Moral Victory!
I thought the Green Bay Packers were for real this year. A real team should have no trouble beating the Minnesota Vikings by more than 7 points.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Supervised Ingestation
Starting tomorrow morning, all breakfasts served in Minnesota restaurants are subject to police supervision. Ditto with lunch, dinner, and adult beverages. You can (so far), eat several days' worth of fat, salt, or cholesterol. You can drink yourself into a stupor. But don't you dare light up, even with the permission of the owner of the private property. It is the judgment of our Legislature and Governor that we are not smart enough to make such decisions on our own.
We appear to be making some good progress in debunking "Global Warming." The anti-smoking lobby is just as bereft of evidence, even more so. While there is some evidence of some warming in the 20th century (none in the 21st century so far), the "second hand smoke" Nazis (our Governor among them) have nothing. No death certificates, no research, no statistical analysis showing causation, nothing. And yet they won. And we lost, including me a lifetime non-smoker.
Will I be healthier as a result? Of course not. Will my grandchildren be healthier? Show me how. In fact, show me that you aren't in fact harming them by limiting low level exposure that would inoculate them?
I lose because still more of our favorite places will close. Particularly at risk are the family / sole proprietor places who don't have the money or options that the franchises have to overcome the loss of business we've seen everywhere else this has been tried. (Beware of phony claims based on tax revenues or hotel occupancy rates.)
I score this as another triumph of our modern education system, turning out a population that actually seems to think this is a good idea, even if they can't begin to defend it.
We appear to be making some good progress in debunking "Global Warming." The anti-smoking lobby is just as bereft of evidence, even more so. While there is some evidence of some warming in the 20th century (none in the 21st century so far), the "second hand smoke" Nazis (our Governor among them) have nothing. No death certificates, no research, no statistical analysis showing causation, nothing. And yet they won. And we lost, including me a lifetime non-smoker.
Will I be healthier as a result? Of course not. Will my grandchildren be healthier? Show me how. In fact, show me that you aren't in fact harming them by limiting low level exposure that would inoculate them?
I lose because still more of our favorite places will close. Particularly at risk are the family / sole proprietor places who don't have the money or options that the franchises have to overcome the loss of business we've seen everywhere else this has been tried. (Beware of phony claims based on tax revenues or hotel occupancy rates.)
I score this as another triumph of our modern education system, turning out a population that actually seems to think this is a good idea, even if they can't begin to defend it.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Coon Rapids Beware
I heard on Jason Lewis that Coon Rapids wants to take the first step toward - what's the word, municipalization? - of trash hauling. The reasons aren't exactly clear, something about fewer trucks reducing wear and tear on the city streets.
Supposedly they want to do a one-city bid, and for all trash to be picked up the same day of the week throughout the city. Supposedly this solves some problem with snow plowing, too.
Coon Rapids residents should beware. Do you want your trash hauler working for you or the apparatchik at City Hall?
Robbinsdale went totally public when I lived there, meaning trash was hauled by City employees. It wasn't long before rationing began - only two "free" bags per week. Each additional bag required a cute sticker with a robin on it, available at City Hall for $1 each.
Worse, we soon found out that these City employees were also ex-officio code compliance officers. I received a curt letter from the city pointing out that the paint on my garage was peeling. I knew that, and was planning on repainting that spring. Of course, the weather didn't allow painting until May at the earliest. I called the City, asking why I was being accused of being my own slumlord so prematurely, but as is so typical, they couldn't have cared less.
The next year or two came another letter about a small pile of construction debris on my back yard, from a project in progress. It would have been, was in fact, gone two weeks later as planned. My complaint fell on the same unsympathetic, uncaring ear. I did find out however that both citations had come via reports from my city employee trash hauler. This was one of several reasons why we didn't buy our next house in Robbinsdale, nor ever will. It was a pleasure signing up for private trash hauling at the next house.
These days, in fact, there's a new threat, that they'll want to inspect your trash to see if you're recycling properly, don't have too much food waste, or appear to be consuming red meat and fois gras.
Is this what you want, good people of Coon Rapids?
Supposedly they want to do a one-city bid, and for all trash to be picked up the same day of the week throughout the city. Supposedly this solves some problem with snow plowing, too.
Coon Rapids residents should beware. Do you want your trash hauler working for you or the apparatchik at City Hall?
Robbinsdale went totally public when I lived there, meaning trash was hauled by City employees. It wasn't long before rationing began - only two "free" bags per week. Each additional bag required a cute sticker with a robin on it, available at City Hall for $1 each.
Worse, we soon found out that these City employees were also ex-officio code compliance officers. I received a curt letter from the city pointing out that the paint on my garage was peeling. I knew that, and was planning on repainting that spring. Of course, the weather didn't allow painting until May at the earliest. I called the City, asking why I was being accused of being my own slumlord so prematurely, but as is so typical, they couldn't have cared less.
The next year or two came another letter about a small pile of construction debris on my back yard, from a project in progress. It would have been, was in fact, gone two weeks later as planned. My complaint fell on the same unsympathetic, uncaring ear. I did find out however that both citations had come via reports from my city employee trash hauler. This was one of several reasons why we didn't buy our next house in Robbinsdale, nor ever will. It was a pleasure signing up for private trash hauling at the next house.
These days, in fact, there's a new threat, that they'll want to inspect your trash to see if you're recycling properly, don't have too much food waste, or appear to be consuming red meat and fois gras.
Is this what you want, good people of Coon Rapids?
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
A new fundamental constant
The physical sciences share a number of fundamental constants, like pi (circumference/diameter), e (base of natural logarithms), c (speed of light), h (Plank's constant), even i (imaginary square root of minus one).
We may need one for politics, the amount of time that passes before a politician, almost always a liberal, returns to form after a presumably unifying major event.
I remember watching closely after the towers fell on September 11, waiting to see the first overt, self-serving political move. Actually, it took longer than I thought, about three weeks, but there was former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle holding out for union make-work rules and job security over national security.
Now we have our own catastrophic event, the collapse of the Interstate 35-W bridge over the Mississippi river. And once again, the Democrats returned to form about three weeks later, moving to preserve all that light rail funding lest it now be spent on something worthwhile.
Maybe I'll have to come up with a Greek letter for it, a symbol for about 500 hours.
We may need one for politics, the amount of time that passes before a politician, almost always a liberal, returns to form after a presumably unifying major event.
I remember watching closely after the towers fell on September 11, waiting to see the first overt, self-serving political move. Actually, it took longer than I thought, about three weeks, but there was former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle holding out for union make-work rules and job security over national security.
Now we have our own catastrophic event, the collapse of the Interstate 35-W bridge over the Mississippi river. And once again, the Democrats returned to form about three weeks later, moving to preserve all that light rail funding lest it now be spent on something worthwhile.
Maybe I'll have to come up with a Greek letter for it, a symbol for about 500 hours.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
Dancing with the Stars Week 1
Wow, this truly is the best season yet. Only the return of Samantha Harris could improve it. The field of contestants is excellent. Even Mark Cuban and Wayne Newton gave a reasonable performances.
I'm also glad to hear better arrangements and song selections this year. Season four was a bit off last in this regard, but that appears to have been fixed and Harold Wheeler's band continues as the best on television.
After the ladies debuted Monday, I thought sure the loser would have to be a guy this week. But the guys more than met the challenge tonight I thought.
My prediction is that the "deceptively unfit" supermodel Josie Maran will be leaving. She had no excuse to be so clumsy; it looked like an plain old case of lack of effort. Her remarks afterward didn't help her image either.
I'm also glad to hear better arrangements and song selections this year. Season four was a bit off last in this regard, but that appears to have been fixed and Harold Wheeler's band continues as the best on television.
After the ladies debuted Monday, I thought sure the loser would have to be a guy this week. But the guys more than met the challenge tonight I thought.
