Hutchinson Endorsed

Peter Hutchinson accepted the IP's endorsement yesterday easily knocking off Pam Ellison, who will challenge him in the party's September primary.  I would honestly like to see Ellison win the primary because she would fun to run against.  The woman is certifiably nuts from what I witnessed. 

The convention was interesting to say the least.  The crowd is clearly assembled of disillusioned Democrats.  They attacked the Iraq war, the health-impact fee and Michele Bachmann!  That's right, John Binkowski who is running for Congress in the 6th District made mention of Patty Wetterling, and he got crickets.  He then made mention of Michele Bachmann and the crowd went crazy with boos and hollers. 

Back to Hutchinson though.  my favorite quote is from this Star Tribune article:

Predicting that he will spend about $2.5 million on a creative campaign to offer an alternative to the "duopoly" and the "blood feud"betweeen Republicans and DFLers in state government, consultant Peter Hutchinson accepted the Independence Party's gubernatorial endorsement Saturday.

"Blood Feud?"  Based on what I saw yesterday the IP is desperately wanting to be a part of that "Blood Feud" with the attacks and accusations they were making!!

One thing is for sure though; we need to think about having our conventions outside!!  Before the rain came it was great sitting in the hot sun.  Not to mention that while they were doing the boring convention business I sat back and watched the Saints do batting practice.

It’s Confirmed

Hatch has chosen Judi Dutcher as his running mate.  Anyone who has been even remotely following the DFL race for governor should not be surprised by this choice.  It has been the worst kept secret in politics as of late.  I confirmed this almost two weeks ago from a very reliable source.

Here is the message from Hatch's campaign site:

We now have a convention behind us, and I am pleased that Judi Dutcher has joined our ticket.

Our last poll was taken before the Republican convention, and we were ahead of the Governor by a narrow margin, with 13 percent of voters undecided. Undecided voters indicate that they want a new Governor, but need to know more about me. I believe that the Governor's gaffe at the Republican convention, combined with our endorsement at the Democratic convention and the addition of Judi, puts us in a very good position for the general election.

I promised to recruit a lieutenant governor who would make an excellent governor, and with Judi Dutcher, I accomplished this task. Judi is a big plus for the campaign. She won two statewide elections as Auditor and earned kudos from local government and state officials for her energy, wit, and courage. She was one of the first public officials to challenge the extreme elements that have taken control of the Republican Party, and she eventually had to leave the party to join the Democrats. She was warmly embraced by the Democrats and was supported by a broad and deep network of people in her 2002 gubernatorial bid. Over the past four years, she has served as Chief Executive Officer of the Minnesota Community Foundation, a large philanthropic institution that serves Greater Minnesota. As CEO, Judi witnessed the impact of the Governor's budget cuts to rural communities. For instance, her foundation purchased a fire truck for Fairmont because the Governor's cuts gutted the city's public safety budget. In other communities, the foundation helped with infrastructure items as basic as sidewalks because of the Pawlenty cuts.

We balance the ticket quite well. I am from Greater Minnesota, and Judi is from the metropolitan area. We both received the benefits of a strong Minnesota educational system, and we will fulfill the role of every administration, except the current one, in acting as a guardian for the next generation.

Judi will play a strong role in the Administration. I have dedicated my public life over the last 20 years to exposing the health care mess, and Judi's leadership will allow me to focus even more energy on this issue.

I take great pride that I can recruit the best and the brightest in government service. I believe Judi's participation continues this tradition of excellence.

This campaign will decide the long-term direction of this state. We need money to win. The Governor and his party are well-financed, and they already have demonstrated a willingness to be negative. Your help has gotten us over the endorsement hurdle, and we now lead in the polls. If we raise the money we need, we will win this election. There has never been a more important time to contribute . Whether its $100, $50, or whatever you can afford, please make your contribution on-line today. Your financial commitment to this campaign is greatly appreciated and will be prudently used.

I thank you for your help!

This should be fun, Hatch is trying to soften up his image, but most Minnesotans recognize that he is an angry liberal!!!!

Governor Responds to Strib Ad

You may have seen or heard of the full page ad that was taken out in today's Star Tribune by some of Minnesota's privileged.  They state that they have the capacity to pay more for Minnesota's services and should be taxed higher as such.

Leave it to the Governor to respond and make a complete mockery of it!!

Every time I have seen one of those "Happy to pay for a better Minnesota" yard signs I want to walk up to the front door and ask the people if they took all of the deductions they were allowed or if they left some for the state or the country.  I am assuming the answer is they did take all deductions.  This is a total ploy for them to bring their partisan Liberal agenda to the forefront, which equals more spending for education without accountability, welfare increases, and government run health-care to name a few!!!

Here is the press release from the Governor's office:

Saint Paul – The following is a statement from Governor Tim Pawlenty regarding the full-page ad in today's Star Tribune from the "Growth & Justice" think tank calling for a $2 billion per year tax increase.

"After decades of struggle, we are proud to have moved Minnesota out of the top ten in taxes.  We now have budget surpluses and double digit revenue growth to the state.  We are not undertaxed and will be able to fund our key priorities like education without raising taxes.

"Having read the names of those who signed the full-page ad in today's Star Tribune , I want to issue them a friendly challenge.  I invite the people on the list to send in a voluntary contribution to the state, above and beyond the taxes they already pay, of $250,000 to $2 million each. 

