October 2008

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Who steals from public television anyway? Apparently Erik Paulsen

Filed under: Politics

Erik Paulsen just can't seem to keep himself out of trouble these days. Only recently was his party accused of darkening the skin color of his opponent, and now Twin Cities Public Television (TPT) is claiming Paulsen pirated its footage to advance his campaign.

In his most recent television campaign ad Paulsen uses footage of his opponent Ashwin Madia from a TPT show Almanac that aired earlier this month. This ad has appeared on local television outlets, Rep. Paulsen's website and is posted on YouTube, TPT reports.

As a non-partisan station, TPT "has never consented to use of our copyrighted materials by any political candidate or party," the organization wrote in a press release.

In previous campaigns, we have requested that candidates - Democrats, Independents and Republicans - cease use of similar material, and all have complied...Twin Cities Public Television has sent two formal requests to the Paulsen campaign to remove all TPT footage from their ad; as of today, that request has not been honored.

We are therefore issuing this statement, taking appropriate legal action...

Oh, burn.

We would show you the ad, but TPT's tenacity has paid off. After notifying YouTube of the copyright violation, the website pulled down the ad. "Since the Paulsen site was using an embedded version from YouTube, the ad was effectively removed from their site as well," says TPT spokesman Stephen Usery.

"Also," Usery adds. "We discovered an anti-Paulsen posting on YouTube that included several snippets of video from Almanac. We requested that the person who posted the clips remove them and he did so immediately."

Oh, double burn.

Posted by Beth Walton at October 31, 2008 5:00 PM | Comments (3)

 

Move over Goldy, Mickey Mouse is in town

Filed under: Nonsense

If you aren't a fan of drunken buffoons in the a.m., avoid the University of Minnesota campus at all costs. It's Homecoming weekend on campus and tomorrow is the really lame parade.

But it won't be Goldy Gopher getting the crowd riled up. Leave it to the U of M to welcome a grade school Disney mascot for the drunken stumblers. Here comes Mickey Mouse!

Mickey Mouse will be accompanied by U of M almunus Stan Freese. He is a native of Edina and has worked for 36 years with Disney. He is currently a talent booking and casting director at Disneyland.

Here is a little snip from the U of M release on the parade. Please hold back your snickering:

Freese said, "It is with great pride and enthusiasm that I am able to announce that Mickey Mouse himself has asked to accompany me to the University of Minnesota 2008 Homecoming Parade. It is rare indeed, that Mickey Mouse ever ventures out of his Disney theme park home, which makes this year's parade appearance especially exciting for me. I really hope the U of M alumni, students, friends and fans come out and say hi to Mickey and myself at the parade on November 1."

The magic of Disney? In Minnesota? How could we be so lucky?

Bring your Nalgene of booze and cross your fingers for a battle of the mascots.

Posted by Emily Kaiser at October 31, 2008 4:30 PM | Comments (0)

 

How now cash cow: U of M says comfy cows make big bucks

Filed under: Business

A University of Minnesota researcher has found a way to make dairy cows more comfortable. Marcia Endres, an associate professor of animal science at the University of Minnesota, says that cows whose stalls have more than nine inches of bedding--sand, sawdust, or other organic materials--tend to be more content than cows that rest on more shallow bedding. “A comfortable cow is a cash cow,” says Endres, adding that happy cows produce up to two gallons more milk per day.

How do you tell if a cow is happy? “It’s harder to measure the happiness of a cow,” Endres acknowledges in a video about her work on the university’s Web site. “They don’t really talk to me in English.” But there are signs. “Their eyes are bright and shiny, and their coats are shinier,” she says. “Cows might be calmer when you walk into a barn.”

Improving cow comfort not only makes the animals happier, it makes them healthier. Cows can become lame when they are on concrete or slurry for long periods of time. A few years ago, university researchers found that about 25 percent of highly productive cows in 50 Minnesota herds were lame. “Is it acceptable that one-fourth of our cows cannot walk naturally and without pain?” Endres wrote in 2004 in Dairy Extension, a University of Minnesota Extension publication.

Endres and her research findings are starring in some statewide television commercials and print advertisements in University of Minnesota publications. So as you pour cream into your coffee this morning, hope that it came from a happy cow.

Posted by Erin Carlyle at October 31, 2008 4:00 PM | Comments (0)

 

Wildcats arriving declawed

Filed under: Sports

For those of you who read up on some Reusse this week (no, not the see-saw Kevin Love pieces), perhaps you caught the Gopher football article in which he adroitly points out that being named a Homecoming opponent is akin to hearing the host club saying something about your mother. Or, in the case of Minnesota/Northwestern, your great-great-great grandmother.

The Gophers and the Wildcats have been clawing since back in 1892, with Minnesota holding a substantial 49-29-5 edge in the series. It’s of little surprise that Northwestern was scheduled for this Saturday’s Homecoming, although -- prior to last week’s dismal loss to Indiana -- the Wildcats began the season 5-1 and still stand behind Minnesota as shock stories of Big Ten success in ‘08, despite losses in two of their past three.

And speaking of losses, the Wildcats are arriving shorthanded. Top offensive threat, running back Tyrell Sutton (776 rush yards, 6 TD’s) has been lost for the season with a bum wrist. He’s replaced by capable senior backup Omar Conteh. Of more immediate concern, however, is the likely unavailability of quarterback C.J. Bacher, who’s nursing a sore hammy. Junior Mike Kafka looks to start, but don’t expect much of a “Metamorphosis” in the Wildcat passing game -- Kafka hasn’t started behind center since September of 2006, and has never started a Big Ten game.

It’s been reported out of Evanston that Northwestern has been watching “Matt Foley: Motivational Speaker” SNL skits to buoy their declining health and hopes. Will that be enough to spoil the Homecoming and derail a Gopher defense that ranks first in the nation in both turnover margin and takeaways?

In brief: No.

The Wildcats, while 5th in the conference on total defense, have allowed 100-yard receiving games in four of their eight contests. Look for All-American candidate Eric Decker (3rd in the national in receptions, 6th in receiving yards) to crush and for Minnesota to trend upward with their fourth straight Big Ten win while both Penn State and Ohio State have the week off.

For the nostalgic set, here’s some old timey footage of the visiting Gophers taking it to Northwestern in a Homecoming of yore, 1940 style:

Posted by Judd Spicer at October 31, 2008 3:30 PM | Comments (3)

 

No one trusts Tom Petters

Filed under: Tom Petters

Looks like former CEO and local millionaire Tom Petters will have to get a little more comfortable in jail. He's not going anywhere any time soon.

