Amy Klobuchar

I think Amy Klobuchar is cute.

That’s not satire, it’s not a joke, and it has nothing to do with whether I think the former Hennepin County prosecutor is a good U.S. Senator.

I just happen to think she’s good-looking. And for the record, I think it’s too early in her senatorial career to judge how effective or not Klobuchar is.

But she’s definitely a politician, someone who’s been groomed for the political arena, and she’s apparently pretty good at it, given she was elected to the U.S. Senate.

And make no mistake – being a politician ain’t easy.

Over the years of my career as a journalist, mostly in Chicago, I’ve covered more than a few politicians and political races. I like to say that I like and dislike politicians and politics with equal fervor.

Some of the politicians I’ve covered and gotten to know a little I hold in the highest regard, no matter which party they belong to; others, I consider egotistical blow-bags not worth much (again, regardless of party).

I’ve often thought about how to be a politician you have to have a sizable ego, a great touch with people, tremendous energy and a strong desire to serve the public. In the best ones, the ego is not quite as big as the desire to serve and bring about change.

But there’s no doubt how much time and effort it takes to run for office and stay in office (not even to mention the oodles of money it takes and keeps taking).

Think about it – as a politician you always have to be “on”. You can never in public let your guard down, especially in these Internet- and YouTube-fueled days. We all have our bad days, days when we’d be better off staying home because the force just isn’t with us.

But for most of us, having a bad day isn’t a make-or-break proposition; for politicians, especially candidates, a bad day can make the difference between winning and losing.

I was thinking about this last night as I observed Al Franken making his way out of the DFL’s “Unity Party” at the Mayo Civic Center Saturday about 10 p.m. after a long day during which Franken finally secured the endorsement of Minnesota’s Democratic party.

It took Franken and his few handlers a half an hour to wind their way out of the party because every few feet someone wanted to shake his hand and/or have their photos taken with him. Most of the people, I’m sure, were happy and sincere and excited to get a few moments with the U.S. Senate candidate and well-known comedian.

But then there were others, like the two young men who stopped Franken and got in his face to urgently and almost angrily make a point about gay rights. Franken’s face went from smiling-and-friendly to tense-but-still-trying-to-keep-the-smile in a few seconds. And I don't blame him.

Then there was the guy who was laughing as he walked away from using his cell phone to take a photo of himself with Franken. I asked the guy why he was laughing, and he cracked up some more and told me that he’s a Republican and doesn’t like Democrats but was going around and taking photos of himself with every DFL politician he could find and then sending the photos to his friends, just for a few laughs. He showed me a few.

Politicians are targets and spectacles – they are celebrities.

Earlier, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (DFL-MN) greeted delegates, and talked about how close Democrats have come to achieving real reforms in Washington. With a global warming bill narrowly defeated today (U.S. Sen. Norm Coleman (R-MN) missed the vote on that one, but claimed he would have voted for it), she stressed that Democrats are very close to achieving real change, and she gave shout-outs to her fellow DFL congressional representatives.

She praised Sen. Barack Obama's vision of one America, and said that she doesn't want to hear anyone in Rochester saying that Dems won't come together for the election. This brought a standing ovation from many delegates.

The new Democratic agenda in Washington had quickly borne fruit in Washington, with the first minimum wage increase in 10 years, and finally the U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Paul Wellstone mental health parity bill, Klobuchar said.

Klobuchar said Americans are tired of a president who "just doesn't get it." As an example, she cited how President Bush said in recent months that "your prediction of $4 a gallon gas is interesting, I hadn't heard that." Change starts with sending Bush back to the ranch in Crawford, Texas, and sending "Cheney to an undisclosed location, permanently!"

"Ushering in a new era" would arrive when Obama raises his right hand to take the oath of office, and making a few changes to the U.S. Congress would secure that goal, she said. In Virginia, Dem Senate candidate Mark Warner is "far ahead;" in New Hampshire, New Mexico, Colorado, North Carolina, Kentucky, Alaska, and yes, Minnesota, "we'll prevail" in U.S. Senate races.

