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Pawlenty Drops Out Of Presidential Race

August 14, 2011 by Michael McIntee 2012, Iowa, Minnesota Comments Off

One and done. Pawlenty calls it quits after a 3rd place Iowa finish.

Third place in the Republican Iowa straw poll was apparently not good enough for former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty. Today in a private conference call with supporters Pawlenty disclosed his plans to drop out of the race.

Fellow Minnesotan Michele Bachmann won the first Republican Presidential preference poll with nearly twice as many votes as Pawlenty.

As late as yesterday Pawlenty had sounded hopeful. He tweeted his congratulations to Bachmann and said he looked forward to the campaign:

“timpawlenty: Congrats to Rep. Bachmann on her win. Our campaign needed to show progress and we did. I’m eager for the campaign ahead. #iastrawpoll”

Reaction from the Democratic National Committee was swift. … Continue Reading

Bachmann Wins Iowa GOP Presidential Straw Poll

August 13, 2011 by Michael McIntee 2012, Bachmann, Iowa Comments Off

Michele Bachmann announces candidacy for President while in Waterloo, Iowa

Rep. Michele Bachmann in Waterloo, Iowa

Minnesota Representative Michele Bachmann narrowly won the Iowa’s Republican Presidential straw poll on Saturday over Ron Paul. Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty finished a distant third. Here are the voting results:

Michele Bachmann 4,823 (28.55%)
Ron Paul 4,671 (27.65%)
Tim Pawlenty 2,293 (13.57%)
Rick Santorum 1,657 (9.81%)
Herman Cain 1,456 (8.62%)
Rick Perry 718 (3.62%)
Mitt Romney 567 (3.36%)
Newt Gingrich 385 (2.28%)
Jon Huntsman 69 votes (0.41%)
Thad McCotter 35 votes (0.21%)

Texas Governor Rick Perry’s votes were all write-ins. He declared today that he is running for the Republican Presidential nomination.

The UpTake has followed Michele Bachmann since 2005 when she ran for congress. Videos of Michele Bachmann’s political career.

5 Barriers Bachmann Needs To Break To Win Presidency

June 29, 2011 by Michael McIntee 2012, Bachmann, Iowa, Minnesota Comments Off

Michele Bachmann announces candidacy for President while in Waterloo, Iowa

Click picture to watch video

As Michele Bachmann announces she’s running for President of the United States, MNNews’ Rob Barrett runs down the five barriers she would need to break to win. The next 16 months will reveal if that’s possible. The election is a long,long way off.

Obama – Making America Best Place To Create Middle-Class Jobs

June 29, 2011 by Michael McIntee DC, Economy/Jobs, Iowa Comments Off

President Obama speaks to Alcoa workers in Bettendorf, Iowa

Click to watch Obama's speech

President Obama speaking at the Alcoa plant near Bettendorf, Iowa:

“I believe in an America where our government lives within its means while investing in things that will help us grow, like a world-class education system and cutting-edge innovation and the best transportation and communication systems anywhere in the world. That’s how we’re going to make America the best place to create good, middle-class jobs. That’s how we’re going to win the future — by doing the smart things right now to help the middle class grow and feel more secure.”

Full text and video of President Obama’s speech in Iowa … Continue Reading

DFL: Pawlenty Left Minnesota Holding The Bag

May 23, 2011 by Michael McIntee 2012, Iowa Comments Off

Video by Roger Routh

As Minnesota’s legislature struggles to solve the biggest deficit in the state’s history, its former Governor, Tim Pawlenty is in neighboring Iowa to announce he is running for President. Minnesota’s Democratic Farmer Labor Party Chair Ken Martin traveled to Des Moines today to answer questions about Pawlenty’s record. Martin had a lot to tell.

He said Pawlenty announced today he is against subsidies for ethanol, which is exactly the opposite of what he promoted in Minnesota. Martin said that Pawlenty’s budget “gimmicks” that shifted the responsibility for solving the state’s revenue problems have left Minnesotans “holding the bag” and indicated what’s in the bag is not very nice.

