North Star Politics

The title of the post pretty much says it all. Congressman Martin Olav Sabo of the Minnesota 5th is retiring.

This is among the safest of safe seats, so I don't expect that the DFL, should they field a half-decent candidate, will have any problem winning this election. Sabo won in 2004 with almost 70% of the vote, and while this year's DFL candidate will probably not do quite so well, I'd expect 60% of the vote for him or her at the very least.

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Does it really surprise anyone that MDE doesn't think that Amy Klobuchar's fiscal responsibility proposals are important?

To most Republicans' way of thinking, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. As I said yesterday, the GOP is now the party of big government.

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I do understand why MDE has posted this picture of Amy Klobuchar and Sen. Russ Feingold. I'm happy that Mr. Brodkorb has begun to promote Amy's candidacy.

Sen. Feingold has again and again shown that he is one of the best officials in D.C. As Molly Ivins said recently,

I can’t see a damn soul in D.C. except Russ Feingold who is even worth considering for President. The rest of them seem to me so poisonously in hock to this system of legalized bribery they can’t even see straight.

I, for one, am proud that Sen. Klobuchar is associating herself with folks like Russ. One of the biggest problems - perhaps THE problem - with the Democratic party is its utter lack of spine on so many issues, and Sen. Feingold is one of the few things between the Democratic body politic and invertebracy. Calling for Pres. Bush's censure was a bold move that has begun a public debate on the issue, and it has shown real leadership, something largely absent over the last five years.

Republicans like MDE don't like to face up to the idea that, shockingly enough, Sen. Feingold's censure resolution is supported by more people than oppose it. His ideas, his leadership, his political courage have been backed up by the people of Wisconsin as well as the American people. If Amy Klobuchar is to follow in Sen. Feingold's stead - and I believe she will - she will be similarly rewarded by her constituents in Minnesota.

Russ Feingold is solidly in the mainstream, as is Amy Klobuchar. MDE's posting that picture is something that makes me proud, and I invite him to post it a hundred more times.

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I haven't quite decided yet who I'm supporting in the gubernatorial race; it's pretty much down to Kelley vs. Lourey, and when I decide I'll write up an endorsement. I can tell you this, though: say what you want about Sen. Becky Lourey, but the lady has an enormous amount of courage.

Technorati Tags: Sen. Steve Kelley Sen. Becky Lourey MN-Gov Fred Phelps funeral protest bill

I haven't been around for all that long, but I do know that the Republican Party hasn't always been the way it is today. Once upon the time, in the days of Abraham Lincoln and Teddy Roosevelt, the GOP actually was the Grand Old Party, and it really stood for things like fiscal discipline and small government.

Those days are over. President Bush, Governor Pawlenty, and Minnesota's Republican-controlled House are the poster children for the new Republican party.

Today, the Republican Party is willing - even eager - to reach into peoples' homes and doctors offices and impede their personal decisions. Read Minnesota Politics' breakdown of the "Schiavo bill", and decide for yourself whether you want Rep. Tim Wilkin and Sen. Michelle Fishbach deciding a loved one's future, or whether you want to be able to do it yourself.

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Sen. Dayton apparently doesn't support Sen. Feingold's censure resolution. Not only that, but he publicly ripped it. How do I find this out? Here, of all places.

Senator Dayton no longer has my support. Despite not facing re-election, he has chosen to continue to kowtow to the very small constituency which still believes that Bush is a good president, the very small constituency that believes that Bush has not broken the law. I fail to believe that Dayton, an incredibly disappointing senator to date, has made this decision on principle, and I am much more inclined to believe that he has made it based on politics - very bad politics, at that. I am anxious for Inauguration Day, when we can have Sen. Klobuchar represent us with courage and conviction - a pair of traits which Sen. Dayton has, in my mind, failed to adequately exhibit.

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Tim Pawlenty's campaign committee has been violating the law repeatedly and, it seems, willfully. Sounds a little bit like the man currently holding the office he really wants, doesn't it? After all, the road to the presidency might begin with breaking campaign finance laws, but if the current president is any indication, it will end by breaking much bigger and more important laws!

Note to the Hatch, Lourey, Kelley, and Doran campaigns: jump on this.

Actually, on second thought, maybe we shouldn't be too hard on the governor. After all, it does appear he's doing his part to help keep the state's coffers full.

Technorati Tags: Gov. Tim Pawlenty MN-Gov George W. Bush Pawlenty for Governor campaign finance violations

I'm moving about ten minutes behind the curve today, but according to Northern Debater Reggie Edwards may be leaving the race for State Auditor. If true, it would leave Rebecca Otto the only DFL candidate for the office, a race in which the DFL has an excellent shot at knocking off Pat Awada this year.

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I already called Sen. Dayton this morning and asked him to join Sen. Feingold and cosponsor the censure resolution. Take five minutes out of your day and ask him to as well. Dayton has only ten months remaining in office with no re-election to worry about; ask him to make a difference while he still can.

BBMN has the numbers for you.

UPDATE: Actually, if you're going to take the step of calling Sen. Dayton, go ahead and call Sen. Coleman, as well. Get him (and by him I mean his staff) on the record about his position on the resolution. If he opposes it (which I assume he does), let him know (politely, of course) that his carrying water for the Bush Administration is not appreciated, that Bush's actions have weakened Congress and Sen. Coleman's office, and that when the President of the United States breaks the law, he must be held accountable.

UPDATE #2: I called Coleman's office just before COB, and they said that they didn't have any information/a position on the censure resolution. Keep trying them tomorrow, and if anybody finds out Sen. Coleman's official position, leave a comment or send me an e-mail. Dayton's too, for that matter.

UPDATE #3: Sen. Coleman's office still has no position on the matter. (3/14)

Technorati Tags: Sen. Mark Dayton Sen. Russ Feingold censure George W. Bush Sen. Norm Coleman