Wellstone Documentary by High Schoolers

Hard to believe its been 7 years...

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.

Norm Coleman's "unconventional marriage"?

I read "Shot in the Dark" with great interest earlier this week. Mitch Berg labeled Senator Norm Coleman's marriage as an "unconventional marriage".

It’s been an open secret forever in Saint Paul and Minnesota politics; Norm and his wife have a rather unconventional marriage. Schultz is being disingenuous if he claims this is some big revelation (or, equally likely, the dim little bulb inside his thick little head hasn’t quite quite figured it out yet, and his prime directive, “blow hard first, ask questions later”, is in control).

What the heck is an "unconventional marriage"?

Mitch is correct. These rumors have been out there for quite some time. Mitch does Senator Coleman a great service by working to confirm these rumors.

I work in a pretty conservative office. On most days, I am the token progressive, token liberal in the office. We talk politics a lot. We had long discussions about the Franken Playboy stuff. I posed this topic in the office yesterday, to 7 co-workers, involved at different levels of politics.

None of them had heard of any issues with Senator Coleman's marriage. None of them had any idea what an "unconventional marriage" was. One jokingly said that Senator Coleman was not gay and did not support "unconventional marriages". The other said it was purely a liberal smokescreeen. The rumor is/was not as widespread as Berg thinks.

How will this news be received in the conservative small towns that dot rural central Minnesota?

The Twin Cities media outlets and bloggers (myself included) hit Franken hard on the Playboy writings. Will these same mainstream media outlets put Norm Coleman under the same microscope? Especially after a right wing blogger blew the lid off the story?

To steal from Two Putt Tommy, this is the mother of all smokescreens.

SITD commenter's even say it's true.

PeterH Says:
June 9th, 2008 at
11:04 pm
Norm and his wife haven’t slept together in years?
Sounds like he’s got a traditional marriage.

Oh, that's satire...

Let's be consistent here. If we're going to criticize Al Franken for Playboy writings and other problems, which call into question his judgement, than we should do the same here. I have no idea what Senator Coleman's marital situation is. I don't really care either. However, I find it interesting how right wing blogs frame Coleman's marriage as an "unconventional marriage".

This US Senate race between Coleman and Franken has the potential to be the nastiest race in the nation this year. It will not be "Minnesota nice".

Do we want this race to be about issues? I'd rather it be on the issues, but I know Two Putt Tommy and I are ready for a rumble!

At the recent Minnesota GOP convention, Senator Coleman gave a rousing speech with a cute 8 point plan.

In the closing part of his speech, Coleman, the former Democrat, urged his now-fellow Republicans to do “a better job” of emphasizing the “core conservative Republican” values of individual rights, free enterprise, no taxes, protecting life “from conception to natural death” and supporting traditional marriage.

So he calls on supporting traditional marriage but lives an "unconventional marriage"?

Nice...

One of Paul Wellstone's most powerful quotes I recall (and witnessed in person) is "never separate the life you live from the words you speak."

I feel a bit of irony there, don't you?

An Obama Flashback

I remember watching this speech back in 2004. I was awestruck by Obama then and continue to be now.

Years ago, back in my MSUSA days, a group of us were lurking downstairs on the Senate side of the Capitol, taking a few minutes to check out the train that takes Senators to and from the Capitol.

All the sudden, from around the corner, Senator Obama appeared. He was larger than life for us political junkies from Minnesota. He took a minute to talk to us and we snapped a photo of him with one of our students, from Illinois. It was a pretty freakin awesome experience.

So, here's a taste of what's coming for us now. Obama's speech tonight was absolutely powerful. Obama is one of only a few politicians who have ever given me goosebumps when they spoke.

The other politician that immediately comes to mind is Paul Wellstone.

So, check out the 2004 DNC video...for many of us, the start of our love for Barack Obama.

Franken's Sinking Ship

Truscott touched on this last week as well.

The Strib released some polling numbers last night and they have to be troubling for Team Franken.

Franken trails Norm Coleman 51-44.

Interestingly enough, Franken only polls 1 point higher than Mike Ciresi, who has been out of the US Senate race for about 2 months now.

Jack Nelson Pallmeyer trails 53-38.

Franken's tax problems have surely led to his disappointing polling recently. It's a major flaw for the Franken candidacy. Franken speaks regularly on the stump of holding Norm Coleman accountable, especially for his time as the Chair of the OVersight Committee.

Jesse Ventura weighs in on the Franken tax mess.

