Mitch Berg takes down Representative Ryan Winkler's attempt to shakedown Target for its political contributions in a post at Shot in the Dark:
No. It showed that it's dangerous being a for-profit business in Minnesota, under the watchful eye of the DFL. That it's dangerous to cross the all-beneficent, all-knowing Mother Party.
It shows the risk of crossing party hacks like Ryan Winkler, who think that corporate political giving is "new," and that corporations should just shut up and take it--for giving $100,000 (which is, by the way, $761,000 less than various members of the Dayton family and Dayton's ex-wife Alida Messinger have given in this cycle to "Win Minnesota" alone).
And it shows the risk of actually having to run a political campaign on donations from people and companies that actually have to earn their money, as opposed to merely inheriting it; the DFL will try to keep you from earning that money.
It's the Chicago Minnesota DFL way.
Me? I'm off to Target. I'm going to buy something I may not even need all that badly. And I'm going to write "thanks for donating to MNForward" on the charge slip.
Showing posts with label local DFL. Show all posts
Showing posts with label local DFL. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Thursday, April 01, 2010
Myth Making
Representative Ryan Winkler (DFL) 44B weighs in on the "myth" of states' rights.
More from Winkler on these myths:
Seifert and Emmer lined up for Act II last week. They led every single Republican in the Legislature in a bizarre attempt to deny health care coverage for hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans. And they brought their secret weapon: do it yourself constitutional theories-–legal fantasies born and raised on the Internet.
Yes, Minnesota Republicans in the House and Senate called Social Security and Medicare unconstitutional. Using states' rights myths in an attempt to undermine historic federal health insurance reform, Seifert, Emmer, and their misguided followers want to exclude Minnesotans from the health care benefits all other Americans will receive. And they want to do it by wasting taxpayer dollars to file a frivolous lawsuit against the federal government.
At last count, this "bizarre" attempt to employ "legal fantasies born and raised on the internet" to question the constitutionality of ObamaCare was being supported by attorney generals from fourteen states.
Winkler goes on to make it quite clear what he thinks of those who dare raise a voice against this latest expansion of federal power and accompanying diminution of individual liberty.
That's what happens when partisan fringe movements play on people's fears. Mistruths and conspiracy theories turn into party platforms, and Minnesotans end up paying the price.
Act III is next week when the Tea Party Express will roll into town with such reality TV heroes as Sarah Palin and Joe the Plumber. Before then, the Republican Party has to decide if they are a serious party with a serious purpose, or whether they are the party of cheap entertainment, paranoid conspiracy theories, and unguided anger. I guess we'll find out next week if they fall all over themselves to get Joe the Plumber’s autograph.
If the stakes weren't so high, the extreme behavior of Minnesota Republicans would almost be funny. But with 215,000 Minnesotans unemployed and 480,000 uninsured, our state needs serious leaders focused on real solutions--instead of just the fear they’re trying to peddle. Constructive conservatives are welcome.
Got that folks? If you oppose ObamaCare, you're part of a "partisan fringe movement" that "plays on people's fears" by employing "mistruths, paranoid conspiracy theories, and unguided anger." Does it sound like Ryan Winkler represents you in any way whatsoever? Does it sound there's any chance he'd be open and willing to listen to your voice, the voice of his constituents?
Winkler's closing "outreach" that "constructive conservatives are welcome" is about as genuine and meaningful as President Obama's alleged desire for bi-partisan participation in crafting the health care reform legislation. What Winkler and President Obama really want are "moderate" Republicans who will roll over for them and cave in to the Democrats view on most occasions. Occasionally they'll throw these "good" Republicans a bone and let them have a little pet project here or there, but mostly their role is to be play ball with the majority party and not get in the way of their path of progress.
Sorry Ryan, but there's still some of us out here who believe that the framers came up with a pretty darn good way to balance the powers of various branches and levels of government with the individual rights of American citizens. This Constitution has served us well as a country over the years and even though it occasionally gets in the way of progressive plans for a glorious way forward to serve the common good, we cling to this quaint believe that its precepts should be respected and followed. You may consider these traditional beliefs to be nothing more than "myths," but to a good number of Americans they are the foundations upon which our exceptional country has been built upon.
More from Winkler on these myths:
Seifert and Emmer lined up for Act II last week. They led every single Republican in the Legislature in a bizarre attempt to deny health care coverage for hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans. And they brought their secret weapon: do it yourself constitutional theories-–legal fantasies born and raised on the Internet.
