Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Tracking the Zombies
Zombies are now showing up on Countdown with Keith Olbermann...with a reference to the study of the spread of Zombies as disease, but much of it turned into apartisan plug for the Zombie Survival Guide.
Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Is President Obama a Geek?
One of our panels at CONvergence this year is Is our President a Geek?. Of course, one of the challenges of putting together a schedule months ahead of time is that events can pass it up.
And while Wil Wheaton may have won Paul and Storm's bracket, we now clearly have the *real* Secretary of Geek Affairs, John Hodgman:
And while Wil Wheaton may have won Paul and Storm's bracket, we now clearly have the *real* Secretary of Geek Affairs, John Hodgman:
Labels: cvg2009, geek, hodgman, politics
Monday, March 09, 2009
Go go science and technology!
As someone pro-Science and Technology, I really really like this.
Labels: politics, science, technology
Monday, January 19, 2009
Pride!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Change of Ideas
One of the more interesting web technologies is the idea of "Crowd Sourcing" or "Idea Management" -- getting the community a chance to submit idea, vote for good ones, and go ahead from there.
Something like the Citizens Briefing Book is an interesting way for technology and government to combine together. It's still a bit rough -- but in many ways, that's encouraging to me. I'm sure many of the ideas that will pop up aren't really politically practical, especially since the kind of people likely to show up and vote on a site like that aren't necessarily the same people that vote -- but it's a great use of the technology above and beyond making better coffee and a better laptop.
Very interesting...
Something like the Citizens Briefing Book is an interesting way for technology and government to combine together. It's still a bit rough -- but in many ways, that's encouraging to me. I'm sure many of the ideas that will pop up aren't really politically practical, especially since the kind of people likely to show up and vote on a site like that aren't necessarily the same people that vote -- but it's a great use of the technology above and beyond making better coffee and a better laptop.
Very interesting...
Friday, October 31, 2008
Vote! Vote!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
Best. Obama. Commercial. Ever.
Labels: politics
American Stories, American Solutions
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Yes We Did
Labels: politics
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Watching Tonight's Debate
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Almost feeling sorry for McCain
I think he's really losing control of some of his supporters. Sad to see something like this in Minnesota though.
I suspect that when McCain loses -- and I hope and expect that he will -- that the knives will really be out in the Republican party. It's too early to say that, perhaps, and the few weeks that remain are several lifetimes in politics....but we'll see what happens.
I suspect that when McCain loses -- and I hope and expect that he will -- that the knives will really be out in the Republican party. It's too early to say that, perhaps, and the few weeks that remain are several lifetimes in politics....but we'll see what happens.
Labels: minnesota, mnpolitics, politics
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Live Long and Prosper
I can really only wish that this is true, but given the source one can't be sure. I'd love to see a photo of Barack Obama giving the Vulcan hand signal though...
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Watching the polls
I've been regularly following fivethirtyeight.com to look at the trends of all of the political polls put together, rather than focusing on the poll of the day. Another good poll analysis site is the Princeton Election Consortium - and not just because they place Minnesota as having a very high voter influence, and so we're in a state where it is especially important to go out and vote in November.
Labels: mnpolitics, politics
Monday, September 08, 2008
Palin for President
Saturday, September 06, 2008
More Political Thoughts
Love this clip from Joe Biden talking about the RNC.
One thought -- McCain said that he was going to "make those people famous" who were putting through earmarks or special interest pork projects, including those from his own party. He doesn't need to be president to do that -- he can do that now, as part of the campaign. It's one thing to say that you're going to do something like that -- we've heard it before from politicians, especially Republican politicians. And I'm certainly not against cutting wasteful spending -- though what programs are actually wasteful is sometimes something to debate.
I started to read Sen. Obama's Audacity of Hope
. One of the sad parts of getting into this part of the campaign is that it you get all worked up in the us-vs-them part of politics. I know that I find myself going there as well, especially when it gets into the more red meat divisive political elements. And some of it is satisfying, especially when you have a side that you think it is very important that they win.
