The Minnesota Independent

Archive for 2009

AM.MN: Fox News leads (not follows) Pawlenty to Minneapolis

By Chris Steller | 12.30.09 | 8:30 am

am.mn logoOn Tuesday Fox News anchor Bill Hemmer promised Gov. Pawlenty, “We’ll be following your travels, OK? Whether it’s Minneapolis or New Hampshire or Iowa or Washington, D.C.” (T-Paw had just made national news by saying he has…

Where the chatter was: MnIndy’s most-discussed stories of 2009

By Paul Schmelzer | 12.30.09 | 8:00 am

With more than 13,000 comments left in 2009 — more than double 2008′s count — there was no shortage of opinions at the Minnesota Independent. Here’s a look at the 20 stories that generated the most discussion over the past 12 months.

Franken, Coleman top fundraisers in ’08 cycle

By Andy Birkey | 12.29.09 | 3:22 pm

franken colemanThe Federal Elections Commission has released a full report of the 2007-08 election cycle, and two Minnesota races top the lists. Sen. Al Franken raised the most money of any congressional candidate with $22.5 million, and former Sen.…

Pawlenty to speak at 2010 CPAC

By Andy Birkey | 12.29.09 | 12:56 pm

pawlenty podiumGov. Tim Pawlenty is listed as a confirmed speaker for the 2010 Conservative Action Political Conference (CPAC) on Feb. 18-20 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C. Pawlenty spoke at last year’s CPAC, where he came…

Quotes of the year: From slit wrists to www.anybody.com

By Chris Steller | 12.29.09 | 11:16 am

From Michele Bachmann urging fellow healthcare reform opponents to “slit our wrists” to Tony Sertich warning about “www.anybody.com” running wild at the state Capitol, you have the Minnesota Independent to thank — or blame — for foisting these quotations on the world this year.

AM.MN: DFL, GOP pick hopefuls to succeed Day

By Chris Steller | 12.29.09 | 8:00 am

am.mn logoSt. Olaf College physics professor Jason Engbrecht has seen what antimatter can do at the atomic level. DFLers decided Monday to see what Engbrecht, also a Faribault school board member, can do at the next level, endorsing…

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.

Senate approves Lubinski, nation’s first gay U.S. Marshal

By Andy Birkey | 12.28.09 | 1:20 pm

lubinski-1Sen. Amy Klobuchar announced on Monday that the United States Senate has confirmed Minneapolis Police Department Assistant Police Chief Sharon Lubinski as the nation’s newest United States Marshal. Lubinski is widely considered to be the first lesbian to…

Bachmann Ohio-bound

By Chris Steller | 12.28.09 | 11:25 am

Picture 3U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann’s name will land among the greatest Republican luminaries’ when she heads to Ohio next year to address the Hamilton County GOP’s Lincoln-Reagan Dinner.

Minnesota key to national parties’ redistricting hopes

By Chris Steller | 12.28.09 | 11:09 am

redistricting-mapThe national political parties’ hopes for gains in the 2010 redistricting cycle ride on races for governor in six states, including Minnesota. The Fix calls the state a “major Democratic opportunity.”