SD25 Endorsing Convention & A Madia Wish

Rep. David Bly addresses 25B's DFL delegates

** Click on photo above for more pictures **

I was in the mood for a change of scenery, so I drove an hour south after work today. Senate District 25 held its endorsing convention this evening in Montgomery, MN [wiki], in Le Sueur County. (The event took place at the American Legion on Elm Ave.) Thirty-seven delegates were seated. After some formalities, the convention divided into two conventions, one for the 25B [the Northfield side]--who are currently represented in St. Paul by David Bly. (Bly was endorsed unanimously this evening.) The 25A folks endorsed Tim Siebsen in 2006 and again (in a second display of Le Sueurean unanimity) today. (Tim Siebsen lost in 2006 to Laura Brod.)

When I first arrived at the Montgomery Legion this evening, a bell rang when I saw the spry fellow pictured below--Carleton professor emeritus Seymour 'Sy' Schuster. (I reminded him that Wellstone, he and I carpooled once, from Northfield to Minneapolis, for some political event circa 1983. [I myself wasn't a Wellstone acolyte, then or later, to be clear.]) Early in Wellstone's Carleton career, he was almost fired by a college president not fond of Paul's unstarchy understanding of Political Science. When they tried to fire Wellstone, a few Carleton professors supported the administration, some fence-sat, some mumbled a supportive phrase or two. Sy Schuster invoked Article 5, essentially acting as Wellstone's lawyer before the Carleton administration, successfully thwarting their effort to eject Paul. If I was in a foxhole, Sy Schuster's presence would be most welcome. Go ahead, click on the photo:

Sy Schuster

One other thing, today:

Few reading this blog are likely unaware that on April 12, 2008, 159 delegates will assemble at Wayzata Central Middle School to endorse our candidate for US Congress. Were I a delegate at that convention, I would vote for Ashwin Madia. I hope that Ashwin Madia gets the endorsement. As a practical matter (so that we have the strongest candidate) and as a matter of principle (so that we have the most ethical candidate), it is important to me that Ashwin Madia be our next congressional representative. I'm confident he'll be a good one.