Recently in Minnesota Category

Red To Blue MN

Every single Republican in Minnesota's congressional delegation is up for reelection this cycle and each seat is a prime pick-up opportunity for the DFL. With a lot of hard work, we can send a delegation to Washington in 2009 that is 100% committed to bringing Minnesotans the change they deserve.

The Minnesota Independent

The Humane Society, the largest animal welfare organization in the world, slammed Rep. Michele Bachmann for her vote last week against a bill outlawing the sale of apes, monkeys and other non-human primates in the exotic pet trade. The group took Bachmann to task for the primate vote as well as votes to allow trophy hunting of endangered polar bears and to allow the slaughter of wild horses for human consumption.  The Captive Primate Safety Act, H.R. 2964, prohibits the sale of apes, monkeys and other primates as pets.

What's the big fuss? It's obvious she is simply looking to keep her career options open after politics. I am sure she will make a nice household primate pet to some deserving family. Are baboons good household pets?

And OH. MY. GOD! it burns.

What is even more embarrassing, this incredibly stupid woman comes from Minnesota.

Politically Connected

"Some suggestions are that perhaps we would see an enhancement of wildlife expansion because of the warmth of the pipeline," she said during her Wednesday appearance on WCCO-Radio's "Jack Rice Show."

Bachmann noted a caribou population increase, from 2,700 to 30,000, since the Trans Alaska Pipeline System from Prudhoe Bay was built in 1977.

The pipeline has now become a meeting ground and "coffee klatch" for the caribou, she said.

Coffee klatch? Meeting ground? Christ on horseback, she is a fucking dumb-ass. She makes Dana Carvey's Church Lady look absolutely progressive.

By way of MNPublius:

Molnau sold farm near road she pushed

Molnau, as chairwoman of the powerful House Transportation Finance Committee, guided the bill to passage. But she did not disclose Hwy. 212's proximity to the land she owned in Chaska or that she was negotiating to sell the property to a national housing developer, state and local records show.

The transportation bill provided for rapid construction of what Molnau called "mega-projects." One that fit the bill's criteria was Hwy. 212, which would run less than a mile from her farm.

"If you're interested in highways, like Hwy. 14, Hwy. 23, 52, 53, 169, 371, Hwy. 60, Hwy. 212, or Hwy. 94 in Greater Minnesota, this is a good bill for you," she told the Minnesota House on March 21, 2000.

Eight days after the bill was signed by then-Gov. Jesse Ventura, Molnau and her husband, Steve, sold their 40 acres to the developer, Pulte Homes of Minnesota, for $3.3 million -- six times its estimated market value, records show. [highlighted by Rook]

Looks like the Minnesota GOP is a carbon copy of the National GOP; corrupt to its very core. Though, just to be fair, it looks like sex was left out of this scandal. Damn, just won't sell nationally.


Technorati Tags: Carol Molnau, Minnesota News, Minnesota GOP,

Star Tribune

Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama will rally his supporters in the Twin Cities on Saturday, three days before Minnesota's precinct caucuses.

Oh joy. Ring one of the Three Ring Election 2008 Circus is coming to town.

Daily Kos

Good news, good news, good, very good, news! It has to be for me to link to the Big Orange.

At long last, our national nightmare is over.

Minnesota Monitor

Members of Minnesota's Congressional delegation sent a strongly worded letter Monday to Gov. Tim Pawlenty urging his administration to apply for emergency funds for the 35W bridge collapse -- funds that could quickly disappear.

Reps. Jim Oberstar, Collin Peterson, Betty McCollum, Tim Walz, and Keith Ellison criticized the Pawlenty administration's slow response in applying for several streams of funding for disaster relief, reimbursements for the Metropolitan Council, and the rebuilding of the bridge.

It would seem sitting on your ass is a standard Republican characteristic, no matter what level of government they are leading.

MNPublius.com

Survey USA just released new approval ratings for Minnesota’s Senators and Norm Coleman isn’t looking so hot. Only 46% of Minnesotans approve of his job performance, compared to 45% who disapprove.

Zack, over a MNPublius, has a suggesting; a sex and personality change operation.

All I can say is: eww.

Seriously, our state is starting to show it's own signs of incompetence.

Star Tribune

The long-troubled east metro project might lose another construction season, officials say.

By Patricia Lopez, Star Tribune

Last update: September 24, 2007 - 11:01 PM

Plagued by a history of delays, design flaws and cost overruns, the Wakota Bridge has now been placed on a possible hit list of projects that may be temporarily shelved to free up funds for reconstruction of the collapsed Interstate 35W bridge.

The opening of the east-bound Wakota Bridge, which spans the Mississippi River between South St. Paul and Newport, already had been delayed until 2009 while the project was being rebid.

Washington County Commissioner Myra Peterson, who represents the district around the bridge, said the result of further delay might be the loss "of a whole construction season."

Minnesota Monitor

The social conservatives' buzz over the Iowa court decision striking down that state's Defense of Marriage Act continues in Minnesota as right-wing types ratchet up the push for a constitutional amendment in the next legislative session. The common denominator among them seems to be Star Tribune columnist Katherine Kersten.

