VOTERS LOOK AT CANDIDATE PERSONALITIES

"If national research on voting is any indicator, only a small number of people will base their vote on issues outlined in platforms. Most will fill out a ballot based on their perceptions of candidate personalities and likability," said psychology professor Melanie Green.

"Politicians in national and state elections have problems conveying their true personality to voters. Candidates are subject to the whims of fickle voters and word-of-mouth opinions that shape public perception," she said.

As a result, most voters tend to cast their votes on the limited portrait created by signs, personal connections and word-of-mouth characterizations.

The personal connection some voters feel with a candidate is the main factor in how he or she will vote. The written platform of a candidate is just not enough for many voters to go by. Public forums and personal conversations sway more voters than candidate websites or campaign literature.

Some people vote on the basis of religious convictions. Some churches tell their parishioners who to vote for. Check out this website for an eye opener as to what some church goers are told.

For those who insist on voting by candidate personalities, keep reading. Here's my take on the personalities of the DFL gubernatorial candidates.

Tom Bakk - He seems kind of gruff on the surface but I suspect he's an old softie on the inside. I'll be he can be tough as nails in the legislature, though. From what he has said about his new grandbaby, it's obvious that he's a loving family man. He spent his childhood summers at a church camp where his father was the director, so I'm pretty sure he was brought up with values. He loves the outdoors. Anyone who loves trees, meadows, fields and lakes is okay in my book.

Mark Dayton - Ok, where should we start? Dayton's life is pretty much an open book since he has revealed so much about his personal life over the years, especially in Christmas cards and letters. Nothing wrong with that as long as its by his own choice. Almost everyone who knows Mark agrees that he's a kind, caring and compassionate person. Some say that's all for political reasons, but I don't believe that. A small portion of it might be, but hey, he's been in politics a long, long time. To me, Mark is the kind of guy that you want to bring to meet your friends, your neighbors, your kids and even your whiny cat. You want to bring him to Toastmasters because you know he would fit in so well. He's just the kind of guy you want to hug, like a favorite teddy bear. Mark has a great personality and a wonderful, although sometimes dry, sense of humor. He also has a very quick wit. He gets things right away. He gets his feathers ruffled sometimes, but they soon settle back down again and all is fine. Also, he loves dogs, cats and children. So we know we can trust him. He's got a history of keeping promises. If he says he'll do something, then you can be sure that he'll do it. He's the kind of guy you think would be great fun on a first date, but then you wonder if he would bring his attorney along. (Just kidding.) Basically, Mark Dayton is a very endearing man. Isn't it time we had an endearing governor? Think of what a great change that would be. Plus, with all the decades of public service experience, he'd know how to get things done and make Minnesota a great state again. He's got a good heart. Let's elect a good-hearted governor. Our two-timing governor that we have now, Governor Veto, can begone!

Matt Entenza - It's been said that the eyes are the mirror of the soul. The problem is that I can't see Matt's eyes. He's 6'5". I'm 5'4". I would need a stepladder. So let's listen to his voice instead. You can tell a lot about a person by his voice. Matt's is mellow and soft-spoken. That usually means slow to anger. And quick to let bygones be bygones. He's proven that he can stand up for what's right, though. He stood up to Governor Pawlenty and the governor backed down. So I conclude that Matt is a great guy to be around but he will move quickly to protect what he believes in. Matt must care about people. The evidence is his hard work in protecting consumers and families. Matt must be a pretty good guy or he wouldn't have been married for 24 years. That says a lot. And he must be smart. He's the founder of the progressive think tank called Minnesota 2020. Plus, according to blogger Dyna, he's very likeable. Blogger Grace Kelly said that "Matt is quiet, reserved and responsible. Matt has always been trustworthy. My neighborhood likes him." By the way, I just read that Entenza is not Norwegian...it's Catalonian.


Susan Gaertner - She makes me think of Laverne and Shirley, Joanie Cunningham from Happy Days and Betty Rizzo from Grease. Gaertner is real. She's tough. She's street smart. It's be hard to pull the wool over her eyes. She's the one you'd want for a best friend. The one you'd turn to if you had a problem. You might not like everything she says, but you'd know that she was telling it like it is. She doesn't pull any punches.

Margaret Anderson Kelliher - I don't know much about Margaret because I've never talked to her at length. I suspect that she's pretty darn smart and that she likes to win. She must practice her speeches diligently because her speaking skills are almost perfect. A few people have said that they feel she talks down to them or talks to them like they are school kids. Maybe she just wants to get her point across. Mary Lahammer said that "Anderson-Kelliher and Pawlenty just simply get along better than Pogemiller and Pawlenty." If Kelliher can get along even somewhat with Pawlenty, she probably is doing better than most DFLers. Perhaps she has some good negotiation skills. I do think MAK is a hard worker. Most farm kids are.

John Marty - He's got a reputation for being highly ethical and moral. He doesn't take lobby money or PAC money. Apparently he's the only candidate who doesn't. He's kind of quiet usually, but he can get nicely fired up when he's campaigning on his issues. He's a hard worker, too. Just look at all the bills he authored. John definitely has the courage of his convictions. He's outspoken about his beliefs. I don't know John personally, except for having met him several times at various events. I do think that he truly cares about Minnesota as well as about the plight of individuals. He always asks after my health in a concerned manner.

R. T. Rybak - No hidden surprises here. R. T. is upfront. He's got a positive attitude about almost everything. He's nearly always cheerful. He's proud of what he's done in Minneapolis. He's glad that a lot of people have benefitted from his innovations. R. T. Rybak has motivation. He's got charisma. He loves people and enjoys a crowd. His best asset is his knack for making each person he talks to feel special. He comes early and leaves late as much as he can with his tight schedule. No one feels that Rybak is anxious to rush away. There's nothing elusive about him He isn't surrounded by staffers who try to protect him from the crowd. You couldn't keep R. T. away from the people. He adores them. He's easy to get along with, too. Plus he's always smiling, which draws people to him.



Tom Rukavina - He's spunky, mischievious, entertaining and has a heart of gold. Yet he can stand up strong against those who need standing up to, such as certain Republican politicians. Rukavina likes to have a good time but is totally serious when the situation calls for it. This can especialy be seen when he's working on behalf of his constituents. Tom Rukavina is a physical person. He likes to hug people, which in turn makes them feel good and makes them want to vote for him. I don't think he does it for political reasons, though. I think he's just a very friendly guy who has a lot of love in his heart. He's also rather opinionated and won't hesitate to say what he thinks.




Paul Thissen - I really like Paul. He's so friendly. He's innocent, too. He's the boy next door type. Plus he's really smart. I like the fact that if Paul gets new information that shows his previous views were wrong (which I suspect happens very seldomly), he is willing to change his viewpoint. Just like a true scientist. Paul's a great speaker and can truly connect with his audience. He appears to be happily married to his beautiful wife, who is also an excellent speaker. Paul can bring people together so that they will want to work together to get things done. He's got a soothing voice. He'll ask the opinions of others, too, about various issues. And he cares about children. He's the one who got 20,000 more children the health care access that they needed so badly. Talk to Paul and see for yourself what a great guy he is.

Augsburg College DFL Gubernatorial Debate

Six DFL candidates participated in the DFL gubernatorial debate at Augsburg College last night (February 16, 2010). They were R. T. Rybak, Tom Rukavina, Paul Thissen, Mark Dayton, John Marty and Tom Bakk. The event was sponsored by Sabo Center and Augsburg Political Science Department.

Since I never like to go home first after work, I went straight to Augsburg . I arrived around 4:30. I found the building and the auditorium, then went next door to the Student Center cafeteria and had a very light dinner, which I couldn’t finish because I’ve lost my appetite in the past couple of months.

