr Franken's record is his career. Is temperment important?
No record of service to Minnesotans.
Line of the debate
Dean Barkley to Norm Coleman: In talking about Barkley's anti Iraq War stance...
"How many trillion dollar mistakes are we going to have to put up with?"
Referring to Iraq and the Bailout.
"How many trillion dollar mistakes are we going to have to put up with?"
Referring to Iraq and the Bailout.
Listening to the US Senate Debate
Interesting thus far.
So far, Norm has said "Dean's right on this", three times.
Following the frey over at MDE too.
So far, Norm has said "Dean's right on this", three times.
Following the frey over at MDE too.
Startribune: Hot Race in the 3rd
Iraq War Veteran, Ashwin Madia, Democrat
vs.
Bush Republican, Erik Paulsen
vs.
Independent David Dillion
The Startribune has a rather large story covering the race today. The racial undertones are making the race even hotter.
Oh yeah, the often utilized demographics portion of a resume.
Video from the Carey and Michel press conferences.
It's easy to see the political courage in the race. Madia has diavowed independent ads that have attacked his opponent. Paulsen sends his surrogates to attack Madia on race, and remains silent.
vs.
Bush Republican, Erik Paulsen
vs.
Independent David Dillion
The Startribune has a rather large story covering the race today. The racial undertones are making the race even hotter.
Meanwhile, a Paulsen surrogate, state Sen. Geoff Michel, R-Minn., took the podium at a news conference last week to question Madia's ties to the district because, among other things, he has not raised a family there or paid a mortgage or gone to a PTA meeting.
Madia, who graduated from high school in the district, is a bachelor and rents an apartment in Plymouth. He listed his parents' Plymouth address while he was in the Marines and deployed to Iraq.
State GOP chairman Ron Carey also recently urged voters to examine "the demographic standpoint" of the candidates to determine which one to vote for.
DFL Party chair Brian Melendez said Carey and Michel's use of "loaded code words" injected race into the campaign. Madia's parents emigrated from India, and Paulsen is white.
Carey denied there were any racial or ethnic undertones to his comments. "I bristle at the insinuation that that was what was trying to be said," he said. "We're simply talking résumé. Period."
Oh yeah, the often utilized demographics portion of a resume.
Video from the Carey and Michel press conferences.
It's easy to see the political courage in the race. Madia has diavowed independent ads that have attacked his opponent. Paulsen sends his surrogates to attack Madia on race, and remains silent.
Saturday, October 04, 2008
Barkley in Morris Sun Tribune
Making the news in Morris, at a stop at the University of Minnesota Morris.
Dean Barkley speaks with the relaxed, straight talk of a U.S. Senate candidate who is a decided underdog.
During a campaign stop at the University of Minnesota, Morris’ Turtle Mountain Cafe on Thursday, Barkley leaned back in a chair, legs crossed, and spoke bluntly with a group of students.
He used several words and phrases to describe the current state of incumbency in Washington, the kindest probably being “bozos.” Barkley talked to the students frankly about the war in Iraq, his days as former Gov. Jesse Ventura’s chief aide, and the sorry state of the race he is in against Republican incumbent Norm Coleman and DFL challenger Al Franken.
But that doesn’t mean Barkley’s running as if he has nothing to lose. To the contrary, he believes that, given the circumstances, he is in a good position to win.
“The path is there to win this,” said Barkley, invoking memories of Ventura’s improbable victory in the 1998 gubernatorial race. “Whether that happens or not, I don’t know. But this is actually more do-able than Ventura’s was.”
Barkley was in Morris for campaign stops at UMM and the Eagles Club with fellow Independence Party candidate Dave Holman, who is challenging Minnesota District 11A House Rep. Torrey Westrom.
Barkley claims that he is the only true alternative available in the Senate race. The constant stream of attack ads from the Coleman and Franken campaigns has frustrated voters who are beginning to seek a champion elsewhere.
