Franken, Bachmann, Walz and Ellison "Bobble Reps"

Asked at Saturday’s Netroots Minnesota conference what blogs he follows, Rep. Tim Walz pulled out his iPhone and rattled off a few sites: Talking Points Memo, Bluestem Prairie, MN Publius and others. Then he showed off his favorite iPhone app — a new one that features his likeness and that of every other member of the House and Senate as shakeable cartoon bobbleheads.

The 99-cent “Bobble Rep” app helps users find out who represents them in Congress, either through a direct search or by using the iPhone’s GPS locator. The caricatures — heads for each of 540 legislators put on one of 12 bodies — were drawn by MAD Magazine artist Tom Richmond to be fun and nonpartisan. But Apple didn’t see it that way: it rejected the application claiming “it ridicules public figures.”

Richmond wrote:

This is truly ridiculous. These caricatures aren’t mean or very exaggerated. They are simple, fun cartoon likenesses of the politicians and the purpose of the app is an informational database. There is no editorial commentary involved at all.

Indeed, related projects, while likewise tame, could probably be construed as far more “offensive,” to use Apple’s word. Sen. Franken, for instance, was rendered as a 3D vampire bobblehead, “The Count,” (along with Norm Coleman) by the St. Paul Saints baseball team in March. And earlier this month, Franken and Coleman were given the MAD Magazine treatment in a spoof ad for “Democra-cialis, ” a cure for the kind of “electile dysfunction” that plagued their 2008 Senate battle, in MAD’s list of “dumbest people, events and things” of 2009.

But last Monday, Apple reversed its decision, green-lighting the app that made its way to Walz’s cellphone.

Walz’s wielded smartphone could’ve been a good prop for another question he answered — about net neutrality. He said he’s “absolutely convinced that we must keep net neutrality,” and thanks to his resolve, “AT&T doesn’t even come to my office anymore” to lobby against it, he added. He said he’s surprised that conservatives aren’t more concerned about the freedom issues surrounding the possibility of corporations controlling what internet users can and can’t access.

“If you want to wave the patriot banner,” he said, “wave it on net neutrality.”

Here’s how each of Minnesota’s Bobble Reps look:

“[I]t seems these days that the American dream is fading,” the Minnetonka resident wrote. “And without responsible, accountable, and informed leadership in Washington, this dream is in serious jeopardy for future generations. I am running for congress to restore these qualities to leadership, to raise up the middle class, and to make sure our children and grandchildren have even better opportunities than we had. I am running for Congress to revive the American dream and I ask for your support to do this.”

Last week, the Cook Political Report listed the seat as “likely Republican.” Early this month, fellow DFLer Jim Meffert also filed to run for the CD3 seat.

Only one other Minnesota contest makes the list of competitive House races. Freshman Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen’s seat is categorized as “likely Republican.” The assessments are unchanged from Cook’s prior analysis.

Both incumbents face a pair of Democratic challengers. Maureen Reed and Tarryl Clark are taking on Bachmann, while Paulsen faces opposition from Jim Meffert and Maureen Hackett.

Ben Smith of the Politico reports that the DNC won’t be paying for media to carry that message — yet — but will begin by sending messages to constituents who are on the Obama campaign email list.

Paulsen may have had in mind preempting such an attack when he released a statement via YouTube about his “no” vote within minutes of having cast it Saturday night.

Paulsen was one of seven GOP lawmakers targeted by a Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee ad campaign over health care last summer. (Another of those seven, Joseph Cao of Louisiana, cast the sole Republican vote in favor of the pending bill.)

The National Republican Congressional Committee earlier put Paulsen on its own list of vulnerable Republicans in Congress.

Paulsen’s latest campaign-finance reports show he raised nearly $1 million this year. Democratic challengers to the first-term Republican are only beginning to emerge.

“This was a bipartisan vote,” said Majority Leader Steny Hoyer with a grin after the House adjourned for the night.

Minnesota’s congressional delegation includes a united front of Republicans opposed — Rep. Erik Paulsen was ready with his rationale for voting no — as well as one Democrat, Collin Peterson, who fulfilled a promise to join them. Peterson was one of 39 Democrats to oppose the bill.

Elsewhere in Minnesota news this morning …

MINNEAPOLIS: Paid for, done that. Mayor Rybak reneged a long time ago on pledges to reform how he and other city candidates finance their campaigns. [Star Tribune]

ST. PAUL: Governor, Dems break their fast. By the time you read this, Gov. Pawlenty and top DFLers will have shared a morning meal and decided how to unmake the hash that is the state budget. [ECM Publishers]

STATEWIDE: An uncrowded gubernatorial field. Slim pickings so far for the Independence Party. [Minnesota Public Radio]

ST. PAUL: Abe Lincoln in Minnesota. He never was, but a panel explores his legacy here today. [Associated Press]

MAHTOMEDI: Kelley might try primary. DFL Party endorsement is not the be-all, end-all this time around for former state Sen. Steve Kelley in the governor’s race. [Associated Press]

ST. PAUL: Al Franken behind on recount bills. Numbers don’t yet add up for the Harvard math major turned U.S. Senator. [MinnPost]

