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SNL’s best political sketch of the year
This is everywhere, but sometimes Saturday Night Live can summarize in six minutes what a historian or political scientist could write in an entire book. Republicans won’t like this sketch, but it a brutally stark look at the cultural and political dynamic of the GOP ticket in 2008. Will Farrell as Bush is the best…
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Brown on the Air: NORTHERN OBSERVER
My weekly contribution to the “Between You and Me” program on 91.7 KAXE will once again be “a little different” this week. It’s not an essay; it’s … more. The independent public radio station is in the midst of its fall fundraiser, which is crucial to KAXE’s ability to provide the best local programming and…
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‘Overburden’ shifts up a gear
Business North this month features a Beth Bily story about my new book, “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range.” We’ve had a very successful first week of release and we haven’t even started the fun stuff yet. I have a series of lectures and other events that run once a week every week after…
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One retired miner represents the struggles of many
Today, the Hibbing Daily Tribune has a nice profile about John Flynn, the retired miner and Vietnam vet who was asked to introduce Hillary Clinton at Tuesday night’s Iron Range rally for Barack Obama. Flynn’s story, including lost health care, pension funds and a suspended retirement, is shared by many on the Iron Range. Last…
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The unsexy issue that will turn this election
It’s not a sexy blog issue, but among the top three issues on the Iron Range right now is pension guarantees. Mike Jennings has this story from the Hibbing Daily Tribune and yesterday’s Grand Rapids Herald-Review. Pension security was, wisely, referenced often in Tuesday night’s DFL rally featuring Sen. Hillary Clinton and other Democratic leaders.…
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Photos from Hillary’s Obama rally on the Range
This should be my last post on the Hillary event. As you know, I’ve already posted my report and analysis and a roundup of local media coverage. I took some additional pictures and I’ve gotten a few from friends in the ol’ e-mail. Above, here’s another I took of Hillary from my vantage point 12…
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UPDATED: Hillary Clinton in the Duluth/Iron Range media
Here’s a roundup of coverage of Hillary Clinton’s visit to the Iron Range. I was there and filed this report and analysis. Duluth News Tribune: “Clinton hits pocketbook issues in Iron Range rally for Obama” by Janna Goerdt. Straight forward event story, starts by talking to Clinton supporter who’s still backing the ticket; I’m quoted…
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Hillary delivers on the Iron Range
Let’s not bury the main point of this post. I am now fully convinced that Barack Obama will carry Minnesota, in part by holding strong DFL numbers on my native Iron Range. On Tuesday night, Sen. Hillary Clinton, stumping for Obama, spoke to a crowd of 4,600 (fire department estimate) at the Hibbing Memorial Building…
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Last chance to RSVP for Hillary Clinton on the Range
You can still RSVP for the Hillary Clinton event for Barack Obama in Hibbing tonight at the Memorial Building on 23rd Street. Doors open at 6, but get there early. No tickets are needed but the RSVP helps them prepare for the right number of people. There is nothing as cool as a full arena…
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On race, the Range and what really matters
Last night, the Daily Show lampooned a McCain spokeswoman who referred to her candidate’s support in “real” Virginia. That quote set off a firestorm on the blogs and cable news shows, but what wasn’t reported as often was that the spokeswoman also referred to other areas being part of “real America.” Among them, western Pennsylvania,…
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Show me the money … in fractions of pennies over the fullness of time
The problem with the new media is that very, very few people can make a living in it. Blogging is popular, diverse and exciting; but utterly unprofitable. I do this blog because A) I am an obsessive news geek addicted to information and politics; B) It soothes my insatiable ego; and C) I justify the…
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Surrogate season
It will be a busy week of Democratic campaign surrogates on the Iron Range. I’ve already mentioned Sen. Hillary Clinton’s visit to the Hibbing tomorrow, but there are two others coming up this week as well. On Wednesday, Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) will tour Duluth and the Iron Range shoring up support for Al Franken.…
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Hillary in Hibbing
It’s official. Sen. Hillary Clinton will speak at the Hibbing Memorial Building on the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 21. Doors open at 6 p.m. and you should RSVP if you want tickets or press access. The program begins at 7 p.m. I’m sure there will be more juicy tidbits about this program as the day…
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Sustainability: Iron Range style
This is my weekly column for the Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008 Hibbing Daily Tribune. A shorter version of this piece aired as an essay on KAXE’s “Between You and Me” last month. I will be reading a longer version of this piece for the Nov. 5 Northeast Higher Education District Sustainability Conference at Hibbing Community…
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Today ‘Overburden’ moves west to Grand Rapids
Just a reminder: I’ll be holding a book signing for “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range” today at Village Bookstore in Grand Rapids’ Village Mall from 12-2 p.m., after my morning appearance on 91.7 KAXE’s “Between You and Me” (10 a.m. to noon). Related posts: No related posts.