Comments on: Live Blog with Ashwin Madia

By: Ashwin Madia for Congress

Ashwin Madia for Congress — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:36:33 +0000

Thanks Thanks to everyone who posted questions and thanks to the Minnesota Monitor for hosting this event. If you have any other questions please feel free to contact me at info@madiaforcongress.com. I look forward to seeing you on the campaign trail.

-Ashwin

By: Joe Bodell

Joe Bodell — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:32:46 +0000

That's all, folks! On behalf of the MinMon team, I'd like to thank Mr. Madia for taking the time to chat — feel free to continue the (on-topic) discussion here in the comments, but for now, we'll let the candidate get back to his campaign.

By: Wendy Norris

Wendy Norris — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:30:40 +0000

you're an honest fella! n/t

By: Ashwin Madia for Congress

Ashwin Madia for Congress — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:29:33 +0000

the HOTTEST level It's been a while since I read Dante.

What's the worst level of hell? That's where FR call time falls.

By: Ashwin Madia for Congress

Ashwin Madia for Congress — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:28:22 +0000

Money, money, money I will surprise people with my 4th Quarter fundraising numbers. I likely won't match Terri, but there will be no doubt in anyone's mind when I release my numbers that I have fundraising capacity. I announced on October 23. For a first time candidate to, in 2 months, in competition with the holidays, raise the amount that I will release . . . I think people will know I've got the ability to raise money and get my message out.

By: Wendy Norris

Wendy Norris — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:27:28 +0000

Envision Dante's rings of hell... Where does fund raising call-time fall?

And no fair saying you loooove call time. ; )

By: Ashwin Madia for Congress

Ashwin Madia for Congress — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:26:09 +0000

Ideas, not insults I think it's important that people know what my plan is for balancing the budget. The Bush tax cuts have cost our country 2.35 trillion dollars, 800 billion of which went to the top 1% of earners - people making over $350,000 annually. I don't think it's right that we're asking 18 and 19 year old kids to sacrifice their arms and legs (and sometime lives) for this war, but we're not asking the wealthiest people in our country to sacrifice their tax cuts to help pay for it. Instead, we've chosen to run $300 billion dollar deficits and add to what is now a $9 trillion debt.

Sen. Bonoff has stated that fiscal responsibility is important to her as well, but has not put forward a plan for how to get there. To me, that's not fair to voters. I think voters should demand that candidates offer not just goals, but plans on how to meet those goals.

In terms of not going negative, I think the best way is to keep the discussion on ideas rather than attacks. I don't think it's "going negative" to talk about differences in plans or policy amongst the candidates, provided that it doesn't devolve into personal attacks.

By: ozium

ozium — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:19:32 +0000

Fundraising There were many good DFL candidates who considered running and who, it is said, were scared away by Bonoff's fundraising prowess, shown in the first week she announced as a candidate. Will you be able to keep up with Bonoff to show you are a serious contender for the endorsement?

By: Joe Bodell

Joe Bodell — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:18:20 +0000

Bush tax cut issue…. The one time I've seen you in person next to your DFL opponents, it seemed that you put an emphasis on the issue of the Bush tax cuts — specifically, that you were the only candidate to come out say you would let them expire (or words to that effect)….certainly you have to differentiate yourself from your opponents, but I'm wondering if you can speak to both issues — the tax cuts, and how to differentiate yourself without “going negative” (whatever that means)…

By: Wendy Norris

Wendy Norris — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 19:18:15 +0000

do you have any position statements on… government privatization?