THIS IS EXCELLENT NEWS FOR MICHELE!!!

I had no confidence in this district given that they voted for Bachmann in the first place, but this is phenomenal.

Wow. Get on the El train!!

Last week I stayed up all night spreading El Tinklenberg"s Act Blue page everywhere I could. I knew the second I saw that thing spinning on the refresh what we were witnessing a new level of politics, that it had it's foundation in the Dean campaign. Joe Trippi must to smiling somewhere tonight.
The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
http://joetrippi.com/

If Tinklenberg wins this will probably be one of the biggest upsets this election.

SNL took the gloves off tonight (Thursday). Bush-McCain-Palin with a group "Bush endorsement".

Karma's a bitch!

Opie, Andy, and the Fonz come out for Obama -

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/cc65ed650d

I thought I was gonna have a stroke waiting for numbers. I got 20 people to go in and call for El. Y'all turn out as many folks as you can. Call the campaign and put in whatever time you can. We should have them set up virtual phone banks for folks out of state. The funds in can pay for media, but we need folks on the phones, stat.

Here's that Maddow clip :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPKMDiaU1_A

Excellent news in the poll. A statistical dead heat based on +/- 4%, but when you dig down into the demographics there are some very positive numbers:
50+ (44% of LV) = ET leads by 10 points.
Female (51% of LV) = ET leads by 12 points.
Moderate (46% of LV) = ET leads by 34 points.
Factor in the financial picture for both candidates and this is looking good for El.

Are Truth, Justice and the American Way going to finally have their day?

We've got Bachman on the ropes. The NRCC is abandoning the wingnuts. 98% registered in Michigan. Remember, McCain abandoned Michigan. Early voting. Millions of new voters, going 2-1 for Barack.

Last Stand Pennsylvania? Not happening. The Republican brand is in tatters. Palin's wardrobe is worth more than most people in Pennsylvania make in 3 years.

"This country needs sensible leadership, compassionate leadership, honest leadership and strong leadership. Barack Obama has shown that he has all of those qualities."
NYTimes

I'm glad she's getting her just desserts. I hope this is a small sign that the Republican Party is going to wise up and marginalize these crazy people.

I grew up in Minnesota, and it was known to be liberal territory. Hence my liberal leaning hippie commie roots. I am astounded they have even elected someone like this, what the hell has happened to Minnesota??? I hope she gets her ass kicked. I am more angry about all the lying afterward actually, with such a straight holier-than-thou face. What asses these "Christians" are that profess their divine right to tell us what to think and how to act. Real Christians would never have voted for her. In fact, the whole Christian in your face crap has made me agnostic.

I'm from Minnesota and have lived in Stillwater, MN where Michelle started out. She hates the Gay population; and her sister is gay. Apparently hasn't spoken to her in a long time. She dis'd the gays so badly that the gay population, who frequented the tourist town of Stillwater, MN refused to travel to or shop there!!!
Michelle Bachman had (was forced?) to apologize to the Gay's and SHE DID! Even though she hates Gay's!
Michelle's just another fradulent human being who has a gay sister and refuses to talk to her because she BELIEVES her sister, her own flesh and blood, made a BAD CHOICE. And Michelle, who's a Repub and *allegedly* believes in family values?.................doesn't really have...... a family.
Why? Because she thinks her sister is "different" and not eligible to be a part of her family.
Think about it.
It's.......well, so un-family-like.
What could Michelle's children be thinking about their *exorcised* Aunt?

Bachmann is out of the very conservative Wisconsin Synod Lutheran tradition, but she has quite strong links to conservative Catholic and Mega Church (non-denominational) groups. In contrast, her opponent, El Tinklenberg is an ordained Pastor in the ELCA, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America -- the largest Lutheran Body which has reasonably progressive social positions. Tinklenberg does not pastor a church, he is a supply pastor, meaning he takes short term assignments to parishes when a pastor becomes sick, dies, takes a leave for travel, etc. Over the years he has temp. pastored a number of congregations in this district -- and the district is, on the eastern end, the heartland of Swedish America. Hopefully this network will work for him.

