Posts by Paul Schmelzer
Minnesotans react to bin Laden death
Minnesota’s congressional delegation, as well as its likely presidential candidates, responded to last night’s news that al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden has been killed in an American surgical raid near Islamabad. Reactions ranged from thanks to the military and calls for continued vigilance against the terrorist threat to rare kudos for President Obama from former Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
Bin Laden killed in Pakistan
Late Sunday night, President Barack Obama addressed the nation to confirm that Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda leader and the mastermind of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, has been killed during an American operation outside Islamabad, Pakistan.
We’re hiring!
The Minnesota Independent is hiring one half-time reporter/blogger.
The reporter will help in coverage of the Minnesota Legislature, Minnesota aspects of the 2012 presidential race, local and statewide politics and policy, and a range of other issues important to Minnesotans.…
Minnesota’s presidential hopefuls offer more fodder for Colbert
Minnesota’s potential presidential candidates are giving Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert plenty of material these days, from Tim Pawlenty letting news of his candidacy slip on CNN (before backpedaling) to Michele Bachmann telling Iowa conservatives that the earth is 5,000 years old.
Colbert ‘jiggy’ with T-Paw’s claim about young voters’ ‘bad romance’ with Obama
“I gotta say,” Stephen Colbert said, referencing Tim Pawlenty’s namedropping of Lady Gaga and Charlie Sheen last night, “it’s like Pawlenty ripped those references from the headlines, then stored them in a drawer for a couple of months, then re-ripped them from his drawer and put them in his speech. Tim’s rappin’ ’bout pop culture is sure to attract the kidses.”
Video: Pawlenty’s doom-and-gloom response to Obama’s reelection announcement
The same morning President Obama announced he’s running for re-election, Tim Pawlenty countered with a video rebuttal. Like his previous Hollywood-style offerings, this one combines a cinematic soundtrack with quick-cut editing. It’s a compilation of doom-and-gloom footage — complete with a shot of lightning ominously striking the White House — about unemployment, foreclosures and high gas prices that concludes with Pawlenty’s response to Obama’s “win the future” rhetoric: “How can America win the future when we’re losing the present?”
Calling bull: Calf in Sandstone named after MnIndy’s Andy Birkey
While journalistic accolades can come in many forms — awards, peer recognition, a paycheck — here’s a new one to us: A bull calf born during Tuesday’s snowstorm was named after Minnesota Independent Senior Reporter Andy Birkey. According to rancher Barbra Peterson, who has a 92-head herd in Sandstone, Birkey’s reporting on reproductive health and social justice issues prompted the move. But his cattle counterpart isn’t alone: Peterson’s other cows are named after progressives too, including the new calf’s mom, Barbara Jordan.
Bachmann to form presidential exploratory committee in June (or sooner)
We’ve heard Rep. Michele Bachmann’s name bandied about as a runningmate for Sarah Palin in 2012, we’ve seen the Draft Bachmann website, and we’ve followed the Sixth Congressional District Republican as she’s criss-crossed the country hinting at a possible bid for the GOP endorsement for president. Now CNN reports that Bachmann’s presidential plans will be getting a whole lot clearer soon: She’ll reportedly form an exploratory committee in early June.
Feingold to headline Netroots Nation 2011 in Minneapolis
Netroots Nation had a strong Minnesota presence last year: Sen. Al Franken gave the keynote, and as he finished up, he announced that the progressive blog conference would be hosted by Minneapolis in 2011. Today, another midwestern angle was announced: Franken’s former Senate colleague, Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, will be giving an address to kick off the June 16-19 summit.
Pawlenty ranked second in Iowa 2012 GOP Power Rankings
In the lead-up to Iowa’s first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses, our sister site in Iowa enlists local journalists, academics, political consultants and pundits to help take the pulse, albeit unscientifically, about how various candidates are perceived in the Hawkeye State. In its first edition of the 2012 cycle, the Iowa Independent’s Power Rankings puts Mike Huckabee in first place if the caucus was held today, but Minnesotans Tim Pawlenty and Michele Bachmann also place in the top five.
