I just want any person to know that reads this blog that I think a Bayh/Warner presidential ticket for the Democrats in 2008 would be ideal. Bayh is a 2 term governor of Indiana and a popular senator. He has the executive experience and the legislative experience, plus he is on the right side of all the issues and is a fiscal conservative. Warner would make up for any "dullness" that Bayh might show and Warner is another extremely popular figure in a usually conservative state. Their nomination would open up Indiana and Virginia to take and if the Democrats held all of their states from 2004 and only gained Indiana and Virginia, they would win. I think this is going to be a great race and Bayh and Warner are both laying the groundwork to be the middle ground candidate like Clinton was in 1992. I am excited about the thought of a Bayh/Warner ticket, because that would surely beat any Republican ticket, especially since they won't nominate McCain or Guiliani.

Wetterling Out, Bell Upset and Klobuchar Jubilant

With Patty Wetterlings rapid departure from the US Senate race, everybody got what they wanted, except for Ford Bell, oh and Wetterling supporters. Bell, understandably was upset with the fact that he got no mention and that Klobuchar automatically made the rest of race between her and Kennedy. Personally, I think Bell is a better candidate and it is a shame he is being pushed over so lightly. Kennedy was alos probably excited because he got what he wanted, a matchup against Klobuchar. Even though the Zogby polls are flawed, Wetterlings trouncing of Kennedy was probably a little unnerving.

As for Wetterlings future, I really think and hope that she joins the sixth. Not only is the position of Lt. Governor unimportant (No offense Sheila) but it is not what Patty should be doing, she would be a much better congresswoman, especially because congresspeople can be a little less dynamic if the need. I personally want her to go to the 6th for my own reasons, the biggest being that if the Democrats can pick up the house (I think they would need to gain 15 seats) they can acutally start invesitgating Bush's many doings, something the Republican congress is afraid of doing. Patty would play a big role in that, winning a conservative district for the Democratic party.

Yes, it is true.

Sheila Kiscaden will become Doran's running mate and a candidate for Lt. Governor. I found out that as part of the deal, Kiscaden will become a member of the democratic party and will probably get a high level cabinet post as well. Doran gets the best deal though, an admired and centrist legislature to compliment his centrist campaign, not to mention the female balance she will bring to the ticket. It will be intersting to see what the other candidates do for their Lt. Governor spots.

Also, I have learned that Doran has recorded a radio ad to counter the Pawlenty comments on immigration earlier this week. More news to come...

Wow. Steve Kelly just got some media attention. NBC Nightly News ran a stroy today about the debate over the Iraq deathtoll counter in Kelley's offices. I can't say if this is good or bad publicity for Kelley, although, as the old saying goes, "Any publicity is good publicity." I liked the guys comments about the Duluth issue being akin to having a bar next to an AA center, "It just doesn't work."

Also, I was at the Joe Wilson speech at the Carpenters Unionin St. Paul in mid-December and let me take the liberty to say it was a very good speech. Mayor Chris Coleman made a short speech about taking the US House in 2006 and both Patty Wetterling and Becky Lourey were there. I also noticed a Amy Klobuchar button-wearing volunteer there. The speech was very motivating and frusterating at the same time. Too bad, when asked if Wilson would ever consider a political career, he did not rule it out, but is was as close to a no as one could get without saying it. All I can say is "Wilson for President". ..Ok maybe not, but what about Bayh or Biden or Warner or...

3 Political Things I Like:
"The Truth" By: Al Franken
"The Politics of Truth" By: Joe Wilson
The "West Wing" TV Show

Just viewed the new Patty Wetterling internet movie. It is very good, and like MDE said, I would be scared if I was Amy Klobuchar right now. I think the film was very well put together and may sway a large number of people if used well, however, I think the only detractor is the fact that the video focuses mostly on what Patty has done and not what she will do. I would have wanted to see more postions on a wider range of issues, but hey, it can't be perfect. It comes close though.

You wanna know what blows my mind, ok I know you do. The fact that for the Doran campaign being a "mess" and in a "meltdown" they still get the most media coverage of all the candidates, hardly a meltdown if you ask me. I haven't read nor heard one thing from Lourey or Kelley since Lourey's announcement, plus Lourey still doesn't have a website.

There has been a big uproar over Doran giving a minimal amount of money to republican candidates for a local office, which I might guess was a simple case of a friend helping a friend, but oh my God, you can't do that, not if it means crossing the aisle, because that is forbidden...give me a break. Also, MDE made a big "scoop" about the money given to Kerry and the DNC and others is from Maria Doran, but this is dumb in my opinion, simply because they probably share a bank account, like most married couples, and Maria just signed her name instead of Kelly, ok, once again...give me a break! Is this all you can get on this guy?

Question: What happened to mnleftyliberal, while they/he/she was very biased at times, I still enjoyed reading their blog, I wonder where they/he/she went?

Even though this is an extremely small blog, I would like to pledge my support to MDE in his battle with IMP. Keep up the great work MDE, and even though I usually disagree with you, I really respect what you do. So, IMP, BACK OFF!

