Saturday, March 10, 2012
Springsteen At the Apollo XM Sirius Concert
Because it's my blog. This show was on March 6, 2012 and was the first live show I've been to in over 10 years. Yes I was listening on XM Sirius but through the miracle of Twitter it was really quite cool to be a part of. I'm fired up to go to the tour if and when it rolls through St. Paul.
The biggest question I had was who would take over for the Big Man. Jake Clemons, Clarence's nephew took all the big solos..and nailed them! Thunder Road and Badlands in particular!
Remember, "If you're here, and we're here, they're here..."
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
McCollum Vs. Bachmann? Too Good To Be True
Last week the Minnesota DFL proposed a redistricting map that would pit Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann against Minnesota's current 4th Congressional Representative, and intellectual lightweight Betty McCollum. The map would create a new 6th district by combining all of Washington and Ramsey counties. Rep. McCollum's response to this news is vintage Betty, through her spokesman Bill Harper, she called the DFL map "hyper partisan" and "bizzare". I guess Betty is so used to criticizing the Tea Party with such adjectives, it's become reflexive even if it's directed at her own party.
There is still a lot of chips that would need to fall in place before this "dream matchup" could actually occur. First, Rep. Bachmann is running for President and while her numbers have been falling as the race has developed, she still hasn't dropped out, and probably won't until after the Iowa Caucus -- where she has focussed most of her campaign resources. If she does drop out, she'll have to decide if she wants to run for Congress again. She hasn't announced her intentions, but she'll have a sizeable war chest if she does. Rep. Bachmann is very popular among the Tea Party and has track record of being an extremely strong national fundraiser. Her Presidential campaign has only boosted her fundraising network. Her last congressional election in 2010 was one of the most expensive in the country, and a 2012 matchup with McCollum would be even more so.
Secondly, the final decision on the new congressional boundaries will be decided by a court panel since the Republican legistature and Gov. Dayton failed to come to an agreement during the last legislative session. That decision is expected to be made shortly after the new year.
The DFL is banking on the fact that 62% of voters in this new district voted for President Obama in 2008 as evidence that this new district would be a safe one for the DFL and Rep. McCollum. St. Paul taxpayers welcome the matchup. President Obama has lost the swing voters in the middle, and the suburbs of Washington and Ramsey counties are ripe with disaffected voters who fear the country is off course and needs a major course correction.
The biggest challenge in defeating Rep. McCollum over the last few election cycles has been the fact that her challengers haven't had the necessary funds to run an effective campaign and get the message out about Rep. McCollum's far left, Pelosi-Reid-Obama voting record. A potential matchup with Rep. Bachmann removes McCollum's fundraising advantage and all but guarantees that voters will learn what those of us who pay attention have always known -- Rep. McCollum is an ultra far left liberal lapdog for the extreme progressive wing of the Obama - Reid - Pelosi machine.
A Bachmann vs. McCollum matchup would ensure that voters in St. Paul, Ramsey and Washington counties will find out how out of touch Rep. McCollum really is from the mainstream. Her past statments, that have become viral sensations on the Internet will surely get more media attention in the next election cycle. Rep. McCollum's record is a "target rich enviroment" for a well funded candidate. Her statements have been documented at this site for years:
Rep. McCollum doesn't think we have a voter fraud problem in this country.
Rep. McCollum doesn't think Al Qaeda poses a threat to the United States.
Rep. McCollum thinks the federal budget is "just a piece of paper..totally nonbinding."
Rep. McCollum thinks former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is a consensus builder.
And the Granddaddy of Them All, Rep. McCollum left the words "Under God" out of the Pledge of Allegiance when leading Congress.
Between these statements, her constant blaming the Tea Party for our nation's financial woes, rather than the profligate spending in Washington, her unflinching support for President Obama's failed economic policies, and the fact that the only acceptable cuts in the federal budget that she could find were NASCAR sponsorships and military bands make her a weak candidate to represent Minnesota.
