Politics
Superior 2010 General Election Results
Total votes cast: 1,706
First District Alderperson
Dan Olson — 225 | 54%
Tom O’Neill — 190 | 46%
Third District Alderperson
Warren Bender — 235 | 70%
Kevin Norbie — 103 | 30%
Fifth District Alderperson
Denise McDonald — 224 | 56%
Ed Anderson — 179 | 44%
Seventh District Alderperson
Bob Finsland — 55 | 100%
(unopposed)
Ninth District Alderperson
Mick MacKenzie — 396 | 82%
Dennis E. Dalbec — 85 | 18%
Superior School District Board
(Top two are elected)
Christina Kintop — 1,617 | 51%
Patrick C. Dorin — 1,549 | 49%
All of the Douglas County Board Supervisors in Superior districts ran unopposed.
The Batshit-Crazy Comes to Duluth
I see that Michelle Bachmann is speaking at Mr. D’s tomorrow. Sigh …
Thank You President Obama (UPDATED x 3)
Thank you for the health care bill; I would have preferred a public option but I’m sure we’ll get there. But I really appreciate the fact that this bill protects the little guy from getting screwed by insurance companies – nice to know I can sick now without getting dropped. Hopefully my costs will go down too. I also appreciate that this bill cuts the deficit. I’m glad Oberstar quit playing chicken and voted for it.
I gotta say that it’s pretty hilarious that the right-wing fringe thinks this bill will end the world. If my grandma gets sent to any death panels I’ll let you know. Eek, socialism!
I also want to say thank you for the “Cash for Caulkers” tax rebate for the new windows and insulation I bought. That reduces my oil consumption and saves me money. It’s about time the government did something for the people that also helps the country as a whole. A refreshing approach, after all, despite what the glibertarians say, government is good.
Next up: financial reform, and immigration! If you thought the crazies were going crazy over health care, it’s time to put on some popcorn. And brace yourselves for another wave of right-wing violence and racist rhetoric. Hell of a party they’re running.
Voting Democratic in 2010,
Jim Richardson
UPDATE: A couple of pertinent fun links to share. Here is “An open letter to conservatives” which I take as a studiously hyperlinked treatise on why, even if you have no love for Democrats, the game has become one of keepaway from the crazy. And then here is some more on escalating threats of rightwing violence.
UPDATE x2: Some perspective on deficit hawk hysteria here. Right wing violence/vandalism tracker here. Republican Eric Cantor’s claim of his office getting shot at debunked here.
UPDATE x3: A full to bursting catalog of the recent right wing rhetoric of violence, and here is some additional commentary. Provocative stuff. Y’all ready for the immigration debate?
Obama’s going to need our help, and that includes voting in more, and better, Democrats. If we can keep Republican gains to a minimum in 2010, we are well-positioned to send them entirely packing in 2012.
We got your back sir!
Mr. Nice in: Death From Above
Featuring the Keep Aways.
This is the maiden voyage of the Gonzo Science youtube channel, the Gonzonomicron.
Cross City Trail — A photo tour of the proposed section from Clyde Park to the Lakewalk
In a Feb. 18 post the maps for the proposed Cross City Trail – which will connect the Munger Trail to the Lakewalk – were laid out, with photos showing the various route options for the westernmost section shown in the comments. A Feb. 28 post showed a photo tour of the middle section of the proposed trail.
In this post, the route options for connecting Clyde Park to the Duluth Lakewalk are shown. Here are the maps to follow along with:
29th Avenue West to 18th Avenue West
18th Avenue West to Mesaba Avenue
Mesaba Avenue to the Lakewalk
For those of you who just don’t understand the Tea Party movement
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sV6bNpNU4ls&feature=player_embedded
Cheryl Skafte IS Don Ness!
Cheryl Skafte as Don Ness.
John Munson as Rockin’ Johnny Rocker, Morning Drive Homicide Detective.
Christa Lawler as Christa Lawler. And music from Sara Thomsen.
