I thought it was just me thinking this way. I was really encouraged to see that a group of former Gopher football players and Alumni placed an ad in the Minnesota Daily this week asking that Joel Maturi not be allowed to hire the next Gopher football coach. Maturi is a joke. The Athletic Department is a financial mess, and new leadership is needed not only on the field, but in the administration to get the program headed toward respectability again.
Personally I'd love to see Mike Grant hired; but I'm not qualified to make the decision any more than Maturi has proven to be.
The text of the letter is as follows:
PRESIDENT BRUININKS
HOW MUCH WILL MATURI COST US THIS TIME?
Athletic Director Joel Maturi is using the same process and people who produced Tim Brewster to hire our next football coach. Why should we expect a better outcome this time? The A.D.’s last hire cost us more than $4 million in coach salary and 4 years of lost momentum for our football program. Another misstep could condemn Minnesota football to permanent mediocrity. It’s 4th down for Gopher football…with so much on the line, do we really want to hand the ball again to the same person who fumbled his last assignment?
THIS IS ABOUT MORE THAN FOOTBALL
Over the last five years, the Athletic Department has cost the University MORE THAN $26 MILLION in subsidies and deficits. With the University’s budget under tremendous pressure, with a legislative request for $1.2 BILLION for the next 2 years and with EVER HIGHER TUITION BILLS, this is money we can put to better use elsewhere on campus.Even worse, the University is missing an opportunity for TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN ADDED REVENUE. Most Big Ten athletic departments operate in the black, raising more than they spend, with football as the economic engine. Football programs can be a source of community and alumni pride bringing in millions more in donations, sponsorships and partnerships supporting academic programs far beyond the football field. We’ve seen it happen in WISCONSIN and IOWA. With new leadership, there is no reason it can’t happen here, too.
As former Gopher football players, now taxpayers and businessmen, we can no longer stay silent. A world-class university with a new football stadium deserves excellence in ALL areas, including the leadership of its once proud football program. The team deserves a top quality coach. It’s not too late and we don’t have to “settle.” We just have to speak up—loudly and in one voice. Please join us.Help ensure Joel Maturi isn’t the one to hire the next Gopher Head Football Coach.
Go to: www.SaveGopherFootball.com to help
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Monday, November 8, 2010
Candy's Room
Because it's my blog..
The new deluxe version of Darkness on the Edge of town comes out in 8 days. I can't wait for the bonus material in the box set including The Promise, a collection of songs recorded during the 3 year period between Born to Run and Darkness..that never made the final album. But there also is a DVD included with a 2009 live recording of Darkness by the whole band, at the Paramount Theater..with no audience.
The new deluxe version of Darkness on the Edge of town comes out in 8 days. I can't wait for the bonus material in the box set including The Promise, a collection of songs recorded during the 3 year period between Born to Run and Darkness..that never made the final album. But there also is a DVD included with a 2009 live recording of Darkness by the whole band, at the Paramount Theater..with no audience.
Question: Will DFL Sen. Richard Cohen Retire?
My State Senator Richard Cohen, of SD64 has been in the state legislature since 1977, making him the Jim Oberstar of the State Senate. During this year's campaign with challenger Tony Hernandez the biggest reason he could provide voters for his re-election was his status as Chair of the Senate Finance Committee.
With the DFL losing control of the Senate for the first time...ever, how will Sen. Cohen adjust to being the ranking minority member on that committee? I'm sure the office isn't nearly as nice as the Chair's office.
It's time to retire Dick...
With the DFL losing control of the Senate for the first time...ever, how will Sen. Cohen adjust to being the ranking minority member on that committee? I'm sure the office isn't nearly as nice as the Chair's office.
It's time to retire Dick...
Friday, November 5, 2010
The Election's Biggest Losers
MDE Has an interesting post this morning speculating on the biggest losers in the 2010 election in Minnesota.
