Thursday, April 10, 2008

Did you ever have to finally decide?

In the words of those philosopher kings from Spot's youth, the Lovin' Spoonful:

Did you ever have to make up your mind,
To pick up on one and leave the other behind?
It's not often easy, and not often kind;
Did you ever have to make up your mind?

Spot stuck his cold, wet nose in the Third Congressional District campaign for the DFL endorsement, but he's been quiet about it since Spot's guy dropped out of the race.

Until now.

Spot would be really happy to be represented by either Terri Bonoff or Ashwin Madia, especially when compared to the Republican offering, Erik "you kids get off my lawn" Paulsen.

But Spot thinks he would be better represented by Terri Bonoff. Spot endorses her for the DFL, er, endorsement and for Jim Ramstad's seat in Congress.

Why?

Having talked with them each multiple times, Spot believes that Terri is deeper on a couple of policy issues that are important to Spot: transportation and education. This flows perhaps naturally from Terri's committee assignments and work in the Minnesota Senate. She speaks knowledgeably and impressively about federal - state relations in these areas, especially when it comes to funding.

There is no question in Spot's mind that Terri can do a better job of sticking up for the District.

Terri is also more committed to getting out of Iraq sooner rather than later than Ash Madia is.

As an incumbent state senator, Terri Bonoff has been at a distinct disadvantage in the short campaign since Jim Ramstad announced his retirement. That's especially true since the legislature went back into session; she simply hasn't had the time to campaign that Ash Madia has had and represent her district, too. It has undoubtedly affected the time she has had to prepare, and to practice her speech making, too.

For example, she had to cancel an appearance at Drinking Liberally last week to stay and vote on amendments to what ultimately became the budget bill.

Which bring Spot to Steve Perry's snotty piece at Minnesota Monitor this afternoon. Perry cribs extensively from the carnival barker Michael Brodkorb in saying that Terri Bonoff's speaking style will cause her to lose the endorsement.

How many times the soothsayer Perry has actually heard Terri, he doesn't say. But Perry's little hit piece on the eve of the convention and parroting the Republican apparatchik Brodkorb ought to be dismissed the way you'd scrape doggy doo off your shoe.

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