representative democracy? Two recent examples, but I'm focusing on one. The
one I'm not concerns the 2008 process of putting Franken into the senate,
the vetting beforehand, the endorsement process, the lection, and then six
people have him removed.
The one I am deals a lot with the same process. In 2007 and 2008,(and many
other years with an open senate seat) we started out with a number of
candidate, and thru the representative process, including like the caucus
last night, we weeded it down to a candidate for the one party.
Now the DFL has known for a number of years that as far as being
representative process, it's a poor one, as it concerns level of
participation. Lots of work getting new people, others suggesting new
methods, etc. But they outdid themselves this year. A participation level of
one person, one vote, and then, absolutely no mention of it afterwards. Not
a word last night. Not a candidate. Nothing. You want to show your true
disdain for that process, this is the way you go.
Tina Smith will be the DFL candidate for Senate. Not even a question about
it. Dayton, with one vote, put her in office. The primary, if there is one,
will be a joke.
Were there alternatives? Yes. Tina could have had the wherewithal to say no
and insist on running thru the process and competing. Dayton could have
appointed a caretaker senator for all of eleven and a half months. But was
it too risky for Tina? Was the stadium an anchor for some as planned
parenthood may have been for others? Can't say lack of record was an issue.
Look at Franken. We'll never know.
But it was avoidable if they though the issue was significant enough. As I
said, we see how significant they view the issue. Principles and basics just
don't compare to hard politics. Give up incumbency!!
How do you motivate people to fight against the even more shallowness of
"please ID me" or fighting the denigration of true religious freedoms with
the shallow claims to allow people to discriminate in the public market
place, if not principles. Or is it all the arena?