Pawlenty claims 2nd in Hotline’s 2012 ‘presidential power rankings’

The list ranks Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty as the second leading contender, far above his placement in most early 2012 opinion polls. Hotline cites his “executive experience and conservative credentials,” as reasons to believe Pawlenty is the real deal, but wonders if the stereotype of Minnesota nice might be true in this case, harming his ability to appear aggressive enough to run an effective presidential primary campaign.

Franken grills Thune on health care reform claims

Sen. Al Franken grilled his Republican colleague from South Dakota, Sen. John Thune, over what Franken said were inaccurate statements regarding the health care reform bill currently being debated in the U.S. Senate.
“You know, again, we…

Video: Senators honor Coleman

The U.S. Senate took an hour Thursday to honor former Sen. Norm Coleman. Here are clips of the complete tributes to Coleman from 10 senators (seven Republicans and three Democrats, including Amy Klobuchar), as well as transcribed highlights of their remarks — with particular attention to what they had to say about Coleman’s future.

VP or not VP: Pawlenty still tops the short list

Chris Cillizza’s latest analysis of the VP sweepstakes has Gov. Tim Pawlenty as the No. 1 contender. Here’s the Washington Post scribe’s take on T-Paw’s chances:

1.Tim Pawlenty: So Tpaw and McCain had something of

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DM&E: Are Thune and Schieffer a Couple of Crybabies?

Minnesota, South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming newspapers are rife today with more mentions of the DM&E railroad and its subsidiaries. Commanding the most attention is an Associated Press article going under the general headline “Senator blames competitors…

End of the Line or Back to the Drawing Board for DM&E Coal Trains?

There is a broader solution. With proper leadership we will find it.

Now that the Federal Railroad Administration has told the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern railroad that it is not going to give it the hoped-for $2.3 billion…

What’s Next for the DM&E?

The DM&E railroad’s hoped-for $2.3 billion government loan is now officially dead. According to Minnesota Rep. Tim Walz, there is no appeal, there are no conditions. Over a year of angst and worry, thousands of hours invested, hundreds of thousands…

Walz, Bachmann, Klobuchar, Coleman, Kline, McCollum: No to DM&E Loan

Republicans, Democrats combine to thwart Sen. Thune, DM&E back-door deal

One would think that it would be a cold day in hell or a consistently 70º Minnesota winter to see newly elected Minnesota Reps. Tim Walz and Michele…

Obstacles push DM&E expansion to the tipping point

Once considered a “sure thing,” the proposed Dakota Minnesota & Eastern (DM&E) Railroad expansion into the coal-rich Powder River Basin could be on the verge of collapse. The reasons for this are many and varied, but a last-minute provision slipped…

From the “And I thought we were supposed to run the government like a business” file…

From “DM&E waits to hear on federal loan,” Minnesota Public Radio, December 13, 2006:
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