Campaign Cash: Tea Party Vows To Block Campaign Finance Reform

November 4, 2010 by admin Campaign Finance, Florida, Iowa, Wisconsin Comments Off
Campaign Cash

Campaign Cash Watch

by Zach Carter, Media Consortium

Welcome to the final edition of Campaign Cash, which tracked political spending during this year’s midterm elections. Stay tuned for more reporting on money in politics from members of The Media Consortium. To see more stories on campaign funding, follow the Twitter hashtag #campaigncash.

Anonymous millionaires just helped elect dozens of ultraconservative congressional candidates, by pumping millions of dollars into national Tea Party organizations. And guess what’s at the top of the legislative to-do list for those same Tea Party groups? Blocking campaign finance reform legislation.

As Stephanie Mencimer explains for Mother Jones, one of the nation’s largest Tea Party organizations, the Tea Party Patriots, is already coming out guns-a-blazing against any lame duck effort to crack down on secret corporate spending in elections.

And with good cause. The Tea Party’s appeal, after all, is based on its populist, grassroots image. If anybody knew that secret right-wing millionaires were bankrolling the entire operation, the “movement” would lose its luster.

But whether reformers are able to force front-groups to disclose their donors or not, the broader effort to eliminate undue corporate influence from the political process will take years.

Welcome to the plutocracy … Continue Reading

Campaign Cash: Biggest Loser Corporate Edition—Spending $2 Million on a Losing Race in Iowa

November 1, 2010 by admin Alaska, Campaign Finance, Iowa, Political Races Comments Off
Campaign Cash

Campaign Cash Watch

by Zach Carter, Media Consortium

Corporate America is on the attack in every state. As Joshua Holland explains for AlterNet, outside groups have spent somewhere between $750,000 and more than $2 million in an attempt to unseat Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA) in a state where ad buys come cheap. But Braley is almost certain to win anyway, even if his lead isn’t quite as comfortable as it was in 2008, when he took 64 percent of the vote. This is what corporations and wealthy elites are willing to pony up in races they’re sure to lose.

Most of that money comes from two groups: the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, a front-group for some of the nation’s largest corporations, and America’s Future Fund, a right-wing front-group founded by GOP lobbyist and ethanol executive Nick Ryan. Public News Service‘s Eric Mack highlights the races in Hawkeye state that are unusually flush with cash.

Thanks to the Supreme Court’s ruling in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission earlier this year, corporations and wealthy elites now have license to spend unlimited sums to promote candidates they like (or attack ones they don’t). Things are already getting out of hand. Outside groups are dumping millions of dollars into obscure races this year—even in places where they appear to have almost no chance of victory.

Republican candidates are raking it in

Thanks to Citizens United, much of the spending in midterm elections is secret. We’ll never know who is spending millions of dollars on anonymous attack ads. But a tiny fraction of the electoral purchases by outside groups have been disclosed, and if those are any guide, the Republican Party is reaping the vast majority of the rewards. As Jesse Zwick details for The Washington Independent, of the roughly $12 million in public corporate expenditures, they’re spending more than $9.7 million on behalf of Republican candidates.

The Chamber of Commerce’s long history in elections … Continue Reading

Obama’s Backyard Economic Blitz- Full Videos From Iowa & Virginia

September 30, 2010 by Michael McIntee DC, Economy/Jobs, Iowa, Virginia Comments Off

Contrasting to the campaign-like rally he held in Madison, Wisconsin, President Obama took a quieter approach in Iowa and Virginia this week.  In all three appearances he emphasized the accomplishments of the past 21 months despite inheriting a crashing economy.  Here we have the full videos of Obama’s backyard discussions in Des Moines, Iowa and Richmond, Virginia  on the economy.

Related Links:

Obama’s Backyard Economic Blitz- Transcriptions from Des Moines, Iowa and Richmond, Virginia

Private time with Obama ‘just a surreal experience’ (Des Moines Register)

How Does The White House Find Families To Host The President’s Backyard Chats? (NPR)

… Continue Reading

Cedar Rapids Flooding – Part Two

June 14, 2008 by admin Iowa Comments Off


More footage from David Howell of flooding in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Cedar Rapids Flooding – Part One

June 14, 2008 by admin Iowa Comments Off


Video of flooding from David Howell in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. See http://www.davidhowellstudios.com for more.

