Minnesota weather and liberal politics

It's snowing in Minnesota, or at least parts of it. This is not typical, although we denizens of the North Star State certainly pride ourselves on our harsh weather and our ability to tolerate it. We often exaggerate how cold it gets. It makes us feel important, unusual, unique. Certain pundits think that the weather, and our traditionally liberal politics (more or less), are linked. So here's the question: is the fact that MN is now seen in some quarters as a purple state, rather than a blue state, a consequence of global warming? The warmer we get, the less liberal? You wouldn't believe there is such a thing as global warming today--it's 35 degrees, with a 40 MPH "breeze". This may bode well for the DFL candidates for Congress, as long as it stays cold. If there's Indian summer, watch out....

Congressman Foley and sexual harassment

Poor Congressman Foley. But nobody gets what is going on. I find myself infuriated that this matter now seems to be about everything except the kitchen sink. The pundits talk about pedophillia, predatory behavior, and who knew what when. This last is the most on target, but everyone still misses the point.

What Congressman Foley did was sexual harassment. I'm no lawyer, but I believe that sexual harassment is when someone in a position of power requests sexual favors in an explicit or implicit quid pro quo. Teachers (you'll get an A), clergy (I won't tell your parents), employers (you say you want a corner office?), or congress persons (would you like to meet the President?). Co-workers and managers (i.e., Dennis Hastert) can be liable for sexual harassment even if they didn't do anything themselves, but allowed someone else to continue to harass employees, students, or pages. Both harassment, and allowing harassment, are in violation of federal employment law.

I'm so sick of people focusing on Congressman Foley's homosexuality, or the morality of his behavior, or the general tone of Congress. That has nothing to do with this. It's harassment, and Hastert should get out while the getting is good. It happened on his watch, he knew about it, and he did nothing. Whew!

Alan Fine and the Star Tribune

How dumb does the current gang of thieves think we are? Here's a knee slapper, or exhibit A. Alan Fine is the Republican candidate for Minnesota's fifth district, and a guy without a prayer. He thus can sling mud wherever it might stick, helping other Republican candidates for public office. He is now full of righteous anger because the Star Tribune revealed that he had an expunged domestic violence record. And Alan, of course, has been leading the charge against the DFL candidate Keith Ellison for his unpaid parking tickets. Character, says Alan, matters.

Now I may be dumb, but I ain't stupid. I do believe that parking tickets are qualitatively different from domestic violence charges. The hypocrisy of the GOP is seemingly unbounded. It's apprently OK for them to get away with stuff that is a tear in the fabric of our national moral psyche if done by Democrats. When you set yourself up as the party of righteousness, you have to expect that folks will take pot shots. It goes with the territory. So, Alan, if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen. And, Star Tribune, keep on keeping on. More cliches later.

PS Take a look at Alan's web site. He's for (gasp) world peace! He appears to be starting off with a bang.