And can you imagine the debate? Betty McCollum won't be able to hide from that one.
There is still a lot of chips that would need to fall in place before this "dream matchup" could actually occur. First, Rep. Bachmann is running for President and while her numbers have been falling as the race has developed, she still hasn't dropped out, and probably won't until after the Iowa Caucus -- where she has focussed most of her campaign resources. If she does drop out, she'll have to decide if she wants to run for Congress again. She hasn't announced her intentions, but she'll have a sizeable war chest if she does. Rep. Bachmann is very popular among the Tea Party and has track record of being an extremely strong national fundraiser. Her Presidential campaign has only boosted her fundraising network. Her last congressional election in 2010 was one of the most expensive in the country, and a 2012 matchup with McCollum would be even more so.
Secondly, the final decision on the new congressional boundaries will be decided by a court panel since the Republican legistature and Gov. Dayton failed to come to an agreement during the last legislative session. That decision is expected to be made shortly after the new year.
The DFL is banking on the fact that 62% of voters in this new district voted for President Obama in 2008 as evidence that this new district would be a safe one for the DFL and Rep. McCollum. St. Paul taxpayers welcome the matchup. President Obama has lost the swing voters in the middle, and the suburbs of Washington and Ramsey counties are ripe with disaffected voters who fear the country is off course and needs a major course correction.
The biggest challenge in defeating Rep. McCollum over the last few election cycles has been the fact that her challengers haven't had the necessary funds to run an effective campaign and get the message out about Rep. McCollum's far left, Pelosi-Reid-Obama voting record. A potential matchup with Rep. Bachmann removes McCollum's fundraising advantage and all but guarantees that voters will learn what those of us who pay attention have always known -- Rep. McCollum is an ultra far left liberal lapdog for the extreme progressive wing of the Obama - Reid - Pelosi machine.
A Bachmann vs. McCollum matchup would ensure that voters in St. Paul, Ramsey and Washington counties will find out how out of touch Rep. McCollum really is from the mainstream. Her past statments, that have become viral sensations on the Internet will surely get more media attention in the next election cycle. Rep. McCollum's record is a "target rich enviroment" for a well funded candidate. Her statements have been documented at this site for years:
Rep. McCollum doesn't think we have a voter fraud problem in this country.
Rep. McCollum doesn't think Al Qaeda poses a threat to the United States.
Rep. McCollum thinks the federal budget is "just a piece of paper..totally nonbinding."
Rep. McCollum thinks former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is a consensus builder.
And the Granddaddy of Them All, Rep. McCollum left the words "Under God" out of the Pledge of Allegiance when leading Congress.
Between these statements, her constant blaming the Tea Party for our nation's financial woes, rather than the profligate spending in Washington, her unflinching support for President Obama's failed economic policies, and the fact that the only acceptable cuts in the federal budget that she could find were NASCAR sponsorships and military bands make her a weak candidate to represent Minnesota.
And can you imagine the debate? Betty McCollum won't be able to hide from that one.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Vikings Stadium Deal Fleeces St. Paul Taxpayers
Let me say this to start, I bleed purple. One of my earliest football memories was going over to my uncle's house for a football party to watch the Vikings play in something called the Super Bowl back when I was 7 years old. I remember watching both Fran Tarkenton's and Jim Marshall's last games at Met Stadium. I went crazy when Ahmad Rashad caught Tommy Kramer's Hail Mary pass to beat the Browns in 1980. I've suffered through the Les Stekel year, Darrin Nelson's dropped pass in the end zone in 1987 and the Hershel Walker trade. I was at the NFC Championship in 98 and watched Randall Cunningham take a knee. I was humiliated by 41- doughnut in the 2000 NFC Championship. I had season tickets for years, until I got married and had a family and couldn't afford them anymore. I never fully embraced Favre, but got on the bandwagon only to be disappointed again by having 12 men on the field. I've got authentic Robert Smith and Daunte Culpepper jerseys hanging in my closet -- and I still HATE the new uniforms! Every fall I live and die with the Vikes, and have from Grant, Tark, Blair, and Studwell, to Browner, Doleman, McDaniel and Millard, to Carter and Moss, to Petersen, Harvin, Hutch and Winfield.
