Paul Wellstone cut his political teeth working the rural power line issue in the late 1970s. In 1981 Carleton College professor Wellstone appeared on Channel 2 to talk about energy issues and what he called "the first battle in America's energy war." Note the professor's happening hair style.
The House rejected a bill that would have allowed the construction of new nuclear power plants and tried to get a vote on the governor's budget.
The Senate votes to allow new nuclear power plants, the Senate's education bill now takes federal stimulus money into account, and a House committee kills an effort to change the way we vote for president.
Jim Ragsdale stops by with a bike helmet on his head to explain his personal energy policy.
Mary Lahammer had fun watching all the Senate ads this week; that's one of the segments in this week's Campaign Notebook media digest.
Tuesday, August 5, 2008 - 11:25 am
U.S. Senate candidates U.S. Senate candidates Al Franken, Norm Coleman, Dean Barkley and Steve Williams debated outside of Redwood Falls. Energy was the top topic. Discluded candidates Priscilla Lord Faris, Jack Uldrich and Ole Savior are here standing by in protest.
Franken hit Coleman repeatedly saying the senator voted certain ways because "President Bush told him to." Coleman highlighted his experience in front of this rural audience, noting his 6 years on the agriculture committee.
Immigration, jobs and more farming issues came up. True to form, the Independents got the most laughs with their creative answers like Barkley begging for more than 8 days in Washington and Williams on immigration saying "the only people who need to be deported are the ruling parties in Washington."
Afterwards reporters asked Coleman why the crowd seemed to favor him; he said he's had the benefit of working with these people for 6 years. Coleman said Franken should "hit me in another forum." Franken told reporters he did hit hard on Coleman's ties to Bush because he voted with the president nearly every time.
U.S. Senate candidates U.S. Senate candidates Al Franken, Norm Coleman, Dean Barkley and Steve Williams debated outside of Redwood Falls. Energy was the top topic. Discluded candidates Priscilla Lord Faris, Jack Uldrich and Ole Savior are here standing by in protest.
A few weeks back we introduced you to the endorsed Independence Party candidate for U.S. Senate. This week we hear from two other well-known candidates running in the IP Senate primary.
Mary Lahammer is back with her weekly breezy look at the political blogosphere.
Meet a DFLer from a famed family who is running against Al Franken in the September primary.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008 - 12:06 pm
U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann is headed to ANWR with fellow Republicans. She just appeared on CNN and said if we drill for oil in Alaska we can have "two-dollar-a-gallon gas again." When asked about the environmental and wildlife impact she said, it's "dark most of year" and there are "no trees" so it's the "perfect area" to drill. No matter what you think about her (and most seem to have strong feelings) as a media professional, I got to tell you she's good at TV. But the congresswoman seems to be avoiding Minnesota press in favor of the national spotlight. Bachmann has gotten a lot of press on the domestic drilling issue, but John McCain didn't seem to know much about her plan when he was asked about it at his St. Paul town hall forum.
U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann is headed to ANWR with fellow Republicans. She just appeared on CNN and said if we drill for oil in Alaska we can have "two-dollar-a-gallon gas again." When asked about the environmental and wildlife impact she said, it's "dark most of year" and there are "no trees" so it's the "perfect area" to drill.
