More Hillary Stats

Among those who were very or somewhat likely to vote for Clinton for president, there were:

•A big gender gap. Six of 10 women but 45% of men were likely to support her.

•Significant differences by age. Two of three voters under 30 were likely to support her, compared with fewer than half of those 50 and older.

•Strongest support from those with the lowest income. Sixty-three percent of those with annual household incomes of $20,000 or less were likely to support her, compared with 49% of those with incomes of $75,000 or higher.

•And big swings by ideology. An overwhelming 80% of liberals were likely to support her, compared with 58% of moderates and 33% of conservatives.

Among those surveyed, 54% called Clinton a liberal, 30% a moderate and 9% a conservative.

Poll: Mixed messages for Hillary Clinton

More than half of those responding to a new poll said they would be at least somewhat likely to vote for Sen. Hillary Clinton if she runs for president in 2008.

But those saying they are virtually certain to vote against her topped those virtually certain to support her by 10 percentage points in the CNN/USA Today/Gallup poll.

The poll found 29 percent were very likely to cast a vote for Hillary Clinton for president and 24 percent said they were somewhat likely.

Seven percent were not very likely and 39 percent said they were not at all likely. The margin of error was plus or minus 5 percentage points.

The poll found her on stronger ground than in June 2003, when a similar poll had as its respective numbers: 21, 21, 12 and 44.

According to the latest poll, 55 percent of respondents reported a favorable view of her, while 39 had an unfavorable one. The margin of error for that question was plus or minus 3 percentage points.

These findings were similar to the June 2003 poll that found 53 percent reacted favorably toward her and 41 percent unfavorably.

The pollsters also asked respondents their view of Clinton's place on the political spectrum.

Fifty-four percent of all those questioned said they consider her a liberal, 30 percent a moderate and 9 percent a conservative, with a 3 percentage-point margin of error.

Among registered voters, the numbers were virtually the same, with 56 percent considering her a liberal.

When asked how likely they would be to vote for a woman in 2008, 32 percent of registered voters said very likely, 41 percent said somewhat likely, 9 percent said not very likely, and 11 percent not at all likely. The question did not explore whether the political viewpoint of the woman would affect the voters' attitudes.

The results were based on telephone interviews with 1,006 adults, ages 18 and older, conducted last Friday through Sunday.

The release of the poll comes amid steps by Edward Cox, son-in-law of President Richard Nixon, to challenge Clinton for her U.S. Senate seat from New York. (Full story)

Clinton served on the staff of the congressional Impeachment Inquiry in the wake of Nixon's Watergate scandal in 1974.

A poll earlier this month by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute found overwhelming support for her -- 67 percent -- among New York voters, if she decides to run for re-election next year. Among Democrats, however, 65 percent surveyed want her to pledge to serve out a full term if she runs, negating a 2008 White House bid.

Sixty-one percent also said they'd like her to run for president.(Full story)

Asked by CNN whether she could pledge today that she would serve out her U.S. Senate term if re-elected, or whether she would pursue a White House run in 2008, Clinton declined to say. "I am focused on winning re-election," she said.

"My view is that life unfolds in its own rhythm. I've never lived a life that I thought I could plan out."

Meanwhile, the former finance director of her ultimately successful 2000 U.S. Senate campaign is awaiting his fate before a federal grand jury. David Rosen is accused of underreporting the costs of a star-studded fund-raiser four years ago. (Full story)

Two More Enter 2006 MN Governors Race

The lineup card for Minnesota's 2006 governor's race is starting to fill up.

Two more potential challengers to Republican Gov. Tim Pawlenty took steps this week toward running. The Independence Party's Peter Hutchinson filed papers Monday forming a campaign committee and DFL state Sen. Steve Kelley scheduled a kickoff event for next week after filing his papers Wednesday.

Although the general election is 18 months off, this summer is considered decision time for possible candidates. Pawlenty hasn't officially said he will run for a second, four-year term. If he does, he has a virtual lock on the Republican nomination.

The fight for the DFL Party's nomination is where the action will be.When Kelly holds his Capitol steps rally, he will join Bud Philbrook, who is a former-legislator and the founder of a nonprofit-group, in the DFL field.

Two other big-name Democrats -- Attorney General Mike Hatch and Senate Majority Leader Dean Johnson -- have put out feelers but are uncommitted to campaigns. State Sen. Becky Lourey of Kerrick also has been mentioned.

