I'm sorry, have we giggled about this yet?

It all started Saturday when a post called Freakin' Awesome Obama Music Video appeared on the front page of RedState.com.   (Are you allowed to say "freakin'" over there?)

I don't care if you are the biggest Obama hater out there -- you WILL think this video is cool. Obama's "Yes we can" speech in New Hampshire was historically memorable. This video cements the inspiration found in his words. He may be full of hopeful air but if you take the speech in a more personal way, it can certainly rustle something good in your heart.

I was one of the lucky 20,000 Twin Citians who was able to get a ticket to Obama's rally at the Target Center yesterday!

My friends and I hopped on a bus from St. Paul and found ourselves squeezed in the back with half a dozen other rally-bound riders.  We began to talk as if we were going to a concert: "I saw him two years ago." "I saw him nine months ago in Chicago." "Do you know who's opening for him?"  We reached downtown Minneapolis and excitedly trotted up to the Target Center.  The line extended the length of the building.  We rounded the corner.  We rounded another corner.  Then we saw that not only did the line wrap around the building, it extended down a bridge over the freeway.

Here's a quick primer for those unfamiliar with Patty Wetterling.  In 1989 her 11-year-old son Jacob was abducted by a stranger while on the way home from the video store with his brother and a friend.  A man stopped the three kids (they were on bikes and scooters), looked each of them in the face and asked their ages, and took Jacob.  He told the other two kids to run away.  One of them looked back and Jacob was gone. He has never been seen or heard from since.

First some history.  In 1993 a charismatic young lawyer with a charming family was elected the Democratic mayor of our great capital city.  His first term looked promising until he pulled an about face and switched parties.  Then he ran for governor and, fortunately, lost to Jesse Ventura.  He wasn't stopped there, though.  In 2002 he decided to run for Senate.  Dick Cheney personally called his biggest opponent in the primary and asked that the former mayor be given the limelight.  And when a devastating accident claimed the life of Paul Wellstone, this former mayor became Senator Norm Coleman.

I emailed the bill's author this morning to find out more about her intentions.  My email and her response are below the fold.

I quit smoking on Friday.  I'm 24 and have smoked for 3 years, about a pack a day.  I want to quit now while I'm still young, before it takes a serious toll on my health.  And to be honest, I don't want wrinkles and nasty skin and teeth when I'm older.  I also quit because my significant other quit due to health reasons (doctor's orders) and I want to be supportive.

Batman's nemesis or U.S. Rep. Mark Kennedy (R-MN)?  One of these men has just announced his plans to run for the Senate seat being vacated by Mark Dayton.

Senator Joker.  I kinda like the sound of that. I mean if Mr. Freeze can become a governor, who are we to judge?  I say we could use a little color on the Senate floor.

You can read her story here:
http://www.livejournal.com/users/anniesj/331112.html

Annie says she will be more careful in the future, but will not self-censor her political posts.  After you read her story it would be nice to drop her a note of support.  She's clearly intelligent and articulate and does not deserve to be intimidated for speaking her mind.  

When I first heard that Patty was entering the race I was overjoyed, because there's nothing bad to say about the woman.  Jacob Wetterling's disappearance is still very much in the mind of Minnesota families, and those who were little kids when he was taken are now of voting age and have fond thoughts for his mom, who came to our schools every year to talk about staying safe.

Lots of fun facts on the results page, but here are some tidbits:

"I take this step out of extreme, but necessary, precaution to protect the lives and safety of my Senate staff and my Minnesota constituents, who might otherwise be visiting my Senate office in the next three weeks," he said

Frist says nothing new has been presented within the last six weeks.  Who's lying?

Dayton said he would advise people from his home state to avoid Capitol Hill until after the Nov. 2 election.  Don't have to tell me twice.  

Oct 8, 2004 11:20 am US/Central
Minneapolis (AP)  A radio station morning show was behind those "Don't Vote" billboards that attracted attention -- and criticism -- around the Twin Cities.

One of the billboards was being updated today in downtown Minneapolis. It now says, "Don't Vote for Dave" -- a reference to radio host Dave Ryan of KDWB FM.

<snip>

Several of the billboards are in areas with large minority populations. That led the NAACP and other groups to criticize even the suggestion that citizens shouldn't vote.

PoliPundit says:

"I think most people's first impression, is that Kerry was strong and forceful, while Bush was less effective, more hesitant."

"I've been watching the debate for five minutes now. Despite my partisan inclinations, I have to admit that Kerry has won this debate. And not just in the high-school debate-coach sense of the word.Kerry comes off as the prosecutor accusing Bush of incompetence. Bush comes off as his Meet-The-Press, press-conference version - dogged, arrogant and unlikable. Kerry will get a significant bounce in the head-to-head poll numbers from this debate."

Powerline Blog says:

"But, candidly, I don't think it went that well for the President. I think Kerry helped himself tonight. He came across as a credible candidate, and he was usually on the offensive...I think Kerry made headway, and there is plenty of material there for the mainstream media to proclaim the beginning of Kerry's comeback...On the whole, though, I think Kerry helped himself tonight."

Freepers say:

"While we were all hoping that Bush would defeat Kerry handidly tonight and put the election out of reach, we can't be that upset with tonight. Kerry may have even had a slight win..."

Post more hysterical wingnut freakouts as you find them.  This is fun!  

Update [2004-10-1 0:22:2 by kaelamantis]: More:

Oxblog:

"ONE LINE ON THE DEBATE: Kerry won. Hands down. By a lot. That's all for now."

Winds of Change:

"Kerry did well in terms of his persona; I went in expecting a pompous windbag and he wasn't one. Bush did less well in persona; fragmented, repetitive..."

New Republicans:

"Well, if I'm generous, then Bush stuck to his talking points. As a former debater, however, I am tempted to say that Bush missed many, many, many chances to really make key points against Kerry...I'm not certain that Kerry won more than a few swing votes in this, but I don't know if Bush can win those votes back. He simply didn't deliver as well as Kerry."

Update [2004-10-1 0:54:10 by kaelamantis]: And more:

More Powerline:

"I've taken more than an hour to try to talk myself out of concluding that John Kerry won tonight's debate. I haven't succeeded. Senator Kerry, I think, edged President Bush on substance and, surprisingly, looked better throughout."

VodkaPundit:

"Kerry won on points, which probably was enough to shore up his weakened support in New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania."

Dean's World

"My gut's telling me it's a win for Kerry because, frankly, he scared me less than I expected him to."

Whee!

These days, Jesse the Mind is working for Operation Truth, an organization working for the benefit of reservists and National Guard members.  He thinks a draft would end the war quickly: "Because when little Johnny down the street, doesn't want to go and gets drafted, comes home in a body bag like Vietnam, then you'll see public sentiment maybe change a little bit."  Yikes.  

In other news, Ventura is now taking fashion tips from Johnny Depp.