My prediction is that the "deceptively unfit" supermodel Josie Maran will be leaving. She had no excuse to be so clumsy; it looked like an plain old case of lack of effort. Her remarks afterward didn't help her image either.
Taking Stock
Some recent headlines including the retirement of U.S. Rep. Jim Ramstad have me thinking about Minnesota's future and what role its Republican Party might have in shaping it. In this, part one of a series, allow me to take stock.
We have George W. Bush, President of the United States. He's decent and determined, but clearly from the Rockefeller wing. (For those in Rio Lindo, that's not a compliment.) But as the Democrats keep forgetting, he's not on the ballot in 2008.
In the House of Representatives, we have two Republicans, five Democrats and now an open seat. In the Senate, we have one Democrat, and one maverick Republican.
Here in Minnesota, we have another maverick Republican as Governor, Tim Pawlenty. Each chamber in the Legislature has barely enough Republicans to be heard, and even then, only by sustaining vetoes.
Among the various local offices, conservatives are rare and unappreciated it seems. In some areas, the Green Party is more of a threat to DFL power than the Republicans.
The courts are largely a toss-up, slightly better at the Federal level, but these are mostly non-elected positions.
We're at a pretty low tide here in the GOP, the real GOP that is. Looking at our holdings in a poker setting, we'd keep Reps. Kline and Bachmann, then throw the rest for the draw. It's that bad.
What's happening? Are we running poor candidates? Poor campaigns? Or, as the 20 point victory of Sen. Amy Klobuchar would suggest, are the concepts of liberty and capitalism just too difficult for the average Minnesotan to understand?
Let me pose another possibility, that it might be more than a simple lack of Republican effort. It may be that some of our efforts are actually enabling the Democrats, as I'll explain in part two.
We have George W. Bush, President of the United States. He's decent and determined, but clearly from the Rockefeller wing. (For those in Rio Lindo, that's not a compliment.) But as the Democrats keep forgetting, he's not on the ballot in 2008.
In the House of Representatives, we have two Republicans, five Democrats and now an open seat. In the Senate, we have one Democrat, and one maverick Republican.
Here in Minnesota, we have another maverick Republican as Governor, Tim Pawlenty. Each chamber in the Legislature has barely enough Republicans to be heard, and even then, only by sustaining vetoes.
Among the various local offices, conservatives are rare and unappreciated it seems. In some areas, the Green Party is more of a threat to DFL power than the Republicans.
The courts are largely a toss-up, slightly better at the Federal level, but these are mostly non-elected positions.
We're at a pretty low tide here in the GOP, the real GOP that is. Looking at our holdings in a poker setting, we'd keep Reps. Kline and Bachmann, then throw the rest for the draw. It's that bad.
What's happening? Are we running poor candidates? Poor campaigns? Or, as the 20 point victory of Sen. Amy Klobuchar would suggest, are the concepts of liberty and capitalism just too difficult for the average Minnesotan to understand?
Let me pose another possibility, that it might be more than a simple lack of Republican effort. It may be that some of our efforts are actually enabling the Democrats, as I'll explain in part two.
Peaceful, easy feeling
My football travels took us to Ellendale, North Dakota this past weekend. The Trinity Bible College Lions owned the first quarter, but we (the Minnesota Morris Cougars) finally settled in to win.
I hadn't been in North Dakota for years. My wife asked me what famous people hail from North Dakota besides Lawrence Welk. I could only think of Mitch Berg.
Ellendale is about an hour West from the Minnesota border, and just above the South Dakota border. We passed any number of well kept farms with healthy crops, new mown hay, and large farmhouses. I have to say, I was a bit smitten with it all, but my opinion might be different during their six month winters.
I felt freedom in the air, like these hardy people have life figured out a bit better than most, including me. We returned via South Dakota, and I didn't feel anything similar, like Tom Daschle was hiding around the bend.
I don't know what this "Peace Garden State" slogan is about, but North Dakota truly does have that peaceful, easy feeling, temperature permitting.
I hadn't been in North Dakota for years. My wife asked me what famous people hail from North Dakota besides Lawrence Welk. I could only think of Mitch Berg.
Ellendale is about an hour West from the Minnesota border, and just above the South Dakota border. We passed any number of well kept farms with healthy crops, new mown hay, and large farmhouses. I have to say, I was a bit smitten with it all, but my opinion might be different during their six month winters.
I felt freedom in the air, like these hardy people have life figured out a bit better than most, including me. We returned via South Dakota, and I didn't feel anything similar, like Tom Daschle was hiding around the bend.
I don't know what this "Peace Garden State" slogan is about, but North Dakota truly does have that peaceful, easy feeling, temperature permitting.
Monday, September 24, 2007
Dan Rather
I've been thinking about Dan Rather ever since he filed his $70 million suit against CBS a few days ago. I've heard many a comment, insight, and explanation for this. I've heard a few recent quotes from Mr. Rather, and of course, some earlier ones that seem quite at odds with what he says now.
But I felt there something bigger, more profound going on here. The easy answer is self-deception, clinically so, perhaps understandable given his age. A caller to Bill O'Reilly found the angle I was searching for, that Dan is frustrated in his inability to remake the world in his image.
I'll go further to include a few others in a similar state, like Bill Moyers. They were truly going to change the world, like Woodward and Berstein, only they were a one hit wonder. They were going to expose us moss-backs that don't understand why government is good, capitalism is bad, and morals are relative. (Besides, you guys are such phonies!)
They never met a (publicly traded) corporation they didn't hate, even CBS now it seems. They loathe the military. They is no last word in what they call diplomacy, what we call appeasement. The were to be the wise "E. F. Hutton" sages: whenever they spoke, the rest of us listen.
About halfway on the way to Valhalla, they lost control. Cable TV and satellites appeared thirty years ago. Then came personal computers, the internet, talk radio, and (gasp!) Fox News. In fact, Rush Limbaugh was literally laughing at them three hours a day. One does not laugh at Dan Rather. Ask Bernie Goldberg.
Like the aging gunslinger in John Wayne's last film "The Shootist," cancer-stricken J. B. Books was dying and as somehow seemed appropriate, his rough and ready world was dying with him. A new world was moving in, with noisy horseless carriages, streetcars, and electric lights.
So it much be with people like Rather and Moyers, the last of a journalistic breed who take themselves much too seriously. Their world is dying, too, even among the once adoring leftist throngs who are now too impatient to listen to them develop an argument.
After they're gone (not immediately, let's hope), there will be no more - let's hope.
But I felt there something bigger, more profound going on here. The easy answer is self-deception, clinically so, perhaps understandable given his age. A caller to Bill O'Reilly found the angle I was searching for, that Dan is frustrated in his inability to remake the world in his image.
I'll go further to include a few others in a similar state, like Bill Moyers. They were truly going to change the world, like Woodward and Berstein, only they were a one hit wonder. They were going to expose us moss-backs that don't understand why government is good, capitalism is bad, and morals are relative. (Besides, you guys are such phonies!)
They never met a (publicly traded) corporation they didn't hate, even CBS now it seems. They loathe the military. They is no last word in what they call diplomacy, what we call appeasement. The were to be the wise "E. F. Hutton" sages: whenever they spoke, the rest of us listen.
About halfway on the way to Valhalla, they lost control. Cable TV and satellites appeared thirty years ago. Then came personal computers, the internet, talk radio, and (gasp!) Fox News. In fact, Rush Limbaugh was literally laughing at them three hours a day. One does not laugh at Dan Rather. Ask Bernie Goldberg.
Like the aging gunslinger in John Wayne's last film "The Shootist," cancer-stricken J. B. Books was dying and as somehow seemed appropriate, his rough and ready world was dying with him. A new world was moving in, with noisy horseless carriages, streetcars, and electric lights.
So it much be with people like Rather and Moyers, the last of a journalistic breed who take themselves much too seriously. Their world is dying, too, even among the once adoring leftist throngs who are now too impatient to listen to them develop an argument.