Chief U.S. District Judge Michael Davis ruled in his hearing today that he will stay in jail while he waits for a trial, according to the Star Tribune. Too bad, so sad.

More from the Star Tribune:

Davis ruled from the bench after a three-and-a-half hour hearing in St. Paul, during which Petters' ex-wife and current girlfriend testified on his behalf. "The defendant will remain in custody without bail pending trial," Davis said without elaboration.

During the hearing, Davis seemed skeptical about a proposal from Petters' attorney, Jon Hopeman, who suggested that his client could be confined to home or his law office and monitored with a global positioning system.

Davis called his own witness from pre-trial services to inquire about how it would work. But ultimately rejected the notion.

"It's beautiful what you're saying, but it's full of holes," Davis told Hopeman. He said Petters could easily defeat the system.

Posted by Emily Kaiser at October 31, 2008 3:00 PM | Comments (1)

 

Franken wants Coleman to come clean about lawsuit allegations

Filed under: Norm Coleman

We're watching bullies on the playground once again.

Al Franken's Senate campaign released a statement today asking Sen. Norm Coleman to answer questions about the lawsuit that alleges he received $75,000 from a good friend through his wife's employer. The campaign did not address Coleman's statement that tried to connect Franken and Democrats to the lawsuit.

Coleman denies all of the allegations associated with him in the lawsuit and called it a last-ditch political smear.

Franken Spokeswoman Colleen Murray:

"This is a lawsuit brought by the CEO of a Texas company alleging serious wrongdoing on the part of one of Norm Coleman's biggest donors to financially benefit Coleman. The first we heard of this was when Norm Coleman refused to answer questions about it when asked by reporters in St. Cloud. Norm Coleman can try to deflect attention, but the fact
remains: these are serious sworn allegations, and he needs to answer questions about them before the election."

Here is how Coleman tried to associate Franken with the lawsuit in his statement earlier today:

Instead of focusing on the issues, my opponent and his political allies want to divert attention away from this campaign with a false and malicious political attack against my wife.

The irony? Lawsuit plaintiff Paul McKim is a Republican, according to MinnPost. And seriously, what Republican would help Franken win?

Posted by Emily Kaiser at October 31, 2008 2:45 PM | Comments (0)

 

Campaign video round-up: Franken, Barkley, Bill Clinton

Filed under: Elections

Trying to procrastinate and catch up on some election fun? Here are some campaign videos to suck some of your internet bandwidth.

Miss the former President Bill Clinton rally last night? Or maybe you didn't want to be caught dead there. The Uptake has a video on their site of his rally:

Another YouTube search today and we found a direct link to the TV ad that spurred Sen. Norm Coleman's lawsuit against Al Franken. Check it out here:

Independence Party Candidate Dean Barkley has one shot on TV to sway us. Here it is:

In other random election news, Minnesota Secretary of State expects record turnout Tuesday.

According to Fox9:

"Last summer, our office set an ambitious goal of 80 percent turnout of eligible voters for this year's election in Minnesota,” Ritchie said. “We have worked hard to reach this goal and to keep Minnesota number one in the nation in voter turnout."

2.99 million Minnesotans need to vote Nov. 4 to meet the “80 in ‘08” goal.

The last time Minnesota had 80 percent turnout was 1956 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower defeated challenger Adlai Stevenson.

Posted by Emily Kaiser at October 31, 2008 2:13 PM | Comments (0)

 

Laurie Coleman's workplace calls lawsuit libelous and defamatory

Filed under: Norm Coleman

Laurie Coleman, wife of Sen. Norm Coleman, works at Hays Companies. Although they are not a party in the lawsuit relating to money funneled to the Coleman family, they released a statement today calling it "libelous and defamatory".

Minneapolis — We believe the allegations in the lawsuit referenced in a story in today's Star Tribune newspaper -- a lawsuit to which we are not a party -- are libelous and defamatory, and we intend to protect our name and our reputation vigorously with whatever means necessary.

The allegations that we are not licensed to perform services in Texas are simply false, as are other allegations contained in this disreputable lawsuit that refers to Hays Companies.

Laurie Coleman, who is fully and legally licensed to sell insurance in Minnesota, has been an Independent Contractor for Hays Companies since 2006.

We are pleased with her work, and we find any allegations that she accepted money for work she was not responsible for to be outrageous and contemptible.

Laurie Coleman receives no compensation related to the services we provide for our client Deep Marine Technology.

In the first half of 2007, we were retained to provide our risk management consulting services, and that work continues at this time.

Posted by Emily Kaiser at October 31, 2008 1:11 PM | Comments (1)

 

Minnesota No. 1 for DSCC and NRSC spending

Filed under: Elections

Photo courtesy of LA Times

Minnesota has never had this much attention. The backlash? We can't seem to escape the terribly dirty campaign ads. These politicians are going to go down kicking.

Political parties think they can just buy our love... Unfortunately it might be true.

Minnesota is the top state for Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and National Republican Senatorial Committee spending during the final week, according to Roll Call.

The DSCC spent more than $3.4 million for the final week in the race for Senate. Roll Call says that is $1.3 million more than they are spending in any other state. The NRSC is spending close to $1.8 million this last week of the campaign.

The 2-to-1 spending advantage in the final week in Minnesota is comparable to the 2-to-1 advantage the DSCC has maintained in overall IE spending for the cycle. Through Oct. 24, the DSCC had spent $53.2 million for the cycle compared to $27.4 million by the NRSC.

Posted by Emily Kaiser at October 31, 2008 12:24 PM | Comments (0)

 

Coleman speaks out against "sleazy politics" lawsuit

Filed under: Norm Coleman

At least this time Coleman isn't completely avoiding reporters on important issues. Well, sort of. Sen. Norm Coleman spoke to reporters on Friday in Moorhead about the lawsuit against Coleman's buddy, Nasser Kazeminy.

The suit alleges Kazeminy had his employees funnel $75,000 to Coleman through his wife's workplace. Coleman said the suit is "false and defamatory."

According to the Associated Press:

Coleman said he believes Minnesotans will "see it for what it is — sleazy politics — and reject it out of hand."

Coleman said his wife, Laurie, "has been devastated by this."

The Star Tribune has his full statement.

Politico also has a blog post about the accounting records showing the transfer. You can view the full document here.

The documents, intended to bolster a lawsuit McKim filed Monday against Kazeminy over the latter's handling of the company's finances, includes an invoice for an April 2007 payment of $25,000 to the Hays company and a wire transfer showing the payout.