Barkley, who began his campaign in July, said his poll numbers have increased from 8 percent to 14 percent in recent weeks, and his campaign boasted on its Web site Friday that a KSTP/Star Tribune poll released the night before showed his support at 19 percent (a poll taken for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee released Friday showed Franken leading Coleman 38 percent to 36 percent, and Barkley at 12 percent).
Voters aren’t speaking well of the Coleman-Franken fight and that a third-party choice is welcomed as the first of five debates in the Senate race begins Sunday in Rochester.
“Universally, (voters) are disgusted,” Barkley said. “They’ve had it. Negative campaigns work when you only have two choices. Throw in a third choice and (negative campaigns) don’t work because people have a place to go. And that’s me.”
The blame is aimed at the Coleman and Franken campaigns, the strings for which are being pulled by Washington firms, Barkley said.
“The other two candidates, with their negative ads, are doing everything they can to make me viable,” Barkley said.
Barkley was born in Annandale and earned bachelors and law degrees at the University of Minnesota.
In addition to his work with Ventura, he was appointed to fill out the final days of Paul Wellstone’s Senate term after Wellstone was killed in a 2002 plane crash.
Barkley’s positions, in a nutshell, breakdown like this:
• He supports the bailout plan Congress and the White House are hammering out. But he’s not happy about it.
“The consequences are too severe if we don’t,” he said. “It’s the worst malfeasance I’ve ever seen. Enron people went to jail for far less, and now those bozos want us to reelect them.”
• Barkley would work to end deficit spending by capping government spending at current levels. He also proposes stopping transfers from Social Security and Medicare to the General Fund.
“We can’t keep doing this,” Barkley said. “We got to get more money to the middle class and get them spending so we can start stimulating the economy.”
• Barkley’s energy policy calls for incentives to develop alternative fuels, reducing emissions and forcing oil companies to tap unused U.S. reserves.
“I’ve been green since the last (energy) crisis, in the Carter years,” Barkley said.
• For health care reforms, he wants Medicare opened to all Americans on a cost basis, get the private and public sectors to compete “and see who wins,” and mandate that pharmaceutical companies negotiate with Medicare to lower prices.
• Barkley wants an immediate end to the Iraq War, and to “no longer use dependence on foreign oil as a false excuse for foreign policy.”
He told the UMM students that the draft was the only difference between his generation and theirs when it came to the war. He called Iraq the “worst mistake since Vietnam.”
“If you had the same draft we had, you’d be marching in the streets,” Barkley said. “Nothing like having draft No. 11. Nothing like seeing those ping pong balls drop. Glad you don’t need to go through that.”
Barkley said he was a supporter of John McCain “until he became George Bush to get elected.”
He likes Obama’s words but isn’t sure he can get done what he talks about.
And while he said he doesn’t dislike Coleman or Franken personally, he doesn’t see any difference in either in terms of what they would do to reform Washington.
“We can have a little revolution in this country by using the vote,” Barkley said. “We have a historic opportunity to shake up Washington by sending me there.”
Barkley recalled the Ventura campaign of 10 years ago, and he noted that up until Ventura’s victory, he never had poll numbers above 27 percent.
“(During that campaign) I felt the ground-swell happening,” Barkley said. “I’m feeling that same thing now, only stronger. I shouldn’t get over-confident, but I’m confident we could shock the world, just like Ventura did.”
Dean Barkley speaks with the relaxed, straight talk of a U.S. Senate candidate who is a decided underdog.
During a campaign stop at the University of Minnesota, Morris’ Turtle Mountain Cafe on Thursday, Barkley leaned back in a chair, legs crossed, and spoke bluntly with a group of students.
He used several words and phrases to describe the current state of incumbency in Washington, the kindest probably being “bozos.” Barkley talked to the students frankly about the war in Iraq, his days as former Gov. Jesse Ventura’s chief aide, and the sorry state of the race he is in against Republican incumbent Norm Coleman and DFL challenger Al Franken.
But that doesn’t mean Barkley’s running as if he has nothing to lose. To the contrary, he believes that, given the circumstances, he is in a good position to win.
