Lightweights

My favorite definition of politics is "the acquisition of wealth or power without merit."  Even so, I'm puzzled how the DFL settles for lightweights like Taryl Clark, and now, Margaret Anderson Kelliher.  I'll leave Ms. Clark for later this fall, especially with Gary at LFR on the job in CD 6.  But like Clark's journey to go up against Michele Bachmann, Kelliher has come out of nowhere to win the DFL endorsement for Governor.

She's Speaker of the Minnesota House you say.  True.  And before that?  She reportedly had never even chaired a committee before that, which would explain why she even now still appears to be learning the job, painfully so her first two years.

Am I a sexist?  I'm trying hard not to be.  But to put it in those terms, women are people too, and therefore vary considerably in ability.  High on my list among Democrats is State Senator Ann Rest.  Maybe she doesn't want the job but I think she would make a much better Governor than Kelliher - or Rybak or Marty for that matter.  Maybe that's because she can speak competently on issues instead of just reciting bromides.

But I really think this is an age thing, not a female thing.  I'm old enough to remember Hubert Humphrey and the DFL of old that gave us Eugene McCarthy, Walter Mondale, Don Fraser and many other names most of you never heard of.  As were those years, yes, they were almost all men, but they were thinking men, well-spoken, and able to articulate an argument for a policy.  OK, I'll stop digging.

My point is, the DFL has many better people than they're putting up for higher office.  So why is that cream not rising to the top?

***

Addendum: To answer my own question, a theory of the case occurred to me.  Margaret Anderson Kelliher, more so than any other candidate, would be a rubber stamp for a DFL Legislature.  One must presume that both chambers remain blue as part of a Kelliher victory.  And if I understand the DFL twitters last night, it was the super-delegates that effectively overrode the elected delegates who otherwise would have endorsed RT Rybak.  And the super-delegates are drawn largely from the Legislature.  So, my second conspiracy theory of the week says that this was the DFL politburo power installing a puppet to enhance their own power.

Comments

[Hiram]

Hubert Humphrey and Eugene McCarthy were both unavailable for endorsement last Saturday night.

Margaret is a a remarkably capable person. There just isn't anyone who knows the legislature and state government as well as she does. I think it's probably true that she has never chaired a committee, but that's because the DFL was never in the majority when she was not it's leader. Tom Emmer who came to the legislature 6 years later than Margaret has never chaired a committee either. And while Tom has his strengths, no one is really saying that Tom is among the more knowledgeable legislators even within his own party, about the way things work in Minnesota. Republicans who are looking for a "qualified" candidate, and I am not saying that's the basis on which either party's decision should be necessarily made, are supporting Seifert.

Margaret's great legislative achievement was the passage of the transportation bill, for which she needed and got bipartisan support. Leaving aside an argument about the merits, that is the most effective piece of governance we have seen in the state capitol in decades. In an environment that is almost entirely dysfunctional, Margaret is the one person in St. Paul who has actually gotten something done.

[Hiram]

Margaret probably had the edge in super delegates, but she certainly had the support of lots of people who weren't super delegates as well. Her support in the state was quite broad based. And it remains to be seen whether she will win the primary and be the DFL candidate.

[Hiram]

The governor really drives the agenda in St. Paul, by the way. Even Gov. Pawlenty, with lop-sided minorities in both houses of the legislature, and as disengaged as he can be, calls pretty much all the shots down in the state capitol. Our state constitution is very much a strong governor, weak legislature constitution.

[Speed Gibson]

All right, Hiram. She has the endorsement. She can now state her views openly. To date, I've heard nothing but catch-phrases. I await her position papers and oratory on how she will really deal with the real world. I will say this: unlike Clark, she hasn't resorted to fibbing.

The clock is running.

[Brent Metzler]

So, you like Senator Rest? Hmm.

I'd be careful pointing out anyone's experience as qualifications for endorsement, especially since you seem to be supporting Emmer, and the MNGOP is undoubtedly going to endorse him this weekend. Not only does he have less experience then Kelliher, but with a "crowded" DFL primary this summer Emmer is going to be drown out and go into the fall elections as a virtual unknown.

Not that Siefert is more qualified the Kelliher either, but he can at least say that he is Minority Leader. And in that respect is more qualified then Emmer.

The GOP just has a weak bench this year. It happens sometimes, better luck in 4 years I guess.

[Speed Gibson]

The key word is "record" not "qualifications." But, fine, let's look at MAK's qualifications.

Why was someone who knows the Legislature works so well look like little girl lost up on the Speaker's platform? And why does someone who knows State government so well get finessed so easily by both Pogemiller and Pawlenty?

[The Big Stink]

Kelliher will jam her foot in her mouth. I've seen and heard her in an impromptu setting and you can almost set your watch to the time she will commit a gaffe, a faux pas or a misstatement. The question isn't whether she will say something stupid - she will - the question is whether or not she can recover from the mindless meanderings of her own tongue. Watch!

[Hiram]

"To date, I've heard nothing but catch-phrases."

I think you have identified a problem with Margaret's candidacy. Margaret is a superb legislator, but that can conflict with being a superb candidate. Margaret didn't build the consensus she needed to pass the transportation bill by using sharp rhetoric. To run successfully for governor, she might have to change the tone that's always worked for her in the past.

As for being finessed by the governor, I have been critical of the results of the last session, but the underlying reality is that the governor has far more power, as things currently stand, than the legislature. As a legislative leader of a fractious caucus he has often been a moderating an conciliating presence. Emmer has ever had to operate under those constraints.

As for being finessed by the governor, I have been critical of the results of the last session, but the underlying reality is that the governor has far more power, as things currently stand, than the legislature. The governor has a great deal more power than he uses by the way.