Back from a week of vacation, I was browsing through old messages and found something that really turned my stomach:
--- Chris Johnson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > As noted earlier, Moe's choice for a running mate > could end the DFL battle between Jean Wagenius and Wes > Skoglund for House District 62B as early as tomorrow > afternoon. > > If Moe/Sabo wins DFL endorsement for Gov/Lt. Gov, > either Wagenius or Skoglund would have an open Senate > seat to switch to. > > But which one? > > "Politics in Minnesota" opined that Wagenius had the > best shot at the House seat, and if she�s still ahead, > she might decide to move up to the Senate. > > On the other hand, consider the geography. All three > reps in 62 (Davnie, Wagenius, and Skoglund) lost house > territory in redistricting. But whereas Wagenius and > Davnie lost house territory to OTHER senate districts > (to 63 and to 60 for Jean, to 61 and 59 for Jim), > Wes� lost house territory is still in SAME senate > district (62). > > Put more simply (sorry, I�m a map geek) all Wes� > current house district is in his new senate district. > > Actually either Wagenius or Skoglund could easily get > four years in the Senate simply because no one else is > geared up to fight for it since the convention�s just > two weeks away. This message is just oozing with arrogance. The clear assumption is that only DFL candidates matter ... only DFL candidates are deemed worthy in the grand back-room shuffle. I have a mental image of DFL bosses with cigars, leaning over the Big Board -- like a scene from one of those old WWII movies with the RAF Bomber Command and long cues for pushing around the tokens: "Let's see ... Johnson will occupy the Northern Provinces, Kelly will take the Southern, and Olson will clean up the Central. Yeah ... that's the ticket." ... followed by much congratulatory backslapping. Are there no other candidates running for these seats? The last time I checked, there were THREE other major political parties in Minnesota, and two of them are viable forces in Minneapolis. Meanwhile, Wagenius has been on the public payroll for 16 years, and Skoglund has been collecting his checks for 26 years! Both are about 60 years old, and both appear to be hanging around for their government pension. Is this what "public service" is for? > > Ah, but what if they BOTH switch?! Ah, but what if they both LOSE?! I've seen way too much smug disdain for grassroots democracy from the DFL. But the voters of Minneapolis should not be pawns in a game of political chess. It's time to break up the DFL hegemony and restore some humility to our political culture. It's time to elect more Republicans and Greens. Melanie Gilbert Kenwood __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? LAUNCH - Your Yahoo! Music Experience http://launch.yahoo.com _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
