Canon 915 Project Holding Pro Abortion Catholic Politicans to Account

There was some media attention to Patrick Kennedy's bishop publicly saying that he should not be given the Eucharist until he changes his views and actions on being pro abortion politician. Kennedy could exercise influence to protect the unborn as a Congressman. In researching this I came across the Canon 915 Project website. Our own Betty McCollum is on their list of politicians who should reform their ways. Archbishop Nienstedt's position is unknown on if she should receive the Eucharist or not. Let's communicate with him that he should specifically ask her not to receive the Eucharist until her heart is right. Conservative Cravings blog represents the individual and personal thoughts and opinions of its authors.

Erhardt to Run in Edina As A ..... Democrat!

Ron Erhardt has a new campaign website up. Looking through it you can't tell what party he is affiliating with, but a little bird told me at the caucus tonight that he will be running for the Democratic endorsement in SD41 against Kevin Staunton. This was confirmed when I found this article from Doug Grow at MinnPost. Guess we'll see soon as the caucus tonight would be Ron's first chance to build his base and elect delegates who will vote for him at the convention. Keith Downey beat both Staunton and Erhardt in 2008 and is serving Edina very well. After reading Grow's article, doesn't look like the Democratic machine is issuing any warm welcome to Erhardt. Will he turn on them like he did on his Republican counterparts and complain that the caucus and endorsement system is not representative? Conservative Cravings blog represents the individual and personal thoughts and opinions of its authors.

Liberal Senator Feingold in Trouble in Wisconsin

Looks like Russ Feingold may be getting a run for his money for his Senate seat in 2012. Former Governor Tommy Thompson, who ran for President for a few months before the Iowa caucuses in 2008 is giving him quite a challenge and he hasn't even announced his candidacy. Thanks to Hot Air for a great story. I'm a cheesehead, born and raised. My parents have season tickets to the Packer games. I went to college in Wisconsin. So even though I have been a Minnesota transplant for almost 15 years now, I still feel like Wisconsin will always be my home. I never, never paid attention to politics as a child, teen or collage student. My family was not an overtly political family. I don't even thing my parents voted. As long as I can remember, Dave Obey would march in our town's Labor Day parade. I didn't even know he had to get elected, I just thought he was appointed for life or something. I remember Herb Kohl getting elected when I was in high school. Didn't know what Kohl's department stores were then but thought maybe he was related somehow to the Koeller company of faucet fixtures. Anyway, I knew he was rich and lived in the southern part of the state. As with Minnesota and the Twin Cities, Wisconsin is dominated by a the inter urbanized district of Milwaukee and Madison. I don't think most people who live in this part of the state ever venture north unless they own a cabin or knows someone who does. There are lots of trips to Chicago and most were probably educated at the very liberal UW Madison campus. Looking back, it seems to be that most everyone in central and northern Wisconsin would seem to have more conservative views than their southern Wisconsin counterparts. They hunt and like their guns. They are religious and attend church and generally have conservative moral values. They own small business and have to know how main street works to thrive in their small towns. Alot of the workers are laborers or factory workers, but unions never seemed to dominate. So, why does Wisconsin elect not only Democrats but lefty liberals like Obey and Feingold and keep them in office so long. Even Minnesota manages to elect their share of Republican Senators statewide. Wisconsin throws in a Republican Governor from time to time but has settled on Kohl and Feingold for way too long. Maybe they see that it's Feingold's time to go and Thompson will have the statewide name recognition to win. I hope so, because owning a small business in Wisconsin, I know the tax are way too high and government programs are way to prevalent. Here's hoping that some more R's pop up in our neighboring state soon. Conservative Cravings blog represents the individual and personal thoughts and opinions of its authors.

Pro-Life Conversion Story

In honor of the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, I would like to link to this amazing pro-life conversion story. The author of this amazing blog is not only a Catholic converts but was also an atheist. All of her stories are wonderful. Enjoy! Conservative Cravings blog represents the individual and personal thoughts and opinions of its authors.

