Secrets of the City

Here is a link to the local caucus finder.

Once again:

Obama ‘08
JACC ‘09
and
Alie 4eva

Pav, I appreciate the vote and you know I’ll work hard to deliver on my campaign promises. Maybe the thread’s title should be “Caucusing. Just for the loonies.”

I might seriously steal some pictures of you JACC and create some signs to bring hehe

I love to make people wonder “WTF”

Hopefully, my new precinct has higher turnout than my old one in Fridley. One year there were 4 of us in a combined caucus for 2 precincts. I think the most I ever saw was 10 people.

If you do be sure to take pics.

4 years ago there were a lot of people at my caucus. I lived in Kingfield and people were very passionate about the whole process. We got out pretty quick when we saw that the whole thing was being hijacked by the very passionate.

Turnout, as a general measure, is going to be fascinating. For so long we’ve bemoaned how poor turnout has been within the general populace and certainly within certain sectors (e.g. young people).

This whole election could turn on whether or not people show up and who shows up. I certainly can’t recall this kind of buzz about election in my life. It’s pretty cool.

It terms of process, it was pretty bizarre seeing the Democratic debate last night already whittled down to 2 candidates by Jan. ‘08.

it was pretty bizarre seeing the Democratic debate last night already whittled down to 2 candidates by Jan. ‘08.

bizarre? i think it is a shame.

Didn’t the other candidates drop out because of lack of votes?

Yeah…democracy. What a shame.

baker – You can still ballot UNCOMMITTED and if 15% of the state or anyone Congressional District votes that way, an uncommitted delegate goes to the Democratic National Convention in Denver, representing our support of the policies of the candidates that have dropped out.

ugh, I don’t want to go to DLS. It’s a blight on nicollet island.

also how long does this shit take? I’ve voted in primaries before, but caucusing is new to me.

I’m still mourning the loss of my man Edwards. But I think I’ll go anyways. Now it’s Hilldog ‘08! I love how much Republicans hate her.

Okay, so you ballot uncommitted and your delagate votes for one of the two douchebags that you didn’t want to commit to in the first place. What’s the point?

And wayne, it can take hours. But the first real thing they do is vote on the candidates. The rest is just a horse and pony show for people’s causes.

The Republicans hate Hillary? Why? She is one of them.

so I can vote and leave?

Yes. You can leave, and you will probably want to. Unless you like banging your head against the chair in front of you.

As much as I love politics, I hate Presidential elections and caucuses.

When you think about it, all the success that she claims for her husband boils down to him signing republican legislation. heh. It’s going to be fun running against the clintons and their “record.”

Alas, I will be in sunny Orlando, FL on Tuesday on ALAMN business. Is there ANYONE out there who was NOT planning to caucus who would be willing to be my surregate? As explained earlier, absentee balotting for presidential preference is not allowed.

If you are a registered voter willing to cast a vote for ANYONE in either party on my behalf, just to see what the process is like, please email me at justpbob@yahoo.com

Thanks!

The Republicans hate Hillary? Why? She is one of them.
Hey look, I’m not pleased. But while Hillary and Obama are similarly centrist, it seems more likely to be that Obama would want to compromise with the immature thugs that have destroyed the country over the last eight years, so that everybody liked him. To me, “uniter” = “let’s continue to roll over and take it from the Republicans even in victory”. I want someone ornery, underhanded, mean, and stubborn.

wayno – you can ballot and leave, but I recommend sticking around and helping to elect tellers you can trust to count your ballot.

Here is my summary of the caucus, using the official times (required by law and DFL party rules). I have attended several of the caucus trainings and the precinct convener trainings for two districts, have read the call, and caucuses many times so I kinda know what’s up:

* 6:30 PM – Registration and Presidential balloting begins

* 7:00 PM – Caucus convenes, elects caucus chair, precinct chairs, and 2 or more tellers to count ballots

* 7:30 PM – Delegates to Senate District/County Unit (and in Minnaepolis a seperate election of delegates to the Minneapolis City DFL Convention)

* 8:00 PM – Presidential balloting ends, ballots counted, results announced

* until adjournment – Other business includes collecting $$$ contributions for the DFL party, the election of committee members (arrangements, credentials, resolutions, etc.), and discussing and voting on resolutions submitted by caucus participants

What is a DFL precinct caucus? Your precinct caucus is a neighborhood meeting run by volunteers from your local DFL party organizations. It is the first step in the endorsement process for DFL candidates for local, state, and national offices. Precinct caucuses are also where we cast ballots in a binding presidential preference poll that awards delegates to the national democratic convention by proportion, above a 15% threshold. These national delegates are elected at the Fifth Congressional District and MN State DFL Conventions. Caucus process uses Roberts Rules of Order, and is outlined in the Official Call.

