I listen to "Coast To Coast" while out late at night/early morning plowing snow; you never know what the topic might be and what the whackjob listeners call in with. Besides, there's no good music on the radio anymore; Clear Channel killed that a long time ago (but, that's a tangent). So anyway, I'm plowing snow last month, and I tune in to hear what the people that think Planet X is filled with aliens, Elvis is still alive, and/or they were pals with "John Titor.
That night's topic was "The Lennon Prophecy", where I learned that the reason the Beatles were so successful, is that John Lennon sold his soul to the devil. And I also came to learn that this should be of no surprise, as one of Liverpool's claims to fame is the booming "bidness" The Horned One does there, buying souls. This really came as no surprise to me; again - over the years I have listened to all kinds of (stuff) on Coast To Coast, such as the world is going to end in 2012 because that's when the Mayan calendar ends.
And I thoroughly enjoyed the typical inanity of that three hour show!
Fast-forward a little over a month, and an earthquake hits Haiti. Not to my surprise, the nutjobs go gaga on the airwaves - except, it wasn't Coast To Coast where the most outrageous was; it was on the "Reverand" Pat Robertson's "700 Club" show, broadcast on the CBN ("Completely Bull(stuff) News") channel.
"Something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and people might not want to talk about it. They were under the heel of the French. You know, Napoleon III, or whatever. And they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, we will serve you if you'll get us free from the French. True story. And so, the devil said, okay it's a deal. And ever since, they have been cursed by one thing after the other."
-- Pat Robertson, 1988 Republican Candidate For President
Aliens, end of the world, soul selling to the devil - all things considered "reasonable" by wingnut media outlets, such as AM1500 and CBN ("Completely Bull(stuff) News") and Faux.
That, gentle readers, explains today's GOP (GreedOverPrinciples) "leadership" - such as Erik Paulsen and Michele Bachmann and Alan Quist.
Quite simply, they are simply nuts. Quite frankly, the only difference between Michele Bachmann and Erik Paulsen, is Paulsen isn't stupid enough to say that stuff in public.
Today's GOP (GreedOver Principles) candidates for Governor aren't much better. Take Tom Emmer, for instance (please! TAKE him!!!): Spot, over at The Cucking Stool compares Emmer as a modern-day Polonius. It's a good read. I had to comment, but not on Spot's comparison - I commented on Emmer's Op/Ed and it's below the fold:
Ladies and Gentlemen, yours truly - the ol' TwoPutter - is guest hosting the Tuesday Edition of "Minnesota Matters" on AM-950 KTNF, The Voice of Minnesota! The show runs from 6:00 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!
State Representative and Candidate for Governor Paul Thissen will be in studio for a long conversation about where - as a state - we're at, and Paul's plans to fix the train wreck Tim "I'm the unalloterer!" Pawlenty caused.
Visit PaulThissen.com for more information about this great candidate for Governor!
And we'll also talk a little about GOPer Allen Quist, who has notoriously made national news for saying this:
"Our country is being destroyed. Every generation has had to fight the fight for freedom... Terrorism? Yes. That's not the big battle. The big battle is in D.C. with the radicals. They aren't liberals. They are radicals. Obama, Pelosi, Walz: They're not liberals, they're radicals. They are destroying our country." - Allen Quist, 07 Dec 2009
Ed Schultz promised to devote some more national time concerning Allen "ChickenHawk" Quist's disgusting smear tonight, on MSNBC's "The Ed Show" - it'll be interesting to hear if what we talk about, Ed talks about, too.
So, again, tune in the radio today to AM-950, or listen live on your computer, here - and keep the listener call-in number (952-946-5205) handy!
Simply unbelievable - yet in today's GreedOverPrinciples party, what with Birthers and Deathers and TeaBaggers crowding underneath The Small Tent ("RINO's and other Non-True Believers NOT Allowed!"), it actually is true. Allen Quist actually said it. As disgusting as it is, it's still worth a watch:
Did you catch that?
"Our country is being destroyed. Every generation has had to fight the fight for freedom... Terrorism? Yes. That's not the big battle. The big battle is in D.C. with the radicals. They aren't liberals. They are radicals. Obama, Pelosi, Walz: They're not liberals, they're radicals. They are destroying our country." - Allen Quist, 07 Dec 2009
Sergeant Major (Ret.) Walz's service to his country apparently means nothing to Allen Quist, one of the Republicans lining up to challenge Walz in this year's mid-term election. Here is a video of Quist, who has never worn the uniform of his country, telling you that this brave American is a "radical", is more dangerous than a terrorist and is out to destroy the country he served for 24 years (if you'd like, skip to the 3:12 mark).
