First presidential debate at Hofstra University in Hempstead, NY at 9 EST 9/26

Trump may be offensive; but Hillary can't govern

I want to say first that Trump has not made this race easy for himself.  It's like he successfully ran a 100 million dollar company but trying to get to a billion dollar company takes additional skill set. He successfully defeated 16 other candidates in the GOP primary , but now that he is the nominee the spotlight be one much brighter.  So will the establishment be proven wrong again? 

Anyways, the focus of this article is on Hillary. I thought that may be she was just a weak candidate. She precedes two previous nominees who had immense charm so she had a lot to live up to. 

If you listen to the Hillary folks you would think that the race should be a blow out in her favor but it's not and here's why.

She is not truthful. She has allowed the email scandal to get a lot of traction. She has a lot of campaign resources to help her answer questions but yet she has not been able to quiet this issue. 

She stated initially that the Bengazi attacks were a result of a video when she knew that it was a lie. How do we know this? Because of numerous reports that indicate the government knew it was a planned attack.

Another issue is the relationship between State and the Clinton foundation. The Obama administration made it very clear that there needed to be a firewall. That obviously didn't happen. She thinks that it's a coincidence that foreign entities paid millions of dollars to the foundation without any favors? 

The world is on fire. Now there is word that Iran was able to get exemptions from the nuclear deal. Libya is now a failed state. North Korea is on the rise.  They actively opposed the Israeli PM re-election. 

Suffice it to say I won't likely be voting for Hillary despite Trumps flaws.  Hillary has a higher bar in part because she has governed before however because of these I can't in good conscience vote for her.   

Special Session scrapped

After months of negotiations following the  regular session the governor has announced that there will not be a special session as earlier speculated. Earlier this month legislative leaders and the governor had thought a month end special session would happen but an impass regarding the SW light rail prove to be too much in final negotiations. 

There is no timeline as to when these issues will get resolved. 

Primary News

The two most high profile primary races are one one with House Speaker Kurt Daudt. 

The other race is the open seat vacated by retiring congressman John Kline. The race includes radio talk show host Jason Lewis who was endorsed by the GOP. Several others have joined the race.  This race is tough to call because another candidate was endorsed by Kline and yet another candidate was endorsed by the NRA. 

After tonight there will be just one. 

Dayton, Legislative Leaders eye late August for special session

Governor Dayton and Legislative leaders announced that they are eyeing late August for a start to a special session. The agenda includes fixing a provision in the tax bill and passing the bonding bill. The controversy surrounding the bonding bill is that the House republicans say they don't have enough votes to pass with the SW light rail provision. The bonding bill requires 2/3 vote to pass.

Update: DNC chair to resign: Brazille appointed interim chair

Debbie Wasserman Schultz who is currently a Florida congresswoman and more importantly the DNC Chairwoman  has agreed to step down after the convention. Donna Brazille is expected to step in as an interim chair until a permanent chair is elected.  This comes as the the DNC is holding its convention to formally nominate Hillary Clinton as its first female party nominee. 

DNC Chairwoman asked to step aside as convention chair

DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) has been asked to step aside as the convention chair amid questions of the party's neutrality came to light after leaked emails reveals that the DNC staff were working against the Sanders campaign during the primary process.

Controversy has followed her as the committee had considered replacing her before the convention amid other allegations as well including her asking for a significant clothing allowance and for putting her career over the party.  

Trump gives acceptance speech at RNC

VP nominee Mike Pence to address the convention

GOP formally nominates Trump for President

After much fanfare and controversy Trump finally reached the 1237 delegates on the first ballot to secure the republican nomination. 

Trump is expected to use a TelePrompTer to formally accept the republican nomination. 

Trump announces Mike Pence as VP

Donald Trump announced his running mate Governor Mike Pence (R-IN). Pence has experience on Captiol Hill and experience as a governor.  He also has message discipline and conservative credentials that would shore up support in the conservative wing of the GOP. 

Update: RNC Convention rules committee affirms binding rule

The RNC rules committee that determines the procedures regarding the convention affirmed the rule that requires delegates to honor their states commitment. A motion to reconsider failed as well. An amendment also regarding delegates to vote their conscience also failed. 

Rules committee to be key for RNC

The rules committee has been drafting final rules to determine the process of nominating the next republican nominee. One of the key provisions is whether or not delegate will be bound to their candidate on the first ballot.  Typically once you are past a few ballots. All bets are off so the key for the presumptive nominee is to finish on the first ballot. The "Never Trump" crowd is trying to revise the rules so that some delegates who are now Trump delegates are allowed to be unbound or to vote their conscience. 

Trump is expected to announce VP selection on Friday.  Fox News has reportedly suspended its contract with Newt Gingrich.  

Special Session?

