Bigotry and ignorance triumphed in the 6th CD

[Minnesota Raindog]

If Michele Bachmann couldn't be beat this year, she's not going to be beat until that district is reapportioned out of existence. Nothing could have been said or done to beat her that wasn't done already. The rural areas of this district are simply overrun with bigots, racists and uneducated rubes who either agree with Bachmann's ugly views or think Bob Anderson was an endorsed IP candidate and/or a legitimate candidate with more than a single personal issue and ax to grind. And between these voter blocs, they outnumber the rest of us.

Bigots and racists don't need explaining. They are what they are, and like vermin everywhere, they'll always be with us. Unfortunately, they appear to have concentrated in the 6th District.

The Anderson voters, however, do need some explanation.

This has happened in Minnesota before. A seriously mentally challenged woman named Sharon Anderson won the Republican primary for attorney general simply because her name was Anderson:

http://ftp.hometown.aol.com/__121b_gbpHMzt7mz4TL4sUmrwoYCQZ2dD9X635j0SX+0FQV5qOSSMYanoO5A==

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharon_Anderson

Some people are so dumb here (or inbred) they will vote for someone simply because their name is Anderson. Bob Anderson's 10 percent is proof that's still true in the 6th District. This loser had a single issue--mental health parity--and when that battle was won, he had none. No ideas, no money, nothing but the last name of Anderson. And that was enough to take more votes than a legitimate, quality candidate the IP fielded in 2006 in John Binkowski.

Hate to sound defeatist, but this district is lost until 2012, thanks to bigotry and ignorance.

[Avidor]

1. Something for Congresswoman Bachmann to look forward to...

Pardongate:

http://dumpbachmann.blogspot.com/2008/10/michele-bachmanns-pardongate.html

http://minnesotaindependent.com/?s=pardon+bachmann

[Coyote_Bandit]

2. This race proves one thing

Faith based voters make secular decisions for faith based reasons.

My observations from here in Oklahoma are that these voters will not have their political opinions impacted by traditional campaign methods. Getting their vote requires offering a candidate and an agenda which they see as consistent with their own faith.

The right wing does this by using a cultural agenda and politicizing issues which can be used to emotionally motivate the flock. They do not talk about the foundational beliefs that justify such an agenda.

Liberals cannot make the same appeal to those voters on those issues and they seem largely uncomfortable addressing matters of faith. They also seem completely unwilling to attack the foundational theological tenets on which the right wing agenda rests.

I don't live in Minnesota or know anybody who does and I have never visited the state. I have donated to both the Tinklenberg and Wetterling campaigns. I doubt I will be donating to the Bachmann opponent two years from now. I knew little Michele 20 some years ago while she was in law school. Frankly, I cannot believe she was ever elected to any public office.

You have my sympathy from red state hell. The only candidate I voted for yesterday who prevailed was Obama - and that was not because of the Oklahoma vote.

[kikiek]

3. For 15 years now I have lived in the area that supports her. My husband finally agreed to move back

to the cities, but now we have to wait. In all honesty though this area has come a long way in 2 years. You're right the outlying rural areas are for her. But it is diluting with the influx of new residents to the towns. I am certain this has to be a gerrymandered district. It is the only explanation for the strange grouping of areas it contains. If I have my way I will no longer reside in the 6th in 2 years. But if I do I will work hard to defeat that nutcase again.

[Bjorn Against]

4. I would expect that district to be shaped very differently after the next census.

It is a gerrymandered district, and once the Democrats get to redraw the map after the 2010 census you can be sure that they are going to make it a much more difficult district for Bachmann to win. I predict she will be defeated in 2012.

[trotsky]

6. It is probably the result of a compromise with Republicans.

At the last redistricting, the Repukes wanted to combine Mpls and St. Paul into one district, then divvy up the suburbs, guaranteeing the loss of a solid Dem district. Dems held firm to keep 4 & 5 as they are, and maybe the sacrifice they had to make was the weird boundary of 6 that scoops up the most conservative parts of the state.

[kikiek]

7. I'll keep my fingers crossed that I'm voting for someone else somewhere else.

[Eric J in MN]

5. Is there a famous person named 'Anderson' which these...

...candidates are related to?

[MNReformer]

8. Redistricting in 2010

We control both houses by a strong majority but the problem is that Pawlenty can veto any redrawing of her district. We need to redraw those lines.

[dflprincess]

10. The census takes place in 2010

we won't see any change in the districts until 2012.

[MNReformer]

11. Well that doesn't make me happy.

Guess we'll just have to work harder to unseat Bachmann. And we need to examine the voting machines because I think there have been some highly questionable results in the sixth district, including in 2004.

[electron_blue]

9. ahem, my rural area went to Tinklenberg. Pls don't lump us all together.

Still, I'm as mindboggled as you as to why Bachmann kept her office.

There's something you're overlooking - MB has SERIOUS support of the GOP with monstrous financial backing. Not that we dont' have our share of the vermin you mention, but external factors have played a large role in her first and second campaigns for office. I, for one, would like to know why the Republican party is propping her up so much. Actually, I wonder a lot less about this ever since Palin had her meteoritic rise (and fall) this year. The Rep. party desperately wants women like MB and SP to front their agenda and have started supporting them in very substantial ways in the early stages of their career.

[dflprincess]

12. Nick Coleman's column today is about Bob Anderson

the "Independence Party candidate". I put that in quotes because both the IP and DFL endorsed Tinklenberg but state law allows a candidate to only put one party on the ballot. Because the IP didn't have another candidate, this clown decided he'd just file for it.

Maybe the law that allows only one party's name on the ballot needs to be changed - and maybe we need to look at how and when a candidate gets to list themselves as being a party's candidate. You can slam the current caucuse and endorsement system all you want, but at least the candidate with the endorsement is the party's actual candidate.

With a name like "Anderson", you can't tell me that Bob wasn't put up to this by the GOP to draw votes from Tinklenberg.