After they're gone (not immediately, let's hope), there will be no more - let's hope.
Ladies Night
It's back, perhaps my favorite TV program this decade, Dancing with the Stars. I love the concept, the dancers, the hosts, the hosts, the judges, the production, the choreography, the music, the sets, and how it fits so well together into a first class live production.
Tonight it's the ladies, tomorrow the gents, and Wednesday the verdict.
Tonight it's the ladies, tomorrow the gents, and Wednesday the verdict.
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
True North Truly Great
I'm very impressed with the new True North blog. It's already my first local read of the day. The cherry on top would be the demise of the ridiculous "Party of Pawlenty" site, now completely unnecessary if it ever was. After all, Tim Pawlenty looks after Tim Pawlenty, not the Republican Party or Conservatism or even Liberty at times.
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
I Got no Friends to Help Me Now
I'm losing influence in Washington. There was a time I think when the President, both Senators and my Congressman were Republicans. Forgive me if I don't look it up. That was then. This is now, with my Representative Jim Ramstad retiring. I share the pessimism that this will be uphill for the GOP to retain this seat, RINO or Conservative.
After the 2008 election, I could be left with absolutely no representation in Washington. I don't think even Senator Coleman's a lock in a state stupid enough to give Sen. Amy Klobuchar a 20 point win.
What we have here is a problem somewhat similar to what the DFL went through replacing Bruce Vento and Martin "Olva" Sabo. Both were relatively sudden openings, catching the usual suspects by surprise. We saw heated contests to select the new heirs to two of the safest Democratic seats in Congress. No one had been groomed for a graceful transition.
That probably couldn't have happened in the DFL, where power is everything. But couldn't the Republicans have done something here? Like transition the seat when times are good or least quiet, not during a Presidential cycle and a war?
Actually, I'm somewhat upbeat on the Presidency, given the weak national Democratic field. But as for the rest, c'mon Mike Hatch, give it another try!
After the 2008 election, I could be left with absolutely no representation in Washington. I don't think even Senator Coleman's a lock in a state stupid enough to give Sen. Amy Klobuchar a 20 point win.
What we have here is a problem somewhat similar to what the DFL went through replacing Bruce Vento and Martin "Olva" Sabo. Both were relatively sudden openings, catching the usual suspects by surprise. We saw heated contests to select the new heirs to two of the safest Democratic seats in Congress. No one had been groomed for a graceful transition.
That probably couldn't have happened in the DFL, where power is everything. But couldn't the Republicans have done something here? Like transition the seat when times are good or least quiet, not during a Presidential cycle and a war?
Actually, I'm somewhat upbeat on the Presidency, given the weak national Democratic field. But as for the rest, c'mon Mike Hatch, give it another try!
Singing in the Rain
My ten year old commuter car no longer squeaks! It's been a year of listening to what I was sure were rear brakes squealing off and on, but only when my foot wasn't on the brake. I had taken it to my Goodyear dealer, who I've used for years. I later took it to the dealer. Neither could find anything wrong. At least they're honest enough to not do unneeded (in their opinion) work.
So, I've been limping and squeaking, riding the brake a little during the bad stretches just to silence them. I figured I just had to grind them down enough to where they could see the wear. If anything, I waited too long, as it clearly was scraping now.
But my new garage (Christy's at 53rd and Dupont N.) took care of everything. Given the racket they were making, I wouldn't have objected to brakes all round, even rotors. But once again, I found someone who does what's needed, and at a good price I might add.
It was well worth getting soaked a bit taking the bus from there into work.
So, I've been limping and squeaking, riding the brake a little during the bad stretches just to silence them. I figured I just had to grind them down enough to where they could see the wear. If anything, I waited too long, as it clearly was scraping now.
But my new garage (Christy's at 53rd and Dupont N.) took care of everything. Given the racket they were making, I wouldn't have objected to brakes all round, even rotors. But once again, I found someone who does what's needed, and at a good price I might add.
It was well worth getting soaked a bit taking the bus from there into work.
The Music Died
Just when did the music die? I forced myself to listen to KS-95 during a recent two hour car trip. I couldn't tell one song from another. It was drivel.
It didn't even set a mood, like smooth jazz or the classics. The lyrics were all forgettable. I've read better on the Burma Shave signs. The music was mushy and aimless. The vocals were weak and uninspiring. It was pure drivel.
Never were commercial spots so welcome.
It didn't even set a mood, like smooth jazz or the classics. The lyrics were all forgettable. I've read better on the Burma Shave signs. The music was mushy and aimless. The vocals were weak and uninspiring. It was pure drivel.
Never were commercial spots so welcome.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Shut up and Speak
Is there anything more insufferable than a talk show host hawking their latest book? Bill O'Reilly does it with some aplomb, but most are like Hugh Hewitt.
Right now, Laura Ingraham is on her "Power to the People" tour, and the show is spending most of its time schilling. Maybe it's a good book, I don't know. I wasn't very impressed with her last one.
To borrow her own phrase, Laura, shut up and speak!
Right now, Laura Ingraham is on her "Power to the People" tour, and the show is spending most of its time schilling. Maybe it's a good book, I don't know. I wasn't very impressed with her last one.
To borrow her own phrase, Laura, shut up and speak!
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Score One for the Governor
I'm in that minority that think maverick politicians like our Governor Tim Pawlenty are problems, not solutions for preserving limited government. Given his many past mistakes, I gritted my teeth when he called the Special Session.
As I posted Tuesday, I'm not in the inner circle to where I could say this was necessary or not. I'll therefore stipulate that it was. I'll even stipulate that another may be necessary for the I-35 bridge construction, depending on what happens in Washington.
Given so much, the Governor executed beautifully. It truly was the focused, one day session he held out for. He quickly snuffed out (with DFL leadership help) a couple of rogue attempts to go beyond the agreement.
I always try to praise at least as quickly as I criticize, so well done, Governor. I hoping these two 2007 sessions have shown you the true lie of the political landscape, and govern according in 2008. There is nothing to be gained by appeasing the DFL.
As I posted Tuesday, I'm not in the inner circle to where I could say this was necessary or not. I'll therefore stipulate that it was. I'll even stipulate that another may be necessary for the I-35 bridge construction, depending on what happens in Washington.
Given so much, the Governor executed beautifully. It truly was the focused, one day session he held out for. He quickly snuffed out (with DFL leadership help) a couple of rogue attempts to go beyond the agreement.
I always try to praise at least as quickly as I criticize, so well done, Governor. I hoping these two 2007 sessions have shown you the true lie of the political landscape, and govern according in 2008. There is nothing to be gained by appeasing the DFL.
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Happy Happy Joy Joy
I am finally retiring - no, firing - my crappy old Kyocera KE414 cell phone today. It arrived unsolicited as part of a scheduled upgrade a couple of years ago and was a clear downgrade from my first Kyocera phone.
Here is the office, I now get two bars instead of one, four if I raise the antenna. (There is no extendable antenna on the KE414.) My wife noticed the improved voice quality immediately when I called her on my new Sanyo 4930.
This phone isn't for everybody. There's no hinged cover, it has no camera which I didn't want anyway, and it's not exactly "razor" thin. No, this has a big battery instead, supposedly good for over 5 hours talking or up to 7 days not. I'll see.
Another interesting feature is a quick to use voice recorder. I can use this to record what I eat or exert for later transcription into the Weight Watchers website.
I could wish for bigger buttons I suppose, but even they seem slightly better positioned. I'm just glad someone is resisting the trend of making everything ever smaller.
Here is the office, I now get two bars instead of one, four if I raise the antenna. (There is no extendable antenna on the KE414.) My wife noticed the improved voice quality immediately when I called her on my new Sanyo 4930.