Democrats Aim At the Rich But Always Hit The Little Guy

Democrats love to aim their taxes at the rich. They somehow envision this cartel of people hoarding all of America's money. The rich didn't all inherit their money or earn it in unseemly business deals by sticking it to the little guy. You probably know one of these rich people. They are bosses, business owners, your neighbors and benefactors at your church or favorite non profit. Would you actually to go up to one of these "rich" people that you know personally and say that they should give more and they don't pay their fair share. Kind of awkward. It is easier to aim at this mythical group of rich people and tax them, tax them, tax them. Well the Democrats are now in trouble with the union and senior citizen voting blocks because their health insurance policies in some cases will fall in the "cadillac plan" definition. Dems need to pay for insuring 31 million more people and this is part of paying for it. This cost is huge so don't think that a few hundred billionaires are going to pay the whole tab. It will be a much larger group where an individual policy provided by your company valued at $8500 or a family policy valued at $23,000 will get a new excise tax of 40%. Those values include health insurance, HSA's vision and dental. Take a look at your insurance renewals from your employer. Do you think they might have paid at least $23,000 toward all of these coverages for your family? If so, then the Democrats have you squarely in their sites. Conservative Cravings blog represents the individual and personal thoughts and opinions of its authors.

Anderson-Kelliher Greedy and Will Lose The Guvs Race

Well the Minnesota legislative session is looming closer and closer to start February 4th. There have already been meetings among the legislative leaders and Governor Pawlenty on the budget deficit. I have been waiting to Margaret Anderson-Kelliher to do the right and wise thing and resign as Speaker of the House to better position her to win the 2010 Minnesota Governor's race. The right thing to do because House Minority Leader Marty Seifert resigned his position prior to or right after declaring his candidacy for Minnesota's highest office. The wise thing to do for Margaret Anderson-Kelliher (I refuse to call her MAK, if she wants a Kenwood fashionable hyphenated name then she can have everyone pronounce it) would be to resign and dodge the bullet of being the leader of the legislative body that must balance the huge state deficit. She already is taking hits for overseeing the horrible ending to the last session in which the Governor and his administration out maneuvered and outsmarted the DFL. Does she want a similar fate so close to November 2010. The session will be ugly. The same players are still there. The DFL still has huge majorities in the Senate but no quite a veto proof majority in the House. The DFL will actually have to include and work with Republicans this session. The Governor is not a lame duck in that he is boosting his resume as a fiscal conservative to perhaps pursue higher office himself in the future. He will not roll over. Margaret Anderson-Kelliher must really have an ace in her pocket if she plans to use her leadership position to her advantage in the Governor's race. Conservative Cravings blog represents the individual and personal thoughts and opinions of its authors.

Edina Council Weighs in On Copenhagen

Yeah, there's no government waste here in Edina? No time, effort or manpower that could be saved and thus save the taxpayers just trying to pay their own bills. Here's proof positive that the Energy and Environment Commission and Edina City Council has too much time on their hands and inflated egos. RESOLUTION NO. 2009-104 ADOPTED – SUPPORT ACTION AT THE U.N. CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE The Council discussed whether it was within its purview to comment on the country’s foreign policy. It was noted that the draft resolution was broadly worded and that the issue was one of those prompting establishment of the City’s Energy and Environment Commission. Member Bennett introduced and moved adopting of Resolution No. 2009-104, City of Edina, U.N. convention on climate change in Copenhagen. Member Swenson seconded the motion. Ayes: Bennett, Brindle, Swenson, Hovland Nays: Housh Motion carried. As I have been researching Edina City Council minutes for the last few posts, it was interesting to note that Joni Bennett make most of the motions at the meeting with Swenson seconding them or the other way around. Maybe there is some kind of unwritten deal for expediency of who will make motions to keep the meeting moving. Or, maybe Bennett and Swenson are setting the agenda for what is brought forward knowing what will pass. Hang in their Scott Housh. Conservative Cravings blog represents the individual and personal thoughts and opinions of its authors.

