October 10-11, 2014
Oct 10 00:18 Wild dominate Avalanche in opener Oct 10 04:27 Obamacare cancellations, round 2 Oct 10 05:04 Greg Orman's poltical doubletalk Oct 10 05:34 I'm supporting Nancy Gohman Oct 10 19:25 Kessler's partisan Reality Check Oct 11 03:04 Dorholt's partisanship Oct 11 12:13 Desperate attack vs. the truth hurts
Prior Months: Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep
Prior Years: 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013
Wild dominate Avalanche in opener
Thursday night, the Minnesota Wild served notice that they intend on being a tough team to play against. The Wild's top line of Mikael Granlund, Zach Parise and Jason Pominville dominated from start to finish. The Wild defensemen were solid in their own zone and dangerous in the offensive zone. Goalie Darcy Kuemper was solid all night despite getting only 16 shots fired at him. Kuemper finished with his third career shutout.
It's wrong to take too much from the game but it isn't wrong to think Colorado's defensemen probably won't be able to get Minnesota's forwards out of their mind during tonight's flight home. It's just a rumor but I'm hearing they might apply for combat pay. Wild forwards were buzzing the net all night, cycling the puck seemingly at will. Each of the Wild's line contributed to the forecheck. Nino Niederreiter, the hero of Game 7 of last year's playoffs, scored a goal, got 7 shots and got 2 hits. Simply put, he played a rugged 200 foot game each shift. At least, he played all 200 feet of the rink when it was necessary.
Thursday night, it wasn't necessary that often.
Offensively, the Wild finished with a team record 48 shots on goal. Afterwards, it was announced that the Wild attempted 78 shots to the Avs' 29. That's what happens when a team wins 58% of the faceoffs (32 of 61). Combine that with the Wild forwards' constant drive for the net, the relentless forecheck and a great transition game.
Offensively, Granlund was the star but Parise outscored him, netting a goal and 2 assists. Pominville got the Wild's first goal of the season. By then, the Wild had already established themselves as the better time on the night. Joining in the scoring were Ryan Suter, Jared Spurgeon and Nino Niederreiter. Ryan Suter had a goal and an assist. Granlund had a pair of helpers. Pominville had a goal and an assist, too.
Defensively, the Wild's third line stood out. Center Erik Haula and wings Charlie Coyle and Nino Niederreiter totally bottled up Nathan MacKinnon, the star early in last spring's playoff series. McKinnon finished without a shot, point or impact.
The Wild's defensemen frequently jumped into the play but they played well in their own zone, too. The Avs never got into an offensive flow. After the game, Kuemper was congratulated on the shutout. He didn't say it was easy but he praised the "guys out in front of me."
The fact is, I never thought the Avs looked dangerous tonight. That's quite a statement considering how much firepower they can throw at teams.
Posted Friday, October 10, 2014 12:18 AM
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Obamacare cancellations, round 2
Jim Angle's article highlights this administration's extreme shortsightedness:
In coming weeks, 13 states and the District of Columbia plan to cancel such policies, which generally fall out of compliance with the Affordable Care Act because they don't offer the level of coverage the law requires. Virginia will be hardest hit, with 250,000 policies expected to be canceled.
And because federal law requires a 60-day notice of any plan changes, voters will be notified no later than November 1, right before the Nov. 4 midterms.
The Democrats' next logical step will be to tell these states that they won't enforce the notification law. If that happens, those cancellations wouldn't be sent until after the election. That isn't a stretch considering the fact that this administration has essentially rewritten major provisions of the Affordable Care Act since it was signed into law in March, 2010.
Many of those forced out of their current plans and into Obamacare may not be able to keep their doctors. They also could face higher deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses, making Obamacare an election issue on the eve of voting.
It's possible that this turns into an election issue but it's likely that families wouldn't find out the grisly details until after the election. While the cancellation notices have to be sent out before Nov. 1, the details won't be revealed until open enrollment starts. That's Nov. 15.
Still, there will be lots of people who will find out that they can't keep the doctor they've had for 15 years or the plan that they've liked for 20 years. The other thing worth considering is that it reminds people just how much they don't like Obamacare.
While that likely won't change people's votes, it's certainly possible that it'll invigorate them to vote against the candidate that supports the ACA. Democrats will tell the people that they won't repeal the ACA but will 'admit' that the rollout was a disaster and that they'll work to fix the ACA.
Attempting to peddle that warmed-over mush won't work. People know when a politician is being a politician. Any Democrat that says that the ACA rollout was a disaster but that they'd mend it, not end it will lose credibility.