Last time I caucused, there were probably close to 75 people there. It’s cool to meet all your wacky neighbors. The only problem is this one lady in a motorized wheelchair who hits reverse (activating the world’s loudest back up beepers) whenever someone she disagrees with tries to speak. It was funny, like, the first two times.

Bureaucrat heaven.

KC, I’m just curious as to why you consider Hillary a Republican when she is pro-choice, pro-universal heathcare, wants to end the war in Iraq, wants to end No Child Left behind, and so on. None of these strike me as Republian views.

Bureaucrat heaven.

Little men and women with big rule books. Cool.

Then there’s always her plan to freeze interest rates for 5 years. lol

Hillary is so middle of the road it is painful, plus, before she met Bill, she was a Republican. There is little difference between her and the major Republican candidates (not that Obama is much better.) I’m thinking that Nixon was quite a bit more liberal than her.

Specifically, she is pro death penalty, pro No Child Left Begind, Pro Patriot Act, Pro Border Fence, Pro using Military Actions against Iran as an option, was in support for the Iraq war, and against same sex marriage. This all came from this site.

But while Hillary and Obama are similarly centrist,

Boy that term “centrist” is getting moved further and further to the left.

I’ve been considering it, but I’m still undecided. I am really curious to see what the turnout looks like in Eden Prairie.

I’m still kind of amazed that you don’t have to be registered to vote to caucus.

Didn’t the other candidates drop out because of lack of votes?

Yeah…democracy. What a shame.

The other, more qualified candidates were marginalized by the media and the party. the ‘inspirational’ ‘rock star’ candidates were given all the press and support.

Would you say that Hillary had the upper hand in the debate last night?
That’s the way I read it.

The other, more qualified candidates were marginalized by the media and the party

Chris Dodd, Bill Richardson and Joe Biden were solid candidates.

They couldn’t build the support and they couldn’t raise the money. Doing that is part of getting the nomination.

C’est la vie.

Boy that term “centrist” is getting moved further and further to the left.

Has it occured to you, Rat, that it is you shifting to the right, and not the party drifting to the left?

Not that there anything wrong with that….

Has it occured to you, Rat, that it is you shifting to the right, and not the party drifting to the left?

It just occurred to me that it’s probably a case of both.

They couldn’t build the support and they couldn’t raise the money. Doing that is part of getting the nomination
It is, but it seems people are more tempted by the promise of change than the proven accomplishments of condidates. Sort of reminds me of the election in 2000 when Americans chose a supposedly principled candidate over one with some real ideas and experience.

Well, as they say, shift happens!

Baker –
“Condidates”: pun or typo?

Boy that term “centrist” is getting moved further and further to the left.

“centrist” = unprincipled

Well, as they say, shift happens!

Yeah, 9/11 did it. Before that, I was a “citizen of the world.” Sophisticated as hell I thought I was.

Then I watched by country explode and I was half a world away in Brisbane, Australia.

By the time I got back to the States, I was just an American, glad to be home.

I’m still kind of amazed that you don’t have to be registered to vote to caucus.

Are you kidding? In this state, you don’t even have to be a citizen to vote.

It’s true. Most illegals vote Republican. Repeatedly. Most of the delegates for the RNC don’t even speak English, but each has a new $5 bill in his pocket for their vote.

Projection is thy middle name

There’s a good argument to sticking around after the Presidential caucusing, too. Listening to resolutions can help you learn what’s going on in your neighborhood and what some local concerns are.

You might even want to propose a resolution! Some have been pre-prepared, on issues from permanent status for legal Liberian immigrants and refugees (.DOC file) to promoting Ramstad/Wellstone-style Mental Health Parity (.DOC file) and a variety of others (HTML link).

