Minnesota Independent

‘That’s not pro-liberty’: Conservatives come out against GOP marriage amendment

By Andy Birkey | 05.17.11 | 1:31 pm

While state Republicans are spearheading the contentious move to put a constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriage on the ballot next year, not all conservatives are behind them. In recent weeks, a number of conservatives — ranging from small-government and libertarian groups to gay Republicans — have spoken out against codification of marriage laws within the Minnesota Constitution. Some say the amendment is contrary to liberty, while others have taken on social conservative groups such as the Minnesota Family Council.

ACLU seeks stop to Northfield school’s censoring of LGBT web content

By Andy Birkey | 05.04.11 | 11:33 am

The American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota is demanding that the Northfield School District stop filtering LGBT internet content on the district’s computers. Calling it unconstitutional, the group sent a letter to the district calling for a halt to the filtering as well as a data practices request to identify how the filters got put into place. The move is part of the ACLU’s broader “Don’t Filter Me” project to prevent filtering of LGBT content.

Franken at SXSW: Keep the internet weird

By Andy Birkey | 03.14.11 | 2:52 pm

Sen. Al Franken headed to Austin, Texas, on Monday to speak about net neutrality at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival, one of the largest film, music and interactive gatherings. In his speech, Franken said that net neutrality is important for many of the artists who showcase their talents at SXSW and that maintaining the current structure of the internet will help keep it “weird” — a reference to the festival host city’s informal slogan.

Is DHS’s expanded ‘If you see something, say something’ campaign burdensome?

By Sofia Resnick | 02.17.11 | 8:38 am

The Department of Homeland Security’s “If you see something, say something” campaign makes it way to the NBA’s All-Star game in Los Angeles this weekend, just as it has at Wal-Mart stores and the Mall of America. Enlisting Americans to keep an eye out for “suspicious activity,” the campaign has raised questions. With sports fans and budget-conscious shoppers reporting “suspicious” activities every 10 minutes, does that help the security agencies or overwhelm the system?

Ellison confronts King on planned Muslim investigations

By Andy Birkey | 12.21.10 | 12:35 pm

Republican Rep. Peter King of New York says he wants to hold investigations into the “radicalization” of American Muslims in his new position as chair of the House Committee on Homeland Security, but Rep. Keith Ellison said on Monday that targeting one community would hamper homeland security efforts.

Daniel Ellsberg. Image: Mediagrrl, YouTube

Ellsberg calls Assange and Manning heroes, lets Clinton off hook

By John Tomasic | 12.02.10 | 2:30 pm

Daniel Ellsberg, the Defense Department analyst who leaked the 1960s Pentagon Papers exposing Johnson Administration lies tied to the war in Vietnam, said in a recent interview that he disagrees with Wikileaks founder Julian Assange that Secreatary of State Hillary Clinton should resign for apparently encouraging diplomats and staff to spy on members of the United Nations. He also praised Assange as well as the suspected source of the leak, PFC Bradley Manning, who have been called respectively a terrorist and a traitor with many prominent figures calling for the assassination of Assange and the execution of Manning. Ellsberg called Manning a patriot and a hero.

Bachmann had name removed from public voter list

By Andy Birkey | 10.22.10 | 12:32 pm

Rep. Michele Bachmann had her name removed from a public voting record under a law intended to protect people’s safety, especially victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. According to the St. Cloud Times, Bachmann is the only member of Minnesota’s congressional delegation to have her name pulled from the state’s list of registered voters. But while Bachmann’s office says she removed her name for “privacy” reasons, that’s not the intent of the law.

Kline co-sponsored resolution honoring the ‘exemplary’ James O’Keefe

By Andy Birkey | 01.26.10 | 5:23 pm

Rep. John Kline was among several members of Congress who signed a resolution praising the work of James O’Keefe, who was arrested Monday for using false pretenses to enter a federal office with intent of interfering with…

Former Dayton rival: Alcoholism, depression rarely disable politicians

By Chris Steller | 12.29.09 | 7:02 am

Former U.S. Sen. Mark Dayton insists his alcoholism (recurrent but treated) and depression (mild and controlled) aren’t debilitating. To a former DFL rival who’s also a physician, that sounds right. Dr. Steven Miles says the effects of both afflictions are overrated in politics.

Debate over Stupak amendment touches true third rail: knee surgery

By Chris Steller | 11.10.09 | 11:57 am

The furor over the Stupak amendment banning abortion in the House health bill was already highly charged. Now one conservative commentator has dared touch the third rail in the right-to-choose debate: optional knee surgery.