One thought -- McCain said that he was going to "make those people famous" who were putting through earmarks or special interest pork projects, including those from his own party. He doesn't need to be president to do that -- he can do that now, as part of the campaign. It's one thing to say that you're going to do something like that -- we've heard it before from politicians, especially Republican politicians. And I'm certainly not against cutting wasteful spending -- though what programs are actually wasteful is sometimes something to debate.
I started to read Sen. Obama's Audacity of Hope
. One of the sad parts of getting into this part of the campaign is that it you get all worked up in the us-vs-them part of politics. I know that I find myself going there as well, especially when it gets into the more red meat divisive political elements. And some of it is satisfying, especially when you have a side that you think it is very important that they win.Labels: politics
Thursday, September 04, 2008
Yes We Can
Definitely one of the more positive videos that I've seen...
One of the things that has impressed me about the campaign is all of the little things they're doing -- websites like Vote For Change. Collecting contact information at rallies -- they did it at the St Paul rally back in June, they did it at Mile High Stadium last week. They're collecting cell phone numbers when you request to get the text announcements, or when you request the campaign to visit your town.
The Republicans may mock community organizing at their convention -- but from an organizational perspective, I can see what they're doing -- and if they're doing this everywhere, they'll have done community organizing at a scale that we haven't seen much before, and using every piece of modern technology available to them.
And if that can be done to get a candidate elected... what can be done with those resources after the election? Because Election Day isn't the end.
One of the things that has impressed me about the campaign is all of the little things they're doing -- websites like Vote For Change. Collecting contact information at rallies -- they did it at the St Paul rally back in June, they did it at Mile High Stadium last week. They're collecting cell phone numbers when you request to get the text announcements, or when you request the campaign to visit your town.
The Republicans may mock community organizing at their convention -- but from an organizational perspective, I can see what they're doing -- and if they're doing this everywhere, they'll have done community organizing at a scale that we haven't seen much before, and using every piece of modern technology available to them.
And if that can be done to get a candidate elected... what can be done with those resources after the election? Because Election Day isn't the end.
Labels: politics
Comparing the candidates
It is very interesting to compare each of the four major party candidates in google trends over the last 30 days. Unsurprisingly, there is a HUGE spike for the VP candidates when they are named, especially for the previously unknown Alaskan governor.
It'll be interesting to follow as we get past the conventions. The spike for Sarah Palin is already dropping -- but where will she level out in comparison to the other candidates.
Labels: politics
Monday, September 01, 2008
Conversion
For me, one of the sadder things about the long primary campaign this spring was that as I was getting more, and more enthused about the Obama campaign, I was getting more turned off by the 2008 Clinton campaign.
This wasn't something that made me very happy -- especially since the Obama 2008 campaign reminds me so much of the Clinton 1992 campaign, where a young candidate unheard of a few years previously talks about the hope for the future after the disaster of a Bush presidency. There were a lot of people that compared Obama to a Kennedy -- but for me, the personal reminder was always Bill Clinton.
So it is nice to see stories like this fromClinton supporter Howard Wolfson -- recognizing all of the history of this year, and the impressive ability of Sen. Obama to rally 75,000 people.
That said, it is a difficult week to be partisan, when we've got another reminder that the weather doesn't have a political party. So this is a good week not to give money to a political campaign or party, or a week to protest or celebrate, but to give to a charity like the Red Cross.
This wasn't something that made me very happy -- especially since the Obama 2008 campaign reminds me so much of the Clinton 1992 campaign, where a young candidate unheard of a few years previously talks about the hope for the future after the disaster of a Bush presidency. There were a lot of people that compared Obama to a Kennedy -- but for me, the personal reminder was always Bill Clinton.
So it is nice to see stories like this fromClinton supporter Howard Wolfson -- recognizing all of the history of this year, and the impressive ability of Sen. Obama to rally 75,000 people.
That said, it is a difficult week to be partisan, when we've got another reminder that the weather doesn't have a political party. So this is a good week not to give money to a political campaign or party, or a week to protest or celebrate, but to give to a charity like the Red Cross.
Labels: mnpolitics, politics
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Pro-Obama Dungeons and Dragon Crowd
I haven't played D&D in quite a while -- but it would be tempting to play as Barack Obama.