If that’s not your style, you might still want to meet the candidates or officeholders who represent your area. State senators and reps will probably put in an appearance. If they know you’re active, they’re more likely to listen to you next time you share a concern!

Hell, you won’t even need a social security number to register of our secretary of state gets his way.

Road trip!

But seriously, the reason you don’t need to be registered to caucus is that caucuses aren’t elections, legally binding or even governed by the state.

What in the last 8 years would qualify the Republicans (i.e. the right) to claim to be principled?

Let’s go to war AND cut taxes. Brilliant. And clearly effective. Bush today indicated that he’s concerned the economy is showing signs of weakness. He’s run up a 5 trillion dollar deficit. The world hates us. Unemployment is on the rise. How slowly does clarity come to your side of the aisle?

Are you confusing prinicples with policy, Nate?

I wouldn’t say I was “confusing” them, but certainly purposefully merging them. I was thinking more of using “principled” to mean “measured” or “sound.” I was even skewing toward “pragmatic.”

But isn’t it reasonable to say that at the governmental level, a policy is a manifestation of a principle? In other words, that which one believes becomes how one legislates. If that’s an acceptable notion, then I’ve been equally disillusioned with Republican policies and principles. I know that I sound overly cynical when I say that I struggle to understand what morals and ethics have been driving policy decisions over the past eight years.

And I’m not saying this only as a “liberal democrat.” I’m saying it as a public educator, a member of the middle class, a home owner, and a social entrepreneur. I simply fail to see how I’m better off now than I was eight years ago and it’s not for lack of personal effort.

I just don’t see what legs the right is going to stand on.

Hey look, I’m not pleased. But while Hillary and Obama are similarly centrist, it seems more likely to be that Obama would want to compromise with the immature thugs that have destroyed the country over the last eight years, so that everybody liked him. To me, “uniter” = “let’s continue to roll over and take it from the Republicans even in victory”. I want someone ornery, underhanded, mean, and stubborn.

This is the best argument in support of Hillary I’ve heard yet.

But I’m still not going to.

Interesting that in the 4th quarter McCain had to take a $3 million loan against his personal life insurance policy to keep his campaign going, Romney had to loan his campaign $18 million of his own money to keep it going, and Ron Paul out raised both of them.

Meanwhile, on the others ide of the aisle, Obama raised $32 last month alone, and 23 million in the 4th quarter, and Hillary collected $27 million in the 4th.

It’s just as bad at the congressional level. The DCCC had something like $35 million cash on hand, while the NRCC has only $5 million.

ugh, I don’t want to go to DLS. It’s a blight on nicollet island.

You’re such a snob, Wayne. DLS is a beacon of liberal Catholicism in a metro area filled to the brim with conservative Catholic schools.

Meanwhile the state DFL has a paltry 35 grand.

Going to war is consistent with the principle of believing in a strong, and if necessary, proactive national defense.

Cutting taxes is consistent with the duel principles of small government and low taxes to encourage economic growth.

There is no 5 trillion dollar deficit. Tax receipts rose 6.7 percent in fiscal year 2007 (FY07) on top of FY06’s 11.8 percent increase. As a share of GDP, FY07 receipts exceeded their 40-year average.

The leftists of the world hate us. They always have.

Unemployment dropped today to 4.9% 5% has historically been considered “full employment.”

next?

I will be caucusing for Obama and in a Hillary/McCain mixup I would vote for McCain. Bill/Hillary ran one of the most secretive and corrupt administrations on record (obviously eclipsed by W). But there is another reason not to vote for the woman. Dynasties. I hate em. We’ve had 12 years of Bush’s and 8 years of Clinton’s. Its time for someone else.

I think what acalhoun means is that DLS recruits inner city kids to play basketball.

If the Clintons get the nomination, get ready for some great questions posed as campaign ads. heh

Unemployment dropped today to 4.9% 5% has historically been considered “full employment.”

Not the “good news” you would like us to believe. 17,000 jobs lost in January. 191,000 jobs lost in all of 2007.

Unemployment claims also rose last week.

Very few, if any economists saw the jobs report as good news.

Going to war is consistent with the principle of believing in a strong, and if necessary, proactive national defense.

Planning a shitty war that results a huge nation building fiasco–where does that fit into conservative principles?

Going to war is consistent with the principle of believing in a strong, and if necessary, proactive national defense.