There was one glaring omission on their list:
St. Paul Voters -- Once again 60% of the St. Paul electorate has been exposed to be nothing more than a collection of union thugs, government employees and other "entitlement recipients" -- all standing with their hands out expecting to receive their government allowances. Those of us who pay the bills get screwed again!
Honestly -- re-electing Betty McCollum? I can't stand the fact that we're a joke to the rest of the country! At least we can take solace in the fact that Betty will be relegated to backbencher status, and with Nancy Pelosi out of power, she'll become even more irrelevant and insignficant.
There was one glaring omission on their list:
St. Paul Voters -- Once again 60% of the St. Paul electorate has been exposed to be nothing more than a collection of union thugs, government employees and other "entitlement recipients" -- all standing with their hands out expecting to receive their government allowances. Those of us who pay the bills get screwed again!
Honestly -- re-electing Betty McCollum? I can't stand the fact that we're a joke to the rest of the country! At least we can take solace in the fact that Betty will be relegated to backbencher status, and with Nancy Pelosi out of power, she'll become even more irrelevant and insignficant.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Welcome To Thundercrack
It's November 3, 2010. The day after the Tea Party Tidal Wave of 2010.
Here in Minnesota the GOP took control of both houses of the MN Legislature for the first time ever. Republicans have unseated a 36 year, 18 term incumbant in the 8th Congressional District. However the Governor's race is in doubt, and headed for a likely recount.
On a personal level, my candidate in the 4th Congressional District, Teresa Collett was defeated by Rep Betty McCollum. Teresa Collett was a great constitutional conservative candidate, who has a great future. She inspired a lot of people, such as myself to get involved for the first time in helping get her elected. Granted MNCD4 is a tough district, but there was hope that in a wave election such as this, we might be able to defeat the "intellectual leader" of the House, Rep. McCollum. Especially with all the good material that Betty gave us during the campaign:
Such as saying she supported Nancy Pelosi 100%
And saying that the Federal Budget "is just a piece of paper..its totally non binding."
And saying that "AlQaeda no longer presents a threat to the United States" -- days before authorities arrested a man with AlQaeda connections casing bomb targets in DC, and 8 days before AlQaeda tried to blow up cargo airplanes on their way to the US.
I think its funny today, that on the eve of a statewide recount in the governor's race in Minnesota, with several "voter irregularities" already reported in Hennepin County -- McCollum is on record saying she doesn't think we have a vote fraud problem in the US.
And despite an outright rejection of the Democratic Health Care Reform Bill at the polls last night, Betty still had the seeds to defend her vote for it -- despite being grossly uninformed on the facts of the bill.
I worked hard for Teresa Collett, to try and get this message out to my neighbors in St. Paul and Ramsey County via social media. What I have realized is that, despite our best efforts we just didn't have enough time to get our message out and have it resonate with 4th District voters. For that reason, I've decided to jump into the water and start this blog. If the St. Paul Pioneer Press won't report on what (new House backbencher) Rep McCollum stands for and says publicly -- we're going to try to here. In addition to that, we'll write posts on Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken as well. (Notice I didn't say Gov. Dayton? I'm still optimistic that Tom Emmer will pull this one out!)
Why Thundercrack? We'll I've always been a big Springsteen fan, and I hope that this blog shakes up MNCD4 and starts a storm of its own over the next two years. Thanks for stopping by!
Here in Minnesota the GOP took control of both houses of the MN Legislature for the first time ever. Republicans have unseated a 36 year, 18 term incumbant in the 8th Congressional District. However the Governor's race is in doubt, and headed for a likely recount.
On a personal level, my candidate in the 4th Congressional District, Teresa Collett was defeated by Rep Betty McCollum. Teresa Collett was a great constitutional conservative candidate, who has a great future. She inspired a lot of people, such as myself to get involved for the first time in helping get her elected. Granted MNCD4 is a tough district, but there was hope that in a wave election such as this, we might be able to defeat the "intellectual leader" of the House, Rep. McCollum. Especially with all the good material that Betty gave us during the campaign:
Such as saying she supported Nancy Pelosi 100%
And saying that the Federal Budget "is just a piece of paper..its totally non binding."
