Kline continues to dodge voters

First Kline dodged the Farmfest candidates forum, then the former Marine officer skipped the invitation to the Goodhue Veteran's forum, and yesterday the Star Tribune revealed that GOP Congressman John Kline somehow could find no time to debate his opponent, former State Representative Shelley Madore, in response to an invitation from KSTP-TV and the League of Women Voters. The spin? Madore's campaign hadn't specifically asked.

Seriously. The Star Tribune article cites a campaign statement that Kline has been busy talking with constituents about Washington's "increasing intrusion into their homes and workplaces," echoes carefully tested GOP talking points -- but where is Kline talking? Saying a short joint appearance on MPR - less than a half hour - an open exchange of ideas with his opponent suggests Kline has nothing much to talk about. And even that came from staff.

OK, I suppose he can rationalize avoiding voters at Farmfest since it was a few miles outside the district. After all, Michelle Bachmann wasn't there. Sure, it's a big deal to Minnesota farmers, but it's not like his whole district is farms, right? There are obviously many more votes in the northern, suburban areas. Of course, Madore thinks farmers are a vital part of the local economy, but she grew up on a small farm.

Still, it starts to be a story when a former Marine officer somehow can't find time to accept an invitation to a veteran's forum that is clearly inside his district. His rhetoric tends to support military funding - well, at least funding current operations. If my record voting for spending on veteran's affairs was as shabby as his I might give the veterans forum invitation a miss, too.

But KSTP and the League of Women Voters gave him plenty of notice, and evidently the rest of his voting record isn't something he's proud of, either. Well, kudos to Shelley Madore for holding a press conference and personally delivering a letter to his office.

"Please allow the voters of our Congressional District the opportunity to learn enough about us to make an informed decision by participating in a debate with me."

Shelley Madore,

in an open letter to John Kline

Should Madore echo the late Senator Paul Wellstone's "Where's Rudy?" campaign, perhaps? Kline's spokesman says he's talking to constituents, but mostly he seems to wave from the middle of parade routes. Is a 4-term Congressman really so scared of losing his seat that his campaign has to make flimsy excuses? Is his record really that thin? Apparently so, yes.

Kline doesn't usually talk to anybody in uncontrolled, unscripted settings, and he's hoping that talking a few minutes on MPR one week before the election will convince voters in his District that he listens?

Pull the other one, John; it's got bells on.

CANDIDATE FORUMS HIGHLIGHT FARMFEST

Candidate Forums have been a feature at FARMFEST in every even numbered year for two decades, and 2010 will be no exception, according to Kent Thiesse, FARMFEST Forum Coordinator. Thiesse said that FARMFEST has hosted Candidate Forums for every statewide race for Governor and U.S. Senate since 1990, as well as holding a Congressional Candidate Forum every two years for potential Congressional Candidates in Minnesota Districts that have a major emphasis on the agriculture industry, and a significant rural population.

The focus of past Candidate Forums has been on agriculture and rural issues, and that emphasis will continue again in 2010. Thiesse points out that many Forums during the length of the campaign season cover the vast breadth of issues facing candidates, but the FARMFEST Forums are one time when the focus is much more “fine-tuned” on the issues that are critical to farm families, small businesses, and rural communities.

The "Governor Candidate’s Forum on Rural Minnesota", which will be held at FARMFEST on Wednesday, August 4, at 10:30 AM, has garnered considerable statewide attention, and even some national focus. All five of the major Candidates for Governor of Minnesota have confirmed to participate in the FARMFEST Forum. This includes Tom Emmer, Republican candidate, Tom Horner and Rob Hahn, Independent Party candidates, and DFL candidates Margaret Anderson Kelliher, Mark Dayton, and Matt Entenza. A panel of Minnesota agricultural and rural leaders will pose questions to the Gubernatorial Candidates on a variety of issues affecting farm families and rural communities. The statewide Primary Election is on August 10, and the General Election is on November 2.

