Electable!

Rybak for Governor!

We've got to nominate someone who will run a real grassroots, people-powered campaign that empowers people and who has real life experience working with people and with passion and conviction about the issues we face.

That's R.T. IMO. None of the other potential candidates come close.

I am so disheartened by this "electable" business.

We'll have to see what happens with the recount but it was NOT FUN when doorknocking to try to tell people why they should vote for Al even though they really didn't want to. I did my duty, don't worry, but I look forward to the day when I don't have to hold my nose to vote for the endorsed candidate. I know a lot of you like Al more than I do, you don't have to reply to this with all the reasons I'm wrong etc.

For me it just really calls to question the whole endorsing process. I will help out at the next caucus but I will not pursue delegacy because I don't want to be on the delegate end of the kind of crap I heard about and witnessed in March, April, and May of 2008.

Kingfield Chickadee

I was a first time precinct caucus goer, CD, and state delegate used to Wisconsin primaries. It all seemed screwy to me, and all. When I think about it though, if we had a a regular primary, there is no way anyone would have heard of Ciresi or JNP. The caucus system gave them a huge intro to not all, but a large bulk of voters, something their campaigns could not have afforded otherwise. The candidates and their supporters had a bunch of big captive audiences. In a primary system, we would have ended up with Al, and the voice of JNP never would have been heard. It has its pluses and minuses.

Justice will only exist where those not affected by injustice are filled with the same amount of indignation as those offended.

"Now all DFL candidates are fine outstanding wonderful people in every way." It is statements like this that ruin your credibility so that when folks at the RNC get letters from you, they throw them in the trash. Even the late Molly Ivins (Republicans bad, Democrats good) realized that there were plenty of Democratic scumbags. Just add "most" before "DFL candidates" and "in every way" and people might be able to swallow your enthusiasm. In fact, it might help to use the word in front of "Republicans are racists" too, just in case there really are one or two out there, such as Arne Carlson and Colin Powell...

....and as I have said before, the Franken delegates who threw the whole "electability" mantra at me OWE ME A FU@^#NG APOLOGY, and as pointed out, MOST of them were the SAME A-HOLES cramming Mike Hatch down our throats two years ago.

We need some accountability. Where are those Hatch/Frankenbots NOW??? EXPLAIN YOURSELVES!!!!!!!!!

endorement process or having a real primary might be one helpful change. Celebrity Franken with his (out of state) $ advantage probably still would have won it, but maybe with greater numbers participating the fact that many are lukewarm (at best) to Al would have made a difference. Maybe a large open convention could increase participation while retaining some of the advantage of giving lesser known and funded candidates a chance, compared to having it decided by a primary that favors fame and fortune. At my little walking subcaucus five people vied for the delegate position and I know others, who didn't compete for the spot, would have liked to go to state convention too. I wasn't in Rochester but wonder if people didn't have doubts but felt obligated to vote for Al, based on being elected as a Franken delegate at their district convention weeks or months prior.

The party decries the GOP for its obsessive loyalty, but is the DFL guilty of the same practice. True, Al Franken raised boatloads of money for DFL candidates. Is that the reason the party endorsed him? Or because he was truly the best candidate?

Mike Hatch, Jerry Janezich, Roger Moe, Skip Humphrey, Ann Wynia, John Marty...the list of endorsed losers far outnumbers the list of endorsed winners. I'm sure there are more, I've only lived in MN since 1989.

Grace, you and I will go to our graves with the grim satisfaction that Becky was the best candidate.

My feeling is that the caucus system seems unfair and unrepresentative, but feelings can be wrong. JNP, it seemed, got all of his notoriety by using the caucus system. If it was just a primary, I would ask someone to please explain how JNP would have got his name out more. Like I said, my intuition says that a primary is more fair, but my logic says it would be worse. Case in point, I was elected as a Franken state delegate, and did not even know JNP. At the state convention I voted for JNP. In a primary situation that never would have happened. So, instead of saying why a caucus system is bad/strange/un-democratic/unfair, which I will grant it very well might be, explain instead how a primary fixes all those problems and the result would have been different than Franken?
Thanks,
Alec

Justice will only exist where those not affected by injustice are filled with the same amount of indignation as those offended.

....is manipulated by the powers that be so whether or not we have a primary or a caucus (or a combination of the two) may be moot.

And that is the galling thing, there is a stereotype out there that the majority of delegates to the state convention are all "far-left do gooders" that are out of touch with the "mainstream" and the reason why our candidates lose is because they are "too liberal" or otherwise "unelectable". The REALITY is that many of the delegates are well-connected insiders who are there to carry out the wishes of the party leadership in chosing well-connected candidates. The long list of losers is staggering and they did NOT lose because they were "too liberal".

Hopefully the election of Barack Obama and his 10-point margin of vistory in Minnesota will put a damper on all of that "electable" talk and we can get some REAL candidates who have a chance to WIN.

Well, we don't have to declare our party in a caucus system. That's good. People seem to listen and decide.

Tom a. said: "(Kelly said "Now all DFL candidates are fine outstanding wonderful people in every way.") It is statements like this that ruin your credibility so that when folks at the RNC get letters from you, they throw them in the trash."

Yep, that's the RNC for you. And Republicans in general. They think listening is bad.

Seriously, folks, about this door knocking issue. It bothers me that anyone would try to persuade someone at their door. The candidate should speak for herself/ himself via literature, TV ads, debates, e-mail, etc. Even if the CANDIDATE is door knocking they should respect privacy and not "persuade". That's my feelings. Candidates: Remind people to vote and ask if there are any issues they're concerned about. Door knocking help: Remind people to vote and tell the person the candidate wants to hear from their thoughts and concerns so they can create a plan of action.

Yep, and this talk about "electability." What would you suggest as they search for candidates? Seems fine to find the most energetic and hard working candidate who clearly says what they'd like to do as our representative.

As a conservative (not a Republican, there's a difference) this is how I listen to the other side. I was just pointing out that maybe Ole Savior shouldn't be lumped in with Becky Lourey as Ms. Kelly does.

I do agree that it would be nice if candidates could just come forward on their own rather than be selected on electability by the new Chief of Staff..

Ah, I see Tom a. Good points.

Funny how you mention Ole Savior. The first time I voted I thought that was a joke...