The Never Ending Senatorial Race

Although I haven't written much about the prolonged Minnesota Senatorial race, I've been following it closely over at Talkingpointsmemo and the Strib. Both have been doing an excellent job. Something caught my eye in today's Strib piece:

Appearing on CNN, Klobuchar sparred with Sen. John Ensign, R-Nevada, who repeated GOP talking points that "votes [of all Minnesotans] should be treated the same. And I at least think that his appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court should be heard."

Republican Norm Colman is expected to file an appeal with the Supreme Court this week, asking that his setback last week at the hands of a special three-judge panel be overturned.

Did you catch that?

"Sen. John Ensign, R-Nevada, who repeated GOP talking points..."

It's small, but this is just another sign of the MN media turning on Coleman. Minnesotans are fed up and want their second senator. Three newspapers that endorsed Coleman have asked him to concede the defeat: the Bemidji Pioneer, The Albert Lea Tribune and the Worthington Daily Globe.

Coleman filed his appeal to the MN Supreme Court yesterday. Franken began hiring his staff yesterday. Let's hope for Minnesota and especially Amy Klobuchar this ends shortly. Minnesotans need a second senator.
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Now playing: The Race - Moorwood

More on my Klobuchar Love

You've got to love any politician who can include Prince, Bob Dylan, Hannah Montana and First Ave. in a question. She gets much respect from me for looking at this problem and the framing of the question.
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Amy Klobuchar on Morning Joe

I've been a big fan of Kloubuchar for some time. I voted her in in 2006 and I'm proud of the work she's done since then, especially on toy safety, and her op/ed in the WaPo was quite good. I hope she gets plenty of airtime in the coming years. A recent article in Politico showed another side, a more humorous, although always affable, of Klobuchar. It was exciting to see.

Second Quotes of the Day - 02.05.09

"I'd like to make this as short as Bill Richardson's tenure as commerce secretary," she opened. "I raised $17,000 from ex-boyfriends — true story! I know that is the record in the Senate, but in the House it's held by Barney Frank."

"Typically a Republican and a Democrat speak at this -- you could have saved a lot of money by asking Joe Lieberman." - Amy Klobuchar (MN-D) at Washington Press Club Foundation's dinner .

Another One Bites the Dust

h/t Jodi Chromey at iwilldare.com
The Minneapolis Star Tribune filed today for Chapter 11. I've generally been a fan of the Strib: quality reporting, highlighted by the Coleman/Franken reporting, combined appropriate topics for the readership. Minneapolis is the most literate city in the nation. Minnesotans deserve a quality paper. I hope the restructuring allows them to rebuild and improve their profit magins enough, for Minnesotans sake.
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Now playing: Steinski - Greatest Man Alive [Man's Game Mix]

When You're Wrong, You're Wrong, When You're Right, You're Right

h/t Ta-Nehisi Coates

Not enough bloggers, even my favorites, acknowledge when they get something just plain wrong.

Hats off to George Packer at the New Yorker.

Poetry more now than ever seems an appropriate occasion for a larger stage, and Elizabeth Alexander is the perfect candidate for President Obama's inauguration.

My favorite part of Packer's mea culpa was the signature of the letter tom the editor: "“Miss Terri Ford, the righteous redhead of Minneapolis, Minnesota." Ms. Ford sure let Packer have it, but a letter to the editor is most likely the only place she expresses her righteousness. Minnesotans are known for their nicities.
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Now playing: José González - Hand On Your Heart

"Mister, Will You Sign My Trading Card?"

Trading cards
Originally uploaded by Al Franken for Senate

Some where I have a couple Al Franken trading cards that picked up at the MN State Fair in '07. I never expected Franken to have a chance of winning. Especially after our caucus, where he was often the third choice candidate. It appears, according to the Star Tribune, he's going to pull it off.

Talking Points Memo has been doing yeoman's work with their coverage of the recount. Franken has pulled ahead by 225 votes. Honestly, MN is a blue state. Coleman should have lost more handily, and to a different Democrat he would have lost by more votes.

Independence Party Dean Barkely candidate picked up 15% vote due to voters dissatisfaction with both Franken and Republican Norm Coleman.
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Now playing: Bonobo - Ketto

Appreciation Out of Struggles

My three years in Minnesota and two years at University of Minnesota were not not my most pleasant. For those interested more details for my trials in Minnesota you can read Frost-Bite. But that doesn't mean I don't have a soft spot in my heart for the U.

Bringing in Tubby Smith was a coup for a school that hasn't had a coach on his class in decades. Now ESPN reports the 2009 recruits will be a game changer.

Great news for a hockey school. Let's just hope Tim Brewster continues to improve the football program, though I'm not sure he deserved a new contract just yet, either.
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Now playing: José González - Broken Arrows