But the most interesting exhibit in an apprent ledger of "past due" payments to vendors that includes a $25,000 Hays payment -- circled in pen, with the handwritten instruction: "Please pull this detail and delete... 8/19/08"

Another document in the packet contains a possible, more vanilla explanation: payment of an annual $100,000 for "property...casualty and marine" coverage for the company, Deep Marine Technology.

Posted by Emily Kaiser at October 31, 2008 11:57 AM | Comments (1)

 

Senate polls keep everyone stressed out

Filed under: Elections

Can we just say that the polls keep showing a toss up and stop polling? Please?

Two more polls show a tight race for U.S. Senate. We are pretty sure there is poll overload going on this year. What happens if all of the polls are wrong?

Minnesota Public Radio:
Franken: 41%
Coleman: 37%
Barkley: 17%

Public Policy Polling:

Al Franken: 45%
Norm Coleman: 40%
Dean Barkley: 14%

Yesterday we reported on two polls that showed Coleman in the lead. We just have no faith in these anymore.

Posted by Emily Kaiser at October 31, 2008 11:30 AM | Comments (0)

 

Tom Petters to appear in court today in hopes of release

Filed under: Tom Petters

Our favorite millionaire has a hearing this morning in hopes of escaping jail while the prosecution builds the amazingly huge case against him. Tom Petters, former CEO of Petters Group Worldwide with holdings in Sun Country Airlines, Polaroid and other companies is accused of a more than $3 billion Ponzi scheme against investors.

Catch up on the drama in our Tom Petters Blotter archive. His buddy Larry Reynolds was released on bond yesterday.

His detention hearing this morning is in federal court in St. Paul. It's scheduled for 10:30 a.m. before Chief Judge Michael Davis.

He was previously held in jail because he was a flight risk. Authorities recorded him talking about his potential to leave the country before his trial.

While we would enjoy knowing he was still sitting in jail living the clinker life, we wouldn't mind staking out his home in hopes of catching a glimpse of him.

Posted by Emily Kaiser at October 31, 2008 10:30 AM | Comments (1)

 

10/31 Photo of the Day: Al Frankenstein

Filed under: Photo of the Day

There's nothing spookier than politics on Halloween. We found this particularly clever display in the Ericsson neighborhood. Check out the sign up close after the jump.

The wording underneath seems to have been washed away by the rain, but here is what it says:

"Vote Democrat and fix our spooky Senate"

Posted by Emily Kaiser at October 31, 2008 9:30 AM | Comments (0)

 

10/31 Morning Must Reads

Filed under: Morning Must Reads

Friday's five most fascinating stories printed on wood pulp:

Burglar karma
This doesn't even need an explanation: "A St. Paul man tied up an acquaintance and recruited a friend's children to help him beat the man with a belt and table legs before he tried to sexually assault him -- all to retaliate for the burglary of the friend's home, according to charges filed this week in Ramsey County District Court." Happy Halloween!

Halloween nerds: Ghost hunters
Check out the story above, or for the lazy readers, check out the video:

The other side of immigration, facing life or death
From PiPress: Negussie Bussa and Leyouwerk Tsegaye must decide: Leave their two youngest daughters behind to an uncertain future when they are deported, or take them to the couple’s native Ethiopia where they fear possible death. The Roseville couple and their four daughters face the possibility of being split after federal courts rejected the parents’ asylum claims. The Bussas and their two oldest girls immigrated in the early 1990s and settled in the Twin Cities. The two younger girls, Biftu, 13, and Habi, 11, are U.S. citizens and can stay behind.

It's more than just the candidates asking for support
In just five weeks on Minnesota television, from early September to early October, a dozen independent advocacy groups spent more than $5 million trying to influence elections, according to the Star Tribune. That's about as much as Republican Sen. Norm Coleman and DFLer Al Franken spent together during the same time. And since they aren't candidates, it tough to keep track of who is running them and where the money is coming from.

Cross-eyed drivers on Crosstown
Minnesotans don't like change. So when Crosstown suddenly switched lanes for exits, people were really pissed off. For more than 40 years, exits stayed as they were. Now they've completely switched lanes. The switch happened overnight, but the orange signs didn't seem to help distracted drivers.

Posted by Emily Kaiser at October 31, 2008 9:00 AM | Comments (0)

 

Coleman Karma: Bring on the lawsuits

Filed under: Norm Coleman

Suitgate is back! Yesterday Sen. Norm Coleman used his own frivolous lawsuit against Al Franken as his weapon of mass distraction. What goes around comes around!

A lawsuit that has been swirling in the blogosphere has finally made the news. A Texas man is suing a wealthy supporter of Coleman claiming he was forced to make $75,000 in secret payments to Coleman through the senator’s wife, Laurie, according to a complaint filed in Harris County, Texas, district court. The lawsuit was supposedly pulled, but was reinstated yesterday.

Coleman vehemently denies the allegations.

View the lawsuit here.

According to Politico:

A spokesman for Coleman, who is in a tight reelection campaign against Democrat Al Franken, denied the allegation as false and described it as an “eleventh-hour attack” intended to influence the race.

On Monday, Paul McKim, the founder of a Houston-based oil-rig servicing company Deep Marine Technologies, filed suit against Coleman’s longtime friend Nasser Kazeminy and several other investors for mishandling the company’s finances.

McKim claims Kazeminy — who owns about 50 percent of the company — asked him to funnel cash to Laurie Coleman through the insurance firm she works for in Minneapolis, the Hays Companies.

“Laurie Coleman never provided any type of services or products,” the complaint alleges, “nor has any other person on behalf of Hays provided any type of services.”

McKim says he objected to the arrangement, but acquiesced after Kazeminy threatened to fire him. The Iranian-born businessman, one of Coleman’s top supporters in Minnesota, “coerced [McKim] into approving the first monthly payment of $25,000 from DMT to Hays,” the court documents state.

Two additional $25,000 payments were made in 2007, McKim claimed in a floridly-written 30-page petition that includes a social networking chart connecting Kazeminy to Coleman and Jack Abramoff's old law firm, Greenberg Traurig.

“This absolutely ludicrous eleventh-hour attack is an entirely baseless claim,” said Coleman spokesman Cullen Sheehan. “It’s totally false and ridiculous.”

Laurie Coleman, he said, is a “licensed insurance representative,” adding that the “senator’s wife has the right to work for a living.”

A message left with Kazeminy’s office wasn’t returned.

