[update] The Repede Family blogs about Pancakes with Al and Tim in Rochester this morning. Lots of pictures [end update]
Fifty-two years ago today, our father stopped by the maternity ward of Mankato's Immanuel Hospital to see our mom and us, then went back out to canvas the streets of the Key City for Dwight Eisenhower's re-election campaign.
Since then, attitudes about fathers' roles in birthing have changed. We don't know any man who wasn't at the side of the mother of his child--with the exception of a couple of guys in the Army and National Guard, who weren't happy at being away but understood their duty.
But the crunch time of GOTV has remained a constant companion on our birthday in even-numbered years. We urge everyone to get out and volunteer--whether by phone banking, doorknocking, stufing packets, or making food for the hordes of volunteers who are giving their time in this important election.
There will be work to do on Election Day as well; one task is driving voters to the poll. If you're civic minded but not into political parties, consider volunteering for this GOTV work. Non-profits in Minnesota can hook you up with non-partisan GOTV volunteer opportunities.
We wouldn't want anyone to have to give that greedy cat a burger in order to exercise his or her right to vote.
The MinnPost's Joe Kimball reports Al Franken has a very 'full plate' today. The menu: breakfast pancakes in Rochester and lunch chili in Owatonna with Congressman Walz. There'll be a rally at MSU-Mankato at 3 p.m. The MSU Reporter provides details in Frenzied final days: Franken and Walz wil stop at MSU today during tour:
Minnesota's Democratic nominee for U.S Senate, Al Franken, will be on campus today along with fellow Democrat Tim Walz, a candidate for the House of Representatives.
The event will take place at 3 p.m. in the Minnesota State Centennial Student Union Ballroom.
Yesterday's rally at Winona State with Al Franken has garnered some attention. WKBT in LaCrosse reports Al Franken Campaigns in Winona. The Winona Daily News reports Al Franken campaigns at WSU.
The Owatonna People's Press reports in Press conference held for Walz on Owatonna:
John Rassieur of Owatonna, Carl Witty of Kasson and Laura Askelin of Rochester participate in a press conference Wednesday in Owatonna to support Congressman Tim Walz, and to criticize a national sales tax supported by Walz’s Republican opponent Dr. Brian Davis. Walz was not in Owatonna Wednesday to participate in the press conference, but will be appearing with Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Al Franken at 11:45 a.m. today at the Owatonna Elks Club.
Our readers may remember that Congressman Walz returned $100,000 of the money allocated to his office for 2007 to the U.S. treasury. That contrasts sharply with a story at the Minnesota Independent. Andy Birkey reveals that Bachmann’s self-promotion unusual among Congress members[emphasis ended]:
Rep. Michele Bachmann is now notorious for her appearances on cable TV news programs, having sparked significant controversy with her recent “anti-America” statements on MSNBC. But as Politico reports, Bachmann, a Republican, has done 23 major television appearances since the beginning of September — far more than any member of Minnesota’s congressional delegation. How does a freshman Congress member from the minority party find herself in the limelight so often?
Easy. You and I pay for it.
Bachmann has built an impressive communications staff in Washington, D.C. She has a press secretary for national media, a press secretary for local media and a “new media director” who harnesses “the networking and outreach power of the internet.”
According to congressional salary data, none of Minnesota’s Congress members has more than one press secretary. Minnesota’s most influential members, Democratic Reps. James Oberstar and Collin Peterson, who chair the House Transportation and Agriculture committees, respectively, each have only one press secretary.
Bachmann’s fellow freshman colleagues, Democratic Reps. Keith Ellison and Tim Walz, each have just one communications lead, and Walz has combined the communications director and district director positions into one entity.
When the congresswoman endorsed Davis, he gushed:
"It's an honor to receive the support of Congresswoman Bachmann," Davis said of Bachmann. "She is a dynamic leader for Minnesota and for our conservative causes. I value her leadership and advice, her principles and energy. I look forward to serving with her in the 111th Congress."
No word on whether Davis holds fast to that opinion.
Letter writers in the WDN worry about Davis's allegiance to Michele Bachmann in More silence from Brian Davis and his ignorance of vets issues in Davis should have done better:
Over the weekend, I read something very concerning. When the Republican candidate for Congress, Brian Davis, was asked to name a specific way he would improve education or health care benefits for veterans, he couldn’t come up with even one idea.
I can’t believe that someone could run for Congress for over a year and in all that time not manage to develop a single idea about how to improve veterans’ care. I have heard how hard it is for veterans to make use of their educational benefits.
When I returned from Vietnam in 1971, I was able to enroll in law school without having to jump through all kinds of hoops to get my benefits as veterans do today. Anyone who has taken the time to talk to a veteran and get their perspective on these issues would have been able to come up with an answer to that question. But not Davis, I guess.
[Robert]Youngerman is a retired major in the United States Army Reserve.
Billed as a presentation of Davis's heath care plan, last night's meeting in Albert Lea turns out simply have been a chance for Davis to rally the GOP faithful. Check out the intense excitement rippling across the faces of the faithful.
Erin Hoban writes the Post Bulletin to say 23 percent sales tax proposed by Davis would target poor, elderly. We have more about Davis and the national sales tax here and here. In the Owatonna People's Pressm a Walz supporter writes that Walz won’t gamble away Social Security. A letter in the WDN says that Seniors are hurting; it’s time for change and readers should vote for Walz and other DFLers.
LaPrensa endorses Congressman Walz; Brian Davis didn't bother to return the four-question survey. The nod joins the long list of endorsements Walz has received.
Now get out and volunteer for GOTV. Here's Walz's latest positive ad:
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