I'm sorry Minnesota for the news i'm about to give you...

[Daylin Byak]

Mark Dayton: The Blunderer
America's Worst Senators

* Archive: Why didn't 99 Other Senators Close Up Shop Too?

Posted Friday, Apr. 14, 2006
America's
Best Senators
Those who do, and don't, make a difference in the U.S. Senate

When he was elected in 2000, Minnesota Democrat Mark Dayton seemed well prepared, having worked as an aide to Walter Mondale in the 1970s. But he has exhibited erratic behavior since then: in October 2004 he shut down his office for almost a month, citing an unspecified terrorist threat. The 99 other Senators had access to the same intelligence and kept their offices open, even while Dayton went on television to tell his constituents not to visit the Capitol. In February Dayton, 59, made another notable blunder. The Mayo Clinic, which is in Rochester, Minn., was opposed to a South Dakota — based company's plan to expand its railroads into Rochester because it would mean dozens of trains passing by the clinic each day. Dayton told FORTUNE magazine the Mayo Clinic is "worth a hell of a lot more than the whole state of South Dakota." He later apologized for the remark.

Inside the Senate, Dayton has passed few bills partly because some are too liberal for the Republican-controlled body, including one that would have created a Department of Peace and Nonviolence. He has confounded his colleagues by complaining about basic facts of the job, such as his limited power in a chamber where authority derives from seniority. He announced early last year that he wouldn't seek re-election.

[Fierce]

1. That's the worst they could come up with?

Big deal.

[dflprincess]

2. "Dayton has passed few bills

because some are too liberal for the Republican-controlled body.."

So, he should have come up with some Republican friendly bills? Seems like an odd criticism.

[preciousdove]

3. Not even close to "news"; Swift boating opinion (Yawn);

:spank:

[mnSky]

4. Who says the Press doesn't report the news!

So let me get this straight, Dayton is the worse? WTF...We have scandals galore with lying, cheating, bribing, hawking, blantant manlipulation of data, information, and security, breaking of federal laws and congressional laws, we have major corruption and national security breaks and all Time magizine can come up with is Dayton being too liberal for the extremist GOP controlled body? Yeah right...big story there.

That's like watching smoke roll out of every window in a house while commenting on the color of the siding.

[Demrock6]

5. That cracked me up, and you are dead on!

[katinmn]

6. Dayton is a major disappointment, IMO

He chooses the wrong thing to take a stand on, i.e speaking against the challenge to Ohio's fraudulent election and criticizing Feingold for taking a stand against Bush with the censure bill.

I'm also pissed off that after requesting a meeting with him six months ago and going through all the proper channels (forms submittal, etc), he refuses to meet with me and 10 of my collegues to discuss issues of importance.

He is getting a flabby ass sitting in DC. I am glad he is stepping down.

[katinmn]

7. Here's the link to the article

http://www.startribune.com/587/story/376580.html

[bvar22]

8. "The Blunderer" ???

"The magazine cited Dayton's decision in 2004 to temporarily close his Washington office because of an unspecified terrorist threat.

"The 99 other senators had access to the same intelligence and kept their offices open, even while Dayton went on television to tell his constituents not to visit the Capitol,"

What the article didn't mention is that the other 99 Senators left DC. I guess THEY were being BRAVE for their STAFFS who they left behind in spite of a "Terrorist Alert" issued BY THE FUCKING FED GOVERNMENT!!!

I was actually proud of Dayton for his decision, and felt he was "SwiftBoated" or "Dean Screamed" for his thoughtfulness.

Tin Foil Hat ON:
Did someone in the BFEE "Get To' Dayton?
Seems there was a distinct change in his behavior around the time of the DC thing and his decision not to run again.

[annm4peace]

9. We need to give him calls of support

What a lame article by Time Magazine
Weren't most of the Senators not in D.C. at that time?
Maybe we know now where Jeff GAnnon went to.
Althougth I dont' understand why Dayton hasn't signed on to the Censure Resolution, or some other things. I do think compared to a lot of other Senators he has been a great guy.

[indigo32]

10. This editorial on the matter

hits the nail on the head

http://www.duluthsuperior.com/mld/duluthsuperior/news/editorial/14375877.htm

So the magazine that named Hitler and Stalin as men of the year has deemed that Sen. Mark Dayton doesn't live up to its standards of leadership. Good for Dayton.

snip...

So what? Based on far more dubious intelligence, a majority of those 99 other senators -- and not Dayton -- voted for the war in Iraq. Regardless of your feelings about the war, Dayton's office evacuation didn't cost the lives of 2,377 American servicemen and women.

Time also chastised Dayton for saying the Mayo Clinic is "worth a whole lot more than the whole state of South Dakota," though Dayton, ever the gentleman, apologized for the remark.

The magazine's choice for best senator?

Republican Thad Cochran of Mississippi.

We're sure he's worth every bit of his $8,000 donation from Jack Abramoff