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Minnesota

As a student at Iowa State University I get to deal with all the Chinese kids, the Kids from the burbs of Chicago, and of course the Minnesotans. The some of my friends in College Republicans from Illinois are always bragging (jokingly) about how politicians from their state steal more money before breakfast than ours steal in a term, or how good they are at rigging elections. I have recently started saying bull to one of those points saying, "hey I think our friend over there from Minnesota, his politicians are better at rigging elections, than you Illinoisans."

On that note. Thank god that we gained both houses the Minnesota State Legislature. Sadly we lost the Governors Mansion, in my opinion because of voter fraud. (And a filibuster proof Senate in 2008, I think Coleman won legitimately, Franken Illegitimately). The Legislature need to enact voter reform laws and fast. They need to get rid of the "Vouching" that allows someone to say, "yeah that person lives in this district," without any proof of residence. Then they need to figure out how to fix criminals from voting. Making sure that 5000 more people don’t vote in a precinct than are registered there. And make sure that the cemetery is not a extra apartment complex with people voting.

If Governor Dayton will not sign the bills. We can use it against him in 2014. Run adds saying, "In 2010 there were massive amounts of voter fraud allegations. When Governor Dayton was given the chance to enact new laws to prevent voter fraud he said no. Is Governor Dayton trying to steal elections with voter fraud? Why didn’t he sign the laws to prevent voter fraud?" An add like that could very well derail his election campaign.

But we must do this to help us in the future, and if it doesn’t pass we can use it against those who were against it.

COMMENTS

  • froster

    Gaining the legislature has big consequences for redistricting too.

    • IJB

      If MN doesn’t lose a seat, I doubt much will change on the redistricting end – it’ll end up being an “incumbent protection” map (which, unfortunately, will help Walz, and possibly Peterson too).

      However, if MN ends up losing a seat, all bets are off.

      • freemanja1991

        From almost all groups that rate congressman Peterson is consistently the most conservative Democrat in the house from what I have seen (usually a C). I doubt he will ever be an achievable pick up. And I wasn’t talking about redistricting. Just fixing a problem before Minnesota Politics and Chicago Politics are one and the same (Elections part).
        One the Redistricting note Try to Combine 4 & 5. And see what you can do with the playing with the borders of the rest.

        • froster

          I’m sure that if the legislature had stayed Democratic, they would have dismantled Bachmann. And I bet they still do. (as she doesn’t live in her current district and MN-06 is weirdly shaped)

          • freemanja1991

            OK-2? What are you asking. And Minnesota will be a mess redistricting. Probably unfavorable in anyway.

        • lukematthews

          Make the downtown and immediate areas from St. Paul to Minneapolis one district. That would make room for a more conservative Democrat on the inner burbs that would be moveable. As far as Peterson is concerned, I think the blush is beginning to fade on that rose. Peterson is becoming what he always ran against, the establishment Democratic Party. If the Glen Menze elements of the conservatives stop dividing the effort, a conservative Republican could take him out.

      • lukematthews

        Walz actually lost the popular vote in the First. The other two candidates managed to get enough from Demmer that Walz squeaked it out. The district is conservative, but brutally independent. They are not in love with either Dems or Reps. If they can find a nominee in 2012 that can unite and move voters, Walz will be out. Besides that, any redistricting only give more conservative areas to the First. None of the adjoining counties are liberal in the least. There is no liberal there, there for him to get.

        • wonkish1

          Unless major changes occur in redistricting, Walz is clearly the most vulnerable in Minnesota.