This phone isn't for everybody. There's no hinged cover, it has no camera which I didn't want anyway, and it's not exactly "razor" thin. No, this has a big battery instead, supposedly good for over 5 hours talking or up to 7 days not. I'll see.
Another interesting feature is a quick to use voice recorder. I can use this to record what I eat or exert for later transcription into the Weight Watchers website.
I could wish for bigger buttons I suppose, but even they seem slightly better positioned. I'm just glad someone is resisting the trend of making everything ever smaller.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
September 11: The Intent
This being another Tuesday, September 11, it seems especially important to remember what happened six years ago. It seems a long time now, largely because there hasn't been a successful such attack since. With time, the 3,000 souls we lost seems increasingly less important, and maybe that's as it should be.
What we should remember is the intent of Al Queda. Not only did they target and bring down the two towers, I think it's pretty clear that the Capitol and The White House were the other two targets. Poor navigation and the heroes of United flight 93 left both standing while the Pentagon became a secondary target. Imagine if they had succeeded, or now succeed on a larger scale, with a dirty bomb in a harbor somewhere for example.
The body count in New York could have also been much higher, if the towers hadn't stayed up as long or had not pancaked almost straight down. In fact, go back to the 1992 bombing that came uncomfortably close to toppling at least one of those towers onto the New York streets.
There is no limit to the carnage that these Islamic terrorists would inflict on us if they could. We must remain vigilant. The 3,000 we lost then and those since then serve to remind us of the stakes.
We must never forget.
What we should remember is the intent of Al Queda. Not only did they target and bring down the two towers, I think it's pretty clear that the Capitol and The White House were the other two targets. Poor navigation and the heroes of United flight 93 left both standing while the Pentagon became a secondary target. Imagine if they had succeeded, or now succeed on a larger scale, with a dirty bomb in a harbor somewhere for example.
The body count in New York could have also been much higher, if the towers hadn't stayed up as long or had not pancaked almost straight down. In fact, go back to the 1992 bombing that came uncomfortably close to toppling at least one of those towers onto the New York streets.
There is no limit to the carnage that these Islamic terrorists would inflict on us if they could. We must remain vigilant. The 3,000 we lost then and those since then serve to remind us of the stakes.
We must never forget.
Special Session Called
My feelings on this remain clear from prior posts. Based on what I know, this is a mistake, an unnecessary risk for situations that we have adequate reserves to cover until March.
But - I don't know everything. Maybe there are some financial nuances here such that the flood victims or the bridge replacemnt would not get our best effort without this Special Session. Maybe there is a way for Governor Pawlenty to turn a profit so to speak, crafting a better focused, more prudent result now than by waiting for the omnibus comprehensive strategic infrastructure investment bill next year.
The clock starts at 5 pm. The agreed spending target is $150 to $160 million. I'll wait to comment further for at least 48 hours, by which time this one day Special Session should be over.
But - I don't know everything. Maybe there are some financial nuances here such that the flood victims or the bridge replacemnt would not get our best effort without this Special Session. Maybe there is a way for Governor Pawlenty to turn a profit so to speak, crafting a better focused, more prudent result now than by waiting for the omnibus comprehensive strategic infrastructure investment bill next year.
The clock starts at 5 pm. The agreed spending target is $150 to $160 million. I'll wait to comment further for at least 48 hours, by which time this one day Special Session should be over.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Time Out
When at my son's college football game in Northfield, where we took a 49-0 drubbing from the Carleton Knights, an image has stuck with me. It was a Carleton fan wearing a political button. Somehow, that bothered me. Can't we set this aside for such events? Nobody came there to campaign or learn more about the candidates, especially this early.
What wearing a button does - in this setting - is identify you as a little less real. I say that whether you're wearing a button for a Democrat, Tim Pawlenty, even a Republican. You can put it in your pocket for a couple of hours and give the players your attention and appreciation instead.
It doesn't always work to the candidate's advantage, either. The man in question was wearing a Ciresi button. The man was also more than a bit overweight. The phrase "Hey, hey, heh!" might be an understatement. All I could think was "it figures." I can just see the Ciresi people cringing, which will probably be the only time I will pity these fools.
What wearing a button does - in this setting - is identify you as a little less real. I say that whether you're wearing a button for a Democrat, Tim Pawlenty, even a Republican. You can put it in your pocket for a couple of hours and give the players your attention and appreciation instead.
It doesn't always work to the candidate's advantage, either. The man in question was wearing a Ciresi button. The man was also more than a bit overweight. The phrase "Hey, hey, heh!" might be an understatement. All I could think was "it figures." I can just see the Ciresi people cringing, which will probably be the only time I will pity these fools.
Sunday, September 9, 2007
Give them an inch ...
Watching the Vikings today, I noticed they (Fox) came back late from a commercial break, missing the first down play. Maybe I'm overreacting, but I think every broadcast medium is working on adding still more commercials per hour.
This is repeated practice on Twins broadcasts now, missing the first pitch or two of an inning now and then. The late Herb Carneal wistfully observed that at the beginning of his career, the break between innings was 1 minute, and now 2 minutes 15 seconds. Apparently, that's not enough now either.
Listening to the Patriot Best of Dennis Prager last weekend, I noticed the computer was cutting to commercial before the end of the segments, apparently to get in another spot or two. Even on the live broadcasts of several Salem programs, the bumper plays, and we often get not one, but two quickie "brought to you by" messages for another 30 seconds. You even get these on the paid podcasts, pretty cheeky if you ask me. Rush Limbaugh is the only one I can think of that hasn't resorted to this.
Watching my Law and Order reruns, I used to only have to hit the 30 second skip button six times most of the time, with an occasional seven. Now, in just a few months, seven is the norm, often eight (4 minutes).
It's hard to argue with free stuff, but ultimately this is going to cost them listeners, including those who use podcast or DVR-like technology to not watch or listen at all. This will reduce the effectiveness of the advertising, increasing the pressure to add still more ads.
Of course, on Air America, this would be a good thing.
This is repeated practice on Twins broadcasts now, missing the first pitch or two of an inning now and then. The late Herb Carneal wistfully observed that at the beginning of his career, the break between innings was 1 minute, and now 2 minutes 15 seconds. Apparently, that's not enough now either.
Listening to the Patriot Best of Dennis Prager last weekend, I noticed the computer was cutting to commercial before the end of the segments, apparently to get in another spot or two. Even on the live broadcasts of several Salem programs, the bumper plays, and we often get not one, but two quickie "brought to you by" messages for another 30 seconds. You even get these on the paid podcasts, pretty cheeky if you ask me. Rush Limbaugh is the only one I can think of that hasn't resorted to this.
Watching my Law and Order reruns, I used to only have to hit the 30 second skip button six times most of the time, with an occasional seven. Now, in just a few months, seven is the norm, often eight (4 minutes).
It's hard to argue with free stuff, but ultimately this is going to cost them listeners, including those who use podcast or DVR-like technology to not watch or listen at all. This will reduce the effectiveness of the advertising, increasing the pressure to add still more ads.
Of course, on Air America, this would be a good thing.
Saturday, September 8, 2007
Priorities
My son played in his first college football game Saturday. The University of Minnesota Morris Cougars ventured into Strom-land to face Carleton College, who thumped us 49-0. While I think the score also reflected that the breaks went almost always Carleton's way, they clearly outplayed us on offense and defense. Also, I'd like to give whoever calls plays for Carleton a job with the Vikings. He showed great imagination and daring.
We had one bright spot, special teams. As the radio announcer put it, special teams can win games for you and lose games for you. But they aren't on the field enough to matter when one side is clearly dominating like today.
Anyway, I was surprised at the condition of the Carleton facility, Laird Field. It's in a beautiful location, with the Carleton skyline in plain view. The field itself is fine, real grass in fact. But the stands which house locker rooms and an old fashioned indoor banked workout track are at best dated, needing extensive work. Parking? About as confused as "downtown" Maple Grove.