Cutting taxes is consistent with the duel principles of small government and low taxes to encourage economic growth.

Fair enough maz. You’re good at what you do and you’re a smart guy. So I’m going to avoid a head on policy debate with you. I admit that I’ll either lose or at least waste my breath.

So instead, I’ll ask this of you (despite knowing what your answers will most likely be):

So we went to war on principle. How’s the war going in your opinion? Effective? Successful even? Worth the costs? [note: I'm pre-struggling to digest your response.]

And the economy? I’m sure you’ll have an incisive way of convincing me that the tax cuts are indeed stimulating the economy. And the stimulus package is somehow not related? GW himself said this morning: “There are troubling signs, serious signs that the economy is weakening.”

So, if the principles you cited are indeed the fodder for these policies, then I think the principles are broken.

hey if you’re out of work for more than, what is it, six months? you’re no longer considered unemployed! you’re not employed either, but you’re not part of the unemployment rate anymore! hooray for accounting practices that make people disappear!

also even with unemployment so “low,” most of the jobs lost were higher-income positions and the jobs created were shit low-paying service-sector positions. Real income has been stagnant or dropping for years now.

There is no 5 trillion dollar deficit.

You’re right, Maz. Our national debt is actually in exceess of NINE TRILLION.

How’s the war going in your opinion? Effective? Successful even? Worth the costs?

too early to tell….nobody said the war would be quick or easy. (my condensed version of the canned conservative response)

Technically, maz is right. The deficit refers to the difference between how much the government gathers in taxes verses how much it spends in a given year. If there’s a shortage, that gets added to the national debt.

My mistake. According to the Christian Science Monitor, the 2007 deficit is projected at $172 Billion, which added to the 9 trillion we have in debt. It would seem to me that until we get out of debt, we might want to avoid running deficits at all.

Anyone else notice that the Bush budget doesn’t include the full cost of the war? They’re only budgeting $70 billion dollars.

Keep in mind that the Repubs are the ones who are saying to individuals, “Look, if you’re spending more than you’re making and you’re losing your house, it’s your fault for being stupid.”

I’m not saying I disagree entirely with that. It just seems like they should pick the sequoia out of their own eye before that spew that sort of hypocritical rhetoric.

Don’t disappear now Maz. That’s too par for the course. Bring it! It’s Friday!

There’s a macroeconomic theory that the US government should always have some sort of debt (in the form of T-bills), because that’s how it manipulates the money supply and interest rates.

But I agree that it should be paid down a bit.

Sounds like it’s time for a federal balanced budget amendment. Where do I sign the petition?

How’s the war going in your opinion? Effective? Successful even? Worth the costs?

The war was over when Saddam Hussein was captured and then subsequently hung. The occupation went poorly because the military either failed to plan properly or failed to execute the plan properly. I don’t know. The failure was due to an inexperienced senior command. George Bush neither planned the ocupation nor executed the plan.

This whole meme of “stopping the war” is a misnomer. The war in Iraq’s been over for a long time.

The stimulus package is a dumb idea, dreamed up by politicians who have to answer to the great unwashed economically illiterate who want their leaders to “Do something!, anything!” It will have no affect on the economy.

George Bush neither planned the ocupation nor executed the plan.

so you’re saying he abdicated his duty as Commander in Chief?

oh right, blame the peons

You’re right, Maz. Our national debt is actually in exceess of NINE TRILLION.

Tara, do you know what percentage of the GNP that represents? Do you know what the national debt was after WW II was and the percentage of the GNP that was? It’s like having a fit because your grandfather paid $10,000 for his house but now today, you have a $300,000 mortgage. It’s all relative.

This whole meme of “stopping the war” is a misnomer. The war in Iraq’s been over for a long time.

Oh right, it’s just a lot of people with guns and bombs shooting back and forth and killing one another. Definitely nothing like a war.

hey mazasapa, do you have any idea how weak the dollar is right now? and how much of our debt is from foreign creditors whose currency is doing just smashingly? and what would happen if they get skittish about the value of the dollar and decide to unload a bunch of it at once?

A great way to measure the differences between the DFL and the MN GOP is to look at the party platforms. More importantly if you are caucusing DFL and want to submit a resolution, you want to make sure that it doesn’t already exist in the ongoing platform. There are two parts – the Ongoing Platform and the Action Agenda and both are found on links from this page: Party Documents. Items in the Action Agenda expire every two years, at the state convention.

