FREE SPEECH ZONE | Migratory Plastic Bags

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Migrating plastic bags have become a major environmental problem in the Pacific Ocean and Minnesota’s metro area streams and lakes.  Here, “The Magnificent Plastic Bag,” a superb mockumentary produced by Heal the Bay (Santa Monica) is tagged with a Timid Video Theater (Eden Prairie)  take in the metro region.  Both parody the grand, reverent, wow moments of, say, a PBS documentary on wildebeest migrations in the Serengetti.The motivation of the video presentation is to remind people to pick up after themselves and to pass legislation that will ban plastic bags. Free Speech ZoneThe Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. This is an open forum for articles that otherwise might not find a place for publication, including news articles, opinion columns, announcements and even a few press releases. Continue Reading

FREE SPEECH ZONE | Minnesota’s Public Defender Crisis

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Minnesota State Public Defender John Stuart told Democratic Visions host Tim O’Brien in August 2009 that the legal rights of our neediest citizens were evaporating.  Lack of funding for public defenders had prompted a strangle hold on their services and unbearable work loads on the attorneys who continued to serve.  The situation has grown worse since this segment was first cablecast and Mr. Stuart’s advisory remains the same.Democratic Visions is produced by DFL Senate District 42 for the entire metro region.CABLE CAST SCHEDULEHopkins, Minnetonka, Edina, Richfield & Eden PrairieComcast Channel 15 – Sun 9 pm; Wed 5:30 pmBloomington Cable Channel 16 – Tu. 2 pm, 10 pm; Wed 2 pmMinneapolis MTN Channel 17 – Sun 7 pm & repeats Free Speech ZoneThe Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. This is an open forum for articles that otherwise might not find a place for publication, including news articles, opinion columns, announcements and even a few press releases. Continue Reading

FREE SPEECH ZONE | State Rep. Hilstrom on legislative session

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Persuading Republican lawmakers to provide responsible and effective state deficit reduction proposals is one of the charges laid out for Minnesota House Democrats by Minority Deputy Lead Debra Hilstrom and Minority Leader Paul Thissen. Hilstrom guests on the current edition of Democratic Visions.Free Speech ZoneThe Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. This is an open forum for articles that otherwise might not find a place for publication, including news articles, opinion columns, announcements and even a few press releases. Hilstrom (DFL, Brooklyn Center) tells interviewer Tim O’Brien that Minnesotans can expect Senate and House Republicans this session to draw up numbers of state constitutional amendment bills as a means of skirting gubernatorial vetoes and over ride votes. Proposed constitutional amendments would have to be approved by Minnesota voters during the 2012 general election.Democratic Visions is a public issues cable TV program produced by Eden Prairie, Minnetonka and Edina volunteers for DFL Senate District 42.  The full program can be seen on various metro region cableTV systems:Comcast Channel 15 – Hopkins, Minnetonka, Edina, Richfield and Eden Prairie Sundays at 9 p.m. and Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. Bloomington Cable Channel 16 – on Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m. & 10:00 p.m., Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m.MTN Channel 17- Minneapolis Sundays at 7 p.m.  Continue Reading

FREE SPEECH ZONE | Eric Pusey Loves Michele Bachmann

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Eric Pusey recently followed fellow Minnesota Progressive Project operatives Joe Bodell and Two Putt Tommy Johnson to Democratic Visions, the public issues cableTV and internet program that I produce for DFL Senate District 42. Mr. Pusey (his blogger handle is “The Big E”) and host Tim O’Brien discuss Michele Bachmann, media coverage of the congress member, the current State legislative season and MPP. Free Speech ZoneThe Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. This is an open forum for articles that otherwise might not find a place for publication, including news articles, opinion columns, announcements and even a few press releases. You can view Democratic Visions in stunning color and definition on large flat-screens via cable TV in these fine cities.In Hopkins, Minnetonka, Edina, Richfield and Eden Prairie, Democratic Visions can be seen on Comcast Channel 15 on Sundays at 9 p.m. and Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. Bloomington Cable Channel 16 carries the program on Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. and Wednesdays at 2:00 p.m. In Minneapolis Democratic Visions can be seen on MTN Channel 17 Sundays at 7 p.m.  Continue Reading

FREE SPEECH ZONE | Join Senator Al to fight merger at FCC

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Senator Al Franken needs our help NOW.  The FCC and Department of Justice are preparing to approve the merger between NBC and Comcast — something that would have very very dark consequences for keeping internet and broadcast media open and affordable.  Comcast provides and maintains the infrastructure that provides cableTV and internet access to hundreds of thousands metro area residents including Minneapolis and most of its suburbs.  Twin Cities Daily Planet could very well be affected.Free Speech ZoneThe Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. This is an open forum for articles that otherwise might not find a place for publication, including news articles, opinion columns, announcements and even a few press releases. Continue Reading

FREE SPEECH ZONE | AM950’s Nancy Nelson says Dems must sharpen their message

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Progressive radio talk show host Nancy Nelson tells Democratic Visions host Tim O’Brien that Minnesota DFLers and Democrats around the nation need to sharpen their messageing and communication skills.  Democratic Visions is produced for the entire metro region by volunteers for DFL Senate District 42 (Eden Prairie & Minnetonka). Free Speech ZoneThe Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. This is an open forum for articles that otherwise might not find a place for publication, including news articles, opinion columns, announcements and even a few press releases. Continue Reading

FREE SPEECH ZONE | Bill Sorem, Citizen Journalist

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Bill Sorem volunteers as a videographer citizen journalist for The Uptake, a pioneering new media news service. Bill’s beat includes progressive political, human rights and social action causes that are mostly ignored by mainstream media.  This segment of Democratic Visions features Bill discussing his work with program producer Jeff Strate.  Democratic Visions is a montly public issues cable TV and internet program produced by volunteers for DFL Senate District 42 in Eden Prairie and Minnetonka.  Free Speech ZoneThe Free Speech Zone offers a space for contributions from readers, without editing by the TC Daily Planet. This is an open forum for articles that otherwise might not find a place for publication, including news articles, opinion columns, announcements and even a few press releases. Continue Reading