DAYTON FAMILY THROWING STONES FROM GLASS HOUSES
July 28, 2010 10:26 PM
Mitch Berg at Shot In The Dark Blog dug in pretty deep to find out where Alliance for a Better Minnesota’s (ABM) campaign cash came from. Berg found that members of Mark Dayton’s family were the largest contributors to ABM front groups WIN Minnesota and the 2010 Fund.
The Dayton family is essentially using ABM as their own front to attack Tom Emmer (which his campaign as responded to here).
One has to wonder, does the Dayton Family really want to make Mark Dayton’s strange and erratic behavior as a US Senator as part of this campaign?
There are several examples:
1. 2004, Mark Dayton closes his Senate Office. 534 other congressional offices remained open. At the time, the Star Tribune said:
“We join the Capitol Hill security chief, the Homeland Security leadership, the mayor of Washington and, apparently, every other member of Congress in scratching our heads at Mark Dayton’s preemptive shuttering of his Senate office. What can he really be thinking?” (The Star Tribune)
by Luke Hellier | Sound the Alarm! »
FOLLOW THE MONEY
July 28, 2010 9:39 PM
Lefty groups in Minnesota and across the country are up in arms with Target Corporation for donating to Minnesota Forward.
But what they won’t tell you is all the other candidates & groups Target has given to.
In 2008 Target PAC gave $200,000 to Democrat candidates. So far in 2010 Target PAC has given $182,000.
by Luke Hellier | Sound the Alarm! »
DAILY DOWNLOAD 7.28.10
July 28, 2010 4:47 PM
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National
The Hill’s 50 most beautiful people.
Wash Po: Pawlenty a 2012 Contender
Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour has 70% approval.
The George W. Bush Foundation in Texas announced they have received support from a total of 200,000 individuals and organizations.
Congressman Erik Paulsen to hold Town Hall in Edina next week. The event will be Monday night at Southview Middle School. Bell time is 7:00 PM h/t Tom Scheck
State
A new Emmer Truth was posted on Tom Emmer’s response to the latest ABM television ad
Emmer was also on the Scott Hennen show this week
MNGOP Calls on Dayton Family Funding of Attack Ads on Tom Emmer
MN Forward Launches their new website
Tom Emmer is buying billboards. The first was spotted on 494W right before MN77. The text says “Dont let one more job leave for South Dakota. EmmerforGovernor.com”
CORRECTION: After checking with the Emmer Campaign, it turns out that they did not pay for the billboards and they aren’t sure who did.
GOP candidates faring well in Saint Cloud
RT Rybak said that Target CEO Gregg Steinhafel donated to his campaign before he donated to Tom Emmer
Field Work Minneapolis is looking to talk to Tea Party members as a part of a community discussion. Call 952-837-8300 if interested.
Mitch Berg responds to Alliance for a Better MN ad
Politics in Minnesota is hosting a post primary event
Others
Minnesota student football ticket sales slump
by Luke Hellier | Sound the Alarm! »
DAILY DOWNLOAD 7.27.10
July 27, 2010 6:32 PM
Local
Lino Lakes voted to make English the official language for city business.
State
The talk of today was campaign finance reports. Here are some notables. (Google Document)
Tom Scheck’s Tidbits on Campaign Finance Reports
Tom Horner’s campaign has turned into a jobs program for his family. Four members of the Horner family are on the campaign pay roll.
The Star Tribune says Tom Horner is off to a slow start
Jim Meffert released an internal poll showing him down 22% points to Erik Paulsen. 44% to 22%. h/t Derek Wallbank of MinnPost.com
Erik Paulsen will be co-hosting a fundraiser for Tom Emmer with Tim Pawlenty in August.
Mark Dayton has spent $28,000 on “social media consulting”
Tom Emmer is holding Town Halls on Taxes on Friday in St. Paul, Mankato, Detroit Lakes, and Duluth.
