Terrorism

In his new “white paper” on terrorism, First Congressional District Republican Jim Hagedorn offers some controversial rhetoric: “Young men from Islamic-dominated nations, who have no legitimate reason to visit the United States, should not be granted access to our country,” he writes. And: “Terrorists should be given last rites, not Miranda Rights.” But when asked by the Minnesota Independent for details on specific terror-fighting strategies, the Blue Earth Republican’s response was all of 25 words long — delivered by cellphone text message.

The state Democratic party called on Republican candidate Allen Quist to apologize on Tuesday for statements he made at a Wabasha Republicans Christmas party that called the battle against Democrats bigger than the battle against terrorism. Quist told the Minnesota Independent over the weekend that his comments were taken out of context by liberal bloggers.

Allen Quist, a Republican hoping to secure the nomination to run against Rep. Tim Walz in Minnesota’s First Congressional district, responded to criticisms over a YouTube video in which Quist said the battle against Democrats was bigger than the battle against terrorism. In emails with the Minnesota Independent, he says his words were taken out of context.

The Bruce Schneier Action Figure (pictured) we wrote about in November is finally out, just as the noted Twin Cities–based security consultant is seeing a flurry of action following the attempted Christmas day attack on Flight 253 by “underwear bomber” Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab. Schneier’s recent action-figure-worthy exploits include a commentary piece at CNN today, an [...]

Rep. Tim Walz appeared on the Ed Schultz Show on MSNBC Tuesday night to respond to opponent Allen Quist’s comments that the “battle” against Democrats is bigger than fighting terrorism. Walz called the comments “poisonous, spiteful [and] incredibly distasteful,” and said “it poisons the dialogue” over public policy differences.

Under the headline “Stunning Pronouncement,” a new fundraising pitch sent Tuesday by Rep. Tim Walz’s campaign targets statements by one of his Republican opponents, Allen Quist. At a meeting of Wabasha Republicans in December Quist called liberals “radicals” and said the fight against Democrats was bigger than the fight against terrorism.

Allen Quist, a Republican who is seeking to defeat Rep. Tim Walz in southern Minnesota’s First Congressional District, told attendees of the Wabasha County Republicans Christmas Party in mid-December that beating the “radical” liberals in Washington, D.C., is a bigger battle than beating terrorism.

Eleven LGBT bars in the Seattle area received letters this week from an individual who claims to be in possession of a biological weapon and plans to target at least 50 customers.
“Your establishment has been targeted,” the letters say. “I have in my possession approximately 67 grams of ricin with which I will indiscriminately target [...]

On ABC News Monday, Vice President Dick Cheney acknowledged knowing about and approving of the torture technique known as waterboarding.
“I was aware of the program, certainly, and involved in helping get the process cleared, as the agency in effect came in and wanted to know what they could and couldn’t do,” Cheney said. “And they [...]

The Minnesota GOP is sending out a mailer attacking Barack Obama for his alleged “close ties to domestic terrorist” William Ayers. But at first glance it appears that the t-word is being applied to Obama: just above the mailing panel is the Democrat’s name and face, his head turned to the left. Near his mouth is a quote, attributed only to the New York Times. “I don’t regret setting bombs. I feel we didn’t do enough.”

CQ Politics — which has called the charge “so wrong it’s pants-on-fire wrong” — reports that Republicans in Virginia are sending out the same mailers.