Day 12: The Saga Continues...
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The spread of Bachmann Overexposure Syndrome continues to be of concern as we enter day TWELVE of the St. Cloud Times Bachmann letters. As I have diagnosed previously, the discussion surrounding the letter can no longer be sustained and story chatters have taken to discussing everything from recipes to sports. Even valiant attempts by local Bachmann supporters to goad Bachmann dissenters into battle is proving ineffective. One has to ask, if this trend continues will BOS, currently isolated to those chatting at the St. Cloud Times, spill over to the community and district as a hole affecting Michele's election prospects? One can only dream!

(Signs of widespread BOS include the inability of groups to discuss Bachmann in a meaningful or sustained manner. All meaningful discussions quickly devolve into personality fights and ideological generalities which last for the remainder of the day. The Center for Disease Control does not anticipate a widespread outbreak as the infection seems to be localized in the St. Cloud Times story chat.)

Letter: If voters prefer fairness, they won't vote Bachmann
By Brian Melendez, chair, Minnesota Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, St. Paul

Published: August 24. 2007 12:30AM

Times Writers Group columnist Ron Baert commends Rep. Michele Bachmann for voting against funding the arts, in the mistaken belief that such funding is somehow unconstitutional. ("Lean times call for watchful eye," Aug. 16.)

But the Constitution explicitly authorizes spending for the "general welfare" (art. I, sec. 8), and the Supreme Court held more than 70 years ago, in United States v. Butler, that "the power of Congress to authorize expenditure of public moneys for public purposes is not limited by the direct grants of legislative power found in the Constitution."

We should indeed worry about our mounting national debt. But that debt's chief cause isn't spending for the arts, which even Baert recognizes is measly. The cause is President Bush's reckless tax giveaways to corporations and the wealthy few, together with out-of-control spending on Iraq.

Next year, the 6th District's voters will weigh in on what kind of society they want to live in. If they admire spiraling deficits, failed diplomacy and unaccountable government, then they should commend Bachmann's consistent loyalty to Bush's dismal record of failure.

But if the district's voters prefer a fairer Minnesota, where people who work hard and play by the rules have an equal opportunity for a brighter future for themselves and their families, then they should consider electing new representation in Congress.

* I commend Brian Melendez for taking an interest in a district that will be particularly difficult for Democrats to be competitive. However, I would also argue that highlighting a vote against the arts in the 6th District will have little affect on voters. My contention has always been that we must find a moderate Democrat (preferably one opposed to abortion) who can simultaneously neutralize that issue and show the districts independent voters what a truly right wing neo-conservative ideologue Bachmann represents. Until then I fear the continued presence of "Fool for Christ" Bachmann as my representation in the House of Representatives.
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