McKim’s lawyer declined an interview request and said his client wasn't talking to reporters.

Another Coleman spokesman, Mark Drake, said, "The lawsuit was withdrawn hours after it was filed."

But a Harris County court clerk, reached Thursday afternoon, said the suit was still active but no future hearings had been scheduled.

Kazeminy and his family have contributed tens of thousands to Coleman’s campaign and recently paid $3,960 to send Coleman and his daughter on a private plane to the Bahamas.

Minnesota DFL Chair Brian Melendez raised the issue of potential criminality in the case.

“These allegations of criminal behavior are serious and deeply troubling," he said in a statement. "The Plaintiff has verified those allegations -- meaning that he will go to jail if he’s lying. Senator Coleman has a duty to the people of Minnesota to explain why those allegations aren’t true before the voters go to the polls on Tuesday.”

Plaintiff Paul McKim, courtesy of MNIndy

The law firm lawyer reminded reporters that this lawsuit is not against Coleman or his wife:

We didn’t allege that Norm Coleman did anything wrong. We didn’t sue him or his wife of the Hays Companies. The wrongs were done to the company [DMT] and to the minority shareholders.

The lawsuit was filed Monday and it started the engines for settlement negotiations. To show our good faith, we dismissed the lawsuit. The settlement negotiations broke down and we re-filed the lawsuit today.

The Star Tribune's investigative reporters are on the story, giving it mainstream attention for the first time. Yesterday we reported on their pursuit of Coleman after a campaign event.

Now Coleman's long week of silence during suitgate looks even more suspicious. Did he actually have something to hide? Kazeminy was the friend accused of buying clothes at Neiman Marcus for Coleman and his wife. We will keep you updated on this lawsuit as well as the suit again Franken. What drama.

Posted by Emily Kaiser at October 31, 2008 8:30 AM | Comments (0)

 

Since when did the Republicans get so good at graphic design?

Filed under: Elections

The state's congressional races are taking an ugly turn. First, the GOP was accused of darkening the skin color of their opponent in the Third District. Now, just in time for Halloween, they are turning their female adversaries into monsters in the fourth.

Minn Indy's Paul Schmelzer reports:

The GOP has been accused of fear-mongering this campaign cycle, but Republican candidate Ed Matthews has taken it to a new, overt level: he’s borrowed the horror-film genre to strike fear into voters of the Fourth Congressional District. In a mailer posted at Minnesota Democrats Exposed, Matthews’ team has photoshopped Democratic incumbent Betty McCollum to look like Leatherface from “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.”

See the flyer after the jump.

Posted by Beth Walton at October 30, 2008 5:00 PM | Comments (0)

 

FORE! Stillwater couple offers home for hole-in-one

Filed under: Real Estate

Golfers get ready, the seventh hole of Applewood Hills Golf Course in Stillwater is worth $239,000. The Pioneer Press reports:

In a market heavy with foreclosure, Dan Brasch and Jenna Fletcher have a different idea about what might follow closure: "Fore!"

Brasch and Fletcher have come up with a unique way to market their Stillwater house. If someone buys the house and makes a hole in one at a local golf course, the mortgage will be paid off.

Here's the kicker, you have to close on the home first.

Then, Brasch will spring for a round of golf. Make the 7th, a Par 3, 209 yard hole, and a sports marketing firm will pay the mortgage off.

The four-bedroom, two-bathroom house located at 2511 Countryside Court in Stillwater's Croixwood development has been on the market since June. The sale price is $239,000.

For more information, call Katherine B. Francis at Counselor Realty Advertisement at 612-508-7474.

Posted by Beth Walton at October 30, 2008 4:25 PM | Comments (0)

 

WW II history museum is not recession-proof

Filed under: Obituary

In recessions the casualties pile up fast and span pretty much every facet of society. The Ford plant shutting down for December or a Target shareholder attempting to boost the company's stock value by selling the land under the stores, the economy is hitting everybody. The Traces Center for History and Culture is no different. The museum located in downtown St. Paul's Landmark Center is closing Nov. 9. Their traveling WWII "bus-seum" will continue to visit schools and libraries. Full press release below.

(Saint Paul/MN) Even in the best of times, funding for cultural organizations remains elusive and ever precarious. Now, though, in a very short time, a usually unfavorable climate for non-profits has turned downright miserable. It’s so bad, that the Twin Cities’ only WWII-history museum will close its doors in a little more than ten days. TRACES Center for History and Culture is unique: it is the only museum in the United States that documents one region’s connections to another country while at war. With its two-dozen exhibits in downtown Saint Paul’s historic Landmark Center, it documents refugees from Nazi-occupied Europe who found a safe haven in the Midwest, German-American civilian internees in U.S Government camps, POWs on both sides—and many more stories, including Anne Frank’s Iowa pen pal. Still, competing for visitor dollars has proven too great even for such a niche resource. Executive Director Michael Luick-Thrams says “It’s been a good run”: over 100,000 people have viewed multi-media exhibits, tens of thousands of small-press books have found their way into homes around the country and abroad, and much thought has been lent to issues germane to a world still very much at war. After reaching millions of people with its narrative Midwest/WWII-history stories, though, TRACES will be streamlining its operations. While the museum will be open to the public for the last time on November 9th, its widely traveled BUS-eum will continue to take mobile exhibits around the Midwest and, per plan, to Germany over the next few years. And, its comprehensive, in-depth web site www.TRACES.org will continue to serve as an educational resource of singular quality. At noon on Thursday, November 6th, Luick-Thrams will offer the public a narrated guided tour of the museum, including commentary both on the stories presented and on how the overall TRACES project has used historical contexts to shed light on contemporary issues of war and peace. Entry to the museum is free that day, sponsored by TRAVELERS as the concluding year-long series “TRAVELERS Free First Thursday at TRACES” made possible by a generous grant. An additional attraction is the recently installed exhibit "Held in the Heartland: German POWs in the Midwest, 1943-46". For details, see www.TRACES.org.

The Traces Bus-seum will continue to fulfill the museum's mission.

Posted by Ben Palosaari at October 30, 2008 3:25 PM | Comments (0)

 

CREW defends their report cited in Coleman's lawsuit

Filed under: Al Franken

In Sen. Norm Coleman's campaign announcement this morning of a lawsuit against his opponent Al Franken for false accusations in his TV and radio ads, his spokesman cited Franken's use of a Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington report of the most corrupt members of Congress.

Melanie Sloan, the group's executive director, spoke to City Pages to clarify their report and respond to Coleman's claims.

