Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Out until Friday morning

One of Minnesota's many fine outdoor excursions is calling.




I don't have to be back at work until Tuesday, July 5, so the fetching Mrs. Carlson and I will be indulging in the great outdoors the next couple of days. As such, I'm not sure I'll be up to blogging from the headwaters of the Mississippi River, so there will likely be little activity here.

Talk to ya later this week.

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Monday, June 27, 2016

The SCOTUS war on women

For an abortion clinic to not be required to be held to the same standards as other medical clinics could potentially put a woman's health in jeopardy. Yet the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that such regulations in the state of Texas just aren't necessary.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday struck down one of the nation's toughest restrictions on abortion, a Texas law that women's groups said would have forced more than three-quarters of the state's clinics to shut down.

The decision was 5-3.

Passed in 2013, the law said clinics providing abortion services must meet the same building standards as ambulatory surgical centers. And it required doctors performing abortions to have admitting privileges at nearby hospitals.

Since the law was passed, the number of clinics providing abortion services in Texas dropped to 19 from 42. Opponents said that number would fall to ten if the Supreme Court upheld the law.

So if the number of abortion clinics continued to drop, then what was holding them back from upgrading it's operation to meet the regulatory requirements as spelled out in the Texas law? National Review's David French noticed that the majority opinion implied that such regulations were downright burdensome.

There you have it, ladies and gentlemen. The regulatory state should tremble in fear. There is now “no reason to believe” that additional regulations would affect wrongdoers. That means that regulations may not even be able to escape the lowest level of judicial scrutiny — rational-basis review.

Environmentalists are quaking in their boots. Gun controllers are throwing their hands up in despair. Financial and business regulators may as well close up shop.

Wait. What’s that you say? This is an abortion decision? The regulations in questions were deemed responsible for closing substandard abortion clinics?

Never mind. The regulatory state is safe. Everyone knows that the Supreme Court privileges the killing of children above all else. After all, as Justice Ginsburg has said, Roe v. Wade was motivated by “concern about population growth and particularly growth in populations that we don’t want to have too many of.” The undesired have to die — the reasoning matters not.

These are strange times indeed when a so-called "right" that's not even specifically addressed in the U.S. Constitution may well take precedence over the Bill of Rights.

(O)ne wonders whether the five justices that signed onto this sorry decision will be as anxious to protect an explicit constitutional right — the Second Amendment, as well as the Fourth and Fifth — when it comes time to rule on an attempt to use “watch lists” to deny Americans the right to keep and bear arms. Don’t hold your breath waiting for consistency when that time comes

Sadly, many pro-abortion people have apparently forgotten (or, given the feeble media coverage at the time, are unaware of) the horrible aftermath of the women treated at Dr. Kermit Gosnell's unregulated clinic.

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Box Score of the Week

The Milwaukee Brewers took on the New York Mets in the second game of a May 20, 1999 doubleheader.

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The Mets' Robin Ventura hit a grand slam in each game of the doubleheader, becoming the first player in MLB history to accomplish such a feat. 

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Sunday, June 26, 2016

Didn't think that you could get so much from a picture show......

I'll be back in the Patriot bunker after a week off of my Northern Alliance Radio Network program The Closer. The 1-hour extravaganza begins at 2:00 PM Central Time.

Much of hour will be focused on the Democrats in Congress once again indulging in symbolism over substance. Also, why is the Obama administration so hellbent on not acknowledging the threat that radical Islam poses to America?


So please give me a call at (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics I plan on addressing. You can also text comments/questions to (651) 243-0390.

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, or check us out via iheart radio. If you're unable to tune in live, please check out my podcast page for the latest show post.

Even though I have a face for radio, there is a UStream channel where you can watch the broadcast, if you so desire. Check it out here.  

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

Until then.....

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Friday, June 24, 2016

Brexit

It happened!

The United Kingdom now has two years to negotiate the terms of its exit from the European Union. This is definitely uncharted territory, so the process in and of itself will be worth watching, to say nothing of what happens when the U.K. is finally on its own.

On a lighter note, this historic event has resulted in delusions of grandeur here in the U.S.





