Michele Bachmann made a compelling case for her re-election during a
recent interview with the ECM Editorial Board, but in the end it was
Elwyn Tinklenberg who won the group's endorsement.
Michele Bachmann made a compelling case for her re-election during a recent interview with the ECM Editorial Board, but in the end it was Elwyn Tinklenberg who won the group's endorsement.
The former Blaine mayor and state transportation commissioner has a long history of demonstrated effectiveness. The list of accomplishments that have his fingerprints all over them include the National Sports Center in Blaine, a Highway 610 project that languished decades before he began to chase it down, the Hiawatha Light Rail Line and the Northstar Commuter Rail Line.
He will be the first to tell you he was not alone in these endeavors. His mode of operation has been pulling people together, forming bi-partisan coalitions and accomplishing things, an approach that is often missing in Washington, D.C.
Bachmann has made headlines as a vocal opponent to the recent $700 billion bailout plan, which we won't fault her for. We're glad she has shown the ability to part ways with a Republican president when she deems it necessary.
And, she scored a lot of points while explaining the financial crisis on Wall Street and what she pushed for as a member of the financial services committee, but we are troubled that she chose to hang onto information so tightly when she could have been back here in her district and out in front of chambers of commerce explaining the pending implosion. Instead, she waited for the bright lights of Larry King Live to come calling to share most candidly and her most methodical campaign swings that passed over candidate forums in favor of photo opportunities.
We appreciate her strong stance on the bailout, but we question her wisdom in calling for resignation of fellow Congressional leaders. We fear that her polarizing approach to her work will work against her and make her less effective in the future.
She has a record of opposing even the most strongly supported bipartisan initiatives, including the mental health parity and addiction equity act, the mortgage forgiveness debt relief act and the credit card holders' Bill of Rights.
And while tending to matters at home in her district she found time to pillage legislative candidates who voted their conscience on the state's transportation issues, but had to leave early from our one-hour endorsement interview.
What really sealed her fate, however, was her unwillingness to later answer point-blank questions about a bridge project in St. Cloud and the Northstar Commuter Rail. We find it disingenuous that she wears a Northstar lapel pin but won't comment on whether or when the line should ever be extended to St. Cloud and Rice.
We understand her concerns about earmarks and even share some of them, but we fail to understand how she cannot stand up for her own district on crucial local votes to deal with a deteriorating bridge in her district.
Tinklenberg will fight earmarks, but not at the expense of constituents on critical projects.
The pro-life candidate would have been an even stronger challenger two years ago when the DFL Party chose Patty Wetterling instead. We are pleased to see the fire in his belly stoked with the recent surge in interest in his candidacy after comments by Bachmann on another national television news program.
We would like nothing better to see Tinklenberg become the only former state transportation commissioner on the House Transportation Committee, especially knowing that it will soon be time to re-authorize the transportation equity act. He could be a powerhouse for the Sixth District.
It's our view he will be focused on creating jobs. He always has been as a minister, mayor and transportation official.
Tinklenberg will work on a safe, responsible plan to withdraw troops so they won't be in Iraq for an indeterminate amount of time.
Tinklenberg believes access to health care is an ethical issue, and he prefers an approach that would marry private insurance options with a public alternative.
It's the Editorial Board's view that he will push for accountability in education and work against undermining public education.
Tinklenberg supports domestic exploration for oil to identify and protect our nation's reserves, and agree that Americans should not be fooled into thinking that having 3 percent of the world's known oil reserves puts the United States in a position to dramatically effect prices at the pump. He says "Drill Baby Drill is nothing more than a Drain America First approach. Tinklenberg believes in pursuing energy alternatives robustly and promoting energy conservation, and so do we.
Tinklenberg's even willing to side with President Bush on occasion when he rolled out immigration reform plan that touted an earned process toward citizenship.
