The Shorter DFL Debate
By Mitch Berg
I caught most of the DFL goober debate on MPR last night. For the benefit of those of you who did not, I’ll sum up the gestalt of the three candidates’ positions:
DAYTON: “I’m gonna raise taxes! And I”m gonna keep on raising them until things improve!”
KELLIHER: “Hey, lookit how relatively responsible, sane and conservative I seem compared to Dayton!”
ENTENZA: “We don’t call it spending, we call it an inves…hey, I just spent five million dollars and every nickel of it went to bashing Tom Emmer, rather than explaining to Minnesota why I’m a better DFL nominee than the other two candidates! Why, it’s almost as if my spending did nothing but benefit Mark Dayton!”
The latest polls show Dayton up by eleventy-teen bajillion points. Stick a fork in Entenza. As re Kelliher, the DFL endorsement remains the kiss of death.
Bring on Wednesday, baby!
August 9th, 2010 at 12:41 pm
And yet you leave out that Emmer is behind all three of them, and appears to be losing ground. You fail to mention that he is doing so poorly, he is even jettisoning his staff. Or some may be bailing out on him. Hard to tell who is ditching whom.
August 9th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
Dogs chase cars because they can’t help themselves; their prey instincts are triggered and they therefore don’t care if they’re chasing a Buick, a Toyota or a hybrid. Something moves and off they go.
I think the same uncontrollable impulse is at work in DG. Mitch writes something about politics and she immediately takes off across the yard and runs along the ditch yapping whether her comment has anything to do with the point of the original post or not.
August 9th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
DG
You mean like the dear leader Obumbler is jettisoning his staff?
Your clairvoyant powers are amazing. Have any insight into Wednesday’s Power Ball numbers or don’t you want to go too far out on a limb? Sheesh!
August 9th, 2010 at 1:08 pm
Since DG raised the point – albeit an unrelated one in a discussion of the DFL primary – I wonder if Emmer’s current polling has anything to do with this paragraph from the FactCheck (http://factcheck.org/2010/08/corporate-labor-smackdown-in-minnesota/)report Mitch cited in an earlier post:
Figures supplied to us at our request by the Campaign Media Analysis Group (a division of Kantar Media) show that ABM’s ads have appeared 2,400 times since the first one ran on July 7, while MN Forward’s single ad has appeared 330 times. Furthermore, ABM has spend $775,000 on air time alone to run those ads, according to CMAG’s estimate. That’s triple the $225,000 spent by MN Forward, according to CMAG.
Outspent by 3-to-1 on airtime so far, before the primaries. With no specific opponent to focus on – and an expensive campaign still ahead – Emmer appears to be conserving his resources, presumably for a more targeted campaign. As Mitch pointed out in this post, there’s little substantive difference between the DFL candidates and they’re message is not likely a winning one; whichever one emerges from the septic tank has a weak hand when and if issues take precedence over personal attacks.
August 9th, 2010 at 1:10 pm
And yet you leave out that Emmer is behind all three of them,
Because it was hopelessly, utterly irrelevant to this particular bit of opinion, which was about the DFLers’ statements.
Head to head comparisons are always worthless at this point in the race. Emmer hasn’t even started campaigning; he’s been outspent by 10-16:1 during a DFL “primary race” that, curiously, involved no intra-DFL advertising at all. Since the DFL has had no candidate, they have had disproportionally little scrutiny, hence fewer negatives (and the media have dutifully carried the DFL’s anti-Emmer memes with very little question.
Under those circumstances, it’s actually somewhat remarkable that Emmer is doing two points better than Tim Pawlenty was at this time eight years ago (against a definite candidate, no less).
and appears to be losing ground.
Um, where on earth are you getting that? And losing ground to whom? He has no actual opponent yet, other than the media.
I mean, I know where you’re getting that; it’s the DFL’s “perception is reality, Winston” chanting point. But there is no legitimate point-to-point comparison poll yet; your statement is thus puzzling.
Please elaborate.
You fail to mention that he is doing so poorly, he is even jettisoning his staff. Or some may be bailing out on him. Hard to tell who is ditching whom.
It’s especially hard when your sole source of information would seem to be the echo chamber. Campaigns often do mid-course corrections to fix mistakes, and even as a matter of course; sources in the Emmer camp were telling me in May to expect possible staff changes around primary time.
I’m not gonna say “there’s no there, there”, but it’s really not what you think it is, and/or what the people whose talking points you’re repeating (knowingly or not) want people to think.