National
The Heroes of Journolist
Pawlenty is headed to the Iowa State Fair
Target CEO responds to MN Forward criticism.
by Luke Hellier | Sound the Alarm! »
PAUL RYAN ON HARDBALL TALKING THE BUSH TAX CUTS
July 26, 2010 10:11 PM
Rep. Ryan will make a fantastic Chairman of the Budget Committee once the Republicans take back the House this fall.
Watch the video below:
by Luke Hellier | 8 Comments »
DAILY DOWNLOAD 7.26.10
July 26, 2010 7:21 PM
State
Public Affairs strategist Ben Golnik launched his new website today.
The Freedom Foundation of Minnesota did an in depth study on where Public Employees’ Unions were giving their campaign cash.
National
DCCC Goes Big in Several House Districts. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee recently spent a whopping $7.7m on several key house races across the country. The most important part of the story is that none of these seats were for challengers but for incumbents the DCCC needed to protect. Why does his matter in Minnesota? Tarryl Clark pretends that she can win but national Democrats know that with all the other members they have to protect there will be little opportunity to spend extra cash in the sixth district. Read more at Hotline.
The rise of the Left Wing Netroots. Next year’s conference will be held in Minneapolis
White House played phone tag with Sherrod. Read the story on the famous White House Switchboard
The White House announced today that it will begin post the President’s schedule online each day.
The battle over the Bush Tax Cuts is growing.
Dan Powers has sketchy resume
The MNGOP calls on Al Franken to apologize for his recent comments
2012
Pawlenty meets National Press
Video from CSM of Pawlenty Event
Governor
Tom Emmer reported having raised around $900k with just over $300k cash on hand. These are very solid numbers considering he has no competitive primary to compete in and has been traveling the state on his Freedom & Prosperity Listening Tour.
Margaret Anderson Kelliher is reporting $385k Cash on Hand. The Campaign Finance Board will release full numbers tomorrow.
Tom Horner also reported his campaign donations. $190,000 raised, $27,000 cash on hand. Besides the fact that he has an enormous burn rate with nothing to show for it, this pretty much solidifies that Horner will have little effect on the election.
Kelliher also released a plan today to give property tax breaks to seniors. But, MAK voted against property tax caps for seniors twice in 2008. One a 5% cap of income, the other to freeze assessments. Obviously, Kelliher sees Seniors as a key to her winning on 8/10 and will try anything to distort her record to win them over.
The MNGOP released information on Kelliher’s record on property taxes
Others
City Pages profiles Paul Allen
by Luke Hellier | Sound the Alarm! »
FFM LOOKS IN TO PUBLIC EMPLOYEE UNIONS DONATIONS TO CANDIDATES
July 26, 2010 7:09 PM
The Freedom Foundation of Minnesota released a new report they conducted on where Public Employee Unions donate their campaign dollars.
Read the information below:
A Freedom Foundation of Minnesota review of recently filed campaign finance reports finds that public employee unions in Minnesota have already spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in the 2010 election cycle to support a diverse group of candidates: suburban Democrats, rural Democrats, Twin Cities Democrats, and Iron Range Democrats.
Since the beginning of 2009, the state’s largest public employee unions – Education Minnesota, AFSCME Minnesota Council 5, and MAPE – have spent a combined $740,000 on contributions to legislative and gubernatorial candidates, political parties and other committees, and independent expenditures.
In the past 18 months, Education Minnesota, the teachers’ union that represents 70,000 educators across the state, has shelled out approximately $384,000 in direct political spending. More than 99% of that money went to support the Democratic candidates, the DFL party, and liberal campaign committees. Less than one percent, just $3,200, was given to Republican candidates and committees.
During that same time period, the Minnesota Association of Professional Employees (MAPE), which represents over 12,000 state employees, has made $144,450 in itemized contributions to candidates and political parties. Well over 99%, or $144,200, was given to Democratic candidates and DFL party units. Just one contribution, totaling $250, was made to a Republican candidate.
by Luke Hellier | 1 Comment »
KELLIHER LACKS CREDIBILITY ON PROPERTY TAX ISSUE
July 26, 2010 7:06 PM
Per Release from MNGOP:
St. Paul- Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman Tony Sutton today issued the following statement regarding Democrat gubernatorial candidate Margaret Anderson Kelliher’s proposal to cap property taxes at the rate of inflation for some Minnesotans 65 or older.
