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BLOGGING AT TEAM FRANKEN’S EVENT AT THE CAPTIOL
By Michael B. Brodkorb | March 25, 2008
I am at Team Franken's event at the State Capitol. The turn-out was much smaller than I expected. I just spoke with Mark Drake, communications director for the Republican Party of Minnesota, regarding their press release this morning about Franken's failure to pay disability coverage for his employees. I'll post about my conversation with Drake later today. I don't believe Team Franken wanted to deal with this issue today, which is great. I'll report back about this event later this morning on Minnesota Democrats Exposed.
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This post also appears on Blogs for Norm!, an online community and blog covering the 2008 U.S. Senate campaign in Minnesota. The primary goal of Blogs for Norm! is to organize bloggers who support U.S. Senator Norm Coleman.
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34 Responses to “BLOGGING AT TEAM FRANKEN’S EVENT AT THE CAPTIOL”
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March 25th, 2008 at 10:38 AM
I could be wrong, but I think I remember when the New York fine story broke, that a spokesman for the Franken campaign said in a news report that they would pay the fine t5o New York out of campaign funds.
Again, I could be wrong but I thought that paying business fines that are unrelated to a campagn out of those campaign funds would be illegal. I thought they had to be related to the campaign.
March 25th, 2008 at 10:41 AM
Michael, can you ask Franken what he thinks about our veterans being banned from Forest Lake High School? I’d like to get Al on record about this issue.
March 25th, 2008 at 10:50 AM
As a veteran, I was against this group of veterans going into a public high school and speaking about military service. I would encourage the school to host the event when it would be have been acceptable – in the evening where students and parents could go together to ask questions about military service. This is one of the problems with NCLB that has always bothered me – access to students by military recruiters on public school property. I served and made that commitment myself, after I was out of college. I don’t believe our children (18 and under in public school are children in my old eyes) should be sold a bill of goods. I know too many recruiters are having a hard time pulling in their quotas and students are being told things that are unrealistic in order to get them to sign up. Students with parents, on their own time, would be appropriate.
March 25th, 2008 at 10:58 AM
Actually, I’m not surprised turn out is small. Most Dems I know work for a living and can’t do these morning/lunchtime events in St. Paul. Always amazes me that anyone shows up at these things. They’re always timed (by both parties) for press coverage and they always wonder why no one shows up. Well…..work? Traffic? Parking? Distance and the cost of gas?
March 25th, 2008 at 11:32 AM
” I know too many recruiters are having a hard time pulling in their quotas and students are being told things that are unrealistic in order to get them to sign up”.
So you know for a fact that recruiters are lying. Wow, that’s a very damaging allegation. Why haven’t you forwarded your facts to the liberal media? I am certain they would be very interested that the military is lying to our children so Bush can sent the off to war and use them as cannon fadder.
March 25th, 2008 at 11:44 AM
West Metro Dem, if you are anything like the other Democrat “vetrans” we’ve been introduced to, it is reasonable to automaticly assume that you’re bitter because you don’t think you deserved that BCD.
Given the pathetic failure that is public education today, the military is all too often the last best chance a student has to succeed in life.
My God, first they steal a kid’s education, then cut a genuine opportunity to overcome that theft off at the knees..is there any bottom to the Democrat moral pit?
March 25th, 2008 at 11:48 AM
West Metro Dem: Can I expect you’ll make this same argument when the DFL rejects parental consent/notification for either birth control or abortions? Or are kids able to handle that, but not able to LISTEN to military members speak without parents available?
March 25th, 2008 at 12:08 PM
Wow! Such incredible viciousness! Actually there have been instances reported about recruiter violations for years. For instance, at one local high school students in the high school band were told they would be able to get into the military band upon enlistment. Not gonna happen. That ended up with a recruiter being reassigned. That’s just one indication.
Unfortunately for you, I’m not bitter. I’m a very proud veteran. My father is a military retiree after serving 25 years and my father in law served 30.
I still have issues with students being recruited in public schools unless the students come to the recruiter. Currently in most schools the system is the same for military recruitment as it is for college and trade school recruitment and I think that’s very fair. Students seeking post-high school options go to the recruiting meetings and find out what options are available. That’s the way it should be.
