Jason's blog
DFL U.S. Senate Candidates on Almanac
Submitted by Jason on August 25, 2007 - 3:03pm.Minnesota DFL Senate Candidates Al Franken, Mike Ciresi, and Jim Cohen were on Twin Cities Public Television's Almanac last night. Here is video of them talking about three big issues - the Iraq War, Gay Marriage, and Global Warming:
Will Senate Candidates Admitting Past Drug Use Raise Our Drug War Discourse?
Submitted by Jason on June 28, 2007 - 7:41pm.So the blogs are abuzz today with juicy tales of Senate candidates and their past drug use. Of course this started with an open letter from Senator Coleman's former classmate - chastising him for regurgitating ONDCP talking points about marijuana, and calling him on his unwillingness to support any meaningful drug policy reform in spite of personal experience. It quickly escalated with counter-assertions that Al Franken used lots of drugs. And somewhere along the way Mike Ciresi was asked - and he admitted that he inhaled too.
Amid all of the sordid gossip I am left to wonder, will we ever get around to questioning the laws that make their pasts seem so hypocritical?
Misogyny Disguised as Comedy? No, not disguised...
Submitted by Jason on May 30, 2007 - 11:37pm.This clip from the Fox News Channel's 1/2 Hour News Hour (their answer to the Daily Show) is the worst thing I've ever seen. It starts with implying the pregnant feminist lawyer is "a hormonal headcase who can't be trusted to do a man's job," and gets worse from there.
Thanks to these sponsors for bringing us this fine show:
Happy Memorial Day
Submitted by Jason on May 29, 2007 - 12:13am.I hope that everyone had a happy and safe Memorial Day. While digesting the feast served at a gathering of friends today, it occurred to me just how awful it is that our country is engaged in an unjust war that is adding more veterans to mourn every day. The job of our soldiers, sailors, and airmen is to serve - to obey the orders given to them in the national interest. And our nation owes it to them to only put them in harm's way when absolutely necessary.
This segment on the shifting rationale for war aired on CBS a few days ago. Our servicemen and women deserve much better:
Thomas Heffelfinger: Reluctant Rancorous Republican
Submitted by Jason on May 24, 2007 - 10:53pm.I'm no Tom Heffelfinger fan. Back in 2004 I worked on a campaign to put a medical marijuana charter amendment to Minneapolis voters, and then-U.S. Attorney Heffelfinger signed a letter to City Council urging them to strike the measure from the ballot. The Minnesota Court of Appeals later characterised his letter as "political gamesmanship in Congress over marijuana laws." Honestly I've held a bit of a grudge. But I have to say that I do admire his speaking out now against the Administration. The whole situation surrounding Heffelfinger's resignation, Rachel Paulose's appointment, and the firings of 8 other U.S. Attorneys stinks of ideological hubris. So while being the enemy of my enemy does not make him my friend, seeing a Republican stand up to the arrogance of his cohorts does inspire a measure of respect.
Media coverage after the jump.
Local Media Coverage of the End of the Legislative Session
Submitted by Jason on May 24, 2007 - 9:39am.The Star-Tribune also has a wrap-up article here.
U.S. Official Speaks at Far-Right Wing "Family Policy" Conference
Submitted by Jason on May 11, 2007 - 6:36pm.In a move that I'm surprised hasn't drawn more scrutiny, a Bush Administration official is currently in Poland attending the World Congress of Families - presumably on the taxpayers' dime.
Domestic Partner Benefits Out for Session
Submitted by Jason on May 3, 2007 - 11:03pm.The Strib reports that Minnesota legislators yielded to a veto threat, and dropped health care benefits for state employees' domestic partners from the state government finance bill.
On a related note, I just gave money to OutFront Minnesota. At the end of their donation page is a spot to dedicate your gift in someone's honor. I designated my donation in memory of: Tim Pawlenty's dignity. And saying goodbye to the final shreds of it as he sacrificed domestic partner benefits on the altar of national politics. For shame!