“Talk about an election year conversion. While Tom Emmer was voting to provide property tax relief for Minnesotans, Margaret Anderson Kelliher was voting against him. Now Kelliher is promising that she will finally stand up for some seniors by capping their property taxes at the rate of inflation. Unfortunately for Kelliher, Minnesotans aren’t going to be fooled by her empty campaign rhetoric.”
by Luke Hellier | Sound the Alarm! »
MNGOP CALLS ON FRANKEN TO APOLOGIZE FOR COMMENTS
July 26, 2010 7:05 PM
Per Release:
St. Paul- Republican Party of Minnesota Chairman Tony Sutton today called on Democrat Al Franken to apologize for comments he made over the weekend in an interview with the website Think Progress. In the interview, Franken said that Republicans “don’t want a jobs bill because they don’t want people to get jobs before the election.”
“Al Franken’s outrageous remarks are beneath a United States senator and we would encourage him to apologize for his baseless suggestion that Republicans ‘don’t want a jobs bill because they don’t want people to get jobs before the election.’ Instead of falsely attacking his colleagues with personal insults, Franken should be working with them in a constructive fashion. While all Minnesotans recognize there can be disagreements on matters of public policy, Franken has once again crossed a line and diminished his standing in both Washington and Minnesota.”
by Luke Hellier | 3 Comments »
DAILY DOWNLOAD 7.23.10
July 23, 2010 4:28 PM
National
Politico’s 50 to Watch. No Minnesotans this year.
Democrat US Senator Jim Webb calls for an end to Affirmative Action programs
Arkansas Senator Blanche Lincoln trails her Republican opponent by 25 points
John McCain spent $10m last quarter on his Senate primary campaign
Gov. Pawlenty, as part of his tour of the Middle East is in Afghanistan.
State
Tim Pawlenty will be holding a fundraiser for Republican Candidate for Governor Tom Emmer on August 23
Michele Bachmann launched a new website today.
Former President Bill Clinton will be in town this weekend to help raise money for the Starkey Foundation h/t Blois Olson
Mark Dayton was on MPR today and said Tom Emmer’s campaign slogan should be “Tommy Tax Free.” Thanks Mark!
The Emmer Campaign has jumped on the new slogan.
New Emmer for Governor RV Hits the Road
Mike Hatch responds to earlier Daily Download report that he will be named Mark Dayton’s Chief of Staff should he win.
Several Democrats, including Margaret Anderson Kelliher, held a retire the debt of John Marty last night.
Others
Marco Rubio will be on FOX News Business at 5:00 today
Twins play the Baltimore Orioles tonight. They are currently tied for second place and are two games behind the White Sox.
by Luke Hellier | 5 Comments »
DAILY DOWNLOAD 7.22.10
July 22, 2010 4:35 PM
National
Senator Norm Coleman is considering a bid for RNC Chairman.
Journolist Day 3 – Reporters formulated attacks against Sarah Palin
Tucker & Breitbart Show
Pres. Bush has no plans to campaign this fall
Gov. Pawlenty cuts a video for Joe Wilson
Rangel has been charged with ethics violations
State
Emmer wants state power and money shifted to cities & counties
Marty Seifert will be a keynote at a fundraiser for Redwood County Republicans tonight.
Former DFL Candidate for Congress Mary Rieder passed away last night. h/t D. Broton
Local
The City of Edina is giving their outgoing city manager $230k payout
by Luke Hellier | Sound the Alarm! »
MN FORWARD AD GETS KSTP TRUTH TEST
July 21, 2010 9:08 PM
Watch the video by clicking the image:
Spoiler alert: MN Forward received a B+, which is the highest rating an ad has received this year.
by Luke Hellier | 10 Comments »
DAILY DOWNLOAD 7.21.10
July 21, 2010 5:58 PM
If you’re interested in receiving the Daily Download via email please send a request here.