I went back to the Music Hall, where the debate was taking place. It was still early, so I wandered down the hallway and found a Medieval Event going on in the chapel. How I wanted to go there instead of to the debate. If you’ve seen one gubernatorial candidate forum, you’ve seen them all. It’s not often that a medieval event takes place, though. I have a double major from the University of Minnesota in English literature and history. My history emphasis was Tudor/Stuart England as well as Renaissance and Medieval History. I love the Renaissance Festival in Shakopee and try to go there every year.

Duty called, and back I went down the hallway to the auditorium. It was still early, so I chatted for awhile with the moderator of the gubernatorial debate. This was Jay Benanav, Augsburg 's director of government relations. He is a former member of the St. Paul City Council. I had a very interesting conversation with him for about twenty minutes.

"The next governor will set the tone for issues ranging from health care to the environment to taxes to economic development," said Benanav. "All of these issues will impact the job market in the state and would directly impact the ability to get a job in Minnesota after graduation."

By now people were beginning to arrive, including campaign staffers. Benanav went off to prepare for his duties of the evening. Frank Brown, my friend from TakeAction MN and Second Chance Coalition, walked in the door and came over to say hi to me. It was good to see him again.

Rybak has a lot of excellent staffers. They’re always right on top of it as they try to get new supporters. They tried to get me, but Brian II from Dayton ’s campaign put a stop to that. Orrie tried once again to get me to support Rukavina. Since I’m going to be a delegate at the SD53 convention this Saturday, and since my alleged candidate is not part of the endorsement process by choice, Orrie figured I may as well caucus for Rukavina. I really ought to caucus for reNEW MN. (Coincidentally, I just got off the phone with Elizabeth from TakeAction.) Tom Rukavina caught me in the aisle of the auditorium and pressed one of his campaign buttons into my hand and smiled so engagingly. How come Dayton never does that? Oh well, he gives hugs. I can go a long time (at least 24 hours) on a good hug. Hugs are energizing.

Kudos to Paul Thissen, Tom Rukavina and Mark Dayton for coming up to me before the debate and asking how I am. They all know I’m fighting liver disease. It’s nice of them to remember to inquire after my health. I had a chance to talk to Paul Thissen for several minutes regarding Pawlenty’s horrible budget news. Paul is always ready to listen and to respond in a meaningful way. When you talk to him, you know he’s really listening. He’s focused on you and not on the next voter or the next person who might be walking in the door. He should give lessons on that to all the other candidates.

Frank Brown and I sat in front of the auditorium, in the second row, so we could see the candidates up close and hear what they said. The forum began promptly at 7:00. A few prepared questions focusing on education issues and policy were asked of the candidates. At the end of the prepared questions and the candidates’ answers, the audience was invited to ask questions.

Here are some of the questions and how the candidates responded to them.

Question #1:  School districts are creatures of the state. What is the responsibility of the state vs the responsibility of the school district? How should education be funded?

R. T. Rybak - He gave a rousing but brief analysis of how funding won't come from Pawlenty. He believes that most of the control of schools should be at the local level. People should rally around the kids in the communities. He gave some examples of what's been working in Minneapolis.

Tom Rukavina - Jobs, jobs, jobs and education, education, education. I think the jobs jobs jobs is from Bakk's campaign, although that mantra really should have gone to Dayton as he worked so closely with Rudy Perpich, whose mantra it was originally. He likes the Minnesota Miracle. He talked about excess levy. He says the current main criteria for education comes from federal laws and mandates and that they are handed down with no money.

Paul Thissen - We should consider what tone the governor will set. The state should provide resources for education. Education should be funded by the state. He's a fan of having a liberal education in order to provide students with a well-rounded education in order to prepare students for life and lead them into the future.

Mark Dayton - He believes that shifting the financial costs of education onto property taxes is unconstitutional. He has the knowledge to back up that claim. When he is governor, he will increase K - 12 funding every year that he is in office, no excuses and no exceptions. He means it, too. You can count on it. As far as campaign promises and doing what he says, he is never wishy-washy. As far as politics, he says what he means and means what he says.

John Marty - Education is a good thing to invest in for our future. We need to train people from an early age to be good human beings and to be compassionate toward others. He thinks that our educational system should teach, among other things, language, music, arts and sex education. He is in favor of a broad range of subjects being taught to our kids.

Tom Bakk - If you can pass a levy in a school district you can get funding. If the levy doesn't pass, the school district doesn't get that funding. Many school districts are being left behind because the levy doesn't pass. He used Grand Marais as an example. 

Question #2:  What ideas do you have for new models of education. Where will you get other ideas?

Tom Rukavina - He'll get new ideas from teachers. Governor Pawlenty is pulling six million dollars out of the educational system, including colleges. We must train the workforce with educational opportunities. He has legislated mining endowments for the University of Minnesota.

Paul Thissen - He will look to teachers and communities for new ideas. We must close the achievement gap. Look to the good charter schools for good ideas. 

Mark Dayton - He will look to teachers and administrators. As Senator, he legislated Excellence in Education. He voted against No Child Left Behind because it didn't work. He gave another anecdote about energy savings in a particular school in Minnesota. This school uses geothermal energy and has built a dome around the school.

John Marty - He wants to reinstate a state-wide school board. He doesn't want to leave it in the hands of the governor and the commissioner. He wants to have master teachers who mentor younger teachers. He believes in taking care of the whole child and meeting their needs.

Tom Bakk - Governors set the tone. The next governor will be very important. We're at a fork in the road. The next governor will need to bring in teachers and administrators and talk about what is working in the educational system and what is not working. Pawlenty says our schools are failing, but Bakk says that is not true. Minnesota schools have the highest ACT scores and the highest graduation rates in the country. 

R. T. Rybak - He told the audience that he spends a tremendous amount of time in schools. He feels energized when he comes out of schools. He wants to teach students about agriculture and let them learn how to home grow and how to cook the food. He wants more programs like elementary music. He talked about the success of the Minneapolis Promise.

Question #3:  How much K  - 12 federal funding concedes to the federal government?

Paul Thissen - Be wary of the strings attached to federal government. The Feds try to tie our hands. 

Mark Dayton - Paul Wellstone held the legislature for No Child Left Behind for six months. Teachers don't want to teach to the tests. They want to instill a love of learning in the kids. The Feds should fund special education. Dayton told of his experiences teaching school right after his college graduation from Yale University. 

John Marty - No Child Left Behind is a terrible way to test kids. We can't measure compassion, character, etc.

Tom Bakk - The carrot always comes with attachments. (Great metaphor, Tom.) Real reforms come from states, not from the Feds. We need to find a new way to fund schools.

R. T. Rybak - TPaw puts too much ideaology into education. The next governor needs to be involved. The achievement gap is at a critical level. This brings an urgency to the education issues.

Tom Rukavina - We judge the school districts on who shows up to take the tests. Some kids just don't come to school on test day. 

Question #4:  What is a fair, transparent, expedient way to evaluate teachers?

Mark Dayton - Evaluation of teachers should be a local matter. It should be done by the superintendent, principal, etc. Teachers should be held accountable. He doesn't know of any teachers who don't want to be accountable. (I do. Talk to my son Charles and his wife Becky. Also my son Marcus. They can tell you about several teachers at Irondale who never wanted to be held accountable. These teachers were terrible! One teacher didn't even teach. He just had his classes watch movies all the time. Another didn't know the first thing about the math he was teaching. He always had to go next door to another teacher and ask how to do the problem. There are a lot of teachers like that in our school systems.)

John Marty - Put the evaluations of teachers at the local level. Most teachers really care about the kids. (I don't know about most. I do know that there are far too many who don't care about the kids. Some of it is probably because they are overworked and underpaid. Some is because teachers are no longer allowed to discipline naughty kids in any way whatsoever. Some are just worn out from years of teaching.)

Tom Bakk - The way we pay teachers is fundamentally flawed. Teachers need more money.

R. T. Rybak - He recently blogged aobut a teacher on his website. Go there and read it. He likes to sit with others at the table to look at educational challenges and the achievement gap.

