Florida

8:26 pm McCain wins. With almost 70% of the vote counted McCain leads by 5% over Romney. McCain has 36% well Romney has 31%. The numbers are remaining the same and it is clear now that John McCain get the 57 delegates votes in Florida. It is now on to Super Tuesday.

8:16pm McCain now has a 5% lead with 55% counted. If this stays the course McCain will start to pull away. I am not yet calling it for McCain however. The numbers are coming in fast. Rudy is expected to talk soon. It is not clear if he will drop out tonight or tomorrow.


8:12 pm Clinton leads with 51% of the vote and that is with 44% counted.

8:11pm You can watch McCain HQ here http://www.foxnews.com/video2/player06.html?liveSiteStream_::_1&Live_Site_Stream&Live%2520Stream&acc&Live%2520Stream&-1&News&180&&&exp. You can also watch Rudy's HQ here http://www.foxnews.com/video2/player06.html?liveSiteStream_::_3&Live_Site_Stream&Live%2520Stream&acc&Live%2520Stream&-1&News&180&&&new I will put up more as I get them.

8:10 pm With 48% of the vote in McCain still has a 3% point lead over Romney. It has been this way for the last 10 minutes or so. Still the race is to close to call.

8:06 pm It is now being reported by Time Magizen that Rudy Giuliani will drop out of the race. This is not a shock. He was putting all his eggs in this basket and he needed to win this primary. He will finsh either 3rd or fourth in this race. He and Huckabee are in a close race for the thrid spot.

8:05 The race remains very tight between McCain and Romney. John McCain head quarters in Florida is excited. The room is filled with supporters. As is the Romney headquarters.


7:50 p.m. Florida Primary results are coming in and it is clear that Hillary Clinton will win for the Democrates what is unclear is who will win the republican side. Romney and McCain are in a close race. Well Rudy is running third and now it seems as if he will be dropping out of the race.


More to come soon.

Duluth see's two Presidental candidates advertise.

Democrat candidate Barak Obama and Republican candidate Ron Paul have both decided to advertise in Duluth for votes on super Tuesday.

I thought it was a bit odd that Obama is advertising only because he will win up here of Clinton 5-1. I thought it advertising would be better spend else were in the State.

I don't think it is odd the Paul is advertising only because he is in desperate need of support. I don't see it doing much good however. Duluth will go one of two ways on the republican side. Duluth will go with either McCain or Romney.

This years John Beargrease Sled Dog race.

As some of you know I am a huge fan of the Beargrease race. I think it is a great event, even if they did not call me back when I asked to be a volunteer :P.

This years race however has proven to be very tough on the teams. With the race about half over already they have lost half of the field the warm weather in the first two days have caused the most trouble. Still this will be a few exciting race.

Lakeside talk.

I hope to be posting this later tonight but I may not be able to because I still don't have the info I want for it. I will post it asap if it is not up tonight.

I will however post a couple of other thing related to the issue. I have posted on Duluth Solutions forum a topic about this issue. Here is just part of what I said about the issue there.

It became clear to me last night that the residents of the Lester Park area are in fact getting a bad deal if this was to pass. I have been keeping up on this issue even when I don't live in the area because it is an important one. There are a number of topics I would like you to think about when you think about this issue.

1. Property values

2. Commercial vs. residential property

3. Environment

4. Quality of Life

Head over to Duluth Solutions to check out the rest of my post and what others are have to say about it there. Fell free to comment there and here as well about the issue. It does not matter if you agree with me or not. We need to have discussions like to. It will only help but make Duluth strong as long as we take action because of the discussion. You can get to Duluth Solutions by clicking the link: www.duluthsolutions.com .

Coming tomorrow. Lakeside talk.

Tomorrow I will have much more on the council meeting. There was a lot that went on, I don't have enough time to go over it all now.

A brief look is Lakeside talk, most of the meeting revolved around the Lakeside/ Lester Park area of Duluth. One issue was the new development on the St. Lukes clinic and an assiant living home. The second was on the liqueur issue in Lakeside Lester park.

I am waiting on some info one both of these issues but look tomorrow for what I hope is an enjoyable post. Both for you to read and me to put together.

I am asking for your help. Bowl-a-Thon

Hi everyone it is not very offend that I do this, but I am asking for your support to a great event. There is going to be a bowl-a-thon at Country Lanes North for MDA that I am taking part in.

I am asking if you can donate any amount it would help out MDA greatly. Your donation will go to muscular dystrophy . Your donation in 100% to the MDA. You can read more about MDA here, http://www.mdausa.org/. The organization is most known for it's labor day weekend benefit host by Jerry Lewis.

