The UpTake’s Michael McIntee says his group “wanted to know about how the mayor was going to follow through on creating more jobs in his next term,” but it was hard to get such questions in with all the legacy media clamoring for news about a possible gubernatorial run. As Rybak has said before, he’s interested but hasn’t made a final decision yet.

A snippet of a longer exchange from last night, followed by the video:

Q: What about the governor’s race?

Mayor R.T. Rybak: Well, I’ve been saying for many months that it’s likely I’m getting into the race, and I’m saying the same thing now ’cause I… but I won’t be making any definitive measurement for a little bit of time. (inaudible) And I’m going to take a breath and then make a final decision.

Q: You said it’s likely?

Rybak: Yeah. It’s likely. Nothing has changed. What I think is important is I haven’t made my decision yet.

Q: Then you’ll think over that in a couple weeks?

Rybak: I think a couple months. (inaudible)

Q: What are you waiting for?

Another “awesome” Minneapolis ballot getting a bit of Lizard People–style attention is that of mayoral hopeful John Charles Wilson, who’s running as the “Edgertonite National Party” candidate. Boingboing, the country’s number-five blog, picks up on it today, noting that the story of Wilson’s party affiliation makes the ballot even more interesting. As MnIndy’s Andy Birkey wrote in January, the party is based on the Wilson-created Lauraist religion, which posits that Laura Ingalls Wilder is God and that the Lauraist homeland will occupy an area within a 240-mile radius of Minneapolis.

“A new nation, to be called Edgerton, with its capital at Minneapolis, should be created on the land from approximately Hibbing to Des Moines, and from Fargo to Madison,” Wilson’s campaign Web site said at the time.

As local Boingboing blogger Maggie Koerth-Baker says, “God, I love this town!”

See the full ballot, via MPR, after the jump.

Minneapolis ballot, via MPR

The Iowa Independent points out an interview a Des Moines TV station did with King (below), during which he sidestepped a firm commitment about a presidential run, instead saying he’d like to “be engaged in this national debate.”

He continued:

“We’re going to need a lot of help in 2012, and being in Iowa and from Iowa, representing Iowa in a strong district in Iowa gives me a platform to be able to articulate those arguments, and I intend to do that. And we’ll see what happens. But I’m making no plans to run for president. I didn’t make any plans to run for Congress either.”

He called the notion of a King 2012 bid “flattering,” adding, “I am stunned” — language that’s not so far from Bachmann’s oft-repeated adjective for King: “Stunning.”

Here’s the video (fast-forward to 3:25):

According to the AP, this year’s 115 bank failures represent the most closures since 1992 (for comparison, 25 banks failed last year and three in 2007), but it’s well short of the tally in 1989, when, in the thick of the savings-and-loan crisis, 534 were shut down.

The shuttered banks — California National Bank in Los Angeles; Bank USA, NA, in Phoenix; San Diego National Bank; Pacific National Bank in San Francisco; Park National Bank in Chicago; Community Bank of Lemont in Illinois; and the Texas banks North Houston Bank, Madisonville State Bank, and Citizens National Bank in Teague, — were reopened on Saturday under the US Bank name.

According to the FDIC’s summary, five Minnesota banks failed this year, including Riverview Community Bank in Otsego and Mainstreet Bank in Forest Lake.

Hi-Caliber. Image: YouTube

While Rep. Michele Bachmann doesn’t get a shout-out as a “hero” in rightwing rapper Hi-Caliber’s new video (that distinction goes to Joe “You Lie” Wilson, yo), our fair state does merit a mention — as the place where President Obama was “hiding” — in plain sight — during the 9/12 “tea party” march on Washington.

After the jump, Hi-Caliber’s video, “Patriotic People,” in which the “only MC to rock on Capitol Hill” busts rhymes like “Schumer” and “tumor” and “Minnesota” and “votah” (er, “voter”).

Via Crooks & Liars.

Dede Scozzafava

After seeing high-profile Republicans like Rep. Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin side with her Conservative Party challenger, GOP-endorsed candidate Dede Scozzafava has suspended her campaign to win the special election in New York’s 23rd Congressional District. On news of her party’s candidate bowing out, Bachmann issued another statement of support for the remaining rightwing candidate, while the New York Independence Party chair indicated he’s switching his support to Democrat Bill Owens.