Arne Carlson's endorsement today -- of both Obama and Tinklenberg, is very important. Carlson was Governor between 90 and 98, and lives in Forest Lake in the District. I hope he will follow up on his appearance at the Capitol today. My dream would be that Colin Powell and Carlson would do a joint appearance for Tinklenberg. (This is, afterall, a majority Republican District.) Likewise it is important that Ventura speak up. El Tinklenberg served in Jesse Ventura's cabinet between 99 and 2003 as Transportation Commissioner -- Ventura's cabinet was bi-partisian, and in fact Ventura's chief of staff is managing the campaign. Ventura won the 6th when he ran in 98, and lives in the district. Tinklenberg will be a strong Democrat in DC, but it is important to understand the necessity of working the cross party dynamics in this district. The Bob Anderson running on the Independence line is a ringer from the Bachmann organization. The Independence party itself actually endorses Tinklenberg. As things have happened in the last week, the DFL's joint GOTV for Obama, Franken, and legislative candidates is ready to plug into Tinklenberg's campaign in a big way. And yes, the ads have begun....

sorry, that's the one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Ewr4BSTr8Q

I'm excited about Obama, but I have to tell you I am sad about what has happened to the GOP.... I watched the "gotcha interview".... Chris Matthews asked questions and she opened her mouth and the most inane answers flowed.. Have you noticed EVERY time some Republican says something stupid, they blame it on a gotcha.....

she wants the Congress to investigate for anti-American activities... have none of these Pols studied history - I think McCarthy already did that ..... truly, lady, we all know that you have no brains, but.... Have you no sense of decency?

More good news for McCain -

TALLAHASSEE -- Barack Obama has opened up a 49-42 percent lead over John McCain in Florida, according to a new Miami Herald poll showing the Democrat earns high marks on the economy and is drawing significant support from the swing voters who decide elections in the nation's largest swing state.

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics/florida/story/739225.html

OT, but Obama's first-half October fund-raising number drops (it's $36 mil).

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081024/ap_on_el_pr/campaign_money;_ylt=AhpKAo2xwZYdmpSyWpGVfgZsnwcF

The Thursday midnight "deadline" has passed but we can still donate... let's do so if you can afford.

That FRC Pac thing is really kinda revealing. Fact is, from what I read El's a pretty conservative Dem and pretty much with the Family Va-yuse crowd on most issues. I think those guys must just like Bachmann's positions on fascism (for it, big time).

Motocrat,

My thougths are with you and your mom. Sometimes the greatest dignity a person can achieve is making the decision to "own" the end of their life.

I remember when my partner, Nathan was diagnosed with an aggressive form of Lymphoma in August of 2005. He only lived 10 months after his diagnosis. Six weeks before he died, I remember Nathan looked into my eyes and said "I am done with all this". And he was. He was resolute. No more chemo. No more radiation. No more fighting. He chose to go out on his own terms. Nathan was a beautiful man, and I miss him. But when he made the decision to stop treatment I saw a peace in him that I hadn't seen in him in months and months. It broke my heart, because a 28 year old man shouldn't die of cancer. But he owned it. It was his life and and it was his death.

Reading about you and your mom brought tears to my eyes today.

I'm a Democrat for a lot of reasons. But dignity in life and dignity in death is one of them. The hypocrisy of Republicans makes me so angry. They scream "personal freedoms! personal freedoms!" But then they want to legislate what we do with our bodies. It makes my head want to explode.

Anyway, God Bless you and your Mom.

i donated $25 to El Tinklenberg, I hope he wins!!! Keep this story going until election day!!!

Gosh, I am delighted to be proven wrong. I was certain when the RNCC pulled its money out of this race that this meant that they had reason to believe that Bachmann was a sure thing. I simply could not buy Josh Marshall's take on it, ie that this was the RNCC expressing their consternation with her. Evidently, however, Marshall really was right and I could not be more pleased.

Well, actually, I take that back; I could be more pleased, and I am, because I am even more delighted to see that bit about the Family Research Council grousing about the party slighting Christian conservatives. There is nothing I would like better than to see Family Research Council and their ilk nurse a grudge against the Republican party. A good old fashioned civil war in the GOP would do my heart good. Please, Dr Dobson, cultivate that resentment and point a few fingers at the Chamber of Commerce and Newt Gingrich and the like. Remember Michelle Bachmann. Remember Marilyn Musgrave. Do it for them.

Well Mo, you really stepped in it this time! Guess well see you doing the weather on Fox in Minnisota!