He says he won't rule out running for U.S. Senate and he repeatedly ripped Franken and Coleman with some very harsh words. He said he lives in Minnesota more than Al Franken and when he wrestled for 30 years in different states he knew he had to pay taxes where he earned the money. He wondered why a Harvard grad like Franken wouldn't know that.

Personally, I thought Franken's tax problem excuse was pretty weak. It seemed to be more passing the buck than anything else.

If delegates are smart, they will realize this tax problem would take Al Franken down in the General Election.

Heck, if Al Franken really wants to see Norm Coleman defeated and "Paul Wellstone's seat" back in the hands of a Democrat, he'll step aside and help a suitable replacement.

Jack Nelson Pallmeyer is that man.

Trailing Norm Coleman by 15 points at this point is not a serious issue. JNP simply does not have the name recognition of Franken or Ciresi. He is well spoken and passionate on the stump. He would give Norm Coleman a run for the money.

Favorable/Unfavorable rating:

Coleman: 53% fav 33% unfav 14% DK
Franken: 33% fav 39% unfav 29% DK
JNP: 8% fav 6% unfav 85% DK
Ciresi: 25% fav 15% unfav 54% UK

It's an interesting poll, but a lot of bad news for Al Franken.

In response to the Jack Nelson Pallmeyer attack

Came across this yesterday. Apparently, the AP story passes as a "fluff piece" for some.

How many Franken "fluff pieces" has the AP and other "mainstream media" sources pushed forth over the past 18 months?

I have never drank the "Al Franken Kool-Aid" and his recent tax problems, paid or not, make him virtually unelectable now. This revelation is not unique to Blueman. Party insiders and others more politically astute than myself have shared this opinion.

It would be easy for Jack Nelson Pallmeyer to pounce in Franken's tax problem and throw a little mud in this race. I wonder why many didn't call this Strib piece a "fluff piece"?

It's not that Nelson-Pallmeyer is speaking out about his rival's troubles. Far from it. He refuses to comment about Franken, or even say much by way of contrasting himself with the former "Saturday Night Live" entertainer.

Nelson-Pallmeyer sticks religiously to describing his reasons for backing a single-payer health-care system, an immediate withdrawal of American troops from Iraq, and a full-bore strategy for cutting the nation's consumption of oil.

In fact, JNP's effort to stay on message has solidified his campaign. While Franken trades barbs with Coleman and MN GOP Chair Ron Carey, JNP is talking about the issues that matter most to Minnesotans.

The Wellstone angle

Old pols have been wrong about a professor's chances before, this campaign likes to observe. Two photos of Paul Wellstone hang prominently on the campaign office wall, in silent testimony to that earlier professor's success. It's likely no coincidence that Nelson-Pallmeyer's campaign signs are an evocative green and white.

The latter-day professor-politician lacks Wellstone's oratorical firepower, but not his hopeful spirit or passion for grassroots politics.

There's another parallel, too. Nelson-Pallmeyer also often hears something Wellstone heard in 1990: "You're too liberal" to be elected.

Indeed. JNP is playing the Wellstone card in a much better fashion than Franken. Both evoke Wellstone's aura in their speeches. JNP delivers beyond the rhetoric.

Wellstone's brand of politics was a tough, door to door, issue based approach. Wellstone didn't need to call Rudy Boschwitz a "butt boy". He disagreed with colleagues and those across the political aisle, but worked with them to get things done. He was above the name calling. JNP is much closer to Wellstone than Franken.

Too liberal to be elected? I'm not so sure about that...he may be just liberal enough!

Around the blogs

Developers are Crabgrass has a Tinklenberg taconite story.

Liberal in the Land of Conservative has a post up (with You Tubes), on the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007, opposed by Bachmann and Kline. Rumor has it that Rep Kline tried to strip Paul Wellstone's name from the bill.

Ollie at Bluestem Prairie has posts up about Tim Walz's response to the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Act and a new Tim Walz ad released by American's United for Change.

I Don't Hate America posts on DM&E and the railroad safety plan.

Spotty endorses Jack Nelson Pallmeyer for US Senate.

MDE is going crazy of Al Franken's Worker's Comp scandal.

Larry Schumacher, St Cloud Times, has an anniversary today. 1 year of Democracy at Work! Congrats Larry!

Minnesota Campaign Report Endorses Ashwin Madia in CD 3!

Paul Wellstone's true heir

I'll have a report up later about the Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer event in Buffalo today. It was an outstanding event!

Daily Kos has a wonderful story up about the US Senate race in Minnesota!

Don't get me wrong, I like Al Franken. I've bought his books, I've enjoyed his satire, and I found him very personable. I will surely vote for him if he's the candidate the DFL chooses. But this was the seat that would be Paul Wellstone's today if he hadn't died in that awful plane crash.