Again please think of giving a donation, if you would like to do so just drop me an email and we will go from there. Email me at duluthneedshelp@yahoo.com

Fighting?

So yesterday we learned that Laura Ness the wife of Mayor Don Ness is supporting a different presidential candidate then he is. Who is she supporting Hillary Clinton. Laura Ness said how can I not support her she is so smart. This is debatable.

Laura was at an event with 24 other people in support of Hillary Clinton yesterday. As you can see it was a huge turn out.

Councilor Fedora making waves?

Today newly elected 1st district Duluth City Councilor Todd Fedora asked what was happening with the city's Irrevocable Trust Fund. Councilor Fedora sited the down turn in the stock market as his concern. He said the citizens have the right to know what is going on with the fund.

The New mayor disagrees in a way.


I will have more tomorrow.

You can read the email that councilor Fedora send to John Hall, and the Mayors responce to the email that councilor Fedora sent. Notice how I said Mayors responce and not Hall's. Anyway read the emails here http://www.areavoices.com/shareaphoto/?blog=19750.

Hermantown Mayor in trouble?

Hermantown Mayor Keith MacDonald was arrested Sunday in the Miller Hill Mall parking lot. MacDonald was arrested for violating a restraining order against him. The restraining order was filed by his ex-girlfriend.

It sounds much like MacDonalad is not denying the charge. The reason he said he was following her is because he just wanted to talk.

In the Duluth News Tribune Story McDonald said this: http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/articles/index.cfm?id=58651&section=News

MacDonald said it was a coincidence that he ran into his former fiancee at the Miller Hill Mall. He said he went there to buy a couple of Hallmark cards and get a cup of coffee.

“I didn’t feel that her family gave me and her the opportunity to be able to talk,’’ he said.

“Consequently, when I saw her in the mall, I thought that maybe I might have the opportunity to have that final chance of talking to her.’’

Now I see this two ways, one is scare and I don't blame the lady for calling the cops. The other as a reasonable response. Now with that said. We don't know much about there relationship and if some one was falling me I would also call the cops. If it was some one I knew in a case like this I would have done the same thing this lady did. On the surface his response puts him in a bad spot.

Who were the cards for? Her? Did he really know that she was at the mall and that is why he went there? Why would you follower her out into the parking lot?

Not much on the local seen the last couple of days.

There has not been much going on in the local seen of politics. I will post on local issues soon. Along with the presidental race. There has however been plenty going on there. I will cover that here today as well.

I need to also remind you to take part in the poll located to the right of the screen in the "tool bar" area. There is only a couple days left to vote.

More on book store closing.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs07/news/story?id=3201871

This story from the DNT sounds odd to me. I would love to talk to the owners of the book store if anyone knows them or knows how to get a hold of them let me by email duluthneedshelp@yahoo.com .

More to come later.

NFL preview

This Sunday is the championship games in the NFL. The AFC game pits undefeated New England against San Diego

I think the charges can hang with the Pats until halftime, that is only if they are not as beat us as they are right nowhttp://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs07/news/story?id=3201871. The Chargers are practicing with out four of five key plays. The most notable is there starting QB Phillip Rivers. If he does not play than the game will be a joke. The Pats will run away with it the whole game.

Who I want to win New England. The team to this point is undeafeated and then they can toss all the crap about cheating in every one's face. I like both of these teams however and wish neither had to lose. It is football however were there is a WINNER thank god. They don't just play to ties like so many youth sports do now.

Prediction: Pats defeat Charges 42-27 if Rivers play's if not 42-10 or so.

The second game is the NFC championship game. It has two team that I hate. Therefore I don't care much about it. It is however going to be another joke of a game. The teams playing in it are the Green Bay Packers and the New York Giants. The game is in Green Bay. Need I say more.

Eli Manning will be horrible, He will toss no less then 4int's and the giants as a team will turn the ball over no less then 6 times.

Who I want to win: Who cares, if I must say some one the Packers. I had Manning more the Farve but I hate to say I am cheering for the pack. That is why I don't care about this game. I will pay little if any attain to it.

Prediction: Green Bay 47-13

Breaking News: Fire department shuts down book store.

This is from the Duluth News Tribune http://www.duluthnewstribuen.com/

City of Duluth communications director Jeff Papas confirmed today that Boardwalk Books, 206 E. Superior St., was shut down by the fire chief. Papas said that the bookstore had longstanding fire safety violations.

