Happy Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day, 2006

A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America

As Americans gather with family and friends to celebrate Thanksgiving Day, we give thanks for the many ways that our Nation and our people have been blessed.

The Thanksgiving tradition dates back to the earliest days of our society, celebrated in decisive moments in our history and in quiet times around family tables. Nearly four centuries have passed since early settlers gave thanks for their safe arrival and pilgrims enjoyed a harvest feast to thank God for allowing them to survive a harsh winter in the New World. General George Washington observed Thanksgiving during the Revolutionary War, and in his first proclamation after becoming President, he declared November 26, 1789, a national day of "thanksgiving and prayer." During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln revived the tradition of proclaiming a day of thanksgiving, reminding a divided Nation of its founding ideals.

At this time of great promise for America, we are grateful for the freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution and defended by our Armed Forces throughout the generations. Today, many of these courageous men and women are securing our peace in places far from home, and we pay tribute to them and to their families for their service, sacrifice, and strength. We also honor the families of the fallen and lift them up in our prayers.

Our citizens are privileged to live in the world's freest country, where the hope of the American dream is within the reach of every person. Americans share a desire to answer the universal call to serve something greater than ourselves, and we see this spirit every day in the millions of volunteers throughout our country who bring hope and healing to those in need. On this Thanksgiving Day, and throughout the year, let us show our gratitude for the blessings of freedom, family, and faith, and may God continue to bless America.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim Thursday, November 23, 2006, as a National Day of Thanksgiving. I encourage all Americans to gather together in their homes and places of worship with family, friends, and loved ones to reinforce the ties that bind us and give thanks for the freedoms and many blessings we enjoy.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of November, in the year of our Lord two thousand six, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-first.

GEORGE W. BUSH

Marty Seifert: we're not all Democrats now

All of this talk of bipartisanship and "governing from the middle" from the Democrats nationally and the DFL in this state is very interesting. Back in 2002, when the Republicans swept the elections from Congress to the state legislatures, the Dems were screaming about stolen elections and "disenfranchisement." About Sen. Norm Coleman's election to the U.S. Senate, Garrison Keillor said, "I'm ashamed of Minnesota for electing this cheap fraud." How you rabble were all duped by the Republican exploitation of 9/11.

This time around, the shoe is on the other foot for both parties. The Dems are "reaching out" to the Republicans who managed to win their races, inviting them to raise taxes, increase the size of government, and restage the fall of Saigon in Baghdad. Unfortunately, before even receiving their election certificates, too many Republicans have assumed the position of permanent minority party, going along to get along.

Marty Seifert (R-Marshall), newly elected House minority leader, is not one of those Republicans. In a recent newspaper accounts reported by Minnesota Democrats Exposed, Seifert showed that he may have the right stuff to help Minnesota see red in 2008:

[Seifert] also said the GOP will try to work with the DFL on major issues that are good for the whole state. But he said Republicans won't abandon core party principles of fiscal responsibility, keeping government out of private lives/personal responsibility, avoiding tax increases, protecting public safety and education.

'I think people are going to see a new face of the Republican party, something to complement the governor,' Seifert said.

If anyone in the House Republican caucus can live up to these words, it's Seifert. That's a good thing, because after 2006, liberals won't vote for a Democrat lite candidate, and neither will conservatives.

Ronald Reagan said, when you're behind in the polls, change the polls. Republicans at all levels of government need leaders who have read the party platform, believe in it, and can sell it with conviction and vision. Minnesota Republicans will be searching from the precinct caucuses to the national convention for leadership like that.

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Pawlenty road trip, Part VIII

Monday, 6:00 pm: Owatonna


Senate Minority Leader Sen. Dick Day (R-Owatonna) met the rally in the parking lot of the Owatonna Cabella's. After the rally, we grabbed dinner at Wendy's.

Monday, 8:00 pm: Rochester


A light rain stopped as we arrived at Peace Plaza in Rochester, down the block from the glass-sided Mayo Clinic building, which shined like a jewel after dark. A dozen or so Hatch supporters with signs greeted the bus. (Look closely and you can see one in the photo.) We had a good turnout of media and "regular people."

