Legalectric

Color me pissy, but will someone please explain Rowley’s position on… oh, say… energy… or education… or environment… or EVERYTHING? That is, anything but the war, we’ve got that one figured out. Look at the Colleen Rowley website. There are no position papers posted, no issues statements. It’s even worse than before when there were lame statements and she was doing things like conflating “decreasing dependence on foreign oil” with “wind generation” and some such. Back then, of course, I went straight to the horse’s mouth, we had a few go rounds, I spoke with her in person too, I spent quite a bit of time sending off basic information on electrical generation and transmission == hey, 2nd Congressional District is home to a nuclear plant up for relicensing. NADA! I heard from an FBI buddy of hers who was working on position papers, and now that they’ve had a lot of time to deal with it, to do something, nada. I’m getting a lot of email on Rowley doorknocks, lit drops, events, but

Czech out Czechomor & Lenka Dusilova

Sunday, October 15th

New Prague High School Auditorium

Doors open at 7, music starts at 8

New Prague, MINNESOTA, DUH! At the intersection of State Hwys. 19 & 21! The following was stolen without permission from Erick Sommers (so sue me):

Two-time Czech Grammy winner Lenka Dusilova and Czechomorâ??one of Eastern Europe’s premier folk-rock groupsâ??will tour southern Minnesota in mid-October, including a surprise Sunday-night stop in New Prague.

Czechomor, currently bringing their unique take on the folk traditions of Moravia to the United States with triumphant successâ??including a recent smash performance at New York’s Kennedy Centerâ??will perform with the celebrated Dusilova in the beautiful New Prague High School Auditorium at 8 pm Sunday evening, October 15th. This rare chance to experience their music in an unusually intimate setting (where the utmost pains have been taken to provide an enjoyable experience for all) is wide-open to the general public and all interested persons are warmly invited to attend. Arrangements will gladly be made for the elderly and those with unique needs.

Meeting in the supercharged atmosphere surrounding the Brno Musical Conservatory and setting out in 1988 as the “1st Czech-Moravian Musical Company,” Czechomor bandleader Karel Holas and primary collaborator Franta Cerny have consistently churned out unique, emotional original music, based on and woven through with long-forgotten folk melodies and, somehow, seeming to recreate through the mystery of music the history and stories of the ancient peoples of southeastern Europe. And while international audiences love their healthy doses of rock-and-roll energy, the band applies a careful, deliberate sensibility to the delicate, mysterious roots of their music.

In an interview with veteran Czech journalist Jiri Leschtina, published in the magazine Vikend, Holas said: “Folk songs are a terribly fragile thing, which you can easily spoil with your ideas. We open a tin can in which the song is being preserved and then we try it with everything possible. We will start out bravely, but we know that we may hit a wall. Some of our songs have as many as ten versions, until we work it out to the right one. Then we start playing it at a concert and only on the stage do we realize that it has been overdone. So we start again, changing and simplifying, until we are satisfied.”

Following this approach, they’ve consistently wowed audiences with their moving performances and has created thousands including such high-profile figures as Vaclav Havel. Havel’s interest in the groupâ??he is on record as naming them his favorite bandâ??opened doors for them in places they might not have otherwise found and they have played a large number of high-profile charitable events, further exposing this amazing and unique music to the world.

Dusilovaâ??winner of the influential Czech music magazine Report’s ‘best female vocalist’ award for four consecutive years beginning in 2000â??and who is widely acclaimed as one of Europe’s best indie artists, recently won two more prestigious awards, when she was named Andel Allianz Music Awards ‘Singer of the Year.’ Her album Mezy Svety also won the Andel Allianz Album of the Year as well as garnering the same title from the Czech Internet Music Awards.

The rare combination of two outstanding and acclaimed artists is a single concert is a lucky break for music-lovers in our area, especially in view of Czechomor’s recent, stunning success before a packed house of glittering celebrities in New York. Only in America!

Czechomor & Lenka Dusilova

Sunday, October 15th

Doors open at 7, music at 8

New Prague High School Auditorium

Makes me miss prestigeous E. Phillips! Hope the DFL gets the message that they can’t get away with their party games.

And it looks like Paul Koering will get through too, but that’s with only 51% reporting. Sandy Wollschlager seems to be ahead but there’s very few reporting now, and Draszkowski is way behind Wilson. (Damn, turns out Draszkowski won, eeeeeeeuw)
I’ve got all of 19 (!), but my aim was to challenge the “background checks” by the City of Red Wing, and I’ve put zero effort into this, WHEW! Got word late last week that the investigation is complete, and the Goodhue Co. Sheriff has turned my Complaint over to the County Attorney. We’ll see what happens.

