I said, "friend do you think I'll ever get there?"

It's Super Bowl Sunday, but there's work to be done before the big game. From 1:00 pm until 3:00 Central time, I will be on the air with this week's edition of The Closer.

This week brings an extra special program, as I am honored to welcome friends and fellow right-wing radio hosts Jack Tomczak and Ben Kruse to the Patriot bunker. Jack and Ben host The Late Debate, which can be heard every Sunday thru Thursday evening, 10-Midnight CT on Twin Cities station 95.9 FM WLKX.

Amongst the veritable buffet of topics will be Presidential Politics, the Komen kerfuffle, MN Marriage amendment and, of course, the Super Bowl!!


So please give us a call at (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics we plan on addressing.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #narn or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....

-------------------------------------------

Super Bowl XLVI: The Q & A

In an effort not to overshadow Groundhog Day (Heh. See what I did there?), I decided to wait an extra day to release the transcript of another highly anticipated yearly event. That would be my annual Q&A with the Super Bowl Inquisitor of course.

As is our M.O., SBI has the questions, I have the answers!


SBI: ESPN and other sports outlets constantly hype MLB’s Yankees-Red Sox rivalry. Now, for the second time in five years, it’s the Giants-Patriots in the Super Bowl. Have you grown weary of the bombardment that is the New York-Boston domination of sports?
BC: Just so we don’t get to the point of glamorizing soccer’s New York Red Bulls and New England Revolution, I’ll be OK.

SBI: NY Giants quarterback Eli Manning is playing this game in the stadium his older brother (and more heralded QB) Peyton calls “home.” Does that story line do anything for ya?
BC: Not really. To be honest, I was much more impressed with the fact Jim Hanks was the running stunt double for his brother Tom in Forrest Gump.

SBI: New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady will be in their fifth Super Bowl together, an all-time record for a coach/QB. Can you think of a more accomplished duo in anything?
BC: Within the context of football, I can’t. But overall? The nod has to go to country music duo Brooks & Dunn, unless one can prove to me that Brady could hit the high note on Boot Scootin’ Boogie.

SBI: Four years ago, the Giants denied the Patriots an unprecedented 19-0 season with a 17-14 win in SB XLII. Could this be the most anticipated rematch ever?
BC: Again, within the context of football? Maybe. But for my money, I would rather see Vince Neil and Axl Rose square off again.

SBI: Speaking of washed up quinquagenarian musicians, halftime entertainment is being headlined by Madonna. What say you?
BC: I say this goes about as well as when she was the “headliner” in Shanghai Surprise.

SBI: Now I know you’re a casual fan of Kelly Clarkson. Are you excited about her singing The Star Spangled Banner?
BC: Sure. But I’m even more intrigued to see the reaction of the Indianapolis crowd when they realize the song doesn’t end with the words “Gentlemen, start your engines!”

SBI: What’s on the menu?
BC: In paying homage to the two regions represented in the big game, it has to be Pizza Pie and New England Clam Chowdah!

SBI: It is my understanding that you are eschewing such unhealthy foods.
BC: Correct! In fact, I will be doing plenty of chewing on that pizza come game time.

SBI: {SIGH} Have you always been this obtuse?
BC: Uhh, NO! In fact, I was never over 200 pounds until 1999.

SBI: Thank you. That answers my question perfectly. Who you got winning this game?
BC: Bottom line is one cannot spell “I bELIeve” without E-L-I! With that, I say the Giants not only cover the 2-1/2 point spread but win outright, 28-24




Postseason Record:
Straight up: 6-4-0
Against The Spread: 3-7-0

------------------------------------------

Threescore and ten

I remember turning thirty years old. That particular milestone birthday didn't bother me in the least. In fact, when I hit the big 4-0 ten years later, I felt the best I ever had both physically and mentally.

But for some reason, my own mother turning 70 years old today really messes with my head. I guess it's because I remember vividly when she was my age, so it hardly seems possible that such a milestone b-day is here.

Anyhow, Happy Birthday Ma! Your eldest son loves you very much.

-------------------------------------------

Out along the edges, always where I burn to be....

From 1:00 pm until 3:00 today, I'll be on the Northern Alliance Radio Network with another installment of The Closer.

Beginning at 1:15, I will welcome to the studio Dan "Doc" Severson, who is vying for the GOP endorsement to oppose Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar. Doc has a very intriguing background, having served 22 years in the Navy as a Top Gun fighter pilot in addition to four terms in the MN House of Representatives.

In the second hour, I'll discuss Michele Bachmann's announcement to seek a fourth term in Congress, the latest on the recall effort of Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker and the President Obama-Governor Jan Brewer kerfuffle.