“The path is there to win this,” said Barkley, invoking memories of Ventura’s improbable victory in the 1998 gubernatorial race. “Whether that happens or not, I don’t know. But this is actually more do-able than Ventura’s was.”
Barkley was in Morris for campaign stops at UMM and the Eagles Club with fellow Independence Party candidate Dave Holman, who is challenging Minnesota District 11A House Rep. Torrey Westrom.
Barkley claims that he is the only true alternative available in the Senate race. The constant stream of attack ads from the Coleman and Franken campaigns has frustrated voters who are beginning to seek a champion elsewhere.
Barkley, who began his campaign in July, said his poll numbers have increased from 8 percent to 14 percent in recent weeks, and his campaign boasted on its Web site Friday that a KSTP/Star Tribune poll released the night before showed his support at 19 percent (a poll taken for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee released Friday showed Franken leading Coleman 38 percent to 36 percent, and Barkley at 12 percent).
Voters aren’t speaking well of the Coleman-Franken fight and that a third-party choice is welcomed as the first of five debates in the Senate race begins Sunday in Rochester.
“Universally, (voters) are disgusted,” Barkley said. “They’ve had it. Negative campaigns work when you only have two choices. Throw in a third choice and (negative campaigns) don’t work because people have a place to go. And that’s me.”
The blame is aimed at the Coleman and Franken campaigns, the strings for which are being pulled by Washington firms, Barkley said.
“The other two candidates, with their negative ads, are doing everything they can to make me viable,” Barkley said.
Barkley was born in Annandale and earned bachelors and law degrees at the University of Minnesota.
In addition to his work with Ventura, he was appointed to fill out the final days of Paul Wellstone’s Senate term after Wellstone was killed in a 2002 plane crash.
Barkley’s positions, in a nutshell, breakdown like this:
• He supports the bailout plan Congress and the White House are hammering out. But he’s not happy about it.
“The consequences are too severe if we don’t,” he said. “It’s the worst malfeasance I’ve ever seen. Enron people went to jail for far less, and now those bozos want us to reelect them.”
• Barkley would work to end deficit spending by capping government spending at current levels. He also proposes stopping transfers from Social Security and Medicare to the General Fund.
“We can’t keep doing this,” Barkley said. “We got to get more money to the middle class and get them spending so we can start stimulating the economy.”
• Barkley’s energy policy calls for incentives to develop alternative fuels, reducing emissions and forcing oil companies to tap unused U.S. reserves.
“I’ve been green since the last (energy) crisis, in the Carter years,” Barkley said.
• For health care reforms, he wants Medicare opened to all Americans on a cost basis, get the private and public sectors to compete “and see who wins,” and mandate that pharmaceutical companies negotiate with Medicare to lower prices.
• Barkley wants an immediate end to the Iraq War, and to “no longer use dependence on foreign oil as a false excuse for foreign policy.”
He told the UMM students that the draft was the only difference between his generation and theirs when it came to the war. He called Iraq the “worst mistake since Vietnam.”
“If you had the same draft we had, you’d be marching in the streets,” Barkley said. “Nothing like having draft No. 11. Nothing like seeing those ping pong balls drop. Glad you don’t need to go through that.”
Barkley said he was a supporter of John McCain “until he became George Bush to get elected.”
He likes Obama’s words but isn’t sure he can get done what he talks about.
And while he said he doesn’t dislike Coleman or Franken personally, he doesn’t see any difference in either in terms of what they would do to reform Washington.
“We can have a little revolution in this country by using the vote,” Barkley said. “We have a historic opportunity to shake up Washington by sending me there.”
Barkley recalled the Ventura campaign of 10 years ago, and he noted that up until Ventura’s victory, he never had poll numbers above 27 percent.
“(During that campaign) I felt the ground-swell happening,” Barkley said. “I’m feeling that same thing now, only stronger. I shouldn’t get over-confident, but I’m confident we could shock the world, just like Ventura did.”
Fillmore County Journal on US Senate Race
And they are not impressed.