Yes, Minnesota Republicans in the House and Senate called Social Security and Medicare unconstitutional. Using states' rights myths in an attempt to undermine historic federal health insurance reform, Seifert, Emmer, and their misguided followers want to exclude Minnesotans from the health care benefits all other Americans will receive. And they want to do it by wasting taxpayer dollars to file a frivolous lawsuit against the federal government.
At last count, this "bizarre" attempt to employ "legal fantasies born and raised on the internet" to question the constitutionality of ObamaCare was being supported by attorney generals from fourteen states.
Winkler goes on to make it quite clear what he thinks of those who dare raise a voice against this latest expansion of federal power and accompanying diminution of individual liberty.
That's what happens when partisan fringe movements play on people's fears. Mistruths and conspiracy theories turn into party platforms, and Minnesotans end up paying the price.
Act III is next week when the Tea Party Express will roll into town with such reality TV heroes as Sarah Palin and Joe the Plumber. Before then, the Republican Party has to decide if they are a serious party with a serious purpose, or whether they are the party of cheap entertainment, paranoid conspiracy theories, and unguided anger. I guess we'll find out next week if they fall all over themselves to get Joe the Plumber’s autograph.
If the stakes weren't so high, the extreme behavior of Minnesota Republicans would almost be funny. But with 215,000 Minnesotans unemployed and 480,000 uninsured, our state needs serious leaders focused on real solutions--instead of just the fear they’re trying to peddle. Constructive conservatives are welcome.
Got that folks? If you oppose ObamaCare, you're part of a "partisan fringe movement" that "plays on people's fears" by employing "mistruths, paranoid conspiracy theories, and unguided anger." Does it sound like Ryan Winkler represents you in any way whatsoever? Does it sound there's any chance he'd be open and willing to listen to your voice, the voice of his constituents?
Winkler's closing "outreach" that "constructive conservatives are welcome" is about as genuine and meaningful as President Obama's alleged desire for bi-partisan participation in crafting the health care reform legislation. What Winkler and President Obama really want are "moderate" Republicans who will roll over for them and cave in to the Democrats view on most occasions. Occasionally they'll throw these "good" Republicans a bone and let them have a little pet project here or there, but mostly their role is to be play ball with the majority party and not get in the way of their path of progress.
Sorry Ryan, but there's still some of us out here who believe that the framers came up with a pretty darn good way to balance the powers of various branches and levels of government with the individual rights of American citizens. This Constitution has served us well as a country over the years and even though it occasionally gets in the way of progressive plans for a glorious way forward to serve the common good, we cling to this quaint believe that its precepts should be respected and followed. You may consider these traditional beliefs to be nothing more than "myths," but to a good number of Americans they are the foundations upon which our exceptional country has been built upon.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Life Is Not Fair
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, the pursuit of Happiness and the right to purchase Hannah Montana tickets at a "fair" price*...
"Hannah Montana" Bill Passes State Senate:
Legislation that bans using software that allows ticket brokers to buy large amounts of concert tickets online and then re-sell them for inflated prices was given unanimous approval in the state Senate on April 10, according to the bill's author, Senator Ron Latz (DFL-St Louis Park).
"This bill has been dubbed the 'Hannah Montana' bill because the issue really came to light after thousands of young fans and their families in Minnesota couldn't purchase tickets to the young teen's concert because tickets had been bought up by professional ticket brokers and were being sold at inflated prices, sometimes 2 to 5 times the face value," Senator Latz said. "Professional ticket brokers used special computer software to cut to the front of the line and snatch up most of the tickets, beating out the average fans who simply wanted to enjoy the concert. That's not fair--that's cheating, and this bill will make that illegal."
Our State Senator at work. I don't know about the other good people of SD44, but I know that I'll sleep easier tonight knowing that this urgent public concern has finally been addressed by our brave public servants. We breathlessly await Latz's next effort to make life more "fair." Maybe it's time to to put some meat behind those "Ten Items or Less" express lane rules at retail establishments and use the full force and power of the government to ensure there's no cheating.
* As amended by Ron Latz
"Hannah Montana" Bill Passes State Senate:
Legislation that bans using software that allows ticket brokers to buy large amounts of concert tickets online and then re-sell them for inflated prices was given unanimous approval in the state Senate on April 10, according to the bill's author, Senator Ron Latz (DFL-St Louis Park).
"This bill has been dubbed the 'Hannah Montana' bill because the issue really came to light after thousands of young fans and their families in Minnesota couldn't purchase tickets to the young teen's concert because tickets had been bought up by professional ticket brokers and were being sold at inflated prices, sometimes 2 to 5 times the face value," Senator Latz said. "Professional ticket brokers used special computer software to cut to the front of the line and snatch up most of the tickets, beating out the average fans who simply wanted to enjoy the concert. That's not fair--that's cheating, and this bill will make that illegal."
