Politics in Minnesota: The Weekly Report - Vol. 3, Issue 47 - 6/6/2008
The DFL Takes The Stage
Last week it was the Republicans in Rochester; this week, it's the Democrats. The PIM team -- Sarah Janecek, Dan Feidt and Peter Bartz-Gallagher, will join forces with the team -- Bill Clements, Charley Shaw and Betsy Sundquist -- of our sister publication, the Saint Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report, to report on what's happening live from the Mayo Civic Center. All the reporting from both teams will be appearing on the front page of PoliticsInMinnesota.com. We'll have photos and the latest news and gossip from the conventions. Check us out early and often!
Al Franken: The GOP Gift That Keeps on Giving (The View From Your GOP Publisher)
On this windy, stormy June day, the election in November looks to be even windier and stormier for the Republicans. Barack Obama wowed 'em at the X. John McCain looks old and tired. The DFL Legislature got its work done on time and in agreement with our GOP Governor.
But behind the clouds lies a bright shining GOP sun. Al Franken. A seriously flawed candidate who will make incumbent GOP U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman's star rise even higher when Coleman defeats Franken in a national GOP election debacle year.
Never mind Franken's machine sex fantasy in Playboy. Or his crass jokes about Andy Rooney raping Leslie Stahl. Franken's fatal flaw is lack of judgment. I fleshed that out earlier this week in Franken Fraught-O-Rama.
The diehard Republican in me wants Democrats to endorse Franken; the Minnesotan in me dreads that endorsement. Because if Al Franken is the DFL candidate, the election is about the latest chapter in Franken follies, not the issues. Nothing funny or satirical about that.
I'm betting we'll see lots more of Franken's bad judgment in Rochester: Every time he or his campaign blames his past thinking and writing on the Republicans. It ain't about the Republicans. It's all about Al.
Finally, the decades-long joke about DFL feminists eating their young is over. [The idea was the generation running DFL feminist groups didn't promote younger DFL women feminists.] Sen. Kathy Saltzman (DFL-Woodbury) and Rep. Sandy Wollschlager (DFL-Cannon Falls) were the first prominent DFL women to condemn Franken. They rightly noted they don't want to spend their summers defending Al Franken's idea of funny. They were followed by U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN4), Planned Parenthood's Connie Perpich and Sarah Stoecz, and, (finally), U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D).
Collectively, they're teaching the next generation what's acceptable in political leadership and what's not.
In 2008, the raunchiest porn and the bawdiest jokes may be just a few mouse clicks away.
But porn and rape jokes still don't belong on the floor of the U.S. Senate.
I'll have lots more to say about Franken on our Web site live from Rochester, where I'll be looking for the "DFL Feminists for Franken" caucus.
Another Appeal To The Prurient Interest (The View From DFL PIM Staff)
With all the hand-wringing sweeping much of Minnesota's DFL congressional delegation over Al Franken's nearly decade-old Playboy column, the PIM DFL guys feel it's important to get a little perspective about the connection between pornography and satire. One could say that porn is a satire of the human image, and satire the pornography of rhetoric. Either way, you're flipping the conventional, socially accepted idea on its head, and trying to get something new from that collision. [Elizabethans linked the word satire itself to the Greek god Dionysos' companions, the satyrs.]
Twenty years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Hustler Magazine v. Jerry Falwell, a pivotal case in the history of the First Amendment and American satire. In Hustler, Larry Flynt published a funny spoof Campari liquor ad with Falwell confessing his sins, and in turn, he secured the rights of parody creators to spoof their subjects. While some tut-tutted the ad, it made its point by crashing the often-exposed secret lives of southern preachers into the brutal candor of taboo sex.
Social conservatives have a well-documented enthusiasm for measuring and observing all things pornographic, though of course appropriating every shameful adjective their thesauruses can offer. [Can't have one without the other: there's nothing quite like a Christian conservative professional's secret North Oaks porn stash, but that's another story.]
