Senator Julie Rosen, R-Fairmont, and Bluestem disagree on a lot: the need for public support for new pro sports stadiums, the marriage inequality amendment, Ellen Anderson. I nonetheless respect her intelligence and political skills--and progressive friends who live in her district find her approachable and reasonable.
In short, no Gretchen Hoffman.
Thus, in reading a post at a favorite blog about the Iowa "Ag Gag" law on its way to Governor Branstad's desk, this passage made me pause:
The bill attempts to skirt the serious First Amendment problems in a bill like the one authored by Minnesota's pork princess, Sen. Julie Rosen, last session.[emphasis added]
The hot link refers to an ever-so-learned legal commentary about the bill posted by the author last April 19, in which Rosen was singled out among the senators signing on to ag gag, despite the fact that Senator Doug Magnus was the bill's chief author (the writer is silent about Magnus). Though referred to Magnus' own committee, the bill never got a hearing.
Senator Rosen had her name stricken from the bill ten months ago, but that doesn't stop the heroic blogger from singling her out this evening, although four authors remain on the junk bill--including DFLers Rod Skoe and Dan Sparks.
Rosen's reconsideration of the measure came after rural newspapers--including the Sentinel in her hometown of Fairmont--panned the bill in no uncertain terms. One wonders why the blogger's focus remains on the one senator with the sense to change her mind, rather than the four who remain tied to it--including the chief author.
Perhaps the writer intends "pork princess" in an entirely innocently referential way, a nod to Rosen's ex-husband's involvement in meat packing. In that case, it's simply an indicator of sloth in research, since American Foods is a beef processing concern.
Or maybe by "pork," he means Rosen's support for a new Vikings stadium. Fair enough--though Bluestem would think that the blogger might have actually mentioned the stadium if that were his gripe.
Or could the writer's focus on Rosen simply mark a cheap sexist shot at a woman legislator? Perish the thought. What progressive man would ever sink so low as that?
Photo: Senator Julie Rosen, the go-to girl for ag-gag blame.
Thanks for this, Sally.
My own take: If one wanted to put the absolute best possible face on this, one could say that since Rosen seems to be one of the more intelligent persons on the RPM side, the tendency is to assume she wields more power and influence than she actually does. (I keep thinking of how, when pressed to state exactly why the MN GOP lege was rejecting Ellen Anderson for the PUC, Ortman kept repeating "Ask Senator Rosen": http://js-kit.com/rss/thecuckingstool.blogspot.com/4252016107137980650)
But that would assume that other people's thought processes resemble mine, which is not always (or even often) the case.
Posted by: Phoenix Woman | Mar 01, 2012 at 10:22 AM