Our State Senator at work. I don't know about the other good people of SD44, but I know that I'll sleep easier tonight knowing that this urgent public concern has finally been addressed by our brave public servants. We breathlessly await Latz's next effort to make life more "fair." Maybe it's time to to put some meat behind those "Ten Items or Less" express lane rules at retail establishments and use the full force and power of the government to ensure there's no cheating.
* As amended by Ron Latz
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
It's Not All About You
Yesterday, we attended a Memorial Day service at the Veterans Amphitheater in St. Louis Park as we have for the past few years. Each year a couple of local politicians take the stage and share their thoughts on the day, without a hint of partisanship or evidence of them seeking to gain an advantage from their appearance.
This year Congressman Keith Ellison (MN 5th CD) spoke. Now my wife isn't a hardcore political wonk like Atomizer and she doesn't take things in through any particular political lens as the most hyper-partisan among us tend to do. But she was quite put off by the way that Ellison's words appeared to cross the line between honoring veterans and self-promotion during a campaign season.
Had Ellison merely said that we need to remember the sacrifices that veterans make and ensure that they and their families are taken care of on the home front, he would have been fine. Instead, he went through a laundry list of veterans programs that he supported and talked about veterans having their homes foreclosed and becoming homeless.
What struck a nerve with me was his repeated use of the word "I" as in "I want you to know that I support this bill..." At a time when the focus is supposed to be on honoring the sacrifice of others, a speech sprinkled with said personal pronoun came off as unseemly.
To his credit, the man who followed Ellison, state DFL Representative Ryan Winkler, offered remarks that were short and to the point. He essentially said that the last thing people wanted to hear on Memorial Day was a politician, so he simply thanked the veterans and sat down. His discretion was warmly received by those in attendance.
This year Congressman Keith Ellison (MN 5th CD) spoke. Now my wife isn't a hardcore political wonk like Atomizer and she doesn't take things in through any particular political lens as the most hyper-partisan among us tend to do. But she was quite put off by the way that Ellison's words appeared to cross the line between honoring veterans and self-promotion during a campaign season.
Had Ellison merely said that we need to remember the sacrifices that veterans make and ensure that they and their families are taken care of on the home front, he would have been fine. Instead, he went through a laundry list of veterans programs that he supported and talked about veterans having their homes foreclosed and becoming homeless.
What struck a nerve with me was his repeated use of the word "I" as in "I want you to know that I support this bill..." At a time when the focus is supposed to be on honoring the sacrifice of others, a speech sprinkled with said personal pronoun came off as unseemly.
To his credit, the man who followed Ellison, state DFL Representative Ryan Winkler, offered remarks that were short and to the point. He essentially said that the last thing people wanted to hear on Memorial Day was a politician, so he simply thanked the veterans and sat down. His discretion was warmly received by those in attendance.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
35W Special?
State Representative Ryan Winkler (DFL 44B--my rep) unveils a proposal to compensate the victims and investigate the causes of the 35W bridge in an opinion piece in today's Star Tribune:
First, the state should act to provide a prompt, fair compensation system for its citizens. Gov. Tim Pawlenty is already exploring this concept, and if the Legislature meets in special session, it should establish a bridge-collapse victims' compensation fund. A similar, much larger, fund was created by Congress shortly after 9/11. That fund was extremely successful -- 97 percent of the families of those killed in the World Trade Center chose to participate. In exchange for their agreement not to sue, the victims of the attack or their families received prompt, fair compensation. In Minnesota's case, the state and insurance companies representing the engineers and construction companies that worked on the bridge should split the contribution to this fund.
Second, the Legislature should appoint a special counsel for its joint committee to investigate the bridge collapse. The mission of the joint committees is to seek the truth and to establish who had any responsibility for the collapse, regardless of political party, branch of government or limits of liability insurance. To deliver on this mission, the joint committee will need a special counsel to perform the investigation in a way that only a prosecutor knows how to do, and the committee must stand ready with the Legislature's subpoena power to back up that investigation.
At initial glance, the first idea is the least egregious of the two. We should have learned by now that finding the truth is not what special counsels do best. Politicizing matters, expanding the scope of the inquiry far beyond its intent, dragging the investigation out for years, and wasting millions upon millions of taxpayer dollars seem to be the core competencies of most of these appointed "special" counsels. This is not what Minnesota needs.
The problem that I have with the victim's compensation fund is that it significantly broadens the definition of "special" events. A terrorist attack on the United States clearly was such an occurrence. But there's a lot of difference between a bridge collapse in Minneapolis and a 9/11 like event.