Make sure that your resolution is on the official form and completely filled out, and that your caucus chair records the vote on your resolution.

Resolutions are important, and delegates to the Senate District (or equivalent) convention can be elected to a resolutions committee that will meet on the default date on February 9th. It is important that all resolutions submitted, whether they pass or fail, be turned with the presidential ballot results, etc.

Most precincts close to the metro are going to have well trained conveners and experienced caucus goers, but outstate it is not unusual to caucus alone or with other completely new DFLers. Caucus chairs should know that this year there is more emphasis and interest in resolutions and that the votes should be recorded, but sometimes things get sloppy or wild.

Be nice to your precinct chair or convener, but insist things are fair and correctly run. It is a volunteer operation, but one that is vital to our democracy and public policy formation.

Semantics, folks.

war (n.) A state of open, armed, often prolonged conflict carried on between nations, states, or parties.

you see, here we’re getting a lawyerly parsing of the terms of the topic by maz…since we’re no longer fighting against the standing army of a recognized nation, we are no longer at war.

I contend, however, that our troops are being killed by an armed militia representing a budding (or “on the run” depending on who you listen to) armed and organized “nation without borders” in Al Qaida, so it is a war…the Oxford English Dictionary simply needs an update.

hey mazasapa, do you have any idea how weak the dollar is right now? and how much of our debt is from foreign creditors whose currency is doing just smashingly? and what would happen if they get skittish about the value of the dollar and decide to unload a bunch of it at once

That’s a problem, no doubt. But it’s only a real problem if foreign investors stop believing that the united states is a good place to invest. The best way to expedite that attitude is to raise taxes and further slow the economy.

the Oxford English Dictionary simply needs an update.

So then do you also contend this is the first time an occupying army has fought an armed militia or a resistance movement whose goal is some type of statehood? Seems to me it happens all the time.

I’m asking this as someone who values the meaning of words, and how great care should be taken before any consensus decides to alter their meanings to suit some transient purpose, particularly something as important as the meaning of “war.”

at $172 Billion, which added to the 9 trillion we have in debt. It would seem to me that until we get out of debt, we might want to avoid running deficits at all.

And in an 11 trillion dollar economy, it would be like you having a mortgage that’s equivalent to your annual salary. Most people would say that’s pretty good.

But it’s only a real problem if foreign investors stop believing that the united states is a good place to invest. The best way to expedite that attitude is to raise taxes and further slow the economy.

Hm. Seeing as many foreign countries have much higher taxes than us, and see us spending more than we tax, it seems more likely that keeping taxes artificially low, which is leading to massive deficit, might have them a little worried about our economy. But don’t let the facts get in the way of your doctrine. They haven’t so far.

the government does not collect the entire economy in taxes, dennis.

do you also contend this is the first time an occupying army has fought an armed militia or a resistance movement whose goal is some type of statehood

absolutely not. I just think the best definition of war that I’ve read is Edwin Starr’s.

it seems more likely that keeping taxes artificially low, which is leading to massive deficit

Wrong on both counts. The deficit declined through much of last year as revenues increased. Raising taxes will depress the economy, decreasing tax revenues, increasing the deficit.

“And in an 11 trillion dollar economy, it would be like you having a mortgage that’s equivalent to your annual salary. Most people would say that’s pretty good.”

More like having a credit card debt the size of our annual salary, which is NOT good. We don’t build equity by paying it off, you see.

Yes, Maz, the deficit declined, but the general picture isn’t quite as rosy as you make it out to be.

I’m starting to wish that I lived in Maz’s world. Think about it.

The war is over.

The economy is doing well.

The deficit isn’t that bad.

Global Warming isn’t happening. (Forgive me Maz if this one is inaccurate to your beliefs. I sometimes can’t track all your stances.)

That’s a world I want to live in!

We don’t build equity by paying it off, you see.

You have to have some debt. If there was no debt in this society, the banks and financial services industries would all go broke … resulting in recession.

You forgot that second-hand cigarette smoke is about as dangerous to children as naughty language.

That’s a world I want to live in!

This must be your lucky day, Nate!

no, kurtis, worse than that even.

