Quote from a former (R) Senator about MN politics:

[babylonsister]

http://www.minnpost.com/stories/2009/04/06/7895/web_echo_chamber_going_strong_as_coleman_and_franken_camps_prepare_for_tuesday_vote_count

Web 'echo chamber' going strong as Coleman and Franken camps prepare for Tuesday vote count
By Jay Weiner | Monday, April 6, 2009

snip//

But the rules of the game have changed, too, he said. When Sen. John Cornyn, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, says seating Franken will take years and cause "World War III" if it occurs before all Coleman appeals are exhausted, that's a whole new playing field.

"Those jerks have been doing that to us in Minnesota and in other states for a very long time," Durenberger said.

He spoke of the decision in 2002 by the White House to have Coleman run for Senate and Tim Pawlenty for governor, even though Pawlenty was eyeing the Senate seat, too.

"I don't know how the Democratic Party operates because I'm not one of them," Durenberger said. "But every time we had an opening, somebody like Karl Rove and (George W. Bush campaign manager) Ken Mehlman and the Republican apparatchiks in the White House decide who is going to represent Minnesota. Closed out the party, closed out everybody else. That's what's going on now … 'We will continue to fund you, just to keep the Democrat out of the Senate.' At some point, somebody has to deal with what's the will of the people of Minnesota."

With that sort of Washington power being flexed, Durenberger said, an individual like Coleman, who is not a rich man, "can't make practical decisions — you can't make your own decisions."

[trotsky]

1. Durenberger is an old-school MN Republican.

Like Arne Carlson, former governor. Practical and sensible, for the most part. I'm sure they hate seeing what a farce their party has become, but unfortunately they don't have any pull with it anymore.

[AlinPA]

2. Coleman not rich? A republican senator not rich after his time in office?

Hard to believe.

[myrna minx]

3. Tim Pawlenty wanted to run for Senate, but Dick Cheney said NO! and put up Coleman

against Wellstone. Pawlenty is getting kicked in the teeth by his own party. He still has to be seething after McCain snubbed him for Palin for the VP position, when it looked like Pawlenty was a shoe in, especially since the convention was in Minnesota.

For those that don't know, Durenberger is old school Minnesota Republican, not one of the current whackos.