Chili Reception
I had a great time speaking at annual Senate District 63 Chili Dinner and Fundraiser.
Full disclosure for McCain/Feingold purposes: I was paid a bowl of delicious vegetarian chili for my efforts.
Congressman and Senate candidate Mark Kennedy kicked off the event. He has to be rated "most improved" as a public speaker; it was an excellent talk. I'm looking forward to the campaign.
The district had invited a small panel of bloggers to speak at the event. Jerry "I was MDE for a day!" Plagge and Andy Aplikowski both spoke on their own perspectives on blogging (Gary Miller had to cancel, unfortunately); I followed up with my own take on things. It was a great audience - it's hard not to feel like you're going over well with a crowd like that!
Of course, the event was about fundraising (they had to have done well) and meeting their candidates for the House and Senate candidates; Ed Field (whose award of the "Golden French Fry" award to his DFL opponent, Dan Larson, whose main campaign platform seems to be suing fast food restaurants nearly stole the show), Vern Wilcox, and Dave Alvarado. Jerry Plagge and the other excellent GOPbloggers in Minneapolis will give that race the coverage that will elude the majors.
In fact, that's one of the things that has been fun about this past year; while Minneapolis' GOP is a definite underdog, there've been some excellent grass-roots blogging efforts that should drive some interesting developments in Minneapolis, over time. But that's a subject for another post, which you can expect soon...
...hopefullly sooner than later in 63; the retirement of Jane Ranum will leave a rare lack of DFL incumbent in a Minneapolis district.
Posted by Mitch at
February 8, 2006 06:52 AM
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A bunch of Republicans eating beans in a confined space. Sorry I missed it.
Posted by: angryclown at February 8, 2006 07:50 AMThanks again Mitch for volunteering to speak. It was a great event!
Posted by: Rob at February 8, 2006 08:58 AMAngryclown smirked "A bunch of Republicans eating beans in a confined space. Sorry I missed it."
It couldn't have been much different than the King funeral.
Posted by: Kermit at February 8, 2006 09:13 AMSince you're a red-stater, I figure you must be talking about Elvis.
Posted by: angryclown at February 8, 2006 09:37 AMMinnesota is a red state now? Praise the Lord!
Posted by: Kermit at February 8, 2006 09:44 AMYou're a red-stater in a blue state. Easier to hunt you down since there's no natural camouflage.
Posted by: angryclown at February 8, 2006 09:48 AMI especially liked your speech, Mitch. I've been rethinking my blog and local politics. My problemo is that I don't know very much about local politics and my opinions on national and international politics and the GWOT amount to little more than a reverberation unit.
But you words were an inspiration and true encouragement, for I can lay claim to being a common schmuck. To be specific, I am a straight, unmarried Republican conservative schmuck who lives in Uptown, relies on mass transit, supports the smoking ban and advocates that the Twin Cities become Republican turf.
That's a unique profile and may draw readers if I can pull it off.
Great speech, Mitch.
Posted by: pinkmonkeybird at February 8, 2006 09:57 AMAC:
"A bunch of Republicans eating beans in a confined space."
You're saying liberals farts don't stink? (Must be an entitlement program; "No Odor Left Behind")
Pink,
You got my point precisely. You are unique (in fact, you, Pink, are more unique than most); your perspective is both niche-y and valuable. Run with it!
Posted by: mitch at February 8, 2006 11:18 AMI'd say Minnesota isn't really blue. It's more plum turning redder all the time.
Posted by: Kermit at February 8, 2006 12:04 PMMitch offered: "...the baby, who just turned 21. And is a committed Young Republican"
Pink revealed: "I am a straight, unmarried Republican conservative schmuck who lives in Uptown, relies on mass transit, supports the smoking ban and advocates that the Twin Cities become Republican turf."
Let's see if these two right-wing kooks can make a Love Connection!
Angryclown will be back in two and two.
Posted by: angryclown at February 8, 2006 12:10 PMClown, while you are truly a Trolls Troll, I would advise you not use the words “hunt down”. Someone might not understand your speaking metaphorically and take offense. Believe me when I say you don’t want to do that. We don’t go around burning down people’s embassies, we just smirk and buy another gun. I leave you with three words, “Warsaw Ghetto Uprising”, and remember that was a bunch of city kids with bolt action rifles. Besides most of us have so many different kinds of Camo you eyes would cross and you’d be looking back at yourself. Stop by the Game Fair or the Deer Classic if you don’t believe me. Heck even the Democrats up here show up for those.