Unfortunate
It is unfortunate that the Democrats chose Al Franken to be their candidate for senator. While Franken certainly has the celebrity and name recognition to attract voters, his "record" as a comedian has given the Norm Coleman camp plenty of fodder to go on the attack with ads profiling Franken as irresponsible. Consequently, this campaign for the Minnesota senate is built around personalities and not issues, with both candidates picking the lowest common denominator - the attack ad.
Had the DFL nominated Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer, a St. Thomas professor more in the style of Paul Wellstone, we would have seen a different campaign, one based more on the issues - energy policy, the economy, the war in Iraq.
I am not sure the public has been served in the Coleman - Franken senate race. Which is why Independent Party candidate Dean Barkley's poll numbers keep rising - disatisfaction with the Coleman and Franken campaigns. Barkley served as Senator briefly when he filled out Paul Wellstone's term of office following his death.
While Barkley is not a front runner in the polls, his numbers are significant enough to play spoiler on November 4.
Right now voters are choosing whether they like Coleman's character better than Franken's. If the election comes down to that, Minnesota loses in the end.
Startribune: Barkley at 18%
According to the Startribune, Al Franken has a 43% to 33% lead over Norm Coleman. The poll, differs from a KSTP/Survey USA poll released Friday, showing Coleman with a big lead over Franken.
One thing is consistent in both polls.
Dean Barkley is surging.
In the KSTP poll, Barkley is now only 14 points behind Franken.
In the Startribune poll, Barkley is now only 15 points behind the incumbent Coleman.
All of this is good news for Barkley.
The debate on Sunday will be very interesting. Will Franken and Coleman go after Barkley in a last ditch effort to sway voters back?
We've heard the rumors of the DSCC possibly going after Barkley. Will the NRSC follow suit?
One thing is consistent in both polls.
Dean Barkley is surging.
In the KSTP poll, Barkley is now only 14 points behind Franken.
In the Startribune poll, Barkley is now only 15 points behind the incumbent Coleman.
Barkley hurting Coleman
The poll shows that Barkley is drawing more votes from Coleman than Franken, although Franken would still be ahead of Coleman even if Barkley wasn’t in the race.
More Barkley supporters, 49 percent, said they leaned toward Coleman than Franken, who drew support from 33 percent of them. In a head-to-head match without Barkley, Franken topped Coleman by 49 percent to 42 percent.
The poll detected a significant increase in Minnesotans who label themselves as Democrats. Forty-two percent of likely voters identified themselves as Democrats, compared with 27 percent who said they were independents, and 26 percent who said they were Republicans.
According to the poll, Coleman’s support has slid among men and those in upper- and lower-income brackets. Last month, Coleman led Franken among men, 46 to 36 percent; in the recent poll Franken is ahead, 45 to 34 percent.
Coleman continues to get strong support from white evangelicals, but white Catholics are about evenly split between the two leading candidates. Both Coleman and Franken are struggling equally to keep their respective bases from drifting to the Barkley camp; each has the support of 78 percent of their party members, while 12 percent of Democrats and Republicans alike support Barkley.
And Barkley has cut into Coleman’s former lead among independents, leaving them divided almost evenly among Coleman (34 percent), Barkley (33 percent) and Franken (29 percent).David Roeser, 65, a retired General Mills mechanic who lives in Minneapolis, said he was for Barkley in part because of all “the crap” in the TV ads.
“This has really alienated me from both [Coleman and Franken]. I’ve read some of Franken’s satire — I’m not a big fan of the stuff — and I’ve watched Coleman in Congress a bit,” he said. “But these ads have turned me totally away. Barkley seems like more my kind of person.”
All of this is good news for Barkley.
The debate on Sunday will be very interesting. Will Franken and Coleman go after Barkley in a last ditch effort to sway voters back?
We've heard the rumors of the DSCC possibly going after Barkley. Will the NRSC follow suit?
Friday, October 03, 2008
With Norm Coleman's lead in the US Senate race...