If the economy as a whole produces 11trillion every year, what’s the government’s take of that in taxes? obviously not the whole pie, nor even the majority of it. What, maybe a few trillion a year? Which has to be spent on things, in fact more is spent on things than that every year, hence the deficit. So unless you tax the economy nearly 100% and don’t spend any money on any other program, there’s not really any way you could pay that kind of debt down quickly.

Ugh, mazapasa we know there needs to be some debt but not nine fucking trillion worthless US dollars of it!

I can’t believe no one’s bring up mrs. bill clinton’s plan to freeze interest rates! You think that’s a good idea? If you think people on the margins are having trouble getting credit now, wait until the lending institutions have their “prices” frozen. No credit = no economy.

some of us would rather not vote for hillary, maz.

Interest rates are regulated all the time. By the Fed.

As long as Maz insists on referring to Hillary Clinton as “Mrs. Bill Clinton,” I ask that we refer to him as “Mr. Maz’s Wife.”

Regulated, yet changable as the economy requires and to tamp down inflation. Freezing the rates for 5 years is insane. Is she going to freeze prices too?

Can I be Mr. Man?

uh, would the president even have the authority to regulate interest rates? the fed is a distinct organization from the executive branch.

Interest rates are regulated all the time. By the Fed.

-I don’t think thats entirely correct.

isnt the Fed rate is merely a part of the equation in determing most loan packages?

and for good reason too. I’d rather have (more) qualified financial planners making those types of decisions than politicians. We need more quasi-government organizations that rely on actual knowledge and expertise to do things rather than being slaves to the whim of the political wind.

holy crap. we agree.

amazing, but that still doesn’t explain your fear of hillary clinton somehow being able to tamper with the FED and set monetary policy on her own.

I agree that the rate freeze idea is asinine. It’s one of the key tools that the feds have to stabilize, expand or contract economic activity. it would be like saying, “we’re taking this boat out to sea, but we’re going to disable the rudder because it might eventually steer us in the wrong direction.”

Ask her. She’s the one claiming she can do it. And with the democrat-controlled congress, anything stupid is possible.

I know. Remember when they balanced the budget? Morons.

Actually, that was the republican congress. And they had to drag ‘ol bill across the finish line ckicking and screaming.

Oh yeah. One of us has faulty memory.

Yeah, I guess ol’ bill was pretty good at jumping to the front of parades and pretending to lead them, wasn’t he? This was after the republican revolution and shortly after the burning question in washington was “is the president still relevant?” heh

ummmmm, nice one dennis. next you’re going to say that the bad things that happened in the country during the first six years of Bush’s presidency were the fault of the democratic minority, right?

What bad things?

NOTHING BAD HAPPENED FROM 2000 TO 2006! EVERYONE WAS ON VACATION! CAKE WAS SERVED!

dennis, this “team A vs. team B” bullshit is … well bullshit. sometimes people from different political parties and even different ideaologies work together to accomplish something. Saying Clinton had nothing to do with balancing the budget is fucking asinine, though. pretty expected from you, but still asinine.

now I’m just waiting for you to make a blowjob joke about him so the day is complete.

What were you, about 9 then?

I’m still waiting for my blowjob/cigar joke.

And I love your ridiculous diversions like “YOU WERE TOO YOUNG TO REMEMBER OR ADEQUATELY UNDERSTAND THIS THING SO YOUR OPINION/KNOWLEDGE IS COMPLETELY INVALID!”

Because, you know, I haven’t learned how to read or anything since then. And none of that stuff was ever written down, so I guess I’ll never know what really happened!

well actually I could already read then anyway, at an adult level. I just didn’t have a nuanced understanding of politics, government and economics then.

oh. ok. sorry. I guess you could have read an account by one of friends in the non-partisan press.

And with the democrat-controlled congress, anything stupid is possible.

I’d strike “democrat-controlled” and leave the rest of the sentence the same.

MMmm, cake. Now this thread has my attention.

Make it worth my while, people.

now kevs, there is a bipartisan sentiment I can get behind!

Yeah, I didn’t get any cake. God damned plutocrats!

Maybe getting back to the point a little, I am caucusing for Obama because there are too many white women-of-a-certain-age whose choice is as dated their wardrobe.

Compelling, Champs.

Whoa. The last person adamantly telling me to vote for Hiltastic was wearing a sparkling blazer and mom pants.