The margin Dems need is relatively small, but significant. They've been stymied this time around by an "all time record" of 72 filibusters. It'll take five more votes to negotiate lower prescription drug prices via Medicare part D and safe imports from Canada; four votes to override the stem cell veto so that people with Alzheimer's and cerebral palsy can get treatment; and three votes to get U.S. Sen. Jim Webb's (D-VA) amendment that provides service members as much time at home as they spend in service. With only one more vote, the oil companies' tax benefits could be curtailed in exchange for getting more energy produced by farmers and workers in the midwest.

Providing more dignity to veterans at home will be another top priority after the election; this election is about getting a president who does "not kowtow to pharmaceutical companies" and instead puts people first, Klobuchar concluded.

Norm Coleman - Senior Senator (R)

Senior Staff
Chief of Staff- Jennifer Mies Lowe
Legislative Director- Lorianne Moss
Communications Director- Tom Steward
State Director- Vicki Tigwell

Government-hosted website: http://coleman.senate.gov/
Campaign website: http://www.colemanforsenate.com/

Washington D.C. Office
320 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-5641
Fax: (202) 224-1152
Scheduling: (202) 228-1503

Grand Rapids Office
200 Northbank Center 206B
Northeast 3rd Street
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Phone: (218) 327-9333
Fax: (218) 327-8637

Mankato Office
12 Civic Center Plaza Suite 2167
Mankato, MN 56001
Phone: (507) 625-6800
Fax: (507) 625-9427

St. Paul Office
2550 University Avenue West Suite 100N
Saint Paul, MN 55114
Phone: (651) 645-0323
Toll Free: (800) 642-0323
Fax: (651) 645-3110

Amy Klobuchar - Junior Senator (DFL)

Senior Staff
Chief of Staff- Sean Richardson
Legislative Director- Shelia Murphy
Communications Director- Ross Corson
State Director- Sara Grewing

Government-hosted website: http://klobuchar.senate.gov/
Campaign website: http://www.amyklobuchar.com/

Washington D.C. Office
302 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 224-3244
Fax: (202) 228-2186

Minneapolis Office (Fort Snelling)
1 Federal Drive
Whipple Federal Building Suite 298
Fort Snelling, MN 55111
Phone: (612) 727-5220
Fax: (612) 727-5223

Rochester Office

1134 7th Street NW
Rochester, MN 55901

Phone: (507) 288-5321
Fax: (507) 288-2922

Tim Walz - Congressional District 1 (DFL)

Senior Staff
Chief of Staff- Peg McGlinch
Legislative Director- Jeremy Bratt
District Director- Nate Arch
Press Secretary- Meredith Salsbery
Government-hosted website: http://walz.house.gov/
Campaign website: http://www.timwalz.org/

Washington D.C. Office

1529 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2472
Fax: (202) 225-3433

Mankato Office

227 East Main Street Suite 220
Mankato, MN 5590
Phone: (507) 206-0643

Rochester Office

1134 Seventh Street NW
Rochester, MN 55901
Phone: (507) 3882149

John Kline - Congressional District 2 (R)

Senior Staff
Chief of Staff- Steve Sutton
Legislative Director- Jean Hinz
District Director- Mike Osskopp
Press Secretary- Troy Young
Government-hosted website: http://kline.house.gov/
Campaign website:http://www.klineforcongress.org/

Washington D.C. Office
1429 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2271
Fax: (202) 225-2595

Burnsville Office
101 West Burnsville Parkway Suite 201
Burnsville, MN 55337
Phone: (952) 808-1261
Fax: (952) 808-1261

Jim Ramstad - Congressional District 3 (R)

Senior Staff
Chief of Staff- Dean Peterson
Legislative Director- Karin Hope   

District Director- Lance Olson
Press Secretary- Dean Peterson

Government-hosted website: http://www.house.gov/ramstad/
Campaign website: http://www.ramstad.org/
Washington D.C. Office
103 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Phone: (202) 225-2871
Fax: (202) 225-6351

