Minnesotans, is it in your soil up there? How do you grow these

[Skidmore]

incredible people that you send to the nation? I can't tell you how impressed I am with Betty McCollum. I've been watching her in these hearings, and no matter how mundane the topic seems, she nails the issue time and time again. She has an acutely tuned sense of justice.

Well done, you. Take a bow!

[SaveElmer]

1. Humphrey, Mondale, Freeman, Wellstone....

Among the many great Minnesotans that have graced the national stage!!!

[krispos42]

2. I think this one's a dupe

Or if not a dupe, at least the lesser-responded to one :-)

[Skidmore]

3. It is...my connection hiccupped.

[Bitwit1234]

4. Just you all wait til Amy gets going....

[Bjorn Against]

5. We do apologize for Coleman and Bachman though...

We have sent our greats, but we have also unfortunately sent you our loons as well. Honestly I think Michelle Bachman may be the most insane member of the United States Congress right now, we definately have a mixed bag of politicians in this state.

[mduffy31]

6. Coleman is a transplant remember

[Bjorn Against]

12. Are you talking about his former status as a Democrat or his dental work?

Yes, Norm was once a Democrat and a Wellstone supporter until he did a 180 and decided to run against Wellstone as his complete polar opposite.

Norm is also well known for his dental work which he received for free in possible violation of ethics rules. While not technically a transplant, his dental work is often refered to as such. Here are the before and after pictures of his teeth:

[mduffy31]

16. No that he is originally from Brooklyn

He is one of them New York Jeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwssssss (saying it like a Texan)


And the Jewish thing is a joke....don't kill me

[piedmont]

7. Must be the lack of earthworms.

Though they're quickly taking over, I've heard.

[scarletwoman]

8. Minnesotans are a very politically engaged people. It's a heritage that's been passed down through

many generations. I love it here. I was born and raised here, spent 1/2 of my adulthood living other places, came back 11 years ago to stay.

People of German or Scandinavian heritage still make up the largest percentage of the population. I know from my own Norwegian family tree that political activity has been part of our makeup going back 3 generations (the first generation born here). I live about 20 miles away from a town that began its existance as a commune for Danish Socialists in the late 19th century. It still has street signs in both Danish and English.

Minnesota is also where AIM (the American Indian Movement) was founded -- it's not just Europeans that get political here.

I can't explain it, all I know is that in my experience of being a native Minnesota, there has always seemed to be a very strong appreciation of civic virtue and service in our baseline sense of ourselves.

sw

[Skidmore]

10. I love, love, love the DFL and wish the rest of the Dems in the

nation would adopt its style and platform, rather than the DFL giving a nod to the national Dems at election time. Can we get enough agreement to clone the DFL, and lose the DLC?

[scarletwoman]

13. The DLC has GOT to go! As for a national DFL -- I'd like to see something even better!

Start with the good parts of the DFL (there are bad parts, as with any organization) and build from there.

sw

[Worst Username Ever]

9. And, er, Ventura . . . but hopefully Franken will get some traction

To paraphrase what Al said about Coleman, Franken will be "the only New York jew in the race who actually grew up in Minnesota." That is a brilliant statement, if you think about it. It points out that Coleman does not fit in with the christian fundies, the rural home-grown Minnesotans, the hunting countryboys, and those who want to paint Franken as a carpetbagging n'yorker.

Edited for clarity

[Worst Username Ever]

11. I forgot about Ellison, first Muslim in Congress n/t

[RL3AO]

14. Politics are very important in Minnesota. We are very proud to have the highest turnout in the U.S.

[calimary]

15. I watched those hearings, too. She was pretty darned impressive.

Liked her a lot!

And DON'T forget another soon-to-be Favorite Son: Al Franken!!!

[MN ChimpH8R]

17. Betty is terrific

A dedicated progressive who sees her job as serving her constituents in St Paul, not the interests of lobbies. She replaced a wonderful congressman, the late Bruce Vento, and has carried on his good work. I like what I've seen from my new rep, Keith Ellison, too.

I don't think there's much doubt that Batshit Michelle Bachman has taken Batshit Katherine Harris' place as the craziest person in Congress.