With that said, as a St. Paul resident and Ramsey County taxpayer I cannot and will not support the proposed Vikings stadium deal to build a $1B football palace in Arden Hills. Ramsey County Commissioners Rafael Ortega and Tony Bennett say they have the votes to impose a half cent sales tax on Ramsey County resdents to finance their "share" of the cost -- approximately $350 million. In St. Paul, that would push our sales tax to 8.125% -- making it the highest sales tax in the state. Looks like I'll be doing most of my shopping in Eagan from now on!
I've heard all of the arguments about "if we don't step to the plate and get a stadium deal done, the Vikings will leave." How many times did we hear that during the Twins debate over the last 15 years. Hennepin County ultimately added .15% to its county wide sales tax to fund Target Field. What's .5% here, and .15% there anyway? It all adds up, and what it means is that all those Vikings fans from around the state who are now backing this deal won't pay "their fair share," while those of us who live, work and shop in Ramsey County will get disproportionately fleeced on a daily basis.
This deal should have been put together with a combination of "user fees" such as ticket taxes, taxes on team jerseys and memorabilia, hotel taxes, liquor taxes, parking taxes and income taxes on player salaries -- with the team picking up the difference. The fact that it wasn't done with user fees shows that there wouldn't have been enough money there. Why is it that a billion dollar industry like the NFL needs a taxpayer funded subsidy?
My only hope at this point is that with a GOP controlled House and Senate, that this deal is DOA at the legislature this year. With the out of control spending at the Legislature, the last thing in the world we need is for the state to be spending $300 million on a Vikings stadium. Hopefully all the new GOP legislators will have the courage to just say No. It's time the taxpayers stare down these billionare owners and tell them we aren't going to be shaken down anymore.
Bennett and Ortega -- As a constituent in St. Paul, consider this a warning that we'll remember this at election time!
With that said, as a St. Paul resident and Ramsey County taxpayer I cannot and will not support the proposed Vikings stadium deal to build a $1B football palace in Arden Hills. Ramsey County Commissioners Rafael Ortega and Tony Bennett say they have the votes to impose a half cent sales tax on Ramsey County resdents to finance their "share" of the cost -- approximately $350 million. In St. Paul, that would push our sales tax to 8.125% -- making it the highest sales tax in the state. Looks like I'll be doing most of my shopping in Eagan from now on!
I've heard all of the arguments about "if we don't step to the plate and get a stadium deal done, the Vikings will leave." How many times did we hear that during the Twins debate over the last 15 years. Hennepin County ultimately added .15% to its county wide sales tax to fund Target Field. What's .5% here, and .15% there anyway? It all adds up, and what it means is that all those Vikings fans from around the state who are now backing this deal won't pay "their fair share," while those of us who live, work and shop in Ramsey County will get disproportionately fleeced on a daily basis.
This deal should have been put together with a combination of "user fees" such as ticket taxes, taxes on team jerseys and memorabilia, hotel taxes, liquor taxes, parking taxes and income taxes on player salaries -- with the team picking up the difference. The fact that it wasn't done with user fees shows that there wouldn't have been enough money there. Why is it that a billion dollar industry like the NFL needs a taxpayer funded subsidy?
My only hope at this point is that with a GOP controlled House and Senate, that this deal is DOA at the legislature this year. With the out of control spending at the Legislature, the last thing in the world we need is for the state to be spending $300 million on a Vikings stadium. Hopefully all the new GOP legislators will have the courage to just say No. It's time the taxpayers stare down these billionare owners and tell them we aren't going to be shaken down anymore.
Bennett and Ortega -- As a constituent in St. Paul, consider this a warning that we'll remember this at election time!
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