Cravaack’s foes say his home isn’t in Minnesota
February 22, 2012 at 7:55 am in Duluth News Tribune
U.S. Rep. Chip Cravaack’s office cites his 22 Minnesota town meetings in answering criticism that he doesn’t spend enough time in the state. Continue Reading
Funny how this becomes a story when it is a Republican in office and no one cared that Oberstar never lived even 1 day a week for over 20 plus years in his house in Chisholm. I would say that he is a great husband who allowed his wife her career to go to the next level. You would think the DFL feminist would applaud that, oh wait, can’t forget the double standards Democrats relish in.
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Chip: Just keep doing what you’re doing. You will get my vote!
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I was going to ask the same question Jane…..does anybody really think Jim Oberstar “lived” in that home in Chisholm for the past 30 years ? I would guess not. This residency thing is kind of sham really since our legislators are in DC or traveling the country campaigning 95 percent of the time. This leads me into my next point…..this is the very reason why we should give our elected officials a chance for a term, two, maybe three (the House anyway) if they do a good job,
and then give someone else a chance. It takes you a few years to lose your Minnesota connection….and those in office 30, 30 or 40 years have long ago lost any true connection to the state they represent
This doesn’t make them bad people….just normal. Imagine moving to Arizona for 30 years and spending 12 or 15 days a year in Minnesota every year and claiming you really understand the situations and problems of the people of Minnesota ??????
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Two points: if Oberstar was doing something wrong, how does that make it right for Cravaack?
Second: when you say something like “he allowed” his wife to do something, that makes it sounds as though you consider the husband to be in charge of the relationship. I hope you don’t scrape around men like that in your real life, ’cause women are people too.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Haven’t you heard? In todays society everyone should be treated fairly. People made accomodation for Oberstars living in another state. At least Cravaack lives in Minnesota near his congressional office during the week (except for when he is at town hall meetings). Shouldn’t he be afforded the same fair treatment?
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Of course people cared that Oberstar lived out of state. That’s all we heard about during the last election cycle.
Electing Cravaack was SUPPOSED to change that scenario. Instead, all we’ve got is SSDD.
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Oh this is so funny. Did Oberstar even have a wife, never seen her in Minnesota that I can remember. Two places Oberstar ever showed, Labor Temple on London Rd or Air Port.. But I guess it is all within somes opinion as home.
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Correction. When Oberstar did come to the district, he stayed at the Goldfine’s Holiday Inn in Duluth. Nobody in Chisholm ever saw him spend a night at his mother’s empty house in Chisholm.
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I believe Oberstar unlocked the back door of his mom’s house, walked out the front door for photo ops, walked back in and locked up to return to his hotel room.
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And where did Oberstar and family live? Most certainly not in Minnesota. His claimed Minnesota residence was a decrepit old house that his mother used to own. I really doubt he slept there one night since his relocation to Maryland. Hypocritical Dumb-o-crats. Who do you think you are fooling other than yourselves?
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Nixon wiretapped his opponents and stole documents from them, thus it’s okay for Obama to do it, right?
Or does this “the other party did it first, so it’s all good” philosophy only work for the republicants?
Hot debate. What do you think?
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And you are of the mistaken belief that Obama is squeaky clean and above any and all corruption? Remember he was trained by the most corrupt political machine in the country, The Daly Chicago political machine, shich also launched him into national politics. I’m sure he forgot all his corrupt cronies in Chicago as soon as he became a senator, right?
Hot debate. What do you think?
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I’ve seen Cravaack more in the 8th district the past 13 months than I saw Jim Oberstar in 36 years. Whenever Jim came around, he met almost exclusively with bigshots, union bosses and state, county and city elected officials. No common folk for Jimbo, can’t be seen with those people with dirt under their fingernails.
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The only common folk for Overstay…errrr…Oberstar were card carrying, union due paying folk, that filled his campaign chests. Oh and don’t forget those big bad flat earther folk either.
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Here’s what the state requirements say:
United States Representative – I will be an inhabitant of this state when elected and I will be at least 25 years old and a citizen of the United States for not less than seven years on the next January 3rd, or if filled at special election, within 21 days after the election.
It will be up to Chip Cravaack to satisfy what his constituent’s definite of inhabitant means.
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It’s up to his constituents and how they define inhabitant.
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Right now I dont support Republicans or Democrats they have all brought this country to the financial ruin it is now facing. But if your going to attack someone attack him on substance and not accusation. As others have said here, Oberstar certainly for all these years never lived up on the range but called Washington his home. I think the public deserves a little better than this but unfortunately that seems to be the way it is. I fault both parties for allowing this to occur as they both seem to put there blessing on this kind of behavior, we deserve better.
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And where was this “outrage” when Mr. Overstay….I mean Oberstar didn’t live in Minnesota. Typical DFL.
