Secrets of the City

Expect the “Muslim extremist Congressman from Minnesota threatens public safety!” blog posts from the righty-tightie set in 4, 3, 2….

Good for Ellison.

Here is a photo of Ellison in cuffs: http://stmedia.startribune.com/images/M5821981.JPG

Oh my stars, what brand of crazy is Michele Bachmann going to be offering up over this?

I just sent an email to Ellison, which I will reprint here:

Mr. Ellison, I wanted to write you in regards to your arrest today, and I am sure I am just one of many to write. I am in your district, and I voted for you. I have always been pleased to have you a representative, and have felt you do good work and represent the interests of your constituents fairly and honestly. I was also pleased that Minnesota’s Fifth District was not bullied into being frightened of you as a candidate by endless reference to your religion and your relationships with others of your faith, and I think it has been very clear that you are in Congress representing everybody, not just Muslims.

But, before today, I have been satisfied with your work, but not been moved to write. I am writing because, with you taking such a public stand against the expulsion of the humanitarian workers from Darfur, I am no longer merely happy with your work as a Congressman; I am proud of you.

I have been following the affairs in Darfur with increased worry, especially after the humanitarian workers were driven out, and have been at a loss for what to do — ordinarily I would try to help by giving money to those very organizations to make certain that the people of Darfur are being taking care of, as best as can be done, while the terrible war in western Sudan rages on. But with Omar Bashir banishing this sort of aid, I have felt powerless and terrified at what would happen to the people of Darfur, who have helplessly bourn the brunt of the war. I am not, mind you, an activist on issues related to Darfur; I am merely a citizen of Minneapolis who follows the news, and believe it is my responsibility to help out people who are suffering whenever I am able, in part because I have been in circumstances in which I required help, and others were on hand to give it.

So I wanted to send you a note for representing my interests in an unexpected way — my interest in making certain that the U.S. government does everything possible to apply pressure to Sudan to let people help their citizens. And the fact that you were willing to be arrested to dramatise your point was, I think, the right decision — it takes a big gesture to attract media attention nowadays, even when the subject is something as vital as this one. So thank you again, Mr. Ellison, and good work.

Max, great letter. I feel the same way. I voted for Ellison and have always liked him just fine, but this is the first time I have been PROUD to have him as a rep. It’s great to know there is someone representing our district that actually gives a sh*t and is willing to stand up for his beliefs.

Amen, brother.

Good for you Max!

What does Ellison have to do to get some attention to this issue, get arrested? Oh, wait…

My representative gets her name in the papers too, you know!

wait…max is a muslim?

Bravo, Max.

And Irish Jewish Muslim; I though you already knew that, Grote. Also, according to the ex-marine at the bar last night, I am gay.

Semper Homophobis. Perhaps he saw you cavorting with that Sailor friend of yours?

Not since he broke down and broke his head last week. He’s stashed safely away until I can get some fiberglass paste for repairs.

Did you tell the jarhead you were in the Navy?

Actually, he was nice about it. Apparently, he hangs out at the Gay 90s all the time because he likes the music. I told him I go there because it’s the only place I can get a break from women hitting on me.

“Actually, he was nice about it. Apparently, he hangs out at the Gay 90s all the time because he likes the music. ”

Uh huh, yeah sure…that’s what they all say until they’re kissing Kevin Spacey in the garage during a thunderstorm.

That’s beauty of a cinematic reference, aliecat.

Dropping virtual rose petels on you…

Personally, I’m throwing the green beans against the wall…

Nice job, Max.

yep, Strib commenter posts about how Minnesota is once again embarrassed by Congressman Ellison:

Embarrassed, again for all the world to see ! first we have the wrestler, then ALF, now Ellison, when will we ever learn. this is truly embarrassing for the entire state of mn.

Of course, the person needs some geography and remedial reading lessons, because the “embarassed again” was referring to the dead, de-taloned eagle found in Wisconsin.

I rule!

Awesome letter, Max. Wish I lived in his district (soon!). I sure as hell can’t see Erik Paulsen doing anything like that.

ALF?

Honestly, people act embarrassed about ALF, but when he was an elected official in Minnesota, the number of stray cats went way down.

Shouldn’t they use his given name of Gordon Shumway?

One of my best friends from high school in Japan (& the bass player in our jazz band), Kenro Oshidari, is the World Food Program’s Country Director for Sudan and was coordinating the aid logistics for Darfur the last time we touched base a year or so ago. I’m assuming he’s still there in that capacity. This isn’t the first time they’ve been kicked out and it’s got to be frustrating that nothing seems to ever get resolved. Kenro’s also been to North Korea a couple of times, too.

So are you going to explain what drugs you were doing that caused you to include “not sobriety”?

It’s a joke referring to a previous post about the U of M riots.

I didn’t vote for him, but this is an honorable thing to do….but the epulsion of aid workers could change this into unimaginable tragedy? what’s been going on up until now?

Feel free to look over the front page — the meaning of that comment will reveal itself to you.

Max…use cross-thread humor at your own risk. And you can still tell us what drugs you were on.

I don’t use drugs. Alcohol is my anti-drug.

what ever happened with this?was he detained?

Paid a fine and was released, IIRC.

seems kinda like a dumb thing to do. As a representative, perhaps he should be aware of legal courses of action to help make change. I know not to step over a police line, shouldn’t he? Yes, it was a good cause, but perhaps not a good course of action. We don’t need to be paying police fines for our reps. Was anything gained from this demonstration?

It focused international attention on Darfur, and shamed the Sudanese government, five-some-odd years after Congress officially condemned the genocide there. Do you have any additional recommendations for courses of actions.

Also, I am not certain why you are saying the taxpayers footed the bill for Ellison’s fine. Do you have any reason to believe Ellison didn’t pay it himself?

i focused attention on it for what, 20 minutes? now we’ve moved on it seems.

it, not “i”.

it’s good that he’s trying to bring attention to this, but the praise he received was WAY over the top. i mean, he was in custody for 30 minutes and paid a fine. wow.

Seems to me that that sword cuts both ways. If it’s not a big enough deal for praise, then how does it manage to be a big enough deal for censure?