That’s a lot of entertainment for just five dollars.
The Rubber Chicken Radio Hour, broadcast live on KUWS 91.3FM this Thursday at 8pm. (But all the fun is had in the live studio audience at The Shack in Superior…) Call (218) 213-2780 for tix.
Gigabyte broadband from Google – in Duluth?
Here’s a press release we’ll be sending out about our intent to explore Google’s offer to bring gigabyte speed broadband to an entire community. There are many unanswered questions and any application may be a long shot, but it would be a game-changer for Duluth. I think it’s worth putting our best foot forward and see what happens… If you want to help out, check the bottom of the post. See you around… Don
Mayor Don Ness has indicated the City of Duluth‘s intent to pursue a partnership with Google to bring fiber-to-home connections to city residents. Google plans to select a community to test ultra-high speed connections at more than a gigabit per second later this year through a competitive process.
The following is a statement from Mayor Ness on the city’s intent:
We want Duluth, Minnesota to be at the forefront of a new gigaband revolution in America. For America to be competitive into the future, we need to be aggressive at investing in our data infrastructure. To unfairly paraphrase Tip O’Neill “All bandwidth use is local” – Google’s community initiative will be a powerful tool to demonstrate the positive impact of local broadband improvements.
Duluth Precinct Caucus Information
Precinct Caucus Information
February 2, 2010
Precinct caucuses are meetings organized by Minnesota’s political parties to begin the process of selecting candidates for the 2010 election and policy positions to shape the party platform. Caucuses are held in locations across Minnesota, are open to the public, and participation is encouraged.
To find your precinct caucus, go to www.sos.state.mn.us (MN Secretary of State).
R.I.P. Howard Zinn, 1922-2010
Howard Zinn, author of A People’s History of the United States and many other books died this week.
Here are references I found to Duluth and Minnesota in “A People’s History of the United States” (more…)
SMDC Rejects Contract Offer, Authorizes Strike
https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/156923/publisher_ID/36/
FYI, SMDC netted $28.7 million in profits (despite being a “nonprofit” hospital) in 2007 and purchased over $5 million worth of property last year. CEO Peter Person makes $1.1 million per year. The average medical transcriptionist makes just on the threshold of a living wage – $35,000 per year. Solidarity! (Stay tuned for info on how you can help out…)
You don’t bring a gun to a snowball fight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMrhiBwF4MU
Does anyone feel like throwing snowballs around 1 at Lake and Superior today? Just don’t bring any guns.
Merry Christmas!!
Kenny wishes you all a Happy Holiday!
After numerous comments on my “Merry F***ing Christmas” thread, I got a phone call from Chief Gordon Ramsey. He was most cordial and apologetic about my ticket and offered to take care of it in a manner amenable to me. So, I deleted the previous thread- and have a lot of respect for the power of this little ol’ PDD blog and for our DPD Chief. Kenny wishes you all a Happy Holiday (and he is still for sale).
A little history
In 1998, Dick Cheney made this statement. “I cannot think of a time when we have had a region emerge as suddenly to become as significant as the Caspian. But the gas and oil there is worthless until it is moved. The only route which makes both political and economic sense is through Afghanistan”
Feb. 28, 1998. Unocal states that the Taliban government should be removed and replaced by a government acceptable to his company. He argued that the creation of a 42-inch pipeline across Afghanistan would yield a Western profit increase of 500% by 2015.
There is much more history but it certainly appears our newly elected Republican president has bought into this, otherwise we certainly would be doing a green energy revolution, the change that I voted for.
Washington Times Ad: Obama’s Lack of Eligibility
Full page ad in Washington Times by Protect Our Liberty. Wow!
David Guttenfelder: AP photographer with Wisconsin ties
AP Chief Asian Photographer David Guttenfelder has been covering Afghanistan since 2001. His photos are impressive to say the least.
He vacations every summer with his wife and two daughters at Three Lakes, near Eagle River, Wis. His wife is from Neenah.