While Franken's comedy schtick has been outlandish at times, he's not a Wellstone by any means. He reminds me of the same kind of careful, calculating Democrat so many of us on this site constantly complain about.

Exactly. This is a key difference between Franken, Ciresi, and Nelson-Pallmeyer.

Paul Wellstone was fiery, but he engaged in respectful disagreement with his opponents. He never called an opponent a "butt boy" or made any other derogatory comments about them. He simply defeated them by out debating them.

Nelson-Pallmeyer displays the wit needed to continue Wellstone's legacy.

Too many Democrats have a view of Franken that's based on his books and his radio show and they think he's a fighting progressive. I haven't seen much sign of that.

Indeed. It's tough for me to view Franken as progressive. He is not engaging in party building. He's a celebrity running for US Senate. Franken is loved in many of these small rural Minnesota County Units and Senate Districts. Why? One main reason is that Franken events pulled in a lot of money for these units. It served our unit pretty well.

Yet, despite 175 people showing up for a Franken event, only the hardcore progressives remained for the 2 hour county convention afterwards. Despite our work to contact those people on the sign in lists, less than 10% remained active in our party endeavors.

Hardly party building. Despite his books and talk show, at least in my eyes, Franken does not inspire me.

Today, at the event in Buffalo, I found more progressives! I was able to exchange info with them and we will make an impact in our area for the foreseeable future.

Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer's progressive message resonates with me. It's a message of hope. It's a message of integrity. It's a message of compassion.

Today, JNP told us there were 3 things we could do to hep ourselves and to help his campaign. Support him at the precinct caucuses Feb 5th, donate some money, and tell our friends about him.

Bluewoman and I have done all 3.

Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer: A lot like that other Professor turned US Senator

Another older but fun story out of Ely.

In the DFL tradition of Paul Wellstone, he’s bright, feisty, unafraid of corporate pressures and sure of his priorities. He teaches Justice and Peace Studies at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, and inspired one supporter to pen a campaign sign saying “Send Another Professor to Washington.”

We'll report on Jack's meet and greet in Buffalo later!

Jack Nelson Pallmeyer endorsed by Progressive Action

A great endorsement for JNP!

“Progressive Action’s mission is to help carry on the legacy of the late Senator Paul Wellstone,” Progressive Action President Barb Olsen commented. “Progressive Action members voted to support Jack because they believe he’s the candidate who can best carry on that legacy and because Jack is right on the issues. Issues like ending the war in Iraq, pressing for universal single-payer health care, and finding alternatives to our country’s dependence on oil, all of which Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer is far stronger on than any other DFL candidate. And Jack is an incredibly effective campaigner, as anyone knows who saw him handily take the recent debate at St. Scholastica in Duluth.”

Another glowing endorsement for Jack. Bluewoman and I are looking forward to seeing him again in Buffalo Saturday, perhaps I can convince her that we should go to Winona on Sunday...

MinnPost on Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer

Once again, it's a bit older, but very good.

The DFL is understandably gun-shy about backing statewide candidates solely on the basis of their popularity within the party itself. It is also understandably leery of endorsing candidates whose weakness among the general electorate enhances the likelihood of a bruising primary challenge in which the officially endorsed candidate is dumped in favor of a better-known and funded figure. But in the case of Nelson-Pallmeyer, I think the party finds itself with a new kind of dilemma on its hands, one that it cannot solve by looking to the past for answers.

This year, the DFL candidate with the worst chances of gaining the party endorsement for Senate is the candidate with the best chance of winning the general election.

If the DFL runs Nelson-Pallmeyer against Coleman, he'll win in a rout. If they run Mike Ciresi, it's at best a toss-up. If the party chooses Franken — the candidate who, to date, has the best shot at winning the endorsement — Coleman wins and we get to spend another six years being represented by the political equivalent of the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion, with a dash of Guiliani-esque family values all wrapped up in one unsavory package.

Indeed, Franken does not move me one way or the other. Ciresi is good, but Jack has a message of hope. "Idealism" trumped "electability" with Paul Wellstone.

It can happen again...

Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer for Senate

I've seen all the candidates.

I chatted with Al Franken in Monticello at the VFW. Spoke to Frannie in Biscay and Darwin.

Spent some great time with Mike Ciresi in Monticello and Otsego. Spoke to one of his sons in Biscay and Darwin as well.

Talked with Jim Cohen in Otsego, Biscay and Darwin, as well as sitting with him at the Founder's Day dinner in St Paul.

