For President: Barack Obama. The economy is recovering. Offers the best plan for the future. He will protect Medicare. Strong leadership. Romney - over-promises and offers the same policies that resulted in the Bush Recession.
For US Senator: Amy Klobuchar. Well respected, bipartisan and responsive leader.
For Congress: Betty McCollum in the 4th, Jim Graves in the 6th and Rick Nolan in the 8th. Betty represents the interests of the 4th. Michele Bachmann is an embarrassment, a lightning rod and an ideologue. Jim will do a better job representing the district. Rick Nolan is a life-long resident of the 8th district who represents the values of the 8th. Chip Cravaack may own a house in North Branch but he doesn't live here. We don't need a New Hampshire conservative ideolgue representing the 8th District.
For State Senate 39: Julie Bunn PhD. She is by far the best qualified person running for the State Senate in either party.
Constituional Questions: Vote NO on both. These issues do not belong in the State Constitution. State Law already prohibits gay marriage. The State Constitution should not take away our right to discuss this in the Legislature or the rights of gays to make a case for discrimination in then state courts.
The Voter Photo ID issue itself is a fraud. We all agree that we should prevent voter fraud, but this amendment is poorly written, could costs $100,000,000 to implement and may only prevent one kind of fraud (that is rare) and may encourage other kinds of fraud. Arne Carlson and Gov. Dayton are right, vote NO and send it back to the Legislature for meaningful and responsible leglislation that actually will prevent fraud without disenfranchising seniors and students.