Carleton College is a private institution, so such money is harder to come by. But we had a good time, and the game itself was not at all affected or diminished. Their priorities are different, that's all, as their fine academic record would indicate.
But travel to UMD and you'll see splendid new facilities. The Gophers are getting a new stadium after foolishing demolishing their storied stadium. Even Morris's Big Cat Stadium is a cut above Laird Field. Public institutions clearly don't have to make as many choices.
We had one bright spot, special teams. As the radio announcer put it, special teams can win games for you and lose games for you. But they aren't on the field enough to matter when one side is clearly dominating like today.
Anyway, I was surprised at the condition of the Carleton facility, Laird Field. It's in a beautiful location, with the Carleton skyline in plain view. The field itself is fine, real grass in fact. But the stands which house locker rooms and an old fashioned indoor banked workout track are at best dated, needing extensive work. Parking? About as confused as "downtown" Maple Grove.
Carleton College is a private institution, so such money is harder to come by. But we had a good time, and the game itself was not at all affected or diminished. Their priorities are different, that's all, as their fine academic record would indicate.
But travel to UMD and you'll see splendid new facilities. The Gophers are getting a new stadium after foolishing demolishing their storied stadium. Even Morris's Big Cat Stadium is a cut above Laird Field. Public institutions clearly don't have to make as many choices.
Upon Further Review
It's time to revisit an idea, a policy change really, that public employees should have the right to strike. It obviously tugs on our egalitarian heartstrings. It almost seems noble to end an apparently outdated disparity between the public and private sectors. But much of what the public employees have done with that privilege the past 40 years is anything but noble.
The latest example was that of some professional protesters that disrupted a University of Minnesota Board of Regents meeting, claiming to support a strike of ASCFME support personnel against the U of M. Police were called, and the usual journalists obligingly published the usual stories of police brutality against the usual suspects.
The 800 pound gorilla is Education Minnesota, the number one reason why costs continue to rise well above inflation and results continue to fall. We've seen a few cases where K-12 teachers have walked out on their students. Once it's over, the teachers argue that the outage did no long term harm to their students' education yet claim their services are indispensable to their future.
Then there is MAPE, an amalgam of completely unrelated professions, much more so than even the Teamsters. Such an entity shouldn't really exist in the perfect unionized world. But they went on strike recently, impairing several agencies, including some law enforcement.
When Ford workers go on strike, there are alternatives, i.e., competitors. When your local elementary school goes dark and like most, you cannot afford private schooling, you're stuck. If the crime lab gets backlogged to the point where the opportunity to apprehend or convict is lost, we all lose. This creates a disproportionate incentive to settle, which helps explain why only the public sector unions are growing.
The most fundamental problem in the above is that too many public sector jobs shouldn't be public sector jobs. Take your local public library. The entire operation could be outsourced to the private sector. The winning contractor's staff could unionize and strike, and that's the American way. But both the union and the contractor would weaken their position at the next contract renewal.
K-12 education could also completely be returned to the private sector via vouchers. Just because the government pays for it doesn't mean they have to run it. Given their record, they clearly shouldn't continue to run it.
MAPE's members don't provide any service not readily available in the private sector. So why are these people public employees?
There are jobs that must be public sector, most of the police force, for example. And with such privilege must come the requirement not to strike, offset by other benefits like civil service protections and early retirement.
But as for the rest: you strike, you're gone.
The latest example was that of some professional protesters that disrupted a University of Minnesota Board of Regents meeting, claiming to support a strike of ASCFME support personnel against the U of M. Police were called, and the usual journalists obligingly published the usual stories of police brutality against the usual suspects.
The 800 pound gorilla is Education Minnesota, the number one reason why costs continue to rise well above inflation and results continue to fall. We've seen a few cases where K-12 teachers have walked out on their students. Once it's over, the teachers argue that the outage did no long term harm to their students' education yet claim their services are indispensable to their future.
Then there is MAPE, an amalgam of completely unrelated professions, much more so than even the Teamsters. Such an entity shouldn't really exist in the perfect unionized world. But they went on strike recently, impairing several agencies, including some law enforcement.
When Ford workers go on strike, there are alternatives, i.e., competitors. When your local elementary school goes dark and like most, you cannot afford private schooling, you're stuck. If the crime lab gets backlogged to the point where the opportunity to apprehend or convict is lost, we all lose. This creates a disproportionate incentive to settle, which helps explain why only the public sector unions are growing.
The most fundamental problem in the above is that too many public sector jobs shouldn't be public sector jobs. Take your local public library. The entire operation could be outsourced to the private sector. The winning contractor's staff could unionize and strike, and that's the American way. But both the union and the contractor would weaken their position at the next contract renewal.
K-12 education could also completely be returned to the private sector via vouchers. Just because the government pays for it doesn't mean they have to run it. Given their record, they clearly shouldn't continue to run it.
MAPE's members don't provide any service not readily available in the private sector. So why are these people public employees?
There are jobs that must be public sector, most of the police force, for example. And with such privilege must come the requirement not to strike, offset by other benefits like civil service protections and early retirement.
But as for the rest: you strike, you're gone.
Friday, September 7, 2007
Beauty's Only Skin Deep
In my latest daring quest to walk all the streets of Minneapolis, my Labor Day route took me over the Lowry Avenue bridge, up Marshall Avenue, then to Camden across the 42nd Avenue bridge.
The Lowry Avenue Bridge was one my father really liked because of its mesh decking that allows rain and snow to simply drop through to the river below. Actually, this bridge also spans a Soo Line track on the west side, so the trains get some of the drippings, too.
This is a nice looking bridge, recently repainted in a pleasing dark green color. On the bridge itself, the views upstream and downstream are the stuff of picture postcards, especially with the river flowing broadly now that the drought is over.
The bridge itself gives one confidence, massive steel, joined with large bolts, nuts, and rivets all in plain view. But as pretty as it looks, as sound as it looks, it is also Hennepin County's number one priority for replacement. As you can read via the above link, one of its supporting piers was found to have shifted 11 inches. That has been addressed, but it's also 50 years old. Some components, presumably in the pilings and supports, were reused from the 1905 structure. The deck plates have to be re-welded every year now.
The cost of replacement as reported on KSTP-TV is about 30 to 40 million dollars, to be part of the 2008 bonding bill most likely. According to the link, the average vehicle count is 16,600 per day (2001). That's vehicles, meaning it probably carries well over 20,000 people per day, on par with the Hiawatha Line, which cost close to one billion dollars, over 20 times as much. Plus, the Lowry bridge carries trucks and other commercial traffic.
Like the Stillwater Lift Bridge and some other overdue projects, it's time to replace this venerable, important bridge. If the 2008 Legislature passes on this only to spend $200 billion or so on the Central Corridor and Northstar lines as I've heard would be absurd.
The Lowry Avenue Bridge was one my father really liked because of its mesh decking that allows rain and snow to simply drop through to the river below. Actually, this bridge also spans a Soo Line track on the west side, so the trains get some of the drippings, too.
This is a nice looking bridge, recently repainted in a pleasing dark green color. On the bridge itself, the views upstream and downstream are the stuff of picture postcards, especially with the river flowing broadly now that the drought is over.
The bridge itself gives one confidence, massive steel, joined with large bolts, nuts, and rivets all in plain view. But as pretty as it looks, as sound as it looks, it is also Hennepin County's number one priority for replacement. As you can read via the above link, one of its supporting piers was found to have shifted 11 inches. That has been addressed, but it's also 50 years old. Some components, presumably in the pilings and supports, were reused from the 1905 structure. The deck plates have to be re-welded every year now.
The cost of replacement as reported on KSTP-TV is about 30 to 40 million dollars, to be part of the 2008 bonding bill most likely. According to the link, the average vehicle count is 16,600 per day (2001). That's vehicles, meaning it probably carries well over 20,000 people per day, on par with the Hiawatha Line, which cost close to one billion dollars, over 20 times as much. Plus, the Lowry bridge carries trucks and other commercial traffic.
