Franken: Education, fair taxes key to middle-class revitalization in America

In his keynote speech Saturday morning at the Netroots Nation conference in Minneapolis, Sen. Al Franken noted the growing income disparity between the middle class and the rich, a trend that began in the late-1970s. The Minnesota Independent sat down with Sen. Franken to get some thoughts on that disparity and how the American middle class might once again benefit from economic growth.

Conservative, progressive conferences hit Minneapolis

This morning marked the opening of Netroots Nation, the national progressive organizing and media conference, at the Minneapolis Convention Center. Formerly called YearlyKos, the four-day summit this year features a keynote tonight by former Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., and addresses by Sen.Al Franken, Rep. Keith Ellison, former Obama green jobs adviser Van Jones and White House Communications Director Dan Pfeiffer, among others. Netroots gets a jump on RightOnline, a conservative conference held a few blocks away at the Minneapolis Hilton Friday and Saturday.

Breitbart, RightOnline coming to Minneapolis

Billed as a “counter to the leftwing Netroots Nation Convention” being hosted by Minneapolis in June, RightOnline has announced it’ll also be coming to Minnesota’s largest city this summer. The conference will feature Andrew Breitbart, a blogger whose selective editing of video has generated heated criticism, along with conservative blogger Michelle Malkin, Glenn Beck protege S.E. Cupp, and Minnesota blogger Ed Morrissey. The convention is a project of Americans for Prosperity Foundation, which was founded by the Koch brothers.

Feingold to headline Netroots Nation 2011 in Minneapolis

Netroots Nation had a strong Minnesota presence last year: Sen. Al Franken gave the keynote, and as he finished up, he announced that the progressive blog conference would be hosted by Minneapolis in 2011. Today, another midwestern angle was announced: Franken’s former Senate colleague, Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, will be giving an address to kick off the June 16-19 summit.

Franken whips up support for Elizabeth Warren appointment

Clark works the Netroots

Knocking off U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann will take a lot of cash. The flamboyant Republican has already raised $600,000 this election cycle — more than any other members of…