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Brilliant
Just when you think something has completely played itself out.... you get something like this.
Labels: comedy, geek, politics
Friday, August 08, 2008
Numbers Junkie
I'm enjoying digging around FiveThirtyEight.com and seeing all of the statistics from each state and all of the poll results...
Labels: politics
Friday, July 18, 2008
Campaigning for the future
It's really interesting to see someone put together an xkcd style campaign pitch. I think one of the fantastic things about the internet is that it makes little things bubble up like this. After all, the chances that I'd hear anything about a State Representative race in Kansas is very, very low in the pre-internet age. But now, I'm not only aware of one race, but there's someone I'll be rooting for...
Labels: politics
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Great Daily Show Bit
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Little Brother
For Christmas 1983, I got a copy of George Orwell's 1984. Part of me was terrified that I'd wake up the next week and discover that I existed in that horrible totalitarian world. It was, after all, when the Cold War was at a very high point, and I was just waking up to the realization of the all the horrors of the world of that time.You get elements of that when reading Little Brother -- set, presumably, in 2010. If I had gotten this at that age, it'd even be more clear than 1984, which was, after all, not a horror story of 1984, but of 1948, just still relevant.
In Little Brother, you've got something that's a clear political tale. It's not a book that you'd describe as subtle -- the political message is clear -- but the world is described exactly as you'd imagine it.
It is the San Francisco that I recognize from my trips there gone horribly wrong -- not an idealized city by any means, where the city changes radically just by moving one block from tourist land to a more unsavory world.
And just like that two block trip -- the world that Doctorow describes is one that's just a little bit farther away from the one that we are today, where the terrors of Abu Ghraib get set up shop in San Francisco.
It's impressive because it also teaches you a lot about technological history -- and how technology mixes with politics.
There are some books that if I was growing up today, and read them now, they'd have a huge impact -- the saddest thing, for example, about reading Harry Potter as an adult is, well, you're reading it as an adult. Reading Little Brother is a bit like that.
And one of the things that I like the book is that it is very tempting for people to get so worried about the application of technology that they become techno-phobic -- where this is absolutely not. It's a tool -- and the tools can be used for as much good to make it a better place than it is to make it a worse one. At the end of the day, this is still a work by someone that believes that tech can make the world *better* -- and not just worse.
It's a book to read, think about, and discuss. You might disagree with it in places -- but that's the best part, really, that you can disagree. And in whatever way you can, try to figure out ways so we don't fall into a world where things really do get that bad.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Wow. A Political Commercial That Is A Shocker
I was watching the news tonight, and up comes this commercial -- and I was pretty much stunned speechless by the nature of the advertisement. It's harsh.
If that's an advertisement in June -- imagine what we'll be seeing by October.
If that's an advertisement in June -- imagine what we'll be seeing by October.
Labels: politics
Saturday, June 14, 2008
New JoCo Song!
And it'll appeal to you history buffs, if you need a reminder of thr order of the Presidents
Labels: music, politics, youtube
Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Looking at History
Friday, April 18, 2008
Hopefully we'll see this sort of stuff really come out in the fall
When it's the general election.....because I think this election can really have a lot of this sort of content really cut through the traditional media sources and political commercials...and yes, make it fun as well as serious.
Harsh ABC Debate Coverage...
I think the reviews of ABC's debate on Wednesday have gotten pretty harsh...
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
A More Perfect Union
I'm very pleased with how Sen. Obama handles the issue that is really just underneath his whole campaign -- and it hits me as a direct, sophisticated, and honest approach to the issues of race in this country. I'm as hopeful as ever that he can make it through this campaign as we look towards making our country better.
(full text here)
Of course, in the less serious fashion, it is fun to know that the Obamas have been watching Heroes on the campaign trail as well. One of the things that I enjoy about Science Fiction fandom -- and why it is important to me that MISFITS takes its non profit status seriously is that while at times it's not *the most* diverse population around, it is also more diverse than many communities of choice that I've experienced -- we don't all share the same racial background, or religious background, or political background, or economic background -- but we can all work for common cause by choice. It may be "just for fun" -- but really, the pursuit of happiness is a good goal.
