France is in the midst of a civil war. It is unwinnable. Security forces are bogged down.

STRASBOURG, France (Reuters) - A huge explosion destroyed a French university building in the eastern city of Mulhouse on Friday, injuring several people, the fire brigade said.

The explosion at the institute of chemistry on the university campus was heard across much of the city, witnesses said. The cause of the blast was not immediately known.

It is time to bring home the troops, and call it a day. There is growing opposition to the troops.

Tensions heated up on Paris’ verdant Esplanade des Invalides, with riot police using tear gas on rowdy protesters who threw grapefruit-sized chunks of concrete at police officers. Some of the 23,000 marchers turned on each other, beating and kicking.

Plumes of smoke billowed skyward as youths set trash bins on fire, and vandals smashed glass bus shelters and windows at several shops. A phalanx of hundreds of riot police, three men deep, pressed forward to drive back the protesters and blocked off the ornate Alexandre III bridge.

Quagmire!

Yeah, me too. Triple_a needs a vacation.

Stat!

Draft Al Kraken for the 5th CD seat being vacated by Sabo.

Why not? What better launching pad for a 2008 Senatorial Campaign than a 2006 Congressional Campign. Besides it sure would be fun to watch.

Ember Reichgott Junge who is the bitterly partisan ‘pundit’ that KSTP has on At Issue every single Sunday Morning, and Air America AM950 Radio host is also joining the feeding frenzy for Sabo’s 5th Congressional seat. (Her radio show wensite)
This is so great on a couple levels. First, there will be another trained monkey who can appear opposite of David Strom and Dave Thompson to spew forth Democratic talking points and Blame Bush for what ever the issue of the day is, on Sunday morning TV. It has become laughable of late how little substance she is able to link to the assertions against Republicans. I think Junge has been on every single weekend that I can remember save one, where Buck, Gonna Sue, Humphrey made a complete ass of himself. I wasn’t surprised, because the last memory I have of Buck was 02 election night where he was on TV and promised that he’d be suing because he didn’t believe he’d lost the election that badly to Kiffmeyer, or something. It was great, he was standing next to his dad Skip, and Skip looked like Michael Meirs standing next to Kanye West at that Katrina Telethon. I gotta track down that video.

Anyways. This will finally open up things for other DFLers to try to spew the talking points with a straight face. Anyone know if Nick Coleman is available? I heard him on KTLK this Saturday. Finally the DFLers will have to go through a rotation. I think Junge slept in that studio so she didn’t loose her spot.
Plus we have yet another AM 950 host that will have to leave the mic. This is the second AM 950 host this week who has announced their run for congress. How will the station survive?

The DFL has once again come to the rescue of illegal aliens and people who like to commit voter fraud.

In a straight party-line vote, the Elections Committee of the DFL-controlled state Senate rejected on Wednesday a proposal that would require proof of citizenship in order to register to vote in Minnesota.

Just what is wrong making people prove they are citizens before the vote since one of the requirements is that you are a citizen?

The bill had been approved in a committee in the Republican-controlled House, over objections by DFLers that it could unfairly disenfranchise college students, senior citizens and qualified voters who may not have the required documentation when they try to register.

Again, how is it unfair to require proof of citizenship?

Get ready for some shocking news here, the DFL blocked this so they could cheat. In this last November election, I know for a fact that a lot of votes were picked up through fraudulent means. Nursing homes were flooded with people to help Seniors vote, which is fine and all, except some of the people who were staying in the homes were not residents of the area they voted in. They voted in races, that they should not have, but they did so because the “volunteers” told them that it was ok. It is common practice, and it results in a lot of votes.

The Democrats always scream voter fraud after election day, but that is just because they see so many people committing voter fraud while their people are out committing voter fraud. The right to vote is one of our greatest gifts, it’s just too bad that the DFL wants to make sure that right can be abused.

I was just informed by the venue for this weekend’s SD51 Convention that one of the campaigns was trying to make special arrangements behind the back of SD51.
The campaign tried to order food and beverages for the Delegation.

But they were already informed that that is not allowed weeks ago. They even went so far as to try to get permission from the venue for signs over the allowed limit set in place by the Senate District.

I think this should have been nipped in the bud with the email I just sent out to all the Campaigns and will be the end of the story. It is more evidence of the anything to win mentality, which has nothing to do with the issues that I fear will tarnish this race.

May the best (wo)man win!

Since Mike Erlandson has made it official that he is seeking to replace his boss in Congress, I demand that his  Saturday radio show on AM 950 stop, or Republicans be given equal access to air time on the Liberal Talk Station.

Thanks to those of you who made it last night to meet Governor Pawlenty. Everything seemed to go well except for when I ran into a certain person and had an argument about something I posted yesterday. Besides that exchange, I had a blast. The Governor gave what was really a great speech. I’m going to force you to pony up and attend a fundraiser somewhere to hear it for your self, but I’ll tell you that he is ready for battle against whoever the DFL picks.

During his speech, he hardly mentioned the word Democrat, focussing his energy on what HE will do. He’s got a very ambitious agenda, and if he can do just half of it, Minnesota will benefit from it. Again, if you want more details, get out your wallet, I ain’t giving this away here. He has a great vision for our state, and I have full faith that he’d be a great Governor for 4 more years.

I think he was hoping someone else would have been the first person he saw when he got there. I was standing right by the door which made me the first face he saw, but he came right up, shook my hand, and thanked me for helping put the event together. It was really something seeing the Governor of Minnesota walk up to the door all by himself. No entourage, no group of staffers surrounding him to keep people away. I expected a State Trooper, or something. He had just one staffer who had gotten there much earlier,and kept her distance so people could have their time with him.

He worked the room like a pro, and everyone got a chance to talk with him.

On his way out he did stop at me, and reminded me to see the Big picture. It was in reference to mass transit I think, as my Mom decided to blurt out “Is Andy hearing this?” while Pawlenty was talking about the transit debate at the capital.

Thanks again to those of you who could make it.

Do You Hear That Sucking Sound?

That’s the sound of the Democrats in St. Paul spending your money.

The bill would borrow more than $375 million for infrastructure improvements at the University of Minnesota and for facilities in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. Pawlenty had proposed $105 million less than the Senate plan.

Environmental projects - including flood and erosion control, wastewater treatment, and parks and trails - would get $185 million. The Senate bill also includes transportation funding of $155 million, including $62 million for local roads and bridges.

All told, there are nearly 300 items in the bill.

“They’re all good projects,” said Sen. David Senjem, R-Rochester. “These are not easy decisions. It’s a good bill.”

We could have the first Billion dollar Bonding bill here, all they need is one more DFLer to bring home the pork. Come on, someone has got to need to buy off one special interest group or another.

Crime in Minneapolis is getting crazy.

A police squad car was hit by bullets as it got caught in crossfire Tuesday.

The park police car was on patrol near Jordan Park Elementary School in north Minneapolis and responded to calls of shots fired nearby.

The squad responded to 30 th St. N. and Emerson Ave. N. when it was hit by bullets. Police say they believe the squad car was intentionally shot at.

What’s next? How much more has to happen before dealing with crime is going to become a priority for the Mayor? Why was the press conference yesterday being held by just the Police Chief who is leaving town? Where the heck is the leadership in that city?