Kelley, a third-term senator from Hopkins, is one of the Pawlenty administration's leading critics. As chairman of the Senate Education Committee, he led the hearings that resulted in the ouster of Education Commissioner Cheri Pierson Yecke, and he helped draft the state's academic standards after disagreeing with Yecke's.

Kelley tried but failed to get the DFL's U.S. Senate nod in 2000.

"It will be an energetic campaign from the very beginning," Kelley said. He plans to abide by the party endorsement and not advance to the primary without it.

There's a benefit to being an early entrant, he said. "Every subsequent story includes your name."

Hutchinson could be a wild card in the race.

The Independence Party -- formerly the Reform Party in Minnesota -- has factored greatly into the last two gubernatorial campaigns, winning in 1998 with Jesse Ventura and polling in double digits in 2002 with ex-Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Penny.

Hutchinson is public-policy consultant. He served as finance commissioner under Gov. Rudy Perpich. He has also served as superintendent of Minneapolis schools and deputy mayor of Minneapolis

Obligatory Post

I haven't posted anything today, because there's really nothing going on, but...sigh...I feel obligated to post something everyday...well, at least every weekday. So I'll just tell you a little bit about my exciting day.

I got up at 6:30 this morning. I had a little extra time before I had to leave for work, so I played another turn of Axis & Allies D-Day, which I'm in the process of soloing. (The Germans are about to push the Allies back into the channel...the Germans always win when I solo games...hmmm, interesting)

I got to work a couple minutes before 8, after sitting in morning rush hour traffic. Between my exciting tasks at work I burned my 4 Netflix movies and got those in the mail. i spent most of the morning checking my 40 or so bookmarks on the net and reading the days news. Then I decided to rip a few CD's to my laptop.(I'm in the process of ripping all my music onto my laptop) Then i got in a little work before lunch...

About noon I went to Lucky Dragon for lunch with Swede and Squinty. We ate an extremely greasy, and therefore tasty, lunch and discussed the evils of McDonalds. Now, I'm supposed to have a 2hr lunch on Wednesdays, but thats way too much time for me to fill with eating and conversing with the other human beings, so i just ended up coming back to my desk and...sigh...actually doing work.

This afternoon has been a lot of surfing the net and coloring my DVD's that I burned this morning. I also added them to my movie database..(I have a excel document where i catalog the location, rating, etc. of al lmy burned DVD's. Yes, I have way too much time on my hands.) Then I read a bunch of articles on the Indy 500 because i'm trying to get myself psyched for this weekend. I'm really pulling for Danica Patrick. She has real shot at being the first woman to win Indy. Plus shes really cute...but I digress. Then I realized that i've been neglecting The MarxistGopher Report today and decided that i had nothing interesting to say, and wrote this...

Tonight I'm planning on finally doing my long overdue grocery shopping, as well as the long overdue washing of the dishes. and I have to stop off at Nat'l Camera Exchange to pick up my photos and take out the garbage at some point....fun stuff! Anyway, i just thought I'd share my monotonous day...

I hope everyone else had a more exciting day than me. Later.

Lizz Winstead sues Air America radio network

Comedian-turned-radio-host Lizz Winstead filed a lawsuit in New York this week against her former employer, the liberal radio network Air America.

Winstead, a Minnesota native who was one of the first hires made by the network, claims she is owed $200,000 for on-air work, $14,423 in unused vacation time and $83,333 in severance pay. She was fired in March as co-host of Air America's show "Unfiltered," which has since been replaced by "The Jerry Springer Show."

"It's the sad old story of someone devoting 16-hour days to build an exciting, new venture -- and she's out the door without ... what she's promised," her attorney, Edward Hernstadt, told the New York-based newspaper Newsday.

Air America told the paper it wouldn't comment on pending litigation.

Two hurt in mock light sabre duel

Two Star Wars fans are in a critical condition in hospital after apparently trying to make light sabres by filling fluorescent light tubes with petrol.

A man, aged 20, and a girl of 17 are believed to have been filming a mock duel when they poured fuel into two glass tubes and lit it. The pair were rushed to hospital after one of the devices exploded in woodland at Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. A third person present at the incident had been questioned, police said.