(full text here)
Of course, in the less serious fashion, it is fun to know that the Obamas have been watching Heroes on the campaign trail as well. One of the things that I enjoy about Science Fiction fandom -- and why it is important to me that MISFITS takes its non profit status seriously is that while at times it's not *the most* diverse population around, it is also more diverse than many communities of choice that I've experienced -- we don't all share the same racial background, or religious background, or political background, or economic background -- but we can all work for common cause by choice. It may be "just for fun" -- but really, the pursuit of happiness is a good goal.
Labels: geek, heroes, politics
Monday, March 03, 2008
Do the Math
I'm enjoying CNN's Delegate counter game which lets you work out how the delegate scores have to break for each candidate to win, and let you analyze the campaign. Pretty neat.
Labels: politics
Sunday, March 02, 2008
Messing with Texas
I know that there has been a lot of ink about how confusing Texas's Texas Two-Step Primary and Caucus system is -- but I've got to admit I like it.
I agonized a little about my problems with Minnesota's caucus system -- but I also recognize that there are some virtues to the caucus system, and I'd hate to have a rush to eliminate the good part of it.
One of the challenges we have is that we don't ever really have a system where one person equals one vote -- a person in a larger state, after all, will have less impact in the senate. Congressional districts don't all have the same amount of voting participation, even if they're about the same size in population.
It may be a bit nerve wracking to have something as close as this presidential nominating process be impacted by the rules in a state like this -- but one of the things that is often true, especially when you have a very large voting population -- is that the rules tend to dictate the winner just because you're always going to have some error in the election result.
So sometimes, when it is close enough that a coin flip might as well decide it -- it's going to be the team that has the rules that will decide it. Sometimes, that'll be frustrating (like it was in 2000) -- but that's really almost inevitable at times.
I agonized a little about my problems with Minnesota's caucus system -- but I also recognize that there are some virtues to the caucus system, and I'd hate to have a rush to eliminate the good part of it.
One of the challenges we have is that we don't ever really have a system where one person equals one vote -- a person in a larger state, after all, will have less impact in the senate. Congressional districts don't all have the same amount of voting participation, even if they're about the same size in population.
It may be a bit nerve wracking to have something as close as this presidential nominating process be impacted by the rules in a state like this -- but one of the things that is often true, especially when you have a very large voting population -- is that the rules tend to dictate the winner just because you're always going to have some error in the election result.
So sometimes, when it is close enough that a coin flip might as well decide it -- it's going to be the team that has the rules that will decide it. Sometimes, that'll be frustrating (like it was in 2000) -- but that's really almost inevitable at times.
Labels: politics
Saturday, March 01, 2008
Impressive Political Response
One of the good things about a healthy primary season is to see how well the political organizations respond to each other. One of the challenges is that primary battles aren't quite the same battles that you see in a general election -- one thing that was very noticable when you compared Republican and Democratic debates from earlier this year was that there were times where it looked like the two parties weren't even on the same planet, as the subjects and tone of the debates were often very, very different.
So when the Clinton campaign has an ad (that could very well be an ad that John McCain would run in the general election) like this:
It's nice to see the Obama campaign counter it with an ad like this in a matter of hours:
If Obama is the eventual nominee, I think he's going to be a better general election candidate because of his campaign's experiences in the primary season.
So when the Clinton campaign has an ad (that could very well be an ad that John McCain would run in the general election) like this:
It's nice to see the Obama campaign counter it with an ad like this in a matter of hours:
If Obama is the eventual nominee, I think he's going to be a better general election candidate because of his campaign's experiences in the primary season.
Labels: politics
Friday, February 29, 2008
The Geek Vote
I can't believe for a second that it would actually happen, but I'd be very amused if Barack Obama made an appearance at the San Diego Comics Convention.
One of my strangest memories mixing politics and fandom was meeting Senator Paul Wellstone in the hallways of the Sheraton after a CONvergence planning meeting. We gave him a brief description of what we were doing -- though I regret not going into the non-profit side of MISFITS a bit more.