Tom Rukavina - He can't think of one bad teacher that he ever had. Teachers have the most challenging job in society. We don't pay them enough.

Paul Thissen - The problem is, how do you measure a teacher's performance? He thinks they should get higher salaries if they are teaching in tough communities.

Question #5:  How would you structure early education in Minnesota?

John Marty - Make sure that every kid with intensive needs gets intensive help. Visiting nurses should go to the home when necessary. We need to meet the mental health needs of the students and their families as well as look at the chemical dependency issues. Also, parents need education too.

Tom Bakk - The legislators get to see the research that's going on. Studies at the University of Minnesota shows incredible learning that happens in just the first three months of life.

R. T. Rybak - Kids must come to school ready to learn. Northside Achievement Zone in Minneapolis is modeled after the Harlem Children's Zone in New York. Allina in Minneapolis has the Backyard Project. We need to stop kids from having kids. We must train the parents.

Tom Rukavina - A Virginia school district has an innovation for bonding. It didn't get funded, though. Taxes are an investment in society.

Paul Thissen - Wants to make good information available to parents. He also wants to move Early Childhood Family Education to the public school system.

Mark Dayton - He thinks it's important to have funding for all day kindergarden. He volunteered at Head Start 40 years ago when he was a senior in school. (Now there's something new I hadn't heard before. It's always good to mention new things that the audience doesn't know about yet. It keeps the responses fresh and interesting.) He thinks that better and more productive citizens are created through Early Childhood Family Education.

That was the last of the set questions. After that the audience asked questions of the candidates. By that time I was tired of scribbling notes so I put down my pen and notebook and just listened. The candidates were all talking rather fast tonight as they wanted to convey a lot of thoughts in just a minute or two. It was very hard for me to keep up with my notes. I have got to get a digital recorder.

After questions from the audience and candidate responses, each candidate was given time to present their closing statements.

Here's my take on the evening:

These particular six DFL gubernatorial candidates were all in top form tonight. Every one of them was excellent in their answers as well as in their communication skills. If this was the first time I had heard any of them, I would not be able to choose just one to vote for. If I did not already have a chosen candidate who I support, I don't know how I would make the decision. All six of these candidates pretty much agreed on all the issues. If we really want a DFL governor this time, I guess we need to decide who is the most electable. The problem with that is, though, that you never know for sure until the primary and the general election in November. Which one can beat Marty Seifert or Tom Emmer? Will it have to be someone who doesn't have much that the Republicans can throw up in their faces? Or are all the DFL candidates looking for things against the GOP candidates as well? Is it going to be another mud-slinging campaign? God, I hope not. People are so sick of that.

A few more remarks about the evening:

Tom Rukavina was outrageously funny again tonight and at times had the audience in stitches. Is he losing votes and delegates because people think he can't be serious? I know he can be dead serious when he wants to be, but I've heard some people say they wondered about it. It's great to have a good sense of humor, though, to add spice to the evening.

At one point Tom Rukavina flung a cheap shot at Mark Dayton. It started out as a compliment but ended with a barb. He said that Dayton quit the Senate. I knew as soon as those words popped out of the Representative's mouth that he shouldn't have said that. Then it was another candidate's turn to answer the question that had been asked, and next it was our former Senator's turn. Mark Dayton took half the time allotted to the question to respond to what Rukavina had said. He gave an excellent answer, then went on to respond to the original question. I thought it was smart for Dayton to set the record straight on what his Iron Range Buddy had said.

Paul Thissen made a verbal gaffe when he accidently said breast instead of best. Some of the students in the audience snickered, but Thissen made an excellent recovery in spite of the somewhat embarrassing moment.

The best humorous moment belongs to Mark Dayton. He said, in response to the question from an audience member about the teaching of more languages in the schools, "I went to China seven times and tried to learn the language but found I have two left tongues. I did learn to say the chid sat on the chair under the airplane."  ROFL.

All in all in was a good evening. I enjoy being around a lot of people. I liked seeing old and new friends again. I wish I could have talked to the candidates longer afterwards, but they're always in such a hurry. Perhaps they hurry elsewhere to talk to people who can donate more money to their campaigns. I personally have never been poor in my entire life. I've merely been temporarily broke for the past 59 years.

That's the thing I would hate most about being a candidate. The constant chasing after money and trying to get others to donate to my campaign. That would be very distasteful.

One more comment: the candidates should smile more when the other candidates are speaking. Most of them frown way too much. Why would anyone vote for someone who frowned all the time?

That's all, folks. Until next time...

WHO WILL OUR NEW GOVERNOR BE?

Who will Minnesota's next governor be? We'll assume and hope that it will be a DFLer. There are a lot of candidates. Which one should we vote for? How do voters choose?

Many voters choose a name on the ballot at random. We've all done this at some point over the years, especially when we see a list of judges or county attorneys on the ballot. Most people have no idea who these candidates are. Some voters choose a name that sounds good to them or is vaguely familiar. Others may choose by gender. Some will choose a female just for the sake of having more females in office.

Others choose a name that they recognize. The more recognizable the candidate's name is, the better the chances of getting elected. In this year's gubernatorial race, the two top candidates for name recognition, at least so far, are Mark Dayton and R. T. Rybak.

Some voters actually research the candidates' stand on various issues. Others abide by the party's endorsement or by the endorsement of their union or other organization. Others will vote for their legislator who happens to be running for governor.

Many others vote on personalities. Jesse Ventura had a personality that was unforgettable. Skip Humphrey didn't. Norm Coleman might have had but his mudslinging alienated voters.

Finally, voters vote for a candidate they resonate with. They want a candidate they have something in common with. If they think a particular candidate is nothing at all like them, they probably won't vote for that person. 

Here's my take in reverse order:

Susan Gaertner - I wanted to like her for governor. I really did. But she gives me absolutely nothing to run with. Her slogan, A Fresh Start, is just not enough. When other candidates are speaking at the forums and debates, she frowns a lot. Plus, when she sees me at events, she doesn't show even a hint of recognition. Gaertner says she's going to the Primary regardless of whether she gets the DFL endorsement. I'm not sure why she would do that. It would take a lot of money. Who will back her? Susan Gaertner has the least chance of any of the serious candidates of becoming our next governor.

Steve Kelley - I like him as a person. He's friendly and upbeat. His Irish ancestry also appeals to me since I'm English, Irish and Scottish. He's smart about a lot of the issues. For some reason he's just not one of the top five contenders. So he dropped out. I hated to see him go, but I couldn't see him winning the election. I hope he'll stay involved in politics, though. We need people like him.

Tom Bakk - He could be a good governor. Not enough people know who he is for him to win, though. He's not one of my top choices because I don't feel he's one of the most liberal candidates.

Margaret Anderson Kelliher - I know she's got a lot of endorsements; I realize she was one of the three chosen candidates for reNEW Minnesota; I know she was way up there on the straw poll for the precinct caucuses. Still, she annoys a lot of people. She crows too much, her speech is a bit too perfect, and the question arises as to how sincere she is. If she were to be governor, would she keep her campaign promises or would she go on to do exactly what she wanted? A lot of people have doubts, but just as many are fully supportive of her. This will be an interesting one to watch. Will many vote for her because the idea of Minnesota having its first woman governor is appealing? Also, her Campaign Finance mistake may work against her. So might her inability to stand up effectively and consistently to Governor Pawlenty.

Matt Entenza - I don't know Entenza very well. I used to have him at the bottom of my list because of the fiasco in the Attorney General's Office a couple of years ago. He's moved up quite a bit in my estimation. I don't think he's a bad guy. He made a mistake and I think he's sorry for it. He would probably actually make a pretty good governor if he kept his eye on what's best for the people of Minnesota and not on any thought of personal gain or fame. I'll have to learn more about his stand on the various issues. If he wants to get elected he should do something about his voice projection at the forums and debates. His voice is too soft and bland. I wish he would liven it up. If he could develop passion and enthusiasm in his voice, he would definitely be a force to reckon with.

