Rep. John Kline (R-MN) wants to start the whole healthcare reform debate all over again. He whines in Roll Call that the Democrats have "no intention of bipartisanship." Kline apparently resides in an alternate universe. He has been given his talking points and is going to stick to them, damn reality.
Obama has reached out on several occasions and the Republican reply has been death panels, birthers, tenthers, rudely interrupting his State of the Union to call him a liar, Obama is a nazi, Obama is a socialist and portrayed Obama as Heath Ledger's The Joker from the latest Batman movie. They have all but spit in his face. Yet, Kline has the temerity to call for a "do over."
Elections have consequences and now that the Republicans are losing, they want to start all over. How is this different than any of the obstructionist crap they've pulled before?
You can read his whining and lies after the break...
Rep. John Kline (R-MN) was elevated to the top minority spot on the House Education and Labor Committee not because he has any expertise in education or much knowledge about economics and labor. No, he was the highest ranking available Republican not tainted by scandals involving prostitutes, diapers, corruption or some combination thereof.
So consider this little snippet of Kline displaying his ignorance in a New Hampshire newspaper:
Voting yes: Reps. Carol Shea-Porter and Paul Hodes, both Democrats.
Abusive student discipline: Voting 262 for and 153 against, the House on Wednesday passed a bill (HR 4247) setting federal standards and authorizing grants to states to curb the abusive discipline of K-12 students in public and private schools. Now before the Senate, the bill addresses practices such as duct-taping and other forcible restraints that inflict harm, seclusion in locked rooms and the application of drugs not prescribed by the student's doctor. The bill would extend to schools the same federal protection against physical abuse that applies to hospitals and other community institutions receiving federal funds.
Rep. George Miller, a Democrat from California, said: "When these abuses occur, it isn't just the individual victim who suffers. It hurts their classmates who witness these traumatizing events. It undermines the vast majority of teachers and staff who are trying to give students a quality education. It's a nightmare for everyone involved."
Rep. John Kline, a Republican from Minnesota, said the bill infringes on state authority and is "an invitation to trial lawyers who will eagerly take every opportunity to sue school districts. . . . In fact, there's a very real danger that schools will stop addressing safety issues entirely out of fear they could be sued."
A yes vote was to pass the bill.
This bill is to prevent restraining kids with duct tape, locking in closets or restraining kids in ways that torture or even lead to killing children.
Kline is more concerned about trial attorneys than he is with the safety of our nation's children.
Rep. John Kline (R-MN) is a retired Marine. His claim to fame is he carried the "nuclear football" for Ronald Reagan. His expertise does not extend to economics, education or healthcare. Not that ignorance stops him. Conveniently, the Republican Party gives him handy talking points to repeat.
At a Lakeville Area Chamber of Commerce meeting on Feb. 22, U.S. Rep. John Kline, R-Lakeville, addressed employment, education and health care issues.
"There is a lot of turmoil in Washington and America," Kline said. "We're running deficits that were unimaginable two, three, four years ago."
Kline blamed Democrats for running up the deficit.
Kline said he opposes several current proposals in the House such as the Cap and Trade bill and the Employee Free Choice Act.
Kline said he also opposes the current health-care proposals.
(Thisweek Live)
Kline never met a George W. Bush budget or spending bill which he didn't rubber stamp. Kline wants you to forget that he and Bush turned a Clinton surplus into the largest deficit in history. Kline voted for the spending for two wars and for cutting taxes at the same time.
Kline helped Bush drive our economy of a cliff.
Now Kline would like you to forget that recent history and listen to him now when he says it's all the Democrats fault.
It is a common theme from the folks on the right to say that Americans have the best health care in the world. I can't dispute that we have the best healthcare in the world. But, what's the point of having the best care in the world if a large number of people can't or don't take advantage of it because of the cost? What's the point of having the best healthcare in the world if people pass on seeing one of the best doctors in the world and let what might be a simple diagnosis and simple cure turn into a major illness and maybe even an incurable disease?
What's the point of having the "best in the world" if access is based on an ability to pay? We can have the best anything if we have the ability to pay. The problem we have is that tens of millions of Americans don't have affordable access to basic health care, let alone access to the best.