We like that both candidates have concerns about a host of issues important to people in the Sixth District, but we feel Tinklenberg's approach will bring progress on these fronts locally and for our country. We fear that Bachmann's approach will further polarize our elected officials. (This editorial is an opinion of the ECM Editorial Board. )
The former Blaine mayor and state transportation commissioner has a long history of demonstrated effectiveness. The list of accomplishments that have his fingerprints all over them include the National Sports Center in Blaine, a Highway 610 project that languished decades before he began to chase it down, the Hiawatha Light Rail Line and the Northstar Commuter Rail Line.
He will be the first to tell you he was not alone in these endeavors. His mode of operation has been pulling people together, forming bi-partisan coalitions and accomplishing things, an approach that is often missing in Washington, D.C.
Bachmann has made headlines as a vocal opponent to the recent $700 billion bailout plan, which we won't fault her for. We're glad she has shown the ability to part ways with a Republican president when she deems it necessary.
And, she scored a lot of points while explaining the financial crisis on Wall Street and what she pushed for as a member of the financial services committee, but we are troubled that she chose to hang onto information so tightly when she could have been back here in her district and out in front of chambers of commerce explaining the pending implosion. Instead, she waited for the bright lights of Larry King Live to come calling to share most candidly and her most methodical campaign swings that passed over candidate forums in favor of photo opportunities.
We appreciate her strong stance on the bailout, but we question her wisdom in calling for resignation of fellow Congressional leaders. We fear that her polarizing approach to her work will work against her and make her less effective in the future.
She has a record of opposing even the most strongly supported bipartisan initiatives, including the mental health parity and addiction equity act, the mortgage forgiveness debt relief act and the credit card holders' Bill of Rights.
And while tending to matters at home in her district she found time to pillage legislative candidates who voted their conscience on the state's transportation issues, but had to leave early from our one-hour endorsement interview.
What really sealed her fate, however, was her unwillingness to later answer point-blank questions about a bridge project in St. Cloud and the Northstar Commuter Rail. We find it disingenuous that she wears a Northstar lapel pin but won't comment on whether or when the line should ever be extended to St. Cloud and Rice.
We understand her concerns about earmarks and even share some of them, but we fail to understand how she cannot stand up for her own district on crucial local votes to deal with a deteriorating bridge in her district.
Tinklenberg will fight earmarks, but not at the expense of constituents on critical projects.
The pro-life candidate would have been an even stronger challenger two years ago when the DFL Party chose Patty Wetterling instead. We are pleased to see the fire in his belly stoked with the recent surge in interest in his candidacy after comments by Bachmann on another national television news program.
We would like nothing better to see Tinklenberg become the only former state transportation commissioner on the House Transportation Committee, especially knowing that it will soon be time to re-authorize the transportation equity act. He could be a powerhouse for the Sixth District.
It's our view he will be focused on creating jobs. He always has been as a minister, mayor and transportation official.
Tinklenberg will work on a safe, responsible plan to withdraw troops so they won't be in Iraq for an indeterminate amount of time.
Tinklenberg believes access to health care is an ethical issue, and he prefers an approach that would marry private insurance options with a public alternative.
It's the Editorial Board's view that he will push for accountability in education and work against undermining public education.
Tinklenberg supports domestic exploration for oil to identify and protect our nation's reserves, and agree that Americans should not be fooled into thinking that having 3 percent of the world's known oil reserves puts the United States in a position to dramatically effect prices at the pump. He says "Drill Baby Drill is nothing more than a Drain America First approach. Tinklenberg believes in pursuing energy alternatives robustly and promoting energy conservation, and so do we.
Tinklenberg's even willing to side with President Bush on occasion when he rolled out immigration reform plan that touted an earned process toward citizenship.
We like that both candidates have concerns about a host of issues important to people in the Sixth District, but we feel Tinklenberg's approach will bring progress on these fronts locally and for our country. We fear that Bachmann's approach will further polarize our elected officials. (This editorial is an opinion of the ECM Editorial Board. )
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