Tom Rukavina - He's a cutie and oh so funny. I've heard many wonder whether he were serious enough to be governor. My take is that he can be dead serious when the occasion calls for it. I like him. He's got some great staffers, too. Rukavina is the Farmer-Labor part of DFL. He's had progressive leanings for a long, long time. He could easily accomplish a lot as governor. He's likeable but a bit caustic at times. I could definitely support him as governor. I like his slogan of "refreshingly honest." He almost called it "brutally honest." Maybe that's what we need. He's got a lot of humor, too. He even makes the other candidates laugh. I saw Dayton laugh at something Rukavina said in the same manner that a picture shows him laughing at something Paul Wellstone had said. Free and unburdened. Rukavina's talent for making people laugh is a great start for bringing hope to Minnesota.

John Marty - He's one of the two most liberal and progressive candidates. His Minnesota Health Plan is a work of genius. He's a role model for ethics and morality in politics. Marty would be a great governor because he would make Minnesota a progressive state again. I'm not sure if he can get elected because his voter base is probably far left. I don't know if he can get the independent and swing voters. I wish him the best of luck.

Paul Thissen - No one expected Thissen to rise up so quickly. He was thought of as a dark horse. Most thought that he would be good to go in an election down the road sometime. He's surprised us all with how quickly he became a force to reckon with. Thissen can definitely get independent and swing voters. He might be just what Minnesota needs for a new start. I can't say enough good things about Paul Thissen. I think everyone would be happy if he were elected governor. He could easily win the general election in November, too. He's an excellent communicator; he thinks on his feet quickly and efficiently when he's asked unforeseen questions at the candidate forums and debates; he's got a good personality; he's honest; he definitely wants to make Minnesota a better place to live. For those who are tired of the old way of politics and the old school of political thought, and even the older candidates, then Thissen is the candidate to choose. I call him the Golden Boy. He's the boy next door type. The kind of man loving parents want their daughter to marry. He'd make a great governor. What I like most about him is his willingness to listen. If he doesn't completely understand a particular issue, he'll go out of his way to get more information. He not only listens, but he'll implement changes to address the problem. If he finds that he was wrong about something, which I suspect is seldom, he is willing to change his stand. This is the kind of governor we need. His governorship could be called Minnesota's Golden Years.

R. T. Rybak - Rybak has come up fast from being a virtual unknown. He started to have a recognizable name during the Obama campaign and has come up quickly from there. As mayor of Minnesota's largest city, he has made a name for himself in the metro area. He's done some great things in Minneapolis. It seems a logical step to go from mayor to governor. He's a major contender to win the governor's race. He's got a lot of good things going for him to capture votes in both the metro area and outstate Minnesota. He's friendly and outgoing and he's got excellent communication skills. He knows how to work a room; he knows how to schmooze. Almost everyone likes him. He's got an easy smile and a firm handshake. He's got a great personality. I'm very confident in his ability to be a good governor. I would definitely be happy with Rybak as our next governor. He can get the job done and bring Minnesota into a viable future. If Rybak were governor, we could sleep easy at night knowing that Minnesota would once again take care of it's poorest and sickest, would embrace all with no exceptions, would be on the way to eliminating discrimination and disparities and would again have one of the best educational systems in the country. I don't see many flaws in Rybak. I'm sure he must have some, but I don't see them. He's very popular. He borders on charismatic. He's got enthusiasm. I've never seen or heard him be anything less than positive.

Mark Dayton -  Why is Dayton at the top of my "Best Choices for Governor" list? Lots of reasons. First, he's got the most years of public service experience of any of the candidates. It numbers 35 years. He's been involved in progressive politics even longer than that. Some of that experience is very powerful. When I attended his campaign kickoff in Room 125 of the State Capitol, I was struck by the amount of power in that room. Some of it came from the former U. S. Senator; some from other important people in the room; and much of it from the room itself. There are a lot of intense political impressions that have been left in that building for many, many decades. Yet when Dayton was speaking, he had an aura of power as well. At least until the media start asking him their usual annoying questions. I'm glad he had so many of his friends, family, staff and other loved ones there for moral support. Dayton wraps his political cloak of power snugly around himself when he's playing that role. Yet when he's talking to people one-on-one or in small groups, all that power dissipates and he's just a regular guy. Kind, considerate and somewhat shy with a great sense of humor. Another reason he's my top choice is that his entire adult life has been spent trying to help those less fortunate, those who are oppressed, those who are discriminated against and those who are treated unfairly. He has stood up for these groups on the Senate floor even knowing that his views were unpopular in a Republican majority. He always voted his conscience and never wavered from doing what he thought was right. Dayton has earned a reputation for saying what he means and meaning what he says. If he says he'll do something, he will definitely do it. His word is honorable. So is his character. Also, many people vote for the candidate they feel they have the most in common with. The one they resonate with the best. For myself and a great many other Minnesotans, that candidate is Mark Dayton. What could I possibly have in common with Mark Dayton?

1.  Coming of age in the late 1960's. People who weren't alive then can't possibly understand the impact that era had on our lives.

2.  Neither one of us can sing.

3.  We both drive fast.

4.  We're both eligible for AARP. Come to think of it, so is Tom Rukavina.

5.  Commonality in caring about the same political issues, although I suppose most of the other DFL candiates do as well.

6.  We both have a propensity to sometimes blow up over trivial incidents, but then get over it immediately.

7.  A great fondness for reading.

8.  A thirst and quest for knowledge of spiritual truths.

9.  An intense dislike of hurting people's feelings.

10. A good sense of how other people are feeling and reacting.

Do the DFL candidates have flaws? Of course. Don't we all? If we were perfect we wouldn't need to be on this earth anymore. Do any of the candidates have fatal flaws? I leave that for you to decide.

reNEW Minnesota Campaign, January 12, 2010

Tonight I attended the second set of interview screenings of reNEW Minnesota. The gubernatorial candidates we screened this evening were Tom Bakk, John Marty, Margaret Anderson Kelliher and Steve Kelley. The format was the same as last time. Candidates came into the room (at the Rondo Community Outreach Library on Dale Street in St. Paul) one at a time. Various members took turns asking them questions on aspects of the reNEW Minnesota vision for Minnesota. Here's the paraphrased answers of each candidate, along with the questions they were asked.

Tom Bakk

Question #1:  The Politics of Inclusion. Since the reNEW Minnesota kickoff campaign, what have you done to enact the vision and how have you incorporated it into your campaign? Bakk told about how he grew up in a church camp in northern Minnesota. This experience taught him about compassion and tolerance. He thinks that Minnesotans will accept a tax increase. He told us that he doesn't remember all the components of the reNEW Minnesota vision. He says the candidates have to go through a lot. He will, however, have an administration of inclusiveness. Basically, he did not answer the question.

Question #2:  What will you do about taxes and Minnesota's educational system? Bakk is the candidate who wants to have an honest coversation with Minnesotans about taxes. He's the Chair of the Senate Tax Committee. He kept telling us that. He still displays an aura of anger. He says Minnesota can't raise five billion dollars in revenue to pay off the deficit. We need jobs!

Question #3:  What will you do about racial discrimination and disparities? Bakk said that it's the governor who sets the tone. He stated that public opinion is very important at the Capital. As governor, he will advocate non-discrimination and promote gay marriage. He said that a big burly carpenter governor such as himself would be able to reach men who would otherwise think that real men don't support gay marriage.

Question #4:  How will you win? What strategies will you use? Bakk said he had lunch with former governor Wendell Anderson at the Lexington. They discussed why Minnesota hasn't elected a DFL governor in twenty years. Wendy said that our candidates haven't been genuine enough. If the people trust a candidate, they will give that candidate leeway on the issues. Genuineness is very important. Bakk told us that he is the best candiate. (They all say that.)

Question #5:  How will you keep your eye on our vision and prioritize? Bakk responded that each committee has a silo of priorities. Each committee has to decide on their biggest priorities. Bakk's biggest priority is jobs. He will focus on jobs and Minnesota businesses.

