All Politics Is Local

After a week in Shanghai, I returned home yesterday and got caught up on the local political scene. As the Warrior Princess reported, First Lady Laura Bush was in town on Friday. My wife was also in attendance at the affair, although she did not report any unintentional groping. She did notice a few protesters across the street, whom the Strib described thusly:

Two hours before she appeared, about 50 people gathered at a union hall a few blocks away and stood before a wrecked sedan plastered with Bush-Cheney bumper stickers (teeing off the Test Drive 4 W plan).

'We've test-driven George W. Bush for 3 1/2 years, and 3 1/2 years is enough,' said party Chairman Mike Erlandson. 'It's time for a change.'

They marched to RiverCentre, where Bush was speaking, chanting 'JK all the way!'

Separated from the John Kerry supporters by a busy Kellogg Blvd., Bush supporters waiting to enter the building laughed and waved across the street.

'JK All The Way'? Yeah, that'll ya carry to victory in November. I believe a more accurate report would be that Bush supporters pointed and chortled dismissively. I know that's how I react to hearing or seeing a motley crew lead by Mike Erlandson.

On Friday our colleagues at Power Line mentioned a local fundraiser for John Kerry that sought to tap into the hatred that drives so many on the left these days. Yesterday the Strib dutifully picked up the story:

Democrats apparently figure that the madder you are at President Bush, the more you're going to be willing to pay to beat him.

That seems to be the strategy behind a Minneapolis fundraiser for John Kerry that's basing its ticket prices on whether you are angry, livid, or mad as hell about the direction of the country.

The variety show, to be held Sunday night at the Southern Theatre, was organized by Mary's Grassroots Political Therapy Group -- nine women who call themselves progressive and who came together after a series of events, including the death of Sen. Paul Wellstone and the outbreak of war in Iraq.

Events no doubt viewed as equally important in their eyes. Funny that 9/11 didn't move them to action.

The show, 'Cabaret for Kerry,' will feature music, comedy and political satire. Entertainers include playwright and actor Kevin Kling, singer Prudence Johnson, actor Phyllis Wright and the Mojo Mamas.

The show is sold out and is expected to raise about $20,000 for the Kerry campaign, said chief organizer and professional puzzle maker Mary Logeland of Minneapolis.

Professional puzzle maker? Karl Rove must be shaking in his boots.

Members of the audience of 250 are paying anywhere from $50 per seat if they are merely troubled to $500 if they are mad as hell.

I think it's safe to say that anyone willing to spend their Father's Day attending this event is at least "troubled".

'We had some furious [$400], some livid [$200] and a lot of angry [$100],' Logeland said.

No one ballistic will attend the show.

To borrow a line from a local talk radio host: "Uh...We don't know that."

A conservative political Web log, Powerline, posted the group's ticket categories Friday and opined that it was doubtful 'a party that defines itself by hate and anger can command the support of a majority of Americans.'

Lighten up, Logeland said.

"We just decided we wanted to do something a little bit funny," she said. "Rather than traditional sponsors, we'd just try to make it a little more interesting. ... It's a great marketing technique, and I can't tell you how many people have said that it's clever."

Self-proclaimed "progressives" peddling hate as humor. Just who needs to lighten up here? Kudos to Power Line for capturing the paper's attention.

Finally, something to keep in mind when you're listening to the next MPR (Minnesota Public Radio) pledge drive:

Minnesota Public Radio star Garrison Keillor, whose homespun humor and songs sometimes take on a political edge, will head the bill for an unusual state House DFL fundraiser as a pivotal legislative election campaign opens next month.

He will host an evening of music and comedy July 1 at the O'Shaughnessy Auditorium at the College of St. Catherine in St. Paul, preceded by a $250-a-person reception. Tickets for the main show will be priced at $100, $50 and a student rate of $25.

Rep. Nora Slawik, DFL-Maplewood, recruited Keillor for the fundraiser when she attended a local DFL dinner this spring in Rochester, where he was the guest speaker.

'He's obviously interested in helping Democrats,' Slawik said. 'He agreed to do it on the spot.' Keillor did not return a reporter's call to his office on Friday.

UPDATE: Giving credit where it's due, I see that Spitbull had the scoop on Powerline being mentioned in the Strib.