If only Joseph Abboud would run on the Republican ticket.

I like the way the word ‘caucus’ sounds when you say it fast. At the caususeseses, I’ll be supporting anyone in favor of ‘mandates’. Hot, sweaty, aromatic… man dates.

I have made a new post on DailyKos with a poll, and the reports that Cohen dropped out of the U.S. Senate race, plusthe results from a CD 5 straw poll

12% of the district’s tuned in DFlers are undecided for U.S. Senate, according to this poll!

Decisions decisions. Let’s see, the rich ambulance chaser or the alleged comic. hmmmm. tough one.

Your Marxist roots are showing again, maz. For the record, they are all rich, including Senator Coleman.

Ahh Larry… you are the sole reason I read the political threads. Thank you you giant homosexual. Thank you.

For the record, they are all rich, including Senator Coleman.

Not $400 million rich. Franken may have a few million stashed away but I don’t think Coleman’s got any money to speak of. When I say rich, I mean rich.

See, this is what I always think of when I hear the word “caucus”.

When I say rich, I mean rich.
Lighting Cuban cigars with burning CEO’s, rich.

Caucus.

The rich are different than you and I, maz.

Rest assured, Senator Coleman has some money to speak of.

Not to mention the free health insurance, lifelong access to the Senate floor, all the navy bean soup you can eat, and a private, underground tram for Senators only.

Nice work, if you can get it. No wonder Mike and Al both want the job.

Mike wants the job, because like most rich men, he’s thinking what good is wealth without power?

Al wants the job because he needs the gig.

Norm wants the job because he doesn’t want to face his friends and family after losing it to an ambulabcer chaser or an alleged comic.

Or, he really thinks he could serve the state and nation better than Norm. The same could be said of Al (also a very rich man). Neither you nor I can say what is what is in politicians’ heart, maz.

As I recall, Norm has already lost to a bald wrasler without major party backing — tough to top that one for humiliating losses. Yet he hangs in there and wins a Senate seat. I have watched Coleman’s career for many years, and we have met and spoken often.

Either Mike or Al would be wise not to understimate him and his skills.

Colman’s a politicians of many incarnations, and he can turn another one on a dime.

The DA and I ran into Norm at the airport around new years. We waved at him when he looked our way. He turned away without acknowledging us. The DA cussed at him and told him he just lost a vote. heh

What does DA stand for? Dumb Ass?

So does this mean you’ll be voting for Franken?

You’re the dumb ass for not knowing what DA stands for. It’s domestic associate. Dumbass.

Illogical Captain. If she’s married to you she must be a Depressed Android.

Maz and the Real Girl

“Didn’t the other candidates drop out because of lack of votes?
Yeah…democracy. What a shame.
»» Submitted by j at 11:02 AM on February 1″

Best money can buy. If you don’t take corporate handouts then you had better be wealthy enough to pay your way into a Presidential race.

So you don’t think the ability to raise money is at least one symbol of viability as a candidate?

Motivating a group of people with time on their hands to wave signs for you is one thing. Getting them to write checks is another.

You can have all the ideas in the world. Ideas are dime a dozen. The ability to put them to work takes something more.

you had better be wealthy enough to pay your way into a Presidential race.

That could be blamed in part to McCain-Feingold. When you limit the amount of contributions, people have to run on their own money.

I note the Native Times has come out for Senator Obama. They can expect a letter to the editor from Maz, no doubt. Anyone here see Obama or Romney, or plan to see Clinton or Paul?

Have fun on Tuesday, folks. Congrats to you first timmers.

I’m off to the National Biodiesel Conference. I’ll drop in from time to time if my schedule allows. I will also being doing twice-daily reports on the conference for Linder Farm Network radio. wo, wo!

Since the typical rez indian has been conditioned to accept being wards of the state, I don’t doubt that most vote for the party of big government and the nanny state. The difference between them and me is, I’m a free man.

Man, for an Indian, you sure hate other Indians.

I don’t hate anyone. I pity a lot of people.

The distinction is eluding me.

I don’t hate anyone. I pity a lot of people.

Your contempt pretty much precludes pity for them.

Oh please. I’ve got quite a ways to go before I even approach the wasichu’s hate and contempt for Indian people. The rez being exhibit a.
Unbelievable gall.