Franken's TV ad says that Coleman is the "fourth most corrupt senator". Sloan said that statement isn't exactly accurate.

"I can see how they came to that conclusion," she said, "but that's certainly not what we said."

Sloan said their list of corrupt Congressional members is simply a list and not a ranking in any way, but it did contain just four Senators. Coleman received a dishonorable mention, while three of the 20 most corrupt were also senators.

She said it would be correct to say Coleman is one of four most corrupt senators according to their report because 96 other senators did not make the list at all.

Sloan said Coleman made the list because the organizations had issues with his rent situation in Washington, D.C. The group filed a complaint with the Ethics Committee, but there has been no decision on the matter. Coleman is paying $600 a month for a bedroom in the basement of a Capitol Hill row house.

Coleman's campaign also cited the group as a Democratic-leaning organization with ties to Franken, which Sloan said is false. She said she has had no contact with Franken's campaign.

"We have no ties to the Franken campaign," she said. "When Franken was on Air America, I did appear on his program as did other people."

Sloan also clarified that they target both Republicans and Democrats. Republican candidates have used CREW material to target their opponents as well, she said.

For example, their reports on Democratic Sen. Mary Landrieu have been heavily used by Republicans to target her.

After hearing from CREW, does Coleman really have a case against Franken?

Posted by Emily Kaiser at October 30, 2008 2:18 PM | Comments (3)

 

Local media weighs in on Coleman lawsuit

Filed under: Norm Coleman

After Sen. Norm Coleman's campaign announcement this morning of a lawsuit against his opponent Al Franken for false accusations in his TV and radio ads, the local media is reporting on the incident. Their reports ad some more depth to the story and quotes from the press conference.

Check out our first report for a recap on the story.

Coleman's main claim is that Franken's ad saying he is the fourth most corrupt senator is completely false. But according to the first media reports, there is an argument otherwise.

Star Tribune:

Mark Drake, a Coleman spokesman, said this morning at a State Capitol news conference that statements that Coleman has been named "the fourth most corrupt senator in Washington" and lives in a Washington apartment "almost rent free" are patently false.

"Al Franken has chosen to push the lines of believability far beyond the bounds of truth," Drake said.

The claim that Coleman ranks fourth among senators in corruption is based on a recent list pulled together by the Washington watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), which lists three senators among "the 20 most corrupt members of Congress" and then gives Coleman "dishonorable mention."

CREW never actually names Coleman "the fourth most corrupt senator," Drake said, nor is there any mention of the fact that CREW is led by Melanie Sloan, who has worked for high-profile Democrats and appeared dozens of times on Franken's Air America radio show.

As for Coleman's D.C. living quarters, Drake said that Coleman pays $600 a month to rent a bedroom and bath in a rowhouse owned by his longtime friend and telemarketer Jeff Larson.

Although the campaign released copies of Coleman's lease and rent checks last summer, it has not yet produced proof that the senator pays for his share of utilities in the house.

"It's a desperate attempt to change the topic," said DFL spokesman John Stiles.

The Associated Press quotes some at the office receiving the lawsuit:

The complaint was filed on an expedited basis with the state Office of Administrative Hearings.

An official with that office says a final determination on the complaint, including whether there was a violation, will take weeks or more.

MinnPost's David Brauer says Coleman's claims are false:

While the organization that judged Coleman thusly — Citizens for Responsible Ethics in Washington — may be a "liberal front group" as the Coleman campaign alleges, the "fourth-most" ranking is accurate.

There was some dissembling on this point at this morning's press conference (video below). Coleman spokesman Mark Drake noted — accurately — that CREW doesn't list Coleman among its Top 20.

The Top 20 contains three senators: Democrat Mary Landrieu and Republicans Mitch McConnell and Ted Stevens.

However, there are four "dishonorable mentions," and Coleman is the only senator listed. Thus, it is accurate to call Coleman the "fourth most corrupt."

But is it misleading? Here, the Coleman folks are on firmer ground, though not necessarily firm enough for an upholdable campaign-practices complaint.

Minnesota Independent says Coleman's campaign accusation of CREW being partisan hacks isn't exactly accurate:

The claim that Colelman is the fourth-most corrupt Senator in the country is based on alist released last month by the watchdog organization Citizen’s for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. Coleman is indeed one of just four Senators to make the cut. “It’s a non-partisan organization in Washington that looks out for ethics,” noted John Stiles, communications director for the DFL party, after the press conference. “And if you look on their web site you’ll see a lot of Democrats that they’ve gone after.”

Posted by Emily Kaiser at October 30, 2008 2:15 PM | Comments (0)

 

Norm Coleman: mum's the word

Filed under: Norm Coleman

Things keep getting worse for the Coleman campaign.

Just days before Election Day comes a pesky lawsuit filed in Texas that alleges Coleman’s wife, Laurie, received $75,000 courtesy of “suitgate” chum Nasser Kazeminy. It surfaced Tuesday and was withdrawn yesterday. Still, not exactly the preferred topic of discussion on the stump for an incumbent marred by charges of quasi-cronyism.

At a campaign stop in a St. Cloud restaurant yesterday, reporters asked Coleman about the suit (lawsuit, that is). The senator didn’t like that. Twasn’t in the script. So after the staged event was over, Coleman—looking something like an accused cannibal emerging from trial—hightailed out the door and disappeared into an SUV, much to the vexation of swarming reporters, whose questions were ignored. “Why won’t the senator answer any questions?” the Star Tribune's Paul McEnroe asked. “Will you roll down the window?” (Coleman wouldn’t.)

Here’s a clip of the duck-and-dodge, via MNPublius.

After the embarrassment, Coleman canceled his remaining campaign stops for the day… but then thought better of it. Campaign on! Praise the gods, we say. Let the circus resume.

Posted by Matt Snyders at October 30, 2008 1:45 PM | Comments (0)

 

Petters associate, Larry Reynolds, to be released on bond

Filed under: Tom Petters

Larry Reynolds, a 67-year-old Petters associate who pled guilty to helping Tom Petters in his alleged $3 billion Ponzi scheme, will be released on $2.5 million bond later today, according to the Star Tribune.

Let's hope this man doesn't have friends in really high places. We wouldn't be surprised if Reynolds disappeared into thin air without his passport.

The hearing was not on any public dockets and the Star Tribune received no explanation.

More for the Star Tribune:

Reynolds, a California resident with a second home in Las Vegas, Nev., appeared this morning for a bond hearing before U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Nelson.