Question #6:  On Agriculture: What will you do to put family farms above corporate farms? Bakk is for growing trees. His district works the land. He's for small businesses and family farms. His heart broke when his community voted to close the school. They just couldn't feasibly keep it open. He will appoint a DFLer as the Commissioner of Agriculture. He will give the appointment to someone who comes from the agricultural community who has experience in farming. He would be willing to spend money in rural Minnesota for renewable energy with forestry.

Question #7:  What will you do to help make an easier transion for exoffenders to reenter society? Bakk says there are way too many prisoners. We should rehabilitate them, not leave them in prison. He stated that many of them should not even be in prison.

Question #8:  What will you do about the environment? He won't say that we shouldn't cut the trees down anymore, since forestry is a big part of his district. He really appreciates the beauty of nature. He lives on Lake Vermillion and wants it to remain pristine for his new grandson.

My impression:  Tom Bakk was less gruff tonight than other times I've heard him speak. He smiled a lot more, too. He told the audience that he doesn't expect to get the reNEW Minnesota endorsement. It was decent of him to come, though. He said he hopes he gets it. You could tell by his demeanor that he really isn't counting on it. I think he lost the audience when he said he couldn't remember what all the points of the reNEW Minnesota philosphy are. I got the impression that most in the audience would be crossing him off their list of possible endorsements. I would like to add that I know Senator Bakk has worked very hard representing his district at the legislature. I also know that he understands taxes and the budget very well. He's got some good endorsements. He's just not what reNEW Minnesota wants in their top three candidates.


John Marty

Question #1:  The Politics of Inclusion. Since the reNEW Minnesota kickoff campaign, what have you done to enact the vision and how have you incorporated it into your campaign? John Marty has had the reNEW Minnesota vision for many, many years. He always supported the idea of ending poverty by 2020, yet really always wanted it to end right now. He said we can do it and we have to do it. He wants living wage jobs for everyone. He has worked hard as a state senator for this vision for 23 years. His campaign rhetoric has always been in favor of this. He fully agrees with the reNEW Minnesota vision of living in a state where the inherent worth and dignity of every person is recognized without exception.

Question #2:  What will you do about taxes and Minnesota's educational system? He stated that we must invest in taking care of problems up front. He voted against tax cuts. He's a firm believer in progressive taxes. He will bluntly say so and has done so at the legislature. Besides going back to a progressive tax system, he will also consider taxes on things that will change consumer behavior, such as a carbon tax.

Question #3:  What will you do about racial discrimination and disparities? He will (and does) address all aspects of this issue. He truly believes in the inherent worth of everyone with no exceptions.

Question #4:  How will you win? What strategies will you use? He, as Wellstone did, has passion for his beliefs and the courage of his convictions. He knows that the biggest issue people have about him is that he ran for governor before and lost big. His response is that he was fifteen years ahead of his time back then. That's no longer true. The time is now! Minnesotans know there is something wrong with Minnesota and they're ready for a change. They're ready for Minnesota to do the right things again.

Question #5:  How will you keep your eye on our vision and prioritize? Have the vision first, then govern around the vision. We together decide how to make it happen. We need the leadership of someone like Floyd B. Olson.

Question #6:  On Agriculture: What will you do to put family farms above corporate farms? He will appoint a Commissioner of Agriculture who believes in sustainable agriculture. That person must be able to address public health issues. He will choose someone from an organization such as Clean Water Action or the Farmers' Union.

Question #7:  Discuss jobs for women and people of color and the role of MNDOT and METCOUNCIL. John Marty wants decent jobs for everyone regardless of gender, race or ethnicity. He will appoint a MNDOT commissioner who will adhere to this core principle. He will make sure that Metropolitan Council has people on the board who also share these humanitarian principles.

Question #8:  Homelessness in Minnesota is becoming a big problem. People are losing their jobs and losing their homes. There are also over 4,000 homeless veterans in Minnesota. What, precisely, will you do to eliminate homelessness from Minnesota and what is your timeline? John Marty cares deeply about the homeless problem. As governor, he would give it a top priority. Shelter is a basic human need and no one deserves to be denied this basic necessity. He was very passionate about this. Many in the audience gave him a standing ovation.

My impression:  I always liked John Marty. I really like his ideals, his passion for those ideals and the courage of his convictions. I, too, thought that perhaps he's too far left to get elected. I'm far left on these issues, too, but I know a lot of voters are not. On the other hand, if we keep thinking that way, we're playing right into the Republican ideas of greed and scarcity. We know that Minnesota has enough resources to solve the problems. We are tired of living in a state that doesn't seem to care about its poorest citizens. We are tired of living in a "Thank God that's not me" state. I have moved John Marty up to one of my top three candidates. He could really change this state around. He's got high morals and ethics, too, and doesn't take PAC money or money from lobbyists. When I really think about it, I'm getting awfully excited about the idea of a Minnesota such as John Marty envisions.


Margaret Anderson Kelliher


















Question #1:  The Politics of Inclusion. Since the reNEW Minnesota kickoff campaign, what have you done to enact the vision and how have you incorporated it into your campaign?  Margaret Anderson Kelliher stated that she supports things that lift people out of poverty. She fought to keep GAMC. She thinks that the Metropolitan Council should work with the Department of Education to get things done. She wants everyone in the state to share in future prosperity.

Question #2:  What will you do about taxes and Minnesota's educational system? We must stabalize the state budget and then focus on education. Kelliher wants fair taxes. She amused the audience when she said "Hark! I hear an echo!" This was in reference to a comparison between today and 1934. Kelliher also is in full support of the New Minnesota Miracle. She wants to first make taxes fair by making the wealthy pay their fair share. Hey! That's Dayton's line! We should just vote for him and be done with it.

Question #3:  What will you do about racial discrimination and disparities? Kelliher said that we have to begin with respect for everyone. Our state government has to respect the diversity of Minnesota. The institutional barriers that she will prioritize are the poverty gap, the achievement gap and the racial gap.

Question #4:  How will you win? What strategies will you use? She claims to have a unique campaign differentiation in that she offers a different way of looking at Minnesota. She has lived for twenty years in rural Minnesota and twenty years in metropolitan Minnesota. If she is governor, her administration will not tolerate whiners (no room here for Matt Entenza). She will make sure that the governor and the legislature will come together to get the work done. She thinks that grassroots organization will get her elected. She will go anywhere to talk to people, including the quilt shop down the street.

Question #5: How will you keep your eye on our vision and prioritize? She told us that she has lots of ideas. I didn't catch what they were. I don't think she answered the question. Maybe she didn't understand it.

Question #6: On Agriculture: What will you do to put family farms above corporate farms? This was a good question for Kelliher as she grew up on a dairy farm. (Did you know that?) She said that she will appoint a Commissioner of Agriculture who believes in organic family farming. She wants all her commissioners to have experience, expertise, and the ability to manage people. For Agriculture, she will look at people from such organizations as the Farmers' Union.

Question #7:  What will you do to make sure that, as the new LRT route comes through the Rondo neighborhood, people of lower and moderate income and diverse cultures won't get displaced? Kelliher said that she wants the Met Council to work with the community to find workable strategies for all the issues that will arise.

Question #8:  What will you do about the Health Care issue? She talked about the difference between health care and health insurance. She stated that health insurance no longer works. She believes that health care is a basic right. She fully supports the Minnesota Health Plan.