My first question is, can the store re-open? What kind of fines were given first if any? How long have the violation been going on?

The store says longstanding but I am curious if anyone knows how long it has been? I would

This part of the story made me laugh a bit: George Persgard locked the front door after being told he was being shut down and would not let anyone in for about 15 minutes. He said he was then ticketed for obstruction of justice.

Now this leads me to believe that the store could have been left open for the day. Correct or not I have no idea. I guess for some reason I find the obstruction of justice ticket funny. Was he not allowing the cops and fire department do what was needed to be done?

Mayor Ness joins team Obama.

Duluth Mayor Don Ness has agreeed to be part of the Minnesota team for Presidental candidate Obama.

Now I don't have a problem with this. He can support anyone he wants to. As can I, as can the person next door. What I do have a problem with is this. the sotry stats all the time that Mayor Don Ness has jointed the team.

This is were the problem lays for me in the Mayor of Duluth. It makes it seem as he is representing the city. I can tell you that the whole city of Duluth does not support Obama.

Mayor Ness will serve as a co-chariperson to the Obama campaign. Ness said he is excited to be part of the campaign. He thinks that Obama is a candidate that will bring the country together.

Now if Mayor Ness does the duties given him by the Obama camp in his free time, not of city time then I have no issue. Also if he gives a speech or does any stumping for Obama he needs to do it as a private citizen not the Mayor of Duluth. I feel the same way about Governor Tim Pawlenty who is helping John McCain.

I believe that Mr. Ness understand that he needs to do any duties off of city time and I believe he will do so. I don't think it will interfer with his work as Mayor. If it does then I think he needs to get out of the position on the Obama camp.

This will be the new poll for the week.

Do you think the Mayor Ness should have taken the Job with the Obama campaign? That poll coming soon.

New look

Don't be alarmed. I just changed the look a bit. I like to change the look ever once in a while.

DP vs. Duluth Solutions?

I just got an email from the moderater of Duluth Solutions. A form that I love and am part of. Duluth Solutions is a great forum if you have not checked it out as of yet you should do so. Here is the link www.duluthsolutions.com .

NFL football.

Packers kill seahawks 42 -20, this game was a joke. The seahawks look horrible and not ready to play. Snow or no snow you need to know that the game is in Green Bay and any weather system can move in. Holmgren should retire.

To days first game Chargers and Indy. The officials has been horrible in this game. It has been bad against both teams. By the way IND second TD was not a TD. His foot was out before he crossed the end zone. I think Rivers will be back in the game for SD.

By the way anyone who thought that IND would cover the 101/2 point spread on SD is nuts. I knew this would be a good close game. In fact the itty bitty colts may even lose. GOD I hope so.


UPDATE: Finale score Chargers 28- Indy 24 to bad Payton Manning. Now all I need is the Giants and Eli Manning to lose today and I will be one happy man.

My thoughts on Sharla Gardner retiring from here union job.

DISCLAIMER: I was a candidate in the thrid district Duluth City Council race during the primary's.


As many of you know Sharla Gardner quite her full time day job. When she won a seat on the Duluth City Council. She defeated Heather Rand in the general election.

Sharla's move was nothing put political. She and union both saw what happened to councilor Johnson. The saw that it could be a bad think if she stayed on as a union head and served on the council.

What people need to realize is that she will continue to vote anything the union supports. When I was ran against her in the primary. She and I were at the AFL -CIO endorsement and she said I will support every major project you plan to forward to the council. Well I believe union's are very important to Duluth, I think everything needs to be looked at from both sides. What are we going to gain what could we loss. Does it benefit everyone or just a special interest?

Talked with a business owner today.

I had a very good conversations with a local business owner today. He asked me what I thought of the Mayors speech I told him.

He asked if I thought there was much hope over the next four years for business. I said I don't know but we talked about some thinks that have gone on.

His business has been hurt by another business that opened up there, not because they are competitors but because of an ordinance that is on the books and the city chose to not enforce that ordinance when they allowed the new business to come in.

The city needs to look at what a new business could do to another business before allowing it to operate. We can ill-afford to pit business against each other. This should not and will not stop business coming into Duluth. The business just needs to make sure they have there ducks in a row. The council also has to know what is happening. All ordinances must be followed. I know of many other cases like this.

Clinton = Cry Baby or smart move.

Here is the video were she cried. ,http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=5860232&ch=4226716&src=news.

Here is an article about if the Tears were real or fake: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/erica-jong/tears-fears_b_80679.html.

This will be debated for a long time. What are your thoughts?