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How many times did jimbo return to his district for meets with his constituents? Rarely if ever, unless there was a photo op to be had. Chip has and continues to hold local town hall meeting so he can hear the concerns of his people. When did Jimbo EVER hold a town hall meeting! Even when he can’t get back because business in DC kept him there, Chip still held meetings via the internet. Again, Jimbo never was seen unless it was to dedicate a bike path or for a ribbon cutting ceremony.
In a nut shell, Chip has done an excellent job getting back to the district to hear voters. You sour grapes loozers can’t attack him on his record of service, so you concoct a lame excuse like his wife lives in NH to attack him? PULEEZE!
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Hugh: Here’s an interesting sidebar. During the 1978 BWCA conflict, Oberstar came up here and told members of the International Snowmobile Association and the Snowmobile Manufacture’s Association that he was “fighting” hard to assure that snowmobiles would remain in the BWCA on selected routes to Trout lakes. The people in Ely viewed those vague promises with jaundiced eyes. Now that Jim is retired, former staff members are coming clean about his personal opinion of snowmobiles. He hated them. While he was telling people in NE Minnesota he was working to keep the routes open in the BWCA, he also had the Sierra Club and other various environmental extremist groups coming into his office in D.C. and assured them behind closed doors that snowmobiles will never be allowed in the BWCA as long as he is in charge. And guess what? Snowmobiles were not allowed in the BWCA from that point on. You are right Hugh, bicycle trails were Oberstar’s priority, even though they will never payback the cost of installing them and they are rarely used. Snowmobile trails, given a decent winter, payback in 2-3 years since snowmobilers spend money (lots of money) in resorts, motels, restaurants, gas stations and tourist traps. I think Chip recognizes the value of the winter tourist economy and bike trail development comes to a screeching halt.
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There are plenty of trails for those noisy machines already. I get out on trails year round hiking, biking, xx skiing, running etc. working up a real appetite with my quiet activities. Then I spend money. If it is a year with no snow like this year I am not shut down like snowmobilers I just chose an appropriate activity.
I think maybe people are using those bike trails you just can’t hear them.
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Of course he’s paying attention to Minnesota and his voters…….Its an election year!!! And he is not my senator….even tho I live in the 8th district! All politicians will tell you what you want to hear and be on their best behavior before and during an election….then its back to their individual BS!
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Pretty hard to say a guy is “out of touch” when he’s averaged one town hall meeting every two weeks through one year of political service.
I think it is HIIIIILLLLARIOUS that this is the only issue the Dems can attack him on, considering he’s backing the unions and the “Buy American” initiative.
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Typical liberal–unable to understand that every man-made thing around us was made possible by profit.
As for austerity: Better to cut spending now rather than several years from now, when the police and National Guard are beating you and your socialist minions back for rioting in our streets, a la Greece circa 2012.
And as far as puppets are concerned: If anyone here is a hand puppet, it is clearly you. Your commentary seems to reflect someone controlling you in the same manner.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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You are crazy! There are tons of things that are created for reasons other than profit. Wikipedia, for example. All of the content on Wikipedia was given for FREE by people who simply wanted to contribute something. Linux, which now powers 40% of corporate servers, was created by software developers for free, and is available to anybody for free. Right now, you are commenting on a website, and you don’t stand to gain any profit from it.
If anybody is a puppet, it’s the person who repeatedly parrots Michael Savage’s propaganda over the internet. Perhaps it is too far beyond your comprehension to understand that some people actually think for themselves.
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Merv, you’re right that there are tons of things made for reasons other than profit, however winnerwinner stated that every man-made thing around us are made possible by profit. In my mind you two aren’t talking about the same sitaution…..it’s two totally different things. Your examples are true….but if you’re homeless and starving to death due to the lack of a job (remember, all wages are paid by profit”, you’re most likely not contributing much to Wikipedia or writing free computer code for the benefit of all.
Before you can become magnamimous and start volunteering your efforts to improve the world, you have to pretty much have a source of income or at least a way for your efforts to provide you food and shelter. Providing for those two items will be your first concerns. For 99.9% of us that means you have a job…..and without profit, there will be no job for you. So indirectly, winnerwinner is right…..no profit, not much volunteering efforts happening.
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It’s unfortunate you were baited Merv.
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Why am I never amazed by the ignorance displayed when people like merv attack business. Maybe it’s because they believe that the only real jobs are gov’t jobs? Merv and his ilk just can’t seem to get it through their thick skulls that big business(code speak among liberals for…gasp…CORPORATIONS!) employ PEOPLE. But then I may have just answered my own question. Merv is opposed to big businesses because they employ millions of Americans. And if millions of Americans have jobs, those are millions of people who DON’T depend on the Obama administration for their handouts. You see, it’s all about power. The liberal Leftist Elite don’t want you to work because it undercuts their power base. The conservatives want every able bodies person gainfully employed because we recognize that work in and of itself is empowering.
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Hugh J, perhaps I could add to your statement about those who value governent jobs. Government jobs are only available because of private sector employment and income. Private sector jobs are only available when the business makes a profit over the long term. Maybe someone can find an exception, but to my way of thinking, 100% of government income comes from taxes on private businesses and private individuals. To be sure, those employed by the government do pay taxes….but without the private sector profits being taxed, there would be no money to pay government employees in the first place.
