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DFL dustup over sulfide mining on Iron Range
This interesting MinnPost story by Ron Way from yesterday shows the battle lines for an intra-DFL squabble over a certain type of mining that would be used for a new project on the Iron Range. Range DFLers back the mining, saying that a mining area should be the place where experimental mining techniques are used,…
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Iron Range economy: the same, and yet different
Chuck Ramsey had an interesting story in the Sunday Mesabi Daily News. The national economic volatility is having an impact on the stock and commodity prices affecting the big mining companies doing business on the Iron Range. Thus, even though demand and production for our Iron Range minerals are high, we might not be out…
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Make the right choo-choo choice
Partisan, yes. Apt? Maybe. But as a parent of three young boys I’m a sucker for Thomas the Tank Engine references. Courtesy KDoug at Daily Kos. As comments there show, Thomas is actually “Really Useful” on his show, so Sarah Palin fans have that going for them even if Thomas would be considered “A Danger…
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Also, my thoughts
Political Wire has a nice roundup of reactions to last night’s VP debate. DailyKos has some interesting reactions, too, but mostly for the partisans. For instance, Plutonium Page analyzes the debate transcript with a “word cloud” computer program. Both Joe Biden and Sarah Palin used the word “going” a lot, as one would expect from…
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See Russia, sure, but true Alaskans throw their garbage at Russia, too
My friends the Rudstroms always provide valuable first hand observations about Alaska’s frontier on their blog, especially now that it’s in the news so often thanks to their Gov. Sarah Palin. Today is no exception. As you watch tonight’s vice presidential debate, remember that the only part of Alaska where you can actually see Russia…
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Deafening silence on auditor’s findings with Excelsior Energy loan
Here’s another brief story about the Office of the Legislative Auditor’s report on the Iron Range Resources loans to Excelsior Energy, this one from Business North. Again, the story mentions the fact that loan funds were used to lobby, but sports no exploration of that topic. That potentially vast amount of money spent on lobbying…
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Get ‘Bushed’ in Duluth for fun
If you’re looking for some fun, left of center entertainment this weekend or over the next few weekends, check this out (From a Linda Hanson story in today’s DNT). Barton Sutter didn’t set out to write a play in verse about the Bush administration. It started with a poem, then another poem and another. “I…
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Oberstar announces grant to advance Duluth to Minneapolis high-speed rail
Though this blog is not normally a clearing house for press releases, this release came from U.S. Rep Jim Oberstar’s office this afternoon. I think the U.S. should, where feasible, invest in rail service for commuters. It’s more sustainable from an energy use perspective and much of the “work” of the 21st century economy could…
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Say it ain’t so, Doug: Veteran DFLer endorses Coleman
I know, I know. I could have posted much sooner about former DFL Iron Range State Sen. Doug Johnson’s endorsement of GOP Sen. Norm Coleman in the Sunday Mesabi Daily News. I am the “Iron Range” blog, after all. Other blogs from far away places are commenting on this story, including the conservative PowerLine and…
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Anzelc demands response to Iron Range lobbying complaints
(DISCLOSURE: I am Tom Anzelc’s campaign manager and was aware this was coming). This morning, State Rep. Tom Anzelc (DFL-Balsam Township) issued a letter to Iron Range Resources Commissioner Sandy Layman expressing strong concern over the Office of the Legislative Auditor review of Iron Range Resources loans totaling $9.5 million to Excelsior Energy for the…
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COLUMN: A bad idea that got way too big
This is my weekly column for the Sunday, Sept. 28, 2008 edition of the Hibbing Daily Tribune. I archive my columns at my writing site. My book, “Overburden: Modern Life on the Iron Range,” is beginning to be available in Iron Range and Duluth book stores and will be available on the big online stores…
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A good debate
Taegan Goddard, one of my favorite nonpartisan political analysts, put together a nice roundup of opinions on the debate last night. In general, its seen as a tie by the professionals, a debate in which both men played to their strengths. Most of the pundits also saw the performance as a good debate, one that…
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The winner of the debate is …
… the Kansas City Royals? What the hell! OK, Twins defeat aside (It’s OK, Chicago is losing, too) we had a debate tonight. Your preferred talking heads will surely be able to offer their opinions, but the best consensus seems to be that this was a tie. Obama did better in grabbing hold of the…
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Debate is on
It’s on. What’s the over under on the first candidate to juxtapose the phrase “Wall Street” with the phrase “Main Street” tonight? I’ll give odds it’s McCain in the second question, but that Obama says it 78 times before the night is out. Also, I’ll take guesses on the most important world issue that won’t…
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A gathering storm over a bad idea that got big (UPDATED)
I’ve read and considered the Office of the Legislative Auditor report on its audit of the $9.5 million in Iron Range Resources loans to Excelsior Energy for the Mesaba Energy Project. If you read this blog, you know I think that project is a bad idea for a lot of reasons. This audit revealed some…