Posted Friday, October 10, 2014 4:27 AM
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Greg Orman's poltical doubletalk
When I watch this video of Greg Orman dodging the question on whether he'd repeal Obamacare, it's difficult to not think 'that's what a career politician sounds like'.
He's right that we have an affordability crisis. Throughout his response, though, he outlined what's wrong. At no point did he outline a solution. It was as close to a filibuster as you'll hear in a debate.
People know what problems they're facing. What they don't know, however, is what solution can pass that'll fix the problems they're facing. After hearing Orman's reply, which I won't call an answer, people will still be wondering what the solution is.
Orman spent almost 90 seconds saying nothing. That isn't the way to win over Republican-leaning voters. In Kansas, there are 3 political beliefs: Republicans, Democrats and leaning Republican. At this point, Orman looks like a flavor-of-the-month type of candidate. With the polls showing significant and rapid movement in Pat Roberts' direction, Orman can't rely on smooth-sounding rhetoric.
That's why I've thought from the start that Orman can't pull off this charade that he's an independent. He's a Democrat. No amount of smooth-sounding rhetoric will wipe away his well-documented liberal tendencies.
The American people are cynical. They understand that Independent is the party that Democrats pick to avoid being called a liberal. It's also what they say when they don't want to admit that they'll vote to keep Harry Reid as Senate Majority Leader.
Orman's tap-dancing notwithstanding, the truth is that he's a Democrat who will vote to keep Harry Reid as the Senate Majority Leader. In the end, that's what will sink him in Kansas.
Posted Friday, October 10, 2014 5:04 AM
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I'm supporting Nancy Gohman
Nancy Gohman has been my city council member since 2010. This week, she resigned from the City Council to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest. That was proof of what I've known all along about Nancy Gohman. It's proof she's a person of impeccable character and sound judgment.
It's important that people understand the real reason why she resigned. Here's what the SC Times article said:
Gohman resigned from the council Monday, citing concerns about perceived conflict of interest. On Monday the council awarded her husband's company a construction manager contract for the community and aquatics center.
There never was a conflict of interest in my mind. The bid for the community and aquatics center was totally independent of the City Council in the sense that they were obligated to award the bid to the lowest bidder.
The bid was verifiable and quantifiable. The measurements were objective, not subjective. If you didn't have the lowest bid, you didn't get the contract. It's pretty straightforward.
As for her running again, that's straightforward, too. Monday's resignation came too late to take her name off the ballot. In fact, absentee ballots have already been cast. It's impossible to unring that bell.
The other reason why I'll vote for her again is because she's a principled public servant who takes her responsibilities seriously. Nancy Gohman is a public servant.
Sonja Berg is someone who just won't go away. She should've retired a decade ago. She's St. Cloud's version of Phyllis Kahn, only worse. (That's a frightening thought, isn't it?)
Posted Friday, October 10, 2014 5:34 AM
Comment 1 by Steve Schafer at 10-Oct-14 02:06 PM
"She's St. Cloud's version of Phyllis Kahn, only worse."
I find it hard to believe that anyone could be more worse than Phyllis Kahn - but you know the Saint Cloud area better than me.
I'll defer to you on that one.
Kessler's partisan Reality Check
Pat Kessler's Reality Check on Jeff Johnson's latest ad is a step down for Kessler. On the positive side, he got this part mostly right:
The ad takes some tough shots at Gov. Mark Dayton and, unexpectedly, the owners of the Minnesota Vikings.
It's classic political mudslinging, but there is some truth to it, as it counts down the missteps of a Governor who Johnson says is 'incompetent' and who the new ad calls 'unaware.'
'Unaware of bonuses for his failed Obamacare bureaucrats,' says the ad, as the words 'Unaware Mark Dayton' appear on the screen. 'Not even knowing what's in the bills he signed.'
The ad accurately quotes Dayton saying he was unaware of MNsure bonuses, unaware of a farm equipment tax in a 2013 tax bill and unaware that personal seat licenses were included in the Vikings stadium bill.
It's offensive to hear Kessler characterize the ad as mudslinging. It isn't a stretch whatsoever to say that Gov. Dayton is incompetent. It's verifiable that he's admitted that he wasn't aware of major provisions in the biggest bills Gov. Dayton has signed.
It isn't mudslinging if the ad uses verifiable information. It's hard-hitting but it isn't mudslinging. If Gov. Dayton didn't want to see these things highlighted, then he shouldn't have made these dramatic admissions. Gov. Dayton made some major mistakes. Jeff Johnson's ad just highlights that.
