Ladies and Gentlemen, yours truly - the ol' TwoPutter - is hosting both - BOTH! - the Tuesday Editions of "Quick On The UpTake" AND "Minnesota Matters" on AM-950 KTNF, The Voice of Minnesota! These shows run from 5:00 to 7pm. So, tune in your radio today to AM-950, or listen live on your computer, here. Joining in-studio will be ace field reporter/political analyst Dusty Trice!
I'm Guest Hosting the first hour - "Quick On The UpTake" - because Host Mike McIntee is in Copenhagen for the United Nations Climate Change Conference. We'll be talking with John Van Hecke of Mn2020.org about the local problems created by Gov. T-Bag's Unallotment; CD-03 DFL Candidate Jim Meffert, and we're very glad we'll be talking with Rep. Tim Walz! Last night Rep. Walz hosted a Town Hall about Afghanistan in Mankato; there's a story in the Mankato Free Press.
I'll also be Guest Hosting the second hour, "Minnesota Matters, Tuesday Edition." We're going to talk about breaking news, fisk Katherine Kersten's latest column, and discuss a lawsuit accusing Wells Fargo of misleading some Minnesota non-profit foundations that appeared in last Sunday's print edition of the Strib. Apparently, those local non-profits aren't the only ones offended by Wells Fargo's "stewardship". And, just which foundations in that Strib story, allegedly took a hit because of that "stewardship"? The story stated that one is the Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi Foundation. Yes, THAT "Ciresi". Seems to me, that Wells Fargo is in a big world of legal hurt. Unfortunately, Mike Ciresi won't be able to call in about that....today. Maybe later; if I were a betting man, I'd bet a bunch that this story isn't going away.
Also expect some snark about how a newspaper can publish some great journalism, like that Wells Fargo story, but also allow Kersten space...
We just might play "False Or False Witness!" where one lucky caller will have to correctly identify if a quote I read was actually uttered by Michele Bachmann (answer "False Witness!") or if yours truly, the ol' TwoPutter, simply made it up (answer "false"). The fabulous prize awarded, courtesy of show sponsor Common Good Books, is one copy of Bill Prendergast's exceptional comic book: False Witness! The Michele Bachmann Story (Volume 1). Bill's comic books make great stocking stuffers; they're practically guaranteed to delight progressive gift getters and P.O. the RightWingNut bootlickers on your gift giving list!!!
So, again, tune in the radio today to AM-950, or listen live on your computer, here.
And personally, I'd like to wish everyone a Happy HannaRamaKwanzMas! Or not, if that's what you'd prefer....
Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL)
Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL)
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA)
Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA)
Sen. John Ensign (R-NV)
Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)
Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA)
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Rep. Alan Mollohan (D-WV)
Rep. John Murtha (D-PA)
Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY)
Rep. Laura Richardson (D-CA)
Rep. Pete Visclosky (D-IN)
Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA)
Rep. Don Young (R-AK)
You will note there are 8 Democrats and 7 Republicans on that list.
Furthermore, CREW also has an "Under Investigation" list, as follows - you will note that there are 10 Democratic Party House Members and 7 Republicans listed along with 2 Democratic Senators and 1 Republican:
U.S. Representatives
Representative Ken Calvert (R-CA)
Representative Norm Dicks (D-WA)
Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL)
Representative Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)
Representative Jerry Lewis (R-CA)
Representative Gary Miller (R-CA)
Representative Allan Mollohan (D-WV)
Representative Jim Moran (D-VA)
Representative Timothy Murphy (R-PA)
Representative John Murtha (D-PA)
Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY)
Representative Laura Richardson (D-CA)
Representative Todd Tiahrt (R-KS)
Representative Pete Visclosky (D-IN)
Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA)
Representative C.W. Bill Young (R-FL)
Representative Don Young (R-AK)
U.S. Senators
Senator Roland Burris (D-IL) UPDATE
Senator John Ensign (R-NV)
Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ)
Can you please advise how you determined that CREW is "a left wing outfit" when they identify more Democrats than Republicans as corrupt?
I appreciate your prompt reply as I anticipate discussing your column on air tomorrow night as I am Guest Hosting "Minnesota Matters - Tuesday Edition."
A copy of this email will be sent to CREW seeking their comment.
210 days ago, on August 4th, 2008, Team Coleman Spokesman Mark Drake took the podium at a press conference at the Capitol. Drake claimed Coleman has been "open" and "transparent" with regards to RentGate and UtilityBill. Further, Mark Drake promised, under questioning, to check with the campaign about allowing members of the media to see an actual utility bill, so members of the media could verify who's name the utility bills are in and that Coleman was paying what he should be and not violating the Gift Ban.
210 days later, said utility bills have yet to be produced.
And it seems the media has lost interest. Which, of course, demonstrates once again exactly why GOPers lie to the media:
The Senate gifts rule generally prohibits members and staff from accepting gifts, but has two exceptions under which they may accept lodging: if based on personal friendship or, as long as the giver is not a lobbyist or foreign agent, if the gift constitutes personal hospitality. Because the relationship between Sen. Coleman and Mr. Larson appears to be more business than personal, the gift would not be permitted under the "personal friendship" exception. Because Mr. Larson does not live in the townhouse, but rents it out to others, he is not hosting Sen. Coleman and "the personal hospitality" exception would not apply.
CREW is asking the Senate Ethics Committee to look into whether or not Sen. Coleman is paying fair market value for the apartment, whether Sen. Coleman would have paid the November 2007 and January 2008 rent had National Journal not raised the non-payment as an issue, whether Sen. Coleman and Mr. Larson had agreed that Mr. Larson would not cash the March 2008 rent check, why Sen. Coleman suddenly made up his back rent after National Journal asked questions about it, and why Sen. Coleman's office announced that Ms. Kainz would be leaving the senator's employ after National Journal asked about her role.
CREW's executive director Melanie Sloan stated, "Few Americans have landlords who sometimes fail to cash their rent checks, ignore unpaid rent, or accept furniture in lieu of rent. That Sen. Coleman has just such a landlord, who also happens to financially benefit from his relationship with the senator creates exactly the sort of appearance of impropriety that undermines the public's faith in government." Sloan continued, "Senators must abide by the ethics rules at all times, not just when they get caught flouting them."
No word yet on whether this means an inquiry by the Ethics Committee. Either way, it looks like that bad week I predicted on Sunday is about to get pretty darned crappy for Norm Coleman.