Like the Stillwater Lift Bridge and some other overdue projects, it's time to replace this venerable, important bridge. If the 2008 Legislature passes on this only to spend $200 billion or so on the Central Corridor and Northstar lines as I've heard would be absurd.
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
May the best candidate win
Looking again at what Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller said on The David Strom Show and what he has said since, I wonder how he rose to power. Actually, I don't. He's in a safe district, a very safe liberal district and therefore runs essentially unopposed. If there is no credible challenge or threat thereof, politicians of either party are free to pursue their personal visions.
I link that with the scramble to hold the first Primary going on at the national level and again come back to my idea of holding real Primary elections at the State level. A real primary pares the field to a manageable list of candidates. In my city, for example, two Council seats are up every two years. If more than four file, a Primary is held and the top four go to the General election. Why not do this for Legislative seats?
Imagine that we hold a Primary election the second Tuesday of September, leaving about 8 weeks for the General election campaign, which is plenty of time, already more than we would like. Also imagine that these are non-partisan elections. Party identification is shown on the ballots, but the ballot might have 2 Democrats, 1 Republican, and 1 Green in Pogemiller's case. Whoever the top two are move on, even if that means no Republican or no Green, even if neither Democrat survives.
Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty had a Primary challenger in 2006. If he continues his maverick ways and runs again, he'll likely have one in 2010 as well. Sue Jeffors at least forced Pawlenty to throw out a little red meat at the 2006 convention, only to revert to form, signing the Twins Stadium and Smoking Ban bills. The 2010 backlash could be more significant.
Getting back to Pogemiller, there have to be some disgruntled in his base as way. He promised much, proposing to raise every tax in the land to their thresholds of pain. There was even less restraint on an off-year bonding bill. Cornered by these all or nothing bills, Pawlenty found the courage to veto most of them. Angered by continued DFL arrogance, the GOP delegations held fast and sustained the vetoes.
The result? Failure by DFL standards, even if spending again rose far faster than inflation and population. Even now, it's all too obvious who's holding up the Special Session, again because Pogemiller is unwilling or unable to use his leadership position to cut and enforce a deal.
It's not hard to imagine a Green party challenger, even another more restrained DFL challenger in 2010. It's not hard to believe they would out-poll any GOP candidate in that district. So, fine, let the Primary pick that Green or DFL candidate, maybe both if Pogemiller completely collapses. Even the threat might bring Pogemiller back to political reality.
Such a threat would be good for a couple of Republicans as well.
I link that with the scramble to hold the first Primary going on at the national level and again come back to my idea of holding real Primary elections at the State level. A real primary pares the field to a manageable list of candidates. In my city, for example, two Council seats are up every two years. If more than four file, a Primary is held and the top four go to the General election. Why not do this for Legislative seats?
Imagine that we hold a Primary election the second Tuesday of September, leaving about 8 weeks for the General election campaign, which is plenty of time, already more than we would like. Also imagine that these are non-partisan elections. Party identification is shown on the ballots, but the ballot might have 2 Democrats, 1 Republican, and 1 Green in Pogemiller's case. Whoever the top two are move on, even if that means no Republican or no Green, even if neither Democrat survives.
Republican Governor Tim Pawlenty had a Primary challenger in 2006. If he continues his maverick ways and runs again, he'll likely have one in 2010 as well. Sue Jeffors at least forced Pawlenty to throw out a little red meat at the 2006 convention, only to revert to form, signing the Twins Stadium and Smoking Ban bills. The 2010 backlash could be more significant.
Getting back to Pogemiller, there have to be some disgruntled in his base as way. He promised much, proposing to raise every tax in the land to their thresholds of pain. There was even less restraint on an off-year bonding bill. Cornered by these all or nothing bills, Pawlenty found the courage to veto most of them. Angered by continued DFL arrogance, the GOP delegations held fast and sustained the vetoes.
The result? Failure by DFL standards, even if spending again rose far faster than inflation and population. Even now, it's all too obvious who's holding up the Special Session, again because Pogemiller is unwilling or unable to use his leadership position to cut and enforce a deal.
It's not hard to imagine a Green party challenger, even another more restrained DFL challenger in 2010. It's not hard to believe they would out-poll any GOP candidate in that district. So, fine, let the Primary pick that Green or DFL candidate, maybe both if Pogemiller completely collapses. Even the threat might bring Pogemiller back to political reality.
Such a threat would be good for a couple of Republicans as well.
Monday, September 3, 2007
True North
I was at the State Fair for the big announcememt regarding True North, just in case there were free samples of a new vodka involved. Actually, it's a blog, kind of like Real Clear Politics with a variety of contributors.
As we've come to expect from any Derek Brigham site, the new True North site is a beautiful execution of a good concept. This is what the "Party of Pawlenty" site should have been, and hopefully the latter can quietly disappear now.
As a recreational blogger, I wasn't expecting to be part of the cabal, an impressive list of our local blogging talent. But I see I am listed as a "Fellow Traveler" in the blogrolls, which is an honor. I have added True North to my own blogroll and look forward to reading it regularly.
As we've come to expect from any Derek Brigham site, the new True North site is a beautiful execution of a good concept. This is what the "Party of Pawlenty" site should have been, and hopefully the latter can quietly disappear now.
As a recreational blogger, I wasn't expecting to be part of the cabal, an impressive list of our local blogging talent. But I see I am listed as a "Fellow Traveler" in the blogrolls, which is an honor. I have added True North to my own blogroll and look forward to reading it regularly.
No Child Left Behind
There was a big jump in underperforming schools just announced per the standardized testing implemented under the President's No Child Left Behind (NCLB) program. Frankly, I couldn't care less.
Everything about NCLB makes sense, except that it's a Federal program. It tests for results (annual yearly progress), then warn, sanction, even close schools that don't pass.
But what's the point? Too many of the factors leading to poor results are beyond the public schools' ability to change or mitigate. What's this, you ask, sympathy for Education Minnesota? No, I'm simply observing that our government run "public" schools simply are too entrenched to make the changes necessary, and that assumes that "one size fits all" education concept is still viable.
Let's not kid ourselves. A number of schools will get themselves taken off the list by some re-figuring of the results or the underlying demographics. Some, maybe most, will openly teach the test, which isn't a totally bad idea given some of the creative alternatives in practice. Some will ignore the outcomes by no longer taking Title I funds.
I hate to in effect raise our local taxes, but I think we'd be better off just saying no to NCLB, assuming we still can. Tell the Feds to keep their money: NCLB, Title I, all of it. Tell the school districts they no longer fill out all that paperwork. What they do with standardized testing is up to them from now on, pursuant to State law only.
If nothing else, this would clear some of the fog of accountability, and get us a little closer to vouchers or some other mechanism providing true parental choice to deal with their children's poor report cards directly.
Everything about NCLB makes sense, except that it's a Federal program. It tests for results (annual yearly progress), then warn, sanction, even close schools that don't pass.
But what's the point? Too many of the factors leading to poor results are beyond the public schools' ability to change or mitigate. What's this, you ask, sympathy for Education Minnesota? No, I'm simply observing that our government run "public" schools simply are too entrenched to make the changes necessary, and that assumes that "one size fits all" education concept is still viable.
Let's not kid ourselves. A number of schools will get themselves taken off the list by some re-figuring of the results or the underlying demographics. Some, maybe most, will openly teach the test, which isn't a totally bad idea given some of the creative alternatives in practice. Some will ignore the outcomes by no longer taking Title I funds.
I hate to in effect raise our local taxes, but I think we'd be better off just saying no to NCLB, assuming we still can. Tell the Feds to keep their money: NCLB, Title I, all of it. Tell the school districts they no longer fill out all that paperwork. What they do with standardized testing is up to them from now on, pursuant to State law only.