As to schools, you’ll probably find me much tougher on schools than you would imagine. I am constantly arguing that our public schools are failing our students – and not for a lack of money or class size. That’s the biggest strawman in the whole game. Our problem is a failure to demand excellence and to teach in depth and to hold students to standards that will allow them to excel in higher education. Our public schools are exactly why the US ranks 17 out of 21 in math and science education in the latest TIMMS study. If parents don’t take the reins on their children’s educations, they will be left behind and their options will narrow dramatically post-high school. I have had this argument for years with friends and acquaintances who teach for a living. There is a huge disconnect between what teachers and school systems think is necessary to succeed in higher education and what college and university professors require to succeed. Unfortunately the funding and accountability system we have right now does not demand that public schools be held accountable for how their product meets the needs of the university system. If it did, we’d see massive changes in public education requirements.
Also, I do NOT support birth control or abortion information in public schools. Supporting choice is not about supporting abortion and definitely not about supporting access to abortion and birth control without parental consent under 18. Supporting choice has to do with WHO makes the choices in life – not just over abortion – but over birth control for unmarried women (over 18), hospice care and palliative care, end of life decisions, too.
It’s the GOP that needs to stop feeding people talking points.
March 25th, 2008 at 12:19 PM
West Metro Dem, I thought this group came in and spoke about their personal experiences in Afganistan and Iraq, but are you saying they are actually recruiters? I don’t see any problem with them spending time in the classroom anymore then a WWII or Vietnam Vet coming in to speak about their experiences.
March 25th, 2008 at 12:23 PM
No clue, honestly. I would agree with you if that’s what they were asking to do. If they were out there recruiting, I’d disagree with them.
March 25th, 2008 at 12:28 PM
Sorry West Dem but the minute you identify yourself as a Democrat, anything you say regarding the military and your supposed connections to it is subject to verification.
You can thank fellow Democrat frauds like John Kerry, Jesse MacBeth, 2punk Tommy and many, many more for that.
As far as we know, the closest you ever came to a military facility was your best bottle throwing distance. You’re just another anti-American moonbat out here trashing our troopers.
Take it over to MNPublius.
March 25th, 2008 at 12:34 PM
My DD214 would say differently…..it would say honorable discharge from service in foreign duty station. My dad’s military retirement party after 25 years of service and a DD214 would also attest to his service.
It’s up to you to believe that others have or have not served. I can’t change your mind for you. It might shock you to know there are many Dems who are veterans and not all are leftwing wingnuts. There’s a huge middle…..
March 25th, 2008 at 12:34 PM
Sez West Metro Dem: “Most Dems I know work for a living and can’t do these morning/lunchtime events in St. Paul.”
Over here in the East Metro of Saint Paul, most Dems I know are retired, aging hippies with too much free time on their hands. They are the ones who provide the Dems with reliable foot soldiers.
That they did not go to the Franken event probably speaks volumes (in negative tones) about Franken’s campaign.
March 25th, 2008 at 12:39 PM
Ah, interesting Stonewall Jackson. Since I’m a west suburban dweller I consider St. Paul a real hike (and gas waster) when I could just read about the event on the blogs. I’ve met some of those aging hippies. Fun people. Love the long gray pony tails and tie dyed t-shirts. Kind of an interesting demographic, eh?
March 25th, 2008 at 12:43 PM
West Metro Dem, Thats what I heard on a radio interview this morning while getting ready for work. It was one of the morning farming shows interviewing the organizer. They sounded like they wanted to get the story out about what they saw and did in Iraq and Afganistan. It was a group of people, maybe parents I don’t know, that were threatening a protest to silence these guys. Keep in mind that for many on the left speech is only free for those that agree with them.
March 25th, 2008 at 12:50 PM
This was a howler: “Most Dems I know work for a living”
I’ll still be laughing tomorrow.
Next, WMD cites as an egregious lie, a claim that a recruiter told a recruit that he could get in to the military band. Oh the humanity. What next, they’ll start telling the recruits that food at basic training is 5-stars?
What a fucking joke.
March 25th, 2008 at 12:54 PM
“# West Metro Dem Says:
March 25th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
No clue, honestly. I would agree with you if that’s what they were asking to do. If they were out there recruiting, I’d disagree with them.”
… So, WMD has relied only on his extreme ignorance when forming a strong opinion to oppose this appearance of veterans discussing their experiences.
Figures. Typical liberal. So fucking outraged, he has know idea about what.
March 25th, 2008 at 12:59 PM
Actually, promising some high school kid that he/she can get into the military band is a lie. The chances of that happening is like getting into the philharmonic. It’s a tough shot and few who are well trained musicians make it. Lies are lies. How many recruiters do you know personally? My cousin was one for the US Marines in Chicago. He chose to go back to Iraq for his 3rd tour rather than accept another assignment as a recruiter. Not an easy sell these days.