Videotape found

A videotape was found nearby by police called to the scene on Sunday. A police spokeswoman said the pair were taken to West Herts Hospital before being transferred to the specialist burns unit at Broomfield Hospital, Chelmsford, in Essex. They are both said to be in a critical condition. She said the 17-year-old girl and a 20-year-old man from Hemel Hempstead suffered serious injuries.

She added: "At this stage we are unable to confirm the exact circumstances, but glass tubes and traces of accelerant (flammable substance) were found at the scene."

Renee (Moe’s girlfriend): Really, you think I’m gorgeous?
Moe: Yeah, well the parts that are showing. I guess you could have a lot of weird scars or a fake ass or something.
Renee: You don’t talk to a lot of women do you?

Film Review: Insomnia

Insomnia
2002
1 hr 56 min
Directed by Chistopher Nolan
Starring Al Pacino, Robin Williams, Hilary Swank

Plot Outline: Two Los Angeles homicide detectives are dispatched to a northern town where the sun doesn't set to investigate the methodical murder of a local teen.

This is an exremely underrated movie. It is probably one of, if not the best thriller/mystery that I've ever seen. The addition of the main detective character being stricken with insomnia because of 24 hr sunlight is what makes this film. I thought at times that it reminded me of Hitchcock, but it never quite got to that point...if it had I probably would have given it a nine. The movie takes a surprising turn early on that changes the complextion of the film for the better. I would highly recommend this movie to everyone.

MarxistGopher's Rating: ********(8 of 10 stars)

UW-Stout chancellor blocks ROTC from campus

MADISON, Wis. — The chancellor at the University of Wisconsin-Stout says the military, which does not accept openly gay recruits, is not acceptable on his campus.

The UW System on Monday began a review of Chancellor Charles Sorensen's decision to reject an Army ROTC program to protest the military's "don't ask don't tell'' policy on gays.

The review comes after Sorensen's decision touched off a furor from Republican lawmakers, who said it could jeopardize millions of dollars in federal funding and force students who want military training to drive hundreds of miles to get it.

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule in the next year on whether the government can cut funding to campuses if they block military recruiters or Reserve Officer Training Corps programs to protest the policy on gays. A coalition of 31 law schools is seeking to overturn the law known as the Solomon Amendment that allows the funds to be cut in those cases.

Sorensen said in a letter to lawmakers that he stands by his decision. He said allowing ROTC would be hypocritical at a time the 8,000-student campus at Menomonie in western Wisconsin is trying to promote "tolerance and diversity.''

"I do not think, in good conscience, we can invite an organization to campus that discriminates against anyone because of sexual orientation,'' Sorensen wrote in a campuswide e-mail.

The review, ordered by UW System President Kevin Reilly, will look at whether the decision was in line with policies of the Board of Regents and state and federal law.

Three Republican lawmakers said in a letter last week they were concerned the decision "is not only motivated by political correctness but by general anti-war sentiments.''

Sens. Ron Brown of Eau Claire, Sheila Harsdorf of River Falls and Dave Zien of Eau Claire said in their letter that the decision could mean the loss of $16.3 million in federal funding for the campus.

The chancellor has said anti-war views had nothing to do with the decision and that military recruiters would still be allowed to visit campus.

Six UW schools, including the flagship Madison campus, have ROTC programs, in which students earn scholarships in exchange for getting training to be a military officer for a number of years after graduation.

Regents President Toby Markovich said Monday he believes the board should have the authority over campus ROTC programs, which he said are important.

"The regents have taken very strong stands on encouraging diversity and protecting people from harassment, and I don't think that policy is in any way contrary to having an ROTC program on campus,'' he said.

A handful of UW-Stout students in ROTC travel 110 miles to UW-La Crosse for training, and an Army ROTC official last fall proposed a program on the Stout campus after a study showed high enough demand.

The academic staff senate shot down the proposal 10-2, criticizing the policy on gays.

"It took us all by surprise,'' said UW-Stout Provost Robert Sedlak, who said discussion until then had focused on the potential benefits to students. "There are a number of things we weren't aware of that we are much more conscious of now.''

Sorensen said he would allow the program only if groups representing students, faculty and staff agreed.

Random Movie Quote

Peter Gibbins: So I was sitting in my cubicle today, and I realized, ever since I started working, every single day of my life has been worse than the day before it. So that means that every single day that you see me, that's on the worst day of my life.
Dr. Swanson: What about today? Is today the worst day of your life?
Peter Gibbons: Yeah.
Dr. Swanson: Wow, that's messed up.

GOP Alleges Fraud in Washington Gov. Vote

By REBECCA COOK

WENATCHEE, Wash. (AP) - A trial to determine whether the results of Washington state's gubernatorial election last fall should be thrown out opened Monday with the Republicans charging that the Democrats ``stole'' the contest for Christine Gregoire, who won by 129 votes out of 2.9 million cast. The GOP wants Dino Rossi declared the winner or a do-over election held.

``This is a case of election fraud,'' GOP attorney Dale Foreman said in his opening statement in the trial, which is being heard by a Superior Court judge without a jury. ``This election was stolen from the legal voters of this state by a bizarre combination of illegal voters and bungling bureaucrats.'' Foreman surprised the court with a new claim: that the Democrats rigged the election by stuffing ballot boxes in Gregoire's two strongest precincts and by ``losing'' votes in two of Rossi's strongest precincts. The findings in Seattle's heavily Democratic King County show ``partisan bias and not random error,'' Foreman said. ``If it walks like a duck and it quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck.''

Up to now, the Republicans have largely complained of bungling rather than outright fraud on the part of election officials. Foreman also said the GOP will prove that when all illegal votes are subtracted from both candidates, Rossi won the election.

Democratic attorney Kevin Hamilton countered by arguing that the Republicans lack the ``serious proof'' they need to make their case and justify the removal of the governor. He showed the judge a Power Point slide titled ``Evidence we won't see.''

Every election has mistakes, Hamilton said, and the 2004 Washington governor's contest was no exception, but ``imperfection is not enough to overturn an election.'' He also said the Republicans' belated claim of fraud demonstrates ``desperation'' on their part.

Chelan County Superior Court Judge John E. Bridges said that later in the day he would consider a request from the Democrats to exclude evidence relating to claims not previously raised - such as fraud.

``This case is going to set the rules for all future election contests in Washington state, large and small,'' said state Elections Director Nick Handy as he waited for the courtroom to open. ``It's going to be closure, at last, to this long and difficult election.'' Nevertheless, Bridges' verdict will almost certainly be appealed to the Washington Supreme Court.

Rossi, a former state senator and commercial real estate agent, won the first count by 261 votes and a machine recount by 42 votes - seemingly a stunning upset for Gregoire, a three-term attorney general in a Democratic-leaning state. But during a hand recount of 2.9 million ballots, the Democratic stronghold of Seattle made Gregoire the winner by 129 votes. Gregoire was inaugurated in January, amid protests from Rossi supporters.

Beatty for Governor?

Warren Beatty says he won't rule out running for governor of California, and he thinks he could do a better job than Arnold Schwarzenegger.

"I don't think anyone should ever rule public service out," Beatty said. "It's a way of saying, 'Take me out of the mix and don't listen to me anymore.' "

The actor made the remark after giving a commencement address at the University of California Berkeley's Goldman School of Public Policy. Beatty, who has been involved in politics for years, entertained the idea of running for the presidency six years ago.

Beatty, 68, said he has "a real soft spot for actors even if they are right wing" and has always liked Schwarzenegger. But Schwarzenegger is a politician who should "rise to the higher level of that calling," Beatty said, and not denigrate fellow politicians by mocking them as "girlie men," as the governor did of Democratic lawmakers.

"Can't we accept that devotion to the building of the body politic is more complex and a little more sensitive than devotion to bodybuilding?" Beatty asked.

Schwarzenegger deputy press secretary Vince Sollitto said of the criticism: "I'm sure it's nothing personal. Warren's just mad at Republicans because he's afraid they're cutting off his Social Security."

Film Review: LA Confidential

LA Confidential
1997
2 hrs 15 min
Directed by Curtis Hanson
Starring Kevin Spacey, Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kim Basinger

Plot: A shooting at an all night diner is investigated by three LA policemen in their own unique ways.

This ws an excellent suspense film. It was everthing that I had hoped Chinatown would be. Period pieces are tough to pull off, but I thought LAC managed it very well. Great acting by Kevin Spacey as usaul...and the rest of the cast wasn't too bad either. Plus, it's about corrupt LA cops. Who doesn't love that theme! Bad LA cops seems to be relavent in any decade. I didn't think that it was a very deep movie, but in terms of a mystery/thriller its one of the best I've ever seen. I'd say this one is worth seeing if you haven't, though I don't know if I'd see it again....maybe if it was on TV I'd watch it.