If nothing else, this would clear some of the fog of accountability, and get us a little closer to vouchers or some other mechanism providing true parental choice to deal with their children's poor report cards directly.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Child Star
Dennis Prager, citing the speech of 11 year Alana Wexler at the 2004 Democratic Party convention, sometimes refers to the Democratic Party as the Party of Children. To be fair, he has unflattering names for the Republicans, too.
I'm thinking he's right after listening to Larry Pogemiller on the David Strom show Sep 1. You can listen on Townhall.com (hour 2), or read my edited transcript. I heard a child talking.
Take the apology he demanded of David Strom. An adult or even a competent politician handles this graciously, if it even needs handling at all. Pogemiller over-handled it, in fact, as in "doth protest too much."
Take his honesty. Asked about Carol Molnau's future as Commissioner of Transportation, he said "I absolutely haven't given that a thought." How can he or any other Senate Majority Leader not consider it, given the circumstances? Such a question is easily, tactfully ducked without lying. His statements on the Governor's position seem much at odds with press accounts, also.
Take his accountability. He is absolutely certain they won't push the state gas tax to 36 cents, and yet he takes no responsibility for what his chair Steve Murphy or anyone else in the Senate might do. Back and forth he went on this, to the point of apparently not understanding what job of Senate Majority Leader entails.
We have an Eddie Haskell running the Senate. His word is no good, even to fellow Democrats. There is no basis for reaching an agreement on a Special Session.
I'm thinking he's right after listening to Larry Pogemiller on the David Strom show Sep 1. You can listen on Townhall.com (hour 2), or read my edited transcript. I heard a child talking.
Take the apology he demanded of David Strom. An adult or even a competent politician handles this graciously, if it even needs handling at all. Pogemiller over-handled it, in fact, as in "doth protest too much."
Take his honesty. Asked about Carol Molnau's future as Commissioner of Transportation, he said "I absolutely haven't given that a thought." How can he or any other Senate Majority Leader not consider it, given the circumstances? Such a question is easily, tactfully ducked without lying. His statements on the Governor's position seem much at odds with press accounts, also.
Take his accountability. He is absolutely certain they won't push the state gas tax to 36 cents, and yet he takes no responsibility for what his chair Steve Murphy or anyone else in the Senate might do. Back and forth he went on this, to the point of apparently not understanding what job of Senate Majority Leader entails.
We have an Eddie Haskell running the Senate. His word is no good, even to fellow Democrats. There is no basis for reaching an agreement on a Special Session.
Strom vs Pogemiller
The newly cast "David Strom Show" is two for two, with a surprise appearance by Senate Majority Leader Larry Pogemiller. This was one of the most remarkable interviews I've ever heard. Absolutely. My edited transscript is below.
Somebody send an mp3 to the Governor...
Incidentally, this is what David apologized for, on "Almanac" Friday night:
Somebody send an mp3 to the Governor...
DS (David Strom): You guys want to re-fight the entire session. You want to redo taxes. You want to redo the bonding bill. You want to redo every bill that [Governor Pawlenty] vetoed.
LP (Larry Pogemiller): David, that's absolutely not true.
DS: OK, so what is true?
LP: What you said on "Almanac" was absolutely not true. In private meetings, I have not requested one thing for the Special Session. The Governor asked Speaker Kelliher and I if we would have a Special Session and we said yes. He said he wanted to take up a long term solution, comprehensive solution [for the] transportation bill including the gas tax. He said he wanted to take up a tax bill for local government aid, and he said he wanted to take up a bonding bill. We said yes.
DS: OK, but the question is when you say a long term comprehensive ...
LP: Those were the Governor's words, and there have been no demands put on with regard to what that would be.
DS: When we heard from [State Senator] Steve Murphy, he said well what passed is the floor and that was a one and half billion dollar a year tax increase. What passed is the floor, not the ceiling, so you're going to rewrite a bill ...
LP: David, what you said that I said is just not true. You need to be accurate. I know you want to be accurate. It is simply not true that I have I have had any demands whatsoever for a Special Session. The Governor put the gas tax on the table. We are willing to do the gas tax if he is willing to do it. We are willing to do a comprehensive transportation bill if he is willing to do it. We are willing to do LGA if he is willing to do it. Those are the things he put on the table. If he chooses not to do those things, we should have a Special Session and just deal with flood relief and the bridge. Absolutely. Absolutely. If he does not want to do those other items, we should not do them. The primary thing to do is the bridge and the flood relief.
DS: OK. [...] I've got the bill right in my pocket, right here for the comprehensive transportation bill. [...]
LP: [...] What I said was that the Governor asked for comprehensive solution. And if everybody would get out of spin mode, and just talk about doing the right thing, we would get the right thing done. It's very simple. We know what we'll do on flood relief. We should do that. We know what we should do on the bridge. We should do that. And if the Governor wants to do additional items, we should do that also. If he doesn't, we should not do those additional items. It's that simple.
DS: So if it's that simple, why have the negotiations gone so badly?
LP: I don't think the negotiations have gone badly. I think that the Governor [is] not yet ready with the particulars of the bill. That's OK. We should wait until we get the particulars of the bill for flood relief and the bridge. And if there are additional items, we should do those also. And if political pundits will just calm down, we will have a Special Session. We will do a limited agenda in a short period of time, as the Governor has asked.
DS: All right, now let me ask you this: is [Lt. Governor] Carol Molnau's appointment [as Commissioner of Transportation] going to come up?
LP: I absolutely haven't given that a thought.
DS: The Governor's got to give that a thought because if you guys go into session, he can't control what happens. [Reading the newspapers,] there have been these maximalist claims like the Transportation Bill that was put out there is the floor, not the ceiling. That is, after all, your Committee Chair who said that.
LP: David, to be fair, the Lt. Governor said we would need a 30 to 36 cent gas tax to do the right thing. We're not going to raise 36 cent gas tax. We're just simply not going to do that. I hold the Governor for what he says. He can hold me for what I say. But you can't hold me for what another member of the Legislature says.
DS: [...] I'm not holding you for that ...
LP: Does Steve Murphy believe there should be a comprehensive package like the bill he passed? You bet he does.
DS: Is that going to come up?
LP: I don't know if it's going to come up.
DS: The Governor's got to know that before he calls a Special Session.
LP: No, the Governor needs to know what will be put on his desk.
DS: Here, we're hearing a slightly different story.
LP: No, David, we're not hearing a different story.
DS: If the Governor calls a Special Session, he cannot undo that. Unless there is a comprehensive agreement beforehand ...
LP: The Governor does not have the power to tell every single Legislator what they're going to do. I don't either.
DS: If Roger Moe were there, they'd have cut a deal. [...]
LP: The Speaker and I thought we had an agreement with the Governor, to have a limited agenda that involved the items he suggested. I personally think we still do have an agreement. Therefore, I'm assuming there's going to be a Special Session. I'm assuming it's going to be limited in scope. And the issue of how comprehensive the Transportation Bill is is simply up to the Governor. If he wants to have it limited just to the gas tax, perhaps that will be all we do. But I can't control that.
DS: [...] You are the leader of your caucus.
LP: It's a democracy. People get to vote yes or no. I can't tell Steve Murphy how to vote. I can't tell Tim Pawlenty whether to veto a bill or not. All I can do is control my own vote [and] keep my public rhetoric focused on the two things that are crucial to do right now, which are fix the bridge and do the flood relief. Every public comment I have made has been around those issues. That's all I can do.
DS: That's all you can do, but you are the leader of your caucus. When Steve Sviggum would go and cut a deal with the Governor, there were a lot of people I know in the Republican caucus who would complain, "Weill I'm sorry, this is not what I like. I don't want to vote for this." But at the end of the day, that was the deal that was cut.
LP: [...] The Governor have an agreement.