I'd been leaning Mike Ciresi for quite some time. I really like Mike. I think he would make a great US Senator.

I have reservations about Al Franken and simply put, can't support Jim Cohen.

I'm a liberal.

I'm a liberal who was proud of the work of Paul Wellstone. I believe in "Stand Up, Keep Fighting!"

Bluewoman and I first met Jack at the CD 6 Garden Party in Otsego this summer. He had not officially announced his candidacy yet, but we both walked away pretty impressed with Jack.

We checked out the other candidates as they came through the area. Neither of us felt a strong connection to Franken or Cohen, although we both know they would be a vast improvement over Senator Oversight, Norm Coleman.

And while Ciresi connected with me, Jack connected with both Bluewoman and I. After meeting us in Otsego, he remembered who we were quite some time later in Biscay, for the McLeod County Hog Roast fundraiser.

I brought back memories of my meetings with Paul Wellstone, powerful meetings that have formed my political identity.

Jack does that for me. While he is not the favorite in this race, neither was Paul Wellstone, he is better aligned with what I stand for as a liberal, socially progressive Democrat.

He does not support NAFTA nor CAFTA.

Like another candidate I strongly support, Bob Olson, he has strong positions on the environment and sustainable / renewable energy.

He understands the tragedy that has become the Iraq War.

It's much deeper than issues though. A recent story in Labor World says it more eloquently than Blueman ever could.

The second reason I am supporting Jack is deeply personal. I, like many folks, still consider this seat Paul’s seat. And I, like many, want to defeat Norm Coleman so badly I can taste it. Maybe Al or Mike can win. And if either of them do win, they will cast a decent vote, most of the time. But for me, it is not enough to settle for just a decent vote in Paul Wellstone’s seat. I want more than a vote – I want a voice that speaks out, is never silenced, and is always courageous, always pushing for what is necessary and in doing so is redefining what is possible. That’s what Paul did so eloquently and effectively. There will be compromises, of course. That is simply part of getting things done. But like Paul Wellstone, Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer will never sacrifice his principles, or his ideals.

Can Jack ultimately win? I don’t know. I gave up predicting that a long time ago. Paul and Jesse Ventura were never supposed to win and they did. Few would have predicted that Skip Humphrey – the most popular Attorney General in Minnesota history – would come in a distant third. What I do know is that Jack offers a true difference and a real choice of authentic and principled leadership, and we desperately need that in Washington now more than ever.

Authentic and principled leadership.

That's why I support Bob Olson.

That's why I support Ashwin Madia.

And that is why both Bluewoman and I support Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer.

2007 Wellstone Dinner

Bluewoman and I were able to attend the 3rd Annual Paul and Shelia Wellstone Dinner in St Cloud last night.

Wow! What an event!

We must be moving up in the world! We not only sat with Bob Olson, we also got to sit with Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer! We've been clear hear at Blue man in a Red district that we support Bob Olson for Congress. Bob did a great job working the room and I did my best to introduce him to the people I knew in the room.

We did have another great chat with Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer. We also been able to chat with him at the Otsego garden party and the 7th CD Hog Roast in Biscay.

It's great to have such a progressive gathering of people so close to where we live. Typically, we'd have to travel to the Twin Cities for such an event, while paying an arm and a leg as well. In talking to a few friends that helped organize the event, the attendance has been impressive. Over 550 people attended the event last night, up from a hundred or so just two years ago.

Silent auction items were sweet too! I ended up going home with a lovely framed Paul Wellstone poem and an event poster signed by Vice President Walter Mondale. I got hosed for some sweep Wellstone buttons, but there really is no bitterness there!

It was a moving event. Garrison Keillor delivered a wonderful address about Paul. DFLers like Jackie Stevenson gave powerful speeches about Mary McEvoy and Sheila, and their important work to stamp out domestic violence.

Senator Tarryl Clark and Rep Larry Haws hit Governor Pawlenty and other GOP leaders hard as well...Rep Haws hat story was the best though.

Larry was in an elevator at the State Office Building, wearing his hat. A Republican in the elevator told him "a gentleman never wears there hat indoors". Larry looked at him and told him, "I'll tell you two reasons why I am not a gentleman. One, I'm wearing my hat indoors. Two, I don't give a damn what you think!"

The night was filled with a progressive message. In Paul Wellstone terms, we need to "Stand up and Keep Fighting!"

It's a message that carries over equally in an electoral campaign or the school levies many of us are working on right now. Going door to door or phone to phone taking back our communities is what Paul Wellstone would want us to be doing right now!