“Motivating a group of people with time on their hands to wave signs for you is one thing. Getting them to write checks is another.“

So only those who can afford to pay in to a candidate’s campaign or in to a party purse should count in this system? Money = speech. Huh, well that system doesn’t sound broken to me….

“You can have all the ideas in the world. Ideas are dime a dozen. The ability to put them to work takes something more.“

Working together, cooperation, teamwork, diplomacy, tact? No? Oh, I see, ideas are nothing without money. Ok, I get it now. Just a little slow on the uptake sometimes.

Unbelievable gall.

Or a cursory look at your past posts about other Indians, which tend to be full of contempt and loathing. Which is hardly a surprise — it’s pretty much all you trade in.

I didn’t mean to restrict my comment to Indians. He did say he didn’t hate ANYONE, but pitied a lot. A cursory look at his posts definitely reveals a lot of contempt, and contempt and pit are pretty mutually exclusive.

Oh, trust me, if the subject is Native Americans whose politics differers from his, Maz will insult their tribe, call them thieves, insists they are somehow not actually Indians, and all sorts of astonishing behavior.

He does that to anyone that disagrees with him.

Yes he does. But if I insinuated that Jews who vote Republican were somehow not Jews, or were, by virtue of their branch of Judaism, crooks or cowards, members of my community would sit me down and have a little talk with me.

I notice you didn’t answer my question, Yoder.

So you don’t think the ability to raise money is at least one symbol of viability as a candidate?

I didn’t say it was the ONLY thing, as you implied in both your answers.

But if I insinuated that Jews who vote Republican were somehow not Jews, or were, by virtue of their branch of Judaism, crooks or cowards, members of my community would sit me down and have a little talk with me

Not all “communities” have thought police I guess.

I waited two hours in the mile-long line to see Obama. He’s the shit.

“So you don’t think the ability to raise money is at least one symbol of viability as a candidate?”

A very small symbol, which is ultimately worthless when it comes to running a country. Getting the wealthy to open their wallets in exchange for favors better qualifies that person as a prostitute than leader of the free world.

I went to the Hillary rally yesterday. It was a pretty good turn-out considering the short notice and the fact that it coincided with the Super Bowl. She gave a good speech, and Mondale was there introducing her. I was going to go to the Obama rally too, but I feared the long, long lines.

Acalhoun, did you at least get to wait in line in the skyways or was the line outside?

I don’t care if they are giving away Cadillacs and Krugerands, I ain’t waitin’ in no 2 hour line for no Politician.

So why exactly was there a wait of 2 hours to get into the Target Center? Were they channeling everyone through one gate? Is this an indication of the lack of planning skills by the Obama campaign staff?

There were 10,000 people there and every single one had to go through security, so it takes a while. I doubt this was due to any lack of planning by the Obama campaign staff.

Is this an indication of the lack of planning skills by the Obama campaign staff?

“I am not a member of any organized party  I am a Democrat”
–Will Rogers

There were 10,000 people there and every single one had to go through security, so it takes a while. I doubt this was due to any lack of planning by the Obama campaign staff.

I thought it was 20,000 on Saturday. At least that’s what the reports I was reading said.

He drew 12,000 in Idaho earlier in the day. Which is pretty amazing, considering Democrats in Idaho are about as rare as unicorns.

Getting the wealthy to open their wallets in exchange for favors better qualifies that person as a prostitute than leader of the free world.

You seem to be a bitter and cynical person.

Mnblrmkr, you’re right. It was 20K, not 10K.

“Not all “communities” have thought police I guess.”

The dream police, they live inside of my head.
The dream police, they come to me in my bed.
The dream police, theyre coming to arrest me, oh no.

Thanks for feeding my Cheap Trick addiction, Dennis.

Thanks for feeding my Cheap Trick addiction

Takes guts to admit something like that, but it’s the first road to recovery.

Takes guts to admit something like that, but it’s the first road to recovery.

I was faced with a hard choice by my buddies in the summer of my 9th year. Kiss Army or Cheap Trick Fanclub. I stand by my choice. At least I didn’t have to wear makeup.

I was outside. Security was really tight, but rightfully so. We don’t want a Barack Obama Blvd. just yet.

“You seem to be a bitter and cynical person.“

Bingo.