(Thanks to Holly for capturing some great audio and detail in this report! - promoted by Grace Kelly)
At his last town hall meeting John Kline might have thrown out his back bending over backwards to appease traditional conservatives, Conservative Constitutionalist Party members, and Tea Party members. The new right is calling for an end to social security, an isolationistic foreign policy, and an end to big government which somehow may be too connected with big corporations. No audience member left the February 19th, 2010, town hall feeling at ease.
Given the electoral experience brought to the table by his opponent for the DFL endorsement in the 2nd Congressional district, I thought Dan Powers would be in trouble.
But the race is getting interesting.
His campaign announced endorsements today from State Rep. Will Morgan (D-Burnsville) and from retired FBI agent Coleen Rowley, who knows a thing or two about running against John Kline in the Second (and has been known to frequent MPP from time to time).
Sez Morgan:
"Dan has been working diligently throughout the community with activists and community groups engaging them in the issues that matter in the Second District; jobs, the economy, transportation, and healthcare, said Representative Morgan. I have known Dan for quite some time, he fits the district and he knows that people have gone far too long without a voice from the community in Washington DC." He is the best candidate to represent us in Washington and I proudly stand with him."
Powers has been working the activist base for some time now, and Mary Breitenstein is a rock-solid organizer at the helm of his effort.
Former State Rep. Shelley Madore probably still has an edge among the party leadership and her former colleagues in the Legislature, but this doesn't look like it will be a steamrolling at the CD convention either way.
As in the CD6 race between Tarryl Clark and Maureen Reed, a competitive race at this phase is a good thing -- it will help hone candidates' skills and ensure that the eventual endorsee/nominee is the best candidate he (or she) can be.
I, for one, would like to see John Kline better advocate for our Minnesota CD2. At the very least he should be suggesting new funding methods.
Potholes: A bumpy ride
Federal transportation dollars are often obtained by "earmarking". John Kline doesn't believe in the "earmarking" process, so time and time again we've lost out on precious dollars. The result: I'm finding it hard to drive to town.
The transportation projects these federal dollars fund are often the result of a conjoined county, township, and city effort. Each time these earmarked dollars are gained, they are put into a pot: Get money this year, add to the pot, get less next year, add to the pot. Our local governments fix roads and interchanges when they finally have enough set aside to accomplish a project. In our Congressional District 2, our congressman doesn't like earmarks, and so the dollars have been dwindling.
The Kline Effect: Long term
Projects take years to develop, and so "no earmarks" means we'll be seeing the No John Kline Earmark Effect for years to come. Projects have been put aside, and left undone.
No Advocate: Detrimental?
Yes. It's challenged our local leaders. They've had to use other congressmen and even senators to get help for our roads. It has cost our community, but the exact dollar amount is unknown.
Crumbly roads will affect:
1. Safety
2. Transportation of goods. Poor roads hurt our chances to attract businesses, and make it hard for our businesses to transport goods.
3. Where people live. New growth is better than run down, attractive draws population, and we want a vibrant Congressional District 2.
Democrat Dan Powers, who is challenging John Kline, said he will do everything he can to help transit projects in CD2.
"The Republican's sinful selfishness has given our country a period of loose thinking, descending morals, an era of selfishness...Republican leaders not only failed in material things, they have failed in national vision, because in disaster, they have held out no hope, they have pointed no path for the people below to climb back to places of security and of safety in our American life."
Doesn't that sounds like something President Barack Obama might have said in the last year. The quote is actually almost eight decades old. In 1932, Franklin Delano Roosevelt made that statement accusing the Republicans of creating an economy that helped a favored few to the detriment of the individual.
I'm not sure anything has changed in the last 80 years. Republicans have fought to protect corporate rights over the rights of individuals on a regular basis. I'm talking environmental issues, health issues, tax issues, labor issues, energy issues, and I could go on.
And who has "failed in material things" and "failed in national vision" over the last decade more in this state than Congressman John Kline? I know it is a toss up between Governor Pawlenty and John Kline, but Michelle Bachmann hasn't even reached the level of failure John Kline has.