Up in Itasca County, the theme is “vote the bastards out!” And Tom Anzelc won despite massive Chamber of Commerce efforts supporting the Republican running against him in the DFL primary.

Nancy Prehn made it through the primary in Waseca County!

Overall, the theme is change. Now, let’s make sure that carries through!

Andrew Borene has withdrawn from the SD 41 race and said, “I believe I am an alcoholic and am seeking treatment for my disease.” Good place to start. It’ll be a lifelong road…

And what about this SD41 race?

The question of the day: Can the DFL sit back and not select a Yellow Dog to jump in the race, and let folks get behind Julie Risser, the progressive candidate in the SD 41 race, and win this district? She’s been getting a good reception doorknocking and at events, has some good endorsements — she knows her issues, knows the district, knows they’re ready for change, and is just what they’re looking for! This is a winnable district!

Candidate Borene withdraws from SD41 race

BY HARVEY T. ROCKWOOD / SUN NEWSPAPERS

State Senate candidate Andrew Borene announced Thursday afternoon that he is withdrawing from the District 41 race and will seek treatment for alcoholism.

The DFL-endorsed candidate’s move comes in the wake of the arrest by Edina police of his wife, Britta Borene, who was taken into custody early Tuesday, Sept. 5.

“I am withdrawing from the race,” he said by phone Thursday. “I believe I am an alcoholic…. I am in the process of seeking treatment for my disease.

“I have been hurting people I love,” said Borene, who would not elaborate.

“What I would ask, as a human being, is that my wife not be punished for my disease,” he said. “I think this is a personal matter.”

Borene issued a statement Thursday afternoon announcing his withdrawal.

“Today I am formally withdrawing from the Minnesota Senate race in District 41, which includes Edina and west Bloomington,” he said in a written statement.

The statement continued:

“With the assistance of professionals, I have concluded that I am chemically dependent and will enter treatment for my alcohol dependency,” Borene said. “That dependency has hurt those whom I love, including my wife and our children.

“Recent events have convinced me that I cannot pursue my commitment to public service, make progress in recovery, while tending to the needs of my family.

“For my actions, which I deeply regret, I apologize to my amazing wife, Britta, my family, my friends’ and the citizens of District 41. While my withdrawal is necessary, I apologize also to the many good people who have stood by me, generously contributing their time and talents. I especially wish to thank for their understanding and support Congressman Jim Ramstad and Sen. Dean Johnson.”

The announcement came two days after Britta Borene was arrested in connection with an alleged domestic assault case.

Edina Police Chief Mike Siitari said the Sept. 5 incident remains under investigation. He said additional charges are possible and that Andrew Borene may also be charged with fifth-degree misdemeanor assault.

Police were sent to the Borene home just before 12:30 a.m. after Andrew Borene called 911, Siitari said.

“Mr. Borene called stating he needed help in a dispute with his wife,” Siitari said.

The couple was separated and officers took statements from each of them, he said.

“Enough evidence was developed at that time to place Mrs. Borene under arrest,” Siitari said.

Officers observed that Andrew Borene had scratches on his back, abdomen and wrist, according to Siitari. Britta Borene had no obvious injuries.

Police Department records show no similar calls to the Borene home in recent years, Siitari said.

Britta Borene was taken into custody by Edina police and booked into the Hennepin County jail just after 3 a.m. Sept. 5, according to Hennepin County Sheriff’s Department records.

She was released about 8 a.m. the same day after posting $2,400 bond, according to sheriff’s records.

Britta Borene was issued a citation for fifth-degree assault, a misdemeanor. She made an initial appearance in Hennepin District Court on Wednesday, Sept. 6.

DFL Party leaders were still considering options late Thursday but Borene’s name will remain on the Nov. 7 general election ballot.

Under state law, legislative candidates must withdraw from campaigns by July 20 in order to have their name removed from the ballot, according to the Minnesota Secretary of State’s office.

“He will remain on the ballot but he is suspending his campaign,” said Jennifer McIntosh, communications director for the state DFL Party. “He is no longer campaigning for the District 41 seat.”

She said it is unlikely that the party will launch a write-in campaign for another DFLer.

