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Eighth district GOP website hit by anti-Israel hackers

By Paul Schmelzer | 01.18.10 | 10:30 am

7Until recently, the website for Minnesota’s 8th District GOP offered musical holiday greetings to Christians and Jews, rotating quotes by Abraham Lincoln and Ronald Reagan, and an essay on Barack Obama’s “great power grab of 2009.” Now…

Walz’s response to RNC health care ads targets town hall agitators

By Paul Schmelzer | 08.12.09 | 12:20 pm

walztim1Rep. Tim Walz has responded to “misleading ads” that started airing yesterday thanks to bankrolling by the state and national GOP, but the gist of his emailed complaint seems to be with rightwing activists set on shouting…

Ellison fires back over Strib story on Mecca trip

By Paul Schmelzer | 07.23.09 | 3:10 pm

ellisonAfter yesterday’s Star Tribune piece on Rep. Keith Ellison’s pilgrimage to Mecca late last year, the 5th District Democrat is firing back, asking the paper for a correction in a letter to the editor today.…

Pawlenty: GOP is like Eminem ‘getting dumped on’ by Bruno

By Paul Schmelzer | 06.08.09 | 11:25 am

57576422The GOP has been struggling to connect with young people — think the Young Cons’ recent rap number or Michele Bachmann’s “You be da man” moment with Michael…

Woodbury attorney may challenge Bachmann for GOP primary

By Andy Birkey | 06.03.09 | 11:47 am

Woodbury attorney Chris Johnston says he is “mulling a run” against Rep. Michele Bachmann in the next Republican primary. Johnston says the district needs to be represented by a Republican “who thinks before they speak.”

Video: Final moments in the Minnesota House

By Chris Steller | 05.19.09 | 4:11 pm

lege-stillIn the final minutes of the legislative session last night, the Minnesota Legislature took up a tax bill. By a House vote of 82 to 47, the bill prevailed — as did fast-paced parliamentary pugilistics and full-throated partisanship.

Tea party: Where were Minnesota’s elected officials?

By Andy Birkey | 04.16.09 | 2:49 pm

Across the country, Republican politicians glommed onto yesterday’s Tax Day Tea Party movement — much to the consternation of grassroots organizers. But in Minnesota, only one elected official put her name on the events: Rep. Michele Bachmann.

GOP analyst: Bachmann’s a liability to Republicans

By Andy Birkey | 04.13.09 | 12:31 pm

bachmannFrom calling on members of her district to be “armed and dangerous” over cap-and-trade spending to stirring up fears of liberal “re-education camps” that would indoctrinate young people, Rep. Michele Bachmann’s…

Flood gives Pawlenty a chance to sandbag national GOP rivals

By Chris Steller | 03.23.09 | 1:06 pm

pawlentyskyAfter declaring a state of emergency there on Friday, Gov. Tim Pawlenty headed to Moorhead today for an early-afternoon briefing with local officials about the looming flood in western Minnesota. Pawlenty and local officials will meet with media…

The UpTake’s Kunin on Coleman’s rejected ballots list

By Paul Schmelzer | 02.04.09 | 1:47 pm

When it comes to rejection and Norm Coleman’s campaign, Noah Kunin knows a thing or two. As senior political correspondent for The UpTake, he’s seen his questions ignored at Coleman press conferences; his colleagues have been refused access to campaign “media availabilities”; and the state GOP chair called The UpTake a “partisan, liberal blog” as a way of attacking Secretary of State Mark Ritchie, who referenced The UpTake’s video feeds in an email.

But what Kunin wasn’t prepared for was the rejection of his absentee ballot.