So please give us a call at (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics I plan on addressing.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #narn or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....

-------------------------------------------

Bachmann is back

I admit I was mildly surprised by this bit of news.

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, the Minnesota congresswoman who dropped a bid for the GOP presidential nomination in January, will run for re-election to Congress in 2012, her campaign said Wednesday.

Bachmann's political future had been in question ever since she announced she was suspending her presidential campaign on January 4, the day after finishing sixth in the Iowa caucuses. Bachmann has represented Minnesota's sixth district since 2007, but gained an outsized profile in the last three years for her vocal support of the tea party movement and her presidential bid.

Bachmann's campaign spokesman, Guy Short, confirmed Wednesday she would seek reelection for her seat, noting there were "more details to come" on her official announcement.

As a resident Congressional District Six, I am thrilled that Bachmann is jumping into the race. She has been a strong and consistent voice for fiscal sanity, something that is sorely needed these days.

I said at the outset that I was mildly surprised by this, and there are a couple of reasons for that reaction. First, Bachmann gained significant national chops by being the GOP Presidential frontrunner during the Summer. As such, I wasn't certain she could humble herself and come back to CD6 after gaining such prominence on the national political stage only to fade after winning the Ames, IA straw poll. And since redistricting has yet to be finalized, there is some question as to whether her residence in Stillwater will even remain in the sixth.

The other aspect had to do with the 2010 election cycle, when Bachmann's detractors beat her over the head with the charge that she was frequently absent from her district, a criticism that was largely unfounded. However, there's no denying such a charge this time around as she spent ample time in 2011 on the Presidential campaign trail. Not to mention the fact she continually pointed out how proud she was to be an Iowan, having lived in the Waterloo area until she was thirteen. That's probably not the best method to galvanize support from your constituents in Minnesota.

Having said all that, Bachmann will have a significant advantage in fundraising over any Democrat opponent given that she did attain a national following while running for President. Combine that with the fact the she was one of the few GOP bright spots in the 2006 & 2008 elections (and won by her widest margin in 2010), it's pretty much a certainty that leftist PACs are not even going to bother targeting this district. My guess is the political demographics haven't changed that dramatically over the past couple of years, making it even more of a daunting task for a DFLer to knock off such a strong incumbent as Bachmann.

Now if Michele can just steer clear of the verbal missteps......

-------------------------------------------

A phoenix rises in Arizona

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ), who was seriously wounded in Tucson, AZ a little more than a year ago by crazed gunman Jared Loughner, is resigning her seat in Congress.




Citing the need to focus more on her recovery, Giffords will step down this week.

But before she walked away, Giffords took care of one more order of business on Monday morning. In a final act of service on behalf of her constituents, Rep. Giffords finished her "Congress On Your Corner" meeting which she was in the midst of fulfilling on that fateful Saturday morning a little more than twelve months ago.

Photo courtesy of Rep. Gabby Giffords' Twitter feed

Dignified, courageous and heroic to the end.

Godspeed, Rep. Giffords.

------------------------------------------

Although you're superior over me, we talk to each other in a friendship way....

Tune in to the Northern Alliance Radio Network this afternoon from 1:00 pm until 3:00 Central time as I will be on the air with this week's installment of The Closer. It's getting serious in the GOP Presidential primary, so we'll take a look back at the past week's events in South Carolina. We'll discuss Rick Perry dropping out and Newt Gingrich performing yet another flawless imitation of that beast in the Eagles song "Hotel California."

At 1:15, I will be joined via telephone by Hastings, MN native Ben Utecht. After a nice career as a Tight End for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers football team (2000-03), Ben went on to the NFL to play for the Indianapolis Colts (including the '06 season when they won the Super Bowl) and the Cincinnati Bengals. However, a severe concussion at Bengals training camp in 2009 effectively ended Utecht's NFL career, so he transitioned to another passion of his --- music.



We'll discuss his fledgling music career as well as his current musical tour with renown pianist Jim Brickman.

Then in the 2:00 hour I will welcome to the studio Joe Arwood, who is one of a handful of GOP candidates looking to oppose Sen. Amy Klobuchar to represent Minnesota in the US Senate.



We'll discuss Joe's personal background and get his insights on Klobuchar's stupefying support of SOPA and PIPA.


So please give us a call at (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics I plan on addressing.

You can listen live in the Twin Cities at AM 1280 on your radio dial. In and out of the Minneapolis-St Paul area, you can listen to the program on the Internet by clicking this link.

And if you're so inclined, follow along on Twitter at #narn or "Like" our Facebook page.

Until then.....

-------------------------------------------