Home » Politics in Minnesota: Weekly Report: 2005 » Politics in Minnesota: The Weekly Report - Vol. 1, Issue 15 - 8/19/2005

Politics in Minnesota: The Weekly Report - Vol. 1, Issue 15 - 8/19/2005


In this issue: Why is Coleen Rowley in Crawford?, Another Summer Session, The Politics of the Northwest Airlines Situation, Bits From The Blogosphere, Bits & Pieces..., The Coming Week In Other Media

Why is Coleen Rowley in Crawford?

Any public relations or political observer should be able to genuinely appreciate the spontaneous press coverage that has exploded in Crawford, Texas, since Cindy Sheehan decided to set up vigil for a meeting with President Bush regarding the death of her son, Casey Sheehan, at what they call "Camp Casey" in honor of her son.

Locally, the Star Tribune, KARE 11 and Fox 9 have decided to send reporters to Crawford to cover the local angle of this story, because Sen. Becky Lourey and Second District Congressional candidate Coleen Rowley have decided to go to Crawford. (Sheehan left just after they arrived.) The local angle is giving the story real legs, as evidenced by the interest of local affiliates in the story.

Sen. Lourey's trip makes complete sense, and is by far a more personal journey than a political one, since she lost her son Matt Lourey in Iraq in June. We wonder about the trip of Coleen Rowley, though. While we know that Rowley opposes the war, we wonder whetherr this trip merely lends credence to the notion that Rowley is really focused on media attention, and national media attention specifically.

Media attention can raise funds for Rowley, which will be critical in her challenge to Second District Representative John Kline. So, as a simple political calculation, the trip is very logical. In the end, however, we doubt the war is going to be the major issue in the conservative Second District. Despite the media attention, Rowley has much more to think about regarding her candidacy--like her awful tagline "Always Try," for instance--than a spontaneous trip to Texas for a photo op.

Another Summer Session

We refuse to call it "special" at this point, but there were rumblings this week that Sen. Majority Leader Dean Johnson (D-Willmar) and House Speaker Steve Sviggum (R -Kenyon) would support another session under the right circumstances.

But, after the results of the last session, in which, by most political accounts, Governor Tim Pawlenty fared the worst, the Governor is playing this idea pretty safe. His theory is that it can wait until September, after the State Fair--one of the most brilliant political rationalizations we have heard in quite some time.

It's brilliant for the realization that if a decision were made before the State Fair, it would become a major topic of discussion at one the most bi- or tri-partisan political events of the year. The Fair represents the most face to face interaction elected officials and political parties have with "real people." Had Pawlenty moved anywhere toward a session or allowed it to become a larger story, opponents and the "real people" would have had something to bend everyone's ear about. Not to say that the last session isn't going to generate some comments regardless.

For the record, most insider and Capitol pros are very down on another session this year, mostly because they don't want to cut even shorter their already short summer. The only reason they might want another session is that it would be a rushed event, and lobbyists might pick up a new client or two.

If there is a session, here are the issues that are likely to be on the table:

  • Gopher football stadium on the U campus
  • Twins stadium in Hennepin County
  • Maple Grove hospital
  • Transportation
  • Vikings stadium

The dominance of stadiums as a special session issue will scare most legislators and the governor away from ultimately pulling the trigger on calling another session.

The Politics of the Northwest Airlines Situation

The current, very fluid and volatile state of Northwest Airlines labor and business situations is significant for the political landscape in Minnesota. Of course, there is the obvious fact that governmental entities, including the state and the Metropolitan Airports Commission, would have massive liabilities to recover if Northwest somehow left the market, or filed for bankruptcy. That would hit the state hard, and force tougher reexamination of key budget items.

But, just like baseball players' salaries, the problems at Delta, United and other airlines only highlight the fact this isn't a problem solved by government, but rather something the companies and the unions have to take care of themselves.

Many people have asked us what impact the situation will have on the political climate, and, to date, we think very little. While labor and businesses will certainly be busy scrambling on their myopic issues related to the challenge, we are more certain very few "real people" will be effected by the strike until they try to book a flight.