My impression:  The audience seemed to be divided in half in regard to Kelliher. Some liked what she said; others thought she wasn't sincere and perhaps couldn't be trusted. One TakeAction member said that he really wanted to like her and support her but he was having a hard time doing so. I knew what he meant. I feel the same way. Kelliher has excellent communication skills. There's no doubt at all about that. Something is missing, though. I heard someone say that she's as close to being a Republican as a Democrat can get. Do they mean she's a Blue Dog Democrat? I don't know about that. I don't see it. On the other hand, I don't think that on the inside she's the most progressive of all the candidates. Sometimes I think she's saying what she thinks the audience wants to hear. She makes good points, as any good debater learns to do in order to win a debate, but I don't hear the sound of speaking from the heart. I don't hear the passion of John Marty. I don't hear the sincerity of Mark Dayton. I don't see the courage of her convictions. If she does win the DFL endorsement and the primary, I could support her at that point. But not before then. There are DFL candidates who would follow the vision better.


Steve Kelley


















Question #1:  The Politics of Inclusion. Since the reNEW Minnesota kickoff campaign, what have you done to enact the vision and how have you incorporated it into your campaign? Kelley talked about how to close the achievement gap. He didn't really answer the question of how he is putting the reNEW Minnesota vision into his campaign.

Question #2:  What will you do about taxes and Minnesota's educational system? He agrees that we need a progressive tax system. He supports a carbon tax. He stated that we must control inflation and health care costs.

Question #3:  What will you do about racial discrimination and disparities? He embraces diversity in this state. He said that diversity makes us stronger. He wants to bring representatives of diverse groups into the government just as he has done in his campaign and continues to do.

Question #4:  How will you win? What strategies will you use? First, he will get the DFL endorsement. Then he will unite DFLers and Independents. He said that after the last guvernatorial race, many voters had "buyer's remorse." That got a chuckle from the audience.

Question #5:  How will you keep your eye on our vision and prioritize? He will call on people all across Minnesota to make the vision happen. People have to make decisions on how to consume less energy. All of Minnesota has to come together to get things done. We have only one governor but we can have five million heros.

Question #6:  On Agriculture: What will you do to put family farms above corporate farms? Kelley talked about nutrition in schools. He stated that rural life is important and that we need to teach rural people about business and economic development. He wants to expand the broadband infrastructure of rural Minnesota communities. He asks who trusts in an agricultural community and then said that it's the people who are active in it.

Question #7:  What will you do about burial sites for the Hmong community, particularly soldiers who fought alongside of us? Kelley didn't know that this was an issue but he is a support of burial rights for everyone. He will look into this issue further.

Question #8:  What will you do to stop the unfair foreclosures? He supports the Homeowner/Lender Mediation Act to prevent premature foreclosures.

My impression:  Steve Kelley has some good ideas and definitely understands budget issues. He's got the credentials, as he teaches a budget class at the Humphrey Institute. I don't think he will become on of reNEW Minnesota's top three candidates. He doesn't meet the criteria. For example, he does not support the Minnesota Health Plan. When MUHCC asked him this question: As governor would you sign the MN Health Act if it passed in the legislature?  He replied to all the other questions on their survey but did not respond to that one.



My pick: Out of these four candidates, the only one I can pick for one of my top three candidates is John Marty. He's the only one who fully agrees with and supports all of the visions of the reNEW Minnesota Campaign. One audience member said it was like Paul Wellstone came back.

A LOOK AT THE ELECTABILITY OF THE DFL GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES

It sure is hard to find a picture on the internet of all the DFL gubernatorial candidates that I haven't already used several times. Here's six of the candidates. From left to right, we have Mark Dayton, Tom Rukavina, Susan Gaertner, Steve Kelley, John Marty and Paul Thissen.

This post is to point something out to DFL voters. As you know, we have not had a DFL governor for twenty years. That's an entire generation. Young people don't know what it's like to have a DFL governor. We have got to change that in this November's election. How can we do that? By making sure we have a candidate who is electable. It's not just the DFL voters who will determine the final winner. It's also all the Minnesota voters who don't vote by party affiliation. They will vote for who they think will make the best governor. Some people will, as always, vote for the person whose name they recognize. Others vote for very strange reasons. One person told me they would never vote for anyone named Steve because that was her ex-husbands name. Crazy? Well sure. And we can't do anything about that kind of voting mentality. On the other hand, we can make sure that the candidate with the greatest liklihood of getting elected gets the DFL endorsement. We have to put aside thoughts of who we personally like best. We have to put aside ideas that the candidates may have that are just not going to bring in the independent voters. Also, we have to look at past electability. There are several candidates who have run for governor and lost. More than once. They have a history of not being electable.

Let's take a look at all the DFL candidates and see just how electable they might be. I won't include Ole Savior for obvious reasons.

Tom Bakk - I don't think that Bakk is the most electable candidate. On the other hand, he's certainly not at the bottom of the list. The trouble is that he's pretty much unknown among most Minnesota voters. He'd have to run a very expensive campaign to get his name out there. It can't be denied that he knows a lot about taxes and the budget. I don't think that's enough for Minnesota voters. Many voters do still vote on personalities. Bakk's a bit gruff. He doesn't seem very approachable to the average voter. He could work on that. I just don't think that voters will vote for someone who comes across as being an angry man.

Mark Dayton - As most of us know, Dayton is no doubt the most electable of all the candidates. His recent disclosures about his personal health have done nothing to change that. If anything, it has drawn even more supporters to his campaign. Dayton has more statewide name recognition than anyone else. Voters all across Minnesota fondly remember Dayton's Department Store. He's Minnesota's native son, even as JFK Jr. was America's native son. Also, he's got a reputation for being honest and sincere and having a great deal of integrity. He's got 34 years of public service experience. He's also experienced at winning statewide elections. He's campaigned and won against Republicans in the past. He knows how to win. Plus he's likable. When you add all these factors together, he's got the best chance of winning.

Matt Entenza -  I don't see Entenza as being electable. I don't think he would be able to get past Republican opponents enough to win the election. They've got too much against him. He made mistakes in the Attorney General's Office which people have not yet forgotten about. He should have waited this election out and instead started gearing up for the next one. There are only two ways that Entenza could win this election. One, he could buy his way in. Two, he could hire the best PR person he could possibly find and do a campaign on how he learned his lesson. He'd have to be very sincere, as voters aren't stupid. They can sense insincerity a hundred miles away.

Susan Gaertner - I wanted Gaertner to be electable. I really did. It's not happening, though. She's missing some necessary ingredient. It's one thing to win the office of Ramsey County Attorney. It's quite another to win a statewide election for governor. Voters might see her as being a real person and down to earth. They'll like the way she talks. Then they'll wonder what she will do for them and for Minnesota. I just don't see her as having the ability to win the governorship.

Steve Kelley - Sometimes you have to know when it's time to give up. He didn't win in 2006 and he's not going to win in 2010. He's not saying anything new, as many other bloggers have noted. I don't think that voters all across Minnesota would look to him to solve Minnesota's terrible problems. He does have good credentials. On the other hand, as Tim Pawlenty has shown in New Hampshire, voters look at their perception of a candidate's personality. Apparently for the presidential race, it's going to take a perception (however false) of charm, charisma and presentation skills. Kelley would need to work hard on these. Maybe if he hired a personal coach he could improve his public personna. And work on toning down a voice that is too loud. I've heard several people say that he seems to be yelling at the audiences at the debates and forums.

Margaret Kelliher Anderson - MAK has a lot of good things going for her. And some that are not so good. On the postive side, she's got a tremendous amount of endorsements. She's a good communicator, although sometimes she comes across as giving a canned speech. She should try to make her presentations more personable. And quit talking about the dairy farm she grew up on. That gets really old. On the negative side, she really didn't do much in the last two legislative sessions. She wasn't able to stand up effectively against the Terrible Tim. I've always had a problem with MAK but could never put my finger on exactly what it was. I finally figured it out. She's too much like me. Bossy, opinionated and always thinking she's right. On the other side of the coin, though, she probably has (like me) a lot of shyness and insecurity on the inside. And a great need to do the right thing and make a difference in the lives of Minnesotans. So I'm going to change my take on her and say that she is electable. I have no idea whether she could beat whoever the Republican opponent will be. But now I'm willing to give her a chance and see what happens. Besides, it would be kind of nice to have our first female governor.