And saying that "AlQaeda no longer presents a threat to the United States" -- days before authorities arrested a man with AlQaeda connections casing bomb targets in DC, and 8 days before AlQaeda tried to blow up cargo airplanes on their way to the US.
I think its funny today, that on the eve of a statewide recount in the governor's race in Minnesota, with several "voter irregularities" already reported in Hennepin County -- McCollum is on record saying she doesn't think we have a vote fraud problem in the US.
And despite an outright rejection of the Democratic Health Care Reform Bill at the polls last night, Betty still had the seeds to defend her vote for it -- despite being grossly uninformed on the facts of the bill.
I worked hard for Teresa Collett, to try and get this message out to my neighbors in St. Paul and Ramsey County via social media. What I have realized is that, despite our best efforts we just didn't have enough time to get our message out and have it resonate with 4th District voters. For that reason, I've decided to jump into the water and start this blog. If the St. Paul Pioneer Press won't report on what (new House backbencher) Rep McCollum stands for and says publicly -- we're going to try to here. In addition to that, we'll write posts on Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken as well. (Notice I didn't say Gov. Dayton? I'm still optimistic that Tom Emmer will pull this one out!)
Why Thundercrack? We'll I've always been a big Springsteen fan, and I hope that this blog shakes up MNCD4 and starts a storm of its own over the next two years. Thanks for stopping by!
An Open Letter to St. Paul Pioneer Press
Originally Published October 27, 2010
To Thom Fladung -- Editor of the St. Paul Pioneer Press
Dear Mr. Fladung;
Over the last week its been probably the most interesting race in the 4th Congressional District in over 20 years. Unfortunately most of the voters of St. Paul would never know it if they relied solely on your paper to get their information. Luckily the "new media" has done your job for you this campaign, and really shown why the print media is dying in this country. Let me bring you up to speed.
First there has been a lot of debate about debates. It started when Rep. Betty McCollum initially did not respond to Republican Teresa Collett's primary night challenge to hold 4 debates. Collett actually hand delivered a letter to Betty McCollum's office the morning after her primary victory to challenge McCollum face to face. Betty wasn't there, and apparently neither was the Pioneer Press because no story on Teresa's debate challenge ever appeared in the "newspaper of record" for St. Paul.
Finally, after much goading by local bloggers McCollum agreed to appear in a televised debate on KSTP TV, only to back out at the last minute. You would think the refusal of a sitting Congresswoman to appear on television to debate her Republican opponent would be big news, especially given the current political environment and the issues facing our country. But, sadly there was no reporting of this slap in the face to the voters of St. Paul by their elected representative in the Pioneer Press.
Rep McCollum ultimately agreed to appear in two live candidate forums, and one radio forum on MPR. The first forum in front of the White Bear Lake Chamber of Commerce, wasn't open to the public. At this debate Rep McCollum proclaimed that she "supports Nancy Pelosi 100% and would vote to reelect her as Speaker." She also called Speaker Pelosi "a consensus builder" despite the fact that she led a unilateral effort on the part of the Democratic Party to pass the hugely unpopular stimulus, cash for clunkers, and health care reform -- that has spawned the voter anger that is driving what could be an historic wave election in just a few days. The story that appeared in the Pioneer Press reporting on this debate has actually been taken down off your website! You would think this story would stay up at least until after the election as a service to your readers who are trying to educate themselves on the issues.
Last week at the Wilder Foundation, Rep McCollum and Teresa Collett again met face to face in front of a live public audience. Anyone who was there would agree that Collett clearly won the debate. She articulately laid out the case for limited government, tax cuts and spending reductions in order to get the economy back on track. The overwhelming consensus from anyone in the room was that Collett came off polished, aware, and in command of the issues. If someone from outside the district had attended the debate, they would have thought Collett actually was the incumbent. Rep McCollum on the other hand, made bizzare statements like:
"Health care reform is not a government takeover"
"The budget is just a piece of paper..its totally non binding"
"AlQaeda is no longer a threat to the United States"
During this debate, many of McCollum's answers drew scorn if not outright laughter from the audience. She showed a remarkable inability to speak without prepared notes, and really didn't seem that well prepared. This story deserved front page news, as it was in front of a packed audience of actual voters attending a Congressional election in a highly contentious national election. Instead St. Paul voters received a bland article, buried in the paper that failed to capture the spirit of the debate or the atmosphere in the room.
