"So THAT'S Who's Running for Governor!"

The (Lawn Sign) Tide Recedes

First, a bit of explanation: thanks to the miracle of recorded TV and zipping/zapping, I watched virtually NO TV political commercials this election season.

Second, I get almost all my news online, and have for years; so, I've become very good at tuning out all the commercial noise on the periphery of my PC screen (so-called "interstitial ads," which temporarily commandeer all of your screen, are the one especially obnoxious exception).

With that as background, I'm happy to report that, at T+3 days following the 2010 election, here in Minnesota the only lawn signs still vying for everyone's attention say either "Dayton" or "Emmer" -- thanks to the looming gubernatorial race recount.

Here's hoping we don't get to see them against a snowy background, when they'll really stand out.

"A (Rock) Star is Born"

2010 Election Notes

Did you ever notice how hail always comes in other sizes? Penny-sized; dime-sized; baseball-sized; etc.?

--George Carlin

Carlin's observation occurred to me the umpteenth time I heard Michele Bachmann referred to as a "rock star" last night; you never hear a breakout new musician referred to as a "politician."

It was also striking to hear that the Bachmann - Clark contest, in Minnesota's Sixth Congressional District, was the nation's most expensive this election cycle; imagine Minnesota having the most expensive home, instead of Manhattan, the Hamptons (New York) or Beverly Hills (California).

In fact, the most expensive home in Minnesota (on Lake Minnetonka) is worth around $15 million -- about 1/10 what "The Manor" in Holmby Hills (CA) is reportedly worth.

Given how much less expensive TV ads are here than in bigger, coastal markets, the combined Bachmann - Clark fund raising, reportedly around $15 million, is even more staggering.

Here's a thought: if Bachmann takes on Amy Klobuchar for U.S. Senate in 2012, maybe the two can agree to use the gazillions the race will attract to do something constructive, like cure a disease, and abide by a coin flip to decide who wins the election.

Did You Hear About the 3.8% Real Estate Sales Tax?

Urban Myths and Election Chatter

Got this one in my email box the other day from a friend:

Under the new health care bill - did you know that all real estate transactions are now subject to a 3.8% Sales Tax ? The bulk of these new taxes don’t kick in until 2013 (presumably after Obama’s re-election). You can thank Nancy, Harry and Barack and your local Democrat Congressman for this one.

--The Spokesman-Review (3/28/2010)

There may be plenty of reasons to vote Republican this November -- but a 3.8% sales tax on real estate sales, buried in the new health care legislation, isn't one of them.

That's because it isn't true.

Apparently, fear-mongerers on a certain side of the political spectrum are whipping up anger and paranoia and a BIG dollop of outright lies to engage prospective voters.

So, where'd the myth about a 3.8% sales tax come from?

The best I can determine, someone, somewhere, floated the idea at some point during the health care debate -- but it did NOT become law.

Hmm . . . makes you wonder what other "disinformation" is out there . . .