While I look at the convention and fandom as a whole as being a bit of fun and a recreational activity, I also think it's a good way for us to do good as well. And one thing I've also realized is that some of the skills that you get out of this sort of organization running transfer over into other realms as well.
One of my strangest memories mixing politics and fandom was meeting Senator Paul Wellstone in the hallways of the Sheraton after a CONvergence planning meeting. We gave him a brief description of what we were doing -- though I regret not going into the non-profit side of MISFITS a bit more.
While I look at the convention and fandom as a whole as being a bit of fun and a recreational activity, I also think it's a good way for us to do good as well. And one thing I've also realized is that some of the skills that you get out of this sort of organization running transfer over into other realms as well.
Labels: convergence, fandom, politics
Monday, February 11, 2008
louder and more dissonant
Friday, February 08, 2008
A Thought About Google Ads on My Blog
I put a little bit of advertising on my blog -- I don't (and haven't) expect to make any more money except to offset some of my costs for having a domain. And the internet is something where you never know when you hit the internet lottery for one thing or another, and it seems to be smart to have a way to capture that if you do. And I figure it is also one direct way to get experience with the Google ad system, as I never know when having that experience might be useful for its own reasons.
But one of the interesting things has been that now that we are in a political season, and because of that I'm doing a bit more discussion about political issues, I'm getting political ads both from candidates and organizations I might like, and also candidates and organizations that I don't. And I'm ok with that.
I'm very fond of how the internet can impact the political system -- it is a chance for us all to have our own little letters to the editor, and political candidates have a chance to put out as much information in an unfiltered way as possible. And I think making it easier for smaller donors to help participate in fund raising is really good.
But one of the interesting things has been that now that we are in a political season, and because of that I'm doing a bit more discussion about political issues, I'm getting political ads both from candidates and organizations I might like, and also candidates and organizations that I don't. And I'm ok with that.
I'm very fond of how the internet can impact the political system -- it is a chance for us all to have our own little letters to the editor, and political candidates have a chance to put out as much information in an unfiltered way as possible. And I think making it easier for smaller donors to help participate in fund raising is really good.
Labels: google, meta, politics
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Ok, still Barack Time
At this point the only influence we still have in Minnesota is to donate money or tell your friends now that the caucuses are over here. But this was a very nice and interesting video about the advantages of Obama by Lawrence Lessig.
Labels: politics
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Primary and Caucus
I was quoted in an article that just went up in the Star Tribune about my frustrations about my caucus experience.
I've been thinking about it some more today. I don't really want to reject all of the advantages of the caucus system. I like that we had the chance to get some face to face interaction with our local political leaders, and it was very hands-on democracy.
I know that a lot of people were frustrated that they couldn't really participate in what candidate the DFL will endorse for Senate this year. It's not just me -- I've overheard other people that felt frustrated that they weren't really able to be a part of that decision.
What I think might work is something that has both -- a primary for the state wide races like President, Senate, House of Representatives, and Governor. The caucus works as a chance to meet your neighbors, discuss the issues, and feed resolutions to the party at a grassroots level.
I don't really know the best solution -- and as you'd expect from a newspaper article you've got one main sentence pulled out of a couple of minute conversation that supported the story that he wanted to write, but I certainly think there is a better way.
I've been thinking about it some more today. I don't really want to reject all of the advantages of the caucus system. I like that we had the chance to get some face to face interaction with our local political leaders, and it was very hands-on democracy.
I know that a lot of people were frustrated that they couldn't really participate in what candidate the DFL will endorse for Senate this year. It's not just me -- I've overheard other people that felt frustrated that they weren't really able to be a part of that decision.
What I think might work is something that has both -- a primary for the state wide races like President, Senate, House of Representatives, and Governor. The caucus works as a chance to meet your neighbors, discuss the issues, and feed resolutions to the party at a grassroots level.
I don't really know the best solution -- and as you'd expect from a newspaper article you've got one main sentence pulled out of a couple of minute conversation that supported the story that he wanted to write, but I certainly think there is a better way.