Oh yeah, and Thursday was definitely not a good day for the White House's current occupant. First the lower court ruling which overturned his executive amnesty plan was upheld due to a 4-4 deadlock at the U.S. Supreme Court. Then his preferred outcome in the U.K. didn't come to fruition.



Yes, it's safe to say that the "Leave" contingency "headed out on the tiles*" after the referendum was officially called!!





*American translation: To go out for the night to have a good time. To party.

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Wednesday, June 22, 2016

When I saw this headline.....

......on a Washington Examiner post.....


Ryan: No vote on gun bills that ignore due process



....I thought "What a shame this even has to be clarified."

House Speaker Paul Ryan on Wednesday night dismissed the Democratic takeover of the House floor as a "publicity stunt," and said Republicans wouldn't be goaded into allowing a vote on bills that violate the Constitution.

"We're not going to take away a citizen's constitutional rights without due process," he said on CNN.

Democrats want the GOP to allow a vote on bills to expand background checks, and to prevent people from buying a gun if they are on an federal terrorism watch list. But Republicans say those lists are created without giving the people on those lists any chance to defend themselves.

In this instance, the Republicans have the ACLU as an ally, in particular against an amendment proposed by Sen. Susan Collins (R(ino)-ME).

“The ACLU strongly urges you to vote against the Collins Amendment because it uses the error-prone and unfair watchlist system, along with vague and overbroad terms, as a predicate for a proceeding to deny a firearms permit,” the ACLU officials wrote in the letter. “The Collins Amendment relies on both the No Fly List, by codifying its criteria, and the Selectee List, by direct reference.”

Naturally this serves as an opportunity for Democrats to engage in hyperbole........





.....and cheap theatrics.

Rep. John Lewis and a group of his fellow Democrats took to the House floor late Wednesday morning to stage a sit-in and are vowing to stay for the foreseeable future. Their goal? Pressure Republican leadership to hold votes on gun control legislation, something they have not done in the wake of this month’s mass shooting in Orlando, Florida.




Finally, this pictorial illustration pretty much sums up the whole debate:




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Tuesday, June 21, 2016

Miss Minnesota 2016

For the second consecutive year I had the distinct honor of emceeing the Miss Minnesota Scholarship Pageant. And for the second consecutive year I am thrilled with whom the judges selected to represent my state at Miss America.




I specifically recall Madeline Van Ert competing last year in the 2015 state pageant. As a mere 18-year old, Madeline showed incredible poise, heart and confidence while competing.

During the talent portion of the competition, I am typically standing off stage. What stood out to me about Madeline's 2015 performance (she played piano to the John Lennon tune Imagine while also singing the song) is when she departed the stage upon finishing her talent piece. While backstage, she burst into tears, not out of sorrow but rather pure emotion. She put her whole heart into that phase of competition, leaving nothing on the table. As a result, Madeline ended up finishing 3rd overall last year. When I called her name as "second runner-up," she looked up with this huge smile on her face as if to say "YESSS!!!" It was that display of heart and a grateful attitude which galvanized my belief that she'd be a legit contender if indeed she chose to compete again.

Sure enough, Madeline competed again in 2016. And once again she gave it all she had. But this time it resulted in her being crowned Miss Minnesota, a well earned honor among an incredibly talented class.

Congrats, Madeline!

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Monday, June 20, 2016

Box Score of the Week

Seattle Mariners ace Felix Hernandez threw a perfect game against the Tampa Bay Rays in August, 2012.

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There have been 23 perfect games thrown in the history of Major League Baseball. This one happens to be the only one which occurred in the month of August. 

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Sunday, June 19, 2016

It's over

Of the U.S. cities with at least 3 teams representing one of the 4 major sports leagues (NFL, MLB, NBA and NHL), only one city in the past half-century had failed to win a single championship before Sunday evening. That city was (keyword was) Cleveland.

It happened on the road at Oracle Arena. It's not a dream. Most considered it an impossible feat. No team in 32 tries had ever come all the way back from being down 3-1 to win the NBA Finals.

Now, it's 1-32.

The Cleveland Cavaliers completed the unimaginable on Sunday night, a 93-89 Game 7 victory over the Golden State Warriors to win the franchise's first NBA championship.

Celebrate, Cleveland. Celebrate.