An excerpt from Scozzafava’s statement Saturday morning:

In recent days, polls have indicated that my chances of winning this election are not as strong as we would like them to be. The reality that I’ve come to accept is that in today’s political arena, you must be able to back up your message with money—and as I’ve been outspent on both sides, I’ve been unable to effectively address many of the charges that have been made about my record. But as I’ve said from the start of this campaign, this election is not about me, it’s about the people of this district. And, as always, today I will do what I believe serves their interests best.

It is increasingly clear that pressure is mounting on many of my supporters to shift their support. Consequently, I hereby release those individuals who have endorsed and supported my campaign to transfer their support as they see fit to do so. I am and have always been a proud Republican. It is my hope that with my actions today, my party will emerge stronger and our district and our nation can take an important step towards restoring the enduring strength and economic prosperity that has defined us for generations.

Within an hour of Scozzafava’s announcement, Bachmann’s campaign had already sent out an email to supporters, concluding with a link to Hoffman’s campaign website:

“First I want to thank Dede Scozzafava for her hard-fought campaign in this special election. And, I’d especially like to thank her for dropping out of this race for the good of the Party. I’m certain that it was not an easy decision for her to make, but it was the right one.

“I’d also like to urge anyone who can help Doug Hoffman, the Conservative Party candidate in that race, to mobilize all their energy and resources to ensure Hoffman’s victory next Tuesday.

“The polls all show that Hoffman’s message of fiscal responsibility and conservatism are resonating strongly with the voters in that district. I am very hopeful that they will send him across the finish line in first place Tuesday night.”

The chair of New York’s Independence Party, which had endorsed Scozzafava in the race, announced he’d be endorsing Democratic candidate Owens. Likewise, New York State United Teachers, which had endorsed Scozzafava, is expected to back Owens.

Bucking the notion of party unity, many Republicans — from Bachmann and Gov. Tim Pawlenty to Steve Forbes — threw their weight behind Hoffman. Scozzafava’s choice to drop out certainly gives Hoffman a strong shot at the seat, but should that happen some pundits think it’ll be a short-term victory for the GOP.

On Friday, conservative commentator David Brooks expressed surprise that Pawlenty, who packages himself as a moderate, supported Hoffman, and then characterized the NY-23 battle as a “race for the soul of the Republican Party.” On NPR’s All Things Considered he and liberal pundit E.J. Dionne discussed the race.

“Scozzafava has a voting record which puts her at the exact middle of the political spectrum,” Brooks said. “And the question is: Can Republicans have a centrist and still be a Republican? Newt Gingrich [who endorsed the GOP's Scozzafava] thinks so. He thinks you need moderate Republicans. A lot of Republicans apparently don’t think so.”

He called it “an attempt to define the Republican Party as almost a permanent minority party. It’s a narrow casting of the Republican Party. Newt Gingrich is on the right side, a lot of people are not.”

Dionne concurred, “The paradox, I think, is if Hoffman wins, conservatives will hail it as a great victory. But I think it’ll send exactly the wrong signal to the Republican Party… [I]f they take out of this that tea-partyism is the way of the future, I think it’ll be a long-term problem for the Republicans.”

Update: Scozzafava, a lifelong Republican, has endorsed Democrat Bill Owens.

Kohls’ departure leaves at least 13 GOP candidates pondering a run and five officially announced candidates. Here’s Kohls’ statement:

Friends,

The last several months have been absolutely amazing.

My campaign’s message of limited government, fiscal responsibility, and personal responsibility has resonated with not only GOP activists but also with a much broader cross section of Minnesotans. I’ve had a chance to meet and get to know hundreds of activists from across the state and visit places I would typically not have a reason to visit. All of this has reaffirmed for me that this is a great state full of great people with great potential.

One of the challenges facing my candidacy from the beginning was that I am not as well known as some of my fellow candidates. I trusted this challenge would be a great opportunity to make a positive first impression on many who are just getting to know me. I am confident that I have succeeded at this and look forward to continuing to build upon these new relationships. I have been truly humbled by the level of encouragement and interest in my message and my candidacy from people all across Minnesota.