Allen Quist, a politician who has been chasing office since 1982, should be ashamed of himself. A year before Quist began his desperate attempt to become a career politician, the man who's patriotism he attacks put on an Army uniform at the age of 17 and wore it for 24 years, rising to the highest enlisted rank and becoming the highest ranking enlisted soldier in southern Minnesota. A man who has so little respect for the service of America's Veterans has no business serving in Congress. (VetVoice.com)
Indeed, Richard - indeed.
And it's simply pathetic what today's GreedOverPrinciples party has morphed to: "Birthers and Deathers and TeaBaggers"
Well, for now. God only knows what those (cheney)in' nutjobs will come up with/stoop down to next.
Using some straightforward statistical techniques, Nate Silver has analyzed, based on the PVI of Members' districts, who is most (and least) valuable to the Democratic caucus.
This is pretty simple, really. Note that the method does not account directly for a congressman's party. This is deliberate. It's not proper, for instance, to compare Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin, the moderate congresswoman from South Dakota, to a typical Democrat, or even a typical Democrat in a conservative district, because if she were to retire, we can't take for granted that a Democrat would replace her. In fact, in South Dakota, she would probably be replaced by a Republican. Is Herseth-Sandlin -- even though she breaks with her party somewhat frequently -- more valuable to the Democrats than a typical congressman from South Dakota would be? That's what we're trying to get at.
Really fascinating stuff -- Minnesota's Tim Walz just makes the list at #25, with an R+1 PVI in his district, but sticking with his Democratic colleagues on all the important votes in the analysis. As so many times before, Walz deserves kudos and support for his continuing good work in Washington and at home in his district.
If it's surprising not to see Collin Peterson on the Least Valuable list, remember that his district's PVI is pretty strongly Republican -- the point is to identify members whose districts are much bluer than their votes on important issues have been. Peterson has opposed his colleagues on some pretty important stuff, but he has a much better argument than Artur Davis or Parker Griffith that his votes match his district.
The other interesting thing to note here is the spread of Blue Dogs across both lists -- as with any group of political individuals, there are those who provide value, and those who subtract it. It's this kind of value analysis that, really, the DCCC could be doing to establish some under-the-radar defense targets. Simply put, the D-trip should not be asking for donations to defend members like the recently party-switched Griffith or Alabama's Bobby Bright, when they oppose every one of the party's priorities.
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....
The worst fears we could imagine about government intervention, about government growth not just in terms of spending and taxation but just even the intervention in our lives is too much for me to take.
An enterprising Rochester-based reporter might ask Demmer what he thinks about a Republican Party that has, for the better part of three decades, been doing its best to intervene in people's personal lives and robbing the poor to give to the rich.
[Demmer] cites the Democrats' health care reform plan as a prime example of government going too far. He said he believes it is a first step toward a single-payer health care system.
Of course, Demmer doesn't say whether or why that's a bad thing. Lame, lame, lame.
But that's an aside -- Demmer will lose to Walz, who is solidifying his hold on a district that rightfully trusts his representation. In the process of running his little tilt at a Walz-shaped windmill, Demmer will open up a potentially competitive seat in the House to the right kind of DFL challenge.
Percentages don't tell the whole story -- although Demmer won with 56% of the vote in 2008, his raw total of 13,600 bested DFLer Jim Jensen's 10,500 by a manageable margin in an open-seat race.
The DFL House caucus is just three votes short of a veto-proof majority. The best defense is, as always, a good offense, and seats like this could very well be the key to building a majority that can protect against the worst case scenario in the gubernatorial race.
Tim Walz addresses the Netroots MN. Tweet hash tag is #nmn09walz
TW: Thanks for coming, this matters.
Talking about how everyone thought MN-01 was unwinningable, but he never thought so. His campaign was really tech-savvy. Mentioned Sally Jo Sorenson's research work at Bluestem prairie during his race.
Public option was easiest vote he's ever taken in Congress.
In an announcement that surprised me, Ollie Ox announced that she was shutting down her blog Bluestem Prairie. At least temporarily. The MN blogosphere will miss her presence.