Posted by: shawn at February 8, 2006 01:24 PMSpeaking of which Mitch, be sure to mark March 31-April 2 on your calendar, it’s Bills Gun shop spring show. All the handguns, and .50BMG rifles, you can shoot for the price of ammo. Bring the kids.
A level-headed bunch you right-wingers are, that's for sure. Don't worry, we'll find you. I'll be in the first black helicopter, sitting between Barbra Streisand and Castro.
Posted by: angryclown at February 8, 2006 01:38 PMSorry, we own all the black helicopters now. And we have people that actually know how to fly them.
Posted by: Kermit at February 8, 2006 01:44 PMMitch.
Most memorable segments of your speech;
"Col. Repya; I thought you'd bring back Zarqawi's head in a sack."
"Nice to work with a Hewitt who doesn't suck all the air out of the room."
Most regretable line;
"Dan Rather died the death of a thousand schmucks."
While this pun rated a #10 on the groan-o-meter, it was necessary because it fit so perfectly into your theme. Still, if we weren't in a church, we could have lynched you without shame.
Thanks again for the encouragement and for the stirring speech.
Posted by: pinkmonkeybird at February 8, 2006 02:42 PMWe just posted some pictures.
http://www.sd63.org/chili.htm
Posted by: Rob at February 8, 2006 09:17 PMAC: You're a red-stater in a blue state. Easier to hunt you down since there's no natural camouflage.
Classically bad imagery, AC. It's not the blues with the guns, it's the reds.
I will grant you that there is one blue state with a sensible gun attitude, VT (unregulated concealed carry for nearly everybody nearly everywhere and even Mad Howard wouldn't touch the third rail of VT politics), but other than that, it's pretty bad. When the guys in MA tried to hold a biathalon and invited those of us in VT to it, the list of warnings and restrictions on our wimpy, blue-state type Anschutz rifles (http://www.championshooters.com/1827-fbig.htm) and the risk of losing those big bucks rifles if pulled over by an MA cop made sure almost nobody showed up. After that, all the New England meets were pretty much in NH, and there's an awesome course out near Bretton Woods in case you ever get out of the purgatory that is NYC.
Posted by: nerdbert at February 8, 2006 09:39 PMMITCH INTERJECTS: An anonymous troll starts by writing:
------------
Jesus Christ is a false god.
At best all Christians can hope for is partial credit...
------------
Off topic, inflammatory, *triple-posted*, and stupid to boot.
Deleted.
For which I get full credit.
Posted by: god is a computer at February 9, 2006 10:35 AMWOW,
What was that?
Sounds like somebody has some issues.
LOL
Posted by: Rob at February 9, 2006 03:53 PMYou’ve gotta love those trolls.
Posted by: Rob at February 9, 2006 03:58 PMI dearly wish that blog commentators would adjust their attitudes. I never knew of anyone who changed another's views by insulting them. Why don't we all enter into a legitimate debate as gentle people and focus on getting at truth and suggest solutions to the issues we all face?
Posted by: Roger at February 10, 2006 10:47 AMinteresting posts.......but who is it yaht wants to hide a helicopter behind a beard and a nose?
Posted by: Ed at February 10, 2006 08:00 PMoops bad typo meant that lol
Posted by: ED at February 10, 2006 08:01 PMoops bad typo meant that lol
Posted by: ED at February 10, 2006 08:01 PMI was happy to see our bloggers at the annual chili dinner last Tuesday. Your explanation of the relatively new blog phenonenon was very informative. It's about time that there are more outlets than Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity for combating the one sided news outlets. I applaud you all.
Mitch, I want to thank you for giving me the perfect intro into my speech. I couldn't have planned it any better. My tongue in cheek award for my apparent opponent Dan Larson seemed to be well recieved. I hope to have more opprotunities to give him the needle in the future either in your blog or on NAR. Name recognition is going to be an obstacle to overcome for me so I am looking to you and the other bloggers for help in this area. After all I'm just another schmuck right? LOL
Ed Field
Posted by: Ed Field Senate Candidate SD63 at February 11, 2006 01:55 PMSenate CandidateSD63
www.gofored.com
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