John Kline recently sent out a mailing that states in bold, large letters "Congressman John Kline Protecting Minnesota's Economy and Jobs." I'd love to hear from him so he could tell me exactly what he has done to protect Minnesota's economy and jobs.
Wasn't he in congress supporting the economic and foreign policies that despite the recent upturn, still threaten to send us into a second Great Republican Depression? What has he done? He has joined the "NO" chorus on the Right opposing anything that might improve the economy or create jobs.
Apparently John Kline prefers to protect Minnesota's Economy and Jobs the same way Republicans did in 1929, by sitting on his hands and seeing what happens. I'll tell you what John Kline, I am no economic genius or any sort of policy wonk, but I know in the real world if you sit on your hands and refuse to do anything when change needs to occur, things are just going to get worse. Thanks for protecting us John Kline.
By Steve Quist
Original post at MNDem.wordpress.com
www.MNDem.com
I got an email late yesterday from the Dan Powers campaign. Powers is vying for the DFL endorsement against Shelley Madore and hopes to face John Kline this November in the MN-02 race. The email urges DFLers to attend their caucuses and support Dan.
Dan Powers is running for Congress in the Second Congressional District because he wants to bring real representation back to the district. The progress starts with electing a main street Democrat like Dan, because he shares the values and experiences of our community.
You can support Dan Powers by going to the precinct caucuses on Feb 2nd and becoming a delegate to your Senate District or County Unit convention, the first step to becoming a congressional delegate for Dan. You can find out more information about the DFL precinct caucus and find your location by visiting our website.
The next paragraph introduced the new staff they've hired. Now we know where Maureen Reed's finance director went.
Today we are proud to announce several additions to our team. Our Campaign Manager, Mary Breitenstein (Mary B), is well known in DFL politics for her work on winning campaigns and endorsements, including Mark Ritchie and Al Franken. Cathy Braaten, our new Finance Director, is an experienced fundraiser you may know from the campaigns of Steve Sarvi, Mark Dayton, and Maureen Reed. Joining our field team is Maya Shah, a strong campus organizer who headed the College Democrats efforts during the SD25 special election of State Senator Kevin Dahle.
For Christmas, I was given a copy of The Wrecking Crew: How Conservatives Ruined Government, Enriched Themselves, and Beggared the Nation. And I didn't think the GOP could do worse. WRONG. Yesterday's SCOTUS Decision will go down in infamy; far outliving the excesses of, say, Jack Abramoff and the myriad of other acts of political vandalism the GOP inflicted upon this nation. The SCOTUS Decision leaves me shocked, and in awe at the audacity and mendacity of today's GreedOverPrinciples Party.
Ten years ago, I was between parties. Not quite ready to embrace the Democratic Party, I was completely sickened by what the GOP had become. Then came the destruction of John McCain, by Boy Blunder And The Plunderers.
For those that don't remember what they did to John McCain, google "John McCain push polls" - the third hit is this
I remain convinced that John McCain would have made a great President; and he should have been the GOP Nominee in 2000. McCain was well on his way to that GOP Nomination, and he got smeared. That's what pushed me to the DFL - and I attended DFL Caucus for the very first time in 2002.
Smears - that is the nasty style of politics the GOP uses today; the election of Michael Brodkorb as State GOP Party Deputy Chair just goes to show that today, the GOP rewards that kind of disgusting and dirty politics.
Do some Democrats play dirty politics? Of course.
The difference is, the Democratic Party, as a party, generally does not. The GOP, as a Party, has institutionalized dirty politcs. It's simply in their nature.
And that's just one reason why I'm no longer a Republican. When another former Republican - Joe Repya - talked about the downward death spiral of the Minnesota GOP, part of it is the dirty politics the party plays, and how those dirty players, like Michael Brodkorb are not only tolerated - they are REWARDED. Like, for instance, how GOPer Nathan Hansen was, when Hansen trashed Repya after Joe split.
Yesterday's SCOTUS Decision, ensured that unlimited corporate money will continue just that - and that decision will go down in infamy.
