Almanac: At the Capitol

I just got back from Ely for the Will Steger-Gov. Pawlenty climate change conference in Ely. They are an odd couple, but could prove to be a highly effective pairing. They are both media masters and come from very different approaches to reach the same conclusion: there is global warming and we need to act fast. The governor said to his Republican or conservative friends who say this is a hoax and question his Steger alliance, "the worst thing that can happen is cleaning up the planet for our children and grandchildren and that's not so bad." I'd say Pawlenty was greeted with guarded optimism and perhaps skepticism. Protestors outside said more mining under a Pawlenty administration and cleaning up the environment are not consistent. They're concerned these conferences are just lip service and nothing will really get done. Pawlenty isn't dumb, this is an issue that 85% of Americans agree with him that there is global warming. On the other hand, Sen. Amy Klobuchar was welcomed like a hometown girl with lots of applause. With her father and grandfather's roots on the Iron Range, she didn't disappoint with lots of solid Ranger jokes. I've been a bit tough on Klobuchar's oratory skills, but today she knocked it out of the park. She's grown and the crowd got to see evidence of why she was voted the funniest freshman.