August 9th, 2010 at 1:12 pm
With no specific opponent to focus on – and an expensive campaign still ahead – Emmer appears to be conserving his resources, presumably for a more targeted campaign.
I predicted this some time ago.
(Er…six weeks ago? It seems like such a long time!)
August 9th, 2010 at 1:14 pm
“Emmer appears to be conserving his resources,”
It’s called “rope-a-dope”.
We’ll find out tomorrow who the dope is.
August 9th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
DG,
The “You Fail To Mention…[some point that is logically unconnected to the point at hand]” line you are using so often these days is called a “Red Herring“; it doesn’t address my argument, it merely changes the subject. It’s illogical and fallacious.
Let’s try to improve things.
August 9th, 2010 at 1:47 pm
BREAKING NEWS: DG has now been run over by the clue train. Eyewitnesses she was standing peacefully with a vacant look in her eyes, blissfully unaware of clues and points flying by her, when she was struck.
Her conditions is not currently known but as she was taken away by medics, she did mumble something about the prey instincts of the African Wild Ass.
August 9th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
“As re Kelliher, the DFL endorsement remains the kiss of death.”
There is a reason for that: there is always some sugar daddy in the DFL who decides that they know better than the DFL who the best candidate would be. You know, themselves. They usually wield enough power and influence in the DFL so that even some crazy drunk could win the primary. 😉
August 9th, 2010 at 2:36 pm
I can’t wait for A) the pure comedy of a Dayton/Emmer debate, and B) Doggie explaining the incomprehensible statements that Congenital Idiot Mark Dayton is preordained to make.
Both will be satisfying and soul-affirming.
August 9th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
So the insane, drunk, trustfunder is favored to win the DFL nomination for governor?
I’ll adjust my expectations accordingly.
August 9th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Kermit/Terry,
Great points! I’m still laughing.
I suspect that Dimwit Dayton’s response to every question posed by a moderator will be; “We have to make the rich pay…except me!”
August 9th, 2010 at 3:07 pm
Does deegee think Emmer is running in the DFL primary?
August 9th, 2010 at 3:10 pm
you know I actually listened to the debate and have an in depth analysis of it on my site, but enough shameless promotion. I don’t think Dayton has a clue on what the average minnesotan thinks. MAK and Entenza look sane compared to him, but that’s not saying much. Dayton will win, Entenza will finish 2nd and MAK will be 3rd.
August 9th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
explaining the incomprehensible statements that Congenital Idiot Mark Dayton is preordained to make.
Kerm, he’s already done that in the debate last night.
August 9th, 2010 at 3:11 pm
I think we can survive a cowardly, bumbling, idiot as Senator far better than we can survive that same idiot as Governor.
August 9th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
There’s a big difference between Carpetbagger Al and Dimwit Dayton. The federal government is designed to hold a jerk like Angry Al in check. If Dayton manages to buy the Governor’s job he will be a compliant tool for every special interest and left-wing lobby imaginable.
August 9th, 2010 at 3:53 pm
Night Writer Says:
August 9th, 2010 at 12:51 pm
“Dogs chase cars because they can’t help themselves; their prey instincts are triggered and they therefore don’t care if they’re chasing a Buick, a Toyota or a hybrid. Something moves and off they go. ”
You’re only partly right Night Writer. If they ‘couldn’t help themselves’ we would never have an entire group of herding breeds; they’d simply kill what they were herding. We wouldn’t have multiple millenia of coursing breeds either, like greyhounds, the earliest of the domesticated breeds, that hunted prey by running it down. No one is going to successfully hunt if you cannot call of the hounds at any stage of the hunt – including after they have gotten the prey.
Any dog I can call of of live prey I can call off of chasing a car. All dogs can be trained not to chase without being given permission, even off leash. Just because you might not be able to train them not to do so is your problem, not the dog’s problem with self control.
Terry, you might want to be careful of your comments relating to alcohol use and mental illness. There are plenty of studies which correlate increased risk of mental illness with alcohol use ……..and I believe it is Emmer with the DUI records in his past, not Dayton. You might find that kind of cheap shot becomes a two-edged sword.
Just to clarify here – I’m not suggesting that Emmer suffers from mental illness, but likewise, because of a problem in the past, you might not want to be too snarky about Dayton in that regard either. Emmer has his own closeted skeletons. So if you want Emmer given understanding and acceptance, then fair play is called for here. Goose, gander.
August 9th, 2010 at 3:58 pm
Any dog I can call of of live prey I can call off of chasing a car.
Until the car wins.