Monday, 9:45 pm: Croatian Hall, South Saint Paul


The grand finale of the bus tour was held in the Pawlenty family neighborhood in South Saint Paul, at the Croatian Hall, where the Governor announced his first campaign in 2001. Although the rally was replete with Republican Party higher-ups and candidates, the rally had the feel of old home week, with one of the Governor's brothers at the side of the old-fashioned proscenium stage at the far end of the room, opposite the front door, across a well-worn wood floor. The smallish hall was packed, of course, with loud and enthusiastic supporters, and the atmosphere was warm in more ways than one.

Friday, November 16

I am nearly over the shock and awe of last week's stunning victory of the DFL in Minnesota, and the Democrats nationally. As one of the pundits observed, voters must have been pretty angry at the Republicans to vote out the incumbent secretary of state and the state auditor (how many voters even know what the state auditor does?). Yet with defense of marriage amendments passing in seven of eight states, a death penalty provision passing in Wisconsin, and the election of John Kline and Michele Bachmann to Congress, reports of the death of conservatism are greatly exaggerated.

Rather than seeing support for Ronald Reagan conservatism and a rejection of complacent, RINO Republicanism, Republican leaders here and nationally, including reelected Governor Tim Pawlenty, are taking this opportunity to steer hard to port. How disappointing to those of us who see party membership and grassroots activism (precinct caucuses, door knocking, lit dropping, bus riding) as a means to the end of advancing a vision that is different from that of the liberal left.

The challenge for the conservative, smaller government, lower taxes, free enterprise, family values base, will be to decide who's driving the Republican bus from here to 2008 and beyond (and maybe even who owns the bus).

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Pawlenty road trip, Part VII

Monday, 12:30 pm: Redwood Falls

Just outside Redwood Falls, ahead of schedule, the bus pulls off to the side of the road with the KSTP-TV van. Most of the bus empties to stretch their legs. The KSTP videographer shoots some video of the Governor and, inexplicably to the rest of us who stayed on the bus, two Pawlenty staff members kicking their legs to a chorus of "New York, New York." ("Is...Brian...singing?", I hear from across the aisle.)


By this time, the clouds had parted to reveal a sunny and almost warm midday. Majority Whip Rep. Marty Seifert (R-Marshall) welcomed us to the Pizza Ranch in Redwood Falls. Many families with children waited there to meet-and-greet the Governor and Lt. Governor, pose for a snapshot, and get an autographed campaign sign. I had the pleasure of sharing a pizza lunch with Lt. Governor Molnau.

Monday, 2:45 pm: New Ulm


On the way to New Ulm, I caught a few words of conversation between my naps. CNN covered the Giuliani rally. The Strib tracking poll shows a 2-point race for governor. Someone discovered that she can't send e-mail from her Blackberry, but she has four bars on her cell phone. Hatch's schedule is "not available."

More families awaited us at Veigel's Kaiserhoff in New Ulm, a German family restaurant, along with Sen. Denny Frederickson (R-New Ulm), and one other legislator whose name I missed. The Governor repeated someone's joke about chanting "four more beers" instead of "four more years."

Monday, 4:00 pm: Mankato


The KSTP video guy boarded the bus and shot some more video on the way to Mankato. Mark and Debbie Kennedy and local legislative candidates met the crowd with us in Mankato. These stops are beginning to blur: grab sign, leave bus, wave sign and chant "four more years," get back on bus, take nap, repeat. If it's 4 o'clock, this must be Mankato.

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Pawlenty road trip, Part VI

Monday, 8:15 am: Giuliani rally, Minnesota Professional Firefighters headquarters, Saint Louis Park


Our bus rolled up ahead of schedule to an empty front lawn at the Minnesota Professional Firefighters union hall, but before long it was filled with about 200 firefighters, cops, politicians, press, and activists. With former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani scheduled to speak at 9 am, this was obviously the centerpiece event of the road trip.


In attendance were U.S. Senator Norm Coleman (R-Minnesota), U.S. Senate candidate Mark Kennedy, Republican attorney general candidate Jeff Johnson, Hennepin County Sheriff candidate Rich Stanek, Act of Treason author Vince Flynn, fellow road warrior Joe Repya, and lots of media, including CNN.


