Norm Coleman's Landlord

Gee – how cool would it be, if your landlord didn’t bother to cash your checks? I dunno; my landlords always cashed mine. Like, immediately. If not sooner. Then again, my landlord wasn’t ol’ Smokescreen’s landlord; a guy by the name of Jeff "Landlord" Larson.

“Late Fees” doesn’t appear to be in Landlord Larson’s vocabulary (at least as far as Coleman is concerned). Then again, I never did business with my landlord, and my landlord wasn't Jeff "Landlord" Larson. And my landlord insisted I pay rent, each and every month. Ol’ Smokescreen’s landlord, Landlord Larson, apparently doesn’t. I guess that’s why Smokescreen’s landlord, Landlord Larson, wasn’t in any hurry to cash Coleman’s rent checks, even when paid late. I wonder if Landlord Larson even bothered to remind the ol' Smokscreen that rent was due on the first, A COUPLA MONTHS AGO? But, hey! What’s the big deal, when you’re renting from a guy you do business with?

And, we’re talkin’ business. For instance, Landlord Larson's wife works for Norm. Six-figures worth of work. You know, takin’ care of constituents? Hey, a constituent has a problem, maybe with a landlord – who better to take care of that, than a landlord's wife? Good thing Norm’s got one on the payroll. Hey - gotta be worth six-figures, “right”? Here’s Norm’s take, as reported in The National Journal:

Coleman and his staff emphasized how valuable an employee Kainz has been. The senator described her variously as "extraordinary," "the best employee I had," "one of the best employees I've ever had," "legendary," and "a saving angel."

Coleman said he did not know why she was on his payroll under her maiden name, but insisted that there was no attempt to hide her employment. "She was really extraordinary," the senator said. "I want you to know this--there's no hanky-panky, goodness gracious.... Listen, everything in our business is public. There are no secrets." Asked how he happened to hire Kainz, Coleman said, "I make my reputation on [serving constituents], and I was looking for somebody really good, and I had known Dorene, a talented woman, and she was available."

Ol’ Smokescreen “knew” Landlord Larson's wife “was available?” How convenient. Did she know her hubby wasn’t cashing Norm’s checks?

Oh – and how did it happen that the guy that (kind of) “rents” to Norm, worked with Norm to bring the RNC’s shindig to Saint Paul? Well, nothing to look at there – is there? Let’s look!!!

Again, from The National Journal:

As the CEO of the nonprofit Minneapolis-St. Paul 2008 Host Committee, Larson has the job of raising private money to pay for the big party, which will be held at St. Paul's Xcel Energy Center. Earlier this month, the host committee announced that it had raised $31 million, still a long way from its stated goal of $58 million. Much of the money has come from corporate supporters, including Fortune 500 companies based in Minnesota.

Without the help of Congress--and, specifically, Coleman--the host committee would be facing an even bigger fundraising challenge. In December, Coleman spearheaded the successful effort to give St. Paul $50 million in federal funds for convention security. Under its agreement with the city, Larson's host committee would have been required to raise the security money if Congress had not acted.

Well, I guess inquiring minds will be inquiring if ol’ Smokescreen’s landlord got a bonus for “not having to raise the security money” Coleman’s earmark provided. Ya think? Well, I suppose, as much business as Landlord Larson does with other Republicans and Republican entities, maybe this one was "on the (rental) house"...

Seriously - what makes this story so egregious, is just yesterday, the Republicans, once again, attacked Al Franken’s accounting records. But, Norm Coleman didn’t do it directly; no, of course not. You see, Norm never pays rent on time, er, 'scuse me, "fights his own battles." Conveniently, for Norm, this time the National Republican Senatorial Committee do the dirty work. Previously, Ron Carey did the dirty work. And, he's had Laura Brod take cheap shots, too. Now, we know why. As egregious and hypocritical as it was to have the now thoroughly and completely discredited Ron Carey criticize Franken’s financial records, Norm couldn’t – because he couldn’t even pay his rent on time.

Well, that’s assuming there isn’t anything sinister about Coleman’s rent “arrangements.” Is there? Time will tell.

Stay tuned!

(a BIG h/t to Rachel, at The Political Animal)