Actually, Dems I know do work for a living. Frankly, indies I know work, too. So do the GOP’ers I know. I don’t personally know anyone who doesn’t work who isn’t elderly and retired. It’s my world. What’s yours look like?
Pete, pretty sad if that’s the truth. Sometimes the right to protest gets in the way of not what can happen but what should. I think it would be beneficial for kids to actually see and hear from our troops about the reality on the ground. Yes, it’s terrifying to live in a war zone and the threat is real but so is the work that our troops are doing with the communities over there to help rebuild their society. Both sides of the story complete the story and should be told.
March 25th, 2008 at 1:10 PM
WMD first sez:
“As a veteran, I was against this group of veterans going into a public high school and speaking about military service. ”
but now sez:
” I think it would be beneficial for kids to actually see and hear from our troops about the reality on the ground.”
Glad to see you come around and change your mind.
March 25th, 2008 at 1:18 PM
It depends on what they are asking to do. If it’s to sell the war, no. That’s recruiting. If it’s to talk openly about what they have seen and done, then yes. But, possibly as I stated above, the event should have been a parent/child event open in the evening and encouraged parents to attend with their kids.
March 25th, 2008 at 1:23 PM
I’m sure it is a lie. But OMG… it’s not like he promised that the recruit would never get called up.
JHC… this is why none of us take any of you hand-wringing clowns very seriously.
BTW — recruitment numbers also aren’t nearly as bad as you liars make them out to be.
March 25th, 2008 at 1:25 PM
Well this is what “Vets for Freedom” is about
“Vets for Freedom is a nonpartisan organization established by combat veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Our mission is to educate the American public about the importance of achieving success in these conflicts by applying our first-hand knowledge to issues of American strategy and tactics in Iraq.
We support policymakers from both sides of the aisle who have stood behind our great generation of American warriors on the battlefield, and who have put long-term national security before short-term partisan political gain.
Vets for Freedom is the largest Iraq and Afghanistan veterans organization in America.”
I don’t see recruiting mentioned anywhere, but I agree with you that parents should be seeing this group speak also.
March 25th, 2008 at 1:28 PM
MON,
Definitely shouldn’t have canceled the event in that case but should have rescheduled to an evening and invited parents to come with their kids. Definitely over reaction on the side of the protesting parents (there will always be protesting parents – no matter what the question) and by the school (cancel the event rather than seek a satisfactory compromise).
Chestnut,
Recruiting numbers are in the toilet without signing bonuses up the wazoo. Military.com will even back that up.
March 25th, 2008 at 1:30 PM
WMD is a staunch advocate of the first amendment, so long as the speaker is touting the same tired liberal dogma bullshit.
March 25th, 2008 at 1:34 PM
No intelligent discussion on issues? Differences of opinion? I guess only Chestnut’s little “chestnuts” here…..sigh. Never discuss – just hurl invective.
March 25th, 2008 at 1:46 PM
WMD,
There are bomb throwers on both sides.
March 25th, 2008 at 2:01 PM
All of my sons friends, and I do mean all, have enlisted in the service. My son can’t due to a disability but I would support him 100% if he could.
March 25th, 2008 at 5:04 PM
Understand, Pete. I fully understand.
MON….absolutely. Each side has their less agreeable sorts. Having many Republicans in my family, I do try to get along and understand what makes each person tick. We can disagree.
March 25th, 2008 at 5:06 PM
May God Bless and care for your son’s friends, Pete.
March 26th, 2008 at 1:01 AM
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March 26th, 2008 at 1:01 AM
[...] Read the rest of this great post here [...]
March 26th, 2008 at 8:27 AM
WMD said: “It might shock you to know there are many Dems who are veterans and not all are leftwing wingnuts.”
Intuitively I know that has to be true WMD. Which is why honorable Democrats should be outraged when dirtballs like John Kerry, Jesse MacBeth and 2punk tommy lie about their supposed service records.
But given the record of the Democrat party and it’s anti-American wing, it is completely reasonable to assume that any Dem that speaks out against the US military under cover of their own supposed service is just another liar.
March 27th, 2008 at 4:27 PM
You have serious problems, NotSoSwiftly – seek help.
But by all means, keep posting – it’s important moderate voters clearly understand the depravity and dickness of the GreedOverPrinciples base, epitomized by you.
April 24th, 2008 at 11:33 AM
West Metro Dem. You must not be one of those Dems who have to work for someone else for a living. You are all over the bloggisphere all working day. I hope all your comments are posted on your own time and that you don’t work for a non profit or the government like most Dems.