Governor
Rumor in the Twin Cities’ legal circles is that former Attorney General and DFL Candidate for Governor Mike Hatch would be named Mark Dayton’s Chief of Staff if he were to win the primary and general election.
Digging deeper into the recent Fox 9/Rasmussen Poll on the Governor’s Race
City Pages thinks that Matt Entenza might win the DFL Primary. I’m not even sure if Matt Entenza believes that.
Sue Perpich, daughter of the late Governor Rudy Perpich, has endorsed Matt Entenza for Governor.
Tom Emmer will be holding a Town Hall on Veterans Issues next week.
National
Bachmann meets with Tea Party Caucus for the first time.
So far 28 members have joined the caucus. Meet the members. Many of those in the article make up the list of the Who’s Who in the Conservative Movement. Also, watch the video of Congresswoman Bachmann announcing the caucus today.
State
Pawlenty is in Iraq meeting with troops.
These Journolist members put Chris Mathews to shame over their fawning for President-Elect Obama post election.
The League of MN Cities names 26 legislators of distinction. Only 3 were Republicans.
MNGOP Responds to Rebecca Otto.
Others
The Twins lose two games to Cleveland but are in second place.
by Luke Hellier | 4 Comments »
MINNESOTANS ON IMMIGRATION
July 20, 2010 10:07 PM
In the most recent Fox 9/Rasmussen Poll there is plenty of information on what Minnesotans say about issues surrounding immigration. This results are similar to what was reported on MDE last week that immigration is remaining a key issue here.
Read the results below:
6* Suppose the new Arizona immigration law was being considered for your state. Would you favor or oppose passage of that law in your state?
62% Favor
27% Oppose
11% Not sure
by Luke Hellier | 5 Comments »
FOX 9/RASMUSSEN POLL ON GOVERNOR’S RACE
July 20, 2010 9:58 PM
A new poll from Fox 9 News & Rasmussen shows Tom Emmer in a statistical tie with each DFL Candidate for Governor:
Full results can be viewed here. The margin of error is 4.5%.
What’s most interesting is that after all the millions of dollars in ads and negative attacks on Tom Emmer this poll still has him in pretty much the same spot he was in shortly after being endorsed.
Furthermore, the poll asked voters about what they thought about each candidate as a favorable vs unfavorable rating:
Each DFL candidate’s total unfavorable rating is higher than Tom Emmer.
Dayton’s unfavorable rating is 45%, Kelliher 42%, and Entenza 41%.
Check back to MDE for more on this poll.
by Luke Hellier | 2 Comments »
RUMOR MILL: ELLISON ORGANIZING FOR ENTENZA
July 20, 2010 7:01 PM
According to a capitol source, Congressman Keith Ellison is privately and secretly engaging his grassroots team to turn out for Matt Entenza in the 5th and among his other supporters.
If you remember Ellison was an earlier endorser of Matt Entenza but revoked his endorsement during the DFL Endorsement to back Margaret Anderson Kelliher.
At the time, I posted on MDE that Matt Entenza’s website was misleading supporters about Ellison’s endorsement, maybe I was wrong.
Is Ellison secretly working to disrupt the DFL endorsement?
by Luke Hellier | Sound the Alarm! »
DAILY DOWNLOAD 7.20.10
July 20, 2010 6:05 PM
Governor
Fox 9 News is reporting that a new Rasmussen Poll on the Governor’s race will be posted tonight
3 DFL Candidates for Governor were on MPR this morning. Listen here.
MPR Story on Minnesota Forward ad
Emmer, Horner, Kelliher agree to abide by spending limits
Just how close is Margaret Anderson Kelliher to Alliance for a Better Minnesota?
Others
Next Tuesday from 4:00 to 7:00 PM John Kriesel will be hosting an open house for his book “Still Standing” at Harriet Island in St. Paul. You can also buy his book here.
