Twin Cities Daily Planet (https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/author/jeff-fecke/)
Jeff Fecke is a freelance writer who lives in Eagan, Minnesota. In addition to his own blog, Blog of the Moderate Left, he also contributes to Alas, a Blog, Minnesota Campaign Report, and AlterNet.
South Carolina Republican Primary, January 21, 2012
✔Newt Gingrich 40%
Mitt Romney 28%
Rick Santorum 17%
Ron Paul 13%
Herman Cain 1%
Rick Perry 0%
Jon Huntsman 0%
Michele Bachmann 0%
Nevada Democratic Caucuses, January 21, 2012
✔Barack Obama (Incumb.) Uncontested
So yes, I’ve joined the anti-SOPA-slash-PIPA protest, but not by shuttering my site. I don’t begrudge Wikipedia for shutting down, mind you — the bills as conceived would present an existential threat to their site. But ultimately, I believe the internet is a communications medium, and that it is best used when it’s, well, used.
I’m not sure I remember a political primary quite like the 2012 GOP primary. There have been primaries with weak fields (the 1988 Democrats, the 1992 Democrats, the 1996 GOP, the 2008 GOP), and there have been candidates who have gained traction, only to implode (Gary Hart, Pat Buchanan, Fred Thompson, Rudy Giuliani). Continue Reading
One of the first stories I ever followed on this blog was the University of Colorado rape and sexual abuse scandal. For those who’ve forgotten — there have been a lot of rape and sexual abuse scandals over the years — the University of Colorado football team was accused of using the promise of sexual favors as a recruiting tool. Continue Reading
There’s a reason that people almost never make the jump from the private sector to major elected office. For all the blather about career politicians, politics is a skill, and an incredibly difficult one. The ability to craft one’s message, communicate it with consistency, and avoid blunders is not one that comes easily to most people.
Well, it’s been about two months since I did these, and what a two months it’s been! Rick Perry’s gone from Great White Hope to Racist Idiot. Michele Bachmann’s gone from clear frontrunner to barely hanging on. Herman Cain has gone from complete joke to complete joke who is inexplicably in the race, and Chris Christie’s gone from not running to not running. Everyone ready? Continue Reading
Since the Minnesota Twins won the 1991 World Series, Minnesota’s major league teams have had seven chances to get to another championship game. The Vikings came within a missed field goal of the Super Bowl in 1999, then within a mere six touchdowns in 2001. The Twins lost in the ALCS to Los Angeles of Hollywood of Reseda of Anaheim of California in 2002. Continue Reading
The Iowa Straw Poll is actually more predictive than you’d think it had any right to be. No candidate has won the GOP nomination who didn’t finish in the top three there, and none has won Iowa who didn’t finish in the top two. That could change this year…or it could be really good news for one Minnesotan.
Iowa Straw Poll, August 13, 2011
In 1981, newly-elected President Ronald Reagan had the opportunity to appoint his first justice to the Supreme Court. It was an important appointment for a variety of reasons, not least because he would be replacing Justice Potter Stewart, a centrist who had supported Roe v. Wade.
The United States women’s national soccer team spent most of the past year with their backs against the wall. Continue Reading