MarxistGopher's Rating: *******(7 of 10 stars)

Scully: Homer, we're going to ask you a few simple yes or no questions. Do you understand?
Homer: Yes. (lie dectector blows up)

Apu: Yes, yes, I know the procedure for armed robbery. I do work in a convenience store, you know.

DFL Elects Brian Melendez Party Chair

Minneapolis City DFL Chairman Brian Melendez beat out two challengers Saturday to win election as state party chair for the next two years.

"To change the world, we must win elections. To win elections, we must build an effective, relentless party organization. That's what I do," Melendez said before the vote of the DFL State Central Committee at St. Cloud's Apollo High School auditorium.

Melendez, 40, a partner at the Minneapolis law firm Faegre & Benson, beat out Josh Syrjamaki, an activist with the United Steelworkers of America and a former deputy campaign chairman for Sen. Paul Wellstone. Former state Rep. Betty Folliard also ran but dropped out after the first ballot and encouraged her backers to vote for Melendez.

"We all agree on the end, returning the government of Minnesota to the people of Minnesota and the vehicle for that is going to be the DFL Party," Melendez told the crowd.

Departing state chair Mike Erlandson, also chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Martin Sabo, had served for six years, the longest tenure. The campaign for chair was much more high-tech this year than when Erlandson beat out Mary McEvoy for the job in 1999. Supporters were working the floor with headphones and delegate lists.

Minneapolis activist Donna Cassutt was elected associate chair.

Melendez, who has served as the unpaid city chairman in Minneapolis for six years, is known for being pragmatic, highly organized and efficient.

"The Democratic Party is going to become the voice of the middle class," he said of his main goal for his term.

Melendez has three degrees from Harvard, including a law degree and a master's from the Divinity School. "I'd like to see the Democrats talk about faith and values rather than let the Republicans claim the moral high ground," he said.

Before he won, Melendez said the party needed to get out its message of accountability, opportunity and fair play. He pledged to hold training sessions for activists on how to get out the message.

Melendez also offered four priorities: fundraising, organizing, communications and customer service, which he described as reconnecting the state party with local party units.

Melendez said the legacy of Erlandson's tenure is healthy finances so as incoming chair, he can focus on party building.

In his preelection address, Melendez said he grew up without money, living in a two-bedroom apartment with his mom, an aunt and six other children. "My mother married my stepfather, and we got to move into a trailer," he said, bringing laughs.

When Republicans cut funding to higher education for disadvantaged children, they cut funding for people like him, Melendez said. "I can't stand by as Karl Rove and Tim Pawlenty build the America of their dreams while crushing our dreams," he said.

Melendez was born in upstate New York, raised in Florida and moved to Minnesota right after college. "I moved here because I liked the weather," he said in all seriousness.

The new chair will see the DFL through the 2006 election as the party seeks to hold on to the U.S. Senate seat now occupied by Mark Dayton and to regain the governor's office.

Hatch on the stump

Another question for the party is whether Attorney General Mike Hatch will run for the governor against Pawlenty.

"I don't know yet," Hatch said when he arrived at the event. When he addressed the delegates, he gave a fiery speech.

"I joined a new organization today; it's called the Minnesota Fee Payers Association," he said, referring to Pawlenty's proposal to add a 75-cent "health impact fee" to the cost of a pack of cigarettes.

On departing, Erlandson said, "We won more elections than we lost while I was party chair, including twice delivering the state as a blue state [in presidential voting]." Party officials provided a list of his accomplishments, among them, overseeing the election of U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum, the first woman elected to Congress in Minnesota in 50 years.

Erlandson also led the party during one of the most tragic events in its history: the 2002 plane crash that killed Wellstone, his wife, Sheila, their daughter, Marcia, and five other people, including McEvoy. Erlandson called that day, Oct. 25, his most difficult day as chair. "It was a heartbreaking year. If I could take anything back, I'd take the airplane crash back and have lost every election," he said.

After a turbulent couple of weeks, the DFL lost Wellstone's Senate seat to Norm Coleman and the governor's office to Pawlenty as well as several seats in the state House. In 2004, the party picked up 13 seats in the state House.

DFL website