Even so, party leaders are still considering their response, she said.

“We’ve only known about this for a matter of hours. We certainly haven’t finished” talking over options, she said.

The field for the District 41 seat includes incumbent Sen. Geoff Michel, R-Edina, and Green Party candidate Julie Risser of Edina.

Sen. Tom Bakk has an editorial in the Timberjay that is so full of unadulterated crap that I’m wondering if he’ll next propose a methane digester to deal with it all…

Where’s he getting his information from? He says the plant is in Bovey — I imagine the folks in Taconite will be suprised! He thinks coal is abundant, but doesn’t mention the little detail of the 300+% price increase last December, or the inability of some coal plants to get a reliable coal supply, putting their coal reserve and ability to generate in jeopardy. Mesaba plans to spew at least 54 lbs of mercury a year, and it takes what, a teeny fraction of an ounce to contaminate an entire lake? Has he checked how many Minnesota lakes have edible fish? Here are mercury impaired waters in the Superior Basin.  Here are mercury impaired waters in the Headwaters Basin. I’d probably be easier to show what ones AREN’T impaired. Mesaba’s 54 lbs. of air-emitted mercury will hit the already impaired Superior Basin waters, unless because of the short stacks they land in the already impaired waters of the Headwaters Basin. Discharge water will end up in Swan River and Mississippi River.

Here’s the MPCA’s Comments about this, from the Mesaba siting docket:

MPCA Comment #1

MPCA Comment #2

Don’t folks like Bakk and Beard worry about making statements like this that undermine their credibility — particularly in an election season?

Here is Bakk’s letter in its entirety. Compare it with last week’s Mike Beard editorial which is LINKED HERE:

Coal gasification provides a solution

Letter to the editor by Sen. Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook

A recent Timberjay editorial called into question the need for constructing a coal gasification power plant near Bovey that will produce much-needed jobs and energy on the Iron Range, depicting the Mesaba energy project as a largely partisan undertaking. As a longtime DFL legislator, I am supporting this plant because it is a model of cutting-edge clean coal technology, and also of bipartisanship that has united legislators and leaders from both sides of the aisle for the good of our environment and economy.

Coal is our nationâ??s most abundant fuel, with an estimated 250-year supply. The proposed Bovey plant gives us the opportunity to put Minnesota on the forefront of advanced clean-coal gasification. The new technology cuts emissions by two-thirds more than the next-best coal technology on the market. Its emissions are 1/1000 of some existing coal plants in Minnesota. It will be the first coal plant in the country to remove virtually all mercury.

The project was selected for funding in a competitive process by the U.S. Department of Energy, as the culmination of a two-decade program to develop and commercialize coal gasification. According to the DOE, the project is a stepping stone to the FutureGen plant, which will be the worldâ??s first coal power plant to have near-zero emissions. More than a dozen states are competing to be the site of the FutureGen facility. Minnesota policymakers, by passing legislation in 2003 to enable the project, secured the right to have this facility located on the Iron Range.

Additionally, Minnesota has the need for 3,000 to 6,000 megawatts of new power generation in the near future. If new coal facilities are not built, Xcel Energyâ??s demand for natural gas will increase from 2 percent of statewide demand in 2004 to 20 percent in 2011. This puts the stateâ??s energy needs in direct competition with our local natural-resource economy, which also is heavily dependent on natural gas for power. Operating costs for our local industries â?? industries that must compete to sell taconite pellets and paper in a new world economy â?? could increase drastically. If we do not find a way to use coal to meet this growing demand, Minnesota businesses and families will be left to shoulder the cost of this increasing reliance on natural gas for electricity generation.

It is equally important for us to create good-paying jobs for northeast Minnesota. In addition to the permanent jobs created, this project could bring more than an estimated $1.5 billion of investment to the region. The project is also likely to provide more than $1 million a year in real estate taxes to Itasca County, in addition to the new tax base that will be created as a result of the projectâ??s construction and operation.

The project, as proposed, will not condemn any homes or cabins. The proposed project site is a 1,200 acre, privately-owned industrial parcel. The project will pay to pump water out of taconite pits that will otherwise flood parks and towns in the region. The plant will not require a new transmission line to the Twin Cities, but instead will upgrade existing power lines and provide significant stability to the regional grid.

Instead of casting aspersions on this prestigious project, we should take a long, hard look at its real value: Minnesota families, Minnesota jobs, and Americaâ??s national security – priceless.Â