Listen to Mike Simonson’s interview with Guttenfelder on KUWS.fm.
View Guttenfelder’s photos on Denverpost.com.
Duluth 2009 General Election Results
These are the final numbers.
Still no mandate on the school district’s long-range facilities plan. Half of the opponents of the plan were elected, and half were not. Jim Stauber is the comeback kid in the at-large city council race.
Duluth Second District City Councilor
Patrick Boyle – 2,543 | 78%
Rob Wagner – 668 | 21%
Duluth Fourth District City Councilor
Kerry Gauthier – 1,932 | 52%
Gordon Grant – 1,779 | 48%
Duluth At-large City Councilor
Top two candidates are elected
Dan Hartman – 9,322 | 26%
James Stauber – 9,045 | 25%
Beth Olson – 8,851 | 25%
Becky Hall – 8,256 | 23%
Question 1: Amending the city charter so the mayor can appoint a communications and policy officer and a community relations officer.
Yes – 10,797 | 59%
No – 7,431 | 41%
Question 2: Amending the city charter so city employees are not required to take a leave of absence from city employment to run for any political office, except city offices or Duluth’s board of education.
No – 9,069 | 50.07%
Yes – 9,044 | 49.93%
Duluth District One School Board
Ann Wasson – 2,925 | 54%
Marcia Stromgren – 2,513 | 46%
Duluth District Four School Board
Art Johnston – 1,972 | 53%
Laura Condon – 1,770 | 47%
Duluth At-large School Board
Top two candidates are elected
Tom Kasper – 11,757 | 32%
Mary Cameron – 8,960 | 24%
Nancy Nilsen – 8,308 | 22%
Maureen Booth – 7,975 | 21%
Remember to vote
Tuesday, Nov. 3, municipal elections will be held in Duluth. Vote early, vote often.
AFSCME’s endorsed candidates are: Kerry Gauthier, Beth Olson, Daniel Hartman, and Patrick Boyle. If you are a public employee, my wife is probably going to knock on your door or call you tonight. Be nice.
Gutter Politics
I cleaned the gutters on my house today and found, among the clumps of various yard waste, a flier for a school board candidate forum and a slice of bologna slathered in mustard.
Trick or treat?
State of Minnesota too polite to ask for federal funding
Although many of its highways and bridges are in severe disrepair, the traditionally undemanding state of Minnesota isn’t comfortable asking for more interstate funding, sources reported Monday.
“Duluth said it has some scrap metal we might be able to melt down to make some lamp poles.”
Blue Law Blues
According to estimates by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, Minnesota could raise $10 million in tax revenues simply by allowing liquor stores to sell on Sundays.
Read this brief story from Saint Paul Legal Ledger Capitol Report for more info.
But the real reason to allow liquor stores to sell on Sundays is because it’s stupid not to, right?
Candidate Forums
Do you know how you’re voting on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3? There’s no substitute to hearing the candidates speak in person. You may surprise yourself and change your mind after attending the following candidate forums.
Please join us:
School Board Candidate Forum
Thursday, Oct. 22
Lowell Elementary Music Magnet School
2000 Rice Lake Road, Duluth, MN 55811
6:30 – 7:00 PM Tour Lowell’s renovation
7:00 – 9:00 PM Forum with Questions from Co-Sponsors, Students, & the Audience
Co-Sponsored by League of Women Voters Duluth and the Duluth PTSA Council – Parent Teacher Student Association
At-Large, District 2, and District 4 City Council Candidate Forum
Thursday, Oct. 29
Holy Family Church
2430 W. Third Street, Duluth
6:00 – 8:30 PM Forum
Co-Sponsored by League of Women Voters Duluth, Community Safety Initiative (Duluth Local Initiatives Support Corporation), Neighborhood Housing Services, and Churches United in Ministry.
Vote on Election Day Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009
If you have any questions about where to vote or exactly what school district you live in check out www.lwvmn.org. The Minnesota League of Women Voters website can help you answer any of your questions about election day.