John Marty - I don't think that Marty is electable. He's already proven that. Twice. Once in 1994 and again in 1998. What has changed between then and now? There's nothing new. He's a great senator for his district. He'll probably get reelected until the day he retires. He authored an excellent health bill, too. But governor? Winning enough votes to beat out everyone else? I just don't see it happening. I think he's wasting his time and money. Unless his main objective is to make all Minnesotans aware of Marty's Bill rather than to win the governorship. John Marty is great on ethics and great on health and fantastic on meeting the reNEW Minnesota vision. I just don't think he has a chance at being the next governor.

Tom Rukavina -  There are a lot of Minnesota voters who have no idea who Tom Rukavina is. He's been a representative to the Iron Range district for 23 years. He usually gets nearly 70 percent of the votes, from what I've been able to learn. Can he win, though? Our last DFL governor, Rudy Perpich, was also from the Iron Range. Will Tom take a good hard look at the way Perpich campaigned and learn whatever lessons there are to learn? I'm certainly not ruling Rukavina out. I wish him luck. He'll need a lot of money to win this campaign. Or the DFL endorsement. He does have a lot of popularity among those voters who know him. Can he carry that to the rest of the state? If his campaign staffer Orrie Salper has anything to say about it, he can. Orrie almost got me to change my allegiance. Almost, but not quite. After all, I'm extremely loyal. Often too much so.

R. T. Rybak - Is Rybak electable? Oh yes. Definitely. He's shown that several times in Minneapolis. Can he do the same thing statewide? I wouldn't doubt it a bit. He's likeable, personable and charasmatic. He knows how to work a room. He knows how to get supporters. When he shakes your hand and begins talking, you can't help but like him. A lot. And Rybak isn't one to come to an event late and leave early. He comes early and welcomes people. This easy charm makes voters want to vote for him. Plus he seems to have a good record in doing good things for Minnapolis. Rybak has an excellent chance of winning the general election. He's got excellent communication skills and organizational skills. People like him. Meaning that voters like him.

Paul Thissen -  Who is Paul Thissen? I had no idea before last year. Lots of voters still have no idea. He's changing that, though, and coming up fast. Everybody likes Thissen. He's young, he's smart, he's a fresh face and he's got great ideas. I feel that he's very electable. The more Thissen shows up around the state at various events, the more voters are swinging toward him. They like what he has to say. There are some voters who are tired of the same old, same old, and they want something and someone new. Thissen will definitely appeal to those voters.

Here's my take on electability based on what I wrote above. I'll list the top five candidates in order of their electability in my perception of what I've seen and heard from attending a multitude of forums and debates and of talking personally to some of the candidates and their staff. I've also talked to a lot of voters both in the Twin Cities and, to a lesser extent, across Minnesota. This is how it comes down:

1.  Mark Dayton
2.  R. T. Rybak
3.  Paul Thissen
4.  Margeret Anderson Kelliher
5.  Tom Rukavina

Leave your comments below on how well you agree with my assessments. Please comment according to electability. It's imperative that we support a candidate who actually has a chance to win the general election in November.

CANDIDATE NOSTALGIA

Do any of the candidates remind you of anyone or anything? When you look at them or listen to them, are you reminded of some nostalgic tidbit from long ago? For example, Tom Rukavina reminds me of Lt. Colombo because of his mannerisms. John Marty reminds me of Richard Thomas (John Boy Walton) because his ethics are beyond reproach. Susan Gaertner is a bit like Reese Witherspoon. Matt Entenza could be the spitting psychic image of Nicholas Cage. Now if you look really, really close, and very deep, you can see Al Pacino hiding in R.T. Rybak. Right? Tom Bakk reminds me of Dan Blocker (Hoss Cartwright from Bonanza). Steve Kelley has a vague resemblance to Jon Voight. Margaret Anderson Kelliher would, of course, be Rosanne Barr. That leaves Paul Thissen, who I'll tag as Richard Chamberlain (Dr. Kildare). And of course we can't forget Mark Dayton.  Much to his chagrin, I'm not going to cast him as George Reeves of Superman fame. Nope. He makes a much better Clayton Moore. The Lone Ranger. He comes riding in to save the day and then leaves. "Who was that masked man?" And everyone is envious because he's the hero who gets rid of the bad guys (like T-Paw, who is, naturally, the Joker).

Just so I don't leave out the GOP altogether, I do have one for Tony Sutton. He reminds me of Lumpy (Leave it to Beaver). I call his GOP crowd the Lumpy Crowd.

Now let's take this a step further. Every star has to have music attached to them. A theme song, if you will. Isn't this fun? Just click on each name and it will take you to the music that I associate with each candidate. A classical music tribute is the highest compliment I can give these candidates.

Tom Rukavina

John Marty

Susan Gaertner

Matt Entenza

R.T. Rybak

Tom Bakk

Steve Kelley

Margaret Anderson Kelliher

Paul Thissen

Mark Dayton

I hope you enjoyed the concert. These are some of my top favorite classical pieces.

WHO WILL BACK A MINNESOTA SINGLE-PAYER HEALTH PLAN?

The above picture shows the DFL gubernatorial candidates who back a single-payer health plan for Minnesota. Pictured from left to right are Paul Thissen, Margaret Anderson Kelliher, John Marty, Tom Bakk, Tom Rukavina and Mark Dayton. Don't they all look nice in medical garb? I don't think I'd want them operating on me, though. Except for Mark Dayton, who actually had experience in the OR at the old Abbot Hospital in Minneapolis back in the 1960's when he was an orderly. Kudos to these six candidates for caring about the health of all Minnesotans. Thumbs down to the candidates who do not support it. Click here for original article.

KEEPING THE DFL CANDIDATES STRAIGHT

With ten DFL gubernatorial candidates, it can get confusing keeping them all straight. Not so much for those of us who have been following the many forums and debates, but definitely for those who haven't. How can we rememember what the differences are when they all have the same DFL platform? Here's some phrases to help sort them out.

Tom Bakk - Honest conversation about budget; Jobs Jobs Jobs; Carpenter; unlock capital and put state back to work; state senator; angel investor tax credit; invest in small businesses

Mark Dayton - Tax the rich; honesty and integrity; keeps promises; 34 years government experience; 40 years fighting against injustice and inequality; passed legislation for seniors and veterans etc; strong, experienced, effective; quick-witted (ability to think both quickly and cleverly; gets things immediately); financially knowledgeable; knows how to bring in jobs; eliminate health and social disparities; truly listens to Minnesotans; Yale graduate; former U.S. Senator; truly cares about MN and its people; Better Minnesota

Matt Entenza - Prosecuting attorney; good investigative skills; clean energy economy; MN can become Silicon Valley of clean energy; Norwegian for Governor; 2020 Think Tank

Susan Gaertner - Ramsey County Attorney; A Fresh Start for a Great State; she can get it done; change leadership culture; restore fiscal integrity; meaningful returns on tax investments

Steve Kelley - lawyer; former MN senator; senior fellow at Humphrey Institute; teaches course on Public Budgeting; courage, community, change; sustainable energy; reproductive health

Margaret Anderson Kelliher - Speaker of the House; make MN world economic leader; dairy farmer; green energy production and manufacturing; battery storage technology; medical technology and biomedical research; reform health care; bring back GAMC; Harvard graduate

John Marty - MN senator; authored Minnesota Health Plan; invest in and build for the future; tough ethical standards in politics; responsibility in government; fight domestic violence; raise taxes; living wages for workers

Tom Rukavina - Iron Range; MN representative for 23 years; refreshingly honest; liberty before government; humorous politician; fair and progressive taxes; equal rights and opportunity for everyone; tax rebates for disabled; dedicated to rural communities and farm economy

R. T. Rybak - Mayor of Minneapolis; Minneapolis Promise; created jobs in Mpls; tough ethics policy; eliminate wasteful spending; balanced city budget eight years in a row without accounting gimmicks; paid off $116 million in city debt

Paul Thissen - MN representative; young, energetic, intelligent, refreshing, optimistic; help Seniors live independently and with dignity; broad economic vision and global economy; attract successful companies to MN; committed to statewide infrastructure

Hopefully this brief synopsis will help voters keep the candidates straight enough to know who's who and who stands for what.

