Friday morning, we noted Senator Coleman's change of heart on the D M & E. While we were away convening with our farmer friends (who do support the DM & E project, truth be told), other voices in the blogosphere weighed in on the news.
DFL Senate wrote Norm Coleman - Beginning the '08 Flip Flops. Leigh Pomeroy at Minnesota Monitor thought Senator Coleman had seen the light in Minnesota's top two Republicans seem to be getting religion.
Jon-David at MN Publius chalks the conversion not only to Gutknecht's loss to Walz, but also to South Dakota Senator John Thune's sinking star in the incredible shrinking Republican Senate in After Gutknecht’s Loss, Norm Coleman Flips on DM&E. Money quote:
His political gain from allying with Thune gone, Coleman shows - again - how his positions change with his personal political situation. When Norm had something to gain from Thune, he was on-board with DM&E and unconcerned about the local opposition from the Mayo Clinic. Now that the winds have shifted and he recognizes how vulnerable he is in Minnesota, Coleman’s position morphs into something more popular.
There might be something to that logic; if we recall correctly, Senator Thune crossed the border to help Mark Kennedy, and we all know how that worked out for the fellow in red & plaid.
Across the border, a Moderate from South Dakota notes that the anti-DM & E torch is being passed from Mark Dayton to Norm Coleman. Who would have ever thunk it?
Evil Bobby, on the other hand, straight-forwardingly believes The DM &E is Toast.
Get the butter, Norm.
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