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Sorry, you’re singing to the choir here. There isn’t a liberal alive that understands that.
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You people are all nuts! Big business is the government! The government only provides what big-business wants it to. You argue that government can’t exist without private profits… yet, how can private profits exist if there are no government roads? How can private profits be safe, if there isn’t a government law-enforcement to protect private property? It’s a two-way street. You can’t divide the government and big business. I am neither pro-government nor pro-big-business. Yet, because I am not pro-big-business, you label me as pro-government.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Merv, settle down a little……not everyone is nuts except you. I am not denying there is a symbiotic relationship between coorporations, citizens etc… and the government, I am simply saying that until there is money available to a government (typicially this would be raised via a government tax of one sort or another), there is absolutely no way the government can do much of anything. If they pay for roads to aid in commerce, doesn’t it take your tax money to pay the contractors to build the roads ? Last time I checked none of the law enforcement community worked without being paid.
All I’m saying is that without profits….there isn’t any money for governments to spend to do anything good for anybody…..corporation or citizen alike. Businesses makes no money, you in short order have no job. You have no job, in short order you’ll be paying no taxes.
If you’ve got a better way (other than taxing business profits and personal wage income as we presently do) that currently escapes me for government to raise money to build roads, bridges, various other infastructure, some social service spending as well as provide law enforcement and military security (for all those multi national coorporations around the world)…..then I’m all ears. Please explain. I’m always open to new ideas if there is a better way for the government to raise funds.
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Whats the matter, merv? Did your occupy comrades toss you from their hovel? Or are you simply not man enough to take what mother nature dishes out, even if it was one of the mildest winters on record. Next I suppose you’ll be blaming big business for the weather, eh?
I curious just how old you are. Your idealistic rants have you pegged as a collage aged wannabe. Any older person of your radical would have surely settled down by now, at gov’t expense, in one of our fine mental health institutions.
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Whatever media outlets you have all been tuning in to, it is distorted and extremely divisive. It’s training you to think, *if someone doesn’t think this, then they are that*. It’s training you to ignore everything I say if I don’t subscribe to your ideology. If I don’t sing the praises of big-business, despite the fact that they have shipped millions of U.S. jobs overseas, despite the fact that they are giving U.S. workers a smaller-and-smaller share of their record profits, and despite the fact that they undermine every social and environmental code they can just to make a buck…. you people overlook all of that, because I am the one talking about it.
You say that everything we have is created through profit. Yet, you could say the same thing about water, trees, the sun, God, oxygen, natural resources, etc, etc… But no. You people single out profit. The market is just as much an institution as the government. Just like North Korean people who praise “the leader” as the bringer of all prosperity, despite all of the atrocities he as committed, you people praise big-business despite any and all wrongdoing they commit. It’s an ideology, and it borders on religiosity.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Merv….It might surprise you, but I agree with much of what you said…in your first paragraph at least. I however can’t follow your point of view in the second paragraph. I don’t like corporations that ship jobs overseas either, I don’t like like businesses that suck to much water out of streams to make snow for a ski hill either….that’s been in the local news lately. However…regarding the shipping of jobs overseas, some of that is due to all to many American consumers that wants to buy more “stuff” and never seems to be happy with what they have. Quantity rather than quality seems to be the mantra today for many consumers. If we demanded quality and would accept less “imported plastic crap” in our lives….we’d all be better off.
I believe this whole subject started with winnerwinner’s comment, and I quote here: “every man-made thing around us was made possible by profit”. The key word being, man-made. I’m not sure how your moved into natural resources, god, oxygen, sun, trees etc…. Those items are not man-made and I think pretty much everyone knows that. How we use some of them for human benefit might require some human ingenuity however and that’s where the profit potential is for businesses whch them of course provide jobs for the rest of us.
However, I believe you missed addressing my main point. How the government raises money to build the government roads and government law-enforcement you alluded to in one of your previous posts above. Please advise us as to how this is done so we can put this policy in place. It would be far easier (for me at least) if I didn’t have to work at a profitable business and pay taxes on my wages for these items.
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Cravaack made Oberstar’s living arangements a central criticism in his election campaign. Now he’s doing exactly what he criticized, but apparently democrats are the hypocrites here.
Oberstar provided documentation showing where he spent his time. Why won’t Cravaack do the same?
Hot debate. What do you think?
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What exactly has Cravaack done that’s specifically benefited the 8th?
Town Hall meetings obviously make people feel good but, should something concrete come of them?
Oberstar didn’t hold town hall meetings but, he did manage to ‘bring home the bacon’ for a whole lot of projects for our area.
So far, I’ve only read about the bill that Cravvack sponsored to close the Hibbing airport and all small airports in the northern part of the state.
Has having Cravaack in office benefited the 8th in any substantial way?
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