Although I have continued to gain political and financial supporters since our party’s October 3rd convention, it has become clear to me that the activists are lining up in much greater numbers behind some of the other candidates in the race, and there continues to be speculation about others who may enter the race. I certainly continue to believe that I’m the strongest Republican to take on the DFL candidate in 2010, but I also believe that this decision belongs to our party’s delegates, not to me.

In light of this and after much prayer and deliberation, I am making the very difficult decision to suspend my campaign for Governor.

I want to thank my wife Kelly and our children for their sacrifice over the past several months. I also want to thank everyone who volunteered, contributed or supported my campaign in some other way. Your friendship, support, and generosity has been humbling and I can never thank you enough.

Although this is a difficult decision, I am pleased with the impact I was able to have on the race over the past few months. I remain the only candidate to move beyond the rhetoric of supporting limited government by coming forward with a plan to move Minnesota in that direction – my new Minnesota Spending Freeze. I have repeatedly had other candidates tell me they agree with my ideas and they have begun advocating for similar policies. And I have had countless activists tell me how much they appreciate my thoughtful approach to the issues and my ability to articulate conservative principles in a way that has appeal beyond just the party faithful.

I don’t know today what my political future holds, but clearly we as a state and country face very difficult challenges. I look forward to finding ways to contribute to solving those challenges in a manner consistent with the principles of limited government, fiscal responsibility and personal responsibility.

Again, thank you for your support. I am so grateful to each of you.

Warmest regards,

Paul Kohls

The show — broadcast live online and at 90.3 FM in Minneapolis and 106.7 FM in St. Paul — will feature:

• AHNDI FRIDELL – Director, KFAI News

• CHARLES HALLMAN – Minnesota Spokesman Recorder

• PAUL DEMKO – Politics Reporter, Minnesota Independent

• CHRISTOF TRAUDES – Staff Reporter, Southwest/Downtown Journal

• CHRIS STELLER – Staff Reporter, Minnesota Independent

• STEVE BRANDT – Staff Reporter, StarTribune City Hall Beat

Steller will also be a guest on KTNF’s “Quick on The UpTake” with Mike McIntee tonight. The radio show airs online and at 950 AM from 5 to 5:30.

The full resolution is after the jump.

RESOLUTION

Expressing gratitude and appreciation to the individuals and families who participated in the Taxpayer March on Washington on September 12, 2009.

Whereas, on September 12, 2009, hundreds of thousands of American patriots, who refuse to sit idly by as the Federal Government advances skyrocketing deficits, taxpayer-funded bailouts, pork-barrel projects, burdensome taxes, unaccountable policy czars, command-and-control energy policy, and a government takeover of health care, came to Washington, DC, to show their disapproval;

Whereas individuals also wanted to convey their displeasure with the future tax increases that will be required to pay for deficit-financed spending;

Whereas these individuals understand that the fundamental American principles of limited government and personal liberty are under direct assault;

Whereas this dedicated group of freedom-loving Americans believe in open, accountable, responsible, constitutionally based government;

Whereas hundreds of buses, multiple caravans of cars from across the country, and many individually chartered flights, as well as thousands of lone-traveling cars and trucks, brought these patriots to Washington, DC, solely for this event;

Whereas these individuals endured considerable personal expense to get to the march, including transportation and lodging expenses, as well as lost wages in many instances;

Whereas estimates of the number of people who peacefully marched from Freedom Plaza to the West Front of the U.S. Capitol on September 12, 2009, range as high as 1,700,000 marchers;

Whereas all 50 States were represented in the march;

Whereas this event is considered to be the largest ever gathering of fiscal conservatives in Washington, DC;

Whereas special accolades are due to the grassroots citizens organizations across the country who helped individuals exercise their constitutionally protected First Amendment rights in the Nation’s capital; and

Whereas when the current trends of government expansion and freedom retrenchment are reversed, it will be due in large part to the efforts of the hundreds of thousands who marched on Washington, DC, on September 12, 2009: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives expresses its gratitude and appreciation to the hundreds of thousands of people who marched on Washington, DC, on September 12, 2009, to show their love of liberty and their grievance with recent government actions.