If Northwest comes to the state for another handout, the battle will be a tough. Democrats will hold their ground on labor issues and businesses will be forced to support government spending for a private company. Our per capita rate of Fortune 500 companies is, in part, due to the hub nature of Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport. Of course, we hope Northwest Airlines gets the situation worked out, but as it gets ugly, remember the type of accessibility Northwest Airlines provides to businesses, small and large, and the types of salaries they have paid to highly-skilled blue collar workers, who we bet, live in the suburbs and haven't been voting as loyal Democrats all the time.

Politics In Minnesota: Bits From The Blogosphere
--News from the Blogs--

How the Left is Using Blogs...

Much has been opined about the influence of blogs in politics. Key examples of their influence include last year's Presidential election, and the exposure of the fake documents scandal that forced the early retirement of Dan Rather, which was led by the locally-based conservative blog Powerline when it showed proof the documents were fake. But, the left has quickly caught up.

Just for the record, our blog coverage policy is that we'll talk about them, if they aren't anonymous. But in this case, the example is how the blogs beat the Star Tribune to a story it should have owned.

It was impressive, earlier this week, how the Blog community picked up and ran with the departure of Nick Coleman from Air America. The best we can tell is that the story was broken by Centrisity, and City Pages Blog, when Coleman decided he wasn't going to return after his paternity break.

While the issue began to appear in blogs in the middle of last week, and we confirmed it in last week's edition, the blogs continued to pontificate about our confirmation of the "No Guns, Gays and Abortion" rule at the Janet Robert-owned operation.

Robert apparently released a letter to the blogs, including an e-mail to Lloydetta and to City Pages. But, the real kicker here is that all of this went on as inside baseball. Coleman's own newspaper, the Star Tribune, didn't cover his departure from Air America until this past Wednesday--a full week after it was first mentioned in the Blogosphere, and five days after we published it.

While this is just one anecdote, it shows the power and speed advantage blogs have over mainstream media, or MSM as they call it. To this end, note that the Star Tribune has its own blog on the NWA strike. Better late than never.

The Pioneer Press Blog Blunder

It should be noted the Pioneer Press had its own blog issue a few weeks ago when their reporters Tim Nelson and Robert Ingrassia speculated in their City Hall Scoop blog that retired Police Chief Finney may be entering the Mayor's race. The speculation was instigated by the fact that Finney picked up materials to register a political committee. While notable, it took a few hours, and a little fact checking to realize those papers could be used to register a committee for Ramsey County Sheriff, which is something in which Finney is probably interested.

That noted, integrating blogs into media coverage is something at which the Pioneer Press has beaten the Star Tribune; not only with politics but music and other subjects as well.

Politics In Minnesota: Bits & Pieces...
--Tracking people and events--

[Publishers' note: Please e-mail us at staff@politicsinminnesota.com with anything we've missed or something that's coming up, or fax same to 651-293-9056.]

There was a very interesting two-sentence blurb in the Pioneer Press last Sunday that could have some impact on a powerful but otherwise obscure state regulatory board, the Public Utilities Commission. This is the board where energy, telecom and other regulated industries are regulated. The small blurb about an investigation into whether or not former Public Utilities Commissioner Greg Scott violated state ethics laws could land in front of the PUC in September. Stay tuned...we expect this will be a bigger story.

The Star Tribune search system seems to get worse with every attempt to use it.

Final List of Ambassadors

Thanks to everyone who contacted us about Minnesotans who have served as United States ambassadors. And, a special thanks to Doug Gray, who served a dozen years in the Foreign Service in Colombia, Mexico, Nicaragua and Washington. He compiled the following list "as a tribute to the many Minnesotans who have served their country in the diplomatic service, among whose number I am honored to include myself along with several of my dearest friends."