Why Is Franken Allowed to Legislate As A Liberal

Minnesota may be a blue state but we don't have a long history of liberalism. At least not to the extent Wellstone and now Franken have taken us. If you look at the history of who has held Senator positions for Minnesota in the last 30 years, it has been pretty balanced between Republican and Democratic leadership. In fact between 1978 and 1991, both of our Senators were Republicans, Boschwitz and Durenberger. When Al Franken ran for Senate, we already had a Democratic Senator in Amy Klobuchar. Minnesotans were not all clear that they wanted another Democrat for their 2nd Senator with only a 312 vote margin win for Franken. Franken tried to ease our fears that he would represent all Minnesotans. He laid low over the summer after he was sworn in. Even if Coleman had won, he is perceived by most to be a moderate in his party and would have legislated far more in the middle than Franken. But, Franken's true colors are now being seen. He has had conflicts last month with Joe Lieberman and John Thune. Its not so much that he is speaking up but that his demeanor seems to be that of a liberal talk show host rather than a United States Senator. He votes with his party 95% of the time. Is Minnesota so blue and so liberal that two left of center Senators are our best representation? No, we are not Massachusetts or New York. 48% of the people who did not vote for Franken deserve a voice, too. Or is it only cool to via for a minority populations when it doesn't have to do with political diversity? Well Franken is with us for 5 more years, uuuhh. Klobuchar may come around when she no longer wants to associated with the railroading tactics of Harry Reid or when she realizes that her and Franken should have held out for a bribe rather than be supporters from the get go on health care. But Klobuchar is up for reelection first in 2012. I think it will be a hard row to hoe:'

• Midterm election momentum of kicking out the bums (Democrats) could continue into the 2011 and 2012 election season.
• Minnesotans will tire of the "yes man" rubber stamps of Klobuchar and Franken for the Democrats and ensure that a Republican gets elected to balance things out.
• Franken could even throw her under the bus and hope a Republican gets elected, keeping him safe for a while.

The point is we missed our chance in 2008 to keep a balance of representation and Franken was elected. We will have to live with those consequences for a while.

Conservative Cravings blog represents the individual and personal thoughts and opinions of its authors.

70th St Traffic "Calming"

Don't you just love how people take terms like traffic jam, slowing traffic, stopping traffic, speed bumps, roundabouts and traffic divides and turn them into a gentle word like calming. Traffic calming that is. Traffic calming is just another way of saying, quit driving through MY neighborhood.

70th St in Edina has been there a long, long time. It's main function is connect Hwy 100 to the Southdale Mall business district and then onto York Avenue. Since Hwy 100 is one of the oldest freeways in the metro area and Southdale Mall was the first indoor mall in the United States, I would venture to guess that the connection between these two points dates back before any of the current residents on 70th St. That would mean that when they purchased their home, they would have been aware of the purpose of the road, it's speed limit (currently 30 mph) and all the surrounding development. Why buy a house on a street that does not fit your lifestyle and then try to get the city to work around your desires?

So why has the use of 70th St been OK for the last say 40 years and now it needs changing? Squeaky wheels get the grease. Enough neighbors have organized to become a thorn in the side of the Edina City Council. So they recently agreed to the following changes according to a recent Star Trib article:

• Designated left turn lanes
• Eliminate right turn no stop off of Hwy 100 south
• Consider a roundabout at the intersection of 70th St and Valley View Road

Other changes that look like nothing to do with traffic calming and everything to do with fashionable, aren't we the cool one updates, include bike lanes on both sides of the street. This will eliminate parking on one side of the street. I guess there's nothing to calm drivers down like bicyclists.