National
Andrew Breitbart – American Journalism died today
Dept of Ag Official Resigns after video surfaced of her ”regaling an NAACP audience with a story about how she withheld help to a white farmer facing bankruptcy” http://bit.ly/d6fPn7 h/t Mike Allen
State
MinnPost: Chaudhary faces two opponents
Congresswoman Bachmann was on GMA
More on MN Publius’ Failed Attack
Pelosi’s donation to Walz shows he is vulnerable
by Luke Hellier | 1 Comment »
PELOSI DONATES TO VULNERABLE WALZ
July 20, 2010 5:56 PM
Democrats must be growing more and more nervous about Congressman Tim Walz’s chances – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s PAC donated $4,000 to his campaign. The list of recipients reads like a laundry list of vulnerable Democrats and candidates who can only be described as sacrificial lambs.
Check the disclosure document here.
by Luke Hellier | Sound the Alarm! »
MDE EXCLUSIVE: KELLIHER SURROGATE STARS IN NEW ALLIANCE FOR A BETTER MINNESOTA ATTACK AD AGAINST EMMER
July 20, 2010 5:50 PM
How close is the relationship between DFL front group the Alliance for a Better Minnesota and the DFL’s endorsed candidate for governor, Margaret Anderson Kelliher?
Last week Kelliher held a press conference with some waitresses and one of them was Liza Kent. Kent is shown in the photo below:
Now Liza is a star of a new Anti-Emmer ad by Alliance for a Better DFL Front Group Minnesota:
So just how close is MAK to Alliance for a Better Minnesota?
Check back to MDE for more on this developing story.
by Luke Hellier | Sound the Alarm! »
UPDATE: MN PUBLIUS ATTACK FALLS SHORT
July 20, 2010 4:57 PM
Felon voting has been a big problem for the Mark Ritchie lately, so what is a lefty blogger to do? Find some way to blame the GOP, of course!
Which is exactly what Jeff Rosenberg tried to do last week. He put up a post entitled “Busted: GOP blocked move to make felony data available to Secretary of State,” which claimed (in bold) that Republicans “oppose[d] a bill that would have provided new safeguards against felons accidentally being allowed to vote” because “they don’t want it fixed. They want to be able to complain about it and use this fake issue to cast doubt on any election won by the DFL.”
Rosenberg’s post was about a bill (HF1053) which did contain some positive provisions about sharing felony data with the Secretary of State to make sure that ineligible felons were stricken from voter rolls. But it also contained a controversial “Motor Voter” auto-registration provision that changes the current “Motor Voter” system, where you can choose to be registered to vote when you apply for a drivers’ license or state ID by simply checking a box, to one where you are automatically registered.
Rep. Brod attempted to amend the bill to remove that Motor Voter auto-registration provision, but it failed on a party-line vote: http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/cco/journals/2009-10/J0513053pt2.htm#6160
Then the bill passed on a party line vote, and was eventually vetoed by Gov. Pawlenty. In the veto statement, Pawlenty said that he was vetoing it because of the controversial motor voter provision: “Although there are some worthy provisions in this bill, registering to vote should be a voluntary, intentional act. Changes to election law should also be accomplished on a bipartisan basis. This bill does not reflect bipartisan support.” http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/cco/journals/2009-10/Jsupp2009.htm#7479
Rosenberg completely left out this Republican objection to the motor voter provisions, and then when he was called out in the comments of his original post, instead of correcting his mistake, he doubled down, with a post showing a video clip of Rep. Mary Kiffmeyer talking about the expense that a provision of the bill would create for the Department of Public Safety. Based on this video, Rosenberg claims (again in bold type) that Kiffmeyer “specifically spoke on the House floor against asking the Department of Public Safety to provide felony data to the Secretary of State.”
Seems bad, right? Except it’s not true. If you actually watch the video, at the end, Rep. Kiffmeyer says “In the meantime, we can get some good out of the first section, … so I support the Brod amendment to remove Section 9.”
In other words, Kiffmeyer was actually criticizing the motor voter provision, not the felony data provisions that Rosenberg is claiming she was opposing. He should correct the record. But don’t hold your breath.
UPDATE:
Not only did he miss badly on the 2009 bill, he completely overlooked the 2010 bill, that passed unanimously.
Here’s the rundown from Session Weekly, hardly a partisan source. Note the second bullet point.
by Luke Hellier | Sound the Alarm! »