And that SCOTUS Decision reminded me specifically of one GOPer in particular; one that I sometimes identified as "Erik Paulsen, R=Target." Paulsen was corporate's boy BEFORE the SCOTUS Decision - it's safe to assume he'll be simply "more of the same" AFTER the Scotus Decision. So, I reached into the archives, and reluctantly present again:
Molly Ivins said that a definition of an honest politician in Texas is one that once bought, stays bought. Look no further than John Kline for proof of that, in a Texas politician. And Freshman GOPer Erik Paulsen sure seems to be following John Kline's lead! Let's look!
Dan Powers wants your support to become the DFL candidate to face Rep. John Kline in the MN-02 race. Powers is a small business owner who has become sick of politicians who don't listen. Kline is one of those politicians who doesn't have to listen because he's easily won reelection year after year.
Powers is building a grassroots campaign based upon healthcare reform, building a green economy and fiscal responsibility. He's started by hiring Mary Breitenstein ("MaryB"), a veteran of countless campaigns including Franken, and told me he will soon have a Finance Director.
"The deal is that I was a project manager for construction companies," Powers told me. "My job with those companies, and then running my own, was to listen and do what's best for the customer." An attitude like this would be drastically different than the rude and indifferent Kline. Read more about Power's background here
Powers supports a public option, wants to lure companies to build wind turbines and solar panels in his district and work hard for the people of his district. In contrast, Kline always toes the Republican party line.
Kline's main campaign theme is to ban "pork." Pork is earmarks. Earmarks are federal money to build local projects. Kline has repeatedly stated that fixing earmarks is his top priority. Kline neglects to mention that earmarks are less then 0.5% of the federal budget.
"I think that fixing the bridge in Hastings is really important," Powers said. "What Kline is doing is raising taxes locally because he won't work hard for his district. Somebody's got to pay for this so we don't have another bridge fall down. Since Kline won't even try to help, local taxpayers foot more of the bill."
I haven't had time to post the full audio of my interview with former State Rep. Shelley Madore, who announced Monday that she'll challenge John Kline in CD2 this year, but I wanted to post something on the announcement.
Madore has a tough road ahead of her in this race. She told me that she's been considering a run at this seat for the better part of a year, since soon after a loss in her '08 reelection bid. But while she might have the support of her former colleagues, she faces an incumbent who has demonstrated that he knows how to throw political punches at his opponents and will have plenty of money in the bank to do so.
Madore speaks passionately about the issues, especially health care, and it's no secret that the Republican Party of Minnesota dislikes her intensely -- they sent a tracker to the announcement event, and when I noted that video of Madore walking out the room with me in tow (the room was fairly noisy, and I was trying to get a good audio recording) might show up under an MDE headline of "CANDIDATE WALKS AWAY FROM ANNOUNCEMENT WITH LIBERAL BLOGGER ZOMGZ", we both had a good laugh.
Within the health care tangle, Madore specifically cites the financial planning aspect of the current health care system as an area that needs dramatic improvement, and the various pitfalls awaiting families who try to plan their finances around disabilities or disease.
But as I said above, it's going to be a hard slog in the Second district -- in a down economy, raising money will be hard anyway, and with the DCCC engaged elsewhere, it will take a LOT of grassroots support to make the race competitive.
There were a couple of MPP community members in attendance at the announcement (hi jnleareth!), so I hope some will chime in with their thoughts as well while I putter around and try to get the audio converted.
Rep. John Kline (R-MN) released a press release the Friday before last that I didn't notice until now. First of all, this is understandable. It's not like Kline is bat**** crazy like Michele Bachmann -- His eye's don't burn with an unquenchable fire and he doesn't say demonstrably insane things. It's just that he never does anything or stand for anything. When he does he's just regurgitating the same old Republican lies you'd expect him to spray.
But this one takes the cake. It takes a couple of digs at the Dems without providing anything substantive. Like what he and his Republican colleagues would do. Completely and utterly vapid.
Today I'm headed to former State Rep. Shelley Madore's kickoff event for her race against John Kline in the Second congressional district -- the event is at the Eagan Community Center, if you're there and see someone who looks like me, say hi!
I'll post photos and a brief interview with Madore later today.
You don't like to waste money. Your full-color, 2-full-sized-page, glossy flyer that was prepared, published and mailed at taxpayer expense is very clear on how you don't like to waste money. We get it.