That wasn't the worst of Kessler's segment. Check this out:
But the ad strays from the truth when it smears Dayton and team owners Mark and Zygi Wilf, linking the Vikings stadium deal and the Wilf's legal troubles. 'Half a billion taxpayer dollars to the Wilfs after they committed civil fraud and racketeering,' says the ad, with grainy black and white video of Dayton and Vikings team owner Zygi Wilf.
That's at least MISLEADING and borders on false.
Approximately $500 million is the amount taxpayers forked over to build the $1 billion stadium after the Minnesota legislature passed and Dayton signed the bill into law. The Wilfs put up the other $500 million.
What's misleading, Mr. Kessler? Did the state of Minnesota commit to paying approximately $500,000,000 of taxpayer money to build the stadium? That's easily verifiable. It's in the bill. This isn't difficult to verify it. The state of Minnesota committed to paying that money while the Wilfs were defending themselves in a New Jersey court on charges of civil fraud and racketeering. That statement is also accurate.
If both those statements are accurate, how could they border on being false? The simple answer is they can't. True statements can't border on being false. Still, that wasn't the low point of the segment. This is:
The Minnesota Vikings strongly objected to the use of their team owners in the Johnson ad.
'We're extremely disappointed that Jeff Johnson would stoop to this level,' said Vikings Vice President Lester Bagley. 'The ad is reckless. The Wilfs have made substantial contributions to this community and this state. What Jeff Johnson has done is not consistent with Minnesota values.'
Mr. Kessler, Reality Check is about checking facts, not about sharing opinions. Quoting Lester Bagley in the article is totally inappropriate, especially considering the fact that he contributed to Gov. Dayton's campaign. Furthermore, Bagley serves the Wilfs, nobody else. What qualifies him to speak on what Minnesota values are?
Finally, this was disgraceful, too:
A spokesman from Dayton campaign Linden Zakula said, 'It's not surprising to see a desperate attack from a candidate so far behind. Commissioner Johnson offers no real ideas to improve education, create jobs, or help Minnesota families. It's easy for Commissioner Johnson to be against everything when he, himself, proposes nothing.'
My question for Mr. Kessler is straightforward. Did the Dayton campaign pay for this campaign ad? Inviting the Dayton campaign spokesman to take a cheap shot at Commissioner Johnson during a factchecking segment is totally unprofessional.
Calling accurate statements "bordering on false is disgusting. Allowing outsiders to level cheap shots at a political candidate during that factchecking segment is utterly unprofessional. Kessler should be ashamed of himself.
Posted Friday, October 10, 2014 7:25 PM
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Dorholt's partisanship
Zach Dorholt's been running a campaign touting how he's a great listener, that he's responsive to the needs of his constituents. Jim Knoblach's last mailer ends that myth. According to the Minnesota House Journal, Dorholt voted with the DFL leadership 470 times out of 470 final votes on legislation.
You don't get more partisan than that.
Knoblach's mailer also highlights the fact that Dorholt's money comes from everywhere except Minnesota. Contributions to Dorholt's fund have come from Boston, New York City and Philadelphia in the northeast, Fort Lauderdale in Florida, California (San Francisco and Hollywood) and Phoenix, AZ. The vast majority of the mailers that I've gotten praising Dorholt or criticizing Jim Knoblach have come from the "Minnesota DFL Party."
According to this report , the DFL has outspent Dorholt by, at minimum, a 2:1 margin. Just in August through early September, the Minnesota DFL Party spent $37,160 on mailers for the Dorholt-Knoblach race. That isn't counting the money that Working America Minnesota Political Fund has spent on the race.
When Knoblach made his first fundraising announcement, Dorholt complained about all the money in politics. I used this post to highlight the fact that Dorholt was silent in 2012, when DFL special interest groups literally spent over $250,000 in the race supporting Dorholt. This year, they'll probably come close to that again. Once again, Dorholt hasn't complained about special interest money essentially financing his campaign.
Many of the DFL's mailers, however, complain that Jim Knoblach was the special interests' pawn. It's definitely pot meet kettle time with that.
The reality is that Zach Dorholt was an obedient puppy for Speaker Thissen. He kept his mouth shut and voted with Thissen 100% of the time on final passage of bills. I said early that St. Paul doesn't need another representative. That's what Dorholt has been.
We need someone that'll fight to grow Minnesota's economy, something that isn't happening. This week, MMB announced that Minnesota's revenue had fallen short of projects...again. Booming economies don't consistently fall short of revenue projections.