The 9:15 a.m. hearing was not on the public calendar, nor was it posted on Nelson's schedule outside her ninth-floor courtroom in Minneapolis. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Rank was walking toward the courtroom with Reynolds' attorney, Fred Bruno, when they recognized a reporter and froze in their tracks.

Rank called Nelson's chambers on his cell phone and asked for a private meeting. He and Bruno turned around and entered the chambers area by going in through another judge's entrance.

Meanwhile, Reynolds waited impatiently in Nelson's courtroom. At one point, he asked a U.S. marshal when the hearing was supposed to take place. "9:15," the marshal replied. "Maybe somebody didn't get the memo."

About 10 minutes later, Rank, Bruno and Nelson entered the courtroom and approved Reynolds' release.

Neither Nelson nor the U.S. attorney's office responded immediately to messages seeking comment about why the hearing wasn't on the public docket.

As a condition of his release, both Reynolds and his wife surrendered their passports and put up the deed on their home to secure a $2.5 million appearance bond. Nelson told Reynolds he would be supervised by pretrial services in California.

Reynolds will be subject to home detention and electronic monitoring, and must pay for a portion of the costs. The share will be determined by pretrial services, Nelson said.

Posted by Emily Kaiser at October 30, 2008 1:23 PM | Comments (1)

 

Franken campaign responds to lawsuit

Filed under: Al Franken

Image by Dan Corrigan for City Pages

Al Franken's campaign for Senate responded to Norm Coleman's campaign announcement this morning that they will be submitting a lawsuit against him later today.

According to Franken Spokeswoman Colleen Murray in an email to City Pages:

"Our ads are factual and true, even if Norm Coleman doesn't like being
held accountable for his conduct. Every time someone tries to hold Norm Coleman accountable, he runs to court to try to weasel out of it. In none of the three prior times he's done this has he ever been successful, and he won't be this time, either."

Posted by Emily Kaiser at October 30, 2008 12:51 PM | Comments (1)

 

Another poll shows Coleman ahead of Franken

Filed under: Elections

A second poll released this week shows Sen. Norm Coleman ahead of Al Franken in the race for Senate. Could Coleman actually be gaining ground with his positive campaign?

The poll, conducted by Mason-Dixon October 27-28:
Coleman 42%
Franken 36%
Dean Barkley 12%
Undecident 10%

The poll, which has a margin of error of +/- 4%, also showed Barack Obama leading McCain in Minnesota 48% to 40%.

Could Coleman's lawsuit against Franken be a game changer? Or is just inside baseball that regular voters could care less about?

Posted by Emily Kaiser at October 30, 2008 12:42 PM | Comments (0)

 

Star Tribune receives package labeled "Anthrax"

Filed under: Media

The Star Tribune is one of the latest news organizations to receive a suspicious package labeled as Anthrax. None of the other letters have tested positive for the substance.

Photo courtesy of Minnesota Public Radio

According to the Associated Press:

Minneapolis police say they don't believe the powder is actually toxic. The package, which included a compact disc, was received Thursday. FBI agents are on the scene.

On Wednesday, the FBI warned media outlets to be vigilant about opening their mail after a California man was arrested on suspicion of sending more than 100 hoax letters labeled "anthrax" to newspapers and TV stations.

The bureau says none of the packets has so far tested positive for hazardous material. Authorities warned that more mailings would probably be received in the next few days.

Calls to the Star Tribune and the Minneapolis Police Department were not immediately returned.

Posted by Emily Kaiser at October 30, 2008 12:02 PM | Comments (0)

 

Coleman suing Franken for false attacks

Filed under: Elections

Photo courtesy of LA Times

In a press conference this morning, Sen. Norm Coleman's campaign said they are suing their opponent Al Franken for false attacks against him. They will submit the lawsuit to the Bureau of Administrative Hearings later today.

The campaign claims Franken violated the law in recent TV and radio ads by knowingly running false attacks against a political candidate running for office. The campaign says they will take appropriate civil and criminal sanctions against Franken.

UPDATE (12:55 p.m.) Franken's campaign responds.

The Coleman campaign is focusing on recent ads since Oct. 25 and continuing through this week that claim Coleman is the fourth most corrupt senator in Congress. This claim comes from Citizens for Responsible Ethics in Washington (CREW), which the campaign calls a Democratic-partisan group closely tied to Franken.

According to the CREW report, Coleman received a "dishonorable mention" after the list of most corrupt members of Congress. Coleman is one of four Senators on the complete list, including the dishonorable mentions.

They are also calling out Franken for claiming Coleman is living virtually rent-free.

According to MNPublius, this isn't Coleman's first time suing his opponent:

1998: Coleman filed, and later dropped, an Unfair Campaign Practices Complaint against Skip Humphrey. In November 1998, the Associated Press reported, “Republican St. Paul Mayor Norm Coleman’s gubernatorial campaign has dropped the unfair campaign practices complaint he had filed in all 87 counties against DFL rival Hubert Humphrey III. Coleman had accused Humphrey of illegally distorting his position on family farms. He said Humphrey and DFL party Chairman Dick Senese violated the state’s Fair Campaign Practices Act in several ads and statements that portray Coleman as an enemy of family farmers based on comments he made at an August candidate forum.” [Associated Press, 11/25/08]

2002: Minnesota Republican Party Filed A Complaint Against Over Treatment Of Trackers. In October 2002, the Star Tribune reported, “State Republican Party Chairman Ron Eibensteiner accused U.S. Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn., on Monday of inciting “union thugs” to rough up GOP video cameramen at a weekend rally sponsored by the Minnesota Fair Trade Coalition in Duluth. One of the cameramen, Jim Crea, 22, said he was punched and shoved after Wellstone mentioned ‘Republican cameras’ at the end of a list of guests he welcomed to the rally. Crea said he will turn over his videotape to Duluth police today and file a complaint against Wellstone and the unidentified assailants. ‘Wellstone called for the hit from the podium, and his union thugs carried it out with gusto,’ Eibensteiner said at a State Capitol news conference. ‘Sadly, he did nothing to stop the assault.’ He called for Wellstone to apologize and help identify the alleged assailants.” [Star Tribune, 10/8/02]

2002: Coleman Campaign Filed A Complaint Against Wellstone For Distorting His Stance On Social Security. In September 2002, the Associated Press reported, “Coleman’s campaign began the day by announcing it was asking 10 county attorneys to charge Wellstone’s campaign with illegally distorting Coleman’s position on Social Security. In short, Wellstone’s ad says Coleman supports ‘privatizing’ the Social Security system. Coleman says the term doesn’t accurately describe his plan. Democrats countered by calling Coleman compulsively litigious, noting he filed complaints against Hubert H. Humphrey III in the 1998 race for governor over his position on family farms. No charges were brought, and Coleman dropped the charges after the race.” [Associated Press, 9/25/02]

UPDATE:

Here is KSTP's truth test on the ad in question:

Posted by Emily Kaiser at October 30, 2008 11:15 AM | Comments (3)

 

Bachmann takes credit for cheap gas, Pagans are pissed off

Filed under: Michele Bachmann

Photo courtesy of Minnesota Public Radio

We all know Rep. Michele Bachmann is a magical being, but no one told us she had the power to lower gas prices in just a couple months! Wow, what a feat. Can she make our home values rise and provide more jobs? That would be awesome.