LeBron James has delivered Cleveland's first professional championship in 52 years. He led all players in this series in points, assists, steals and blocks. He registered 27 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists Sunday to earn the Finals MVP award.

When James moved on to the Miami Heat after seven seasons with the Cavs, he won a championship in his second season with the Heat. Upon winning that series, James jumped up and down with glee, finally winning that elusive title after his teams lost in his two previous NBA Finals appearances (2007 with Cleveland; 2011 with Miami). But this 2016 championship was undoubtedly more special given he came back to Cleveland (his home area) for the sole purpose of ending the region's dearth of championships. James was overcome with emotion upon the conclusion of Sunday's game as he and Cavs celebrated this incredible accomplishment.

Now that Cleveland has ended its 52-year drought, there are two cities with at least three major sports teams who are tied for most years (25) without a title. They would be Washington, D.C.......

.......and Minneapolis.

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Rare and well deserved break....

Given the blog post title, I'm tossing a quarter into the Brian "St. Paul" Ward royalty fund.

My friend and valued colleague Mitch Berg will be filling in for me on the Northern Alliance Radio Network today from 2:00 until 3:00 PM Central Time.

Given that Mitch is likely the most knowledgeable, articulate and insightful Twin Cities media guy on the gun issue, expect a fair amount of response to the latest gun-grabbing efforts in America.


So please give Mitch a call at (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics he plans on addressing. You can also text comments/questions to (651) 243-0390.

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, or check us out via iheart radio

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

Until then.....

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Friday, June 17, 2016

June 17, 1994

It happened 22 years ago today.....

Arnold Palmer playing his final round at the U.S. Open.

The commencement of the FIFA World Cup.

The New York Rangers celebrating their win at the Stanley Cup Finals with a ticker-tape parade on Broadway.

Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Houston Rockets and the New York Knicks.

Ken Griffey, Jr. tying Babe Ruth's record of the most home runs (30) before June 30th.

And of course.....





Six years ago, ESPN debuted the documentary June 17, 1994 as part of its 30 For 30 video series. It is fascinating viewing, as it intertwined multiple video clips of each of the aforementioned events. This film was also unique in that there was no narration. One of the more interesting clips was the behind-the-scenes conversation between NBA on NBC host Bob Costas and a producer. Costas was contemplating the logistics of his network balancing coverage of NBA Finals Game 5 while also keeping folks updated on the developments in the O.J. saga.

As I've said before, this day in history was arguably the beginning of two major trends in American culture. First was our country's obsession with reality based TV. Second (and perhaps most unforgivable) was the name "Kardashian" becoming a household word.

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Tuesday, June 14, 2016

The true scourge of Orlando

I've always respected CNN's Anderson Cooper as a journalist. Sure he's a leftist, but I've never had a sense that it clouded his ability to conduct a tough (but fair) interview.

In the aftermath of the recent Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, FL, Cooper recently chatted with Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who apparently spoke out against gay marriage some time ago. Because Ms. Bondi was upholding the one of the tenets of her job (i.e. advocating for the voters' position on a 2008 gay marriage ban), Cooper asserted that any sympathy she expressed towards the LGBT community after the horrific tragedy at Pulse can be construed as hypocritical. 

Check it out for yourself: 





Guy Benson, himself a gay man, was appalled by Cooper's line of questioning.

Many Lefties and press types are giddy over Cooper's performance, for which he should actually be embarrassed. There is precisely zero hypocrisy -- none -- in an elected official both (a) opposing same-sex marriage as a public policy matter, and (b) unequivocally blasting the mass murder of gay people, and vowing to do everything in her power to prevent or severely punish similar outrages in the future. This should be patently obvious to anyone who doesn't reflexively assume that all opposition to gay rights legislative efforts are rooted in "hate." I'm by no means blind to the fact that genuine homophobia exists, and that some anti-LGBT sentiment is pure bigotry. I also disagree with Bondi's legal position (effectively endorsed by a lopsided majority of Florida voters in 2008) that the implementation of legalized gay marriage would inflict "harm" on the state. Bondi, who didn't acquit herself especially well in this exchange in my view, at least makes clear that she doesn't believe gay people are harmful, which is how Cooper unfairly framed the question.