]]> http://minnesotaindependent.com/47556/am-mn-paulsen-bonoff-nelson-meffer/feed 1 http://minnesotaindependent.com/47216/potential-erik-paulsen-challengers-emerge http://minnesotaindependent.com/47216/potential-erik-paulsen-challengers-emerge#comments Thu, 15 Oct 2009 18:59:14 +0000 Paul Demko http://minnesotaindependent.com/?p=47216 Erik Paulsen is arguably the most vulnerable member of Minnesota’s congressional delegation. As a freshman legislator in a swing district, who won election last year with less than 50 percent of the vote, he would seem an attractive target for Democrats in an election cycle where vulnerable Republican incumbents will be scarce. Even so, no official candidates have emerged to challenge the Third Congressional District legislator.

That’s likely to change soon. Maureen Hackett, a forensic psychiatrist and U.S. Air Force veteran, is seriously eyeing the contest. “I have not made a formal announcement,” Hackett says, “but I am very, very strongly considering a candidacy.”

During the 2008 election cycle, Hackett contributed more than $20,000 to political campaigns, almost exclusively to Democrats, according to records maintained by the Center for Responsive Politics. In the third district contest she gave $3,050 to Democrat Ashwin Madia but also contributed $1,500 to Independence Party candidate David Dillon.

Hackett might not be the only Democrat looking to take on Paulsen. Minnesota Progressive Project reported earlier this week that Jim Meffert-Nelson, president of the Minnesota PTA, will announce his candidacy shortly. (Meffert-Nelson didn’t return calls from Minnesota Independent seeking comment.)

State Sen. Terri Bonoff, who narrowly lost the DFL endorsement to Madia in 2008, isn’t ruling out a run either. “I’m not in it at this point,” she says, “but the door is open.”

Whoever ultimately becomes the Democratic nominee will face an uphill battle financially. At the end of last month Paulsen had more than $700,000 in the bank.

Paulsen won the Third Congressional District post last year with 48 percent of the vote. He has no announced challengers for next year’s contest. The Cook Political Report classifies the district as “likely Republican” in 2010.

Third quarter filings are due at the FEC today. Fundraising tallies for three other members of Minnesota’s congressional delegation have so far been posted on the agency’s web site. St. Paul Democrat Betty McCollum brought in $136,000 during the three-month period and reported $128,000 in the bank. Fellow DFLers Collin Peterson and Jim Oberstar reported raising $108,000 and $193,000 respectively. Peterson had $547,000 cash on hand at the end of September, while Oberstar had more than $1 million in reserve.

MnIndy file photo

Of 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, only ten have missed more votes this session than Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, according to the Washington Post’s tally. Bachmann has missed 105 votes, or 13.6 percent of all votes. Fellow Republican Rep. Erik Paulsen had the state’s best record, missing only six votes in the 111th Congress, just one less than Rep. Tim Walz missed.

While California Democrat Rep. Hilda Solis had the highest rate of missed votes — she missed 59 of 78 possibles votes — the number of missed votes by party is roughly the same: Democrats missed 3.5 percent of votes, while Republicans missed 3.3 percent.

Another Minnesotan high on the list: At number 23, Rep. Keith Ellison missed ten percent of the votes, casting 695 and missing 78. Here’s how others in Minnesota’s delegation fared:

Rep. Betty McCollum: 16 missed (2.1 percent of all votes), 757 cast

Rep. Collin Peterson: 25 missed (1.9), 758 cast

Rep. Jon Kline: 12 missed (1.6), 761 cast

Rep. James Oberstar: 10 missed (1.3), 763 cast

Rep. Tim Walz: 7 missed (1.3), 766 cast

Rep. Erik Paulsen: 6 missed (0.8), 767 cast

As we reported in July, Bachmann and Ellison’s voting records were affected by personal obligations. Both missed time during the week of June 18, which had a record number of votes: Bachmann was spending time with family after a relative’s death, and Ellison was attending his son’s graduation from his Americorps program.

Via Dusty Trice.

Elsewhere in Minnesota news this morning …

MINNEAPOLIS: Former senators pen op-ed. This time Norm Coleman doesn’t quote the wrong Humphrey, but his column (co-written with Jim Talent) studiously undercuts its thesis statement: “Politics must end at the water’s edge.” [Star Tribune]

THIRD CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT: Erik Paulsen challenger in wings. Could Paulsen say the head of the state PTA can’t relate to suburban parents? [Minnesota Progressive Project]

STATEWIDE: Kissing up is hard to do. Guv candidates put in miles, put on smiles to court delegates. [Pioneer Press]

ST. PAUL: Republicans left downtown pretty vacant. National-convention delegates didn’t lease empty office suites. [Star Tribune]

STATEWIDE: Tax receipts slip. The Cash for Clunkers program wasn’t enough to keep Minnesota’s finances on target. [Associated Press]

COLD SPRING: Marching band faces standstill. Pulltab profits, milkshake sales and activity fees might not be enough to keep the Rocori High School band high-stepping above debt. [St. Cloud Times]

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