In her latest claim to fame, Bachmann is taking credit for the drop in gas prices. Video and her blog post below.

Here is her blog post from The Hill. Bolding is from us:

Driving through the district today, gas station after gas station displayed gas prices around the $2 mark. The lowest price I saw today was $2.06 in Elk River. It seems like only yesterday papers and pundits in my district and around the country were mocking the mere notion of $2 gas — but here we are.

What happened the past few months to lower the cost of gas? Several things, but perhaps most importantly, Congress has let the ban on offshore oil exploration and oil shale expire, sending a signal to the markets that the United States may finally be ready to up their supply. Also, the collapse of the global markets has stabilized the American dollar. In other words, we’re now getting more bang for our buck.

But to forget about the heavy strain that gas prices have had on the American household and economy over the past year - from filling up the gas tank to buying groceries - would be setting ourselves up for another fuel crisis in the near future.

Today I met with local inventors and innovators in St. Cloud to discuss their work on clean and renewable energy technologies and to discuss my legislation, H.R. 6716, the Promoting New American Energy Act, that would help us pave the way to American energy independence.

The Promoting New American Energy Act would launch a wave of energy research, investment and innovation by aggressively accelerating tax depreciation for cutting-edge and renewable energy technologies – making America’s energy production more competitive with foreign nations.

Present at the St. Cloud meeting were Dave Wendorf from Sartec, a company developing algae for use as an alternative fuel; Dan Stevens, Director of Regulatory Affairs at CDC Enterprise, Inc.; David Tripp, Executive Director of Metro Transit, which adapted a bus to run on french fry oil; and Diane Moeller, principal of the Kennedy Community School in St. Joseph, where they are exploring a variety of innovative energy technologies on campus.

We need to take an All-of-the-Above approach to energy and open up our onshore and offshore oil and natural gas stockpiles, as well as pursue alternative forms of energy. To do one without the other would be self-defeating.

Unfortunately we think Bachmann is a little confused. It's been heavily reported that the drop in price has to do with the terrible economy and decreased demand and nothing to do with recent action in Congress to open up exploration.

In other Bachmann criticism, Pagans aren't happy that she supports a group that bashes their holiday.

Earlier this week we reported that Bachmann donated her tainted Petters cash to Minnesota Teen Challenge, which is still connected to a Petters associate. Archives over at DumpBachmann shows that the organization isn't a big fan of Pagan spells or Halloween.

And of course, the Pagans don't like groups that try to label them evil Satan-loving psychos determined to cast spells on anyone that crosses their path:

Now supporting a charity that peddles in lies and distortions of Pagan religions is most likely the least of her worries at this point, but it certainly gives some insight into what causes Bachmann is willing to support. Being socially conservative is one thing, but unthinkingly supporting a group that teaches mentally vulnerable children with addictions that we are evil is another matter entirely. Here's hoping that Paganistan can elect someone a bit more friendly to our faiths come November.

Posted by Emily Kaiser at October 30, 2008 11:05 AM | Comments (0)

 

Minn. Secretary of State calls for voter intimidation investigation

Filed under: Elections

Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie has asked prosecutors to investigate a call to a St. Paul man that he calls alleged voter intimidation. The caller said he was working on behalf of Minnesota Majority, a right-wing group previously run by former Secretary of State Mary Kiffmeyer.

Watch the video of his news conference below.

Photo courtesy of Minnesota Public Radio

According to the Associated Press:

Ritchie says Larry Johnson of St. Paul got a call from a woman who claimed to be working with the secretary of state's office on voter fraud. She had questions about his voting record.

Johnson signed an affidavit saying the woman later told him she was working with Jeff Davis, the head of a conservative group, Minnesota Majority, that has been questioning the integrity of Minnesota's voter rolls.

Davis didn't immediately return a phone message.

Ritchie says he has forwarded the case to the Ramsey County and U.S. attorneys.

He is urging voters to report any such calls to his office.

Minnesota Independent posted the affidavit.

Davis, the organization's president, posted this statement on their site:

“We understand Secretary of State Mark Ritchie has claimed that representatives from Minnesota Majority have been involved in voter intimidation activities. Minnesota Majority has been conducting research into what appear to be inconsistencies in Minnesota’s voter rolls. Voters with apparent duplicate registration records have been contacted by Minnesota Majority volunteers with a simple request to confirm the accuracy of their voter registration information. We believe these research activities to be in complete compliance with all state and federal laws. We feel these false allegations are designed to simply deflect attention away from further scrutiny of what appear to be serious irregularities with Minnesota voter registration records. Minnesota Majority is a grassroots watchdog group. It is groups like ours that help keep an eye on what is transpiring in our state government. Our sole objective has been to help ensure transparency and fairness in our state government and our election process. We challenge Secretary of State Mark Ritchie to produce the evidence which substantiates these serious allegations.”

Interesting. They don't seem to be denying the phone call or what the call was for. We look forward to hearing a final verdict on the calls they are making. Hopefully more people come forward with similar stories.

Here is what the SOS office recommends Minnesotans do if they receive similar calls:

We want to let all Minnesotans know that if you or anyone in your family receives a phone call from any individual claiming to be working with or associated with the Office of the Secretary of State, politely get their name and phone number and then hang-up and immediately contact our office at 1-877-600-8683

Posted by Emily Kaiser at October 30, 2008 10:05 AM | Comments (0)

 

Poll: McCain gains two points, Barack still has solid lead

Filed under: Elections

We won't miss reporting poll numbers...

In the latest Rasmussen poll, John McCain gained two points, but Barack Obama still holds a solid 12-point lead.

