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Go C-SPAN if you’ve got it
I watched all the convention speeches on C-SPAN last night. The previous nights I had watched MSNBC. Let me tell you, it was like drinking water from a well instead of a septic tank. I don’t think CNN has been much better than MSNBC and the clips I’ve seen of Fox News have all been…
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Obama office opening gets boffo coverage in Range paper
In this morning’s Hibbing Daily Tribune was the following above-the-fold, top banner headline, with picture of visiting voters and 11-month old “Babies for Barack” caucus leader: Opama opens Hibbing office DFLers, veterans rally to Barack cause Check out the story and photos of what certainly seems to be a successful opening of the second Iron…
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7B DFL update: More forums and endorsements
Here is the Duluth News-Tribune account of the House District 7B (West Duluth) DFL primary, which is heating up in advance of the Sept. 9 primary. A nonpartisan League of Women Voters forum was held yesterday. Roger Reinert, Marsh Stenersen, Dan Maryland and Brandon Clokey were there, along with the other party’s candidates. (IPer Jay…
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Range education hearing draws crowd, little media
Well, the big education hearing in Nashwauk that I talked about was apparently a success. I was assuming that a daily newspaper would cover it so I could share a round-up with you, but the only media was the local TV repeater on Range 11 and the Scenic Range News-Forum, a weekly that doesn’t publish…
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My cathartic media rant (for those who find the thrill is gone)
For this being one of the most important, telling, and historic elections of our generation, you would think it was a wrestling match if you watch much broadcast news coverage. I’m referring specifically to the Democratic Convention coverage going on now, but I’ll further apply it to the primaries before and the Republican convention and…
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Obama’s Hibbing office opens today
In about 90 minutes (sorry, late on this one) Barack Obama opens its Hibbing office and hosts its first Veterans for Obama meeting on the Iron Range. The meeting is at noon today at the Obama/DFL headquarters at 107 E. Howard Street. The HQ is somewhat symbolic in nature as the 5th SD DFL has…
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Klobuchar’s Range/Biden comment
Here’s a line from a recent AP story on Joe Biden’s selection as Barack Obama’s running mate: “Minnesota will love Joe Biden when they get to know him. I can just see him up on the Iron Range right now. He has blue collar roots, he’s a very warm person,” Klobuchar told The Associated Press…
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Overheard in the halls
Two traditional aged female students overheard talking as they passed my office door at the community college where I work: ONE: I don’t care what he says. I’ll take f***ing Communism over $50,000 in debt for college. TWO: Uh-huh. Don’t forget, the people are angry. This is a volatile electorate. They will go with the…
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More 7B campaign videos: compare and contrast
Twin Ports Action has posted a section of videos from its recent forum with the DFL and IP candidates for House District 7B in West Duluth. The topic of these videos is Duluth’s so-called “Red Plan” for school infrastructure. Those looking for opportunities to see the candidates in action can get a look. I’m still…
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Sportsmen for the Issues That Matter
The more things change the more they stay the same. As with the past several elections, the GOP has determined that its best move is to use “Sportsmen” as their primary outreach group on the Iron Range. (The surprisingly balanced story is in Sunday’s Mesabi Daily News). I get the political strategy. Fleck off working…
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McCain’s website timeline includes Civil War, pictures of old timey biplanes
I get the general idea behind what John McCain is trying to do on the “time line” portion of his website. It juxtaposes his life history with U.S. history to show how “American” his story is. But is it a good idea to have the thing scroll back to 1840? I mean, doesn’t that just…
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The GOP war against popularity
This Michael Kinsley column (“Convicted of Charisma”) in today’s Washington Post discusses the fact that John McCain and the Republicans are, thus far effectively, using Barack Obama’s popularity and ability to communicate against him. How dare he be liked? How dare he attract people to attend his events in large numbers? Most Americans can’t do…
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It’s Biden Time
I should have put the cellphone on the night stand, but we’ve all got our text messages now and have seen that Joe Biden is Barack Obama’s running mate. A long time ago, when I was analyzing the primary candidates from an “Iron Range” perspective, I commented that Joe Biden seemed like a guy who…
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Women’s leadership initiative continues on the Range
Earlier in the year, a Go Run Iron Range conference was held to gather and encourage women interested in political leadership and gave them basic training on how to conduct local and broader campaigns. The effort was an extension of the White House Project. Efforts to expand female leadership on the Iron Range continue and…
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MN Indy posts great analysis of Obama’s challenges up north
Paul Demko at the Minnesota Independent posted an excellent story about the challenges facing Barack Obama in Pine County. Pine County is considered “central Minnesota,” but is right on the border of Carlton County which is considered “northern Minnesota.” While always more conservative than Duluth and the Iron Range, it’s hard not to notice the…