Category: Minnesota Politics

by PDW58

We have it on pretty good authority that Wendy Wilde will soon (within a couple of weeks) announce an official candidacy for the 3rd Congressional District, to run against Jim Ramstad. This means that in 3 of the 4 currently Republican Congressional districts, we will have a high profile woman running as the potential DFL challenger. The 4th (1st District) is also capable of turning over with Afghanistan veteran, Tim Walz.

I'm not trying to downplay Elwyn Tinklenburg's chances in the 6th, but it would be an interesting trio of Congressional races to have Patty Wetterling in the 6th, Wendy Wilde in the 3rd, and Coleen Rowley in the 2nd. And then there is the possibility of Hennepin County Commissioner Gail Dorfman or former State Senator Ember Riechscott Junge in the open 5th seat. Wow! This suddenly "estrogen" laden field would be a refreshing change, especially in a year where change is desperately needed.

Wendy Wilde's chances in the 3rd will be formidable. Ramstad has always kept a certain amount of distance from the Bush debacle; but he did deliver some key Republican votes when the Delay machine twisted his arm enough. Over the years, he has been able to cultivate a block of Democratic voters and the conservative GOP base has "tolerated" him to keep the seat in Republican hands. But this year could be unpredictable -- the variables have increased and a rising tide lifts all boats. I think Wendy Wilde sees an opening here -- get ready for a "Wilde" ride.

Category: Minnesota Politics

by Paul Bartlett

John Kline's political resume consists of one dubious qualifying entry: He carried the Gipper's briefcase.

If Kline is qualified to serve in Congress because he adeptly handled his valet duties, then Reagan's:

* Air Force One pilot is qualified because he never crashed the boss's plane.
* chef is qualified because he never poisoned the boss.
* doc is qualified because he never OD'ed the boss.
* limo driver is qualified because he never crashed the boss's car.

John Kline has set the bar so low that real qualifications have been fully supplanted with PR silliness and pandering. He is the poster boy for photo-op nonsense. Kline's past campaigns centered entirely around several seconds of film footage showing him lugging Reagan's briefcase. We have repeatedly endured Kline's fifteen seconds of shameless self promotion, enough already.

Kline derives his political identity from marching in lock step with a corrupt White House, and accepting tainted money from scoundrels like Tom DeLay (DeLay's PAC funded by GOP felon Jack Abramoff), and confessed GOP felon Duke Cunningham. In the past, I've referred to these guys as sleazy; I was far too kind. They are unprincipled charlatans.

His major legislative initiative: Put Reagan's face on the fifty dollar
bill. As the founding father of intentional but avoidable deficit budgeting, it would be more appropriate to put Reagan's mug on the fifty cent coin since that is all fifty bucks will be worth by the time our grandkids pay off Reagan's debt. I'd bet one of those new fifty dollar bills that Kline's next campaign will remind us once again that he carried the "nuclear football", or as Bush would say, the "nucular football". Like I said, photo-op nonsense. If I need a valet, I'll call Kline. But for now, I need ethical congressional representation.

As we head into another election cycle, Wendy's 1980 commercial slogan seems most fitting: Mr. Kline, "Where's the beef?"

Category: Minnesota Politics

by Paul Bartlett

During your daily commute, do you enjoy that quiet time spent in stalled traffic? Isn't it great that teacher/student ratios are so high that your kids can maintain complete classroom anonymity? Aren't these record property taxes just the cat's meow? And if you lose your job and health insurance, and then get sick, isn't it a hoot that you might then lose everything? If you have a gay relative or friend, isn't it a real scream that they've been tagged as second class? And if you were raped and became pregnant, wouldn't you appreciate middle age men dictating your personal choice options?

Of course, any thinking individual would answer "no" to these
questions, yet the issues they highlight face south metro residents. The Republicans hold both Eagan state house seats. These Republicans (Lynn Wardlow and Tim Wilkin) are expedient, self-serving politicians; they've violated our trust and don't deserve to hold public office. They've demonstrated complete indifference toward these and social justice issues. Under their watch, the quality of state services and public education has deteriorated, while property taxes and various fees have skyrocketed.

Their strategy: Fracture our community with hateful wedge issues. DOMA and overturning Roe efforts serve to divert public attention from the mess these W's have made. Don't be conned by the W twins. We need practical solutions to real problems. Turning neighbor against neighbor may be typical W politics, but it's despicable. We're better than that.

This November, Eaganites can stop the madness. We have two terrific DFL house candidates: Sandy Masin, House (38A), and Mike Obermueller, House (38B). They are already leaders, and anxious to serve our community. As Democrats, they understand that we all benefit from good government, that we all live as a community, and that we must all pay our fair share. They understand that fabricated hate issues cheapen our community.

The W twins have turned their backs on transportation, education, property tax growth, and health care issues, and have displayed a shameful disrespect toward many of our citizens.

Send a message: One W is one too many, let's retire these two.