Minnetonka Office
1809 Plymouth Road South Suite 300
Minnetonka, MN 55305
Phone: (952) 738-8000
Fax: (952) 738-9362

Betty McCollum - Congressional District 4 (DFL)

Senior Staff
Chief of Staff- Bill Harper
Legislative Director- Emily Lawrence
District Director- Josh Straka
Communications Director- Bryan Collinsworth

Government-hosted website: http://www.mccollum.house.gov/
Campaign website: http://www.mccollumforcongress.com/

Washington D.C. Office
1714 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-6631
Fax: (202) 225-1968

St. Paul Office
165 Western Avenue North Suite 17
St. Paul, MN 55102
Phone: (651) 224-9191
Fax: (651) 224-3056

Keith Ellison - Congressional District 5 (DFL)

Senior Staff
Chief of Staff- Kari Moe   
Legislative Director- Minh Ta     
District Director- Brian Elliot
Press Secretary- Rick Jauert

Government-hosted website: http://ellison.house.gov/
Campaign website: http://www.keithellison.org/

Washington D.C. Office
1130 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-4775
Fax: (202) 225-4886

Minneapolis Office
2100 Plymouth Avenue North
Minneapolis, MN 55411
Phone: (612) 522-1212
Fax: (612) 522-9915

Michele Bachmann - Congressional District 6 (R)

Senior Staff
Chief of Staff- Rich Dunn
Legislative Director- Rich Dunn
District Director- Sean Nienow
Press Secretary- Heidi Frederickson

Government-hosted website:http://bachmann.house.gov/
Campaign website: http://www.michelebachmann.com/

Washington D.C. Office
412 Cannon House Office Building   
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2331
Fax: (202) 225-6475

Woodbury Office
6043 Hudson Road Suite 330
Woodbury, MN 55125
Phone: (651) 731-5400
Fax: (651) 731-6650

Collin Peterson - Congressional District 7 (D)

Senior Staff
Chief of Staff- Mark Brownell
Legislative Director- Robin Goracke
Press Secretary- Allison Myhre

Government-hosted website:http://collinpeterson.house.gov/
Campaign website: http://www.petersonforcongress.com/

Washington D.C. Office
2211 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2165
Fax: (202) 225-1596

Detroit Lakes Office
714 Lake Avenue Suite 107
Detroit Lakes, MN 56501
Phone: (218) 847-5056

Marshall Office
1420 East College Drive SW/WC
Marshall, MN 56258
Phone: (507) 537-2299

Montevideo Office
100 N First St
Montevideo, MN 53265
Phone: (320) 269-8888

Red Lake Falls Office
MN Wheat Growers Office Building
2603 Wheat Drive
Red Lake Falls, MN 56750
Phone: (218) 253-4356

Redwoods Falls Office
230 East 3rd Street
Redwood Falls, MN 56283
Phone: (507) 637-2270

Wilmar Office
320 4th Street SW
Centre Point Mall
Willmar, MN 56201
Phone: (320) 235-1061

Jim Oberstar - Congressional District 8 (DFL)

Senior Staff
Chief of Staff- Bill Richard
Legislative Director- Chip Gardiner
District Director- Jackie Morris
Press Secretary- Mary Kerr

Government-hosted website: http://oberstar.house.gov/
Campaign website: http://www.oberstar.org/

Washington D.C. Office
2365 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone: (202) 225-6211
Fax: (202) 225-0699

Brainerd Office
Brainerd City Hall
501 Laurel Street
Brainerd, MN 56401
Phone: (218) 828-4400
Fax: (218) 828-1412

Chisholm Office
Chisholm City Hall
316 Lake Street
Chisholm, MN 55719
Phone: (218) 254-5761
Fax: (218) 254-5132

Duluth Office
Duluth Federal Building Room 231
Duluth, MN 55902
Phone: (218) 727-7474
Fax: (218) 727-8270

North Branch Office
38625 14th Avenue Suite 300B
North Branch, MN 55056
Phone: (651) 277-1234
Fax: (651) 277-1235

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