Obama 55%
McCain 43%
Other 1%
Undecided 1%

Last week's poll showed Obama with a 15-pount lead with Obama ahead 56% to 41%. Obama has always been ahead, but McCain brought it to a 4-point spread in August.

The poll numbers correlate with the two candidate's view of the race. Both have scaled back their ads, according to Minnesota Public Radio.

Barack Obama's campaign has cut $100 thousand in ads that were scheduled to run on WCCO and KARE in the final week of the campaign. It's a sign that Obama is confident that he can win Minnesota. Obama still has ads running but there won't be as many as originally scheduled.

The move comes just days after Obama's GOP rival, John McCain, cut back on his ad spending at Twin Cities TV stations. Governor Pawlenty, who co-chairs the McCain campaign, said earlier this week that it would be difficult for McCain to win the state.

Posted by Emily Kaiser at October 30, 2008 9:38 AM | Comments (0)

 

10/30 Morning Must Reads: Nazis, Bachmann, Northwest Airlines

Filed under: Morning Must Reads

Thursday's five most fascinating stories printed on wood pulp:

MIA returns artwork stolen by Nazis
After 10 years or research, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts said a painting they owned for decades was stolen by the Nazis. The $2.8 million painting for 1911 was returned to the French heirs of a Jewish art collector who died in 60 years ago.

El, meet Michele
Michele meet El
The Pioneer Press devotes a good chunk of their front page to the race for the 6th District. The articles portray El Tinklenberg as still an unknown in the race, despite his previous work in Minnesota and his recent fame in the last couple weeks. Bachmann on the other hand is portrayed as perhaps the most polarizing figure ever in Minnesota politics.

Delta/Northwest merger official
Minnesota's airline became part of Delta Air Lines just hours after federal regulators cleared the merger. The new airline is will rake in about $35 billion in revenue a year and employ about 75,000 people, but don't expect any major changes just yet. Both will still fly separately until early 2009. After January things will get trippy when Northwest fliers will notice Delta food on flights by attendants wearing Delta uniforms. Northwest planes will also get leather seats and brighter lighting.

Newscast leads to murderer's confession
While watching a 5 p.m. newscast Monday about the murders of two Mounds View women in their home, Johnny Lee Ellis Jr. confessed that he did it to his friend. He said he had murdered his girlfriend during a fight and didn't want to leave witnesses. He killed his girlfriend, her sister and her mother in the home.

Posted by Emily Kaiser at October 30, 2008 9:05 AM | Comments (0)

 

Kevin Love, Barista

Filed under: Nonsense and Such

The T-Wolves' venti rookie Kevin Love slung a few lattes yesterday morning at a City Center Starbucks. The 6-10, 250-pound brute served up coffees for gracious customers as part of a promotional staging in which tickets to tonight's home/season opener against the Sacramento were given away. Given away!

A source close to Love assures us that he made no attempt at unionizing the baristas.

Looking for some preseason analysis on the Wolves? Of course you are. Heed this.

Posted by Matt Snyders at October 30, 2008 8:45 AM | Comments (0)

 

Paulsen campaign accused of darkening Madia's skin in TV ad

Filed under: Elections

Madia gets O.J.'ed!

The U.S. 3rd District Republican candidate Erik Paulsen is being accused of some heavy manipulation in one of his latest ads. And it's not just facts he is distorting. It's his Democratic opponent's skin color. A KARE11 story yesterday cites several independent media experts confirming that the ad darkened Madia's skin.

Here is the KARE11 report:

Here is the original ad:

According to the report, the Paulsen campaign stands by the ad. The Democrats are not happy. Here is what the MN DFL had to say:

Minnesota and national Republicans desperate to hold onto the state’s Third Congressional District seat have stooped to new lows.

A report on Twin Cities-based KARE-11 news this evening cites two independent sources who say that a new television ad from the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) darkens the skin tone of DFL congressional candidate Ashwin Madia (MN-03), who is of Asian Indian American background.

Professor Clay Steinman of Macalester College, who teaches about mass-media messaging and consumer responses, is featured in the story. Steinman said:

“Even if we think that we are not racist, people of all races, when confronted with images that are darker and different, have a kind of visceral, negative response.”

Croman also quoted Dean Alger, a political-advertising expert and media consultant, as saying:

“Distortions and exaggerations are a part of the game. But in his words, the darkening of the Democrat’s photos are beyond distortion and are what he calls a subtle effort to convey the message that Ashwin Madia is different.”

KARE-11’s report tonight follows a press conference earlier this month at which Minnesota GOP officials declared that Madia did not fit the district from a “lifestyle” or “demographic standpoint” — or, in the words of Minnesota GOP Chairman Ron Carey, Madia is “not one of them.” The Star Tribune reported:

“Meanwhile, a Paulsen surrogate, state Sen. Geoff Michel, R-Minn., took the podium at a news conference last week to question Madia’s ties to the district because, among other things, he has not raised a family there or paid a mortgage or gone to a PTA meeting. State GOP chairman Ron Carey also recently urged voters to examine ‘the demographic standpoint’ of the candidates to determine which one to vote for.” [Star Tribune, 10/5/08]

The DFL also provided links to the original photos here, here and here.

Yikes. This campaign has already produced some passively racist statements that would suggest Madia isn't a right fit for the district. This sort of campaigning, along with what has been happening around the country during the Barack Obama campaign are frightening and sending us backwards in our work towards diversity. Our country will have a lot of healing to do after next Tuesday.

Posted by Emily Kaiser at October 30, 2008 8:36 AM | Comments (4)

 

Minnesota campaign calls are absolutely terrible

Filed under: Elections

Thank you call waiting (and cell phones) for helping us avoid the plague that is campaign phone calls. Yes, we are going to vote and please stop talking when we clearly state we aren't interested.

And why are the calls in Minnesota particularly bad? We're not sure, but we've found some good posts on what they are saying.

Jason Linkins of the Huffington Post called one of the calls to Minnnesota "The Sloppiest McCain Campaign Call You've Heard Yet". Robo calls are illegal in Minnesota, so Linkins says we get the bad unenthusiastic human callers:

This forces candidates to employ real life human beings to make these calls and read from scripts. And that places the McCain campaign at a significant disadvantage, since his campaign ceased generating wide-spread, general enthusiasm at some point after the New Hampshire primary. Listen for yourself at this McCain call, in which boredom and illiteracy get in the way of the salesmanship.

Listen for yourself here:

WCCO's Jason DeRusha got push polled and gives readers a transcript of their conversation. It's pretty entertaining:

So I just got off the phone with someone who wanted to do a "public