Finally the events of the last 72 hours have failed to even make the paper at all. In case you weren't aware the Congresswoman from St. Paul has become a viral sensation on the Internet. A video of her leading Congress in the Pledge of Allegiance clearly omitting the words "Under God" is now all over the Internet. The video was featured on the Hannity television show on Monday night and on Glenn Beck's national radio show on Tuesday morning. It is newsworthy because it surfaced at the same time another video of a League of Women Voters debate where the audience demanded that the debate open with the Pledge despite the resistance of the LWV moderator made national news and also went viral.
Today another video of Rep McCollum saying that "AlQaeda no longer is a threat to the US" appeared on the front page of the National Review, Foxnation.com, Hotair.com, and The Blaze on the same day that a suspect with AlQaeda connections was arrested in Washington DC, casing possible bombing sites. (I'm hopeful to see a reporting of this in tomorrow's paper, but I'm not holding my breath!) McCollum's statement flies in the face of testimony by Homeland Security Director Janet Napolitano and FBI Director Robert Mueller before Congress last month. This statement by McCollum is shocking coming from a sitting Congresswoman, for either she released classified information in the debate at the Wilder Center or she revealed a fundamental lack of understanding of the threats facing our country!
This is an important election. The St. Paul Pioneer Press has failed the voters of St. Paul in its duty to report on the public debate and the events surrounding this campaign. This campaign has clearly shown to those who care to inform themselves which candidate is most qualified to represent the 4th District. Teresa Collett is a former small business owner, an appellate attorney who has tried cases before the Supreme Court, testified before Congress, and is a constitutional law professor at St. Thomas. Betty McCollum has a remarkably undistinguished career in Congress, passing only one bill into law -- renaming a post office! McCollum has been a 100% reliable vote for Nancy Pelosi and the extreme left wing of the Democratic Party her entire career. When Pelosi's approval rate is less than 30%, McCollum's support for her shows that she represents the values of San Francisco, not St. Paul.
In order to maintain any credibility I am calling upon you today to endorse Teresa Collett for Congress. Collett represnts the opinion of the majority of the country who are afraid about the growth of government, the growing tax burden on the job creators in this country and the debt the Democrats have levied on our children and grandchildren. McCollum is the poster child for everything that is being rejected by voters across the country! In order to save your reputation as the clear thinking paper in town -- please endorseTeresa Collett!
To Thom Fladung -- Editor of the St. Paul Pioneer Press
Dear Mr. Fladung;
Over the last week its been probably the most interesting race in the 4th Congressional District in over 20 years. Unfortunately most of the voters of St. Paul would never know it if they relied solely on your paper to get their information. Luckily the "new media" has done your job for you this campaign, and really shown why the print media is dying in this country. Let me bring you up to speed.
First there has been a lot of debate about debates. It started when Rep. Betty McCollum initially did not respond to Republican Teresa Collett's primary night challenge to hold 4 debates. Collett actually hand delivered a letter to Betty McCollum's office the morning after her primary victory to challenge McCollum face to face. Betty wasn't there, and apparently neither was the Pioneer Press because no story on Teresa's debate challenge ever appeared in the "newspaper of record" for St. Paul.
Finally, after much goading by local bloggers McCollum agreed to appear in a televised debate on KSTP TV, only to back out at the last minute. You would think the refusal of a sitting Congresswoman to appear on television to debate her Republican opponent would be big news, especially given the current political environment and the issues facing our country. But, sadly there was no reporting of this slap in the face to the voters of St. Paul by their elected representative in the Pioneer Press.