It was nice to see some familiar SD 43 faces under the cold gray sky at the rally, including former Senator and current Pawlenty Chief of Staff David Gaither, and various members of what I call his 2002 campaign "A-Team" that helped to get him elected.


The founder (or one of them) of the grassroots effort Citizens Campaigning Against Renegade Legislators (CCARL), whom I still know only as Shar in Minneapolis, stopped by to take the Governor to task for signing the Twins stadium bill. She couldn't hide her disappointment at my support of the Governor on the bus trip, given my criticism on this blog of the stadium deal.

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Pawlenty road trip, Part V

Monday, 6:20 am: Anoka


The dinner-plate size blueberry pancakes were hitting the tables at Sparky's Cafe in Anoka as the Pawlenty-Molnau bus rolled up. One of the people riding the bus since the start of our trip, Lt. Colonel Joe Repya, creator of the "Liberate Iraq" signs, was particularly welcome at Sparky's, because it was Veterans Appreciation Day there.

This is where a videographer from KSTP-TV Channel 5 joined the road trip, staying until the end. I don't know whether the decision to cover the bus tour had anything to do with DFL candidate Mike Hatch's comment about KSTP and its owner: "Stan Hubbard is a political hack, and he's got a news media station full of media hacks," but the story did not air until the day after Election Day. In any case, Hatch made it difficult to follow him on the day before Election Day, because he did not release his schedule to the media, except for a campaign rally in Duluth.

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Pawlenty road trip, Part IV

Monday, 12:30 am: Alexandria



Gov. Pawlenty recalled that Douglas County put him over the top for the Republican endorsement at the state convention, and he asked for the county's votes to return him to the governor's office on Tuesday.

Between the adrenalin and a cat nap between every stop, I was able to feel pretty good for the rest of the trip.

Monday, 2:45 am: Willmar



Somehow, in the dead of a 34-degree night, the Pawlenty-Molnau team was still going strong, enthusiastic and animated. And somehow, Republican activists were able to turn out a decent crowd (around 20-30) at every stop through the night. A USA Today reporter, in town to cover another story, joined us in the Holiday Inn parking lot to see what all the commotion was about.

Monday, 4:45 am: Buffalo



At every stop, the Governor mentions that his Lt. Governor knows what E85 is. This jab at DFL lieutenant governor candidate Judi Dutcher's blanking out at a reporter's E85 question a few days ago is a big hit among the Republican partisans and corn growers on the tour. We wore E85 stickers on our Pawlenty for Governor shirts, and one campaign staffer wore an E85 ball cap.

Molnau exclaims, "4:45 is gettin' up time!" This also resonates well with the rural folks. Everyone recognizes that this all-night bus tour is a little crazy, but the mood is undeniably upbeat and positive.

Sen. Amy Koch (R-Buffalo) was as the microphone to welcome the Pawlenty-Molnau team to Buffalo.

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Pawlenty road trip, Part III

After the debates, we loaded up the bus and headed toward Saint Cloud. Gov. Pawlenty joined us on the bus to a round of applause, thanked the group for joining him, then worked his way down the aisle, greeting each person individually for up to several minutes each. (Lt. Gov. Carol Molnau boarded the bus with us before the debate.)

When the Governor reached my seat, we briefly discussed the races in SD 43, and how our district went from three incumbent Republicans to three open seats in just a few months (David Gaither was appointed Pawlenty's chief of staff, Jeff Johnson ran for state attorney general, and Ron Abrams was appointed a judge by the Governor). I was going to thank Pawlenty personally for getting Cheri Pierson Yecke to be his commissioner of education, and for his ambitious education reform agenda, but I forgot.

The mood on the bus was relaxed and upbeat. The thirty-some aboard consisted of Pawlenty administration staff and campaign volunteers. Everyone referred to Pawlenty and Molnau as "The Governor" and "The Lieutenant Governor," or "Governor Pawlenty" and "Lieutenant Governor Molnau," but interactions and conversations with them were friendly and informal.

Keeping the figurative wheels of our cross-country motorcoach bus going 'round and 'round was an outgoing woman named "Mo," equal parts den mom, cruise director, and cheerleading captain. As we approached each campaign stop, the lights in the bus came on and Mo played CDs on the bus's great sound system with our road trip soundtrack, which included Van Morrison's "The Bright Side of the Road" and Johnny Cash's "Ring of Fire."