Will someone start talking about Norm Coleman's "unconventional marriage"?
The last several days, we've seen some significant activity on our June posts:
Ed Schultz Calls Norm Coleman a Skirt Chaser
Norm Coleman's "Unconventional Marriage"
Norm Coleman: Chronic Womanizer?
Lots of Google searches coming into the blog looking into Norm Coleman's marital situation, with nearly 100 hits alone yesterday.
We'll be watching the traffic to see if this trend continues to grow, but I suspect that someone will come after Coleman hard on his "unconventional marriage".
The last several days, we've seen some significant activity on our June posts:
Ed Schultz Calls Norm Coleman a Skirt Chaser
Norm Coleman's "Unconventional Marriage"
Norm Coleman: Chronic Womanizer?
Lots of Google searches coming into the blog looking into Norm Coleman's marital situation, with nearly 100 hits alone yesterday.
We'll be watching the traffic to see if this trend continues to grow, but I suspect that someone will come after Coleman hard on his "unconventional marriage".
Dean Barkley in the news
A press release hit my inbox this morning, on the heels of Barkley attaining 19% in a recent KSTP/Survey USA poll.
Dean Barkley in the News
D.C. Pundit: Some Washington Operatives Considering Attacks Against Barkley;
Barkley Climbs to 19 Percent in KSTP-Survey USA Poll
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
Wild Cards Create Wild Scenarios in Congressional Races
By Stuart Rothenberg, Roll Call
Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008
(Excerpts)
Some Democratic operatives have been considering whether it might be necessary for Franken, or more likely the DSCC, to attack Barkley to try to pull liberal (or at least anti-Coleman) voters away from the Independence Party nominee.
But that's a risky strategy that could, in theory, benefit Coleman, and it would seem less likely if Coleman and Franken are locked in a very tight race in the final weeks of the election campaign.
Read the full article by clicking here.
* * * * *
POLL: Sen. Coleman Pulls Ahead with 10-Point Lead
KSTP
Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008
(Excerpts)
Less than a month ago, Coleman lead Franken 41 to 40 in a statistical dead heat. Barkley had a remarkable 14 percent.
On Thursday, Coleman led Franken, 43 to 33 percent. Barkley does surprisingly well again, registering 19 points.
…
However, 25 to 30 percent of poll respondents who support each candidate now say they could still change their mind by Election Day.
Read the full article by clicking here.
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
Dean Barkley in the News
D.C. Pundit: Some Washington Operatives Considering Attacks Against Barkley;
Barkley Climbs to 19 Percent in KSTP-Survey USA Poll
For Immediate Release
Contact: Christopher Truscott
ctruscott@senatorbarkley.com
Wild Cards Create Wild Scenarios in Congressional Races
By Stuart Rothenberg, Roll Call
Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008
(Excerpts)
Some Democratic operatives have been considering whether it might be necessary for Franken, or more likely the DSCC, to attack Barkley to try to pull liberal (or at least anti-Coleman) voters away from the Independence Party nominee.
But that's a risky strategy that could, in theory, benefit Coleman, and it would seem less likely if Coleman and Franken are locked in a very tight race in the final weeks of the election campaign.
Read the full article by clicking here.
* * * * *
POLL: Sen. Coleman Pulls Ahead with 10-Point Lead
KSTP
Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008
(Excerpts)
Less than a month ago, Coleman lead Franken 41 to 40 in a statistical dead heat. Barkley had a remarkable 14 percent.
On Thursday, Coleman led Franken, 43 to 33 percent. Barkley does surprisingly well again, registering 19 points.
…
However, 25 to 30 percent of poll respondents who support each candidate now say they could still change their mind by Election Day.
Read the full article by clicking here.
* * * * *
Barkley, a 58-year-old Minnesota native, served as the director of the Minnesota Office of Strategic and Long Range Planning under Gov. Jesse Ventura. In November 2002, Ventura appointed Barkley to fill the final two months of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone's term.
The former governor said recently that Barkley is "measured minute by minute … the most effective U.S. senator in Minnesota history."