Rep McCollum ultimately agreed to appear in two live candidate forums, and one radio forum on MPR. The first forum in front of the White Bear Lake Chamber of Commerce, wasn't open to the public. At this debate Rep McCollum proclaimed that she "supports Nancy Pelosi 100% and would vote to reelect her as Speaker." She also called Speaker Pelosi "a consensus builder" despite the fact that she led a unilateral effort on the part of the Democratic Party to pass the hugely unpopular stimulus, cash for clunkers, and health care reform -- that has spawned the voter anger that is driving what could be an historic wave election in just a few days. The story that appeared in the Pioneer Press reporting on this debate has actually been taken down off your website! You would think this story would stay up at least until after the election as a service to your readers who are trying to educate themselves on the issues.
Last week at the Wilder Foundation, Rep McCollum and Teresa Collett again met face to face in front of a live public audience. Anyone who was there would agree that Collett clearly won the debate. She articulately laid out the case for limited government, tax cuts and spending reductions in order to get the economy back on track. The overwhelming consensus from anyone in the room was that Collett came off polished, aware, and in command of the issues. If someone from outside the district had attended the debate, they would have thought Collett actually was the incumbent. Rep McCollum on the other hand, made bizzare statements like:
"Health care reform is not a government takeover"
"The budget is just a piece of paper..its totally non binding"
"AlQaeda is no longer a threat to the United States"
During this debate, many of McCollum's answers drew scorn if not outright laughter from the audience. She showed a remarkable inability to speak without prepared notes, and really didn't seem that well prepared. This story deserved front page news, as it was in front of a packed audience of actual voters attending a Congressional election in a highly contentious national election. Instead St. Paul voters received a bland article, buried in the paper that failed to capture the spirit of the debate or the atmosphere in the room.
Finally the events of the last 72 hours have failed to even make the paper at all. In case you weren't aware the Congresswoman from St. Paul has become a viral sensation on the Internet. A video of her leading Congress in the Pledge of Allegiance clearly omitting the words "Under God" is now all over the Internet. The video was featured on the Hannity television show on Monday night and on Glenn Beck's national radio show on Tuesday morning. It is newsworthy because it surfaced at the same time another video of a League of Women Voters debate where the audience demanded that the debate open with the Pledge despite the resistance of the LWV moderator made national news and also went viral.
Today another video of Rep McCollum saying that "AlQaeda no longer is a threat to the US" appeared on the front page of the National Review, Foxnation.com, Hotair.com, and The Blaze on the same day that a suspect with AlQaeda connections was arrested in Washington DC, casing possible bombing sites. (I'm hopeful to see a reporting of this in tomorrow's paper, but I'm not holding my breath!) McCollum's statement flies in the face of testimony by Homeland Security Director Janet Napolitano and FBI Director Robert Mueller before Congress last month. This statement by McCollum is shocking coming from a sitting Congresswoman, for either she released classified information in the debate at the Wilder Center or she revealed a fundamental lack of understanding of the threats facing our country!
This is an important election. The St. Paul Pioneer Press has failed the voters of St. Paul in its duty to report on the public debate and the events surrounding this campaign. This campaign has clearly shown to those who care to inform themselves which candidate is most qualified to represent the 4th District. Teresa Collett is a former small business owner, an appellate attorney who has tried cases before the Supreme Court, testified before Congress, and is a constitutional law professor at St. Thomas. Betty McCollum has a remarkably undistinguished career in Congress, passing only one bill into law -- renaming a post office! McCollum has been a 100% reliable vote for Nancy Pelosi and the extreme left wing of the Democratic Party her entire career. When Pelosi's approval rate is less than 30%, McCollum's support for her shows that she represents the values of San Francisco, not St. Paul.