Think about it: Here we have the state's top law enforcement officer being raked over the coals for her act of standing in solidarity with a community that had just found itself in the crosshairs of lethal terrorism. Her public stance on any number of policy disputes pertaining gay rights issues is irrelevant here -- unless she'd previously advocated in favor of anti-gay violence, which of course she had not. Times like these require ardent gay rights supporters and entrenched gay rights opponents alike to stand tall, shoulder to shoulder, against a surpassing evil that threatens our shared values. Cooper chose to use his formidable platform and gravitas to blur important distinctions and imply equivalencies that do not exist. In doing so, he actively participated in the division of America. He made it harder for his fellow countrymen to coalesce in needed unity, shared anger and joint resolve. He debased himself with his morally-bereft premise.

In fairness to Cooper, he became visibly emotional when, during a recent broadcast, he read the names of the 49 victims of last Saturday's shooting. I can only surmise that emotions were still pretty raw and thus his line of questioning seemed more coarse than normal.

Alas, one could argue Cooper's premise is another in a vast collection of red herrings over the past few days. Yes, the primary focus should be on government bureaucracies continually failing the citizenry as well as a worldview looking to destroy western culture. However, that may (or may not) occur only after the perpetual boogeymen comprised of "gun nuts" and Christians endure their rhetorical flogging.

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Monday, June 13, 2016

Box Score of the Week

12 years ago yesterday, the San Francisco Giants took on the Baltimore Orioles in an interleague matchup.

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Both Barry Bonds of the Giants and Rafael Palmeiro of the Orioles homered in this game. It was only the third time in MLB history that two players with 500+ career home runs each went deep in the same game. 

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Sunday, June 12, 2016

Orlando massacre

News of the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, FL left me equally saddened, shocked and horrified. As I write this, 50 have been confirmed dead and 53 wounded, making it the largest mass shooting in American history in terms of casualties.

When I awoke early Sunday morning to the news, I purposefully avoided social media (specifically Twitter) given the leftist reactions would likely be the same baseless & vitriolic attacks on the GOP, conservatives and the NRA. Literally before bodies are even cold, leftist kooks demand action on "senseless gun violence" and take to blaming anyone politically right-of-center for obstructing such "common sense reform." But when their narrative is immediately punctured (i.e. the shooter's not a white male NRA member committing the atrocities in San Bernardino or Orlando), they then turn the tables and say "Hey, just because the perpetrators have Middle Eastern names doesn't mean they're affiliated with ISIS. HOW DARE YOU JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS!!!!!!"

Yes, many leftists have the inherent ability to seamlessly make a rhetorical pivot without a scintilla of shame. 

What further compounded this tragedy was the fact Pulse was a gay nightclub, so it became en vogue to verbally attack Christians for allegedly fostering an environment of hate. The incident also resulted in the White House's current occupant diverting from reality

Omar Mateen called the cops to pledge his fealty to ISIS as he was carrying out his mass murderer in Orlando early Sunday morning. Twelve hours later, the president of the United States declared that “we have no definitive assessment on the motivation” of Omar Mateen but that “we know he was a person filled with hate.”

So I guess the president thinks Mateen didn’t mean it?

Here again, and horribly, we have an unmistakable indication that Obama finds it astonishingly easy to divorce himself from a reality he doesn’t like — the reality of the Islamist terror war against the United States and how it is moving to our shores in the form of lone-wolf attacks.

He called it “terror,” which it is. But using the word “terror” without a limiting and defining adjective is like a doctor calling a disease “cancer” without making note of the affected area of the body — because if he doesn’t know where the cancer is and what form it takes, he cannot attack it effectively and seek to extirpate it.

So determined is the president to avoid the subject of Islamist, ISIS-inspired or ISIS-directed terrorism that he concluded his remarks with an astonishing insistence that “we need the strength and courage to change” our attitudes toward the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community.

That’s just disgusting. There’s no other word for it.

Call me crazy, but American citizens exercising their freedom of conscience by not wanting to bake a cake for a same-sex wedding is a far cry from an ideology (i.e. radical Islam) which abhors homosexuality to the point where gays are called to be murdered in the name of "compassion." And therein lies the most salient issue. The methodology used to carry out this mass homicide was irrelevant. If Mateen was indeed denied the purchase of a firearm, his worldview would have caused him to pursue another way to carry out this attack. Perhaps he may have resorted to using similar tactics as the 2013 Boston Marathon bombers.

