Rod Grams’ revenge

Chip Cravaack news release:

NORTH BRANCH – The week after edging out Minnesota’s longest-serving Congressperson in state history, Congressman-elect Chip Cravaack has named Senator Rod Grams as his interim chief of staff.

“Senator Grams brings a wealth of knowledge expertise on Washington D.C. and the 8th District to our team,” Cravaack said. “His previous experience serving the state of Minnesota will be invaluable as we prepare to hit the ground running on behalf of all the residents of our district.”

Senator Rod Grams was elected to Congress in 1992 and then to the Senate in 1994.

Cravaack also announced that campaign consultant Tony Post will oversee the transition. Campaign communications director Kyler Nerison will continue in that position during the transition.

35 Comments

Claire

about 13 years ago

I'm not even going to go off about this being more evidence that CC doesn't understand the district he now represents. Did CC even live in the state the last time Rod Grams was rejected so decisively by Minny voters?

Danny G

about 13 years ago

You know, I'm starting to think that all of these years being critical of Oberstar I have been in the wrong.  I didn't even live in the district when Oberstar was first elected.  In fact, I didn't even live when Oberstar was first elected.

dbb

about 13 years ago

Wonder if he is ready to start yet? I'll have to watch the Return of the Jedi again to see how long the unfreezing process takes.

Sam

about 13 years ago

Fantastic! Cravaack's conservative chief of staff is from and once represented the 6th District in Congress!  That is Michele Bachmann's extremely conservative suburban district.  

Thank goodness Cravaack is bringing in 6th District people to run the 8th District!

New slogan: "Rep Cravaack, bringing Michele Bachmann's conservative suburban values to the 8th district!"

(Note Sarcasm)

Claire

about 13 years ago

Remember, Sam, Cravaack was one of only two GOP congressmen to support Michelle Bachmann's bid for house leadership. I sure hope he doesn't turn out to be a national embarrassment like she is.

BadCat!

about 13 years ago

Soooo we're not allowed to criticize Rod Grams now?
If we're going to have rules to what and what is not allowed, they should be posted so we don't have to wander around guessing. :/

Paul Lundgren

about 13 years ago

Perfect Duluth Day's policies can be easily found. Interpreting them is more difficult.

BadCat, your comment was removed under the "antagonizing" provision. You're welcome to hate Grams -- and I trust you'll have plenty of company -- but you need to substantiate your hatred in order to comment about it or else the whole website degenerates into name-calling.

Paul Lundgren

about 13 years ago

Which brings up a great new slogan idea:

Perfect Duluth Day: "Substantiate your hate."

Sam

about 13 years ago

Paul.  I like this "substantiate" policy!  

So I can't just say "Cravaack is an idiot."  

But I CAN say "Cravaack is an idiot for being one of two congressmen to support Michele Bachmann's bid for house leadership."  Substantiated!

Paul Lundgren

about 13 years ago

I suppose, Sam. 

It would be preferable if you just wrote, "Cravaack is one of two congressmen to support Michele Bachmann's bid for house leadership," and allowed readers to infer the "idiot" part.

Danny G

about 13 years ago

"Fantastic! Cravaack's conservative chief of staff is from and once represented the 6th District in Congress! That is Michele Bachmann's extremely conservative suburban district."

After Grams the 6th district was represented by a DFL'er for a few terms, you know.

Sam

about 13 years ago

Danny,  this indicates a problematic representational system, since we live in a "winner takes all" system.  It would be better if 49% of the vote gave the people 49% representation, and 51% gave 51% representation.  But on our system, 51% of the vote gives 100% representation (Oberstar or Cravaack, which represent two opposite extremes).  Majority rule is anti-democratic.  Representational rule is better.  Most democratic countries have representational rule to be more democratic.

Danny G

about 13 years ago

Huh?  But you were the one who was somehow saying it's "bad" because Cravaack's interim Chief of Staff was once a representative in the same district of Ol' Crazy Eyes McGillicuty (which would assume that anyone representing from that district is "bad").

Resol

about 13 years ago

Oh, I'm going to substantiate my substantial hatred so I can contribute to this downward spiral.

Bad Cat!

about 13 years ago

Personally, I think *I* should be removed under the "antagonizing" provision. ;)

Sam

about 13 years ago

The current 6th District is very different from the 8th.  Michele Bachmann, for example, does not represent the interests of most of the 8th (and a sizable portion of the 6th).  

Also, since its redistricting, the 6th district has gotten much more conservative and has gone exclusively Republican.  The 6th district that voted DFL no longer exists.  The boundaries significantly changed when they were redrawn, and they have voted Republican ever since.

Danny G

about 13 years ago

But there was a DFL guy in there AFTER Rod Grams.  Again, still trying to figure out the point of saying Grams is "bad" because he rep'd the same district as LoonyToons McGee.

Sam

about 13 years ago

Yeah, only one guy after Grams was not a republican in the 6th.  And he was not a liberal.  He was a moderate-to-conservative democrat.

Grams is a poor representative of the 8th because he represents the interests of the people who voted for Michele Buchmann in the 6th.  Their interests are not representative of the 8th.