A CLOSER LOOK AT TOM BAKK

Let's take a closer look at the DFL gubernatorial candidates. I'll take one candidate in each post. Let's do it alphebetically. Therefore the first one will be Tom Bakk.

Tom Bakk is a state senator from the Arrowhead. His counties are Carlton, Cook, Koochiching, Lake and St. Louis. He was born on June 8, 1954, in Virginia, MN. He lists his religion as Lutheran. He graduated from Cook High School in 1972, then received his AA from Mesabi Community College and his BA in Business Administration and Labor-Management Relations from the University of Minnesota, Duluth. 

 Let's look at the questions I posted in a previous post and see how Tom Bakk fares.

1. How much experience working in government does the candidate have?  Tom Bakk was elected to the Minnesota State Senate in November 2002. Prior to that, he served in the Minnesota House of Representatives for four terms. He chaired the Senate Tax Committee in 2006. He was also on the Rules and Administration, Business, Industry and Jobs, and Environment, Energy and Budget committees. He was also appointed to various national committees, including the Midwestern Legislative Conference: Economic Development, Technology and Labor Committee and the National Conference of State Legislators: Labor and Workforce Development Committee. Most recently, he was appointed by Governor Pawlenty to sit on the state’s Workforce Development Council.

2. Is the candidate electable? Does the candidate have state-wide name recognition? Tom Bakk does not have the name recognition that some of the other candidates have. I don't think that he can get enough votes to win.

3. Does the candidate have viable ideas about how to fix the crisis that Minnesota is in? Does the candidate have an actual plan for tackling most of the issues, or does he/she only talk about one or two issues? Does the candidate whine that the new governor can't do everything so has to concentrate on one or two things, or does he/she appear eager to get right to work on a plan to solve all the most pressing issues? Tom Bakk's main mantra is "Jobs Jobs Jobs," which he purloined from Rudy Perpich. Whether he would actually be able to create a lot of new jobs would remain to be seen. He claims that creating new jobs will be the foundation of his administration if he is governor. He plans to accomplish this through investments and incentives. His idea is to make Minnesota a business friendly state. His website does not say how he will do any of these things. He needs to be more specific if he wants to stay in the game. Otherwise he has nothing new to add to what all the DFL candidates say. He wants to restore common sense in Minnesota's economic policies. He wants to give the state a strong economy. This is all so incredibly vague. I don't see a plan for action. He says he's committed to education. Again, this is very vague. If you look at his website under issues, you'll see more vague committments to various issues, but no plan is stated. The only partial plan I can find is that Bakk is proposing tax credits and other changes to encourage investment. He outlined details at a Capitol news conference Thursday, surrounded by unemployed workers.

4. Is the candidate popular with voters? He might be popular with a handful of voters, but in general, no, he's not. He doesn't have state-wide name recognition, either.

5. Is there anything in the candidate's past that the opposition can use to turn voters against him or her? The main thing is that he comes across as being an angry person. I'm not sure if it's just because his voice is gruff or because he really does have a lot of anger. This is one reason why he wasn't considered for the AFSCME endorsement. On the other hand, he is married with four children and seems to have a stable home life.

6. If the candidate has past legislative experience, what was his or her voting record like? It appears that he did not support the Legacy Amendment, not because of what it funds but because of the dangerous nature of creating funding structures in the state constitution. To find the bills of which Tom Bakk was the chief author, click here. Here are two bills that he passed that were thought noteworthy. Here are some search results for Bakk's bills. He voted to cut income taxes in 1999 and 2000, but later admitted that it was a mistake. At least he owns up to his mistakes.

7. Does the candidate have the type of personality that can get along with the legislators well enough to work with them and get things done? Does he or she have a history of getting along well with others? His outward personality doesn't make it seem as though he were the most congenial candidate by any means. On the other hand, he did get the Politician of the Year Award. The article states that he was highly respected and fair. So I suppose he must be able to work with other legislators in a manner that assures that he can get things done.

8. What is the public image of the candidate? How do others see him or her? Sometimes what you see is what you get; other times how you perceive a person is not at all how they really are. Tom Bakk's public image appears to be that of a distinguished and respected legislator in circles where he is known. Of course a great many voters have no idea who he is.

9. How much budgeting experience does the candidate have? Is it enough to combat the current budget crisis? Does the candidate thoroughly understand money? Tom Bakk seems good to go on this. After all, he'd have to know quite a bit to chair the Senate Tax Committee.

10. Does the candidate have a history of going out of his or her way to help others? Does the candidate truly care about the people of Minnesota, or is the candidate only out for himself or herself? I can't find anything on the internet where Bakk has gone out of his way to help those less fortunate. That doesn't mean there isn't anything; it just means that the information is not easily accessible. If anyone has any information regarding this question, please let me know and I'll update this post.

11. What are the true inner motives as to why the candidate wants to be the next governor of Minnesota? I can't find any altruistic reason why Bakk is running for governor except that he thinks he can do a good job and can get Minnesota out of its budget crisis.

12. Will the candidate be able to win a debate against the opposition? I think he has a more than average chance. His voice alone might intimidate the opposition.

13. Does the candidate like children and animals? Of all the pictures on Bakk's website, there are only two that have a child and one that has a dog. I won't even count the dog because it has a Bakk campaign sign around its neck. I see no sign anywhere that Bakk is overly enthusiastic about kids or animals. He does have four children of his own, so he must at least like them a little bit.

14. Does the candidate often say what he or she thinks the audience wants to hear or does he/she tell the truth no matter how unpopular that truth might be? Is the candidate honest with the audience or are there half-truths and embellishments? From what I can tell from attending many candidate forums and debates, Tom Bakk is honest and says what he thinks rather than what he thinks the audience wants to hear.

15. Does the candidate agree to be accountable to the people of Minnesota? I haven't heard him actually come right out and say so. It may very well be a given with him but there is no proof. Maybe he'll come and and say so now.

16. Does the candidate have a team of advisors and commissioners in mind yet? I'm sure he's thinking about it, but it appears that his main focus right now is actually winning the DFL endorsement. Time enough for appointees later. I haven't heard him mention any names regarding who he will appoint for the various roles.

17. In the final analysis, which candidate do you really connect with and why? I personally don't connect with Tom Bakk at all. To me, he seems unapproachable and frightening.

18. And last but not least, what has the candidate done in his/her career to help various communities of people, such as Seniors, Veterans, Children, Disabled, GLBT, etc.?  In the Senate, Tom Bakk voted against the ban on same-sex partnerships. He believes that there should be a legal distinction for committed couples and marriages should be left up to individual faiths and churches.

In his time in the Senate, Tom Bakk has supported many initiatives to support our veterans, including:
*Increasing funding to the veterans’ homes so they can provide high-quality care.
*Providing veterans preference when applying for open state employment positions.
*Allowing veterans to have a “veteran” designation on their drivers license upon the veteran's request. This designation will give Minnesota another way to keep a record of veterans in the state.
*Requiring the National Guard to establish a program of post-deployment health assessments for National Guard members called into active military service and deployed outside the state.
*Increasing funding to the Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans (MACV). MACV works to provide assistance throughout Minnesota to positively motivate veterans and their families who are homeless or experiencing other life crises. Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans accomplishes its mission by providing services directly or in collaboration with other service agencies.
*Authorizing legislation authorizes and provides language for the issuance by the Commissioner of Public Safety of special gold star motor vehicle license plates for family members of military service personnel who have died in active military service.


The biggest mantra of Tom Bakk is that he knows how the common people feel because he himself was a working man (carpenter) for many years, carried a lunch bucket and belonged to a union.