(And a MN Senate (non) endorsement too)
“TW3” AKA “That Was The Week That Was” played on BBC TV in the early 60s and was a satirical spoof of network TV news, and a damn good one at that. The political events of the last week in the midwest could just as well pass for satire, and came all too fast. Crowning a day of humiliating themselves at Farmfest, the GOP outdid themselves when Minnesota CD8 Rep Stauber claimed that CD6 GOP Rep Emmer was MIA and was “fighting for his life”. Maybe for his political life, as an MPR reporter soon confirmed that Emmer was recovering from a foot injury… You can’t make up comedy this good! Next day live at Farmfest topped even that…
So here you come to a nice normal farm show to be greeted with this, before you can peruse even a single tractor or hybrid seed? But from a guy who by court order must stay at least a quarter mile away from the ex-wife and child he abused for the next half century, would we expect anything less grandiose? Says something of the GOP that he’s outpolling their endorsed candidate who didn’t even qualify to be on the debate stage, and the GOP endorsee for governor barely qualified.
I know, they look bored- Amy Klobuchar on the left is the most popular politician in Minnesota since at least Humphrey and will win easily. The three GOPers on the right may as well be sending out resumes, though “Pillow Man” in the middle might be a good candidate for appointment as Minnesota’s “Court Jester”. Lisa DeMuth caught heck from the other GOPers for being too civil with the DFLers, Pillow Man promised a magical budget to fix Minnesota while he’s still trying to figure out the budget, and does anybody remember anything the actual GOP endorsed sacrificial lamb on the end said?
Pretty much reached my limits hiking over to the excellent Gillfillan Farm museum and working antique farm equipment display for lunch, then to the DFL candidates hangout AKA the Farmers Union hoop barn for much needed coffee…
Great Farmers Union coffee, but the Senate Forum provide more than enough stimulus…
So on the left we got democrats CD2 Rep Angie Craig and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan, who despite a hard fought primary managed to avoid attacking each other for a change, followed by GOP Football color commentator and candidate Michelle Tafoyia who was trying to navigate the difficult political straits of being a sorta pro-choice GOPer and frequently checking her briefing book. and last but least, Abuser Royce White standing up and yelling to impress or intimidate us or something. While Angie talked sense, Peggy tried, and Michelle tried to fake it, Royce called the democrats and probably Michelle too by association communists and had at least one ardent pro-lifer doing the pentecostal waving of hands during a poor attempt at “call and response” ministry.
Had to bail to help set up the SD15 fundraiser, then a fast hours drive to my City Council meeting and back. Meanwhile a campaigngn who shall go nameless dumped a Transit sized load of lawn signs and bigger on us, necessity a scramble to find vehicles to haul the haul. Spent half an hour switching my flatbed over from machinery hauling to sideboards and everything was already loaded when I got there. Nearly 10 when I got home so kicked back, showered, and slept.
Then ‘fore I could even write this up Trump and his GOP screwed up again, right in their western Minnesota backyard! ICE had been threatening to reopen the abandoned for-profit Appleton, Minnesota prison for some time, and they outdid themselves- After Trump had bought stock in the owners ICE bought the whole damn prison and another one in Kansas. It gets crazier- They paid a 500 million of our tax dollars for a prison that Minnesota turned down for less than 100 million and has an assessed value of 15 million. And what happens when the federal government buys private property? It don’t pay taxes no more. This leaves Appleton with a half million dollar revenue loss effective just about immediately, ’cause the corporation ain’t even paid the second half taxes yet. Appleton, a city of around 1,400, has a budget of around 2 million including a library bond payment of over $100,000 due every year and infrastructure in dire need of repair, and the GOP just stiffed’ ’em! And those good jobs the republicans were promising along with tax revenue? The company will still run the prison, so no well paid with benefits federal employees boosting the local economy.
Finally, as a reluctant DFL officer I have to support endorsed US Senate candidate Peggy Flanagan and I’ve done my best, despite Peggy never asking for my support- Heck, we seldom see Peggy out here. The PolSci 101 dropouts of the Democratic Socialists are backing Peggy, and maybe they talked her into running despite serving one term in the legislature, school board before that, and never facing a serious GOP opponent. At the Farmfest Forum she was checking her briefing book while primary opponent Angie Craig gave us an education on the details of farm policy and health care, no surprise why she’s the top democrat on the Ag Committee. While Peggy simplistically argued for the progressives latest rebrand of “single payer”, now “Medicare for All”, Angie skillfully explained how many Americans have better health care than Medicare and prefer to keep it, and how the “public option” she supports will offer a choice that will serve everyone better. No surprise that the GOP would prefer to run against Peggy and has millions ready to spend against her. We need to pick up 4 seats to take back the US Senate, good change we can win them but we can’t afford to give back senate seats in Michigan and Minnesota to the GOP. For us western Minnesota democrats, Angie can run a winning campaign without our help while Peggy will suck up all our resources and drag down our downballot candidates.
I exercised my constitutional right to protect my health care and defied the DFL by voting for Angie Craig.
Sassy Democrat 