Oh, for Christ's sake. We've got bridges to build, bridges to repair, roads to repair, schools to fund, and an economy to manage. But no, instead, our Republican congress critters in the Minnesota State government deem that failed amendment more important.

When are they going to pull their collective heads out of their asses and see the people of this state have bigger concerns? Ya, I know, never.

Still, enough already. How about our elected officials start doing the business of the people, not sticking their collective noses into the business of the people.

Eric Black Inc.

U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison of Minneapolis and House Judiciary Chair John Conyers have moments ago sent a letter to the acting U.S. attorney general demanding all communications from the staff of the Minnesota U.S. attorneys office to the Justice Department about Rachel Paulose's management of the office, documents relating to the evaluations of her predecessor, Tom Heffelfinger that might shed light on why he was on a list of U.S. attorneys to be fired, and all documents reflecting the search for Heffelfinger's replacement, which led to the appointment of Paulose.

Eric continues to be out in front on this local portion of the Prosecutor Purge affair.

One thought I've had is the likely demise of Paulose before her term is up. Indeed, Eric's piece touches on that very issue:

Insiders have speculated the change from Gonzalez to Mukasey could undermine Paulose's chances of lasting that long. The thinking is that if Mukasey wanted to make a statement that the controversies of the Gonzalez era are over, he might try to clear out some of the less-popular, more controversial holdovers.

I really do think Mukasey is going to be the person to finally bring all of the Bush administrations corruption and abuse out into the open.

However, I have also made claims in the past that failed to come to fruition, so take my proclamation with a grain of suga....err salt.

Eric Black Inc.

The federal Office of Special Counsel is investigating allegations that Rachel Paulose, U.S. attorney for Minnesota, mishandled classified information, decided to fire the subordinate who called it to her attention, retaliated against others in the office who crossed her, and made racist remarks about one employee.

With Michael B. Mukasey on the fast track for confirmation, and his apparent lack of partisanship, I suspect Rachel would do herself a world of good and resign. Something tells me Mukasey is not going to put up with this kind of bullshit.

Color me surprised, but I seriously see change coming to a local Federal government near you.

Honestly. I think this is the start of a backlash purge.

So, I am at the motel, looking through my emails, all that stuff. I see a long-time Republican congressman has called it quits. Too be honest, I would rather see him stay on a few more terms. He's helped my field more than most liberal Democrats. I also see Bush had a love-in at the White House with some "cough" war bloggers "cough.'"

I'd really like to say more about that last sentence, but Froomkin did such a good job, why make the effort at duplication.

Now, I am going to go for a bike ride. You all try not to wreck the place while I am out. You know, do the opposite of Bush.

startribune.com

Five weeks after a major bridge collapsed and three weeks after floods ravaged southeastern Minnesota, a special session of the Legislature to deal with the dual tragedies remained just out of reach Friday.

I hold no illusions about politics moving fast. Yet, in this situation, there are immediate needs, that require immediate attention, where revenue and funding are something to be dealt with after the fact.

The flooding in Southeastern Minnesota needs to be addressed now, without concern for revenue or bonding. It takes precedence over infrastructure for the moment.

I understand the need to rebuild the I35W bridge over the Mississippi is pressing, with an economic cost due to re-routed traffic, it's effect on business, and the extra strain on the environment due to gas consumption. But people in Southeastern Minnesota are without homes, without businesses, without basic supplies. Get them help, and let's not haggle over the costs.

mnpublius.com has posted the op-ed piece by St. Paul Mayor Chris Coleman that is very well written. How can I tell? Because the usual suspect trolls are screeching their displeasure. And the more shrill their screech, what better indicator of just how effective the words.

Minnesota Campaign Report has a straw poll up. Go, cast your straw at the person you would like to see challenge Norm Coleman for the Minnesota US Senate seat.

MNBlue.com

A Democracy Corps poll from the Washington firm of Greenberg Quinlan Rosner suggests voters ages 18 to 29 have undergone a striking political evolution in recent years. A Democracy Corps poll from the Washington firm of Greenberg Quinlan Rosner suggests voters ages 18 to 29 have undergone a striking political evolution in recent years.

Young Americans have become so profoundly alienated from Republican ideals on issues including the war in Iraq, global warming, same-sex marriage and illegal immigration that their defections suggest a political setback that could haunt Republicans "for many generations to come," the poll said.

The startling collapse of GOP support among young voters is reflected in the poll's findings that show two-thirds of young voters surveyed believe Democrats do a better job than Republicans of representing their views - even on issues Republicans once owned, such as terrorism and taxes.
(San Fransisco Chronicle)

I think the Republican party forgot one very important fact about representative democracy - people set the agenda, not the party. The party became so enamored with itself, it's image, it's invincibility, it actually believed the people would simply follow along. Instead, the people are seeing them for what they really are, craven, amoral, and corrupt opportunists with no regard for the will of the people and who's only goal is control and power at any cost.

In the end, if you don't walk the talk, the people walk away.