I’m not suggesting that Emmer suffers from mental illness
Perhaps you’re also suggesting that his hair is not naturally green? Because there is absolutely no evidence of any type supporting either conjecture.
Emmer has his own closeted skeletons.
No, he doesn’t. “Skeleton” implies concealment. The media’s aired out Emmer’s entire criminal and legal record – including the stuff in which he’s been completely vindicated (with vindicating details helpfully expunged, naturally).
August 9th, 2010 at 4:03 pm
The Shorter DG Comment: “Squirrel!”
August 9th, 2010 at 4:11 pm
Ben Says: “You know I actually listened to the debate…”
Sadly I also watched the debate; and sadder to say I’ll never get that hour back!!! Calling the dabate pablum would be generous.
August 9th, 2010 at 4:31 pm
you might not want to be too snarky about Dayton in that regard either
Because you might find a squad of SEIU thugs in your front yard with bullhorns and handsomely painted signs for the local media to film.
August 9th, 2010 at 4:56 pm
you might not want to be too snarky about Dayton in that regard either. Emmer has his own closeted skeletons.
Pffft.
Emmer’s convictions are 20 and 30 years old. Brave Sir Mark has been spotted swilling alcohol as recently as two weeks ago.
Have another Kombucha and bring it on, dimwit.
August 9th, 2010 at 5:10 pm
What astounded me most about the “debate” is that all three of these BUFFOONS directed blame on T-paw for trying to hold back on what has been their unchecked spending spree.
August 9th, 2010 at 5:26 pm
To virtually any comment made by Dog and Peev (if there is a difference), you can respond with the wonderful quote:
[mandy patinkin mode on] “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” [/mandy patinkin mode off]
At least you could, if their posts were shorter.
August 9th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Emmer wants to give a few rights to DWIers if they live cleanly for 10 years. Most Democrats want to give felons the right to vote.
How come Robyn Robinson’s alledged support of cop killers isn’t an issue. And that woman wants to be Lt Governor.
August 9th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Dog Gone said:
“because of a problem in the past”
Unfortunately, just one of Daytons ‘problems[!] in the past’ is his entire dismal term as Senator. IIRC, he pulled some skeletons out of his closet to try and excuse his entire dismal term as Senator.
“understanding and acceptance”
I think that ‘understanding and acceptance’ is something I can afford to give Dayton, but that doesn’t mean he is in any way fit to be Governor of Minnesota. This should be clear to everyone who witnessed his entire dismal term as Senator.
Did I mention Dayton was a dismal Senator?
August 9th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Or link to this picture:
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTS43Anq_iWIjJrxQMnBTMFR0-7ieyOTwvWnThsnYitHlznGik&t=1&usg=__Ku-lgdhuDzsW9tvUeiwOt4bhBxc=
August 9th, 2010 at 5:33 pm
The biggest winner if Dayton wins in November:
http://www.siouxfallsdevelopment.com/
Second biggest winner
http://www.gfmedc.com/index.aspx
August 9th, 2010 at 6:08 pm
So, DogGone, are you looking forward to voting for a mentally ill, alcoholic, trustafarian?
I do understand the man has a problem with depression. He keeps hoping that the some achievement will fill that gnawing, empty hole inside of him. He only served one term as Senator (earning the title “The Blunderer” from the non-conservative Time Magazine:http://web.archive.org/web/20080527150338/http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1183984,00.html ).
Guess that didn’t do the job, he was drinking while he was in office. Now he wants to be governor. If he wins, I wonder how long it will be before he realizes that the office can’t fill that gnawing need for self-approval either. Hedge your bet, Dog Gone. Buy stock in Seagrams.
August 9th, 2010 at 9:20 pm
I imagine Dayton’s clinical depression is caused by the fact that everything that he has, someone has given to him. Without Grandpa, there would be no Yale degree. He hates campaigning and would prefer to spend his own money. After he won his senate seat he said that he would not do that again. He has. He’s also hit up his friends and relatives for cash — anything to avoid the fund raising circuit. This does not bode well.
When Dayton was in the Senate, he didn’t like his position as a Senator with no seniority. You can’t buy that, and he couldn’t earn it, either, not in the time he had available. The desire for instant gratification is an attribute of addicts.
