Monday January 16th is Martin Luther King Day. I just got an email in the ol’ in box – let’s look!
“(W)e refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation.”
We’ve come a long way since Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., spoke those words on a fateful summer day in 1963.
But despite the great strides that have been made over the last half century, there is still work required of us to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity of which King dreamed.
While we are a rich country, too many children attend failing schools.
While many Americans prosper, too many are working too hard for too little.
While bigotry and intolerance are rightly shunned, too many politicians in Washington still quietly seek to perpetuate divisions–based on race, religion, gender and sexuality. They still tell us that those who differ from us are to be feared.
Yes, we’re a better, stronger, more just society than we were in 1963, but there is work left to be done.
So as we honor Dr. King on Monday, let us also take time to renew the calling of his life and make it our own–in this election and beyond.
Sincerely,
Brian Barnes
Brian Barnes has announced his candidacy to replace the guy on the “right” – Erik Paulsen. What can I say about Paulsen in just a few words? Well, career-politician Erik Paulsen first door knocked me WAY back, when running for the Minnesota State House – I didn’t like Paulsen’s politics then and I damn sure don’t like them now. Oh – and his voting record closely resembles Michele Bachmann’s. If you believe the 1% needs devoted water carriers in Washington D.C., Paulsen’s just the guy.
Brian Barnes, on the other hand, has been a union member. He’s been active in the Democratic Party (“DFL” here in Minnesota). He’s a graduate of the Coast Guard Merchant Marine Academy, achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander in the Naval Reserves, is a successful businessman. Oh – and Brian is an Eagle Scout, too.
It’s a clear contrast. And if you support the 1% and Erik Paulsen, you need not do a thing – Wall Street Fat Cats are making sure Paulsen has PLENTY of dough for November’s election. If you support the 99%, Brian can use your help, and you can help out via Brian’s Act Blue page.
It’s fitting Brain Barnes took that quote to honor Martin Luther King Day; that quote is from MLK’s historic “I Have A Dream” speech, which Dr, King delivered on August 28, 1963. As Brain said above, we HAVE come a long way since Dr. King’s speech – and there’s work left to be done. So, let’s DO IT!
To help you get ready for Monday’s Martin Luther King Day, here’s a YouTube of Dr. King’s speech, over music – enjoy!
(the song above – “Spiritual High (Part 3)” – is from the album “Mood Food” by Mood Swings, and is available where I buy my music – The Electric Fetus. If you like Chrissie Hynde, check out “Spiritual High (Part 1)” – Chrissie singing at her best!)
(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)
There are two announced DFL candidates to take on GOPer Erik Bachmann Michele Paulsen Erik Paulsen in Minnesota’s 3rd Congressional District – Sharon Sund of Plymouth and Brian Barnes of Edina.
To help ensure the defeat of Paulsen, who claims he’s a moderate but acts like a teabagger, the DFL’s 3rd CD is hosting a fundraiser & Silent Auction tomorrow, Saturday, in Wayzata! Hey – just $35 gets you in the door – where you can bid on some fabulous items!
Personally, Im going to be bidding on a breakfast with DFL Party Chair Ken Martin.
This is a great chance to meet the candidates and help with that essential campaign resource: money.
If you can’t make it, but want to help, you can donate directly to the candidates via ActBlue. Click here for Sharon Sund and/or click here for Brian Barnes.
Both Sharon and Brian are great people with compelling stories; it’s going to be interesting to see who builds the best campaign.
Visit their campaign websites for more info: SharonSund.com and Barnes.mn.
And hopefully, I’ll see you tomorrow night!
(graphic via the amazing Tild!)
(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)
“(H)ow many more gay people does God have to create before we ask ourselves whether or not God actually wants them around?” — Mn State Rep. Steve Simon, DFL-St. Louis Park
That quote by Rep Simon is literally going around the world. As of this posting the following YouTube has gone viral, and been seen 170,938 times.
The best story (IMNSHO) about Rep. Simon’s comments is from a Star Tribune Editorial Writer, John Rash. From it:
With all the action, breaking through the capitol cacophony – let alone the cultural clutter in today’s media – is rare. When it does happen, it’s all too often due to a legislator saying something inflammatory, or inane, or both.
Yet in a measured, calm tone, testimony from Rep. Steve Simon, DFL-St. Louis Park, about a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in Minnesota, has made a splash nationally.
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Which goes to show that even in today’s showboat society a quietly expressed idea can still make meaningful noise.