  • Christopher C. Andrews, United States Minister to Sweden and Norway, 1869-77 (also named to Denmark, took oath but did not proceed to post, 1898), born in New Hampshire, became editor of the St. Cloud Union (later the Times), General of the Third Minnesota Regiment during the Civil War, first chief fire warden and later forestry commissioner who laid the groundwork for the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, owned but never lived in houses at 650 and 656 Summit Ave. in St. Paul.
  • Gilbert A. Pierce, United States Minister Resident and Consul General to Portugal, 1883, owned and edited the Minneapolis Tribune.
  • Samuel R. Thayer, United States Minister to the Netherlands, 1889-93, Minnesota lawyer and political activist, buried in Rochester, New York.
  • Lewis Baker, United States Minister to Nicaragua, also accredited to Costa Rica and El Salvador, 1893-97.
  • Stanford Newel, United States Minister to Netherlands, 1897-1905; Luxembourg, 1903-05, born in Providence, Rhode Island but was a Republican national convention delegate from Minnesota.
  • Laurits S. Swenson, United States Minister to Denmark, 1897-1905; Switzerland, 1910-11; Norway, 1911-13 and 1921-30; the Netherlands, 1931-34.
  • John W. Riddle, United States Ambassador to Russia, 1907-09; also United States Agent and Consul General in Egypt, 1903-05; United States Minister to Romania and Serbia, 1905-07, career Foreign Service officer, buried in Connecticut.
  • Charles H. Graves, United States Minister to Norway, 1905-06; Sweden, 1905-13; first United States diplomatic head of mission to Norway after independence.
  • Frederick W.B. Coleman, United States Minister to Latvia, 1922-31 (also accredited to Estonia and Lithuania); Denmark, 1932-33, born in Detroit and died in North Carolina.
  • Frank B. Kellogg, United States Ambassador to Great Britain, 1923-25; also served as United States delegate to the Fifth International Conference of American States and as Secretary of State, 1925-9; authored the Kellogg-Briand Pact "providing for the renunciation of war as an instrument of national policy;" served as associate judge on the Permanent Court of International Justice; awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1929. Born in New York in 1856, his family moved to Minnesota when he was nine; he was elected to the United States Sen. from Minnesota and died in St. Paul in 1937.
  • William T. Francis, United States Minister Resident and Consul General to Liberia, 1927-29, associate council for Max Mason, one of six men accused of raping Irene Tusken in Duluth in 1920, three of whom were lynched there, helped draft Minnesota's anti-lynching law.
  • William Dawson, United States Ambassador to Panama, 1939-41; Uruguay, 1941-46; also United States Minister to Ecuador, 1930-35; Colombia, 1934-37; Uruguay, 1938-39; United States Representative to the Pan American Union/Organization of American States, 1947-48, born in St. Paul.
  • David J. Winton, nominated as United States Minister to New Zealand in the early 1940s, nomination withdrawn, Minneapolis lumber company owner and Macalester trustee.
  • Robert Butler, United States Ambassador to Australia, 1946-48; Cuba, 1948-51, born in St. Louis but lived in St. Paul at the time.
  • Eugenie Anderson, United States Ambassador to Denmark, 1949-53; also United States Minister to Bulgaria, 1962-64.
  • Joseph Simonson, United States Ambassador to Ethiopia, 1953-57, born near Lanesboro, Lutheran minister, secretary to Rep. August Andresen.
  • Robert F. Woodward, United States Ambassador to Costa Rica, 1954-58; Uruguay, 1958-61; Chile, 1961; Spain, 1962-65, born in Minneapolis.
  • Carl T. Rowan, United States Ambassador to Finland, 1963-64, newspaper columnist, earned journalism degree from the U of M.
  • Karl F. Rolvaag, United States Ambassador to Iceland, 1967-69, former Minnesota governor.
  • William A. Costello, United States Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, 1967-69, born in St. Paul, newspaper and TV reporter.
  • Sheldon B. Vance, United States Ambassador to Chad, 1967-69; Democratic Republic of the Congo, 1969-74, born in Crookston.
  • L. Bruce Laingen, United States Ambassador to Malta, 1977-79, later Charge d'Affairs in Iran and held hostage there until 1981, St. Olaf alumnus.
  • Richard K. Fox, Jr., United States Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, 1977-79, career Foreign Service officer.
  • Geri M. (Mrs. Burton) Joseph, United States Ambassador to the Netherlands, 1978-81, Democratic national convention delegate, reporter for the Minneapolis Tribune (later Star Tribune).
  • Sidney Anders Rand, United States Ambassador to Norway, 1980-81, born in Eldred, Lutheran minister and educator.
  • Evelyn Irene Hoopes Teegan, United States Ambassador to Fiji, Tonga, Tuvalu and Kiribati, 1990-93.
  • Robert A. Flaten, United States Ambassador to Rwanda, 1990-93, of Northfield, St. Olaf alumnus and ambassador in residence.
  • Parker W. Borg, United States Ambassador to Iceland, 1993-96, a career Foreign Service officer from Minnesota (also nominated as United States Ambassador to Burma in 1991, nomination not acted on in the United States Sen., United States represented by Charges d'Affaires during that time owing to political conditions).
  • Walter F. Mondale, United States Ambassador to Japan, 1993-1997, born in Ceylon, MN, B.A. from the U of M 1951, LL.B from U of M 1956.
  • Ross Wilson, United States Ambassador to Azerbaijan since 2000, born in Edina, BA from the U of M 1977.
  • Scott H. DeLisi, United States Ambassador to Eritrea since 2002; born in St. Paul, graduate of U of M and fellow at the Humphrey Institute.