I don't have a lot of money, hell, I'm flat broke to be frank, but I sucked it up on this one. Every time I see that horrible creature's face (Bachmann) it reinforces how important it is that once and for all us Dems take back control over decency and integrity. She's a nasty piece of work. I think I'll donate again now, as it's gotten me riled up just talking about it. What a ignorant, dangerous woman.

Minnesota's Sixth District needs to go to El.

I have never contributed to a campaign outside of my area (San Diego), but I made an exception when I heard the UnAmerican comments by Michelle Bachmann. I sent $50 to her opponent. This could go down in history as the stupidest thing ever said by a politician.

The only thing better than America dumping these fascists is for Murtha to get the ol' heave ho at the same time! Get rid of all the deadwood at once and let Obama govern leaders of goodwill.

Mudflats has the list of the other lovely ladies who drank the kook-aide, err... the Truth Squad. Any of these Congress critters running in a district near you?

National Members Of The Palin Truth Squad:

· Former Governor Jane Swift (R-MA)
· Governor Linda Lingle (R-HI)
· Lt. Governor Sean Parnell, (R-AK)
· Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (R-MN)
· Congressman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
· Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV)
· Congresswoman Thelma Drake (R-VA)
· Congresswoman Mary Fallin (R-OK)
· Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC)
· Congresswoman Kay Granger (R-TX)
· Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)
· Congresswoman Candice Miller (R-MI)
· Congresswoman Sue Myrick (R-NC)
· Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL)
· Congresswoman Heather Wilson (R-NM)
· Jo Ann Davidson, RNC Co-Chair
· Rosario Marin, Former U.S. Treasurer
· Meg Stapleton, Former Aide To Governor Palin
· Kristan Cole, Lifelong Friend Of Governor Palin

State Members Of The Palin Truth Squad:

· Former Lt. Governor Jane Norton (CO)
· State Representative Amy Stephens (CO)
· State Board of Education Member Peggy Littleton (CO)
· State Representative Ellyn Bogdanoff (FL)
· County Commissioner Mildred Fernandez (FL)
· Former Iowa Senate President And Former U.S. Ambassador To The Eastern Caribbean, Mary Kramer (IA)
· State Representative Jackie Walorski (IN)
· State Representative Laura Brod (MN)
· Former GOP State Party Chairwoman And Former State Rep. Barb Sykora (MN)
· Jayne Millerick, Former NH GOP Chair (NH)
· State Senator Jennifer Beck, Honorary Co-Chair NJ Women For McCain-Palin (NJ)
· Assemblywoman Alison Littell McHose, Honorary Vice Chair NJ Women For McCain-Palin (NJ)
· Bergen County Clerk Kathe Donovan, Honorary Co-Chair NJ Women For McCain-Palin (NJ)
· DA Dona Ana County Susana Martinez (NM)
· Former Lt. Gov. Lorraine Bono-Hunt (NV)
· State Senator Barbara Cegavske (NV)
· State Assemblywoman Heidi Gansert (NV)
· Sue Lowden, Nevada GOP Chair (NV)
&# 183; Kay Ayres, OH GOP Vice Chair (OH)
· Betty Montgomery, Ohio Women For McCain-Palin Chair (OH)
· Mary Taylor, Ohio Auditor Of State (OH)
· Margie Hughes, Clackamas County Chair Of Women For McCain-Palin (OR)
· Linda Neace, West Linn Small Business Owner For McCain-Palin (OR)
· Deanna Smith, Women For McCain-Palin Chairwoman (OR)
· Renee Amoore, PA GOP Deputy Chair (PA)
· Joyce Haas, PA GOP Vice Chair (PA)
· State Senator Lisa Baker (PA)
· Diana Irey, Washington County Commissioner (PA)
· Christine Toretti, RNC National Committeewoman and McCain-Palin Pennsylvania Co-Chair (PA)
· Kim Ward, Westmoreland County Commissioner and McCain-Palin Pennsylvania Regional Chair (PA)
· Former First Lady Susan Allen (VA)
· Lori Ann Miller, Young Republican Federation Of VA Chairman (VA)
· Former Lt. Gov. Margaret Farrow (WI)
· Peggy Oban Boze, McCain-Palin Chairwomen For King County (WA)
· Susan McCaw, Former Ambassador To Austria (WA)
· Della Newman, Former Ambassador To New Zealand (WA)