Who can disagree that Michael Brodkorb was appealing to the prurient interest by ginning up some hot political action through posting Franken's column? The Nebraska Supreme Court agreed that the "Prurient interest is a shameful or morbid interest in sex, nudity or excretion which goes beyond the customary limits of candor." Every gotcha moment is unveiled with great relish: Fostering that delightful euphoria, digging up another bad-but-good-but-bad naughty blog bit; reading it brings pleasure that its badness is good for your political side, thus, it's time to feign some outrage! Forget candor: Can we call it Brodkornography?
Was the column funny? Yes. Did it fit its place and time? We think that it did: back in 2000, the Republicans loved to float rhetoric like teenagers downloading bestiality -- that's why Franken tossed that reference in. Fevered fantasies about technology and virtual reality were all the rage in movies and print. Times haven't changed: these days, everyone, including hordes of GOP women, want to go experience the decidedly prurient "Sex And the City" flick. Of course, every time stuff like this comes up, the chattering classes go upon twittering with guffaws -- it reminds us of decadent, gossiping European nobles.
Franken was always raw around the edges, and as Brian Lambert put it in an excellent and useful column this week, "Like a lot of guys his age/my age, he has traded heavily in good, old-fashioned (dumb) sex jokes because... well because everyone laughs at a sex joke, good or bad..." We agree with Lambert: Much as U.S. Sen. Barack Obama needed to have a breakthrough speech about race, and President John F. Kennedy about religion, Franken needs to finally spell out how satire requires crashing awkward images, foibles, taboos, and remarks together, revealing the tough political and cultural truths of our time. He can't wait it out in a turtle shell: He needs to deflect the attacks, and pivot to attack Sen. Norm Coleman's many weaknesses.
There's nothing the GOP needs more than episodes of trivial little symbolic battles like this one, in attempting to define the character and pacing of the U.S. Senate race. He could easily slip from the Republicans' finger-wagging game, but he has to do it himself -- and soon!
Post-Mortem For Mortifying GOP Meet
After the contentious Republican convention in Rochester last weekend, various GOP blogs digested an unhappy reality: The Minnesota Republican Party can't seem to reach an amiable, constructive path forward, and the convention put at risk the all-important priorities of building the party and finding more stalwart campaign volunteers. The U.S. Rep. Ron Paul (TX-13) faction, while boisterous at times, brought bunches of much-needed electoral energy to the convention, and party leaders needed to somehow fuse that fury onto the statewide effort in the fall.
As he so often does, George Will aptly summarized the root of the Rochester crisis on The Colbert Report this week. He said that political parties work to organize hatred (so we can all hate the same things together). The problem is that the various parts of the GOP can't decide who or what to hate, and angry splintering was all on display in Rochester.
The state GOP leadership was clearly upset not just with the Paul people, but also with long-time GOP party people who wanted to give themselves more power to discipline their elected leaders who venture off the GOP platform ranch. As the keynote speaker, Karl Rove wasn't about the future, he was about the past, and that includes the GOP election disaster in 2006.
As PIM first reported from the floor, the national delegate balloting was heavily tweaked in order to minimize the number of outsiders that could win. Attendees complained that the leadership had refused to publicize the required personal appearance before the nominating committee in Rochester. (The DFL, in striking contrast, quite clearly publicizes their nomination screening meetups online.) The GOP establishment had to resort to creating a dubious external group, the "Minnesota Conservative Delegate Team," to send out mailings promoting their national delegates and denouncing Paul.
Then the GOP leadership hung massive red banners purchased by the group in front of the convention hall, so no one could miss the marching orders. When PIM asked GOP communications director Mark Drake to explain this arrangement, he said we should seek out Michael Brodkorb to get clarity on it. Brodkorb, of course, was part of the official slate. (Someone put out a YouTube video bitterly entitled "Michael Brodkorb embraces fascism at GOP Convention".) There are grumblings about whether the banners were against either the party rules or FEC regulations.
While some found the floor fights distasteful, one Paul supporter said that his state Senator started to sympathize with them, and even encouraged him to go up and challenge the leadership about the banners, which he did, until they cut his microphone off. Thus did the rebel faction obtain some sympathy.
Some of the Paul people feel better than ever ("the best possible outcome"?), and they used the opportunity to network with the rank-and-file, collecting promises of fundraising support for their local candidates. The level-headed Paul leader Marianne Stebbins seemed to take it all in stride, and this posture surely will help their cohort prosper into the future.
