[Speed Gibson,
Friday March 17, 2006 at 9:51pm]
Roger and Me
For I believe 5 years, a number of us gathered on the State Capitol steps around April 15 to protest spending, taxes, and the lack of rebates from the large surpluses of the late 1990's. The crowds ranged from maybe 300 to 1,000, and we cheered and chanted as Jason Lewis and others threw us lots of red meat.
One of those chants would name Roger Moe, retired State Senator from Erskine, then the Senate Majority Leader. We were orderly, but a bit disrespectful at times just the same. At the time, he was the Great Satan of the DFL, trying to divert as much of the surplus as possible into the K-12 rathole rather than issue rebates. He made a lifeless run for Governor in 2002 and we haven't seen him since.
Much as my opinion of his opponent Tim Pawlenty has fallen, my opinion of Roger Moe has risen. Sure, he was a politician, sure he exaggerated here and there, sure he played some games now and then, but I cannot recall than the man lied or trashed others to get ahead. His successor, Dean Johnson, has shown us what we now miss.
I don't remember the specifics of these rallies, but I probably allowed myself to get a little too rabid in criticizing Roger Moe. For that I am now sorry. Roger Moe, I apologize. I never knew how good we had it.
One of those chants would name Roger Moe, retired State Senator from Erskine, then the Senate Majority Leader. We were orderly, but a bit disrespectful at times just the same. At the time, he was the Great Satan of the DFL, trying to divert as much of the surplus as possible into the K-12 rathole rather than issue rebates. He made a lifeless run for Governor in 2002 and we haven't seen him since.
Much as my opinion of his opponent Tim Pawlenty has fallen, my opinion of Roger Moe has risen. Sure, he was a politician, sure he exaggerated here and there, sure he played some games now and then, but I cannot recall than the man lied or trashed others to get ahead. His successor, Dean Johnson, has shown us what we now miss.
I don't remember the specifics of these rallies, but I probably allowed myself to get a little too rabid in criticizing Roger Moe. For that I am now sorry. Roger Moe, I apologize. I never knew how good we had it.