More information is available online at www.senatorbarkley.com.
Thursday, October 02, 2008
Roll Call on Dean Barkley
An interesting article by Stuart Rothenberg.
Barkley is a long shot. He's a long shot who has climbed his way to 19% in the most expensive US Senate race, with an extremely limited budget. If Barkley could raise $500,000, this race could get even more interesting.
The most recent poll indicates that 10% of Republicans and 19% of Democrats polled support Barkley. Coleman has support of 39% of Independents and Franken has support of 65% of Democrats, similar to the September primary figures.
I have no doubt, especially on the heels of Barkley's campaign achieving 19%, the DSCC will step in and smear Barkley over the next month.
While Barkley isn’t running the kind of full-scale campaign that would ordinarily get him much traction, he’s receiving plenty of “none of the above” votes from Minnesotans who are tired of the personal attacks coming from Coleman and Franken.
While this normally would benefit Coleman, since most elections are referendums on the incumbent and having two or more alternatives to the incumbent thereby divides the anti-incumbent vote, Barkley is doing so well that he must be taking votes away from both men.
I have long had doubts as to whether Franken could win the votes of a majority of Minnesota voters because of his controversial history. But Barkley’s strong showing means that the Democrat may be able to win the Senate race with as little as 40 percent of the vote, a number that does not seem unattainable for Franken.
Some Democratic operatives have been considering whether it might be necessary for Franken, or more likely the DSCC, to attack Barkley to try to pull liberal (or at least anti-Coleman) voters away from the Independence Party nominee.
But that’s a risky strategy that could, in theory, benefit Coleman, and it would seem less likely if Coleman and Franken are locked in a very tight race in the final weeks of the election campaign.
Barkley isn’t likely to win the Minnesota Senate race in November, no matter how nasty the race gets, but the two major-party candidates will need to try to figure out whether, and how, to deal with him as Election Day approaches.
Barkley is a long shot. He's a long shot who has climbed his way to 19% in the most expensive US Senate race, with an extremely limited budget. If Barkley could raise $500,000, this race could get even more interesting.
The most recent poll indicates that 10% of Republicans and 19% of Democrats polled support Barkley. Coleman has support of 39% of Independents and Franken has support of 65% of Democrats, similar to the September primary figures.
I have no doubt, especially on the heels of Barkley's campaign achieving 19%, the DSCC will step in and smear Barkley over the next month.
Barkley at 19%!
A KSTP/Survey USA poll has Dean Barkley up to 19%.
19% before a penny was spent on advertising.
19% for a candidate who has barely been on the campaign trail for 2 months.
Wow.
Previous polls indicated Barkley taking voters away from Senator Coleman. This poll reflects Al Franken taking a significant hit over the past 3 weeks, losing 10 points total.
The numbers reflect the simple fact that Al Franken is un-electable. You can spend millions and millions of dollars, reshaping the image. The $6 million man he is not. You can't rebuild him, you don't have the technology. It's not working.
Over the past 3 weeks, Franken has lost 7 points from men, 7 points from women, lost 10 points from voters 18-49, and 3 points to those over 50.
Ouch!
About a month away from the election, it's quite clear...Dean Barkley has tremendous momentum and Al Franken is faltering, severely.
19% before a penny was spent on advertising.
19% for a candidate who has barely been on the campaign trail for 2 months.
Wow.
Previous polls indicated Barkley taking voters away from Senator Coleman. This poll reflects Al Franken taking a significant hit over the past 3 weeks, losing 10 points total.
The numbers reflect the simple fact that Al Franken is un-electable. You can spend millions and millions of dollars, reshaping the image. The $6 million man he is not. You can't rebuild him, you don't have the technology. It's not working.
Over the past 3 weeks, Franken has lost 7 points from men, 7 points from women, lost 10 points from voters 18-49, and 3 points to those over 50.
Ouch!
About a month away from the election, it's quite clear...Dean Barkley has tremendous momentum and Al Franken is faltering, severely.