In order to maintain any credibility I am calling upon you today to endorse Teresa Collett for Congress. Collett represnts the opinion of the majority of the country who are afraid about the growth of government, the growing tax burden on the job creators in this country and the debt the Democrats have levied on our children and grandchildren. McCollum is the poster child for everything that is being rejected by voters across the country! In order to save your reputation as the clear thinking paper in town -- please endorseTeresa Collett!
Post Game Wrap Up of MNCD4 Debate with Teresa Collett and Betty McCollum
Originally Published October 21, 2010
I'm writing this about an hour after the League of Women Voters Forum in St. Paul let out tonight. I wanted to get this out on social media before the Pioneer Press (who's reporter I'm certain was sitting next to me) has a chance to frame the narrative about what happened tonight. I attended the debate, sat in the second row and tried my best to live tweet the events that I saw. You can follow my tweets on the #mncd4 hashtag. I'm certain the Collett campaign will have the debate up on their www.collettforcongress.com YouTube Channel very soon.
I'm writing this about an hour after the League of Women Voters Forum in St. Paul let out tonight. I wanted to get this out on social media before the Pioneer Press (who's reporter I'm certain was sitting next to me) has a chance to frame the narrative about what happened tonight. I attended the debate, sat in the second row and tried my best to live tweet the events that I saw. You can follow my tweets on the #mncd4 hashtag. I'm certain the Collett campaign will have the debate up on their www.collettforcongress.com YouTube Channel very soon.
It was great to see a lot of fantastic patriotic people that I've met over social media the last few months. @madvoterinmn @douglasbass and @suejeffersktlk all sat next to me. We had a great time talking before hand and exchanging notes during the debate. The great thing was that the audience seemed to be overwhelmingly pro Collett! This is in St. Paul! The city that hasn't elected a Republican to Congress since WWII! I fully expected to see busloads of SEIU members shipped in to give Betty a friendly environment. Either the busses got caught in traffic, or the DFL machine isn't working for Betty anymore. I'm now more convinced than ever that Teresa Collett can win in MNCD4! She's a great candidate, she articulates her positions clearly and intelligently and she's on the right side of the issues that matter to MN and the US right now.
It should be clear to anyone that was at the debate why Betty McCollum backed out of a live televised debate on KSTP earlier in the campaign. She does not debate well, she has trouble speaking without prepared notes (which she can't even read clearly), and when she does have to speak off the cuff she is prone to saying dumb things. She said some doozies tonight, to which the crowd responded negatively, with gasps, if not outright laughter. Clearly she couldn't take the risk of having such a performance televised. What Betty McCollum doesn't realize is that with new media, that message will get through despite her best efforts. Follow @madvoterinmn and myself at @stpaulcd4voter on Twitter and go to http://www.mncdneedschange.blogspot.com/ for more information on Betty McCollum.
I thought it was comical that the League of Women Voters actually called themselves a non partisan organization. This is despite the fact that the MN Voters Alliance has filed an IRS complaint against the League due to the fact that they are also a lobbying organization. http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=872135
The opening statement Betty read from her note cards was full of the typical DFL platitudes. I heard a lot of "keep moving forward" and "not going back to the failed policies of the past" but very little substance of what she actually stood for. She clearly was not prepared to defend her votes on health care, the stimulus, running up the debt or the bailouts to the auto industry.
On the other hand, Teresa Collett, spoke without notes about her life as a mother, a business owner, a successful lawyer, professor and recent grandmother. She said she decided to run for Congress because she's concerned about the country that her newborn granddaughter would one day inherit. She spoke clearly, confidently and sounded polished. She's a great speaker. To anyone from outside MNCD4 that happened to stumble into the Wilder Auditorium, they would have thought Teresa was the incumbant.
The first question of the night was about the recent Don't Ask, Don't Tell judicial ruling issuing an injunction telling the military to quit enforcing the policy. McCollum said that she "has voted to repeal the ban...and would do so again." Collett said that "She trusts the opinion of the professional leadership of the military on this issue. They should make the decision, not judges." As an Army veteran, who still is concerned about our country's ability to effectively defend itself, I know thisto be the right answer. The role of the military is to "kill people and break things" -- it's not a social laboratory, and the leadership's opinion on readiness should be valued, not dismissed by politicians with no military experience such as Rep. McCollum.