Sadly, political correctness is once again clouding the judgement of our leaders.

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And I feel like it's time we were off on our way.....

The brutal heat and humidity of the past couple of days has me all like.....




Thankfully we will be settled into the air conditioned confines of the Patriot bunker for this week's edition of The Closer. The 1-hour broadcast kicks off at 2:00 PM Central Time. 

Right at 2:00 PM we welcome to the broadcast Miss Minnesota Rachel Latuff. 




On Saturday, June 18th, Rachel will crown her successor, so she will be kicking off her week long farewell tour on my radio show. 

In the non-guest segments, who knows? We'll just wing it. 


So please give me a call at (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics I plan on addressing. You can also text comments/questions to (651) 243-0390.

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, or check us out via iheart radio. If you're unable to tune in live, please check out my podcast page for the latest show post.

Even though I have a face for radio, there is a UStream channel where you can watch the broadcast, if you so desire. Check it out here.  

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

Until then.....

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Saturday, June 11, 2016

Another nod to history

Rated PG-13:





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Wednesday, June 08, 2016

Historic? Sure, but....

Hillary Clinton has sealed the Democrat nomination for President. As such, she is the first female in American history to be a presidential nominee.

Naturally there was some fanfare (particularly on the political left) over this undeniably historic moment. Much of the sentiment included statements like "we've made another crack in that glass ceiling" or "this is a great example for our daughters in that they now know women can accomplish anything." And while all that may be true, do we really want to celebrate the path Mrs. Clinton herself has taken? After all, this is a woman who enabled her powerful husband's serial womanizing and has a documented history of corrupt behavior. So do the ends justify the means here?

Sorry to he a buzzkill here but it seems Mrs. Clinton's accomplishment has more to do with impeccable timing and luck than her political savvy. Think about it. Her most formidable opponent in the race for the Democrat nomination was a white septuagenarian socialist whom she finally put away in the final week of primary elections.

In the end, it still believe young ladies should take heart in this moment in time. If someone with as dicey a past as Hillary can rise to the level she has, the sky's the limit for young women of honor and integrity.

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Tuesday, June 07, 2016

Our perpetually petulant governor - Part MCMLXXXII

Given the latest MN legislative session ended without nearly $700 million in funding for roads and bridges being passed, both parties consistently pointed to a silver lining: The overwhelming bipartisan support for tax relief.

Per Susan Closmore, Director of Public Affairs with the House Republican Caucus, the bill passed by the House and Senate "provides $825 million in tax relief over the next three years, including more than a half billion in ongoing and permanent tax cuts." The primary beneficiaries of this legislation includes college graduates with student debt, farmers, families with young children and veterans. Of the 200 legislators to cast a vote on this bill, 178 (or 89%!!!!) voted to approve this measure. It seemed a mere formality that Governor Mark Dayton would go ahead and sign the bill.

Ah, but if we've learned one thing from this governor, nothing is conventional or routine.

Gov. Mark Dayton followed through on his pledge to veto a $260 million package of tax cuts at midnight Monday.

The veto came after Republican legislators again urged the governor to sign the bill, which would cut rates for a variety of taxpayers, including farmers, working families, veterans and student-loan debtors.

While Dayton said he supported many of the bill’s provisions, his administration caught an error that officials said would have cost the state treasury $101 million over the next three years. He also insisted that legislators renew a sales tax exemption for the Minnesota State High School League that funded scholarships for low-income athletes, a change accidentally left out.

Said errors were brought to the attention of House and Senate leadership. House Speaker Daudt said on my radio program this past Sunday that they had zero issue with rectifying those items. Not good enough for Dayton, I guess.

The so-called pocket veto, in which the governor takes no action and lets the measure expire, abruptly reset negotiations between Dayton and legislative leaders for a special session. In order to call a legislative session, Dayton wants to fix the tax measure, but also is seeking millions of dollars in new spending for the University of Minnesota, clean-water projects and a new light-rail line from downtown Minneapolis to Eden Prairie.