Bluewoman and I had a fun discussion at the table about being progressive. Those that know me, know I am passionate guy, not a quiet progressive at all. People like Bob Olson and Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer are equally as progressive but they utilize more of a calm, cool and collected approach.

The conclusion? We'll always support a progressive candidate over the one with the "big name and money". We'll bust our collective asses to ensure that our progressive candidates get elected, but we will not compromise our progressive values to do so.

Hence, my support for Bob Olson. He's a strong progressive candidate who actually says something when you talk to him, he's not filled with rhetoric!

Vice President Walter Mondale ended the night with a wonderful speech about Paul Wellstone and our fight to take his seat back!

Lastly, congratulations to Susan Patton, who received the 2007 Mary McEvoy award for all her hard work on the SD 15 website and other organizing activities she has worked on over the years for progressive causes. I've known Susan for a few years now and had the pleasure of working with her on a few causes at St Cloud State. The award is well deserved!

Man, I miss Senator Wellstone...

October 25th is always a tough day, or at least it has been tough over the past 5 years. Much like my mom knows exactly where she was when JFK was assassinated, I'll never forget where I was when I learned of Paul Wellstone's death.

My interactions with Paul Wellstone, while rather limited, were every powerful.

It was October 1996. I was a recently promoted Staff Sergeant out at Fort Lewis, Washington. Months had passed and my pay increase had still not kicked in, despite the fact that I talked to nearly everyone I could about the issue.

I called Senator Wellstone's Minnesota office for assistance.

The every next day, our company training meeting was interrupted by a nervous Private who nervously announced "Sergeant Kimball, you have a phone call. It's Senator Wellstone!"

"Hal, Paul Wellstone here, how are you?" Despite my insistence on calling him Senator, he chided me to call him Paul. He assured me that my pay problem would be fixed and proceeded to give me a few phone numbers to call at the end of the month to let him know all was well.

I figured that would be the end of it...my end of the month paycheck in October reflected my pay increase, but backpay as well!

Halloween night, 1996. It's 10pm in my barracks room at Fort Lewis.

The phone rings.

"Hal, Paul Wellstone here. how are you? Did your problem get fixed?"

Stunned that a US Seantor was calling me at 10pm, West Coast time to ask me about my pay problem, I responded "yes Senator".

"Great, call me Paul" he said. He chided me that I did not call him back...this during his 1996 reelection campaign, about a week before his reelection...and at midnight Minnesota time, he's calling me to talk about my pay problem!

We proceeded to talk for about an hour about Veterans issues, Bosnia, my family back in Minnesota, and all sorts of stuff. It was a powerful conversation nonetheless.

While there is no doubt in my mind that every member of Congress would ensure that a constituent in the military was paid properly, Paul went above and beyond what he needed to do.

6 years later, October 1992, on the campus of St Cloud State University. Paul Wellstone came to campus a few days before his plane crash to talk about his vote on Iraq and other campaign issues.

After the speech, he spoke to may of us in the crowd. When I introduced myself, and thanked him, as a Veteran, on his Iraq vote, he said he remembered our conversation 6 years beforehand.

I would not believe most people if they said that.

I believed Paul.

5 years later, I miss what Paul did for the little guy.

I listened to Paul's final speech on the floor of the Senate last night on AM 950. I can't lie, I got a bit misty eyed and was covered in goosebumps.

The US Senate would be a lot different with Paul Wellstone still there. I think about Paul delivering a passionate speech about Katrina, Walter Reed, the Attorney General scandal, Iraq, SCHIP's, and all of the other GOP follies that have damaged working and middle class American's.

Paul's legacy lives on today, through progressive activists across the United States. Wellstone Action! provides people with an opportunity to learn some progressive techniques to organize around issues and campaigns. As a Camp Wellstone! graduate, I must say that the training is powerful.

Today, guys like Congressman Tim Walz reflect this same sense of constituent outreach. Whether it's pushing for flood relief extensions, working on Veterans issues, or having a consistent presence at town hall meetings. Congressman Walz is always reaching out to his constituents.

A flashback to 5 years ago: A letter from Paul Wellstone

Shortly after Senator Wellstone arrived back in Minnesota after voting to oppose military action in Iraq, he attended a rally at St Cloud State University. It was my first actual face to face meeting with the Senator. I had spoken to him before about Veterans issues and other things while I served as an active duty Infantryman, but had never met him.

He delivered a powerful address! As a Veteran, I thanked him for his hard work, personally for me, and on behalf of many of my soldiers. I also thanked him for having the courage to oppose military action in Iraq. It was an amazing conversation where he recalled our previous conversations at Fort Lewis, Washington.