And there is this weird episode where, as is typical, the liberal pol shows no compassion for people below him on the totem pole when it will inconvenience him just a little bit:
In 2002, Hanson experienced heart problems which required surgery and a recovery time of two to three weeks. Id. Upon telling Senator Dayton of his condition and need for time off of work, Senator Dayton told Hanson he was “done,” to stop reporting to work and to take medical leave. Id. Senator Dayton’s Washington Office Manager called Hanson a short time later and informed him that his employment had been terminated. Id.
http://topics.law.cornell.edu/supct/cert/06-618
August 9th, 2010 at 9:42 pm
“Have another Kombucha and bring it on, dimwit.”
Whoa, Swiftee, take it easy on the moonbats that ride the short bus; they are not capable of learning. They don’t even get it when the adults mock them.
And they also don’t know anything but DG/KA.
August 9th, 2010 at 9:43 pm
Oops, VG/KA.
😆
August 9th, 2010 at 9:55 pm
You can sure as hell bet that will be brought up.
August 9th, 2010 at 10:32 pm
Frankly, there’s little reason for me to vote in the GOP primary on Tuesday. I feel like I can cause more damage by crossing over and voting in the DFL primary.
But who to vote for? Each DFL candidate has the pluses and minuses.
Dayton is a monotone political menace to this state. He has flaws galore – but for some reason, voters love him, especially senor citizens. It’s alarming that someone with as vacant of record (not to mention facial expression) can command this much support.
Large Marge is a big city liberal – her TV ads aside about her rural upbringing. My fear is that lots of suburban women would flock to her in November, mouthing the platitude “Gee, wouldn’t it be great to elect a woman as Governor?”
Matt Etenza is essentially an empty canvas and no amount of Lois Quam’s money has been able to color him any other way. The upside to the GOP is that he can be painted in an unfavorable manner.
So, who do you guys think would be the easisest Democrat to beat in November?
August 9th, 2010 at 10:45 pm
Dayton. Hands down.
August 9th, 2010 at 11:10 pm
mplsSteve-
He has flaws galore – but for some reason, voters love him, especially senor citizens.
Between 2000 & 2005 my mother was a widow living off of my stepfather’s pension (step-father was a master plumber). The pension left her a decent living but did not include health insurance. She took out a catastrophic coverage policy & crossed her fingers.
Dayton paid for a bus to haul people to Canada to buy their drugs up there. My mother took advantage of this. That is why she will vote for Dayton this Autumn.
August 10th, 2010 at 7:07 am
[…] via Shot in the Dark » Blog Archive » The Shorter DFL Debate. […]
August 10th, 2010 at 7:31 am
Minnesota elections are not decided by the party faithful voting in the primaries on either side, they’re decided by people who don’t make up their minds who to vote for until they’re standing in the booth. They are the same people who hold up the line at McDonalds studying the menu board trying to decide what to order. You know, morons.
Name recognition will decide the governor’s election. That’s the best explanation for Jesse The Body, Al Franken, Sharon Scarrilla Anderson and Mark Dayton – moron voters know nothing about policy points and care less, they simply vote for somebody they’ve heard of.
Dayton over Emmer in a walk.
.
August 10th, 2010 at 7:36 am
nate, you forget that Franken was running in a very pro-democrat year, and lets face it, Coleman didn’t exactly have the GOP unified in supporting him. And Jesse, well, there were 2 loser candidates and he managed to pull one out in another pro-democratic year, somewhat. You also forget that Franken won with ~42% and Jesse with 38-39% so they aren’t good benchmarks. Plus Dayton has the whole “Worst Senator” thing that will be on the airwaves very soon. Keep in mind its still nearly 3 months to election day and the GOP hasn’t run ANY attack ads yet (mainly because we can’t, we don’t know who to go after and that changes around 9-10pm tonight).
August 10th, 2010 at 8:38 am
That’s the best explanation for Jesse The Body, Al Franken, Sharon Scarrilla Anderson and Mark Dayton – moron voters know nothing about policy points and care less, they simply vote for somebody they’ve heard of.
Jesse was helped by an anti-GOP year and a fairly uneventful election cycle where the fact that “a wrestler is in the election!” was the biggest news. Franken could only have been elected in an anti-GOP year like ’08. Dayton – well, he spent a ton of money and had the media holding the bag for him…uh, oh.
Against all three of those scenarios is the Tea Party; a lot of people on the right are a lot more motivated than they were before. It’s going to be a tough election, but when you write…:
Dayton over Emmer in a walk.
…by the same rationale it should have been “Corzine in a walk”. Of course, Jersey may be more conservative than Minnesota, sad to say, but this is the year where miracles can happen.
August 10th, 2010 at 1:30 pm
Terry, you have access to the worlds largest telescope. Why not take a moment to show mom the Big Picture?