"Since their contributions will be public information under our Data Practices Act, we will look into listing the names of these generous Minnesotans on a state website.  I will also personally pose with each of them for a commemorative photo in the Governor's Reception Room accepting their contribution and issue them a certificate of appreciation.  I look forward to the state receiving checks from each of these 203 individuals."

 

Under Minnesota Statutes 16A.013 and 16A.014, the Department of Finance is authorized to accept contributions of this type.  Checks should be made payable to "State of Minnesota" and sent to:

                                                Minnesota Department of Finance

                                                400 Centennial Office Building

                                                658 Cedar Street

                                                St. Paul , MN 55155

This is a great move!!

Hatch’s “Nice-Guy” Strategy

In what was perhaps the single most boring hour in the history of MPR, Mike Hatch appeared on Midday, sandwiched between pledge drives.

In a futile attempt to shake off the "angry" label the GOP bestowed upon him, Hatch claimed that he and Gov. Pawlenty actually get along quite well.  The only disagreement between the two is on policy.

Believing Hatch has to be more imbecilic than believing in the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy.

We'll see how long Hatch can keep up this nice-guy persona.  As the pressures of running an up-hill campaign builds, watch for Hatch to lash out.

Jobs, Jobs, and more Jobs!!

New unemployment numbers are in!!!  It is extremely good news for the State of Minnesota.  It is also good news for the re-election campaign of TPaw!!!  The unemployment rate is at 3.7%, which is a FIVE YEAR LOW!!  The national average is 4.6%.

Here is a release from the Governor's campaign:

"Minnesota's job growth has gone from lukewarm to red hot. If Peter
Hutchinson, Mike Hatch, Ken Pentel or Becky Lourey had been Governor the
last four years, their tax-more, spend-more policies would have stunted job
growth across Minnesota."

- Michael Krueger, Campaign Manager

No word yet on what Hatch thinks of the numbers.  He will find some way to sue someone to make the numbers more favorable towards his campaign!!

This is Going to be Fun

So to no surprise, except maybe to Becky Lourey and Steve Kelley, Mike Hatch prevailed last night for the Gubernatorial endorsement.

Mike Hatch is a power hungry, angry man who has been running for governor as long as John Kerry has been running for president. 

Hatch claims to be the candidate who will talk about the meat and potato issues of the day.  Please Mike, will you?  When those issues such as health care, education reform, growing the economy, job creation, low taxes, less government spending, and immigration are talked about, we win every time.  Governor Pawlenty has a record second to none on every single one of those issues and this state leads the nation for the better in those categories!!!

Here is the statement from the MNGOP last night:

Republican Party Of Minnesota Statement On The Endorsement Of Mike Hatch For Governor

Rochester- Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman Ron Carey today released the following statement regarding today's DFL endorsement of Mike Hatch.

"Mike Hatch has been running for governor for nearly 20 years and broke his word this year by running for governor a third time.  During that 20 years, his fellow DFLers have called him a 'chameleon,' an 'opportunist,' and 'a man willing to sell his soul just to get elected.'  No matter how extreme the makeover Hatch attempts, Minnesotans aren't going to trust someone with that kind of opportunistic and inconsistent record."

Bring on the fight Mike, we will make your angry self implode on the campaign trail!!

DFL State Convention

Please visit MDE for up to the minute DFL convention updates.

Today is the Gubernatorial endorsement.  Although in the DFL an endorsement does not matter, so we will have to wait until September to see who will face TPaw.

Here is a good Pioneer Press article about the candidates working the delegates yesterday at the convention.

Senate Obstruction

Dean Johnson rejected an offer from the House earlier this week that would have put a measure on the fall ballot for funding of conservation measures. 

This should really come as no surprise to any political observers as Johnson has consistently taken the role of obstruction in order to keep positive press from Pawlenty.  Remember his rejection of the budget proposal before the end of the special session 2005?

Johnson states in the article in the Pioneer Press:

"If it's worth doing, then it's worth doing right''

He pledged to also revisit the measure during next year's session.

Here's to hoping that Johnson will not be returning to the Senate next year!!!

DFL Signing Pawlenty’s Praises?

Well, maybe not the DFL as a whole!! 

The MNGOP released a great statement today quoting a very influential DLF'er from Rochester.

The quote is:

 “And Rochester DFL icon A.M. (Sandy) Keith, a former state senator, lieutenant governor and chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, has already swung his support to Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty.  ‘I love the guy; he can stay at my house if he wants to,’ said Keith, now executive director of the Rochester Downtown Alliance. Pawlenty, Keith said, has done more for Rochester than any governor since DFLer Rudy Perpich.”  (Conrad deFiebre, “DFL Poised To Meet In Rochester,” Star Tribune, June 8, 2006)

Now I do not expect to see the same from the hippie fest happening in Rochester this weekend, this quote is brilliant for the Republicans to use to their advantage.  Most Minnesotans recognize the great direction this state has been going and will not buy into the doom and gloom of the DFL!!

Attention Starved Bar Owner Needs More Attention

Looks like the attention starved bar owner is challenging TPaw in a primary. She evidently did not receive the attention she was hoping for at the convention. Based on the press reports (or lack thereof), the press cares about her as much as the delegates did, nil!!

Here is one little AP story.

Side note: Whoever is doing communications over there should probably go back to college and learn a few things. The press release on this matter is incoherent drivel at best!! I think someone in high school could perform better communications for them!!