Indeed. And once again, from that “noise” –
“(H)ow many more gay people does God have to create before we ask ourselves whether or not God actually wants them around?” — Mn State Rep. Steve Simon, DFL-St. Louis Park
(crossposted at MnProgresiveProject.com; comments welcome there)
On Saturday, March 12th, there was an explosion at the double-whammied Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant in Japan. On Sunday, a local RightWingNut Blogger that tells so many whoppers that a fellow progressive blogger created a tag just for him (“Gross Inaccuracies”) ripped Senator Klobuchar with this headline:
Sen. Klobuchar Picking Winners & Losers
Sen. Klobuchar has joined with Tim Johnson to co-sponsor legislation that picks economic winners and losers:
Mr. Gross Inaccuracies finishes his rant with:
Nuclear power plants, oil refineries and new oil rigs won’t get built because organizations like MCEA won’t let them get built.
If Sen. Klobuchar was interested in proven solutions, she needs to ignore these special interest groups when their agenda runs contrary to the needs of We The People.
Here’s what Mr. Gross Inaccuracies forgets: when, in 1957, Congress enacted the Price-Anderson Nuclear Industries Indemnity Act – Congress picked nuclear power to be a “winner”.
Yes, that same industry Mr. Gross Inaccuracies is championing now – nuclear power – is only around because over 50 years ago, Congress passed a law saying – in essence – that since nuclear power cannot (at ANY price) obtain liability insurance for it’s operation, if there’s an accident, the kind and generous and good ol’ USofA TaxPayers would pick up the cleanup tab.
No only is Mr. Gross Inaccuracies today’s example of “Those that forget the lessons of history tend to vote GOP” – he’s also a prime example of “Republicans are against federal handouts (except when they’re not).”
Handouts, such as 1957′s Price-Anderson Nuclear Industries Indemnity Act…
(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)
(With news that 2 of 3 (and 3rd might be next) of the reactors at the Fukushima Daiichi Plant in Japan, I thought it might be time to remind people that the only industry that I know of that does NOT have to provide liability insurance is Nuclear. In the case of a meltdown, Taxpayers pick up the cleanup tab. The USS Ronald Reagan is off the Japanese Coast for assistance operations and reportedly just got a dose of radiation; you know – KNOW – who’s going to pay for that. NOT the Nuclear Industry; it’s taxpayers – you and me. The following was originally posted on 26 January 2010)
I saw the link in Politics In Minnesota’s Morning Report; a story written by one of the mutts over at “Freedom Dogs”. Quite certain it was filled with typical republiCon bull(chips), I clicked on the link. I, of course, was correct – complete tripe, and simply another example of “Republicans are against federal handouts (except when they’re not)”
The issue this time, from the mutts, was nuclear power. Let’s look at just one line (I could rip more, but I’m really rather busy to waste too much time on these mutts):
“Nuclear power is safe, efficient, cost-effective, and it’s what the fast growth countries have been doing for years.”
Yeah, “right”. It’s so (cheney)in’ safe, that Xcell Energy mailed out the following calendar to those in the immediate fall-out zone, in 2009:
MONTICELLO EMERGENCY PLANNING GUIDE AND CALENDAR 2009
Those beyond the immediate fall-out zone? Well, if you are it sucks to be you, but: “sucks to be you” really is the mantra in today’s GreedOverPrinciples party so no surprise there!
Here’s the part, that really, Really, REALLY tells me that nukes are safe:
In the unlikely event of a nuclear generating plant accident, how would you be notified?
If the public needs to take shelter or evacuate, warning sirens will sound.
Weather-alert radios will also activate and you will hear a message.
Listen for a steady siren tone lasting 3 minutes. In areas not served by sirens, slow-moving law enforcement vehicles or state helicopters will warn citizens using sirens and loudspeakers.
Now, no one ever accused those mutts at “Freedom Dogs” of bein’ none-too-bright. Lemmings? Yep. Bootlickers? Of course! Flat-out liars? Well, click on the link above, and judge for yourself.
Here’s the kicker: mutts like the Freedom Lemmings “Dogs” love – LOVE – to claim that they’re “free-marketeers” that hate – HATE – “government handouts.”
Folks, the simple fact is, there would be no – NONE – nuclear plants now in operation, had not the nuclear industry been given the federal handout known as the Price-Anderson Nuclear Industries Indemnity Act.
In a nutshell, The Price-Anderson Act says that if, as stated in the Excel Calendar above, there’s an “unlikely event of a nuclear generating plant accident” and there’s a whole bunch of damages, Excel isn’t on the hook for the damages – YOU are. Me, too. Well, EVERYONE is. That’s right; nuclear plants don’t have to buy no stinkin’ liability insurance; the nuclear industry instead will stick the taxpayers with the tab if there’s a meltdown.
“Too big to fail” ring a bell?