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DC

Click on photo to watch Senator Al Franken's news conference on college financial aid reform

Sen. Franken Announces “True Cost Of College” Act

Senator Al Franken announces the “Understanding The True Cost Of College Act” that would require colleges to use easier to understand language in their financial aid package offers to students.

Click this picture to play video.

First Somali Delegate Headed to Democratic National Convention

Hindia Ali, Youth Leadership Development Coordinator at Somali Action Alliance is a delegate the the 2012 National Democratic Convention, the first Somali-American to be a delegate.

Click photo to watch President Obama's speech

Obama Rips GOP’s “Radical Vision” For US

Speaking to the press on Tuesday, President Obama ripped into Republicans for their lack of compromising and for the first time mentioned his likely Republican opponent, Mitt Romney, by name.

Click on Photo to View Women's Discussion About Health Care and the Affordable Care Act

“Being a Woman Shouldn’t be a Pre-existing Condition”

Minnesota women in healthcare predicaments met with with HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Sen. Al Franken, Rep. Betty McCollum and Governor Mark Dayton on Friday — the two year anniversary of the Affordable Care Act.

Click photo to watch President Obama's weekly address

Obama:Fraud, Middle East Conflict, Driving Up Gas Prices

President Obama says many of the factors that are driving up gas prices are out of our control such as unrest in the Middle East. However, he points out there are some things that are in our control such as fraud and manipulation that can cause prices to spike even further.

Click photo to hear President Obama speak about alternative energy

Obama Makes Case For Alternative Energy

President Obama talks about an all-of-the-above American energy strategy at a Daimler manufacturing plant in North Carolina that’s making trucks that run on natural gas.

No recount this time. Click photo to watch the MN Congressional Cookoff

Another Close One For Sen. Al Franken- Ties In Hotdish Cookoff

Senator Al Franken is used to close elections. This time he didn’t beat his opponents, but had to settle for a tie with Representative Chip Cravaack in the second annual Minnesota Congressional delegation hotdish cookoff.

Click photo to watch President Obama address business roundtable in Washington, DC

Obama:Tax Reform Like “Pulling Teeth”

President Obama would like to reform taxes so we reward companies that invest in the US, not ones that send jobs overseas. But there are some barriers, such as Congress.

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Obama

Israel-US United Against Iran Says Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu

Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu uses his photo op with President Obama today to talk up how the US and Israel are united against Iran, which is suspected of trying to create a nuclear bomb.

President Obama speaks to the American-Israel Lobby

Obama:Military Force Against Iran Possible To Thwart Nuclear Program

President Obama warns that “loose talk” of war was only helping Iran, while pushing back against charges from GOP presidential contenders that he has been less than a loyal ally to Israel.

Latest MN

MN

Click on Photo to Hear Interview with Northside Resident Anthony Strong

Lack of Liquor Store Reduces Crime in North Minneapolis Neighborhood

One year after the tornado that ravaged North Minneapolis, things are looking up for Anthony and Shemeika Strong. The absence of the Broadway Liquor Outlet has also been a blessing for their neighborhood.

99 pct Mall

Boisterous Protests At Local Banks Stay Non-Violent

Occupy coalesced activists from many neighborhood and civic groups to protest bank actions: Home foreclosures, refusing Somali funds transfer, voter photo ID, anti-immigrant actions.

Click Image to View Video

“Vikings Got Bailed Out, We Got Sold Out!”

Members of the Welfare Rights Committee disrupt the signing of the Vikings Stadium Bill. They claim, “Vikings Got Bailed Out, We Got Sold Out!”

Click on this photo to see video of conference.

Minnesota Somali Women And Men Discuss Infertility Issues

Somali women and men gather to discuss the many aspects of female infertility with medical and social experts.

3M Demo

MN Activists Call on 3M to Remove Corporate Funds From Politics

3M shareholders at annual meeting were asked to stop all corporate contributions to political campaigns and to disclose corporate political lobbying efforts. As expected, the resolutions were voted down, but the activists pledged to continue efforts.

Click on Image to View Video

Occupy-Backed Homeowner Monique White Wins Loan Modification, Keeps House

Occupy backed homeowner successfully re-negotiated her loan with MN based US Bank.