The second question was on health care, specifically "Can you discuss the benefits of the health care legislation?" Teresa Collett said firmly the "health care bill is a disaster and that she would vote to repeal it." When she said this the crowd roared in approval, much to the chagrin of Betty McCollum and the LWV moderator, who reminded the crowd to hold their applause.
McCollum went back to the same stale Democratic talking points; "I'm proud of my vote for health care!" she said. She tried to argue that the health care bill was going to save money and make health care more affordable. She also said that "health care reform is not a government takeover..." This drew outright laughter from the audience. The Independence Party Candidate, who is clearly not ready for prime time, tried to say that Teresa Collett was not in favor of an immediate repeal. Collett answered him by saying "When we have a 2/3 majority in both the House and Senate, we will override a Presidential veto and repeal the bill.." She commented that wth the political winds across the country its looking more likely that that could happen.
When questioned about what can be done about the federal debt, McCollum made the most laughable answer of the night. It was all talking points and no substance. She said "all options need to be on the table" four times in one two minute answer but didn't say anything that specifically answered the question.
Collett on the other hand pointed out that Betty McCollum sits on the House Budget committees, and that committee didn't even submit a budget this year. "If you can't even submit a budget, how can you balance a budget?" She asked. Collett said she supports the Pence Ammendment limiting federal spending to 20% of GDP, and that in order to restore fiscal sanity we have to look at entitlement spending. McCollum, speaking off the cuff, made a bizzarre comment that "the budget that committee submits is non binding, it doesn't mean anything." This seems to reflect the current thinking of the Democratic Party.
On the question about what will it take to get the economy moving again, Collett said that "the first order of business in the new Congress in January has to be extending the tax cuts to everyone." She said the problem with the current Congress is that very few of the members have any business experience at all, and that they don't know how jobs get created. Betty McCollum clearly was in this group, because she argued that while she's for "middle class tax cuts" (which is code for tax credits to people who don't pay taxes), we can't afford a tax cut for the top 3% of earners. Collett countered that the top 3% include small business owners whose business income as S Corporations are passed onto their personal income tax statements. Massive tax increases on business owners will hurt, not stimulate job creation.
The stupidest comment of the night came on the defense question, when Betty McCollum said: "Al Quida no longer poses a threat to the United States.." Wow, I've been so involved in following the campaign, I must have missed that news! She also said that there are "less than 100 Al Quida left in Afghanistan..." McCollum did say, however that the military was drawing up contingency plans for global warming. That's a relief! I guess in Betty McCollum's world Global Warming is a bigger threat to the US than Al Quida.
There was a question about which founding father you admired the most. Teresa Collett answered that James Madison was her favorite, because he believed in limited government and that he wrote the Constituion. Betty McCollum gave some lame answer about Ben Franklin because he was such a renaissance man, free thinker, etc...I guess Betty forgot that Ben Franklin was also a big proponent for term limits!
At the end of the debate, and during closing statments, Betty McCollum basically repeated her opening statement. The main reason she could come up with for voting for her was that she was born in South St Paul, was raised in North St Paul and lives in St. Paul now. She also tried to call for civility in discourse and that we shouldn't use hate speech. I was left wondering, "what hate speech?" This reminded me of her comments earlier this year comparing Michelle Bachmann and the Tea Party to Tim McVeigh. Simply insulting Betty! People who disagree with you aren't terrorists, and differing opinion is not hate speech.
Teresa Collett on the other hand, summarized her candidacy by saying "I'm for freedom and fiscal sanity!" She said that accumulating debt is morally irresponsible and that if elected she would work to bring sanity back to government. Her closing statement drew thunderous applause from the audience, and contrary to what the Pioneer Press will say tomorrow morning -- the applause was for Teresa, not ALL of the candidates!
I left energized and motivated that contrary to what the media will report, there is a race in MNCD4. There has been no polling in this district, but the same dynamics that are putting Jim Oberstar in trouble in Duluth can also swamp Betty McCollum in St. Paul. We have to stay motivated, talk to your neighbors and make sure everyone gets out and votes for Teresa Collett. My recent post Electoral Math How Teresa Collett can Beat Betty http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=155203901176998 outlines how the math can break in our favor!
This can be an historic election, and I hope that St. Paul voters can come out and make our state proud for a change. I'm tired of being a laughingstock for the rest of the US...
Electoral Math -- How Teresa Collett Can Beat Betty
Originally Published October 21, 2010
According to a recent poll only 36% of MNCD4 voters have a positive opinion of Nancy Pelosi. Assume that is Betty's base, the tree hugging, Kool Aid drinking, pachouli oil smelling, hard core leftists with Vote Betty signs in their yard and Obama and Wellstone bumper stickers on their Priuses.
The Republican candidate has received at least 31% of the vote in MNCD4 the last few elections. I know I'm in that group and likely so are you, if you are reading this.
There is an unknown 3rd party candidate in the race, who likely will get 5% of the vote, if history holds true. Don't be tempted to vote for him to "Send a Message" -- not this year. Voting for a true constitutional conservative like Teresa Collett will send a message loud and clear to to Pelosi, Reid, Obama and Company!
That leaves 28% in the Undecided category. The exciting thing is that according to a recent poll the undecideds are expected to break hard for Republicans this year. Historically the undecided vote always goes against the party in power in off year elections, and that trend surely will continue this year! With the presence of a 3rd party, it will take around 48% of the vote to win this year.
If the 28% undecideds go 60% for Collett -- adding that total to the 31% Republican base comes out to a 47.8% total for Collett!
Final tally:
Collett 47.8%
McCollum 47.2
3rd Party 5%
This race can be won! Don't believe the media who will say MNCD4 is solidly democratic. The left is down and we're energized. Dick Morris thinks there could be the opportunity to pick up over100 seats -- many from districts that no one expected! MNCD4 could be one of those districts. Talk to your friends and neighbors, follow us on FB and Twitter, write letters to the editor, contribute and mobilize. Every vote counts, and together we can Dump Betty and take back a seat that has been occupied by the DFL libtards since WWII!
According to a recent poll only 36% of MNCD4 voters have a positive opinion of Nancy Pelosi. Assume that is Betty's base, the tree hugging, Kool Aid drinking, pachouli oil smelling, hard core leftists with Vote Betty signs in their yard and Obama and Wellstone bumper stickers on their Priuses.
The Republican candidate has received at least 31% of the vote in MNCD4 the last few elections. I know I'm in that group and likely so are you, if you are reading this.
There is an unknown 3rd party candidate in the race, who likely will get 5% of the vote, if history holds true. Don't be tempted to vote for him to "Send a Message" -- not this year. Voting for a true constitutional conservative like Teresa Collett will send a message loud and clear to to Pelosi, Reid, Obama and Company!
That leaves 28% in the Undecided category. The exciting thing is that according to a recent poll the undecideds are expected to break hard for Republicans this year. Historically the undecided vote always goes against the party in power in off year elections, and that trend surely will continue this year! With the presence of a 3rd party, it will take around 48% of the vote to win this year.
If the 28% undecideds go 60% for Collett -- adding that total to the 31% Republican base comes out to a 47.8% total for Collett!
Final tally:
Collett 47.8%
McCollum 47.2
3rd Party 5%
This race can be won! Don't believe the media who will say MNCD4 is solidly democratic. The left is down and we're energized. Dick Morris thinks there could be the opportunity to pick up over100 seats -- many from districts that no one expected! MNCD4 could be one of those districts. Talk to your friends and neighbors, follow us on FB and Twitter, write letters to the editor, contribute and mobilize. Every vote counts, and together we can Dump Betty and take back a seat that has been occupied by the DFL libtards since WWII!
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