Here’s why the nuclear industry puts the cost of a (cheney)up meltdown on the American Taxpayers: it’s because no insurance company in their right mind would ever – EVER – insure a nuclear plant for liability. So, to make the buck, the nuclear industry has to put the good ol’ USofA taxpayers on the hook. If they had to buy liability insurance in the open market (“Hello, Allstate?”), and factor that cost into the end price customers paid, other technologies would suddenly look mighty cheap in comparison. You know, like solar? Hydro? Wind? Yada, yada, yada?
Price-Anderson, Gentle Readers, is a Federal Handout – something today’s alleged “conservatives” claim they are against.
Can anybody reading this, tell me one other industry that doesn’t have to provide liability insurance for their operations; one other industry that has to have – HAS TO HAVE – the American Taxpayers on the hook, in order to be economically viable?
As far as I know, nuclear is the only one that fits both of the above.
I’d bet the mutts over at Freedom Dogs never thought of that, before they decided to (once again) play bootlicker for the GOP’s benefactors (this time, the nuclear industry). And I’m certain they never figured out that although they claim (loudly and often) that they want LESS Government, expansion of nuclear power would require MORE government: more regulators/more inspectors/more fire/more police/more emergency responders/more yada, yada, yada.
Unless, of course, they’re advocating MORE nuclear power with LESS government regulations and oversight and evacuation plans, yada, yada, yada.
If they are (and don’t put anything beyond the realm of those mutts), I’m certain they’d have no problemo if said new nuclear plant were built upwind from them by a company run by, say, Ken Lay Jr., or, perhaps, a Charles Keating The Third, or say, the next Tom Petters?
At any rate, the whole sorry saga of alleged “conservatives” advocating for more nuclear power is also another example of:
“Hypocrisy, Thy Party Is GOP”
(cross posted at MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)
Ladies and Gentlemen, yours truly – the ol’ TwoPutter – is guest hosting tonight’s “Matt McNeil Show” on AM-950 KTNF, The Progressive Talk Station! The show runs from 6:00 to 7pm. So, tune in your radio today to AM-950, or listen live on your computer, here.
We’ll be talking about the legislative accomplishmentsduring these last two years under President Obama – and there are a LOT of ‘em!
As noted yesterday in the Chicago Sun-Times:
Obama’s two very productive legislative years
By Lynn Sweet on December 22, 2010 11:30 PMWASHINGTON — President Obama wrapped up a lame duck congressional session with strong victories on Wednesday, and flew off to Hawaii for a winter break to close out two very productive legislative years.
The Senate on Wednesday handed Obama his top international priority and ratified the New START nuclear treaty with Russia–making the win sweeter because 13 Republicans climbed on board. The House and Senate sprinted through a stalled bill to compensate 9/11 workers injured at the World Trade Center site. In the morning, Obama signed the repeal of the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell law banning gays from serving openly in the military.
The last weeks have seen a legislative blitz. A food safety bill, years in the making, is headed to Obama’s desk to sign. He recently signed a child nutrition bill and that tax compromise that forced Obama to extend Bush-era tax breaks for the very rich until 2012 in exchange for payroll tax deductions and unemployment benefits extensions.
As the Obama presidency nears midterm, there are other historic achievements that affect a lot of people: the health reform bill, new Wall Street regulations, creation of a consumer financial protection bureau, extension of unemployment benefits, the economic stimulus package, regulation of tobacco products and the popular cash for clunkers program. (more, here)
We’ll also be joined in-studio by Vanessa Blomgren to talk about her campaign to become Secretary for the DFL, and Ken Martin and his campaign to become Chair for the DFL!
And as always, we want your calls! Have a favorite legislative accomplishment? A question for Vanessa, or Ken? Call 952-946-6205 with your thoughts and opinions!!!
So tune in your radio today to AM-950, or listen live on your computer, here!
(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)
Ladies and Gentlemen, yours truly – the ol’ TwoPutter – is guest hosting tonight’s “Matt McNeil Show” (again!) on AM-950 KTNF, The Progressive Talk Station! The show runs from 6:00 to 7pm. So, tune in your radio today to AM-950, or listen live on your computer, here.
Hot topics include the current status on the Bush Tax Cut Extensions (if you haven’t called Senators Klobuchar (202-224-3244) and Franken (202-224-5641), call them NOW!!!); Governor-Elect Mark Dayton; and changes in DFL Caucuses in St. Paul.
And as always, we want your calls!!! Call 952-946-6205 with your thoughts and opinions!
I’ll be joined in-studio for a discussion with special guest Arron Olson, President of Minnesota Young DFL about the above, and more; State Rep. Paul Thissen will call-in for a discussion of changes down at the Capitol.
So, again, tune in the radio today to AM-950, or listen live on your computer, here.
