Can't We All Just Get Along?

Alright folks, it's time to fire up the patriotic music, pose with the nearest small child, and dance in a shower of hanging chads!

It's election season! Yay!

And in no other state is the voting populous treated to more entertainment than in the lovely state of my residence, Minnesota. Among the stage acts this year is the race for the Senate seat being vacated by Democratic Senator Mark Dayton, a seat that Republicans would love to nab, with Minnesota being a blue state and all, and so the mudslinging has begun. Upon the first polls being released, Republican U.S. Representative Mark Kennedy has found himself down by as many as 24 percentage points to Democratic Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar, and in order to make up ground has begun to release ads smearing his opponent. Point to Klobuchar for staying on the political straight-and-narrow.

Now, we've learned that some random Democratic blogger sent one of Ms. Klobuchar's top aides an email containing an unreleased campaign ad from the marketing agency in charge of producing ads on behalf of Rep. Kennedy. This aide allegedly viewed the not-yet-released campaign ad, and it was brought to the attention of Ms. Klobuchar that this had occurred. Instead of ignoring or making excuses for the aide's behavior (which we've seen PLENTY of in the politics of the past few years), the person was promptly fired by Klobuchar, an FBI investigation into the incident was requested by Klobuchar, and a public apology was issued.

Long story short, Klobuchar is now under attack from Kennedy for everything but high treason, and now Republicans will have us believe that Ms. Klobuchar sent political operatives out onto the internet to dig up dirt (or as much dirt as you can dig up in a self-promoting campaign ad) on Mark Kennedy. And they believe we're all going to cry foul, flock to an honest Republican like Mark Kennedy, and sweep him into office on a wave of votes and kisses.

I, personally, am impressed that Amy Klobuchar stood up and said "This is not what my campaign is about" and dropped the person from her campaign, no excuses offered and no questions asked. Let everyone spin the story how they'd like... the fact is, the candidate who is massively losing will always be the first to sling mud and the first to cry foul. And you can't convince me that a desperate man who has made it his first and foremost campaign plan to smear his opponent can be trusted to provide us with any truth about this situation, much less so lead our lawmakers in Washington.

Ah, election season. I agree, politics is dirty... and politicians maybe more so. Let's all be opinionated, but let's all do something about it. Vote. Please. I don't care if you're Republican, Democrat, Libertarian, Veterinarian, Green, Blue, Red, Purple, Pink... just don't be Grey when it comes to voting, this is a basic American privilege, and if we are indeed a nation who will bomb and occupy other nations so that they can have this right, shouldn't we be the first to excercise it?

ch-ch-ch-changes

No, not life changes, haha. That's not 'til January. I just decided to try something a little different with my page. I figured that since there are a lot of people who change their layouts, you know, once a week, that probably makes me a little outdated. Relatively speaking.

So I have been on jury duty for a week now. Besides being in downtown Minneapolis during my favorite time of year, the 2-hour lunch breaks, finding the best coffee in the Skyway (the Dunn Bros in 6 Quebec will fill your personal mug for a buck with free refills!), meeting a few new people and feeling like you're fulfilling your civic duty, it kind of sucks. When you get selected to be on a jury, YOU are the first person who goes on trial. Yup, witness stand and all. You get asked personal questions about your life by the judge, the defense AND the prosecution. And after waiting around for hours in a little white room, they decide that they don't want you, the confident, caffeinated, khaki-wearing rube that you are, to be on their case. "Thank you for your patience," they smile and tell you, "You may report back to the basement so that we may or may not randomly select you for another trial." So you shoot down 19 floors to the basement of the Hennepin County Governement Center, the room that shakes because it's directly beneath 6th St, and has a little computer lab full of vintage '95 Compaq Presarios, the kind that are great for playing Solitaire and 3D Pinball, and no internet. But at least I had my coffee and my CityPages.

So here I sit, waiting to be called downtown again, not quite sure when I'll be able to go back to work, yet not allowed to go anywhere. I actually miss work, I wonder if everyone still remembers who I am? I promise I'll be back, guys! Confident, caffeinated, khaki-wearing... just please don't put me on trial.

On second thought, go for it. I'd much prefer it to little white rooms and musty basements that shake with the passing of democracy in action...

Vote For Bucky!

This is the most serious blog I will ever post... Bucky needs our help!

http://www.capitalonebowl.com/Default.aspx

Log in to this page and vote! You must vote in every matchup, but every mascot is cute and furry, so it's not too hard. And especially vote for Bucky!

I'm going to go watch the Vikings game now...

A Blog About A Blog

So indeed, I need to be up in the morning, but doggonit, when you work at a coffee shop that doesn't close til 11pm, you're jacked for quite awhile! And when the happy couple in the apartment below you is hard at work being a happy couple, well...

So I post in anticipation of posting a somewhat useful and mildly introspective muse on the state of life and other observations, for all interested parties, coming soon... sometime... eventually... maybe... aren't you glad I've warned you in advance?

Stay tuned, folks. It's coming. Let the hype begin...