Where do we now draw the line? What about the fires, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, blizzards, and other disasters that kill and injure people across the country every year? Governments, whether at the local, state, or federal level, are almost always involved in such events to some extent and the it's easy to argue--as Winkler does here--that those victims deserve prompt and certain compensation too. Should we set up "special" compensation funds for them too?
First, the state should act to provide a prompt, fair compensation system for its citizens. Gov. Tim Pawlenty is already exploring this concept, and if the Legislature meets in special session, it should establish a bridge-collapse victims' compensation fund. A similar, much larger, fund was created by Congress shortly after 9/11. That fund was extremely successful -- 97 percent of the families of those killed in the World Trade Center chose to participate. In exchange for their agreement not to sue, the victims of the attack or their families received prompt, fair compensation. In Minnesota's case, the state and insurance companies representing the engineers and construction companies that worked on the bridge should split the contribution to this fund.
Second, the Legislature should appoint a special counsel for its joint committee to investigate the bridge collapse. The mission of the joint committees is to seek the truth and to establish who had any responsibility for the collapse, regardless of political party, branch of government or limits of liability insurance. To deliver on this mission, the joint committee will need a special counsel to perform the investigation in a way that only a prosecutor knows how to do, and the committee must stand ready with the Legislature's subpoena power to back up that investigation.
At initial glance, the first idea is the least egregious of the two. We should have learned by now that finding the truth is not what special counsels do best. Politicizing matters, expanding the scope of the inquiry far beyond its intent, dragging the investigation out for years, and wasting millions upon millions of taxpayer dollars seem to be the core competencies of most of these appointed "special" counsels. This is not what Minnesota needs.
The problem that I have with the victim's compensation fund is that it significantly broadens the definition of "special" events. A terrorist attack on the United States clearly was such an occurrence. But there's a lot of difference between a bridge collapse in Minneapolis and a 9/11 like event.
Where do we now draw the line? What about the fires, floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, blizzards, and other disasters that kill and injure people across the country every year? Governments, whether at the local, state, or federal level, are almost always involved in such events to some extent and the it's easy to argue--as Winkler does here--that those victims deserve prompt and certain compensation too. Should we set up "special" compensation funds for them too?
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Blast From The Past
Clinton heading to Minneapolis; her invitation reveals notable list:
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will bring her campaign for president to the Minneapolis Club on June 1 for a $1,000-a-plate fundraising dinner.
The invitation to the event provides a glimpse of the co-chairs and vice chairs of Minnesotans for Hillary, a list that includes quite a few names notable for politics, money or both:
Co-chairs: Former Sen. Mark Dayton; publishing multimillionaire Vance Opperman; Pohlad family scion Bill Pohlad and his wife, Michelle; health care multimillioniare Lois Quam and her husband, former House DFL leader Matt Entenza; former DFL nominee for secretary of state Buck Humphrey; 2006 DFL endorsee for Hennepin County Attorney Andy Luger and his wife, Ellen; and Kathleen Flynn Peterson.
Vice chairs: Former Secretary of State Joan Growe; state Sen. Sandy Pappas; Minneapolis City Council member Lisa Goodman; progressive activist Ruth Usem; professional fundraiser Lori Jacobwith; former legislator Betty Folliard; and Donna and Michael Coles.
And possibly the future. Could you imagine Betty Folliard with a role in the next Clinton Administration? Be afraid. Be very afraid.
Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton will bring her campaign for president to the Minneapolis Club on June 1 for a $1,000-a-plate fundraising dinner.
The invitation to the event provides a glimpse of the co-chairs and vice chairs of Minnesotans for Hillary, a list that includes quite a few names notable for politics, money or both:
Co-chairs: Former Sen. Mark Dayton; publishing multimillionaire Vance Opperman; Pohlad family scion Bill Pohlad and his wife, Michelle; health care multimillioniare Lois Quam and her husband, former House DFL leader Matt Entenza; former DFL nominee for secretary of state Buck Humphrey; 2006 DFL endorsee for Hennepin County Attorney Andy Luger and his wife, Ellen; and Kathleen Flynn Peterson.
Vice chairs: Former Secretary of State Joan Growe; state Sen. Sandy Pappas; Minneapolis City Council member Lisa Goodman; progressive activist Ruth Usem; professional fundraiser Lori Jacobwith; former legislator Betty Folliard; and Donna and Michael Coles.
And possibly the future. Could you imagine Betty Folliard with a role in the next Clinton Administration? Be afraid. Be very afraid.
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