Courtesy of the Minnesota Historical Society

Healing Minnesota’s Darkest Period: Pardoning a Dakota Indian

After the six-week US-Dakota War of 1862, 38 Dakota men were hung in one of the largest mass executions in US History. Many argue that the trials were a sham, that is was the largest injustice in the nation’s history. Today, Representative Dean Urdahl, Chair of the Legacy Committee in Minnesota and the Civil War Task Force, seeks to, “rub a little salve in the wound,” by seeking a pardon for one of those warriors who was hung on that fateful December day. His name is Chaska.

Rep. Ryan Winkler on the House Floor before 2011 Special Session

Stadium Opponent Rep. Winkler Decides To Vote For Stadium.

Rep. Ryan Winkler (DFL) decides to support the Vikings stadium because of the jobs it will create.

Governor Dayton and Vikings Owner Zygi Wilf

Vikings Stadium Bill Sent To Governor Dayton

The Minnesota House and Senate have each approved different versions of a Vikings stadium proposal. So now it is up to a conference committee to reconcile the differences.

Governor Mark Dayton Vetos GOP Tax Bill

Dayton Tax Veto Imperils Vikings Stadium Says GOP

Principle or politics? On Friday, Governor Mark Dayton went heavily with principle and imperiled the politics of his top legislative priority — thousands of jobs from building a new Vikings football stadium.

Sustaining Solutions

Sustaining Solutions

Click on Photo to Hear Interview with Northside Resident Anthony Strong

Lack of Liquor Store Reduces Crime in North Minneapolis Neighborhood

One year after the tornado that ravaged North Minneapolis, things are looking up for Anthony and Shemeika Strong. The absence of the Broadway Liquor Outlet has also been a blessing for their neighborhood.

Click on Image to View Video

Occupy-Backed Homeowner Monique White Wins Loan Modification, Keeps House

Occupy backed homeowner successfully re-negotiated her loan with MN based US Bank.

Click Photo to Hear Opinions on How the City Should Help North Minneapolis

Does North Minneapolis Need Pie in the Sky Ideas or Roofs Overhead?

Nearly a year after the tornado that ripped through North Minneapolis, opinions vary greatly on what the poverty-stricken community needs most from local and state government. Should the City introduce “pie in the sky” ideas or focus on more immediate problems?

Click photo of Rep. Bobby Jo Champion  to View Video Interview

Rep. Bobby Jo Champion Touts Legislation to Rebuild North Minneapolis

Representative Bobby Jo Champion talks about the challenges facing some of his constituents in North Minneapolis almost a year after a devastating tornado.

Click photo to watch video about how tornado damaged North Minneapolis is being rebuilt right.

Rebuild It Right in North Minneapolis: Quality Design Isn’t Just For Rich People

Rebuild It Right, an organization made up of architects and designers from Minneapolis, is helping homeowners advocate for quality design in the wake of the May 22nd Tornado.

Don Samuels Talks Jobs

New Stadium Deal Promises Jobs for North Minneapolis Residents

The Vikings stadium deal got the support of Minneapolis City Council members. Council member Don Samuels says that this is a good deal for his constituents. It will provide jobs to a part of the city that has the highest rate of unemployment.

Click photo to watch how Urban Homeworks is helping homeowners in north Minneapolis

Urban Homeworks: Fighting Foreclosures in North Minneapolis

Local, Minneapolis non-profit Urban Homeworks works with banks and other community organizations to fight foreclosures.

Monique White celebrates a delay on evicting her from her home. Click photo to watch video.

Occupy-Backed Homeowner Monique White Seeks Jury Trial

Embattled homeowner Monique White took one more step Friday toward what could become an improbable victory that would let her stay in her North Minneapolis home. Judge Mark Labine will decide on Monday whether White will get a jury trial in District Court.

Click on Photo to View Video of Northside Economic Opportunity Network

Northside Economic Opportunity Network Boosts Business in North Minneapolis

The Northside Economic Opportunity Network works with small businesses and micro-businesses in North Minneapolis to help them achieve success.

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2011 UpTake Stories With The Most Impact

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