Posted by Dan Weinand
Tue, 17 Oct 2006 04:16:00 GMT
While this particular bout of not blogging may be indistinguishable from previous periods of inactivity, this time it’s deliberate. I’m a little late in posting since I just moved and was without a internet connection at home, and without time to track down free wifi for awhile.
I’ve done some web development work for the DFL and in so doing will be receiving some payment for that work. In order to avoid the perception of impropriety, I am suspending all blogging activity until after the election.
I’m also likely going to overhaul the site at some point around then. See you all November 8.
Posted by Dan Weinand
Thu, 28 Sep 2006 21:40:00 GMT
Governor Pawlenty came out with a new ad today claiming Mike Hatch would cost the average Minnesota Family $2,192.00. They even have an actual accountant who makes it clear that he’s not being paid or an actor to deliver the startling statistics.
So who is this brave accountant who felt so compelled to be in a commercial without getting paid. Turns out, John Heutmaker is as partisan as it comes.
He is Vice-Chair of the SD41 Republicans, a former Republican candidate in 41B, and chair of a campaign committee for a Republican running in Golden Valley.
Much like his “a fee is not a tax” doublespeak before, Pawlenty is trying to pull a fast one on Minnesotans by using a partisan hack and pictures of spreadsheets to make his claims seem credible.
Posted by Dan Weinand
Mon, 18 Sep 2006 20:10:00 GMT
–Students Crushed by Debt Respond–
–Record Turnout in Primary at U of M–
Who: Young Democrats, DFL officials and candidates
What: The launch of the DFL’s first youth-run electoral campaign
When: Wednesday, September 20th 11:00AM
Where: State Office Building Press Room 181
Increase in # of ballots cast in targeted student precincts for the primary election
U of M - Coffman Union (WARD 2 P 4): 800%
U of M – West Bank (WARD 2 P 9): 150%
U of M - “Superblock” Dorms (WARD 2 P 11): 300%
Young Minnesotans are being crushed by debt. Instead of investing in our future, our leaders are hampering it. George Bush and Mark Kennedy made the largest cut in the history of the federal student loan program, while Tim Pawlenty proposed a 9% cut to higher education. Their cuts force the average Minnesota student to graduate with $19,468 in crushing debt–and nationally, they closed the door to college to over two million students last year.
We are tired of our leaders’ willingness to burden us with debt and their failure to invest in our future–so we are launching standupnow.mn, the DFL’s first ever youth-run campaign to engage young voters and advocate for the issues that affect us.
In two months, we’ve:
Recruited more than 800 volunteers
Called more than 3,000 young voters
Used social networking sites to connect with more than 5,000 young voters
Passed out thousands of “Debt on a Stick” at the State Fair
Hired field staff covering 22 campuses statewides
Increased primary election turnout at the University of Minnesota by 400%
On Wednesday, a coalition of youth leaders will launch a campaign that will use groundbreaking tools and a grassroots network to reach thousands and boost voter turnout on campuses across the state, proving that the youth vote matters.
(this is Matt posting) I went over to the U to see how the college Dems were doing and let me just say this: wow… Hats off to these guys and it sounds like their organization is going to be making some big announcements next week.
Posted by Dan Weinand
Fri, 01 Sep 2006 13:34:00 GMT
In this article Ostrow claims he has “never and would never authorize” the attempts by his campaign manager to anonymously smear Keith ellison. Do you believe him, or is Amundsen just a scapegoat?
Posted by Dan Weinand
Fri, 01 Sep 2006 04:36:00 GMT
This is the kind of thing that cannot be permitted in the DFL if it is to truly succeed in Minnesota. It makes us look like a whole party full of MDEs. We’re not; the DFL is full of people who will rightfully be disgusted by this. Particularly pathetic is that the Ostrow campaign couldn’t even do it right - in being exposed, they’ve probably sunk their campaign overnight. Many kudos to the pros at Ostrow HQ.
I’m not going to be quite as harsh as MNCR, who says that Ostrow should be out of the party. Instead, I’m going to say that if Ostrow hasn’t sacked Jason Amundsen by COB tomorrow, Ostrow should be out of the party. Absolutely no question that Amundsen should never, ever be hired by another DFL campaign.
With every post that MDE makes about the primary in the 5th, it becomes more and more apparent that the GOP is scared blind about the prospect of a Congressman Ellison. Unfortunately for them, they’re about to find that their tactics have backfired once again
In my opinion, this is no coincidence. Some metro papers may be making their CD5 endorsements this week, so Ostrow is doing the dirty work and trying to throw mud around, but for whom is a good question, he sure is not up for any endorsements.
Campaign managers for campaigns should not be hiding their identity to send tips to reporters. Candidates should not stand for this behavior should it get exposed.
Paul Ostrow’s Campaign is a joke
Apparently his campaign manager has been trying hard to smear Keith Ellison by circulating information about 911 calls made by a known troublemaker more than a year ago, that has no known follow-up, arrests or legal action
Don’t attack fellow Democrats–especially by leaking to Brodkorb. (And Mike? Your protestations that you do all original reporting would be far more credible if this hadn’t been shopped the very same day you posted it. And while you’ve emailed Ellison repeatedly, maybe–and I’m just saying here–you could pick up the phone?)
Posted by Dan Weinand
Fri, 01 Sep 2006 04:05:00 GMT
Feeling the pressure, Paul Ostrow’s campaign manager, Jason Amundesn has resigned after being caught peddling slime about Democratic opponent, Keith Ellison.
The campaign manager for DFL congressional candidate Paul Ostrow resigned Thursday in response to revelations that he circulated reports of unsubstantiated 911 calls to police in an effort to smear opposing DFL candidate Keith Ellison.
There is also evidence that these latest incidents were part of a much larger attempt attack Ellison.
Amundsen did not return phone calls or respond to e-mail Thursday seeking comment. But his resignation appears to link him to a much broader and mysterious e-mail campaign against Ellison since early this summer that also circulated information about his campaign finance violations over several years.
In that e-mail campaign, the anonymous writer copied campaign finance records documenting the violations and sent them in June from the e-mail address “britishflyonthewall@yahoo.co.uk.”
In denying any knowledge of Amundsen’s role in circulating negative information about Ellison, Ostrow said Thursday, “The policy of my campaign from Day One has been we would respond to published reports, and that’s what we have done.”
In July, a day after the Star Tribune reported on the campaign finance violations circulated by britishflyonthewall, Ostrow held a news conference to say he was “deeply concerned about Rep. Ellison’s repeated ethical and legal lapses.” Ostrow also called on Ellison to explain himself or be considered unfit for the office.
The same day, Amundsen, in his role as campaign manager, wrote an item for Ostrow’s website calling Ellison a scofflaw.
As of 11:00PM this evening, the results for our poll which asked “Should the Ostrow campaign fire Jason Amundsen?” were as follows:
