Thank you Gratis, six minutes now past 11. Good morning. Welcome to mid-day on Minnesota Public Radio. I'm Gary eichten first our midday. We're going to catch up on the race for governor in the state of Minnesota. Arne Carlson. The course is not running for re-election this year. So somebody is going to be Minnesota's new governor political activist have been busy this morning trying to sort out just to that. Somebody might be this past weekend 3rd District Republican sell their district convention the last in a series of conventions in both parties leading up to next month's State conventions their District Republican, so I held another one of those non-binding straw polls. And once again say Palm-Aire Norm Coleman finished first, but calm and apparently is still far short of the delegates support to needed to win Republican party endorsement for governor and all the advantages that go with party endorsement Hennepin County. Attorney. Mike Freeman face is a similar problem. He has dominated the straw polls taken at dfl convention. The spring but he too is still apparently far short of the delegates support needed for dfl endorsement. The result 1998 is shaping up as one of the most interesting political years. We've had in Minnesota in a long long time and joining us this hour to bring us up-to-date on just who's who are Minnesota Public Radio is political analyst Bob Meek and Tom Horner and we also invite you to join our conversation. We're talking about the race for governor here in the state of Minnesota. And if you'd like to join our conversation put City area number to 276 thousand to 276 thousand out side the Twin Cities 1-800. 242-282-8227. 6001 800-242-2828 Bob * X coming in today morning. Let's start with the Republican set Tom a little livelier over on your side of the aisle there. The stakes are higher since all the candidates a there that they will abide by the endorsement. Sister not going to challenge any endorsed candidate in the September primary 60% needed for endorsement Coleman back in about 41 42 Allen Quist and Joanne Benson essentially tide in second place in the upper twenties or there's talk that twists and Benson are forming a team to stop Coleman. It's going to be an exciting time at the Target Center in the third weekend in June when Republicans get together. I think what's going on are a couple of things one is that there are a lot of Republicans were still trying to get to know Norm Coleman to to the extent that people have paid attention to Norm Coleman over the last several years. It has been as a Democrat as as mayor of st. Paul now, they're trying to figure out who's the Republican Norm Coleman in and who is the Republican gubernatorial candidate Norm Coleman and enter a lot of it is just starting out who This person is in in some ways that gives him an enormous advantage in that he he is able to Define himself coming off of some very significant successes as mayor of st. Paul in in other ways. It makes him vulnerable to the kinds of things that we saw last week where and and we seen over the last many weeks where other candidates and and their supporters are able to attack Norm Coleman as not being true enough to Republican core principles that he he doesn't subscribe to some of the platforms that are important to Republican delegates whether or not they're important to Main Street Minnesota or or even other Republicans who don't attend conventions and Precinct caucuses Joanne Benson who was slow getting out of bed. The box now seems to have found her way has has put together a much more aggressive campaign in the last couple of weeks then I think she had at the beginning of the year. Are potentially is that I'm everyone's second choice if if you can't agree on Norm Coleman if you can't agree on Ellen Quest, I'm the one who can do it. Her second Pitch is that she's a historic candidate to potentially as as a woman. She would be the first woman as a major Party candidate to run for governor and Allen Quest keeps beating the same drum that he's been beating for the last several years the the most conservative the most true to what Republican principles particularly those represented by the Christian, right? And he has a very loyal I think small and I think what what happens with them quiz to said his his support gets magnified because it comes together so quickly people already are there and enter inclined to support elmquist, but it doesn't grow much beyond that. I think that Alan Quest will be looking to what cut some deals at the convention. Whether or not the deal he can cut his is first of all enough to to make a winner out of anybody and secondly is going to satisfy Kristen and his constituencies might I think is far from certain Bob over on your side of the aisle are dfl. There's six candidates in the field, but really only two of them seeking endorsement Mike Freeman is apparently a head of skip Humphrey leasing East Rob ballots. What was it about? 48 234 something like that about fourteen points against still well short of a 60% needed for endorsement. Will he be able to find the extra delegates support that he needs to get the endorsement Mike is the presumed endorsed candidate until someone proves. Otherwise the reason is he's the only fly one of the six who is That he will abide by the conventions endorsement process. And remember this is the proverbial smaller than a crowded a Vikings football game process that started in dark Tuesday evening and and his continued on some muddy Saturdays for weeks. Now up the process for Democrats though. It is really defined by the the change that's taken place in in the Republican Party Democrats look and see a fairly moderate Republican Arne Carlson a pro-choice Pro human rights Republican leaving his party. He was never popular with his party delegates never endorsed by them, of course, but now it's he isn't going to be there. And bear in the fall and the Republican standard-bearer that Democrats are looking at being named Allen Quist, you know Joanne Benson or Norm Coleman. They're all pro-life. They're all anti Human Rights there. They're all for repeal of Minnesota's human rights law affecting gays and lesbians in employment housing public accommodations in the rest the the character change in that from a from Arne Carlson who essentially represented kind of Swedish liberalism of the Minneapolis for years with a very conservative and when it came to financial numbers kind of scares the Dickens out of Democrats this this is an election where it would be real turn for the state of Minnesota a real hard turn to the right if indeed Democrats can't put up a winning candidate answer the question not just bring down the convention but between now and September 15th of the primary, we're all of this will be settled for Democrats is which one of these candidates is most likely to be able to defeat a republican right winger have compared to where Arnie Carlson has been and so much so that last night I I went to Jesse Ventura webpage just to check out his position on abortion Reform Party candidate for governor Reform Party candidate and someone who has many fiscal conservative principles. But like Arne Carlson on social matters is more libertarian and type of examination the fact that you could even see a doc Johnson victory in the Democratic Primary in in September. Doug is a great social liberal but a very strong on some conservative social issues. I think suggest that Democrats right now or determining who's best able to beat the Republicans in November and and that that decision release going to be made in the primary in the shower. The race for governor here in the state of Minnesota. The state conventions are coming up in just a couple of weeks in our guess. That's our kind of tuning up for the conventions. They'll be in St. Cloud for the dfl convention first weekend in June. And then the Time Warner and Bob make will be joining us in Minneapolis at the Target Center. Mid June for the Republican State Convention. And for the first time I guess it since 1982 no incumbent Governor. So the field is wide open in for a change. There are well doesn't at least a dozen candidates who want to be governor and I should be alive lyrics you like to join our conversation here as we find out where the array stands right now. Give us a call 227-6020 area number to 276 Thousand Oaks on the Twin Cities one. 800-242-2828 Tom Republican candidates. They actually gif On the issues at all, or is it one of these deals where they're kind of biting and sniping at each other on the print on the basis of inter-party very narrow type of issues. I think they do different on the issues in some significant ways and and certainly differ in terms of style. And one of the most visible issues where there have been some differences particularly now over the last year is on the role of government with sports franchises Norm Coleman has been very aggressive and and trying to and succeeding in attracting a National Hockey League team to Saint Paul. And and with that comes a significant commitment of public funds for an arena. I'm Joanne Benson who I had to had earlier supported some public investment in the infrastructure in support of a professional sports name of the Target Center. Now is on record as opposing new stadium for the twins with public financing even going against her her Governor her own Administration and the quest has been opposed to that. I think though that Beyond just whether we should or shouldn't support public sports with with the professional sports with public dollars. I think it betrays a more fundamental issue and that is the role of government. They I think Norm Coleman through his career and and even now is Republican sees a legitimate role for government as an initiator as as a partner with with a lot of private-sector kinds of activities much more so than a Joanne Benson and certainly more so than an alien quiz does Eliquis for his part certainly is much more conservative, and much more bound to a very conservative principles than I think either Joanne Benson are on Norm Coleman are skip Humphrey and Mike Freeman do they differ much on on any Issues of substance, I think that the two are from the same Progressive School of the the dfl the in their campaign and just watching it. I see sometimes Mike has but perhaps more specificity in some of his education proposals. For example, I see Humphrey is having perhaps a broader a record of involvement in large National issues, like spit tobacco settlement that people have been celebrating but the fundamentally I think the the line that Ted Monday, I love a very interesting candidate in this race used on public television Almanac the other night was that Humphrey and Freeman are fighting over the left wing of the the dfl party that appeal centrally is one that the convention process makes the candidate sort of a tune themselves for all of their positions historically in a convention you have any number of litmus tests. The delegates are going to want to apply and that I think is the reason why you see people like Mark Dayton Ted Mondale, of course, Doug Johnson and John Marty The Greatest Love of All they've actually opted out of a litmus test system and said, sorry, we're not we're not going to play and What you do do what you want, but we're going to show up in the primary. And each of those candidates has the ability to put on a well-funded contest. They have something to say about issues. Some of them. I think they have something remarkable to say and and I think it will be a very vigorous campaign through the summer to 276 thousand or one 800-242-2828. If you'd like to join our conversation by making Time Warner are here are political analysts were talking this hour about the race for governor here in the state of Minnesota as we get ready for next month's State political conventions 2276 thousand or one 800-242-2828. Pat your question place. This is a question for Meeks. Somebody just mentioned Ted Mondale. Nobody's heard much from him in the in recent weeks. He has said that the his campaign is going to go to the primary. I just wonder whether you Bob see a chance for somebody to in the in the months remaining before the primary to redeem Mount any kind of a significant campaign. I think the campaign will be won in the last 10 days and certainly the money that will create enough of a base for a candidate to the commercials were really start pouring in in the last 4 weeks and then you know begin to have some kind of a bill Ted Mondale has a message that I think will be much stronger in a general election than in the primary. However, the primary voters on the dfl side. I'm not sure that he should really a tuning to them. He's talking about how government of through a system of a rather perverse incentives, for example pulls people who are Educators into John. With higher salaries if they'll just get out of that classroom and leave the kids alone feel just move down to the central office and there are a lot of examples where government just doesn't in the estimation of huge numbers of people operating in a very efficient ER or affected Manner and I think I think Ted will be trying to tap that and then I think somewhat effectively that the question is the weather in a primary where you are one of five pro-choice candidates all from the metropolitan area all white male liberals. Do you know it isn't your base pretty divided then on the other hand. You have a very Charming affable knowledgeable well-spoken state senator, Doug Johnson from iron. Bad kick in the Cook County in and parts of Duluth in the rest district 6 who who I think can really enunciate a very common person's message kind of a Rudy perpich message almost and and I think Doug will will have at this point. I would think he would be the delete the the odds-on favorite to win a primary but you know, some of the things that Bob is talking about I think really lay the base for what but potentially could be the the nastiest ugliest kind of campaign that that we've seen even given all of the nasty ugly campaign. So we've seen in recent years not just in the dfl primary, but going into the general election when the problem for it for the Democrats heading into the primary and for the ultimate Republican and Democratic candidate heading into the general election, is that nobody cares this year with nobody? Attention nobody's interested. You look out in California and their three Democratic candidates for their primary. June 2nd are going to spend somewhere in the neighborhood of a hundred million dollars and they're expecting record low turnouts. Nobody's paying attention for Ted Mondale to to try to make a case in a primary during what might be one of the nicest Summers we've ever had in Minnesota that the reason you want to elect me is because I'm going to make government more efficient is it is hardly the kind of cry that gets people to mount their placards into this and carry them into the street. It's going to be the kind of campaign where people have to divide did the constituency rather than bring them together. You have to separate your narrow base of Voters and and make sure that they get out to the polls and and that often leads to what I think a very ugly kind of campaign. Ted Mondale was able to take for example a series of government programs and say that we're not spending 3x to get result a here's how we could spend One X to get the same a result or maybe even an A+ result. Why does that have to be nasty? Why it why does that have to be a negative campaign? I think a candidate can choose to be to be negative and that there are things in government that are negative and deserve to be talked about but your Solutions can be quite positive and I think there's probably at least on the Democratic side of constituency that would be interested in hearing about those Solutions. What about the tobacco now, I think again for people who don't pay a lot of attention to the political system, they would assume all this race is over Humphrey has been elected governor. The tobacco deal is is the the big issue and why are the three of you sitting on the radio talking about this, but I do know I think That's what people assumed in 1990 when President Gorbachev came to the Twin Cities for governor Rudy perpich. Everybody assumed that was it. That's all that that permits needed to put them over the topping. And in fact, we know he was not re-elected went down to a humiliating defeat the challenge for for attorney general Humphrey is to convey to the people of Minnesota. Just how spectacular his success really was and then let me acknowledge that one of my clients is Blue Cross and Blue Shield which also was involved in the tobacco litigation of but what what skip Humphrey and and Blue Cross and and the law firm were able to do is for the first time to expose the tobacco industry. I'm too to reveal the documents not just punish them with financial penalties, but but to expose them that the doesn't neatly translate into An issue for campaign again in a Democratic primary what it does do is what we seen over the last week Li it it opens Humphrey up to all the sniping from a poem or saying you paid too much to the attorneys or you miss lettuce on the value of the the payout for you should have hung on for a jury verdict and and really put it to the tobacco industry or you should have been there in the first place. I think what it really does is unfortunately for us Humphrey to defend the deal rather than take credit for the deal the Democratic view of that by contrast is what the Civil Rights speech was in 48 for his father this tobacco trial was for the Humphrey the third in fact that this was a matter of great courage and foresight. On the part of the Attorney General in which the the very intelligent critics like a governor on a Carlson for example, if they were dismissing. This is a Fool's errand and in counseling to be part of who it was hardly a year ago. He had his Commissioners on a plane flying out to testify in Washington on behalf of that the non-existent settlement to the tobacco industry had worked out on what many Contender are very sweetheart terms and now he knows that they have walked away from and and so this action by Humphrey I think is more of a of a Capstone if you if you look at his record and the number of settlements that he's won as attorney general just across the board and then the legislation on crime and toughening on Juvenile offenders in in all the successes that that he's had. Now. There's where people have a clear identification that this is somebody who stands up and fights and and doesn't walk away on the cheap didn't go for an early settlement and you know, you can't pick up a newspaper read report and and not here Washington State or or some other place in the country sink working on those documents that that Minnesota turned up and when you come to the fees section of the argument point of the attorney-general's executive assistant made the other day settlement the George W bush the likely Republican nominee for president least. He's busy yanking the chain of his attorney general in Texas and why couldn't you have gotten it good? Video as as those Folks up in Minnesota, why couldn't you've done as well as Humphrey, so I think the more people want to talk about tobacco. The battery is preferred Hubert Humphrey yet in in, I think is correct. People are happy with the economy. They they are not tuned in to this election, and yes Humphrey will be attacked and he'll be attacked us severely, but I think it it just confirms the fact that he's got a commanding a public lead at this point dragging this out about the race for governor here in the state of Minnesota political analyst Bob make and Tom Horner have jaundice, and if you would like to join our conversation. Again Twin City area number is 227-6002 276 thousand if you're calling from outside the Twin Cities one 802-4228 28227 6001 800-242-2828 and we'll get some more colors in just a moment. You can't get news like this anywhere else. It's definitely worth. It stand formed members are single largest source of Revenue at Minnesota Public Radio the bouncer books this year. We need to reach the 85,000 member Mark by June 30th. If you received a notice from his please mail it back today or call us at one 800-227-2811 right now and get yourself founded. Thanks. Major funding for Minnesota public radio's documentary fund just provided by Phyllis paler in memory of Walter stremmel invitation to join us over the noon hour today a second hour of the program. We're going to hear from Cokie Roberts course you hear from her regularly on national public radio's news program to see her every week on ABC TV this week with Sam Donaldson and Cokie Roberts. She's going to be on the air within an hour. She spoke at the Commonwealth club last week not too much about politics. Actually. She's talking about a new book, which always get the title of this wrong. So I better luck make sure I get it right. We are Our Mothers Daughters best seller talking about the women that she's mad over the years and personal essays interesting speech and we'll have to have that over the noon hour today via weather forecast calls for a sunny Sky across Minnesota this afternoon with hot and humid conditions over most of the state. There's also a chance for a thunderstorm across Much of the Eastern and Southern parts of the state may be some severe weather could develop so keep alert size up or seventies in the North to the low-90s in southern Minnesota the Twin City forecast may be a thunderstorm with a high 85 to 90 right now. It is sunny in the Twin Cities and 79° or talk about the race for governor. This our our political analyst Time Warner make of joined us and give us a call love to have your questions and comments as we really get ready for the state conventions coming up next month there right around the corner dfl convention in about 2 weeks 2 and 1/2 weeks and the Republicans will be meeting in Minneapolis months from now to 276 thousand or one 802-422-8283. Thanks for calling. I would like to hear more of the less publicized that's contenders and in particular John Marty, I would think that his having Read the fight against the stadium issue would have a tremendous appeal to a large number of people in the Minneapolis area and Saint Paul particularly Stadium issue a good boost for John Marty. Let's let me turn your mic on there. Are we go particularly the hockey arena because it it brought it alive again. And if you turn to John Martis web page, for example, you'll see that the opening letters all about the the heinous deal of Norm Coleman with the hockey business. So that gave it some life when it's actually John is in a position where he is his issues betrayer a certain Unity on behalf of the dfl candidates. They're all talking a long one unified line, which is really going to spend it later. We're going to spend it now the spend it now argument. The John Marti is made for years is early childhood education spend it now invest in the first three years of life do all of the prenatal parental Edge. Mission possible Etc. John is is eloquent advocate of that program is as you will find the alternative is what did many conservatives. I see pounding very vigorously for is more jails more prisons. And when you run the cost-benefit analysis, there is an argument that Democrats generally subscribed to and that is try to handle these problems up front and to the extent that John is is a a clear spokesperson for that argument eating more so than the stadium debate in the rest. There isn't a there isn't a Democrat that wants to build a stadium using general. Public dollars. Yes, Mark Dayton would build a stadium with a state casino out of the mega mall. But other than that, they they are united in in opposition to what they would call a form of corporate welfare that they believe the stadiums represent in terms of the Republicans are supporting a use of a public money for a stadium and the other two I know are opposed to it. Joanne Benson Alan Quest. Yes. I've been Coleman has said that the twins are a unique Minnesota asset and and that there is value and and importance in keeping that asset in Minnesota. The economics of baseball are such that it does require some public support if if the twins are going to be financially viable over the Long Haul. I'll tell you though Republicans go to Bed at night hoping that Christmas comes on September 15th and John Marty is denominated candidate. I'm in here is a guy who lost by historic margins for years ago the opportunity to run against John Marty again in in 1998 takes care of whatever other problems does the Republicans might have and it's not just that he's too liberal but it's that his record as a demagogue is is one that Republicans can support one of the reasons why we still have not yet had a debate on the stadium is because John Marty went out in the fall of 1996 before there was any proposal on the table before there was any issue before there was any tangible issue that that legislators ought to have been taken a position on and back them in the corners and got them locked into a position to Pure demagoguery on on the stadium. And as a consequence, we never had a discussion on it what we had a discussion. About was the evil billionaire Carl pohlad or how much money baseball players are making. That's not a discussion about what baseball represents to Minnesota. John Marty didn't kill the stadium as much as he did killed debate on on the stadium and the role of government and and professional sports. There was an interesting development last week in the Republican side last week that I'd like to give you fellows to comment on this letter that state representative Eileen Tompkins sent out identifying herself as a supporter in the 1994 of Allen Quest. And taking Joanne Benson. This gets confusing folks. If you're trying to follow this at home, but the bear with us here identify taking Joanne Benson to tasks for being a appallingly liberal as it as the letter stated and noting for example, the Marxist minnesotacare health program at the state has turns out that Eileen Tompkins is a supporter of Norm Coleman that have the delegates I guess all atwitter last week. Yes, and it it's what happens I think in in the kind of campaign that we're going to have a 1998 on both sides of the aisle when there are no real issues that attract the heart and soul of a voter's where you have to go out and create issues. I'm you start to ratchet up the rhetoric inappropriately an unconscionable a.m. To call Joanne Benson illiberal stretches, The Point Beach And even belief and end in consideration of Representative Tompkins is a fine fine person who has done a lot of good work in her years in the legislature in and I was retiring after this year. But but that letter was I think frankly just out of line what we ought to be doing instead of the name calling instead of trying to characterize candidates with with epithets and and extreme language to be working toward identifying real issues and and finding solutions to those issues and whether or not representative Tompkins likes minnesotacare, it's pretty clear that the healthcare can continues to be an issue. And then Factor there are any number of Republicans who have supported minnesotacare and continue to to recognize that there is some kind of role for government play in in delivering Healthcare. We have a party ought to be figuring out what that role is not trying to characterize candidates who support that position earlier or some other position Democrat smiling with Glee when they when I heard about that to Bob is not surprising that there's a tradition of a Friday afternoon letters in a particularly pre-convention politics. It's the time to make rather sometimes egregious statements and let them float through the weekend news mail and thank the Guthrie's current or just close play Much Ado About Nothing but some of the Susan your comment place, this is the second time that I've heard that these two people on your show. And this is the second time. I've heard them assert that there are no issues. I don't know what planet they live on but there are many many many issues with with which would you see is one is it not an issue that doesn't concern to you but one that the general public is is all fired up about the general public is tired out about a number of issues and certainly Which Way of the stadium issues, you know, everybody knows that you can bring up the stadium issue again. I think the John Marti did everyone a great service by letting people know, you know that that we don't want it really and obviously within the Republican party, which is been taken over by the Christian right since 1984. They're going to bring abortion again into the Forefront of the election where it doesn't belong if you know, there are many many many issues. I I don't think that these people have their finger on the pulse of anything. I just I can't even imagine that they would be so irresponsible. Apparently, you know you could have me on the program. I'll find you some issues you have been and we got a couple from you. Thank you. And goodnight. I agree that we would be irresponsible but I don't think you've been listening very carefully. Frankly. What we have said is that there are any number of issues that have to be addressed just today we've talked about the need to address Education Health Care taxes the role of government and the role of government and and professional sports. Those are real issues that need to be addressed in and we frequently talked about those as issues even at 5 and I disagree on what the solutions might be. What what what I have said however is that those issues aren't capturing public attention. They're not rallying public support for politicians or for the electoral process and end. There's any amount of evidence that in fact that's the case and in the concern I I have is that these issues will be ignored for the sake of left urgent issues in and created issues. And and I think that's what John Marty did in 1996 with the stadium not discuss the stadium but demagogue did the issue my great fear. We were talking about tobacco earlier. I have a great fear that this enormous opportunity that Minnesota has now with the money from the tobacco companies and with the knowledge of what the tobacco companies have done. We have this enormous opportunity to go after smoking and and particularly underage smoking and and stop this epidemic. Unfortunately. I am afraid that in this kind of a year that money is going to get thrown into the political Arena and we're going to start talking about how to give it back to taxpayers and and lose chance we have I think that's just one example of of how is shoes. I think I have a real potential this year to be eroded. Not that they don't exist, but that they will be politicized in and destroyed. I think that perhaps my my thoughts about the party get confused with Notions about issues. I think that much of the party process has gone over the cliff to relevancy. Now that does not mean that there is there aren't wonderful issues that debate they create block clubs around that they hold petition drives on that they give money to various causes, but I think that the the party process has sort of become a caricature of left-wing right-wing positions and that leaves out the average voter who I think it has huge concerns Corden. Every pole I read about the quality of their health care, they might be happy with their HMO and and the direction that the government is is pushing that kind of managed care system or they might be dissatisfied with the quality of Education generally are all the normally they like the education their child a little better than than disk in general. But those those sorts of issues people have to create some kind of fulcrum take to get voters interested in in the campaign. I would predict that despite the good news on violent crime being down that that we ran in today's report that you're going to be hearing a lot about crime from candidates and offer you some simple reasons. You can make some very easy television commercials about Very bad crimes that occur in St. Paul and Minneapolis and you can do all kinds of interesting statistics. And in essence you can make Norm Coleman and Skip Humphrey and Mike Freeman as three veritable law enforcement officials. Try to defend the fear of crime not actually are you doing in actual turn we might get into a debate about prison or his probation ride, or are we doing the right thing with juvenile offenders by but this big absent a concern about pocketbook economic issues, which just are not on the chart at the moment candidates will try to find some issue to leverage in and I noticed myself as a regular midday listener when you had Senator Doug Johnson on a couple weeks ago in his 50 minutes of discussion, I think about 20 of them we're devoted to crime and I think that tells us something about how candidates are are going to operate to try to get the Public's attention political courage was my reason for coming on I heard both of your Political commentators hear Talk add nauseam about very little aiming at John Marty and I'm not a party supporter. But what really got me was somebody one of the two of you mentioned how difficult it was for the Stadium built to get discussed when John Marty back them into an issue. I think with John Marty did was show political courage to take a stand and then force people out of their little out of their little holes, where were they have to make a stand or say something for or against an issue? What what I hear the commentators doing is acting as front man for the political parties. Creating a kind of a mush for people who have any any new about a particular issue affects everybody in the state and what John Marty did is say, let's do something one way or another to stand up with. Skip Humphrey did was something that no one else has done stand-up. He could fight for something that is worthwhile is no but everybody else is wishing around. let's listen to let's find out where our political leaders are what kind of political leadership were seeing out there not what kind of damage control that we need to address and let what people who are out there in the Regular voters talk on the radio not like a Jesse Ventura kind of thing. But rather let people talk about what's going on on the public instead of political front man. Trying to stop it up the issues for the politician. Thank you. Thanks for your call. I might add the course. That's why we have call in programs here. So that people can actually, we don't have a lot of time gentlemen know do you see yourselves as front man for the parties know I at least from my perspective. I I do see myself as an analyst of what's going on within the Republican Party whether or not you like what's going on within the Republican party. And and I think Tim is absolutely right in some ways that political courage political leadership ought to be the issue this year. I would completely agree with him on skip Humphrey. I think it took an enormous 4222 take on the tobacco companies. I throw Norm Coleman into that that category and I'm sure Tim won't like to hear this but I think for Norm Coleman to have done what he has accomplished over his term as mayor of st. Paul. Courage to take on the the entrenched special interest in St. Paul many of them are democratic constituencies and they know what that it's not working. We have to do something differently in St. Paul and the results have been pretty spectacular with John Marty did was not courage it. It was political prostitution with John did was went out before there was any issue on the table before there was something to say I am I'm supportive of that or I'm against that and said Carl pohlad is did the evil one who does not support billionaires and got people locked in on that position. I think I didn't know that all the dfl candidates are against the public dollars for corporate welfare for for sports or marks Casino proposal, but the the That is the essence of the problem of Courage is when when that courage has no support in the public and you know, if if Democrats truly want to be great truly want to make a stand truly want to say I'm only going to take $100 from every person truly point out the big lobbyists truly go after Arne Carlson his Wayzata supporters and they want to make that case and they've got money and they spend Millions 6 to do it. Are they get 28% of the vote? Yeah, John, Marty has shown courage, but that courage won't be of much help to Democrats when the next Governor has to sign or veto redistricting legislation has to sign or veto a repeal of a human rights law for the state. I think sometimes we want some common sense rather than just maybe outrageous courage for a run near any chance and now is we a couple of weeks a month away from the convention center. Any chance that the parties aren't Glide endorsed candidates. Are they still are the delegates apparently still on track to the finally make some kind of a decision. I think it's highly possible that the Democrats would not endorse. Although I I would at this point if there is an endorsement, it's Freeman, I think it's very unlikely that the Republicans will not endorse a bad experience with that. It wasn't A pleasant experience and they've changed the rules to make it much more likely that they will come out of the Target Center with the endorsed candidate. Thanks guys. Appreciate you coming by. Thank you make and Tom Horner. I'm Ray Suarez Ernest Hemingway is considered a master of the short story The Snows of Kilimanjaro and Other Stories contains 10 of Hemingway's most popular Works written in his later years like the autobiographical Fathers and Sons and the spare a clean well-lighted place will take on Hemingway this Thursday on top of the nation's book club of the air from NPR news. documentation begins at 1 each weekday afternoon here on Minnesota Public Radio time now for The Writer's Almanac