As far as the Senate race, Patty Wetterling snatched a nice chunk of time on CNN yesterday and although it may not help her win the race, it does not hurt her chances.

In other news, I think the Doran campiagn may be courting Sheila Kiscaden to take the Lt. Gov. spot, just a hunch,.


For the national political scene, I would like everyone to know that I hope that the democrats select a Bayh/Richardson ticket in 2008.

UPDATE: Governors Race

Today, I want to focus on the websites fot the four candidates...

My first question is: Why has it taken so long for the Lourey team to get their site up, I mean she announced awhile back, you'd think they would have that up by now. I can't really say much other then I hope that their little preliminary website is not an indication of the things to come. http://www.beckylourey.org/ N/A

Mike Hatch on the other hand has a website, but it looks ten years old. It needs to be updated a little I think, the gray/blue and red aren't great either. Another question: Why does he have picures of his new puppies on his website for governor? Seems a little out of place to me, but oh well. His "issue stance" are really long and, in my opinion, overly detailed for the average person to want to read. He also has speeches from years ago, which I don't get because they have nothing to do with the governor's race. http://www.hatch2006.org/Default.htm C-

The second best website, in my opinion, is the Steve Kelley team's. It looks nice, it is easily accesible and has enough information. I would want a little more information on the other issues besides the seven he talks about. His website is the best at giving the people news about him with tons of resources like articles about the race and Kelley, there are even articles writtin by Kelley himself. One annoying point is the fact that one has to give the campaign personal information like phone number and e-mail just to view the pictures, I wonder what they will do with that information? The overall website is good, but there is a lack of information and a ton of extra's that aren't helpful to the average Minnesotan like "Contact Us" and other "fill out the form" type things. http://www.kelleyforminnesota.org/index.html B

So far, the best website belongs to Kelly Doran. The graphics are great, and the site is easily navigable. The picture gallery is amazing, easily usuable with great pictures and all. The so called "principles" are detailed, but not to an overbearing extent, not to mention there are lots of issues talked about, always a great way to reach many people. There are subtle things to have people volunteer and contribute, but not in your face marketing type things. The colors are fresh and different and the commercial linked to the site is great. It is pretty uniformed around the "more principles, less politics" slogan (Which I like) and the media page is filled. Overall, the best. http://www.kellydoran.com/ A

I Love This...

(Via Craiglist)
"Dear Red States..." A Letter From The Blue!

We've decided we're leaving. We intend to form our own country, andwe're taking the other Blue States with us. In case you aren't aware,that includes Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Nevada and all the Northeast.We believe this split will be beneficial to the nation, and especiallyto the people of the new country of New California.

To sum up briefly:You get Texas, Oklahoma and all the slave states. We get stem cellresearch and the best beaches. We get Elliot Spitzer. You get KenLay.

We get the Statue of Liberty. You get Dollywood.
We get Inteland Microsoft. You get WorldCom.
We get Harvard. You get Ole' Miss.We get 85 percent of America's venture capital and entrepreneurs. Youget Alabama.
We get two-thirds of the tax revenue, you get to make the red states paytheir fair share.Since our aggregate divorce rate is 22 percent lower than theChristian Coalition's, we get a bunch of happy families. You get a bunchof single moms.
Please be aware that New California will be pro-choice and anti-war,and we're going to want all our citizens back from Iraq at once. If you need people to fight, ask your evangelicals. They have kids they're apparently willing to send to their deaths for nopurpose, and they don't care if you don't show pictures of their children's caskets coming home. We do wish you success in Iraq, and hope that the WMDs turn up, but we're not willing to spend our resources in Bush's Quagmire.

With the Blue States in hand, we will have firm control of 80 percentof the country's fresh water, more than 90 percent of the pineapple andlettuce,92 percent of the nation's fresh fruit, 95 percent of America's quality wines(you can serve French wines at state dinners), 90 percent ofall cheese, 90 percent of the high tech industry, most of the U.S.low-sulfur coal, all living redwoods, sequoias and condors, all the Ivy and Seven Sister schools, plus Stanford, Cal Tech and MIT. With the Red States, on the other hand, you will have to cope with 88 percent of all obese Americans (and their projected health care costs),92 percent of all U.S. mosquitoes, nearly 100 percent of the tornadoes,90 percent of the hurricanes, 99 percent of all SouthernBaptists,virtually 100 percent of all televangelists, Rush Limbaugh, Bob Jones University,Clemson and the University of Georgia.

We get Hollywood and Yosemite, thank you.

Additionally, 38 percent of those in the Red states believe Jonah was actually swallowed by a whale, 62 percent believe life is sacredunless we're discussing the death penalty or gun laws, 44 percent saythat evolution is only a theory, 53 percent that Saddam was involvedin 9/11 and 61 percent of you crazy b*****ds believe you are peoplewith higher morals than we lefties.

By the way, we're taking the good pot, too. You can have that dirtweed they grow in Mexico.

Peace out, Blue States



Oh my god, sooo funny.