Dayton, Dorholt and the DFL have trumpeted as fact that Minnesota's economy is cruising along. Each time they've said that, they've lied. It's that simple. The revenue shortfalls verify that.
Posted Saturday, October 11, 2014 3:04 AM
Comment 1 by walter hanson at 11-Oct-14 01:38 PM
Um I think somebody should tell the Dayton spokesperson that Dayton hasn't provided what they claim that Dayton has provided. He hasn't provided leadership. The economy isn't growing (after all revenues have come in less than predicted six out of the last seven months).
Oh I forgot Dayton isn't aware that his spokesperson isn't seeing reality.
Walter Hanson
Minneapolis, MN
Desperate attack vs. the truth hurts
Jeff Johnson's latest ad is causing quite a stir :
Republican gubernatorial candidate Jeff Johnson released a new television ad today that questions the competence of DFL Gov. Mark Dayton.
Johnson's ad is titled 'Unaware.' The narrator contends that Dayton was unaware of bonuses paid to 'failed Obamacare bureaucrats,' the contents of bills he signed and the legal issues facing the owners of the Minnesota Vikings.
Johnson then appears, saying Minnesotans deserve a 'governor who knows what's going on,' and promising that he will to be a 24/7 leader.
WCCO's Reality Check on the ad provides the text from the ad :
Johnson Ad Text:
'Unaware of bonuses for his failed Obamacare bureaucrats
Not even knowing what's in the bills he signed
Half-a billion taxpayer dollars to the Wilfs after they committed civil fraud and racketeering.
'I was not aware at all'
What is Mark Dayton aware of?
Minnesotans deserve an engaged governor who knows what's going on and what's in the bills he signs. I'll be a 24-7 leader who owns his decisions. The buck stops with me.
Jeff Johnson for Governor'
The Dayton campaign quickly reacted to Commissioner Johnson's ad:
A spokesman for the Dayton campaign, Linden Zakula, described the ad as a 'desperate attack' from a candidate who is far behind in the polls. 'Commissioner Johnson offers no real ideas to improve education, create jobs, or help Minnesota families,' Zakula said in a statement.
What Zakula means is that Commissioner Johnson doesn't have the special interest-approved pseudo-solutions that Gov. Dayton has. HINT to Zakula: That's the point. Jeff Johnson won't be beholden to list of special interests that Gov. Dayton has been his entire public life. The DFL doesn't do anything that their special interest allies don't sanction.
As for "real ideas that improves education, creates jobs or helps Minnesota families", Zakula is lying. Jeff Johnson's ideas will help miners on the Iron Range (PolyMet), farmers everywhere in the state (Sandpiper Pipeline) and will strengthen families by creating high-paying jobs. Gov. Dayton is a pathetic advocate for raising marginal tax rates. Jeff Johnson is unapologetic in his desire to grow Minnesota's private sector.
Jeff Johnson will fight for a new K-12 funding formula that reduces the gap between metro schools and outstate schools. I suspect Jeff Johnson will fight to restore the Basic Skills Test for high school math and science teachers that the Republican legislature passed and that Gov. Dayton signed and that the DFL legislature repealed and Gov. Dayton signed. That's accountability I can believe in.
Zakula's response is predictable. Gov. Dayton's litany of things he supposedly didn't know about is lengthy. Gov. Dayton shut down the government because he supposedly didn't know that the GOP had removed some provisions that he objected to right before the shutdown. When told in July that they'd been removed, Gov. Dayton acted surprised. Right before FarmFest 2013, Gov. Dayton 'discovered' that the Tax Bill expanded sales taxes to include farm equipment repairs, warehousing services and telecommunications. In 2013, Gov. Dayton was outraged that the Vikings stadium bill included a provision for PSL's, which are standard in every stadium bill that's been passed in the last 15 years.
Being ignorant might work within the DFL but hard-working families expect their governor to pay attention to the details of major bills. Gov. Dayton said that he thinks MNsure is working "phenomenally well":
That's stunningly out of touch. Tell that to families everywhere in Minnesota that are seeing huge increases in their insurance premiums. Tell that to the 140,000 families that had the policies they liked cancelled and replaced by "better" policies they didn't want.
Gov. Dayton's policies aren't growing Minnesota's private sector. They aren't making K-12 education the best it can be, either. Gov. Dayton's policies reflect Education Minnesota's wish list.
Posted Saturday, October 11, 2014 12:13 PM
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