Letters to the editor for Friday, Nov. 7

ELECTION 2008

What's with Minnesota?

If the people of Minnesota spoke Tuesday, it was not for change. Rather, the citizens of our (perhaps formerly) great state chose stasis and incumbency instead of progress and vision.

Where once we gave the nation the passion of Paul Wellstone, we appear to have placed the complacent Norm Coleman. Where once we put forth Eugene McCarthy to change the course of the national Democratic Party, we have let the dissenting voices of Ashwin Madia and Steve Sarvi slip into silence. And where once we led the nation with Hubert Humphrey's vision and Walter Mondale's reason, we have now chosen to ratify Michele Bachmann's zealotry.

While the rest of the nation celebrates a historic presidency, the people of Minnesota should take a moment to look in the mirror. Obama owes us nothing for his victory, for our 10 electoral college votes have been superseded by our congressional mediocrity.

DANE MCFarlane, Minneapolis

The U.S. Senate Race

Cool it, Sen. Coleman, and wait for recount

Sen. Norm Coleman has declared that the "voters spoke," and he is suggesting that Al Franken call off the automatic recount. Forty-two percent of the voters chose Coleman, while 58 percent voted for someone other than Coleman.

If the voters have "made a clear statement," as Coleman rightly claims, it is not that the public is clamoring for his return. Rather, it is that a whopping 1.5 million voters in Minnesota do not want Coleman to serve another term.

THOMAS KENDRICK, MINNEAPOLIS

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I was deeply disappointed to hear Sen. Norm Coleman's suggestion that a recount is an unreasonable use of taxpayer money. Our taxes are for this very thing, supporting the Democratic process.

After six years as one of our senators, he has a vote margin of about 0.02 percent of votes cast. A recount is a reasonable and fair thing to ask -- and it is the law. So please step aside, Mr. Senator, and allow the wheels of democracy to turn. Show a little grace and keep your mouth shut until it is over.

DAVID ABRAMS, MINNETONKA

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Is this the "new" Norm Coleman your Editorial Board endorsed, one who casually dismisses the democratic process and ignores the fact that he is separated from his nearest opponent by fewer than 400 votes? It looks eerily like the "old" Coleman, who first, last and always looks out for himself.

If Coleman wins the recount, I seriously hope he realizes that he is governing for 100 percent of Minnesotans, and that he has to prove himself every day to all those who didn't vote for him by putting partisanship and self-interest aside.

VIRGINIA PALMER, ST. PAUL

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After reading that Norm Coleman urged Al Franken to stop a recount based on less than (the then) 500 votes out of 2,800,000 cast, I couldn't help but think that we have one candidate who still is making an attempt at comedy.

JEFF ANDERSON, APPLE VALLEY

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In the midst of celebrating Barack Obama's win, Al Franken should have watched John McCain's concession speech on Tuesday as well. He could have picked up some tips on how to lose gracefully.

HEIDI HOGG, ST. LOUIS PARK

Why wait for instant runoff voting? Let's set the Coleman-Franken problem to the voters again. Maybe the candidates learned something about ugly campaigning from the first try? Or we could do what schoolchildren in the playground learn to do: take turns. Divide the Senate term proportionately.

This election -- and all the other close votes across the nation -- show that the either-or, winner-take-all system doesn't work. One-half eclipsing the other really isn't democratic. It does not reflect what the people think.

DOUGLAS ALLCHIN, ST. PAUL

INDEPENDENCE PARTY

The GOP's best friend

In the interest of truth in advertising, shouldn't the Independence Party rename itself the Republican Auxiliary (RA)? Despite its claims to offer an alternative to the two major parties, it is, in effect, a way to assure that the Republicans win any close election, viz. Pawlenty's first and second elections, the Coleman-Franken race, the Sixth and Third District contests.

The fact that it's always the Democrats who lose the most votes suggests that the Republicans aren't interested in any views that don't mesh with their own, while the DFLers suffer from an open-mindedness and consideration of alternatives that does them proud as thinkers and makes them effective in governance but punishes them when an alternative candidate enters the race. Perhaps the RA candidates should consider that before they undertake their quixotic quest "to offer an alternative."

P.T. MAGEE, ST. PAUL

PROPOSITION 8, AND OTHERS

Tyranny of the majority

Along with millions of other families, my husband, son and I celebrated the incredible election victory of Barack Obama on Tuesday night.

Imagine our anger and disappointment to wake up nine hours later to find out that three states -- California, Florida and Arizona -- voted on Tuesday to deny GLBT folks their equal rights, and people in Arkansas voted to bar unmarried couples from being foster parents and able to adopt children.

When and how long will it take for our family and thousands of other families and individuals to wake up after an election and find out that our rights have not been taken away by a majority vote?

DENNIS KEARNEY, BURNSVILLE

A MESSAGE TO THE VICTOR

Show us the money

The Democrats now control the House, Senate and presidency, so I am sure Barack Obama will have no problems pushing through his tax cut for 95 percent of America. Since I am sure he would not have promised the tax cut without specific plans on how he would deliver it, I would ask the media to ask him to tell the American people how soon and how large our cuts will be.

JEFF TITUS, ST. FRANCIS