We have a Senate race in Minnesota that’s gotten rather dirty. No one in another state will be surprised by this, but we like to think that we’re better than this up here. We’re not. We’re human. And we have a lot of money coming in from the outside to make it all just as nasty as … as anywhere else.
The Senate seat in question is the one once held by Paul Wellstone. The incumbent, Norm Coleman, is a Republican that won on backlash against the overtly political memorial service for Paul. Al Franken was a friend of Paul’s. We also have Independence Party candidate Dean Barkley, who held the seat for 2 months when Gov. Ventura appointed him to fill the vacancy. So everyone has a direct and personal connection to the chair once held by Paul.
Paul is the one that is sorely missing here.
The last minute fight erupted when a lawsuit was filed alleging that a major backer of Norm Coleman was shaking down his employees for more money funneled through the Senator’s wife, Laurie. I’m not going to name names here because they are very unimportant. The Democratic Senate Coordinating Committee (DSCC) ran an ad featuring Norm evading reporters shouting questions about the charges. Coleman responded by accusing Franken orchestrating it and attacking Laurie. Franken called Coleman a liar, but not before he recounted all the accusations in great detail.
The problem we have is a simple one: neither of these clowns is remotely good enough to have Paul’s seat. They are both far, far too eager to fight about personalities and not for people. They hate each other, which I understand, but they cannot be intelligent about it. If Franken wasn’t so intent on scoring cheap points by recounting all of the accusations against Coleman even as he denied having anything to do with them. “Too clever by half” isn’t enough to describe the situation.
Part of the problem here is that at the end of a campaign people get edgy. They want to do just one more thing to get their opponent. Call it a sprint to the finish, but they feel like they have to do something to be sure they did everything they can. What they need to do is turn to their base and get out the vote, but that’s boring compared to the high energy of the campaign. Where they should be practice “wei wu wei”, or “doing without doing”, they fell they have to do. They have to get the other guy one more time.
What this boils down to is a lack of skill to be an effective Senator. Whoever we elect is about to be thrown into a room with 99 of the most skilled politicians in the nation. They will be asked to serve the people of Minnesota and represent them effectively in a very hostile environment. Which of these men can do this for us?
I have become convinced that Senator Dean Barkley is the only one with the maturity, intelligence, and realism that is needed to represent us properly. No, he’s not the most skilled politician among them, but none of these guys have any of that. Barkley is honest and knows what he doesn’t know. He also knows how serious our economic crisis is.
Mostly, Barkley understands people in the way Paul Wellstone did, and he’s the only one running who clearly is there to do what is best for the people of Minnesota. Paul’s seat deserves nothing less.
I know many of my DFL friends will think I’m a traitor for saying this, but I want to encourage everyone to proudly vote for Senator Dean Barkley on November 4th. Thank you.
Barataria - The work of Erik Hare 
Only a fool would call the choice of one they know to be bright and honest traitorous. You have made a personal choice that our system in all its wisdom says is of equal importance to the decisions we will all make in this election.
It is the ill advised and deeply hateful way many treat those who disagree with them that causes many of our problems. It is not them or us it all of us. We are a people who need to find common groound not just those things which can divide us. There is no perfect person or party only ideals to strive for.
On Tuesday we will vote winners who will go to work and unless we all stay involved and engaged nothing will really change. If we want change it is our long term involvement that will bring it about not the individuals we put in office.
So I for one say thanks for being involved and cast you ballot as you see fit. To vote is to be a patriot whomever you vote for.
And when you cast your vote, be thankful you don’t live in New Jersey, where none of the alleged public servants has maturity, intelligence and realism! Here the politicians are all self-serving players in a political game. Very disturbing…
Brian, I know this is hard for you, too. We’re both loyal DFLers and have fought a lot of good fights. If this was any seat other than Paul’s, I’ d hold my nose and go with the team. I just had my fill at this last round of accusations and that was that. I do think my state deserves better, yes.
Maris, the problem for me is that I developed high standards somewhere along I-75 in a car full of my stuff leaving Florida. Yeah, I know it’s worse elsewhere. I just feel like I have to insist on better, is all. Minnesotans used to be a very proud people, an attribute that both infuriated and intrigued me. But I learned to love it about this place. Where did it go?
Back when I heard the last senatorial debate, televised on TPT, I decided to support Dean Barkley. While Coleman and Franken exchanged personal attacks and accusations, Barkley stuck to his position on the issues, expressed an anti-war stance and had what I considered a sensible approach to federal policy. While I usually consider myself a Democrat, I generally support the person I feel is most fit for the job, regardless of party. Like Paul would have encouraged me to do, I’m voting my conscience instead of my fears.
Erik, I read today that you claim to be a “die hard Democrat” , but you voted for Independence Party Candidate Dean Barkley.
Do you see how some people might take issue with that Erik?
It really had to make me laugh that you would call yourself a Democrat. Who do you think Paul Wellstone would have been stumping for?You made your choice, and I am sure you are glad you picked Dean to help Barack lead us out of the mess in Washington. You picked Dean, and now we have to live with the results.
Team Obama needs players, and you helped sack the running back Franken– nice play Erik, way ta go!
No Faux Die Hard Dem
Carla, and everyone:
What I said to the PPress was that I “usually am a die hard Democrat”, which was appended to them saying that I called myself “a die hard Democrat”. I won’t claim it’s not fair.
You have every right to be mad at me for disloyalty because I was disloyal. But I simply could not bring myself to vote for Franken. If it was any seat other than Paul’s, I might have, but I didn’t.
I also can tell you that there are hundreds of people like me through the state – but perhaps an equal number of Republicans who couldn’t stand Norm Coleman. We’ll just have to see.
But I know that Minnesota can do better than this.
Hi Erik,
I think Norm Coleman is like old man Potter in “It’s a Wonderful Life.” He is sitting back grinning and guffawing that Dean “Uncle Billy” Barkley lost the election for Jimmy Stewart (Al Franken). Unfortunatly, in this case, we can’t pool our resources and make it right. Ol’ man Potter Norm probably will win in this Wonderful Life, and Pottersville where we have been living for the last 8 years will continue to spread.
Barack needs all the help he can get, and I just dont think Norm will help fix things like I think Al would have done. Norm cares only about himself. He does not put country first.