If I didn't know better, it would appear that the governor is holding the tax bill hostage in an effort to coerce more spending in a special session.....the very thing he insisted two weeks ago he would not do.





The dictionary definition of the term "erratic" includes "having no certain or definite course; wandering; not fixed:" I'll let you decide if that word is apropos here.

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Monday, June 06, 2016

Box Score of the Week

Houston Astros at San Diego Padres -- April 9, 1974.

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The Padres got off to a poor start in the 1974 season. They started the season with three games in Los Angeles and were swept. The Padres were not even competitive as they were outscored 25-2 in the series. 

In their home opener on April 9, San Diego was losing 9-2 in the eighth inning when new owner Ray Kroc took to the P.A. system and proclaimed to the 39,000+ home fans “Ladies and gentlemen, I suffer with you." He also added  “I have good news and bad news. The good news is that the Dodgers drew 31,000 for their opener and we’ve drawn 39,000 for ours. The bad news is that this is the most stupid baseball playing I’ve ever seen.” Legend has it the crowd let out perhaps the loudest cheer heard that entire game. 

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Sunday, June 05, 2016

Stuck inside these four walls, sent inside forever.....

As we roll into the month of June, the Northern Alliance Radio Network, along with the weather, is heating up. Today's 1-hour edition of The Closer will get started at 2:00 PM Central Time.

Right at 2:00, MN House Speaker Kurt Daudt will check in. Speaker Daudt will update us on the prospects of a special legislative session given the regular session ended without an agreement on transportation funding.

The at 2:30 I'll be joined by MN Senate District 53 GOP candidate (and fellow St. Paul Harding High School alum) Sharna Wahlgren. Running in a SD currently represented by a Democrat, Sharna's candidacy could go a long way in helping flip the MN Senate to a Republican majority.


So please give me a call at (651) 289-4488 if you'd like to weigh in on any of the topics I plan on addressing. You can also text comments/questions to (651) 243-0390.

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, or check us out via iheart radio. If you're unable to tune in live, please check out my podcast page for the latest show post.

Even though I have a face for radio, there is a UStream channel where you can watch the broadcast, if you so desire. Check it out here.  

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

Until then.....

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Friday, June 03, 2016

Quick Hits: Volume CXXIX

- About a month ago, House Speaker Paul Ryan said he's "just not ready" when asked if he will support Donald Trump as the presumptive GOP nominee for President.

I applauded Ryan at the time for being so measured and leaving the proverbial door open. As such, Thursday's development regarding Ryan/Trump should come as no surprise.

Ryan wrote in (an) opinion piece that he and Trump have talked at length.

Ryan's column also touts the “confident America” policy agenda he has been developing since becoming speaker of the House last fall.

“Through these conversations, I feel confident he (Trump) would help us turn the ideas in this agenda into laws to help improve people's lives. That's why I'll be voting for him this fall,” Ryan wrote.

Ryan goes on to say that he and Trump do not agree on everything and that when he sees the need, Ryan will continue to speak his mind.

“But the reality is, on the issues that make up our agenda, we have more common ground than disagreement,” Ryan wrote.

To think that just two months ago the prospects of a disastrous Republican National Convention in July loomed large given the apparent deep divisions within the GOP. And while things still aren't exactly a bed of roses, you could make a case that the RNC is singing Kumbaya in comparison to the consternation within the Democrat race for President.


- June 2 was National Gun Violence Awareness Day. In recognition of this day, people across the country were encouraged to "wear orange" as one method to raise awareness. Naturally the hashtag #WearOrange was quite prevalent across social media.

There was one post in particular which caught my eye:




Yes, that's the same Kimberly Corban whom President Obama borderline condescended to at a January town hall.

I, for one, am grateful Ms. Corban continues to share her very important testimonial despite the fact it likely conjures up some pretty horrific memories.


- Remember when Americans were shamed by some of their fellow citizens for conveying even the slightest objection to the U.S. accepting Syrian refugees? Trump's "Muslim ban" aside, many Americans had legitimate concerns regarding more refugees coming in to our country. After all, the U.S.is already bearing a tremendous financial burden in addition to threats from jihadists who may look to infiltrate the group of refugees. Naturally those concerns (as well as calls for discretion) were dismissed with the typical accusations of "xenophobia" or "lack of compassion."