Sunday, 10:30 pm: Saint Cloud


In Saint Cloud, we stopped at the Republican campaign headquarters. Our two "roadie" crews leapfrogged each other, setting up at every other stop, then tearing down and moving to the next stop. Every time the Pawlenty bus rolled into town, the lights were lit, microphone hot, and crowd pumped up (twenty, thirty or more at every stop, all night and into Monday) and waving signs.

At the end of the rally, I turned around and recognized none other than Saint Cloud's finest blogger and member of the Northern Alliance of Bloggers, everyone's favorite econ prof, Saint Cloud State University's own King Banaian of SCSU Scholars. He seemed surprised that I wasn't liveblogging the road trip. I am not worthy!

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Pawlenty road trip, Part II

MPR Debate, Fitzgerald Theater


Minnesota Public Radio sponsored two debates that night, one between the three candidates for U.S. Senate, and one between the three Minnesota gubernatorial candidates. The concession stands were open, including beer and wine service. People of all ages were present, from a middle schooler filling out a worksheet for his social studies class, to pierced twenty-somethings, to retirees. The seating was general admission, except for several rows in back that were reserved for guests of the candidates. The audience seemed to be a diverse mix of educated voters, although one Hispanic member of our group remarked at the relative lack of racial diversity.

Political reporter Kerri Miller moderated the Senate candidates debate, tenaciously asking follow-up questions, and allowing the debate rules against applause and other audience noise to go unenforced. Most of the cheering and jeering came from Amy Klobuchar's supporters. Klobuchar had a Cheshire cat-like grin during most of the debate, especially while her Republican opponent Mark Kennedy was speaking.

Veteran MPR host Gary Eichten moderated the gubernatorial debate, attempting to keep a lid on audience noise so we could "hear from the candidates." Unfortunately, some in the audience laughed at his requests for restraint. Miller's earlier wink-and-a-nod to the Dems didn't help them to take Eichten's admonishments seriously.

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Pawlenty road trip, Part I

I got the call from the Pawlenty for Governor Committee last Saturday evening. Did I know of anyone who might want to join Governor Tim Pawlenty on his upcoming campaign bus tour? Maybe I would be interested? The invitation was hesitant, almost apologetic, as if I was being asked to drive over to Eagan to mow the governor's lawn. By the way, the bus leaves tomorrow at 5:00 pm, and the tour won't be over until 10:45 pm on Monday, almost 30 hours later!

How could I say no?

I quickly discovered that there are two kinds of people on these bus tours: those who think of them as purgatory on wheels, and those who think of them as hog heaven. Even at the end of the tour, I was in the latter group, definitely the minority. I wasn't expecting anything glamorous, and for the most part I was not disappointed. But I met a lot of smart, interesting and, dare I say nice, people in the campaign's inner circle, including the governor and Lieutenant Governor Carol Molnau, and many of the good people of central Minnesota, from Saint Cloud to Redwood Falls to Rochester, and points in between.

Sunday evening, the streets of Saint Paul


Our boots first landed on the ground at Exchange Street and Wabasha Street in downtown Saint Paul, where large groups of demonstrators for gubernatorial candidates Mike Hatch (DFL) and Peter Hutchinson (Independence Party) gathered on opposite sides, literally and figuratively. Saint Paul Police Department officers admonished us to get off the streets and onto the curb. We waved our red Pawlenty campaign signs and chanted "four more years," first to passing cars, then to the Hatch people. The Hatch people chanted back. The Hutchinson people chanted, then sang Twisted Sister's "We're Not Gonna Take It Anymore" to a vigorously-played acoustic guitar. Someone was driving a miniature radio-controlled car up and down the street. Hatch and Amy Klobuchar sign carriers began to mingle with Pawlenty and Mark Kennedy sign holders. One of our group was bashed in the forehead with a campaign sign (no blood, well, not much anyway).

After a few minutes, all of the chanting and waving signs was fun, but we weren't going to change anyone's mind here. We left the corner and got in line for the Minnesota Public Radio debates for U.S. Senate and Minnesota Governor at the venerable Fitzgerald Theater.

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