Now this could have been much worse. The speed limit reduction to 25 mph was not approved. Dividers down the center to make it a "parkway" were also rejected. So, all in all will this make the driver's on 70th St calmer? They can still drive the same speed, 30 miles an hour. The road will be now shared with bicyclists and people will probably have to use one of those roundabouts. What will the 70th St residents get? They say they can't back out of their driveways because of the amount of traffic. Perhaps, they can hop on their bicycles to get where they need to go.

Added 1/2/10 - The Edina Sun Current ran an article about this topic, as well. To my surprise they reported that the speed limit had indeed been changed to 25 mph and the Valley View roundabout was a done deal. This information alarmed me, so I sought out the actual resolution approval from the city council. They did not reduce the speed limit or affirmatively approve the roundabout. I have pointed this out to the Sun Current staff, as well. Maybe it's just wishful thinking on their part.

Conservative Cravings blog represents the individual and personal thoughts and opinions of its authors.

GOP Rally at State Capitol - Video

Governor Pawlenty held a rally at the State Capitol Rotunda this morning at 9:30. It was to launch his proposal for an amendment to the state Constitution to limit spending each year to the revenue generated in the previous year. Of course there is push back from Democrats who haven't seen a program they didn't want to create or fund. Coincidentally, you could have gotten in line at MOA today at 5:00 a.m. and received your wristband to see Sarah Palin, jumped in the car and went the rally at the State Capitol by 9:30 and then driven back to MOA to see Sarah at 11:30 p.m. All in a day's work for the conservative fight. However, most of us were on the job, trying to earn enough money to pay all those taxes to fund all those programs. Pawlenty's rally coincided with the Senate tax committee holding hearings today. But . . . did he also want to steal a little media thunder from Palin? After all, they could conceivably be rivals for the 2012 GOP nomination. Conservative Cravings blog represents the individual and personal thoughts and opinions of its authors.

Great Local Coverage of the Palin Visit

I so wanted to be there this morning, but alas the chitlins needed tending. I lived vicariously through the following recounts of Palin's visit to the MOA this morning/afternoon. Also a shout out to my conservative ladies on the west side. You know who you are and I hope you had a wonderful time. Doug Grow, Minn Post Matt Abe, North Star Liberty Conservative Cravings blog represents the individual and personal thoughts and opinions of its authors.

Dingy Harry Is Getting Desparate - Tries to Play The Race Card on Healthcare

Michelle Malkin dispels the lies that were told on the Senate floor today by Harry Reid. Looks like the desperation is getting to him. Conservative Cravings blog represents the individual and personal thoughts and opinions of its authors.

Separated At Birth

So here's the inspiration. I was watching the press conference by DFL state legislatures on the budget forecast and watching Margaret Anderson Kelliher (2:37),who must be getting some style consulting. Something about her speech pattern reminded of someone. I'm just saying Conservative Cravings blog represents the individual and personal thoughts and opinions of its authors.

The Majority DO NOT Want Health Care Reform as Proposed by Dems

You can keep repeating something over and over but it doesn't make it so. But that is exactly what media outlets like Daily Kos and MSNBC continue to do when it comes to the health care debate. They continue to assert that the majority of Americans are on their side and want health care reform as it is currently proposed by the Democratic congress.

Here's some facts:
Rasmussen today - 38% approve of the current plan by Dems
AP Poll last week put support at 41%
Gallup says More in U.S. Say Health Coverage Is Not Gov’t. Responsibility

Conservative Cravings blog represents the individual and personal thoughts and opinions of its authors.

PIM Interviews Erhardt - Looks To Run As a Democrat?

Wow, just after my prediction, Politics in Minnesota scoops a phone interview with Erhardt. He verifies he is interested in running in 2010 for the SD41A seat. He also stirs the pot that he may run as a Democrat.

I still have a very hard time believing that Staunton would have announced his candidacy, and so early, if the powers that be in the SD41 DFL had not given their strong support already. I don't think the DFL is looking at all for a primary fight for this seat.

But, Erhardt is a wild card these days and time will tell.