NARN: What a Show!!!
I just finished listening to today's
Northern Alliance Radio Network program. They were broadcasting from Boom Island as part of the Patriot Radio station's Second Annual picnic.
Jeff Johnson, the MNGOP-endorsed candidate for Minnesota AG,
Allan Fine, MNGOP-endorsed candidate for US House in Minnesota CD-5 were the guests for John, Chad and Brian.
Mark Kennedy and
Michele Bachmann were the guests for Mitch, Ed & King.
First of all, I thought that all 4 candidates acquitted themselves quite well. Jeff Johnson quickly pointed out that one of his first priorities was to beef up the criminal division of the AG's office, a move I strongly support. It's also something that's been sorely lacking during the DFL's stranglehold on the AG's office. Mike Hatch and Skip Humphrey were far more interested in suing companies into leaving the state than they were in prosecuting violent criminals.
I hadn't heard Alan Fine's stump speech before but I thought he did a good job in laying out his vision. His best line is that MN CD-5 isn't a liberal district; it was a Martin Sabo district.
Mark Kennedy was the first guest for Mitch, Ed & King and showed a strong command of the issues that he's running on. He was strong on talking about getting spending undercontrol so that we could get back to running surpluses. He said that they've got too many lawyers in the Senate and that they need at least one accountant in the Senate, a belief I share with Mark.
Mark joined with the NARN gang in saying that Amy Klobuchar has trouble sticking with a belief for very long. I'd just add that the only belief that Ms. Klobuchar holds fast to is the issue of abortion, which is what you'd expect for someone who's supported by Emily's List. Mark got good shots in that he'd miss Ford Bell's presence in the race because Ms. Klobuchar hasn't shown up for a debate yet, something he said he looks forward to. Mark also said that A-Klo has wavered from position to position on deploying troops to Iraq, with her most consistent position being "too close to cut-and-run".
Michele Bachmann, who I've called a "GOP Powerhouse in the Making", was the Gang's guest for most of the last hour. True to form, Michele put on a sterling performance. As I said from the day Michele first visited our church, she's a great communicator, is a great policy wonk, a great listener and a fantastic campaigner.
Michele fielded a ton of questions, ranging from taxes to education policy to eminent domain to King's question of what the 9th and 10th Amendments spoke of to Iraq and Mideast policy to Hizbullah's war against Israel. Michele noted that Hizbullah was simply Iran's & Syria's proxy and that this war was really our war, which Ed and King emphatically agreed with. Michele was firm in saying that we have to stand steadfastly with Israel, something that I strongly agree with.
Michele said that she'd agreed to debates with the stipulation that they'd happen regardless of whether Patty Wetterling showed up or not. It's worth noting that Michele said that she wouldn't want to debate Ed, which I agree with.
Michele said that she was the force behind getting the Profiles in Learning curriculum abolished when everyone told her that it was impossible to get it abolished. She said that she was the lead sponsor of the eminent domain reform that passed this session and that later was signed into law by Tim Pawlenty.
It was apparent that she won people over when she correctly answered King's question on the Ninth and Tenth Amendments and when she said she'd lead the fight to get Minnesota out of the No Child Left Behind program, saying that it costs Minnesota more than they get back. I'm all for that.
The fact is that this year's team of GOP candidates, starting with Gov. Tim Pawlenty is as strong, articulate and deep as I've ever seen.
Posted Saturday, July 15, 2006 9:50 PM
June 2006 Posts
Comment 1 by Gwen at 16-Jul-06 09:56 PM
First of all, I thought that all 4 candidates acquitted themselves quite well. Jeff Johnson quickly pointed out that one of his first priorities was to beef up the criminal division of the AG's office, a move I strongly support. It's also something that's been sorely lacking during the DFL's stranglehold on the AG's office. Mike Hatch and Skip Humphrey were far more interested in suing companies into leaving the state than they were in prosecuting violent criminals.
I hadn't heard Alan Fine's stump speech before but I thought he did a good job in laying out his vision. His best line is that MN CD-5 isn't a liberal district; it was a Martin Sabo district.
Mark Kennedy was the first guest for Mitch, Ed & King and showed a strong command of the issues that he's running on. He was strong on talking about getting spending undercontrol so that we could get back to running surpluses. He said that they've got too many lawyers in the Senate and that they need at least one accountant in the Senate, a belief I share with Mark.
Mark joined with the NARN gang in saying that Amy Klobuchar has trouble sticking with a belief for very long. I'd just add that the only belief that Ms. Klobuchar holds fast to is the issue of abortion, which is what you'd expect for someone who's supported by Emily's List. Mark got good shots in that he'd miss Ford Bell's presence in the race because Ms. Klobuchar hasn't shown up for a debate yet, something he said he looks forward to. Mark also said that A-Klo has wavered from position to position on deploying troops to Iraq, with her most consistent position being "too close to cut-and-run".
Michele Bachmann, who I've called a "GOP Powerhouse in the Making", was the Gang's guest for most of the last hour. True to form, Michele put on a sterling performance. As I said from the day Michele first visited our church, she's a great communicator, is a great policy wonk, a great listener and a fantastic campaigner.
Michele fielded a ton of questions, ranging from taxes to education policy to eminent domain to King's question of what the 9th and 10th Amendments spoke of to Iraq and Mideast policy to Hizbullah's war against Israel. Michele noted that Hizbullah was simply Iran's & Syria's proxy and that this war was really our war, which Ed and King emphatically agreed with. Michele was firm in saying that we have to stand steadfastly with Israel, something that I strongly agree with.
Michele said that she'd agreed to debates with the stipulation that they'd happen regardless of whether Patty Wetterling showed up or not. It's worth noting that Michele said that she wouldn't want to debate Ed, which I agree with.
Michele said that she was the force behind getting the Profiles in Learning curriculum abolished when everyone told her that it was impossible to get it abolished. She said that she was the lead sponsor of the eminent domain reform that passed this session and that later was signed into law by Tim Pawlenty.
It was apparent that she won people over when she correctly answered King's question on the Ninth and Tenth Amendments and when she said she'd lead the fight to get Minnesota out of the No Child Left Behind program, saying that it costs Minnesota more than they get back. I'm all for that.
The fact is that this year's team of GOP candidates, starting with Gov. Tim Pawlenty is as strong, articulate and deep as I've ever seen.
Posted Saturday, July 15, 2006 9:50 PM
June 2006 Posts
Comment 1 by Gwen at 16-Jul-06 09:56 PM
Clarification - Michele Bachmann said she was the lead REPUBLICAN Senate sponsor of the eminent domain bill that was passed. An important distinction since the lead sponsor in the Senate was Tom Bakk - a DFLer.
