Liberal in the Land of Conservative: DFL Forum

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DFL Candidate Forum (Q&A Part 2)

11:23 PM | Posted in Bob Olson, DFL Forum, Elwyn Tinklenberg

Here is roughly the second half of the debate from last night. Due to some mechanical glitches I was unable to get the last few questions. However, the questions I have up represent a fairly good cross section of topics that highlight the views of both candidates.

Question #6: As a college student I frequently worry about tuition and other costs. What would you propose to lift the burden?

Question #7: What is your platform on changing unfunded mandates, specifically NCLB and Special Education, and not passing new mandates without funding?

Question #8: Despite her promises in August, Michele Bachmann voted this week against the bill that would fund the 35W Bridge replacement and other Minnesota transportation projects, including Northstar Commuter Rail. How do you respond?

Special Note: I have to offer my apologies concerning this particular video. I hit the stop/record button, realized seconds later, and restarted filming. The gap, while noticeable, appears to be fairly short and the essence of the answer appears to be intact.

Question #9: At a time of war, we are losing critical soldiers just because members of the military are gay and lesbian. This includes Arabic language specialists which are in critical supply. What will you do to repeal "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and strengthen our military with fairness and justice.

Question #10: What is the role of government in addressing domestic abuse and prevention?

Question #11: What reforms would you make to campaign finance laws?

Final Analysis: Both candidates presented themselves well and should therefore be commended for their efforts. As I have always believed, it takes a brave man or woman to place themselves in the public eye and request to be judged. I enjoyed myself thoroughly and was pleased by the turnout on a Thursday evening this early in the cycle. It speaks to the commitment of DFLers in the area to choose a candidate that can run an effective campaign against Michele Bachmann and bring representation back to the 6th Congressional District. Hopefully, these video clips can provide an even wider audience with a first glimpse at the choice we need to make for the DFL nomination. Good Luck, and happy campaigning!

Cross Posted on Dump Bachmann

Category: Bob Olson, DFL Forum, Elwyn Tinklenberg

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DFL Candidate Forum (Q&A Part 1)

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6:38 PM | Posted in Bob Olson, DFL Forum, Elwyn Tinklenberg

This is a partial list of questions and the answers given by each of the candidates. I have attempted to provide the questions in their entirety so as to give appropriate context to the answers. No editing was done to the answers of either candidate to preserve their integrity and remain unbiased.

Question #1: Will you be abiding by the DFL endorsement?

Question #2: I feel in the last election our candidate was overly defined by her opponents with television and other ads. How can we avoid this and how can we help you?

Question #3: What is your farm policy?

Question #4: What specific steps do you think our country should take to cut CO2 emissions and how would you make this happen?

Question #5: Our children and grandchildren are going to be forced to pay for this war. How will we address this issue?

Check back for more Q&A!

Cross Posted on Dump Bachmann

Category: Bob Olson, DFL Forum, Elwyn Tinklenberg

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DFL Candidate Forum (Media Reaction)

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5:46 PM | Posted in DFL Forum

Larry Schumacher of the St. Cloud Times, whom I had the pleasure of meeting last night, has some balanced analysis of the DFL Forum at St. Cloud State last night.

Here it is:

Olson, Tinklenberg debate
By Lawrence Schumacher, lschumacher@stcloudtimes.com

Published: November 16. 2007 12:30AM

Two candidates hoping to win the DFL Party endorsement to take on U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., next year found lots of room for agreement at their first debate Thursday evening at St. Cloud State University.
First and foremost, Bob Olson and Elwyn Tinklenberg agreed that they don't care much for having the Stillwater freshman represent the 6th Congressional District in Washington, D.C.
Olson, a tax lawyer and bank co-owner who recently made St. Cloud his home, called out Bachmann on a litany of votes in Congress against Democratic bills to extend health care, fund transportation, bring American troops home from Iraq, end tax breaks for oil companies, increase aid to college students and more.
"This is not a family value. This is not a Minnesota value. This is not an American value," Olson repeatedly stated of Bachmann's choices in Congress.
Tinklenberg, a transportation lobbyist, former mayor of Blaine and former state transportation commissioner, took special exception to Bachmann's vote on Wednesday against a final transportation, housing and urban development appropriations bill that would provide $195 million to rebuild the Interstate Highway 35W bridge in Minneapolis, $55 million for the Northstar commuter rail line, $1.125 million to improve St. Cloud Regional Airport's terminal and $820,000 to replace Metro Bus dial-a-ride buses, among other items.
"She has capped off a career of voting against adequate transportation funding," he said of the vote. "Michele Bachmann is not for Northstar, not for transportation improvements, not for adequate infrastructure. She's going to vote against these interests every time."
The 6th Congressional District covers most or all of Anoka, Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, Washington and Wright counties and includes the St. Cloud metro area.
The DFL race would appear to be up to party delegates to decide, as Tinklenberg, who had avoided saying he would abide by the party's endorsement process earlier, appeared to commit Thursday.
"I supported the party's endorsed candidate before," he said of his 2006 endorsement loss to Patty Wetterling. "I will certainly do that again."
Olson reiterated his previous commitment to abide by the endorsement process.
Olson's platform
Olson, whose tone was more somber and formal during the debate, played up his strengths — knowledge of tax law and energy policy.
A founder of the American Sustainable Energy Council, Olson emphasized a platform of calling for a deadline to withdraw American troops from Iraq, using tax incentives to jump-start renewable energy production and rolling back President Bush's tax cuts on wealthy individuals and families.
"I can no longer stand by and watch the middle class in this country be destroyed for the benefit of the rich," he said.
Olson said he would support ending the military's policy of discharging homosexuals from service, diplomacy and economic negotiations to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, public funding of campaigns and a bill making it easier for employees to form labor unions.
Tinklenberg's tone
With a more casual, relaxed tone, Tinklenberg sought to reinforce his long history of service in the 6th Congressional District and expertise on transportation and infrastructure issues.
Tinklenberg cautioned DFLers that Bachmann would be a tough opponent in the general election, despite a voting record most DFLers believe is counterproductive.
"She's tough when she's on message," he said. "We've got to make sure she doesn't stay on message, because, underneath that message, there's some really interesting stuff going on."
Tinklenberg said a bill calling for timetables for American military withdrawal from Iraq should be on the next president's desk within three months of the start of the next Congress.
Tinklenberg also said he would support ending the military's policy on homosexual troops.
He emphasized diplomacy, economic sanctions and consistency in dealing with burgeoning nuclear states. He also advocated public funding of campaigns and easier labor organization, among other issues.

Story Chat was light on this one:

1.
Karl from Stillwater, MN
Comment Posted: 11/16/2007 11:12:21 AM

"She's tough when she's on message," he said. "We've got to make sure she doesn't stay on message, because, underneath that message, there's some really interesting stuff going on."
How very true. Some of us have been trying to awaken our local political reporters from their deep slumber to this fact for years, to no avail. We tried with the Wetterling campaign, to no avail. With the exception of the fine reporting on Bachmann coming from Larry Schumacher and Eric Black, what passes for political reporting on Bachmann and the 6th District is pathetic--unless you want a fashion report on Michele from Kim Ode.

John Ellenbecker from St. Cloud

Comment Posted: 11/16/2007 12:39:36 PM

Has there been any local reporting on Rep. Mrs. Marcus Bachmann's vote against the transportation bill? It contained money for projects in St. Cloud and in the 6th District - she voted against money for those projects. Have we seen the liberal media covering this story yet?

4.
Lawrence Schumacher from St. Cloud Times
Comment Posted: 11/16/2007 4:22:56 PM

John,
See http://www.sctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071115/NEWS01/111150066/1009
Also, http://65.36.138.212/publicus/blog/read.asp?BlogID=6&ID=8048

Cross Posted on Dump Bachmann

Category: DFL Forum

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6th Congressional District DFL Forum

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11:50 PM | Posted in Bob Olson, DFL Forum, Elwyn Tinklenberg

Tonight I was in attendance at the 6th Congressional District DFL Forum. If you read my blog it is clear whom I have chosen to support. However, my role at this event was not to critique one candidate for the gain of the other but rather to present each in their own words and allow you to decide. Over the next day or so I will upload and post some of the answers given by each candidate.

Incidentally, it was fun to introduce myself to a few people and hear that they are readers.

We will begin at the beginning and thus I present the two candidate introductions:

Bob Olson