(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)
With the DFL House Members now the Minority, some very good staffers were going to have to be let go – that’s the way it works and there’s nothing that can be done about it. Under the new leadership of Rep. Paul Thissen, the new staff leadership has been set.
And it’s a good one!
Before I talk about that, I’d like to express appreciation for the job that those that got let go due to the simple numbers game – in the minority status, there’s simply less jobs. Particularly, the loss of Andrew Wittenborg will be felt. That said, elections have consequences, and this last election resulted in severe consequences.
As I read the tea leaves, the additions of Zach Rodvold as Director of Legislative and Caucus Services and Carrie Lucking as Director of Public Affairs is a strong sign electoral politics is going to play a larger part in DFL House operations. And hey – it SHOULD play a larger part – when the GOP sticks Michael Brodkorb smack-dab at the top of their Senate Caucus staff, the reality is that fire must be fought with fire. The DFL House and Senate Caucus staffs have always – ALWAYS – primarily focused on policy first, while the GOP House and Senae Staffs seem to have always focused primarily on politics first. While those primary focuses unlikely to change (especially on the GOPer side of the aisle) bringing in Rodvold and Lucking shows a new commitment to electioneering.
I hope the GOP and their staffers enjoy their new digs in the Majority offices at the Capitol; these new hires indicate their stay in ‘em will be short-lived.
Rodvold was a key player in Amy Klobuchar’s 2006 campaign; Lucking did a fantastic job on Team Thissen during his run for governor. Both worked on Tarryl Clark’s campaign. These two are seasoned pros that know electoral politics. While some might quibble that Tarryl’s campaign didn’t turn out quite as we’d like it, the fact remains that you can learn a lot in an unsuccessful campaign. And let’s be real – if Jesus H. Christ ran as a DFLer against Bachmann this last election, He’d be tarred as a “tax & spend, liberal/leftist/socialist” and lose, too.
Of all the gubernatorial candidates with hats in the ring for the top spot on the ticket, Team Thissen was a close second to Team Entenza for effective use of social media. Look for the DFL House Caucus to do a much better job in all facets communications. I don’t see a “staff shake-up” – I see two additions to staff that bring a lot of talent and experience in areas where talent and experience were lacking. I see this as good news.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 9, 2010
St. Paul, MNHOUSE DFL CAUCUS ANNOUNCES SENIOR STAFF
Staff brings extensive experience both inside and outside the CapitolThe Minnesota House of Representatives DFL Caucus today announced their senior staff for the upcoming Legislative session. The Caucus staff includes individuals with solid experience both inside and outside the Capitol.
Veteran DFL legislative strategist Mike Charboneau will serve in the role of Executive Director of Caucus Operations, pearheading legislative and floor strategy for the Caucus. Kate Perushek, who previously worked for Representative Paul Thissen on the Health and Human Services Committee, will serve as the Executive Assistant to the Minority Leader. Joanna Dornfeld, previously a Committee Administrator for the House Finance Committee, will now fill the role of Executive Assistant to the Caucus.
In addition, the House DFL Caucus is also turning to new faces who bring significant statewide political experience to the capitol. Zach Rodvold will join the Caucus as Director of Legislative and Caucus Services. Rodvold most recently served as Campaign Manager for Tarryl Clark’s race in Minnesota’s Sixth
District. Prior to that, Rodvold served as Minnesota State Director for Senator Amy Klobuchar and brings an extensive background in issue advocacy and electoral campaigns.“I’m excited for this new challenge and I know that I will have to meet a high bar set by my predecessors,” said Rodvold. “The House DFL Caucus staff has helped its elected members keep their commitment to Minnesotans by standing up for middle class families, a better future for our children, and an economy
that works for everyone. That work will continue in the next session and I look forward to it.”Rodvold’s colleague and former Communications Director for the Clark campaign, Carrie Lucking, will round out the House DFL Caucus Staff as Director of Public Affairs. Lucking also previously worked for Representative Thissen, serving as Communications Director for his gubernatorial campaign, and is a licensed teacher.
“I am glad to support the members of the House DFL Caucus in standing up for middle class families by joining their fantastic team,” Lucking said.
Regarding the hires, Representative Paul Thissen said, “I want to express deep thanks to all the wonderful people who have served our caucus and Minnesota well over the past years. With these hires, the House DFL Caucus will continue our tradition of bringing together an effective, efficient, and experienced staff that will help us best represent Minnesotans. I am thrilled that the Caucus is adding new faces to our already strong team and look forward to working together on behalf of all Minnesotans in the upcoming session.”
Rodvold and Lucking officially begin work on January 4th but will spend time in December transitioning into their new roles.
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(cross posted from MnProgressiveProject.com; comments welcome there)
