Minnesota’s U.S. Senate Race

Wave it in my face on the morning after the election, but here’s my shocking prediction.
by Charlie Leck

The current polls (the reputable ones) have 3rd party candidate, Independent Party Dean Barkley, getting anywhere between 14 and 20 percent of the vote in the upcoming election.
I think Barkley will do better than the high range in those numbers and will come very close to the threshold that will get him elected. Barkley will be in the 30+ range. That + figure will be the key.

My prediction is that Minnesota will elect a U.S. Senator that does not garner even as much as 40 percent of the statewide vote. Whoever the victor, he will not go rushing to Washington with a mandate in his pocket. I sure wish Minnesota had an instant-run-off policy in its statewide elections. It makes such sense!

The question no one seems capable of answering is this: From whom does Barkley take the most votes? A few weeks ago I would have thought it was Coleman. Now I’m not too sure.This is one important election the polls haven’t got right.

In 2009, Dean Barkley may be caucusing with Joe Liebermann. I can’t imagine the Democrats will want the Senator from Connecticut defiling their caucus any longer. They’re not going to need him as they do now and they may just cut ties with this turncoat.

Not, of course, that I’m bitter!

Who is the Real Norm Coleman?

Al Franken wrote some nasty jokes!
Is there anything naughty we should know about Senator Coleman?
Is the press doing its job?
by Charlie Leck

Where is the press on Senator Norm Coleman? Is Minnesota just too Minnesota-Nice? There are rotten, smutty rumors that have been circulating for years about Norm Coleman. Have any reporters ever looked into these things? It certainly was easy for them to hop on the dirty jokes of Al Franken. How about more attention to Coleman?

Is the rumor Garrison Keillor mentioned in 2002 about the Senator true? [Garrison Keillor's 2002 blast at Coleman: Empty Victory for a Hollow Man]

"Norm got a free ride from the press. St. Paul is a small town and anybody who hangs around the St. Paul Grill knows about Norm's habits. Everyone knows that his family situation is, shall we say, very interesting, but nobody bothered to ask about it, least of all the religious people in the Republican Party. They made their peace with hypocrisy long ago. So this false knight made his way as an all-purpose feel-good candidate, standing for vaguely Republican values, supporting the president."

Let's just say I've heard the rumor repeated many times by people who would seem to know – people who know the night scene and the party life of St. Paul.

I'll tell you what! How about a really nice feel-good story about Senator Coleman's family life – you know, the kids and mom and dad, sitting around the fire place reading something like the Bible together, while the family dog rubs up against Norm's leg.

There are thousands of Minnesota readers out here who want to know the Senator better as a family man. What do we get? Nothing! Nothing at all.

What is the extent of Coleman's political/business relationship with Jeff Larson? That's another interesting question. What do we get from the press? Nothing!

The press has looked at Al Franken's early life very carefully. How about a look at Norm Coleman's early life? Norm was big into the leftist life style before he arrived in St. Paul. How about a good story on that? How he met his wife? Where they were married? The kids? What do they like to do together?

All we're asking for is "fair and balanced news." The local papers, owned by massive, profit driven corporations, just don't get it and they don't care to get it! Our only hope is the alternative press.

How about this? No more free rides! Let's get an honest, fair look at the personal and family life of Senator Norm Coleman.

While we wait for the press, here's a couple of fun things to look at…

Read the marvelous 2005 rantings of George Galloway, Member of Parliament (UK) about Norm Coleman. Galloway called Coleman a "lickspittle senator" (whatever that means – I need to look it up).
[the American Heritage Dictionary defines a "lickspittle" as "a fawning underling… a toady" (whatever a toady is)]

Open Congress will show you where Coleman's campaign money is coming from (largest contributors are commercial real estate). The site also reviews the Senator's voting record. You'll discover the voting record has been a complete, unaltered support of the President of the U.S., George W. Bush.

Down a Dark Alley

If you had to go down it, which of these candidates
would you prefer to have with you in this dark alley?
by Charlie Leck

See a second blog following this one about Crostini Grille, in Monticello, Minnesota!

Well, Jesse Ventura surprised all of Minnesota last night by announcing, live on Larry King, that he will NOT run for the U.S. Senate. Whoopee! I'm relieved.