DS: Can you keep your agreement?
LP: Ahhh... In my 25 year history in the State Senate, I don't think you'll ever find one instance where someone says I haven't kept an agreement.
DS: I asking: can you keep your caucus in control or is it going to turn into a circus?
LP Absolutely it's not going to turn into a circus. The Speaker and I have the power to make sure it's a limited, short agenda. Absolutely.
DS: And are you assuring the people of Minnesota now ...
LP: I'm assuring the people of the state that we're going to do the right thing.
DS: No no, is it going to be a limited short session?
LP: It absolutely is going to be a limited, short session. Absolutely.
DS: So there's not going to be an attempt to pass a "compo", what you call a comprehensive, which is a sales tax people can't vote on ...
LP: David, I have no idea what members of the Senate and the House will try to do. All I can tell you is that it will be a short, limited agenda. We will accomplish flood relief and what's necessary on the bridge. That's all I can guarantee. That's what we will do.
DS: But you're not guaranteeing that these other things won't happen.
LP: I can't guarantee that somebody else won't introduce a bill. I can't guarantee that.
DS: Well, wait a sec. You're the Majority Leader. You're supposed to be in control of your caucus.
LP: It's a democracy.
DS: Oh but it is not a democracy! [...] I mean, we know this. [...]
LP: It is not a democracy?
DS: Not the Minnesota State Senate. It's not a democracy. You have a caucus, don't you?
MM (Margaret Martin): Yeah, you're the leader.
DS: [...] Are you telling me that as leader of the Minnesota State Senate you actually have no control at all over your caucus? Aren't you in there appointing Committee Chairs?
LP: Actually not. If you knew how the Senate works, the Majority Leader does not appoint Committee Chairs. A committee of the Senate appoints Committee Chairs. It is a democracy, unlike what you apparently believe. I do not have the power to appoint or take ...
DS: [...] I follow the House very closely. The Speaker of the House ...
LP: The Speaker does have power to appoint Committee Chairs. The [Senate] Majority Leader does not. That's a fine nuance, that if you read, you would know.
DS: [...] I do a little bit about State government, having worked around it. And one of the things I've noticed was that the Senate used to be a well-oiled machine.
LP: I think the Senate was a well-oiled machine.
DS: Is it a well-oiled machine now?
LP: The Senate put out two separate budgets. One was ...
DS: [...] The got vetoed, and what I'm hearing from State Senators is [that] they want to refight single every one of those issues.
LP: (pause) I'm not hearing that.
DS: That's what we're reading in the newspaper.
LP: That's what you're saying, David.
DS: Didn't Steve Murphy say the Transportation Bill that's going to come out [...]
LP: [...] He absolutely did not say that.
DS: Yes he did. He did. He said it was a floor, not a ceiling. He said that. It's in the Star Tribune.
LP: That's a little different from what bill's going to come out of the Senate because Steve Murphy can't control that either. [...] He has one voice. He has one vote. [...] It is a democracy and people get to vote.
DS: So you're telling me everything is a pure democracy and you have no control. Committee chairs have no control ovre what happens?
LP: What passes the Senate floor ...
DS: [...] I was a Political Science professor. I had no idea that when they elect caucus leaders and committee chairs that these people just sort of sit there and wait and find out what their members want.
LP: I don't think that's what I said.
DS: OK. Can they lead their committees?
LP: They can try, yes, absolutely. They do try. I presume Senator Murphy will try to lead his committee.
DS: And is he going to try to get a bill that's a floor, not a ceiling?
LP: I believe he will try to get what he believes is to be a comprehensive Transportation package.
DS: But he's not going to pass what you want. I mean, you guys fundamentally disagree.
LP: Right now you don't know what I want, David, because I haven't said.
DS: Well I know what Steve Murphy wants because he's said. And you just told me you can't control Steve Murphy and [it] comes out of his committee.
LP: I absolutely can't control Steve Murphy. Can you control Tim Pawlenty?
DS: No. Of course I can't control Tim Pawlenty. I'm not elected to any office. [...]
LP: Can you control Phil Krinke?
DS: No.
LP: So how do you expect me to control an independently elected official? [...] One more problem. I actually am Majority Leader of the Senate. [...]
DS: Yes but [Senate Minority Leader] Dave Senjem isn't out there saying, oh well, all my guys are going to be coming up with these bills.
LP: My understanding is that David is for a comprehensive Transportation bill.
DS: Yes, but I don't think it's your [comprehensive Transportation bill], or Steve Murphy's comprehensive Transportation Bill.
LP: That very well may be true.
DS: [...] I think what's happening is you guys are setting things up so that there will be a huge confrontation over the same bill you had before.
LP: I believe that will not happen.
DS: Based upon what?
LP: Our discussions with members of the Senate. I believe that will not happen.
DS. All right, but the Governor needs to know that it's not going to not happen.
LP: Well maybe the Governor should ask them.
DS: He's having conversations with you. [...] When Roger Moe would shake hands with Arne Carlson, those deals happened. Are you telling me you can't do that?
LP: I'm absolutely not saying that. I'm saying that when there is a Special Session called, there will be a limited agenda that the Governor will support, and we will be done. [...] Did you issue an apology to me yet, David? For saying something on Almanac that was absolutely not true? Absolutely not true.
DS: Could you specify exactly what it was?
LP: You said that I was the person demanding all kinds of items for the Special Session. Absolutely not true.
DS: I do apologize for that. I generalized the caucus and I apologize for that.
LP: Thank you.
DS: I think you are right to demand that apology. But what I don't apology for is saying that the Democrats and the Committee Chairs are certainly making what appear to be lots of demands, [...] like a fourth income tax bracket.
LP: Who ever said the income tax? I have no idea where you came up with that. I don't know anybody that brought that up for the Special Session. [...] It's not in the tax bill [sent to the Governor], it's not going to be now.
DS: So, we're going to have a limited session where none of the things ...
LP: If the Governor calls a Special Session, it will be limited, focused on transportation and flood relief. Absolutely. [...] It's been that way for about four weeks.
DS: [...] That's certainly not what is being reported in the newspapers, and let me tell you, I've talked to a lot of reporters.
LP: Have you read the letters the Speaker and I have sent the Governor?
DS: I have and I've read the vague things that are said about a lot of stuff and even now you're saying "well everyone has one vote."
LP: David, [...] don't project your paranoia.
DS: It's not paranoia. When you say you cannot keep ...
LP: Tell your listeners I was smiling, but I do think there is so much projection of paranoia that we ought to just get over it.
DS: But when you say you can't control your members ...
LP: They're independently elected. [I] encourage them to move in a direction that makes sense at this moment in time. That's all I can do.
Incidentally, this is what David apologized for, on "Almanac" Friday night:
If they have a Special Session, it should be about the bridge and the flooding. And what I'm hearing from Democrats, particularly Larry Pogemiller, is "we want to re-fight every single thing we lost on in the last session.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Almanac Box Scores
This week To Date
Pundit Runs Hits Errs Weeks Runs Hits Errs
Fritz Knack 3 4 1 3 6 11 1
David Strom 4 7 0 2 6 10 0
Phil Krinke 1 4 6 0
Ember R.-J. 3 4 2 2 3 6 3
Dan Dorman 1 1 4 0
Sarah Janacek 1 0 1 1
Jane Ranum 1 0 1 3
Wes Skoglund 1 0 1 4
Mary Jo McGuire 1 0 0 2
Taryl Clark 1 0 0 3
Andy Dawkins 0 2 6 2 0 2 6
Wy Spano 1 0 0 7
At Issue Box Score
This week To Date
Pundit Runs Hits Errs Weeks Runs Hits Errs
Dave Thompson 3 4 0 3 4 8 0
David Strom 2 4 6 0
Ember R.-J. 1 3 3 3 2 8 5
Blois Olson 1 0 2 0