After posting at this blog for 2 years, 8 months, we're feeling the need to spruce up the joint. Bluestem will be shuttered after today until June 1, when the blog will return as a venue for nonfiction essays about rural topics.
Thanks for reading.
The premiere site for political news in southern Minnesota will not be covering everything Tim Walz anymore. We won't have her around to skewer all the ridiculous things that Dick Day says. I am still astounded about how comprehensive her coverage was -- I always felt that I wasn't working anywhere near as hard as she was. I will miss her in depth coverage and insightful analysis.
Thanks, Ollie Ox, for everything you've done. Best wishes for the future.
In the past I've been a skeptic about rumors that Congressman Tim Walz would consider running for Governor in 2010. Having won his seat in Congress in 2006 and winning reelection by a wide margin in 2008, it seemed that Walz would probably want to stay put.
And while that may eventually be the case, Walz is definitely considering a run for the corner office in St. Paul. A source close to Walz indicated Friday that "A number of individuals who the Congressman trusts and respects have recently urged him to consider running for Governor in 2010. Congressman Walz values their input and is taking it into consideration."
Granted, Walz's answer to a similar question recently was closer to a non-denial-denial, in which he said he was focused on getting reelected...an odd answer, since he already had been reelected a week prior. We'll be waiting with bated breath for Ollie's interview with Walz coming this weekend.
Walz's entry into the race would likely keep some marginal candidates from throwing their hats in the ring. Although his financial support in 2006 came largely from supporters in the Twin Cities, who may have conflicts with other candidates in the race, Walz's support network has expanded far beyond the locals in his first term in Congress, and could potentially draw on a much wider fundraising list in a gubernatorial bid.
On the pro side, Walz would bring together both the rural and urban wings of the DFL (a much more important consideration than liberal/conservative in Minnesota, IMHO) and would likely not have to worry about the annual quandary of whether to focus on one region or the other in the campaign.
On the con side, although the DFL's bench in southern Minnesota has expanded dramatically in recent elections, Walz's First district seat would be up for grabs, and he would still face a crowded field in the DFL endorsement and primary races.
Either way, it's no longer idle speculation on whether Walz will at least consider the race.
Those who read Minnesota Campaign Report or Bluestem Prairie know that freshman representative Tim Walz sits on three House committees, meets extensively with constituents and groups in the First, and leads on vets and war issues.
In the next two weeks alone, he'll be conducting nine listening sessions for the 2007 Farm Bill.
Today marks the deadline for the first quarter of fundraising. What better way to show appreciation for the hard work than contributing?
You know what to do. If you can afford it, reward the hardest working man in Minnesota politics with a contribution. Contribute online directly to the Walz campaign at www.timwalz.org by today's midnight deadline.
There's the ActBlue Blue Majority page, too, for those who want to signal the continuing support of the netroots.
(Another good excerpt from this article: "'I didn't come to sit on the back bench of Congress,' he said in a conference call Thursday. 'I came to speak where I saw it necessary. Minnesota doesn't want a follower or a sheep; they want a leader.'" I agree with Max - get over to the Winona Daily and let readers know that this is what a leader looks like. - promoted by MNCampaignReport)
I just wanted to alert everyone to an article in the Winona Daily News this morning featuring our new DFL Congressman from the 1st District. The article describes Congressman Walz's support of the non-binding resolution opposing the escalation of the war in Iraq. Like most Winona Daily News articles, online readers can offer comments that appear on the bottom of the story after being approved by a site administrator. Click on the link to the article and help define the way the story is interpreted by online readers of the Daily News.
The freshman Democrat who represents southern Minnesota is one of hundreds of House members backing a resolution that opposes President George W. Bush's choice to send additional troops to Iraq. The House began debating the resolution this week and is scheduled to vote on it sometime today.
"I, like all Americans, wish that this president had made good decisions and that the situation in Iraq was better," Walz said in a speech on the House floor Thursday afternoon. "Unfortunately, wishful thinking does not make good foreign policy."
The article goes on to describe a Walz visit to wounded veterans at Walter Reed, and quotes Walz as offering strong praise (but not a direct endorsement) for Al Franken.
Once again, commenting on the story by saying something positive about Walz could shape the way it is read by those browsing online. Take a second to comment on the article and help out our newest DFL Congressman.
