North Star Politics

Other than Slobodan dying, it's a pretty quiet, so don't expect anything for the rest of the day. As Atrios says, don't shoot anyone in the face or commit any refund fraud.

People ought to be paid what they're worth. Minnesotans can decide for themselves what this guy is worth, but I'll bet that when Brian wakes up he'll have something to say about it.

Technorati Tags: Bob Bruininks University of Minnesota

If you see a headline like "Court backs student's 'Bong Hits 4 Jesus' banner'", what would you think without reading the article?

You'd think, "those damn activist judges; they're pro-bong hits!"

You'd be wrong. It's an issue that ties together free speech, the Constitution, students' rights, government overreach. It's something that most of us would consider a great ruling, because we think that everybody has rights, even students. But when it's presented like a former bong-hitting hippie activist judge's ruling of a lifetime, it becomes that in people's minds.

My point is that media bias doesn't have to start with a reporter (or editor, in this case - I have no idea who writes the headlines for CNN.com) thinking "how can I make people think _________?" It's often far more subtle, even unintentional., and even when it doesn't precisely follow a left-wing/right-wing split, it still rarely ends up well.

Technorati Tags: media bias

I've been meaning to mention it for a couple of days but kept forgetting, but the other day MyDD listed NSP as Minnesota's entry under "state blogs" (on the left sidebar).

MyDD, for those who don't know, is one of the oldest, largest, and most well-known and -respected progressive blogs in this country. It can count among blogs it has inspired names like Daily Kos, which lists it as its "blogfather"; Kos, of course, is usually considered the largest blog on the planet. Thus, this blogger considers it an enormous honor to be linked to. A hearty thank you to MyDD and Jerome Armstrong.

Kos has responded to Mark Kennedy, MDE, and Minnesota Republicans who have asked the genius question "why has Amy Klobuchar's ad on Daily Kos gone away?" The answer, shockingly, is that her ad buy expired. As one commenter puts it, "They must wonder why the classified section of the newspaper isn't growing out of control."



Technorati Tags: Daily Kos Amy Klobuchar MN-Sen Mark Kennedy

The bill to ban protests near funerals has passed the House unanimously. MNCR has some thoughts; here is the Strib's report.


Technorati Tags: Fred Phelps funeral protest ban Minnesota House

Satire gets some leeway in political discourse that other forms do not. Wendy Wilde's Tim Pawlenty blowjob comment is clearly not meant seriously and pokes fun at/points out the hypocrisy of something that really deserves to be noted.

That said, I join my colleagues MNCR and MDE in saying that this post is too much. One of the basic ideas of satire is that it's supposed to be subtle, and this is anything but. I go after MDE all the time for saying stuff less stupid and offensive than this, so I'll say to Wendy Wilde: we don't need this kind of stuff in our blogosphere. Believe it or not, MDE isn't the only one who can lower the level of the debate.



Technorati Tags: Wendy Wilde satire Tim Pawlenty

I've remade NSP's template to make it a little less generic-looking. If anything's broken, can be improved, or if you just have an idea, leave a comment or drop me an e-mail.

Jonathan Singer of MyDD has posted (almost two days ago now) an interview with Senate candidate Ford Bell.

Technorati Tags: Ford Bell MN-Sen

With 82.8% reporting:

U.S. Senate
Klobuchar 76.9%
Bell 15.8%
Other/Undecided 7.2%

Governor
Hatch 38.5%
Lourey 22.5%
Kelley 22.4%
Other/Undecided 9.8%
Doran 6.5%
Savior .3%

Attorney General
Entenza 81.7%
Other/Undecided 18.3%

Secretary of State
Other/Undecided 41%
Ritchie 38%
Sande 15.7%
Franson 5.3%

State Auditor
Otto 46.6%
Other/Undecided 41.1%
Edwards 12.3%



Technorati Tags: Minnesota caucuses DFL straw poll MN-SOS MN-Aud MN-Sen

As soon as straw poll results are announced, they will be posted here.

UPDATE: According to Checks and Balances with 70% of the votes counted:

Senate
Klobuchar 77.1%
Bell 15.7%
Other 7.2%

Governor
Hatch 38.4%
Lourey 22.7%
Kelley 22.2%
Doran 6.6%
Other 9.7%
Savior .3%

Attorney General
Entenza 82.2%

Secretary of State
Ritchie 38.2%
Sande 15.6%
Other 40.9%
Franson 5.3%

Auditor
Otto 47.1%
Edwards 12.2%
Other 40.6%


UPDATE 2: DFLers.org has newer results. What a great new blog by the DFL; hats off to their fine work in setting it up.

UPDATE 3: No newer results as of this morning.


Technorati Tags: Minnesota caucuses DFL straw poll MN-Gov MN-SOS MN-Aud MN-Sen

I've been extremely lax in promoting the caucuses, so this is where I try to make up for it. I mean one thing and one thing only: get to your local caucus and participate, no matter what your party.

Who? Just about anybody who's eligible to vote and plans on supporting DFL candidates.
What? Precinct caucuses; to understand them a little better, click here.
Where? For the DFL, here, for the IP, here, for the Greens, here, and for the GOP, here.
When? Tonight starting at 7:00 PM.
Why? A really bad summary by MPR is here, a little more from the Strib is here.

Get to your caucuses and actively participate. Because a relatively small number of people attend, each person holds a relatively great amount of influence over their party's direction.


Technorati Tags: Minnesota caucuses

I'd say something about Kirby Puckett, but I don't feel that this is the appropriate venue. Instead, go ahead and read a couple of personal memorials from MN Publius and Northern Debater.

Technorati Tags: Kirby Puckett

I'm a terrible blogger for not really having written anything about the caucuses; Brian helps me play some catch-up.

Technorati Tags: Minnesota caucuses

I don't know how many people care, but the Supreme Court just upheld the Solomon Amendment in the face of a legal challenge by many law schools. It'll be interesting to see the ramifications of this - I doubt they'll be limited to just these institutions.

Technorati Tags: Supreme Court SCOTUS Solomon Amendment

Powerline's latest (too embarrassed to link to it, but the URL is http://powerlineblog.com/archives/013327.php) calls Congressman Jack Murtha, a Korean War and Vietnam War veteran and one of the most pro-military members of Congress, a "crank" for, among other things, advocating getting out of Iraq. I have no doubt, however, that Powerline continues to staunchly support the troops and our esteemed veterans. They're great people like that, of course.

UPDATE: Others noticed as well; Think Progress has a solid rebuttal.

Technorati Tags: Jack Murtha Powerline Iraq withdrawl smearing veterans