Danny G

about 13 years ago

Well, you did say "extremely conservative district" (if it was really extreme then even a moderate-to-conservative DFL'er wouldn't be elected there.  But whatever dude.  You explained yourself and for that you get Danny kudos (which are worth very little).

Sam

about 13 years ago

Danny, I'll take any kudos I can get! 

When I said "Michele Bachmann's extremely conservative suburban district" I was thinking of the current district. The district that Grams was elected to was indeed less conservative (but still conservative). But I am concerned that the extreme elements in the 6th that elected Bachmann are going to get a disproportionate say in the Cravaack/Grams alliance.

Tony D.

about 13 years ago

Will the "Perfect Duluth Day: 'Substantiate Your Hatred'" coffee mugs — with my choice of Paul's, Barrett's, or Brian's avatar behind the text — be ready in time for the Holidays?

Brian Timm, those would make sweeeeeet premium thank you gifts for advertisers!

jim

about 13 years ago

@Sam "But I am concerned that the extreme elements in the 6th that elected Bachmann are going to get a disproportionate say in the Cravaack/Grams alliance."

Ooohhhh, the irony. We could be so lucky to have someone like Mrs. Bachmann having a say in our district. Maybe then it will bring some much needed respect our area of Liberaldom.

B-man

about 13 years ago

From Rod Grams in 2010
"Maybe kids who are 20 to 35-years-old want national health care. And if they do, I'm on the dying end of this, said the former congressman, TV anchorman and builder. "Maybe I'm out of step with the next generation. I don't know. We'll see"

http://hometownsource.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6016&Itemid=29

um, yup you are out of touch Rod.

@jim- specifically how will Mrs. Bachmann bring respect to the area of "Liberaldom"?

Claire

about 13 years ago

Wow, Jim, what color is the sky in your world? Michelle Bachmann is a national embarrassment, kind of a cross between Jesse Helms and Christine O'Donnell. Maybe you should move to her district, if you are so disgusted with living in "Liberaldom."

spy1

about 13 years ago

Interesting/troubling story in Strib today. Cravaack admitting to some untruths to rally the base. Hmmmm. 

Chip Cravaack gets ready to report for duty

zra

about 13 years ago

Look out, though ... Bachmann's setting up instructional courses on the Constitution, led primarily by Glenn Beck's Beck U lackey and ultraconservative pastor David Barton and FAUX's Andrew Napolitano.

With names like these on the indoctrination roster Constitutional Revisionism begins anew.

German Chris

about 13 years ago

Claire, Jim has the perfect right to spout non-sensical rhetoric as he wishes.  Just because you do not believe in his position does not mean he has to move away.  Of all the arguments, that has got to be the most ridiculous.

TimK

about 13 years ago

For years the rednecks have told anybody that didn't agree with them that they should "love it or leave it." When a more liberal-minded person gives the same "advice" to a drooling tool, it is somehow less valid?

Paul Lundgren

about 13 years ago

I think what German Chris was suggesting is that "love it or leave it" is completely invalid from drooling tools of either side.

I have to agree. Why love it and leave it when you can stick around and substantiate your hate?

Claire

about 13 years ago

Now that you put it that way, Paul... what I should have said is, the grass is often greener...; I am sure if Jim lived in M Bachmann's district, he'd probably be complaining about something there too.

Tony D.

about 13 years ago

Well, allow me to express my distaste for the "love it or leave it" argument altogether. I much prefer "Don't like it? Work to change it."

This is one of the features I like most about the PDD: criticism goes both ways, and we're not afraid to call someone when they step a bit out of line, even if the majority of PDD frequenters agree with that person on most other issues.  Part of this is due to active moderation. Stop by the DNT's "Area Voices" and you'll find a comments board ruled by "Like/Dislike" mouse-click moderation: if enough people disagree with a comment, they can click "dislike" to make the comment go away without providing any valid criticism. That feature has been hijacked by--for the most part--those with extremely conservative (read: Tea Partyesque) points of view who use the like/dislike feature to virtually "shout down" whoever they disagree with. It feels like folks are saying, "I disagree with you, but I won't bother explaining why; I just want you to shut up and go away and don't come back until you agree with my perspective." And that's why I will never ask Jim to move away or stop Trolling the PDD: it's his right to express his perspective, and it is often so skewed it is absolutely hilarious--I appreciate the entertainment value of Jim's comments.

And although almost all of us can get a little snippy in our comments, the PDD provides a much more civilized form of public debate. I guess I have substantiated my hate for the DNT's comments section, although the only blame that can be placed on the DNT, I suppose, is lack of active moderation.

TimK

about 13 years ago

I find it hypocritical that Cravaack positioned himself as the outsider -- and therefore Oberstar was out of touch with the district because he's too much of a Washington insider -- and now he gets a former insider to run his Washington office. If it's really about insider/outsider BS, why not find a Palin-esque novice to take care of business? It's only a step away.

Jim

about 13 years ago

Ahem, Tim, when you mentioned novice, you obviously meant Obama, the ultimate bunko artist?

TimK

about 13 years ago

Deflect much?

Claire

about 13 years ago

This op ed in today's DNT says it all about the problem with Mr. CC:

Cravaack needs to start acting like a congressman

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