Politics In Minnesota: Lobbyist Watch
--Who is working what issues--

From the Minnesota Campaign Finance & Public Disclosure Board:

  • Newly registered lobbyists:
    • Gerald Brandenhoff, for Elko Speedway.
    • Joseph Stiles, for Federated Insurance Companies.
  • Recently terminated lobbyists:
    • Judy Cook, former GOP Rep. Jim Girard, Todd Hill, Andrea Hart Kajer and Sarah Strong of Cook Hill Girard for Caesars Entertainment, Consumer Healthcare Products Association, Convergys Corporation, Direct TV Group, the Electronic Bingo Manufacturers Association, Safelite Group and Serco Group.
    • Former GOP Sen. Gary Laidig, for the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office.
    • Former GOP Rep. Teresa Lynch, for McGough Development.

Politics In Minnesota: The Coming Week In Other Media

[Publisher's note: Please e-mail staff@politicsinminnesota.com to tell us about them.]

Access to Democracy: Hosted by Alan Miller and produced by BECT.TV (Burnsville/Eagan Community Television; Channel 15 in those areas).

Almanac. Hosted by Erik Eskola and Cathy Wurzer. Find out what's on this week's show. Airs live at 7:00 p.m. Fridays on TPT Channel 2. Rebroadcasts are Saturday mornings at 1:00 a.m. and Sunday mornings at 9:30 a.m. on Channel 2. You can also watch the current and past shows. Coming this week:

Almanac Highlights - August 19, 2005

    • Latest on Northwest Airlines - Will there be a strike late Friday night? We'll bring you the latest.
    • Senator Coleman - We like to check in from time to time with our United States Senators and it's Norm Coleman's turn to sit down at the Almanac table. We'll talk Norwest Airlines...Iraq...Stem Cells...and John Roberts.
    • A First Lady TV Dinner Chat - Yes, First Lady Mary Pawlenty has agreed to sit down with our J.G. Preston and eat a TV Dinner.
    • New Habitat Head - The new president of Habitat for Humanity International is a Minnesota pastor. Meet Jonathan Reckford.
    • Red Wing Hands-on History - We'll show you a clip from a TPT history special that will air this October. In it, our Mary Lahammer meets up with Goodhue County historian Char Henn. The topic of their conversation? Red Wing pottery.
    • Big Education Doings - Students are ready to head back to the classroom... a perfect time to assemble a group of educators and find out what issues await teachers and parents. Especially the state's new QComp program. Among our guests is Education Commissioner Alice Seagren.

At Issue with Tom Hauser. Broadcast on Sundays at 7:00 a.m. on KSTP Channel 45 and at 9:00 a.m. on KSTP Channel 5. Coming this week:

  • A recap of the week's political news.
  • Political analysis with former DFL Governor Wendy Anderson and PIM's Sarah Janecek.
  • Face-Off with DFLer Ember Reichgott Junge and GOPer and AM 1500's Dave Thompson.

Air America Minnesota: The Wendy Wilde Show. 950 AM. Every Thursday morning around 9:00 a.m. The Minneapolis Observer Publisher Craig Cox will provide comment and insight on the week's city news.

WCCO Radio: The Pat Miles Show. 830 AM. Every Thursday morning about 9:30 a.m., politicsinminnesota.com publishers Blois Olson and Sarah Janecek visit with Pat to discuss the week's hottest political news.