The following is text of a letter written from Senator Wellstone to Jim Huhtala of Big Lake.

October 24, 2002

Dear Mr. Huhtala,

Thank you for contacting me regarding U.S. policy towards Iraq. I have been hearing from many Minnesotans about their concerns on this very important matter. I appreciate your views.

I do not believe the Bush administration has yet made a case for taking pre-emptive military action against Iraq. The range of possible U.S. policy responses and the consequences of a possible U.S. or allied military attack are still unanswered. Other questions remain about the impact of unilateral military action on our preeminent national security priority, the continuing war on terrorism; on our ongoing efforts to stabilize and rebuild Afghanistan; on efforts to calm the intensifying Middle East crisis, especially the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; and on the dangerous situation between the nuclear-armed India and Pakistan.

In the early morning of Friday October 11, the Senate approved the President's requested resolution to allow him to take military action against Iraq. I opposed the resolution because it would authorize military action now in Iraq--including pre-emptive, go-it-alone military action--even as the U.S. seeks to garner support from our allies on a tough new UN disarmament resolution. I voted in favor of a substitute amendment to improve the resolution, which would have authorized the use of appropriate force by the United States and our allies, pursuant to a new UN Security Council resolution, following exhaustion of efforts to disarm Iraq, in order to obtain compliance with its international obligations.

Saddam Hussein is a brutal, ruthless dictator who has repressed his own people, attacked his neighbors, and remains an international outlaw. The world would be a much better place if he were gone and the regime in Iraq were changed. That's why the U.S. should unite the world against Saddam and not allow him to unite forces against us.

I oppose a go-it-alone approach, allowing ground invasion of Iraq without the support of other countries, because it could give Saddam exactly that chance. A pre-emptive, go-it-alone strategy towards Iraq is wrong. Instead, I support ridding Iraq of weapons of mass destruction through unfettered UN inspections which should begin as soon as possible.

The President has said he has not yet decided to use force against Iraq and that war may yet be avoidable. I believe the primary focus of policy towards Iraq should now be target on the verifiable disarmament of that country's weapons of mass destruction. It is the goal that our allies support, including Britain. It is the goal most likely to be successful, and from which our strategy should flow. I hope the President will focus on disarmament, which will help strengthen and sustain international support, enabling us to be most effective in dealing with Saddam Hussein.

Again, thank you for contacting me. I hope you will continue to stay in touch with me on matters of importance to you.

Sincerely,


Paul David Wellstone
United States Senator

Keep in mind, 5 years ago, Elwyn Tinklenberg would have voted for this war...

Tinklenberg LTE in the SC Times

The SC Times has a LTE supporting Tinklenbergs run for Congress

Tinklenberg was, and is, right choice for district
By Ed O’Brien, Waite Park

Elwyn Tinklenberg was the right candidate in 2006 and will be the right candidate in 2008 for the U.S. House 6th District seat.

The DFL will do well to welcome him to the race, endorse him and start him on his way to replace the embarrassment caused by our current representation.

While I agree that we should replace our current "representation" in Washington, I firmly believe that Elywn Tinklenberg is not the right man, nor was he in 2006.

We need leadership. The leadership void in the 6th has been long absent by being represented by Mark Kennedy and now Michele Bachmann. Both have been lap dogs for a Bush agenda, while sacrificing the core values of our district.

I like Elwyn. He's a nice guy.

But, in my opinion, he is not a leader. Leaders step forward before things like the 35W bridge collapse and the Iraq War, not after. Many will cite Tinklenbergs work at Transportation Commissioner under Ventura as a contributing factor to the transportation nightmare facing Minnesota.

If Tinklenberg wants to run on transportation issues, he should move out to Wright County and run for a State Representative seat against Dean Urdahl, who is equally as guilty for the transportation nightmare in Minnesota.

His stance on the Iraq War is troubling to me as well. He would have supported this flawed plan, based on the information provided at the time.

Trouble is, many of us protested the present war as early as 2002. The info WAS out there! Senator Paul Wellstone gave a powerful speech on the floor of the Senate in October, 2002.

He was 100% correct.



The information was available in 2002 and in 2006. It simply took courage to stand up to the right wing machine and a morally bankrupt Bush Administration. Saying you support a policy based on "the information available at the time" is an excuse.

I am tired of excuses.

We don't need another politician who cannot articulate a solid, courageous, and consistent policy on the important issues of the day.

We don't really know where Tinklenberg stands on issues. He's been on both sides of the fence too many times for me.

