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From Rochester to the Road |
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Saturday, 17 June 2006 |
It's been an incredibly exciting and important week on the campaign. Last weekend, I received the official endorsement of our state Democratic Party in a convention filled with good will and hope for the future. The convention was in Rochester, a town that recently made the world smile when doctors and nurses at the Mayo Clinic miraculously sent home two healthy little babies. Well, I can tell you that there was a lot of smiling going on in the Convention Hall on Friday afternoon — and lots of cheering and sign waving, too!
After I received the endorsement, I even got my husband to dance on the stage. He held his own, in an Al Gore kind of way! We had all kinds of great music for the day, including Sheryl Crow's "Change Would Do You Good", Prince's "Let's Work" and some classic Springsteen. But at the end, we played a song for Abigail called "The Tide is High", from the Lizzie McGuire soundtrack -- a favorite with the 10 year-old girl contingent. She told me that the words "I'm not the kind of girl who gives up just like that, oh no, oh no" would be important for me to remember throughout this election — and I think she's right.
It was amazing to feel the energy and excitement from the delegates in the room who are hungry for change. But that night, I also took the chance to open my campaign to all Minnesotans watching at home — Independents, Democrats and Republicans.
I'm going to share some of the highlights from my speech in the rest of this email, but you can also check out the whole thing by clicking here .
When we left Rochester Saturday morning, we traveled to Albert Lea, Austin (with a special visit to the Spam Museum), Mankato and Alexandria. I was reminded often about how people miss the thoughtful, common-sense Minnesota tradition of moderate Republicans like Elmer Anderson, Arne Carlson, and Dave Durenberger. They believe, rightfully, that those in Washington have lost their way and are out of touch with their everyday needs.
These days it seems many in Washington shirk the tough decisions and are easily led astray by a chorus of powerful special interests. They need a strong moral compass. They've been moved off course by the Enrons, the Exxons, and the Halliburtons. The problem is the compass that they use in Washington always points to W (as in George W.) As for me, when I'm your Senator, I promise that I won't follow the Lone Star — I'll follow the North Star.
We all know this election is not about what's right and what's left; it's about what's right and what's wrong. What's right is a positive, optimistic agenda for the future. We must turn an energy and environmental crisis into a national call for action. Let's put into law national renewable standards for fuel and electricity, and stronger fuel economy standards.
What's right is restoring America's moral compass to guide our foreign policy and steer a new direction in Iraq.
What's right is snapping Washington out of its fiscal insanity, returning to the pay-as-you-go rules that brought us the surpluses in the 90s, rolling back the tax cuts on the millionaires, and reining in the earmarks and the pork.
What's right is assuring affordable health care for all Americans.
What I heard at the convention last week and in the 1,000 miles I have traveled around Minnesota since is that people are ready for that new direction.
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