One Brief Shining Moment

“Don’t let it be forgot
That once there was a spot,
For one brief, shining moment
That was known as Unallot.”
Governor Pawlenty claims that he has the power to unallot billions of public dollars absent an unexpected emergency.  If that is true, Minnesota effectively has a democratic monarchy. That is, we have an elected [...]

Journalism happens, often online

Yesterday a group of online journalists were slated to testify before the Minnesota House rules committee. Their aim is to bring about a change of policy with regard to how the House defines a journalist and what types of media outlets could or should have access to the House floor.
I understand the need to make [...]

The Importance of The Right Messenger

Most of the public relations around the U.S. Senate recount has come in the form of dueling flack attacks. The Franken campaign has been at least as over-the-top as the Coleman campaign, including its gratuitous mention in today’s recount briefing of the Kazeminy-Coleman FBI investigation. (Holy kitchen sink strategy, what does Kazeminy have [...]

Election Night Prep: Senate Curtain Raiser

While the Minnesota Senate race has generated a fair amount of visibility, Senate races overall have been mostly ignored across the nation as the presidential contest has sucked up nearly all of the oxygen in the room.  That’s too bad, because there’s an interesting macro story there as well as a number of fascinating local [...]

Of Barkley, The Basics And Beer Slogans

I have two favorite beer slogans.
One was the slogan of the former Walter’s Brewery of Eau Claire, Wis.
“The Beer That is Beer.”
Tough to argue with that.
The second was from the…ah, let’s just let Edd Kalehoff bring it.

Doesn’t mince words, does it? (By the way, you can chuckle a bit at the goofiness of that, but [...]

The Un-Convention

As I write this, McCain campaign manager Rick Davis is detailing the dismantling of the GOP convention.
This is probably the right decision, given how poorly the current Republican administration handled nature’s last assault on Louisiana, but let’s be honest about what’s going on here despite the rhetoric of concern for the citizens of Louisiana and [...]

Blues’ Clues

It looks as if the security perimeter around next week’s Republican National Convention (RNC) is going to make St. Paul’s Excel Energy Center about as publicly accessible as China’s Forbidden City during the Ming Dynasty.
So how are blue bywatchers to know when the Red Man Group arrives in our fair city? A [...]

Pawlenty Ambitious, “But Is He Ready To Lead?”

Senator McCain’s last several ads have asked a singular question, “Barack Obama may be The One, but is he ready to lead?”
As Governor Tim Pawlenty prepares to be anointed The One McCain chooses as his Vice Presidential running mate, it is only fair that Senator McCain and the press corps ask the same question about [...]

Another Data Point…Or Four

Quinnipiac, along with the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post, has today released head-to-head survey results from four battleground states:

COLORADO: Obama 49 – McCain 44
MICHIGAN: Obama 48 – McCain 42
MINNESOTA: Obama 54 – McCain 37
WISCONSIN: Obama 52 – McCain 39

Interestingly, but not surprisingly, President Bush’s approve/disapprove ratings in those states are abysmal:

31 [...]

Trash Talkin’ Norm

I dispute the base policy claim, but this is a pretty darn good piece of political advertising.

Humanize the candidate by showing him interacting in a loving relationship. Check.
Insulate the candidate from criticism by deploying human shield. Check.
Appeal to women voters by spotlighting unquestioning spousal submission. Check.
Appeal to men [...]