McCain and Clinton win New Hampser.

Republican John McCain won last night with easy. There were a number of republicans that did not fair well. Some of them this was there second failed effort. I think we will start to see some candidates drop out of the race soon on the republican side.

Those that I think maybe saying good bye soon include Fred Thompson, Ron Paul, Duncan Hunter. Hunter I would guess would be the first. The real question at his point is what is going on with Rudy Giuliani? He has been the front runner all along but finished Well below the top vote getter's in the last two events.

Hillary Clinton won a shocker to most. It was not that big of a shock to me after her crying game. Yes to me it was just all part of the game. She could get more support. I have said all along that for the Democrats Obama is the better candidate. I would look for this race to remain close in many city's.

Family

Our family will be growing very shortly. My wife and I are expecting our second child. The baby will be born about Memorial Day.

Yesterday my wife had an ultra sound. That is standard when you reach 20 weeks along which she is at. It is also the ultrasound that you can find out what the baby is if you so chose to do so. Like we did.

The new baby is going to be a boy. I am so excited. I am now not going to be the only male in the house. I was a little worried that there would be three females and then me lol.

My wife and I could not be more excited about this new chapter in our life's. The next few month will be exciting times for our family. Have a child is like no other experience in life.

My first email to Mayor Don Ness.

This email was sent in part because of Dave's email. You can find that email in the comments of my State of the City address blog.


Hi, Mayor Ness


I am sure you say the quote in the paper, that I made. I don't know if you looked at the blog as of yet. Here is what I wrote.


State of the City speech.
Fist I need to say this. I consider Mayor Ness to be a great friend. We may not always in fact offend agree on politics but that is okay. Politics should never stand in the way of a friendship in my eyes.The Mayor and I grew up right next door to each other. We played all the time, we shared great times and I think we still do and can. When we talked tonight we expressed how we have always been very pleasant with each other. He also expressed how sometimes when I write he does not think it is always nice. I am always willing to listen if anyone including Mayor Ness wants to know why I said something the way I did just ask. Emailing is the best way to get a hold of me duluthneedshelp@yahoo.com .There is only two people that are not allowed two post. I think they know who they are. This is because of the they conducted them self's.Now onto what this is suppose to be about the speech from tonight. I thought it was a very good speech. The intend of the speech was to energize the city and the people in the room. It delivered in an up lifting way. To me the the speech was much like a coach giving a big pep-talk to his team.I think the intend was of the speech was very successful. After the speech was over I talked to many people and they had nothing but good things to say. At least most people did.The content that was good for his political view. If you agree with his vision or not at this point does not matter. It was very much along the lines he wants to move this city.If I was to grade the speech I would give it a B.Next I will get into what was said and if I like that as much as the deliver of the speech.


I also received an email from Dave, you did as well. Using the coach and teacher was not meant to be demeaning to anyone. Nor should it have been taken that way. I will be replying to Dave later. I thought this post better showed what I meant by what I said in the paper. Being in the media I understand that you can only print small portions for a news story. The DNT I thought did a great job of covering the State of the City from all angles.

As we talked on Monday night we don't agree politically all that much. I think and hope however that you and I along with the whole city can come together and work as a team. I believe as you that is what is needed.

I think we can start to work together on the things we do agree on, those off the top of my head are keeping young people here and our parks and rec department. I hope that I can work with you in some way to make these issues and many others better. If you have any groups I would love to take part in them.

Sincerely,

John Rathe

Barb Olsen and Russ Stewart on KUMD

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kumd/local-kumd-664914.mp3

Above is a link to KUMD's out of order show. The host is Barb Olsen who writes for the reader and does this show on the radio.

This weeks guessed were Todd Fedora and Jeff Anderson. Take a listen it is worth your time. Any thoughts please share them.

What was said at the Mayor's inaugural address.

Here is were I think Mayor Ness really failed the citizens of Duluth. As I said before I think that the speech lacked in what was going to happen over the next four years. Did he say some good things yes. What he did not do was back them up with how he at wanted to go about solving them or working the issues. Did he say things that I agreed with him on yes. Were there things said that I did not agree with as well. For sure there was.

Mayor Ness said was determent to keep our young people and family's here. He also said he was going to improve our parks and rec especially those in neighborhoods. This is great something I most defiantly agree with. The problem is he gave use no idea how he planned to do this.

He said he was going focus Duluth infrastructure as well. He said by the 2010 the street improvement fund would be doubled. This sounds great but is it? I have some questions about this one. I guess my first question is this. If the Mayor is looking to double the fund how does he plan to do this? Will it take away from other core services? Next would be, tell the year 2010 what can we expect for street improvements? Weill there be any? How much?