I wonder if those individuals on their moral high horses would dare throw such labels at the person who is considered the model of compassion.

The Dalai Lama thinks Europe has let in "too many" refugees.

The Tibetan spiritual leader said that "we feel the misery" of each individual refugee and that humans have a "responsibility to help" — but that there are "too many" who have been accepted in Europe.

"Europe, for example Germany, cannot become an Arab country. Germany is Germany," he laughed in an interview published Tuesday with Germany's Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung newspaper. "There are so many."

The Dalai Lama said that "from a moral standpoint" he thinks refugees should "only be accommodated temporarily" — with the goal of them returning home to rebuild their countries.

I've often wondered just how "compassionate" it is to attempt to settle Syrian refugees in a culture like ours. It's a good bet that the predominate number of refugees look at western culture as an affront to their beliefs. In essence, I believe that is what the Dalai Lama was saying when he indicated that Germany (a western nation) "cannot become an Arab country."

Alas, the U.S. seems to be far too concerned with political correctness to bother with such details.

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Wednesday, June 01, 2016

Filing day

Tuesday, May 31 was the deadline date in Minnesota for political candidates to file for federal, state and county offices. As such, Tuesday was declared a "mass filing day" for many candidates who had made their intentions known but had yet to make their respective candidacies official.

A couple of newsworthy items from the day:


- Kurt Daudt. who is the sitting Speaker of the MN House, is receiving a challenge from Alan Duff in the Republican primary.





To say it's unlikely that an unknown challenger will defeat a sitting House Speaker in a primary election is a massive understatement. But I found it rather telling regarding whom Duff is associating himself with as he begins this run.





The points of contact on Duff's press release include Daudt's 2014 opponent for the GOP endorsement in HD 31A (Korin) and one of the co-founders of the MN Tea Party Alliance (Duesenberg). The other co-founder of the TPA, Jack Rogers, lives in Daudt's district and revels any opportunity to rip the Speaker at any venue. I recall last November when Rogers was asked to speak on behalf of one the candidates in the MN GOP endorsement battle for the Senate District 35 special election. Rogers spent a good amount of that time slamming Daudt as opposed to touting the credentials of the candidate he supported.

Don't misunderstand me here. I do not believe any elected official is above criticism, especially those in leadership. But this idea that Daudt should implement every item on the Tea Party agenda and thus it would magically be acceptable to a DFL Senate and DFL governor is beyond delusional. Then again, I shouldn't be too critical of the TeaParty.MN guys. After all, I imagine it's more fun to engage in hyperbole and silly theatrics than attempt to move the needle forward in divided government.


- With Rep. John Kline not seeking reelection in MN Congressional District Two, Democrats have united behind one candidate (Angie Craig) in an effort to flip this seat from "R" to "D." Since it's merely an R+2 district (and President Obama won there in both 2008 and 2012), the Dems are justifiably optimistic.

On the GOP side, there will be multiple candidates vying in this August's primary election. Jason Lewis (who was endorsed by CD2 Republicans), businesswoman Darlene Miller, former state senator and Red Wing mayor John Howe and activist Matt Erickson.

Those who follow the happenings in CD2 recall Erickson's obnoxious behavior at the 2015 Congressional District Two convention. With that in mind, should it shock anyone that he has been an avid Donald Trump supporter since before the March 1 MN caucus? Speaking of pre-caucus, Erickson appeared on the local television program Almanac in late February to tout Trump's candidacy. My friend John Rouleau caught an interesting admission from Mr. Erickson:





So in late February, Erickson said he doesn't really "identify as a Republican anymore." I'm assuming he's changed that stance since in the past three months now that he is running as a Republican in this year's primary.




Alas, I don't really think Erickson's candidacy is all that serious. I know he has previously supported the more libertarian David Gerson (who lost to both Kline for endorsement in 2014 and Lewis this year) in CD2, which would give us pretty good insight into his ideological bent. And given his penchant for frat boy antics, let's just hope Mr. Erickson doesn't emulate the theatrics put on display by his fellow libertarians this past weekend

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