Government & Elections

Besides the 2009 Mayoral race, anything else interesting happening? Depends on your enthusiasm about electoralism; three open seats at least means an open field in some places. The professional media hasn't really feigned much interest, except for MPR, the Daily Planet and the Minnesota Independent. It's almost like the political-media complex doesn't like to advertise the risky end of traditional elections in the city. At least, here's links to everyone!

Ward 1 (Open): Open for the first time in a dozen years, Kevin Reich is DFL endorsed. Longtime DFLer Susan Howitz Hanna is in, "Independent DFLer" Larry Ranallo just got the "Police Officer Fedration" [sic] endorsement. Mark Fox (Equity Advocacy Responsibility) is a local graphic/web designer (with a more than decent site); Tom Alessi (Ron Paul Conservative) is a manager at Hard Rock Café. (MnIndy article)

Previous: Election rundown: 2009 Mayoral race

It's that time again: Minneapolis has citywide elections (official site) every four years in the election "off-year." This year's election on November 3rd will have two new twists: the most dramatic change is the shift to Ranked Choice Voting or Instant Runoff Voting for city offices (promoted by FairVote MN); also, the Board of Estimates and Taxation may get dissolved by referendum, consolidating more power with the Mayor and City Council. [More: "The auditor would report to the audited"]

The official outreach website for the City's IRV is at VoteMinneapolis.org and they are tabling local events until Election Day. Find your precinct and sample ballot here. Multi-lingual election info is available en Español (Spanish), Hmoob (Hmong) and Soomaaliga (Somali) - call 311 or 612-673-3000 for language help. Public awareness of how it works, especially among disadvantaged communities, looks really bad right now.

What's on the ballot? Mayor, City Council wards, the 2 at-large members of the Board of Estimate and Taxation, and the Park and Recreation Board (3 At-Large & 6 District Commissioners). The vote is expected to take several weeks to completely count everything (one reason the city cites for not calling it "instant" runoff).

Will Ranked Choice Voting mix up Minneapolis' dull & entrenched political establishment? Probably, for one reason in particular: The word from inside the RT Rybak for "Mayor" campaign is that the highly paid consultants running everything are "lollygagging" around waiting for the 2010 governor's race to start, but they don't really care about the city races.

Below the fold, all the candidates and links for mayor... Going deeper: 2009 Minneapolis election rundown: City Council, our favorite shady local deals & more!

We have heard that Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty will announce his 'unallotment' cuts entirely on one day in the next few weeks, in a plan to manipulate perceptions by attempting to contain the bad news into one news cycle. With little publicity, this day will arrive suddenly, it is hoped, denying his opponents a basis to organize against.

The bad news will begin on this day — good people will die, in particular because of Pawlenty's planned cut to Local Government Aid of at least $400,000,000, possibly much more. The beginning of Fiscal Year 2010 is July 1st, 2009. Before then, Pawlenty will cut off funding to everything in a way that will assuredly pander to national GOP primary voters. Our state and its still-strong social welfare net (as well as previously "equalized" statewide local government funding) will be the test lab for a sinister, hardcore GOP austerity agenda that may serve as the foundation of an authoritarian-rightwing populist electoral message in future years. The Shock Doctrine will get practiced against the cities and towns, first of all, by ripping apart the "Minnesota Miracle" funding streams that financed strong statewide local education (and services) since the 1970s.

Higher education tuition rates and health services will also get damaged, worsening the quality of life for the middle class (let alone other classes). Hennepin County Medical Center and Regions Hospital, to begin with, will start slashing services because of the GAMC Fiscal Year 2011 veto (which technically starts next July 1st). 

It's not a game, but for Pawlenty it always is. When the local governments have to hike property taxes or abandon everything, the statewide media will refuse to connect Pawlenty to it. More depressing to see are political reporters concur that the public perception that Pawlenty hiked the taxes "won't stick." They won't push any context.

That's what's coming up. It seems like Pawlenty's great day of state terrorism should be really unpleasant in order to cut the coverup down to size. It'd be a great day for a general strike, or just a time to stop and reflect on what authoritarian prairie fascism looks like. It's your preview of class warfare for the 2012 election.

Stewart A. Alexander
California Governor for 2010
Peace and Freedom Party
Socialist Party USA

January 2, 2009

During the 2006 California Election, Stewart A. Alexander was a candidate for California lieutenant governor; Alexander was on the statewide ballot representing the Peace and Freedom Party. During the 2008 General Election, Stewart Alexander was the U.S. vice presidential candidate for Socialist Party USA. Now, as the State of California continues to reel in a deepening financial crisis, Alexander believes he is the right person to be the next California governor.

I Have a Bush N*gga Friend!
author: Bobby Meade
Dec 20, 2008 07:50

Would you like a piece of him? "Look! You are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless! Hear O earth, I am bringing disaster on this people, the fruit of their schemes because they have not listened to my words...." (Jer. 7:8; 6:19) 12/16 Gods of Stupidity

Demockracy, the SERPENT, and the Gods of Stupidity
Author: Submitted by BobbyMeade on Mon, 20/12/2008 - 5:55pm.

Category: Crime, Law, News, World news

For all their differences and disputes, there is apparently one thing Barack Obama and John McCain agree upon wholeheartedly. The ultimate reason for their candidacy, for their desire to become US president, the most powerful political position in the world, is the opportunity to serve the American people. And what an interesting service they perform!

2008 Pre-Election Message from Stewart A. Alexander

Every 75 years the capitalists ruling class devise an economic crisis which is always followed by a conflict between nations or a major war. We must end this cycle and support socialism and socialist candidates.

Pre-Election Message from Stewart A. Alexander
Vice Presidential Nominee, Socialist Party USA

Pre-Election Message from Stewart A. Alexander
Vice Presidential Nominee, Socialist Party USA

The 2008 General Election is only days away and millions of voters will have two choices to make; capitalism or socialism, and the voters’ choice for leadership will determine the destiny of the U.S. and world economy well beyond the next term of the U.S. president.

Stewart A. Alexander
Socialist Party USA
Nominee for U.S. Vice President

October 13, 2008

With only 22 days before the November General Election, the economy is making the big headlines; and as the U.S. and global economic crisis deepens, millions of Americans are concerned that the two major presidential candidates, Sen. Barack Obama and Sen. John McCain, are not prepared to meet the economic challenges that continues to mount.