The Governor and legislative leaders met Wednesday to discuss the outline of a would be special session. Items include transportation, bonding and supplemental appropriations bill. A sticking point right now is over the funding of transit for the SW light rail. House Republicans oppose that. There is also a technical correction that needs to be made for the tax bill. Also the legislature needs to Pass Real ID in order to get an extension from federal homeland security to extend the deadline to October 2020. So that the department of public safety can begin implementation.

The governor was hoping to have a one day special session at the end of the month but Speaker Daudt seemed doubtful that they would be able to meet that timeline. 

Trump-the fighter we've been looking for?

Ok, I get it. He's not the typical social conservative or conservative at all we've been looking for. But to you conservative we have a fighter ok he needs some finesse I admit. 

Trump knows how to hit back and hit back hard. Isn't it a relief in some sense that he is willing to go to the matt for us? Hillary will want to think twice about responding to Trump.  

You want someone to clean up Washinton in a serious way? Then we better put our money where our mouth is. It's obvious that we need to re-establish the world order not because we are arrogant or we are better but the reality is that the world has gone unchecked.  Our allies are unsure of us and our enemies feel emboldened. 

Memorial Day

Remembering those who gave their ultimate sacrifice to our country. 

Special Session?

A special session is now likely as transportation and bonding bills failed to get passed during the regular session.  The bonding bill must get 2/3 vote to pass. 

Trump reaches 1237 in the delegate count

Donald Trump has reached 1237 delegates according to an AP survey. He now avoids a much talked about open convention in which he will be voted the republican nominee on the first ballot. 

Unfinished business: transportation and bonding

The legislature adjourned the regular session with some major items still left undone transportation and bonding. The governor has not decided whether he will call a special session.

Also the REAL ID needs to be passed so that the state can get an extension on implementation of the program from DHS. REAL ID will be required to board domestic flights as soon as 2018 but could be extended to 2020. 

Sunday deadline

The MN legislative is hours away from deadline. Three major bills need to dealt with: taxes, bonding and the supplemental budget.  Bonding requires 2/3 vote to pass. 

Other highlights: the legislature passed a bill dealing with body camera worn by officers. The bill allows local units of government to set local ordinances and departmental policies. The law will likely need revisions in future legislatures. 

The legislature passed a bill to allow the Board of Pharmacy to collect data. The prescription monitoring program is designed to watch for abuse of prescription drugs and doctor shopping. The controversy surrounds how long the board is allowed to hold the data who buy schedule 2 prescriptions. The survey is designed to help the legislature determine course of action.  The expectation is that once the survey is done data will only be held for 12 months before its discarded. 

They have till midnight. 

Legislative countdown begins: House debates, transportation funding?

This week the legislature is getting down to business as the session comes to a close, when final negotiations come to a head.

There were a number of bills debated in the House Mknday including body cam legislation.

Still up for consideration is funding for transportation. The House GOP refuses to increase the gas tax and says between the bonding bill and the potential transportation omnibus bill that is where they expect final conclusion. 

There will be no special session this year because it is not a budget year. 

Cruz drops out; Trump wins IN primary, becomes presumptive GOP nominee.

An unlikely story for an unlikely candidate. Trump overcame tremendous odds.  He dispatched seasoned politicians and tea party favorites to rise to the top of the GOP hill.  

Now his job is to pivot to the general election and shore up the rest of the GOP if he wants to win the election in November. 

YRNF 2016 Washington DC

Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) House Majority Whip addresses YR's. 

Trump declared winner of NY GOP primary.

Cruz wins IA

Ted Cruz has had a testy relationship with his Senate colleagues and leadership over the years. He had Sarah Palin endorse Donald Trump. The IA governor also criticized him. But tonight was his night as he wins the state of Iowa for the GOP Caucus.  He had the best ground game and organization. 

GOP debate without Trump?

Cruz gets blasted twice: Palin and Branstad

Ted Cruz took a beating this week. First as a candidate from the tea party movement Sarah Palin endorses Trump for his campaign.  Then the IA governor slams Cruz after Cruz accuses the IA governor as being part of the Washington cartel as he is often quoted to even his fellow republicans. 

Trump rewrites campaign rules.

Many pundits had Trump wrong in terms of his early viability. After many provocative comments that would have ended most traditional campaigns. But it's it's clear that Trump has ran a very untraditional campaign in part because he can.  Traditionally campaigns have had to run paid media in order to gain free media.  This has largely been untrue for Trump.

 Trump has such a media attraction that the media can't get enough enough of him despite his outrageous remarks.  So why am I stating the obvious?

Because ultimately the polls must translate into votes. Polls are not always accurate and national polls don't really matter because even though this is a federal election it is determined state by state.  Also many leading candidates running up to the primaries and caucuses did not ultimately get the nomination. 

For example in England and Israel the poll numbers ultimately did not bear out. Why? Because registered or likely voters don't always vote.