Jesse, just last week, had established a new standard for picking a U.S. Senator. He asked us to envision a really dark alley and then ask ourselves with which of the candidates would we want to go down that long alley.

How to answer the question? I'm really not sure! And, I ask myself if that is really the essential question or just more of the stupid ramblings of the village idiot.

I took the photograph in the heading of this blog a long time ago. It was somewhere in Europe and, I think, somewhere in Italy. I don't remember and I am not the most precise DAM guy – that's Digital Asset Management. I remember a lovely, little taverna was at the far end of it. I had to darken this photograph and add shadows to get the affect I wanted. Let's say the photograph was taken in Naples (which may be correct) and that il café was delightful and the walk through il vicola was pleasant and charming. Now I have some clarity in mind as I answer the question.

The three candidates from which I have to choose are the incumbent Senator, Norm Coleman; the other major party challenger, former comedian Al Franken, and a recently announced primary challenger to Franken, Priscilla Lord Farris. Farris has some legitimacy and would make a fine Senator. And, I wouldn't mind at all going down that dark alley with her to have a beer at il traverna. No one is going to own this woman. She has a quick mind and is sensible on all the issues. She comes from an outstanding Minnesota family whose life-style has to be admired and whose reputation is beyond reproach. She is a very serious primary candidate. Can she beat Coleman? I don't really know. I don't know if Franken can pull it off either; however, as Jesse Ventura said on the King show last night, how anyone can be trailing Coleman in the polls is rather unbelievable. Well, once in a while, Jesse gets it right and he's right on that one.

The important thing at the moment is that the infamous bozo, Jesse Ventura, is out of the picture. Things keep getting easier all the time.

Our incumbent Senator is a weasel who would spend the entire time talking only about himself and I would get stuck with the check. He's an owned man and his soul belongs to the company store. He was as cozy as one could be with the current occupant of the White House until it became politically disadvantageous to be so chummy with him. Let there be no mistakes, however, and the other two candidates should shout it out, loud and clear: "Norm Coleman is a Bush-Chaney man." They owned him for the last six years. Coleman is very much a chameleon. He can change parties, positions, friends and loyalties faster than one of those little creatures can change colors. Coleman did nothing creative as a legislator and whatever he did was first cleared and approved in the White House. Of the three, he's the most awful choice for me. No, I wouldn't walk down this alley, with that man, to get to this little place of refreshment. He is a piece of turd and is a joke in the U.S. Senate. I know that's strong, but it's the truth. Anyone who would vote for him doesn't care about the truth. He's wretchedly impolite and boorish. If you think Bill Clinton had a questionable, nasty side to his life, you better take a closer look at Norm Coleman.

Now, what if I were to walk down that alley, to that little, delightful spot with Al Franken? Oh, my! It wouldn't be so bad. Al's a whistler. It would be like going past the graveyard, you know. And, he's a generous fellow and would at least make sure we were dutch treat. He might even pick up the check. I've sent some money into his campaign committee and I'll likely send some more if he survives his primary challenge. He'd tell me a few good, clean jokes as we sipped on our beers and he might even get up and do a stand-up routine for the other diners and drinkers.

In Minnesota, Norm Coleman must go. Ms. Farris and Mr. Franken, let's see a very distinguished primary campaign!

END

Crostine Grille in Monticello will feature
Sheepy Hollow racks of lamb on Monday night

Well, this is a very big deal! A lovely, little restaurant, Crostini Grill, in Monticello, Minnesota – straight out I-94, northwest of Minneapolis – does a quarterly wine dinner and closes reservations at 40 people. They always fill up and the evening is well known in the area. All Minnesota menu items are featured. Monday night, 21 July, the dinner will include an entrée of rack of lamb from Sheepy Hollow at Native Oaks Farm. Sorry, no more reservations are available. We couldn't even get in! We are anxious, though, to hear the reviews.

Take a look at the menu:

Minnesota Wild Rice Stuffed Mushrooms
Summer's Ratatouille
Fresh Trout
with Riesling butter sauce
Cranberry & Pecan glazed Rack of Lamb
Rhubarb-Berry Strudel

Give the Crostini Grill a try some time. I'm going to.

END