Labels: minnesota, mnpolitics, politics
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Caucus Frustration
In theory, caucuses make some sense -- they're true citizen participation. But they're very, very frustrating. While we had a poll for the Presidential candidates, I'd like to have a straw poll that let you choose Senate candidate as well -- while we had Al Franken visit our caucus room, they only way that we could really "vote" for him is if we moved on to the March district caucus. And if you can't make that amount of commitment, you're effectively disenfranchised. And given the number of other people that were frustrated that they weren't able to express their opinion on the senate race tonight, I don't think I was alone.
It was extremely crowded -- the room was overflowing, and we left before the end, because I knew that I couldn't go on to the next level of caucusing.
I think the caucusing works relatively well for putting together party platforms and suggestions -- yes, you're going to have crazy or impractical resolutions, but if you let people have their say, you're going to get those. But for candidates for higher office -- I'm not so sure. I think it's too difficult to get a real representative choice there, and I'd rather see the primary have more say in this sort of situation.
I'm not quite sure the best way to fix that -- obviously, you'd have to change how the party makes decisions. And that would require getting it through the people that have the most interest in the current system.
It was extremely crowded -- the room was overflowing, and we left before the end, because I knew that I couldn't go on to the next level of caucusing.
I think the caucusing works relatively well for putting together party platforms and suggestions -- yes, you're going to have crazy or impractical resolutions, but if you let people have their say, you're going to get those. But for candidates for higher office -- I'm not so sure. I think it's too difficult to get a real representative choice there, and I'd rather see the primary have more say in this sort of situation.
I'm not quite sure the best way to fix that -- obviously, you'd have to change how the party makes decisions. And that would require getting it through the people that have the most interest in the current system.
Labels: mnpolitics, politics
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Obama Rally Pictures
I get into a bit more of a political spin during this time of year, I suppose.
It was one of the longest lines I've ever seen:
But it's always exciting to see one of the best speakers out there
(pictures by Alicia LaMunion)
It was one of the longest lines I've ever seen:
But it's always exciting to see one of the best speakers out there
(pictures by Alicia LaMunion)
Labels: mnpolitics, politics
Yes We Can
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
One Week Until Caucus Time
I figure someone's blog is much like the bumper sticker on a car. In many ways, it's the primary and/or caucus season that is more interesting to me -- because more often than not party affiliation will determine who I vote for in the November election. And for that not to be the case something really, really unusual has to have happened at the caucus level, and that's not in the cards this year.
And this is one of the more interesting caucus experiences with a Senate race as well, and so here's a little video from Al Franken showing how that part of the process will work here.
And this is one of the more interesting caucus experiences with a Senate race as well, and so here's a little video from Al Franken showing how that part of the process will work here.
Labels: mnpolitics, politics
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
It's a contest!
As a political junkie, I think it's going to be an interesting month to watch in both parties over the next few weeks. And it'll make Minnesota's Caucus on the first Tuesday in February very interesting and exciting -- I can't wait.
I know that some people would like a nationwide primary -- but I think there's some virtue to having a series of primaries over multiple weeks, so we can see how a Presidential candidate wins -- and loses. Because a President is going to have to deal with both of these when they are in office.
I'm not necessarily thrilled that Iowa and New Hampshire are always the first ones are out there. But at the end, it's going to be more than just the 1% of the country that decides -- and that's going to be a healthy thing as well.
I know that some people would like a nationwide primary -- but I think there's some virtue to having a series of primaries over multiple weeks, so we can see how a Presidential candidate wins -- and loses. Because a President is going to have to deal with both of these when they are in office.
I'm not necessarily thrilled that Iowa and New Hampshire are always the first ones are out there. But at the end, it's going to be more than just the 1% of the country that decides -- and that's going to be a healthy thing as well.
Labels: politics
Friday, January 04, 2008
One of the better political speeches I've seen..
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Challenge of the Super-Duper Friends
It's an amusing mix of 1970s Superhero cartoons and 21st century politics in the Challenge of the Super-Duper Friends.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Al Franken is in
I don't think this is a surprise to anyone, but Al Franken is in for the Senate. He grew up in the same town that I live in, so he's as home town as you get, really -- despite his previous entertainment career.