That's why I support Bob Olson for Congress. His stance does not waver in the strong political winds that move through Minnesota and the 6th.

He is a man of conviction and a straight shooter.

He is a leader.

When gas was a buck, he was working on sustainable and renewable energy issues. He's a leader in our communities.

I want to win in 2008! That's why I am supporting Bob Olson for Congress in 2008.

Bob Olson is the right candidate at the right time in the 6th CD.

Stay tuned...Blueman is getting fired up!

Celebrating 40 years

Last night, the Minnesota State University Student Association celebrated 40 years of student advocacy. The event was well attended with members of the Board of Trustee's, MnSCU, former officers and board members, current and former staff members, and legislators.

It was fun talking to everyone at the event. It was cool seeing some old pictures of Paul Wellstone at MSUSA conferences!

BTW, no sign of Abe... :(

Kucinich rips Edwards and Clinton

"Politics is not about power. Politics is not about money. Politics is not about winning for the sake of winning. Politics is about the improvement of people's lives. It's about advancing the cause of peace and justice in our country and the world. Politics is about doing well for the people."

Paul Wellstone

Perhaps those in the lead for the Democratic nomination for President should reflect back upon these words. Clinton and Edwards both served with the great Senator from Minnesota and perhaps some humility is in order now.

Dennis Kucinich ripped Hillary Clinton and Jphn Edwards yesterday for their plot to exclude other Presidential candidates from future debates.

"This is a serious matter and I'm calling him on it," Kucinich, an Ohio
congressman, said in a telephone interview Friday. "Whispering, trying to rig an
election, then denying what's going on and making excuses. It all reflects a
consistent lack of integrity."

Kucinich's rant came after Clinton and Edwards were caught after a NAACP forum in Detroit, conspiring to exclude the likes of Chris Dodd, Dennis Kucinich, Bill Richardson and others from future debates.

"We should try to have a more serious and a smaller group," Edwards said, and Clinton agreed.

"Our guys should talk," Clinton said, complaining the format had "trivialized" the discussion.

Trivialized the discussion? I think answering questions in a debate by stating "I do not engage in hypothetical questions", trivializes debates, much like Hillary Clinton did in a recent debate.

When confronted, Clinton passed the buck.

"I think he has some ideas about what he'd like to do," she said, adding she liked participating in the forums.

Edwards back pedaled.

Edwards told reporters in Iowa that he wasn't in favor of barring anyone from future gatherings. Rather, he said he wanted to see them separated into two groups of four each, chosen randomly. "The result would be that we would have a much more serious discussion and people would actually be able to see what the differences are between us," he said.

Check out the video of the forum. Go about 55 seconds into the video and you be the judge of what Clinton and Edwards are talking about.



Sounds like Clinton and Edwards are attempting to create their own Roman Triumvirate.

What modern scholars call the First Triumvirate was an informal political alliance of two rival generals, Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great representing the popular viz. senatorial party, with the extremely wealthy businessman Marcus Licinius
Crassus. This fell apart after the death of Crassus, and the two other triumvirs fought a civil war, during which Pompey was killed and Caesar established his sole rule as perpetual dictator.

The discussion of Clinton and Edwards tactics reminds me of Joe Bodell's discussion of progressive vs. liberal, posted at Minnesota Campaign Report.

Walz is a moderate Democrat and Ellison a more classic liberal. What unites them is their progressive streaks -- each publicly puts the interests of the people he represents above those of omnipresent lobbyists and monied special interests.

Minnesota Progressives in the mold of Paul Wellstone. Clinton and Edwards are neither progressive nor liberal, by most standards.

Connecticut Senator Chris Dodd blasted Clinton and Edwards as well.

"Celebrity and money are not going to decide this race," he said. "People take some offense at it in these early primary and caucus states."

Candidates like Clinton and Edwards want true progressives like Kucinich and Richardson excluded from future debates because they pose questions and provide responses that seek to hold candidates accountable for their voting record and other actions.

When Congressman Kucinich, who was right about the war in Iraq long before it even started, questions Clinton and Edwards on their voting record, they become uneasy.

It's much easier for them to exclude true progressives than to answer tough questions. By doing so, they can continue the trend of "cookie cutter" debates, which do nothing for Americans who actually want to make a choice before the 2008 elections, and not have the outcome already decided.

Kersten got me goin...

I'm sure it's been said before, but doesn't Katherine Kersten have a striking resemblance to a certain 90's TV sitcom geek?



























Will we see Kersten on Celebrity Fit Club next? With all of the cuts at the Strib, you never know.

Back to my rant...Kersten wrties today about how the late US Senator Paul Wellstone and his efforts in moving the Democratic Party to a more soldier friendly party.

At first, Wellstone didn’t disappoint. Shortly after taking office, he
enraged veterans by staging a media event against the first Gulf War in front of
the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial. Early polls showed Wellstone with one of the
lowest approval rankings ever for a Minnesota senator.

But when he ran six years later, Wellstone was endorsed by – of all
groups — the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Did he go through a “pro-war” conversion?
Hardly. He reinvented the meaning of “I support our troops.”

After his disastrous start, Wellstone retooled. He began championing
assistance for soldiers with “post-traumatic stress disorder,” and advocating a
host of new or expanded government benefits for returning and retired soldiers.
He won reelection in a landslide.

1. Kersten reads from the first paragraph of the GOP playbook. She asserts that just because someone protests a war, they cannot support the soldiers involved.

That assertion is utter nonsense. Senator Wellstone admitted his actions at the Vietnam War Memorial were wrong. But he held to his convictions about the war. How many Republican leaders have come forward to admit they have been wrong on Iraq? Where is Norm Coleman, the man who slandered Wellstone's record on Veterans issues?

More than 220,000 Veterans of the first Gulf War draw VA disability now, more than 28% of those who served in this war. When compared to other wars, this figure is shocking. Roughly 8% of World War II Veterans drew VA disability, 6% of Korean Vets, and about 10% of Vietnam Vets.

But since Kersten politicized aid and care to Veterans, lets turn the question back on GOP leaders. How can you support the troops when GOP leaders cut the VA budget and have proposed closing 10% of the VA's hospitals?

Perhaps Kersten should watch this video. 5 years old now, Senator Wellstone was dead on right!



Kersten continues...

How much greater the risk to our country if we encourage those we turn to in crisis to see themselves as wards of the state? We must offer our soldiers
respect and thanks for their great sacrifice, as well as various tangible forms
of support. But “I support our troops” must always mean more: support for their
mission and warrior spirit.

The soldiers who spoke up at Walter Reed never saw themselves as "wards of the state".

I signed 4 contracts when I was on active duty. I took an oath. I took that oath very seriously. Each time I took that oath, I did so with two assumptions.

1. Our President and my the officers appointed over me would never put my soldiers and I in harms way for political gain and without a sound strategy on how we would conduct the operations.

2. If I ever was hurt, I would have access to the care and aid required. I made these vows to my infantrymen, I'd never put them in harms way over bullshit and I would make sure they are taken care of. I've been out of the Army nearly 6 years now and I still point Veterans and soldiers in the right direction for care.

"Wards of the state?" We took significantly less pay than our civilian counterparts, spent longer amounts of time away from loved ones, and made other sacrifices to safeguard this nation. The least we can do for our Veterans is ensure that they have access to quality health care. Respect and thanks go a long way as well, but having seen so many Veterans and friends of mine struggle for access to their benefits, something is wrong.

Republican Presidential Candidates talk about abortion, immigration and same sex marriage. Issues beyond the periphery of mainstream America.

Iraq is mainstream America. It's also mainstreet America.

It's mainstreet Cokato.

Mainstreet Annandale.

It's young men and women from small towns all across this state raising their right hand, taking a solemn oath, and busting their asses in far away places.

Kersten's right hand extends to a keyboard where her rants are becoming increasingly irrelevant. If Kersten wants to go to Iraq and live the life of a soldier, I know a recruiter who will hook her right up! Or better yet, maybe she should take a walk down a hallway at Walter Reed and ask a solider how it feels to be a "ward of the state".

Norm Coleman and Walter Reed

MN Blue has a great post up about Norm's "response".

"We've obviously got to do a better job with mental health services," Coleman said. But he disagreed that the Bush Administration is to blame and specifically rejected the idea that VA funding has been inadequate, saying overall funding for veterans has risen substantially.

"The dollars have been there," Coleman said. "I think there have been some human errors."

Hundreds of abused soldiers at Walter Reed is not human error. Hundreds of abused soldiers at Fort Stewart, Georgia is not human error. Hundreds of soldiers abused at Fort Know is not human error. It's a systemic failure of the Veterans Adminstration and Army hospitals. Dollars can't fix accountability. You have to hold people accountable. Bold concept I know, but we must hold those in charge accountable.

MN Blue also points out the Norm Coleman voting record on Veterans issues.

Pathetic.

What infuriates me more though, was that Coleman and the neo-con Bush folk had the audacity to attack Senator Wellstone on HIS support for Veterans.

Great work, we'll keep digging on Norm's record.