The "Congressional Candidate’s Forum on Agriculture and Rural Issues" will be held on the first day of FARMFEST, which is Tuesday, August 3, at 10:30 AM. All Congressional Candidates from Minnesota’s First, Second, Sixth, and Seventh Congressional Districts have been invited to participate in the Forum. Thus far, former MN Rep Shelley Madore (D) who is challenging John Kline (R) in the Second District, Congressman Collin Peterson (D) and Lee Byberg (R), his opponent in the Seventh District; Congressman Tim Walz (D), along with Randy Demmer (R) and Steven Wilson (I), his opponents in the First District; and Tarryl Clark (D), who is challenging Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R) in the Sixth District, have confirmed to participate in the FARMFEST Forum. A panel of agriculture reporters for radio and newspaper will pose questions to the U.S. House Candidates on a variety of issues affecting agriculture and rural communities.

Ideas for questions may be submitted via e-mail to Kent Thiesse, FARMFEST Forum Coordinator, at kent.thiesse@minnstarbank.com. That information will then be forwarded to the panel members that will be posing the questions to the candidates during FARMFEST.

FARMFEST Forums will be held throughout the day on August 3, 4, and 5, in the Forum Tent on the FARMFEST Site, which is located at the Gilfillan Estate, 7 miles southeast of Redwood Falls, Minnesota. In addition to the two Candidate Forums, the 2010 edition of FARMFEST will include special forums ranging from ideas for Minnesota’s next Governor, to understanding carbon credits, to the future of the livestock industry, and strategies for agricultural education. Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty will be the keynote speaker at the Forum on Thursday, August 5, at 10:30 AM. All of the Forums will provide ample time for questions, and follow-up discussion by Panel members.

For more information on the Forums at FARMFEST, please contact Kent Thiesse, FARMFEST Forum Coordinator (507-381-7960).

Joe Barton as the "Chair Apparent" on Energy and Commerce

Veteran Texas Congressman Joe "BP" Barton is the ranking GOP member (and former chair) of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.  That means if the Republicans gain a simple majority of seats in the House, he's the heir-apparent for the chairmanship, and you can bet your BP that big oil is hoping for just that outcome.

Of course, here in the 2^nd District we have one of those below-the-radar Reps, John Kline.  As challenger Shelley Madore has been saying since she announced her campaign for U.S. Congress here in January of this year, Kline is no less extreme then Michelle Bachmann if you look at his votes. Kline is just Michelle in sheep's clothing.

And I choose sheep's clothing with all seriousness, because our current Congressman has done almost nothing but follow the GOP herd during his entire time in office.  He's so predictable that even political rookie Dan Powers has begun echoing Shelley Madore's observations about how similar Kline is to Bachmann as he tries to build credibility against the former state legislator with a long record of accomplishments.

We all know that the "off years" are when the party that doesn't hold the presidency traditionally gains traction. People realize the President can't actually get done everything they hoped he could, and so they decide to make it harder for him.

What? You were expecting logic from the voters?

Here's a simple truth: Most folks vote for a gut reason, not a head reason.  They can cite reasons that sound logical, but the truth is they mostly vote for politicians they like, or they think they'd like to have a beer with.

Here's another simple truth: The GOP is about to spend a lot of money in key races, and the more headway they make the more gridlocked Washington becomes.  No small part of that will be big oil money. The GOP has decided to prove that government is ineffective, as part of their "small government" platform that sounds so good until you realize that only our elected leaders -- our government -- is sufficient to stand up to BP and hold them accountable.  The Free Market sure the heck can't do it.

So do you want the party of Joe "BP" Barton and Michelle Bachmann, with their faithful followers like John Kline to be put back in charge?  Opinions vary, but I'd rather see folks running the government who not only know how to get things done, but who believe there's more to being in Congress than saying the government should apologize and get out of BP's business.

That's why I like Shelley Madore's track record, and leadership. Proven, effective leadership is why I'll vote for Madore in the DFL primary on August 10th, and again this November in the General Election.