Warms the heart

Iowa for Feingold

'nuff said

DFL candidates for Minnesota's US Senate seat debate

Veterinarian Ford Bell and attorney Amy Klobuchar, both vying for the U.S. Senate, debate on Minnesota Public Radio's "Midday" starting at 11 a.m. today.

Video shows Bush, Chertoff warned before Katrina

Big hat tip to the always outstanding Crooks & Liars crew for hosting the Associated Press video

Video-WMP Video-QT

WASHINGTON - In dramatic and sometimes agonizing terms, federal disaster officials warned President Bush and his homeland security chief before Hurricane Katrina struck that the storm could breach levees, put lives at risk in New Orleans' Superdome and overwhelm rescuers, according to confidential video footage.

Bush didn't ask a single question during the final briefing before Katrina struck on Aug. 29, but he assured soon-to-be-battered state officials: "We are fully prepared."

The footage — along with seven days of transcripts of briefings obtained by The Associated Press — show in excruciating detail that while federal officials anticipated the tragedy that unfolded in New Orleans and elsewhere along the Gulf Coast, they were fatally slow to realize they had not mustered enough resources to deal with the unprecedented disaster.

Linked by secure video, Bush expressed a confidence on Aug. 28 that starkly contrasted with the dire warnings his disaster chief and numerous federal, state and local officials provided during the four days before the storm. (more)

Now it's a race - Bell gains in MN US Senate contest

Out of town for a 3-day weekend and look what happens (oh yeah, the Minnesota legislature is back in session too)

Minnesota Senate: Bell Gains Ground

Leap frogging past Rep. Mark Kennedy in the latest Rasmussen Report poll of the Minnesota US Senate race Ford Bell is in a statistical dead-heat with primary opponent Amy Klobuchar.

Both Bell and Klobuchar now enjoy a 3-point lead over Kennedy. Since Rasmussen started to publish polling results in January, Klobuchar has dropped 4 percentage points in a head-to-head match-up with the White House backed Kennedy. During that same time Bell has surged up a staggering 13 percentage points. The question over the next month will be whether both these trends will continue.

Of the 500 likely voters, 42 percent would vote for Kennedy over Klobuchar while only 40 percent would choose Kennedy over DFL candidate Bell.

All this should make Friday's two debates more interesting (yes debates, with rebuttals and everything). The first will be between Bell and Klobuchar on Minnesota Public Radio's "Midday" starting at 11 a.m. The second will hosted by the MetroNorth chamber of commerce. Here are the details from the group's website:

SENATORIAL DEBATE
Friday, March 3, 2006
The Mermaid
Mounds View, MN
Event Time: Noon
Attendance Fee: $18.00 (Prepaid Only)

Why is this debate being held?
This debate is being held among candidates for the US Senate seat to be vacated by Mark Dayton. Confirmed candidates are Congressman Mark Kennedy (R) and Democrats[sic] Amy Klobuchar and Ford Bell.

For More Information:
E-mail Deb or call 763-783-3553 to RSVP.

The ticket charge and work will probably keep me away from the luncheon, though curiosity begs two questions; do you think Bell and Klobuchar will car pool from the MPR studios to the Mermaid? - and - do you think Kennedy will be listening in on his Walkman while pressing the flesh at the Chamber?