He also said he will work to update Duluth very old sewer system and stop over flows. Here again how and at what cost?

These are all things the citizens deserve to know. Yes I understand he has not been in office to fully understand how everything works. He must however have some ideas he would at least like to look at to solve these issues. Those should have been offered in his speech in my mind. We need to have an idea of were any Mayor is going to take us. We deserve to know if our taxes are going to go up or down or stay about the same as inflation.

I think you get the idea the speech lacked information. Very critical information Duluthains should know.

There was also one other thing in his speech that made me very uneasy. This I really wish he would have left out. He made a comment about his family and being able to balance that and being Mayor. It was a clear shot at Charlie Bell who made a comment during the election that people with kids need to make sure that they can run for Mayor. being Mayor is very time consuming. Now I don't agree with Charlie on this. Don had every right to run for Mayor.

Here is why it upset me on Monday night however. Mayor Ness said all along that he was not going to comment on the Bell comment and he was going to let it go. With the comment in his speech it make it clear that he was in fact the one pushing the attain to that issue.

State of the City speech.

Fist I need to say this. I consider Mayor Ness to be a great friend. We may not always in fact offend agree on politics but that is okay. Politics should never stand in the way of a friendship in my eyes.

The Mayor and I grew up right next door to each other. We played all the time, we shared great times and I think we still do and can. When we talked tonight we expressed how we have always been very pleasant with each other. He also expressed how sometimes when I write he does not think it is always nice. I am always willing to listen if anyone including Mayor Ness wants to know why I said something the way I did just ask. Emailing is the best way to get a hold of me duluthneedshelp@yahoo.com .

There is only two people that are not allowed two post. I think they know who they are. This is because of the they conducted them self's.

Now onto what this is suppose to be about the speech from tonight. I thought it was a very good speech. The intend of the speech was to energize the city and the people in the room. It delivered in an up lifting way. To me the the speech was much like a coach giving a big pep-talk to his team.

I think the intend was of the speech was very successful. After the speech was over I talked to many people and they had nothing but good things to say. At least most people did.

The content that was good for his political view. If you agree with his vision or not at this point does not matter. It was very much along the lines he wants to move this city.

If I was to grade the speech I would give it a B.

Next I will get into what was said and if I like that as much as the deliver of the speech.

Hello Mayor Ness!!!

Well tomorrow will be Mayor elects Don Ness first day on the job. Well they have been in transition the last month or so. Tomorrow will mark his first day in the office. He will also be be sworn into the office Monday night and deliver his first speech as Mayor. It will the State of the City address. He will out line what he would like to do well in office the next four years.

I do think the Mayor Ness will be a bit better then Mayor Bergson. after all it is going to be very hard to be worse then Mayor Bergson. I don't however hold out a lot of hope of over the next four years with Ness in the office. I think you will less focus on what the city should provide and more on what the city should not be funding. We will see increase spending and receive less for our taxes.

Good Bye Mayor Bergson

Thank God his four year term is over, also thank good we did not re-elect him. It has been a horrible four years for Duluth and this mayor.

Mayor Bergson said he would work with the Duluth City Council and not use his veto pen. Yet he vetoed more then any mayor in recent history. He did any thing but work with the council. He drove a line between the Mayors office and the City Council like no other mayor has ever done.

He failed to bring the home the funding for the DECC twice and he also failed to get the Kroc center. He did mange to get got driving drunk on his way to represent the city in Chicago at a Mayor's conference.

He made many promises and failed many times. IF I was to give him a grade it would be a great big F.

Ness won't deliever a normal State of the City. .

This caught my eye in the paper. I thought well okay, it is hard for him to deliver a State of the City when he has not even taken office as of yet.

I have not read the complete story yet. They story said in the first part that Ness will talk about his vision for the city and a wide range of topics. DUH.. this is what the State of the City in part about. I don't think this State of the City will be much different then most.


The State of City will happen tomorrow night. Held at the DECC if you pan on going.

I will have a recap of the State of the City address on Tuesday.

Here we are a new year!!!

We welcomed in 2008. Hope you were all safe and had a great news years eve and day.

A quick look of things to come tonight and tomorrow here on DP. Then it is off to the denist for me.

A look back 2007

A look at 2008

The old Mayor Bergson

The new Mayor Ness

A look at the old and the new c ity Council

Plus much more, now however it is off to the dentist for me. NO fun at all.