International Falls Daily Journal - State News - Comments

Add the 3/8 of 1 percent to

Redcrest — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 14:57:32 -0500

Add the 3/8 of 1 percent to the increase in fuel, the increase in food, the loss of equity in your home and the increase clothing costs and you have serious money. Say no to any new taxes.
They will never stop trying to raise taxes on the working people of this state. What about the people on fixed incomes, more taxes are not what they need when trying to pay for food, medical, and housing along with the price of heating your home and fuel for your car. A sales tax increase puts a additional burden on fixed and low income individuals.

Mark Ritchie, Secretary of

Mark Ritchie — Mon, 05 May 2008 18:04:14 -0500

Mark Ritchie, Secretary of State

Thank you very much for your excellent article about our exciting initiative that has brought the Declaration of Independence to Minnesota. We are doing this as part of the observance of the 150th birthday of our Office of the Secretary of State to give Minnesotans a close look at the "birth certificate" of our nation, and the origins of our system of fair and free elections. May 12th will be a special Defenders of Democracy Day, where veterans and active duty military, guard, reserve, and their families can see the Declaration in a special free, all-day exhibit at the History Center in St. Paul. There will be special programs and refreshments from 9-5PM. Please let your readers know about this special opportunity.

Sincerely,
Mark Ritchie, Secretary of State

Just out of curiosity, what

mwk1013 — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 12:56:09 -0600

Just out of curiosity, what kind of bones does one need to be a U.S. Senator? Big ones? Dense ones? Hollow like a bird's? Just messin' with ya...

Truth is, I've been a big fan of the experience argument as it has concerned the presidential election, but somehow, it's not as compelling when talking about congressional elections (for me anyway)...i like the idea of a diverse group of people with really varied backgrounds (assuming they're all smart enough to be able to learn and understand the issues facing their constituents and the nation as a whole) making decisions...i'd rather not have a "preferred resume" for senate candidates...i'd hate if they were all roughly the same kind of person. it's not quite the populist body the House is, but still the same idea, more or less. My big concerns are their policy positions, intelligence, and willingness to listen to constituents.

Ciresi is a tort lawer. He

Blackbay — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 12:40:30 -0600

Ciresi is a tort lawer. He made his millions "defending the rights of the little man". Well he got rich suing tobacco companies while the people really affected got little to nothing. Way to help the people there Mike while lining your pockets. This country needs tort reform and Ciresi surely isn't going to go along with that. We have enough stinking lawers in government anyway.

Franken is a very smart man, as is his whole family. He should stick to trying to be funny because he doesn't have the bones to be a U.S. Senator. I'd live to see him debate Coleman though. His only rebuttal would be "well your a republican".

Nelson-Pallmeyer has a snowballs chance in he11.

Personally I'll take an experienced person over an unexperienced one anyday. That's my 2 cents and you get what you pay for.

Does it really matter that

mwk1013 — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 09:12:06 -0600

Does it really matter that they don't have government experience? Some of the longest serving senators didn't have government experience before getting elected...Joe Biden was just a few years out of law school when he was elected to the Senate, I believe. He didn't have government experience. The seat they're trying to fill was Wellstone's old seat...Wellstone was a professor prior to his election. I'd be pleased to elect someone truly intelligent, whether or not they have worked in government before. A millionaire lawyer must be smart at something, right? Plus, he's at least been to law school, so one hopes he'd have a thorough knowledge of the law (helpful for the Senate, I'd think). And the comedian? Well, that might bother some, but the guy went to Harvard (and not in the way George Bush went to Yale...as a not too bright legacy admit)...he's gotta have something going on for him upstairs...plus, he seems to have a thorough grasp of the issues, or at least is smart enough to hire advisors who do. I don't know about the so-called peacenik, but I'm sure he's not a complete idiot either.

I wouldn't have thought Arnold Schwarzenegger would have made a decent governor, and probably wouldn't have even claimed he was terribly bright, but he seems to be doing a pretty decent job of things...go figure...Mike Bloomberg was (i think) "just" a billionaire before being elected mayor of NYC...no gov't experience. just business experience. and he's a VERY well respected mayor.

I say look into the candidates' websites, learn their positions, and if you like them, then they're decent candidates. If not, then you can say there's not much to choose from.

Not much to choose from.

Blackbay — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 08:06:21 -0600

Not much to choose from. One's a comedian, one's a peacenic, and the other is a millionaire lawer. None of them have any kind of government experience.

It is so kind of the D.J. to

LoggerGirl — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 11:33:01 -0600

It is so kind of the D.J. to tell readers where the Caucuses will be. However, I think that there might be a better turn out; if the DJ would tell readers when the caucuses will be held. Or maybe that was part of the plan.

I have no preference of DFL or REP, but if you are printing where things are taking place, than the sensible thing to do is mention when it is going to be happening. So people know, should they decide to actually attend the event.

Oh wait... I found the date in the editorial titled "Early Events Should Guide"(1-7-08). What's this...the date moved up to Feb. 5th?

Mike's comments really make

rolflindy — Fri, 19 Oct 2007 16:06:48 -0500

Mike's comments really make sense. He has the credibility and consistency that should appeal to voters in 2008.