No one should believe it's easy to run a political party, but the tribe has to be nurtured, and as prominent activist (and Ron Carey foe) Joe Repya put it on his currently scorching blog, The Eagle's Nest, the Paul people deserved a seat at the table. While the bigshots made sure they got credentials to the big party in St. Paul, they missed crucial opportunities to build enduring links to a huge, motivated block of activists that now might very well stay home in the fall. Fusing grassroots rumbling to nervous leadership is difficult, but that's what it takes. [Additionally, Repya is tangled in a fight with the party over tracker videos and heated emails, which the liberal blog MnPublius has taken an avid role in exposing. More here.]
Dr. Shepard: International Man Of Mystery
At the GOP convention last week, PIM didn't detect a shadow Dr. Jack Shepard faction opposing U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman's bid to become the Republican nominee once more, but that hasn't prevented the good doctor from informing us of his primary campaign, operated from his residence at Via R. Marenco 20, Rome, Italy.
Shepard fled Minnesota 25 years ago to avoid charges that he set his own house on fire, and was the first Republican to file for the 2008 GOP presidential primary in New Hampshire. Once a military dentist, his dentistry license got revoked in Minnesota in 1983, though he still claims to practice in Italy. According to a profile on MinorCandidates.com, Shepard likes to hint that he's a Middle East expert and some sort of covert operative: "If I wanted to go home [President] Bush would clear the way. Bush knows me personally... Spies are exciting but undercover work is very dangerous as you can see... How do I get new passports, travel and do not get arrested if Uncle Sam did not cover for one of his most connected in the Middle East, if I was not who I can not say I am?"
JackShepardForSenate.com features videos of the well-tanned Italian resident denouncing Coleman's links with big business, his failures in the Senate to investigate misdeeds like the military contractors that poisoned U.S. soldiers in Iraq, and denouncing Coleman's college protester days (Shepard joined the military in college). Shepard has a certain, Jesse Ventura-like cadence, and has played bit parts in some films over the years.
He's purchased a few days of Flash advertising on the Pioneer Press' twincities.com/politics. (He also has JackShepardForPresident.com, as well.)
It might be a quixotic effort, but at least it's also mysterious! Unfortunately, though, gadflies are more interesting when they aren't on the other side of the world.
MyWireless Spends Big On Anti-Consumer Legislation
Speaking of Al Franken and dirty, dirty things, the always-prurient Lobbying Disbursement Summary from the Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board has just been released. It attempts to catalogue every dime of attempted influence-purchasing (and knick-knack bestowal) foisted upon our public officials during 2007. Download the 159 page PDF here - but don't let the kids see it!
We checked out some of the lobbying efforts we've been following. In February, PIM reported on a cellphone 'astroturf' group, MyWireless.org, that was lobbying against a cell phone consumer protection proposal. MyWireless turned up to be an instrument of the CTIA—the major wireless phone industry group. Unfortunately the bill didn't make it through this session (we heard it narrowly lacked enough votes at a key committee), but PIM guesses it would've received the governor's signature had it been passed by the Legislature.
MyWireless.org showed up in the section reserved for associations with disbursements of over $100,000. How much did the industry spend to try to contain the expansion of Minnesotans' consumer rights? $137,869 in 2007. As we explained in February, the legislation boasted bipartisan Legislative support as well as the OK from the Attorney General's office (which spends major staff hours handling the legion complaints about wireless companies) and the Governor.
The industry may have gotten its way this session, but hopefully next spring lawmakers will see through the money and make a move for the well being of Minnesota cellphone users.
Bits & Pieces
Congratulations to Minnesota Monitor's Steve Perry, and his wife, Cecily Marcus. They welcomed their daughter, Pearl Perry, into this world June 1st.
The same day, John McCain and House GOP Campaign organizer Ben Golnick and Allison Golnick welcomed their son, Alexander Golnick, into this world as well. Congratulations!
You've got admire former DFL Secretary of State Joan Growe's candor. On MPR's "Midday" program, host Gary Eichten asked her what she didn't like about political conventions she attended while running as a statewide candidate. Part of Growe's answer, "You have to be nice to everyone 24 hours a day."