Animated Iraq War Parable
Submitted by Jason on April 15, 2007 - 4:41pm.I am a fan of edgy humor and sharp satire, and in my opinion Aaron McGruder is one of the premier social commentarians of our time. The following clip from The Boondocks is a parable about the political situation surrounding the War in Iraq. It features Ed "W." Wensler III and Gin Rummy (voice of Samuel L. Jackson), two rich white boys from the suburbs who are also psychopathic alcoholic warmongers. Notice how "Rummy" combines lines from Pulp Fiction with quotes by Donald Rumsfeld.
WARNING: This clip contains explicit language and violent content.
Global Warming? But it's so cold...
Submitted by Jason on April 11, 2007 - 8:21pm.Last night's WCCO News had a very good segment addressing the question, "If Global Warming is real, how come it's so cold?"
Barack Obama on David Letterman
Submitted by Jason on April 10, 2007 - 12:03am.Barack Obama was on The Late Show with David Letterman tonight. Read more to see the interview.
Star-Tribune Asks: Would Paulose Have Tried to Suppress Turnout?
Submitted by Jason on April 6, 2007 - 11:14pm.The Star-Tribune has an editorial up called Answers needed to Paulose questions
It's a solid piece, calling on our Senators for action and recounting the facts. But it gets really interesting at the end:
Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer famously cried "wolf" over voter fraud that did not exist. ... [Did] Paulose's appointment flow from Kiffmeyer's inability to get her claims of fraud taken seriously by the Minnesota U.S. attorney's office?
Good question.
Another soldier dies
Submitted by Jason on April 3, 2007 - 10:51pm.Once you get past all of the political spin, and the arguments over why we're even in Iraq, this is what the toll of war comes down to.. more death. Lance Corporal Daniel Olsen, age 20, rest in peace.
Read more for the video.
TPT Gives Up on Being Balanced Because There are Too Many New Democrats
Submitted by Jason on March 8, 2007 - 12:01am.The title says it all. The clip is priceless.
»
- Login to post comments
Michelle Bachmann's foreign policy nightmare
Submitted by Jason on February 24, 2007 - 1:53am.Here's a link to the KARE-11 News story about Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann's remarks that Iran is planning to turn a partitioned Iraq into a free land for training terrorists who want to kill you. Luckily these statements from the Honorable Ms. Bachmann nave no basis on any actual intelligence. Bachmann has retracted her remarks and attributed them to her indulgence in waxing paranoid about hypothetical situations.
»
- Login to post comments
Winter Break
Submitted by Jason on December 6, 2006 - 11:50pm.Now that the campaign frying pan has cooled, who's ready to stoke the legislative fires? OK, me neither. But it is just around the corner and the groundwork for the issues of '07 is settling. What do we expect our new Democratic majorities to tackle first?
Pawlenty Not in Favor of IRV
Submitted by Jason on November 21, 2006 - 1:02pm.Half-listening to Gov. Pawlenty on MPR, I just caught the tail end of his comments on IRV. Though I didn't hear the whole thing, the gist of it seemed to be that he feels that most supporters of IRV are center-left, that "giving multiple chances to vote doesn't make a whole lot of sense," and he feels that if third parties are going to be successful then "let the market shift" to them.
Kersten on Keith Ellison and crime
Submitted by Jason on October 19, 2006 - 1:14am.Less than three weeks to election day and the attacks on Keith keep on coming. This time Katherine Kersten accuses him of being soft on crime. Read Kersten's latest hit job here, then my response after the jump.
This Just In: GOP Picks Twin Cities for 2008 Convention
Submitted by Jason on September 27, 2006 - 2:00pm.According to Minnesota Public Radio and the Star Tribune, the GOP will make an announcement later today. This automatically eliminates the Twin Cities from consideration for the 2008 Democratic National Convention.
The GOP seems to be continuing a pattern of holding their conventions in Democratic strongholds. '04 was in New York, '00 was in Philly.
»
- Login to post comments
Stumble It!