We're a state that elected Jesse Ventura and Paul Wellstone -- so of course Al has a chance. And at the very least, it'll make for a much more interesting campaign.
We're a state that elected Jesse Ventura and Paul Wellstone -- so of course Al has a chance. And at the very least, it'll make for a much more interesting campaign.
Labels: minnesota, mnpolitics, politics
Monday, January 29, 2007
Franken For Senate?
I figure that if Al Franken is giving up his talk radio gig he's going to go for the US Senate here in Minnesota. He wouldn't be the strangest possible candidate for state wide office -- after all, we did elect an ex-wrestler and actor as Governor long before California brought in Arnold.
I figure it'll make for a very interesting campaign, at least. I saw Al Franken do a book reading a little over a year ago and I noticed then that despite his jokes, he was much more like someone who was looking at politics than as a comedian.
I figure it'll make for a very interesting campaign, at least. I saw Al Franken do a book reading a little over a year ago and I noticed then that despite his jokes, he was much more like someone who was looking at politics than as a comedian.
Labels: minnesota, mnpolitics, politics
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
The Best Response
There's been more than a share of silly controversy about my soon-to-be Representative Keith Ellison's plan to use the Koran as part of his personal swearing-in ceremony. And he found a great copy to use. Thomas Jefferson's.
Totally classy.
Totally classy.
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Language Matters
One of the things that's interesting (and sometimes scary) is how language can be used for political purposes. I know that one of the things that annoys me is when you hear one of our two parties called the "Democrat Party" instead of the "Democratic Party". It rubs me the wrong way -- which is perhaps exactly why it is used at times by Republican-leaning types -- but it still bugs me and immediately means I put my "this is a biased source" filter on. It's like when I hear "Homicide Bomber" on FOX News -- it is a redundant phrase, really.
As a part of that, I found this list of politically-loaded phrases that was listed in connection to the following Slate article to be interesting.
I think it's worth being aware of the language choices like this as a part of your general media literacy -- recognizing any sort of biases that are out there.
As a part of that, I found this list of politically-loaded phrases that was listed in connection to the following Slate article to be interesting.
I think it's worth being aware of the language choices like this as a part of your general media literacy -- recognizing any sort of biases that are out there.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Vote!
Tracking the elections in Minnesota
Sunday, October 22, 2006
Political Season (Part 2)
A month or so ago I posted my thoughts before the primary, and at that time I didn't have the website for Minnesota Senate seat 44 Democratic candidate Ron Latz. Now I do.
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Vote for Worst Road in Minnesota
I haven't, as yet, followed all of the ins and outs of the Transportation Constitutional Amendment in question, but here is an interesting poll for the Worst Road in Minnesota.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation has more information about the amendment as well. So that may be a good place to get some more information so you can make up your mind about the amendment over the next two months.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation has more information about the amendment as well. So that may be a good place to get some more information so you can make up your mind about the amendment over the next two months.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Death and Taxes
This is a really fascinating -- and definitely frustrating -- graph of where your tax money goes. It's the perspective it gives you that is really the thought provoking piece -- even the smallest piece of this is far more money than one can imagine, but the perspective is the big piece, as well as seeing what items are gaining in importance and what ones aren't.
This is perhaps especially worth looking at during a political season.
(from boing boing)
This is perhaps especially worth looking at during a political season.
(from boing boing)
Labels: politics
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Election Results
StarTribune.com has election results.
Biggest news is certainly that Keith Ellison gets the House of Representatives nomination.
Now on to November...
Biggest news is certainly that Keith Ellison gets the House of Representatives nomination.
Now on to November...
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Ballot Box
One of the things that is especially nice before an election is to check out all of the races that will be on the ballot -- and the Star Tribune Politics page does a good job of listing them all.
I've already seen the candidates in my DFL primary, and while I'm still undecided on the fifth congressional district I've worked out the others.
I've already seen the candidates in my DFL primary, and while I'm still undecided on the fifth congressional district I've worked out the others.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
More fifth congressional district primary thoughts
I'm reading City Pages article on Keith Ellison. I'm still undecided on this race -- and I may well not decide until I vote -- so I'm reading through all of the information I have.