Trends, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development's quarterly magazine that examines workforce, demographic and economic trends in the state, is now available online. You can download a PDF of the magazine or view an HTML version of each story.
We've got a few more data blobs for you. State Auditor Rebecca Otto (DFL) released the County Summary Budget Report for 2007/2008, which spells out counties' reported budget plans for the coming year. Legislative Auditor Jim Nobles released his "Assessment of allegations concerning the Attorney General's office." [PDF]
At a Wednesday press conference, DFL party chair Brian Melendez spelled out new findings in their investigation into U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman's closest political strategists, many of whom are involved with DCI (or its other permutation, FLS-DCI). Presenting a complex and thoroughly-cited web of connections among soft money groups, powerful national GOP operatives like D.C. superstar Ben Ginsberg, the Swift Boat crew and many of the other usual suspects, Melendez attempted to paint a picture of cozy reciprocal favors between lobbyists, corporate campaign contributors, and, of course, Coleman's frequently pro-corporate voting record. Professional media were skeptical that average Minnesotans would grasp the importance of how such tight-knit relationships affect the Senator's decision-making process, or its relevance to the campaign. On the other hand, the national Republican Party has decided to totally hang out to dry the principal players in DCI because they lobbied for the murderous Burmese junta, and Coleman has declined to comment about how and when DCI formally lobbied him (including during the lengthy times they shared office suites). The question for the campaign season: Is this business as usual, or a good example of how groupthink among the political elite creates chummy, powerful webs of influence? (Especially when dirty jokes offer journalists easier headlines & research.)
Congratulations to Kevin Johnson, the winner of the Congressional Art Competition in the 8th Congressional District. Jackson, a sophomore from Cass Lake-Bena High School, won the competition with his painting "Dancer" which portrays a Native American dancer in his traditional dress. The piece will be displayed for one year in the corridor tunnel of the Cannon House Office Building, leading to the Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Second Congressional District DFL candidate Steve Sarvi (website) is trying to raise his profile with an official blogging day next Tuesday, and his campaign was pleased about the results of a recent poll by Goodwin Simon Victoria Research. However, they didn't want to give out the head-to-head number against U.S. Rep. John Kline (R-MN2), preferring instead to publicize generic matchups and questions that included positive information about Sarvi.
Third Congressional District DFL candidate Ashwin Madia (website) is a finalist in the Democrats Work group's online contest to see who will get assistance in a community service project from Dem superstar Wesley Clark. Democrats Work is a group that puts together community service events in order to build a positive Democratic impressions among the public, and engage more people that aren't into purely political kinds of activities. [sidebar: at the GOP convention, we heard a funny story from a veteran Capitol GOP staffer who said that Madia is/was a "nice young Republican" he saw waving around John McCain signs at some event in the State Office Building eight years ago. This guy was chortling mightily, so take it with a grain of salt.]
Mark your calendars for the University of Minnesota symposium "Law and Politics in the 21st Century" being held October 17th. The day long event will feature Judge Brett Kavanaugh of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals along with a three and-a-half hour panel discussion on the judiciary, election law and executive power.
Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced the the reappointment of three to the Board of Water and Soil Resources. They are Paul Brutlag of Wendell, Louise Smallidge of Hastings and LuAnn Tolliver of Minnetonka. The Board of Water and Soil Resources is the state's administrative agency for 91 soil and water conservation districts, 43 watershed districts, 27 metropolitan watersheds and 80 county water management organizations.
The Republican National Convention has introduced its Twin Cities area interns. Ten metro area college students will experience firsthand the preparation for the September convention. Intern assignments range from delegate services, housing, and communications and operations to media and press presentations and development. The Minnesota and Wisconsin interns are: John Castellano, Jr., Blaine; Susan Closmore, Hugo; Samuel Cowan, Edina; Talia Daly, St. Paul; Robert Evans, Edina; Elizabeth Heil, Bloomington; Jessica Hoden, St. Paul; Abigail Madlock, Roseville; Jessica Rondeau, St. Paul and Carrie Jo Zimmerman, River Falls, WI.
Lobbyist Watch
From the Minnesota Campaign Finance & Public Disclosure Board:
Morning Reports
