-- Cross-posted from mnblue.com, home of the Norm Coleman Weasel Meter --

This is an essay to determine what is the condition of the progressive movement and where it is going. I define the progressive movement as the broad, loosely related coalitions, groups, organizations and peope working for social justice in the realm of politics. From the peace community to labor to child advocates to environmentalists, we are united in our goals of attaining social justice.

It's more than 6 months after our resounding electoral victories in November 2006. Amy Klobuchar won with a mandate to keep the Senate seat in DFL hands. Tim Walz won an unprecedented victory over an incumbent Republican in CD-1 (the far south of the state). There is now a DFL (MN-version of Democrat) majority in the State House and a larger majority in the Senate. DFLers were elected to Secretary of State, Auditor and Attorney General. In traditionally Republican strongholds of the western suburbs and Rochester (SE corner of MN), progressive candidates won and these areas are no longer Republican strongholds.

Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) has stated that he's opposed to the filibuster.  He believes that all issues should get an up or down vote.  He's railed against Democrats using the filibuster to stop Republican nominees and legislation.  It just so happens that we Democrats have thought the various nominees that the Bush Administration have proposed are with very few exceptions either utterly unqualified or such partisan hacks that there is no way we Democrats can support them.  Essentially, the only choice Democrats have to force the Bush Administration to propose reasonable and qualified nominees is to threaten the filibuster and Norm just wants His Shrubness to get his way.  In regards to legislation, we must oppose the worst Presidential Administration ever however we can.  Here's Norm's quote:

"I came to the Senate to get things done. I have never supported a filibuster, no matter how controversial the issue."
(Norm Coleman's 12/21/2005 Press Release)

Well, now he's changed his mind.  He has voted to uphold the filibuster of the Immigration Act that is before Congress.  It must be okay this time, because its the Republicans spurred on by their conservative base who are filibustering this bill.  Its clear from Norm's voting record that what the conservative base wants, is how Norm votes.

-- Cross-posted from mnblue.com, home of the Norm Coleman Weasel Meter --

Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN) cowrote a letter with William Hurlbut which appeared in Real Clear Politics Thursday entitled Is There a Way Forward for Stem Cell Research?.  Just so you know who Dr. Hurlbut is, he's on the President's Council on Bioethics.  As far as I know, this Council on Bioethics does not differ with His Shrubness on banning stem cell research.  So, what do Norm and Dr. Hurlbut have to say:

-- cross-posted from mnblue.com

I got a call yesterday from Eric from the Democratic Action ... something or other (Network?  Coalition?).  He was fundraising for them.  He started off by asking "aren't you tired of Democrats caving in to the Republicans?" which I thought was strange, because wasn't that what this last election was all about?  Then he got to name dropping who was behind this organization.  He mentioned James Carville, Tom Vilsack, Dick Durbin and a few others whose names I don't remember.

I wasn't going to let this pass.  So this poor guy got to listen to me rant.

-- crossposted from mnblue.com

A woman I know, Maryellen -- a rock star door knocker and volunteer, emailed me.  We'd talked a few weeks ago about doorknocking in the suburbs.  She wanted to organize a bunch of her friends in the city and suburbs to doorknock for Keith Ellison who is running for the MN-06 seat vacated by Martin Sabo.  She was correctly concerned that next to nothing would be done in the suburbs for Keith other than mailings.  You may recall that Pam Costain told me she wished that they'd been able to do more in the suburbs, that when people heard from a volunteer about Keith, they liked him.  In the runup to the primary, they simply didn't have enough time to get that aspect organized.  Since the Ellison Campaign is back to most of the people who were originally running it, the suburban effort (as far as I can tell) is haphazard.

I knew Maryellen would have a positive experience out there in MN-05 suburbia from my experience as a canvasser for Clean Water Action (which is the most powerful environmental group in the state) from 1988 to 1993.  Put me in a trailer park, I'd raise a ton of money.  Put me in the Seward, the Wedge or Kingfield (progresssive, middle-to-upper class) neighborhoods, I'd raise a ton of money.  Put me in East or West Lake of the Isles Pkwy or even the Lake Minnetonka area where the millionaires live, I'd raise a ton of money.  The fact is if you're excited about your cause, speak well, people will listen to you.  Door knocking isn't rocket science or Renaissance fresco painting ... passion will go a long way.  To make it easier, she wasn't asking for money.

She's allowed me to relay her email:

Great news.  mnpublius is reporting that DFL candidate Tim Walz is leading incumbent Republican 46% to 40% with 14% undecided.  Walz has been working hard in classic Wellstone style.  He's got people doorknocking throughout the district, he's got my Mom and hundreds of others phoning for him.  Plus he's an inspirational leader.  Tim has been outraising his opponent, too.

cross-posted from MNBlue

I heard something really funny on NPR (National Public Radio) this morning.  It was a piece on states suddenly finding surpluses in their coffers.  They got a quote from Arizona State Senator and Republican Dean Martin explaining why its so important to give tax surpluses back to their constituents:

"When you go to a restaurant and you pay the bill, you don't leave your change behind."

I would have driven off the road if I hadn't been stopped at a stop sign.  Man, those Republicans are funny.  The reason you leave some change at the restaurant is because you leave a tip.  Do most Republicans stiff the wait staff?  Let's be somewhat fair .. I bet most Republicans like Dean Martin leave 3-5% tips.  I leave 20% if I liked the food and the service.  Wait staffs rely on tips to make their living, their hourly wage is usually pretty low.

Maybe he didn't pick the best metaphor.

crossposted from mnblue.com
Fighting Democrat Tim Walz is under a smear attack of lies and innuendo in Minnesota's First Congressional District (MN-01).  Republican incumbent Gil Gutknecht has been running scared for a while now ... running from his rubberstamping voting record, running from the Bush Administration and desparately hoping for something to distract voters in southern Minnesota from the real issues.

The Republicans may have found it.  In 1995, Tim Walz was pulled over for speeding and arrested for DUI.  The only problem for the Republicans Lie Machine is he wasn't drunk.  Tim has significant hearing loss. He couldn't hear the officer who pulled him over.  The judge threw the case out.

Tim's loss of hearing stems from serving as an artillery gunner in the Minnesota National Guard.  Gil Gutknecht's problems stem from voting as the Bush Administration would like him to vote over 90% of the time.  Call the Gutknecht Campaign and ask them to stop the dirty smear campaign:
202-225-2472
507-252-9841
800-862-8632
507-238-2835