It does do a good job about getting to some of the facts concerning some of the less-pleasant attacks against Ellison. I'm sure he'll be a popular Republican target state wide if he wins, but that isn't necessarily a negative. So was Wellstone, after all...
It does do a good job about getting to some of the facts concerning some of the less-pleasant attacks against Ellison. I'm sure he'll be a popular Republican target state wide if he wins, but that isn't necessarily a negative. So was Wellstone, after all...
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Political Season
It's almost primary time here in Minnesota. I'm generally a Democratic voter, and actually, there are a few races where the primary is probably more important than the general election, so that'll be the primary that I vote in.
I thought it might be convienient to put together some links together for it, especially as I think about who I'm likely going to vote for. I'm not including everyone -- just the ones that I'm considering...
Minnesota House 44A: Steve Simon
Minnesota Senate 44: Ron Latz is running. I don't see a website for him yet -- perhaps because this was a bit more sudden with Steve Kelley running for Attorney General. There's a page for at the house for his current position as State Representative in 44B.
Hennepin County Sheriff: This is one that I'm not yet decided on. A couple with websites: Tom Fitzhenry, Juan Lopez, Rich Stanek. Based on endorsements alone, it counts against Rich Stanek, as he's got a lot of Republicans, including ones that I really don't like.
US House District 5: My impression is that there are three top candidates for the race. Keith Ellison, Mike Erlandson, and Ember Reichgott Junge. This is one that I haven't come to any real conclusion on; it might be one that I make when I walk in the voting booth door. Right now it is likely between Ellison or Erlandson for me. This is the big race, and why it is important to vote in the primary here. It's one to take seriously.
State Auditor: Rebecca Otto
Secretary of State: Mark Ritchie
Attorney General: Steve Kelley has been our state senator for several years. He's been good there. I'm sure either Bill Luther or Lori Swanson would be ok, but I think the home town plus endorsements all count in Kelley's favor.
Governor & Lt Governor: Mike Hatch & Judi Dutcher are the endorsed candidates. Mike Hatch is the current Attorney General. Dutcher was a Republican, but she's they type of Republican that doesn't exist much anymore, as they stop being a party of fiscal responsibility and move to the extremes -- and why I don't consider them very often as candidates. Becky Lourey is a bit of an outside choice.
Senate: Amy Klobuchar.
I thought it might be convienient to put together some links together for it, especially as I think about who I'm likely going to vote for. I'm not including everyone -- just the ones that I'm considering...
Minnesota House 44A: Steve Simon
Minnesota Senate 44: Ron Latz is running. I don't see a website for him yet -- perhaps because this was a bit more sudden with Steve Kelley running for Attorney General. There's a page for at the house for his current position as State Representative in 44B.
Hennepin County Sheriff: This is one that I'm not yet decided on. A couple with websites: Tom Fitzhenry, Juan Lopez, Rich Stanek. Based on endorsements alone, it counts against Rich Stanek, as he's got a lot of Republicans, including ones that I really don't like.
US House District 5: My impression is that there are three top candidates for the race. Keith Ellison, Mike Erlandson, and Ember Reichgott Junge. This is one that I haven't come to any real conclusion on; it might be one that I make when I walk in the voting booth door. Right now it is likely between Ellison or Erlandson for me. This is the big race, and why it is important to vote in the primary here. It's one to take seriously.
State Auditor: Rebecca Otto
Secretary of State: Mark Ritchie
Attorney General: Steve Kelley has been our state senator for several years. He's been good there. I'm sure either Bill Luther or Lori Swanson would be ok, but I think the home town plus endorsements all count in Kelley's favor.
Governor & Lt Governor: Mike Hatch & Judi Dutcher are the endorsed candidates. Mike Hatch is the current Attorney General. Dutcher was a Republican, but she's they type of Republican that doesn't exist much anymore, as they stop being a party of fiscal responsibility and move to the extremes -- and why I don't consider them very often as candidates. Becky Lourey is a bit of an outside choice.
Senate: Amy Klobuchar.
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